Speaking of Bellona; I’ve called home to let them know that I’m on my way back. Just as I expected; Bellona insisted on speaking with me … out of everyone in the family; I knew that she’d be the one most worried over my disappearance … and, I could hear the mixture of both anxiety and relief in her voice.
I briefly explained about the attack, to try to mentally prepare her before seeing me; but, I’m still worried how Bellona’s going to react from the sight of my battered face.
********
Bellona’s pacing back and forth on the front porch, when my taxi pulls up; and, once the vehicle stops, she leaps off the porch and charges over. She flings the door open; pulls me out, while drawing me into her; and, throws her arms around me … cradling me in a loving embrace…
“Oh my God, Pomona; I was so worried about you. Thank God you’re alright. … Don’t you ever do this to me, again; do you hear me?”
“Yeah; I hear you. I’m sorry. I won’t.”
Despite all of today’s overwhelmingly traumatic and emotionally devastating events; being here comfortingly held in Bellona’s embracing arms, taking in her scent of marigold and burdock, does seem to make everything alright … at least, for now.
Shortly; Helena comes out, and playfully teases Bellona…
“I’ll tell you what … for such a tough, kick-ass bitch who dominates our pack’s DSD, when it comes to Pomona, your nothing but just a big, ol’ softy; aren’t you? … You know; you really do coddle her way too much.”
Bellona lightheartedly retorts back, “Sure; maybe I do … but, you’re just as bad as I am when it comes to the twins.”
Helena whimsically rebuts, “No … I’ll occasionally give into their indulgences; or, spoil them a little, from time to time … but; I do not coddle them.”
Bellona playfully taunts, “I see. So, tell me; by helping the twins sneak out tonight … after Dad had specifically told them that they couldn’t go out … would that be considered indulging, or spoiling?”
Helena jocosely justifies, “I didn’t help them sneak out…” she grins, “I just told them that I’d cover for them tonight.”
Bellona quips, “Sure .. whatever makes it help you sleep easier.”
It’s been this way for as long as I can remember.
Bellona has always taken it upon herself to look after me. I spent most of my childhood being somewhat puny and fragile-looking … not that I’m that much bigger now as an adult … and, unable to shape-shift. Because of this, I was considered an easy target for bullying. But; thanks to Bellona’s watchful eye … and, as Helena said, ‘tough, kick-ass bitch’ reputation … I manged to avoid most of it.
Meanwhile; Helena … with her name being derived from Helen of Troy; aptly justifying her aesthetic beauty … in fact, she’s probably without a doubt, the fairest and most beautiful she-wolf in our pack … has always overseen the twins; our family’s second best treasured beauties, and ‘baby girls’.
As they grew up; our fair maidens faced almost the same tribulations that came with the cost of being so beautiful … and, being how Helena was six years older than Raina and Rhiana; she was able to help the twins navigate their way through them.
Of course, in recent years; there’s been a notable difference between my sibling beauties. Helena remains how she’s always been; a stunningly beautiful, elegant princess-type … already predetermined to become the Rainier Pack’s Luna, someday. While, nowadays; the twins are notoriously renown for being the pack’s most alluring, sexy, self-proclaimed quasi socialite / party girls. …
But; don’t let our father hear about that. If he ever finds out that his sweet, little ‘baby girls’ could give the Kardashian’s a good run for the money; he’d totally blow a gasket. … It’s like they say; sometimes ignorance is bliss.
Helena’s the first to notice. “Whoa, Pomona; what happened to your face?”
Helena’s stunned reaction causes Bellona to finally release me from her embrace; and, she looks at my beaten face for the first time. She briefly gasps; the, angrily growls…
“Tell me who did this to you … I’m going to rip them to pieces!”
I tenderly take hold of her hands, and gently squeeze them…
“Relax … please don’t get yourself worked up and upset over it. It’s already been taken care of; I think. … Besides, you know me; I should be back to normal by sometime tomorrow.”
I can see the rage, along with deep concern, in Bellona’s eyes; as she begins to carefully move my head around to scrutinize over my damaged face. … Helena tries to break the tension; and, ease Bellona’s mind a little by quipping…
“That’s right; Pomona’s the ‘Timex Girl’, remember … she takes a licking, and keeps on ticking … that’s what Grandmother always use to say about her condition when we were kids. … Don’t worry, Bellona; she’ll be fully healed before you know it.”
I reassure her, again, “Really, Bellona; I’m fine. Like I said; by this time tomorrow, it’ll be like this never happened. You’ll see.”
I give Bellona a little smile … hopefully she’s able to see it displayed across my currently swollen, busted up lips.
Bellona continues to gaze upon my face injuries with a scrutinizing eye; as she asks. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine … really. You don’t have to worry about me.”
Bellona let’s go off my head; and, lovingly takes hold of my hands…
“Okay; as long as you’re sure that you’re okay, I’ll try to relax a little bit.”
“Good.”
“But; I’m never going to stop worrying about you, Pomona … you know that; right?”
“I know. … Besides; I only said that as a courtesy, anyway. I’m glad that you worry about me; and, … even though this may sound a bit selfish of me … I hope you never stop worrying about me. Because, that means that you care about me.”