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."

and closed

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

think I can manage that,"

were completely alone, the way he

if he were somehow devouring me with

have sworn appeared darker for a

was

"Make yourself at home."

and quickly I

let myself become too comfortable around

room was

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

felt larger than some people’s houses

to host an elaborate party without feeling even

the city isn’t exactly an ideal place to do something where people might see," he said

just have to make do

Space for what? But as I turned to look at him, I had to

watched

in surprise,

seem phased in any way though, his lip twitching into

favorite shirt," he said, as if it were

want it

chest as he continued unbuttoning, his actions undeterred from my cries in

seemed

I never would have expected to be hiding

strong...but this? I swallowed and quickly

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

shift?" he said, almost

asked me to prove

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

And my mind

I quickly

I need to lock you

immediately made him laugh, much to my embarrassment.I was here

could only make assumptions based on the

knowledge...it

lost in thought over my

notice when he appeared right in front

a shiver ran through

he said quietly, drawing

make me hurt you.I am the last person you will

me wanted so badly to believe

he moved past me to start pushing couches and other pieces of furniture

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

you ready?" he

back

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

watched him

all

brown wolf that stared at me

like running or feel even

recognition from

As though this felt...right.

moving until I

on the ground, presumably

instructed it to? He looked at me as

that instinct...reaching out hesitantly to touch his

soft," I mused aloud to

allowing me to continue feeling the

same sparks as when I touched his skin, I still felt an unexplainable

something I

that I could go from blackouts and bloody murders

disagreed with

raised his head and gave me a nod,

chest ached

to learn this," I

don’t want to be

always felt so lonely, thinking I was a freak all these

Kieran like

he could teach me and was willing to help me learn about who

like the final piece of the puzzle

I had were

Natural.

lies or nefarious

a part

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

little off guard by the sudden

clearly proven already that he

finally emerge again, he was back to his

said, walking over

this immediately made me

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

good idea for me to just jump right in

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