Page 4 of Protected By the Wolf

Now that I looked back, it seemed my body made the decision for me, because at one point, when I bit into a well-deserved Snickers bar, I immediately spat it out. It tasted bitter, like I had taken a bite of an unripe plum. I told my mom this, and all I got was a raised eyebrow as if I’d gone bonkers. I guess I couldn’t blame her. Sweet candy wouldn’t just turn bitter. Even chocolate that’d been sitting for years still tasted like chocolate. My conclusion was I was defective, and I might as well keep acting the part.

I was in the middle of telling Millie that she needed to live a little when my phone rang. I went to hang up and saw it was Mom. Dread shot through me. I didn’t want to continue the conversation we had two days ago. But when I answered, she asked for Millie. Breathing a sigh of relief, I handed the phone over to my sister.

I only half listened to their conversation, wondering how I could persuade Millie to do the rest of the show so I could hide in my estate again. I looked over and the frustrated look on her face as she spoke to Mom made me laugh. I started making silly faces at her. She was so wound up all the time; she really needed to enjoy life more.

To my horror, Millie handed the phone back to me. “Mom wants to talk to you,” she said.

I took the phone and walked to Millie’s room as fast as I could, telling Mom all about my trip to Africa before she could ask me anything in front of Millie.

As soon as the door closed, I slumped onto Millie’s bed and sighed. Mom took that as her cue to start berating me.

“Lira, that story is ridiculous. Riding a camel backward. Really?”

“Millie believed it.”

A hmph sounded through the phone before Mom got to the topic we’d left hanging a couple days ago. “Have you thought more about what I said?”

“About me coming to live with you and Dad?”

“Yes. I don’t know what cult you’ve found or what this Charli person is filling your head with, but even for you, Lira, this has gone too far.”

My anger started welling, and I could feel my hands getting warm. I clenched them into fists and closed my eyes, trying to calm myself down. “Mom, I’m not moving in with you and Dad. I’m twenty-two years old. I’m staying at the estate.”

“That estate has been abandoned for forty-seven years ever since your great-great-grandmother died. And died is the operative word, meaning she no longer exists!”

“You told me your mom used to do tricks.”

“Parlor tricks, dear. Nothing more. We are not witches.”

Why had I thought telling Mom my secrets would make me feel better? Mom and I used to be able to talk about anything. Then Dad got successful, and Millie and I got left behind.

I wasn’t going to have this argument with Mom again. “If you want to come get me, go right ahead, otherwise leave me alone! I’m sorry I even mentioned any of this to you.” I hung up and crashed back on Millie’s bed. I needed to get it together if I was going to go out and face my sister. She couldn’t know what I was going through. If Mom’s reaction was like this, Millie’s could be worse.

Standing up, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to recenter myself before going to the door. But as soon as I stepped out of the bedroom, Millie said, “Lira, you’re going to the gallery today.”

“I am not!” Why in the world did I just say that? I was the one who was supposed to be working there today; she’d already covered for me for three days. It was definitely my turn. But I couldn’t go, not when I never knew when these visions would hit me. They were happening almost every day now, and usually at the end of the day when I was tired and had let my guard down. But on looking at Millie, I knew I couldn’t let her in on this just yet. The charade would need to continue for now.

Mind made up, I turned back into unresponsible Lira. It was a good go-to because my response would be expected. “But you already look so tanned!” I exclaimed. “And you’ve been doing well. Mom says you’ve sold almost all the paintings, whereas I only sold three last week. Why change a good thing?”

“I’m not going, and if you don’t go in my stead, I’m going to tell Dad that I’ve been covering for you for more than just this week.”

She was pulling the dad card already. I thought she’d gotten over her fear of being the center of attention. “Dad’s too busy to pay any attention to us.” Please, Millie, just for this week. You’re so much better at selling than me!

But then she pulled out my kryptonite. “You can pretend to be me and see if you fool the customer.”

My eyes went big, and I could feel my smile stretching my lips to their limit. I rarely got to do this anymore. “Yes! I think I’m going to play bookish Millie. I’ll put my hair up in a bun and prop some glasses on my head.” I loved switching with my sister, but as we got older Millie wanted to do it less and less. She told me I needed to grow up, but it was harmless entertainment, and we never hid our identities from others for long. It was just fun to see if people could tell us apart. But with a gallery of strangers, I could play my role without anyone guessing I wasn’t Millie. Well, maybe Lillian would know, but she wouldn’t say anything to anyone.

I felt Millie’s hand on my arm, and I realized she was talking to me. She was saying something about books and needing more of them to be placed out for the customers to see. I texted Lillian to let her know, which annoyed Millie. She began admonishing me—as usual—for not doing the work myself, but I wasn’t listening; I was already out of my seat and heading into her bedroom. I wanted to pick out the perfect outfit.

I found a simple, floor-length white skirt and a black top hanging in her closet. A pair of black ankle boots were stuffed in the very back; I doubted Millie had ever worn them. The outfit was Millie to a T. She wore plain, simple clothes, in complete contrast to the sparkles and fringes I liked on mine. After pulling my hair in a bun at the nape of my neck, I finished my look by throwing on one of her winter coats.

It had been the quickest I’d ever gotten ready for work. There wasn’t even a reason to put on makeup since Millie hardly wore any.

A knowing gleam came into Lillian's eyes when I walked into her office. “You can’t fool me, Lira,” she said, gesturing at my outfit. “And it’s very good to see you again.”

I smiled. “Millie and I are trading places for the day. I needed something fun to do to distract me from my visions.”

“I hope you’re feeling better?”

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