4. The lost vacation

Violet's father, Davis Miller arrives at their grandmother's house the next day at dusk. He hugged Isabelle first before finally Tiffany and then Violet. She missed her dad so much

Even though Davis is not her biological father, he has more memories and roles in Violet's life than her real father. The real father Violet wanted to forget. 

Diana told her husband to come in and rest before they were to continue with what must have been a long dinner. There was too much to discuss especially after they had not seen each other for a long time.

Violet missed a time like this. When they get together. It was times like these that would distract her mind from thinking too much about the things that bothered her. Memories of her original world that he wanted to erase from memory.

Isabelle took their father into the house. Her mother and grandmother followed. When Tiffany was about to take a step Violet grabbed her sister's wrist tightly.

"What is it?" Tiffany raised an eyebrow glancing at her wrist. It was a natural gesture that the girl used to make, even though it still made Violet nervous.

"Um, we need to talk for a minute" she said nervously.

Her sister just sighed. Violet expected her to react and bombarded her with questions, but she just sighed and pulled Violet's hand away from the house "Tell me anything. Including last night about you and Isa."

Violet looked at her sister "Do you believe that I ruined her favorite thing?"

Tiffany shrugged "I guess. I saw how Isa reacted while hugging that mirror against her chest like it was her baby. It was as if she had lost the most precious part of her life" the girl paused for a moment "since when did he even have a favorite item like that apart from the hair curlers she often used?"

"I..." Violet was at a loss for words. Her sister was right. Last night he had overreacted. She shouldn't have done that. But nothing else overcame her other than fear. Call from the Alpha. Those words felt like Violet's worst nightmare. And unfortunately again, she can not share the anxiety she feels with anyone. Not even to Tiffany.

"I'm really sorry" Violet finally said "I shouldn't have done that"

Tiffany sighed "Okay, okay. Have you apologized okay?"

Violet shook her head "she didn't give me a chance to talk to her"

Tiffany lightly patted her shoulder "Solve your problems girls. You're twins, a twin always has their own way of solving problems, right? That's what you guys have always done"

Violet only gave tiffany a half-hearted smile. Of course they always have a way of solving problems from the beginning. But no small matter. They actually have no way of how to solve the problem when it comes to Lusevell.

before tiffany walked away Violet called out "Wait tiff, is she..." she hesitated to say this or not. But he continued "did Isa ever tell you anything? Something about emmm, werewolves? Or something like that?"

And Violet regretted saying just as her sister's gaze probed her like she was the foolish person she had spoken to since this morning.

"Like a famous movies?" Tiffany tried to say, her expression turned more neutral "handsome werewolf actor? You mean that? Nope. Unfortunately she never talked about it to me. She doesn't really into that thing" Tiffany made a gesture in the air.

Violet sighed in relief. Of course. She's ridiculous. How could Isabelle ever tell this.

"okay forget it"

*****

After dinner, which was more suitable as a conversation while eating, Violet washed a few porcelain glasses. Lots of menus still left tonight mainly because they were too late in the chat.

Her sister told her about her school in Jakarta and where she plans to continue her education after high school. Isabelle recounts her days in London. After last night's events and the events he'd been through the past few days she seemed pretty good at hiding things.

She told dad about London and his friends, the party and the subjects. Even about her boyfriend. She said it without making it sound awkward, her words flowing like hot chocolate. A skill that Violet will never have forever.

After washing the glass he put it in the wooden dish cabinet and let it dry. Violet left the kitchen, crossed the living room which was empty since they were in the backyard now and climbed the wooden stairs. She was only half way through when she heard her grandmother calling.

"Violet do you know where your twin is now?" Ayana sked.

Violet didn't know. Isa said she would be out for a while after dinner but he didn't say where. Violet didn't notice because she was drinking tea with her father after dinner. She glanced at the clock on the wall and even realized that it was almost midnight but his twin was nowhere to be seen.

"she's not back? I thought she was in the backyard?"

Her grandmother shook her head anxiously "if he came home I wouldn't be this anxious. Your mother called her but somehow she didn't answer. How could she make the whole house worry?"

Violet's heart seemed to fall into her stomach. Suddenly the worst possibility she could think of popped into her head. "I'll try calling her" was all Violet could say.

"Young girls like you never listen to a word from me" Ayana said with thick concern. She glanced at the window where a row of dark trees could be seen. Terror appeared in her old eyes "I remind you many times that the village is no less dangerous than the city. You never know what could happen to you"

Those words made the fine hairs along Violet's arms stand up. She tried to push her grandmother's words away. "Grandma! Do not said that!"

No. Call from the alpha. Not. Violet convinced herself this was just a bad feeling.

Slowly, she sighed "Grandma calm down. I promise Isa will be back soon. She might stop by the nearest supermarket or coffee shop and meet a friend there until she is too busy chatting"

Violet's words did not seem to satisfy her grandmother. In fact, now the old woman gave her a faint smile, a look that seemed to say that Violet herself wasn't sure what she just said. 

"I'll go upstairs and call her. I'll go down and find her myself if Isa isn't home, okay? So calm down"

Ayana shook her head "you better not do that Vio. We won't let you two get lost"

A slightly quivering awkward laugh escaped Violet's lips "Isa is not lost"

Before she could hear another word he rushed up the stairs and left her grandmother.

*****

Not heading to her own room, Violet entered where Isabelle's room was. He slammed the door and caught his breath behind it. Isabelle's room was empty. The window was closed and the blanket was still neatly folded.

Violet approached the room and opened the blanket, she found the mirror still under her pillow. Still intact. Violet was a little relieved, because that meant perhaps Isabelle wasn't acting recklessly. Violet's face reflected in the mirror was terrifying. So Violet quickly closed her pillow again.

Violet was about to rummage through the drawer to see anything that looked odd, she had just opened the first drawer when her cell phone rang. Isabelle's name flashed on the screen and she made a video call for Violet. Without thinking Violet immediately picked it up.

Isabelle's face appeared on the screen. And she smiled "Hi, am I interrupting?"

"Isa! Are you crazy?! Where are you now? Don't you know that the whole house is looking for you? Share your location right now so I can pick you up. Now!"

Isabelle blinked. There was no serious response to all of Violet's worries. And that only made her angrier.

Isabelle turned and looked around her. Trees and dark. She turned back to face the screen "see? Where am I now? I'm in the woods"

And the background of Isa's video is indeed a forest. This isn't funny at all "Isabelle I'm sorry about last night. I... I shouldn't have slammed that mirror. I'm sorry. So go home now?"

On the screen Isabelle giggled "Vio, I'm not mad. I'm just annoyed that you don't seem to trust me at all. I'm your twin. You should have trusted me on that call because I wasn't lying" she pleaded.

Violet gulped. Maybe this time she could relent. If that's what made her twin realize. For whatever reason Violet was really worried. What is the girl doing in the forest now? Midnight and alone.

"Isa, are you with someone now? Local guy?" Violet bit her lip.

Isabelle shook her head quickly "no, I'm alone"

"Then how can you be alone? What if there is a beast? Or a criminal? What are you doing in the forest at this time of night?"

On Violet's cell phone screen, Isabelle turned the camera into a rear camera. Before she turned it into a front camera and her face was visible again "I'll show you Vio. So you believe me. Opening the gates to Lusevell, to the world where we were born"

Violet could no longer calm down now. But he glanced again at the bed "you can't! Your key is still here. You left it"

"I can do without it. You better keep it Vio, because today I'm hear his call again" Isabelle's voice sounded far away, she glanced around for a moment before refocusing her gaze on the screen "we'll be back Violet, in a moment. I have to fulfill this call"

Violet shook her head wildly "Isa, tell me where you are now. You can't do something stupid like that. Listen to me, you, you will only put yourself in danger. That call, or whatever you say, is dangerous and evil" Violet's eyes heated up. 

Isabelle frowned, she looked angry "stop saying that like I need your protection. And stop trying to be my protector Vio. If you don't want to go let me go alone"

"You can't open the gate" Violet insisted. Her legs shook, she fell onto the bed.

"Of course I can .." came the sound of a strong wind blowing and the tree branches behind Isabelle swayed.

Isabelle looked up to take in her surroundings, then she no longer turned her face to the screen.

She simply ignored the call. Her phone seemed to vibrate.

"what happened?" Violet panicked at the sight of the blackened screen. But still a voice there "Isabelle answer me"

Only the wind and strange noises could be heard before a scream from Isabelle broke the silence. Hearing that, Violet immediately stood up.

The screen showed that the phone fell to the ground before hitting something. Isabelle's grip had loosened, and after the scream there was nothing more. Video call connection is lost. Violet's tears fell down her cheeks. She covered her mouth with her  palm "No" she mumbled weakly.

*****

They couldn't find Isabelle anywhere. Not in the nearby forest. No one saw her in the supermarket or coffee shop that night. There was no sign of where Isabelle had gone before she was spotted in the woods.

Diana and Davis cried. Ayana looked pale and worried and Tiffany had refused to talk to Violet since they found out that Isabelle was missing.

Until a police officer told them where Isabelle was found. He spoke about the characteristics of the girl they found in the forest and that they were all Isabelle's.

They need relatives to come to the place. Diana was crying and Tiffany couldn't bear to see what was going to happen.

So only Davis and Violet came to make sure. Violet would never have guessed that she would find her twin's corpse in that forest. It was quite far from their grandmother's house and across the riverbank.

All the way back to their home, tears welled up in her eyes "She hits her own skull repeatedly"

"Stop that" Davis grabbed her wrist. "This was never your fault" he rubbed Violet's shoulder to comfort her, he tried to look tough as a father even though his own eyes were now wet with tears.

How could Violet feel so innocent? All of this is her fault. Especially when they brought Isabelle home, Diana's cries greeted her. It was a punishment Violet would remember for the rest of her life.

*****

It had been three days since they buried the body of their beautiful twin. Everyone still thinks this is like a dream. Everyone hoped that they would wake up and reality would return to the way it was, Isabelle would be seen in the kitchen, making brownies with Grandma and warming cold mornings with her warm laugh.

But this is reality. And they do what they can to escape reality. Grandma Violet was still looking with terror in her eyes at the dark forest as if she was begging Isa to come back. Diana Miller did not come out of the room and refused to eat.

At night Violet could hear her mother sobbing. Tiffany hid her sadness even though she failed, she spoke to Vio as needed. Davis tried to rebuild the atmosphere, he spoke to Violet.

Everyone knew that before Isabelle left that night she had gotten into an argument with Violet. Now she doesn't know how her family views her.

Violet had been sleeping in Isabelle's room for three days. That night she awoke, the mirror in her hand. She couldn't think of anything but Lusevell. Her cruel world.

Quickly, Violet grabbed a thick coat and put it on. She grabbed the mirror and put it in his pocket. Quietly she descended the stairs and across the living room. All the rooms were closed, Violet opened the entrance and ran away.

There was one advantage she came with the police that day, now he knows the place where her twin died. Crossing the river and running left Violet breathless. Finally he arrived at that forest area. The forest area where they found Isabelle's body.

The trees here are dense and the wind is blowing cold. Violet looked up at the full moon hanging in the sky brightly and took out her mirror. From far away she heard the sound of the river flowing.

The mirror reflected the silver moonlight faintly. Reflect the light onto the seven trees to open the gate. Violet Miller reflected it, seven trees. The light traveled from the first tree to the seventh tree. For a moment she felt stupid.

Or is she indeed stupid? Who will do this? Her legs shook and she fell to the ground. Suddenly he fell a little bit hard until her face hit the ground.

Violet patted her cheek that hit the ground. He got up, but when she looked around, he no longer saw the bridge over the river.

And the people's houses across the street. There are no street lamps and the silhouettes of the roofs.

All around her now were tall pine trees and wild rose bushes. And the sweet smell of the rotten fruit that makes her deja vu. The sky was dotted with clusters of starlight and the soil damp, Violet slowly stepped behind one tall tree.

Ironically, being in her own world now she felt like she was in the enemy's world. She felt small and surrounded by predators who were ready to pounce on her.

A few steps were still in trepidation and Violet heard the sound of a few steps.

"Stop" a man's deep voice rang out.

Violet immediately hid her body behind a tree trunk. Slowly, she peeked.

"I smell someone," one voice added "a faint smell, but I'm sure it's close"

"it is Omega, I can feel it's weak aura" another voice chimed in. "behind the tree. Michael catch whoever is behind the tree"

It was too late for Violet to run away because now that person had seen her.

A man grabbed her by the hand and dragged her forcibly out from behind a tree. Violet struggled, but she was like a feather in comparison to him. He dragged her easily.

There were already two other men waiting for her. Seeing them one by one Violet gulped. It seemed that she had forgotten the beauty of her own kind. And Violet could tell that they were high-ranked werewolves that came from the top pack. Their aura was so intimidating.

In the midst of them Violet felt shriveled "Leave me" her voice was like the squeak of a mouse.

They looked her up and down.

"she's the weakest omega I've ever seen" one with green eyes said.

One man with blond curls nodded

"Nicholas I think we should take her to Alpha. How can this girl infiltrate our territory, is she a spy?"

Violet didn't know whose territory they were talking about. She had not lived in Lusevell too long. But talking about the Alpha was enough to make her shudder and almost cry again. Violet thought that she wasn't that strong.

One charming man she felt was named Nicholas was watching her closely, he had light brown hair and rich golden eyes. His black shirt draped over his broad shoulders, "No. Leave her" Nicholas said.

Violet blinked.

Two other werewolves looked at Nicholas confused "leave her? How can we leave her? What if he is a spy from Silverfur?"

Nicholas shook his head again, he took one step forward "don't be afraid" his voice softened.

Violet took a step back. Is her frightened face too easy to read.

"she's probably just pretending to be scared." the one with green eyes, Michael, said.

Violet tried to give him a threatening look but they laughed at him. He was immediately worried about what Isabelle might be going through right now.

"Leave me alone" Violet said again "I'm not a spy and I'm not a member of your pack"

"You're fierce for someone who trembles with fear," James added.

"Stop, leave her alone, let's go back" Nicholas said and gave Violet a smile.

She didn't know whether to reply or not, especially when the two werewolves were now away from her.

"What if someone finds her and catches her?" Michael chimed in at Nicholas.

Nicholas glanced at Violet briefly "it won't. No one will try to harm her in Scarlet Claw"

The three of them left her.

Violet was still silent, she engraved the word in her memory carefully. Scarlet Claws. Their Pack? Who is their Alpha?

And now where is Isabelle? Violet shivered in the cold Lusevell night. She forced her feet to walk again. The mirror is gone. And she feels now she will be trapped here.