2

Déjà Vu

My eyes open wide in disbelief. Evans is the most wanted and most expensive designer and his brands were the top trending now. He knows how much I wanted –

I open my mouth wide as my mother descends the stairs. Her flaming red curls – a shade lighter than mine – makes her appear as though she is engulfed in flames and her gown – maroon which almost matches the color of her hair, with silver embroidery – hugs her curves and flows like water down to the ground.

She smiles at us and I don’t know when my father and I get to the bottom of the stairs. All her ten fingers – which my father and me now have in a light grip – are decorated with rings. I lift her hand up to my nose and inhale the fresh scent of Lavender before I brush my lips on her silky-smooth skin.

My mother’s skin is flawless – another trait which I had inherited – and her high cheek bone frames her full lips perfectly. My mother is easily the most gorgeous werewolf I have ever laid eyes on and I’m saying this after seeing more than ten thousand werewolves since my existence.

“You, my darling, are breathtaking.” My father sings and I nod my head.

“You outshine him and I thought he was handsome.” I input and a frown finds a home on my father’s face.

She laughs. “You both are silly.” Then she gives me a concerned look. “Are you having the nightmares again?” she asks.

I can never tell how she does it. How she can tell something is wrong even without foreknowledge. She is always able to tell when I or Aaron are feeling down or upset or sick – I rarely ever get sick – even without us hinting it to her and even when we are trying to hide it from her.

I shake my head and take a step back. “I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“No, you’re not fine, young woman.” She says firmly. “Look at how pale your skin has become. You have lost all color, you almost look dead. We werewolves are warm blooded, do you know what that means?”

“It means our skin should always have some color.” I chant. She always drills this into me when she starts to lecture me on taking care of my skin more. “But I am fine, really.”

“You don’t look fine.” She counters then looks to Aaron for support. “Aaron! Tell her.”

“You don’t look fine.” He echoes and rolls his eyes.

“Don’t encourage her, papa. I think my skin looks healthy and radiant. Just not as radiant as yours.”

“You need to sleep more and take more of those drugs so the nightmares will not come! Look at your eyes! Aaron, look at her eyes!”

“Yeah, I’m seeing her eyes.” Aaron replies drily and I almost laugh. I love my family so much and this moment makes me realize why I love them so much. My father suddenly grabs my arm and extend in, turn slid his other arm around my waist then pull me to his chest.

At first, I am stunned by the sudden movement so I stagger and he has to pull me with him and swing my body so we move in tune with the song in his head – the song only he can hear.

“I cannot imagine that you are such a klutz after studying ballet for so long.” My mother comments as she watches me and my father on the dance floor. I don’t look graceful at all.

My father snorts. “She only likes to waste my money, you see?”

“That is not true.” I argue. “I have given it all of my best. I just think it’s not for me.”

My father lets go of me and bows to the waist. “I will miss you, my love. But it is only going to be two weeks and we will be sliding through those doors again.”

My mother takes my hand and kissed me on the cheek. “You have to take care of the pack while we are gone. This is your chance to learn the duties of an Alpha. You know your father and I will not be here always.”

I frown at my mother. “You both will be here all the time. And I don’t think I’m ready for such huge responsibilities, I still have to perfect dancing so pa will not be wasting his money on me.”

She smiles and caresses my face where I can still feel the tingle of her kiss. “They are a lot of things you know that you did not have to learn, I am sure that your pa can let you off on this one thing.” Her eyes shift to my father, then back to me. “Promise you will take these duties seriously.”

I roll my eyes and take sigh. I wonder why we have to do this every time they are travelling off to someplace without me. It has become like a goodbye ritual and although I did it tiring most times, it is one of the things I look forward to.

I return my mother’s kiss and squeeze her hand. “If it makes you happy, mama. By the time you and Pa are back, you’ll be hearing about how well I took care of the pack.”

My mother beams at me. “Don’t forget to always take your drugs and call us. There is technology these days,” she shakes her head. “Humans!” she growls.

“It is the least they can do to contribute to the society which they tear down every day.” My father inputs. “At least, we can reach out daughter that way.”

I roll my eyes at him. “Come on, you guys go or you’ll be late to the docks if they have not left already.” I say and push them towards the door.

“Crystal, we own the ship I don’t think they can leave without us.” One of them say but I can’t tell which one because I am not listening. My eyes are settled on their car – there is nothing really special about it – a black Cadillac which is one of the cars in their convoy.

Looking at it fills me with a certain sense of déjà vu but I shake the feelings off. “Have a nice time at Silver Crest and bring me gifts.” I say as I watch them get into the car.

I Smile and wave as the car(s) pull slowly out of the drive way and into the road. If I had known that this was the last I would see if them, then I would have followed onto that ship.