Sisters of Eve series

Sooleawa (Silver)

© 2016 Rahn Singh

 

 

Contents

CH.1 Silver

Ch.2 Kept in the Dark

Ch.3 New Moon on the Rise

CH.4 The Alpha’s Rule

CH.5 In Wol’s Skin

CH.6 I Will Always Protect You

Ch.7 Tell Me a Story

Ch.8 Wherever You Are

CH.9 Resources and Dangers

Ch.10 The Hunt

CH.11 Victor’s Resolve

 

 

CH. 1

 

Chapter 1

Silver

 

 

Sooleawa was a beautiful girl of mixed descent. Her father was of Celtic heritage. Her mother was entirely of Native American descent, however her parents were from different tribes. A Navaho man and a Cherokee woman, both of whom had died before Sooleawa was born. Her mother would often tell Sooleawa of how her grandparents had found each other in the modern world, each after having left their respective tribes for a better future. Her mother also could not help but recognized a parallel between this and how she herself had come to meet Sooleawa’s father. Her father’s family had apparently disowned him for marrying a Native American woman against their wishes, and he had never looked back.

Sooleawa’s mother named her after the precious metal silver because of her pale grey eyes, and the fact that she was born on the second night of the full moon. The moon was at its highest point, and all the voices of the wild sang at her arrival as if calling out to the new life now entering the world. At least that’s what her mother used to tell her each and every month. This was her way of reminding Sooleawa she was special. As they gazed upon the moon during the three days in which it showed its true face to the creatures of the night, she would repeat the story of her birth and tell her of the events which preceded it. This was in keeping with the oral traditions passed down from her tribe. It had been a way to ensure that the young never forgot the knowledge of their people or their heritage.

Sooleawa had always had a special relationship with the things of the wild. It often seemed as if she could communicate with them in a way no other human could, as if she had remembered some secret language that others had forgotten. She could often be found in the company of otherwise wild animals, bringing her tokens of kinship or eating from her hands. At one point she’d even took in a wounded wolf pup. She fed it and cared for it for a short time. However, it healed quickly considering its injury. Not long after it was able to run about on its own it sought to return to the great redwoods from which it came. In the process of its escape it bit Sooleawa, who did not believe it could have fully recovered from its injuries and sought to protect it. Though she was only eight at the time, or perhaps because she was still young, she did not begrudge it for this. The wolf was after all a wild animal, and a predatory one at that.  Instead she set it free to return to its family, as it had certainly proved strong enough to do so. In fact, when she visited the woods she sometimes saw it watching her, or perhaps watching over her as she had once watched over it. She missed the woods now, and found it hard to understand how she had ended up in this situation.

Sooleawa was lying in an iron cage, possibly in a basement somewhere, though she had no memory of how she got here. She only remembered going to bed. She was an orphan and lived in a foster home with four other girls, in Lancaster PA. She was all of thirteen now, though she would be fourteen this autumn, the oldest girl in the house. She had been placed there for almost two years now. The youngest girl was near the age she was when she lost her parents, but she had been there the longest.  The little girl’s face was scarred from a fire, which made it difficult for her to get adopted. But she didn’t see the other girls anywhere. She couldn’t imagine her foster parents had anything to do with this, where were the other girls after all, certainly if there was a profit to be made here she would not be the only one sold off. She withdrew from this line of thought, believing it to be the product of too much crime drama television. Sooleawa watched them as much as she could get away with, almost as if they were documentaries. But at this moment she was thinking perhaps she might be cursed, how could this happen to her… why?

Only a few years ago she had lost both of her parents on the same night, though to different causes, they would never come to know the better future they had wished for their precious daughter. Her father had been in a traffic accident a few days before and lay in the hospital in a medically induced coma. They had come home, her and her mother, after spending the last three days by his side. He was supposed to be stable, though he was to remain on life support until his remaining lung had healed and was strong enough to support his waking breaths. Unfortunately, there were complications that arose shortly after they left. They made it home just in time to receive a phone call. Her father had just died, and now a man was breaking into their home. Her mother having neglected to lock the door following the news of her husband’s death, which Sooleawa was not yet aware of, made the intrusion all too sudden. The man had a gun, and was screaming at her mother to get out of the way. Her mother wrestled with the man over the gun, yelling at Sooleawa to hide. Sooleawa had just made it into the closet as she heard the shot go off. She cracked the door and peeked out to see her mother lying across the floor, blood pooling out around her. In that moment a giant wolf sprang forth taking the man down, tearing him apart. Sooleawa remembered his screams even now. When the police arrived they found only a 10 year old girl covered in blood, the same blood which had been splattered all over the scene. However, they did not realize she was so young. She appeared to be in her late teens since her body had begun to develop a couple years before, and was doing so more rapidly than most. They covered her up, though she did not remember the man having torn her clothes off. They would later explain that she was in shock, as the female nurse cleaned her up. A doctor, in the very same hospital in which her dad had just passed, examined her for injuries. But found none of the blood to be her own, due to a lack of external wounds. The forensic team would discover paw prints in the blood, lending support to her story about the wolf. The way the body was torn apart would confirm an animal attack. Speculations about a pack of wild dogs that miraculously left a little girl unharmed would find their way into the rumor pool surrounding the case. But in Sooleawa’s mind it was the wolf cub she had once cared for that had come to save her, and it had grown into a beautiful and powerful beast unlike any she had ever seen. She’d remembered catching its reflection in the full length mirror near the door, before she returned to her mother’s side. Its thick black fur and grey blue eyes were a memory she turned to whenever she felt alone, as she did now.

It was day time. She could see the dispersed beams of sunlight filtered through the bushes in front of the tiny basement window, quite near the ceiling of the room. Someone was coming down the stairs. Sooleawa was cold and naked, but there was a blanket in the cage next to her so she wrapped herself in it and sat up. “You’re awake Little Wolf…” she heard these words slip from the gentle voice of a child, a girl perhaps nearly only half her age. Sooleawa looked around but she saw no wolves, no other cages. She saw the little girl standing just outside the light now illuminating the dust particles in the air. Her hair as white as snow, her eyes as blue as water under a clear sky. The girl was looking directly at her from the other side of the cage. “Don’t worry,” she said softly, “Father will let you out of here. Just as soon as you learn to behave. Then we can play together.” In this last bit, her words were as cheerful as could be. She seemed to be sincerely excited about the proposition, even looking forward to it, as if she might soon be receiving a gift.

“Why am I here? How? Where am I? …” Sooleawa rattled off an uninterrupted succession of the questions burning in her mind, begging for answers. She hoped the little girl would give away some clue as to the circumstances behind her situation and how she might free herself of it.

The little girl reached out to her, but drew her hand back slowly as the scattered rays of light reflected off her skin. She drew away from the light, as if she had remembered something. “We’re going to be good friends you and me, so be good… ok?” She said this with a smile and hope in her eyes, but it didn’t seem as if she was going to answer Sooleawa’s questions.

“Miranda” a voice called as if exasperated, the voice of a man, from upstairs. “Stop bothering our guest, just leave the water and don’t linger. You’ll have a chance to make introductions tonight.”

With that the little girl stepped forward, stepping aside from the light, and set a bottle of water on the table upon which the cage was set. She left it just within reach of the cage and its occupant, and said, “There you go… see you soon. I can’t stay too long or I might get a sunburn.” She paused and then whispered a response to Sooleawa’s confusion, “My skin is very sensitive you know.” the girl appeared to Sooleawa to be Albino, lacking any pigment save for the little bit in her pale blue eyes which seemed now almost like colored glass. “Oh yeah, my name’s Mira by the way,” she added just before running upstairs, obviously bursting with anticipation.

This was not the time to think such things, but Sooleawa thought the girl was quite charming in a peculiar way. She thought to herself that perhaps they could indeed be good friends… under different circumstances. As fond as she found herself to be of the little girl, who she excused as being quite dim or remarkably naïve, she could not bring herself to take comfort in her certainty that all would be well. All was not well, and Sooleawa could see no way out of it. She hoped she would have a chance to escape this evening. Perhaps she’d get the little girl to help her yet. Her name was Mira, Sooleawa would remember it. She grabbed and opened the water Mira brought her. It was bottled and the seal was unbroken. Sooleawa imagined it was safe to drink, and she was thirsty. The drink washed the taste of metal from her mouth and she laid back down. What else could she do after all, she was in an iron cage and she did not have the strength or skill to break out. She would use sympathy or exploit human error to escape. For now, all she could do was wait and rest.

 

 

CH.2

 

Chapter 2

Kept in the Dark

 

It was night when Sooleawa next awoke. She could hear a voice calling out to her, calling her name. “Sooleawa, it means silver, that’s your name isn’t it Little Wolf.” Sooleawa could see the silhouette of her captor through the moonlight behind him. She thought perhaps there was someone else behind him, further back.

“Who are you?” She snapped.

“In time. But that is not your real question.” He replied.

“Why am I here?” The question that had been haunting her this whole time.

“Good…” he responded, “good. But I don’t think you appreciate your situation. It seems you’ve yet to realize what you are… Little Wolf.”

“Why do you keep calling me that?” She snapped again.

“Indeed. Why? If you don’t remain calm perhaps…”

“Perhaps what?” Sooleawa interrupted, she was reaching her limit for unanswered questions.

“You know this is not the first time we’ve talked. The last time you didn’t behave either, of course your other nature was still present when I’d come to see you. But we’re out of phase now, so it should be easier for you to hear me out.”

“I can’t remember.” Sooleawa said this because the man did seem somehow familiar to her, though she could not see his face. She was certain she recognized his voice though, ever since she heard it earlier today.

“Good, you’re ready to listen then. Sooleawa… Little Wolf, Believe it or not I’ve been looking for you for some time. Ever since I heard rumors about a girl being saved from an invader by a pack of wild dogs. Though this was sometime after the actual event, and in part due to certain inquiries I’ve made in search of someone like yourself.”

“Like me.” She let the words fall quietly from her lips. She was confused. Why did this man know her name? Why did he know about her past? Why was he looking for her? What did he know about her? She listened.

“The men that killed your mother were coming for you, hunting you. Those men and others like them would see you and all your kind dead. Fortunately I found you this time… before they could destroy you. You see I intend to protect you and in return you will protect something for me Little Wolf.”

“Others? Do you know why my mother was killed?”  She asked.

“I know only of their kind,” he replied. “Such men usually do not act alone. Though certain individuals can be rash and impulsive, often to their own detriment. Perhaps that was the case with the one that attacked you, or perhaps you scared off the others. I’ve managed to get a look at the crime scene photos for verification. Only a wolf could have done that.”

“Why am I in this cage?” She still hadn’t been given an answer to that question.

“Because you’re dangerous. Once you have accepted what you are and learned to show restraint I’ll release you from its confines. You’ll enjoy the accommodations to follow… so look forwards to that.”

“What I am?” She inserted the question so that he might continue from there.

“A rare Little Wolf. Something to be treasured or destroyed, with equal measures of awe and determination. More importantly you don’t appear to be phase locked, though the moon still sways you.”

“Phased locked?” Sooleawa said as if he were speaking another language.

“Most, I believe the modern term is werewolves, can only change into a wolf at most three nights out of the month. In other words, this is possible only during a Full Moon. Though they can call upon the strength of the wolf during all but the three days of the New Moon. When they become as ordinary as any human of their build, in more or less perfect health. The closer they are to the Full Moon the faster and stronger they become, and the quicker they recover from injury, illness, or fatigue. Generally they must become a wolf during the second night when the moon is at it furthest point from the sun. Also they must remain a wolf from dusk till dawn. This would be the meaning of phase locked, to be ruled by the position of the moon in relationship to the earth and the sun.”

“You mean… I’m a… werewolf?” she asked with hesitation bordering on disbelief. Yet she wasn’t sure she could dismiss it. Could it be true? Her mind began to race as he stepped into view, and continued what had become a curious topic of interest to Sooleawa. In that moment she was remembering that she sometimes dreamed of being a wolf, she was wondering if these strange dreams, if the events of her life added up to the conclusion the man had presented her with, or if she could dismiss his words as delusion. He was a tall man not nearly as pale as Mira but still of fairer complexion. His hair was white as well, though he did not seem so old. He seemed young in fact. His eyes were a pale blue silvery color. He wore silvery grey slacks and a matching vest, over a white button down shirt. He had black wing tipped shoes and black leather gloves. Though the gloves seemed less than necessary. Mira stepped out from behind him.

“You’re not common like them, you’re special… a treasure,” Mira said delighted.

“Indeed. Those who can change out of phase are rare, but they can usually only do so with age. They are often marked by the ability to change during the day. Over the years they push the change closer and closer to the new moon, though even the strongest would be unable to change on such a night, or likely even within a week of it. But they are still forced to change during that one night each month. Yet, you must go months at a time without changing. Furthermore, you seem able to change whenever the need arises. However, when you’re afraid it appears the moon still controls your shift. You remained a wolf for five days. If you hadn’t changed back I would have imagined you were not going to.”

“What? Why?” Sooleawa asked.

“Father saved you… Little Wolf” Mira responded, pleased with her father.

“Yes, you had been cornered. It seems your wolf sensed the intruders and the danger they posed. They were foolish to attack you just before the full moon, not likely that it would have mattered in your case. Though they probably thought you a danger to the family you were with. At any rate you likely changed in your sleep.” Mira’s Father could see the look of confusion, which had softened from anger, now shifting into concern. “Don’t worry, you didn’t hurt anyone you knew.” He assured her before continuing. “In the end I dispatched the rest of them, though you did take advantage of their confusion to assist me. Before you turned on me that is. Fortunately I expected this and was able to subdue you with certain preparations I had taken before hand.”

“Preparations?” Sooleawa asked.

“One does not reach my age without learning more than a few things. But we’ll talk about that some other time perhaps… Little Wolf. Now what would you like for dinner?”

“Wait when are you going to let me out of here?” Sooleawa asked.

“I can’t risk it yet, what if you hurt Mira. We’ll talk, we’ll see. The New Moon will be here before you realize. Until then Mira will keep you company, every night if you like, after we have talked a little. If you need anything we can bring it to you, and you can eat anything you desire.” He made the effort to emphasize anything. However, I will open the yard behind you. There are facilities out there and room to run around. The celling extends to above the ground level of the estate, so there’s light during the day, from the sky lights. It was a greenhouse originally, climate controlled, so there are plants as well. As long as you behave you are free to enjoy it.” he flipped a switch on the wall and the bars of the cage lifted along with the wall behind them.

“Salmon… and cherry pie.” Sooleawa said. She could play along for now, at least until she figured out what was going on, or until she found a way out this. She wanted to check the room behind her to see what possibilities it might be hiding, but she could see that Mira was eager to spend time with her, and this little girl was perhaps the real reason she was still alive. For now she would keep the girl on her side.

Sooleawa and Mira talked until after her dinner arrived and she had finished eating. There was a four to five inch slot at the base of the cage, maybe 10 to 12 inches wide. Sooleawa realized the cage didn’t have any hinges and probably didn’t open at all. The way out must be in the room on the other side after all. Though they had brought her dinner they had not provided light to eat by. However, the room was brightened somewhat by the light of the room behind her. Moreover her eyes were adjusting well enough to her conditions that she even began to see hints of color. Though she was not entirely aware of it she was harnessing the power of her wolf even now. She was in a cellar which appeared to have been made to house wine. There were still numerous bottles being stored throughout the room.

 

(This is the Amazon Sample available when you click look inside; you may purchase this book on Amazon, to read the end of this chapter and what lies beyond. And as always… Thanks for reading)