Troubled Souls

Chapter 2

The next day I was startled awake by the slamming of a door. My door. Sarai stormed into my room with a bright and mischievous smile.

    "Good morning!" she beamed. "We're going out this morning!" I couldn't handle the energy with which she tossed a dress on my bed, then crossed my room and opened the curtains. I stretched out extensively, watching her disappear into the bathroom only to pop back out seconds after. She gestured for me to go inside. "Come on, come on." The shower was already on. I expectantly stared at her to leave the bathroom so I could undress, but she clearly didn't get the hint.

    "Uh, could I have some privacy?"

    "Oh. Oh, well yes, of course," she giggled innocently and stepped outside. "So, where would you like to go first? I know this lovely shop in town that sells vintage clothing. I'm sure it'll look great on you, with those curves." I looked down at myself. What curves? I'd always been the chubby kid and it still showed. Thick thighs, wide hips and stubborn baby fat my stomach had not let go of in my twenty-seven years of life. Not to mention my breasts did not match the thickness of the rest of my body.

    "I'm not really into vintage," I said, rinsing the soap from my body.

    "That's okay, we can always try something else," Sarai replied. Just as I turned off the water, she stepped in with the dress she'd thrown on my bed earlier. I grabbed the nearest towel to cover myself up. "I picked this one out for you today. It's one of mine, but I'm sure it'll look great on you!"

    "You are like five inches taller than me and at least a size smaller. I'm pretty sure I won't fit," I said looking at the shirtdress. I still ended up wearing it.

    "See, it's perfect!" Sarai said as we walked down for breakfast.

    "So," I said hesitantly, "I still don't know what the purpose of all this is."

    "Ah, yes. I heard about the sacrifice story. It's not my job to tell you, but Silas promised he'd be back by noon to take you out for lunch so I'm sure he'll tell you everything you need to know before you choose to opt out of this."

    "You mean I can leave?" I asked in surprise.

    "Well of course! You're not our hostage, you're our guest. You are part of a tradition that goes back more or less five hundred years. Back then it was an actual slaughter one night a year, but it changed when one of us couldn't kill -"

    "Sarai, that's quite enough," a deep, stern voice said. I jumped up noticing an older man in the doorway. I lowered my gaze immediately. Sarai was unphased.

    "Good morning, Father," she said as she walked up to him and gave him a hug.

    "Morning," he replied as he patted her on the cheek. He closed in on me, pushing my head up with his index finger. "Don't be shy, love. As Sarai said, you're our guest." His dark vermillion eyes seemed to stare right through me. He gave me the creeps.

    "You're scaring her, Father," Sarai giggled, nibbling on some toast. Crow's feet appeared on the sides of his eyes when he smiled.

    "I'm sorry, love," he said, "let me introduce myself. My name is Ephraim Lowell. I'm the Alpha of this Pack. And you are?" I couldn't have heard that correctly. He just referred to himself as an Alpha. Of a pack. Trying to keep myself together I smiled politely.

    "It's uh... it's a pleasure to meet you, sir. I'm Nova."

    "The pleasure's all mine. And please, call me Ephraim." He walked past me and sat at the head of the table. Sarai took me outside.

    "Close your mouth," she said. I tried to find her gaze but she averted it.

"Sarai, what was he talking about? Why did he call himself an Alpha?"