I didn’t sleep much. I probably kept Taran awake most of the night. He held me close and tried to soothe me all night. The affection he showed me has me so confused. Taran said that I’m his companion and friend. He doesn’t love me romantically like he does Jonat. The lie Taran told my parents last night was so good, I almost believed him. There are moments when he spoke that it felt like he was talking directly to me. But it’s all an act. The way he treated me last night was his way of being supportive of his companion.
I pull away from Taran and sit up in bed. In a groggy voice, he says, “Hey, Tru. How are you feeling? I know you didn’t get much sleep.” Taran touches my shoulder, and I jerk away from him. My reaction seems to startle him, and he quickly pulls back, “I’m sorry.” He pauses for a moment before asking, “Are you angry about what we did last night?”
I can’t bring myself to look at
Taran and I walk around the block. I take him to my old treehouse, and I find it’s still standing. We carefully climb up and sit with our legs dangling off the sides. My heart is racing, and I feel anxious, “I don’t like lying to my parents.”“What do you mean?” he asks, sounding confused.“They think you love me,” I say without wanting to look at him.Taran replies in a soft voice, “I do love you, Tru. Everything I’ve said to your parents about the way I feel about you is the truth.”My eyes snap to his, and my mind raced, “What about Jonat?”Taran looks unfazed, “What about her?”“She’s your queen,” I say, a little defeated and looked away from him.Placing a hand on my cheek, Taran pushes me to look at him. As my eyes meet his, I see the same affection I tried to convince myself was imaginary. “She was going to become m
Taran and I spend the afternoon prepping food for my dad’s party. My mom joins us in the kitchen around four. I don’t let her help, but she sits at the table and talks to us. Sarge lays under the table next to her so he can watch everyone. Pat, Mike, and Dave are outside with my dad starting up his new grill and watching the two boys play in the backyard. I don’t know where Cindy is, but I’m glad she isn’t here bothering me.“Taran, I think Bill is ready for the meat. Do you mind taking everything out there to him?” My mom asks Taran.He smiles, “Not at all. Should I take it all at once, or are there certain things that need to go out first?”My mom shrugs, “I only cook inside. He’s in charge of grilling. I would take it all if you can carry it.”Taran nods and begins to gather everything to take outside. After he leaves, my mom says, “I know you and Taran are living together. W
TaranLast night is the first night I’ve slept with anything covering me. I don’t find it comfortable, but my options were limited. It was either sleep with the sheet or allow Tru to wear clothes. Since feeling Tru’s naked body against mine was more important, I opted for the sheet. I didn’t tell Tru why we were using the sheet. Deep down, I’m sure she realizes someone is watching us, but she doesn’t know who or why. I know who, but I don’t know why.Yesterday morning Cindy tried to come into the room Tru and I are sleeping in without knocking. She made multiple attempts to open the door but wasn’t successful. Then after Tru and I finished the dishes, I heard her sneaking down the hall towards us. It’s why I pulled back from Tru. Cindy is fishing for something, but I’m not sure why. With the way she baits Tru and talks to her, I don’t want to give her any possible ammunition.With the timing of Ci
Taran holds my hand as we sit at the table across from Dave and Cindy. My parents sit at the ends of the table. In a soft voice, my mother says, “We all need to keep calm and discuss things like adults. Tru, I expect you to speak with respect. Dave, I expect you to listen to your sister and consider her feelings. We all need to come to an understanding. This tension cannot continue.”Dave and I are silent. Neither of us want to say anything. Cindy is the first to say anything, “I don’t understand why you’re so cruel to me, Tru. I have done nothing but try to be your friend.” I suppress the need to scoff and roll my eyes. Keeping my face neutral, I try to imagine this is practice when I’m Taran’s queen, and we hold court. Cindy continues, “It’s hard being an outsider.” She looks over at Taran, “I’m sure it’s different for you since you’re dating the golden child.”“Gold
TaranThe talk with Tru’s brother and Cindy went better than I expected. David didn’t seem to make any progress, but I convinced Bill that Cindy wanted to hurt Tru without a doubt. He slid his phone to me and asked if I would take a picture of Cindy’s face while he pretended to scold Tru.When Tru realized her father wasn’t upset with her, I felt the tension leave her body. I think she knew Cindy poisoned the relationship between her and David but didn’t expect that Cindy also wanted to ruin her relationship with her parents.Once we get back into Tru’s room to pack our things, I ask, “Do you have anything of significant value in your room? Jewels, family heirlooms, or anything that someone would want to steal?”Tru thinks for a moment, “No. I have my grandmother’s pink pearls, but they are in my mother’s safety deposit box. Outside of the necklace you made me, my other jewelry is only wort
The room is pitch black. There is no light anywhere. I hear something creak, but I can’t look around or figure its direction. Footsteps shuffle closer, but I can’t tell where they are.Suddenly, I feel something pierce my chest. It’s painful. I try to scream, but nothing comes out when I open my mouth. I begin to feel cold and can’t move my body. It sounds like someone is crying, but I can’t hear them. Between the cold and pain, I can’t focus on anything else. It becomes difficult to breathe. I start gasping for air and struggle for the slightest bit of oxygen.My eyes pop open, and I try to catch my breath. I sit up in bed and pull the blanket tighter around me. Looking over at the clock, I find it is only one in the morning. I let out a sigh and lay back down in hopes of trying to fall back asleep.The lighting crystals on my nightstand are flashing red. Concerned, I pick them up, “What’s wrong?”One
TaranI add the lavender to the potion and watch as it changes the color into a glowing blue. I take a small vial and place it next to the others. They are all different healing remedies. I’m not sure which, if any, will help Alice. Nothing I found in the spellbooks or potion recipes sounds like her illness. So, I made different potions hoping a combination would work.I haven’t told Tru about trying to save her mother. Seeing her heartbreak when she heard about Alice hurt me in a way I’ve never felt before. Tru is close with her mother, and I want to give her more time with Alice. But I don’t want to give her false hope. I don’t want to make her believe there is a chance if this doesn’t work. Nothing I found matches what Alice needs, but I’m hoping the use of healing multiple parts cures her.I cross-checked everything to make sure the different medicines wouldn’t counter each other. Looking over at my gem, I ques
TaranI wake to find myself on the couch with Tru. Checking the time, it’s around four in the morning. I pick Tru up and take her to bed. The lighting crystal gets my attention. Picking them up, I ask, “What’s wrong?” To my surprise, they both flash red. Surprised, I ask, “Is Tru in danger?” They flash. “Was someone lurking around here?” The crystals flash twice.Okay, so no one is physically around trying to hurt Tru. “Is she cursed?” The crystals flash twice again. “Are the answers in my cove?” They flash once. I nod. It’s time for me to go and figure out what’s happening.I write Tru a note, telling her how much I love her and return tomorrow. Then I head towards the place I typically shift. The sun is just starting to rise, so I know that I must hurry. After shifting, I quickly flew towards the area of my second home, my hiding place.My mind races with questions about
Bryan’s mother gives the tailor a disapproving look, “Can’t you make her look a little more regal?”The tailor looks at her, “We can elongate the coat to make her seem taller and use a skirt instead of slacks, or we could try a dress?”“No, the straight dresses make her loose her shape. Her body is just so awkward. I’m not sure how to dress it. We need her to be seen as a wise and regal leader. No one will think that is she continues dressing like a broke college student.”The tailor nods and goes into the back to find more clothes. Looking at me, Bryan’s mother says, “Next, we need to work on your hair. It clearly doesn’t matter how often we go to the salon; you can’t style it yourself.”“Charlotte, I will never live by your standards. It doesn’t matter how many outfits you have, the pack makes me, or how many times you do my hair. I will always be this way.” I tell Bryan’s mom.She lets out a sigh, “I’m only trying to help how you are viewed.”“You’re trying to turn me into you,” I
“Tru? Are you home?” I hear Bryan call.“I’m in the office!” I reply. I’m stacking small rocks that I turned from paper. It is about twelve rocks high when Bryan enters.“You ready to go….” Bryan looks around, “Tru, is there a little green guy helping you? Are you wearing him like a backpack?”My concentration breaks and the rocks fall. “Look if that were the case, I would go find the dragons and say, this isn’t the sorceress you’re looking for.”Bryan smiles, “You are fighting against an evil emperor.”I pause for a moment and think, “Is the Dragon King evil? You never talk about him, no one does. I heard he got rid of the hunters and most of the vampires. Doesn’t that make him good?”Bryan shrugs, “He killed a lot of my friends. Have you forgotten that they killed your family?”The truth is I had forgotten. It isn’t real to me that my family is dead. Somehow, I’m lying to myself about it. I missed everyone’s funeral and Bryan won’t take me to the cemetery, so I have nothing to prove
Bryan and I head to a private elevator and take it up to the top floor. I notice Bryan looking slightly anxious, but he doesn’t say anything. As we reach our floor and step out, Bryan looks upset. I hear him mumble, “She better not do what I think she’s doing.”I am about to ask what he means as he opens the door to our home and a group of people yell surprise. I freeze and look around. None of these faces look familiar, yet all look happy to see me. A banner hangs reading, “Welcome home Luna”. Bryan’s mother suddenly appears, she hugs me tightly and welcomes me home. I am not sure what to say or do. Everything feels overwhelming. Who are these people? Why are they here? Why does nothing seem familiar?Bryan looks slightly annoyed at his mother, “I told you not to do this. Tru doesn’t remember anything. This is probably really overwhelming for her.”I squeeze his hand, thanking him for standing up for m
Bryan still isn’t back when I finish in the bath. After drying off and wrapping a robe around me, I go to find some clothes. Walking to the closet, Bryan said was mine, I found some of my old clothes, but almost everything was new. The clothes look expensive and more of Bryan’s mother’s style, not mine.Why is everything her style? Nothing here looks like something I would pick. The furniture, the clothes, even the bedding. I find an old pair of leggings and a T-shirt, then walk to the room Bryan told me was my office. There are four spell books on the glass desk. I hate the look of the desk, it will show fingerprints. I pick up one of the books and start flipping through the pages. I find it strange that there are no notes or marked pages.I pick up the second book and am surprised that there are notes, but not in my hand. The handwriting is that of a man and seems old. Curiously, I follow the directions for the hand motions and see a pink smoke illu
“She’s waking up, someone go get the doctor! Tru, baby, are you there?” My eyes slowly open to a hospital room, and Bryan stands over me. “Tru, you’re finally awake,” he says with a smile.A doctor rushes in and asks me, “Luna, how are you feeling?” he shines a light in my eyes as he continues to speak, “Do you have any pain?”I blink a few times, then ask, “Where am I?”Bryan smiles at me, “You are at the pack hospital.”“I’m where?” I ask, confused.The doctor interrupts, “What is the last thing you remember?”I pause momentarily, “The last thing I remember is being on the fairy to Scotland.”Bryan looks at the doctor, “Will she get her memory back?”The doctor shakes his head, “I am not sure. We will run some tests.” With that, the doctor leaves.Bryan sits next to me, taking my hand. I notice a ring on my finger. Confused, I ask, “What happened?”Looking at me with concern, Bryan says, “You were in an accident. We weren’t sure if you were going to wake.”“Was anyone else hurt?” I
Taran and I pull up to my father’s house. As we enter the house, I hear a voice, “Tru, come here. We can bring everything back the way it was!”I give Taran an odd look, “Do you recognize that voice?”Taran shakes his head, “No, but I hear its call.”“Whose call?” I ask, confused.Taran looks worried, “The stone. It is awake.”I feel a lump in my throat, “It wants us to bring everything back.”“Don’t Tru. We can convince it to keep things the way they are now,” Taran says in a plea.I shake my head, “It is too late. I brought everything back when my magic awoke. There is nothing we can do.”“I won’t lose you, Tru. You’re mine.”The same voice whispers, “I have a plan. We need all the dragons to restore the kingdom. I know how to keep them away from you.”Curious, I leave my room and get the stone out of its box. It is no longer black but glowing orange. Softly, I ask, “What is your plan?”“We hide you. I will block your memories of Taran. Then you can relearn your magic, then we out t
Taran squeezes my hand as we listen to the officiant speak. The room is full, and people are standing in the back. Some drove across the country to say their goodbyes. Looking at my mother in the casket gives me an odd feeling. It almost feels like I’ve gone numb. The woman lying there doesn’t even look like my mother.My brothers and I all decided to let Mike speak. We agreed on a story for him to tell while he gives her eulogy. I feel like it was the right decision for Mike to speak. I don’t think I can get words out now.As the officiant finishes, he asks if anyone would like to share stories about my mother. At least eight people share stories. Some of them were friends, some cousins, former co-workers, and the rest were from her support group. Cindy then stands and walks up to the stand. “Alice always gave the best advice. She felt more like my mother than my mother-in-law. Any time I had an issue, we would sit and talk. Alice gave me advice on everything from how to handle thing
I sit on the edge of my mother’s hospital bed. They called her time of death two hours ago. My mother went on bypass yesterday afternoon. When the hospital asked us to leave because visiting hours had ended, my mother squeezed my hand when I told her goodbye. Then when we arrived this morning, I knew she was gone. I no longer felt her presence in the room.“Dove,” Taran’s gentle voice pulls me from my thoughts. I look at him and see another man standing behind him, “They need to take Alice downstairs.”I nod and stand. Taran quickly pulls me to him. We leave the room and join my dad and brothers in a lobby area. “Are you okay, Tru?” Dave asks when we sit down.I nod, “We knew this day was coming. I will miss her, but at least she isn’t sick anymore.”“We barely left her side the past two weeks,” Dave says lightly. “I’m not sure how to go back to day-to-day life.”“The house felt empty last night without mom there,” Mike says with tears, “I’m not sure how I will step foot in there agai
I sit next to my mom, holding her hand. She fell asleep talking, and I hadn’t wanted to leave yet. Her fingers feel cold, and her skin feels thin.Taran stands in the doorway, “I made you some food. Please come eat. Your mother needs to rest.”I shake my head, “We were in the middle of a conversation. She was telling me about her childhood. I want to be here when she wakes up. Besides, I’m not hungry.”I can hear the desperation in Taran’s voice, “Tru, you haven’t eaten or slept in the past three days. Please, come eat. Your father won’t let me bring it here.”“What if she wakes up while I’m gone?” I tell him through tears.“Your mother will call if she wakes. Her phone is right next to her.” Seeing that I’m not moving, Taran offers, “I will stay with her if you want. Please go eat something.” Taran walks over and kneels beside me, “Tru, I’m worried about you. I don’t believe you are thinking clearly. Your mom is tired. She’s pushing herself while she is awake to speak with you. Look