Beware the Violet

by Maria Vermisoglou

  “Wait a minute! That’s not possible,” Kristy exclaimed, and I turned on her pointing at Jacques but I couldn’t see a reason of alarm other than what I already had. “I can see your aura.”

  My mouth opened and closed when I realized the truth in her words. An electric blue cloud spreading like a cape engulfed him now and I blinked, trying to understand what that meant.

  “When did this happen?” Kristy continued her inquiries, but as puzzled I was, the more puzzled he was. “You know…” she said slowly, “it does resemble with the new color on your aura.” Jacques gazed at me through his half-closed eyes as Kristy narrowed her eyes. “What happened between you two? Her eyes went from me to Jacques and I thought there was no way to escape the interrogation that was going to follow.

  “Leave her alone,” Jacques said through his clenched teeth. “It has nothing to do with the reason and even if it has, it’s none of your damn business!”

  Like that had ever stopped her!

  “Oh, I’m sure it has everything to do with what is happening now.” Kristy ignored the insult and her eyes passed through me like a laser beam. “What happened?”

  I felt my cheeks burning as I tried to avoid everyone’s gaze.

  “Violet, I’m just trying to help,” Kristy said softly and I bit my tongue.

  “The imprint happened,” Jacques said in such a low voice I barely heard him.

  “What? You did what?” Kristy seemed to overload for a moment, but after blinking, she took a sharp breath. “When?”

  “A couple of days ago if you must know.” His expression was boiling anger and I would not be surprised if he turned into a rabbit and attacked her.

  “And you kissed her on the train, didn’t you?” Kristy said and continued without waiting for an answer. Pacing up and down, she stood in front of us. “You’re an idiot, you know that?” Her words were directed to Jacques but I couldn’t understand what was developing.

  “Umm…” Jacques arched an eyebrow. “Are you drunk?”

  “Very funny! The imprint was turning you into a human, but you didn’t let it make its circle so the second time, you canceled it.”

  Jacques’s jaw dropped and mystified, I listened to the unbelievable facts. “Is this how it works?”

  “You don’t know how the imprint works? You’re the shapeshifter, not me!” Kristy looked at him with her enlarged eyes and he shrugged.

  “It’s not like I had the plan to imprint with anyone!” he growled, but then he turned to me and his expression softened. “No offense.” My necklace blinked and a deep scowl ruined his features. “Yeah, blink!” Laying back on the blanket, he stared at the treetops. “I can’t believe it!”

  “I’ll stay. You can go if you want, Violet.” Kristy fluttered her wings and I bobbed my head, confused with all the new facts.

  I kissed his cheek and whispered, “You’re only getting this because you’re sick. I’m still mad at you about the legend thing!”

  “It’s a legend,” he insisted and getting up, I narrowed my eyes. “Stupid rabbit!”

  I walked away, taking my things before hearing his excuses. I hadn’t walked much of a distance before Kristy caught up with me.

  “Tell me,” she said, grabbing my hand.

  “Tell you what? You know…” I said, trying to overcome the humiliating moment.

  “Well, details!” Her eyes glimmered, but I held my ground.

  “Nope. End of story!”

  “Please? I don’t know anyone else who has been imprinted and is willing to share the story. Jacques is not going to tell me anything obviously.” She rolled her eyes. “Please? Anything?”

  “No thank you.”

  “Kissing?” she tried but I held my lips firmly. “Oh!” Her eyes widened. “Intense kissing. It’s all written in your aura,” she concluded and I frowned as my face betrayed my embarrassment.

  “Auras can’t do that!”

  “No, but the lines in your aura are enough!” She tapped my arm happily. “I know, you hate me, but I love special things. I have a soft spot for love and you’re my best friend. Can I see the imprint?”

  “Have you not humiliated me enough?” I muttered.

  “That’s not humiliation. You must wear it proudly.” I raised my sleeve and she gushed. “It’s so cute!” She was such a girl! Straightening her face, she took a breath of satisfaction. “Don’t worry, he’ll be fine in a couple of days.”

  I nodded and bit my lip. “He asked me to go on a holiday together,” I confessed. “In a place called the Realm of Light?” Uncertain, I looked at her, but the look of surprise on her face confused me.

  “The Realm of Light,” she said and swallowed. “Not a good idea. No, nope.”

  “Why? He said it was safe and there are no troubles there.”

  “Define trouble. Darkness is never going to set foot there, that’s for sure, but you must avoid that place. There is a power filling that land that’s more dangerous than the Darkness.” My heart started pounding. “If you go alone, you’re fine and that’s probably the reason he’s not aware, but if you go together, you’re going to act like you have drunk gallons of aphrodisiacs.”

  “I think I’ll take a human city,” I squeaked.

  “Paris is a good idea. So romantic!” Kristy fluttered her wings, but I shook my head.

  “Not Paris. I’ll think about it, but there are two places crossed out of my list and I’m not looking for a romantic gateway. Just a place of peace with no supernatural creatures or Darkness,” I stated and Kristy hugged me.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I know it’s hard, but he’s okay now. He’s just stuck with shapeshifting again.”

  Holding my luggage, I smiled. “That was never a problem!”

  Chapter 12: Hyena

  “Of course, we can’t miss going to the clothes’ festival where we will be…”

  I sighed as I heard my aunt blabbering about nonchalant things I didn’t care about. Especially clothing. Someone could say she was an elegant woman of an older age with a constant glowering expression, similar to a vulture. From the moment she showed up, she talked about mundane things which I didn’t care about and she expected from me to pay attention. Hearing the doorbell, I masked my relief and offered to greet whoever was at the door.

  “Violet,” Jacques said when I opened the door and I flung myself to his arms, interrupting him. “I’d like to assume you’re happy to see me, but I think I’m rescuing you from some boring activity,” he breathed in my hair.

  Pulling away, I blushed. “Can’t it be both? I’m glad you’re all right and yes, you’re rescuing from my aunt who showed up and blabbers about things I don’t care about.” I inhaled slowly and clenched my fists. “I’m going to turn her into a rat! Rats don’t talk,” I whistled and he grinned. “Are you all right?” I changed the subject before my words became a reality.

  His shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry, you shouldn’t have seen this. It was awful of me…I didn’t know…” Biting his trembling lip, he passed his hands through his uneven hair. Wearing a white shirt and black jeans, he looked like a normal teenager, picking up his girlfriend. His look of distress upset me and I hugged him.

  “It’s okay. I didn’t mind being there for you, but I wanted to relieve your pain and I could not.” I traced his lower back and inhaled as I remembered the terrible moments in the woods.

  “You were there for me and it’s more than anyone has ever done for me but it’s not okay. I’m stuck with the rabbit again and I hate it.” His voice broke, but despite this, he continued, “Rabbits are useless and if it was a smaller animal, I could hide or even a cat, I could jump high but a rabbit? And white? There’s nothing I can do with it. Our characters don’t match either. I’m not afraid of many things, but put a cat in my way and he’s running miles.”

  When he ceased ranting, I waited until his breaths returned to normal. “I don’t think any animal is useless. You just haven’t found its special power yet.”


  “You’re the only one who loves rabbits.”

  “Girls love rabbits, but I have a special connection with them.” I pulled away and winked. “Can I find a rabbit to rescue me?”

  A light smile lit up his face. “Anything you want, Flower.”

  The door opened and to my great relief, my mother peeked her head out. “I thought that might be the reason you took so long at the door.” Her smile made me blush but she winked. Turning to Jacques, she greeted him warmly and my heart pounded from the overflowing sense of happiness. “Hello Jacques, how are you?”

  “Good morning, Mrs. Webb. I am fine. I hope you fare well.”

  “Jacques, how many times have I told you to call me Anna?” she chided. “Violet, don’t be late. Your aunt will be getting impatient.”

  “Yes, Mom,” I said and she closed the door.

  From the window, I noticed my aunt watching us with a look of displeasure plastered on her face. “She really doesn’t like me,” Jacques hummed and I shrugged.

  “No. You’re ruining her perfect plan,” I mused. We walked quietly and I gazed around to see what’s changed in the town. To my surprise, I’ve missed the tiny little town of ours with the quiet streets and nature’s smells. In Oklealia’s city, noise and chaos resided even though there were a lot more to see.

  “Plans?” Jacques said after I had greeted some of my school classmates who had returned home for the summer.

  I rolled my eyes. “Her eternal plan. She’s got the silly idea about getting me with her son.”

  Jacques pulled his hand from mine and startled, I saw his features freeze. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Tell you what? I’ve only seen her once in my entire life when I was ten and she always mentions it to my mother, but she has no right to decide who I can be with or not.” My blood ran hot and I was uncertain to who my anger was directed to.

  Jacques hugged me and my bad mood dissipated. “I don’t want to lose you in any way,” he whispered with his arms so tight around me, I had a hard time breathing. “She’s not getting you, not even when I’m dead.”

  My breath caught, but I licked my lips and glanced at him. “I’m trying to decide if you’re overly protective or possessive.”

  He chewed his lip, pulling away. “Shapeshifters are by nature possessive but I’d like to think I’m more protective than the other.” I nodded as my cheeks warmed up. “I can’t help it,” he said, shrugging and I clasped his arm as we continued to stroll.

  “It’s cute when you’re jealous,” I said and laughed at his shocked expression.

  “I’m not jealous.” Trying to maintain an even voice failed as his French mixed in his sentence, a sign he was getting upset.

  Looking ahead, my smile melted. “Oh, rabbits!”

  “There are no rabbits,” Jacques said, but ceased talking as I squeezed his arm and a young man stopped in front of us.

  “Violet. I hope to see you soon.” Before I could utter a word, he stalked away without another look at me.

  Shaking as my brain possessed the information, I had a hard time breathing. “He’s not…” A cough overwhelmed me, but Jacques rubbed my back. “He’s not…”

  “A shapeshifter, yes, but there are a lot of shapeshifters around the world. We’re natural travelers, and we don’t stick to any place…” Tears ran from my face, taking away every inch of happiness I had inside me and bring back the panic and fear of the previous days. “Flower, what’s wrong?” He wiped away my river of tears and gently talked to me until my heart calmed. My head found his shoulder and he wrapped me tightly into a tight embrace. “My Violet…”

  We stayed like that for an long moment before I found the strength to breathe the fateful words. “He’s her son…”

  “Her son…” He repeated and then tensed. “The one you’re supposed to…” I nodded and a sensed a growl building on his chest. “He’s not getting you ever.” He gently moved us to a bench where I lay on his shoulder. “He’s a lynx, but they’re not usually a problem. Not overly a predator, but also a cat so he shouldn’t be much of a situation.”

  “Isn’t he going to harm my family?”

  “No.” He rubbed the small of my back and I inhaled in relief. “Shapeshifters aren’t likely to involve themselves in human affairs unless there are high emotions involved.”

  “It’s the first time I’ve met him,” I said quickly and I felt him relax.

  “Then everything will be fine. Do you know what his mother is? I couldn’t get a read on her from the window.”

  He looked at me and I shrugged. “I didn’t get a supernatural sense from her. Can shapeshifters be made?” My only knowledge about shapeshifters was from the books Madelena gave me to study but none analyzed shapeshifters that much.

  “No. Both parents must be shapeshifters. If any parent is different, then their blood is more dominant than ours. The only case is the human kind where we lose our powers,” he uttered the last words reluctantly and I shot him a look.

  “So, it’s not a legend!”

  “Just because someone said it doesn’t make it true,” he said indignantly and I snorted.

  “You’re stuck.”

  “I’m not stuck.” Pausing, he twisted his mouth and I turned away. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings by laughing, but sometimes, he could be so funny. “Go ahead and laugh. I’m pathetic.” I kissed his cheek and looked at him deep in his eyes.

  A moment that lasted ages went by when we gazed at each other with our arms clasped but he broke it as he said, “So, did you think about a place?”

  I huffed. “You’re stuck. No, I didn’t give it enough thought since I was worrying all day, but no, we’re not going to the Realm of Light.”

  Throwing his arms around me, he brought me close. “I am fine, Flower. No need to worry about me,” he reassured me. “Why not? It’s safe.”

  “Actually, it’s the opposite of safe.” I glared at him and he arched an eyebrow. “Kristy…” He twisted his nose, but I placed my finger on his lips before continuing, “Kristy said that every duo who goes there are like inebriated on aphrodisiacs and I do not need that experience and before you say anything, you didn’t listen to her when she said it was a legend and it came to be true!”

  He recoiled and lowered his gaze. “I didn’t know. Now, I think I understand why I couldn’t stand the place when I went last time. I stayed for about an hour but left after. The atmosphere was too heavy, but I thought it was only because I was alone.” Peeking at me, his cheeks burned. “I wanted a place for us to go, safe, so you can heal.”

  My gaze softened as I looked at him and felt bad I had laid all my anger off on him. “I thought you knew since you have traveled a lot and wanted to drag me into such an adventure.”

  He shook his head as a look of disbelief crossed his features. “I would never do that.” His mischievous smile appeared and I arched my eyebrows. “But I might take you to a new romantic gateway.” His lips found mine as he drew me closer and his fingers traced the length of my legs.

  Breathless, I pulled away. “But not Paris,” I said and resulted in an annoying look from him.

  “And you’re saying no to the most romantic place in the world? You really are not one for romance.” I noticed his disappointment and out of nowhere, a strange image jumped into my head and I tried not to laugh. Picturing him as a rabbit with his ears looped down made it difficult to keep a straight face. “Can I talk you out of it?” His eyes searched mine, but I wasn’t backing down because of his cuteness.

  “Nope.” His eyes looked at me, scowling and I couldn’t resist the urge to kiss him. “Don’t use your rabbit cuteness, it won’t work. I have to go or I’ll hear a yelling apart from fabrics.”

  He kept his scowling face as he walked me back to my house. “Are you sure they will be all right?” I said when we were only a few steps away from my home. My mind raced but Jacques kissed my hand, getting rid of his hurt expression with one of love.

  “They will be fin
e, he won’t hurt them, I promise.”

  I nodded and tried to relax as we turned to my road where my white house appeared. In the garden, my aunt was smoking and when our gazes met, I could feel the atmosphere freeze by her hatred. Jacques squeezed my hand as I watched her enter our home and I turned but my words died in my mouth when I saw fear stitched on his face. I had never seen him afraid and it troubled me.

  “Jacques? What’s wrong?”

  “Hyena.” His voice was breathless and his arms had turned cold. “She’s a hyena.”

  “I’m going to suppose that’s bad?” His widened eyes made my heart pound in my ears as I tried to push my overwhelming restlessness back down inside.

  “They’re crazy, hyenas are crazy. I cannot let you walk through that door alone.” Wetting his lip, he inhaled and straightened but I felt the pulse in his fingers hammering.

  “Is she going to hurt them?” I shook his arm and after a long look, he said, “No. It’s you she wants.”

  “Me? Why? I’m nothing special.” I shrugged indifferently and smiled. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry.” He squeezed my hand and I noticed his worry under his eyes.

  “No, you won’t be fine. They are crazy and…” Still, his hands shook as he wrestled with the words. “I can’t…”

  I wrapped my arms around him and placed my head on his shoulder. Making soothing sounds seemed to calm him as he withdrew from me and a look of determination took over his features.

  “You’re not going in there with her.”

  I didn’t understand what danger lay underneath, but seeing how upset he was, I didn’t press for details. “I have to go.” For an unexplainable reason, I didn’t worry about myself but for my family more.

  “Then I’m coming with you,” he said and shifted.

  “I think you will be more useful as a human being if she creates chaos,” I said and he shifted back.

  “She will. They always are.”

  Pausing at the door, he laced his fingers through mine before entering.

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