Chapter 136 - WHITE HAIRS

The sound of birds chirping in the surroundings woke Emma up for the first time from her deep slumber. She stretched lazily on the comfy bed, her hands and legs spreading to the whole directions of the bed; north, south, east and west, as she took in a deep breath, before opening her eyes fully.

"Wheew…" She breathed out, turning her head from side to side, taking in her surroundings. Obviously, she was still in Maya's room.

"Where did she go?" She asked to no one in particular, but referring to Maya.

She sat up on the bed gingerly, holding her head suddenly as she felt a sharp throb on her head. She winced again, and again as the pains came in quick successions causing her to gasp.

Had she hit her head on somewhere? She thought, as she tried to remember whatever might have been the cause of this discomfort. But nothing came up. The only thing that rang up in her mind was the conversation had had with Melvina, then with her husband, about her dreams and of course, the painting.

She also remembered the promise that the older woman had made to her; she hoped that she kept it, it would mean a lot. After the promise, she had asked about the painting, and when she had tried to duck the question, the older woman had shaken her head negatively, before reminding her that the promise which she had enacted earlier had gone both ways.

And so she had told the story of how she had met the painting in the sitting room, and had been shocked when she had seen it move more than twice, a situation which had propelled her shrieks, and had further caused Mr Peter, her husband, to come into the sitting room.

And at first, Melvina had looked on her with disbelief, but as she had been done narrating her story, the older woman had on her face, the look of fear. A look that she rarely saw on the woman's face. The only time that she had seen that look on the woman's face had been when she had narrated her dreams to her and her husband, especially when she had mentioned the wolf with the blue eyes which had the eyes of her son. And at that time, the governess had tried to mask it a bit, still she had noticed. But this had been different. The woman hadn't even tried to cover up her fear.

Of course, she had been intrigued, curious rather; and had asked why she had been so scared after her narration. Then Melvina had told her, after a while had passed, that the only thing that can explain what had happened was that the painting had been manipulated by a black witch, or something else.

Ohoo, she had been scared, very scared; wondering why they were so interested in her. Of course, she had asked the governess, who had just her not to worry that she would get answers soon enough; that she should just give her some time.

She had replied in affirmative, about to tell the older woman about Zipfara, when the latter had told her to go to bed already, that it had been almost morning. And she had obeyed.

And in all these, she didn't remember hitting her head anywhere. Perhaps it is the staying awake and discussing with the elders. She thought with a shrug. Her body must be protesting with the new habit or character. She doesn't remember ever staying awake till that hour, or waking up in the middle of the night, unless it was to go to the restroom; for whenever her head touches her pillow, it never leaves the comfy material till morning, and that is even sponsored by an external force.

"Oh my…" She muttered, when she remembered that she had decided to be in school this morning.

Standing up from the bed, she went to the wardrobe and pick up her clothes from the hanger; she had changed into one of Maya's night wears, so as not to crumple her clothing. 

'…will bathe at home.' She said under her breath, as she wore her trousers.

She was about putting on her top clothing over her brassiere, when the door to the room suddenly opened.

"Maya…where have you been?" She asked, not even turning around to see the person who had just walked into the room.

But she received silence.

"Maya…" She called, turning around to query her friend on why she was keeping mute, and not answering her question, when her sight beheld Anthony who was staring at her with wide eyes and an open mouth.

"Bloodugering hell!! Tony!!" She screamed, speedily pushing down the top clothing over her brassiere and her supple skin.

"I'm sorry…" Anthony stated, looking everywhere in the room, except at her. He had been coming to get her, and take her home, as his Luna had told him to, before leaving for an important meeting with a friend. He hadn't been expecting to see the human getting dressed. But that wasn't what has caught his attention and stayed; it was the thin white strands of hair which lined in straight parallel rows on her head, and glinted as the rays of the sun which had slithered into the room, shone on it.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, folding her arms across her chest, forgetting that she had proposed in her mind yesterday night, to render an apology in the morning to the guy in front of her now, which she had slapped in the kitchen last night.

"I came to pick you up, and drop you off at your place." He replied, returning his eyes to her.

"My place?? You don't know my place." She stated, staring at him with her eyebrows all scrunched up.

"But you do…" He responded, with a small smile which caused her to grimace. She refused to think why he was the one picking her up and making sure that she got home. What about Derek and Maya? She asked herself inwardly, while still looking at the dude she thought was staring at her weirdly, or her hair rather. Did her hair increase in length again? She wondered to herself, noting to herself to inform Maya to take her to a saloon this evening.

"Okay. Why are you staring at my hair?" She finally asked, voicing her thoughts.

"Well, I was wondering when you had the time to dye some strands of it white; while making it look so prim and proper, like it is natural." Anthony replied, still staring in awe at the changes in the hair, which looked like a work of art.

"Dye?? I don't understand." Emma said, totally bewildered by Anthony's statement. She touched her hair, lifting part of it to her eye level. 

"What the fuck!!" She screamed, that Anthony thought that there would be no one in the pack house who wouldn't have heard her voice.

Emma rushed up to the full length mirror, her heart racing with fright all the way, as she located the mirror.

"Oh my God…" She murmured, as she saw the nature of her hair. There were white strands on her head. It was beautiful and mysterious. She had to admit, but she didn't understand it. It hadn't been there last night when she had been with the others last night.

"You sound surprised. You have no idea on why and when it happened?" Anthony asked, walking closer to her.

"NO!" Emma exclaimed, startling Anthony. "What is happening to me?" She muttered, lifting up the hair, which had gotten longer over the night, if possible. She had to visit the saloon this evening. She just had to.

"Calm down Emma. Stop freaking out." Anthony said, placing his hand on her right shoulder, slightly gasping in surprise as Emma turned into his arms, hugging him tightly as if to reaffirm to herself that she was still living and all these was real, while seeking for comfort. It was okay by him though, he just hoped that Derek wouldn't barge into them in this situation, although he knew that that was next to impossible.

They were still in that position, when Eva walked inside the room, having been attracted by the exclamations of her new friend.

"Emma…" She called, coming to a halt as she saw the two adults she also loved hugging each other. She smiled as her little mind analysed the situation and came to its own conclusion that the duo were together as her parents were. She couldn't wait to share the news with her big brother and Maya, her mother included. Although, she would have preferred her redheaded friend to be together with her brother, she had actually thought that they had been together; she was still happy about it being with Anthony, at least she was still in the family, so it was a welcome development.

Emma backed away from Anthony's arms as she heard her little friend's voice.

"Eva…" She stated, squatting down and opening her arms for the little girl who smiled widely before running into them.

"Where is your big brother?" She asked, still hugging the little girl.

"He went out with Maya.." Eva replied.