Chapter Seven

　　AMALA 　　I finally arrived home at exactly 3AM. I sigh as my whole body feels so tired from the events happening today. 　　From being chased by loan sharks, hiding inside a barrel, till being assaulted by a horny wolf–I am incredibly lucky that I managed to return home after all of these. 　　What's more I have brought lots of fancy hotel food. Although they are mixed together in my bag, I am sure with a little reheating will do the trick. 　　After all, beggars can't be choosers especially in a life like this. 　　The room Amy and I rented is a basement of a run-down factory. The owner is a friend of my troupe director so even if the room is too small for two, it is better than nothing. 　　When I head to the basement bulkhead, the door bursts open and a small figure tackles my legs. 　　"Amala!" 　　"Amy?" My eyes blink in surprise. "Why are you still awake at three in the morning?" I kneel down to be on her eye level. 　　"Waiting for you!" She squeals as she gives me a hug. 　　"You know that I sometimes have to work overtime, right?" I pause before adding with a smile, "More moolah means more—" 　　"—Food on the table," she says at the same time as me. Oops, have I been using the same line all this time? 　　"I know, I know but we never have more food!" She whines. 　　"Who says so, hmm?" I grin before showing my bag. Her eyes grow wide as her lips grow wider. 　　"Oh! Is that pasta? Roast turkey? A-and berries?" She giggles before hovering over my bag as she twirls around. 　　Then she stops after her smile slowly disappears. "Amala, why are they all mushed together inside your bag?" 　　"Err…the r-restaurant ran out of containers so I just put them all in the bag." I chuckle before ruffling her hair. 　　"Let's borrow Mr. Bern's portable gas stove and heat them tomorrow. Whaddya Say?" 　　"If you ask him nicely instead of stealing it again, Amala." 　　"Fuck, I can't believe I got schooled by a child!" I give a dramatic gasp. 　　"Swear word! Moolah should be in the swear jar, Amala!" She pouts. 　　I only laugh as I ruffle her hair harder. 　　"Anyway, let's put you back to bed, kid,"I say as we head down to our "home". 　　It only takes a few steps and we are now in our humble abode. 　　A room filled with posters of Golden Era movie titles, a box with a circular glass that serves as our DIY projector for watching movies, a small portable heater and an old worn out mattress with some bunny cartoon printed bed cover and blanket. 　　A small room that is meant for a storage room yet with a few renovations, Amy and I feel safer in this place. 　　Not to mention loan sharks wouldn't know we live under a factory. 　　"You're watching Blue Clues?" I smirk as I cross my arms. "Aren't you too old for this?" I comment as I see the episode play on the screen. 　　"Am not!" She retorts as she sticks out her tongue. "I wanna know when Steve is coming back from skwool." 　　"It's school, Amy." 　　"School!" She feels proud after saying it correctly. "Steve is so smart! He will be smarter after school, right?" 　　My heart sinks a bit yet I continue to smile. "Yeah, I guess so." I stare at the screen blankly as the character Steve waves his audience goodbye. 　　If there is one thing I wish I could offer Amy and that is the proper education. 　　Something I can't do until our mother's debt will be paid in full. 　　For the time being…Amy will enjoy the rest of her childhood watching cartoons as she pleased. 　　A childhood which she can act like a child rather than to witness the debauchery our mother had done to me. 　　She will not grow up to be like me, I convince myself as I watch her pull out the small tablet and turn it off. 　　She won't be involved with werewolves even if becomes one in the future. 　　A future that I pray that Amy won't turn into one of them. 　　"Amala?" Her cute voice breaks off my trail of thinking as I turn to her and instinctively smile. 　　"Yes, what is it?" 　　"Where did you get that?" 　　I smirk after she points out my get-up. 　　I am wearing a white dress shirt, dark slacks and black loafers. 　　Clothes that are big enough for my body. 　　"Oh, it's a suit, Amy," I reply as my grin widens. 　　"Where did I get it? Let's just say a kind gentleman is willing to lend it to me." 　　======================================= 　　SETH 　　"Master Greymound! Wake up!" 　　I groan as my body is being shaken aggressively until I regain consciousness. 　　When my eyes flicker open, I see Finrel staring back at me. His wary look changes into relief as I lift myself up. 　　"Thank the Moon goddess that you're alright!" 　　"I–" 　　There is a sudden pang at the back of my head and I mutter a cuss before raising my upper body. 　　"Where the fuck am I?" I grumble. From what I see here, I am in an unfamiliar room that I don't even remember stepping into here at all. 　　The throbbing pain hasn't receded as I lift my arm and rub the back of my head. When I feel cold liquid, my eyes snap open. 　　It breaks off my drowsiness as I lift my hand to see blood—more specifically, specks of dry blood and I know that the wound is slowly closing. 　　Now I remember what happened. 　　During the Red Moon, I finally found my fated mate. A human, of all things the devious Moon Goddess provided for me. 　　Then she struck me before I could make her mine. 　　When Finrel sees the wound on the top of my head, his brows crunch together as he grits his teeth. 　　"Who did this to you?" 　　"A human girl." A name. What is her name? Then, I remember her cunning smile before I blacked out. 　　"Audrey Hepburn. That's her name."