Curse Of The Marhime

by Dayana Knight

  Pita knew she had to get control, but she just wanted to lash out at Sasha for the horrendous hurt she felt at Sasha’s betrayal. “Answer me!”

  It took all her control not to slap the silent woman who continued to stare at the cold damp ground.

  “Pita,” Niko said softly and approached her. “Calm down,” he whispered as he hugged her to him. She buried her face in his flannel-covered chest and wept quietly while he rubbed her back to calm the anger that shook her entire body. “Let’s go inside.”

  He led her up the cabin steps and into the main room, settled her down on the couch, and left for a moment to get her a glass of water. She leaned back closing her tear-swollen eyes and mentally coached herself into calm submission. Sasha’s not the only secretive one here, she thought. I neglected to share things with her as well. But…

  Niko returned with the water and sat beside her. She saw Val in the cabin’s entry, and Niko gave him an affirmative shake of his head as she sipped the cool liquid. Val went to get Sasha who had stayed on the porch.

  A few minutes later, they had all settled in front of the fire to ward off the dampness and chill of the encroaching wee hours of the morning. Val slouched in an overstuffed chair at one side of the hearth, his attention drawn, in turn, to whoever spoke. Niko rubbed Pita’s back lightly in an effort to calm her but she shifted forward on the sofa pulling out of reach.

  “Give her a chance to explain, Pita.” Niko said softly gathering her back to lean against his chest. She breathed an exhausted sigh.

  Sasha stared into the flickering flames for a long time, then turned her tear-streaked face towards Pita. “I don’t expect you to understand or even to forgive me, Pita, but what I have done has been necessary to protect you. I love you like a sister and will do anything to see you safe. If that means lies and deceit, so be it. There are those out there that would see you destroyed. You are Lupa, our queen. For the same reason Niko has sought you out, I and my parents were given the responsibility to protect you at any cost.” She hung her head and stared into her lap, her hands twisting and bunching the fabric of the robe into a wrinkled mess. “Then when the time came, I had to get you home to Romania.”

  “So Floricita—that was all a setup? Trick the stupid girl into believing the Gypsy seer, huh? What did you do, Sasha, give her a history lesson on me? I feel like everything between us has been nothing but lies and fabrications.”

  “No, Floricita was not in the plan but her sight was an indication that the time was right. I have no idea if her abilities are genuine or not but she was right on. I never met the woman, let alone fed her information about you. I swear! Our biggest concern was when you would come into your shift. You would need help.”

  “You know? She told me that someone close to me would deceive me. She warned me to be wary. I never dreamed that person would be you.” Pita sat forward disengaging herself from Niko again and turned to face him. “So you found me through Sasha? The two of you go way back too?”

  “No. For the record I have never met Sasha, though I’ve known of her,” he cupped her chin in his palm. “And I have always known where you were. You are a part of me as I am a part of you.” He moved forward. “Sasha and her family were your guardians in the States. Your parents knew a great deal−”

  “The letter! How could I have forgotten?”

  “Yes, my love. Your adoptive father tried to explain as much as he could. I’m not even sure he knew much more.”

  Pita turned her attention back to Sasha. “I saw you with the Matriarch. I heard the two of you planning to—I believe the exact words were—‘destroy me.’”

  Sasha cringed. “Pita—”

  “Again, necessity,” Niko broke in. “We had to have someone playing up to the Gypsies, someone who could feed us information. Sasha merely pretended to be resentful of you. What better person, than the one closest to you? We needed to find the Matriarch’s reason for hating the shifters. Why she was so hell bent on destroying us.” Niko caressed Pita’s cheek. “Sasha brought us the information we needed to coerce the Gypsies into an alliance with us.”

  Pita pulled away and clutched her head, shaking it. “I’m tired. This is way too much for me right now. I need to think. I’m going to bed—alone.” The last sentence came out in a whisper.

  She got up and started to walk towards the bedroom, then stopped when she realized her father leaned against the opposite bedroom door jam. His eyes lit upon hers soft and full of understanding. “Pita, you find many things in so short time. You rest, my daughter. We talk in morning, but do not be so full with anger for Sasha.”

  Pita stood silent not sure what to say. Nothing in her entire life was what it seemed. With everyone’s eyes on her and the expectant pause in the air, still she couldn’t think of anything to say, so she did the next best thing.

  She escaped.

  Pita saw Niko get up to follow her as she closed the bedroom door, but her father’s voice drifted through as he said to Niko, “Leave her. She has need of time.”

  ****

  Lupa? Well...I’m thinking that a Lupa wouldn’t act like this.

  Pita paced the small room for several more minutes. The low murmur of conversation drifted through the door tweaking her curiosity. Stefan, Niko, Val, and Sasha were all still awake. Hiding in here like a hurt puppy accomplished nothing. It wasn’t helping her to understand herself or the greater purpose. She only succeeded in alienating herself more. Her whole life she had happily alienated herself. She had a handful of boyfriends, didn’t care to be part of school activities, led a quiet, sheltered life, which had gotten worse after her parents’ deaths. Sasha had drawn her out when she could, but for the most part, Pita was content to be home editing her manuscripts. Now it seemed her life had taken a 360◦ turn. Like something out of a dark fantasy all her own.

  My heritage…

  She stood straighter, lifted her chin in a haughty position, and stared into the dresser mirror. “I am a figurehead, a leader. I am supposed to help this pack to survive. They are my family now. I am…”

  Their Lupa.

  Pita leaned against the door for solid support and closed her eyes a moment. I will not turn tail and run. I will face my new life head on. She pushed herself away from the door and stared at it. Hesitating for only a heartbeat, she grabbed the doorknob, turned it, and threw the door open. All eyes fell on her as she stomped back into the room.

  “Okay, I get it. I’m the Queen Wolf. So what do we do next?” The lilt of a smile sounded in her voice as she noticed the love and respect in Niko’s face. She knew in that moment she had accepted the fate and the challenge that destiny had placed before her. “Let’s get to work. We’ve got a pack to run.” Sasha stood eyeing her cautiously. Pita strode over to her friend and hugged her. “I appreciate all you and your family have done for me over the years. But, from this moment on, Sasha, promise me we will never lie to each other ever again. And, by the way, I love you like a sister, too.” Pita took her friend’s hands and gave them a squeeze. “You are my greatest and dearest friend.” She blinked back the wetness that blurred her own vision as she watched an errant tear escape and trail slowly down Sasha’s cheek nullifying any attempt to hold them back.

  “Thank you for understanding,” Sasha breathed.

  Pita turned and went to Stefan. “Thank you for loving me enough to give me up in order to keep me safe. I hope to learn so much from you about my mother and myself.”

  Stefan pulled her into an embrace and said into her ear. “You very brave, my daughter. And I very proud.”

  Pita stepped back and shook her head. “No, not brave. Just surrounded by a great and protective support system.”

  Finally, she approached Niko and Val. Niko reached out to her. Pita raised her palm in a ‘wait a minute’ gesture. “I am ready to stand beside you now and always. I will place the safety of the pack first and foremost.” She reached out to take Niko’s hand. “I am your Lupa until death do us part.”

  N
iko hugged her close. For a moment, his eyes glowed amber and stared into hers, then he bent his head and covered her mouth with his. A sudden sensation of current exploded between them and the beasts within them merged.

  “They are as one,” Val said. “They have joined as mates in the world of the wolf. Wolves bond for life, so does my brother and Pita.”

  “What just happened here?” Sasha asked.

  “They make vow of marriage.” Stefan answered her.

  “They’re married?” Sasha dropped back into the chair. “You’re joking.” She laughed, looking from face to face.

  “We have completed the joining,” Niko said and gently stroked Pita’s face. “You are mine now and forever.”

  “Yes. But...” Pita grinned. “Make me one promise?”

  “Anything, iubita mea.”

  “Do you think we can get married the traditional way once we have a moment?”

  Everyone turned to Niko; faces etched in anticipation.

  Niko rubbed a hand over his chin as if considering the request. “Of course,” he said and a collective sigh moved about the room followed by a simultaneous burst of laughter.

  Glossary of Terms

  Alpha – top wolf, pack leader

  Armaya - curse

  Bate – phrase ‘so be it’

  Bibraxt – bad luck

  Bi-lacio – no good

  Daj – mother

  Draba - magic

  Drabarni - healer or medicine woman, practice the art of natural healing

  Gadjkané/gaje- non-Roma/Rom

  Iubita mea – endearment, loose translation, my love

  Lupa – female partner/equivalent to Alpha male

  Lychan- ability to shift from human to wolf

  Marhime - one who is deemed impure or unclean

  Muló – supernatural spirits or ghosts (in this case, a spirit who enters a wolf after death to avenge wrongs done in life)

  Nais Tuke- thank you

  O Beng – devil, Satan

  Prala – brother

  Rakia – plum wine

  Soske – why

  Tut - you

  Uva - yes

  Were- werewolf or wereanimal

  A word about the author…

  Dayana Knight was born and raised near the legendary Pine Barrens of Southern New Jersey, home of the legendary Jersey Devil also known as the 13th Son. Dayana has always been fascinated with all things supernatural and paranormal. She began writing at age eleven and published a poem in her sixth grade yearbook.

  Dayana enjoys solitary walks in mist-covered forests, visiting century-old cemeteries, and spine-tingling ghost stories. She loves old houses and antiques, which she says breathe lives of their own. Oh, and the stories they could tell if only they could talk! And of course, her favorite holiday is Halloween.

  She now lives in Southern Florida with her husband of twenty-five years, and her beautiful and ornery Sheltie, GypsyLee.

  Visit Dayana at www.romawolftales.com

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  this Wild Rose Press publication.

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