Chapter 25 – Celaeno
CELAENO
One week later
We spent a week in the hotel while I healed, a week of me not speaking and the gargoyles staring at me with big frightened eyes.
They wouldn’t let me walk on my own. They carried me to the bathroom, they bathed me in the shower, and they held me closely at night, as if scared I might disappear again.
It was a strange experience. Never in my life had people treated me like this before… as if I was something fragile and important.
On the eighth day, I awoke and touched my throat. Scars are all that remain from my death, and I know they’ll soon fade too. I swallow hard, slip from the sheets, and get a glass of water. My gargoyles must be exhausted, because for once they don’t spring into action with my movement.
It’s nice to be walking around again, even though my legs and arms tremble at the exertion.
After a quick trip to the bathroom, I come back and sit on the little chair by the table and drink the water slowly.
I clear my throat and speak. To my surprise, after a few creaky words, I sound almost normal.
I’m better… at least enough. Enough to leave.
My heart aches. I should go. They’d promised to give me a head start, but would they? Would they even remember that promise, back when they were desperate to break the curse? I wasn’t sure they would keep their bargain.
A powerful part of me had hoped they could forget what I was, hoped they were taking care of me because they felt something for me.
But the truth was, they were probably caring for me until my voice worked again, until I could explain what happened with Sarah.
Then they would kill me as they had intended all along.
Pulling off Grey’s big shirt, I slip into another one of the ridiculous outfits they’d given me. This one was a big white shirt and gray sweat pants. The clothes swallow me whole, but it’s better than nothing.
Lingering in the doorway, I look at them one last time and head out into the coldness of the town.
Unable to help myself, I walk through the streets.
It’s early morning, but people are still out living their lives.
Some are driving and a few hardy souls are jogging.
The air smells of pine needles instead of the curse.
I’d heard Candy’s body had been found and put to rest. Her daughter had found a permanent family, people who had been wanting a child for many, many years. Too many of my birds died that day, but I tried to focus on all the ones we’d saved and the humans that got away unharmed.
I heard the sheriff was looking for his daughter. I wanted to tell him the truth, but that was the one thing I couldn’t do. No parent needed to know their child was a monster.
Or dead.
Sliding into an alley, I shift and fly to the rooftop. Shifting again into my human-form, I stare out, watching the sun rise. This town is beautiful. Maybe someday I’d come back to it.
I think of all the places I’d lived in my life. None of them appeal to me now. I’ll just have to pick a direction and start flying, and maybe I’d find someplace new where I can be happy.
Behind me, something large hits the roof. Spinning, I’m shocked to see Grey. He grabs my arm, rough as always. For a second I think about shifting, but then he yanks me against his chest.
For a long time he just holds me, and all I can hear is the racing of his heart.
It feels good, but I’m still scared. He was sent here to kill me. I know he has feelings for me, but can his feelings trump his duty?
Two more heavy gargoyles land on the roof with identical thuds.
“You found her!” Ender cries out, and then I’m in his arms.
He squeezes me gently, then holds me out in front of him. “What the hell?”
I look at Journey. His gaze connects with mine.
“We thought someone had taken you again,” Journey explains, his voice filled with misery.
I clear my throat and reluctantly pull back from Ender’s hold.
“I know you want to know what happened with Sarah. She made the mistake of thinking that her curse was more powerful than my connection with my birds. The second she used my blood to command them, they instinctually attacked the person who had killed me. I tried to warn her… it’s happened every time someone has killed me.
Their need to avenge me broke the curse. ”
Grey just stares at me. “You think we give a fuck about that mess?”
I stiffen. “I don’t understand.”
“We care about you. About you being safe.”
I wrap my arms around myself, feeling strangely vulnerable. “But I’m a monster.”
Journey moves closer and cups my chin. “That woman was a monster. Anyone who tries to hurt you is a monster. You, you’re a woman. Our woman.”
Staring in shock, I try to process his words. “But you were sent to kill me.”
“And Grey will return to our home and inform them that you died. Which you did.”
All I can do is stare. How is this even possible?
Journey continues in the most logical voice I’ve ever heard. “He’ll then inform them that we have decided to live in a human city for a while. They won’t like it, but they won’t stop us. He’ll come back, and we’ll create a life together, wherever you want.”
There’s silence for a moment before Ender adds. “If you want.”
The words rush out of me. “Fuck, yes!”
And then they’re hugging me in their massive arms, their huge bodies making me feel warm and safe.
I smile. My life starts to unfold in front of me, and now, there’s so much possibility.
Grey whispers above me, “But if you ever try to escape again, we’ll renege on our deal. There’s no way we’ll give you a week head start.”
I pull back from them and laugh. “Deal!”