Crimson Moon

When I woke up from my slumber it was about 5:30 p.m... My sister was in the bed next to me passed out. She must have fallen asleep sometime after I did. I noticed she didn’t have any blankets on so I gently put the one I was wearing on her and left the room. I noticed that my mother was in the living room watching the television. It appeared as though she was in her own little world once more so I let her be. I decided since it was getting late that the best idea would be to surprise them with making supper. I hardly ever made supper by myself, usually, Kat did it all. It would be a nice break for her. The only hard thing was to decide what to make. Looking through all the cabinets I was hit by an idea. I should make their favorite food, lasagna. It was the least I could do for my sister for what she did earlier today. Plus, maybe it could help my mother get better as well.

I started to prepare the food and began to hum to myself. The thoughts of the day seeping through my mind as I cooked. I shook my head to try and clear everything that happened. I definitely did not want to think about it. No matter how hard I tried to clear my thoughts, I couldn’t. They just kept coming back. An idea floated through my mind but I quickly dismissed it. It was very wrong, something that I shouldn’t abuse like that. I had the idea to try and connect with Tiberius and Adelina to see what they were thinking. In theory, I could do that since I can hear their thoughts, but being away from each other makes it harder to hear. It sounds more muffled than what it would be up-close. I already struggle with hearing each other’s thoughts on my own, especially if I tried something like this. It would be wrong of me to even try it and I knew that I couldn’t even if I tried. Not because I didn’t know-how. I knew if I really put my mind to it I would be able to master hearing their thoughts, but because I wasn’t that kind of person. I hated others who eavesdrop and I wasn’t going to stoop down to their level and become one.

I began to set the table and place the dishes in the appropriate locations. My heart was beginning to hurt once more from all the thinking that I was doing.

“Come on Calla, don’t be such a baby,” I said out loud to myself.

“You’re not a baby Calla,” I heard my sister say from the other side of the room.

I quickly looked over, surprised that I didn’t hear her come in. She was leaning against the doorframe rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

“Thanks, Kat, but I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” I said to her.

“You’re right, I’m not sure. I am completely one-hundred percent positive that you are not a baby. You are very brave and strong. You just have to believe in yourself.”

I looked at her and for the first time in hours, I smiled. “Thank you, Kat, you have no idea how that makes me feel,” I said to her.

“I bet it feels almost as good as waking up to notice your sister has prepared your supper. Even better than that she prepared you your favorite supper, lasagna. Thank you, Calla.”

She said as she came over to give me a hug.

“Your welcome Kat, we better go get mother before it’s all done.

I left my sister by the food while I walked over to my mom. She was staring at the television very intensely. It was then that I noticed what she was watching. It was a documentary on wolves.

“Mom? Are you ok?” I asked her confused on why she was watching this.

She never watches anything that has to do with documentaries. It wasn’t her cup of tea so to speak. She didn’t turn to face me as she said.

“I miss those days, feeling the coat ruffle your fur. Nothing like it in the world.”

I became even more confused and was beginning to get frightened.

“Mother? What did you say?”

She said nothing nor did she look at me. I then did the only thing I could think of at the moment. I went over to give her a big shake hoping that it would snap the trance that she was in. She blinked her eyes and looked at me before coming to the realization that I was there.

“Oh hi Calla, how long have you been there?”

I looked at her in a puzzling manner.

“Mom are you ok? What was that about?”

“What was what about Calla dear?”

“A minute ago,” I said pointing to the screen.

“You said something about missing the wind on your coat.” She laughed at me.

“No, I didn’t, and why would I say something like that? I’m not like you, you know that.” I just shook my head shaking it off.

“Come on mom, suppers done.”

“Oh goodie,” she said as I grabbed her hand and led her to the table.

“Oooh, my favorite!” She squealed as she dug into the lasagna and began to eat. Katherine and I followed pursuit and enjoyed supper with all of us together again.

After supper, I asked my sister and mother if they would like to go on a walk with me being that I was tired of being trapped in the room. If I was tired of it after being out more than them, I could only imagine how they felt. My sister gleefully accepted while my mother declined to say that she was tired. I told her to go rest and I would make sure Katherine was ok. It was funny, usually, someone would expect the mother to worry about the youngest, not the oldest. It made sense in our family though being that Katherine was way more innocent than I was.

I saw that my sister was in a dress and asked her if she would want to go change first. She declined so I opened the door for her and she said “thank you,” as she walked through it.

“Of course,” I responded. “Name something you would want to see?” I asked her.

“For now can we just admire the hallway?” She asked me.

“Absolutely, they really are remarkable, aren’t they?” I asked her in awe as we patrolled the hallway.

“They honestly really are. It must have taken forever to construct something to this size.”

“Yeah I completely agree, plus it must have taken a lot of thinking for the indoor decorations as well.”

She then looked at me, sadness etched her beautiful blond face.

“Calla, do you ever miss home? I know we haven’t been here long, but what about the animals? What about the house?”

I knew it was only a matter of time before this conversation was brought up.

“One second,” I said to her as I opened the door that led outside.

I grabbed her hand and brought her to the bench that was located next to the castle.

“I’m sorry Katherine. It is way too dangerous to go home, especially for you. It is all my fault, you and mother were right. I was hanging around with the wrong crowd and for that, you two must pay. Maybe one day soon we can go back together but it will be dangerous, that I promise you. Please do not under any circumstance go back on your own. Please promise me this Katherine.”

I told her in a very serious tone looking directly into her eyes. She hesitated not wanting to promise me.

“Katherine you must. I have no idea if Adolph and the others are still after us. I can’t take the risk of risking your life.” I prompted her even further.

She said, “alright alright I promise, just please try to bring me home sometime soon.”

“I promise Katherine, I will try to bring us home as soon as I can.”

We just sat there in silence enjoying the noise the woods had to offer. The birds chirped loudly as the sun was beginning to set allowing the night sky to approach. It was beautiful outside as I closed my eyes sinking in the remaining sunshine the sun had to offer. The smell of flowers filled my nose making me feel at bliss. As my eyes were closed my sister grabbed my arm and tugged. I opened my eyes rapidly my attention focusing straight on to her.

“What is something wrong?” I asked her my heart pounding searching for danger.

“No, look!” She exclaimed in an excited tone.

I looked directly where she was pointing towards the woods. Sure enough two wolves were on their way back from the woods. I noticed it was not just any wolf but it was indeed Tiberius along with another who I couldn’t recognize. All I knew was that it was a female. Thinking about today I assumed that it was Tiberius and Adelina on a walk together.

“I wish I could be a wolf,” my sister said as she looked at me drawing my attention back to her.

Panic filled my body as I thought of my sister as a werewolf just like me.

“Trust me, Katherine, you do not want this life. It may seem like a perfect fairytale but it is not. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Enjoy your life where you don’t have to worry about someone wanting you dead. I wish that I could be human like you and mom.”

“What do you mean by enjoying my life where I don’t have to worry about someone wanting me dead? If I’m not correct that is the whole reason why I am here is it not?” My sister replied with a sharp attitude.

“Katherine I’m sorry,” I said hurt.

She suddenly stood up and I grabbed her arm to slow her down.

“Katherine?”

“Leave me alone!” She said upset as she walked away.

I watched her walk away tears filling my eyes. I looked back over to where I saw Tiberius and Adelina. Sure enough, they were still there sitting down in the grass watching the sunset. I got off the bench and slowly headed back to my room as pain and sadness filled my heart.

As I was walking through the hallway my head was pointed towards the floor not paying any attention to what was in front of me. A hand landed upon my shoulder. I looked up to see who it was. The Queen stood directly in front of me, worry evident on her slim face.

“Calla dear, are you ok?” She asked me.

“Oh hello madam,” I bowed in respect to her.

She had her crown on her head.

“I’m alright,” I said to her giving her a small smile and wiping the remainder of the tears from my eyes.

“You’re not alright. I can see the pain coming out through your eyes. What is wrong?” She asked me in a motherly tone that made me wish I could have a mother like her. One that was able to help me when I needed her.

“I can only tell you a little bit madam. No disrespect, but I don’t want to make things worse. My sister is having a hard time with living here. She now thinks that she wants to be a werewolf. We got into a fight about it and we never fight.”

“I’m sorry Calla, it must be hard not having your family be like you.”

“Thank you, madam,” I responded to her.

“Tell me what else is bothering you?” She asked me.

“Umm, I don’t know how to tell you or if you would like to even know.”

“I think I know what it is,” she said looking straight at me with a sad frown on her face.

“You do?” I asked her.

“It’s about Tiberius isn’t it?” She asked me.

My face began to blush as I didn’t say anything.

“I see the way you two look at each other,” she said to me. “What you two have is extremely rare. Don’t give up ok? I have faith in the two of you.”

She wiped a tear away that was running down my cheek and gave me a sad small smile.

“You are strong Calla, don’t forget that.” And with that, she turned away from me and began to walk away. My eyes followed her as she made her descent down the red carpet hallway.