Chapter Five
1118 Words
Chapter Five
“That is why I rushed and insisted that you come here, Melissa. When I put it all together, I realized you might be in danger. I don’t know what Theo’s intentions are, being that you are Naomi’s daughter. What if he’s planning on enacting some sort of revenge on you or on Naomi. I had to get you to safety, I don’t know how safe I can keep you, but at least we’re together.” Eliza watched as the information started to sink in on them both.
Melissa released Naomi, who then sunk to the floor and wept, her head in her hands, tears streaming from her eyes and dripping through her fingers.
“I didn’t know... I didn’t know...” she whispered, rocking back and forth. “No, I didn’t. I don’t know how it happened, how I did it. I was trying to protect myself from their charge, from their attack. The next thing I knew, they were on each other and I couldn’t stop them. I tried, oh, I tried, but it was too late. They were ripping each other apart. Alonso was so happy, so proud, but very upset his secret weapons didn’t work.”
“Mom, shhh. It’s okay. It’s all going to be okay. We’ll figure this all out... but now we know. Now we know why you’re like this,” Melissa soothed her mother.
Eliza walked over to the two of them and gathered them into a huge embrace. She held them both tight, amazed that Melissa believed every word. She had just told her best friend that her mother murdered two werewolves. But at that moment, the information finally penetrated Melissa’s brain.
“Werewolves?” Melissa questioned Eliza, while holding her mother, who was finally settling down.
“I know... Hayden not only told me, but showed me. Melissa, you wouldn’t believe it,” Eliza said as Naomi pushed them away and excused herself before heading into the bathroom.
“As soon as I pieced together the 1994 incident and the wolf attacks, I went to Hayden, as he was the last one to see Freddie alive. I went to ask him why Freddie and his parents were the only people in twenty-three years to have gotten attacked by wolves.” Eliza got to her feet and sat down on the couch. Melissa sat next to her, listening as Eliza recounted the incident leading to when Andrew killed the werewolf.
Melissa tried to absorb all the info she was given. Eliza was sure that she’d had that same blank look.
“If I hadn’t seen the werewolves change in front of me, I wouldn’t have believed it either. My dad is okay, I made sure. The werewolf Andrew killed was Jim’s lover... and Jim is beside himself. As soon as I got my dad settled, I fled the city to try and figure all this out.” Eliza gently massaged her temples.
Melissa nodded again, dumbfounded and speechless.
“The look on your face is the reason why I left to get some time to myself. Andrew not only killed someone, but a werewolf, and I didn’t know he owned a g*n or even knew how to handle one. My sweet-natured, fun-loving Andrew is a hunter for God’s sake. His whole family is... and they hunt werewolves! Then there is Hayden, who also killed someone, not just because of what Freddie did to me, but because of what he did to a lot of other people.” Eliza was trying to fill the silence.
“Let me one up you, Eliza...” Melissa said finally. “My mother can control werewolves and killed not one, but two, indirectly, by turning them against each other. She murdered my boyfriend’s parents...” Melissa said with a snarky laugh, just as Naomi came out of the bathroom.
Naomi didn’t say anything; she just let the jab pass as she allowed her daughter to figure it all out on her own terms. Eliza watched as the emotions passed over Naomi’s face and decided to leave it alone. How much worse could Naomi get? Besides, there was the saying that things get worse before they get better.
“You know what? Maybe now that we all kind of know what is going on, talking through this might help with one other decision I need to make. Any chance you guys want some pizza?” Eliza reached for the phonebook to look up the closest pizza joint that would deliver to their hotel room.
Melissa and Naomi both nodded in agreement at the idea. Eliza found a number to call and slowly paced the room as she placed the order. Seated together on the couch, Naomi placed her hand over Melissa’s but neither of them spoke.
Once the order was placed, Eliza sat down on the edge of the bed.
“So what’s the problem you need help with?” Melissa asked as she turned slightly on the couch so that she faced Eliza.
“I don’t know what I am going to do about Andrew and Hayden,” Eliza said plainly.
“What do you mean?” Melissa asked.
“I mean that I have been with Andrew for over six years. We have a great relationship and we’re happy. Sure there’s barely any chemistry and we hardly talk anymore but that happens to all couples eventually. But Hayden makes me feel strong and sexy. He listens to me when I talk, and he truly cares about me and would do anything for me.” Eliza flopped backward on the bed and stared at the stucco on the ceiling.
“And then all this happens and my brain just keeps screaming at me that Andrew was a fake all this time. He spent the last seven years lying to me about who he really was. He turned out to be ruthless and unyielding. He didn’t care what kind of person the werewolf was when he shot it. He just took aim and fired. And he showed no remorse afterward either. Hayden, on the other hand, is sweet and kind and passionate.” Eliza looked up at Naomi and Melissa. “I just don’t know which one I am meant to be with. I love them both.”
Naomi and Melissa looked at each other and then back at Eliza. They both appeared to be in deep thought, thinking about all the things Eliza had put on the table.
Finally Naomi sighed. “If you are torn between two loves, then always choose the second, because if you were truly in love with the first one, you wouldn’t have fallen in love with the second one in the first place.” Naomi rose from the couch and sat down beside Eliza on the bed and put an arm around her. “The way you talk about him. You already know your answer, sweetheart.”
“I guess you’re right.” Eliza smiled at Naomi and nodded. They continued talking about their love lives and past loves until the pizza arrived.
- Writer
