Chapter 3 Brand New Life

Three Nights before the Full Moon

The sun rose above the horizon and woke Poppy from her slumber. She was awake but she didn't open her eyes. She was confused. The royal pod faced west not east so she would see the sunset not the sunrise. Poppy opened her eyes and remembered what happened yesterday. She's married now and has to live in a castle in the Southern Lands all for an alliance between the two kingdoms. Poppy turned her head feeling a little nauseous. She hoped she's not pregnant because she's not ready to have children just yet. That's too much for her right now. Checking for other symptoms of pregnancy and finding none, Poppy assumed it was from all that happened recently and stared at the desk opposite from her. A new home and a new life. She wasn't sure if she could do this. She doesn't know Branch very well other than he was forced into this marriage too and she could tell by the way he behaved during the wedding and reception.

"We can be unhappy together." Poppy thought. "All so we can be safe during the war."

Poppy's thoughts were interrupted when she heard water running. Branch must be getting ready to take a shower. She tried to turn over when she felt throbbing pain between her legs. It was from last night's love making. Poppy squeezed her eyes shut as she remembered what happened. It was embarrassing how she cried during the whole thing. She was told it would be painful the first time but no one said how bad it would be. She hoped no one in the castle heard it. She doesn't want to talk about it at breakfast.

"Poppy, you awake?"

Poppy turned her head to see Branch standing in the doorway to the bathroom dressed in a green robe. He didn't look like he showered recently. Poppy nodded while trying not to move. Branch walked over and sat next to her.

"You ok?"

"No."

"Is it about last night?"

"Yes."

Poppy's face turned red.

"Come on, a eucalyptus bath will help."

"Eucalyptus?" Poppy said. "That plant is expensive to get."

"Our friend Cybil grows it out in the gardens." Branch explained. "It soothes sore muscles and accelerates healing."

Poppy saw no reason to refuse the offer. She tried to get up but the pain kept her from moving at a normal pace.

"Are you ok?" Branch asked.

"It's hurts." Poppy answered.

"I'm sorry…"

"No, it's…"

"I'll help you up."

Branch threw the covers off Poppy and they both gasped at what they saw. Underneath Poppy's legs was a small pool of blood. Poppy covered her face in embarrassment. She and Branch jumped when they heard a knock at the door.

"What's going on in there?" A concerned female voice said.

"Come on!" Branch said as he scooped up Poppy and quickly carried her to the bathroom.

His grandmother heard them and he didn't want to talk about what happened. She gets furious when she sees stains anywhere even on the bed. He placed Poppy in a hot bath with eucalyptus leaves and went out to cover the blood stain when Grandma Rosiepuff opened the door and her eyes widen.

Busted! Branch thought. He knew what would happen next.

"From last night?" she asked nonchalantly.

Branch nodded. "Grandma, please. Poppy is embarrassed to…"

Grandma Rosiepuff chuckled. "It's ok, Branch." She said. "It's not easy the first time around. In fact, it can be scary. Where's Poppy?"

"In the bathroom." Branch answered. "I thought a eucalyptus bath would help."

"It will. But I still want to talk her."

"I doubt she would."

"Calm her down and I'll talk to her after her family leaves for the Troll Tree. I'll have these sheets cleaned immediately."

Branch nodded. "Ok."

Branch and Grandma Rosiepuff hugged before he walked back to the bathroom and his grandmother gathered up the soiled linens. Closing the bathroom door behind him, he turned to see Poppy laying in the bath still red in the face. And it was not from the hot bath water.

"I don't want to talk to her about it." She said.

"I'm afraid she's not going to take that for answer, Poppy." Branch said.

He took off his robe and joined his wife in the bath. Poppy scowled. She didn't want to talk about her first time with someone she doesn't know yet. It's so awkward. Branch moved closer to Poppy.

"It'll be ok." He said.

"I don't know you guys yet. I don't want to talk about my personal problems right now."

"I don't blame you." Branch nuzzled Poppy's cheek. "I wouldn't either. But this your home now and you're her granddaughter-in-law she'll want to talk about last night. Grandma is only scary if you break the rules or argue with her."

"What kind of rules?"

"We'll go over that after breakfast. They're to keep us safe. The forest is filled with dangerous wildlife. You don't want to see them at night or unarmed and there are some places in the castle that are off limits."

Poppy leaned into her husband's embrace as he pulled her close. She wanted to say she didn't care about going into the forest and could care less about exploring the castle but didn't bother to. The eucalyptus was working it's magic on her throbbing womanhood and her mood. She was feeling a little better then she did when she woke up. Poppy and Branch enjoyed the bath while getting to know each other a little. About thirty five minutes later, they finished and got dressed. Poppy was still in pain from last night but not as bad as it was this morning. Branch stayed close to her. He felt bad even though his grandmother told him what happened is natural he didn't want to hurt Poppy. A few minutes later, they arrived at the dining hall where they found their families at the table talking to one another. The food hasn't been served yet. Were they waiting for them? The couple was greeted with 'good mornings' and 'hellos' before sitting down. Poppy was relieved that no one noticed her discomfort as she walked. She wanted that to stay between her and Branch for now. The families ate breakfast while exchanging stories. It felt like an reunion only one is staying behind.

Unwillingly of course.

After the meal was over, King Peppy, Viva and Jive said their goodbyes and left for the long journey back to the Troll Tree Kingdom. Branch held Poppy close to him on her request so she wouldn't be tempted to run after them. Once the CaterBus disappeared of view, Poppy turned and hugged Branch while trying hard not to cry. She stiffen when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Grandma Rosiepuff.

"Sweetheart, I'd like a word with you alone." She said.

"No." Poppy said.

"I insist, Poppy. Please."

"Just go with her." Branch said as he turned her around and pushed her towards Grandma Rosiepuff. "I'll be in my workshop if you need me."

With that he left and the others parted ways too. Leaving the princess and former queen of the Southern Lands alone. Branch likes working with his hands so John Dory had him do repair jobs for the castle and local citizens. Floyd helps with castle records, codes and catalogues the library and writes poetry on the side. Clay moved back to the castle temporarily upon King Peppy's request because he felt his daughter should have a familiar face to talk to until she gets settled. Spruce and Brandy were staying for a few days so they can get to know their new sister-in-law while a friend of theirs watched over the restaurant they own and their thirteen children as well get some alone time for themselves. John Dory left to tend to his royal duties being king and all. Poppy frowned at her current situation.

This will not end well.

"Come with me, sweetheart" Grandma Rosiepuff said before leaving the room. Poppy followed in silence.

She followed her in-law up two flights of stairs and down the hall until they reached a door decorated with vines and roses. Poppy assumed it belonged to Grandma Rosiepuff. She was taking her to her bedroom so they can talk in private. Grandma Rosiepuff open the door and beckoned Poppy to follow. Poppy took in the sight as she entered. The room was dark velvet red in colour with vines and roses design on the molding near the ceiling. A king size bed stood in the centre near the wall, an armoire on the left side of the room and a chair with yarn and knitting needles on the other side with some pictures of what she assumed were of her and her husband, children and grandchildren on the walls. This room looked better and less depressing then Branch's room in comparison. Hers and Branch's room she reminded herself silently.

"Come and sit." Grandma Rosiepuff said as she sat on a bench near the windowsill.

Poppy slowly sat next to her. She knows what comes next and she doesn't want to discuss it.

"I'm sorry but I don't want…"

"I understand we just met yesterday." Grandma Rosiepuff said. "But we're family now you can tell me anything. I saw the blood stains on the sheets."

Poppy's face turned red again.

"My first time after my wedding wasn't very memorable either I assure you. There's nothing to prepare you for the pain, sweetheart. I cried during the whole thing too."

Poppy thought back when she and Viva were discussing what happens after the wedding celebration. Her sister mentioned she was in pain when she and Jive first made love. She thought the muffled screaming and crying she heard in the next room was her imagination at the time.

"It's still not something you talk about." Poppy said. "My sister Viva wasn't comfortable telling me this before coming here. She had trouble making a sentence."

Grandma Rosiepuff nodded. "I had trouble talking about it with my parents too. In time, my husband and I got over how awkward it was. You and Branch will get pass this."

Poppy felt the colour in her face return to normal.

"Is there something else you want to talk about before I give you a tour of the castle?"

Meanwhile, below the castle, Branch was trying to distract himself by working on some broken furniture John Dory received this morning. He didn't care how it got trashed in the first place like he normally did, he just needed to get his mind off last night. He hurt Poppy and he didn't want to. It was hard and strange all rolled into one. He felt he wasn't in control when he joined with her. He felt possessed or…His eyes widen as he realized something. Was it…? No! The potion was extra strength and he still wore his ring. The two combined should've…

"Hey, Branch?"

Branch turned to see Spruce and Brandy standing in the doorway to his workshop. He frowned because he didn't want to talk about his embarrassing first time.

"What do you want?" he asked not caring if he was being rude or not.

"Easy bro." Spruce said.

To Brandy he said. "Honey, could you leave us alone for a few minutes please?"

"Sure, I'll be upstairs." Brandy said before she kissed Spruce and left.

Once his wife was out of earshot and making sure no one else was listening, Spruce turned to his youngest brother.

"It was that bad, huh?"

Branch grit his teeth. "It's that obvious?"

Spruce nodded. "Everyone noticed but didn't say anything."

Branch's face turned red.

"Don't worry about it." Spruce said as he sat next to Branch. "It's never easy the first time and sadly there's no way around the pain unless you drug her with something."

Branch glared.

"I'd rather die then do that." he said. "But it's not just the fact she was in pain. I don't think the potion was enough. I felt my demon instincts taking over when we…connected and I couldn't control it."

Spruce thought back when he and Brandy first slept together. He felt something in the back of his mind when…could that be…

"Now that you mention it, I think I went through that too."

Branch stared at his brother surprised. "You too?"

Spruce nodded. "Cybil said it was the demon instincts wanting me to mark and mate with my chosen spouse."

"But the potion…"

"You said the potion was extra strength. That would mean the demon instincts couldn't come out completely is my best guess. You should talk to Cybil when she's done her meditation session."

He nodded. He normally hated talking to Cybil because of her weird airy behaviour but she's the only one who could help him right now.

"I had a feeling you needed to talk to me."

Spruce and Branch turned to see Cybil leaning against the doorframe. Branch rolled his eyes. This was going to be a long day.

Poppy followed Grandma Rosiepuff as she give a tour of the castle. It would take a few days for the princess to remember how to get around but she'll manage with time. The castle was over 400 years old with many secret passage ways use in case of an attack or shortcuts her grandsons would put it Grandma Rosiepuff joked. The two trolls visited the library, rooms on the third and second floors, the gardens and the rooms located underground. They stopped when they reached a wooden door located below the castle.

"This is one of the rooms you should never enter." Grandma Rosiepuff said.

"Why not?" Poppy asked.

"It holds a secret that can be used against us if it gets out."

"You said I'm family right?"

"Yes, but there are some things you're not ready for yet. We'll tell you more in time."

Grandma Rosiepuff took Poppy's hand and led her away from the forbidden door, Poppy looked at it longing to open it. What's inside and what did Grandma Rosiepuff mean by she's not ready yet? What is this family hiding? They stopped when they reached a room near the end of the hall. The door was open and Spruce and Branch were listening to a green troll dressed in purple robe with a scarf holding back her teal hair talking.

"That's Cybil." Grandma Rosiepuff explained. "She and her family have worked here for years. She's gifted in the magical/mystic arts."

Cybil stopped talking when she noticed they were not alone.

"Your highnesses." she said. "Welcome."

"Hello." Poppy said unsure if she should trust this troll.

"You have a lot of questions, Princess but now is not a good time to asked them." Cybil said.

Poppy was a little creeped out. Cybil must be good because she did have questions. She played along.

"Why not?" Poppy asked.

"You're not ready for the answers yet." Cybil explained. "Be prepared when the full moon rises."

With that Cybil left.

"What did she mean by that?" Poppy asked.

"It's nothing." Branch said.

Grandma Rosiepuff and Spruce nodded in agreement.

"It's only if you're planning a trip. The full moon is when the creatures in the forests are the most dangerous."

Poppy frowned in disbelief. She didn't care to travel just yet. So why would Cybil tell her that?

Grandma Rosiepuff led Poppy back upstairs to continue the tour of the castle. Once the sound of their footsteps disappeared, Spruce turned to Branch.

"You have to tell her soon." he said. "You know what happens to you and Floyd when the moon is full."

Branch nodded. He knew all too well. The family curse didn't just turn them into demons at nightfall but something happens to them during certain phases of the moon. Once a month during the four phases of the moon, the members of the family would stay in demon form for 24 hours and their demon instincts become harder to keep under control. Even the rings can't help with it. In the past, Cybil would place a sigil on their foreheads in order to put their demons instincts into dormancy for the time being but it can't hide their demon forms since she can't find a way to. Now Cybil had just created talismans inscribed with the sigil that they can wear when their time of the month comes. John Dory's and Grandma Rosiepuff's time is the new moon, Spruce's was the first quarter moon, Clay's was the last quarter moon and Branch's and Floyd's is the full moon which is three days from now. Clay, Spruce, Grandma Rosiepuff and John Dory have their talismans. Branch and Floyd still don't have theirs and time is running out.

"I don't know how." Branch said. "This is huge. How did Brandi handle it when you told her?"

"She didn't believe me at first." Spruce explained. "She thought I was being funny until I transformed. When I told her what would happen to her if we marry she didn't mind."

"You two were made for each other." Branch said. "Poppy and I just met yesterday."

"Tell her soon." Spruce said as he stood up. "The curse will affect her the longer she stays here."

Spruce left to find Brandy.

Branch turned back to the broken chair in front of him. Spruce was right. He has to tell Poppy but he didn't know how.

"How can I tell her?"