Circle Of Sisters
8. Off Again!
Wolf hung his head out the window of the carriage as it drew up to the house, breathing deep the comforting smells of home. He almost felt that he knew what Virginia meant when she talked about never wanting to leave the place again. Cripes, he'd only just stepped out for a stroll in the forest he'd thought, and look where he'd ended up. Stuck in a cursed magic mirror (again!), only to watch helplessly as his sweet girl had had come and rescue him (again!). Even as the mirror's power had closed over him, he'd thought only that he'd be responsible for the death of his brother (once more, again!). Though technically, the latter was a moot point, since Willem had survived his very first accidental 'death' at the hands of Wolf. Was he destined to make the same bungles over and over in this life? But none of it was his fault, was it? That's what Virginia kept saying. She'd fallen asleep saying it, Wolf moving over to let her stretch out on the carriage seat with her head resting in his lap. He stroked her soft curls absently. At one point he lifted her top to peer down, observing her wound as he was wont to do and she'd woken a little from her doze.
"Hmm. I missed you last night. I just knew something had happened. Twig was very brave to escape and make his way to warn me, or else I could have been searching for you for weeks"
"Twig?"
"Yes, the little magic bird who followed you from the disenchanted forest. He saw you go into the Swamp Witches hut and not come out. But a black bird attacked him, he said. He was exhausted when he reached me. He's in my pocket even now" Virginia said, yawning. The tiny bright bird peeked his head out at the mention of his name. Wolf smiled and patted the feathers on his head, another piece of the puzzle falling into place. He hadn't even thought about how Virginia had found out what had happened to them.
"You're very brave, Twig. I'll make sure everyone knows it" he said to the bird. Twig bobbed his head in acknowledgement, preening just a little under the praise. Wolf watched as Virginia reached out to put the magic bird on the windowsill of the carriage and in a rush of coloured feathers, he was gone, flitting easily over the fields, on his way back to the forest with a tall tale to tell his friends. Virginia closed her eyes again and Wolf continued his inspection of the great wound on her torso. It was completely closed over now, and in the ten days since it had been inflicted, barely a scar remained to show where it had been. Not that Wolf needed a scar to remind him of it. The huge gaping tear, flooding the lounge room floor with blood was burned forever in his mind. Wolf knew it was unnatural that such an injury had healed so quickly, but Virginia had been up and about within days. Must be the werewolf working it's own dark magic on her. He forced himself to imagine what Virginia would look like when she transformed. Wolf hadn't gotten a glimpse of Elias as the monster that night, only seen the tracks of the creature and the death it wrought. Would it look anything like Virginia at all? If he stood before her on that night, would she know him? Virginia didn't think so. She had even dreamed of it. Elias had not known Virginia when he attacked her. Or had he?
Wolf shifted uncomfortably with all the unknown questions in his head. It didn't help that the cause of most of his problems rode even now on the back of the carriage. Elias' motives in the matter were a mystery, even if he had any motives at all. Maybe he did, maybe not. Wolf couldn't read the man anymore. His making his way to the Swamp Witches side and aiding her in capturing Wolf and his brother, for example. What had he hoped to gain from such a thing, especially now when his plans had fallen through? Wolf wondered what Elias and the witch had talked about. He had defended her from Virginia, Wolf had seen from the mirror trap. His solicitous behaviour and obvious attraction to Virginia had been painfully apparent. Wolf knew he really hadn't experienced true jealousy before now and he was suprised somewhat by it's vehemence. He'd thought himself above such things, secure in his relationship with his one and only life mate. He was overprotective, and quite territorial in allowing other males access to Virginia, but those things came with the being of alpha status. Wolf had not mistaken the look on Virginia's face when she and Elias had been speaking together. Without a doubt, there was interest in her expression. Wolf wondered whether he would be able to have a rational and calm discussion about it with Virginia when they were alone once more. He wished they were alone now so he could wake her and mate with her right there and then. They hadn't been intimate since the blooded moon-dark night. Virginia was recovering, in spirit and soul if not in bodily terms, and Wolf hadn't wanted to press her. She'd been so distracted. Wolf wanted to taste of her sweet lips but didn't trust himself to kiss her. He blushed at the thought of the driver and the other passengers listening in. He resolved to get her alone as soon as decently possible when they got home. He chuckled quietly at himself as the carriage continued it's swaying journey. He was wise enough about his own motivations at least, and right now he needed reassurance above all things.
Elsie was waiting patiently at the front door for them as the driver drew up the horses with a quiet word. She held Caelum securely on her hip and Wolf could see him straining to get down. Virginia seemed to shake off any earlier sleepiness almost instantly as she caught sight of their son, scrambling over Wolf's lap to get down from the seat. Wolf smiled as she reached out to enfold him. If there was one thing that he would never doubt about Virginia, it was the love she felt for her child. She was a good mother for her youth and initial inexperince, plus the fact that Caelum's conception had been unplanned (by Virginia at least), thought Wolf. He closed the distance between them, growling his gratitude to Elsie. The half-wolf woman looked him over carefully, obviously checking for any injuries she could turn her many talents to fixing up.
"No, we're all in one piece, Elsie dearest" Wolf said in response to her survey, lifting her hand to kiss it. Her expression was relieved, but then concerned as she looked over his shoulder. A sudden wariness in her posture meant that Wolf knew she had spotted Elias. Wolf heard the man jump down lightly from the back of the carriage, heard his feet crunch the gravel in a way that suggested he was very uneasy. As he should be, thought Wolf. He wondered if he should be proprietal about where the man should stay, because he didn't think he would be able to tolerate him under the same roof. But Willem had come to the same conclusion it seemed, for he drew Elias away with a few quick words, bidding him to bunk down in the woodshed. Ah yes, the woodshed was the perfect place. It's last occupant had made it quite a comfortable retreat, thought Wolf, feeling both nasty and guilty about throwing James' death in Elias' face so blatantly. Virginia looked troubled when she saw Elias and Willem go off the direction of the shed. Elsie shot Wolf a curious glance, but he just shrugged, picking up Caelum and leading them inside.
Later on in the evening, after their meal, Virginia's mood seemed much improved, and she recounted her adventures to Elsie as they cleaned up, but Wolf noticed that she didn't relay any specifics of the conversations she had had with either Elias or the Swamp Witch.
"What will you do now Virginia?" Elsie asked over the stack of dishes in the sink. Virginia tossed the drying towel over her shoulder. Wolf lay on the lounge floor with Caelum, listening as unobtrusively as he could.
"Elsie, what do you know of magic? Like, where does it come from?"
"Well, I don't know much at all really. Only old legends and stories we learnt as children. I don't think anyone really knows for sure. There are great powers in the world, spirits, deities and the like. Our Moon Goddess is but one of many. But whether they are the causes of magical things, or the results of magic, who knows?"
"Do you think that these powers, like your Goddess, are they either good or bad, or both?"
"Neither. They are themselves only. Good and bad, kindness and evilness, those are the traits of mortal beings. I think the Goddess, and She is yours now too, Virginia, whether you will it or not, I think She is a neutral. But Her actions, if any, well, we either interpret them as good or ill, depending on our circumstances. But I could be talking out my tail of course. What do I know of the will of Goddesses? I've never seen Her, though many have, it is said"
"I have seen Her. Or at least I think so" Virginia replied thoughtfully. Wolf's skin prickled. Virginia had seen the Goddess? When and where and why hadn't she told him about it? The tone of Elsie's voice told him that she was suitably impressed.
"You have? Well then you're doubly blessed Virginia. But I don't envy you. I think I'd run away like a new cub!"
"She wasn't frightening. She was, very beautiful. She didn't speak to me" Virginia said softly. Wolf was rapt in spite of his hearing of this little encounter for the very first time. The plates and dishes clinked together as Virginia stacked them in the cupboard. She was back to her usual practical self within moments. Wolf marvelled at how she could go from announcing divine revelations one minute, to making plans for the next day. He supposed it must be a female thing.
"Elsie, we'll be going to Little Lamb Village in the morning. You're more than welcome to join us, but I'm going to leave Caelum at the palace with my father and Wendell. I can't take him with us, and I can't ask you to mind him again. You've done so much already, you must be wanting to get back to your husband"
"Ahh, shush, he can look after his own self quite well without me. Probably been out running around and making mischief like he's a new fanged teenager more likely. And don't think for a minute that I haven't enjoyed looking after your cub. Mine are all grown and gone, and no grandcubs for me yet! Tell you what, why don't I come with you to the palace tomorrow and I'll stay on with the cub till you're back. I mean, I'm sure your father's capable and all..." Elsie replied, suddenly being cut off in a way that Wolf knew she'd been hugged by Virginia.
"Oh thank you, thank you. You mean so much to me Elsie. I never really knew my mother..."
"I know, I know. Now, stop your fussing and go to your mate tonight. He needs you". Wolf bit back a chuckle at Elsie's none too subtle hints. He could well imagine Virginia's expression at the typical directness of half-wolf behaviour. As he had told Virginia on many occasions, there was little that went on in a half-wolf household that wasn't known or discussed. But he was quietly glad that Elsie had put Virginia in the right frame of mind anyway. Not that she'd needed much encouragement as it turned out.
Later, he relaxed in Virginia's arms, loving the warm and sweaty scent of her, feeling the muscles in her back and shoulders becoming loose and pliant under his touch. The pale gleam of moonlight illuminated her curves and picked out the points of light in her blue eyes. Eyes that glimmered with tears. Wolf let her sleep.
In the morning, he was alone in the room. Seized with a sudden panic, he sat bolt upright. Downstairs, her voice floated as she sung a simple nursery rhyme.
"Baa baa, black sheep, have you any wool?". Caelum sat attentive on her lap in the garden as Wolf peered out the window. Virginia seemed to glow under the dawn sun as she laughed and waved back up at him. Wolf thought she looked secretly pleased that she had managed to slip out of his embrace without even waking him.
"Sleepy head. Come on, we're all packed and ready almost!" she called up to him teasingly. Wolf saw that Willem had hitched up the cart and Elsie was stowing various cubbish things in the back. Feeling slightly foolish for having slept so long and so deeply, Wolf left the windowsill to throw on some clothes and tidy his appearance in the mirror. Well, he didn't look as tired as he had been at least, despite his vigour of the night before, he thought with a smile. The bedroom was still flooded with the scents. And now his darling Virginia was insisting on dragging Willem and Elias along with them on the trip to Little Lamb Village. Why that place then? Aside from it's corrupt villagers and their willingness to throw justice out the window in favour of a firey execution, Lamb Village was no different from the many others Wolf had passed though, or raided in the dead of night. Or so it seemed to him. Maybe Virginia had seen something else. Hadn't she mentioned a well? Surely she wasn't hoping that jumping down a well would cure her and Elias? From what Wolf knew of wishing wells, they were mostly populated with pesky fairies passing themselves off as genuine magical waters. He sighed and clattered down the stairs, swiping a bacon sandwich from the lunch basket. Elias came out of the spare room, a long dark cloak in his hand.
"That's mine" Wolf said curtly, glancing at the cloak. Elias looked suitably mortified.
"I, ah, Virginia said to fetch it, for myself I mean" Elias choked out, gesturing helplessly at his threadbare rags. Wolf let his eyes flash red for an instant. Of course, Virginia would think of things like that. And Wolf had stolen the cloak in the first place. He stepped forward a pace and nodded to the garment.
"Take it then. And get some boots as well. But don't forget, Elias. They belong to me" he said with as much quiet menace as he could. He looked deeply into the man's eyes, seeing the understanding there. There was no mistake on Elias' part. For today anyway. Satisfied, Wolf left the werewolf standing in the corridor. Outside, there was a crispness to the air that hinted at the coming cool seasons. Virginia had filled a pack for each of them and it comforted Wolf to see that they were quite small. That meant she wasn't planning on them staying away for too long. It was an odd situation, given that Virginia was taking charge in the way he often did. Her calm competence as she supervised the preparations were a change in her that had nothing to do with being a werewolf, he realised with a strange pride in her accomplishments. So, this time, he would follow her lead, let her make the decisions, be her support and protection as she strove to alter her destiny yet again.