Three
Diego
It was Sunday, which I was grateful for because I didn't think I could wait until the end of the work day to visit Shade again. This morning, I'd woken up believing everything that'd happened yesterday had been nothing more than a dream, and I needed to make sure that wasn't true.
After a quick shower, I sifted through my closet and found some clothes I'd been told I looked good in.
The jeans clung to my legs, and the form-fitting Henley matched my eyes, according to Liam.
He'd come shopping with me a few weeks ago, then helped me label all the new clothes so I'd know which was which.
I'd never had a friend as kind as him before.
Well, except for Shade, but Shade wasn't like anybody else. He was unique.
It was only after I'd given Pix her treats and a smacking forehead kiss and left the apartment that I realized I'd dressed up like I was going on a date, which was crazy.
I was just going to meet an old friend, wasn't I?
A friend I hadn't stopped thinking about since I last saw him more than a decade ago.
"Carajo," I mumbled to myself as I walked, forcing my mind to stop getting distracted so I could focus on my surroundings.
After I lost my sight, I'd struggled hard for a while, especially because Shade was gone.
My mom had done all she could to help me, but she'd been wracked with guilt about bringing Andrew into my life, and that had caused a strain on our relationship for a long time.
I'd felt so alone, but somehow, that had made me feel closer to Shade, as if I could finally empathize with him. It'd given me the strength to keep going, even though I'd known I would never see him again.
I wondered if his shadows were still with me. Had he taken them back yesterday?
As if in answer, I felt a tug to the left, and I side-stepped a moment before someone ran past me. They would've collided right into me if not for the shadows watching out for me.
"Thank you," I murmured, a smile on my face. I probably looked ridiculous to anyone who'd seen me, but I didn't care. One of the benefits of being blind was that you didn't have to worry about people's reactions because you didn't have to see them.
The shadows tugged at me as I reached the Sanctuary, though I'd remembered the spot too. I climbed up the stairs, eagerly grabbing at the door handle. But when I tugged, the door shuddered but remained closed. What the hell?
I tried again, and again, but the door didn't budge. Had someone locked it? Shade had said it shouldn't have allowed me in, even with his shadows clinging to me. Did that mean whatever magic kept humans out was working again ?
No, this couldn't be happening. I couldn't leave. I had to see Shade, had to touch him and assure myself he was there, that I hadn't dreamed the whole thing up.
I tried the door a few more times, even knocked on the solid wood, but there was no answer.
I knew Shade himself couldn't come out to let me in, but I wondered if the knocks could even be heard from inside.
He'd said the Sanctuary was inside a pocket dimension, and that this door was just what anchored it to this world.
Did that mean there was another door inside this one that led to the Sanctuary?
And there was some invisible space between them that kept my knocks from being heard inside?
I rubbed my forehead as my thoughts tangled together in my attempt to make sense of things. I had a feeling magic and science didn't mesh, or at least not in a way I could understand without a PhD in Physics.
Sighing, I turned around and walked to the edge of the small porch before dropping to my ass.
If I couldn't get in, I'd just have to wait until someone walked out and ask them to let me in.
I had no idea if they would, but saying Shade's name should help, right?
If they knew I was friends with someone inside, they'd let me in. They had to.
I wasn't sure how long I sat there before the door opened, and I jumped to my feet. Before I could reach it though, it slammed shut again, as if whoever it'd been had taken one look at me and bolted. Mierda!
I knocked again. "Please, let me in. I have a friend inside I'd like to see," I called out, but there was no reply.
After a minute, I returned to my spot on the porch to wait some more. I didn't have to linger long for the door to open again, but it closed before I could even stand up .
A swish of cloth told me someone had come outside, and footsteps approached me, making me tilt my head up even though I couldn't actually see them.
Their footsteps were soft as they reached me, and then there was more swishing of clothes as they sat down beside me. Were they wearing a cloak or something?
"Hello," a warm, deep voice said, and I dipped my head in greeting.
"Hi."
"Are you waiting for someone?" the man asked, shuffling some more. I got the feeling he'd turned to face me.
"I have a friend in there. We were supposed to meet, but I can't get in," I explained, and the man hummed.
"What's your friend's name?"
"Shade," I replied quickly, hoping this man was someone who could or would let me in. I could feel the magic that surrounded him like I'd felt it inside the Sanctuary yesterday. Whoever he was, he was powerful.
He seemed surprised by my answer, and a clink of metal had me furrowing my brows and drawing back. Was he grabbing a weapon of some kind? Had I messed up somehow?
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. It's just my arm," he said, as metal brushed against my palm. Taking that as permission, I trailed my fingers over the metal, realizing quickly it was a prosthetic of some kind, going all the way to the man's elbow.
"Oh, that's fascinating," I said, then felt myself flush. "Sorry."
He gave a warm laugh. "It's all right. Draven did marvelous work with it, and I find it quite fascinating too. Now come on—let's get you to Shade."
"I can come in?" I asked, shooting to my feet as a wide grin spread across my lips .
"Yes, of course. Any friend of Shade's is welcome here. You do know what this place is, right?"
"I do. He told me yesterday."
"Ah, that was you," he said, as if something finally made sense, and I remembered the man who'd come asking if Shade knew who'd come through the door.
"Wait. Are you... are you Zephyr Morrigan? The man who made this place?" I asked as we paused in front of the door, turning my head toward him.
"Oh, my bad. I should've introduced myself. Yes, I'm Zephyr. It's nice to meet you."
"I'm Diego," I said, and he paused for a moment before patting my shoulder with a firm but flesh-and-blood hand.
"Welcome to the Sanctuary, Diego."
Shade
Diego was late and I was getting nervous. Had he changed his mind? He couldn't change his mind, not now.
Last night, I'd dreamed of my mother for the first time in years.
She'd held me in her arms as we sat in our cave, peering at the stars we could barely see out of the cave's exit.
We sat as far away from it as possible so light wouldn't reach us when we woke the next morning, but even from here, we could see a few.
Ma was telling me a story, and it was my favorite one.
"You'll see, sweetie. One day, you'll meet them, that one person who will make your shadows dance, whom you will never want to let go. They'll make you happy in a way no one can, and with them, you'll be able to see the world. "
"How will I know it's them?" I'd asked, excited about the prospect of finding that special person who would be just mine.
Ma had smiled at me, then pressed a kiss on my forehead. "When you first see them, you'll know they're special. You'll want to protect them, and so will your shadows. If you're ever separated, your shadows will stay with them to keep them safe until they can bring them back to you."
"Do you think I will find them soon?" I'd asked, and Ma had assured me I would. Which wasn't true, since it'd taken me a few centuries to get here.
I'd woken up from that memory-dream with my heart in my throat and a desperate need to see Diego again.
I had no idea what he would say if I told him what he meant to me.
I didn't even know if he was interested in men, much less me.
He'd always known I wasn't human, and he'd accepted me, but that had been as a friend.
The outside door to my area opened, and I raced to the door, all worries thrown aside as I waited impatiently. The second door opened, and I slumped when I saw it was the headmaster, then straightened right back up when I saw Diego was with him.
I hurried to him, paying no mind to the headmaster—even though I should probably have been worried why Diego was with him—as I took Diego's hands in mine, scanning his face. "Are you okay?"
He smiled up at me, his hazel eyes soft. "I am. I couldn't get in, but then Zephyr let me in." I blinked. Why were they on a first-name basis already?
I turned to the headmaster, who gave me a shrug. "You should've told me about him yesterday, and I would've registered him into the ward. "
"I wasn't sure you'd allow it," I said, and his brows furrowed as he glanced between us.
"Aren't you two..." He trailed off, and I nodded quickly. I wasn't sure why he'd assumed we were mates, but he wasn't wrong. I just didn't want him blurting it out before I had a chance to tell Diego.
"Thank you, for bringing Diego in," I said, and he waved me off, his blue eyes sparkling as he glanced between us. I had a feeling he wanted to say something but refrained since he'd clearly figured out I hadn't told Diego yet.
"I have to go. Diego, I hope you'll join us for lunch in the dining room and get to know the others."
"Uh..." Diego hedged, and I squeezed his hand. I knew for a fact he'd get along with the other residents, and I wanted all my friends to meet him. "Okay, I'll be there. But only for a bit because I'd like to eat with Shade."
I smiled and gave his hand another squeeze, which made him smile in my direction.
The headmaster left after that, and the moment he was gone, I pulled Diego into a tight hug, enveloping him in my shadows as I held on to him.
"I thought you weren't coming back," I mumbled against his temple as he squeezed me, and he huffed.
"I'm never letting you go, you got that? You're stuck with me now," he said, and I couldn't imagine a better fate.
"Now, what did Zephyr mean when he went 'Aren't you two—' and you cut him off?"
"You're far too observant," I complained mildly, and he chuckled.
With a sigh, I pulled back and took his hand in mine. "Come on, let's sit and talk. "
"Uh-oh, this sounds serious," he said, and I glanced over at him, taking in his furrowed brows and pursed lips.
"It is, but it's nothing bad. I promise," I said, then amended. "Well, I don't think it's bad. I don't know how you will feel about it."
"Okay..." Diego murmured, clearly confused about the whole thing.
If I'd had more time, I would've asked Haruto or Khush for advice.
They'd both recently found their human mates, and they'd probably be able to tell me the best way to break the news.
But I didn't have time, which meant I'd have to do this on my own.
We settled on the couch, and I turned so I was facing Diego.
He did the same, making our knees knock together.
I'd noticed that despite his blindness, Diego liked facing whoever he was speaking to.
Was that a leftover habit from when he had his sight?
Or did he do it in an attempt to make the other person feel like he was paying attention?
I took a deep breath, searching for the right words. Diego took my hand in both of his, then pressed a soft kiss to my knuckles. "Tell me, Shade."