Beware the Violet

by Maria Vermisoglou

  I had been to a lot of family lunches in my life, but none of them seemed like a battlefield. Overall, it wasn’t as bad as I thought with some points to be alerted.

  My aunt resembled the hyena as Jacques described and showed him so much hate I could practically feel it coating my skin. Asking him any question possible, she was attacking him and making nasty comments throughout the entire lunch, while her son was as gentlemanly as any. There was more than one instance I caught him blushing because of his mother’s misbehavior. I tried to rescue Jacques but he squeezed my hand and I knew he didn’t want me to get involved but even if I did, my aunt would shoot me a look of hate that left me staring.

  My family was mystified by her behavior and my mother kept blinking, a sign that her temper was about to go off soon. She, like me, was not a patient person. Glowing with happiness when I told her Jacques would join us, she made sure he was comfortable. Something hard to achieve when he was getting attacked by a vicious hyena—in both senses.

  “What’s your last name?” my aunt spat as we served the dessert.

  I let Diane serve her or I was going to spill the ice-cream on her and not accidentally.

  “L’ Épée.” Smiling, Jacques showed his teeth and she clenched her spoon so tight, it bent.

  Opening her mouth, my aunt didn’t get her chance to shoot more venom. As my mom rose from her seat while she gathered the empty dishes, she said with a sweet voice, “Anette, why don’t you help me with these? I’m sure we can’t bother the children with mundane tasks.”

  “Mundane?” My aunt breathed, slitting her eyes.

  “Yes. They’ve worked so hard with their studies and they deserve a break.” With a decisive expression, my mom stared my aunt down who didn’t have any other choice but to walk to the kitchen. As the kitchen door closed, Diane and I shot a look at each other and made a run for the living room.

  I grabbed Jacques, not minding his complaints and we took cover behind the couch at the far end of the room while Diane and Lakir hid behind the other. My father knowing better, left, heading for the garage where it was isolated.

  “Cover your ears,” I said, placing my hands on my ears and anticipating his next question, I added, “Have you ever heard a loudspeaker? Imagine ten thousand times louder. My mom doesn’t get angry a lot, but when she does, you better hide!” Jacques rolled his eyes but I elbowed him and he complied.

  The screams started soon after, finding their way to our ears before reaching the whole atmosphere. Even with covered ears, we could clearly hear every word my mom slung at my aunt and I bit my lip, praying the chaos didn’t last long.

  “I think I know how you got your temper,” Jacques said and I frowned. “What was that? It was worse than a banshee’s cry.” Hearing his last words in a very low voice, I chuckled.

  “We have our own personal banshee.” I spoke with a real low voice as the screams still echoed in my earlobes. Rubbing my temples, I took a shaky breath and Jacques hugged me by the shoulders.

  “Umm…I’m going to make sure there’s no round two.” Diane’s heels clicked on the tiled floor and I sighed. When did she grow up so fast?

  “Hey, can I have a word with you?” Lakir stood in front of us, looking at Jacques with half-closed eyes and Jacques smirked.

  “You can say whatever you want to say here. She knows.” Jacques’s eyes turned silver for a brief moment before they regained the amazing color I admired.

  “You told her?” Lakir looked at each of us but Jacques shrugged.

  “I didn’t have to. She’s a natural.”

  Lakir took a closer look at me, knitting his eyebrows, but shook his head soon after. “I can’t feel anything.”

  “That is why she can fool everyone.” Jacques lay back relaxed and put his arm behind his head. “What do you want?”

  “Umm…” Lakir cast me a uncertain look before deciding his next words. “I know that you must have heard the rumors, but she’s not always like that. She’s a good person, but among us, she goes crazy. Sometimes.”

  “She’s overly possessive of her goals and she’s fixated on Violet. I prefer to see her far, far away from her as I’ve seen more shapeshifters turn crazy over the years and I don’t want to see it happen again or to her. Got it?” Jacques had leaned forward, his expression a mask of passionate anger.

  Shivering, Lakir nodded. “I…understand. You’ve been to our land?”

  A wild laugh overcame Jacques as his features drew into a scowl. “I was born there, but had to leave because they hated who I was.” Sensing his anger, I weaved my finger around his, easing his tension.

  “Why? Everyone is welcome there.” Lakir placed his hand under his chin while checking behind him for any human presence.

  “Every predator or large animal is welcome there. I’m not one of them and don’t want to be.” I rubbed Jacques’ knee and he held my hand tightly. Feeling his blood pounding on his fingers, I wrapped a hand around his waist. “You’re too young to remember and shapeshifters have the tendency to erase what they want removed.”

  “I had no idea.” Larik rubbed his head and a look of confusion mixed with pity appeared on his face. “Where do you live now? In the human world?”

  “My home is in the Blessed Realm. They took me in and gave me a family when I needed it,” Jacques said simply and I felt a soft blush painting his cheeks and I turned away.

  “You’re a Eulogimenos?” Lakir widened his eyes. “I’ve heard of that place and have you seen the Believer? She was fearsome with battling the Darkness and twice! Weren’t you intimidated by her? I so want to meet her one day. The place seems amazing from what I’ve heard!”

  My jaw dropped open at his words as Jacques chuckled. “She’s not that scary, but it’s for the best if you don’t make her angry. A kind soul who cares for everyone and the best fighter I’ve ever seen.” He looked at me and my blush deepened. Our gazes interlocked and for a moment I forgot anyone else was in the room. Just him.

  “You’ve met her?” Lakir’s excited voice broke into the magical spell and I gritted my teeth at the loss of a wonderful moment.

  “You’ve met her, too. In fact, I believe you’re related to her,” Jacques said and I scowled at him, but he tapped my hand and I hoped he knew what he was doing.

  “I am? Who is she? Another shapeshifter?”

  Annoyed, I focused on the sheet spread on the couch that came flying and covered him. Pulling it from him, he continued, “Does she live in the human world?”

  “You have about two seconds to figure it out before her temper gets the better of her. Right now, you’re annoying her.” Jacques laughed at Lakir’s widening eyes. “It’s not that difficult. You just need to be observant.”

  “Wait, she’s here? Who is she? Aunt Anna or Diane?” Lakir guessed and I had enough with him ignoring me as during the whole conversation he looked at Jacques and not me like I was some kind of minimal element. A vase came crashing on his head full force and Lakir winced. “That hurt!” Rubbing his head, he said, “I give up. Who is she?”

  “The most obvious thing is the easiest to hide.” Jacques gave me a sideway glance as purple dust settled in my fingers and Lakir gasped.

  “No! You? But you’re just a human,” he said and I detected a tone of indifference.

  Biting my lip, I tried to contain the anger that was building in my chest but to no avail. I looked at him fully and he paled. “I have had enough of you shapeshifters! You think humans are just toys to play with and then discard them like garbage!” I had a vague feeling of the room swirling, but didn’t care at the moment as my anger flared up high. “You think you’re important because you can shift. So what? You bring nothing but trouble to everyone and hurt with your acts of…”

  “Violet!” I heard Jacques’s distant voice. Turning, I watched as he held my gaze and set his jaw. “Violet! Calm down.”

  I blinked and saw in surprise the room wasn’t swirling, but the objects in it. Focusing, I managed to place all th
e portraits where they belonged and every other misplaced furniture in their correct location. I snapped my fingers and the broken pieces came together.

  Lakir’s eyes had widened so much, the whites showed while his hair had risen. Opening and closing his mouth like a fish, he swallowed. "I…uh…”

  Jacques threw his arms around me. “You’re scaring the guests,” he said and I chewed my lip, feeling embarrassed.

  “Wow!” His face went from surprise to awe until it settled to amazement. “That was spectacular!” Glowing, I expected him to clap, acting like a child instead of the adult he seemed to be.

  “Don’t make her angry, trust me,” Jacques said and Lakir looked at me with his gaze full of wonder.

  Clicking heels sounded as the boys straightened up and I put my hands inside my back pockets. Diane appeared and smiled reassuringly. “Your mom’s leaving,” she informed Lakir who cast a look at us and smiled. “See you!” He waved and Jacques returned it, but I just stared.

  “He’s a nice guy, but his mom is…” Diane rolled her eyes and headed for the garage. “I’m going to pull Dad out of his hiding space. We should be able to use the kitchen at some point during the next hour.”

  “What just happened?” Jacques said and I raised my eyebrows.

  “You survived a shifter lunch and a showdown. This house is turning more into more of a supernatural family than I’ve liked.” Thinking of the possibility I might have more supernatural relatives made me uneasy as I watched Jacques fall into the couch with a terrified expression.

  “That’s what I thought,” he whispered and shivering, he curled up next to me.

  Sitting next to him, I put my chin on his shoulder. “I’m sorry? He just made me upset. I didn’t mean to.”

  “It’s not you. You’re right, it was a lot, but it was entertaining.” He sighed. “I’m deathly afraid of hyenas.” I noticed his jaw trembling as well as his arms and body.

  Putting my hands on my mouth, I felt terrible seeing him like this. “I’m so sorry! Why did you stay?” Guessing the answer, I looked at him. “For me?”

  “There’s no way I was leaving you alone with that thing nor anywhere dangerous for that matter.” My cheeks burned at his intensity and I threw myself into him. “Maybe it was not in vain if I get some love after all.” I rubbed his back and for the first time since the lunch started, I felt his heartbeat shoot up high. I never realized his intense fear for anything and I beat myself up for not noticing.

  “Next time, you will tell me or I won’t speak to you again,” I warned and he kissed my neck.

  “You couldn’t not go and I’m part rabbit. Everything scares me, but I have bad experiences with these things so I avoid them at all costs.” He played with a lock of my hair but I wasn’t in much of a mood. “Plus, I found a way to control the problem. Her son will put a stop to it, but I hope it will be sooner rather than later.” After a pause, he dropped his head on my shoulder. “You don’t hate all shapeshifters.” His eyes pleaded with me, but I crossed my arms and turned away.

  “Yes, I do!” From the edge of my eye, I watched him as he looked at me with his pleading eyes so much like the ones the rabbit had. “Don’t you use that rabbit cuteness on me. It doesn’t work!”

  “No?” He kissed my bare shoulder and I felt my heart in my throat pounding. “My flower.” He breathed before sighing and I felt the couch shift as he got up. “I have to go. All those intense emotions made me restless. Do you need help cleaning up?”

  “No, we’ll manage.” I jumped off the couch and placed a kiss on his cheek. “I’ll see you later.” I put my finger on his lips, stopping him when he advanced to kiss me. “That’s for putting yourself in harm’s way.”

  “I didn’t—”

  “Goodbye, Jacques!”

  “Why do I end up being the bad guy?” he complained and shifted. The rabbit looked at me and it took all the self-control I had to not shower him with kisses. I shook my head and his ears drooped. Seeing him departing with jumping steps, I noticed his jump wasn’t like usual. Sighing, I called, “I love you,” and the rabbit perked his ears and gazed at me with a look full of love before hopping out of the window.

  Gazing at him with a dreamy expression, I smiled as the pink clouds dotted the sky.

  Chapter 13: Howl’s Screaming

  Screaming pierced my ears as the howl entered my mind, waking me from my peaceful dream.

  Frantically, I searched the room for any signs of a monster, but there was nothing except my sister who turned away and put her pillow on her head. Groggily, I got up from bed, dragging my feet to the window as the howl sounded again. Under the moonlight, in the hills, I could clearly see the shadowy figure of an animal.

  If I was just a human, I would think it would be a wolf, but having powers had its perks and since I had been with shapeshifters for quite some time, I could recognize the disturbing noise as a really evil hyena whose sole purpose was to drive me mad.

  Twisting my lips, I returned to bed and covered my ears with magic, but still her shrill cry penetrated my ears and every time I heard it, I thought it was coming closer. I jumped to the window, but she was still there in the hills without moving an inch.

  I threw some clothes on and using magic, I fell on the ground and shielded the house from her voice. I didn’t understand how the others didn’t wake up, but maybe they could hear only a small sound. There was no way anyone could sleep after having this sound in their ear constantly, so it was probably targeting only me.

  Running, I went to the only place I knew could shield me from the noise. The streets were deserted during the seemingly quiet night and I got inside the Blessed Realm quickly. It resembled the first time I traveled, but the houses were surrounded by a soft glow and the night was peaceful. The only thing that bothered me was the unease I felt in the atmosphere.

  “Violet?” I jumped and then relaxed as this voice belonged to Jacques. “Not that I don’t like to see you, but what are you doing here? It’s three in the morning.” He rubbed his eyes and I noticed the simple black shirt he had on.

  “Sorry, I couldn’t sleep. This sound penetrates…” I touched my ear and I released a laugh of relief. “It’s gone, I can’t hear her anymore!”

  “Her? What are you talking about?” Jacques’ weary voice sounded confused.

  “The hyena has been screaming for I don’t know how much time and I can’t sleep. I tried spells, but they won’t work for some reason. Yet my family acts like it’s just a small sound. No one woke up from the shrill cries. Am I overreacting?”

  “If it’s you she’s targeting, then nothing will shut her up. There’s a reason it’s called Blessed Realm.” Jacques cast a look around and then continued, “We have borders that shut every magical and non-magical disturbance, why do you think humans haven’t found us yet?”

  “Umm…the gate?”

  “The gate is in the front, but there are areas where we clash with the human world. The magic the Realm has, makes them see an abandoned place and possibly a canyon.” With a worried look etched on his face, he took my arm and we walked. “Let’s go somewhere else. It’s the full moon and while the werewolves are contained, you never know. One can get loose and I don’t want to join their party!”

  My heart hammered as I walked with him into the woods and trying to calm my heartbeat, I cast a look around and recognized it as the place Kristy took me for a “shortcut.” The bush was still there, but the butterflies were no longer there.

  Jacques took me uphill and the border’s light shone, trying to match the moonlight’s shining. Ahead, I saw a house and I wondered how I hadn’t seen that one before when I strolled with Kristy. Jacques opened the door and we entered the house. Simple with white walls and a fireplace, it seemed like no one lived there. The only sign of life was the frames in a small table of what I thought it was the living room along with floor pillows.

  “Where are we?” My gaze searched the room and I came to the conclusion that must be abando
ned or the owner left quite recently.

  “My house,” Jacques said and I blushed. “Surely, you expected something more.” I blushed even deeper and cursed as I couldn’t mask my feelings. “It’s all right.” He took my hand and we sat on the pillows. “I don’t spend much time here. Shapeshifters like to travel and we just need a place to stay sometimes and don’t get attached like humans do.” He kissed the top of my head and lay on the pillows, pulling me with him.

  Listening to his heartbeat, I took a deep breath. “What were you doing out so early since it was werewolves’ night?”

  “Your necklace called and it was pretty urgent.” Playing with a lock of my hair before laying his hand on mine. “So, what did you do to make her so mad? She was already angry, but you must have done something awfully bad to set her off like that. Shapeshifters need sleep as well as humans unless they’re nocturnal.”

  “I didn’t do anything. She didn’t come by or phone after she left the house.” My mind was slowly shutting off, but I tried to stay awake.

  “Well, did you say something after she left? She must have stuck around and hyenas have an extremely good hearing.”

  Half awake, I tried to focus, going through the jumbled labyrinth of my thoughts. “She had invited us to her house before the whole situation, but yesterday, I told my Mom I wouldn’t come and she agreed. Maybe that’s it?”

  “It could be but even though she is fixated on you, I doubt that would cause her such a distress.” He narrowed his eyes. “And what are you going to do here alone? I mean, do your parents leave you alone even if you’re almost an adult?”

  “But I didn’t say I was going to be alone or here. I said I was going to be with you.”

  His eyebrows rose so high they disappeared under his hair. “We…” Pausing, he chewed his lip. “I like that things happen when I’m not looking, but you were against it from the first moment and now a hyena comes and you say yes?”

  “I said I was going to think about it, I never was against it. You throw it around like it’s a casual thing. It’s not. And I wasn’t going to go with my parents in the first place. I was trying to avoid going with my aunt actually.”