Patty Liu - Silent Reflections
Twenty-Eight"Virginia."
Virginia mumbled something in her sleep and turned her head.
"Virginia, love of my life, it's time to wake up."
"Mmmm... wha-what? Huh?" Virginia slowly began to wake up. She opened her eyes and saw Wolf staring down at her with a smile on his face.
"Darling, even in the morning you look good enough to eat! Grrrr!" Wolf playfully tried to bite Virginia on the neck. Virginia giggled quietly but then she remembered the kiss she’d witnessed between Melody and Wolf and she stopped laughing. This was a good a time as any to talk to Wolf, she thought to herself. She sighed and laid still.
"What's wrong my sweet lamb chop?" Wolf said when he felt Virginia tense.
"Why aren't you kissing Melody good morning?" She knew that wasn't exactly what she'd wanted to say but it was too late. It had already come out of her mouth.
The little crinkle between Wolf's eyebrows deepened and he tilted his head slightly. He scratched at the stubble on his chin and finally sat up next to Virginia.
"You saw, didn't you? Is that why you ran off into the woods by yourself?" Wolf whispered sheepishly. "You know wolves mate for life. And you are my mate. That kiss between Melody and I was nothing. I didn't even feel anything. You didn't see me push Melody away from me, did you?"
Virginia shook her head and sat up also.
"I just saw what I saw and I just don't understand. I spoke to the singing ring that you gave me."
"And what did he say?" Wolf asked and picked up Virginia's hand to stroke it. "You have such soft skin," he added absentmindedly.
"Wolf, he said that something wasn't right. That something wasn't natural among the people in our group here. I don't really know what he meant by that, but I do know that he's somehow right because I can feel it too."
"I know what you are talking about. It's like I was forced. I was acting on auto, is that the right term to use? I noticed that whenever Melody got brought up, I would start to get dreamy and my mind would wander off. That's not like me," Wolf said. "Actually, it is like me. But I have only been that way with one person and only one person. And that would be you, sweet Virginia." He scratched at his forehead. "Huff puff, last night, when I heard you scream, I completely snapped. Something in my head just fell away and now I don't feel that dreamy spacey feeling towards Melody anymore. When you say her name, it has no effect one me. I was so scared for you last night that somehow I broke whatever had me entranced."
"Do you think it was magic then?" Virginia whispered.
"Definitely. And if it is magic, who is behind it?"
"Melody?" Virginia asked.
"Maybe, but we can't be for sure. Maybe it's Patrick."
"But the whole thing started before we even met Patrick. It began right after we met up with Melody. And also, somehow someone trapped me in the pumpkin patch and Patrick helped me out, it can't be him," Virginia argued.
"Cripes, Virginia, for all we know, it can be both of them! Maybe they are in on it together. But then, it might not even be them at all. Huff puff," Wolf sighed. "Come, we'll talk about it some more once we're on the road again. Just remember, trust no one."
"Not even you, Wolf?" Virginia said with a smile. Wolf smiled back and gave her a hug and they got up to make some breakfast.
