Blood and Silver: First Bite

A New Home

The move was harder than Abigail had anticipated, and she gained a better understanding of her mother’s initial reluctance.

It was, indeed, a 4 hour drive. She was tired and uncomfortable, the rest stop bathrooms made her gag. They didn’t own much, so their belongings easily fit into Laura’s old, beat up station wagon, which Laura was eternally grateful for, as there was no way that she could afford a moving truck to transport their belonging.

She knew that the house came fully furnished, which meant that she could leave behind the old, beat up couch from the apartment that she’d found in a dumpster one year. It had always had an awful smell, no matter how she had tried to clean it. This was going to be a fresh start, in every sense of the word.

To her surprise, Laura’s boss had given her a final paycheque with double her usual pay.

‘Use it to start a better life for that little one of yours’ he’d said. Most of it went towards fuel for the car, but it took one big worry off Laura’s plate. Of course the handover had happened to great fanfare, with a local reporter documenting the entire transaction, and a headline in the local paper about the ‘Saviour of the Community’ helping a young mother to secure a better future for her daughter.

Mrs Smirnova had been kind and generous with Abigail in her last days with her, and spoken to her more in that last week than she had in Abigail’s entire life. She told her stories of werewolves and witches, and made her stories exciting and very theatrical. It was as if she had changed into a different person overnight.

‘I will miss you, child.’ She said, patting Abigail’s head. She handed Abigail a small box. ‘This will keep you safe on your travels. Wear it always and do not forget this grumpy old woman!’

Abigail opened the box, and inside was a necklace with a strange pendant. It seemed to be some kind of white stone, and as she examined it, it seemed to have a red sheen at certain angles. The stone was encased in a silver claw, and was on a silver chain that was far too big for a child. Abigail did as she was told and put the necklace on, tucking the pendant under her shirt.

‘Thank you, Mrs Smirnova. I love it!’ Abigail said. She really did. It was a beautiful piece of jewellery, and the first jewellery she had ever owned. She promised to never remove the necklace, and intended to stick to that promise.

To Mrs Smirnova’s surprise, Abigail gave her a big hug and ran off to the car, where her mother was waiting. The old woman sighed and wiped a single tear from her eye. ‘Be safe child,’ she whispered to herself. ‘You are going home.’

‘Thank you for everything, Mrs Smirnova!’ Called Laura, and Mrs Smirnova gave her a small nod and a wave, and headed back inside her apartment.

‘Are you ready?’ Laura asked.

‘Let’s go mom!’ Said Abigail. ‘No more rent!’

Laura chuckled and they set off on their way. It was a long journey, and Abigail fell asleep soon after they set off, waking from time to time when the car stopped, so that she could take a bathroom break at a rest stop, and grumbling until she drifted back to sleep.

Her mother woke her up after what seemed like the best nap of her life.

‘Welcome to Moonshadow Falls, Abbie. We’re almost at the house!’ Laura said.

Abigail looked around and saw lots of little houses, people walking their dogs and children riding their bicycles in the street. It was so different to what she was used to. Something about this town seemed magical, and she grinned excitedly at her mother.

‘This is it’ said Laura, as they pulled into the driveway. There was a black car already parked there, and as they pulled up, a smartly dressed man got out of the car and waited for them.

‘Come in baby, mommy has to sign some papers but you can go and look at the yard. You need to stretch your legs after that long drive. I used to love playing here when we came to Auntie Linda’s. I remember swinging for hours in the tyre swing when I was your age.’ she said.

Abigail got out of the car and looked around. The house seemed huge. It was a beige, single story, stand-alone house. There were creepers growing up the side of the house with big, purple flowers, and a yard that stretched right around the house.

She took a run out to the back of the house, briefly hearing her mother speak to the man at the house who was there to sign over ownership and hand over the keys.

The back yard was huge, and there was a big tree with a tyre swing hanging from its main branch. Abigail made a beeline for it, and gleefully started to swing back and forth in the tyre.

She wasn’t outside for long before her mother walked around the corner, jiggling a set of keys from her hand.

‘Ready to see your new home?’ She asked.

Abigail raced towards her, barely able to contain her excitement.

Laura placed the key in the door, turned it and gently pushed it open.

‘Wow!’ She exclaimed. ‘It’s exactly as I remember it.’

Abigail pushed past to see the house. It wasn’t a huge house, but to a seven year old who had only ever seen the insides of one bedroom apartments, it seemed like a castle.

She ran through the house, her mother in awe of things she didn’t care about.

While her mother was excited about the big kitchen with a centre island and gas stove, Abigail was excited with the comfy, sweet smelling couches and what seemed like a massive tv. There were three bedrooms in the house; a large master bedroom with an en suite bathroom, a spare room where Laura slept when she used to stay with her aunt, and a 3rd bedroom that used to be used as Aunt Hazel’s consultation room.

‘This is my room, Abbie.’ Said Laura, pointing to the master bedroom. But you finally have your own room. Do you like it?’ She knew she would likely end up with Abigail in her bed that night, but it felt good to be able to give her daughter her own room.

‘This is the best room ever!’ Abigail said brightly, running into the little room with a big window, pink bedsheets, and a rocking chair in the corner with several teddies stacked neatly on top. Laura smiled, feeling nostalgic about giving her daughter the bedroom that she slept in when she had the happiest memories of her life.

‘I’m glad you like it, kiddo.’ She said. ‘Now let’s get our things out of the car and get unpacked so we can find something to eat!’