Staying The Night.

     "Aislaine! I'm relieved you found me. I was worried you'd get lost, I had forgotten about your sense of smell though. So, dear, I see you've found your bags. Your dress is still in the wash though, do you want to stay a bit longer?"

          "I really should be getting home. It's late and my friend is expecting me. I have to put in the application thing in the morning. Dinner was fantastic. I truly do appreciate all you have done for me today. We will have to do something again soon."

           "Oh come off it. You can at least stay the night." She dismisses me. "I've got spare rooms." I am dying inside to protest, but I decide to play along where I can sneak out with their guards down. Why is it so important that I stay? Does this have to do with Alec and her wise ideas?

         "Only tonight. I have to be gone early morning."

         "Deal. Now then, take your bags back up the stairs. I'll show you to a room." She stalks my heels as I make my way back up, plotting my escape all the while.

           She ushers me into the guest room, right beside of Alec's. Once inside she tells me about how to operate the appliances again, and how delighted she is to keep me. She leaves after taking a while to dote on me and while I am grateful, I am suspicious. Something is off here. What does she want from me, outside of what I've already suspected? I try the window, testing how to open it, when Moira knocks again and opens the door.

           "I brought you some snacks, some flavored waters, and of course a little robe. You'll be so cute and cozy." I tilt my head awkwardly and wait for her to close the door.

            I hear nothing. I have no clue where the humans here stay, but I can't hear them either. I eagerly devour the snacks, slightly grimacing at the sweet and sticky gooey candy that sticks my teeth together. Delicious, but annoying. I pick up the bag to examine it and another morsel.

           "A gummy bear. You are fruity. You taste nothing like a real bear, but you are cute." I jab it onto the tip of a claw and turn it to admire the adorable little yellow bear. I eat him whole, taking no time to chew the others and I sniff the bag and enjoy the scent. I wonder if Remus would have liked these? He loved fruits and would often share his beloved peaches with me.

        I break from thought to explore the room more. Checking everything. Smelling everything. Picking things that smell like confections, but tastes of poison. I wrinkle my nose at them. After trying on the robe, and changing from my clothing. It is warm, and thevtag says velvet. It's plush and pink, and for a moment it makes me feel silly. It reminds me that I'm an outsider here, and that thus life among mortals that I wanted to experience isn't me. I pause by the window, bags in hand, and I hold the satchel with Remus's ashes in the bag.

         "Something bothering you?" I startle but then regain my composure.

         "So, you just appear in rooms that aren't yours now?" He smirks and shrugs.

          "My house. You never answered my question."

          "No. Everything is fine." He softly chuckles.

          "Biggest lie woman kind has ever told. Your blood, it thruns so fast in your veins. Little heart just pounds. Your shoulders are tight. Eyes are tired. Stressed. You are definitely stressed. Now, let me try again, what is bothering you?"

         He moves to the window by my side and we look out together. The moon is full, bright and round. Few stars can be seen, and I distract myself by looking for constellations that I know. His presence is begrudgingly comforting now. He makes no moves, all trace of smugness gone. I observe his body language from the corner of my eye, long enough to tell that he is genuinely curious and so I give somewhat of an answer.

        "Overwhelmed. So overwhelmed. So much to learn, do, take in and so little time. I'm starting starting to realize I've biten off more than I can chew here."

         "Nonsense. You might be overwhelmed, but you are flexible. Adaptive. You've managed to survive this long, and you are smart enough to try to learn customs and blend. I'd say you are handling things well, but you have to give it time. It's like 'culture shock' and in time you will feel at home here." He squeezes my shoulder.

         "Thank you. I truly hope so. I am definitely in the culture shock."

         "You don't have to use 'the' there. It sounds a bit mechanical. Listen to how the humans speak, and learn their flow and lingo. You'll get it. Now, mind to tell me why you are trying to sneak out?"

         "I'm paranoid, alright? It has nothing to do with anybody here, but most everyone who's ever attempted to help me has wanted something. I-I just don't understand what your mother wants. It makes me nervous."

         "So that's it? Not the fact that you are in a coven of vampires for your first time? Sometimes, Aislaine, people really do have good intentions. Mother is just...ah...well..." He grabs my wrist and gently ushers me to sit at the beds edge with him. It is soft. I had not tested it out yet.

           "Mother always has been odd for our kind. She likes other species, she finds the beauty in them. She likes other females, and a lifetime of mostly male company has made her desire a daughter. She could not have another child after me, despite trying, so she has taken to playing match maker. I think it is a round about way to get the daughter she wanted, and maybe the wolf too. She has always wanted a wolf." The last part does nothing to settle me.

          "What kind of wolf are we speaking of?"

          "A werewolf. I blame it on 'Wolfman'. She has greatly romanticized werewolves, and believes they are the most dedicated of lovers. Mates in their case."

         "Wolfman? Not all of us have mates though. Some bloodlines have destined mates, others take up a mate." I try to explain.

          "I've heard. So, the big question is, which are you? Who, is that male that I've detected on you?" I'm caught off guard, and I start to deflect before I realize that he wouldn't give up without an answer. I can tell by his eyes.

          "My kind has no given mate. We choose. That make was to be my chosen." I clutch the satchel, and he gives an understanding nod as he pieces it together.

          "And this is his tooth?" He brushes the large canine against my chest. "He must've been a big wolf." I smile.

          "He shifted his snout while in his human, and he pulled it out bare handed for me to keep."

          "Bad ass guy. I thought Vincent Van Gogh was dedicated..." I tilt my head.

           "Famous artist, cut off his ear for a woman." He generalizes. A silence falls between us.

            "So, I'm not supposed to tell you this, but mom really would like to see your wolf. She cornered me about hearing me mention your wolf when I found you in my room. If it's not totally degrading and weird, could you maybe let her see?"

            It is a bit strange and I feel a little small about it, but I decide to play on her good side. She has offered so much to me, and helped me. I am sure I can survive, but I still intend to keep my eye on them and maybe abandon them later. Alec steers me by my shoulders as he takes me through the house and then out the back to find Moira. She and Charles sit on a bench by a rose bush, illuminated by the moonlight. She notices us instantly and her grin is frightening wide.

         "Aislaine! Alec! Join us. We were just enjoying the night and sounds."

         "The mosquitoes are actually buzzing me. Do you believe this?" Charles scoffs as Moira shins him.

          "What brings you two out here?" Alec gives me a knowing look, and I step in to save him.

          "It's a full moon, my limbs are restless. Do you mind if I shift out here to stretch for a moment?" Her eyes gleam with excitement and she nods.

           I go behind a shrubby plant, opposite of them to remove my robe. Moira rushes to me and peers over the edge, so I shift to let her watch the process as I know that is what she was anticipating. As soon as I am finished, I give her a wolfie smile. She returns it and inches forward tp touch my face. She parts hair, inspects eys, feels the cold of my nose. I open my mouth and step out so she can explore my teeth. She prickly her finger to test them, and she pets along my neck and ears.

        "Magnificent. Just as perfect in your wolf as you are your lady. What is it like to transition?"

         "Thank you." I project. "The first couple shifts are agonizing, but it quickly becomes nature." I scoot my nose under her arm and nudge her.

         "You can't be serious!" I nudge her again and she gleefully climbs my back. "Charles, look! I can't believe I'm doing this."

           She holds tightly and I walk around as a horse would, letting her get used to being back there. Alec is entertained, and watches beside Charles who has no clue how to react. Once she's got the hang of holding, I gently begin to maneuver myself up large trees nearby and even up their house. I go across the roof and dive down. I instruct her to hold my neck and I run, turning quickly and twisting in air. I slash a few slight pines down, with ease. I letvher down to inspect the claws for a moment while she takes everything in. She hugs around my neck and kisses my nose. I shift back for her behind the bush, and I stall it as much as possible so she can observe this part too. We talk for a bit outside, Charles actually communicating with me now as well. I can hardly believe when he calls me by name to ask about my pack life.

           "We basically live like what a human told me earlier is 'old fashioned. We hunt and grow what we eat. We typically go bare, no clothing to accommodate quicker shifting. We had huts and the like, alpha and famikies of rank had cabins. We don't have these technologies and vehicles. Only our elders traveled out every so often to human territories for occassional supplies. Today was actually the first day I ever used a shower. I typically just bathe I creeks. It's all very overwhelming."

          "So today is the first day you ever washed?" Alec blurts. I roll my eyes.

          "No. The first day I used a human shower, weirdo."

          "Alec, how do you think we bathed back in the day?" Charles inquires.

          "Your father and I took many a cold, miserable rain or creek bath when there was no wells."

           "Not an image I want in my brain, guys." I simply grin.

          "Better than those elders, in the circle?" I twirl my finger for emphasis.

          "I'm going to pretend I never heard that. So Aislaine, are you actually going to stay the night? Or are you just going to go sneak out the window?" I blush and look away,

          "Aislaine?" Moira asks. I sigh.

          "I caught her red handed."

           "I'm sorry. I was nervous and didn't want to overstay my welcome."

           "Ridiculous. I want you here. We like you. You've nowhere else to stay, and a big day tomorrow right? Spend the night. Get ready here."

           "If you insist. Thank you."

           I shake off any lingering paranoia I have and decide that it is probably safer here than in the abandoned house that anyone else could roam into. I follow our scent back through the house to my room as we depart from Charles and Moira. Alec bids me farewell for the night at my door, and while I'm not sure what they do in place of sleep, I know I am dying to test out that bed, all it's blankets and puffy squares.

            Once relieved of Alec, I shut the door and shed the robe, snuggling deep under the stack of blankets. I roll for a few minutes, inhaling everything and enjoying the feeling of the materials against me. I place the satchel against my chest so I can curl around it, and I shut off my wandering mind. Whatever happens tomorrow happens. All I can do is try. Soon, I drift off ironically to the best sleep I have had since Remus was alive. I never realized beds were this incredible.