“Or you could just stay as a wolf with all your fur…” Darius looked at her perplexed.
“I’d rather not. I’ve spent the best part of my life shaving and waxing hair off and then suddenly I’m supposed to deal with it being everywhere. I’ll stick mainly to my human form and these terribly crass but amazingly comfortable all in ones. And look, it has a zipper all the way down the front for easy access to the milking station for the cubs.”
She picked up one of the babies. “Come on, Beiber. Let’s get you, Taylor, and Buble home.”
She looked at our dropped mouths. “God, you’re all just suckers. As if I’d call my children that.”
Shit. I’d lost the sweepstakes we’d held in the coffee shop. Just for a moment there, the prize had been within reach.
Chapter Two
Charlie
I was glad to get to my room after the busy events of the day. Though I needed to call my best friend, I knew Darius was about to ring her about her new niece and nephews. I decided I’d shoot her a quick text and ask her to call me when she was free.
But when I laid on my bed and took my phone from my bag to ring her, the only shooting in my life was a pain once again going down my legs. This had been happening since the latter part of the non-wedding. I’d not mentioned it to anyone as there was enough going on.
Pain like I’d never known coursed through me, so bad that my body couldn’t take it and everything went black.
I woke to darkness. Staring at the clock, I saw over three hours had passed. I reached over to switch on my bedside light. When had I fallen asleep? It was then I remembered the pain I’d experienced. I’d better go tell my mum about it. She’d know what to do. Maybe I’d picked up a virus? I shuffled my feet into my slippers. Stupid things, what was wrong with them? They felt a size too small. I kicked them away in disgust and opened my bedroom door.
My father was right outside, making his way downstairs.
He turned quickly around and screamed.
That made me scream.
He screamed again.
“Dad. Stop it. For God’s sake. It’s been enough of a dramatic day already. You’re not treading the boards now you know?”
He peered at me, coming closer.
“Ch-Ch- Charlie?”
“D-D- Dad?” I deadpanned. What the heck was wrong with him? Parents were so weird.
Mum came to the bottom of the stairs.
“What on earth is all the screaming about? Haven’t we had enough dramatics for one day? I’m trying to enjoy just a bit of peace and quiet.”
My dad beckoned for her to come upstairs. Sighing, and moaning about never getting a minute, she stomped up every step. Then she took one look at me and screamed.
“Oh God, not you too. What is it? Do I have a massive zit on my nose or something? Has a spider crawled on my head in the night?”
I strolled over to the large wall mirror and stopped in my tracks.
Because Charlene Landry, the teenager, was no more. Charlene Landry, the woman, looking around her early twenties, stared back at me from the mirror. My hair was a good six inches longer, reaching below my more than ample breasts. I was about four inches taller. No doubt I’d gone up a size or two in shoes, hence my slippers not fitting. It was a good job I’d worn a loose tunic style dress to the wedding that had finished below the knee as now my dress skimmed halfway down my thighs. Another inch or two and it would have been indecent.
“That’s why I passed out.” I declared.
“You did what?” My mum came rushing over to me. “Come on, let’s get you checked over.”
“She doesn’t leave this house tonight.” My father said in a stern voice.
“Well, that’s a bit overcautious, Theo. If she seems okay, I’m sure she’ll be all right.”
“She. Doesn’t. Leave. This. House. EVER!”
My mum narrowed her eyes at him. “What on earth has got into you, Theo? Go get some O-neg and calm yourself down. She passed out and she’ll be okay. It was no doubt growing pains while she became an adult.”
“An adult.” My dad started pacing. “An adult. An adult who can have sex, Shelley. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
The penny dropped with my mum.
“Ah.”
“I’m not going out tonight, Dad.” I reassured him. “This change has wiped me out. Once mum checks me over, I’m going to eat, drink, and sleep.”
“Fabulous.” He beamed.
“Then I’ll be fully recovered for tomorrow.” I said winking at him.
“Shelley!”
My mother put a silence spell on him. Dad didn’t know and kept gasping, looking like a fish out of water.
“I know you’re thinking about meeting Kai.” My mum said. But we need to make sure you’re okay after this new change. Anyway, lets get you checked over. I’ll pop us both over to the caves and we can see the medics there. Hold tight.”
But before she could whizz us there, Mum’s phone rang. She plucked it from her pocket, pressed answer and held it to her ear.
“Shelley!” I could hear Ebony’s voice from here. “I’m on my way home. The war, it’s started. I keep seeing fire. Lots and lots of fire, and… sausage rolls.”
“Anything else? Like who’s behind it? No? Okay, Ebs. We’ll assemble a meeting for tomorrow around half eleven at the coffee shop. Give you time to get back. In the meantime we’ll be extra vigilant.”
“Has there been any strange happenings at your end?”
“Other than weretriplets and arguments under the sea? No.” Mum shook her head even though Ebony couldn’t see her. Then she looked at me and her eyes widened.
“Oh, actually, there might have been something…”
She put the phone away and looked at me. “So, if you didn’t hear her shrieking down the phone, Ebony believes the war is starting. It’s possible that this is why you’ve grown to adulthood. Let’s get you checked over straightaway.” She removed the silence spell from Dad and whizzed us straight out of there.
Dominica met us at the caves and gave me a full physical exam and checked my bloods etc. “There’s nothing untoward. You’ve just had a growth spurt.” She reassured me.
“We think it might signal the start of the great war, so please advise everyone here to be on the alert.” Mum told her.
“We will. Although we’re always on the alert here anyway.” The caves were a place where enemies were held captive as well as a place for healing. “If you need us to rally, just say the word, Charlie.”
It was strange being spoken to with such reverence, and the focus not being on Mum but on me. It seemed the time had come for me to take my rightful place as the Queen of Withernsea.
I yawned heartily. I could only pray I was up to the job, but right now I needed sleep like a vampire needed blood. As my mum whizzed me back home, I must have fallen asleep in her arms as the next thing I knew it was morning and I was back in my own bed. I stared at the Shawn Mendes posters on my wall, and looked around at all the other teenage paraphernalia, including clothes that were now too small for me strewn all over the bedroom furniture and the floor. Before queenly duties commenced I figured I needed to do a touch of clearing up.
Chapter Three
Shelley
Late Saturday morning, it was all hands on deck at the coffee shop as the place was packed to the brim with the residents of Withernsea. There was myself, Theo, and Charlie; My mum Margret and my father Dylan; Frankie and Lucy; Ebony and Henry; Samara and her husband Johnny; Jax and Tristan; Polly and Drake; Duke Brishon; Rav; the new queen of the fairies, Ella; and one or two other supernaturals. Kai wasn’t here. Charlie told me that she’d asked him to stay away for his own safety. Debbie was here too. I knew she was trying to make an effort, but I could have done without having to explain everything to her every five seconds, especially about the fact her ‘grandaughter’ had grown again.
We were just waiting for the new mum now although I’d called and told her I would u
nderstand if she didn’t show today. I figured she’d be exhausted after no doubt being up most of the night with the babies. But this was my best friend, and she was determined not to miss out on a thing.
The door crashed open and what I think was my best friend half fell through it, staggering over to the nearest chair which happened to have Samara in it. She dragged Samara out of it using her wolf strength and when Samara began to protest, my bestie full on growled at her, making all heads that weren’t already turned in her direction swivel around in shock. She then dropped down on the chair, resting her arms on the table in front of her. Her head promptly fell forward atop her arms and there she stayed.
Behind her followed Darius, with one baby in a papoose snuggled into his front. Alyssa followed, in full auntie duty, pushing a double buggy containing two more babies. Thankfully, all three babies seemed to be asleep… like their mother.
Darius took one look at Kim and turning his gaze on me, shrugged his shoulders. “I told her to stay at home. She wouldn’t listen.”
Everyone began cooing around the babies. Darius had his daughter in the papoose. She had almost died during her birth and had been saved by Polly with a healing power which had probably now transferred to the baby. Only time would tell, but the power was no longer with Polly.
“So, what have you decided to call them?” Lucy asked Darius. “They’re Kim’s, so I went for Chardonnay, Merlot, and Zinfandel.”
Frankie elbowed her muttering, “They don’t know about the sweepstakes.”
“My daughter is called Louisa, which means ‘strong and valiant fighter’. My sons are Cedric, which means ‘warrior leader’ as he was born first; and Finian, which means ‘handsome warrior’. Finian is the baby with the mole on his right cheek.”
I swear every woman in the coffee shop swooned at Darius’ announcement and the sweepstakes were instantly forgotten. My best friend’s hunky husband had stood tall and proud as he introduced his first cubs, and we’d all got a good view of arm-porn as he flexed his muscles indicating each newborn in turn.
“Gorgeous names for gorgeous babies.” I told him. “Take a seat and I’ll get you a coffee. I’ll get your wife about four.” I turned to ask Alyssa if she wanted a drink, but she already held one in her hand, no doubt courtesy of Bartholomew-the barista she’d been out on a date with. I made sure Darius’ chair faced in the opposite direction so he didn’t tear Bartholomew limb from limb.
When everyone had refreshments, I called for their attention. Everyone fell silent.
“So thank you all for attending today at such short notice, especially given how busy we’ve all been lately. We are led to believe by certain events that war may indeed be coming to Withernsea imminently. Therefore, we all need to be extremely vigilant about any changes around us, any signs of evil etc. Firstly, we’re going to hear from Ebony, our Seer, about her visions. Over to you, Ebs.”
Ebony rose and cleared her throat. It was at that point we all heard a large miaow at the door.
I moved my gaze to see a black cat scratching at the door trying to get in.
Kim raised her head, looked at the doorway and shouted, “Someone shoo that bloody thing away.” She then noticed the coffee in front of her and drank three down one after the other.
Lucy got up and opened the door, letting the cat in. It dashed to the back of the room.
“What are you doing? Ah!” Kim said as her eyes finally appeared to register the daylight and her brain woke up. “Maisie.”
The next minute, the sexiest woman of Withernsea, AKA Maisie the werecat, swaggered over to the table and sat down. Seriously, we all would. There was a reason she’d been crowned Miss Werecat 2015. She had long dark hair, chocolate skin, deep dark eyes that held you in their depths, chiselled cheekbones, pouty lips, and an hourglass figure. But mess with Maisie and you knew about it. This kitten definitely had claws. Bartholomew’s tongue was hanging out and Alyssa’s jaw set tight before she stomped over to the tables to sit next to Charlie.
“As you were.” Maisie said. “Sorry, I was late. There was something fishy outside.”
“There you go, wife. Ask her what she saw.” Theo said. “My wife has just asked about any unusual activity in the area.”
“I meant someone had left half of their cod in the bins near the chip shop.” Maisie told him.
“Oh.” Theo shut up.
I clapped my hands together. “Okay, as we were, people. Ebony. Over to you. Please tell everyone about your vision.”
Ebony swallowed and took a deep breath. “I see fire, and I feel strong heat, like I am burning up. It comes with an overwhelming feeling of terror inside me.” Ebony clutched at her throat dramatically.
“Sure, you’re not just trying to cook dinner again?” Kim quipped.
I threw her a warning glare. “Is that all the information so far?” I double checked with Ebony.
“Well… I see- I see- sausage rolls.”
“Where?” Kim’s eyes shot towards the counter and she sat up extra straight. Her eyes were wide-the caffeine had kicked in. “I’m starving. Grab me three, Jax. One for each of the babies I’ve birthed.”
Jax shook her head. “We don’t have sausage rolls today. Just doughnuts.”
“Oh, I’ll have three of those then. Thanks, lovely.”
Lucy scratched her head, looking around. “Where are you seeing sausage rolls, Ebony?”
Ebony’s face took on a grey pallor. It always freaked the living daylights out of me. She looked like the ‘bent neck lady’ from The House on Haunted Hill, albeit with her neck intact-for now-because I had a feeling if she shouted out about any more foodstuffs not available in the cafe, Kim would wring it.
“The heat is intense.”
“Does it come with a smell?” I asked her. “Burning?”
“Just so very hot.” Ebony began opening her blouse, revealing a black lacy bra with nipple cut-outs. Looked like the honeymoon period was alive and well. Henry dived at her pulling her blouse back together. “Can’t breathe. It’s so hot.” Then as fast as she said that, she stood still, “sausage rolls. A plate of sausage rolls. War. It’s war.”
The colour returned to her face and Ebony opened her eyes. She looked down to see her new husband holding her blouse together.
“For heaven’s sake, Henry. At least wait until we get home.” She shook him off her and refastened her blouse, sitting down.
“Okay, thank you, Ebony. Moving swiftly on, Frankie will now talk to us about what he has unearthed about the prophecy during his in-depth research over the last few months. You will remember that Frankie holds a database about all the supernaturals of Withernsea which is of great use to us all.”
Frankie stood up. He looked like shit, with his hair all over the place and dark circles under his eyes. He and Theo should have been in bed now. Being up in the daylight hours went completely against their vampire body clocks and could make them feel quite poorly. But his help was needed today, so he’d stayed up.
Frankie looked down at the small piece of paper in his hand. I’d been expecting him to be carrying a large folder. He’d obviously condensed his research down for us all. How thoughtful.
“My research discovered the following: that a female child would be born and she would be the descendant of different supernatural creatures. Each generation would develop new powers through the pairing of different species. The father would be a vampire and her mother descended from wyverns. The child would be the strongest Withernsea had ever seen, would rule Withernsea and Wyvern Sea, and she would save us from war.”
“And what about this war? What information do we have about that?” I asked him. “Who starts it? Supe or human? When does it begin?”
Frankie looked at me blankly. “That’s it. That’s all there is.”
I scrubbed a hand through my hair. “So, basically what we already know from Ebony’s visions?”
Frankie nodded enthusiastically. “That is correct.”
I had a pain in
my eye and rubbed it. These people were taking years off my life. Then I remembered I was an undead vampire. It still took some getting used to.
“So Charlie’s going to save us from a great war involving heat and sausage rolls? Better get yourself down to Gregg’s, Chaz, for when the last one comes out of the oven.” Kim rolled her eyes.
“Kim!” Darius admonished.
“Well, I got dressed for this! I could have stayed inside in my lovely warm house, sitting on my pile ring in my onesie while the triplets took it in turns to drink me dry. But instead I come here, where only Shelley is looking after me because I still haven’t been given any doughnuts.” She glared at Jax who scurried to put some on a plate.
Darius stood up and in his deep growly voice he apologised for his wife’s behaviour. “If you could please wrap up some doughnuts for me to take away, Jax. I am sorry, my wife is suffering from sleep deprivation which is affecting her moods.”
“Really? I couldn’t tell the difference from her usual demeanour.” Lucy quipped.
“Your turn will come, bitch. See if you’re so funny when your vajayjay is on fire.”
“Sweetie, I used to do that for fun down in hell. Fire play. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.” Lucy winked. “Actually everyone, don’t try it. There are special flames and protection in hell. Here you’d melt your genitals off and need the hospital.”
I needed to call this meeting back to order. How we’d got from the war in Withernsea to a conversation about genitals so fast was beyond me.
“Okay. Is there anything else before we call this meeting to a close?”
“Yes.” Duke Brishon stood up. “We need to perform the ceremony for Princess Charlene post-haste. She needs to become Queen now she is an adult. So we need to de-crown you and coronate her. Can you make it Monday evening, say 8pm?”
The Complete Collection: Supernatural Dating Agency Books 1-6 Page 65