DARK FATE (Scarlett of the wolves #1)

Chapter twelve

I’d been running for hours through the woods, wolves chasing me. I knocked on the door of an old wooden shack and a hungry vampire opened it for me. I kept screaming for help, but no one could hear me. The vampire had me spinning all over the place, to horrifying experimental music. I had turned and turned until I lost my mind and surrendered in the arms of the blood drinker. He had parted my hair from my neck and leaned down to suck out my vital flow. Gwen had arrived with her talisman in her hand, to scare off the vile vampire. Immediately, he had disappeared in a cloud of black smoke, only to reappear a few meters away. He had become a vengeful spirit and no one could do anything for me. He came and went around me and filled my mind with dark thoughts. I had felt an intense wave of sadness, and I just wanted to die. I took a  large knife from a table and Jacob appeared in the doorway to save me. Uncontrollable, I had raised the blade on him, to strike him, but a white wolf with green eyes had intervened before I woke up, at the bottom of my bed.

I sat up abruptly, sweaty, with the strange feeling that all my muscles were shaking. Almost like I had run a marathon for the first time. Confused, I threw myself back to lie down and stare at the ceiling. It was just a nightmare.

“What a horror!” I said out loud.       

It was obvious that reading books as stupid as the one last night should be avoided before bed. I still had shivers down my spine. I grabbed my alarm clock; seven-thirty. It was far too early to get up, but I was never going to be able to fall asleep again.

“It's your fault!” I shouted, looking at the book on the windowsill.   

I was nauseous and a headache pounded my temples. I had no desire to swallow an aspirin, a shower would be just as beneficial. And indeed, when I came out of the bathroom, I felt better. And then, the better very quickly turned into much less.

Today I was eighteen. And I was here.

On edge, I opened my smartphone, hoping that Kaley had answered me and would make me laugh. Nothing. Awesome! Great, I admit, I was in the blues! Might as well spend the day locked in this room, I could sulk quietly.

I was well on my way to when I heard a deafening din of honking. I threw myself against the window and almost had a heart attack. Seeing Jacob' pickup wasn't what surprised me the most, no. It was Hazel and Kaley's heads coming out of the car that nearly knocked me over. I couldn’t believe my eyes. THEY WERE HERE! I came down the stairs like the Flash and ran to join them in the courtyard.

“I'm dreaming!” I yelled hysterically.  

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”  

Hazel, Jacob and Kaley greeted me with open arms. I was stunned.

“But what... how?” I stammered, dazed.  

Kaley walked over to hug me.

“You weren't even thinking of celebrating your eighteenth all alone, lost in this village? It wasn’t easy,” she said with a wink, “but I left Cyril in Paris to be here. Happy eighteenth birthday, Scarlett!”          

I smiled back at her.

“And who do I owe this incredible surprise to?” I asked.  

“To your grandmother,” Hazel told me. “She organized this with your parents and made sure to phone everyone. You know, she's also the one who paid for our plane tickets!”           

May was on the doorstep, smiling affectionately. My grandmother is truly a world champion.

“Thank you,” I whispered.  

I took it upon myself to remain dignified, but I was very moved. I could have burst into tears, I was so happy.

“I arrived very late last night,” Kaley told me, I slept at Jacob and Hazel's.          

“Oh, that's why you didn't answer my email...”  

She raised her eyebrows, laughing.

“You know, sweetheart, it was hard to see you so sad when we left Paris. This surprise had been planned for a long time,” explained my mother.           

“You’re great! Thank you.”  

“Okay. Since we have a little party planned tonight, we need some space. Come on, shoo! We have a lot of work to do and there’s no way Scarlett’s getting in our way!” my grandmother said, telling us to get out.           

Jacob and Hazel served as our drivers—Kaley wanted to see everything. The day passed very quickly, and later that evening, we met in my room, just the girls. Anyone walking past the door would have sworn there was a chicken coop. We giggled and chattered as loud as a hundred turkeys in a barnyard.

“You look great!” Kaley shouted.  

“The dress isn’t too low-cut?” I made sure by pulling up the fine fabric that went down below my cleavage.           

“No, you're beautiful!” Hazel said.  

I had borrowed the dress from my mother. A very simple and fluid style, dark green, it came just at the level of the ankles. But my cleavage... yikes. The thin straps that supported it didn’t feel very strong, I was afraid of revealing a little too much along the way!

“We'll take care of your hair!” Kaley decided.  

“Uh...,” I hesitated.  

“Leave it to me, I'm telling you. And afterwards, I’ll do your make-up.”  

Argh... Now, I was nervous. Kaley and I don’t at all the same style at all: she’s rather sophisticated and I, more jeans/sneakers.

So that I wouldn't protest, she turned my back to the dressing table mirror. The task turned out to be much more difficult than she had imagined, I wasn’t used to all this fuss, I kept wriggling. But when I turned around, I froze, I didn't recognize myself. She had styled me in a beautiful convoluted bun, making a few red locks fall on my shoulders. And the makeup was very discreet, perfect. I thought I was... pretty.

The guests greeted me loudly, there were many more people than I had imagined. The Cameron family, my uncle and aunt from Helmsdale, Jacob's friends... My grandmother did a great job. The garden was wonderfully decorated, with garlands of lights, paper lanterns and a multitude of lighted candles all over the place on a large U-shaped table. A wooden dance floor had been set up and musicians were tuning their instruments. And to my amazement, all the men had put on a suit. Even Jacob, who never took off his Jeans and Converse, wore a midnight blue suit. (He was even more handsome than usual).

“Here,” Hazel said, sticking a glass of champagne in my hands. “Look, do you know that girl? She has quite a look!” She laughed, pointing at Gwen.  

“Oh! Gwen! It's great that she's here, I love her. You'll see, she's really nice,” I said.  

She wore a mind-blowing outfit, a terribly short, black dress with an explosive tutu wrapped around it. Her hair was still crimped and her boots still so high! Since she hadn't seen me yet, I walked towards her to greet her, but my steps were stopped abruptly. My heart failed and I forgot to breathe. All the contents of my glass spilt on the floor.

He was here. Behind her. In a beautiful black suit. A splendour straight out of my fantasies to make me fall head over heels. I almost fainted. Who had invited Elgin Sutherland?

I was caught in a moment of panic and, instead of going towards them, I chose to sneak through the kitchen to avoid them. There I found Millie filling a huge tray with colourful canapes.

“Sweetie, your grandmother would like you to join her in her room.”           

I didn't ask for more, but hurried off to see May, as if I was on fire—not without looking back repeatedly, paranoid.

“It's me, grandmother,” I warned, opening the door a c***k.  

When I entered, she was rummaging in her dresser drawer.

She took out a small box.

“I would like to give you your birthday present, Scarlett.”  

“But, grandma,” I protested, “you've done so much already.”  

“But this one didn’t cost me anything, my granddaughter. It’s a present that I received when I was about your age, I would like it to come back to you.”            

She opened her palm and handed me a black velvet case. I took it and opened it delicately.

Inside, was presented a circular medallion in black and silver metal —probably iron—formed with sinuous intertwining shapes.

I adored it.

“What is it exactly?” I asked.  

“It's an amulet, I believe.”  

“It's beautiful,” I whispered. “Do you know what the pattern represents?”         

“I have no idea. But it’s very pretty, don't you think?”

“I like it very much, grandmother. Thank you for a wonderful birthday,” I said, hugging her against me.

I put the amulet back in its case and put it on the nightstand to get it later.

“Let’s hurry back to the party, granddaughter, your friends will be impatient.”           

Of course, I had no way of spending the evening hiding here. My heart raced.

“Did young Sutherland arrive?” she asked as we were at the top of the stairs.           

“I don't know, grandmother,” I lied. “Did you invite him? (What a drama!)”

“Yes, I thought it was a great way to thank him for his kindness.”          

“Of course,” I said, wanting to appear as detached as possible, but I blushed anyway.           

“And I also think that he’s not completely indifferent to you, isn’t he?”         

May... It wasn't her blindness that made her so sharp. She had always been like this!

“But what are you talking about?” I dodged.  

She stifled a laugh.

“Do you think I was born yesterday?”  

“I hardly know him...”  

“And that's also why I invited him, Scarlett, for you to get to know each other! You don't see many people here other than Jacob.”          

“You don't like Jacob?”  

“Yes, yes, of course, but two friends are better than one, don't you think?” she said mischievously.          

To have a choice, right?

“No doubt...” I whispered.  

As we went down the stairs, my heart was pounding harder and harder; I was nervous. It was childish, but what could I have done? I was just terrified to see him again. My father approached us and took May by the elbow, and suddenly I felt deprived of precious support. The world’s turned upside down!

“Hey, your friends are getting impatient, Scarlett!”   

“I'm going, Dad, I'm going!”  

I wasn't confident. I walked slowly and looked around the garden, searching for Elgin Sutherland. I didn’t see him. Caught between disappointment and relief, I walked a little further. I saw Jacob in the distance, gesticulating like crazy in front of his friends amused by his antics. How I wish I’d been as relaxed as him. I was tense and stiffer than a broomstick, so much so that I screamed as I felt two hands close around my hips behind me.

“Gwen!” I cried, catching my breath. “You frightened me half to death!”          

“Happy birthday!” she cried. “Here, my present.”  

“Thank you,” I said, taking the little red package.  

I opened it quickly and pulled out a tiny vial containing a beautiful amber liquid. I noticed something like gold dust at the bottom. On the bottle, was written in thin red letters: Bewitching.

“What is it?” I asked.  

“A trap of bewitchment.”  

“What?! Seriously?”  

She was probably playing a joke on me... But no.

“You put a tiny drop in the hollow of your neck and you become absolutely irresistible to anyone who speaks with you. It's because of the gold. It reflects an exceptional magnetic flow.”          

“Really?” Thanks, Gwen... Do you think I should try it now?”         

I only teased her, because I never imagined for a second that this thing could work!

“No, no, definitely not! Save this precious liquid for a special occasion! (She glanced over my shoulder and her face lit up.) Well,” she said, nodding. “It’s Elgin.”          

Special occasion. Elgin. What a coincidence!

My God, my stomach hurt! And I couldn't even count on Gwen who had slipped away, the traitor! He walked gracefully towards me, with a sure and supple step. His eyes filled with... what exactly? Of pleasure? But why did he have to be so handsome? Argh... Every time he was around he messed things up in my tidy mind and I wasn't really myself anymore. If anyone could have read my mind at this point, they would have blushed and passed to someone else...

"Happy birthday, Scarlett," he said in his lovely deep, soft voice.          

“Thank you. (A sparrow chirp.)”  

The words had come out with my breath—I had been holding it since Elgin had appeared—and I nearly choked. I swallowed my saliva and tried to say something coherent.

“I'm surprised but very happy that you’re here. (Almost! But too bad, I couldn't hold back some ridiculous tremors.)

“Your grandmother...”  

I smile at him, a little embarrassed.

“She went to the lighthouse with your mother to get my cell phone number.”      

“May has your cell number!” I yelled.  

I recovered immediately, clearing my throat.

Too late, he had smirked.

“My father wondered what an old lady could have to say to me. But he gave it to her anyway, without asking too many questions.”      

He stepped back to the large garden table and grabbed a gigantic bouquet.

“This is for you.”   

I took it with both hands and inhaled the sweet scent of white lilies and pale roses.

“Lilies ... these are my favourite flowers.”  

“Your grandmother told me...,” he said again, shrugging his shoulders.  

“Thank you very much,” I whispered.  

It was the first time that a boy gave me flowers. Not just any flowers and... not just any boy. I was just completely shocked.

Elgin raised his eyebrows to warn me that someone was approaching us. I put the bouquet back on the table and turned to Kaley. She was surely not going to miss Elgin...”

“Scarlett! Can you introduce us?” she exclaimed, laughing.  

She was staring at him strangely, stars in her eyes and smiling like in a toothpaste commercial.

“Uh, yes... Elgin, this is Kaley, my best friend.”  

“Good evening,” he said politely.  

Kaley, much less conventional, giggled like a hen in front of a rooster. I didn't know where to put myself.

“Whoa! Do you wear contact lenses?” she squealed. “They’re an amazing colour!”          

"No," Elgin replied, undisturbed. “We have these eyes in my family.”            

He surely noticed all this fuss! Kaley devoured him with her eyes, it was embarrassing. It was only when my mother called that she decided to stop staring.

“Scarlett! Come to the middle of the dancefloor. Come a little closer, please.”          

A huge three-tiered cake arrived, pushed on a dessert trolley by John Cameron, a friend of the family. The number eighteen stood proudly in the centre surrounded by eighteen small candles. The drummer gave me a drum roll as I leaned down to blow out the candles. Although I breathed with all my strength, there were still seven. One last effort and the flames were extinguished. The traditional happy birthday! began, leading everyone into an off-key song. 

Then my mother held up a small package in front of her, a tiny box that I immediately identified as a jewel case. Was it a ring perhaps? It was often the custom to offer one for a girl's eighteenth birthday.

“Open it,” she said.   

I took it and opened it right away. I was wrong. When I lifted the lid, a keyring (without keys) with “Rover Mini” written on it appeared.

“But, it's not true!” I gasped. “A car!”   

“Of course, you’ll have to pass your driving test first,” my father warned me, smiling.  

“Oh, dear! I can’t believe it. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you a thousand times!”   

I didn't ask them where the car was, I suspected that it was kindly waiting for me in Paris. I approached my parents to give them a warm hug, so happy with this gift. What young girl could say she had been so lucky? I was grateful and showed it. We chatted for a while about the car. I asked about its colour, its mileage... I knew absolutely nothing about cars, but this one was going to be mine and I wanted to know everything! I had a crazy evening, who would have believed? Not me, that's for sure.

When I had finished questioning my parents, I returned to the party. I noticed Jacob coming closer, he looked rather annoyed.

“You invited Sutherland?” he snapped.  

What was he doing to me? Jealousy?

“No,” I replied, annoyed. “My grandmother did. You have a problem with that?”   

He didn’t have time to answer, Elgin had stood in front of him and held out his hand to him before saying abruptly:

“Good evening, Brown. Don’t drown in Champagne, because then I’ll have to stick you a right to wake you up.”     

I had a quiver of apprehension. Jacob was seething with anger. But why had Elgin said such a thing?

He kept his arm outstretched and stared straight into Jacob's eyes. Was he giving him a message or what? Against all expectations, my friend's angry look faded to give way to a slightly embarrassed laugh. He scratched his head sheepishly and accepted the handshake.

“No hard feelings. I had it coming!”

I was amazed.

Sceptical, I looked up at Elgin who winked at me, sly. Like "Don't worry, everything is fine.". I found it hard to understand. But, so be it. Since these gentlemen seemed to be willing to do it, I wasn't going to complain. A conversation even sprang up about the big SUVs, and Elgin seemed inexhaustible.

But where was the strange character that Jacob had described to me in the forest and that I had to run away from at all costs? On the contrary, he seemed to me to be quite on the same wavelength as the majority of boys of his age!

I shook my head as I listened to them talk. And to think that women were supposed to be very complicated...