Raaksha's Story: Chapter Three

Chapter Three1

I rolled over and looked out the balcony windows; the sun was just waking, peeking over the tree line and bathing the world in gold. 2

My unexpected reaction to Damon’s question had me worried, I hadn’t heard from him since yesterday when he left with the slam of the door and nor had Mother. If I had known he was going to ask, maybe I wouldn’t have bitten his head of and snarled at him. Sometimes not using my telepathic abilities seemed like a stupid idea.3

I was staring out the window still, watching the sunrise when there was a knock on the door.4

“Who is it?” I asked, wiping away the tears that had trickled down my cheeks.5

“It’s me, dear,” answered Mother, her velvet voice coated in worry, “Can I come in?”6

“I guess.”7

I didn’t turn to look at her when she opened the door and walked in, settling herself on the edge of my bed beside me.8

“Raaksha?”9

I glanced up at her, more tears sliding down my cheeks.10

“No need for tears, dear. Damon will be back soon enough,” she reassured me, wiping away the tears.11

“I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did,” I mumbled.12

“But you did.”13

Sitting up, I tucked my knees under my chin, resting my chin as I looked back out the windows.14

“I should’ve expected him to ask something like this sooner or later.”15

“Would you have reacted differently if you knew when he was going to ask, dear?”16

“I don’t know,” I shrugged, “I don’t think I would have bitten his head off so much.”17

Mother nodded and wrapped me in a hug; “Most times things have a scary way of catching you off guard.”18

“I know that now, don’t I?”19

She kissed my forehead, “Then consider this your lesson learnt,” she turned my face to look at her, and smiled, “Dwelling on what you should or shouldn’t have done is a waste of a lovely day, Raaksha. Why not go out on the town or go for a run?”20

I nodded, “Maybe later…”21

“Alright then, dear,” she stood and headed for the door, “I’m going out for a while later, you’re welcome to join me if you like,” she chuckled, “though I don’t know if you’d be interested in what the old geezers on the council have to say.”22

“You’re going to a council meeting?” I looked out the window then back to her, “In the middle of the day?”23

“Yes, dear, don’t worry; the ancients have their ways of travelling during day light hours.”24

“Oh okay… uh I think I’ll pass for today, maybe another time.”25

“Alright, dear,” she left the room, closing the door gently behind her.26

An hour or two later I emerged from my room. The Manor was silent.27

I wonder where everyone is…28

I looked around the Manor, checking each room, except one, trying to find everyone. I knew Mother said she was going out later and that she hadn’t left yet because I found her reading in the library, but where were the others?29

I have the whole place to my self pretty much? I realised, chuckling I made my way down stairs and ransacked the fridge.30

Finding only some left overs from the Ball and not much else I closed the fridge door, went back to my room, gathered my art folder and pencils, and went outside to the garden.31

The garden was a beautiful Victorian style garden, with roses being the main flowers and a hedge maze in the centre. 32

I made myself comfortable on the edge of the fountain in the main courtyard, over looking the hedge maze and roses. Taking a pencil, I started to draw the scene before me. The scrape of pencil over paper surrounded me, drowning out the sounds around me as I lost myself in the picture.33

“Wow, that’s really good.”34

I jumped, dropping my folder and nearly toppling backwards into the fountain, but a pair of hands caught me before I did.35

“Sorry,” mumbled the voice, “I didn’t mean to scare you.”36

Picking up my folder and dusting off the specks of dirt I glanced up to see Mick standing there.37

“You didn’t scare me, just surprised me.”38

“Surprise, scare,” he shrugged, “Both the same.”39

I raised an eyebrow sitting back on the edge of the fountain, “Whatever.”40

He moved and sat next to me, his smug exterior from the other night unnoticeable. 41

We sat there awkwardly in silence.42

I turned to face him, “What do you want?”43

“Oh… uh… right…” Mick fidgeted, rubbing his hands, “Uh… I just wanted to apologise for the other night…”44

I snorted, “Right…”45

“Really, I am sorry…” he said softly, all confidence from that night gone, showing his nervousness, “And I’m sorry about Lord Victor too.”46

“Oh…Okay…Apology accepted,” I replied, turning my attention back to my drawing.47

“R…Really?”48

I nodded, “Yes, really.”49

“O…Okay…” 50

Mick sat there quietly as I continued to draw.51

“Are you going to add colour to it later?” he asked, curiously, having been watching me.52

“Don’t know yet, I think it looks alright in black and white…” I smiled at him.53

He isn’t as bad as I thought… Must have been the pressure of his pack mates. I thought to myself as I watched him admire my picture.54

“Raaksha? Are you out here?” someone called.55

“Yeah?”56

Portcia walked around the corner, the same emotionless expression on her face, “Mother would like to see you before she leaves.”57

“Okay, I’ll be there in a moment.”58

Portcia, another of Mother’s adopted daughters, was one that disliked me the most. Although the feeling was mutual, so we stayed out of each other’s way, avoiding each other when possible.59

“Mother is in the library,” she said turning and leaving.60

Mick stands up, looking after Portcia, “I guess I should go then…”61

Packing away my things I glanced up at him, “Would you like to meet up afterwards?”62

He looked at me; shock clearly painted on his features.63

I chuckled, “Don’t look so shocked, Mick, I’m not as cold as I come off to be sometimes.”64

A blush coloured his cheeks, “Right… uh… sure. Where?”65

“I’ll meet you out the front in about… ten, fifteen minutes? I’m sure Mother won’t talk too long.”66

Nodding, a smile tugged at his lips, “Okay, I’ll meet you there in fifteen.”67

I smiled back, picking up my things and walking into the Manor.68

“You wanted to see me Mother?”69

Mother smiled up from behind the desk in the library, her eyes were red-rimmed as though she had been crying.70

“Yes, dear. I was just wondering if you wanted to say anything at Lord Victor’s funeral tomorrow.”71

“I…uh…” I shifted nervously, fidgeting with a ring on my finger.72

“It’s okay, dear, I know how you feel about speaking in front of crowds,” Mother stated, “I just thought to ask.”73

I walked over and kissed her on the forehead, “Thank you for asking, Mother,” I said wiping away a stray tear that slid down her cheek.74

I didn’t know what else to say, what do you say to someone when you just declined talking at their loved ones funeral? She smiled and then turned back to the paper work she had laid out in front of her. Opening the door I moved to leave.75

“Oh and Raaksha?”76

“Yes, Mother?” I turned to face her.77

“Portcia said you were talking to ‘some mutt’ as she put it,” Mother looked at me amused and an eyebrow rose, “Is this ‘mutt’ Portcia speaks of, Mick?”78

I felt a blush warm my cheeks, “Yeah, I’m talking to Mick.”79

“Isn’t he the one that you punched in the face the… other night?”80

I nodded.81

“Then why are you talking to him?” she looked at me, confused.82

“He apologised for his actions.”83

“Really?”84

“Yep, really,” I chuckled.85

“Wish I met young men like that when I was your age, dear,” she mused, “Though that was centuries ago.”86

I smiled politely, not knowing what to say.87

Centuries was ever the only indication we’d get from Mother when it came to talking about her age. I didn’t even know exactly how old she was. She never said. 88

Mother waved her hand, signalling for me to leave, “I’ll let you go then, don’t be out too long okay? I expect you to be home by the time I get home after the council meeting.”89

I sighed, rolling my eyes, “I am seventeen, Mother, and am capable of taking care of myself.”90

“I know, dear, but still, a mother is allowed to worry and put down rules.”91

I chuckled, “Okay Mother, I’ll be home before you,” I tapped the side of my head, “Keep the line open okay?”92

Mother smiled, “Of course, dear. Have fun.”93

I left the library, chuckling and went down the hallway.94

As I walked down the hallway, I passed Portcia’s room and I heard her talking to someone.95

“You know what I’ve heard along the grapevine?”96

“No, what is that?”97

“I’ve heard rumours that Rassa is living around here.”98

“Rassa?”99

“Oh you know, that little were’ that got lost in the human adoption system after her parents were horribly murdered.”100

“Oh yeah, it was all over the news...”101

Not wanting to hear any more of the conversation I slunk past quietly and went out the front double doors.102

Mick was sitting on the front steps, his sandy blond hair looking scruffy as though he’s been running his hand through it. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t here me as I walked down the steps and sat next to him.103

“A penny for your thoughts?” I said.104

He jumped, his sapphire eyes turning to look at me, “Oh… uh… “105

I chuckled, having clearly caught him off guard, “Cat got your tongue?”106

“No, sorry… I just don’t get asked that very often…”107

“Okay…” I looked down the driveway, my attention getting caught by a rabbit that was running across, “You hungry?” 108

“Huh?”109

I looked to him, “You know, food?” chuckling I stood, nodding my heads towards the forest, “Want to go hunt for something?”110

He shrugged, standing and looking into the forest, “Don’t you usually hunt at night? I find it’s a little easier.”111

“Either works for me,” I stated as I lead him into the forest to a hollow tree.112

I tapped the tree to make sure it was the right one and stuck my hand into the trunk, pulling out a red box.113

“What is that for?” Mick asked, raising an eyebrow curiously.114

“To put my clothes in. I only have so many pairs of jeans; I can’t go tearing them all up when I change.”115

“Oh…right…” another slight blush coloured his cheeks, “I guess I’ll…uh… go over there for a moment…” he said, turning his back to me and walking over behind a bush.116

“I won’t be a moment,” I said.117

Removing my clothes and folding them away, I crouched, relaxing my muscles. A tingling sensation went through my body, starting at my hands and feet, as the change started. This time the change was quick and painless. Controlled. My muscles stretched and contorted to fit the new shape my bones had arranged themselves into.118

The tingling sensation wore off and I gave a shake, sending some fur drifting on the afternoon breeze.119

I picked up the red box in my jaw and walked out from the cover of the bushes, my paws making little sound on the pine needle covered floor. 120

-M…Mick?- I stopped in my tracks looking at the large blond wolf which stood before me.121

His blond fur caught the light, making it shine, as he turned to look at me, his ear twitching. -Yeah…?-122

-I…uh... never mind.- I shook my head and placed the red box at the bottom of the tree trunk, my eyes glancing back at Mick.123

-So what are we hunting?-124

-If we can find the herd of deer, we’ll hunt those…- I thought to him as I put my nose to the ground and sniffed for a scent, my gaze following Mick as he did the same. -If not, we will have to make do with rabbits.-125

-Rabbits will be fine for me now, they’re always fun trying to catch.- he gave me a wolfish grin and I rolled my eyes.126

I chuckled. -I like big prey, but as I said before, if we can’t find the deer then we’ll go for rabbits.-127

I lead Mick to the centre of the forest, where the deer are usually found grazing, peacefully in the clearing. The clearing was lit by the afternoon sunlight, the grass and trees bathed in a yellow glow.128

My ears twitched, turning in the direction of the grazing deer. The buck stood guard, protecting his herd from danger.129

I caught a glimpse of the sunlight catching Mick’s golden fur, at the other side of the clearing. He nodded towards an old buck, which limped slightly on his right hind leg.130

-Good pick- I thought to him 131

He crouched and I followed suit, my muscles bunching together, ready to spring from the cover of the undergrowth, and my senses focusing on the old buck.132

Mick made the first move. Springing from his chosen bush, with a prowess that showed he wasn’t an amateur when it came to hunting deer. I followed quickly after.133

The deer scattered, bounding away as the Alpha defended his herd, trying to stample us as we weaved through the stampede, cutting off the old buck. 134

Moving forward, I left Mick nipping at the buck’s heels, as I leaped for the throat. Thick blood flooded into my jaws as my teeth sank through skin and flesh.135

The buck fought hard, twisting and turning trying to shake me loose, but I held on fast, my grip not loosening in the slightest.136

Mick landed on the back of the buck, his teeth sinking into its hind as it crumpled to the forest floor under our combined weight.137

***138

Once we had both eat our fill we left the remains for the crows to pick at. They had been circling overhead while we were eating, their cries echoing through the forest. 139

-Shall we start heading back now?-140

I looked over to Mick, who had started walking back towards the line of trees, and chuckled.141

-Wrong way, silly-142

-Oh… uh… I knew that…-143

I rolled over, chuckling, my tongue hanging out the side of my mouth.144

-Sure you did, that is why you started walking in that direction to begin with-145

He glared at me as I lay there, rolling about in the dirt a little.146

-So childish- He said, shaking his head at me.147

-Your point being?-148

-Nothing…-149

I grinned over at him cheekily, sitting up; I moved swiftly and pounced on him, nipping at his ears. Yelping in surprise he rolled over, pulling away and pushing me off him.150

-Raaksha?-151

Mother’s voice floated through my mind as she connected the telepathic link we had forged when I went missing the first night I strayed from the Manor. Unlike other were’s Mother was able to connect with my mind and read any unguarded thoughts, which was why my thoughts were always strongly guarded behind my shields. We had both made an agreement then, when I tried and succeeded in breaking through her shields, that we would both leave one another’s thoughts to alone.152

Without hesitation I agreed to it, since I passed out afterwards, because it took so much energy to do.153

-Yes, Mother?- I answered, pouncing on Mick again and nibbling at his ear while he tried to pull away.154

-I need you to come back and get ready for…for your Father’s…funeral-155

I stopped mucking about with Mick, my playfulness leaving me as the images of Father’s murder returned to the surface of my memory, bringing along the fractured reminders of my past with them.156

-All right, Mother, I shall be there soon-157

-Okay, dear, see you soon-158

Mick pounced on me and I shrugged him off with a growl, he stopped before he pounced again.159

-What is it?-160

-I have to go back to the Manor now…need to get ready…-161

He tilted his head at me, confused.162

-Ready for?-163

-Father’s funeral…-164

I loped back the way we came, the trees a blur as I flew past. I could hear Mick catching up behind me, he didn’t say anything as we both stopped, collected our clothes, changed and walked silently back to the Manor.165