A Queen Among Snakes: Chapter Fourteen - Mei

The past two weeks have been some of the most intense and thrilling weeks of my life. I’ve lost count of how many times Setia has kicked my rear, but it doesn’t bother me. Beating her would be the real miracle.

She’s helped me to be more comfortable in all my forms and learn how to use each to their fullest potential. She’s even helped me to better embrace my healing abilities. I can feel myself getting stronger and every day there’s a part of me – a part still lying dormant – that awakens just a little more. I don’t know what it means and some days it scares me, but whatever it is, I will embrace it when the time comes.

I’ve learned so much about the history of my people, including all our weaknesses. Just like how a mutolupus is vulnerable to silver, lupine, wulfenite, and wolfram, nagatas too have substances they need to avoid.

Setia explained that the Gods at the end of the day must keep balance and so, for every powerful being they create, they must have a weakness to maintain balance. I admit this was alarming. I went from so sure I was impervious to harm only to find out there are things that can not only hurt me but render me helpless all over again.

On the bright side, I’ve learned so many wonderful things about my mother that have made me feel closer to her. Setia described her as fierce, yet humble. That she cared deeply for her people and would have given anything to keep them safe. She says she can see a lot of my mother in me and that warms my heart.

Sometimes I find Setia looking at me with so much worry in her face, especially when she sees my mixed-form. The way she looks at my scales is with awe, but I see how wary she is too. Like she’s waiting for something bad to happen. I don’t want to ask her about it though. Whatever is going on, she’ll tell me. Though she does seem to be hovering around me, almost protectively and it’s putting Chris on edge.

Meanwhile, I’ve been able to help Tyson more with training the pack and I feel I have more to offer now. Setia’s training continues to come in handy and allow me to better help the pack.

Everyone has taken to their new roles perfectly lately, including Marcus. He actually loves being the Luna and no longer flinches or scowls when you call him that. Well, in all fairness, he hasn’t done that since before his Luna ceremony. Overall, things feel great. I feel strong and happy. I still have nightmares and the odd panic attack or moments of anxiety, but I don’t let them get me down.

We just had Tyson’s twenty-first birthday a few days ago and it was… well, it was an experience. I had attended birthday lunches, dinners, and special events over the last couple of months but even those were overwhelming. Big birthday parties, however, I had managed to avoid. It’s not just the large number of people that scares me, it’s that it reminds me of the parties at Albus Mons and those aren’t things I want to remember, but because I was doing better I made sure to attend Tyson’s – he is family after all. Fortunately, it wasn’t a huge pack party, it was just friends and family in the Gamma suite, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t wild.

I have never seen any of them drunk before, so that was a new experience. Apparently, there’s a special drink that is made just for supernatural beings that allows them to get drunk, which is near impossible with human alcohol. Tyson was dancing all over the place and jumping on things while singing to music and even did a duet with his father. Turns out they both have terrible singing voices – sounded more like hyenas.

Amelia was the biggest surprise! She is so fun and laid back when under the influence and was dancing on the dining room table, which I was told she tends to do when intoxicated – Marcus enjoyed that very much. Overall, I ended up having a fun night.

Can you believe it? Me, having fun at parties! I actually can’t wait for the next one.

Tonight we’re all going out to a human club as a treat for how hard everyone has been working. I’m a little nervous but I’m trying not to think about it. I keep my mind focused on my tasks, so I don’t start to panic. I’ve never been to a club before, but I know I’m in safe hands.

Right now Evalyn is in my room helping me find something to wear, but so far we’re not having any luck.

“Evalyn, it’s a very nice dress, it’s just…” I trail off as I stare at the black strapless tube dress in my hands. It leaves virtually nothing to the imagination and looks like it’s tight enough to show everyone what you ate for dinner. Evalyn is very confident in her body, so these dresses suit her perfectly, but they’re not for me at all.

“Is it the colour? I can get another colour for you! How about baby pink?” She says as she rummages through the dresses she laid out on my bed, picking up an almost identical strapless tube dress. Only differences are this one is baby pink and has rivets going around it. She holds it up to me with a broad smile on her face. “Oh, this would look so great on you! Yes, definitely go with this one,” she nods enthusiastically.

“It’s not the colour. I’m just not comfortable wearing something so tight and revealing.” Even if I was confident in my body, I don’t see myself wearing something like that. I don’t judge anyone else for wearing it, it’s just not my preference.

“Nothing wrong with being a little adventurous and trying new things,” she presses, her smile never leaving her face. Thankfully I’m saved when the door opens, and Evalyn and Chris’ mother Kennedy walks in. Thank the Gods!

“Lyn, leave the poor girl alone, you know your dresses aren’t to her taste,” she lightly reprimands her daughter. Evalyn huffs putting the dress back on the bed. “Now go get dressed so Lacey can do your hair,” she instructs.

Evalyn’s face lights up as she claps her hands together, “I can’t wait!” She chirps. She kisses my cheek and zips out of the room at full speed leaving her mother chuckling.

“Tyson calling her ‘Firecracker’ is a very apt nickname, wouldn’t you agree?” She asks while smiling at me. I nod, agreeing. “I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of finding a dress I thought would be more your style,” she tells me as she hands over a garment bag.

I smile as I take the bag from her, “You didn’t have to do that.”

She waves her hand dismissively, “Of course, I didn’t have to, but you’re my daughter and I wanted to,” she says affectionately, and I can feel the waterworks starting again.

The moment Kennedy met me she treated me as if I was her own pup. She nurtured me, comforted me, helped feed me, bathe me, and even rock me to sleep. Until her, I’d forgotten what a mother’s love felt like. I know she’s not trying to replace my mother; she’s just showing she loves me, and I couldn’t be more grateful. I love her like a mother because she is one. She is my mother and she’s beautiful to boot.

Kennedy is 5’8” with shoulder-length mouse-brown hair and bangs. She has beautiful ivory skin and hazel-green eyes – which is where Chris gets them from. She has full lips, a wide mouth, and the most perfect teeth! – which she gave to Evalyn. She’s slightly more toned than Evalyn, but still more on the slender side. They look more like sisters, but I guess that’s more due to the fact supernatural beings age differently to humans.

I lay the garment bag on the bed and unzip it to pull out a dress that takes my breath away.

“Do you like it?” Kennedy asks nervously.

I hold the dress out as I look it over. It’s a white-gold sequin dress with a high collar and reaches just above the knees. It has padded shoulders and cape sleeves with a slit up the inner sleeve up to the armpit and the material flows down just a little past the hem of the dress. It’s modest, elegant, and perfectly to my taste.

I beam at her and throw my arms around her with the dress still in my hands, “I love it! It’s perfect, thank you so, so much!” I cheer as I feel her arms wrap around me.

She places a soft kiss atop my head, and I look up to see her smiling down at me, “Seeing you smile like that warms my heart,” she says as she hugs me close. I relax and breathe in her coffee and chocolate scent. That scent has become very comforting to me. “Would you like me to do your hair and make-up?”

“I would appreciate that, thank you, but not too much makeup,” I specify. I don’t mind a little, but nothing over the top. It makes me feel like I’m wearing a mask.

“Of course. Besides, I think Chris would have a conniption if he couldn’t see your natural gorgeous face,” she says making us both laugh. I love that Chris loves me just the way I am.