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1217 Words
“What do you want?” Sapphire asked, leaning on a wall while staring down at Serene.
Serene is the daughter of Lilith and her stepsister.
After divorcing Luna Morgana, her father swiftly married again to Lilith and proclaimed her daughter as the new heir.
Serene and Sapphire had an uncanny resemblance and everyone always gossiped that they may be sisters. If that was true, it would mean both Sapphire’s parents were unfaithful.
‘Wouldn't that just be hypocritical?
But for some reason, nobody cared if he was faithful.’
Serene had requested to talk with her privately, and Bob accepted quickly.
They went to the back of the Café for privacy but everyone could hear.
“Came to say hi to an old friend?” Serene laughed nervously. “Also please don't mind Candace and Marble, I'll talk to them.”
Sapphire scoffed, “They're your minions now aren't they?”
“Hey I didn't put them up to this! okay!” Serene yelled then sighed. She lowered her gaze as she fiddled with her Nannel purse, “You know, I’m also sad with how things turned out. I was once your friend…
Until you shut me out.” She mumbled.
Sapphire sighed.
“Just get to the point, please.” Sapphire rubbed her temples.
“All right,” Serene said. “I just wanted to relay the message our father sent to you. He wants you to come over to the pack house tomorrow, he's been planning your birthday. I think he misses you a lot. You are his precious daughter, after all.”
Sapphire frowned, "huh..."
‘My birthday?’
“But I saw the way he raised you with love… maybe it's because he was shocked… I was! when I picked you up I…”
“When you transformed, Y…you were glowing. You looked so ethereal, like a goddess even!” Serene chuckled, “and kept getting larger and larger until you stopped then shrank. And…”
“I know what happened!” Sapphire cut her off, fighting back the memories flooding in.
‘I wonder, maybe I turned into a small wolf because I was scared? And the moon goddess reflected my resolve?
If I hadn't been so conflicted, would I have shifted differently?’
“Alright, I’ll stop now." Serene sighed. “Pay the pack house a visit. I promise, you won’t regret it."
“Remember, I’m not your enemy and I’m sure Dad regrets everything too.”
Sapphire knew what happened wasn’t Serene’s fault, but she couldn’t help grinding her teeth at her.
Serene waved, “See you.” She walked away.
All her shift, Sapphire thought about their conversation. She was curious.
It had been two years since her first shift.
Since he abandoned her...
She was going to turn twenty the next day, finally old enough to leave the pack.
‘Why now, of all times, does he want to reconnect?
And why is he confident I'll show up for the birthday party’
The moon illuminated Sapphire’s path as she got closer to their small two-story apartment near the forest. She smelled rotten eggs, and a sinking feeling engulfed her.
She rushed toward the house and found her mother in a fierce argument with two teenage girls. The stench of rotten eggs reeked from her mother.
“Leave our pack, you w***e!” they yelled over Morgana’s screams.
One of the girls took an egg and aimed it at Morgana.
Sapphire rushed between them.
The egg hit Sapphire squarely on her forehead. The rotten yolk rolled down her face.
“Let’s go inside, Mother,” Sapphire said, dragging her mother in as the girls kept shouting.
Sapphire shut the door just before another egg splattered against it.
“Why did you drag me inside? What is wrong with you? Let me go now!” her mother yelled, jerking her arm away.
“Don’t you touch me, ever! You stink! The stench of rotten eggs always follows you!”
Sapphire bit her lip. She took off her hoodie and wiped her face.
“I’ll go shower then,” she said then walked to the bathroom.
Sapphire looked over her shoulder, and she saw Morgana heading for the door again.
She rushed and grabbed Morgana's arm, “Mom, arguing solves nothing!”
“Then what's going to solve this humiliation I’m facing every day?” Morgana shouted.
Sapphire went silent. She had no answer.
“Now let me go.” She yanked her arm free, “I'll give them a piece of my mind…”
“I will talk with Father tomorrow,” Sapphire interrupted.
Morgana froze by the doorway.
“He said he’s going to celebrate my birthday tomorrow, and I’m planning on…”
Morgana turned, marched to Sapphire and slapped her hard across the face.
“Don’t be a fool! You’re going nowhere!” she shouted and stomped into the house. “I'll watch you try!”
Sapphire sighed then made her way to the bathroom.
As the hot shower washed her face, she caught sight of the tiny wolf tattoo on her neck through the mirror. It had appeared after her first shift.
Sapphire had investigated what it could mean but found no answers.
The smell of something burning filled the air. She threw a towel over her body and rushed outside.
Sapphire found Morgana burning her clothes along with pictures and other belongings. They were brought from the pack house.
Morgana turned to her with a glare, “We’re never going back to that place. This is our life now. Get that into your head.” She stormed off afterwards.
Sapphire looked into the fire and her hands trembled.
All formal clothes were gone.
Her hands trembled... She had nothing to wear to the party tomorrow.
Sapphire sighed then sluggishly walked to her bedroom.
Sapphire got dressed then dialed Serene's new number.
“Cancel whatever you're planning.” Sapphire said.
“Huh? W…what do you mean?” Serene stuttered.
“I mean the party. I'm not going.”
“Oh that!” Serene gave an awkward laugh. “Why not? Can't you just show up for a while? It'll mean a lot to our father.”
Sapphire bit her lower lip, “I have nothing to wear.”
“Oh!... Okay then just show up. I have clothes you could borrow or I can have a maid buy one for the first thing tomorrow… just show up please…”
The next day, Sapphire didn’t go to work and instead, she made her way to the pack house, risking a pay cut.
‘I should try for the last time so I can leave without regrets.’
Sapphire met up with Serene at the lobby. The pack house was bustling, some visiting, some leaving, and the servants cleaning and attending to the visitors.
‘Why is nobody preparing for the event?
Maybe the party is being prepared at the grand hall?
But that'll be too grand!
Father must be ser
ious about fixing our relationship, huh?’
A corner of Sapphire's lip curled up.
Serene led the way to her room.
Sapphire was served an apple juice while she waited for her dress.
Thirsty, she gulped it down.
Her hands tingled as she waited.
But a few seconds later...
Darkness engulfed her.
- Writer
