Beware the Violet

by Maria Vermisoglou

  “Too much.” She held my arm and when we stopped at the edge of the forest, she said, “Sometimes, it is but he’s back now. Keep thinking on that.” Taking a closer look at me, she tilted her head. “There’s something different about you. I noticed it before, but I didn’t want to ask you because of things. What is it? Your aura is brighter and…blue. It’s usually violet. What happened?”

  “A fight happened,” I said and she shook her head.

  “No, it’s not that. Fine, don’t tell me now, but you’re going to tell me or I’m going to find out myself. But it’s a good thing!” She hugged me and flew back.

  Lying back on my bed, I sighed, trying to keep my tumultuous thoughts away.

  Chapter 10: The Rabbit

  Weeks passed after I found Jacques and things went as expected.

  I hadn’t reached a decision about the summer break that was fast approaching. I visited the cave from time to time, but I was confident Kristy took care of him and so I didn’t visit much.

  My feelings swirled as I tried to push them away, but the hurt that was supposed to go away after I found him, only turned inward. Every time I saw him, the pain cloaked my heart, but at the same time, I could see it mirrored in his eyes. Going to visit him less and less, I hated myself but I couldn’t offer any help. He was getting better, but slowly since he was human now while shapeshifters healed a lot faster.

  Raid continued pursuing me and I had to find creative ways to evade any confrontation with him but unfortunately, he was cunning. The last day before the holidays, I had enough. He pulled me from a lesson and since he was a senior and Resident Advisor, the professor gladly allowed me to resolve an important matter Raid wanted to discuss.

  Outside, he gave me a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Violet, Violet, you’ve disappeared. Where have you been?”

  Anger boiled inside me and I decided to resolve the matter myself. I didn’t tell Jacques or anyone because I didn’t want another fight. Taking a step, I slapped him well in the face. “You’re getting out of hand! Stop it or I’ll make a fur coat out of you and burn it to crisp!”

  Holding his red cheek, Raid gave me an angry look. My nails had marred his pretty face and his expression had turned into wild anger. I walked back to my class with a smile and got comfortable in my seat.

  On the day of the departure, I didn’t say anything to anyone but went to the station where thousands of students were chattering excitedly about the holidays. Silently, I dragged my suitcase as I tried to persuade myself to leave. I hadn’t visited Jacques for days and it stung, but it would only bring more pain if I had. Everything did these days.

  I got into the coach and I had a sense of déjà vu as across of me, Jacques was staring at me, his back on the wall with an expression of anger.

  “What are you doing here?” I said even if I knew what was going to follow. “You should be resting.”

  “Huh! I should be resting? You were going to leave without telling me anything? How naïve do you think I am?” His angry voice filled my ears but I knew he was more hurt than angry and I hated myself for that. It was my fault.

  “You haven’t visited for days. Why? Why are you doing this?”

  “I can’t offer anything. Why would I need to be here when I’m useless?” I said, trying to keep my voice from breaking.

  “How about just being there for me? I’ve been there for you and even when I couldn’t fix a thing. Why can’t you do the same?” His jaw trembled as he took a ragged breath. “Is it because I’m a human? Do you not see me as you once did?” His voice broke and tears trickled from my eyes.

  “Are you out of your mind?” I took a calming breath. “I don’t care if you’re a human or any supernatural creature, I love you just the way you are. I just…” My voice faltered while my tears ran, making his figure hazy. “I just can’t with this world anymore. I don’t want to be in it! I watched my grandmother get murdered when I was six and then I lost you again and again and for what?” I pressed my hand on my mouth to stop my whimpers. “Because someone went nuts and wanted to take over the world. I am useless. I can’t heal anyone or stop it from happening. I can only stand there, watching when…” My tears overwhelmed me completely and I stopped talking.

  His arms came around my waist as he pulled me on his chest. “Violet,” he whispered and kissed my forehead. “Why didn’t you tell me, Flower?” He continued to whisper sweet things in my ears while he stroked my hair. His calming breaths brought me peace.

  “Because you’d think I’m weak and you all are so strong,” I whimpered.

  “We’re not, Flower. We just pretend to be strong, but deep down, we’re more afraid than you are. Even if we had all the powers of the world, we couldn’t have beaten the Darkness. Running is always the first choice. You’ve changed us to think for the better.” He brushed a kiss on my cheek. “You’re not weak. You’re the strongest human and supernatural I’ve ever seen. Even if everything points to doom, you find a way to fix everything. I’m the one who’s useless, not you.” Our gazes met and I felt my cheeks warm up at his expression. A mix of pain and passion. “Now more so than ever before.”

  “You’re not useless,” I breathed. “Your plans are great.”

  “I beg to differ. Your plans are better than mine.”

  “I had a good teacher,” I said, looking away and he chuckled.

  Silence spread as I listened to his heart beating wildly, resembling mine.

  “I thought you didn’t want me anymore,” Jacques said in regret and I shot him a disbelieving look. He sighed and kissed my hand. “So, you wouldn’t mind if I was a vampire?”

  “Don’t even dare!” Angrily, I clenched my jaw and he grinned.

  “You said any supernatural, Flower.”

  “No vampires! And stop calling me a flower. I’m not a flower.”

  His laughter made his eyes twinkle. “Violet is the name of a flower,” he said and I blushed. “I missed you.” His cheeks had turned rosy and his quick breathing made me sweat. I remembered what happened in the bathtub and gazed at him.

  He brought his face close to mine and I noticed silver dots in his eyes. Wildness enveloped us as he placed his lips on mine and pulled me closer. His hands traced my arms as I raised the front of his shirt. We pressed against the wall, while our kiss deepened. I pulled away for air, but he continued to lay kisses on my neck, making me moan.

  I pulled him with strength and traced his abs and his heavy breathing, turned into a joyful sound, resembling animal sounds. I tried to keep my thoughts in check, but he erased it all when he kissed me deeply. He lifted me and I wrapped my legs around him, weaving my hands in his hair.

  Suddenly, he stopped kissing me and I was about to complain when I saw his scared look. Looking away, he turned back to me and I felt his muscled arms shake.

  “Ja…”

  He quickly put me down and I watched worriedly as his back trembled. My necklace started pumping on my chest like I had a second heart attached to me.

  “What—” I screamed as before me was a rabbit and not a human. Clasping my hands on my mouth, I said in a trembling voice, “I thought…I thought you couldn’t shift anymore.”

  Jacques in rabbit form was even more scared than I was as he trembled from top to bottom. Heavy footsteps made my heart go faster and I grabbed the shaking rabbit and put him inside my bag as the controller appeared. He made a face when he saw me and silently gazed at my ticket before advancing in another compartment.

  “Jacques?” I put him out of the bag and he shifted. Clutching his stomach, he had kneeled on the ground. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m going to be sick.” His color had turned green as shivers climbed his back. “Why this is happening?” he complained weakly. “I was supposed to stay human, not…” He doubled over and I caught him but he turned into a rabbit.

  “Will human medicine help you?” I said, frantically going over choices as I heard the train’s wheel roll. “I can take you to the Bl
essed Realm…”

  Lying on the floor, the rabbit shook his head twice.

  “You’re not allowed there yet? I’m not good at caring for animals, but I’ll do my best.” The rabbit slowly sat up, but I took him in my arms. “Just rest and I’ll make the train go faster.”

  Going to my coach made things even worse because it was packed with people. I couldn’t cast magic with all of them there.

  “Violet! Come and sit here.”

  I turned and my eyes widened. “Lena? I thought you were going to Canada.” I sat on the seat next to her, seeing my hopes shatter minute by minute. The other people cast us an indifferent look before returning to their bored state again and if it was just them, I could cast magic but Lena was going to notice everything I did.

  “I am. This train passes from the US and goes up north after that.” Peering over my arms, a concerned expression crossed her features. “Is your rabbit sick?”

  “Yes, I have to take him to the vet when I arrive.” I bit my lip as my worries escalated.

  “Is he going to make it? Maybe he ate something he shouldn’t?”

  “He’ll be fine,” I said firmly and that ended our conversation.

  “I was going to get something to eat, do you want anything?”

  My heart jumped in joy. “Yes. Can you get me soda and tacos? I’m craving Mexican food. Thank you.”

  “Of course!” Her face lit up as she left and I sighed.

  I placed Jacques carefully inside my bag and putting my hand inside, I cast a healing spell. It seemed to work as Jacques opened his eyes fully and looked at me. I couldn’t read animals’ expressions, but I thought he was thanking me so I continued casting the spell up until Lena came.

  “Sorry to keep you waiting, there you go.” She handed me the food and drink and I nodded. “You’re not going to believe this, but we’re going to arrive today!” I raised my head and frowned. I hadn’t done anything so how could the train arrive earlier? “Apparently, they’re going to skip certain areas because people are going to only three locations. No need to make a full circle.”

  I nodded and felt my shoulders relax a little. Munching the taco, I wondered what I should do next. I couldn’t go to the Blessed Realm or home so what solution did I have?

  True to their words, the train arrived at noon and I left as soon as it stopped at the station. Waving at Lena, I walked in no particular direction. Hours on the train and yet I didn’t know what to do. Looking up, I frowned as I saw the woods looming over me. My feet had carried me while my mind was stuck and having no other solution, I entered upon a secluded area, I laid a blanket and placed the tired rabbit on it.

  I cast a spell so no one from either world could detect us and when I turned, Jacques in his human form was laying on the blanket. His face had a sickly green pallor and his breathing came fast. I pulled a handkerchief of my bag and placed it on his forehead.

  “You have to go, they’ll be waiting for you.” His closed eyes fluttered for a moment before shutting again. “Besides, you don’t want to see this.”

  “I can’t leave you here.” I squinted closer and laced my fingers through his. “I’m here no matter what.”

  “No, Violet, you have to—” His loud howl terrified me, but I rubbed his arm with no intention to leave. My eyes watered, but I blinked them away decisively. His screams ceased only to get started again with more intensity. I spoke to him about mundane things, hoping to make his suffering more bearable.

  A couple of hours later, his screams had stopped and he opened his eyes. Helping him drink some water, I tried to forget the difficult moments he went through. It wasn’t his howls, but the sound of bones breaking that pierced my heart the most.

  “You stayed,” he whispered. Lying next to him, I pulled him on my chest and he placed his arms around me. With his tired voice, he added, “For what it’s worth, I hate being part of this world more than you even if I belong there.” I cupped his cheek, worried about the sweat pooling on his forehead and placed another handkerchief. “But it’s better than the first time. I just thought I’ll never have to feel this pain again.”

  “Again?” He had passed through it again?

  “It’s the change. I was sick when I turned into a human because my body got rid of the rabbit but it was not painful. Getting your powers as a shapeshifter is excruciating. While the rabbit is a small animal, it still hurts a lot. The bones break to fit the small body and your organs melt.” My eyes enlarged and I held him closer. “I just don’t understand why this is happening. I thought it was a legend, but no one said anything about turning back into a shapeshifter!” He trembled and I pulled the blanket on top of him. “The first time, my mother stood apathetic while I was changing without offering a look at me and when I turned into a rabbit, chaos prevailed.” Holding my hand, he kissed it. “You made it bearable. Thank you.”

  “I didn’t know what to do.” I whimpered.

  “There was nothing you could do but you made it a little better.” His eyes stared at me intently. “Do you really liked rabbits or did you just say it to distract me?”

  “I like them a lot. When I was younger, another family lived across the street and had a whole bunch of them. I went over every day to play until the family moved out. I was very sad.” I sighed. “After that, I didn’t want to care for another animal because it was just too painful.”

  “The universe has a funny way of mocking you.” Jacques winced and tightened his grip on my arms. “How many rabbits are we talking about?”

  “Six or seven,” I said and stopped as he released another howl.

  “Seven,” he breathed. “Well, that is a lot for a child. No wonder how you can care for one.”

  I removed his wet hair from his forehead and placed the handkerchief on his face. “How long does it last?”

  “One or two days, but call Kristy. You don’t need to…” He screamed and my heart broke into pieces as I watched him suffer. “How long does your summer break last?”

  I wondered how much strength he had to be able to talk about casual subjects after a crisis. “About two months.”

  “Then, maybe there’s time to do some exploring in the Light Realm.”

  I tilted my head. “Light Realm?” I only knew the Realms by name but not what or where they were as I had never been outside the Blessed Realm with the exception of the Moon Realm.

  “Yes. Some creatures have compared it to Paris, but it’s so much better.” Through his painful expression, a smile appeared and I wondered what he meant.

  “It’s in the supernatural world and I don’t want anything to do with it. No sense inviting trouble,,” I said vehemently and he sighed.

  “So, you don’t want to see me.”

  “No, I want to see you. I just…I don’t want anything to do with darkness and fighting.”

  He cupped my cheek and gazed at me with his sea of sweat and kindness. “The Light Realm is the last place anyone would think of starting trouble. Only couples go there for strolls.” I narrowed my eyes and he shrugged his shoulder. “But we can go anywhere in the human world if you want.”

  “I went to the human world and trouble followed me there, too.”

  “The academy can hardly be classified as the human world,” he objected before another round of painful screaming overwhelmed him.

  “We’ll talk about it when you’re better,” I said, evading the decision.

  “All right, but think about it.” He swallowed and said, “Call Kristy. This can last all night and your family will be waiting for you.”

  “Not until tomorrow. The train changed plans and we arrived a day early, but it wasn’t supposed to do that,” I said, thoughtfully.

  “Luck was on my side. How weird. Just call her.”

  “Okay.” I concentrated and flower petals gathered to form the signal I used to call my fairy friend. I lowered the defense from the supernatural side in order for her to gain entry.

  “Why is it that every time you call me, h
e’s ill?” Kristy said as I pulled the defenses up again. “I thought he was fine.” She shot him an angry look. “Especially since you took off abruptly even after I warned you.”

  I cast him a look, but he returned my gaze steadily and I blushed. “Yeah, there is another problem now,” I said, turning away to avoid the awkward moment.

  “What he could possibly have now? He’s human!” Kristy threw her arms exasperated but her mouth dropped. Letting her arms fall, she added, “Or not!”

  I turned and a rabbit stood, covered in blankets, shivering.

  “Yeah, that.”

  “How on earth did that happen? If he turns into a human permanently, he can’t turn back. I’ve seen it happen to others and they stayed in their human form until the end.” Confusion marred her features and I shook my head.

  “Wait, wait, so it’s not a legend?”

  Twisting her mouth, she shot the rabbit an angry look. “Just because Jacques doesn’t believe it, doesn’t mean it’s a legend! Of course, it’s real!”

  I crossed my arms and the rabbit shrunk. “We’re going to solve this later,” I whispered, pressing his nose.

  “How did this happen?” Kristy interrupted my silent disagreement with the rabbit.

  “Don’t ask me, I do not know,” I said and at that precise moment, the rabbit turned into a human.

  “Well?” Kristy prompted and I felt bad seeing him in such bad shape but also upset.

  “How should I know? Just because you heard the rumor of a shapeshifter being a human, it doesn’t mean it’s not a legend. I’ve been around a while and I’ve not seen proof of…” A howl escaped him but subsided almost immediately. “Of this happening.”

  “Okay, okay, let’s not fight about that and figure out why,” I said, putting my hands out because Kristy was ready to fight but he couldn’t hold much in this state.

  “To figure it out, we need facts. When did it happen, what were you doing…” Kristy said and I thought it was a bad idea to suggest it. Let’s not talk about that. “So what were you doing then?”

  Exchanging a quick look with Jacques, I lowered my eyes to the ground and studied the blanket.