A Gift from the Goddess

Over the next few days, I found myself feeling anxious.

Under the constant watchful eye of both my father and Gavin, I continued to play along with my usual daily routine.

Acting as if nothing was amiss.

Doing all the training that was asked of me.

But, inside, I was thinking back to that keycard.

The one I’d hidden under my mattress.

Waiting for exactly the right moment for when I’d be able to use it.

...A moment I found finally presented itself on the night of the third day.

With my father expected to be staying overnight elsewhere for a late meeting and Gavin only working until seven o’clock, I saw an opportunity to take advantage of the soon-to-be quiet house.

And I devised a plan to leave as soon as the sky grew dark.

A few hours later, I was slowly scaling to the ground from my bedroom window.

This being something I did with ease and without being seen.

And though I never thought to use my abilities to go behind my father’s back, I certainly couldn't deny that it came in handy.

Soon, before much time had passed at all, I found myself facing the door I’d been thinking of so incessantly.

The door I’d been wondering about every day, contemplating all of the things I could possibly discover once I entered through it.

A door that might just possibly change my life forever.

And I stared at it.

...And stared.

......And stared.

And I kept staring, even while my hand reached out several times to knock, failing every time to go through with it.

..I’d been so certain in my decision and come all this way, only to—.

But then, suddenly, the door opened in front of me.

"_.Are you just going to stand out there all night?" came a voice from inside.

It was his voice.I recognised it well now.

"I ah...," I started, feeling a little awkward for being caught.

"I’m sorry.I just...I—."

"It’s okay.No need to be sorry," he said, his face then appearing from the other side of the door.

Instantly, that same effect started to hit me, a reassurance spreading throughout as his presence held me.

"I get it.If you need more time to think, I can just leave this open.I’m not pressuring you to “

 "No!" I quickly blurted out.

"No, it’s okay.Everything is okay...I’m ready."

I came here with determination to get answers.I couldn’t back out now.

Whatever happened tonight, at least I could say that I tried.

My mistake would only lie in wanting to hope for a better life.

"Okay...well, come on in," he said.

I was ready to step through the door but was stopped a s he held a hand out to me.

Just as he had done so once before.

However, the last time he’d done that, I had been too overwhelmed to reciprocate.

Too many thoughts and questions holding me back, so unsure of everything that had been happening at the time.

Now, when I looked at his outstretched hand, I sawa possible beginning.

"T just need you to trust me," he had said to me that day.

Well, I couldn’t be sure if I was ready for that just yet, but I was at least willing to believe.

Believe that there was a chance of this being real...if only for a moment...And so I cautiously reached out...hesitating once or twice as I moved...before, finally, those same sparks tingled along my skin in greeting upon contact.

"I'm really glad you came back, Raven," he said, his voice low and eyes so intense.

And, instantly, I felt as my cheeks began to burn ever s o slightly.

..Clearly, I would need to be careful in more ways than one around him.I could see how easy it would be to become distracted from the mission at hand.

"This doesn’t mean I trust you," I clarified.

"And I… I'd like some sort of proof.I’m risking a lot by coming here and I feel it’s only fair that you prove you are what you say you are."

forward through the front door and closed it behind me,

I became painfully aware of as I became

think I can manage that," he

that we were completely alone, the way

if he were somehow devouring me with his

I could have sworn appeared darker for

maybe it was

"Make yourself at home."

me, and quickly I

let myself become

room

day, the place was

it felt larger than some people’s houses in

host an elaborate party without feeling even

against doing anything like this indoors but...well, the city isn’t exactly an ideal place to do something where people might

have to make do with the space we

what? But as I turned to look at him, I had to fight the urge

he stood to the side as he watched me, slowly starting the process of

in surprise, unable

any way though, his lip

shirt," he said, as if it were

want it

his chest as he continued unbuttoning, his actions undeterred from my cries

skin that was revealed seemed

sight I never would have expected to be hiding behind his

strong...but this? I swallowed and quickly tried to refocus my

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

said, almost

asked me to prove

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

wasn’t going to do that in here, was he? And my mind immediately recalled the

that...dangerous?" I

lock you inside

immediately made him laugh, much to my embarrassment.I

could only make assumptions based on

that knowledge...it wasn’t

the ground, becoming lost in thought

lost that I didn’t even notice when he

a shiver

he said quietly,

world that could ever make

wanted

pushing couches and other pieces of furniture out the way,

open space i n which

you ready?"

step back cautiously and nodded my

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

silence as I watched him shift

effortlessly until all

stared at me knowingly, a look embedded within

running or feel even remotely afraid, as

recognition from

As though this felt...right.

to walk towards him, moving until

laid down on the ground, presumably trying to make himself appear

it to? He looked at me as if he knew exactly who

decided to trust that instinct...reaching out hesitantly to

mused

allowing me to continue feeling the

same sparks as when I touched his skin, I still

be something I

and bloody murders to anything even

apparently disagreed with

his head and gave me a

ached with

to learn this," I

to be so afraid

so lonely, thinking I was a freak

Kieran like this

me and was willing to help me learn

felt like the final piece of the puzzle was

had were

Natural.

or nefarious

a part of being this

did that mean I really could trust him? Abruptly, Kieran then stood up, shaking his fur and

by the sudden movement but tried not to

already that he

he did finally emerge again, he was back to his normal self

turn," he said, walking

this immediately made me

there’d be like...exercises or something to do first.Some way

don’t think it’s a good idea for me to

other than to just do it.I'll be