The Outcasts

The Wolf Queen

The Wolf Queen

Claire 

Mina and I looked at the circle I had prepared and the lines I had drawn in it with the heavy blue salt the witch had given to me. She had apparently the brilliant idea of piggyback, so I kept up with her demands. Even on her child state, she was a cutie.

“Don’t you dare drop her!” Todd screamed from the open window. I gave him the finger and Mina screamed “Fuck you!”

“With pleasure love!”

“Vampires…” I groaned and Mina chuckled behind me. I checked my watch for the hundredth time. We had ten hours until the peak of the Winter Solstice, always according to the witch time calendar was around ten o’clock at night, and we were both giddy.

Elfas was too. The Fae had given to me the, beautifully packed inside silk, wedding gown and closed himself in his room saying that he was going to meditate. Todd was also like a caged animal, walking the house with his flash speed to the point knocking over almost everything and bumping his head to the walls.

The house had five holes so far.

“When we’ll be over with this, I am heading to New Zealand. There are nice cocktails down there.” Mina said and I sighed. For the last hours, she’d choose a place around the globe and comment on it about what she would love to do. So far she had spoken of Las Vegas, Siberia, Bali, Athens, Tokyo and Cape town.

“Anything you want Mina.” I sighed.

She tapped my head. “Don’t be gloomy. I am sure the pup will come home.”

“I know he will. Jericho wouldn’t miss this.” I said softly as I walked back at the house.

Todd pulled Mina from my arms and I headed to the study to pick up the box with the items we had chosen for the circle. Getting out again, I began placing them in their specific spots on the circle. On the top and across of it a pair of rare vampire fangs for Todd and the wedding dress for Elfas. On the right and across on the left, I placed the wooden statue for me and Jericho and a pouch of rare coins for Fred.

The gargoyle used to be a coin collector from New Orleans and he used to export and trade rare coins before his imprisonment here. And finally at the center of the circle at the point where the blue lines intercepted with each other, I placed Mina’s staff. It was made of dark ebony and decorated with an orb, which was a dull ember.

When I was done with the circle I took the shovel and began clearing the snow around the circle, more for keeping my mind out of the thoughts I had for my family, my friends and Jericho. As I pushed and pulled the snow away I didn’t notice the darkening sky, until Fred’s stony paw settled on my shoulder. His amber eyes took in the circle and the space I had cleared around it.

“Rest Claire.”

I shook my head.

His lion head lowered close to my face. “I know you’re worried, I am too. But please don’t overdo it. You’ll get sick.”

Nodding slowly, I walked back and when I closed the door behind me, I left a strangled sound. Why time was passing so slowly? Why couldn’t I find a way to make it go faster? This waiting was nerve breaking and stressing.

Giggles were heard from the study; Mina’s voice was soft as I followed her sound into the library. Todd sat sprawled on the couch with Mina between his legs, reading something in a low voice. The fire was blazing on the fireplace across them, casting a soft glow all over the room.

I stepped back slowly letting them in their own world. They deserved time on their own and I wouldn’t be the one to disturb them. Going up to the third floor, I opened Jericho’s door and stepped in. The faint scent of wood and smoke lingered in the air and I inhaled deeply wanting to feel it to my bones. Taking off my jacket, I walked towards his bedroom and after closing the door behind me, my body fell on the mattress.