Himora Clarke #2
“Do you all know my daughter?” She asked, but her eyes remained on Bellamy who attempted to hide his face in the child. The professor suddenly pulled her son away from him, saying something under her breath but Bellamy lowered his head, and refused to look.
“We’re her friends at Drew Collins,” Souxie said as she motioned to herself and the nymph.
“Your daughter is cool as hell,” Solomon said with a nod of approval. “Everybody loves her.”
She smiled.
“My girl…That’s always been my broke best friend,” she said as she suddenly pulled at her shirt and got herself together. “Is she–––”
“She’s fine,” everyone said in unison. Ms. Norwood looked around, but her eyes only softened when they stared at an anxious Bellamy.
That is until Seth came creeping around the corner on all fours before sitting on his back legs with his tongue sticking out.
His bright yellow eyes stared at the mother who managed a smug grin.
“You know the last time I saw a wolf was…many many years ago,” she said. “I took Maggie to the park and some…some pervert got out of his car as a man, walked around the back of it and came out as a scraggly wolf. Don’t you know, this fool went around trying to hump at all the dogs?”
“Oh nah, I prefer regular women personally. Black women specifically,” Seth said as he shook his head, letting the dandruff and fur fly.
“I go to school with your daughter as well,” Solomon said with a nod as Ms. Norwood sat down on the couch. I wondered if anyone else noticed the blood staining the side of her teeth where her fangs would retract? “I’m also head of state of the Wetlands in the Underground.”
“Ohhh okay, I’m not as familiar with the Underground as I should be,” she said with a nod. “You are?”
“Harvey Miller, first year at Drew Collins–––”
“Oh another student,” she cut in with a small smile. She was being polite at this point, but her eyes continuously went back to Bellamy.
“I’m Namir, and I’m…I’m your daughter’s boyfriend,” he said. I suspect that sounded more confident in his head than it did out loud. She looked at him and I could see the protective glaze cross her eyes after realizing what he is.
“For how long?”
“A year as of now,” he said. Her eyes widened when she whipped her head back to look at us. She was realizing just how long she’s been out of it. Ms. Norwood turned to look back at the boyfriend. “Is this…serious?”
“I plan on marrying her,” he declared, eyes fiercely protective over his woman the way she was over her daughter.
The two stared at each other. The old tale of vampires and werewolves being lifelong enemies began to show itself in their growing tension.
“I love your daughter and have chosen to be with her over my pack. There is no priority higher than making sure she’s okay, she’s loved, and she’s protected. ”
“Ahem,” Trevor cleared his throat, drawing her attention away from the wolf after a few minutes of tense silence.
Ms. Norwood stood up with her eyes only on Bellamy who leaned against the back wall of the house, shielding his face and eyes from everyone.
It was hard to notice Trevor being anything but who he is right now when she walked right past him being her only brother, just to get to her first-born son.
A good mother always knows. I started to rub Trevor’s back in order to display a level of support before deciding against it.
The cologne he chose to wear today was faint, but I didn’t want it on my hands just in case he sprayed his clothes.
“My name is Birdie Jones, I’m a professor at Drew Collins and this is my beautiful but cranky lil terror, Bryson,” she smiled. Ms. Norwood playfully tugged at his shirt, whispering a faint hey but she stood directly in front of Bellamy who glanced at her before looking away.
“What?” he let out with an attitude. “I’m not introducing myself like this is some sort of intervention for freaks of the night.”
Ms. Norwood began to sniff as drops of blood began to trickle from her eyes.
“I know…you are not who I think you are,” she said, a trembling voice barely above a whisper as she stared at her son. She was constantly smearing her face, swiping the blood everywhere as Bellamy’s red eyes grew even darker.
“I’m Maggie’s brother,” was all he said, jaw locked and tight before he nodded towards Trevor. “Apparently, that’s my uncle and your older brother.”
“Ahh man come on,” Trevor let out with his arms in the air. “Don’t deflect it to me.”
Ms. Norwood turned to look at Trevor with wide eyes, but her heart went right back to her son. When she didn’t say anything, Bellamy straightened up with his hands in his pockets and glared at her.
“Why don’t y'all tell her the fucking truth about Mag–––”
Ms. Norwood wrapped her arms around his neck and brought him in close. His red eyes, startled and wide, froze in place as she cried out.
“They told me you died!” She cried. “She wouldn’t even let me see you to say goodbye! I would have come for you…I would have given up my life for you, do you understand that?”
She pulled back to look directly at his face. His eyes were nothing but a pool of red blood, seeing no whites, nothing to indicate human at this point but when she turned to look at us for a moment, her eyes were the exact same way.
“This is my son yall,” she exclaimed but her voice cracked barely above a whisper. She was choked up with happiness when she looked back at Bellamy. “Are you happy in your life?” She asked. “Did…did you suffer any?”
Bellamy’s eyes were barely visible amongst the blood before she brought him close again and he instantly broke down in tears.
No one said a word except for Ms. Norwood who kept apologizing against his ear.
The rest stayed silent. Letting the son and mother have their moment until they began to slowly step outside of the house, leaving just Trevor and I.
“You are just like me, and you have no idea,” she let out with a proud smile. “Look at you…the tattoos on your skin…The outfit… You’re a total bad ass. I can’t wait to get to know you…”
Bellamy laughed while she held his hands, refusing to let go. She wouldn’t take her eyes off of him for a second.
“Do you realize I'm about to obsess over you…Do you have a place to stay? Are you feeding or eating? What’s your diet like? What–––”
“We have our own questions,” I cut in. She turned around as if she remembered the rest of us were still present even with the others stepping outside to talk. She looked to Trevor, still refusing to let go of Bellamy’s hand.
“Normally I’m good at telling who is who, and what is what…I’m not able to get a read on you…”
“Yeah well years and years of protective skin I guess,” he shrugged sheepishly. “I’m Marvin and Poette’s first born child so that would make me your older brother even though….” He looked down at himself. “I preserve well.”
“That’s impossible. I know their first-born child and you’re not…you’re not her. You’re not anything outside of what…a basic shifter?”
I stepped forward.
“You know where Raven Holmes is?”
“Who are you?” She questioned, still holding on to Bellamy, but now she stood in front of him like she dared to protect him from Trevor.
Even Bellamy found it amusing as he stared down at his mother.
Every introduction went out the window the moment she saw her son, but now was the time to get serious.
…
Everyone sat down in the living room with the morning sun completely out.
Solomon had to return back to the Underground.
Trevor ended up ordering breakfast through the app for everyone since what we were about to tell her about her daughter would hit hard.
It was best to have a meal to soothe things over.
The only ones who didn’t eat were Ms. Norwood and Bellamy and I suspect it's because she just finished feeding.
Still, the mother in her kicked in when she helped the professor with her son.
She gave him a small cup of orange juice, a few extra fruit snacks.
Only for the mother to decide it was best to take him back home.
This was no environment for a child after all. Not with all this tension in the air.
“What is the nature of you and Dr. Holmes' relationship? Your father.”