SWNOVELS Chapter 4 Open Scars
My parents begged to see me. I didn’t feel up to it. Apprehensive was not strong enough to describe how I felt. I felt like I tore down the wall I built to protect myself from them. I felt vulnerable to them so they could rip my heart to shreds again. I still had a few days until my order from the occult shop arrived. I figured I could maybe see them once at a coffee shop or something and duck out if things got too messy. I wished Quinn was here. She made me strong. It had been twenty minutes since I got off the phone with my parents. My heart still raced and I felt nauseated. Cordelia sent me calm and warmth. It helped a little bit, I threw myself on the bed and shut my eyes. Sleep would not come easily tonight.
I was tortured with vicious and heart-wrenching nightmares. In one of them, Cordelia had ripped my parents’ heads off and ate the corpses. In another nightmare, my parents turned into wolves and killed me. In the final nightmare, the occult shop lady swung a massive sword that sliced Goliath into two nasty pieces. The sun peeked through the closed curtains of my hotel room. I bolted upright and breathed heavily. The last vestiges of my nightmares slipped painlessly into oblivion. I needed a shower and coffee. I trudged to the bathroom and turned on the hot water. I hoped Cordelia made it back safely. I glided into the shower, and let the hot water wash away the stress of last night.
It was past lunchtime before I had pulled myself out of my hotel room. I checked the back of the truck for Cordelia, she wasn’t there. I twisted around and looked up to the roof of the building. I could barely make out her wing tip from where I stood. I couldn’t see well but she seemed safe. I decided to get some exercise and walk to the coffee shop. It was farther than I remembered. I finally arrived and ordered a cold chocolate drink. I settled into a corner booth which faced the door. I always sat with my face toward the door, just a habit I developed. I sipped my drink and thought about how crazy the last week had been. All the absurd events that led me back to this town. ’My life would make a great book or movie,’ I quietly chuckled at my joke.
I dug my werewolf book out and began to read. What little I did know from experience more or less lined up with what the book said. Although there wasn’t anything about the Alpha power I could call on. “Have to keep a few secrets,” I muttered to myself. The bell above the door chimed and signaled a new customer had arrived. I glanced up for a split second and viewed my mother as she approached the counter. I dropped my gaze back to my book. I hoped she hadn’t seen me, I knew she would recognize me. I let my hair fall down to cover my face. I heard my mother order her coffee. I wasn’t ready to face her yet. She had never gone to coffee shops before, so I wasn’t expecting to see her here. I hoped my black lipstick and dark blue eyeshadow would protect me from her gaze.
I kept my head low as I heard my mother turn and step happily toward the door. My heart sank and her footsteps came to an abrupt stop. She turned to me, “Excuse me, you look very familiar. Do I know you?” I was tongue-tied. My mind raced for some excuse, anything to throw her off my trail. “I make adult films,” I replied, locking eyes with her. Her jaw dropped. My mother snapped her jaw shut, she excused herself, practically ran away from me. I broke out in a huge smile, Quinn would have laughed so hard. I missed her so bad. I couldn’t wait till I could hold her again. I waited for ten minutes to ensure my mother was gone. I hastily retreated to the safety of my motel room. I read a few more chapters of my wolf book. Nothing really stood out to me.
Dusk came. I left my hotel room, grabbing my empty backpack. I needed to go for a wolf run. I trekked into the woods behind the hotel. I heard a tumultuous crack come from the hotel roof. Cordelia had awoken from her slumber. I shot off a mental call to her, she stretched, leapt into the air and glided to me. I filled her in on recent events, everything from my success at the occult shop to the encounter with my mother and the little white lie that I was an adult film star. Cordelia didn’t understand what that was and I wasn’t about to tell her. I did mention I needed to go for a wolf run. She offered to carry my backpack once I stuffed my clothes inside. I accepted her gracious offer and slipped out of my clothes. My inner wolf howled and lunged and ached to be free. I obliged and forced myself through the painful transformation.
I raced hard through the woods, my inner wolf thoroughly enjoyed the run. I found myself outside my parents house. How had I gotten there? Why did my wolf come here? I sniffed the air cautiously. I could smell my parents in the kitchen. The dinner they had prepared smelled delicious, the raw steak made my mouth water. I shook my head, I could hear my parents talk about me. “Davy, I know it was her. You think I wouldn’t recognize my own daughter?” My mother’s voice had a dangerous edge. “Melissa, listen to me. I saw the same girl in town. I don’t know who she is, but she asked about Reese. It may have been her or someone who knows her. All I know is I love Reese and support her, no matter how she makes money.”
My heart melted. Maybe my old man had changed after all. Clearly they believed the line I gave my mother, but my father didn’t seem to mind. “Davy, I can’t believe you. Are you serious?” My father’s voice dropped to a deep rumble, “Melissa, we forced her away once before. I refuse to do it again. Are you serious? Are you truly willing to let our daughter disappear into the wind again because you don’t like her hair color or how she makes money or what interests her?” His voice was tight, I could tell he restrained his anger, so could my mother. “No, of course not. I want her in our lives. You know that Davy. I… it’s so different and dangerous. I’m worried about her.” My father wrapped his arms around my mother, “So am I Mel, so am I.”
I didn’t know wolves could cry, but tears poured down my face. Cordelia landed next to me. She had heard everything. She pulled me into her lap and held me. She stroked my head and neck while tears slid down my snout. I missed Quinn. I had no idea my father actually felt that. My mother had similarities but my father was like a whole new person. I was ready to meet them. I believed I could put up with her if my father would be nice. I had no idea how I was going to explain the wolf thing much less the gargoyle thing. I figured I’d deal with it later when it came up. I heard footsteps advance to my parents’ front door. I shooed Cordelia into the air and hid behind a tree. My father trotted out of the front door. “I know I saw something out here, Mel. It was like a huge dog.” My heart skipped a beat. He had seen me.
“Come here girl, are you hungry?” He called. A whimper escaped my throat. I dropped to my stomach and made myself as small as possible. It didn’t workl because I was so big. “I see you behind the tree. Come say hi.” I had a choice, I could turn and run or I could go up to my father and see what would happen. I crawled out just enough so my head was easily visible. I had a clear view of my father too. “Oh you’re a big girl, aren’t you?” He cooed at me. If he only knew. I slowly crawled toward him, my heart ached. “Holy crap, you’re as big a horse,” my father sputtered with surprise, he wasn’t wrong. I stopped and put a paw over my snout. I laid my ears back on my head. I stayed still and waited.
“Can I touch you?” My father inched closer and closer. I whimpered softly. He gently caressed my head. My tail wagged on its own, my ears went back to their normal position. “That’s a good girl. You’re okay. You’re safe.” Fresh tears rolled down the side of my face. “What’s wrong baby? Why are you crying?” Our eyes met, his face contorted. “I know those eyes…Mel! Get out here!” My ears fell flat against my head once more. “Shhh baby you’re okay. You’re safe.” My mother came out of the house and stopped on the porch. “Davy! get away from that monster!” She shrieked. “Mel, calm down! Look at her eyes! It’s Reese!”