Little Red Riding Hood

Athena groaned as she threw herself on the bed. Her whole body was aching. That monster... He could not even spare her for a minute. His attacks were quick and lethal that Athena thought that she was going to die.

"Damn him," she cursed as she picked up the book that the priest had given her. Little Snow was fast asleep. She had to put it on a diet. It had been gaining so much weight lately. It was now too heavy to carry for a long time.

She opened the book eagerly. She did not know why he gave her that book but she was sure that it must contain some important information that he wanted her to know. However her gaze turned cold when she looked at the contents of the book. Her gaze grew colder as she turned the pages. Her expression darkened. She picked up the book and shook it. Nothing came out. Was this some kind of prank? What a rotten turnip head. How can he give her a five year old story book? Did she look like a little kid to him?

She looked at the first page. She read aloud, "Little Red Riding Hood." Athena scowled, feeling furious. That old man... She felt a vein pop. He was really getting on her nerves. She clenched her fists and cursed him. Fine, she would give Sophia the book. After all, this childish book was for her age anyway. When she turned the last page, she frowned. 'Don't give anyone this book. You have to keep on reading it.'

Athena scoffed at the words written on the last page. Why should she read a childish fairy tale book? At the end of the page, there were some words written in bold.

'Read it if you don't want to face the consequences." A cold gust of wind blew threw her hair, making her shiver. She suddenly felt scared. She climbed out of the bed and closed the window. Consequences? What consequences? She did not like this threat.

Feeling uneasy, she decided to read it. Little Red Riding Hood was a fairy tale about a young girl who walks through the forest to visit her grandmother but encounters the Big Bad Wolf (werewolf).

She scratched her chin. She did not understand. Why did he want her to read such a childish book?

Maybe there was a hidden meaning behind that story? But what could it be? She was puzzled. She tried to figure out the meaning but she could not tell. In her eyes, it was just an ordinary story and nothing more. She read it again and over again but still could not specify the meaning.

In the end, she threw the book away in frustration. She could feel a headache coming. Calm down, Athena. You might try again tomorrow. There is no need to rush things.

Red Petal... How the hell was she going to find that witch? She seemed to be invisible. Maybe Lady Alisha knew something about this mysterious witch? Should she ask for Lady Alisha's help? Athena shook her head. She was tired of being helped all the time. She was tired of seeing pity in people's eyes whenever they looked at her. Was she really pathetic? She wanted to be strong enough to stand on her own two feet without anyone's help...

She closed her eyes in exhaustion and soon sleep engulfed her.

* * * * *

Many days passed uneventfully. It was somehow quiet and peaceful. As for the fact that the Robson's might actually be ghosts, Athena had pushed it aside. After all, they had not done anything suspicious yet. They acted like normal living human beings. She had gained some weight recently and her complexion was now better. She seemed to be getting better by every passing day and she did not know why. Her body felt lighter and flexible.

Athena was being trained everyday by Trevor when he came back from work and her sword skills were improving slowly.

They even managed to find out that she had an archery talent and she even began to train.

"Look at the target," Trevor instructed patiently. "Relax your body. Pull... Now let go of the arrow."

Determination shone in her eyes as she listened seriously to Trevor. Athena released the arrow and it hit the target accurately.

"You did it again!" Trisha squealed. "You are so amazing kiddo!" She hugged her with a huge grin plastered on her face. "I wish I was you. My archery skills sucks." She pouted. Athena laughed at her childish action.

"On the bright side, my sword skills are way better than yours!" she continued.

Athena raised an eyebrow. "Do you think so?"

"I am hundred percent sure!" Trisha said. Athena rolled her eyes. Although her sword skills were not on par with Trevor and Lady Alisha's, she was confident that she could defeat Trisha.

"Now that you have passed the first training session, it's time to move on to the next. Shoot me," Trevor said seriously.

Trisha pulled away and blinked. "Huh?"

Athena was also confused. Why should she shoot him?

"Do as I say," he said in an authoritative tone.

"But why should I?" she asked innocently.

"Because it's part of the second training session. Don't worry. I won't get hurt."

Athena was hesitant.

"Trust me. Just shoot. I won't get hurt," he insisted as he gave her a reassuring look. Athena pressed her lips into a thin line. She picked up her last arrow and aimed it at Trevor. Her hands began to tremble.

"Shoot me," he ordered. She gritted her teeth and pulled the arrow. However she could not shoot. Her body refused to listen to her. Minutes passed as she remained still.

"Why are you not shooting?"

"I am trying!" she said between gritted teeth.

"What's wrong with your face? Why do you look like somebody who had been forced to drink toilet water? You look no different from a chimpanzee right now," Trisha laughed.

"Shut up!" Athena yelled as she tried to focus. Cold sweat trickled down. She could not do it....

"Athena?"

She gave up. She shook her head as she whispered, "I can't do it. I can't do it."

"Of course, you can," Trevor snapped sharply. "You are just acting like a coward."

"I am not a coward," Athena said quietly. Trevor scoffed as he crossed his arms. "Then prove to me that you are not." She bit her bottom lip but did not retort.

"You see now? You are nothing but a coward," Trevor mocked her. His words rang repeatedly in her mind.

"Umm, cousin," began Trisha. "Why don't you go a bit easy on her...?"

"I am nothing but a cowa... Fine, I admit that I am a coward but so what?" she yelled, feeling offended.

Trevor sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. "Let's try doing something simple. "Trisha, get me a duck."

Trisha nodded and left immediately. After a few minutes, she was back with a small duck.

"This...?"

"I want you to shoot it," Trevor ordered as he took the duck away from Trisha and held it in front of himself. "Shoot it."

"Huh? Why should I?" Athena blurted out.

Trevor narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth to sneer at her when she hurriedly said, "Ok, ok. I get it." She aimed the arrow at the poor duck. It quacked loudly as it struggled pitifully to save its dear life. Athena felt sympathy for the poor innocent duck. "Focus Athena," she murmured to herself as she pulled the arrow. She steeled her heart. The duck quacked louder. Athena felt her heart melt.

"You can do it, kiddo!" Trisha encouraged her. However Athena shook her head as she put the bow down.

"Athena?"

"I can't kill an innocent creature for nothing, dammit!" Athena yelled. Trisha was taken aback by her outburst. "I am sorry, okay?" Athena sighed. "I can't kill that innocent creature for no reason."

"Coward," Trevor snarled. "You are just a coward. We will try doing this again tomorrow." He walked past her. He paused a few steps away from her. He turned around and said in a low tone. "Don't ever be deceived by appearances. Not all things seem to be what they appear to be. Keep this in mind." With that, he walked away. Trisha patted her shoulder. "It's going to be fine. I am sure that you can do it." She gave her one more pat before she ran after her cousin.

Athena sighed as she looked at her bow. Maybe she was really a coward.

"You don't have to push yourself too hard," a calm yet childlike voice came from behind. She turned to see Sophia sitting not far away from her, holding a book. "You just need to take things slow. Eventually it will work."

Athena went to sit beside her. She looked at the book that she was holding. Like always, she could not read the book.

Athena opened her mouth and said slowly, "Have you ever tried being like other kids?" Sophia raised an eyebrow but did not say anything. Athena took her little hand in hers, taking her by surprise. She suddenly pulled her into a hug. Sophia's little body turned stiff before she struggled to escape. "What are you doing? Let me go!" However Athena did not let her go. Instead she ruffled her hair. "Be a good girl and stay still."

"I said let me go!" Sophia's voice turned cold and there was a hint of anger in it. Athena felt a chill run down her spine and she swallowed hard. Still she stubbornly tightened her arms around her. After some time, Sophia stopped struggling and resigned to her fate.

"Can I tell you a story?" Athena said as she made her sit on her lap. Sophia's face flushed in anger and she puffed her cheeks. She looked so cute, right now. Or so she thought.

"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful maiden who lived with a stepmother and two evil stepsisters... she began to narrate a story that she had read when she was only nine years old. She caressed Sophia's hair gently as she continued to relate the story.

When she finished narrating the fairy tale, Sophia was already fast asleep to her surprise. Her little head was leaning against her chest and her mouth was slightly open. Athena chuckled softly and gently placed her down inorder for her to stand up. She stood up and picked her up gently like she was picking a fragile glass. She immediately headed to Sophia's room.

She met Trisha on the way to Sophia's room. Trisha's eyes widened in disbelief. "No way..."

Athena placed a finger on her lips before she finished speaking, making her trail off.

"Yes way," she whispered.

She smiled lightly before proceeding towards the little girl's room leaving an open mouthed Trisha. She opened the door quietly and walked in. She gently placed the sleeping little girl down and covered her little body with a sheet. Right now, she looked like an innocent harmless lamb.

Athena could not resist the urge to kiss this adorable looking doll like creature and bent down and kissed her forehead lightly. "Sleep tight, little lamb."

She had just turned to leave when something caught the corner of her sleeve. She looked back to see Sophia holding the corner of her sleeve. Her eyes were still shut.

"Don't leave," she mumbled.

Athena smiled. "I won't leave you." She slowly pulled her sleeve away. Sophia grunted in her sleep. Athena removed her shoes quickly and climbed onto the bed. She got under the sheet and pulled the sleeping Sophia in a tight hug.

She closed her eyes. A blissful smile appeared on her face. She did not know when she fell asleep.

After some time, the door creaked open. A tall girl tiptoed inside, followed by a woman. They both looked at the sleeping Athena and Sophia. They looked so peaceful. It was quite a lovely sight.

"What do you think of this, mother?" Trisha whispered. "I mean Sophia is always cold and doesn't like being touched by anyone but what do we have here?"

Lady Alisha remained silent as she stared at the two. She finally said, "It's a good thing that she is finally opening to someone."

Lady Alisha turned to leave. "Let's go."

The two quietly left afterwards.

Athena woke up with a start when a hard kick landed on her abdomen. She felt an excruciating pain, making her curse loudly, "What the heck?!"

"Get the hell out of my bed!" a childlike voice screamed. "What are you doing here anyway?!"

She rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked at the fuming Sophia. Her gaze softened and reached out to touch her cheek. "Calm down. Children shouldn't swear like that."

Sophia slapped her hand away rudely. "Don't touch me and for your own information, I am not a child."

"Really," she drawled as her eyes twinkled in amusement. "There is a drool on your face."

Sophia looked embarrassed and quickly raised her hand to wipe away the drool but there was nothing. She glared at her when she realized that she had been tricked. "Get out of my room right now!" She yelled as she pointed at the door.

Athena pulled up a long face. "Do you really want me out of your sight?"

Sophia only glared at her. Athena raised her hands in defeat. "Okay, okay. I am leaving." Athena climbed out of the bed and headed towards the door. She suddenly paused in her tracks and ran towards Sophia. She picked her up and kissed her cheek, catching her off guard. Sophia froze for a moment before glaring at her.

After a few seconds...

SLAP!

A slap resounded in the room. "GET OUT!"

Athena walked out of the room with a grin plastered on her face. A small handprint was seen on her right cheek. She greeted Lady Alisha and Trisha as she walked past them.

"Why is she smiling?" Trisha whispered. They had both seen that handprint.

"Don't tell me..." Her eyes widened. "Could she be a masochist?"