URBAN CONFESSIONS
Chapter Three: Red Star Revelations
I woke up slumped in the chair I was sitting in last night, my face pressed into my potions textbook. Groaning, I sat up and stretched before looking around in speculation. I heard movement downstairs and then a loud banging of a pot along with a stifled curse. A happy whistle followed. A smile tugged at my lips as I recognized it to be my Great Aunt.
I decided to test limits and take a shower. Though I didn't dare to take one longer than two minutes. Then I dressed in one of my white dress shirts and a pair of long boot cut jeans that were loose that Hermione bought me last Christmas. Yes, I still fit in them as sad as the idea seems.
Then I made my way downstairs. That is once I checked out most of the upstairs in reverent curiosity. I couldn't help but peer about.
I went about the lower half of the house just as curiously as I did the upper half. There were different items of shiny proportion that caught my eyes and I had to examine them thoroughly. A small laugh had me spinning around with wide eyes of surprise.
My Great Aunt smiled at me. "You do realize that you'll have time later to thoroughly search the house? Now come on, we need to get some food in that belly of yours before you waste away." Then a firm expression appeared on her face. "And please do try not to get into the safe."
"What safe?" I asked as I followed her into the kitchen.
"The one in my room," she answered lightly. "I'd rather you not play with the firearms that once belonged to my dear Alexander." She turned and I noticed the wicked grin and gleaming eyes. "He taught me how to shoot at two hundred feet with a rifle, you know? I killed my own Reindeer while we visited Russia one year. I even got to skin it and fry it up. They're good eating. The antlers are down in the basement if you need proof." I must have looked startled because she patted my cheek and told me to sit down. "Don't worry, dear. Casino keeps me from playing with the weapons. He tells me a Babushka shouldn't play vith dem."
"With the look in your eyes, I think I might have to agree with him," I noted nervously, trying to relax.
"Oh, nonsense," she chirped happily as she placed a plate of eggs in front of me. "I just love the fire that shoots out the end of the barrel is all. Nothing to worry about, my Harper."
"Uh... sure," I replied with a dubious smile in return.
Dear Lord, I thought to myself, it's a manslaughter charge waiting to happen.
"Now eat up, dear," she urged with a grin as she gathered her own plate. "It's going to be a long day."
I looked up and peered at her curiously. "What do you mean?"
She looked at me with a large frown. "We're shopping, of course. I cannot let a child of mine go about in rags. Did you not follow the conversation we had last night?"
"Well, yes, but I didn't think you'd do it immediately or at all really," I replied honestly.
"Nonsense," she chirped, her eyes lighting up. "Now eat up. I can't having you passing out in one of the stores. I'm not sure who would die of embarrassment first."
I did as told as I tried to process what her motives could possibly be. The woman seemed to have this air of springing surprises on others that were unaware. I finished my plate quickly, not really bothering on taking my time. My Aunt finished a couple minutes later. My head shot up when I heard ringing of the doorbell sort.
"Wash these plates, please?" my Aunt asked kindly before hurrying to answer the door.
I did as asked, taking extreme care with the china as I let my thoughts wander in mild panic. What if it was one of Dumbledore's playmates?
Then I snorted, They're not sleeping with him. Hardly a bunch of playmates. They do however have their heads shoved up his arse.
I washed off the dishes off and found where they go, placing them carefully inside before closing the cabinet. A sudden thought occurred to me: Does that mean that Dumbledore's their bitch? Followed by a thought that wasn't caught in time before it came out as: That's one stretched out old man.
I gave a grossed-out expression to the cabinet before turning around as I felt someone staring at me. I looked down to see a small boy staring back up at me curiously. The resembalance between the both of us was somewhat eerie.
If not for the green eyes that had a small hint of gold in them around the pupil, inky black hair like Casino's that was shorter than mine, and pouting lips, he'd look like a twin of mine had I been the same age he was currently. Albeit he did look entirely more healthy than I did at that age, but it made no difference. It was creepy, but he was just so darn adorable that it really didn't matter.
I smiled after running my tongue over my teeth to second check their cleanliness before greeting him, "Hi."
"Zd'rravstvuite," he chirped in an equally adorable voice. Then he chirped, "Po'ka," before disappearing behind my Aunt and another lady.
"Hello and bye in Russian," the other lady supplied; a posh accent. "Which again, hello. You must be Harper."
It wasn't a question. It was a statement.
She looked like a sleek feline, to put it bluntly. She was a tall, athletically thin woman with curves most girls pined after, ice blue irises in cattish eyes, and wavy, inky black hair that fell to her waist and appeared to be very thick. Her skin was as pale as mine. She wore a dusky lavender colored peasant top with wide sleeves, medium dark boot-cut jeans, black tennis shoes, and a pale pink and yellow plastic choker with beads that caught the light that had been popular among muggle teens I noticed. Tattoo, something.
The way she held herself was graceful and relaxed. She looked to not be intimidated by much in the world at large. The smile was kind, but it also held a dangerous vibe to it.
"Um... yes," I replied after mentally shaking myself. "Good morning."
Something screamed predator despite the innocent look. The little boy however didn't scream it. What was going on?
What was she?
And, for that matter, what was Casino?
Were they vampires? No.
Werewolves? Not likely. They didn't seem to have a doggish influence at all.
Something elven or fae?
Was that the same thing? I could never remember things like that at times like this.
My mind jumped back to the present.
"And he's so polite," the lady giggled to my Aunt sweetly.
"This is Indigo Rose Cole," Aunt Anemone introduced. "She's Casino's younger half-sister. The little one is Krystof Illarion Zonerowich. He's the son of Casino's twin sister."
"We don't mention her name," Indigo added with a dark look. "She's a horrible slut and an irresponsible mother."
My brows shot up. "I'm taking there is a story behind all this?"
"One that is not to be heard on such a lovely morning," Indigo stated firmly before giving me a glittery smile. "Krys looks like what I would imagine you to look like if you were five as well."
"I wasn't as weight-heavy," I noted in quiet agreement to her assessment.
My Great Aunt's eyes gained a fiery glint however it disappeared just as suddenly.
"We should have Krys call you Daddy in one of the stores," Indigo purred, her eyes lit up in mischief.
"Are you joining us?" I asked kindly in surprise.
"Of course," she answered, laughing. "Nana wouldn't know the first thing about shopping for teenage boys. I have three brothers on my side of the family and I dressed most of them. Of course, now they're hopeless when it comes to shopping without my help. Except for Cary. He's married and found a woman with enough sense. My other brothers though are nonsensical. Which brings to mind my next thought: Where is my dear older brother Casino?"
"He hasn't came in yet," Aunt Anemone noted before looking at me with a smile.
I paused and shifted my eyes to the sides before meeting her gaze. "What's that look for?"
"Would you go get Casino, Harper dear?" Aunt Anemone asked with a soft smile. I noticed Indigo's nose flare and she gave me a thoughtful look; she had been doing that every time my Great Aunt's back was turned. "His little house is out back."
"Yes, Nana," I replied feeling slightly awkward for calling her such as I headed out back to the little cottage that looked simplistic, nice. I was thankful to have remembered to put on shoes when dressing for a moment before I reached the front door.
I knocked on the door. No answer. I frowned.
"Mr. Cole-Zonerowich?" I called, testing the door handle and opening the door easily. "Are you here? Sir?"
I stepped inside and looked around. The living room was simple, clean, but very cozy looking. I noted the kitchen was cleaner than any I had ever seen except for my Aunt Petunia's and the other one in the house I just came from. I closed the door behind me and stepped in further.
"Hello? Mr. Cole-Zonerowich?" I called softly, feeling nervous.
I looked around and spotted a calendar on the wall. The days of the full moon were circled. I tilted my head to the side and narrowed my eyes at the handwriting detailing next meeting.
I yowled in startle when I was abruptly slammed into the wall. A larger body pinning my own. I closed my eyes and felt my magic react violently.
The body was torn from me and slammed into something solid with a thud. I shook with adrenaline and turned to look at the large form of Casino on the ground across the room. I raced over to check on him in panic.
"Oh, God," I repeated over and over miserably. "I'm so sorry. Sorry. Don't be dead. Shite. I'm sorry."
I jumped away from him when he groaned, "You'd better be happy dat I haff vards against the detection of magic on dis house and your Aunt's house."
I scrambled forward and checked his vitals while snapping, "You're the one that attacked me."
"You entered my personal residence vithout permission," he shot back as he grabbed my wrists before I could touch him.
My eyes narrowed. "Well if you had the decency to lock the bloody door--"
"Dat doesn't give you the right to go about as you please," he hissed.
"You better let go of me or I'll throw your arse across this room again," I snarled.
"Vell if it isn't the Boy-Who-Lived making threats," he chuckled in amusement after a moment as he yanked me forward.
"Let me go," I snapped as I struggled, but instantly fell still when he sat up and sniffed the back of my neck. "What are you doing?"
"You keep smelling better vhen I make you angrier," he purred before licking the back of my neck. "Your smell is intoxicating." He let out a low chuckle. "You smell like you're in some sort of heat."
A furious flush of red filled my face as I renewed my struggle. "You mother--" I paused. "Excuse me? You knew who I was and you didn't tell me?"
"Took you long enough," he chuckled before nuzzling my neck.
"Exactly what are you besides completely mental?" I asked as calmly as I could as I felt like a mouse with a big kitty.
"I am descended from dose vith tiger lycanthropy," he stated with an amused tone. "Siberian tigers, to be exact. My father vas English and vas bitten vhen very young and visiting the Soviet vhile my mother vas born a tiger lycan in Moscow."
That made me look up at him as he pulled away. "There's different species of the specific animal lycanthropy? And tiger? Are there others?"
It didn't help that this subject fascinated me to no end. I had always found those afflicted with lycanthropy to be quite interesting. It appealed to me in no end.
Severus Snape who subbed for the missing Remus Lupin didn't even mention there were other kinds. Nor did Remus for that matter. For that matter, neither did Hermione. Was this not some sort of common knowledge? Or was it uncommon?
Was he lying?
He'd better not be, I growled mentally. I'd have to toss him into another wall to knock the ever-loving sense out of him for it.
However that probably should wait until later. The fact that he still had my wrists was starting to infuriate the living hell out of me. I finally snapped and hissed, my teeth rearranging and long fangs appearing, gleaming threateningly.
Next thought hit me though and made me tug away harder, making him let me go and hit the ground hard. I snarled as I sat up and glared at him. He grinned in reply.
"What the hell does it mean when you say I smell like I'm in some sort of heat?"
He shrugged. "You smell like you're in heat. Dis is probably the reason vhy your Hedwig doesn't like me or anyone around you. It's very distracting."
"Gee, thanks," I sneered. "I'm supposedly in heat and that's why my familiar goes beserk every time someone comes anywhere near me? Get real. It's probably a soap ingredient that you're smelling. And--" I smacked my forehead with dramatic sarcasm. "--You're a bloody were-tiger. Of course she freaks out. She's practically on the menu in your case, you ninny." I shot him a threatening glare. "And if I find out you harmed one single feather on her, I'll get the rifle that my Auntie has in that safe up in her room, some silver bullets, and hunt your arse down. Then I'll skin you just for the reason it sounds sort of like fun."
His brows shot up and he grinned at me like a Cheshire cat. "Your threat has been noted as vas your nonsensical rambling prior."
My face flushed with anger.
"Are you an animagus?" he suddenly asked, distracting me from my moment of anger. My fangs retracted slowly in result.
I hesitated before nodding. "I shifted accidentally earlier in the school year and have been able to do it since." I shrugged and gave him a sheepish look. "I stumble upon a lot of talents accidentally."
It was close enough to the truth anywise.
"And vhat are you?" he asked with an amused smile.
"None of your darn business," I answered before standing up. "Now get up and come on. Your nephew and sister just arrived."
"I'm vell avare of dat," he chuckled. "I can smell dem."
I lifted a brow and gritted my teeth, hissing, "And you attacked me why?"
"Oh, dat vas just for fun."
"I see," I growled before stalking out of the house.
This was going to be a long day and I wasn't sure that that man would make it to the afternoon considering the situation.
Notes:
Yeah, Diane Keaton would be funny, but I honestly cannot see her doing half the things that Anemone does in my mind. Although after watching Because I Said So, anything is possible. I just realized what I really likened her as: Vivien Leigh. She looks so classy and elegant, but it's pretty much deceiving. I always imagined her appearance was something clean and noble, but her mouth and mind are another matter. Her mouth is something like Shirley MacLaine in Mrs. Winterbourne.
Please leave comments... I like to hear your opinions or ideas... I may be a writer, but my imagination only extends so far!
COMMENTS, PLEASE???!!!
