The Moonstone Orb
1756 Words
Otis approached Esmeralda and Will with a smile. “How lovely to see the three of you together! I thought maybe it might be a good time to take young Whitney to meet her brother.”
“You can drop the fake smile, Otis. Why do you want me gone?” Whitney asked, her eyes ablaze.
“This meeting is purely strategy from here on in.” Otis shrugged.
“You don’t think I should be present for that?” Whitney asked.
“I just thought you might be getting restless.” Otis replied a little abruptly. Esmeralda and Will both caught it.
“We would love to take you to see Wyatt.” Esmeralda gushed as she stood up with Whitney still in her arms. “But we must warn you, he cries at absolutely everything new, including people.”
Whitney nodded as they walked towards the portal to Todd’s house. As they came out the other side Whitney turned to Esmeralda.
“What do you suppose they are talking about?” Whitney asked.
“Strategy I guess.” Esmeralda shrugged. “I’ll take you to our home and Dad will go and get Wyatt.”
Whitney nodded.
When they arrived, Whitney looked at the large house. “This is where you live?” She asked.
“Yes.” Esmeralda smiled.
“Just the three of you?” Whitney’s brow furrowed. “You could fit the entire village near our home in here.”
Esmeralda laughed. “Let me tell you about the night these houses were built.“ Esmeralda went on to tell Whitney about the night the magical folk competed to make the biggest and best houses.
“Otis, Magnus and Otrix can be quite hilarious when they get competitive.” Esmeralda said as she finished the story.
Whitney nodded solemnly.
A scratch at the back door let them know Wyatts puppy wanted to come inside. Esmeralda got up and let her in. The puppy ran to Esmeralda, jumping at her legs for a pat. She laughed as she sat on the lounge and the puppy tried to follow, dragging its back legs up slowly.
Whitney walked towards the puppy excitedly. This one looked exactly the same as her puppy Wyatt, She put her hand out towards the pup to let it smell her hand, just like Lachlan had taught her. The pup growled and bared its teeth.
“Stop it!” Esmeralda cried at the puppy.
The pup looked at her, then hopped down off the lounge and walked towards the back door. Esmeralda got up and let her outside.
“I’m so sorry Whitney, I don’t know why she did that.” Esmeralda said a little stunned.
Whitney shrugged. “Can I see the rest of the house?” Whitney asked.
“Of course.” Esmeralda smiled, walking towards the stairs. She went to lift Whitney like she still needed to lift Wyatt, but Whitney pulled away. “I can do it.” She said, taking the first couple of stairs. Esmeralda shook her head sadly. She had already lost two years of Whitney’s life and she was all but an adult already. She spoke like an adult; she could do everything for herself. Esmeralda fought back tears.
“Don’t be sad mother, I know Wyatt needed you. I am happy with Lachlan and Miranda, and I am happy to be able to spend time with you and dad.”
Esmeralda smiled and nodded.
They walked up to the second floor and Whitney looked around. She spotted a room with her name on it. She walked towards it and opened the door.
“This is beautiful.” She breathed, walking around to feel the various soft blankets and cushions. There was a shelf full of dolls and some pules and a beautiful 4 poster bed with canopy.
“You did all of this for me?” Whitney asked.
“We always hoped you would come home one day.” Esmeralda smiled, “Although it seems these things would be to young for you now. We will change it up.”
“Please don’t change anything.” Whitney smiled, hugging her mother’s legs.
Esmeralda heard the front door open and close. “We’re upstairs.” She called out.
Will walked up the stairs with Wyatt in his arms. They entered Whitney’s bedroom and Wyatt immediately started to cry.
“Oh Wyatt.” Esmeralda sighed.
“It’s ok, I know I am new to him.” Whitney shrugged.
“Everybody is linking in, they want to come and see Whitney.” Will whispered to Esmeralda.
“Whitney, would you like to meet some of the other children?” Esmeralda asked.
Whitney shrugged. “Sure.” She replied. “Then I would like to return to the strategy meeting as it seems they are missing the most important person.”
“Let them know they are welcome.” Esmeralda told Will. Will nodded and used the mind link to invite everyone over.
A knock at the front door signalled the first of the visitors. James and Matilda with their son Mack stood at the door.
“Sorry if we ruined your get together but we’re just so excited to meet her!” Matilda gushed. Mack ran past Esmeralda and straight into the back yard.
“You’d better go keep an eye on that child around the pool.” Matilda warned James. James chuckled but nodded and ran out after his son.
Before Esmeralda could shut the door, Heath and Angelique pulled up out the front. Todd and Will had been working diligently to get the refugee wolves used to cars so that they could get their drivers licence. Heath had been the first.
They each got out and walked to their back doors. Angelique got their two year old daughter Lilly out and Heath proudly got his newborn son Alex. They smiled and waved as they closed the doors.
Stella arrived soon after with her and Alwyn’s 2 year old daughter Marley. As the first born in their generation, Marley carried on the tradition of the multi coloured hair. It was already so long, cascading down her back and it glimmered in the sunlight.
“Hi,” Stella waved as she got closer. “We brought a little gift, I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not, thank you.” Esmeralda smiled.
Nova and Gabriel were across the road as Stella walked inside.
“Goddess you lot are quick.” Esmeralda laughed as she waited for them to walk their 1 year old son, Terik, across the road.
“We were all pretty excited.” Nova shrugged, giving Esmeralda a quick hug before walking through to the back yard that was now full.
Esmeralda walked outside and looked around. “Shouldn’t you guys be at the strategy meeting?” Esmeralda asked Nova.
Nova shrugged. “The Magical Folk asked for an hour to work out whose magic would do what. We are to re-join in roughly an hour, give or take.”
Esmeralda nodded. “Do they want me?”
Nova nodded her head smiling sadly.
Esmeralda walked over to where Will was holding Wyatt. He never played with the other children when they came to visit. Most of the time he just cried. She didn’t miss the way Will watched the other children enjoying themselves in the pool.
“I need to return to the meeting My Love.” Esmeralda whispered. Will nodded as she stood up on her tiptoes to kiss Wyatt and Will bent down to kiss her goodbye. She quickly checked on Whitney who was sitting on the side of the pool watching the other children play. She watched as Stella took her gift to Whitney. She held out the box it was wrapped in and Whitney took it suspiciously.
“It’s ok Whitney, it’s a moonstone. I thought because your dad was a werewolf you might like it. My husbands people mine these as a hobby and this one felt perfect for you.”
Whitney untied the ribbon and took the lid off of the box.
The moonstone was a perfectly round orb, set on a wooden stand. It was beautiful.
“I love it.” Whitney breathed as she held it up in the light. The different shades of light grey and white seemed to swirl. “Thankyou!”
“You are perfectly welcome.” Stella smiled.
Whitney heard Wyatt shriek and looked up. A girl of about 8 had walked in to the back yard. Everyone stopped to address her and she smiled graciously.
“Ohhh, Sweet Pea is here!” Stella smiled. Would you like to meet her?”
Whitney shrugged dismissively. She could feel something emanating from this child and as she watched, everyone she touched seemed to instantly smile and appear more relaxed.
“Who is she?” Whitney asked.
“She was found at the Fire Station where your father works about two and a half years ago. She was adopted by one of the fire fighters and his wife who couldn’t have children, but she is niece to us all.” Stella smiled.
Whitney nodded as the girl spotted Stella and came over to hug her.
“You must be Whitney.” The child beamed, holding out her hand. Whitney looked at it and looked away.
“Oh Goddess, what is happening to your orb?” Sweet Pea asked.
Whitney looked down and to her surprise and Stella’s, the orb was turning black.
Sweet Pea closed her eyes and put her hand on the orb before Whitney could pull it away. After a moment she smiled at Whitney.
“It was so good to finally meet you, Whitney.” Sweet Pea said as she stood up.
“Please excuse me, I didn’t tell my parents I was coming and cannot stay long.”
Whitney returned the orb to the box quickly and replaced the lid. “Of course, I wont keep you.” She smiled, but the smile never reached her eyes.
Sweet Pea walked inside quickly and out the front door. Esmeralda followed close behind her.
“Sweet Pea, what happened?” Esmeralda asked.
“I need to get to that meeting immediately. You must take me.” Sweet Pea muttered.
“What happened to that orb?” Esmeralda asked.
“Please Esmeralda, the meeting!” Sweet Pea snapped as she made her way towards Todd’s house.
She walked inside and through the portal before Esmeralda could stop her.
- Writer
