Vivian #2
“Did you go to college?”
He hummed. “Gonna need a definition for that one, darling.”
“Oh, sorry. Complicated school for adults.”
He nearly choked on his laugh. “I guess that’s one way to put what I did.”
“What’s funny?”
He coughed a couple of times as if to clear the amusement from his voice. “It’s hard to explain. I did receive a certain education for my last job, and that’s a funny way to look at it.” He paused before adding, “I really don’t want to go into it.”
“Damn, I wanted to be in on the joke,” I teased.
“It’s a bit of a dark one.”
“A dark joke, at that? Now I’m even more bummed.” I elbowed him playfully. “You’ll have to fill me in whenever you decide to stop being all mysterious.”
“I promise. If I talk to anyone about it, you’ll be the first to know.”
I could smell Ida’s cabin before I could see it—the smokey aroma was familiar and comforting. Just like her home.
As we approached, the protective charms tied to wooden stakes twinkled in the daytime starlight. Their sparkle was backdropped by rickety wooden walls and the decaying sloped roof of her abode.
“What are these?” Theo asked, lifting one of the jars of bloody herb from the post it was tied to with twine.
“Ida says it keeps the night monsters away; the crystal only works on the day creatures. It’s just a little blood and some Malough herb.”
“How long does it last?” He rotated the charm, inspecting it further before lowering it back down to hang.
“A while, I guess. She hasn’t had to replace them since I met her.
” I thought for a moment. “I’m sure that’ll be needed eventually.
I just don’t know that I’ll have the stomach when the time comes to kill a living thing.
” I was a vegetarian by nature, after all.
“I don’t even know what bleeds around here… Do you think I can buy blood in town?”
“I’ll make sure you don’t have to hurt anything,” he reassured as we climbed the steps to the front door.
I knocked. “Ida! It’s me! I brought a friend!” I warned as loudly as I could.
There was no reply. Maybe she was sleeping. I cracked the door open, stepping into the warm atmosphere of her cabin. A fire was blazing, of course. It may be a hot, humid summer day outside, but Ida always kept something burning. That woman went through brush like nobody’s business.
I looked toward the rocking chair where I usually found her, but it was empty.
Instead, she stood in the kitchen, clutching a knife, pointing the sharp tip in our direction.
Her skin was illuminated as if light was bursting from within it.
Her forearms were pitch black, ending in clawed hands.
Her eyes were blazing orange. Was this what Pyrans looked like naturally?
Why was she “feral”?
“Ida?”
“Get away from her.” Her voice reverberated powerfully in the space. “Vivian, come here, dear.”
My eyes panned to Theo, then back to my friend. She was lifting her palm at him, a clear threat to throw flames in his direction.
“Woah, woah.” I stepped in front of Theo. “Nobody needs to be hurt. He’s here to help me.”
Two hands swallowed my shoulders and gently pulled me to the side.
Theo stepped around me and towards Ida. A spark lit in her palm as he drew nearer, but he didn’t seem deterred.
Stationing himself on the opposite side of the wooden counter from her, he held out his hands, palms up.
Was he expecting a handshake? Or trying to show he wasn’t holding a weapon?
“Hi, Ida. My name is Theo. I’m building Vivian a cabin so she doesn’t need to leave the safety of her field. I’d like to help you as well.”
Ida was frozen for a moment. When she spoke, the question was quick and sharp. “Why?”
“Vivian saved my life and I’d like to repay that debt. I won’t tell a soul about her. I just want to set you both up for success, safe and happy. Then I’ll leave you alone.”
An unexpected pain ached in my chest. Why did it hurt that he planned to leave? I knew there was a timer on this budding relationship.
Ida’s glowing orbs flicked along Theo’s body. Maybe looking at his tattoos? I’d told her about them when describing him that night.
Although she still held the knife firmly, the hand clutching it faded back to her usual amber skin tone. Her eyes slowly regained their pupils.
“He isn’t dead?” Her simmering gaze met mine.
“I was as surprised as you are.” I shrugged.
She puffed her cheeks out with a reserved exhale. “Alright. He can convince me of his intentions over a cup of tea.”
My shoulders relaxed. “I’ll make some. You guys sit down.”
Theo waited for Ida to be seated before he sank down cross-legged on the straw rug. His palms were still open and turned up innocently. For a seven-foot-tall, tattooed giant, he almost looked nonthreatening.
He cleared his throat. “Vivian tells me you guys could use an extra set of hands to help prepare for winter.”
“We’re doing fine.” She frowned.
“Yes, Theo, we would really appreciate the help!” I called across the room from the kitchen. Ida needed to remember opportunities like this didn’t just show up randomly on the mountain every day.
“I’m gonna take Vivian to Drifael to get some necessities. With her hair dyed, she just needs something to cover her neck to blend in as a Pyran. Maybe you can help with that?”
“She can’t make fire.”
“Has anyone ever asked you to make fire on the spot while shopping? I think she’ll pass.” The confrontation was gentle, but firm. There was something funny about seeing him arguing for a case I knew he disagreed with.
“Hm,” Ida harrumphed. “Vivian, where’d you find this male?”
“In the snow,” I chirped, trying to add some levity to the weight of the room.
“I meant after that.” Her voice was laced with speculation.