Genovi:
It had been a week, and Celeste seemed to be glued to my side. Jarod's grandmother had taken over the household duties, the two of them clashing constantly Fuming on my lap, she smoothed out her scarlet sweater and black leather skirt. Watching her mumble under her breath made her adorable, the corner of my lip curling into a smile. Tammy burst into my office, scanning my simple navy dress shirt and black dress pants ensemble.
"I am going insane." She whined through gritted teeth, kicking a wolf statue by the door. "Damn it! She has been breathing over my shoulder, trying to tell me how to do everything! She needs to go." Fury burned in Tammy's eyes, her rose pink blouse slightly skewed. Finishing tucking it into her chocolate brown pencil skirt, she crashed into the chair across from my desk. Storm clouds brewed over their heads, the two of them looking like sisters. Wicked grins danced across their lips, Jarod walking in. Adjusting his white t-shirt and dark jeans, confusion dawned on his face at the sight of them grumbling to themselves. Months ago this would have never occurred, the sight humoring me.
"My grandmother is leaving in a few minutes, so you guys should really say goodbye." He announced simply, Tammy leaping into her arms. "I didn't expect that reaction." Celly jumped off my lap, Jarod stopping her. Holding his hand up, he shook her head.
"Well, except for you." He uttered simply, her face falling. "You may have pissed her off." Sighing deeply, her arms folded across her chest. Brushing past them, she held her nose up in the air. Patting his back, she cocked her head back. This can't be good, Jarod exchanging an all knowing look.
"Surely, she didn't think she was going to win this one." She mused menacingly, her sly grin frightening me. "You know what they say. Kill them with kindness, right?" Jarod and Tammy quivered behind me, all of us worried about what was going to happen next. Humming a happy song, she skipped down the stairs. Peeking our heads around the corner, the term kill them with kindness really came to life.
"I hope you enjoyed your stay." Celly chirped cheerfully, whipping out a bouquet of golden lilies. "These should live for a long time so you can't forget about me." Madame Moon cocked her brow in disgust, her hand crumbled the bouquet. A snarl curled on Celly's lip, a curious glint twinkling in her eyes. Jarod rushed to stop her, my hand stopping him. This interaction needed to happen, two major women coming head to head.
"You are trash in my eyes because you married the enemy of my grandson!" She yelled loud enough for the whole clan to hear. "How do you expect me to ever l-" Celly presented what looked like a simple loaf of bread, Madame Moon pausing for a moment. Sniffing the bread, childlike wonder brightened her eyes. Ripping off a corner of the golden loaf, tossing it into her mouth. Collapsing into a chair, she melted into a puddle. How could a simple bread cause that reaction?
"How did you know my favorite bread from my childhood?" She stammered oddly, eating another piece. "Clearly, I was wrong about you. Only a considerate person would actually have listened to the stories of my childhood. I like you, but still hate Genovi." Celly perked up, her inner wolf howling in my ear. An invisible arrow stabbed my heart, Tammy giggled next to me. Leave it to her to save the day.
"You wouldn't shut up about it." Celly teased playfully, all of us gasping with shock. "I take you as the person who is blunt ninety percent of the time, but when it comes to the other ten percent you are a bit dodgy about it all. Your eyes are cloudy from your gift of seeking inner wolves. Is it safe to assume that you were always an outcast?" Tears welled up in her eyes, Madame Moon bowing her head in shame. How did she humble her in mere minutes?
"You tell the truth. The other kids always made fun of me, and I grew to hate the world." She admitted sheepishly, Celly sat down across from her. "I was a bitch to you, so why are you being nice?" A tender blush rose to my cheeks, recognizing the behavior right away. Celly had acted that way when we first met, Jarod leaning on my shoulder. An odd look glinted in his eyes, the expression only making me blush harder.
"I find that people like us tend to be defensive before we open up." Celly commented genuinely, keeping her space. "I don't like people right away either. I don't know if you know, but my former clan abused me and belittled me every day. I only struggled through it for the chance to run away, but Novi rescued me at the right moment. To tell you the truth I was going to kill myself the next day. I knew that my mother would never release me so I had plans made." My heart stopped beating, all of us going dead silent. Tears welled up in Tammy's eyes, fury darkening Jarod's eyes. Their reactions made it perfectly clear that they cared about her.
"I just wanted to die." She continued calmly, staring down at the cast on her arm. "Nothing was worth living for. I don't think Novi knows how much of a hero he is to me. I mean come on, a total stranger found me and said that I was beautiful. You should have seen the way he swooped in and marked me to free me from my prison. He isn't a bad guy. I know that this is hard to hear, but Jarod and Tammy did sneak around behind his back. You are a werewolf after all. We are a little extra when it comes to our emotions. Even after all that, he still allowed them to live with us. I kind of made the decision, but he could have said no at any time. He is the alpha after all." Surprise rounded her eyes the moment Madame Moon embraced her compassionately, all of us crashing to the floor. Glancing up at us, scarlet colored our cheeks. Celly refused to look at me, shame dimming her eyes. Madame Moon ruffled the top of her head, lifting up her chin.
"You have nothing to be ashamed about. My dead husband rescued me when I was younger as well." She exclaimed kindly, all of us stunned. "I can forgive Novi if it makes you happy, but it will take some time." Tears of joy flooded from her eyes, her composure crumbling. The corner of her lips quivered into a broken smile, her limp arms dangling by her side.
"That would make me so happy." She wept sweetly, Madame Moon rising to her feet. Glaring up at me, she placed her hands on her hips. Pointing up at me, a wicked grin twisted her wrinkled face. Panic twisted my face, her wild expression frightening me.
"Well! Are you going to comfort your wife?" She teased with a bemused grin, picking up her overnight bag and loaf of bread. "Jarod, would you be a dear and drive me home? I have seen enough people for a long while." Jarod struggled to his feet, spinning a set of car keys on his finger. Bouncing down the stairs, Madame Moon stopped in her tracks.
"Aren't you bringing your family?" She queried seriously, Amy bouncing up to her. "I quite like your wife and adore your daughter. Celly dear, do you mind it if I visit every now and then? I don't want to step on your toes. I am a good doctor after all. I would be honored to deliver your twins." Celly couldn't say anything, her head nodding in silent agreement. Accepting that answer, Jarod motioned for Tammy to come. A pouting Tammy marched downstairs, Celly grabbing her wrist. Yanking her close, sharp words passed between them. Standing up straight, a pleasant smile replaced her pout. Tension still brewed in the air, but the thickness had thinned out a bit. The four of them left, Celly rising to her feet. Seeing her like this broke my heart, her fingernails scratching at her legs.
"I get it if you are disappointed in me." She sighed sadly, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear. "I really didn't want you to know that. It makes me look pathetic. " Sliding down the railing, my arms wrapped around her bump. Resting my chin on the top of her head, her hands cupped mine.
"I am not. I am thankful that I found you in time." I assured her lovingly, her wet eyes gazed up at me. "I can't imagine a world without you. My life sucked before you. It was all work and no play. More importantly, I think I would have felt you die." Her real smile brightened her face, the tears still flowing freely. Spinning her around, a deeper red burned her cheeks as I kissed her forehead. Looking away, her palms pressed against my chest. Something was off, the light in her eyes grew dull for a quick second. Thomas wandered in, two tickets fluttering in his hand.
"I have a couple of tickets to a couple's tournament a couple of hours from here." He offered sincerely, waving them around in my face. "I was going to go with Sarah but she isn't feeling well." That was a lie, he always changed his tone when he lied. Most importantly, his eyes shifted around just as they were doing now. This plan had been in his head for quite some time, his lips curling into a sly grin. Celly snatched them from him, her fingers playing with his shoulder length hair. Jealousy flashed in my eyes, her laugh twinkling in the air.
"You look much better with longer hair. I will take it as Sarah's suggestion." She commented kindly, Thomas only sunk further into her spell over him. "Thank you so much. I look forward to coming back with the first prize. Let's go." Grabbing her purse, she dragged me out to the car. Plopping into the driver's seat, she adjusted the seat to match her height. Passing me the tickets, it was a murder mystery party. Now it all made sense, the address raising my brows. This was Benji and Amelia's address, her happy humming told me that she was thrilled to bits. The engine roared to life, her seat belt clicking. Hopping in, her golden eyes never left mine as adjusted the seat.
"You seem to enjoy a good mystery." I joked tenderly, just happy to see her smile again. "Is that what you listen to while you cook? That stuff makes me a little queasy." Her laughter twinkled once more, curiosity glinting in her eyes. Saying nothing, a hint of sadness hid underneath her smile. Peeling out onto the road, her lips parted to speak but stopped.
"I do indeed, but we must make a pit stop first." She boasted proudly, her chest swelling with pride. "We have to look the part. If you read the tickets they say that we must wear the proper costumes. The unfortunate thing is that our category is the nineteen twenties. I hate the flapper dress, so maybe I could pull something else off. You will look fine, of course." Drumming her fingers on the steering wheel, her empty gaze told that she was lost in thought. An hour and a half passed, a costume shop coming into view. Slowing to a stop, the engine died down.
"I know something is going to happen. My inner wolf can sense it." She sighed tiredly, grabbing her purse. "Benji wanted us there for a reason. I am not sure what it is, but he sounded terrified on the other end of the phone. I simply need to know the reason for him giving the tickets to Thomas instead of me personally. Come along, we have to look the part." Her finger rested on her lips, the anxiety beginning to show. Following her in, she rang the bell. A youthful vampire popped up, the petite girl leaping over the counter. Her five foot height made Celly look like a giant, her long silver hair touching the floor. Ruby eyes sparkled up at her, black fingernails standing out against her porcelain skin.
"Celeste, I missed you so much." She beamed excitedly, Celly ruffling the top of her head. "You are pregnant and have a mate. I need details." Cupping her bump, her black lips curled into a Cheshire Cat grin. A rosy pink colored her cheeks, her hand rubbing the back of her neck. Discomfort flashed in her eyes, her composure remaining firm.
"I suppose so, Miss Silverstorm." She replied sweetly, peeling her off. "I need a nineteen twenties' costume and some information. Judging from Benji's tone, something has been plaguing the vampire's community. Do you know any of the reasons?" Smoothing out her simple white sweater dress, Silverstorm skipped over the rack of accurate costumes. Running her hand along them all, she leaned forward.
"I can provide you with both, so open up your little wolf ears." She promised a little too easily, pulling out a couple of suits for me. "These should do well for you. You, my only friend in the world, will take a bit more time. A small rebellion has been forming, my guess is that party is to weed out the moles if you catch my drift. The answer lies in who hates him the most. One thing strikes me as odd though. Why would anyone want to hurt our queen? She is the kindest one we've had. If she weren't by Benji's side, we would be monsters who still drink from humans." Piecing the information together, she tossed us both a couple of costumes. Celly rolled up her sleeve, offering Miss Silverstorm her arm.
"Take a drink like the good times. It should tie you over for the year." She ordered sharply, her patience growing thin at her hesitance. "This is our agreement every year since I met you when I was ten. You were starving back then, and my family always brought me with them to get their Halloween costumes. Just drink it already!" Silverworth sank her fangs into her arm, tears flooding from her eyes as she drank her fill. Standing back was hard, but Celly had insisted. A satisfied sigh escaped her lips when she stopped drinking, her wide grin returning.
"You really are happier, aren't you?" She exhaled proudly, wrapping up Celly's arms. "For so many years the memories were sad, but they are slowly getting happier. I love you like my daughter." Hurt dimmed her eyes, a silent secret passing between them. Pressing her lips into a thin line, Celly cleared her throat. Guilt dimmed her eyes, her claws scratching at the top of her hands.
"I didn't mean to kill her attackers. You told me the story and it didn't seem fair that the vampires weren't going to do anything." She groaned tiredly, her deep depression returning for a quick second. "If it wasn't for you then the vampires would have devoured me for the crime they committed. My punishment was to feed you once a year. At first I resented it, but then you started treating me like my mother never did. My parents only abused me more because of the mistake, so I paid the price at home. What else would they have done with a ten year old?" Silverworth cupped her hands, shaking her head. Wiping off the top of her hands, her delicate hands wrapped the white gauze around her hands.
"You saw them kill her, and I am sure that was tragic enough for you." She expressed serenely, wiping away her fresh tears. "I can't thank you enough for what you did. I have to admit you scared me quite a bit but your white wolf was so beautiful. So don't worry about that. Let's get you two dressed." Shoving us into the changing rooms, she tossed in a dark gray suit with an emerald dress shirt. Setting the other suits aside, this one was perfect. Sliding my feet back into my black dress boots, Celly was struggling. Buttoning up the last button, I stepped out. The door opened cautiously, an anxious Celly sneaking out. My breath hitched at the way the emerald gown hugged her curves, her fingers tracing the beading dripping off of the dress. Sliding her feet into a pair of the t-strap heels, the emerald silk brightening her porcelain skin. Silverworth yanked on an emerald silk glove, her attention turning towards me. Pulling a sparkling onyx headband around her head, her slender fingers fluffed up the golden feather.
"How do I look?" She asked excitedly, spinning around. "I feel like a whale." Her hands emphasized her bump, a gray fedora in her good hand. Pulling her close to me, her bump against my abs caused my chest to swell with pride. Stealing the hat, her expression softened into a tired smile as I plopped it onto my head.
"I am ready to be your gangster lover." I joked tenderly, spinning her around. "You really are the cat's meow. I am going to kiss you on the kisser, ya see." A fit of laughter burst from her lips, the way she covered up her mouth with her hand made my heart flutter. Her hands cupped my face, her lips kissing mine sensually. Time stopped, my heart skipped a beat. Her lips refused to let me go, my hands sliding down to her bump. A throat clearing interrupted our moment, Silverworth rolled her eyes.
"Try not to destroy the costumes." She teased lightly, folding her arms across her flat chest. "They are vintage, you know. I doubt they will make it through the night the way you are." Celly bounced over to, dancing around with Silverworth. Seeing her so happy melted my heart, her gentle smile never leaving her lips.
"I promise to try my best." She sang in a chipper tone, offering me her hand. "I am ready to go, my gangster lover. We have a mystery to solve." Seeing her in a rare moment of pure joy stole my breath away, her smile lighting up the room. Grabbing my hand, her feet barely touched the floor as she dragged me out to the car. This was going to be an adventure.