A Wolf Girls Tale

A/N: Okay, this is the third postiong of my story. I couldn't load the rest of the chapter so this is part three of four. I hope you enjoy it, please tell me what you think!!
“How old are you?” I asked as I watched Layla
jump over the driver’s side door of a red Ferrari. “I
turned thirteen November 2nd.” She turned the keys in the ignition
and patted the seat beside her. Nicola and Yue sat in the back seat. I slipped
into the passenger seat. “I
thought Ferraris only had two seats.” “It’s specially made.” “And
you know how to drive this thing?” I asked as I fastened the seat belt. “Have a little
faith.” She smiled. She
backed out of the incline; the garage was underground, built beneath a part of
the forest. She was about to turn left and drive past the house when someone
called. “Layla,” Kuzon
jogged into view, “where are you going?” He asked when he reached us. He
was wearing a black short sleeve shirt lined with soft grey, black pants and
grey moccasins. His black hair grew past his ears; none looked to be the same
length. He was wearing the same gloves he wore the night I met him. His green
eyes looked even brighter than they had before, the gold flecks still shined in
them. “I’m
treating my girls out to lunch, why?” Layla asked. Kuzon looked up at the sky. “A storm is coming; about
three days from now it will hit.” He looked back to Layla. She nodded her head,
as if she knew a hidden message was behind his words. “I’ll take care of it.”
Layla said. As she spoke, Nicola and Yue jumped out of the car and walked in
the direction Kuzon had come. Kuzon jogged after them. “Reach
under your seat.” Layla looked straight ahead. I did as she said and found
something. I pulled out a white security envelope, the top was tapped closed. I
handed it to Layla but she didn’t take it. “It’s
your birthday present from me, open it.” She looked at me. It
was the first time in a long time I had gotten a birthday present; I ripped the
top off of the envelope and I was pretty sure my mouth fell open as I pulled
out the stack of crisp one hundred dollar bills. “This
is…how did…?” I couldn’t find the right words to say. I felt like she deserved
more than just a ‘thank you’. After all, I was a complete stranger to her. “Thirty
thousand; spend or save, it’s your choice.” She smiled. Nicola
and Yue came back into view, now they both carried a purse of their own. I put
the money back into the envelope, folded it in half, and placed it in the same
pocket as my other two trinkets. Nicola and Yue climbed back into the car and
Layla drove out. As
she passed the house I saw Kuzon leaning against the railing of the porch. A
girl with long sandy hair in a black trimmed white dress was talking to him; a
black buckle was around her waist. He looked like he was trying to ignore her;
He smiled at me as we drove past. The girl noticed and turned in my direction,
she looked exactly like a mini Luna. I noticed her hair wasn’t brown, but blonde.
Her skin maybe a shade darker than Luna’s, but she had the same eyes. She had
the same high cheekbones and held her mouth the same way. She folded her arms
across her chest and glared at me before disappearing into a cloud of dust. I
realized Layla had sped up the car. “Connie
Santana.” Nicola said from behind my seat. “AKA
the Wicked Witch of the West.” Layla added. “Literally.”
Nicola chimed in. “She’s
a witch?” I asked. “For lack of
a better term.” Yue said. “I
can think of a better term.” Layla said. I had a good guess of what she was
thinking. About
thirty minutes later Layla parked the Ferrari in front of a Mexican restaurant,
she killed the engine. We walked into the restaurant and sat at a table. Layla
was the first to sit, Nicola sat beside her. Yue sat across from Nicola. I took
the last seat across from Layla, Yue was to my right. A green candle in the
shape of a cactus was placed in the center of the table, it was lit. I
had a good view of the door; the whole front wall was made of clear glass. A
waiter came to our table wearing an apron and a sombrero; yellow sleeves of a
long sleeve shirt were pushed up on his arms. He couldn’t have been older than
fifteen; I recognized him, he had sung a love song at the bar on a few
occasions. He set a menu in front of each of us. “Can I start you girls off with some
water?” He asked. “And
chips.” Layla said. “With
salsa.” Nicola and Yue said in unison. He
looked to me. “Pardon me, but is your name Cassandra?” “Yes.”
I struggled to remember how he could possibly know my name, “I thought so.” He reached into the
pocket of his apron and retrieved a folded piece of paper. “A boy was in here
earlier and asked me to give you this.” He placed the paper on the corner of
the table and left for the kitchen. “What
does it say?” Yue asked. I picked it up, hesitated, but unfolded it and read
the words. One two, I’m coming for you. Three
four, better lock the door. Five
six, the crucifix. Seven
eight, stay up late. Nine
ten, never sleep again. Under it in smaller writing was this: I said you would pay, but no one will look for the bodies of your new
friends. –Demetri. I refolded the paper and lifted my eyes past Layla and at the glass wall
in time to see Demetri pass. He was wearing black jeans, black steel toed
boots, and a black jacket. He gave me a half smile but showed his teeth. The
inflicted lines on his face looked darker than they had before. He stepped out
of view just as Layla, Nicola, and Yue turned to look. A horrible image came to my mind, the
three of them, Kuzon, the girl that had tried to get his attention, and the
others I hadn’t had the privilege to meet yet; all of them lying dead on the
ground; the light of some random burning building lighting their faces. Guilt
of this imaginary outcome struck me; I knew that if I didn’t leave soon that
this would happen. “What
does the note say?” Nicola asked. “Nothing; it didn’t say anything
important.” This was my burden, not hers or anyone else’s. She
narrowed her eyes at me, she knew I was lying; they all did. I clenched the note
in a fist and slid my hands under the table; I could feel the knuckles on my
hands turn white. I felt heat rise inside me, like fire rising from the core of
my body. “You do realize you haven’t said one
honest thing to me.” I
could barely hear Nicolas words over the thumping in my ears; my heart was
racing. I found myself staring at the flame of the candle. The heat from the
core of my body was rising to the surface of my skin. They were about to
connect when whoosh! The flame from
the fire expanded, reaching the edges of the table; the three of them retreated
fast enough that the flame didn’t harm them. I was sitting too far away from
the table for the flames to harm me. The fire came at my face, I could feel the
heat from it on my flesh; I didn’t back away, I didn’t flinch; I didn’t blink.
I just sat there like a statue. The
flame reseeded and died, leaving behind the burnt wick and glowing red embers;
grey smoke lifted off the wick. I hadn’t realized that there had been noise in
the kitchen until it was silent. I continued to stare at the embers of the once
lit candle; the brightness of them was beginning to disappear. “I’m
sorry.” I whispered. I
moved my eyes to the tabletop in front of me; I was afraid to look any of them
in the eye. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I knew it was Yue, but I flinched
away. An image of Luna’s angry face came to my mind, I felt her grab my arm and
throw me against something hard; whether it was a wall or the floor I wasn’t
sure. But it was a memory, clearer than it had been. I
came to a realization, being around them was clearing my mind, helping me see
my past in a clearer light. Luna and Demetri had told me to stay away from
them; was it because they cleared my mind? It had to be. What else could it be?
These people took me, a complete stranger into their home. Then three of them
took me out to lunch today, where I nearly killed them, and still they tried to
comfort me? It was a freaky and stupid niceness, but still, where would I be
now if they hadn’t? I would have been dead five days ago if it weren’t for
Kuzon and Layla. “Cassie?” Laylas voice
was soft, quiet. I looked up at her and looked down quickly. “How did you do
that?” It
was such a simple question, but I didn’t have an answer for it. All I knew was
that it was unfamiliar, yet it felt so natural, like I had done it thousands of
times before. I tried to focus on my breathing, in through the nose, out the
mouth. Or was the other way around? “Ah…I think I need to cool my face,
excuse me.” I said. I
stood and walked to the back of the restaurant and took a right. I walked
through the door marked ‘Senoritas’ I went to the sink and ran the cold water.
I looked up in the mirror and nearly screamed; Luna was leaning against the
wall opposite of me, starring at me. I spun around, but she was gone, like she
had never been there in the first place. I turned the water off and left the
bathroom quickly. While
I was gone, the waiter had returned, distributed the waters, and brought the
chips and salsa. I sat back at my place and noticed the candle had been relit;
it was almost like nothing had happened.
It would have been nice if it hadn’t. “Are you alright?” Yue
asked. “I’m
fine.” I said. “I
ordered you Nachos Belgrade, I hope that’s okay.” Layla spoke hesitantly, like
she was afraid I would be angry. I had never had Mexican food before in my
life. “That’s
fine.” I smiled. We sat in silence, listening to the
sounds from the kitchen; metal clanking against metal, people yelling in
Spanish. But the silence between the four of us was becoming almost unbearable.
I took a quick drink of the water in front of me. “So
what did you two talk about while we were gone?” Yue asked. I looked up at
Layla. “I just gave her an
early birthday present.” Layla said. Yue and Nicolas eyes bulged and they
looked at each other. They quickly turned their attention to me. “Why didn’t you tell us?” Nicolas
voice had more excitement in it than I heard from her. “When
is it?” Yue had the same excitement. They acted like a birthday was the most
important thing in the world. Layla leaned across the table toward me. “To
them, it is.” She whispered and leaned back in her chair. “Tomorrow.” She
answered them. “Tomorrow.” They muttered in unison.
They stood and made a scramble for the door. I watched them race across the
street and enter a building. Layla chuckled. “I
love those freaks.” She sipped a drink through her straw. “Tell
me about Connie Santana.” I blurted, “Please.” I added quickly. I didn’t know why, but
I suddenly wanted to know everything about her. Laylas mouth was still on her
straw; she looked up at me through her eyelashes, she set the cup on the table
and looked at me. “You
are really hard to predict, you know that.” She said, she sighed and looked up
at the ceiling. “Connie Santana is one of the most secretive members of our
‘family’.” She put air quotations around the word and looked back at me and
rested her chin on her left fist, her elbow rested on the table. “I can just
tell you what all the others can.” “But,
wouldn’t some of them know her better; like Kuzon, for example?” Layla lifted
her head and her eyebrows rose. “My,
my Cassie, have you developed a crush on my brother.” I opened my mouth to
protest, but before I could make a sound Layla spoke again. “He hates it when
she’s around, but he’s too polite to tell her. She follows him around a lot, he
knows she does but never does anything about it. I blame Healio for Connie’s
supposed ‘claim’ on Kuzon.” “Healio?”
I asked. “My
step-father; Marash told me I would warm-up to him, never did.” She rested her
chin on her hand again. “Why do you blame him?” “That
is a long story.” I
sighed. “Go on.” “Where
was I?” “She
follows Kuzon around a lot.” “Yeah, she’s done that since she
first came. She claims she felt an ‘attachment’ to him, but whatever it is, he
doesn’t feel it.” She dropped her hand and looked in the direction of the
kitchen. She looked back to me and leaned forward. “You didn’t hear it from me,
but I thing Kuzon has been following someone in town. We aren’t allowed in the
part of town where he’s been going.” She said it in a rushed whisper. “Who?” I asked in a
whisper. “A
girl, I never got to see her face up close, though.” She looked back at the
kitchen and leaned closer, like she was going to tell me information that would
change the world as we knew it. “Don’t hold me to this, but you look a lot like
her.” “I
thought we were discussing Connie.” I refused to believe the possibility that
Kuzon had been stalking me. “We
are; somehow Connie found out and said that she would kill her if this girl
stood in her way. I followed Kuzon the night she said she would. He led me to
you; I don’t know if he was going to change course or if he sensed Demetri, or
what, but Connie never showed.” Layla leaned back and let her words sink in. “I remember
the night well, someone else was behind you. They stayed the same distance away
the whole time; I had passed him off as the guy with the gun. But what if…?” I
trailed off; I often did when I thought out-loud. “But
if it was Connie then why didn’t Demetri run after her after Kuzon chased him
off? I’ll need to talk to Helfo and Scearceanna; they’ll know what to do.”
Layla finished, “Okay, I don’t want to think about this anymore.” “Same
here.” I smiled, but there was no humor. “Do you want to know about anyone
else?” Layla asked. “Tell
me about you, please.” I said. “Way
to long of a story, I’ll tell you that one tomorrow night, sound good?” She
asked. “Yeah;
um…could you tell me about Kuzon?” I asked hesitantly. “I’d love to, and I will
sometime when he isn’t around.” She tilted her head to the door and moved it
back quickly. I looked up
and saw Kuzon sliding his leg off of the seat of a glossy black motorcycle. He
was dressed in the outfit I saw him in this morning. He dressed in the same
color scheme as Demetri, but that was the only thing similar about them. Kuzon was more inviting, accepting, I had no
idea how I knew that, but I knew I was right. Maybe it was something to do with
his eyes, I mentally shrugged. Kuzon took a chair from a nearby table and sat
backwards in it, his arms rested where his back should have gone. He sat in the
place the waiter had stood when he greeted us. I tightened my hold on the piece
of paper. “Hello.”
He spoke softly, quietly. “Hi.”
I gave a small wave. “Are
going to ask him?” Layla said to me after a short pause. I looked up at her;
Kuzon turned to me. “What?”
He spoke at the time as Layla mouthed ‘Connie’. “I
wonder where Micah is.” I said looking to the kitchen. “You know our
waiters first name?” Layla spoke. “It was on
his nametag.” I lied. “He wasn’t wearing a nametag.” “There
he is.” He walked out of the kitchen balancing three plates on his right arm and
one on his left hand. He came to our table and set the plates down. “Weren’t
there two other girls with you?” He had a dishcloth over his right shoulder. “Can I speak to the
manager?” Layla asked. Micah looked at her and seemed a little confused. “Is
there something wrong?” he seemed concerned, like he cared what Layla thought
about the place more than anything. “I’d
like to discuss it with the manager.” She sounded stern but polite. “Yes
ma’am.” He looked to Kuzon, most likely going to ask if he needed anything, but
his eyes drifted to me. “Have we met before?” He asked me. “Nothing
that I remember.” I lied, he had seen me at the bar and we had talked a little. “I remember; you were at
that bar place, yeah. You talked to the owner a lot; yes?” “Yeah, that was me.” I took a
drink of my water, hoping it would close the subject, my cover was blown and I
didn’t want to talk about it anymore. “How did you
meet him?” “Manager!” Layla called. “I’ll
get her for you.” Micah ran to the kitchen. I
felt Kuzon and Laylas eyes on me and I felt the need to explain that I just
worked at the bar, that I had never tasted alcohol in my life. “I don’t know
where he got that.” Horrible, I tried again. “I have nothing to hide.” “If you have
nothing to hide then why are you so anxious?” Layla asked. I sighed. “I work
at the bar and I’m friends with the owner, okay.” I picked my glass up and took
another drink. “I
know you have a lot of questions for me, or us I guess. But I have few
questions for you, and I want you to answer honesty.” Layla said. “Shoot.” I
stacked my hands on the table in front of me; the piece of paper, now rolled
like a scroll, was under my hands. “Why
do you keep lying to all of us?” “I
was told not to trust you, or anyone else.” “By
who?” “Luna Clara Saints.” “Why?” “I
don’t know, she wouldn’t tell me.” “Why
did you knock me out of the way?” “You’re
going to need to be a little more specific.” “The
bullet the person shot at me.” “Why did I save you?” “Yes.” I
was trying to get a reaction out of her, but she was completely poised, giving
away nothing of what she thought of my answers. “You have a strong
heart, no fear.”I said it softly. Her eyes twitched and I thought I saw them
water. Micah
returned, an older woman following him. She looked to be in her late thirties;
she had black hair pulled up in a bun that was coming out. She was wearing
light tan slacks and an off yellow button down long sleeve shirt. She had dark
brown eyes and had a Mexican shade of skin. “You want to speak to me?” she asked
and separated a look at Layla, Kuzon, and me. “Yes,
I wanted to ask you a question.” Layla stood and walked toward the glass door,
the manager and Micah following. Kuzon and I sat in silence; I couldn’t focus
enough to listen to what Layla was saying, but I was sure she was speaking in
Spanish. “Do
you notice something odd?” Kuzon asked me. Looked directly at his eyes for the
first time and found that I had a hard time taking them away. “What do you mean?” I asked. “Rather,
do you notice something that isn’t there to be noticed?” I was looking down at
my hands but I felt his eyes on me. “There’s
no one else here.” I had noticed that when we first walked in, but I hadn’t
thought anything of it. “Exactly.” He took a
chip from the bowl in the center of the table. I pushed the dish in front of me
to him. “You
don’t want it?” He asked. “I’m
feeling a little uneasy right now.” I admitted. It had started when I saw
Demetri walk in front of the restaurant. Kuzon snapped a plastic lid on the
food as the manager walked over. “You two have to go.” She said. “Why?”
I asked. Kuzon was on his feet and behind my chair; I felt his hand resting on the
back of my chair. “I
don’t have to answer to you children.” She walked back to the kitchen. “Come on, let’s get
out of here.” Kuzon said and pulled my chair out as I stood, my eyes leveled at
his shoulders. I
saw Layla was already outside, sitting on the hood of her Ferrari. I grabbed
hers, Nicolas, and Yues purses before I walked out with Kuzon. As I stepped out
the door, I slipped the note into a front pocket of Laylas purse. I handed her
the purse. “Thank you! I didn’t
want to have to go back in there again.” Layla said. She put the strap over her
right shoulder and hopped off the hood. She crossed her arms and looked up at
Kuzon. “Now why are you really here? Let me guess, Helfo sent you; Scearceanna
maybe, no not her. How about Yugi? It was Yugi wasn’t it? I knew it.” She never
paused long enough to let Kuzon answer. “I
came at my own choice.” He said. “But for the same reasons they would
have sent you.” Layla said. “And
others.” “What
reasons?” I asked. “To
see if anything…peculiar happened.” Kuzon answered. “As
in?” I asked. “Something indescribably bizarre.”
Layla paused, “Like making the flame of a candle explode. Which I have to say
was awesome!” “Huh?”
Kuzon stared at Layla. “Apparently,
our little Cassie has some tricks of her own.” I scowled at her, but she looked
like she was trying not to laugh. “I don’t know how it happens, much
less how to control it when it does.” I folded my arms. “Kuzon
can teach you; he’s trained for most of his life.” Layla said. I looked at him. “Really?” I asked. “Yes,
but I can’t teach anyone else.” “Why?” It
was Layla who asked, like she didn’t believe him. “Where are Popper and Tinkerbelle?” Kuzon asked. “Buying
Cassie birthday presents, I’m guessing.” Layla answered. “Where?” I asked. I
didn’t want them to waste their money on me; I preferred things with
sentimental value over the most expensive and elaborate objects any day. Laylas
eyebrows pulled together but relaxed in the next second. She pointed across the
street with the thumb of her right hand. She had motioned to a small jewelry
store, the windows were shaded with soft pink lacey curtains, but I was able to
see the dark shade of Nicolas hair. I speed walked across the street; I heard
the tap of Kuzon and Layla’s feet on the asphalt street. A
bell sound came to life as I opened the door; the smell of lilac was thick. The
store was covered in jewelry made of diamonds, gold, and silver. Nicola and Yue
were near the back of the store, seemingly arguing about something. I wove
around the many displays’ until I reached them; Layla followed closely behind.
Yue was holding a pair of large gold-hoop earrings and Nicola held a silver
chain with an odd gold pendent on it. When they realized I was nearby, they
both came toward me. Yue grabbed my left arm and Nicola, my right. Yue
instantly used her free hand and held the earrings near my left ear. “Please
tell me you are not afraid to get your ears pierced.” Yue instructed. “Huh?” Was all
I could manage; why would she ask such a question? “She doesn’t need to pierce
her ears; a neck-jewel will do just fine.” Nicola spoke confidently. I
had grown up with a fear of needles, of all shapes and sizes. And the cold
metal poking through the flesh of my ears made me sick to my stomach. Laylas
right arm crossed in front of me and she split a look between the girls, who released
me. I absentmindedly wondered which one was Popper and which was Tinkerbelle.
Layla smiled and stifled a laugh. “Whatever
you want, just tell us. We have the savings to spare.” Yue said. “And if you aren’t
a fan of flashy, check out the other stores in this town.” Nicola chimed in. We
all stood in silence; the three of them were probably waiting for me to look
around here or leave to another place. But right then, I didn’t want to go
anywhere, talk to anyone; Demetri was out there somewhere. And in the note that
Layla now possessed, he said that he would go to the length of killing them. I
turned around and found Kuzon standing outside, his back was to the shop and he
was leaning against a street light. The image flashed in my head again, of them
all lying dead on the ground. *You
don’t have to worry about us.* Layla’s voice entered my mind. I was too worried
about Demetri to think about the fact Layla had spoken to me through thought
and not mouth. I looked back to
them. “Okay,
um, Cassie, why don’t you spend the day with Kuzon while we go out and get
supplies? Sound good?” Layla suggested. “Supplies?”
Yue and Nicola asked in unison. Something they seemed great at. “The storm we’re
getting; remember that? Well Kuzon informed me on the walk here that it’s going
to be the worst we’ve seen. We need to be well-supplied in case we can’t get
out again.” Layla informed them. They seemed to agree with her; she gave them a
sharp nod and turned to me. “Well, how’d you like to spend some time with my
brother?” “Uh…” “Perfect,
it’s decided then; you’ll spend the day with Kuzon.” She pointed to me and then
looked to Yue and Nicola, “You two are coming with me.” She turned and left
toward the door, Yue and Nicola following, I tagged along until we left the
store. The other girls made a right and I walked toward Kuzon. He turned to
face me as I approached him. “Apparently we’re spending the day
together.” I announced. He nodded his head and looked in the direction they had
gone. “Have
you ever been to the park?” He asked me; I shook my head. “Do you want to go
somewhere or stand here exchanging idle conversation?” I just noticed it, but
he put emphasis on every word he spoke. “Let’s go.” I said. “One
moment.” He held up his index finger to me before jogging across the street. He went to Layla’s Ferrari; he set the plate
of food in the front seat and popped open the trunk. He pulled out what
appeared to be a black trench coat. He closed the hood and jogged back to me.
Seeing him with a coat in hand reminded me of how cold the air was; I crossed
my arms, suddenly feeling cold. Why hadn’t I noticed the chill before? “You
cold?” I asked. Just because I felt like I was freezing to death didn’t mean he
needed to know. “It’s
not for me.” He said as he held it by the shoulders to his side, the way a
parent holds a coat for their child when it’s cold outside. I
looked at him, but didn’t move. After a minute, he swung one arm over my head
and held the coat together around my neck until I slid my arms in the sleeves;
I never stopped watching him. These people were complete strangers, yet they treated me more descent than the woman
I had lived with for nearly eight years. It made no sense, none. He took a step back and gestured in
the direction opposite of the way Layla and they had gone. “Shall we?” he
asked. I
stepped in the direction he gestured, just one step and stopped; I was still
watching him. His eyes twitched, but nothing else. He didn’t seem to mind me staring. He walked
in the direction, with me in step with him. I was watching him for any sign of
a threat, of danger; there wasn’t anything threatening about him, but there
was…something. I was almost certain, however, that Kuzon wouldn’t hurt me in
any way, at least not intentionally… not like Demetri.
A/N: There you go. Please tell me what you think. Peace!!