Please comment, you hate it you love it, anything. I'm open to suggestions for other ideas as well. I'm on a roll guys, hit me with your best shot!
It was the call I never wanted to hear, "Is this Cassidy Wells?" A stranger asked when I picked up my cell. "Yes, this is her," I responded hesitantly, hiding out near the mop bucket area of work where I waited tables. "It's Anne, from Carble homes," I almost dropped the phone right then, straight into the mop bucket. "Abbigail, is requesting you come see her very soon if you can, I fear, it may be the last time." I was already grabbing my clothes at the mention of my grandmother's care facility. "I was just there yesterday, what happened?" I was confused as I mouthed to my boss to cover me. It was an emergency. He nodded as I struggled to hold the phone and make my way to the bus station.
"Nothing serious has happened, but she's been insisting that you are coming today and she can't wait to say goodbye," tears started falling down my face, "I'm not supposed to call contacts when this happens, but you probably hold the record for visiting time, and I've seen you with her. She told me once something that was about to happen before it did and I'm, I, I believe her." I was nodding and rubbing my forehead now through some nervous giggles, "Yeah she has that about her doesn't she? I'm catching the first bus now, and Anne, thanks, I'll see you when I get there."
I tried to dial my mother's number, blocked, I tried my father's, blocked, I even tried my sister's, blocked. I thought they had a right to know even though I knew they wouldn't care. They had all blocked me after I dropped out of college. I thought my time would be better spent visiting Nana, it certainly was more enjoyable. But my family thought otherwise, "She's losing her mind, you know what those degenerative diseases do, she'll only spew incoherent babble until she passes, all you can do is remember her as she was." I couldn't disagree more. But they thought I was throwing my life away when I stopped taking classes so I could put Nana in a better home.
When my mother was too busy chasing after some political scheme to get her nominated, Nana tucked me in at night and told me stories of werewolves, vampires, and witches. When my father was out of town working all the time, it was Nana that taught me how to cook. When my sister was busy slutting her way to the top of the corporate ladder, Nana was teaching me about history. It was hard enough for my family to accept that I went to school for creative writing, but once I dropped out, they were through with me. It was just Nana and I, and apparently soon it would be just me. Nana had inspired my creative streak and I was almost finished with my first book. I cried now, thinking she would never get to read the words inspired by her.
I composed myself as I took the three block walk to the care home. I seemed almost unaffected by the time I strolled through the entrance, except I was still in my uniform, apron and all. But I knew Nana didn't care. When I got closer to her room, I noticed more staff than usual making their way in and out, Anne met my gaze, "I'm so glad you're here, she won't eat she says she doesn't want to cross over with a full belly." I gave her an appreciative nod and strolled in.
"Hey Nana," I plopped myself on the side of her bed and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek.
"Cassidy darling, I knew you would witness this," I wasn't sure what she meant but my stomach told me I didn't want to.
"Anne seemed a little worried when she called me, she said you wouldn't eat," I stroked her cheek now as she seemed more frail with each visit.
"Darling I couldn't possibly cross over with a full stomach, how would I look good for my first ever pack run?" I wasn't sure if she really was losing it now or not. I just wanted her to feel happy in her last moments.
"I've almost finished my book Nana, I'm going to dedicate it to you," I wanted her to know how much she meant to me.
"Isn't that sweet of you, but you won't need to write much longer, I've seen her, she is coming for you," her words were quiet but they sounded violent.
"What do you mean she's coming for me?" I tried not to sound as scared as I was.
"I wanted to meet her, do tell Charlotte that I'll come back from the grave if she doesn't imprint you properly," she seemed to chuckle at herself but I was more confused.
"Nana, you aren't making any sense. I don't know anyone named Charlotte, you must be thinking of those old tales you used to tell me," I fought as hard as I could not to tear up, this was the only moment I thought maybe my family was right about not wanting to see her this way.
"I never told you any tales my dear, they were all real, every last one of them. Your mother quite hated the fantastical nature of our history, but you, you had to know all of it, I was trying to prepare you for the Alpha," I knew she was gone then. As if the tales of vampires, witches, and werewolves from bedtime stories were real.
"Our people have always had a special place in the pack, this necklace," she pointed to the single ruby pendant on her gold chain, "is the lifeforce of our bloodline, and it is time my dear, that you take it on. You are ready," it took her several seconds to lean up and undo the latch before she placed it into my hands.
"With the blood of old, of all, I give to you, grant to you, the power of our ancestors, and the binds they committed themselves to. You will honor and cherish our bloodline as it merges, finally with the people of Luna. You will get as much as you give, but you are more than one, you are all of those that have come before you," she clasped her hands around mine with the necklace inside and I swear the room froze then restarted with a new energy that shocked my whole body. I closed my eyes against the invisible forces until I realized they were not there to hurt me. I slowly opened my eyes to what looked like a room in slow motion.
Several workers ran inside and one of them pulled me away from Nana, a few others tried to give her chest compressions as I felt I was looking inside a snow globe at the events happening before me. I leaned against the doorway not wanting to witness the moment she passed.
"I'm sorry Cassidy, but she was right," Anne was trying to console me as all I could do was nod and walk away slowly. It was raining outside as I stood at the bus stop, already soaked from the three block walk here. It didn't matter, nothing mattered right now, I could feel the pendant in my hand cut a little as it broke the skin under my clenched fists.
Somehow on autopilot, I was able to go to work the next day. It didn't take much for my coworkers to realize what had happened. I always spoke so highly of Nana and they knew I was working this job to help pay for her care.
"Cassidy, come over here," my boss, Jared, was beckoning me into his office.
"I know what's going on, you aren't making any customers happy right now," I started to protest. I needed the hours, the money, but he held up a hand to stop me.
"We all know you work hard here, ok, so take a few days off," I tried to interrupt him again, "Take a few paid days off, ok, I value you as an employee, and I want you to come back once you've sorted yourself out, yeah?" I couldn't believe how gracious he was being and almost started crying right there.
As I was walking towards the front door, Emily stopped me, "Hey are you taking any more tables before the end of your shift? There's a very adamant couple in booth four, saying they wanted you, specifically to take them." She obviously wasn't clued into my nonverbal messages. I glanced at the booth to see a younger couple, the woman met my eyes with a stare that ignited my core. Her long braided red hair was impeccably in place, I couldn't tell the color of her eyes because they only seemed like flames to my soul from here, and I had to concentrate to break her hold.
"Sorry, Jared just told me to take some time off, death in the family," Emily instantly wrapped me in a tight hug, "Oh I'm so sorry, honey, I'll take care of them for you, you take all the time you need." I couldn't help but notice the redhead seemed to almost crush the table in her fingers as Emily hugged me.
"Thanks, I'll see you soon, ok," she held me a while longer as the sound of growling bounced around in my head. I really did need to get some rest. It was still raining as I sat under a tree waiting for the bus, this 'station' if it could even be called that was nothing more than a sign posted on a pole. No benches, no cover, no anything to shield me from the elements while I waited. I was starting to shiver when I noticed a blacked out SUV idling down the road. It wouldn't be odd for a car to keep running the heat in this weather, but these were all residential areas for a couple blocks, what were they doing. I played with Nana's necklace as it seemed to heat up the more attention I gave the SUV. Thankfully the bus pulled up and I got on after ringing out some of my hair.
As I woke the next day to a wet pillow of tears, I was thankful that Nana had the foresight to plan everything for her passing. I simply had to sign some papers at the funeral home before the procession would happen the next day. I spent the rest of the day drinking and fantasizing that a black SUV was following me around.
The funeral was small, much too small for how big a person Nana was, neither of her children ever showed, and neither did any of my siblings. As I watched them lower her casket into the ground beside her decades old husband, I felt the world start to shake beneath my feet. I thought it was an earthquake until I looked up at the priest who seemed otherwise unconcerned. Maybe this was what grief felt like, true and utter despair. I walked slowly away and decided to walk home over the bus. I could swear the world was spinning a bit and that stupid SUV was following me.
