Scarlet's Daughter

Chapter 7: The Gifts

    I inhaled deeply, it was one the one scent I could never forget. s**t, s**t, s**t, forget the berries. I hastingly speed walk away being careful of where I stepped. The closer I got to home, the more the scent dissipated. This isn't good.  When I finally got home I locked the door and checked on the cake, it was done. So I put a hot pad down on the kitchen table and placed the cake on the pad. After, turning off the oven I ran down stairs to my bedroom and put on my special deodorant. Years back I was unable to cover my scent, but I've since perfected it. I've made sure Annie and I use it everyday. I've also managed to make the deodrant an incent too; so I've been burning it in the house for a few years now. 

    I began pacing back and forth talking to myself "I cannot believe I was so stupid to not reject him when I survived after what they did to me. I was certain that he would have rejected me even after discarding like trash... Oooh what should I do?!??! What should I do?!?! He probably thought that I died in the river...That would have severed the bond, that makes sense." Ugh I hate myself, but if I reject him now I won't be able smell him close by... What time is it? 

    I look over at my alarm clock on my nightstand, 12:45 pm. s**t, Annie and Kim are gonna be here soon... Should I just cancel? No that would raise suspicion... again I'm pacing my bedroom. Crap, I haven't finished the cake!!! I run up the two flights of stairs to the kitchen. Now lets see, so the whole cake is gonna be a deep navy blue with golden borders. Then topping it off with plastic sparkly golden numbers of 1 & 8. 

    I just got done turning off the lights when the house phone rang, which conveniently was next to the phone. I picked up the phone, "hello?" I answer. 

"Hey mom it's Kim, just calling to let you know that Annie is on her way home. She left about 10 minutes ago, so she should be there in 20 minutes or sooner." Kim says sounding sad.

 "What's the matter Kim?" I ask, "my dad came home this morning drunk as a skunk, and my mother has had it with him... she's down at the courthouse getting divorce papers." Kim's voice is breaking and is sobbing uncontrollably. "I mean I know she's doing the right thing. After all these years he's cheated on her, raised his hand on her and myself. An now he's drinking away mom's money and paying for s*x from others. I hear that it doesn't even matter what gender.... It's just upsetting cause I had hopes that he would change...I guess not... anyway I'm gonna stay with my mom and give her some emotional support. I'm sorry I won't be coming over for Annie's birthday." 

"No need to apologize dear! I hope you and your mother heal from your situation and don't forget to reach out to us for ANYTHING. I mean it, you girls can come and live here for while or I can help financially. I'm ALWAYS here to help you NO MATTER WHAT." I say matter of factly, "thank you, I've gotta go my mom is back. Love you, bye." Kim says in a rushed whisper. Poor girl, I hope everything gets better soon. 

    After putting the phone back on the wall I took a seat at the kitchen table. Annie should be here any second and probably wont be in the mood to celebrate. As if right on schedule a knock came from the door. Before answering it I took a big sniff to smell if it was my horrid mate, but instead smelt nothing. Good, it's just Annie. Although, just to make sure I slowly move the leaves that hide the peep hole and there stands my Annie. I quickly went back to the table and lit the candles. Then, I went back the door and unlocked it, opened it, allowed Annie to walk inside, and shut the door behind her screaming "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!". Poor Annie wasn't ready and screamed falling to the floor, I began to burst out laughing. "MOTHER!! Give me a heart attack why don't you?!?!?" Annie scolds me, making me laugh harder. 

    I finally get a grip of myself, "I'm sorry dear. Why not make a wish dear, and I'll tell you more about our wolf ways." I help her off the floor and to the cake in which out of traditional habit Annie closes her eye for a few seconds, opens them, and immediately blows out her candles leaving us in complete darkness. "So what did you wish for?" I ask her as I start feeling for the light switch, "I can't tell you or else it won't come true." she says and I find and flip the light switch just in time to see Annie finishing rolling her eyes at me. This girl, where does this attitude come from! 

    I shake my head at her, and began removing the candles from the cake. "Pour yourself a drink, I'll bring your slice to you." I say to Annie as I'm cutting her a piece, " Alright, I'll go put on a movie!" Annie replies going to the cabinets above the sink pulling down a glass cup. Annie proceeds to the fridge and pours herself a glass of milk, "would you like a glass too??" Annie asks. "Yes, thank you." I reply, putting a slice on my plate. With Annie carrying both glasses down stairs to the living room, I stayed back till she turned on the lights downstairs. Using my elbow I turned off the kitchen light knowing well that it's still bright outside as it was still only 2 in the afternoon, but in the kitchen it's pitch black other than the faint light coming from downstairs. I pray my horrid mate doesn't find us, Lord knows what he'll do.

    So making my way to the living room, I find Annie had picked out her favorite Disney movie 'Beauty and the Beast' my daughter will always be my princess. I sigh at her lovingly and watch her bring out two dinner tables setting the glasses of milk on the tables. "Young at heart." I say to her as I place her piece of cake in front of her, and mine on the other table. "Oh crap I almost forgot about your presents!!" I exclaim and rushed downstairs to my bedroom. As soon as I'm in my room I immediately go for my closet pulling out two of the presents. Next I go under my bed pulling out the three other gifts. Heavens know I couldn't put all the presents together. Annie has been very sneaky every year the day before her birthday to figure out what her presents are. I chuckle to myself, I'm gonna miss my little princess. With that I quickly stack the presents and carry them up stairs to the living room. 

    As soon as Annie say me she immediately started the movie. "Alright my dear, after cake," bending over putting the presents in front of her "open presents! I'm excited to see your reaction!!" I say while taking my seat next to her. After finishing our cake and glass of milk, Annie makes a move to open her presents. Over these past couple of years I've been dreading this day; she'll soon have to leave me and find her destined mate. These past couple of years have been great though! I've had no worries... well there was that time she got her period at school and could have shifted there, but didn't!! In these few years though, I've come across a few actual witches and have made friends with them. So these gifts make look like normal gifts but they're anything but ordinary. 

    Before Annie could choose which present to open, I made her open the one that was exposed on one end. "what is this?" she asks, lifting the open up and delicately ripping it. "You don't have to be so delicate, and I'm not telling you!" I say with a huge smile on my face as I seem Annie's eye open wide with excitement. Annie quickly removes the wrapping paper, revealing a stunningly glittered periwinkle blue ball gown with a halter neckline. "Oh my gosh MOM!!!! It's beautiful, although this is A LOT of glitter!" Annie says while further examining the dress, " IT HAS POCKETS!!!!!!" she squeals with excitement, I know she isn't a big fan of glitter but this dress was absolutely gorgeous. "The best part about this dress is that it can change into any dress your heart desires and it will even shrink for easy travel!" I say smiling widely at her, I'm so happy she loves it! "How?" she asks in amazement, "magic! Now open the others!" I say clapping my hands together.

    The next present I let her pick, a small box with ribbon around it. The small box is identical to two others, I know she's gonna love all her presents. All of them has magic properties. Again, Annie was taking her time opening being very delicate. "Annie, you aren't gonna break anything." I say chuckling and shaking my head at her. When she finally opened the box, she took out a beautiful gold locket. "Wow, mom, this is beautiful!" Annie exclaims "open it." I tell her knowing well she's gonna love the present even more. Annie opens the locket to a picture of her, Kim, and I at our favorite vacation spot; Wild Wood, New Jersey. Annie had begged me to take her and Kim last summer. Which to be honest it didn't take much begging. I remember Annie saying it was the best day of her life, so I knew I had to put the memory in the locket. 

    Annie leans over and gives me a tight hug, "thank you, mom." she says as I see tears forming in her eyes. "No crying," I hug her tighter "this gift can change its appearance to silver just by thinking of the color." I tell her letting her go from my hug, "yes, I know we are allergic to silver, but this is magic. It will always be gold, but once you decide it to be silver it will look like it is. Also the locket is werewolf lifeproof, so you can even shift with it on. " I smile as she looks at me with astonishment, "where and how are you getting me magical gifts. You don't actual magic do you?" Annie asks me as she's putting on her new locket. "I've made a few friends over the years, living in the forest." I tell her with a smirk bending over and handing her another small box. 

    Annie takes no time opening this one, picking up on that every gift might be enchanted. She quickly reveals a diamond bracelet with a sapphire jewel in the center. "That bracelet is like the locket, the diamonds can be made to look like any jewel you want. Either by jewel name or color, even change the shape of the jewel as well! The sapphire jewel will always remain in the center and the only time it will change color is when there is trouble within 3 miles away. The closer the danger the deeper shade of blue it will get. When it's so blue that it's black is when you are standing right next to them. This bracelet will also hide your scent from anyone except me and your mate." I smile at her and put the bracelet on her wrist, right away it when from light blue to a cobalt blue. "Mom, that's not good." Annie says as her voice wavers, "it's okay just keep an eye on it, now open your last two presents." I gave her a reassuring smile and leaned over picking up the last small box. Annie opens it and pulls out a detailed gold ring with a small diamond in the center. "Oh, wow." Annie whispers to herself, "this right can do the same as the locket, but has magical properties specific to its owner. So you'll have to find out what this ring does for you." I winked at her grabbing the last gift for her to open.

    Annie quickly removes the ribbon and wrapping paper. Once she opens the box she stands up presenting one of the black and white, high top All Star shoes above her head, like how Rafiki held Simba in 'The Lion King'. "YES!" Annie yells and quickly falls to the floor hastingly taking off her current shoes and replacing them with her new ones. "These shoes are like your dress, they can change to any style and color. Also these shoes make no sound." I say laughing at the shocked face Annie makes while walking around making no sound at all. "These are the best gifts EVER!!!" Annie yells with excitement and runs over to me bombarding me with possibly the strongest hug that could beat an anaconda. When Annie finally let go I caught a glimpse of Annie's bracelet, the sapphire was almost black.