Lycan Princess' Return

The Letters

Agatha woke up slowly. Her thoughts of everything being a dream were shattered when she looked around a saw the little girl peaking out at her from behind the couch. Her emerald green eyes seemed to glisten in the light. Agatha thought she saw them flash purple but decided it was her imagination from being woke up.

"Are you hungry dear?" Agatha asked softly trying not to frighten the child. The girl stared at her and then nodded. Agatha got up from her recliner and went to the kitchen. She began making breakfast, wondering if the girl had eaten anything in the past week. She made eggs and toast with strawberry jam, and poured the girl a large glass of milk. Once she had set the table she went back to the doorway. The girl hadn't moved but watched her curiously.

"You'll have to come out to eat dear, I can't have you eating behind the couch like an animal." Agatha held her hand out hoping to encourage the girl to come out. She didn't move, just continued staring at Agatha. Agatha stood waiting, hand still outstretched. The girl's eyes seemed to glaze over for a moment and then brightened back up and she slowly moved from behind the couch. Agatha had seen this before when pack members spoke to their wolves but she couldn't imagine a child this young would have a wolf yet. The girl hesitantly stepped forward, now seeing the table of food beyond Agatha. She seemed to perk up and walked a little faster. Agatha went and sat at the table and waited. The girl sat in the chair, elegantly, as if trained in manners. Everything leading back to the letter, she must be the Lycan King's daughter. Before touching the food, the girl looked at Agatha.

"Human?" She tilted her head curiously. It was the first word she had said. Her voice sounded like bells, a weird sound coming from a child. And then Agatha saw the violet flash again.

"Sort of," Agatha started, if she did have a wolf at this age, she would know if Agatha was lying, and she needed to build trust with both of them. Lycans were feared among the pack, said to be direct descendants of the moon goddess herself. They didn't need the moon to shift, they were stronger, faster, and could hear better. There only known enemies were Vampires and witches. Agatha figured it was possible she could have a wolf at her age. "What's your name dear?"

"Livy Moonstar, I am the princess of the Darkstar pack."

"I am Agatha Creedle, mate of the honored Vincent Redclaw."

"Where is my mommy and daddy?"

"Im not sure dear, but I am here to keep you safe until they arrive to take you home." Agatha looked at her carefully. "Please eat your food dear, before it gets cold."

"Yes ma'am" Livy immediately began to eat. Her hunger took over and she ate as quickly as she could. Until she looked up and saw Agatha watching her. A sheepish grin came over the child's face. "I'm sorry"

"No need to be sorry dear, enjoy your food." Agatha replied with a laugh. She expected Livy to be hungry but was surprised by the show of manners. Most the children in the pack ate like animals, their parents encouraging it by laughing at them. Livy was much calmer and polite. Agatha hadn't meant such a refined child in her life. Though it occurred to her that if she were to have a child she would want them to have manners, especially at the table. Her mother had always told her how you represent yourself is how you will be treated, and Agatha kept that thought in her every action. Once Livy had finished her food, Agatha insisted she wash up and change into the clothes she had bought for her. The poor child was still dressed in her tattered blue dress. Livy looked down and terror covered her face, like she hadn't seen the dress before.

"What? What happened to my dress?" Livy screamed, tears forming in her eyes.

"I was hoping you knew dear, you came to my door that way. I'm so sorry. We'll get you cleaned up and I'll see if I can fix it for you." While Livy bathed, Agatha pondered about what horrors could make a child forget they were covered in blood. Maybe her wolf had healed her and taken the memory. The strength behind a Lycan was unheard of and very little was known. Agatha now wished she had learned more about the heritage when she went to school. Unfortunately with her clan burned all the secrets of the other breeds. She couldn't get any of the books now.

A crow cawed outside the cottage breaking Agatha from her thoughts. It wasn't unusual to her birds outside but Agatha got a feeling something was going on. As if to confirm her thoughts, she heard the crow again, it had landed on her window sill and tapped its beak on the glass. She stared at the bird as it tapped again. Now this was unusual. And then she saw it, a small red rope tied to the birds ankle. Hanging ever so slightly was a scroll rolled up tight. A messenger bird. No one used crows for that anymore.

Agatha got up and went to the window. She opened it with care so as not to scare the bird away. It hopped inside as if it was meant to be there. Agatha carefully pulled the string loosening it from the bird. Still the crow stayed as if waiting patiently. Agatha opened the scroll, a slight tremble in her hand.

Agatha, you and our daughter are in grave danger. If her identity is revealed, both of you may parish. We will come for her on her 16th birthday. Money has been sent. She is the key to the question you have always asked. Protect her always.

Agatha watched the scroll ignite as she read the last words, as if it could read her as she read it. A cold shiver went down her spine as dread set in. She would have to tell Livy for sure. Hopefully the girl would believe her. The crow cawed again, making Agatha jump, she had forgotten it was there. She gave the crow a cracker and whispered thank you. The crow took the cracker and flew out the window towards the sky.

Livy came back into the kitchen just as the crow disappeared from site.

"Blackwood!" She exclaimed. Agatha looked at her confused. "Mommy's bird."

"Ah, he has a name. Good, I will use it if he returns."

"He's mommy's friend. She told me so. Is she meeting me here. We haven't finished our game. I won this time!" Livy said with joy. "Maybe Daddy will take us to see the mysterious caves again."

"Maybe darling, last I heard the mysterious caves had been destroyed." Agatha said with sadness. The caves were where she was born and raised. She wondered how a child so young would know about them, Agatha was younger than her when her home was destroyed. The Caves of Mystery were a forbidden land. A myth to most people now, no one knew exactly where it was. But Livy had said again as if she had been before.

"Daddy said they were reshaped long before I was born but the magic was never gone."

"That's a beautiful way to say what happened there. I do hope your daddy is right about that. I use to live there."

"You did? Was it as beautiful as they say? Mommy said daddy use to bring her the most beautiful flowers from there when he visited."

"It was." Agatha said, reminiscent. "Livy we have to talk, about what Blackwood brought."

"Ok. Are mommy and daddy coming?"

"Thats what we need to talk about dear." Agatha said. She put on a pot of tea and sat down. Agatha told Livy what the note had said and asked if she knew what it meant. Livy told her the game must not be over yet.

"Well, let's play a game ourselves then dear until she returns. From now on you pretend to be Livy Creedle. We'll have to talk to Alpha Roman about you staying and living with me. I'm sure he'll accept you."

"What if he doesn't?" Livy asked sadly.

"Well then dear, we will move away, and maybe rebuild the mysterious caves. But I think we'll be safer in the pack, protected so no one can get to us."

Agatha and Livy talked through the night getting to know each other and there favorite games. Alpha Roman said they could stay just as Agatha said he would and slowly Livy became more comfortable. Livy started going to school and made some friends as time went on. Agatha grew to love her, she became the daughter she could never have with her mate.