Harry and I turned eighteen in July. It was loads of fun—daddy hired a professional musician, and all of our friends and family came out to see us. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday party.
Nevertheless, despite the gathering of family, friends, and enemies, I couldn't help but search the crowd for Stefan. I knew it was a ridiculous hope—who would invite Stefan knowing that we had a bad break-up?—but one I clung to fruitlessly. I felt a bit ashamed in myself—it was me who had broken up with him, who had broken his heart, yet here I was wallowing in my own self-pity.
I made the decision to stay at home and continue training and competing in championships. The years seemed to drag on. Harry attended a local university, living out of home so that he could make sure that daddy and I were doing all right. Harry had gotten involved with the more rebellious group of kids at his school, taking interest in spray painting. He would go around town, spraying graffiti on walls for the sake of 'art'. He was useless with a paint brush, but that was just as well seeing how Seppen had already claimed the true title of artist in the family.
Meanwhile, Bert and his wife had their first baby—a little boy, Alvin, whom daddy went to visit. Daddy discovered that they didn't have much in the way of a room for Alvin, so he immediately set to work getting everything prepared. He admitted to me that his grandfather, King, had done the exact same thing. Daddy wasn't quite that old, however. He was elated at having a grandchild, but, just as he had been since mommy had died, his feelings were muted. I could tell that there was something holding him back from reveling in complete joy—the knowledge that mommy had died before she had seen her first grandchild?
Harry was completely and utterly devoted to Shauni. His entire day, if not his universe centered around her. I could understand why her looks had him so entranced, but it boggled me how he did not see through her charming personality. The few moments I was alone with her, I was quite scared. She had an intense, chilling aura and commanded people to do tasks at her will. Just the other day, she asked Harry to graffiti something in front of the hospital as a joke—as though a potential risk to his career was funny.
Harry took everything that Shauni said with utmost importance. She was his everything, so he worked hard to make what she wanted a reality. Thus, I was not overly surprised when Cousin Ami informed me that Harry had frozen in the cold. She told me that she had thawed him out with a hairdryer, but I was sure that she was exaggerating. However, Harry's first degree frostbite didn't lie. He simply put it off as the temperature dropping too quickly when the sun went down.
I frequently went over to my cousins' houses to chat with them. At some point, I realized that it was because I didn't have any friends of my own. When I had over ten relatives living a drive away from me, who needed friends? Not to mention that the Alices and Lelias of the school weren't very nice. I found myself chatting with Phyllis more often than not, because she wasn't interested in the school gossip either. I liked Phyllis—her monotonous voice enabled her to deliver the most deadpan humour with spectacular results, and she reminded me of my late grandmother. In the nicest sense, of course. She had gained some weight since we were children, which was to be expected given Auntie Char's delicious meals. I couldn't remember the last time I had sat down to eat dinner with Harry, daddy and myself. I had family dinners more frequently at my cousins' houses.
On one particular day, I was visiting Tamera at her place with Auntie Sandy. I was glad to be cousins with Tamera—so many people feared her that no one wanted to actually take the time to get to know her. She had her moments of aggression and spite, but overall she was nice.
What stood out to me on this particular day was what I walked in on—Marty and a strange boy swapping spit! A flood of thoughts passed through my mind—was Marty gay? Had he told Harry? Did Harry know? Why hadn't he told me? Why didn't I know this before? Is this just some massive misunderstanding?
Marty, taking a step back and gazing at the man with a gaze that could only be described as 'swooning', said, "Love, I missed you so much. You need to come home from university more often."
The man smiled, replying, "I would if I could. You know I'm busy, Marty. I need to make sure I get a job. Not all of us have the luxury of working from home."
Marty reeled. "Was that a jab of some sort? I can't help it if my business isn't picking up the way I want it to. Not all of us have the luxury of being able to attend university."
His boyfriend rolled his eyes. "Oh, don't give me that! You may live in a crappy house, but that's only because your mom is too proud to ask your uncle for the money she deserves!"
"Don't you go talking about my mom that way!" Marty shouted angrily, stabbing his finger in the air. "The money is protected very carefully! Only the heirs get access to the funds!"
The other man rolled his eyes. "So? It's not like she couldn't at least ask your uncle for some money!"
At that moment, daddy stepped inside. Marty, ashamed at being overheard, pulled his boyfriend to the side.
"Do they always bicker like this?" Daddy asked amiably.
Auntie Sandy chuckled. "Yes, just about. How are you, Dee? Doing well?"
Daddy glanced at me and back to his sister. "About as well as one could hope. I'm picking up leads regarding a werewolf spotting in town. I think I may be on to something."
Auntie Sandy crinkled her eyebrows together. "Don't you think you should let the werewolf thing go? Not all wolves, Dee."
"This isn't a laughing matter. They're dangerous and unpredictable. I don't want them in my country."
"Well, I never was one to interfere with heads of state. All I want to know is whether you're happy."
A few minutes later, Marty's boyfriend left and he turned to daddy. "I'm sorry about that, Uncle Andy. He was completely out of line."
Daddy laughed. "It's okay, Marty. I can understand the frustrations. You'll have to get used to it if you two are getting married, though."
Marty frowned. "I'll talk to him. He's usually quite upset when we haven't seen each other for a while. I think I'm just going to accept it as a compliment."
"Make sure you communicate. That was the biggest problem I had with my boyfriend." Daddy had mentioned his boyfriend a few times before. His name was Leo. No, Leon. Leon DeLeon.
Auntie Sandy laughed. "It was a little more than a miscommunication. It was more along the lines of you falling in love with Jessie and not admitting it to yourself."
"Well, trust me, there's little chance of that happening. Especially if they're named Jessie," Marty said dryly.
"You never know! There are boys named Jessie out there," Auntie Sandy offered.
Their conversation quickly returned to the subject of werewolves. Daddy had recently apprehended another werewolf. And by apprehended, what I really meant was attacked. On one hand, I sympathized with daddy. Mommy's death had been senseless and traumatizing. If the werewolf had been in human form, it was likely that none of this would happen. Daddy would still be happy, our family wouldn't feel so broken, and I might have had someone to confide in.
On the other hand, I couldn't agree with the reckless miscarriage of justice. Daddy was arresting werewolves for the most minor crimes, causing them to flee the country in fear for their freedom—which was exactly what daddy wanted. As more werewolves were arrested for crimes committed, the public associated werewolves with criminals more and more. I was noticing a trend of prejudice building itself up, and it scared me. The needless hatred was unfair and uncalled for. Mommy wouldn't have wanted this.
But as much as I knew it was wrong, out of cowardice, I couldn't say anything.
While daddy was arresting werewolves for petty crimes, Harry was getting in trouble for defacing private property. Namely, the home that once belonged to Gramma Cindy's step-siblings and step-mother. A police officer that was cruising the neighbourhood stopped Harry and brought him home, but not before severely chastising him on his behaviour. Harry had recently acquired a position in residency, which was the reason for his celebratory graffiti. However, the police officer explained that surgeons must be role models, just like police officers were expected to be. When Harry returned home, he quietly retired to bed, humbled.
My other redheaded sibling, on the other hand, was celebrating the first birthday of her baby girl. She already had another kid in the oven, and I could hardly believe it.
At first, I found it strange that Harry and my imaginary friends were turned real and then proceeded to enter a polyamorous relationship with my sister, but I promised myself to keep an open mind. A large part of this open-mindedness came with age. Another came with jealousy and regret over my own failed relationship.
With Bert and Seppen each married and with kids, as well as Harry in a long-term relationship with his girlfriend, I was starting to turn green. I knew my own time was limited, and, to be frank, I had no options to choose from. Now that I was finally at a point in my life where I was mature and ready to be in a relationship, none were to be found. I had no friends other than my relatives, and was beginning to feel unfulfilled with simply my career. There was a lot that I missed about Stefan. Most of it came from the time that we were friends, but I realized that I had never truly appreciated him as a romantic partner in the first place.
Due to all of these reasons, the approach of my thirtieth birthday, and perhaps a few glasses of wine, I invited Stefan and his mother to the Casmin Christmas party.
The day of the party, I was greeting guests in the front yard when I saw familiarly soft brown hair out of the corner of my eye. My stomach lurched into my mouth as I turned toward him, my brain immediately turning numb. My previous guests forgotten, I tried to find words, but my breath was sharp in my mouth. I hadn't seen him in years, and he had only gotten handsomer. I was taken aback—here I was thinking that I had gotten accustomed to his face, and yet I was completely entranced.
"Stefan! I didn't think you were coming, you didn't RVSP, no matter though, I'm sure you want to see Harry and my dad, they're inside I think, wait, Harry might not be here—are you cold? Let's go inside, it's cold out here—or maybe I'm just cold, we can stay out here if you want—"
Stefan smiled hesitantly, placing a hand on my wrist. I immediately fell quiet and still, hoping that he wouldn't remove his hand. He did. "Yuki. It's so good to see you. It's been too long. I'm sorry about everything that happened. Let bygone be bygones, eh?"
Ashamed, I turned my gaze to the frozen tomato plants, long neglected. "Stefan... I'm sorry. I was immature and unfair. I was harsh and I said things I didn't mean. I wish I could have your forgiveness, but I don't deserve it."
"Oh, Yuki. I forgave you a long time ago. I've missed you too much."
I ran my tongue against my teeth in an attempt to regain feeling in it. My ears tingled and sweat erupted on my forehead despite the cold. Thankfully, I was saved from answering by Stefan suggesting we go inside.
Raucous laughter rang throughout the house, champagne already being passed around. There were few things quite so entertaining as a family reunion. Bawdy conversation escaped the lips of my young cousins, but the older generation weren't much better. Uncle Cid bogeyed with Auntie Charmaine, proving that in-laws could still have fun despite being the odd ones out.
The dancing didn't stop there, however. The kitchen floor was serving a new purpose as a dance-floor, the radio buzzing with bass flowing through it. The happy mood was a welcome change in the house, even if it was tinged with an indistinguishable anticipation whose source could not be placed.
The guests were comfortably settled by the time the gift-opening occurred. This year, we had decided to do a Yankee swap of sort, but simplified. Each person was to buy a generic gift, but any person could simply claim it, first-come first-serve. I couldn't help but buy a gift with Stefan in mind. Warm relief ran through me when he opened it and smiled. It was simply a beanie and tie, but his happiness was genuine. It had been too many years to buy him something more personalized—and besides, even when I dated him, I never cared to ask him what he enjoyed. I didn't even know what his hobbies were.
Even daddy was joining in on the festivities, which was a relief to Harry and I. We had held the party in the hopes that we could help him cheer up, and by the smile on his face as he opened his present, it appeared that we had succeeded. How could he be grumpy, surrounded by so many family members?
Unsurprisingly, Harry had planned his gift to be picked by Shauni, which she did. She made a cry of contentment at the contents of the present, but I couldn't help but notice her rolling her eyes. Harry was standing behind her and was pleased as punch by her reaction, unable to see how she truly felt. It hurt my heart to see Harry treated this way, but I held my tongue. I didn't want Harry to make the same mistake that I did.
It appeared I didn't have anything to worry about, because within second Shauni was thanking Harry for his gift... with her tongue. Daddy pointedly looked away while Bert's wife regarded the young love with amusement. I heard a chuckle and turned to see Stefan. Recalling the times we had spent with each other, I flushed slightly.
"Yuki... how have you been?" he asked, leaning in so he could speak softly.
A shiver ran over me and I looked into his bright blue eyes. Unable to look away, I said, "Better now that I'm with you." Oh God. Had I really just said that?! Blushing profusely, I maintained eye contact.
Stefan smirked. "When did you turn into the charmer?" Growing more serious, he said, "This isn't the time to talk about that sort of thing, though... Yuki, I'd like to get to know you again, if you'd give me the chance."
"Oh, Stefan... there's nothing I'd love more." My heart can't help but surge with the hope of possibilities. He wasn't implying a romantic relationship, was he? But certainly a platonic one... Nevertheless, I couldn't keep the cheesy grin off my face.
The excitement of the night was hardly over, however. After the guests trickled out, Harry, Shauni, daddy and I were left in the living room. Harry and Shauni were speaking intimately to each other. I was texting Stefan on my phone, having recently been given his number.
"Well, I think I'll go to bed now, kiddos. Thanks for the great evening, guys. Merry Christmas," daddy said, standing up to leave.
"Wait! Before you go, there's something I need to say... something I need to do," Harry said, sinking to the floor. My brain went numb, but this time it wasn't because of an attractive man.
Harry's words seemed blurry as he spoke, but there was one word sharper than a butcher's knife. It was spoken by Shauni. "Yes!"
I could only stare at the ground as they embraced.
"Shauni... I love you so much. With my position as surgeon, I know that I'll be able to provide for us as a family."
"Harry... I can't wait to start a family with you. I love you too, darling."
I tried to tell myself that the knot in my stomach was jealousy, but given my recent interaction with Stefan, I knew that couldn't be true. The foreboding sense of anxiety was overwhelming.
Daddy clapped happily, smiling broadly. "Just when I thought Christmas couldn't get any better! Congratulations, you two!"
Unable to bring myself to dampen the jolly mood, especially daddy's good humour, I forced a smile to my lips. "Congratulations. You guys make a wonderful couple."
Harry beamed at me. "Yuki... That honestly means a lot for me, especially coming from you."
Shauni smiles silkily at me as well. "Yuki darling, I'm so happy to call you family. We're sisters, now, aren't we?"
"Sisters-in-law," I correct coolly.
Shauni and Harry could not stop arguing about their wedding. Harry wanted a family wedding while Shauni wanted a private one. Harry would go on to debate that a family wedding could, in fact, be a private one. These arguments occurred almost daily, and it was becoming tiring to listen to. Stefan often listened to my rants with amusement. A month after the engagement, I walked in on the two of them in the washroom. It appeared that Shauni had done... some modelling for Harry. She didn't look particularly pleased, however.
"This is the last straw, Harry. I can't handle a family wedding when I don't have any family of my own to speak of. Have some compassion!"
"But love," he sighed, "we are your new family."
At that moment, I was backing out of the washroom. Shauni stopped me in my tracks with a dubious stare, unfazed by her nakedness. She was obviously a confident woman. And if the bathroom lighting wasn't deceiving me, then I could definitely understand why.
"How are we going to afford this and all of your student loans? Doesn't she control all of the money in the house?"
Harry sighed. "Fine, then. Yuki, it's up to you. Do you think we should have a private or family wedding?"
Uncomfortable, I take another step backwards. "I'll pay for the wedding if you want. It's no problem. But... there are lots of advantages to private weddings. That's what daddy—dad and mom did. You could get married right away. Some people find it more romantic, too. And of course, you save money."
Harry's eyes lit up. "Shauni... I will accept to have a private marriage if we get married within a fortnight."
Shauni smiled as well, clapping. "Even better! Let's get married today!"
I sighed, finally taking my leave. I guess it was too much to hope for an annulment?
Harry asked me to act as witness to their marriage. I heeded his request, but only as a favour to him. "Don't worry," he told me, "we're going to move out as soon as I can afford it. We'll probably only have to live at home for a few months."
I shrugged, as if their living situation had been my concern. It was true that I wasn't looking forward to Shauni moving in, even if it was semi-permanent, but the house was big and she would be easy to avoid.
They had chosen to get married in the central park, near where they first met. Again, I tuned out the sugary words they said to each other. Shauni slipped the ring Harry had paid for over his finger, and he in turn did the same for her. Within moments, they were married.
Shauni moved in that day, and we immediately began to butt heads. We were at each others' throats constantly over no particular reason. Today, it was because Shauni had eaten the last of the apples in the fridge. It was a petty reason, but I was at my wits' end with that woman.
"You never go grocery shopping and you don't contribute to the financial well-being of this household. Is it so much to ask that you don't eat my food?"
"Oh, stop crying, little girl," she mocked in her enragingly raspy voice. "You're living off of your daddy's money anyhow."
"I'm a professional equestrian, thank you. I've won numerous competitions in long-distance, jumping and—"
"Save it for someone who cares. The horse is the one doing the work, not you."
"Listen," she continued, "if you want an apple so badly, I'll give you one. Here." She muttered something under her breath and her hand started to glow. In a few moments, an apple appeared in her hand.
My mouth went dry. "You... you're a witch!"
"Yeah, no kidding, brainiac. It comes in handy when dealing with spoiled princesses like you."
"Now, hurry up and take it before I change my mind and turn it into something more interesting."
"Well... it does look delicious.... Is it safe to eat?" The red shine of the apple was perfect, and my hand instinctively reached out and touched it. The flesh was firm, yet perfectly tender.
"Eat up, buttercup," she said, dropping the apple into my hand.
I took a bite, relishing the taste. It was the best apple I had ever eaten.
I brought the apple to my lips to take another bite, but a buzzing warmth filled my body and everything went to black.
Acrid smoke filled my lungs, alarming my brain and forcing me to wake. I didn't remember getting into bed, but I must have—yet I was fully clothed. I tried to remember what I was doing, my brain foggily trying to recollect details.
In a sudden panic, I realized that the room was on fire. Heat leapt out from the flames, dancing dangerously close to me. My eyes watered and I began coughing.
I ran to my bedroom and tried the handle, but immediately recoiled. The metal handle was scorching, and now my hand was on fire, angry red patches searing with pain. I screamed, unable to relieve the pain, and tried turning the handle with a pencil from my desk. However, it was locked. It was locked, and there was no way to unlock it from my side.
I screamed as loud as I could, but starting choking when I tried to breathe. The windows and other door were blocked by the flames. I could see no escape. I could only scream as I watched everything I own become consumed by flames.
It wouldn't be long before I would be consumed by the flames.
I was dizzy from the lack of oxygen. Weak, I collapsed to the ground.
Once again, everything faded to black.
