Sisterhood Harem

CASSIE

The day couldn’t start any worse than it already was. While Lou was trying to adapt to the new world we plunged ourselves into, it was more difficult for me – or so I thought. Lou was still a child at heart, and she wouldn’t understand even if I sang it to her ears timelessly.

I didn’t know why we had to pack our home in a suitcase all of a sudden and move to the end of the world. Mother will not tell us anything, but I knew it had something to do with the death of my father. This new world was so different from the one I was used to. The houses were smaller, the air was colder, and a lot of humans walked freely like they weren’t sitting ducks for hungry wolves.

I missed the high-rise buildings that touched the skies and the long tarred roads that led anywhere in River Valley. I missed the thick opaque air of the city and the lights that shone over my city whenever I looked through my huge windows at night.

The question always danced in my mind, why?

If my father was alive, would he approve of this sudden move? Would he sit there and let our lives be taken away from us like that? Mother told us that Advania was a beautiful place, but all I could see was how different this place was from what we were.

This morning was cold like the last, and mother was driving us to our new school. I didn’t want to go to school because I didn’t know what to expect. All my friends were in River Valley and this place feels like starting all over again.

“Be good girls…” Mother was saying, as she pulled into the school’s driveway. ‘Remember what I have always told you,’

“Never show, Never tell.” I and Lou said in unison. I hated that motto just as much as I hated the fact that I was starting over. I looked over to my sister, her blonde hair was packed in a high bun and she had light makeup on – I envied how brave she was to want to take Advania by storm, she reached out to hold my hand and squeezed it warmly. “Are you ready?” she asked in a whisper.

I nodded, even though I was not.

We got out of the car and while Lou waited to kiss my mother goodbye, I headed straight to the reception where a woman called, Mrs. Jefferson stood talking to some students. I didn’t know how to approach her but once she saw me, her smile came in full.

“You must be Lousiana Dawson.” Her smile was so warm that for a split second, I told myself that maybe it wouldn’t be such a terrible experience.

“That’s my sister. I am Cassie Dawson.” I said, clenching and unclenching my fist.

“Oh, yes. Your mother said there were two of you.” She looked past me to where Lou was, striding towards us. For some reason, Lou seemed brighter that morning. Immediately, Mrs. Jefferson took her hand and said. “You are the art student, right?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Lou nodded shyly.

Mrs. Jefferson took Lou by the hand and led her down the hall, and for a few seconds, I felt forgotten and that warm feeling that ignited within me melted to the bottom of my belly. “Double up, Cassie.” She said to me over her shoulder and I followed briskly behind them.

She took us to the teacher’s staff room, introduced us to some of them, and asked us to fill out some forms. I couldn’t help but see how everyone was drawn to Lou – maybe because she really took her time to dress for the occasion, and the never-ending smile on her lips suddenly looked eerie.

Jefferson took us to our classes. Lou’s class was at the end of the hall while mine was in the middle. We stopped at mine first, and she didn’t bother to take me in, she just nudged me in the direction and followed my sister down the hall.

I took a deep breath, telling myself it couldn’t get any worse. Who knows, I might make new friends, and perhaps meet a boy – I caught myself in the thought. It wasn’t the time to think about boys.

I gave myself a pep talk for a few seconds and pushed the door open only to strike it hard against something – someone.

I froze on the spot, and when I looked up, intense blue eyes were staring down at me. His cologne couldn’t mask the deep masculine werewolf scent that was etched in every fiber of his being and his face has to be the most magnificent thing I had seen. He towered several inches above me, and his hair was in a messy cut atop his head, a style that suited a playboy, yet a mature man. I felt myself swallow hard as my heart did a backflip in its case.

My common sense told me to say something, after all, I had just slammed the door on him but, I was speechless. He leaned forward and brought his face two inches away from mine. I could feel his heat radiating my face like I was standing close to a fire, and the clear features of his pink lips revealed themselves to me. He was just a stranger, I should come back to my senses but, I found myself wanting to remain in that trance for as long as possible.

“Are you blind?” His voice was abrupt and cold, yanking me out of my daydream to waking reality. I suddenly realized that I was looking like a fool, and my entire class was observing the situation – great, what a terrific way to make an entrance. I felt my knees go weak and wished the floor would open up and swallow me.

“I am… sorr…”

“Dumb or Deaf too?” His words were harsh now, making a sudden anger bubble at the bottom of my belly. He must think I am some kind of pervert for him to be talking to me like that, but I couldn’t blame him – I had just ogled him with my eyes. “Shouldn’t you apologize when you slam the door into someone?” He brought his face closer to mine again. I wished he didn’t affect me the way he did, and I wondered what kind of man he was for being so bold like that.

“I, huh… I am sorry. It was an accident.”

“Too late.” He stood to his full height and the warmth I felt in my face was replaced by cold air. I cleared my throat and looked at the class who had their phones out, taking pictures and videos of the embarrassing moment.

The Greek god brushed past me, bumping his shoulder into me intentionally to clear me out of his way, and he was gone. I turned to the class, and I could imagine a horrendous roar of laughter – making it increasingly difficult to breathe.

I noticed a teacher on the podium as well. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and she was looking my way. She must have seen what had just happened. I bit down on my lips in embarrassment and walked towards her.

“You must be Cassie Dawson.’

“Yes, ma’am,” I mumbled.

“My name is Miss. Armstrong. I am your homeroom teacher.”