It was a day like any other in Star’s Vale Village; all the bright chipper cookie cutter houses were bustling with activity. All the husbands were heading off to work in their high rise offices, dressed in business suites that probably cost more than your average car. Meanwhile the mothers ushered the children into their posh cars, the moms wearing the latest fashions, and the children decked out in the finest private school uniforms. Yes, everything was as normal as could be, that is except for the lone woman running through the streets.
Oddly enough, the sight of a red headed woman, with torn clothing, running down the street, apparently being chased by a small green Gardner snake; didn’t even phase the residents. It was as if she did not even exist, everyone just continued on their way, until the streets were empty. The red haired girl, however, could care less about the people around here being too focused on the demonic green nightmare trailing her.
“Get Away! Get away! Get away!” She screamed, as she barreled onto the sidewalk, took the steps two at a time, and disappeared quickly closed the door of the house nearest the end of the street.
“Lily dear, is that you?” A voice called from deeper into the house, nearly startling the poor girl, who was currently lying against the door panting.
“Yes.”
“Are you running from that snake again?” The same voice asked, as the sound of footsteps drew near. Soon a woman in her early forties could be seen standing in the living room doorway, a look of disappointment on her face. “Lily, you know that you’re going to have to get over your fear sometime.” She paused for a minute to take in her youngest daughter, noting the ripped clothing and her frantic expression. “I swear you could trip over a feather if it was possible, yet another set of clothes ruined.” Lily had the grace to blush as her mother scolded her. “What’s that now, three sets you’ve ruined this week alone?”
“Four.” Lily sighed as she stood up, looking between the two women, it was clear they were related. Both had flaming red hair, pale skin, and they were nearly the same height. There were only two main differences between the two of them, Lily’s unique yellow eyes, and the pitch in their voices. “I didn’t ruin them though mom.”
“Lily.” There was a clear tone in her mother’s voice, one she was all too familiar with, this time though, Lily ignored it. “It was that demonic green nightmare out there!”
Her mother just continued to look at her, her foot slowly tapping, as she moved a hand to her hip in annoyance. “That’s no way to talk about your familiar Lily, I’m sure to him it’s you knows the nightmare; making him chase you all the time.”
“I didn’t ask him to chase me.” She mumbled, quelling under her mother’s glare. “I know! It’s just, that’s the fourth time this week mom.”
“Really?” Her mom asked with a smile. “That’s down a lot from last week’s eight!”
“Mom!”
“Lily you’re just going to have to face it.” Her mother said sternly. “You have a gift.”
“A curse.” Lily corrected with a sour look.
“A gift.” Her mother corrected right back. “And don’t you forget it young lady. A lot of people would kill to have your gift, but all you do is waste it.”
“But..” She started to protest.
“No buts!” Her mom said between clenched teeth. “You will take your butt out on that porch, and you will get over this right now.” She continued, a look of finality settling over her face. “Or you can go look for your own place.”
“Are you serious?!” Lily nearly shouted looking shocked.
“As serious as a heart attack, no child of mine is going to waste what god gave them, now go!” With that final order, Lily’s mother retreated through the living room into the kitchen to cool down.
Lily on the other hand, stared at the front door, pondering her mother’s words, her hands shaking.
“You know it’s not so bad.” Another voice spoke up from directly behind her; she jumped nearly a half a foot in the air, before whipping around to face the speaker.
“So you’ve said.” She replied, as she relaxed, it was only her older sister. She too had odd eyes, like those of a cat without the slit, and on her shoulder sat a small kitten. “Just go out and try it I’m sure mom will cool down if you show an effort for once.”
“Fine!”Lily shouted angrily, as she clenched her eyes shut and quickly walked out onto the porch. Her sister shut and locked the door behind her, for good measure.
Not hearing anything, Lily slowly opened her eyes, instantly she spotted the small snake waiting on the sidewalk in front of their house. Knowing that this time confronting the reptile was not optional, she made her way over to the steps, and gingerly sat down. Refusing to get any closer, though that fact did not seem to bother the snake, whose eyes were locked onto her own.
“I don’t like you.” She stated blandly, seemingly daring the snake to protest it.
“Then we have something in common already.” the snake’s hissed in reply. Yes, that is right, Lily, the twenty-year-old child of the Dalep family, could talk to reptiles. “Now I’m tired after chasing you, and I’m due back to be chewed out by my nest mates in a short while so let’s get this over with.”
Lily blinked owlishly. “You get chewed out for all this too?”
“Daily.” The snake seemed to sigh out. “Now are you going to accept the gift, or do I have to keep chasing you every day?”
“I..” She began.
“Do you really want to be nagged at every day and make everyone angry?” It asked. “I know I’m tired of it, I just want everyone to stop it.”
“Me too.” She replied with a sigh of her own. “I hate it when people are mad at me.”
“Then let’s agree to at least chat daily.”
“I don’t have to touch you?” She asked with a touch of fear in her voice.
“No, you can stay three feet away or whatever.” The snake said sounding frustrated. “Just agree, I want to go home already!”
“Agreed!” Lily yelped out, not liking the sight of an agitated snake. “Do you…do you have a name?”
“Yes.” It said while slithering toward the side of her house.
“Are you going to tell me it?” Lily commented in an annoyed tone, at being dismissed by a reptile.
“Maybe tomorrow.” Its voice trailed back, as it was already at the side of the house and out of her sight.
“Well at least mom will be happy!” Lily said to herself as she got up off the steps, and dusted herself off. Looking around the neighborhood, she chuckled a little, before going into the now unlocked door. Who would have thought that nestled inside a rich subdivision like this, existed a family full of gifted people. People gifted with strange and oddly fascinating powers like the power to talk to certain types of animals; especial the strange little Daley girl, the odd ball of Star’s Vale Village.