TRISH

I stood on the balcony, overlooking the rich fertile lands spread all over dreaming of what is mine and how I would be the talk of the town when I get married to Ethan…that's if, that girl doesn't take him away from me first.“Madam, your car is outside.” A servant hovered at the edge of her door.“Thank you, Agatha.” I murmured without turning to face back, still taking in the scenery.After a minute, I pushed away from the window grabbing my jacket as I made my way to the other side where my driver was waiting.When he saw me coming, he jumped out of the car immediately ti help me open my door.“Take me to Noona’s.” I instructed him before slamming the door in his face.In truth, my nerves were rubbed raw and I couldn't stop them from bouncing in the car despite the fact that my music was playing.If I was being honest, this girl's appearance has discombobulated me from them I'd like to admit, basically because of what I saw a couple of days ago.Meeting a strange girl in my fiancee's house wasn't something I was looking forward to but neither was I stupid.This marriage was not a love match, giving Ethan the freedom to do whatever he likes outside the home…I guess I just wasn't expecting it so soon.Strolling through the garden was one of my favourite pastimes, simply because it was freeing and enchanting at the same time. Ethan didn't care much for gardens so I was surprised when I heard laughter in the garden.That annoying girl was chasing around a dog, the skirt of her dress flying up with each movement she made.My nose flared in annoyance and just as I was about to match up to her to get her to quit that, Ethan showed up making me hang back.That was when I saw it…The mark on her leg.I knew I'd seen it before so I spent a little more time catching glimpses of it until I grew sickened with their laughter.I we t back inside but what I had seen still weighed heavily on my mind.That symbol I had seen belonged to a set of people, very powerful ones if I was right…Which was why I decided to make the journey to Lost Pines. It was a place several miles away from the town. For some people, it's an abandoned place but for me, my grandmother lives there and even though she's viewed as eccentric and bat shit crazy to others, she's been nothing but sweet to me.I would make the trip down here every two months, so as not to attract attention but this was important and waiting another month simply would not cut it.Lost in my thoughts, it was a pleasant surprise when the car slowed to a stop and my driver turned to face me. “We're here, ma'am.”I wanted to say ‘So soon?’ but I thought better of it, and I looked out the window.He's right…we are here.It might not look like much with the twigs and rubble at the edge but Noona said it was a deterrent, to stop people from searching for anything.I reached for the box under my seat, pulling out the sturdy, ugly looking boots I used to traipse around this forsaken place. It simply would not do to strut around in designer shoes which would get ruined.Tightening the laces until they were snug over my jeans, I jumped down from the car the sole of the boots absorbing the shock.“If I'm not back in two hours, feel free to come find me.” I said to my driver and walked in.Years of walking around here and I picked up a thing or two.On foot, it would take approximately three hours to get to her place but with the help of short cuts, I was there in thirty minutes.“Noona?” I called out, spinning around.Usually she stayed outside when the weather was warm. Hearing the crack of a twig, I whirled only to see the old woman holding a rifle at me.“Noona, it's me…Trish.” I raised my hands up, slowly pulling off the mask. “See?”She stared at me a little longer, squinting to make out my features. “Trish?”I nearly melted to the ground in relief. “Yes!” I said, waiting for her to lower the rifle before I rushed to hug her. “How're you? I've missed you.”Her body felt more fragile under my arms, more bones sticking out than the last time.“Me too, kiddo.” She gingerly sat down. “But I thought you weren't supposed to come here until some weeks or is it time already? I don't know, time flows by faster now-”I laid a hand on her wrinkled one with a small smile. “You're right, I'm not supposed to be here for a while. You're not going crazy, I just wanted your help.”“With what?” Those sharp eyes fixed on mine.I reached into my boot for the cut out page of a book in Ethan's library where I could find a picture of the mark. “Can you tell me what this mark means?”Noona reached for the paper but only a glance and her eyes flew up to mine in shock. “Where did you get this?!”“From a book…why? What does it mean?” I was literally at the edge of my seat.“This crest is only imprinted on important family members of a particular pack but they've long since said to go extinct or something like that.” She murmured, tracing the image with her finger. “So they're powerful?” I pressed. “More than Ethan's family?”Noona snorted. “I'm sorry but the power Ethan's family weilds is nothing compared to these people. If you've met any, stay away from them Trish and that's an order.” Her tone was firm. “Have you met any?”Candace's face flashed through my mind but I shook my head. “No. I'm just curious is all…”That settles it, this bitch needs to leave.Now!