Chapter 21
NO SECRETS HERE
RAYA
We go our separate ways after baggage claim, and I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t be able to stop smiling if my life depended on it. The joy only expands when I open my apartment door and am nearly smacked in the face by a glittering, reckless sprite.
I duck the tiny winged attacker and Reverie gets snagged in my hair instead of latching onto my nose. We both laugh as I help extricate her. I hold her up, exchanging our version of a hug before she hops up onto my shoulder and tangles her hands in my hair for stability.
“RAYA’S HOME!” Rev’s shrill voice rings through the apartment and I wince for my poor eardrum as Zuri strides out of the kitchen. She wasn’t supposed to be here, but her work must have finished early.
“I figured that was who was unlocking the door, seeing as no one else has a key.” Zuri’s smile is as wide as mine and we embrace tightly.
“What are you feeling? Food, unpacking, chill?” Zuri asks, turning to head further into the apartment as Reverie tucks herself into the crook of my neck with a contended hum.
“Might grab a snack and relax on the couch for a bit," I say as I wheel my luggage into my room.
“I can’t believe you left for so long," Reverie says, wiggling a little on my shoulder.
“I know, I’m sorry.” I wish I could take Reverie with me, but seeing as her race is largely thought to have died out, it’s best if she stays hidden. We try to get her out into nature whenever we can, but she gets anxious at the possibility of being seen by others.
“I nearly starved to death!” Reverie whisper shouts, to which Zuri snorts in response.
“You did not. I kept plenty of sprite appropriate food out for whenever you needed it, you little menace. You’re just mad I didn’t have your favorite sugary treats on hand 24/7," Zuri replies.
I’m pretty sure I feel Reverie cross her arms and pout on my shoulder, and I’m also pretty sure it’s pretend.
“I brought you each a little something," I say, handing over the souvenirs.
Reverie gasps and flicks her wings, sending a shower of glittery dust over my shoulder as she turns the plastic shot glass this way and that, inspecting each scenic picture wrapped around it.
“Another for my collection! I love it," Reverie says, hugging it to her chest. Turns out, shot glasses are about the perfect size for sprites, so we’ve got a small collection going.
The glass ones are too heavy for her though, so when I spotted this plastic one in the airport, I knew I had to get it.
“Glad you like it!” I say, then turn to Zuri, who is holding up a dainty bracelet.
“Each of the crystals are supposed to help with different things," I explain. “Rose Quartz for peace, Aventurine is for patience, Amethyst for tranquility, and Moonstone for intuition.” I point to each as I talk, then hold up my own wrist.
“I got one too.”
Zuri grins and slips it on, tightening the strings and admiring our matching bracelets.
“Good choices. Thanks, girl," Zuri says.
Warmth settles in my chest; I’m home.
“So how’d the trip with the murderous vampire go?” Zuri asks as we all settle onto the couch.
“He’s not murderous," I grumble, rolling my eyes up to the ceiling. So much for that happy, peaceful feeling I had a moment ago. I’d hoped to avoid this conversation for at least a day, but apparently not.
“Not that you know of, but that family is bad news.” Zuri is oblivious to my disagreement, but not for long.
“I don’t know. He’s actually pretty nice, and even helped me with my shifting," I say, not surprised at the shocked silence that follows.
I sneak a look at Zuri, then see Reverie hovering in the air next to my temple.
I look at her from the corner of my eye as she flits around my head, poking at my skull.
“What are you doing?” I ask, leaning away from Rev’s strange prodding.
“Checking for a head injury.”
Zuri scoffs, “Good call.”
“I’m serious! I can kind of control the shifts now. I wouldn’t be able to do any of it without his help. He’s not what you think.”
I recognize that I sound like a petulant child, but I’m not sure how to have this conversation. I knew Zuri would be opposed no matter what, but I hoped the two of them would at least be open to hearing my side of things.
“Really?” Reverie lands on a small fluffy pillow in the middle of the coffee table that we keep there for this type of situation. It’s hard to have a conversation with a sprite when they’re seated on the back of the couch or someone’s shoulder.
“Yeah. I mean, I had a hard time coming to terms with it too, but I really think he’s a good guy.”
Zuri’s lips pinch into a line, but she doesn’t reply, and Reverie looks thoughtful, tilting her head so her purple hair cascades over one shoulder, magenta streaks sparkling through it as she considers.
“So let’s see this shifting then!” Reverie stands and claps her hands.
“I’m not a show pony. Besides, I’m still learning. I kinda have to, like, feel it first? Or be in the right mood?”
They both stare at me blankly and I throw up my hands.
“I don’t know, okay? My inner animal has an attitude or something.” I glower as my lips pull down.
“Well, that’s okay,” Reverie backpedals, “I’m sure if you keep practicing it’ll get easier.”
“Yeah. I hope so.”
Reverie flutters her way back to my shoulder, this time nestling in for my comfort rather than her own. I tip my head and rub my cheek against Rev’s soft hair, a silent thank you for always being on my side.
I head over to my parents the next morning for Sunday family brunch, constantly flip flopping on whether I should tell them about Asher or not.
On top of that, although I’m proud of how far I’ve come with my shifting, I’m nervous they’ll ask for a demonstration like Reverie did.
I asked if she wanted to come with me to brunch, but she wasn’t feeling up for an outing.
I sigh, reminding myself to take deep breaths and grounding my body in the present moment.
So far since I’ve been home, there have been no unexpected shifts.
I’ve had a few instances of the tingles that prickle my skin before it happens, but with the skills Ash taught me, I’ve been able to prevent it.
As soon as my foot hits the porch step, the door flies open and my mom welcomes me, a massive smile on her face and her arms spread wide for a hug. I grin, happy to be back with my family who hopefully won’t judge me for who I’ve been spending my free time with.
My dad is right behind my mom, ready to embrace me as well.
“We’re so glad you’re home, honey," he says, giving me a bear hug and then swinging an arm over my shoulders as he steps to my side.
“I was only gone for a few days, geez," I say, laughing at how dramatic they’re both being when my mom slips an arm through mine on my other side and marches us all toward the kitchen.
“Well, it’s been over a week since I’ve gotten to hug you, so you’ll have to deal with a little extra affection to make up for it," Mom replies, no nonsense to be had.
“Sup, sis," my brother says as we walk past the living room. His back is to us and he’s playing a video game, driving like a maniac on the TV screen.
“Hey, Wes. Missed you too.”
“Breakfast in ten, Wesley," Mom calls out and he offers a quick head jerk in response, thumbs jabbing at the joy sticks on his controller.
“Is that our sweet, darling Raya, finally returned to us after being gone soooo long in the big city?” My sister, Josephine, smirks at me as she ups the dramatics, teasing my parents for their over the top welcome.
Mom lightly swats Jo’s arm in rebuke as she passes. “You watch your tone there, missy. I’m still your mother.”
Untangling myself from my parents, I give my sister a hug, too.
“What are you doing here? I didn’t expect you back until Thanksgiving," I say.
Josephine shrugs. “I had a free weekend, figured I’d swing by since it’s been a while.” She pauses, taking in my appearance and peering into my eyes.
“You good?” she asks, voice low so our parents don’t hear.
“I’m good," I assure her. Josephine doesn’t look convinced, and I’m not surprised. I never could keep anything from my big sister, so of course she’d notice that I’m nervous, but she drops it for now.
We all find seats around the table, and my dad serves up french toast with maple agave syrup, fresh blackberries, apple slices sautéed in cinnamon sugar, and a maple cool whip to top it all off.
“Wow, Dad. You really didn’t have to go all out like this,” I say, starting to feel bad at all the extra effort from my missing one week of family brunch.
“I wanted to, and I won’t hear any more about it," he replies.
My brother wastes no time diving in, and I beam around the table as my family chatters.
“So, Raya,” Mom turns to me, “tell us all about your trip. How was San Diego?”
“Oh it was great!” This part I can talk about, no problem. “It was hotter than I expected, but nice to be in the sun for a few days. Honestly though, the food was the best part. There are little Mexican places all over and oh my gosh. I can’t even tell you, it was so good.”
My dad is likely the only one who really cares about the food, but they all nod along anyway.
“And how was the work? You had some presentations, right?” Mom asks.
“Yep, it went well. I was worried since they kind of threw me in last minute, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle. I had some help from my coworker too, so that was nice, not to be completely alone with it all.”
“Good, good. Glad to hear it, honey. How did the full moon go?” Dad asks, and I feel my face flush. Naturally, my sister pounces on it.
“What is that? Why are you turning red?” Jo says, planting her elbows on the table.
This, of course, only causes me to redden even further, and I feel the tell-tale tingle start to zip up my spine.
I close my eyes, inhaling a deep breath through my nose and letting it out slowly through my mouth as I open them again.
“Oh. My. God. Raya, spill!” my sister says, and Jo’s intensity causes even my brother to start paying attention.
“It’s nothing!” I try to put them off the trail, but no one is having it.
“Okay, so I have this coworker, Asher," I start, ignoring Jo’s widening eyes and gleeful smile. “He’s a vampire, actually, but he was able to really help me with the shifting. He taught me some ways to manage my breathing and emotions and stuff, and I was able to partially shift on purpose a couple times, and I’ve been getting better at holding it off too. I even did it just now.”
“Just now?” Dad’s eyebrows pop up.
“Yep. Like, thirty seconds ago," I say. “I felt the weird tingle that always happens before I accidentally shift, and that’s why I closed my eyes. So I could focus and stop it.”
“Oh, honey.” Mom’s eyes are a little glassy, which causes me to squirm in my seat. “We are so proud of you, that’s wonderful.”
“Mhmm yeah, great job being a shifter.” My sister is awesome, like, ninety percent of the time. This is not one of those times. “I want to hear more about this “coworker.””
“You’re seriously the worst sometimes," I grumble under my breath, but everyone, even my brother, is looking at me expectantly. “Okay, fine. We spent a lot of time together this week, and we sort of hit it off. We’re going to talk to HR about our relationship on Monday, see if we can get it approved or whatever.”
“Oh shit, girl. That’s serious," Jo says, leaning back in her seat.
“Language, Josephine!” our mother admonishes as I reply.
“Yeah, I guess it is. He’s really nice.”
“Vampire, you said?” Dad asks, not one to be deterred from the important details.
“Yeah, one of the good ones, though," I assure him, hoping I’m speaking the truth and haven’t completely misread Asher.
Dad gives me that classic dad look, the one with the uncompromising eyes as he replies.
“I expect we’ll be meeting him soon then.”
I should have expected that.