Chapter three
1135 Words
“Be fast with it, Shilah! You’re so slow” Ina rasped from the table where she sat.
“She walks like a snail….”
The 23 years old Shilah said nothing as she climbed down the creaky stairs to the archaic dinning where the rest of her family sat comfortably, some already eating. Dressed in drabs of grey, she almost felt like an outsider to the family as her sisters were looking much better than she was.
Round white eyes with grey balls were her unique features which complimented her round shaped face and longer hair. Despite how tired and weary she looked, anyone could see the underlying beauty in it all. .
“I hope you added enough sauce to it?” The other asked, but the naive Shilah said nothing, still.
Her eyes were lowered to the floor as she walked towards the dining which was surrounded by 6 people – her father, mother, three step sisters and just one step brother.
“Sorry I took long. Had to heat it up” Shilah said as she finally stood in front of the dining and Ina – who’d requested for the sauce
– snatched it roughly from her.
“You should be sorry” Ina cut her eyes heaven ward and started eating, a bristle of her hair flopping over her left eye.
There were about seven seats in all round the table, just 6 were occupied, but Shilah knew the 7th seat wasn’t for her.
“I think that is all. You can leave”. Her step mother suddenly said, signalling Shilah to leave. And with humility, she bowed and started walking away.
“Why doesn’t she just join us? At least, for today?” Vanessa – her second sister – asked and Shilah stopped walking, waiting to hear a response.
Eating with them… that would have been nice.
“What is wrong with you, Vanessa? Why would she eat with us? This is a table meant for Mountain Lions – not an empty lady, posing as one” Ina snapped in, her words tearing Shilah’s heart apart.
“Ina….!”
“What?” She scoffed. “I didn’t tell a lie, did I? It’s the popular bitter truth. Shilah’s the only WOLF who hasn’t shifted. She’s the only WOLF who doesn’t have a single ability. She’s just dumb – like a mere human. If it isn’t for the fact that father claims she’s the daughter of his first wife, I’d have sworn she’s not from this family – not from the lineage of the wolves!”
“That’s enough, Ina”. Their father chipped in and turned to Shilah who was now looking pale.
“You should leave”.
And with a tight gulp, she turned around and resumed walking away.
Vanessa’s mood had gone ruined as she lowered her head to the floor. She couldn’t understand why her family’s been treating Shilah that way ever since her mother died. She didn’t deserve such hatred from them; she should be treated as a member of the family.
Shilah’s heart was so heavy; her eyes glistened with tears she wasn’t ready to let out. She had to walk carefully for fear of tripping. It wasn’t the first time she was getting bullied by her family, it wasn’t the first time she was getting insulted, but each time, they hurt differently.
“What’s wrong with you, Pia? You’ve be been looking uneasy” she heard her step mother say from behind.
She didn’t bother turning to look at them as she could still hear them clearly.
“I…. I think I’ll be fine. I just feel a little sick”. Pia answered dazily.
That was the youngest daughter of the house.
The staircase was a little far from where she was, but she didn’t bother hearing any of their conversations until she’d finally gotten to the staircase and took it fraily.
She headed for the kitchen first, took her meal and proceeded to her snug, lonely room.
It wasn’t like the usual kind of room where you’d see a cool bed, a closet, some arranged chairs and a bed. Hell no. The only good thing Shilah had in her room was her bed.
Her appetite had completely gone cold. So, she dropped the wooden plate of meal on the table and went to the bed to sit.
One good thing she loved about her bed, it was so close to the window and gave her the privilege to enjoy some cool air from it.
She stared out the window for sometime, wishing her worries could just blow along with the wind, but sadly they couldn’t.
Alas, she only had one friend – just one person she could talk to.
She turned away from the window to the bed, taking up the doll lying await.
Yeah, that was the only friend she had – a doll; a toy.
She smiled as she stroke it’s yellow scanty hair. It’s fake eyes were staring at her. Well, maybe not at her, but she wanted to believe it was staring at her.
“They wouldn’t let me eat with them at the dining today – as usual” she continued.
“Vanessa had tried convincing them….but they wouldn’t listen.”
She paused and exhaled deeply.
“Why am I so unfortunate?” She asked, her voice cracking a little.
“I wish…. I wish someone could explain it to me; explain why I’m the only one without my wolf abilities – why I’m a wolf, yet don’t feel like one. Am I cursed or something?”
She paused and sniffed.
“I wish mother was alive; maybe I wouldn’t have to go through these….”.
The door suddenly went open with Ina barging in.
Shilah was taken abacked. Why the sudden entrance? Was she done eating already?
Ina had a scrawl on her face as she glared at Shilah who was still holding the doll in her hand.
“Is there a… problem?” Shilah decided to ask.
“Even if there were a problem, you can never be my problem” Ina scoffed.
“Anyway, just came over to tell you to get ready because you’ll be accompanying me to the market to get some food stuff since the Alpha King has declared a *No Movement Day* tomorrow. Don’t keep me waiting”.
And with that, she turned around and left.
The Alpha King – Shilah thought while staring down at her doll.
The All Superior Alpha – the one every breathing soul around the mountain fears.
She wondered what was going on the following day and why the Alpha was declaring a “No – Movement Day* A day everyone would stay in doors without stepping out completely.
- Writer
