She-Wolf I

by Gaëlle Bonnassieux

  “Great!” Esthelle cried enthusiastically. “If you want to grab a bite, you can help yourself in the kitchen. Don’t hesitate to take stuff, we’ll go grocery shopping on Saturday. I mean you might wanna go alone, I don’t know.”

  “No no, that’d be great,” I reassured her. I applied myself to return her smile. Esthelle’s character was hard to grasp. Maybe this was because of her offhandedness. Or her youth. She did seem to be glad to have me here even though I didn’t know why, and she appeared good at heart. Anyway, after debate, I decided to like her as well. As odd as she was, her intentions remained pure and her smile sincere. I needed to surround myself with good people and these two witches fell into that category. I had been very fortunate to come across them.

  I drank up my tea while discussing with them. We agreed on a few terms. I will not have a contract of employment and I’ll be paid off the books – I don’t even have an ID or a bank account, nada, so that’d be easier for everyone. I’ll work on weekdays in the morning and in the afternoon so that I might have the evening off. I could go running. Adélie demanded that we meet at least once a week over dinner in order to discuss work matters; but I suspected she’d only done so to make sure I had a decent meal and company regularly. They’d leave me alone the rest of the time, but if I needed anything, I’d just have to come down and they’d be ready to answer all my questions and my every need. It was very kind of them, but I silently assumed I wouldn’t, aside from finances or living matters.

  Before following them home, they insisted I grab a few things from the fridge. I took a carton of milk, a loaf of bread and a fruit basket. When they saw how little I had taken, Adélie made me go back and forced me into taking meat, fish, two brioches and a chocolate bar, in spite of my reluctance. I yielded – I needed sustenance.

  Half-an-hour and a few blocks later, we arrived into a peaceful neighborhood. The houses were lined up good as gold and sunk into darkness and tranquility. This part of town was nothing but houses, greenery, small parks and playing grounds, and a few alleyways teeming with coffee houses and little shops. The other side of town swarmed with malls and the ever-growing economic center. It was like Wall Street and Central Park had had a baby. Nope, that was not excessive. I didn’t mind this particular aspect of the town; it suited my personality. I also had a quiet (submissive) temper combined with a wild (frantic) one.

  The house was like any other American suburban house. It had only one floor, but a skylight gave away the presence of the attic. It also possessed an annex and a garage. The only thing that could differentiate it from the other identical houses of the street were the wooden shutters which were all painted a different color in a very rainbowlike manner. This personal touch contrasted with the beige exterior of the house, and I thought it to be very smart: the witches didn’t want to fit in completely. Beautiful rose bushes and other flower thickets framed the weaving gravel path leading to the front steps, on which there were many plant pots rambling up to the ceiling and they were met by talismans, dreamcatchers and carillons. This dream-like ambiance was very pretty and witchy, but it was not my taste. The chiming assaulted my sensitive super-developed hearing: it did not cope well with steady high-pitched sounds.

  I entered the house behind the girls. The bright lights hurt my eyes and it took me a few seconds to get accustomed to those before being able to scan the inside. Everything appeared very cozy and welcoming. The left side of the entryway opened into a wide living-room full of hundreds of knick knacks. A huge fireplace took center-stage facing a very comfortably-looking couch. A door on the left led to the kitchen. I caught a glimpse of the fridge and the cleanest kitchen counter I’d ever seen. My stomach gurgled before we arrived into the corridor, whose doors I assumed were leading to a bathroom and perhaps a laundry room.

  We went up the stairs straight into the attic which made it impossible for me to look around the first floor. I knew sticking one’s nose into somebody’s business or house was rude but I couldn’t help wanting to. I had always been a curious person, and even though I longed to uncover the secrets the house might hold, it would have to wait.

  I followed Adélie up a ladder. I was amazed: it was perfect, and the tour they gave won me over for good. There were three areas: an open-plan kitchen, a bathroom with a wall-hung toilet, and a little bedroom. It was rather small but totally appropriate. The kitchen included a refrigerator, a cabinet above a sink and a two-person table. In the living-room laid a double-sofa bed facing a TV, and in the bedroom, there was a bed, a dresser and a closet built into the partition. The only problem was the lack of light due to the small skylight. Day would still feel like night. “It’s not very big, but it’s…”

  “It’s perfect, Adélie,” I interrupted. “Thank you so much. I’ll be very quiet and won’t cause you any trouble. And I’ll pay my rent as soon as possible.”

  “No way, we already came to an agreement: no rent, half salary.”

  “Yup, and lunch once a week,” Esthelle added, taking the bag of food that I had kept in my hands and putting it in the fridge.

  I remained quiet for a second. Up till now, I had had trouble speaking because of my long days of solitude and my bewilderment as to what was happening to me, but at this point, I could phrase my questions. “Why are you doing this? Why would you agree to take me in and offer me a job? I mean I’m supposed to be your enemy and I could do you harm.”

  “I know you won’t,” Adélie replied. “I’m actually quite good at figuring out the people gravitating around me, and I’m convinced you’re full of surprises, and good ones. You’re young and forlorn, you just lost your pack. Now I don’t know why, but I do know lycanthropes are deeply rooted in old traditions, and if you’re here, I guess it’s because you have different thoughts about how your species should behave; and I can only help a young woman who stood up for her ideas against her kind but only ended up getting in trouble. The world is changing, and your enemies are not always those you would have thought.”

  I nodded with a lump in my throat. How could she have guessed everything? Paranoia had led me to believe she might be a spy working for the werewolves and asked to put my life through hell once more, but that was too out there: werewolves hated witches and it was very unlikely they would have agreed to rub shoulders with them just for my sake – even though I would have been flattered, there was no way. So, either Adélie had a sixth sense and secrets, or she was just good at guessing things. Her hypotheses were yet quite enigmatic: what enemies was she talking about? I was too tired to look into it. But I had another question I was uncomfortable asking. “All right then. Do you think I could do some laundry? I only have a couple clothes and they’re all dirty.”

  “Of course! Give them to me, I’ll deal with them this second and I’ll lend you a few things of mine in exchange, we’re probably the same size,” Esthelle cried.

  I hesitated, but I did give her the clothes rolled into a ball, except my precious man’s tee. I didn’t want to lose his scent, especially since it was almost already gone.

  Ten minutes later, Esthelle came back with some of her own clothes. “Look what I got you! They’ll fit you perfectly.” She dropped everything on the couch – two pairs of jeans, two sweatshirts, and a jacket. I felt I had Madonna’s dressing. They were adorable. I silently grazed one of the sweatshirts. “Tomorrow is Saturday so you’re not working, and since our aunt deals with the diner… we’re going shopping!” Esthelle exclaimed.

  “But … I wouldn’t be able to buy anything …”

  “Consider it an advance on your salary. She’s right, you need your own clothes. And you also need toiletries and more food, so it’s a very good idea,” Adélie added.

  “Yeeeees! We’ll buy some shower gels, tons of makeup and lingerie and…”

  “Thank you, Esthelle, but I’ll just get what’s necessary.”

  “But all of those things are necessary dear!”

  Adélie laughed, shaking her head and I couldn’t help smiling. Esth
elle was quite unique. I quashed a yawn, but the girls noticed it anyway. “You should get some rest. We’ll see you tomorrow. If you need anything, we’re right below.”

  “Good night wolfie!” The growl I made was definitely not quashed. It was not a mean one but her eyes did open wide and took a step back.

  Adélie laughed again. “You had it coming, Esthelle. Now time for bed!”

  I gave the young witch an apologizing smile, but she seemed to have forgotten everything already. I needed to get accustomed to living with other people again, or I’ll remain a grumpy old thing for the rest of my life. We exchanged good nights and they disappeared down the ladder. I locked the trapdoor behind them and realized how funny the situation was: weren’t vampires and bats supposed to live in the attic?

  Once I was alone, I attempted to tour my new home. It was rather new for me to live alone in someplace bigger than a seven square meters room. I was going to be able to eat whenever I wanted and shower for as long as I wanted without retaliation. That was magic. After all the days I spent wandering alone in the streets, without eating or speaking to other people, and all the stifling hot spring nights sleeping outside on the dirty floor, I could finally get back to some comfort and sleep on a bed in a proper place. I would be grateful all my life to the witches, especially since I didn’t know how long this dream might last. Maybe in the morning they would have changed their minds and wouldn’t want me here anymore. And if not tomorrow, then maybe in a week or a month, no matter, I had to make the most of it.

  I took off the pink dress I still had on and went into the bathroom. What they had done with the place was amazing, it truly looked like a real studio apartment. When I got to the shower stall, I actually contemplated it for a few seconds before getting inside: how long had it been since I had showered? I was as eager as ever to get rid of all the dirt I was covered in.

  “Oh… my… God…” I sighed with pleasure on feeling the boiling water hurtling down my body.

  I had never felt better and stayed still under the squirt until my skin turned into a sexy lobster-red color. On the floor, shampoo and shower-gel samples were looking at me with puppy-dog eyes. I used the whole gel and rubbed my body as hard as I could, it felt like I could get rid of the dirt as well as the troubles that had followed me here, they’d leave down the drain with the soap bubbles, never to come back. I used the whole shampoo as well and spent at least twenty minutes washing and detangling my hair. When I left the shower an hour later, I was shiny as a new penny. A new Madelyne was ready to take her life back into her hands and start a new way of living.

  I allowed myself the luxury to drink a glass of milk and eat a slice of brioche, and then fell on the bed, naked and clean, holding the werewolf’s shirt close to me. I was aware of my being insane to keep dragging that piece of cloth wherever I was going. No matter. It was a part of me now. I pulled the cover up to my chin and rejoiced in the feeling of the cloth on my bare skin, the luck I had to be there and protected of all danger in the depth of the attic.

  A second later, I fell asleep.

  Chapter 6

  I jolted awake seven hours later.

  After a good minute of panic during which I kept looking around me, sitting in my bed and having trouble remembering where I was, I finally reckoned everything that had happened the day before. First the witches, then working at the diner, and finally the attic. My new place. Everything was still there, it was not a dream. Or it was one and I was going to awake soon.

  “Madelyne?” a muffled voice said – most likely Estelle’s. And it was only at this point that I realized whence the noise that had woke me up came: the young witch was rapping at the closed trapdoor. “You awake? It’s shopping time!”

  “Stop bothering her,” Adélie whispered, assuming I couldn’t hear her. “She needs to rest.” But I could hear her. I was a werewolf and it would take more than those thin walls to stop my powerful senses from listening to the sisters.

  “What? It’s nearly 9 a.m., she got her rest, and she’s not a cat, she’s not gonna be sleeping all day long.”

  “Esthelle!” I was amused by their pseudo-debate and the young witch’s repartee and I smiled frankly. They were bickering like baby girls and I thought it endearing. They seemed to have that special sister-bond and it was more precious than anything else.

  “I’ll be right there!” I yelled to be sure to be heard.

  “See? She’ll be right there,” Esthelle whispered. “Can’t wait!” she then said loudly.

  She snuck out before I could add anything. I was grateful she woke me up. I was now in a good mood and got up with a smile on my face — that hadn’t happened in a while. Waking up in the pack’s villa had often been very disastrous, but lucky me, that was over. You never know, I might have to send William Parker a thank you card since his banishment led me to freedom and towards the road of happiness. Granted, there was still a long way to go but that was already amazing. When happiness comes knocking at your door, you open it. The rarer the more precious.

  I got up feeling great. Note to myself: sleeping in a bed is better than sleeping on the ground. My back was not hurting, and my sore muscles were effective again. I was a woman reborn. I folded my t-shirt and hid it under my pillow hoping its scent would soak it in. My stomach ached for food, so I cooked one of the huge steaks I had taken yesterday. Just like that. On an impulse. Because I wanted to. While cooking, my mouth watered – I loved meat and I hadn’t eaten some for a while, especially since in the pack, the strongest ones would always take the best parts so that I’d always end up with the kidneys or the nerves.

  I relished my odd meal which made it even more delicious. I almost wanted to dance my joy off, but there was a slight chance I might barf, so I didn’t.

  My attention got caught by the clothes that had slept on the bed. I put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and lucky me! they fit. Well, more or less. I put my hair up in a ponytail so that it wouldn’t get in my face but mostly because in spite of my deep cleansing of the night before, they were obviously still damaged and ugly. When I have money, I’d go to a hair salon. Since there was nothing more I could do to get ready, I went downstairs and met the girls in the kitchen. They were waiting for me while having their breakfast.

  “Hi!” Esthelle said in a welcoming tone with a mouth full. “Shall we go?”

  Adélie smiled as a way to apologize for her sister’s behavior and I shrugged to show her that I didn’t mind. “Have you eaten this morning?” she asked.

  “Yes”

  “Alrighty then, let’s go.”

  She did put a pancake in my hands anyway and I didn’t protest. I needed to put some weight back on. I followed them nibbling on my pancake. I was surprised at first to see that they owned a car, but it wasn’t so surprising after all. A lot of people had cars. I missed my yellow one deeply. I had abandoned it against my will too.

  Esthelle chirped the whole drive through. Her sister’s head resembled a giant potato, but I enjoyed listening to her. It was an agreeable background noise and whenever I saw fit, I’d grab hold of one of the things she said.

  From what I gathered, I understood she didn’t get into college in order to work with her sister so that she might afford a famous music school. She was playing many instruments and was writing her own songs. But she did seem to change her mind as often as she changed her underwear, so... Their aunt was working with them and they were handling the family business together even though they did not always get along very nicely. Their parents lived on the other side of the country in a sort of witch pack they chose to leave for personal reasons. I did try to ask questions about it, but it seemed to be a nervy subject and they avoided the questions. I was going to have to wait if I wanted to staunch my curiosity. It was kind of daring to hope to learn stuff about them so soon, and I…

  “Stop!” I suddenly shouted. “Pull over!”

  “What? But we’re in the middle of the road…

  “Just stop the car!” I insi
sted. The alacrity in my voice and the natural authority I seemed to have made her stop the engine. I uncaringly and hastily got out of the car to chase the stranger I had spotted wearing that scent, HIS scent. I had smelled it in the car. The man started running and disappeared behind a building. “Wait!” I begged his back, following him.

  He didn’t, of course. I still had a lot of work to do if I wanted to be an alpha. Not that it mattered right now. I ran faster. I had seen nothing of his face, merely his black hair. Even though I had not looked into his eyes, my heart was pounding as ever, and the world was spinning. And it had nothing to do with the fact that I was running my lungs out. I needed to catch up to him. I needed to know why he kept lurking around me without coming any closer. And most importantly, I needed not to lose his trace.

  I caught his shadow disappearing in an alley. My stomach ached for I was almost there. Half-a-second later I was determined to find him in the alley in which I rushed into.

  I nearly died. Literally and figuratively. He was not here. Deception, and despair, even, soaked me in. I was on the merge of falling dramatically on the ground before realizing how actually dramatic that was. Totally not normal. That’s it, I had gone insane. I expected to turn so sometime or other, but still. Hi, I’m Madelyne, I chase strangers down the street, and I have a breakdown when I don’t find them. Nice to meet you.

  My hand ran across my face to help me recover my senses. I was absolutely certain that was him. It was his scent; I would’ve recognized it amongst a thousand others. I would have bet my fortune on it. Wait; I was broke. I was really out of my mind; something was up with this guy.