From the corner of my eye I saw a red sleigh approaching, I immediately understood mother had arrived. I quickly fled to the entrance door and opened it just in time as our horses galloped into the yard which had almost disappeared from the snow, all that could be seen was a thick sheet of complete white, where the grass should have been.
My mother jumped off the sleigh onto the slushy ice and made her way into the house, struggling a bit to pull her heavy boots out of the thick snow. She looked so worn out that I immediately ran to the kitchen to pour her a cup of hot coffee which would always be present in our thermos jug. I brought the coffee to her and as I predicted, she was sitting on her favourite arm chair close to the fire. I handed her the coffee smiling at her slightly in return of her extremely tired smile. I backed off a bit taking a chair from the dining table and placing it directly in front of her, mother stared at me as I sat down in a way I had never seen before. She was I happy I think, but I waited until she was completely warm. The arm chair had been my dad's; it was the only thing related to him that we could fit into our little house. Before our poor state, we, meaning my 2 other sisters and parents and I had lived in a mansion. It was quite glamorous, big chandeliers, shining stone floors, grand staircases, and my sisters... Well they still threw tantrums about how they wanted their beautiful princess like gowns back. I never complained. I understood mom more than anyone here now. How much she missed dad, even more than me and my sisters. It must have been so hard to live without her love and unwillingly let go of him while she was still madly in love. Before his death, father had taken a lot of loans for a new business he wanted to start, but after he left we were left to pay them off which resulted in our current broke state.
I felt my mother's gaze on me and I looked up into her eyes as she spoke, putting the cup on the floor. "Tara, I'm so happy my child!" She said, smiling whole heartedly after a long time, tears of happiness formed in her eyes. I smiled back at her, signalling her to continue. She took my hands in her hers and continued speaking, "Tara... the Count had addressed me today, and asked me to paint a portrait of the Countess for her birthday. It's a surprise so I'll have to paint the portrait by a picture he has given. He said he would pay well! This could be our big break my princess... U won't need to stay crawled in a corner writing stories about magic wishing it was us..." She ended. I was happy. But at the same time shocked and a bit taken back. How did mama know I wished it was us in my stories?? I felt stalked... but seeing the happiness in mama's eyes I kept the question for later.
"I'm so happy for u mama, but oh my dear mother I don't think we will be as wealthy as before... U see mama, the Count will only pay enough for us to get new clothes and furniture." I said, cupping my mother's face. I saw the glow on her face disappear and the twinkle in her eyes dull. Mother tried so hard to give us the occasional scarfs, shoes and gowns that slightly resembled the ones we had before, but she just couldn't make enough money from her paintings to give them regularly and especially in this season, as barely anyone would come. Mother took my hands off her face, gently placing them in hers.
"I know my child. But this is the only offer I have and I don't think in this blizzard I will be getting any more. So, I must do it Tara. He's given me till the end of this week to complete the portrait, and if it doesn't reach till then he will not pay. So, I must get started now." She said getting up and leaving to the shed; that's where she would usually do all her portrait paintings. It usually took mama 2 weeks to complete a portrait, and I had no idea how she would complete this one in just 5 days, but I didn't question her. Like dad, once she set her mind to something it would most certainly be completed.
I would occasionally go in the freezing shed with a cup of coffee or food for mama and amazingly each time I went in, the portrait would look more and more beautiful. Within 3 days the painting was finished and mother let me stay and see the final portrait. Looking at it I felt as if winter was no longer with us, I could smell the fragrance of the flowers and taste the peaches that the Countess held in a basket. She looked a lot more beautiful than she was, her face seemed to glow and eyes twinkle, unlike in the dull photograph that was given of her. I knew the Count would love it.
But mother had fallen sick, too sick to go and deliver the painting herself. And as usual when mama asked my sisters to go they denied saying they too had fallen sick, which obviously was a lie, they looked amazing and perfectly fine as always. So instead I volunteered to go for mama's sake. At first she denied but I knew she was relieved, and soon enough she gave in but on the condition that I will take care of myself and return before sun down. I promised her just that and left for the Counts mansion on the sleigh. The horses had gotten me to the mansion in a 30 mins, which was a lot less time than I thought it would take. It usually takes an hour or so. I got off the sleigh and walked to the stairs of the mansion waiting for someone to help me in. Soon enough I saw a servant and explained to him why I had come, he guided me to the Count's room and left immediately after. As I walked in with the portrait the Count was very delighted to see the painting ready and that too 2 days before the due date. He looked at the painting and was so very happy that he decided to pay double what he had promised. I was thrilled to see the amount of money he placed in the envelope. I was sure mama would be so happy and my sisters too. I left in an hour or so after taking lunch and refilling my bottle of coffee.
I was happily going back home. The journey was taking a lot longer than expected as the horses were tired but there were still a couple of hours left till sun down. But I could see a blizzard approaching. I whacked the poor horses with a leather rope trying to get them to go faster. But it was too late. The blizzard had started and the horses too were scared. I saw a forest in the distance and figured it was our only shelter and a lot better than staying out in the open. I leaded the horses in that direction whacking them harder and harder. But what happened next froze both me and the horses to our bones. There was loud howl, and another one, and another one and another one... A pack of wolves must be nearby; they must have picked up our bloods scent. Panic started running through my blood and I started shivering. The horses shirked, violently jumping up and down and in no time the horses fled in all different directions as the rope tying them to the sleigh broke. The sleigh, including me, abruptly fell forward and my head hit hard on the snow. The howling was becoming louder and louder. They were close. I was going to die. I knew it. My end had come. I felt a trickle of blood running down my face and onto the snow, my eyes were closing, everything becoming darker and darker. But before my complete blackout I saw a creature approaching. It had gold brown heavy and silky fur, it was wearing black pants and only a red vest which revealed his muscular body... it was big... very big... I started shivering in fear as it took me in its grasp. I felt its claws digging through my clothes and into my skin. It wrapped me completely in its arms, carrying me as if I were as light as a feather. Then I went blank as the howling lessened and a sense of safety came over me; at least I wasn't going to be ripped apart and eaten...
To be continued..
