My eyes squint and try to read what the bat means. No, what the bats mean, they are now multiple. Why do they come here often, and who are they really looking for? I yawn and my eyes search through the wall clock again, and it’s three minutes past 5am. I would kill to get more sleep but no, I ain’t gonna do that. I’m returning to school as strictly stated. I stand up from the sofa and tiptoe to one of the three rooms. I can’t identify which is Greg’s. Hey, don’t be like them. I’m not attracted to Greg, I only prefer him to others because he’s cool, humble and maybe he can fill the gap dad’s temporarily left.
I gently knock on one of the doors, and a certain sound stops at once. Murmurs. Almost asking who slept there, I hear footsteps approaching. I look back immediately and it’s a wolf. It yelps in pain and shrieks the hell out of itself. I cover my ears with my palms, and grin. I do not scream. And I get it, it’s only an illusion. This is the second time this wolf has appeared in an illusion.
There we go, I knock gently on the door again, and whimpers return my gentle knock.
“Who’s in there?” I finally speak and I hear approaching thuds and sighs.
“What do you want?” She asks, and leaves the door three inches open.
“Um…” I scratch the back of my head. “I need to bathe. Where…”
“Join your words together, Sophia. Do you wanna sleep with me?”
“Oh.” I scoff at her and roll my eyes. “Why would I?”
“I do not mean that in the biblical sense.” She replies. “I mean, do you wanna sleep in this same bed till daybreak?”
“Yes, I want to.” I reply hastily, and rush inside. The door slams shut, and my back leans on it immediately. I turn the knob, and lock it. Then, I walk up to her bed and lie down.
“I thought you said we are returning to school.” I ask her, and she shushs my lips.
“Don’t say anything.” She says in a rough tone.
“Okay, I won’t.” I reply. “But I’m not sleeping. I don’t feel like.”
She doesn’t reply, she dozes off instead.
“It’s a beautiful morning.” I hear a voice repeating this, and my eyes scan the whole room.
“It’s a beautiful morning.” The voice finally get to the doorstep. Then there goes a knock. Two. Three. Multiple knocks on the door. That’s evidently mom. I do not get up, Rose shifts on her bed, not the superpower shifting, and she doesn’t open the door. Then the knock on the door dies down and I breathe out.
“Where’s that asshole?” She says. “I thought she said she’d sleep here. Exemplary baboon.” She laughs manically and Rose jerks up.
“Hey, daughter of Jezebel, go prepare for school. We are running late.”
Mood swings drop itself on me, as I think of the pleasantries in returning to school but again, the fact that she called me the daughter of Jezebel and can I cope again after more than three months of absence from school?
“You said what?” I retort.
“Daughter of Jezebel, go prepare for school.”
“Okay, okay. We’ll talk.” I stand up and stay glued to a point as I clasp my hands and raise it up in accordance.
“Thank you for today, Lord.” I bow my head a bit, and jerk the door open without looking back. I bump into mum ’cause of the untold fury, and she yanks me towards her ’cause I walk up to my room and don’t tell her sorry.
“No apologies, no school.” She grabs my collar.
“Who cares?” I stare at her, and roll my eyes.
“Who cares?? You mean to say that?” She knocks on my forehead and I use that tactic to free myself. I skip tiles as I run towards my room.
In thirty minutes, I am done. I saunter down the staircase, and I see mom undressed and Rose bizarrely dressed.
“This is not the school outfit. Why would you wear this?” I scowl at her, and she scoffs.
“It is my body. Remember?”
“Ain’t we going to school?” I ask them, questioningly. The way she’s dressed shows that, clearly.
“We are.” Jude retorts.
“Okay.” And as I am about to turn around and go preen myself in a mirror in my room, I hear silent talks.
“Don’t give her any hint, okay?” Mum whispers to Rose. I don’t stand fixed on a point, I move away a bit, and hide behind a curtain as I listen to them.
“We are returning to school, aren’t we?” Rose shrugs.
“Yes, we are.” Jude retorts.
“Jude, handle Sophia with an iron hand, okay? I’ll visit your school someday, just like a theif in the night. Unexpectedly, hun?” She runs her fingers through her hair, and points at the curtain. I bend my head a bit, and creep downwards to my room.
“Stop there. You don’t know how to hide.” Sweat trickles down my forehead and drops to the ground. It is the wolf again, I creep down to my room and the door creaks open. The wolf is sitting on my bed.
I scream at the top of my voice after shutting my doors tight, but sadly, no one hears. Soundproof has been installed in my room.
“Who are you, please?” I ask the wolf who’s half shifted back into human.
“To oppose what she said…” Oh shit, he’s got a very bad intonation. “I’ll handle you with care and not iron hand.”
“How?”
“Go to school with them. I’ll meet you there.” He says, and growls as he shatters my window glasses and screams out.
“Sophia, it’s time.” Mum calls out, and I immediately pick few things as I head downstairs.
“Yes, I’m ready.” I splutter, and go outside, waiting for them.
“Be quick. I’m waiting for you.” I shout at them, outside.
“We are coming.” They reply, and come out the next minute. Rose hugs me and directs me to mum.
“What of Greg?” I ask her, midway getting to mum who’s stretching her arms for a hug.
“He’s not going with us.” Rose says, and shrugs as she chuckles with Jude.
“Oh-oh.” I say and answer mum’s plea for hug.
“I’m gonna miss you, sweetie.” She says, softly.
“I’m gonna miss you, weirdo.” I chuckle softly, and she knocks on my forehead.
“But mum, are you releasing me to Jude as his mate?” I almost point at him, but she pats my hand and whispers into my right ear.
“What did you say?”
Then, Greg comes out and hugs me. After that, mum slips three thousand dollars into my pocket, and smiles outwardly.
“Thank you, mum.” I pout my lips, and join Rose as we return to school.
“Watch it, kids.” Greg grunts, and I wave my hands at him. I flag down a taxi but Jude asks him to move on.
“I have my car. Go sit inside, and never ever again should you stop a taxi.” He says, and I nod, obeying him.
“My very mate.” He whispers, and starts the car.