RED MOON: The Breaking Of The Lycanthrope Curse

"You know, you can't ignore me for the rest of the journey Ella." Eyes on the windscreen, Dad tried starting up a conversation again for the umpteenth time. "eventually you would have to speak to me." 'Till then I guess.' I had decided to be mute throughout the journey to New Orleans, not to get the worst out of my dad, or play a pity party, but because I was the pity party. We had a good life back home, well, at least. I had already started making several friends after years of being timid and being called a 'weirdo' in high school.

There was Lucy, Carla, and Kelvin, all of whom made my high school years quite bearable. And of course Josh, the only boy I found fascinating and had fantasized about having a big wedding and several cute babies with. Mom had died from a gas explosion at work when I was five, the police tried investigating the scenario but got no lead or evidence as to how it happened. Ever since then, Dad became a shadow of himself, trying to live off work, home, work again, then home. It was a circle, a long repetitive boring circle. "I told you why we had to leave," his voice sounded more apologetic this time. "Help me out here Nanny," he grunted. "Caro Mio, give it time," Nanny whispered from the back of the car seat. Nanny Tabbs was the only one who always reminded me I was Italian each time she spoke to Dad. She had become a major part of the family after Mom's death, occupying the office of a mother to both I and Dad, and a cook. I sat still, hoping to be quiet for a few more hours but got retracted by the ticking and tapping sound of our car almost coming to a halt. "You have got be to kidding me," Dad said under his breath. "What's going on?" The first words that whistled out of my mouth since we left home and zoomed off on our way to a land full of uncertainties. "What's the problem?" "I think we ran out of fuel," he said. "What!?" I screeched. We were in the middle of nowhere for heaven's sake, and what now? FUEL!!? "Oh great! This is just great," I continued in my not-so-good but very devastating state. We not only ran out of fuel but couldn't find a place to get one because we were miles away from a filling station, 'Could this day get any better'. "Common! Common! Common!" Dad said with gritted teeth trying to restart the engine of the car, but failed. "Cavolo!" he swore, hitting the steering of the car hard. I watched him from the side of my eyes, wanting to help ease some of his burdens, but my pride had already sprouted out pink branches. So I sat still, darkness already embracing my eyes, 'Could it get any better'.

*********

"Hey! You waiting for someone?" a rusty old voice brought me back to my pickle. "Not really man, I just ran out of fuel" Dad seemed to be excited to see another human aside from me and Nanny. "Oh, that's rough," the stranger said, removing the cigarette from his mouth so the smoke could have a getaway. "They ain't no filling station nearby." I moved a little to have a better look at the stranger. He was old quite alright, and for nobody's sake, I prayed that the young woman by his side wasn't his wife. "I have got some fuel at the back of my truck I could share." he came down from his truck diverting my attention to the young girl at the back. She was as pretty as the woman at the front of the truck, and was the same age as me I could tell. "Oh boy! You just saved a life." My dad's smile was huge enough to host a couple of wasted teenagers who were looking for more shots and a crib to crash. I stared at the woman and the young girl again while Dad was getting the fuel. Maybe he was her brother or uncle. I didn't want to picture such a gorgeous woman on top of such a fella every night. The thought alone was sickening to my stomach. "Grazie Signore," Nanny's excited voice breached the highest sound of a ding-dong bell, signaling me to also extend my appreciation. "Grazie Signore," I said. He raised his cap as a sign of a cordial relationship "Safe travels my people." "You too my friend, Thank you." Dad stood as he watched his savior zoom off in his truck. The next few hours in the car were quiet, except for Nanny Tabbs who hummed a lullaby mom used to sing to me when I was a baby while knitting her apron. "Baby baby don't cry, don't you know there's someone who loves you and watches over you" "Baby baby don't cry, you are more beautiful when you smile " As the song continued, I wondered what my new home looked like, I wondered what Clara and Lucy were doing right now, did they miss me? Did Kelvin finally ask Brenda to prom? Did Josh ever think of me the way I thought of him? "We are here!!" Dad finally said after hours of a long silence in the car. The house was much bigger than the old one, and the neighborhood was quiet. We got out of the car and started offloading the luggage. I had taken quite a lot for someone who didn't want to resettle in another country. I could tell from the inside that there was a lot of work to be done. The wooden doors that led to several rooms were all broken, and pieces of paper and rags were littered on the floor. The kitchen had a leaking sink and a pipe that needed to be fixed. The ceiling in the sitting room was deteriorated and covered in thick layers of filth. I sighed, hoping my room was at least going to bring a little joy to the already ruined day. Moving past the troops of dirty rags and littered paper, I stepped on something hard that felt like a glass. I reached out to pick it up and was astounded by what I found. "Nanny," I called out. "Come see what I found." Nanny Tabbs came in rushing, trying not to step on something harmful. "What is it child?" she was almost out of breath. "Isn't it beautiful?" I said, looking lovingly at the frame on my hands. "What's the commotion about?" Dad said from behind Nanny. "Ella found something," Nanny pushed me forward to meet Dad with the frame on my hands. I couldn't have heard the words correctly, maybe I heard them wrong. But they came stronger. "I said throw it away!!" he said again, angrier, sweat dripping down his face, his eyes lost all emotions. I had never seen Dad look that way before, he looked fearful, like he saw a ghost. I stepped backward, wondering why Dad freaked out about seeing the picture of a child and a werewolf under a red moon.

Knock knock knock.....

The sound on my door snapped me out of the shock that surged through my body, remembering the scene from downstairs, while cleaning up my room.

"Come in," I hoped it wasn't Dad, I didn't want to look him in the face after such a heated but confusing scene.

"I can see you have done a lot of clean up piccolo," Nanny sat on my bed, staring at me with the old grey eyes. I knew what she came here to do, she never stopped her old habits, it was glaring.

"Out with it Nanny," I let out the words like they were choking me.

"You know Papa loves you, right?" she said

"I know Nanny," I groaned "But he confuses me a lot of times."

"He got up one morning," I continued in a bitter tone "And decided we had to move."

"For reasons Ella," she said, removing strands of hair from my face "For reasons."

"What reasons Nanny!!?" I retorted "What reasons?"

If only he knew how I had to struggle to fit in school, how hard I had tried not to run home countless times and cry on his shoulders because I missed mom, and felt everything was crumbling without her. If only he knew I finally made friends after several years of bullying from kids who got nothing but D minus on their tests and exams. If only he knew about Josh....oh Josh...sweet Josh.

"I just want to go back home" I wailed, burying my head in her lap.

"Common now Ella, but we just got here," she chuckled. "I know this is very hard on you child," her hands brushed my hair gently, "But it wasn't easy for your papa as well you know, he left all he knew behind and made sure he found a comfortable place for us to start afresh."

"But what if I don't want to start afresh?" I interrupted.

"shush!!" her voice came closer to my ears "I know your heart races each time you think of what it would be like to make a name for yourself in a new city, and if you would ever find a man that you love....just like Josh."

I raised my head, startled, wiping my tears with the back of my palm I asked;

"How did you know about Josh?"

"I have been with you ever since you were born, plus... " she continued "I might have overheard you spell it out to Carla during one of you girls' sleepovers."

"Nannnyyyy!!!!" I could feel my cheek turn red. It took a lot of courage to tell Carla about Josh. I never wanted to tell Nanny or Dad about anything that concerned my love life. I felt they were too old to understand.

"Don't worry, Papa won't know about your love escapade," she smiled.

I could feel that old but very familiar mocking tone.

"Thank you, Nanny," I smiled back.

"Now can Papa come talk to you?" and there it was, the reason she came to my room. But how could I say no to those loving grey eyes?

"Yes Nanny, yes he can," I hugged her.

"Thank you Caro Mio," she gave me a peck on my forehead and stood up from the bed.

I was never going to hold a girl's sleepover at my place ever again. I was still trying to wrap my head around how long Nanny knew about Josh when I heard another sound at my door.

Knock knock knock

This time, I was sure it was Dad.

"Come in Dad," I straightened my skirt.

"Still mad at your old Pops, Piccolo?" piccolo, was the name my Dad called me anytime he felt he offended me and wanted to make amends.

"Maybe, a little," I said, still not looking in his direction.

He bent down, hands reaching out for my face, and he lifted my jaw.

"Please let's stop fighting, I hate it when you are mad at me," his eyes always sold him out before his mouth did, I was sure that was one of the reasons why Mom loved him.

"It's fine Dad, we are here already aren't we?" Not like there was anything I could do now.

"Tell you what," he stood up to sit on the bed. "How about you and Nanny go shopping tomorrow, while I do the rest of the house chores," There was a sparkle in his eyes.

Damn!!! Dad knew how to win a lady over. Another reason why mom loved him.

"Huh?" he urged.

"Alright Dad, but promise me one thing," I turned to look at him.

"Anything Ella."

"No more surprise announcements or late-hour notice regarding relocation, promise?" I stuck out a pinky finger.

"I promise," he coiled his pinky finger around mine and kissed me on my nose.

"I love you piccolo," he drew me closer to hug me.

"I love you too Dad," I said, embracing all his scents.

His large scent still lingered even after he had left the room. I was relieved to be on good terms with Dad now. It always felt like the air was too hot to breathe each time there was a misunderstanding. Nanny would always be the one caught in the middle, good thing she didn't have to choose sides, she just had to talk to each party and help settle the differences.

"Shoot! I forgot to give him this" I slipped my hands under my pillow and brought out the frame. 'It was beautiful....'

"I wonder why he was so furious earlier," I said, still puzzled.

I kept looking at it, wondering what inspired such a painting. The Werewolf looked like it wanted to protect the child, and at the same time, like it wanted to stay away. The child's hair was red, just like mine.

"Gabriella!!" Nanny's voice was loud from the kitchen.

"A minute!! I will be down shortly," maybe I could keep the painting for a little while, I smiled and ran downstairs.

I stood on the balcony of my new apartment, gazing out at the nuzzling city of New Orleans. Finally, I was here, in the vibrant and historic city. I had heard a lot about New Orleans, particularly the weather. The summers were hot, long, and oppressive, while the winters were short, cool, and windy.

I thought of ways to gradually embrace my new life and feel excited, but I couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. The scene from last night flashed back and a sudden sense of shivers ran down my spine. Dad had always been secretive about his past, and I had never been able to pry it out of him. But I knew something was haunting him. It was the way he looked at me sometimes, with a mixture of love and fear.

I shook my head, trying to dispel the negative thoughts. I was here to start a new life, so I might as well start trying to make the most of it. I turned away from the balcony, waiting for Nanny to get dressed. It surprised me all the time how I always managed to get ready before her.

"I wonder what she always does that takes so much time," I murmured. "I mean, you are old, you just have to jump into your boggy gown, it can't be that hard."

"Gabriella!!" My heart skipped at the sound of her voice. I hope she didn't hear me.

"Nanny," I protested while walking down the stairs. "I have told you not to strain yourself shouting like that." I searched her eyes to see if there was any glint of disappointment.

"You have a cell phone, just call me when you need me," I smiled.

"pst..." she scoffed, "I told your papa I didn't know how to handle one of those," she said frowning.

I laughed, took her hands, and walked out the front door.

We managed to get to the mall in less than an hour using a train after Nanny had several stops watching numerous street performances, and rewarding each of them with a coin. She decided to shop at the food section, while I walked aimlessly around the mall thinking of what to buy with Dad's credit card.

I had intentions of spoiling myself a lot today, all at the expense of Dad of course.

'This should teach him never to drop an impromptu one on us ever again'.

I had tried not to sound so excited when he offered to cover all expenses, or else he was going to get suspicious.

"I like your Dad," Lucy once told me. "He knows the way to a lady's heart, and shopping is one of them!" she exclaimed while twirling around in her new gown.

A feeling of nostalgia came rushing back.

I came to a halt when I saw a puppy signboard that had 'Kennel' written on it.

'No way' I never knew they had a place where people could buy dogs at a mall. I walked into the hall and it immediately felt like I was in heaven.

"Hey cuties," my voice was high-pitched. I was overly excited.

"Hi there, what's your name," I picked up a puppy and looked at his tag, "Let's see..."

"Oh, it says here that you are Mi...."

"Stop him! Stop him!!" a scared voice screamed from across the hall "He stole my bag, someone please stop him."

I watched in amazement as the security guards ran after a man covered in a hoodie. Trying to jump over every cart while apologizing to everyone they bumped into.

"Here's your bag ma'am" The guards handed the young girl her bag after what seemed like a wild goose chase.

'Thank God they caught him'

"You don't mess with me next time you see me," The young girl said hitting his chest and stamping her legs on his feet.

She smiled across the hall to where I was standing. I turned back to be sure I was the one she was smiling at and gave a nod when I saw nobody was standing behind me. She waved at me and walked away from the security guards and the man who stole from her.

I smiled in amusement 'What a funny character' I liked her instantly.

"Would you like to get this one miss?" The husky voice startled me. Shifting my attention from the drama across the hall to the whining sound of the puppy on my hands.

"Yes please, I love this one," I raised him. "He is super cute..."

My voice left me, as I stared at the man standing close to me. 5' 7'' inches, broad shoulders, Viking gold hair, bristly eyebrows, a hawkish nose, firm long legs, alluring eyes, and sensual lips. 'God the man was sexy!!'