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 never leaving

over me, something that I became

can manage

alone, the way he looked at

he were somehow devouring me with

sworn appeared darker

it was

"Make yourself at home."

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

let myself become too comfortable

the room

the other day, the place was definitely

larger than some

to host an elaborate party

an

do with the space we have

look at him, I had to fight the urge t o just spin

the side as he watched

you doing?" I yelled in surprise, unable to stop

seem phased in any way though, his

said, as if

it to get

chest as he continued

that was revealed seemed moulded around perfectly sculpted muscles

would have expected

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

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

said, almost a little

prove we were

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

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

that...dangerous?" I

to lock you

him laugh, much to my embarrassment.I

could only make assumptions based

that knowledge...it

becoming lost in thought over

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

shiver ran through

quietly,

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

me wanted so badly to believe

start pushing couches and other pieces of

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

ready?"

took a step back

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

him shift forms in a

transforming effortlessly until all

at me knowingly, a

running or feel even

felt recognition from deep

As though this felt...right.

walk towards him, moving until I was crouched right in front

response, he laid down on the ground, presumably trying

He looked at me as if he knew

I decided to trust that instinct...reaching out hesitantly to touch

soft," I mused

closed upon contact, allowing me to

sparks as when I touched

be something I

think that I could go from blackouts and bloody murders to anything even close t o this level of

apparently disagreed with that

head and gave me

ached with new

to learn this,"

want to

thinking I was a freak

Kieran like this

me and was willing

the final piece of the puzzle was coming

I had were

Natural.

lies or

purely a part of being

trust him? Abruptly, Kieran then stood up, shaking his fur and running off into a

by the sudden

clearly proven already that he had no intention of mauling

he did finally emerge again, he was back to his normal self and

turn," he said, walking

immediately made me

no.I thought that there’d be like...exercises or something to do first.Some way to practice safely," I

me to just

other than to just do it.I'll be right here to help talk you through it.Nothing