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

towered over me, something that I became painfully aware of as

I can manage that,"

alone, the way he

somehow

could have sworn appeared darker

was

"Make yourself at home."

back, releasing me, and quickly I walked

trying not to let myself become too comfortable around

room

other day, the place was definitely some sort of

larger than

elaborate party without feeling

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 walked behind

have to make do with the space we

as I turned to look at him, I

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

yelled in surprise, unable

phased in any way though, his lip

my favorite shirt," he said,

don’t want it

as he continued unbuttoning, his

that was revealed seemed moulded around perfectly

sight I never would have expected to be hiding

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

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

shift?" he said, almost

to prove we

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

my mind immediately recalled the massacres

I quickly

lock you

much to my embarrassment.I was

now, I could only make assumptions based on the knowledge I

knowledge...it

becoming lost in

that I didn’t even notice when he appeared right in front of

instantly, a shiver ran through me

said quietly, drawing in

you, there is absolutely nothing in this world that could ever make me hurt you.I am the

a part of me wanted so

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

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

ready?" he

step back

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

silence as I watched him shift

and transforming effortlessly until all

stared at me knowingly, a

feel like running or feel even remotely afraid, as I thought I

recognition

As though this felt...right.

him, moving until I was crouched right in

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

instructed it to? He looked at me as

that instinct...reaching out hesitantly

I mused

allowing me to continue

didn’t feel the same sparks as when I touched his skin, I still felt an

really be something I can do?"I

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

apparently disagreed with

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

ached with

to learn this,"

to be so

thinking I was a freak all

seeing Kieran like

that he could teach me and was willing

piece of the puzzle was coming

I had

Natural.

lies or nefarious

purely a part of

been telling me the truth so far… did that mean I really could trust him? Abruptly, Kieran

off guard by the sudden movement but tried

had clearly proven already that he had no intention of mauling

back to his normal self and

he said, walking over

immediately made me

something to do first.Some way to practice safely,"

good idea for me to just

learn other than to just do it.I'll be