———
"What is that supposed to mean?" Tara stood in total disarray.
Ma's countenance had changed, she took steps closer to her.
"Come. Sit." She told Tara as she returned to take a seat at the table.
Tara's eyes screened her while she did.
"I tried.." Ma said,
"Tried what?" Tara inquired as she took her seat curiously.
"To protect you. " Ma replied.
"You are not making any sense," Tara said to her.
"None of it makes sense." Ma started. "These people you live with are not strangers." She added.
"To you?" Tara answered.
"To us." Ma said, "There is no easier way to say this but there is so much I had to keep away from you." She added.
Her words had become worrisome to Tara.
"What are you talking about?" Tara asked.
"What I am about to tell you will sound insane and impossible but I promise you, they are all true. " Ma told her.
She could see Tara's eyes dim at once. It was almost like she could tell at the end of all she had to say, she would be disappointed.
"Many years ago, we lived in a different world. A world of our own. Our true home–Pyralis meaning Fire. We had a ruler, the Alpha. His name was Peter Blade but the true blade was his Luna. She was so power-drunk that she would do anything to maintain their titles. Even to the extent of having her newborn child killed." Ma narrated. She could see Tara stare at her like she was crazy.
"I know you think I am insane." She said to her.
"Obviously. You were expecting me to believe all that? And what does a baby have to do with maintaining power?" Tara asked.
"Just listen to me. This is no story. On the night of the full moon, she had twin girls in the sacred mountains. Yes, you and your sister." Ma said,
"What? No-no-no." Tara sprung up to her feet shaking her head. "I have had enough of this." She said,
"You can't keep running away. This is real. You are a twin. Your boss's daughter is your sister but they do not know because–" Ma had gotten up as well.
"Because what?" Tara turned to her with raised brows.
"Because my husband was there that night. He was one of the guards on watch. You were handed to him to slaughter. The sorcerer had said you were going to grow up to be a curse to the kingdom." Ma said,
"Wow." Tara voiced.
"Yes, but he didn't do it. He wouldn't. He brought you to me. We had been childless for a long time. You were a blessing to us and we loved you immediately. We raised you as our own. Until he –passed" Ma responded in a sad tone.
"In other words, my whole life has been a f*ckn lie," Tara stated.
"A necessary lie." Ma said,
"For real?" Tara scoffed, holding onto her head.
"I regret you had to find out this way." Ma tried to touch her.
"I'd never have known uhn?" Tara's eyes became wet.
"We wanted a normal life for you. It's why I moved here after he passed." Ma replied.
"A normal life," Tara repeated. "I practically suffered my whole life, living in abject poverty while my wealthy parents wallow in riches along with a sister they chose over me! You call that normal?" She asked.
"Yes, you are all royalty but I assure you they are nothing like the people they seem to be," Ma told her.
"And how would you know? What if all of this is only a coincidence" Tara said,
"It isn't," Ma retorted.
"How would you know!" Tara inquired rather upset.
"Just the same way I can tell you lied when you said you work as a maid there! The moment you stepped in I could tell!" Ma yelled back.
Silence settled between them.
"Alpha, Luna, terms used in werewolf movies. If you are saying they are real then you are a what?" Tara asked her with raging eyes.
"It doesn't matter." Ma said, turning away.
"Don't lie to me any further!" Tara said,
"I am a witch," Ma responded, turning towards her.
Tara smiled to herself as she swept her hands to the back of her head. She was unsteady. It felt like her mind was playing tricks on her. Ma could see that she was broken. She slowly moved to where she was, holding back tears. Tara had allowed herself to sit on the ground. She was shaking.
"I could show you," Ma told her in a sad voice.
Tara said no words. Ma leaned her forehead on hers and Tara became still. Ma's eyes were shut but Tara's shone brightly like one who saw what no one else was. Whatever was happening seemed to be doing so at a fast pace.
Tears rolled down Tara's cheeks. Ma's right hand had moved up to prevent it from going any further but like a river, they kept flowing out and it became too heartbreaking for her to bear.
————
Minutes had passed and now they both sat on the floor. Tara's head leaned on Ma's shoulder as Ma's arms wrapped around her.
"When will it happen?" Tara inquired in a low voice.
"I have done all I could to prevent your transformation. Now, it's all up to you to decide." Ma responded.
"I don't want to be a monster."
Tara said,
"I used to believe all werewolves were monsters until I met my Charles. Werewolves are like humans, some good, some bad. The good ones protect their kind from the bad ones." Ma said,
"But the sorcerer –" Tara said,
"He could be right, he could be wrong but the outcome of a person is solely dependent on that person and nothing else," Ma told her.
"What do I do now?" Tara asked.
"Fulfil your destiny," Ma responded, planting a soft kiss on her forehead.
————
Late evening.
"I can't believe you right now. You fell for it? You let her go based on trust? What exactly were you trying to prove? That daddy is better than mommy?"
Mrs Peterson confronted her husband in their room.
"You should lower your voice." Mr Peterson said to her.
"Oh. Now you are tough yet you couldn't be tough enough to not fall for her tricks again!" She responded.
"Sometimes I wish I could somehow add a sweetener to this bitter tea I have been served!" He told her and then walked away towards the mirror.
"You are just an ingrate." She told him. "I have done your dirty work all your pathetic life, I practically do all the work, you should be the Luna!" She fired back.
"If you were ever the Alpha, there would be no clan to rule." He assured her.
"Can't you see you're wasting time? There's been another attack, do you wish for our people to go extinct?" She asked him.
"None of it is her fault. She will come around and I meant what I said, Lora, we will not go the extra mile to satisfy your thirst for vengeance on the Od'hawks." He warned.
"And where is she now?" She asked.
"Wherever she is, she knows her way home." He told her.
"Can you hear yourself? We are a target and your daughter is somewhere you don't even know yet all you can say is she knows her way home? Yes, she does, till she is brought back in pieces." She replied.
"For a minute I would believe you sound this way because you cared." He said to her.
"I bore her." She told him.
"You bore the other too." He said,
"We both agreed to what was done!" She fired back.
"Did we?" He asked, looking into her furious eyes. She remained silent. "I thought as much." He added, walking out of the room only to bump into Tara. "Hey.." He said,
"Hey. Sorry, I'm late. Wanted to come and let you know I was back as promised." She said to him.
"I'm glad you're okay," he said.
Just then Mrs Peterson made herself visible. She was still wearing a straight face.
"You are late." She said to Tara.
"I know. I apologise. " Tara replied. "I was wondering if we could plan more for the wedding tomorrow." She added.
Mrs Peterson's eyes flickered and her husband turned to look at her.
"Well, yes-yes of course." She responded.
"Thanks. I would be in my room. Tired." Tara said with a mild smile.
"Yes sure, you should rest." Mr Peterson said to her.
"I will. You both too. Goodnight Dad, goodnight Mom." Tara said as she turned to walk away.
The Petersons stood in shock, mostly Mrs Peterson.
"She hasn't called me that in years," She said,
"I told you to give her time." Mr Peterson said to her.
————
Shutting the door to her room, she stood with her back against it. Her facial expression changed to a dark one and now she moved toward the bed. She climbed on it and reached her hand underneath the pillow placed on the right. She drew out the diary and then sat up while she flipped through the pages.