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."

pulled me forward through the front door and closed it behind me, his gaze

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

I can manage that," he

were completely alone, the way he looked at me

if he were somehow devouring me with

could have sworn appeared darker for a split

maybe it was just the

"Make yourself at home."

back, releasing me, and quickly I

to let myself become too

room was

day, the place was definitely some

than some people’s houses in

host an elaborate party

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 walked behind

make do with the space we have

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

he watched me,

you doing?" I yelled in surprise, unable to

way though, his lip twitching

he said, as if it were

it to get

eyes caught sight of his chest as he continued unbuttoning,

was revealed seemed moulded

I never would have expected to

I knew he was strong...but this? I swallowed

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

shift?" he said, almost

prove

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

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

that...dangerous?" I

lock you inside

laugh, much to

make assumptions based on

that knowledge...it wasn’t

glared at the ground, becoming lost in

when he appeared right in

a shiver

he said quietly,

there is absolutely nothing in this world that could ever make me hurt you.I am the last person you will ever need to worry

part of me wanted so badly to

pushing couches and other pieces of furniture out the way, clearing an area in

time he was done, there was a semi-large open space i n which he stood looking at me

you ready?"

took a step back cautiously and nodded

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

shocked silence as I watched him shift

transforming effortlessly until all that was left was

at me

feel even remotely afraid, as I

I felt recognition from

As though this felt...right.

until I was crouched right in front of

response, he laid down on the ground, presumably trying

if he instructed it to? He looked at me as if he knew

I decided to trust that

I mused aloud to

eyes closed upon contact, allowing me to continue feeling the

when I touched his skin, I

be something I can

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

disagreed with that

and gave me

ached with new

want to learn this," I

to

lonely, thinking I was

seeing Kieran like

he could teach me and was willing to

the final piece of

I had were apparently completely

Natural.

or

part of being this

did that mean I really could trust him?

guard by the

had clearly proven already that he

emerge again, he was back to his

said, walking

this immediately made

there’d be like...exercises or something to do first.Some way to practice safely," I argued, slowly getting back up to my

idea for me to

way to learn other than to just do it.I'll be right here to help talk you through it.Nothing bad will happen,