Chapter 11 #2
“Sorry about that. I haven’t been good at checking my cell. I’m at the Stag’s house. This is his landline. I’m looking into setting up the internet.”
“So, you’re doing well then? Do you need me to come get you?”
“Yes, no, I’m okay. Benjamin is being difficult, but I don’t have any right to be surprised. Overall, it’s good. How is work?”
“Good, well, maybe not so much. Matthew is planning to pitch your idea again with the updated plans. I’m not sure he’d welcome you back here now, despite what HR has to say about your contract.”
Matthew using my plans for the new pitch didn’t surprise me, but it still smarted. “How did you hear that?”
“I’ve been having lunch with Amanda lately, and she told me he’s had her systematically remove your name and any references to you from everything.
She feels bad, but when I asked her what she thought would happen if you returned, she looked around as if he could be spying on her.
I’d be paranoid too if I worked for that rat. ”
“Did she say anything more?”
“No, just that they have something in place to take care of the problem if you show up.”
“That’s…”
“Revolting, disgusting, I could go on.”
“Yeah, all that.”
“I don’t know, Freya. I’ll let you know what I find out from HR, if anything. They really want to talk to you, but for now, I think you should stay where you are. They can’t do anything to you if you’re not in their way.”
Or line of sight. I put my head down on the desk. “I think you’re right. It’s not like I’m up for going to war against them right now anyways. And at the same time, quitting doesn’t feel right either.”
Mindy let out a sigh. “I know. I’d say focus on your thing with Benjamin for now.
I’m going to have my personal attorney take a look at the whole situation, well, you know, without the whole changing your features part of it.
I’ll let you know what your options are once I have something good to tell you.
” She hesitated. I waited, needing to hear it, whatever it was.
“Could you change back all the way if you needed to?”
“Yes, definitely.” But the thought of going back made my stress levels jump.
“Good, that’s great. We’ll keep it in our pockets as an option.”
“Thanks, lady. You’re the best.”
“Don’t you forget it either. I’m coming back up there to check on you first chance I get. My hot springs vacation ended way too soon.”
“Come see me anytime.” I hung up the phone, trying to dig into all I was feeling.
After how badly I had been treated by people who I had worked under for years, my hurt feelings toward my Monster seemed insignificant.
He didn’t want me to get any ideas he couldn’t live up to.
I could respect that, even if it didn’t feel great.
I wanted to get back to where we were before that lunch.
Hopefully, he did too. I would just need to figure out how to get my thoughts in order—to stop wanting things I couldn’t have.
After spending the rest of the day replacing the rotting boards on the old porch, I flew back, my muscles tired but in the best way.
I landed on the roof and tested our bond.
It told me he was in his room like always, so I flew in through an open window and transformed in the den.
Naked, I walked to my room, not even pausing to do more than glance at his closed door.
Clothed and starving from a day’s worth of hard work, I headed to the kitchen.
Another stew bubbled away on the stove. I hadn’t seen him prepare it but wouldn’t assume he had made it just for me.
I grabbed a bowl and spoon and served myself a hearty portion.
It tasted a little gamey but was otherwise delicious, with perfectly cooked carrots and potatoes and some spice or herb I couldn’t quite place.
No, I wouldn’t move to the cabin. It was nice to have him here, even if I never saw him.
But I could keep my pulse on the world from there and use the repairs to clear my head.
I washed and dried my bowl and spoon, put them back in their spots on the main shelf, and poured myself a glass of cold mountain water from the tap.
When I walked back to my room, planning on spending the evening reading up on Mayan history, I noticed his door was open.
I took a few steps and stopped. Was this an invitation?
I leaned in to take a look and then knocked lightly.
There was no answer, but the door opened under my soft touch.
I looked around, half expecting to get yelled at for walking too loudly.
Not that he had ever yelled at me before.
The room was empty, and the French doors leading to the inner courtyard stood wide open.
I stepped hesitantly across the room, drawn to this private space I had yet to discover.
He was probably out flying, except my inner tug told me he was closer than that.
I followed it outside. A narrow path led to the left, winding through the thick wood.
The trees and undergrowth thinned out, opening into a clearing.
Tucked between the trees was a pool of water, bubbling gently like the one in the cavern beneath the house.
Plumes of mist rose from the water's warm surface into the cool evening air.
On the far edge of the pool, lounging against its sloped stone edge, was my Monster. His body was half-submerged, half-reclined, head thrown back against the ledge behind him. He gazed up at the stars. Feeling my eyes on him, he lifted his head.
We stared at each other for a long moment, and neither spoke. Was I imposing? Had I misinterpreted the open door as an invitation? Had he left it open by accident? Or had the wind blown it open?
Join me, Corvus. He put his head back and shut his eyes.
I didn’t think or hesitate, pulling my dress over my head.
Clothed only in my bra and panties, I stepped in.
Warm water lapped at my ankles, and I waded deeper.
He didn’t look at me until I was almost submerged, but the pull between us tugged harder now.
He wanted me there with him. And there was nowhere else I wanted to be.
I gave in to its lure, heading toward him.
Then I remembered how he cut me off at the diner.
I veered to the side and looked for a place to sit not too close to him.
The granite edges of the pool had been worn down over centuries.
They were rounded and smooth. I moved closer, my toe hitting the hard stone.
Bending down, I felt my way in the dark water.
A natural ledge ran along the edge. I pulled and twisted my body up onto it.
The waterline sat just below my breasts, my skin pebbling in the cool night air.
The water was hot enough that the cool air felt refreshing.
I looked over at my Monster. He hadn’t moved, still reclined, and I copied his position. The clear night sky opened above us, velvet black, frosted with sparkling diamonds. We were far from the nearest city, and I hadn’t seen so many stars since leaving home.
I breathed in and out, simply existing.
Your thoughts are quieter than usual.
He was right. Working with my hands all day was the best way to soothe my frantic mind. And now that we had reconciled, I was content.
I waved my hands back and forth in the warm water. A few bubbles made their way to the surface, popping silently. The night was quiet; no birds, bats, or insects interrupted our peace with their song.
Do you enjoy the work you are doing on the house?
Yes. Very much.
He sat perfectly still, his body like the stone behind him. I turned slightly to study his chiseled form.
Are the horns difficult to carry? They look heavy.
He tilted his head toward me, showing off the thick, ropy muscles on his neck. Wow.
I leaned back and fixed my attention on the sky, clearing my brain of extraneous thoughts. It was nice, just sharing space, with no emotional exchanges. Maybe we were finally learning how to co-exist.
She was nothing like you.
Who? I didn’t bother looking over. There was no need when he could sense my eagerness for his answer.
“The woman who had your room previously.” His voice broke through the silence of the night, ringing out loud and deep.
I turned my head. He had my full attention.
“Why did she leave?”
He was quiet for a few moments, considering his response.
“I had withdrawn more and more from the world’s stage until I had lost all interest in the machinations of man. She is a butterfly, someone unlike you, who believes in and craves the adoration of others.”
“When was the last time you saw her?”
“Fifty years ago.”
Oh. So, she was like him.
“But she left me two hundred years ago.”
Oh.
Without warning, he surged out of the pool, walking steadily toward the edge. I could sense more than see him in the darkness, but I kept my face toward the heavens. Unsure what he wanted, I stayed seated, but then he turned, still in the water.
Fly with me?
Yes.