Page 5 of An Anomaly of Sunlight

Wolves were my favorite animal. Clearly after almost being erased from existence by the paranormal, I need to pick a new one. A… giraffe, perhaps. Giraffes aren’t feasting on anyone. Just minding their own business and eating leafy greens. They’re dapper and classy. A win-win scenario. My brow furrows in thought. There aren’t giraffe shifters, right? No... No. I refuse to believe that.

A yawn slips out as I stretch. Even with the nightmare of Enzo haunting every waking and sleeping moment, I still think that was the best sleep I’ve had in ages. Sliding out of bed, my mind pauses to think back on my dream.

I am unable to stop wondering about the beautiful body of water. It was... ethereal. Surely it must be from another universe. No water exists here on Earth with such beauty. Deciding I need to be productive, I shake my head to clear it. There’s too much to do in real life today. The fantasies will have to wait.

I nearly skip into the kitchen. Pure bliss takes over my mind knowing that I escaped Angel’s Rest. Escaped Enzo. Yet, as I scour the kitchen, only finding saltines, peanut butter, and a jeweled dagger Mom had gifted me; the giddiness of freedom dissipates. I’m unable to shake the fear of him finding me here. Even after all the steps I took ensuring I couldn’t be followed, who knows what vampires are capable of.

Perhaps he can sniff me out like bloodhound. I shudder at that and dip a cracker straight into the peanut butter jar. Better than spreading it with the dagger I decided. How did mom and I forget to get silverware for the house?

Working my way through the sleeve of saltines, I make a mental note to go to Burrow’s later and pick up some necessities. Mom kept the basics here. Toilet paper, soaps, various cleaning supplies, but I chuckle at her choice of snacks.

Thankfully, there’s bottled water in the otherwise empty fridge. I sip on one, slip my sneakers on, and head out the door toward Mom’s. The cool drink soothes me as the crisp air of Tarot Lake hits my face, and I greedily breathe it in.

Oh, how I have missed this.

I couldn’t have chosen a more perfect time to come home. The leaves are sporting vibrant oranges, reds, and yellows. Half already blanket the ground. The others clinging to their branches a little longer. I quicken my stride, fallen leaves crunching under my feet as I hurry to Mom’s.

I decided it best not to send any messages or calls out before I left. And given my smashed phone, I haven’t had a chance to talk with her for a few days. Now more than ever, I need my mom. She always knows just what to say and the sound of her voice calms my anxious mind instantly.

My foot hits an all too familiar divot in the path, and that honey-dipped voice calls out my name. She must have been watching wildlife through her kitchen window while making her morning coffee. Mom nearly knocks the breath out of me as she closes the distance between us and envelops me in her arms. I take in her lavender scent, and it grounds me. Once again reminding me that I am safe. Home.

“Bee!” Mom exclaims as she pulls back just enough to look into my eyes. “Oh, I’m so happy to see you. This is the most pleasant surprise!” She cups my cheek in her hand and the look in her brown eyes nearly brings tears to mine. The love and adoration shining there, coupled with the use of my childhood nickname, brightens my day.

Oh, how I’ve needed some of Emerald Owens’s warmth.

When my cheeks are sore from the abundant smiles, I rest them by getting to the more serious part of our greeting. “Mom...” I trail off, not quite knowing where to start. My face falls and my gaze drifts to my toes. I hear rustling and then see her kneeling in front of me. “What has happened, little Bee?”

A sigh escapes me as I reach out and take her hands in mine. “We may need to go sit down for this.” A loose chuckle follows involuntarily.

With immense effort I try to gather my thoughts as we walk up the few stairs leading to the covered porch. I plop down in my favorite rocking chair, leaning my head back and rubbing my temples.

“Okay,” I start as Mom pulls up a chair across from me. “Long story short, once I took the deal from Evadne and started going to the meetings, I met someone. He seemed nice. I was living the life,” I make sure to accentuate that bit in air quotations. “He was a vampire. But I thought…

“I thought I could trust him. I was wrong.”

Mom stiffens, and her eyes display pure rage. “Did this man hurt you? Physically, I mean.” She all but growls. I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out. She nods her head as if knowing the answer, “Only tell me if you’re ready.”

Mom places her hand on my knee, and that soft touch brings me into reality. The memory is real, but it isn’t the present. I escaped. I survived.

Taking a deep breath, I carry on. “After dinner, he bit me. Bled me.” I take her hand in mine, squeezing softly. My other hand brushes across my throat. “Mom… I remember dying.” She gasps and I run my thumb along my thigh, expecting to feel the raised skin of the bites under the fabric.

I feel nothing but smooth skin. Strange.

“I guess it just felt that way, though. Clearly, I’m still alive.” My uneasy laughter hangs between us. None of this makes sense. Perhaps I should stop doubting my luck. Considering the alternative is to have actually died. I should thank the Creators and stop asking questions.

“Oh, my Bee…” She doesn’t know what to say, and neither do I. “This was a couple of days ago. I had planned to leave Angel’s Rest next week, like I told you. Then I woke up covered in blood and left without a word to anyone.”

I force a half smile and tilt my head toward my own house across the field. “I know I should’ve left sooner. I just had a number I wanted to hit in savings. I wanted to be able to coast on that money for a few years while I started the studio. But I —”

Mom interjects. “No,” she states firmly. “This is not your fault. Don’t think that even for a second. You should have been able to stay there and hit as many numbers as your heart desired. This monster took advantage of you. The injustice will be requited.”

In all my twenty-four years of life, I couldn’t recall a time I had ever seen my mom’s eyes burn. There was no other word for it. Those umber depths were something akin to a phoenix’s wing. No sooner than I thought I could reach out and touch the risen ashes, they were put out.

Blinking several times, I wonder if I imagined the blaze in my mother’s eyes. Most likely, given what I’ve endured in the past forty-eight hours. Her voice interrupts my adventurous mind, giving me no further time to elaborate. “I will call the shop and tell Rowenna I won’t be in today.”

A full smile plasters my face then. Thankfully, I won’t have to run my errands alone. “Thanks, Mom, I can definitely use the company. Especially since I’ll be going out of town.”

After dropping the rental car off in the nearest city, Sanguine Ridge, Mississippi, the rest of the day there is a blur. I try to stay focused on what the associate is telling me about this new phone. But the words are going in one ear and out the other. Actually… are they going in at all? A phone is a phone, right?