"Where is she?!" Patricia groans as she cuts another vine down.

"Mother, I don't think she will be here of all places." Ivy swats gnats away of her and Lily.

"Aphmau came down here sometimes when she wanted to be alone." Patricia answers.

"In the swamp? You clearly don't know her at all." Ivy says. Patricia turns around to face her.

"And you do?" Ivy keeps her mouth shut.

"What if the king had something to do with her disappearance? Or even her mother?" Lily asks. A long silence is shared for a while.

Until they all burst into laughter, "Yeah right! Even her own mother didn't want her!" Patricia keeps laughing.

•○●A Purplla Publish●○•

"I hate my mother." Aphmau takes the bottle of rum from Aaron and downs it.

"I could tell." Aaron answers as Aphmau puts the bottle down and wipes her mouth.

"I mean, I actually hate her. Not because of this, but for the childhood I had. I had no motherly figure growing up and I could never get along with other girls growing up, ya know? Or anyone since my mother left me with such a bad reputation."

"Weirdo!"

"Odd!"

"A witch!"

"A potato!"

"A dork!"

"A loser!"

"A female dog!"

"Her own mother knew something was wrong with her!"

"But Aphmau didn't care!"

"Watch out, I hear she's a magicks user!"

"Step close if you dare!"

"She'll turn you into a toad!"

"Let's go and take the other road."

"That's a nightmare that about to behold!"

"She'll kill in an instant!"

"We all know she's very different!"

"Her mother was bad, so she is too!"

"I heard if you touch her, she'll turn your tongue blue!"

"Who knows what she'll do!"

"Because she's a creep."

"Because she's a creep!"

"She ignores her father's curfew!"

"She's trying to get killed!"

"Aphmau is nothing but trouble!"

"For her age, she's too well skilled!"

"For years, I heard her mother was a witch!"

"That's because she was a- ummmm"

"Just know that she's trouble!"

"I can't believe she tries to play humble!"

"Because's she differnet, she got too many flaws"

"I heard her father has fangs, maybe some long claws!"

"We know she's a danger!"

"We know she's a game changer!"

"We know we aren't safe!"

"Because she's a creep."

"Because she's a creep!"

"Lurking into the darkness, feeding on own fears!"

"I heard that she.... cuts off rabbit ears?"

"Really Harry?"

"Sorry there, but I heard it's scary."

"She's just like her mother!"

"We've gotta run! Protect each other!"

"Who knows what else she can do?!"

"She copies everything thing we do!"

"Why she does it? No fricking clue."

"Who knows what else she'll do."

"But we know for certain!"

"Wait, why do we judge her?"

"Harry, because she's a creep."

"Because she's a creep!"

"BECAUSE SHE'S A CREEP!"

"Wow." Aaron says as Aphmau downs some more.

"Yeah, village life isn't so easy peasy when your mother is a famous criminal, is it?" She sighs, leaning on the ship's flag pole.

"I'm so sorry Aphmau." Aaron apologizes and she hand motions for him to stop.

"Stop stop you had nothing to do with it. The villagers saw my mother, then as soon as I was born, they made sure that their kids knew to stay away. All because of my dumbass mother!" Aphmau tosses the bottle to the side.

"As soon as we get back to Phoenix Drop, you can show everyone who Aphmau Camilla Everton really is."

".... I've never told you my middle name." Aphmau raises an eyebrow.

"You tend to monologue in your sleep." Aaron admits.

"BACK TO THE POINT!" Aphmau embarrassingly chuckles, "The village has taunted me for years. To the point where I believe them- that I am nothing but trouble." Aphmau says.

Aaron crawls over to Aphmau and cups her cheeks in his hands, "Aphmau, I've spent a lot of time with you lately. You are far from what the villagers say. I can guarantee that." He whispers.

"Ha, the rum finally got to your brain." She tries to push him away, but his hands move from her face to her waist.

"This is all me. Aaron Edward Lycan."

Aphmau giggles, "Edward? Oh my Irene, this is gold." Her giggling turns into light chuckling.

"Aphmau," he leans in closer. She falls silent, "I mean every word I'm about to say." He says and she nods.

"You are a beautiful human being, a lot more than I've ever seen in my entire life. If we were at the palace now, I'd ask you to be queen." He says.

"W-What? Why me?" She asks as Aaron tightens his grip on her.

"Because I've seen what you've done to help out the village, despite all those rude people. And plus," He lowers his voice, "I'm falling for you."

Aphmau smiles, "I think I am too." She answers. He smiles backs and closes the gap between the two.

~~~

Okay guys. I am SO sorry for ghosting this book. I've been working on a remake of an old book I've written two years ago. I've publish the first two chapters and it would mean the world to me if you would check it out.

Until next time,
~Purplla 💛