#15: Feywins and Aubreys
1235 Words
A thick silence crackled between us, and for the first time, I reveled in it.
I would not be the one to break this time, and so I sat still, waiting for Iris’s resolve to crack, and when it did, I smiled for the first time that evening.
“Umm… Quinn would you not like to start with something a bit easier? Perhaps games that we can play—”
“What was her name?”
Iris’s eyes went everywhere except where I sat and finally, they landed on the tray of food left for me. “You haven't touched your food yet. I saw the maid take out your lunch and you hardly touched it… you should eat.”
“Her name.”
A few moments of silence passed before Iris was finally able to look at me again.
“What do you say we compromise? You eat something and I answer all your questions, honestly.”
I arched an eyebrow.
“I promise, okay,” she added.
With steady hands, I gently placed the tray of food in my lap and I took a spoon of lamb stew. The flavors melted on my tongue and I silently thanked Iris for tricking me into eating. The meal was heavenly.
Not being able to stop myself, I took another spoon and I could have taken yet another but when I caught Iris staring, I dropped the spoon.
“Her name?” I asked, wiping the corners of my mouth with the back of my hand.
A small laugh fell from Iris’ lips. “Gabriella. She was Gabriella Feywin.”
The dread that came with the word ‘was’ was impossible to ignore.
“How did she die?”
Iris eyed the tray in my arms and I took that as my cue.
I went for the cheese this time, wanting to experience everything the meal had to offer. The food was delicious, but that wasn't why I took another bite. I needed to eat now before I let bad news ruin my appetite again.
When I was done, I looked at her, watching her every move, trying to predict what she would say next.
A small smile tugged at her lips and the hairs at the back of my neck stood.
“She died when the time was right.”
My stomach turned.
The air in the room suddenly felt too thick.
Women did not die when the “time was right”, especially in this monster world.
They were killed.
Iris could as well have gotten a big bucket of water and splashed it on my face, because that must have been the most useless answer yet.
“You know what I meant, Iris.”
“And I answered you honestly, just as I had promised.”
My eyes narrowed. “But you knew what I meant.”
She shrugged.
“If you want more answers,” Iris said lightly, “you’ll have to eat.”
This time, I took just one slice of pear before asking yet another question. “Did she have children or was she sacrificed?”
“She had children.”
My curiosity piqued.
I took the last slice of pear and asked, “Where are they now? Do our children become Aubreys too? The children are werewolves too, am I right? Does that mean that I am going to be sleeping with my uncle?”
Iris blinked once, clearly surprised, and then a slow smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
“One question at a time, Quinn.”
Clearing my throat, I recollected myself. “I’m sorry.”
She waved a hand in the air. “It’s okay. You remind me of someone I used to know.”
I was compelled to ask who she was referring to but I was also painfully aware that I had asked one too many questions already.
“How about this? You finish up all your food while I answer all of your questions.”
I was about to bargain for a better deal but as if she could read my mind, Iris beat me to it, cutting me off before I even had the chance to utter a word.
“And no, you cannot ask anymore questions. Quinn, you're a reasonable young woman. I believe that we can both agree that you have asked one too many questions for one night and besides, you would always have me here. I am not going anywhere.”
Her last sentence lingered in my head for a little longer than I would have liked but I said nothing about it and simply continued my meal as I waited for her to fulfill her own end of the bargain.
Thankfully, I didn't have to wait long.
“Gabriella had seven children if I remember correctly. Honestly speaking it's been so long. And as for where her children are exactly some of them are still here in the pack. The others are elsewhere.”
My spoon slipped from my fingers and struck the bowl with a dull clang.
“Where is elsewhere?”
Iris arched an eyebrow. “What did we say about questions?”
I nodded and picked my spoon up again. “Right. I forgot.”
“The children are not Aubreys. It would affect the entire structure and mess up the ancient pact and only pure werewolf blood can produce the next Alpha of Southpoint Pack according to our customs. But to answer your other question, yes, they are werewolves. Also they take up another family name.”
I nodded, finishing the last piece of meat in my soup. Iris smiled at the action.
She placed a finger on her chin, her eyebrows knitted together. “I believe I have answered all your questions Quinn.”
I nodded. “You have.”
A slow breath escaped my lips as our conversation replayed in my head. “So I will not be sleeping with my uncle.”
Iris didn't laugh. Instead, she got up and took the now-empty tray from my lap. “Gabriella was… most memorable.”
Once again, my tongue itched to pull a few answers out of her but I could already tell what the answer would be.
It was most unfortunate that I didn't even listen to myself sometimes.
“Would you be back tomorrow?”
“No, but you will see me tomorrow, as well as my brother, Frank and… Lewison. We will all be having breakfast together tomorrow.”
My heart dropped.
“I thought I would only be in this room and other times, in Lewison’s chamber. Or is there some other ritual I have not been informed about?”
All the color on Iris’s face seemingly drained.
“I already spared you a bonus question tonight. That would be all my dear child. You can ask more questions. Tomorrow, with food around.” The words skittered out of her mouth as she rushed to the door.
My feet worked faster than my mind. I took a step toward her, my hand half-raised, ready to beg her to stay even if it were for only a moment more.
I was not ready for another ritual.
But she was out the door before I could manage to get a word out.
And the clicking sounds of the door locks was the last I heard from her.
- Writer
