Supernatural Fairy Tales

Posted by Postado por Dulce on às 05:17 | |

Supernatural Fairy Tales

SILVERWEED: Chapter 4, Episode 7 - a fairy tale inspired werewolf blog serial

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 06:13 AM PST



I Will Be Careful
Chapter 4, Episode 7
by Dorlana Vann








Saturday: Morning

Aiden woke to the sounds of thumping and gurgling. He located the source, the radiator, with sleepy eyes. Despite the noise, it had failed to warm the room to a comfortable degree, so he groped for the quilt he had kicked off during the night and snuggled under it. He could have gone back to sleep even with all the racket, but his need to pee wouldn't allow him to stay under the warmth of the covers a minute longer. Thankfully, he had fallen asleep fully clothed.

The restroom was located next to his room. He decided to shower, so he would be ready to roll, whenever. After getting dressed in jeans, t-shirt, and his jacket, he opened the door to the smell of bacon. He followed his nose to the kitchen and found his mom. "Morning," he said.

Lucy jumped. "Aiden, you about scared me half to death. I didn't see you standing there." She continued putting steaming biscuits in a basket without a "Good morning" or a smile. Her entire body drooped, like she had left her spunk and spirit in bed.

Aiden knew something was wrong.

"Are you hungry?" she asked.

"Always."

"I guess we won't sit in the formal dining room this time. Will you help me set the table?" She pointed to the small, round breakfast table by the bay window.

Aiden grabbed the serving dishes heaped with scrambled eggs and bacon and walked toward the table. Looking out the window, he said, "It's snowing!" He didn't mean to squeal.

"That's right. I forgot you haven't really seen it snow. You might actually see more than your share. A snowstorm, possibly even a blizzard, is headed this way."

"Is that what's bothering you?"

Lucy brought a pitcher of orange juice to the table and sat down. She stared out the window. "Have a seat," she said.

"What about Granny?"

"I'll get her in a minute. Right now, there's something I need to discuss with you."

He sat down and poured himself a glass of juice. "What's wrong now?"

"I talked to your dad last night."

"Right," Aiden said.

"Riley's sick, and he's sick, too; they have the flu." She shook her head and touched her face. "He told me not to worry about them, but he's in no shape to take care of himself, much less a sick two-year-old. They have fever, chills, and can't keep anything down. I can't just pack Granny up and hope she'll cooperate. I don't have time for all that. We can't leave her here alone, either."

When Lucy stared out the window, it dawned on Aiden what she was getting at, and he felt a little sick to his stomach.

"I'm going to buy a ticket home after breakfast. It's up to you whose name is on it. Do you want to go home and take care of them or stay here and take care of Granny?"

He eyed his orange juice as he swirled it around in the glass, trying to overlook his mom's puffy eyes and red nose because he knew which choice she preferred. But staying with Granny would be really uncomfortable. Take care of Granny. He didn't know anything about taking care of an older person.

He began to think about what a handful Riley could be even when he wasn't sick. And barf. Ugh. He and vomit didn't get along at all; one glimpse and there would be three people to clean up after instead of two. Most importantly, he knew his mom needed to go take care of her baby. It had been difficult for her to leave him in the first place, and knowing his mom, that was probably one of the things she was beating herself up about right now. And there was another reason: He wasn't sure he was ready to face Summer. "Go on," he said. "I'll stay here with her."

She stared at him for a second, pressing her lips together as tears formed at the corners of her eyes.

"Don't cry, Mom. It's fine. We both know it's the only thing to do. They need you. You should go and take care of them."

"Just a couple of days," she said wiping tears from her flushed cheeks. "Maybe Diesel will come back, you know. He probably just needed a little space."

"Well, I'm not going to count on him coming to my rescue."

"Like I said, a couple of days to let your dad get over the vomiting and—"

"All right. All right. TMI."

"Are you sure you'll be all right? I really hate leaving you when that storm is coming. You're not really used to taking care of yourself. There's the fireplace, and—"

"Mom, I'll be very, very careful. Don't worry. I'm a big boy."

She nodded. "You're right. I'm sorry. Just so you know, I asked her about a doctor, and she doesn't have one. All she does as far as medicine is eat those muffins." She shook her head. "The first thing I'm going to do when she moves in with us is take her to Dr. Stanley. Oh, and don't worry, she's self-sufficient. You don't have to help her to the bathroom or anything."

Crap. That hadn't even crossed his mind.

"Taking care of her shouldn't be that terribly dreadful," Lucy said. "All you have to do is cook and bring her down to eat. If you need anything like meat, there should be some in the deep freeze in the basement."

"Basement? Just when I thought this house couldn't get any creepier."

"If she needs you she'll—" They heard a buzzing sound coming from the wall. "Buzz you."

"Right," Aiden said.

"I guess I better go get her. I can already hear her complaining about the cold breakfast, you know. So? Are you sure about this?"

"Yes." No. "When are you leaving?" he asked as she stood.

"There's a flight at noon." A single tear rolled down her face. "Thank you."


After breakfast, another awkward eating experience with Granny, Aiden walked out back. The cold air immediately filled his lungs. The snow flurries fell lightly, and he ventured beyond the covering of the porch and let them drop on his face. He smiled.

Snow had started to stick to the ground and had accumulated around the bases of the skinny tree trunks. He made his way toward a stream that ran down a distant hill, passing a nice-sized garden, most of the vegetation cleared or dead.

There was something magical about the atmosphere. He didn't know if it was because it was so different than what he was used to or if people who lived in this sort of climate always became happier when it snowed. He found himself wishing he could tell Summer about it and about his crazy cousin and their strange house. He also really wanted to tell her he was sorry for doing what he'd done.

Thinking back, his face flushed with shame. He had asked Summer's best friend, Candi, over to his house under false pretenses; he had also invited Summer. At the precise moment, when the door handle jiggled, and he knew Summer was walking into his bedroom, he'd kissed Candi.

He pulled out his cell phone, checking it again. Still no calls from Summer. The message she had left the day after he pretended to cheat on her indicated that Candi had told her what happened and that she had no idea what was going on, that before that moment, nothing had ever happened between them. Apparently, Summer had believed Candi and wanted answers as to why Aiden would pretend such a thing.

Aiden didn't pay much attention to the sudden gust of wind that sent settled snow flying. He stared at his phone, Summer's name highlighted; all he had to do was press call.

"Aiden!" his mom called from the back door.

He tucked the phone back into his pocket and ran to the house.

"I called a cab," Lucy said, suitcase in hand. "It should be here any minute. Here." She handed him the car keys. "I know I'm not supposed to, but I'm leaving you the rental in case of an emergency. Don't go anywhere unless you have to. It can get really bad out, real fast. Try and stay put. It's possible that you might lose power, and the phone lines—"

"Mom… Mom." Aiden followed Lucy through the living room and into the foyer. "Please stop. I'll be fine."

"You're right. You can ask Granny if you have any questions. She'll know what to do."

"Just hurry; that's all I ask."

She nodded and set her suitcase down long enough to give him a hug. "I will. I love you."

They heard a horn. "Two days tops," she said as she opened the front door. "You're the greatest son a mom ever had." She smiled sadly.

"Don't worry, please. I'm fine. Go."

They walked outside, and Lucy stepped inside the taxi. She waved as it drove away.


To be continued…

Chapter 5 Episode 8 will be posted Dec. 24, 2010.

If you would you like to read the entire novel now, the eBook is available for the intro price of $0.99 until Jan. 1st. on Nook and Kindle.

Thank you for visiting Supernatural Fairy Tales

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