THE DEPATURE

FREDA

I stood in front of the carriage reluctant to get in. This was it, the day I had dreaded had come. I was going to the Vampire Kingdom for the meeting. What I was scared about was whether I could ever return. I didn’t get to ask my father yesterday as I barged out of his room in anger. The whole thing was just so annoying and I gritted my teeth in fury as I waited for my father to arrive.
“Hey you’d break your teeth if you continue gritting them like that.” Kara patted my back trying to soothe me but it just got me angrier.
I opened my mouth to retort but I thought better about what I was about to say and I swallowed the words. It would be extremely unfair to my best friend if I just lost my temper at her. She stayed with me throughout the night and listened to me as I cried and complained.
“I’m…fine Kara.” I sighed helplessly. My gaze shifted to the two huge black stallions neighing.
“I’m so sorry Freda. I’m sorry I can’t do anything to help you this time.” Kara said and I saw her eyes welling up with tears. I was shocked. Kara, the Kara. The terror of our school was crying for my sake? I didn’t realize how much this news affected her until now. She was very calm and composed yesterday though, what changed today?
“Alright come here.” I spread my arms and Kara enveloped me in a tight bear hug. “Stop crying Kara. I’m the one that cries, not you.”
“But you’re leaving. It hurts.” Kara continued to whimper and the guard that was supposed to ride us stared at us with a weird expression.
“Hey, hey stop it you’re embarrassing yourself.” I tried to talk some sense into Kara but she squeezed me even harder and continued to cry like a baby whose candy was stolen.
“Pathetic. A werewolf crying over a halfling.” We heard a scornful voice from behind and Kara immediately stopped talking and I could feel her entire body shaking with rage.
“Kara calm down” I said to her and I turned to face my step mother who stood with my step siblings. She had her signature mocking expression on her face and normally it should have annoyed the shit out of me but I couldn’t forgive her for what she did.
She was the she-bastard that convinced everyone that I had to go to this accursed meeting. I had never felt so much hate for someone in my life and I had a few choice words to say to her but I bottled up my anger and remain quiet.
I stared at my step siblings and Reed had his characteristic emotionless face on. I was starting to wonder whether he was a robot. Juliet stared right back at me and she had a sorry look in her eyes. I wasn’t quite sure whether she was actually sorry or she was just mocking me but I tended to incline to the latter.
Amelia, my step mother opened her mouth to spew out more profanities the door to the Alpha pack house opened and my father stepped out. He also had a stoic face on but his fit was clean. He wore a black jacket whose material I assumed to be leather. It was adorned with silver threading and a crisp white shirt was underneath.
He had his dark hair slicked back and his cold blue eyes completed the look. No matter how much I hated him, I couldn’t deny the fact that he was a handsome man.
“Your dad is super-hot.” Kara whispered to me and I smacked her head. The girl was a complete lunatic.
My father made small talk with Amelia and she would once in a while flash me a mocking smile. I balled my fist in anger and the only thing that gave me peace of mind was the fact I was imagining my balled fists pummeling her smug face. It felt good.
After talking with my step mom. He made his way towards the carriage. He didn’t even glance at me and the only thing he could say to me was ‘Get in’ before he entered the carriage. I wanted to rage out but Kara placed a hand on my shoulder and I turned to face her.
“Go. I’ll be here waiting for you Freda.” Kara said and I suddenly felt loneliness welling inside me. I couldn’t go with Kara. I was going to be on my own. The thought of separating with my best friend and fending for myself in an unknown land was terrible.
I rushed forward and hugged my friend. We both sobbed and surprisingly, I didn’t hear the stern voice of my father asking me to get in the van. Not that I cared anyway.
“I’ll come back, I promise.” I said to Kara. I wasn’t sure I would keep that promise but I could try at least.
“I know you will.” Kara responded and then the voice I expected to hear all this while sounded out.
“We don’t have all day, get in the carriage.” My father’s stern voice came from inside the carriage and we broke off the hug.
“I think you have to go.” Kara chuckled while wiping her tears.
“Yeah. I’ll see you Kara.” I said and we shared one last look and reluctantly, I entered the carriage.
The door closed and I sat opposite my father not wanting to be anywhere near him. I felt trapped, like a goat being sent to the slaughter house.
I began to think of the worse things that could happen to me in the Vampire kingdom, I breathed in and out heavily but I managed to calm myself down.
The carriage lurched forward and I gazed out the window, watching Kara tearfully waving at me. I waved back until I couldn’t see Kara at all. I put my head back into the carriage and the tears I was holding finally broke loose.
I cried not caring what my father thought and after a while I calmed myself down and began to gaze at the plush green scenery outside. It didn’t take long before I ultimately fell asleep.