The Golden Balderdash of a Stubborn Taurus Moon

The medallion on the chain was that of a golden Bull, a symbol for Taurus and the energetic enthusiasm for life, that he brought to her heart. There were others charms, a Ram for Aries and Mars, a Lion for courage and beauty, and a Bear representing their shared strength together. He would switch them out from time to time, but tonight it was the Bull around his neck. It was the pendant she had bought him for his birthday a few months before. She sat staring at the pendant at the dinner table across from her. It was fitting for their celebration of a successful business venture. The moon was full on this beautiful night, and it was to be an announcement party for their engagement. However, She found herself very nervous. Although, she could not reason why she should feel uneasy at such a joyous moment, perhaps it was everything that came before, or maybe it was the company that was with her at that moment earlier in her hotel room.

Earlier that day, she stood in her hotel room gazing into the mirror of the dresser. "Why did you call it the year of the Purple Metal Cow," chimed the voice of the other person in the room with her in a good-humored and almost joshing way. "It is the Chinese New Year of the Metal Cow, and the lucky color happens to be purple; it is supposedly a very fortunate year," she answered. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and said, "It seems fortunate to me, and purple is my favorite color." He then withdrew his embrace and headed toward the shower room, leaving the door ajar, allowing the steam of the shower, that he had just turned the water on in, to escape. She watched as the steam fogged the mirror on the wall beside the door, and listened as the water sounding like rain beat in the shower, and she could hear him singing. She knew the song well, and she allowed her mind to wander to all the times it had brought her joy to hear it. Then, she thought of her fiancé and how would she ever be honest with him about all of this. Together, they had accomplished so very much, and she loved him with all her heart. He was the wizard to her wicked witch, and she couldn't imagine being without him.

Now, it was later in the night, the stars were out, and there they sat with his entire family. They were like a pack or flock that stuck together no matter what, and she felt like the wolf or snake about to ruin and divide them, in a way she loved them all for varied reasons, they had all brought her so much comfort in her times of need. "I must have cast the perfect spell to wish and dream you into my reality," said the Bull pendant wearing man she so dearly loved across from her, he then continued, "But, then isn't it you who casts spells in prayer, and maybe I owe all my gratitude to your magic. I am in awe of how you sparkle and shine." She blushed, he was so accepting of her, and all that she was. As Priestess of a Coven, and still maintaining her roots in orthodox faith, not to mention all her other strange quirks and views on life. He truly loved her, and she never wanted to hurt him in any way. "I spoke with your brother earlier," she casually mentioned to him. "Which one?," he replied, "I have so many of them." She shyly smiled, and answered, "the one closest to you in age." He laughed, "Why are we so formal and evasively mysterious, you know his name," he said to her with a grin as he wrinkled his nose and his blue eyes twinkled in amusement. Then he said, "You can be so silly, without trying, I adore that." She forced a smile, "he was telling me about his vineyard and making virgin purple cows." He laughed across from her, she could see his nose wrinkle, his eyes sparkle, his smile shine, and his shoulders lift as he laughed for a moment. "What on Earth are you talking about?," he said to her. "The drink, the Purple Cow, it is normally made with Vodka, grape juice, creme de cacao, brandy, and vanilla ice cream, in a blender, but of course without the Vodka and with cacao powder or chocolate syrup instead of the creme de cacao," she abashingly stated, knowing that he and his whole family abstained. He was silent a moment, and then he said, "Are you nervous?"

She thought to herself, of course she was nervous, nervous about everything, taking such a big step in their relationship, confessing to his entire family about their relationship, telling him about earlier with his brother, and just absolutely everything. She felt completely out of place, like a red spot in the middle of anything white. "No," she answered softly. He smiled, and said, "It is all right if you are, I am." Just then one of his brother's tapped his fingers on the table almost like a drum roll, and raised his voice to say, "I am so proud of our youngest brother, and all he has accomplished this year. And, I believe he mentioned he had something important to tell all of us." Then all eyes were on their corner of the table. All his brothers, and their wives, his sister and her husband, and other extended family that had came to the celebration, were all staring their way, including her earlier company of the day, minus his partner, who apparently was absent for some unknown reason. "I do have an important announcement," said her love from across the table, "I am planning a union with my new business partner, the Priestess and I are to be married." There was a mix of smiles and congratulations with frowns and the shaking of heads from the group, it seemed not everyone was pleased with such news. The oldest of the group looked down at his plate and not up again, he seemed the most displeased. Then, the snow haired brother sitting closest to her spoke, "I am happy for you, the greatest of blessings and congratulations to you both." With that, her former company of the day frowned and pushed back away from the table.

Storming into the dining hall, the earlier company's partner came, her teeth clenched in a snarling sneer as tight as her fists at her side. All of a sudden the table was flipped, and she had to blink to fathom what she was seeing, but the entire family was wolves, with the exception of her love. He was a golden ram, now wearing the Bull pendant about its neck. The ram spoke and said, "Get behind me Priestess, you are not safe, the former shepherdess will slay you." Maybe she was dreaming she thought, perhaps she was resting in her bed, stressed from her shame filled mind, but she felt it best to heed his words. She obeyed, and moved behind the great soft beast. His golden horns were rather large, and she knew on the wrong side of them could be lethal. The woman charged in, pointing her finger at the earlier company, which was now a lilac wolf. "You betrayed me," the woman sneered and cackled, as a spark seemed to emanate from her hand. "We have chosen a Priestess to watch over the pack, she has brought us much good fortune in place of the stagnation your charms have left us with," said the ram, "You are no longer desired here." The woman glowered at the ram and said, "My mate has betrayed me, and I will not quietly back down. That witch owes me her power, her voice, or her life!"

With a mighty leap the lilac wolf pounced onto the scourned woman, and tore at her throat. He backed away slowly and toward the ram. He hung his head and growled, "I did betray her, and you, I am ashamed, and do not deserve your forgiveness," said the lilac wolf to the ram with his now blood stained lips. "I know," said the ram, as in a mist of fog they were all changed back to their former shapes and picking up the table and spilt dishes, "I know what she is, and I accept her as is, I know she loves every one of us, and I am glad for it. We shall all surely prosper. I expect her to be ours." For a moment, she felt relief, but then realised that she was the new found possession of a pack of wolves. She watched as the two brothers hugged and patted each other's backs, and then they turned to her. Her earlier company taking his handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his face, and then discarding it onto the table. "It seems it is a double wedding," said her love, "one for the golden bull, and for the purple cow." He laughed at that, and she watched as his eyes twinkled and his nose wrinkled, and he tossed his brother into her arms. "I am busy most of the time, he'll be good company for you," joked her love. Although, she didn't find it so very amusing, and she really wasn't sure what was really going on, or what she had gotten herself into, or what all the balderdash would mean for her future.

~The End...