fine.” She took a deep breath in and scooted her legs underneath her. “It pretty much transpired like our plan. Only, it happened a lot quicker than I thought.”
“How so?” I probed.
“Cyril was getting aloof again. He was distracted like before. He’d wander around and not even pay attention to what I was saying. I knew he was contemplating being taken away to save me. I knew he was falling for their stories and mind tricks. Lord knows what kind of images they were throwing at him. There was no way I could talk sense into him. Azazel’s promise or threat, however you want to look at it, seemed to be working. We had barely gotten settled in our hideout, when I decided I needed to start the process.” Her voice sounded exhausted. “I didn’t want to leave him like that, but I knew it was my only shot to keep him from making the wrong decision. Every hour counted.”
“It’s funny how this love, we have for our partners, is so strong that it can even tear us apart.” Shaking my head, I walked towards the fridge to grab a water. “We think we are doing the right thing to protect our loved ones, and it can actually be a catalyst for something that we would never consciously want to happen.”
Arie nodded her head. Her eyes looked exhausted. I wasn’t sure how much longer I should stay.
“I tell you, that pull I had to Athen was like nothing I thought possible. It felt as if I would literally wither away, if I didn’t somehow see him or connect with him. I don’t know how he did it for fifty years.”
“I know! It’s crazy. In the real world, Cyril would never think of turning to the dark side, but throw in the mix that it’s the only way to save me, and he’s first in line. It’s pretty hard to wrap my head around.”
“Well, we’ll get him back to his old self, but in the meantime, we’ve got some major planning to do. The factions are popping up all over under various Masters. Azazel is pulling out all the stops. Deep in my heart, I think he’ll give up on trying to whisk us away when he sees it hasn’t worked.” I plopped on the couch, realizing how good sleep sounded right about now. I had no idea the stress I must have been feeling with the thought that this might not go well.
“Let’s hope it stays contained,” Arie sighed.
“I’ve been thinking the same thing, Arie. It’s not a happy thought. If they start dabbling in the mortal world the way they are capable…” I didn’t want to end my sentence as if that would solidify it. My body shuddered at the idea. Deep inside a thought kept trying to surface that I refused to acknowledge. This was a war for the underworld to handle – not the mortal world. I had to ensure that was the case.
We had both fallen asleep on the couch, only to be woken up by the darkness that the many hours of sleep had brought. Matilda was crawling on me, obviously, with some sort of business on her mind. Arie looked as if she had slept away some of her stress.
“I’ll take her out. I think you should stay under wraps as much as possible. Things have gone too well, to have something happen before you get your green eyes back,” I said, only half joking, as she threw the leash and room card at me.
“At this point, I feel wide awake! Argh! Now… my sleep is gonna be all screwed up!” Arie chuckled. “But, I really needed that.”
I headed towards the door to take Matilda out and scope around the block, in case there was anything I should be concerned about.
The elevator spilled Matilda and I into the lobby, and we made our way out to the chilly evening air. Walking, on the sidewalk towards the park, brought a sense of normalcy back. Summer’s tourists were out in great numbers as was typically the case this time a year in Seattle. I kept alert as I followed Matilda to her stomping ground.
“Hey, miss! Ana!” I heard a stranger’s voice call. My muscles tightened up all over. A twinge of sadness came over me, realizing that even normal
“How so?” I probed.
“Cyril was getting aloof again. He was distracted like before. He’d wander around and not even pay attention to what I was saying. I knew he was contemplating being taken away to save me. I knew he was falling for their stories and mind tricks. Lord knows what kind of images they were throwing at him. There was no way I could talk sense into him. Azazel’s promise or threat, however you want to look at it, seemed to be working. We had barely gotten settled in our hideout, when I decided I needed to start the process.” Her voice sounded exhausted. “I didn’t want to leave him like that, but I knew it was my only shot to keep him from making the wrong decision. Every hour counted.”
“It’s funny how this love, we have for our partners, is so strong that it can even tear us apart.” Shaking my head, I walked towards the fridge to grab a water. “We think we are doing the right thing to protect our loved ones, and it can actually be a catalyst for something that we would never consciously want to happen.”
Arie nodded her head. Her eyes looked exhausted. I wasn’t sure how much longer I should stay.
“I tell you, that pull I had to Athen was like nothing I thought possible. It felt as if I would literally wither away, if I didn’t somehow see him or connect with him. I don’t know how he did it for fifty years.”
“I know! It’s crazy. In the real world, Cyril would never think of turning to the dark side, but throw in the mix that it’s the only way to save me, and he’s first in line. It’s pretty hard to wrap my head around.”
“Well, we’ll get him back to his old self, but in the meantime, we’ve got some major planning to do. The factions are popping up all over under various Masters. Azazel is pulling out all the stops. Deep in my heart, I think he’ll give up on trying to whisk us away when he sees it hasn’t worked.” I plopped on the couch, realizing how good sleep sounded right about now. I had no idea the stress I must have been feeling with the thought that this might not go well.
“Let’s hope it stays contained,” Arie sighed.
“I’ve been thinking the same thing, Arie. It’s not a happy thought. If they start dabbling in the mortal world the way they are capable…” I didn’t want to end my sentence as if that would solidify it. My body shuddered at the idea. Deep inside a thought kept trying to surface that I refused to acknowledge. This was a war for the underworld to handle – not the mortal world. I had to ensure that was the case.
We had both fallen asleep on the couch, only to be woken up by the darkness that the many hours of sleep had brought. Matilda was crawling on me, obviously, with some sort of business on her mind. Arie looked as if she had slept away some of her stress.
“I’ll take her out. I think you should stay under wraps as much as possible. Things have gone too well, to have something happen before you get your green eyes back,” I said, only half joking, as she threw the leash and room card at me.
“At this point, I feel wide awake! Argh! Now… my sleep is gonna be all screwed up!” Arie chuckled. “But, I really needed that.”
I headed towards the door to take Matilda out and scope around the block, in case there was anything I should be concerned about.
The elevator spilled Matilda and I into the lobby, and we made our way out to the chilly evening air. Walking, on the sidewalk towards the park, brought a sense of normalcy back. Summer’s tourists were out in great numbers as was typically the case this time a year in Seattle. I kept alert as I followed Matilda to her stomping ground.
“Hey, miss! Ana!” I heard a stranger’s voice call. My muscles tightened up all over. A twinge of sadness came over me, realizing that even normal
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