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."

me forward through the front door and closed it behind

he towered over me, something that I became painfully aware of as I became trapped between him

can

were completely alone, the

were somehow devouring me

could have sworn appeared darker

was just

"Make yourself at home."

stepped back, releasing me, and quickly I walked around him into the

let myself

room

other day, the place was

felt larger than some people’s houses

to host an elaborate party without feeling even

exactly an ideal place to do something where people might see," he said as he

just have to make do

I turned to look at him, I had

he stood to the side as he watched me,

yelled in surprise, unable to stop myself from

way though, his lip twitching

my favorite shirt," he said, as if it

don’t want it to get

his chest as he continued unbuttoning, his actions

was revealed seemed

sight I never would have expected to be hiding

this? I swallowed and quickly

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

the shift?" he said,

me to prove we were the same,

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

to do that in here, was he? And my mind immediately

I quickly

I need to lock

laugh, much to my embarrassment.I

now, I could only make assumptions based on the knowledge

knowledge...it wasn’t

ground, becoming lost in thought over my prior

when he appeared right in

instantly, a shiver

quietly, drawing

could ever make me hurt you.I am the

a part of me wanted

could respond though, he moved past me to start pushing couches and other pieces of furniture out

was done, there was a semi-large open space i n which

you ready?"

back cautiously

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

him

and transforming effortlessly until all

me knowingly, a look embedded within those familiar hazel

like running or feel

I felt recognition from deep

As though this felt...right.

walk towards him, moving until I was crouched

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

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

decided to trust that instinct...reaching out hesitantly

mused aloud to

closed upon contact, allowing me

though I didn’t feel the same sparks as when

this really be something I can do?"I

seemed impossible to think that I could go from blackouts and bloody

apparently disagreed with

question, he raised his head and gave me a nod, confirming that this

ached with

want to learn this,"

don’t want to be

so lonely, thinking I was a

seeing Kieran like this

that he could teach me and was willing

honestly felt like the final piece of the

had were

Natural.

lies or nefarious

purely a part of being this

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

little off guard by the sudden movement but tried not

proven already that he had no

he was back

said, walking over to

this immediately

do first.Some way to practice safely," I argued, slowly getting back

me to just jump right in and do that

than to just do it.I'll be right here to help talk you through