**Edited Version**
Happy Reading
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ONE
Morning brings with it a sense of foreboding. I draw my curtains as the sun rises, rinsing away all that is dark and gloom. I do not know one who doesn’t loathe this time of day. If I don’t count myself, however. I, who am said to be cursed. I hiss at the absurdity of my people, of the tales that they say to make life more interesting for themselves. Why not I be the talk of the town? Be the name people remember? But not for what they say. The cursed child, the one frightened to be what we are.
What lies these people spread!
I turn away from the window, disgusted. My bed is left untouched, as it always is. The light above flickers in it’s struggle to stay lit and powerful. A knock at my door brings about my cousin, Vinnie. “Dear cousin, why mope on such a glorious day?” she coos upon entrance to my chamber.
“Vinnie, I do not mope,” I defend, pulling a comb through my hair.
“Well then, the city awaits,” she replies, her voice a harmony of song. I glance at her with a roll of my eyes. She is dressed in a gown of normal attire, light blue and lace trim. A bonnet adorns her blonde curls. I glance down at my own clothes— pants and a shirt, stolen from some unlucky lad I will never care to meet—are ripped and worn from the freedom run the night previous. My feet are bare and chilled against the stone floor. Slippers reside on Vinnie’s toes, I notice. “Vinnie, why must we wear bonnets and gowns and gloves and slippers?” I sigh.
“For it is the fashion in London during this day and age,” she explains, bewildered. “My Nalisha, have you gone all befuddled? Where have you been? You should know this!”
“I do, cousin, it’s just I wish not to trap my legs beneath petticoats and dresses,” I drawl, and Vinnie’s eyes widen. My, does she play the part of a becoming lady well!
“Not to wear dresses?” she says, astounded. “But Nish, you would be a scandal! Reveal us, you would!”
“Oh tosh, Vinnie! Do you really think I would do something so sinister?” I snort.
“Oh, no, silly me,” Vinnie’s stutters, but glances warily at me all the same.
“Now, untangle your worries and help me with this,” I order, and Vinnie rushes to help, her nimble fingers coming around to strap me into the thing I dread the most about women’s wear: the corset. A strangling device, I say. A thing designed by men, I think, to someday rid the world of woman, one corset choking at a time. Vinnie does the thing up nice and tight, lacing it snug along my backside. She seems to never struggle with her own, but I embarrassingly do.
Once the corset has bound me in it’s grasp, she slips on my cover, then my gown. It’s green—simple yet elegant. Matching slippers cover my cold feet. I turn to the mirror, resuming the combing of my brown locks. Then I slip my hair into a loose bun at the nape of my neck and I am finished. Vinnie looks me over critically before pronouncing me fit to enter the light of day.
Down in the main area of our spacious home, we greet our group leader, Timlee. “Oh, Vinnie, Nalisha, visions both of you!” he greets warmly. I smile thinly, yet Vinnie shows no sign of distress, kissing him boldly on both cheeks. He takes no offense, asking no explanation as she says, “What a marvelous day it is, Master Timlee.”
“And why is that, Vinnie?” he urges her on.
“Why, look at the sky outside? The atmosphere is superb! Nalisha and I are off to explore,” she says then lowers her eyes respectfully. “Of course, with your permission, Master.”
“Why keep two lovely girls indoors?” he says, then looks to me. “Nalisha, quiet I see.”
“You have noted,” I say stiffly. My muscles coil under my skirt, preparing for the worst. Since last night’s confrontation with this disagreeable creature before me, I have grown to dislike him even more.
Timlee’s eyes darken. “Noted and dislike it.”
“Well, maybe you can change my mute nature?” I challenge. Vinnie’s eyes flash in warning that I choose to ignore.
“Mind your place, Nalisha,” he warns, eyes darkening still.
“I know my place,” I say simply. “Yet I find you’re still struggling to discover yours in the ranks.” Timlee bares his teeth in outrage. Vinnie cowers like a good girl, knowing her rank. I, however, challenge him further, not backing down and flipping my lip up and over my fangs, teeth glistening. He growls and advances, towering over me as his body shudders to find control.
I know I have lost as he snarls above me. I also know the price to pay and I kneel in retreat, baring my neck for him to slice. He runs a shaking finger along it, cutting the skin. I cry out and snap at his hand. He chuckles and I see he has stopped trembling; he is under control once again. “Nalisha, you are young yet. Find your place, you eventually will. And when you do, the defiant side will leave as well. Observe Vinnie for awhile and maybe it will come to you.” He smiles wickedly before strolling away, his cape flying lightly behind him.
How I loathe him!
I haven’t gone a day yet without his unbearable hostility towards me. It seems that his only goal in life is to torment every hour I spend in his presence. Last night had been the last straw, embarrassing me in front of the whole pack as I cowered beneath the moon-less sky. A growl thunders in my chest at the memory.
I stand only when he is gone from my eyes. Vinnie gazes sadly at me. ”Why must you provoke him?”
“Provoke him? I was merely—“ but she cut me off as she hooks arms with me.
“Dear cousin, much to learn I see,” she tots. I huff. Vinnie: the perfect cousin, perfect maiden, perfect wolf.
Competing with that will be a challenge.
In the marketplace, humans swarm like flies above a carcass. The ruckus of the town annoys me greatly but I tolerate it for Vinnie’s sake. Oh, how she loves these moments among the curious humans whose shape we take when day has begun. I sometimes wonder if Vinnie wishes to be one. I feel bile rise into my throat at this statement. How revolting it would be to be a human! Having to be worn down by stupid, insignificant things like work and parties.
Now my people have freedom; nothing to hold us back from what we truly love to do: to run and play and be free. Freedom. What a word!
Vinnie drags me this way and that, nearly taking my arm from where it resides in its socket. “Slow down, Vin. Why are we in a rush today?” I ask, but she doesn’t bother to answer. She seems set on a destination only I will discover when we arrive.
She guides me further into the catacombs of the town, deeper into the smaller shops, family businesses and apprenticeships. There, she freezes. I follow her gaze to the blacksmith’s shop. A young lad works diligently outside the doorframe, welding away in his free time. I see the wanting in her eyes, and my stomach creates knots inside of me. “Vinnie,” I start and she looks to me. “You mustn’t—“
“Mustn’t what?” she snaps, and I know I have angered her. “No harm in looking, dear cousin.”
“No, none is. But there will if you dare come back.”
“I wanted to show him to you.” Her voice is softer now. “He helped me.”
“Helped you?” I startle at the news of this.
“I stumbled on my way to the flower shop. He had righted me like a true gentlemen,” she murmurs.
“Vin, you need to stop filling your head with mush by reading those fairy tales,” I retort with a harsh tongue. She takes no offense, however, and gazes longingly at the boy again.
“Fairy tales can come true,” she defends quietly.
“He’s human!” I scoff.
“When has that ever stopped us?” she wonders, her eyes wide, and I gasp.
“You’ve been talking to Ranashi, haven’t you?”
“No…” Vinnie says slowly, and I roll my eyes.
“Vin, Ranashi is one case. Besides, telling you those tales only hurts you more.”
“So you’re saying I have no chance?” Her voice is like ice. She looks to me with hurt brimming in her eyes. I sigh and take her shoulders in my hands.
“Vinnie, you know the consequences…” I start, and she shudders. “Exactly. Leave him be. If you wish him to be your partner, you could have him like that.” I pull my fingers together in a snap. “But you wouldn’t,” I warn. She nods, defeated, turning away from the boy, who had started to whistle absentmindedly.
Vinnie slouches away, her shoulders hanging low. I try to cheer her up with thoughts of tonight’s run but she will not be swayed. Her mind is held on this human lad and she can not be pulled from her own fantasies of what would have been had I not stepped in. Guilt gnaws inside of me but I hold it at bay. I know that stopping a girl from certain torture had she taken the lad is better than ignoring the obvious, and I am able to bear her anger. The thought of Vinnie being harmed by The Masters makes my blood run cold. They are not to be tested, even by the beloved Vin.
) So yeah. I will try to tone it down though.