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."

front door and

towered over me, something that I became

think I can manage

that we were completely alone, the way he looked

he were somehow devouring me with his

could have sworn appeared darker for a split

maybe it was

"Make yourself at home."

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

let myself become too comfortable around

the room was

I'd suspected the other day, the place was definitely some sort of

than some

host an elaborate party without feeling

normally advise against doing anything like this indoors but...well, the city isn’t exactly an ideal place to do something where people might see," he said as he

to make do with the

turned to look at him, I

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

you doing?" I yelled in surprise, unable to

didn’t seem phased in any way though, his

my favorite shirt," he said, as if

don’t want it to

eyes caught sight of his chest as he continued unbuttoning, his actions undeterred from my

that was revealed seemed

would have expected to be

this? I swallowed and quickly tried to refocus my

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

the shift?" he said, almost a

to prove we were the same,

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

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

I

need to lock you inside

laugh, much to

could only make assumptions

knowledge...it

the ground, becoming lost in thought over my

even notice when he appeared right in front of

instantly, a shiver ran through

he said quietly, drawing in my

this world that could ever make me hurt you.I am the last person you will ever need to worry

a part of me wanted

to start pushing couches and other pieces

there was a semi-large open space i n which

ready?"

a step back cautiously and nodded

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

stood in shocked silence as I watched him shift forms

effortlessly until all that

at me knowingly, a look embedded within

running or feel even remotely afraid, as

I felt recognition from deep within

As though this felt...right.

to walk towards him, moving until I was crouched

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

move if he instructed it to? He looked

trust that instinct...reaching out hesitantly

I mused aloud to

closed upon contact, allowing me to continue feeling the

sparks as when I touched his skin, I still

this really be something I

from blackouts and bloody murders to anything even close t o this level of

apparently disagreed

his head and gave me a

chest ached

to learn this," I

don’t want to be so

always felt so lonely, thinking I was

seeing Kieran like this

teach me and was willing to help me learn about who I really

final piece of the puzzle was coming

I had were apparently completely

Natural.

lies or

part of being this

far… did that mean I really could trust

little off guard by the sudden movement but tried

had clearly proven already that he

he was back to his normal self and tugging on

said, walking

this immediately

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

me to just jump right

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