GOING HOME

A WOLF WITHOUT HER MEMORY

BY POWDERJINX

CHAPTER 14

LIA’S POV

This day was going downhill very fast. I had to do something as I quickly stepped in front of my brother who was already shifting as I tugged at his shoulders and shook my head as Astoria was still staring at the fire.

“She is terrified, I stepped on the glasses by mistake. Calm down before she sees you.” I said furiously as he quickly changed back to normal as I called out Astoria’s name.

“Astoria, is something wrong?” I asked as she fell to the ground shaking violently as Leo and I spared each other a glance wondering what was happening. This was certainly a twist that we didn’t expect at all. We don’t know what we were supposed to do now. I edged closer, the glass wasn’t even hurting as Leo walked closer and held her as I switched off the gas cooker. It was as if she was broken out of the trance as she looked up at Leo.

“I am scared.” She whispered as Leo needed no prompting as he carried her in his arms and took her out of the kitchen. So much for trying to kill her.

Before I could even take another step, Leo was there as he wanted to carry me too, so that I won’t sink the glass into my feet much more.

“I am fine, you don’t need to take care of me.” I said trying to shrug his hands off me but he remained adamant. There was no way out of this, I grumbled as he carried me in his arms and took me to the parlor too, where Astoria was curled up in her hind legs. I could still see she was shaking, what had fire done to her that she was so scared of it. I pondered as Leo dropped me on the couch and I edged closer saying,

“Astoria, you don’t need to be afraid. I promise you won’t see it again.” I said trying to console her as she looked at me through her hands probably wondering if she could trust me.

“You are injured.” She said as her eyes fell on her feet and I shrugged and said,

“It is just a scratch, no biggie.” I said as I saw tears threatening to fall from her eyes. This was what I was trying to prevent. Making her feel guilty for what she had no control over.

‘I did this to you. I was the one that shattered the glass.’ She said biting her lips as I shook her head and said firmly,

“It was an accident. You didn’t do anything, you were terrified and I was the one who stepped on it. Okay?” I said as Leo came back downstairs with first aid box.

“Is she going to be okay?” Astoria asked Leo who nodded his head and said,

“Don’t worry, she heals fast, all I have to do is remove the glass okay? Besides between me and you. She totally deserves it.’ He said trying to make Astoria smile and it did work.

“Have you forgotten that I am right here,guys?” I said coughing as if I had a bad throat which made Astoria laugh as she was beginning to get back herself. She edged closer and helped Leo to hold the metal plate as Leo focused on removing the glass. I didn’t even feel a thing, it was as if I was being massaged or something. Perks of being an abominable wolf, I didn’t even know why Leo was even doing extra. But he was my big brother, so in a way he felt responsible for me.

Ten minutes later, my feet was being bandaged, only because we didn’t know how to explain to Astoria when she sees it healed before the next two hours. If it was bandaged, she wouldn’t notice anything. Leo wore me my socks, the pink ones that I hated. Oh he planned this.

“All done.” He announced as I glared at him wishing I had laser eyes so that I could shoot him in his forbidden area. Then he will know how it feels.

“Thanks a lot, jerk. Really nice choices for the sock.” I said rolling my eyes as he replied,

“You are welcome bitch, now if you will excuse me, I have some glasses to throw away while you owe me dinner.” He said as he left the room, and I took the pillow and hurled at his head but he easily dodged it without even looking back. And although I couldn’t see his face, I knew that he had a big smirk on.

“How do you feel now?” Astoria said edging closer towards me as I shrugged and said,

“I feel better already. Do you want to talk about it? Why you are scared of fire? Did anything happen?” I asked gently as she looked lost in her thoughts for a while before she shook her head slowly and said,

“I am sorry, I don’t remember. I just know I hate it.” Astoria said as I hugged her and said,

“Hey, you don’t need to stress yourself. Don;’t force it to come back to you. You have such a fragile brain, we can’t risk permanent brain damage. It will come back to you soon, when the time is right k?” I said as she nodded her head and ave me one of the brightest smile she could muster and I had to smile back. Her smile was contagious.

“Are we having a smiling competition here because you are so losing Lia.” Leo said walking back into the room as I cursed under my tone.

“What are you doing here? Don’t you have a game life to get back to?” I said crossing my hands as Leo replied heading for the parlor door.

“I would, if only you two could hear that someone had been knocking on the door for the past three minutes.” He said as I sat up.

“What? I didn’t hear anything.” I said as he unlocked the door and I stretched my neck to see who it was.

“Hey guys, finally. What took you so long to open up.” Casey said as she walked in fully as Astoria bounced from my side in a flash and she jumped on Casey and they both fell down.

‘Casey!I missed you.” Astoria said as I stood up from the couch and walked towards them,

“ I missed you too. What is popping, Lia how are you too? Casey asked as I shrugged and said

“I am fine. And it is just the usual. What are you doing here though? I wasn’t expecting you at all.’ I said not hiding my surprise.

“Oh yeah, I thought about it and just decided to come get Astoria. I didn’t want her to be here before your parents get back. I didn’t want to get you into trouble.” She said as I nodded my head. She did have a good reason though although right now, I was becoming attached to her.

“In that case, we can eat and drink first before you go, or are you in a hurry?” asked as Astoria led her to a couch and sat down besides her, clutching her hand. She still held on to her as tightly as she did the first day Casey brought her here. I could definitely see the bond between the both of them and it was tight.

“Wow, when I was about getting used to her. We are going to miss her.’ Leo said, I had even forgotten that he was there as he came and sat down besides me too and looked sad.

‘Yeah, we are going to miss you Astoria.” I said as Astoria looked at the three of us onre by one her big eyes bulging as she said,

“Miss me? But I am right here. I am not turning invincible am I?” She said as she checked herself as this brought out a chuckle from us as Casey stopped her and said,

“No, what she means is that you are coming home with me. You will be living with me now, and she is going to miss you. Surprisingly even Leo too.’ She said as I laughed out loud and Leo frowned,

“Hey! I am perfectly capable of missing someone too and I do care about Astoria. She has become attached to me too. Who else would I play game with and comfortably win.” He said as I slapped my forehead.

“Why would I even think my brother had anything to say.”

“I am leaving here? But why?” Astoria said with a sad voice as I tried to explain to her,

“It is because my parents are coming back soon and we have nothing to tell them. If they see you here, they will call the police and everyone will know what happened and Casey here would be…..let just say it would be bad.” I said as Astoria nodded her head slowly and asked, the most chilling question that I ever had.

‘But where are my parents too?”