CHAPTER 3: ASHES AND AWAKENING

CHAPTER 3

RAVEN’S POV

It’s been six days since Nan died. I can tell  from how empty the apartment feels and how much of a mess this place has become.

I got up today, stumbling through Nan’s room, and my feet knocked over her hospital bag.

I openend it up with tears in my eyes, pulling out the contents slowly.

My hand grazed her favorite winter coat—she always claimed it cost a fortune. I smiled at the thought.

I brought it close to my nose and inhaled deeply. Her scent of vanilla and cinnamon, mixed with a little bit of the hospital smell, lingered, and I  never felt more at peace since she died.

Unfolding the coat, ready to put it on, a letter dropped from it.

I picked it up, scared to open it— but I did.

I wanted to know what she was thinking.

My Sweetheart,

If you are reading this, then I have probably had to say goodbye to you—in person but not in spirit.

I am sorry I left. I am sorry I didn’t tell you in time, but I don’t regret it.  What I do regret is not hiding it better.

All I wanted in my last days were to see your beautiful smile, not your tears.

You are my miracle—-my little ray of sunshine.

I might not be there with you, but my spirit will more broken to see your constant tears. I may be far, but I am always around you.

I don’t want to see those tears, Nora. You have to keep living—for me. 

Because that is what I have always fought for since you showed up in my arms.

Your smile is one of the things that kept me going.

Promise me you will keep smiling. Keep being my brave,kind, curious little girl. 

When you see a butterfly land quietly nearby, or when you feel a soft breeze on your cheek—that’s me, reminding you I’m close.

I love you, my sweet little girl. Always and forever.

P.S: Look in my safe. The passcode is 1014

Love,

Nan.

I carefully fold the letter back, bawling uncontrollably.

Picking up the winter coat and putting it on, I lay on her bed crying, wrapping my self with her blanket, until my eyes flutter close.

****

The next morning, I got out of Nan’s bed and started cleaning and clearing.

From the kitchen to my bedroom and Nan’s room. I also took some time out to get groceries.

Before leaving the house, I made sure to wear  a face cap and mask to avoid  pitying glances in case I bump into someone I knew at the store.

Thankfully, Miss May has stuck to the phone check-ins and not bothered to show up at my place. At first, I thought to ignore her messages, but I remembered  that I still had two months to eighteen—and she was my best link to avoid a social worker coming by the house.

I picked up a few things from the store, using Nan’s card to pay. I didn’t know how to prepare a proper meal since Nan cooked all our meals.

I would have to learn eventually, but for now, I stuck to the basics— some eggs, bacon and some sourdough bread to go with it.

Getting back to the house, I made my self some scrambled eggs and put the first proper meal I have had since Nan died.

By the time I was done, it quarter past seven.  I look at the pictures of Nan and me hanging on the wall.

Then I remembered the last part of Nan’s letter.

So, I went into her room and opened her wardrobe. I saw the safe she had never willingly told me the code before.

I picked up the letter from the nightstand I placed it on and read out the passcode.

“1014,” I said, wondering why she was letting me into her safe now. Did she leave me a fortune? I thought to myself although I knew the answer to that. Nan and I never had a lot, so I knew there was no secret treasure.

I punched the numbers into the safe, and it gave a click sound indicating that it had opened.

I opened it closely and saw a box as well as a journal.

I picked both up and walked to the bed where I placed them down.

Opening the box i see pictures and a pair of rings.

I pulled the pictures out and see Nan and a man she gazed at so lovingly.

This must be Pops, I thought to myself.

Nan and I had never spoken about Pops or any family member, because she always looked sad when I asked why it was just the two of us.

So just dropped it altogether.

I looked out the window.  The moon shone brightly.

My breath hitched as the world around seemed to twist and bend. My fingers curled,nails sharpening.

I stood, walking slowly towards the mirror, and a low growl escaped my throat.

The  reflection in the mirror across the room was not me my pupils had turned a shade of molten gold. 

Before slowly retreating.

For a moment, the wolf was there—lurking beneath my skin, testing its cage.

Then as quickly as it came, it was gone.

I collapsed to my knees, breath ragged, the echo of the beast still snarling within.

I remained on my knees for several minutes.

I had completely forgotten this strange changes that had started to appear.

 What was happening to me?

And now I no longer had Nan to discuss any of this with— I had her journal.

Slowly, I crawled on my knees to where I had dropped the journal. Picking  it up, I flipped to the first page.

It was dated a few years back—- on my birthday.

Dear Joey,

I have been heartbroken since you left. The pieces of my heart has not been repaired, but  my heart has started finding its peace.

There was a knock at the door, but when I opened  I saw a little baby in a basket. 

I was really scared, not knowing where she came from, but I picked the baby up and brought her in.

It’s a girl by the way, I don’t want to report it.

We have wanted a baby for the longest time, if you were here you would have made me  report  it.

She is the cutest little girl. So I am sorry for keeping her, I need to find comfort from somewhere else since you left.

I named her Nora.

I am not giving her up. I am going to raise her.

I slammed the book shut. I couldn’t go on reading this.

It not true I was exhausted, drained from all the events of today and now this.

It wasn’t true, it couldn’t be. 

Not that I have never questioned why I didn’t have a mom or a dad— I just never thought that I would not be Nan’s blood.

I needed a minute I needed to catch my breath, I stood stumbling out of the room. 

Then I see a figure in the seated in Nan’s rocking chair..

Stepping further into the room I saw the man clearly.

He’s handsome, with deep golden-brown skin stretched over high cheekbones and a strong jaw, cunning brown eyes, and shoulder-length black hair

“Hello. You were difficult to find.” The man said. His voice smooth and strong.

“Who are you? What do you want in my house? How did you get in?” I shouted, “ Speak or I am calling the police.”

“Which do you want answers to first?”  He said calmly. “I am Orion and I have come to get you, Alpha. But I never thought you’d be a girl.” A cocky smile playing at the edge of his lips.

“Get out of my house!”, I yelled a growl escaping my throat.

I quickly placed my hand over my mouth, trying to hide the sound that escaped.

“That—“ he said, smirking, “is exactly why I am here,sit and let’s talk.” 

“And why should I care—“

“You are wolf, the next alpha.” he said casually. “The whole council of elders are waiting  to know if the spirit fang is right about there being another heir”. He continued.

“I don’t know what you are talking about, and I don’t care to know! Get out of my house! I shouted.

“I felt you today—the urge to transform you haven’t emerged yet, that’s why reality hasn’t dawned on you. if you emerge in the human world, you are going to kill a lot of people because you don’t have control.” 

I stared at him, confused. Yes, I have felt strange for days but why should I believe what this lunatic was saying? 

An alpha? A kingdom? Such  bullshit.

“You have to come with me. You don’t belong here.”he said.

“You sound insane! Get out of here!” I yelled at him.

“You don’t believe me? Then come with me. It’s not like there is anything left for you here. if I am telling lies, I promise I’ll bring you back. You are identity is over there,  not here,” he said clearly tired of constantly repeating himself.

I thought about Nan’s journal—the revelation that I didn’t belong to her. He was right. There really wasn’t anything for me here.

And if he really was a scam, I could always come back.

“How do I know you don’t want to murder me?” I asked.

He chuckled,”I could have done that the minute I stepped in” he replied.

I let a minute of silence pass between us, knowing if I reply immediately, he would feel like he’d won.

“Fine,” I said finally. “But so you know I will kill you if anything happens to me.” 

He smirked. “Let’s go”

“You might want to pack some bags,”  you won’t be back for a while.  Take my advice and pack some bags it not so easy to travel down here.” 

****

I packed a duffel bag has he had suggested,filling it with some clothes, Nan’s ashes,the box and the journal I found in the safe.

But now I was regretting ever deciding to follow him.

We had been trailing through the forest for the past hour “Are you looking for the best place to kill me?” I asked.

“My killings are never discreet. We are almost there if your legs are sore, I could carry you.” he said clearly not bothered about the fact that he just mentioned being a killer, i shivered.

“No thank you,” I said walking a bit ahead of him.

We eventually stop in front of a big slab of rock.

Then he brings out a knife and cuts through his hand before I can even process what is going on.

He presses his bloody hand to the rock, and a portal opened. I was shocked and intrigued. He placed his hand at the small of my back, nudging me in before I could ask the questions at the tip of my tongue.