"Katana?" Moena says, her mouth agape. She stares at Katana like she grew two heads, taking in all of her glory and beauty. She sits the basket on the table and walks slowly to her, Katana doesn't say anything just stands straight as an arrow. The towel that was once around her head is now around her shoulders.
"Your hair. . .it's short, I always liked it long." She runs her fingers through the hair, Katana shivers.
Katana's gaze lowers to Moena's belly, "You're pregnant, how did you get pregnant?"
Moena shakes her head, that raven hair of her's moves around beautifully, "Well, when a man and woman love each other, they decide to make love. Now, the man will stick his penis inside of the woman's-
Katana waves her hands around, begging her to stop. "I know how a child is made; I'm just shocked your pregnant. Last time I saw you, you didn't want to have children."
"At that time, I wasn't with Arno, and my life was different then. Arno made me want to bring life into this world." She rubs her belly gently, a smile glows across her face. I just stand and stare, how beautiful and happy she looks. It's been a while since I've been happy, truly happy. She makes me believe that it could still exist.
I wonder if I'll ever have children, or would Alexander want to have one. Or maybe three or four. Why am I thinking of having children? She removes her eyes from her belly over to me and Kai. "Jesus! Look at me being rude, it's nice to meet the both of you."
"You too."
"It's a pleasure."
"I don't know if Arno mentioned it, but I'll be making chipped beef, Katana's favorite. Just to let you both know, it's an acquired taste. Why don't you guys get settled in while I make dinner."
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Moena was right, chipped beef is an acquired taste. Its salted beef sliced into thin pieces with a thick cream on top, and it lays on top of bread. I managed to eat the whole thing, not wanting to seem rude to our guest.
Moena sees that I'm done with the food, "Oh! Would you like some more?" She reaches for the pot of beef; I shake my head profusely.
"No! I'm full. If I eat anymore, I might burst out of these jeans." I think there was a hidden tone in my voice that she understood, she just chuckles and turns to Arno. Her hand rubs on his shoulders, he falls into putty under her hand.
It's now dark outside, the streets are deserted. A few people walk by, all the booths that were once patrolling the streets are put up. The lights and decorations still hang up outside.
"So, what are you doing back here Katana? I know you and your friends didn't come all this way for chipped beef." I look over to her, wondering what she's going to say. Arno softly drinks his lemonade as he listens in.
"It's a secret mission for the Khans." She takes a bite of her food, the gravy slides down her lip, she licks it up before it falls on the table.
"Mhm, make sure you all stay safe. There's evil creatures that roam the night, wouldn't want to find half your torso laying at the edge of a creak." All we hear is a fork hit the plate, I figure out that it was my fork. "I mean, didn't you hear about the stupid human girl who resurrected The First Power for her mate? I'm glad to be pregnant, but I'm so scared that they may come here and do evil things."
Katana's stare stays glued to the pregnant women; Kai looks off into the distance while I stare at my plate. She's talking about me, I'm the stupid human girl.
"We did hear of that, yes. But, we're Khans we can handle anything."
"Still, it's dangerous Kati." says Arno. He rubs his mate's belly, soothing the unborn child inside of it.
The words leave my mouth before I can stop them, "Why is she stupid?" Everyone looks up at me, Katana pinches my leg under the table, her eyes tell me to shut up, but I refuse.
"What?"
"The human girl, why is she stupid? You said she was stupid." Her eyes glance around the table then back at me, wondering if I was serious. The air around us becomes tight, the only sound that is made is the movement of people outside and the howling wind, no pun intended.
She sits down her fork and answers me, "She resurrected the most dangerous women in werewolf history for her mate, that doesn't scream stupid to you?" She says with an airy laugh.
My pulse starts to beat erratically as heat rises to the surface, "What if she had no choice?" I rebuttal.
"Everyone has a choice."
"But you didn't answer my question? What if she didn't have a choice, it was either her mate dying or doing what she had to do?"
Katana kicks my leg this time, indicating that I need to shut up. I kick her back even harder, narrowing my eyes at her. Kai just stares at his plate, analyzing the chipped beef on his now soggy bread.
Moena laughs awkwardly as her eyes roam around us, "She could have found another way to save him, instead she chose the wrong choice."
"Think if you were in her situation, and you had to choose between your unborn babe." Everyone gasps.
Heat burns in her eyes, "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. If the King of Insofar had a knife to your belly and gave you the choice of either resurrecting The First Power for him, or he would kill your child inside of you, along with you, would you let yourself die or do what he says?"
"I'll never find myself in that situation." She smirks.
"But what if you did?" She begins to answer, but Katana breaks it up by clamping her hand over mine.
"Look what time it is, a quarter to midnight. We ought to get ready for bed, it's been a long day and she's delirious."
Kai chimes in, "Yes, she's just dehydrated. Let's get you to bed, Lauryn." My eyes never leave Moena as I stand up from the table, I purposely drop my fork on the table and she jumps. A grim smile places the sour look on my face as I follow Katana down the narrow hall to our sleeping quarters for the night.
From behind us, I could hear Kai starting up a conversation to take the heat off of what just occurred, "So, tell me about the weather here? Must be cold all the time huh. . .since you live in the mountains of Alaska?"
She shoves me in the room and I almost fall on the ground, the door slams behind us. I spin around to see an angry look on her face. Those fist that could kill tighten. "What the hell was that!"
"She started it." I say, defending myself.
"What are you, five? You must not realize what tight of a situation were in, LAURYN."
"Did you expect me to sit there as she degraded me, called me 'stupid' for saving Alexander?" My blood boils, I sit down on the cream duvet as my fist tighten around it. She walks in front of me.
"Yes! Yes, I did. You're not HER anymore, you're Lauryn. People here think differently, they don't know what you actually went through out there. All they know is that some thousand-year-old witches are roaming around somewhere, and are mad at the person who let it happen. They could give a damn that you did it to save Alexander."
My eyes revert up to hers, "You agree with her, don't you? Just two days ago you were calling me selfish for saving him. This is bullshit. BULLSHIT!" I scream the last part.
She takes me by surprise when she takes my face in her hands, "Look, we don't have another place to go, ok? If you want to get that cure for Alexander, then you need to keep your cool and shut the hell up when I tell you to shut the hell up. Everyone has to go through things that are difficult, I thought you of all people could deal, but I guess I overestimated you."
"She's a bitch." I sneer.
Katana sighs in defeat, "Go to bed, Quinn."
"But I don't want to-."
"GO. TO. BED!" I keep my stance for a few seconds, I do feel a little tired.
"I'm going to bed because I want to, not because you told me to."
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After changing into my pajamas, which consisted of Katana's shirt and shorts, since I can't wear my own clothes. I angrily climb under the duvet and nestle my head on the pillow. A few minutes go by and Katana comes to bed, I can feel the tension between us.
I was not going to apologize, not to Moena or Katana. In my mind, I admit that maybe I went too far, MAYBE.
"Goodnight, Quinn." said Katana.
I don't answer her, but let out a loud sigh and close my eyes.
I'm starting not to like Nygaard that much.
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The next day was a blur of awkwardness. Moena didn't say a word to me, instead she focused on talking to everyone except me. While they all laughed at her horrible jokes, I stabbed the sausage with my fork and chowed it down. I wish I could stab this fork in her neck.
Woah Quinn, that's too much.
I remember what Skipper said, about me using my powers could bring in the evil. I've been in situations that have made me mad, but never acted on it. I don't know if it was just me yesterday, or the power but something is brewing inside.
Katana and Kai went to the back with Arno to help him lift some stuff, the only ones in the house were me and Moena. She took the remainder dishes to the kitchen and began washing then in the metal sink. From the tenseness in her shoulders, she was uncomfortable with being alone with me. As I was with her.
Katana's words rung in my head, "If you want to get that cure for Alexander, then you need to keep your cool and shut the hell up when I tell you to shut the hell up."
It was hard for me to admit, but she was right. She's always right. I hate what Moena said about me last night, it took me hours to go to sleep last night. I NEED to get this cure for Alexander, and we NEED to stay here, so if I have to bite back my thoughts then so be it. We won't be here that long, and once we leave; I'll never have to see her again.
"Hey, Moena." I carry my cup to the sink; her wet hands take it from me and put it with the other dishes in the sink.
"Yes." She responds with a plain tone.
"I'm. . .I'm. . .sorry." My teeth bite out the words as my hands clamp onto my thighs.
She looks up from the dishes, those long lashes of hers cloud her Scarlett eyes. "For?"
My teeth bite my tongue so hard that I taste blood. Katana words yet again ring in my head, "everyone has to go through things that are difficult, I thought you of all people could deal, but I guess I overestimated you."
I sigh, "For causing a fight with you over dinner last night, also talking ill of your unborn child. I- I hope you can. . .can forgive me." I choke out the last few words, if words could kill, I would be dead.
"I accept your apology, Lauryn." She resumes washing the dishes. I just stand there, not sure of what to do now. "And I'm sorry for assuming what that human girl was going through, you're right, if I was in her situation I most likely would have done the same thing too." She confesses.
"I could dry the dishes for you, if you want." She smiles.
"That would be nice of you, thanks. It would certainty help me out, my feet are aching." She throws her head in the direction of a green dish towel with birds on it. She hands me a wet plate and I begin drying.
"What are you having?" I try to create a conversation. The only sound that filled around us was water and dishes clanking in the sink.
"A boy." She hands me a cup.
"Wow, what's it like. I mean being pregnant, what's it like?" I blush.
She just laughs, "Nobody's ever asked me that. Let me think. . .It feels powerful. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and forget that I'm even pregnant, it's just a part of me. I'm growing this little pup inside of me, life. Lauryn, I'm making life." She looks at me when she says the last part.
"Sounds extraordinary." I dry the cup and put it in the wooden cabinets.
"It is. I feel bad for you, though." Her head shakes.
My brows furrow, "Why?"
She hands me the last dish, grabbing the cloth next to her drying her hands. "You pledged the creed."
I turn around, confused on where she's getting at. "And?"
"And, when you pledge the creed, your life is dedicated to the Khans and servicing all 7 kingdoms. Meaning you can't get pregnant or live a normal life. It's honestly inspiring and bold."
"Right, I forgot. The job is so consuming that I forget about the other things."
"I don't think I could do it, honestly. You're a gem, Lauryn." She pats my hand and walks out the kitchen, leaving me stunned.
I never thought about that. Katana pledged the creed when she was eighteen, she knew what the job would entitle, how demanding it was, but yet she pledged. Katana doesn't seem like the type of woman that would want to have children and be with a man, or women, I honestly don't know what she's into. Whereas Kai, he may want to start a family, but maybe I'm wrong.
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The day mostly consisted of helping Moena and Arno around the house, no one talked about what happened last night at dinner. It was as if it never existed.
Moena made vegetable soup for dinner, and this time I didn't question her, instead I listened and nodded. There was something uneasy about her at dinner tonight, her shoulders were a bit tense and she never looked in my direction.
Maybe it was our conversation earlier, or maybe something with the unborn child in her stomach. Whatever it is, I don't want to overthink it.
Later that night, we all said goodnight to each other and went our separate ways. Moena and Arno went out for a last night walk while Kai got settled in on the couch. Katana went to take a shower while I put on my pajamas and snuggled under the cream duvet.
As I try to fall asleep, I stare up at the ceiling in the pitch black. Laying there for a few minutes, I hear the door in the room open and in walks Katana with wet hair. "Sorry, did I wake you?" She tiptoes over to the bed, and tries to get in as silently as she could.
"No, I've been awake. I can't sleep." I move on my side so I face her.
"Why not?" She asked. The covers only go to her waist as her arms tuck under her head.
"I don't know. . .ever since the resurrection, it's hard for me to sleep at night. It's not PTSD or anything, it's just. . .I don't have words for it." She shifts around.
"I get it, when I found out that Shilah died, it haunted me all the way into my dreams. I would wake up in a sweat, hands fisted around the sheets while my hair stuck to my face. My father would run into my room, he thought someone was coming and trying to kill me."
I look over to her, even though I can't see her because of the darkness surrounding us, her feelings echo around me. Dark colors of red and black circle around her. "I never knew that. Why are you telling me this, the last time you told me something this dark was in my bedroom."
"There are moments. . .where the door opens and I spill my guts. It's not all the time, only when I'm feeling vulnerable."
"And you're vulnerable right now?" I chuckle.
"I am." Seriousness laced her voice.
I tuck my legs to my chest, trying to get as warm as possible. Sadly, Moena and Arno don't have heat, so squishing my body together is the only thing that can make me feel warm. "Since the door is open and you're vulnerable, tell me about you and Nyx."
I can feel her tense against the bed, but then she relaxes. "Eventually, I knew you would ask about us. Don't think I didn't see you and Kai whispering about us." She sighs, "I lost my virginity to him."
I choke on the spit that I swallowed, "You- you WHAT!" I did not see that coming.
"I lost my-."
I shush her, "I know what you said, I just don't know how to respond, if I'm being honest."
"I think it's better that you don't." I nod, even though she can't see me.
"Why Nyx? Did you love him?"
She lets out a shrill laugh, "God no! I was seventeen, a few months from turning eighteen. My father had a mission in the eastern regions of Nygaard, a few miles away from where we were staying was Nyx and his father. At the time, Nyx wasn't all macho as he is now, no he was scrawny and stood like the hunchback of Notre dame. Even when we had sex, I was the one who took control."
I laughed at this notion, the thought of Nyx being under Katana's control is something funny to think about. "You're joking."
"I never joke. Anyway, I didn't want me being a virgin to get in the way of my job, or hold me back so I chose Nyx because he was attractive and the only guy around my age. He took me to his rooms and we did it."
"It was that simple, huh?"
"It was." She was so sure.
I lift my head up so my hand can hold it, my elbow sinks into the pillow. "How did it feel?"
"The sex?" She asks, turning her head towards me.
"Yeah, did it hurt? Were you uncomfortable? Was Nyx. . .rough with you."
Those shoulders of hers tense again, and I could tell she maybe didn't want to answer my question, but maybe there's a bit more vulnerability left.
"Not at all." Her voice came out confident. "He actually lit a bunch of candles in the room, vanilla the candles were. He gently laid me down on the bed, and made sure he used protection. At first when he- you know- entered inside of me it hurt for all of 45 seconds. Werewolf's tend to be big, especially Alphas." My legs tighten together. I've felt Alexander pressed against me, his long thick length. God, the thought of the pain scares me. She continues, "I'm used to pain, I fight and kill for a living, but this pain was. . .different. After that, it felt good. When it was over, he fed me, made sure I was ok and took me back to my camp."
"Thats so sweet." I coo.
"Have you and Alexander had sex yet?"
I'm taken back by her question, but I answer her."No, we haven't."
"And why not?" She asks.
"He wants to wait until he marries me."
She cackles, "Alexander the romantic. I can see him wanting to wait, make sure the moment is perfect. He's a good guy."
I smile in the darkness, "He really is."
She turns towards the wall and snuggle more under the cover, "We should get some shut eye."
"Yeah, we should. Good night, Quinneth." It's nice to be called by my name again.
"Good night, Katana." As I close my eyes and go to sleep, I swear I see feet move from our door. Maybe it was my imagination, who knows. I curl into myself and lose myself to the sleep.
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