Furs & Fangs: A Complicated Love Story

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

       I slowly crept into my house, waiting for the doom that would be known as my mother.  I already knew she would be at the top of the marble staircase, staring down at me with anger filling her eyes. I already knew I would try to explain, and she wouldn't hear anything but a pleading voice. I already knew something was coming, and that it would not be good. I had already known this as it unraveled in front of me in slow motion. And all I could do was watch as it happened.

       She was next to me in seconds, come down from her ever watching gaze. I kept my head down but stood my ground. I admit, I was afraid, But I wasn't a coward. This was my home too, and she was my mother. She had to understand, and she must listen. If she didn't I don't know what else I could do.

       "Where were you?" she hissed slowly and low in my ear through clenched teeth...and fangs.

        "I was out. Is that a problem?" I asked.

       Her eyes grew even angrier. "YES, that is a problem! Do you even know what's out there? Do you know what's in town here?"

       Um, well actually, I did. If she was talking about the werewolves I think she just might be crazy. I mean, no offense to Jack and his pack or anything, but they were not the most, um, threatening pack I have ever met. Like I said before, they were more annoying than dangerous. But if she did know about the werewolves, why didn't she mention them to me before? I mean, I knew, but she didn't know that...

       "Exactly what's out there, mom?" I sincerely asked her, arms crossed and eyebrows raised.

       "Well, if you must know, I heard there's a vampire hunter in town."

       Ummm...ok, I was not expecting that. A vampire hunter? Really? Ugh. I really didn't need that. Vampire hunters were humans whose families go way back. It's in their blood, supposedly, to hunt vampires. They keep themselves hidden though, and you wouldn't know one if you saw them in public. Most of the time they're people who'd you least expect to be hunting vampires.

       "Oh...I'm sorry. I didn't know that-"

       "You SHOULD BE!" She cut me off. "I forbid you to go into that forest without my consult or your father's. If you got yourself in a situation with a vampire hunter, I don't even want to know what would happen. I'm sure, though, if that did happen, you would be able to suck the life out of him. It would be the only way to defeat it."

       Wait....I couldn't go into the forest? But...Jack. This conversation wasn't exactly turning out as I had planned. And the vampire hunter? How could I suck the life out of them? I mean, I could defeat it with speed and strength, but kill? I'm sorry, but I was not a murder. I couldn't drink...their blood. It sent shivers down my spine in just the thought.

       "Mom, I think you're overreacting a little. The forest is safe, believe me. I feel...protected in there. And about the vampire hunter, mom, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about. I-"

       And, of course, I was cut off again by the grandfather clock. I could tell my mother wasn't listening again now, as she had a panicked look on her face and ran back up the marble staircase. That was strange.

       "Mom, where are you going?"

       "Hold on, dear, I'll be back in a second." She disappeared onto the second floor in one moment, and was back down with me in the next.  I don't know why, but speed with my mom just creeped me out, even if I had that power too. She just reminded me a spooky movie, and I was the victim. She somehow was killing me softly inside, but it was cover up by her "caring" and "motherly" attitude. Um, ya right. Give me a break! Even I could see through her masquerade.

       She now had on a red velvet cloak and she looked like she was heading out. Where the heck was she going now? She briskly walked over to the front entrance, and reached for the golden knob. She then slowly stopped, and glanced back towards me.

       "Mom, where the heck are you going?'

       "Oh, just going out to pick a few things up. Don't want the stores to close before I go out."

       I wasn't buying a word of it. How could she be ready to kill me one second, and now was in such a rush to go pick up some "things" before the stores closed. She never goes out to pick up "things"! We don't eat anything, and we have everything we could ever need already. Something didn't add up, so I just nodded my head as if I believed her and said "Uh-huh..."

       Before she leaved, she asked me one more question. "Tell me, Elsie...exactly why you find the forest to be...comforting?"

       "Oh, well....um, I don't know. It just has always seemed peaceful and relaxing to me. Is that ok?"

       Her eyes got serious as she started into mine, and I squirmed from her uncomfortable stare. "No, actually, that is not ok. You belong in here, not out there. Do you here me, Elsie?"

       But I just stood there in silence and nodded my head.

       "Good. I'm glad you understand. I know you don't want to be in there, either. Who knows, maybe a werewolf is in there, just waiting to pounce you...." she said, putting emphasis on the werewolf. But before I could respond, she shoved open the door and slammed it behind her. Along with the slam rolled a vile in which dropped from her sleeve, towards my feet, ending in a light stop.

       I picked up the vile, just like the one I had seen in her room earlier. Only this one was empty and had writing on it. I squinted my eyes to try to read the tiny cursive writing. It said this:

                                                    Malinda's Magical Concoction's

                                  Serving Potions for Every Problem Since 1800

       What the hell?! What was this? What was she giving me? If this was the same stuff she had been slipping into my blood, then what was it doing to me? Whywas she doing it? And where, or who, was she getting it from? I didn't even know magic existed! All of this really just confused me, and my brain was hurting again.

       How long was she giving this to me anyways? I only saw her give this to me a few days ago. Had she been giving this to me longer? Oh, I don't remember! I can't remember anything! I...

    Memory! Is that what this was doing? Was she seriously trying to erase me memory? And if she was, what was she hiding from me? Ugh, I can't take any of this anymore!

      I stomped over to the bottom step of the staircase and plopped myself down. I sat there in silence for a few minutes. I herd nothing, felt nothing. I just sat there. I tried to hold it together for as long as I could, but I just couldn't.

       I cupped my hands in my face as I weaped over myself. What was happening to me! I still can't remember anything, and I think it's my mother's fault. I tried to tell her about me and my werewolf boyfriend again, and the fact I didn't like blood, but again she wouldn't listen!

       I wish Jack were here right now. He would hold me and tell me everything was going to be alright. He would understand. I trusted him more than anyone else in this family.

       I then herd light footsteps behind me and I glanced back, my face red and puffy from my tears. It was Patrick, and he looked sad. For me, I think. He showed affection in his expression and he came down and put a hand on my shoulder. He wasn't exactly Jack, but it was the closest thing to comfort I had right now.

       "You ok?" he asked.

       "Ya..." I barely whispered.

       "Did you want to talk about it?"

        I hesitated for a second, but then I nodded my head. What could it hurt to tell him? He would find out sooner or later, and I would much rather tell Patrick then my mother first. Maybe he would understand....then again, maybe he wouldn't.

       But I took my chances. What other option did I have? I just hope the chances I take only benefit me, not hurt me. The only problem was that I would soon find out these chances, in fact, did NOT benefit me. No, not at all...