Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Phantom of Happiness

Genovi:

The rain ceased, her gentle snoring telling me that she was sleeping. The actual truth hurt more than when I thought it was my fault, my heart touched that Celly actually went after me. Tossing her over my shoulder, I began to take the long hike back. Feeling better, birds sang their songs while preening their sea of colorful feathers. A couple of hours passed, Thomas opening the front gate for us. Ignoring the stares, Tammy and Amy paced on the front porch. The floorboards creaked with every step, the two having more in common by the second. A motherly glow shimmered on her pale face, stress written all over her face.

"Is it true that your father damaged your ovaries when you were younger?" I asked cautiously, tears welling up in my eyes. "Also why couldn't you just tell me that you loved Jarod? I would have let you go. You know that we didn't really love each other. It was just a business transaction, and you knew that. Werewolves explode with emotion, and you guys played a dangerous game. Even if you didn't love me, you should have known how I was going to react if I found you." Tammy bowed her head in shame, Amy not quite understanding what I was saying. A lump formed in her throat, the two of us saying nothing. The oppressive silence poisoned the air, her whispering something into Amy's ear. Jarod scooped her up, spinning her around. The corner of his lip curled up, telling me that he was happy. Watching him smile at her told me that they were a match made in Heaven, the two of them laughing at the table.

"It's true. Celly smelled it, didn't she?" She said numbly, refusing to look at me. "I didn't want to tell you because you kept talking about kids. I knew you would be fine if I left you, our marriage was more of a friendship.Thank you for marrying me to get me out of that hell, but you still didn't have to lose it on us. You were wrong, too. You usually have such amazing control over your emotions, and you just had to walk on that day. Listen, let's just put it all behind us. Thank you for Amy. It has been really hard to watch her be pregnant while I can't. I am very sorry for what I did." Embracing her warmly, the beef had been squashed between us. A weight had been lifted off of my chest, the air around us clearing up.

"I am sorry for hurting you guys, and I understand if you never forgive me." I apologized sincerely, her hand smacking the back of my head. "What gives!" Releasing her, she flooded her arms across her black silk blouse. A fit of laughter burst from her lips, her charming smile illuminating her face. Our friendship had been rekindled, the chill vibe between us renewed with a fresh breath.

"You have always been a little dense, haven't you?" She teased lightly, biting her painted lips. "We forgave you the moment you let us live with you. She really has changed you for the better. I am glad you met her. I saw how much it hurt for her to give Amy to us. Amy seems happy about it, she did say something about making her an aunt. Do you think she will like that? Is she okay?" Nodding my head, Jarod actually laughed as he played with Amy. The two of them loved each other, my soul warming up a degree. Laying her down on the bed, she looked so peaceful. Touching her dress to see if it was dry, a sense of relief washed over me at the dry sensation on my fingers. Taking off my soaking wet outfit, her hand wrapped around wrist. Pulling me on top of her, her beautiful golden eyes gazed warmly into mine. Her ample breasts pressed against my broad chest, her hands wrapping around my hard cock.

"I need you right now." She stammered nervously, my mind wondering when she got undressed. "I need you to take the pain away. I just saw that Amy belonged with Tammy, but it still hurts. When I told Tammy that she was going to be Amy's mother, their smiles made my day. Why does it have to hurt!" Burying her face into the nearby pillow, a muffled scream filled the room. Sliding into bed next to her, she flipped over to face me.

"You did the right thing." I promised gently, hoping it would help her out. "It made Tammy and Jarod so happy. Seriously, I hadn't seen him smile like that in a long time. Besides, we will have our own soon enough." Hiding the other thing Tammy told me, another grimace plastered itself on her face. Shaking her head, she chewed on her fingernails. Something else was eating at her, my hands cupping hers. A rosy tint burned her cheeks, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"I don't want Amy to think that I abandoned her." She admitted honestly, scratching the top of her hands. "I loved her from the moment I met her, but when Tammy already had clothes for her it just all seemed so right. I knew she could give her more than what I could. I need to get out of here." Swinging my feet over the edge of the bed, her fingers pulled on a black lace bra. Pulling on a simple scarlet rockabilly dress, she slid her feet into her boots. Running a brush through her hair, she left the room. Getting dressed into a black dress shirt and black dress pants, my bare feet pounded down the hall. Amy slammed into Celly's legs, her breath hitching. Ruffling the top of her head, Amy spoke first.

"Thanks for finding my new mommy and daddy!" She chirped cheerfully, Celly fighting back tears. "She reminds me so much of my mother, and he reminds me of my father. Can you be my aunt?" Biting her lips, Celly flashed her a hurt smile. Kissing the top of her head, she ran off before Celly could respond. Scratching the back of her neck, her raven landed on her shoulder. Smiling warmly to herself, the bird nuzzled its head into her neck.

"I need you to find out who her mother was." She ordered sweetly, the bird nodding its head. "I have a hunch. Come back with her file, and I will treat you to one shiny thing. Is that fine?" The bird fluttered off, Saint running up to her with a note. Reading it over quickly, she looked out the window. Avalanche was waving goodbye as he left, the two of them flipping each other off. Saint stood by her side, his wild hair pulled into a ponytail.

"Might I suggest you let me gather some herbs for the village? Our bond will tell you if I try to run." He stammered nervously, cowering at her feet. "I just want to make sure we have enough." Offering him her hand, he accepted it cautiously. Wrapping her arm around his elbow, she shot me one last look before leaving with him. Unsure of what to do, Thomas rushed up to my side. Holding his clipboard, his pen tapped the board impatiently. Worry dimmed his eyes, my tasks for the entire day seeming to never end. Dread bubbled in my stomach, my dress shoes in his hands. Taking them, I followed him to my office. Pulling on my socks and shoes, a huge pile of paperwork towered in front of me. Plopping down next to me, Thomas began to work through the pile with me. Turning on the radio, his pen scribbled away. Unable to focus on the tasks at hand, he took off his glasses. Setting his pen down, he turned towards me. Running his hand through his spiky hair, he adjusted his light blue t-shirt. Pressing his palms together, the next question was going to be obvious.

"What is eating you?" He asked serenely, rubbing his forehead. "You haven't been this distracted since you thought you killed Tammy. Please tell me that you aren't having feelings for her all over again." A thunderous growl rumbled in my throat, his words insulting me greatly. Clearing my throat, impatience burned in his eyes. He was my cousin, but the only one who stood besides me the moment that everyone thought that I murdered Tammy and Jarod. Jarod was the first choice to become alpha, but my old man decided against it last minute. Him becoming alpha over me would have only pissed me off more.

"Gross. That could never happen since I never felt a thing for her. I just squashed the beef with her." I snapped hotly, instantly regretting my response. "I am worried about Celly. Her mental state is decaying. I thought I saved her, but she looks sadder by the day. I don't know what to do. Bad shit just keeps happening. On top of that, I still miss my mother. It hit her harder in a different way. That was the first mother figure she had in her life, and she witnessed the loss of her real father. I can't fix her. It pisses me off." Thomas rolled his eyes, his hands crossing. Taking a deep breath, he was always full of answers.

"Can you tell me what she likes?" He interrogated calmly, putting his glasses back on. "Perhaps I can work better with better information." Taking the next piece of paper, a knock on the door prevented me from answering. Jarod popped his head in, his blonde hair swept to the other side. Walking in, he towered over the two of us. Clearing his throat, a shark tooth necklace dangling around his necklace.

"Might I suggest a date night, like a real date night. No drama, and maybe just a spot of fun." His deep voice spoke kindly, the sound of his voice shocking both of us. "I got you two Phantom of the Opera tickets. Granted, it may not be the greatest. The local theater is putting it on. This is your chance to be her hero. Thank you for Miss Amy. You made Tammy so happy. Can we be friends again? I would love to go get a beer with Thomas and you at some point. Tammy is right, she really did change you." Guilt dimmed my eyes, the scars on his face were all my fault and not really his. A lump formed in my throat, Jarod flashing me his wicked grin.

"Okay. I am sorry for your face." I mumbled awkwardly, his hand shaking mine. "Thank you for the tickets. Let me pay you b-" Shaking his head, he sat on the other side of me. His familiar energy felt warm, the hole in my heart filling slightly. Taking a third of the pile, he began typing the necessary things into the computer.

"A friend shouldn't pay a friend back." He chastised playfully, flicking my forehead. "You need to learn how to relax a bit. Your mate's connection is only making her anxiety worse. Please have some fun tonight. Her life was full of tragedy, right? You can't make her forget that, so just be there when she cries. One last piece of advice! Smile more around her. They say smiles and laughter are rather contagious." With three of us working, the work was done in a couple of hours. My mood was glum until I heard a voice downstairs in the kitchen, my dress shoes pounding down the stairs.

"I am home!" Celly sang sweetly, a tone far from her depressed tone earlier. "Is anyone he-" My arms scooping her up stopped her mid sentence, my lips kissing hers feverishly. Scarlet burned her cheek, Saint whistling as he looked away. This was rather uncomfortable for him, her whispering something into his ears. Leaping a couple of feet into the air, he turned into a blur sprinting towards the living room. Jarod and Thomas hovered at the top of the stairs, my death glare sending them away. Tammy tossed me her purse, Celly's lips parting in protest at me taking her out to my car. Placing her gingerly into the passenger's seat, her lips pressed into a thin line. My face was inches from hers, her breath hitching as I clicked in her seat belt. Slamming the door shut, her hair blew back. Rushing into the driver's seat, a million questions sat on the tip of her tongue. The tickets sat in my pocket, the pieces of paper burning a hole in my pockets. Checking to see if my wallet was still in the car, a sigh of my relief escaped my lips at the sight of it. The engine roared to life, her dainty hand covering her lips as she yawned tiredly.

"I have a surprise for you." I bragged gleefully, her eyes rolling. A dull sadness dimmed the twinkle in her eyes, the deadly silence hanging in the air. Quiet tears streamed down her cheeks, her fingers playing with the hem of her skirt. Watching the trees go by, a panicked crowd bitched outside the theater. A well dressed blonde haired woman was trying to tame them, Celly pushing through the crowd. The two of them chatted pleasantly, the woman guiding her through the stage door. Following them in, the people began to flood in. The blonde woman was fitting her into black suit, placing the phantom mask over face. Painting her lips red, she pulled on the gloves. Excitement glistened in her eyes, the blonde woman calling me over. Her white shirt was wrinkled, black bags hollowing out her piercing blue eyes. Her long blonde hair was pulled into a bun, a black headset hanging over her ears.

"Thank you so much for showing up tonight. You saved my show. I am Violinna Decrotos." She thanked me graciously, taking my hands. "I am happy to make her dreams come true. She sang a couple of lines for me, and I was sold. I bet the critics are going to be bowing at her feet. Let's get to it folks. Please go take box five. My husband will be sitting next to you, and I believe a fellow named Avalanche will be sitting next to you as well. Enjoy the show, Mr. Genovi." Shoving me off the stage, a tired old man in a red usher's uniform guided me up to box five. Avalanche waved me over, the beauty of the theater stunning me. Golden statues lined the red velvet walls, a golden stage rounded out the center. Familiar voices greeted my eager ears, Tammy, Jarod and Amy sitting down behind. Excited smiles illuminated their faces, all of them wearing black tuxedos in honor of Celly. Golden buttons shimmered in the white lights of the stage, the lights shutting off. The show began, a brown haired fellow plopping down on the other side of me. He had on the original phantom costume, his throat smelling of a week old cold. Clearly he couldn't sing the part of the phantom, his raspy voice throwing me off. Also, how the hell did they know that she would be singing tonight? Avalanche must have clued them in and played his high status card.

"I have to thank your wife for taking my place." He wheezed with disappointment dripping in his tone, his head bowing in shame. "I would shake your hand but I don't want to give you my cold. You are all werewolves right, so you don't get sick if I am correct. I am Don Juan Decrotos. Let's pray that she stuns them all." Turning his head forward, it was finally time for her to sing the part. Goosebumps popped up, her angelic voice echoing around the theater. Sharp gasps of wonder passed all around us, every speaking in praise. She looked so free, her grace making her performance a whole level of perfection. The show progressed flawlessly, the wonder never leaving the audience's eyes. The final scene struck my heart the hardest, her ferocity in her voice really selling the character. Damn this was a fantastic story, my interest peaked. The raw emotion in her eyes the moment she broke the mirror copied all of her true emotions, the tears definitely more real than people thought. The moment she held the brown monkey with the gold cymbals, the music box sang an empty tune. The whole theater was crying, expensive tissues wiping away the fat drops pouring from their eyes. The final scene ended, the red velvet curtain going down. The curtain went up one last time, the whole cast bowing. Cheers erupted in the still air, roses flying onto the stage. Walking off the stage, Celly leapt into my arms.

"Best date ever!" She proclaimed a bit like a child at an amusement park. "You are the best husband ever." Avalanche and our friends gathered around her, all of them doting on her. Her real smile lit up the room, this probably being the first time she had innocent fun in a long time. Accepting about a dozen bouquets of roses, Violinna ran up to her with tears wetting her eyes.

"That was the most beautiful phantom that I have ever experienced." She complimented dramatically, taking her free hand. "It was almost as if you were him yourself." Her face fell, her limit being reached. Her hands crossed, the flowers wilting a bit. A quiet rage simmered in her eyes, a small snarl curling on her lips.

"The phantom was simply hated by the world." She explained bitterly, calming down instantly. "I am sorry for that. I simply view him as someone who just needed to love him. I have to go. This has been fun. Call me for your next show, I have no problem performing for a good friend. Here's my number. I have to go before my head explodes. I probably should change." Wandering off to a dressing room, she came out a couple minutes later in her scarlet rockabilly dress. Wishing Violinna a final adieu, she hopped onto my back. Carrying her out to the car, she hopped off of my back. Placing the roses in the back, she yawned groggily. Her fang hung over her lips, a wicked grin brightening my face. Collapsing into my arms, every ounce of nervous energy shook her body. There was her natural shyness coming back to smack her in the face.

"I thought I was going to faint up there." She stammered with tremendous anxiety, her eyebrow twitching. "I really hope that she never calls me for help again. Being on stage was absolutely terrifying. Can we go somewhere private? Where did you used to drive to? I want to go there. How did I do?" Melting further into my arms, the show really must have drained her. Kissing the top of her head, her hair tickled my chin.

"You did an amazing job. Everyone was shedding loads of tears, and even felt for the phantom." I shouted loud enough to wake the world, her hand covering my mouth. Lowering her hand, my lips kissed her up the arm to her lips. Guiding her to the passenger's seat, she sank into the seat. Clicking the seat belt, her shaking hands cupped my face. Pressing her lips against mine lustfully, my heart skipped a beat. How the hell was I going to survive her without being yanked in a million different directions?