The Risen

Ari and Caldy

Arieles POV

I yawn as the morning light hits my face from the window. I have a pounding headache and notice an ache in my wrist. As I examine my wrist that's still tied to the bed I noticed it’s bruised. Never have I awoken to bruising? “What the f**k?” I whisper to myself as I untie the rope. My hair is a matted mess and  I started to gently massage my head. That’s when flashes of last night's nightmare make their appearance in my mind. I remember seeing flashes of fire everywhere, people screaming, children alone crying, it gave me chills just thinking about it. 

Everything about the nightmare seemed so real and so...inhuman, I remember hearing...growls in my dreams, I was running for my life it felt like. I shake my head. I don’t want to remember the dream or nightmare rather. It’s just a dream girl. Get a grip. I think to myself. I get up and go straight to the bathroom to brush my teeth and freshen up and brush my unruly hair. If my hair didn’t resemble a lion's mane I don’t know what does. 

I decided to leave my hair loose for a change… I mean Calder did like it… what is wrong with me? But I leave it styled that way, loose curls flowing all around me. I put on my black high waisted distressed jeans and a navy blue button up crop top. Only a tiny bit of my mid drift was showing.  I top it off with my gold hoop earrings and my black combat boots. 

I decide on no makeup, seeing  as I don’t know how today is going to go and I want to be ready if I end up having to leave today. I don’t need my makeup melting away in the heat. Just then I remember the bruise on my wrist and decide to just cover it with a big puffy black scrunchy I have. My hair may end up frizzing out anyway and it’s always good to have one handy. 

I look in the mirror satisfied with my appearance and decide to proceed out of my room. I took a deep breath as I slowly exited my room. As I walk in the direction of the kitchen I hear Calder talking to someone, lowely I might add.  I wasn’t really able to make out what they were saying and was never much of an eavesdropper, however I did notice the talking abruptly stop as I got closer.

That’s when I noticed Calder had a guest. “Good morning Calder! I’m sorry if I interrupted you guys. I just couldn’t help but smell the coffee from my room. I was hoping for a cup.” I said, giving him the prayer hands. “Ha, ha, ha. Of course Arieles. Let me first introduce you to my brother Erick. He came over to ummm… check out your car. I got it for you while you were sleeping. It’s out back.” 

“Oh umm hello there! It’s nice to meet you.” I said, putting out my hand for a shake. Erick’s eyes looked like they glistened and he pulled me in for a hug. I was confused to say the least. I didn’t know what to do so I awkwardly patted him on the back. He pulled away and took a step back, “You're gorgeous!” Erick exclaimed, wiping his face. 

I took some hair out of my face a bit flustered by what he said, “Wow.. thanks.. Really I’m nothing special.”  I said as I looked down. 

“You are everything, Arieles. Don’t ever think you're not special. I’ve only known you for a day and even I could tell.” Calder interjected. “How do you take your coffee sweetheart?” 

Did he just call me sweetheart? I swooned a little on the inside. He has such a weird effect on me. But he must see me as a child of sorts. My height always gives way to that impression. I’m only a mere five feet three inches. Curvy yes but short nonetheless. Calder was tall, he had to be a little over 6 feet and sometimes he spoke to me with such care it made me feel like a child. No way was he looking at me as a woman. I started to sulk a bit but didn’t let it show.

“Can I get it light with 2 sugars please.” I said sitting down at the counter. I couldn’t help but feel Erick staring at me from my peripheral, he chose to sit right next to me. Erick seemed to have finally collected his thoughts and emotions and said, “ Lu..Arieles my brother tells me you happened to come by his house because your car broke down and you got lost. I’m sorry to say after my evaluation of the car I quickly realized the car is beyond repair.”

“Oh nooo.” I said, dropping my head into my hands. “What am I going to do now? That car is everything to me, it’s all I have left.” My eyes started to water and I quickly tried to turn away from Erick, humiliated that I was really beginning to cry in front of yet another stranger. 

“Erick.” Calder said in a deeper voice than normal, angry no doubt. 

“Don’t worry Arieles, as long as you'll let me, I’ll be more than happy to help.” He continued to remove my hands from my face and lift my chin up, wiping away my tears. Calder looked deep into my eyes and said in a very low voice, almost a whisper, “Let me help you.” 

He was so close, I gulped… “Oh... kay.” I said before I was even able to think about what I was saying. “Great!” He said. “Now drink up. I’m making breakfast. Do you like eggs and bacon?”

“Sure… Thank you Calder.You’ve been nothing but a gentleman since I got here.” I said. 

Erick continued to watch the interaction and quickly realized how truly affected his brother was by Arieles. Upon his Arrival in the early morning Calder and Erick briefly talked about Arieles floating fiasco and to Ericks surprise it did not deter Calder from Arieles, it just left Calder even more perturbed. 

Though Erick told him it was obvious some kind of supernatural phenomenon was happening to Arieles. Calder’s only thought was to protect her and help her in any way he could. Erick admired that, he also hadn’t seen a mate interaction in many, many years. Seeing how Calder lit up when she came into the kitchen and how much he cared for her already touched his heart. 

He really hoped that if Calder could pull this off, that maybe the moon goddess would spare him too and give him a chance. Erick felt bad about making his new found Luna cry, however this meant that she would have no choice but to potentially stay, if not at the farmhouse, close by, so she and Calder could build upon their mate bond. From what he could tell it already was doing wonders. Erick wanted to help push them together as well as keep Calder’s anger at bay. 

Erick upon seeing their interaction began to hype up his brother, “Arieles, you know my brother is an AMAZING cook. He cooks, he cleans, he’s handy around the house.”

“You sound like you’re selling him.” I giggled.

“Only to the right buyer.” He said winking at her, “I hope you don’t mind but I think I may be staying in the other guest room for a while. I’m going to be helping Calder fix the front of the farmhouse and cut the grass and such.”

“This is not my house Erick, do as you and your brother please.” I replied to him. 

Calder proceeded to serve us breakfast and oh man could he cook. But I already knew that from last night's beef stew. I could get used to this. I thought to myself. Calder smiled and as he ate, our eyes continued to meet. Erick finished his food before us and excused himself, in order to start his work outside. 

Once he was out of sight Calder said to me, “I’ve been thinking...I think you should stay with me for a while… at least until you get back on your feet. It would really be no problem at all. I’d enjoy your company. As I’ve said before, I’ve been alone for so long, I really don’t want to go back.. Into that...head space. I think… I know.. I need you as much as maybe you need me..Please correct me if you think otherwise.” 

“I don’t mean to pry but you have your brother don’t you?” I said.

“Actually I hadn’t seen my brother in person,  for three years until today.” Calder replied scratching his head.

“Oh wow, I didn’t know. But Calder are you sure? I couldn’t possibly live here for free and you barely know me. How do you know I’m not some psycho serial killer.” I said giggling. 

“Yes I am absolutely sure and I just know in my gut. I can tell there is nothing remotely evil about you.” 

I could really use his help. There’s no way my parents would take me back, knowing I haven’t accomplished anything academically since my high school graduation. They surely would think I was a loser, a losey excuse for a daughter. I scoff internally. But I couldn’t live here for free. I started remembering the commercial I heard over the radio while coming here about an online customer service job, that I could potentially do remotely. Everything was over the computer. 

“Well… that would help me a lot but I can’t live here for free. On my way here I heard about a remote customer service job. By any chance do you have a laptop I can borrow? I can pursue that kind of job so I can at least pay you something for all this trouble.” I said to him, 

“It’s no trouble at all and sure if that’ll get you to stay here .” He said inching closer to my face. 

“ Alright...I’ll stay with you.” I really had nowhere else to go and no means of transport. 

“Great! We can get you sorted on Monday for now it’s the weekend. Let's enjoy it.” 

We spent the rest of the weekend with little to no interactions with Erick. It was like he was barely there. Calder and I spent the rest of the weekend getting to know each other, watching movies and playing card games. Even showing each other our neat talents. Calder was an amazing sketch artist on top of everything else. He drew the most exquisite portrait of me. I showed him some of my tattoos and some left him a bit speechless. He showed me his back piece, which let me tell you when his shirt came off. I was on cloud nine. I could barely keep my eyes off him. 

His back piece had the moon, stars, wolves, tree lines, sky lines, it was a masterpiece for sure. I asked him what made him get this piece, since it was ginormous and one of his only tattoos. He explained that it reminds him of where he comes from and the important people he has lost. I didn’t really understand but it seemed like a hard subject for him to speak of and we left it at that. 

By the end of the weekend we were on a nickname basis. It was so easy to speak to him, so natural. I had been so closed off from people for so long and Caldy just understood me without judgement..when he asked me about my past I gave him a brief synopsis. I at least owed him that for taking me in. 

I let him know about some of my past abusive relationships and some close calls I had traveling as a female alone. I told him about my parents and their never ending expectations and how my last night with them my mom she had slapped me in the face when I lost it and told her I wasn’t going to live for her anymore but for me. How shocked and devastated I was that I packed my bags at the dead of night and had to leave from the window when my parents tried to lock me in my room. 

He winced, visibly hurt by what I told him. I became teary eyes as well and he held me, for dear life it felt like. “I’m so sorry Ari...I should’ve been there.” His voice broke. 

“Caldy no how could you be? Plus it has made me who I am today. I’ve grown so much, learned so much. At first I was very angry. But I realized I wouldn’t trade my freedom for the world and have been blessed enough to at least make it this far.”

“I hear you Ari, you're a very strong, independent woman and I am so proud of you. “ He replied. 

I was instantly mesmerized by him. Never had anyone told me they were proud of me. I hugged him as tightly as I could. It’s been so hard to have physical interactions with people but with Calder it was like second nature.  Caldy nuzzled into my neck and seemed to breathe me in. It ticked and I giggle and pulled away. 

His eyes seemed to change color but quickly changed back. I asked him about his past since we were opening up to each other. He explained to me how he had been alone for a long time, a decision he had made for himself. As well as how most of his hometown despised him for a series of mistakes he made years ago. Caldy said he was lucky his brother stood by him. That what he did was unforgivable. He seemed fearful to tell me so I didn’t pry. Could it really be that bad? 

I asked him why he didn’t have any pictures on the wall of his family or even his brother for that matter. He just explained to me how most of his family was long gone, and it hurt to see their pictures. 

To be honest I didn’t carry pictures of my family for the same reason and had never had very many friends. I was always the odd one out. I rubbed his back and assured him that everything in both our lives would fall into place. Even if I didn't know for sure, I couldn’t bear to see him sad. We had grown close these past couple of days. At least closer than I had been to another person in years. 

I didn’t tell him about the blackouts though, or the sleepwalking. I couldn’t have him think I was a freak. He was always so nice to me. I just couldn't have him see me that way. In a way we both had secrets, his past and my overall freakiness. 

I could only hope that one day, we would be comfortable enough to be more open with one another. We were already becoming fast friends.