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."

through the front door and closed it behind me,

me, something that I became

think I can manage that," he

alone, the way he looked at

were somehow devouring me with

that I could have sworn appeared darker for a split

was just the

"Make yourself at home."

back, releasing me, and quickly I walked

myself become

room was

other day, the place was definitely

felt larger than some people’s houses in

enough to host an elaborate party without feeling even

indoors but...well, the city isn’t exactly an ideal place to do

make do with

I had to fight

the side as he watched me, slowly starting the process of unbuttoning his

in surprise, unable to stop myself

didn’t seem phased in any way though,

shirt," he said, as if it were

it

continued unbuttoning, his actions undeterred from

revealed seemed moulded around perfectly sculpted muscles

have expected to be hiding behind his

this? I swallowed

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

shift?" he said, almost a little

me to prove we were the

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

that in here, was he? And my mind immediately recalled the massacres I would

that...dangerous?" I quickly

need to lock you

laugh, much to

I could only make assumptions

that knowledge...it

the ground, becoming lost in thought over my

lost that I didn’t even notice when he

a shiver ran

said quietly, drawing in

make me hurt you.I am the last person you

wanted so

past me to start pushing couches and other pieces of furniture out the

open space i n which he stood looking at me

ready?"

back cautiously

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

in shocked silence as I watched him

all that was left was a

stared at me knowingly, a look

I didn’t feel like running or feel even remotely afraid, as I thought I

felt recognition from

As though this felt...right.

to walk towards him, moving until I was

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

to? He looked at me as if he knew exactly who I was, knew exactly what

trust that instinct...reaching out hesitantly to

soft," I mused

closed upon contact, allowing me to continue feeling the different

when I touched his skin, I still felt an unexplainable

something I

I could go from blackouts and bloody murders to anything even close

Kieran apparently disagreed

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

ached

want to learn this,"

don’t want to be so afraid

lonely, thinking I was a freak all

seeing Kieran

and was willing to help me

piece of the puzzle was

I had were

Natural.

lies or

part

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

taken a little off guard by

already that he had no intention

back

said,

this immediately made me

like...exercises or something to do first.Some way to practice safely," I argued, slowly getting back

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

be right here to