The wolf became the Sesame witch

***

I woke up with a jolt, shaken from a sleep filled with nightmares.

I had slept on the floor of my room instead of the bed, my gown covered in dirt from the woods. Thorns and thistles clung to the fabric. I had no idea how I managed to escape.

It was already dawn. As I reflected on last night’s tragedy, tears welled up.

"Why me? Why is all this happening to my family?"

I asked aloud, but no one answered—except the gentle breeze drifting in from the open window.

Reaching for my phone on the bed, I dialed a number.

A familiar voice answered from the other end.

"Kent, I need you to meet me at the Chavalet. We need to talk. Now."

How I managed to find the bathroom, I couldn’t tell. My vision was blurry from crying, but I still took a quick bath and got dressed for the day.

“You need to be strong,” I told myself.

---

It was 8:00 a.m., and the Chavalet was already open for the day’s business.

Kent nursed his glass of wine, eyes distant as he wrestled with his thoughts. His fingers drummed a restless rhythm on his forehead, betraying his unease.

I watched him, lost in my own mental haze, as I wrapped up the story of the previous night’s drama.

“After all that, I went back to my apartment, ditched my mud-covered clothes, and passed out on the couch,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“It wasn’t until this morning that everything finally sank in.”

As I wiped away tears with a shaky finger, Kent wrapped me in a warm hug.

His gentle voice whispered reassurances into my ear.

“Hey, it’s okay... we’ll get through this. Together.”

His hands cradled mine, chasing away the chill with the comfort of his touch.

A waitress approached our table with a warm smile. “Good morning! Welcome to the Chavalet. What can I get for you both?”

“Just coffee for me,” Kent said, nodding toward me. “And you?”

“Coffee too,” I replied softly.

She smiled and left to place the order.

"Kent..." I looked directly into his big blue eyes.

“Yes, my love?”

“What are we going to do? I need to save my dad from Serbian,” I said.

“I know, my love,” Kent replied, his voice low and reassuring.

“I need to talk to my dad. He might have some insight on how to handle this... maybe even help set up a meeting with Serbian. Though,” he added with uncertainty, “it may or may not end well.”

“Have you talked to your mom about all this?” Kent asked, taking my hand again.

“She knows about the Moonhunt,” I said, glancing at a couple entering the café. “But I haven’t told her what Serbian did to Dad... or about my banishment.”

I looked down, the weight of everything crashing over me. “I just didn’t want to hurt them more than I already have.”

“Caroline,” Kent said gently, locking eyes with me.

I met his gaze.

“None of this is your fault,” he said. “You’re incredibly brave. A strong leader who would do anything for her family.”

I only wished that were true.

“Here’s your order,” the waitress said cheerfully, placing the tray on the table.

After a sip of the warm coffee, I sighed, feeling just a little more grounded.

“I should get going, Kent. I’ve got work,” I said, rising reluctantly and tightening my jacket.

Kent stood as well and gestured to the waitress for the bill.

I waited outside while he paid. Kent came from wealth, and he never let me pay whenever we went out.

“It’s freezing out here,” Kent said, adjusting his collar.

“Yeah, it is,” I replied, watching the busy street full of honking cars and people rushing to their destinations.

“Call me when you get home tonight. I’ll tell you what my father said after I speak to him.”

He kissed my forehead.

“Please, Caroline—don’t worry too much. Take care of your mom. Lie low and stay out of Serbian’s way. He’s dangerous. We don’t know what he’s planning. Stay safe, my love.”

“I promise,” I said—the lie sitting heavy on my tongue.

Revenge was coming. I knew it.

“You stay safe too,” I added.

I watched him cross the street and disappear into the crowd.

My car was parked nearby. I crossed quickly, slid into the seat, and drove off.

---

As I drove down Cornwall Street, the hum of the engine and the blur of scenery faded into the background.

My mind wandered back to the events that had just unfolded, and I felt an overwhelming urge to share everything with the one person I confided in the most—Mom.

---

Her gentle voice echoed in my mind:

> "You have untapped potential, sweetie—just like a warm slice of apple pie."

Her words were laced with sadness and determination.

> "Serbian may have taken your father, but he can't extinguish the fire within you."

Her voice trembled slightly. I could see the pain in her swollen eyes as she fought back tears.

I sat beside her, taking her fragile hands in mine.

“Mom, I don’t want you to worry—about me, about Dad being held captive, or Serbian’s threats. I promise I’ll rescue him and end Serbian’s reign. I’ll prove to the Silverfox pack that I’m worthy of being their leader.”

I smoothed her gray hair, trying to offer comfort.

“I haven’t figured out how to stop Serbian yet,” I admitted. “But I will. I won’t let him get away with this.”

Mom’s eyes locked onto mine, filled with understanding.

“Lysterr—Serbian’s son—might be tracking Kent down,” she warned, wiping her face with a handkerchief. “My instincts rarely fail me, and I believe he’s the one who caught you both off guard.”

“I think so,” I said. I’d had the same thought ever since the night of the Moonhunt"

“I always knew that young lad was up to no good.”

There was silence for a while.

“Come with me,” Mom said, standing and leading me out of the living room. I followed, curious.

She opened a door to a dark room, frozen in time.

With a flick of her wrist, the lights buzzed to life.

A round table sat at the center, cluttered with cards and strange artifacts.

Two chairs faced each other, giving the room an air of ritual or prophecy.

The atmosphere was intriguing and unsettling—a world between reality and the unknown.

Mom sat in the chair on the left.

“As most witches do,” she began, “I was gifted with the ability to communicate with the paranormal... and with the multiverse.”

I looked at her, confused.

She saw the look and smiled gently.

“To make it easier to understand—I can teleport my ancestral body into another realm without moving my physical one. In that state, I can influence events happening in both spiritual and physical dimensions. That’s what makes me a Sesame witch.”

"What?" I was confused, trying to understand what she was saying.

“Come, have a seat,” she said, pointing to the empty chair.

I sat and fixed my gaze on her.

“See, honey... being a Sesame witch isn’t something everyone in our family inherits,” Mom said, her tone a little wistful. “My great-grandmother had it. But your grandma? Just a regular witch. A good one—but not chosen.”

“They called it the Immaculate Gift—the Sesame Spirit.”

“Sesame Spirit?” I echoed, lost. “What does that even mean?”

“It’s the heart of everything,” she explained. “The energy that connects the spirit world and this one. A bright, white light that guides the elements—water, fire, earth, air...”

“And humans?” I asked.

Mom smiled warmly. “Exactly. It’s in everything. Every living thing, every part of the universe.”

“You’ve got a piece of that Sesame heritage in you, Caroline,” she said, picking up a worn deck of cards.

She shuffled them with a soft, whispering sound, then spread them out.

“Think of these as a map. A way to understand yourself.”

I frowned. “How can cards help with that?”

“They’re a guide, sweetheart. To your core. To your power.”

She nodded toward the cards.

“Now, pick one.”

I hesitated, then reached out and drew one, eyes fixed on the table.

“This card, the Queen of the Night,” Mom said, holding it up, “she’s strong, committed, and deeply connected to the Sesame world. Now, close your eyes. Breathe. Feel the current—the energy that flows through everything.”

I did as she said.

And suddenly, it wasn’t just a daydream. It felt real.

Like I was gone. Floating, weightless, in a galaxy of stars.

“What do you see?” she asked softly.

“Stars,” I whispered. “And space. It’s cold... but there’s energy everywhere.”

“That’s it, honey,” Mom said, a little excited. “You’ve slipped into the Sesame dimension.”

“You’ll start to feel it now.”

“Wait...” I murmured, my eyes still closed. “There’s something... a light. It’s coming closer.”

“That’s the Sesame energy,” she said, her voice tightening. “It’s waking up your powers.”

“It’s... it’s inside me,” I gasped. “It’s everywhere!”

“Hold on, Caroline.”

Mom gripped my hands tightly.

“Feel it. Let it fill you.”

The room began to spin.

Everything blurred—and then...

I collapsed.

All my strength had already drained out of me.