But I Am The Keeper

She's My Fire

Klaus’ POV

I awoke enveloped in the sweetest flowery aroma with a dull pain in my right arm. I tried to move it, but I couldn’t. Slowly opening my eyes, I glanced down to find the source of this underlying numbness, only to discover Raylee cuddled in my arm. A smile crawled across my lips. She looked so sweet and peaceful as she slept.

I leaned in closer, deeply inhaling, until my lungs were overflowing with this fragrance.

She tossed and turned, before her eyes fluttered opened, her face mere inches from mine.

“Finally, Mr. Sleepyhead is up.” She grinned, rubbing her eyes as she sat up.

“Look who is talking, Miss Sleeping Beauty.” I teased. “I can’t even feel my arm.”

She stood up, stretching, a loud yawn roaring from her lips. “You know the best naps are in your arms too.” She giggled, skipping out the door.

“By the way.” I called out after her. “I like your new perfume.”

“I didn’t put on any today.” She shouted back just before the door closed behind her.

Huh? I smelt the sheet where she just laid, the scent still lingering there. ‘Probably it’s a new detergent mom is using.’ Shrugging my shoulders, I got up and made my way out.

“Doing better, baby?” mom asked as soon as I came into view.

My eyes danced between her and Aunty Alli. I smiled. “Yeah, I’m much better.”

Aunty Alli walked over to me, enfolding me in a big warm hug. “I’m glad my big boy is doing better.” She smiled sweetly at me before waving my mother good-bye and heading towards the door.

“You are leaving, already?” I rhetorically questioned watching her open the door. “But I just got up. Can’t you stay for a bit longer?”

She slightly turned around, her smile appeared permanently plastered on her face. “Sorry, Klaus but it’s a little too late, we’ve got to get home… but we’ll be sure to visit again soon.”

As the door closed, separating her from my view, my eyes flicked up to the loudly ticking clock, hanging just above the door. 10:00 P.M. How long had I been out?

Suddenly, the roar of the engine outside, coming to life, pulled me from my thoughts, instantly embedding an uncomfortable aching in my chest.

Instinctively, I rushed out, just in time before the car could leave its temporary station.

Hanging the upper half of my body over the driver’s whined down window, I sighed. “Is it weird that I miss you all already?” My words were all inclusive, though my eyes were fixed solely on Raylee.

Aunty Alli chuckled, shifting in her seat to face me, her hand ruffling through my already frizzy curls. “That’s totally normal, especially since you just got your retractable canines today. You’ll start to experience intense emotions, ten times stronger than you used to, plus, all your senses will be heightened… your hearing, sense of smell-“

“No wonder I noticed mom had switched detergents.” I muttered, finally pried my eyes away from Raylee, who wasn’t giving me the attention that I was now, strangely, craving from her. Weird.

I leaned off the car, flashing a faint smile with a wave as the car drove off.

Suddenly, I clutched my chest, an intense, unbearable pain rising inside of me… an emptiness… a craving, the scent was gone.

“Klaus?”

I looked up to see my mom’s worried face as she swiftly advanced toward me. “What’s wrong?”

A low whimper escaped my lips, followed by a stray tear. “I miss them so much it hurts.”

“Aww.” She wiped the tear from my eye while stooping down to become eye level with me, her voice as a sweet lullaby. “It’s normal, baby, you’ll feel a stronger emotional attachment to those you care about. A need to be with them, care, love, protect them. That’s why wolves, live and travel in packs. You might not have your wolf yet but your body is adapting and preparing you for him.” She straightened up, pulling me closer, her warmth providing a soothing comfort to my aching, troubled soul. “I just have a feeling, you are being prepared for something great.” She whispered, almost inaudible as we walked in.

“Hungry?”

I nodded, making my way to the dinning table.

“Where’s dad?” I asked just before taking a seat. His car wasn’t in the drive way, which was a dead give away that he wasn’t home, however, that did not stop me from thoroughly scanning the living room, in search of him.

Her phone pinged from inside the kitchen as she walked out with a plate of food for me. A broad blush like smile crossed her lips “He’s attending his school’s football match.”

“But dad doesn’t really like football.” I tilted my head to a side, waiting for a possible explanation.

Another ping echoed from the kitchen. She paused, her eyes flicking back towards the kitchen.

“Ammm… Mom?”

“Ah, sorry.” She chuckled, resuming her journey to the table, a glow radiating from her face. “What were you saying?”

“How comes dad went to the game?”

“Oh, right.” She responded refocusing her train of thoughts. “he is fulfilling his end of the bargain he made with one of his students who is a member of the team.”

She rested the food in front of me almost running back to the kitchen just before her phone pinged again.

A giddy teenager’s giggle, unable to be contained within the confines of the kitchen, floated out to meet my ear, nothing sweet and melodious about it, on the contrary, it was rather loud, louder than it needed to be. Ugh! These heightened senses would take some time to get use to.

“Mom?”

No answer.

“Mom?”

Still nothing.

“Hmm. I think dad might be outside.”

“Baby, you said something?" She raised concerned brows, swiftly making her way to the front door.

“Mom, I’m right here.” I raised my hand like a kid trying not to be overlooked at registration.

“What’s it?” Her smile never once faded.

“No utensils?”

“Haha, sorry.” Her fingers rustled through my hair, a new common trend adopted by, just about everyone, since my hair started growing longer. She headed to the kitchen, shortly returning with a knife and fork.

“If you need me, you know where to find me.” Her phone pinged again and I groaned loudly.

“At least tell dad hi for me.”

She glanced over her shoulder, seconds before disappearing into their bedroom. “Will do, baby.”

It was obvious she was texting him. There was no one that could make mom smile the way dad did.

Usually, dinner was eaten much earlier, but I had woken up rather late, so today was an exception. Plus, it was also a family affair where we would all sit around the table and eat, but with dad absent and the ‘no phones at the table' policy, I guess mom opted to ride the hunger wave until the return of dad.

I sighed, glancing down at the plate of food in front of me, absent mindedly twirling the fork in the noodles as my mind drifted back to the image of Raylee earlier today, clad in her gray checkered uniform with her famous Powerpuff girls hairstyle. I unconsciously smiled as I recalled her big hazel eyes starting back at me after she woke up. That was a normal thing. My little sister would often sleep over with me, but I had never given it a second thought like I am right now.

“You alright, there buddy?”

I glanced up, my eyes widening in surprise. “Dad!” I squealed, jumping up to rush into his arms. I had been so lost in thought, I hadn't noticed he returned.

He stumbled back slightly. “Woah, take it easy there, buddy.” He chuckled catching his balance. “You are a lot stronger now. You have to exercise a bit of control.”

Nodding, I wrapped my arms around his waist, which was as far as I could reach, without overly stretching. Tall and lanky are usually pair together, but I was one without the other. Somehow, at 13 I was still shorter than the average person. Nevertheless, I hugged him tightly, not realizing how much I'd missed him until he was here. I guess this was what intense emotions felt like. It was indeed overwhelming.

A throat cleared behind us. I didn't even need to turn around to know that it was mom standing there.

“Tell your mother that she already had her time with me… it’s father-son bonding time.” Dad jokingly bent down to whisper into my ear.

“Mom.” I began, eager to deliver his message. I glanced over my shoulder, only to see her standing there with folded arms, and a playfully pouted mouth, propped again the doorframe.

“On second thought, dad, you better go.” I chuckled, finally releasing him.

He ruffled my head. “Ok buddy, but hurry and get to bed.”

I smiled as I returned to my food. I hadn’t eaten all day, but hunger had taken temporary leave, and I didn't want to force myself.

I covered my food, placed it in the refrigerator and headed to my room.

The scent. It was faint, but it was definitely still there. I sat on the edge of bed, closing my eyes as my nose twitched in longing desire to be running wild in a field filled with this enchanting aroma.

Maybe, it wasn’t the detergent after all. I opened my eyes with a labored sigh, tracing the lining of the sheet.

After some time, I laid in the comforts of the fading scent. My eyes slowly closed. Raylee. She was all I could see, a shining light, a burning fire, engulfed in darkness of my mind. Like a moth, I felt mysterious drawn to the flame. I couldn’t quite explain why, but I became overshadowed with an overwhelmingly strong desire to protect her. My lil' Lee.