Laura - Wolves Inc Office Building, 3 weeks later
“How long will Paul keep avoiding me?” I ask as Dan stops the car in the underground parking lot.
“What do you mean? You see Paul every day.”
Dan stuffs a golden lock behind his ear and turns to me once the engine is off. I can see why Alisa can’t take her mind off of him.
“We may work in the same building and live in the same house, but he’s avoiding me. I mail his schedule and send him messages on the phone or through Irina. At the villa, he’s either away or always locked inside his room.”
“He used to do that when he was a teenager after his parents left. He’ll come around.”
Laura - Bucharest’s suburbsPaul already had a letter of resignation on his desk awaiting my signature. But all the other paperwork had to be made as well. He preferred to keep me in his office and go back and forth between me and HR for all the formalities.I took it all in and kept silent all day, even in the car as he drove me to the city’s outskirts. Nice suburbs stretch at the borders of Bucharest, with fancy houses mixed with old ones in a combination of colors and styles.For a second, I want to be able to read his mind as easily as I do with humans. Upon realizing my wishes are pointless, I force myself to focus on the details of my surroundings.Paul stops his car in front of a one-story home with brown roof tiles. My childhood house was razed many y
Laura - The house in the suburbs“Why are you making things even harder?”His question hangs in the cool breeze of the spring night. The implications ensue even more questions in the silence that follows. Is it hard for him to go? Or is it difficult to accept being touched by a strigoi? Though his warm hands are still pressed over mine, his thumb gently rubbing my wrist.He sighs again and turns around. The moonlight highlights his chiseled jawline and the fullness of his lips. He glances at me, and his eyes are filled with both agony and desire. Perhaps this is only a figment of my imagination. It is simply impossible for me to tell if this is real or just my wishful thinking.“This house is in the pack’s territory. Many other wolves live nearby. You don’t have to worry.”This is just great! I stare at him. This isn’t what I expected him to say. Now he thinks I’m afraid and I hate playing the damsel in distress. I’m not like that, not anymore. The time when I was afraid and scared of
Laura - The house in the suburbsWhen my grandfather died, I was too young to remember him. Everybody says he was tall and handsome. The women in the village swooned at the sight of him. People said he had a girlfriend back in his birth hamlet, but they were both poor.He married my grandmother even though she was already pregnant at the time with my father’s older brother. She had cows, land, and almost everything you can think of for those times, except for a noble title.After his death, people reported sightings of him strolling through the main street out of the village. The more courageous ones tried to approach him, but he wouldn’t look any other way than straight ahead. It was as if he was sleepwalking.They followed him into the next village, his birthplace. Every night he went to the same house, a modest cottage among fields. He cut wood, built a fire in the hearth, kissed the sleeping woman and child in the bedroom, and then returned to the cemetery to slide back into his t
Paul - Piatra Craiului MountainsOften compared to the back of a dinosaur, the imposing ridge of Piatra Craiului has a fairytale appearance, more of a creation taken out from the fog of heights than a shaping of the earth. Considered the pearl of the Romanian Carpathians, these mountains overwhelm through their charm, silence, and mystery, with delicate flowers that color the pastures.I stop the car where the asphalt ends. There’s quite the climbing awaiting me ahead. The track is pretty easy as long as you stay on the tourist trails. But after I reach 1000 meters in altitude, I have to go straight through the forest.The morning sun rays peek over the narrow ridge resembling a saw. I’d forgotten my jacket on the backrest of that chair, so I trudge over the slope through the chilly mountain spring air just in my shirt. My shoes are not made for climbing, rendering my endeavor even harder. They don’t provide any grip on the mixture of ice and snow that covers the ground. Here, the su
Laura - The house in the suburbsThe first rays of the sun find me on the floor, staring at the ceiling. The carpet is fluffy and has the typical scent of old things. I can’t imagine how hard it was for Paul to find all these things for the house. But I guess he simply delegated someone to do it for him.I stand and look around. No, that’s not it. Everything falls into place in a natural, human-like way, not as a designer would envision it. Somehow, I bet he had personally overseen the renovation.My eyes stop over the backrest of the chair in the corner. Paul’s jacket is leisurely draped over it, a reminder that he was here last night. How can a person be both warm and cold at the same time? Do I have the strength to want to find out?The jacket compels me to go at it. At first, I just brush the soft material with my fingertips, not wanting to wrinkle it. But why would I care about a damn jacket that he left behind? I yank it from the chair and crawl onto the couch with it in my arms
Laura - The meeting groundsTo my surprise, at this gathering, I feel more at ease than at the one before when Paul announced our bond. This time, their gazes aren’t focused on me, though, of course, some are still gawking and whispering.I'm delighted that Maria informed me about the gathering. I wasn't expecting her to bring me along, but it's lovely of her.Dan and Maria never leave me alone, assisting me in fitting in with small groups and making small talk. They take turns presenting me to other wolves and making me feel accepted. People even ask me stuff about my life, and I respond with a small smile as I scour the crowd for one particular tall wolf.“So, Laura, have you ever –”Someone starts a question, but I can’t hear the last part. Dark gray eyes find me through the crowd. All the sounds fade away, and nothing seems to move except him. My heart flutters. I want to jump into his arms and kiss him. Instead, I stand, frozen in place, staring at him.Paul walks up closer, rais
Laura - The meeting groundsI'm still hiding behind the bushes, unwilling to move because I don't want to be seen.I was scared that I wouldn't be able to tell which one was Paul since the coats of all the wolves are mostly the same. But no one else has such a gleaming silver mane that glistens beneath the full moon.Alin's fur is darker, nearly blending in with the darkness. I could have missed his initial strike if it hadn't been for my heightened night vision. He lunges for Paul, his teeth gnashing in the air, saliva streaming from the sharp canine as he bites the emptiness.Startled, I almost jump to my feet. But when I see that Paul is holding his own, I calm down. He has avoided that first blow; he moves faster than I thought possible. Now he’s waiting for Alin’s next move.Two pairs of gleaming golden eyes battle in a war of staring. No one moves to intervene. If someone makes a challenge, the fight needs to be fair. And Paul will never ask for help, as that would be beneath hi
Laura - The house in the suburbsIf I were a normal girl, I would probably have gotten blisters on my way home. Sure, I mean, there are perks to my immortality. Some may seem like gifts to anyone. Would you call someone crazy for being sad about not getting blisters? Then I’m crazy, alright.I’m even crazier for spending the next two days and nights cooped up in my new house, waiting for a sign from him. Have I gotten mad? In my eighty years of existence, I’ve never felt this way. Apparently, there are still things I haven’t got to explore, yet I’m too tired to search for them.Maybe I should attempt to get Paul to accompany me to the gypsy witch and see what she has to say now. If he isn't the answer to my immortality dilemma, I'd best move on before he becomes the root of a new problem in my doomed existence.I attempted to relax in an effort to block out the ideas that were wreaking havoc in my head. I slept restlessly, tossing and turning the entire night. As the nightmares resemb
Laura - AliveThe world is teeming with life and sensations I couldn’t see before. The air itself sizzles with electricity, and my skin tingles under the sun’s warmth. My heart is beating so fast that I can hear its thumping in my ears. Oh, how good it is to be alive. But then again, what is death?It’s a void, a nothingness, the absence of everything.So even though death is the ultimate lack of all existence, isn’t it also a state where we are given a chance to start anew?I’m not sure what I expected, but the reality is better than anything I could have imagined. Every day is a new adventure, and I love every minute of my life, full of laughter, hugs, and kisses. I must admit, destiny has one hell of a way of playing tricks on a girl. When I was young and wanted to live, I died. When I was an abomination and wanted to die, I was born anew. Sometimes, nothing goes the way you want it to, but not always what you want is what you get. And maybe it’s for the best. I am free of my c
Paul - The Retezat MountainsAuburn leaves fall kissed by the cold winds. A cold mountain that still hasn’t welcomed winter. An owl hoots a few times and, as I pass, flies away, out of reach. I can feel the change in the air, now thick with the scent of incoming rain. The sky above the tree’s canopy is gathering heavy clouds, soon to be released in a torrent of droplets. The first few stars peeking through the dark gray curtains are a sign that I don’t have much time left to find Laura. I know I'm close. To her. And I know why she ran away, putting distance between us. Because I'm possessive and selfish, not wanting to give her what she needs. I can't give her what she wants without losing everything I love. And I love her. But it seems I'm doomed to lose her anyhow.I've lost so much time denying reality, turning a blind eye to the truth. "I'm coming, Laura," I whisper to myself. The trees seem to go on forever, the forest floor stretching into the distance. Laura is nowhere in s
The Gypsy Witch - Her hutMy nose scrunches. A sweet smell permeates the air, like a mixture of old spices and fresh herbs. There’s a slight vibration below my feet; the ground seems to shake with every step I take. Something will happen soon. Hehe! I should better ask the key. I reach into my pocket and take out the instrument of my favorite art. The key is a simple piece of metal for any ungifted person. But for me, it is a tool that can open the secrets of the future. I turn it over in my hand, feeling the smoothness of its surface. Cleidomancy is one of the most powerful and ancient forms of divination. It is the art of reading the future by observing the movements of a spellbound key. Some say the spirits of the dead are the ones who turn the key and direct the motion. Hehe!A witch never looks directly at the key. Instead, she always studies it from the corner of her eye, making sure she isn't seen peeking. Otherwise, the key won't move.My fingers are tingly as they seem to b
Laura - At homeI find myself lying on a bed of black velvet inside an empty room with no windows or doors. The walls are lined floor-to-ceiling with bookshelves, each filled from top to bottom. The books are all different sizes and shapes, but they all have the same purpose: to fill the emptiness inside me. “Because I’m hollow on the inside,” I whisper to myself. Under the blanket next to me, there is a figure wrapped in the same black velvet. I reach out and remove the cover, revealing an old man. His skin is wrinkled and pale, and his hair is entirely white. He looks as if he is sleeping. He slowly opens his eyes and looks at me. His hand comes up to touch my face but loses its vigor halfway through. “Are you real?” I ask him.He sighs, closing his eyes. Only a whisper of a breath escapes his lips. “Don’t be afraid, Laura. I’ll always love you.”“No!” I scream. “This can’t be real. This man can’t be Paul.”His strong features and soft gray eyes are the same. His voice is the sa
Alisa - Stryga Inc, her officeBefore entering my office, I stroll down a short hallway and pass my assistant’s desk. Official-looking diplomas and the like hang on the wall behind her. I catch a glimpse of FB reflected in one of them as she turns off her tablet and looks up at me. Does anyone even consider this company an actual workplace? Every employee is a glorified receptionist, and most of them dawdle their time away in front of their computers without doing any real work. When did I become the most diligent person around? “Good morning, Miss Cristescu,” she says, making a good show of turning toward her computer screen as if she has tons and tons of work to do. Her voice is light and cheerful enough, showing that she hasn’t noticed my mood today. Or that she couldn’t care less.If I were to say anything to her, I would fire her on the spot. But starting to dispose of the people who annoy me would leave me working all by myself. So I just nod and continue on my way. Sighing,
Laura - HomeFearing I could drop the puppy from my shaky hands, I slowly set him down on the floor. He immediately starts whimpering and wagging his tail, but I'm too scared to pick him up. I back away slowly, watching him from the corner of my eye as he scrambles to his feet. My legs feel like jelly, and I sit on the couch's edge. Several decades have passed since I've last seen Iustin, my maker. The night I met him was the night I died—the night I became a strigoi. I look at my shaking hands, remembering those times.He was the one who turned me into one of them, holding my dead body in his arms for three days and three nights, keeping my soul trapped inside and forbidding it from going to the other side. For a long time, I thought he lied to me about the process until I did the same to Alisa and turned her into a strigoi as well. He helped me escape the strigoi Council's tight grip, and I owe him my life if my life counts for anything. Iustin covered up my ability to read minds
Paul - At home“We’re leaving the day after tomorrow,” I announce to Dan, sitting in front of him at the kitchen table. “I’ve scheduled a week-long trip to a remote location I don’t want to disclose even to you. I’ve been careful not to go during a full moon. So you and Alin should be fine managing the pack while I’m away. Oh, and the phone signal might be lacking, so don’t try to call me.”“I see you made up your mind already.” Dan sighs. “I knew you would put Laura above all else, but this is too much. Give me at least an emergency contact number to reach you just in case.”“As you said, I’ve made up my mind.”“Fine.” Dan stands and begins pacing through the kitchen. “What about the company? I’m not particularly fond of the idea of taking on business decisions while you’re away.”“Oh, no need. I put Max in charge of the company during my absence.”“The shifter? Why would you do that? Do you trust him so much?”“He’s not doing me any favor. The bastard is charging me for his time and
Paul - At home The house I grew up in was always a little too quiet for my liking. Now, the same house is shifting from a place of memories into a cradle for Laura and me. She has brought most of her things to the house. Unwrapping the last of the boxes, she stares at a small album. She opens it and pulls out a picture. I wrap my arms around her from behind, resting my chin on her shoulder. Out of habit, I sniff her hair, inhaling her scent. “Why do you keep smelling my hair?” she asks, still looking at the photo. I lightly touch my lips to the spot where her neck meets her collarbone.“It is said that when two people are fated mates, their scent is like a fingerprint, a unique signature only the other can notice.” I pause to take another sniff. “For me, you smell like lilac flowers in the spring, and it’s driving me crazy.”I nuzzle her neck, breathing in her scent and letting it fill my lungs. Laura doesn’t answer. She sighs, and her fingers shake over a black and white photog
Laura - At homeDays pass quicker when immortality doesn’t seem like a useless burden. My condition hasn't improved. I am still an immortal strigoi, so basically just another girl in the world, with a few oddities.I fill my time with the things I love most: reading and Paul. He keeps at bay all the pessimistic tendencies that make me want to run away from reality. I know he will one day die. The thought still nibs at the back of my head and sometimes feels unbearable, but I don’t want to give up his company. He gives me hope, and even though we only have a few decades together, I'll make every second count.His presence is a gift to my soul. Even now, when he works in the bedroom while I read a book on the veranda bench, I feel peaceful. Just knowing he is there makes me happy. When we’re closer, things tend to get wild. We share a passion for each other and want to explore every inch of the other. We never get tired of being together. The slightest brush of his skin against mine