Shadows

Chapter Six - Minerva's Point of View

I go through the three boxes that are on my bedside table. In the first box I find a cellphone, cellphone accessories, and small 'Get Well' gifts from my coworkers. I really like the small glass black dragon Mr. Southerland sent to me. Betty sent me a travel size game of Yahtzee. Mrs. Smith sent a pack of cards, and Brittany sent me a solar powered owl.

I show my family the owl, and we all roll with laughter. Appropriate and got a laugh out of us all. I hand over the game of Yahtzee, and Aunt Henrietta begins pulling everything out. I turn my attention to the second box of gifts.

I pull out a tablet and tablet accessories, a box of my favorite chocolates, and a black dinosaur plush. I smile at the dinosaur, and hug it to my chest. I set it aside as I pull the third box to me.

I find small 'Get Well' gifts from some of my friends. A book on haunted asylums across the United States. A book on ghost ships. A ghost plush, a vampire plush, and a werewolf plush. I can not help but laugh at my friends' sense of humor. I show the rest of my family, and they are not amused.

I pack the books, plush toys, cards, owl, glass figurine, and chocolates back into a couple of boxes carefully. I leave the tablet, cellphone, and accessories out on my bed for later. I need to borrow a phone to have my cellphone company send a new SIM card. My cellphone was destroyed in the ice blast that nearly killed mom and I.

I am surprised that someone would get me a brand new name brand phone and tablet with accessories for both. I am wondering who may have sent the phone and tablet. Aunt Henrietta calls my attention to the Yahtzee game, and we play for a couple of hours. Uncle Eddie wins the first game, and Uncle Henry wins the two games afterwards.

During the game, a couple of carts of flowers are delivered. Mom recieves a beautiful vase of white roses, several vases of various other flowers, and even a single stem of a red rose.

I, on the other hand, recieve a cart and a half of flowers. Beautiful arrangements of tulips, lilies, irises, and other decorative flowers. I have a single vase of beautiful red roses, and an arrangement that has jewels in it. I have no idea who sent all of these flowers, especially not the arrangement with jewels.

I ponder the question as Aunt Henrietta refocuses us on the Yahtzee game. We laugh as this time Aunt Henrietta wins. A nurse comes in as we are laughing to explain that my aunt and uncles need to leave. They can come back tomorrow after 9 am.

"Auntie?" I venture.

"Yes, Minerva."

"May I ask a small favor from you please?"

"What favor, dear?" my aunt asks suspiciously. I don't ask for favors from anyone.

"Could you please bring me some real clothes? This hospital garb is itchy."

My aunt smiles and agrees to bring me some clothes. She's going to the Big Box Store for mom as well. Mom has apparently asked for clothes too. My aunt asks me what size I usually wear, and I tell her. She nods and leaves.

The nurse comes in, and helps me into the shower. I don't remember the last time soap and water have touched my body. The nurse shampoos my hair, and does a thorough job of scrubbing it clean. I am feeling better after my shower.

I am in a new itchy gown, and laying in the bed. I am refusing to open the seals on the cellphone, tablet, and accessories due to my deep distrust of the situation. Even the flowers with jewels, beautiful as it is, has me on edge. Who sent them and why? Who do I know that wants to spend thousands on me?

I am so wrapped up on the mystery that I jump in surprise when someone touches my arm. I look up and its my nurse. She smiles as she slides a blood pressure cuff over my arm. I go back to my mystery, and she finishes what she needs

Mom's voice cut through my preoccupation. "Excuse me, but who are you?"

"My name is Gregori. I came to guard you and Minerva tonight." says a male voice.

I look up to see Gregori and I give him a shy smile. He sits between mom and I. She is watching him suspiciously.

"Gregori Blackstone? What is a vampire like you doing here?" Mom asks her voice as cold as ice.

"I am the night guard for you and Minerva, Ms. Brightlight." Gregori tells her calmly.

"You said that already, but vampires don't usually guard mages. What is your angle?" Mom continues her interrogation.

"I have a fax from Officer Bob White. I am a private detective, usually, but I can do simple guard duty when asked." Gregori explains his voice never changing.

"Really!?" Mom sneers.

"Mom, why are you being so hostile to Gregori? He's really nice." I interrupt before Gregori can say anything more.

"Minerva, he's a vampire. He's also a Master of Shadow Magic. You don't understand how dangerous he is, especially to you." Mom snarls while her eyes bore holes in Gregori.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Gregori and I ask in perfect unison.

"Gregori Blackstone has been looking for a wife, Minerva. He's been looking for centuries, and you are also a Shadow Mage. It would not surprise me if he is your mysterious 'helper'.

"Mother!" I exclaim going white. 'Wife?' I thought with trepidation. Grandmother's note came back to my mind: Someone out there loves you.

I look to Gregori to see his head hanging. "She is not wrong, Minerva. Your mother is actually right. I have been looking for a wife for centuries. Your grandmother knew that you and I were tied in the web of fate. I believe in free will, and I was hoping your mother would understand that I am not a monster. I was going to give you the final choice."

"You sent me the expensive gifts?" I ask my trepidation growing.

"Yes, the phone and tablet are prototypes. I volunteered you for a trial run. It simply needs a SIM card from your carrier. I will give you the email address to send information to for six months. The phone and tablet are yours until they die." Gregori told me with his head bowed.

"Thank you." I tell him sincerely.

My mother is not finished and practically reads Gregori the Riot Act. She interrogates him like a seasoned detective, and makes sure that he is aware that she is not happy with the situation. The interrogation stops only when mother is taken away for a shower.

"Gregori, I have only two questions. One, did you send the black dinosaur? Two, would you have a small shadow battle with me?" I ask to take a way the look of sadness in his face.

"Yes, to both questions. You start."

"You saved my life." I whisper.

He tenses and then sighs. "I did." he replies so softly I barely heard it.

"Thank you. If your looking for a wife, I will consent only to dating at this stage. I am jumping feet first in to nothing. I owe you that much for saving me." I tell him as I wave my hand to bring up an amusement park full of families.

"Thats fair. May I take you to dinner when your out of the hospital." he responded as he sent a flood of tourists into the park.

"You may." I tell him as I conjour a flood of birds.

"Would you consent to being my girlfriend now?" he asked as he sent a flood of dinosaurs.

"Hmm." I send Godzilla to eat the dinosaurs. "Depends on your response to the new terror."

He switched to the battle and sends King Kong to fight Godzilla. I control my monster and soon send its legitimate attack and King Kong falls. He created Mechagodzilla and I defeated it as well.

"In answer to your question. Yes." I tell him as mom is rolled back into the room looking at us suspiciously. We share a smile as mom settles in to her bed. We then sit in silence until mom and I fall asleep.