Prologue
2302 Words
~Willow~
“Radagast! Please!” I try to help him walk to our bedroom. He has been drinking a lot since we moved to the city.
Dropping him on the bed, finally reaching our room, I take off his shoes. I know it’s futile to try and get him out of his dirty clothes. Besides, it’s been a long day of trying to put out fires in the office and I need a drink. I honestly don't want to deal with his temper tantrums!
The Britney girl has prepared dinner and is hanging around in the kitchen.
Willow “What are you still doing here?”
I want to know.
Willow “I know how to heat-up food. I don’t need you hanging around Radagast all day. Get out!”
Britney looks to be on the verge of tears and quickly leaves. She can’t believe that Miss Willow is the sister of Mrs. Silver-fox. Isobel had such a kind heart. All the staff mourned her and Mr. Silver-fox senior. Things were not the same without them.
Grabbing the plate, I don’t look impressed. Why Michael kept her around is beyond me. She definitely can’t cook. Dumping the plate in the bin, I call for take-out to be delivered.
Grabbing a glass of wine, I walk into the living room, kicking off my shoes, and stand in front of the huge windows of the high-rise building. The city lights twinkle like stars. My hand on her hip, I take a big gulp of my wine, thinking about the day.
Radagast has to get sober. I can make excuses for him, but for only so long. The customers are getting impatient and the stock price has already fallen after his parent’s deaths. People will soon lose confidence in him and his ability to do what is needed.
Having the board of directors vote him out as CEO will not be good. Dinner arrives and I flop down on the couch to eat. The smell of the food awakening the dead, when he comes stumbling out of the bedroom.
Radagast “Did that girl finally cook dinner?”
He mumbles, stumbling over to the couch.
Willow “No, I ordered in. I’m going to fire her. She can’t cook.”
Radagast “Do what you wish.”
He falls on the couch, grabbing one of the boxes.
Willow “We need to talk.”
Radagast “We are talking.”
He says between bites.
Willow “Really? Have you fallen on your head and turned into a caveman?!”
I lose my temper.
Radagast “I am not in the mood for your temper tantrums Willow. My head hurts, I’m hungry and I want a drink.”
Willow “UGH!! Radagast! You have to pull yourself together. We are going to lose everything. I had a meeting with the lawyers today and the board of directors is getting impatient.”
Radagast “Can’t they understand that I lost my entire family! Including my unborn child!!”
He throws his empty crystal glass, making it shatter into pieces against the dark grey marble wall.
Willow “Yes, they do, but you also have responsibilities. You are a drunk and to be honest a disgusting drunk at that. If you don’t clean up soon, we will lose everything!”
~Radagast~
She storms out of the room slamming the bedroom door behind her. Feeling the hangover kicking in, the noise of the slamming door hits right inside my head, shaking my brain. What does she mean by I’m disgusting? So, I’ve had a couple of drinks. I smell my shirt.
It’s been two weeks since the fight! How can anyone expect me to just get over it and carry on like normal!
Radagast “Oh wow!”
She is right, I stink! She is not going to let me in the bedroom tonight, so I may just as well go clean up in the other apartment.
The hot water of the shower hitting my skin, I imagine it washing away everything bad in my life. When I close my eyes, I see Isobel’s face. I see her falling and then the blood pouring out of her pale body.
I shake my head to clear it from these thoughts.
Grabbing a clean set of clothes, I get dressed. Opening the apartment door, I find three coven guards outside.
“Good evening Mr. Silver-fox” one of them greets me.
I’ve come to know him as the one in charge of the lot of them. Or better yet… the one to do the booze runs.
Radagast “I am going to my office. Is the floor clear?”
Booze guy “Yes Sir, all staff have left the building.”
Radagast “Good. I don’t want to walk into any surprises.”
I say angrily. Walking to the lifts I hear our apartment door open.
Willow “Where do you think you are going?”
Willow asks furiously.
Radagast “You want me to clean up and go to work, then you want to know where I’m going… make up your damn mind!”
I shout before the doors of the lift closes. I have to admit that no matter what, her fire does keep me on my toes, and I giggle softly.
Willow “Good luck trying to find out what is going on without my help!”
She storms into the bedroom, slamming the door behind her, and I nod that Booze run can press the button for the lift doors to close.
~Frank~
Frank “They have moved to the city.”
Melissa “I still can’t believe Willow would betray us like this.”
Melissa cries and I pull her tighter into my embrace. Isobel’s funeral was this morning and everyone’s emotions are raw with grief.
Frank “I don’t know what happened.”
I sigh.
Frank “Where did everything go wrong?”
Circe “Mom, Dad, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
Circe walks into the living room with coffee for all of us.
Glinda “Willow has always been different. She has always resented us for having wolves and not having one herself.”
Glinda says walking in right behind her sister with a plate of sandwiches.
Frank “Thank you, girls.”
I wink at them.
Frank “I don’t think Mom can cook at the moment.”
Tabatha walks into the living room with a rolled-up page in her hand.
Tabatha “She is not going to get away with this.”
Melissa “What do you have there?”
She asks looking concerned
Tabatha “Nothing…”
Melissa “Girls, please, promise me you won’t go after them! Leave this to your Father and our security to deal with.”
She sits up straight looking each of them in the eyes.
Circe “Mom, you know we can’t do that.”
Circe says shrugging.
Melissa “I can’t lose any of you! Please don’t do this!”
Melissa starts sobbing, Glinda moving fast to her mother’s side, she slides her arm around her shoulders holding on tight.
Glinda “You won’t Mom. We promise. Now that we know what they are planning you won’t lose us.”
Melissa’s shoulders shaking as she sobs, her family all moving in closer. I slide my arm over Glinda’s pulling them into a tight embrace. Tabatha and Circe, joining their mother by sitting on the floor in front of her feet.
Tabatha “He is arrogant Mom, we haven’t seen the last of him, but this time we will be ready for them.”
Tabatha takes her mother’s hand in hers.
Mellissa “How can you be so confident! All of you! We just buried Isobel and you are preparing for a fight!”
Melissa pulls out from their embrace, standing up, she makes her way to the kitchen, putting her cup in the basin.
~Willow~
The early morning sunlight shines through the curtains and he didn’t come back last night. I phone the guards to make sure he didn’t pass out drunk in his office. I can’t have staff finding him in that condition when they walk in.
Surprisingly, he is sober and has been working all night. Walking out of my bedroom, I find Britney in the kitchen.
Willow “Oh you again, we won’t be needing your services anymore girl. You can get your paycheck from HR.”
I say, dressed in her signature black stilettoes, black tight-fitting dress, and something silver around her top, closing the front door behind me.
~Third person~
Shocked, Britney moves on autopilot, leaving everything the way it is in the house and kitchen, she collects her paycheck and leaves the building. How could one sister be so kind and the other be so cold?! She had been living in the city for a couple of years and options for work were less than nothing. Taking this into account, she decides to move back home.
She left excited that she was leaving the rank of Omega behind and facing a brand-new future where anything and everything was possible. Now she is returning to the pack she would rather be an Omega than being treated like this. Packing up her entire life is going to take a couple of days, but her family is ecstatic when they hear that she is returning home.
~Willow~
I walk into his office, right past my assistant who tries to stop me.
Willow “What are you doing?”
Girl “Sorry Mr. Silver-fox. I did try to stop her.”
The girl cringes when I give her one of my “you-dare-interrupt-me” stares. I haven’t taken the time to get to know her name yet.
Radagast “It’s fine, just leave.”
He says, waving his hand for her to leave and close the door behind her.
Radagast “I, my dear Willow, am taking back control of MY company. What are you doing here if I may ask?”
A smile forming on his lips that spells of evil.
Willow “Checking on you.”
Radagast “No need for that. I’m perfectly fine as you can see. You were right last night. Thank you for giving me a wake-up call. I am having my things moved into my father’s old apartment. You can stay in the apartment you are currently in. I want you to start with preparations to return home.”
Willow “Excuse me?!”
I ask as if he just spoke in a different language.
Radagast “You heard me. I want to go back home. I have a hole in my heart that can only be filled if I have all of you around me. I want to go and fetch your other sisters. Now go and make the necessary arrangements.”
~Radagast~
Willow “After everything I’ve done… My father and the pack will kill…”
I interrupt her mid-sentence, holding up my hand for her to keep quiet.
Radagast “No, they won’t. I have a meeting with the council later this morning. I will need you to testify how your family attacked us and we had to defend ourselves and try and save Isobel.”
Willow “What?!”
She asks looking shocked.
Radagast “Do I have to repeat everything this morning? Maybe you are the one who needs to catch-up. I am requesting extra protection from the council. I will need you to testify that your family attacked us and killed Isobel and my mother. And which part of going home don’t you understand?”
I look at her as if she is just another staff member.
Willow “Fine! Whatever you want, Sir.”
She says, anger clear in her voice. Turning on her heel, she leaves and takes over Isobel’s old office.
~Willow~
This time he has gone too far!! There won’t be time to appoint an assistant and Radagast has hijacked mine, so I will have to deal with Sybil at the home office.
Why is he moving out of our apartment? Why does he still want to go back for my sisters? My family is going to kill us! Doesn’t he understand that?! I phone Sybil first to arrange for things at the castle to be prepared for our arrival.
A messenger arrives after lunch with the official council seal on the envelope. Inside are the instructions to appear in the hearing. Radagast isn’t wasting any time and it is making me angrier by the minute!! I can go against his wishes and not say what he wants me to say, but then I risk losing him.
Looking at my watch I note that it’s time to leave for my meeting, and walk to the boardroom, I notice Radagast still talking to them, looking pained. I wait outside the door of the glass see-through room until he walks out.
Radagast “Remember what I told you!”
He whispers in a threatening tone, passing me and I nod quickly walking into the room.
***
Things happened so quickly that I feel nauseous. We are on our way back to the castle, with extra security provided by the council. Radagast was moved to the castle already without anyone’s knowledge and it is time for me to return.
I have to deny his return, should my family come around asking. I don’t even want to deal with them at all. Now he is making me after he has almost completely withdrawn from me and he is going through all these extreme measures to capture my other sisters!!
Why I’m still hanging around waiting for him is beyond me!! Or am I hanging around waiting for him? Could I be waiting for something more important than Radagast?
- Writer
