Losing The Light Of The Moon

Sometimes It's The Little Things

Chapter 17: Sometimes It’s The Little Things...

TINK

I was always ready to have some fun on the training fields, so when Auntie asked if I would be a part of her team and help her plan some new moves to hit Alpha Soren’s army with, I was excited! There was one aspect, though, I wasn’t sure about—for a lot of reasons...

“I know I said I kinda respected him and will try to go easy on him now, but I don’t know, Auntie,” I sighed, “Do we really have to include Horacio and Umar?”

“I realize it may seem like I’m asking a bit much, but I think putting the four of you together will really make an impact,” Auntie slowly replied, “I don’t know if you remember, but your father, Cyrus, had a similar team with Gavin and Remi’s father, Gareth, Vivian’s father, Fintan, and Jade’s father, Keegan.”

“I remember—the Four Horsemen,” I smirked, laughing out immediately after, “Man, they kicked butt!”

Auntie grinned from ear to ear, “I can’t help but think you four would be just as intimidating and formidable, Tink.”

She was right—I knew she was right—DANG IT!

“Only if Beast agrees too,” I emphatically told her, refusing to admit ideas were already running through my head, “Not sure convincing the other two is going to be easy, though.”

Auntie winked before confidently replying, “I’ll take care of the other two!”

Not long after, the cookies were done—and THEY WERE SO GOOD! And as sweets always help me think, I had come up with several possible maneuvers for the demonstration, making me pretty pumped to get the ball rolling to practice and prepare, especially after I heard everyone else Auntie planned on having on our team if my big guy was cool with it.

As my Beast popped into my mind again, I remembered something else I wanted to talk about with Auntie—and suddenly I felt really nervous, anxiously rambling out, “So, Auntie, I have something else I wanted to ask you. It’s probably going to sound really weird coming from me—and you can tell me if it sounds impossible—”

“I will do anything for you, Tink, and I'm sure between the two of us, its possible,” Auntie sweetly interrupted, “Tell me what I can do for you, my darling.”

Shifting uncomfortably in my chair, I took a deep breath, mustering up all my courage before blurting out, “I wanted to know if you could help me surprise Beast—no dresses, because I don’t do dresses—but something else to change it up a bit?”

As soon as I heard the words fly out of my mouth, I instantly wished I could pull them back in...I’m never going to be girly—no ifs, ands, or buts. But after finding out that huge hunk of testosterone was my mate and I had mushy inside me and stuff? A little change made me happy. I even started letting Charlotte and Constance fix my hair every now and then because I knew how much Beast liked it. His puppy dog eyes always got to me when he would see me afterwards—all fuzzy and stuff—but him being my big ol’ sweet-lovable bear, he let me do that kinda stuff at my own pace, never putting any pressure on me to be anything other than I am...one of the many reasons I love the big guy.

After hearing about the dress party, though, it got me thinking that it might be cool to do a little something to surprise him—but now I felt like thinking about this at all was a big mistake. I reluctantly looked at Auntie, whose smile was now showing me all her pearly whites...hmmm, maybe surprising my big guy was possible...

Auntie’s brown eyes were all sparkly as she clapped her hands and excitedly said, “I think we can not only surprise Beast but surprise you as well, Tink! I have a few ideas already! Nothing too girly, I promise. Let’s see if we can’t do a little something Tink-style before Beast gets back, shall we?”

I didn’t know what to think, but I did like that she nicknamed it ‘Tink-style’. She had me curious about this Tink-style thing and, deep down, I really did want to surprise my Beast. But, could we really get this done before my big guy gets back? I guess since Auntie has magic on her side, we might stand a chance...

**************

PERSEPHONE

Snuggled in against Artem’s solid chest, I silently stared at the fireplace, reflecting on memories from long ago. I felt Artem’s fingers gently running through my short white hair before he softly asked, “What’s going on in my Persephone’s mind?”

“I’m just relishing the fact that I finally know what it feels like to have the love of a good man,” I quickly covered, forcing my voice to sound light and airy, “Though I would have preferred it not to be in our twilight years.”

Artem chuckled out thoughtfully, “I wish the same, but like to think of it as we were both finally ready to open our hearts to love. And as we were friends for many years before we were mates, I know you well enough to know that you, my dear Persephone, are deep in thought over a time in your past that you prefer to keep closed. I can tell from both your silence and your tense muscles.”

Letting out a long sigh, I quietly replied, “I know Tati said it was all harmless—”

“Then it was harmless, Persephone,” Artem gently comforted, tightening his hold around me, “It was so long ago and all forgiven—the Power of Three came out of it stronger than they ever were before—together. But while Reina has made peace with it, you, my beautiful love, have never been able to let go of the guilt you hold so deeply inside you. Throughout it all, Tati’s endless love for you and Reina never went away, as you both convinced yourselves it did. Everything that happened during that time is because of the love she had for you both and the fact that, even then, Tati was wise beyond her years. Not to mention a force to be reckoned with.”

“Our Tati has been a force to be reckoned with since birth,” I distressfully laughed out, lovingly adding, “Mother always said that while she was the youngest of us all, Tati was the one with the oldest soul—the best soul.”

Placing his hand under my chin, Artem tilted my head up before leaning down to softly kiss my lips, murmuring afterwards, “The witch you were back then has been gone for a long time, Persephone. The witch you are now is what matters—the witch that fights the good fight and is loved and adored by many, most of all by both of her sisters—and now worshipped for eternity for the beautiful heart she has inside by the man currently sitting beside her!”

**************

TINK

Standing in front of the mirror, I was beaming—Auntie had some mad skills and knew me well as she created the first piece of my Tink-style! After seeing myself in the mirror, I think I shocked both her and me when I immediately asked if she would have time to make a few other similar things—ecstatic when she said YES! Turns out I’ll be at the dress party after all, but not for dresses...

I still had my white v-neck t-shirt and comfy jeans on, but Auntie quickly made some cool material appear that she had been holding on to—beige with thin stripes of deep maroon, green, and blue subtly running through it in different spots—and created a long open vest that draped down past my knees. I put on my beige canvas tennis shoes and Auntie fixed my hair—two small french braids on the sides that she pinned in the back with soft curls falling all around my shoulders.

“Simple and perfect!” Auntie happily exclaimed, coming up behind me and handing me another oatmeal raisin cookie, “See? It’s all about the accessories!”

“This is definitely Tink-style, Auntie,” I excitedly told her before taking a bite of awesomeness, “You’ve got some killer sewing skills! I can’t believe you made this so quick!”

Laughing softly, she turned me around to take another look at her masterpiece, looking down at my leather charm bracelet before grinning, “I think there is one more accessory we can add to make this absolutely perfect!”

Bringing her hand out in front of her, a small leather necklace suddenly appeared. The color of the leather matched my bracelet—two thin single strands that tied off on either side of an initial in the center—a delicate cursive gold ‘T’.

Reaching around to clasp it around my neck, Auntie’s voice got really soft and quiet, “Not long after we disappeared, the aunts and I went to a little village where I found this necklace. The simplicity of it caught my eye. As it's not my typical style, the aunts were quite surprised when I bought it. But now I think perhaps the reason I had to have it is that it was meant for you, Tink. When you look at it, know that the T stands for both of our names. That way, you can carry me with you always.”

Turning around and looking in the mirror, I brought my fingers up to run across the small charm. It was simple—and perfect too— lying perfectly just below my neck, “I love it, Auntie! I’ll be wearing this all the time! Thank you!”

Whipping around to face her, I hugged her tight as I affectionately whispered, “And just so you know, you’re not allowed to disappear again...ever...I won’t let you.”

She giggled before lovingly whispering back, “Oh, my great protector—I do love and adore you so!”

Suddenly, we heard my big guy’s deep voice exclaim breathlessly from the doorway, “WOW!”

Catching me off guard, I spun around planning on giving Beast a hard time sneaking in like that, but after I saw my huge hunk of testosterone staring at me with those puppy dog eyes filled with surprise and awe, I suddenly got shy—something only he could do to me. Making a quick turn, I sarcastically told him, “You know me, I won’t look like this all the time! But, do you really like it? My Tink-style?”

Quickly nodding his head up and down, Beast immediately came up to me, his wide goofy grin melting my heart as he took my hand in his huge mitt and asked, “Will you twirl again?”

Shaking my head side to side, I exhaustively chuckled under my breath but did as my big guy asked, allowing him to slowly twirl me around, awkwardly going around in a circle as Auntie smiled at us. As soon as I was facing him again, Beast leaned down to kiss me softly before his deep voice went all mushy on me, “I love all of your Tink-styles...and you.”

“Well, Auntie, it’s official—he loves it,” I laughed out, jumping up to wrap my arms around my huge hunk of testosterone’s neck as I pressed my forehead against his, “You just got a nine-word Beast stamp of approval!”

Glancing behind me, Beast sweetly said, “Thank you, Auntie.”

************

Apparently, the big guy REALLY liked his surprise, his arm wrapping around my waist as he pulled me up to sit on the kitchen stool with him, which left me REALLY surprised the stool was that sturdy!

Setting a plate of cookies in front of us, Auntie was over the moon that Beast agreed to her plans, “Thank you both for being so willing to help me with the demonstration.”

“I’ll always help you,” Beast grinned, picking up two cookies and handing one to me.

“I’ve got ideas already, big guy,” I informed him in my evil Dark One tone, “BIG ones! The new four horsemen! If Horacio and Umar agree, of course.”

Planting a sweet kiss on my cheek, Beast chuckled, “Anything for you, Tink.”

Just then, the door opened up behind Auntie, revealing Chatterbox, who defenselessly exhaled out as he was walking in, “Sorry for busting in, but your sisters heard about—” His words stopped for a second while his jaw dropped as he looked over at me, “Wow, Tink! I like the new look! It almost makes me forget you’re the Dark One for a second!”

“Behave!” Charlotte warned him before I could say anything as she and Constance pushed past him, beaming at me as they loudly said in unison, “Awwww, Tink! You look so pretty!” Both of them rushed over to me, pulling me off the stool to look at my vest.

“You are always beautiful, Tink,” Smooth Talker said with a big smile on his face, “But that is a lovely look on you and suits you so well! Who’s your talented seamstress?”

Looking over at Auntie, he laughed, leaning down to kiss her on the cheek while he grabbed a cookie off the plate, “She is a woman of many talents, my mother. Including an excellent baker, which is why Carson and I didn’t fight too hard to rush down here as well...that and Nicholas wanted to see if I could get some inside information on your plans for the Howling Wind demonstration.”

“Yeah, Auntie,” Chatterbox excitedly said, “Have you started plotting the demolition yet?”

“Of course I have, Carson,” Auntie wickedly grinned, “In fact, Tink, Beast, and I are about to pop over to Spirit Walker to see if we can negotiate a truce.”

Smooth Talker’s eyes went wide, his mouth dropping open in shock, “A truce? Wait a minute...you want to include...Horacio?”

“Indeed, I do, Jace,” Auntie proudly told him, “In fact, Tink and Beast have agreed to work with both him and Umar if they are willing to join in on our fun.”

“Yep!” I boasted, “If it all works out, we will be the new four horsemen!”

Looking over at me and the big guy, Smooth Talker’s eyebrows raised, “Well, Mother, I guess you really are a woman of many talents!”

**************

TATIANA

Lorenzo and Priscilla were pleased to see us when I arrived with Tink and Beast. Alastor and Vivian came down as well upon hearing about our arrival. All four highly complimented Tink’s appearance, which warmed both my heart and, based on her expression, Tink’s heart as well. All four were also surprised by both my idea and Tink and Beast’s willingness to call a truce with Horacio and Umar. Priscilla pulled me to the side as well to make a small request regarding my plans, reminding me of one of her favorite little tricks of mine...

I decided to first talk with Horacio alone about my plan for the demonstration, bringing up Tink and Beast afterwards if he was willing to join us. Apparently, he had just returned from visiting Umar and his family at Howling Wind, so my timing was perfect.

Knocking on his door, I smiled warmly as he opened it up—looking quite stunned to see me on the other side and even more surprised when I handed him the large rectangular tin that I had brought for him.

“Hello there! I brought you a little early birthday present,” I kindly greeted him as he looked at me with a c****d brow and quizzical expression.

“Hi,” he cautiously replied, “This is an unexpected visit.” Opening up the tin, however, his eyes quickly lit up as he saw it was filled with his favorite cookies, quickly following, “You made these for me? And rushed to deliver them while they’re still warm?”

“Well, getting here quickly is never an issue for me,” I smiled brightly, “Plus, I came by because I have a little favor to ask.”

Laughing under his breath, Horacio opened the door further while humorously inviting me in, “Well, now that I know these are being used for bribery, come on in. Guess I’ll have to eat these quickly, in case my answer is no.”