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Above me, on the surface, my sisters and cousins laughed, joked and played and splashed about. I could dimly hear their laughter and chatter, and the occasional loud splash as one of them did a cannonball almost on top of me. I moved over to get away from them so I wouldn't end up getting squished, and they playfully swam off, giggling when they surfaced. 339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTh91KlZnmo
They were all having fun, though, that was the important thing. I, on the other hand, was outside of the fun, floating underwater as everyone else had fun around me, not sparing me the slightest thought. And I was okay with that. 339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVseNa4W8U
Lungs burning, I eventually came to the surface, watching the action all around me. As was the norm on summer nights, our house was busy with friends, family and guests, and pool parties were the main way in which my parents could entertain everyone. Our pool was twice as wide and deep, and we had no end to the guests who came to pay court to my parents, the two most powerful witches this side of the Thames. And as their daughter, I had all the rights and privileges as befitted an heir to the throne.
Except, I wasn't.
After watching the action, I went under again, swimming past all the legs, arms and bodies that got in my way. No one seemed to care too much for me, and though it hurt, I was used to it. 339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbllAtfiwbk
Lack of air brought me to the surface again, and despite the pain, I had to smile. I was a pariah on the surface, but underwater, I was queen of my own secret world. And it was a world I indulged in as often as I could, when I wasn't running errands and doing endless chores, as befitted the only werewolf in a family of witches. Werewolves and witches did not get along for many, many reasons, and I'd been cursed to be born a werewolf, instead of a witch. And my family made sure I paid for it daily, as did my teachers and classmates. I was subjected to all kinds of torment and abuse from all sides, and free time was not something I had. 339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1SuKVpt2U
But when I did have it, I spent it in the pool as often as I could. I never could indulge my passions long when there were no guests, but with the pool full tonight with more hopeful allies, I could spend as much time in and under the water as I desired.
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But I couldn't indulge forever, and after one last, long swim, I surfaced once more and climbed out of the pool, shaking the water out of my eyes. My father spied me as I picked up my towel, his face like fury. He didn't dare hit me in front of so many guests, but his face promised extra chores in the morning, and probably no breakfast. I sighed and made my way back to the house, leaving the gaiety and laughter behind as I headed upstairs to the small attic room gifted me at my mother's insistence. It was blisteringly hot, even with the open window, and as I dropped onto the single mattress, I resigned myself to another uncomfortable night, listening to the fun going on downstairs. My last thoughts before sleep claimed me were to wonder what my father would do in the morning, and I felt dread creep its way along my bones as I let yet another night's uneasy slumber claim me.
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