My Stepsister, My Mate, My Curse

nor'

ran toward me, with Rio close beh

! What happened?!" S

at loud! I laughed awkwardly and repli

eady guess what was going through their minds-how could

y hand dismissively, changing t

hen looked around before askin

und here, I guess," I replie

d you two need to head home," Scarla said nerv

the heart of nature, surrounded by trees-so here we were, standing

nd Suzy already left. Had I kn

up, and before we found her, a sudden question popped

Eleanor. We're family now,

breath and tried to find a way to phrase my question without sounding like a weirdo

lked. I could hear my heart pounding, wondering if I had j

carla burst out laughing, clutching

id dryly, rolling my eyes and crossing my arms.

tween chuckles. "But that que

ar guy," Scarla added, stil

isbelief... A regular gu

say." I shrugged indiffere

more seriously, "Wha

He just acts like he has superpowers, so I imagined he did..." I answered sarcastica

dashed toward my grandmother

n earth?!" she c

hing!" I whined like a spoiled child, sticking o

rning to the man she had been talking to. "Sorr

sked curiously, and my grandmother no

but I didn't miss the strange look they

d lined with trees on both sides. I didn't s

around here?" I asked, curi

ll one. I can take y

ed for

s to the road. "Why not, little Eleanor? It would b

stuff! Yuck! I have no desire for such an adventure," I replie

ed hel

ecause you're afraid of

ach other, Grandma!" I laughed, though I

ith my fear... She sometimes see

ly understand. Being attacked by a rabid dog at

her again after she sta

your fear-when you realize it's o

Stop acting like some animal rights

ce, while I closed mine and drifted in

s, I found myself ly

y weight on my arms, and looked around...

ow me here whil

und, searching desperately for a

ull moon-but there was no trace of my grandmother

forest and open places

ion, my heart racing with anxiety, my mind battling to shut

the one sound I had hop

ide, as a shiver of electri

.." I whispered weakly, try

in, louder this ti

y eyes as I reali

lf's

desperation, though

embling, but there was no reply-only my tear

th a tree, all ho

with some damned wo

en

echoed through the tre

his time with a violent shake. I

car, my entire bod

aring at me with concern. She placed a gentle h

y? You were mumbli

ancing around in confusio

nothing. J

ehead as she gently patted my

e exhausted. Take a shower,

deep breath, trying to shake off th

it, E

thes, I lay on the bed with a heavy body and a

ed closing my eyes, afra

animal and not wake until morning.

all night, even if my

ty and my mother's departure-but th

eginning to grow

lf, my thoughts slipped towar

l ability? Or just the

nses, why wear them

's just my imagination... Ye

onto my right side and pulled out my phone to ch

sleep, it eventually overpowered me