Blue

Part#16

As if by magic, I lose two hours fiddling with the phone. In a blind haste, I dash out

of the door. As I get to the landing, I slow down to take in the peaceful and heart-warming

scene down below. The two babies snuggle up on either side of Declyn where he sits on the

couch; each clutching what may pass for the remnants of something other than rabbit or

squirrel. His eyes are closed, he seems content, his face is soft and relaxed, his head back and

I swallow hard. The man is a striking, genetic triumph.

“Voles,” Declyn informs me in a lazy murmur. His eyes open halfway, the colour

well-fed-pale-green and his smile charming. My legs wobble a teensy bit for the look he

sweeps over me. I grab onto the banister and proceed down the stairs.

“Pardon?”

“The chewy snacks, it is voles; they’re smaller and there’s less to waste. Our baby

gods like them too.”

Did he say ‘our’ baby gods? That does make up for the burn from earlier, only a little.

I probably would have pegged it for rat, now that I look closer. I am not going to

analyse how I feel about this because I already know the answer and I do not want him to

think he must deal with me; whatever that entails, can’t be good.

As I sit down in the single chair opposite them, I process the flip-side of this scene

too. To know about things like this is a lot different from observing it first hand, especially

when it is two small children, who can barely sit upright, squeezing at a dead creature.

Welcome to the other side of wonderland, your name is Blue.

“I have a few things to discuss with you before the little hunters wake up for milk.”

He looks down on the small blond crowns with a crooked grin. Habitually, the inside

of my cheek becomes chewing gum.

The look on Declyn’s face serious. My fingers wring together without any alleviation

for my nerves. The sooner we get this done, the better I guess.

I haven’t quite settled yet so maybe it won’t be such a painful thing to get over. And Anja is a good

choice to take my place. Will they take me back at the coven?

Declyn’s intense look searches over me. I don’t get what to make of it; there is a true

agitation just inside amusement. He takes a big breath, closes his eyes and when he opens it,

his entire face becomes a blank canvas.

“I’m sorry I left you alone for so long. I received a call from Maylee today,” he starts,

and I shrink internally “She’s asked a favour. One which, my integrity as a leader prevents

me from denying. Anja will - ” he swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobs and a thin vein lifts

to just above his eye.

Oh gods, the man is not okay.

“Declyn, I know I am inexperience and with attacking you, not trusting your

intentions and freaking out over the wildlife killings … But …. please don’t make me go

back yet. Just give me chance, I can do better. I can learn and ...”

“Blue, shut your mouth,” Declyn cuts me short, his voice a whip. My mouth snaps

closed while dread builds up inside me, “Two things will end tonight. The first thing is your

constant reference to yourself as falling short by Anja’s conceited standards. One day, one

whole fuh-“ Declyn’s jaw tightens and he exposes his teeth in a tight, lip-pinching snarl

before he continues in a calmer manner.

“One, whole, day, in the company of your coven-sister, I am ready to kill my very

first mortal, ever.”

There is meaning behind the look Declyn gives me, but I am sure there are several

meanings behind the one I shoot back in astonishment.

“Really?” I ask, and his face scrunches briefly with a question at me “I mean, you’ve

never killed a human before?” I expand my one-word thought into a full question. The fact

that he wants to kill Anja is equally puzzling. I dare not ask how or why because I may not

like the answer.

“No, never,” he answers abruptly “and it is also beside the point. Just stop the

comparisons. Secondly, where in the contract I presented to you, does it state you are a

donor?” he asks with a direct look at me.

“Nowhere,” the answer is clear as daylight.

“Then stop thinking of yourself in those terms. You are in my employ. You are the

surrogate mother of these two children and you have absolutely no ties to the coven, or their

labels. Do I make myself clear?”

I swallow down all the objections. He isn’t messing with this.

“Perfectly,” I whisper while I drown in my own upheaval. It is, I suppose, a

promotion in status. I cannot even find a silver lining in my imagination right now. There is

no mission; possible or impossible. I stare at my hands.

“As I was trying to tell you. Anja received a proposal for marriage, which

accompanies an attempt at immortality. The favour I was asked, was to give her

accommodation until her birthday in a week, when the official announcement of her

engagement will be made on her birthday. During this week, all the negotiations will be

concluded and the arrangements will be made for her future. She is to be married a month

after her engagement and straight after the ceremony, an attempt to activate her core will be

made. Staying here satisfies both parties, in that Anja is kept out of the negotiations and

allowed to formulate her own contribution and requirements without influence from either

coven.”

Most of what he says I get, part of it is Greek. I’m not surprised by the news of Anja

at all. She’s turned down two offers before because neither of the offered immortality as part

of their proposals. Anja has goals and she isn’t one to change her mind once she’s made it

up. She’s done well for herself.

“I’m expecting company from an acquaintance; he will stay for however long he sees

fit. Try not to attack him when he arrives?” I am surprised at the mention of someone

coming here – I didn’t know he knew people who’d willingly come here to be told he

doesn’t like them.

“Get a little rest, have you eaten?”

“Yes,” I respond both in answer and in acknowledgement of his suggestion.

“I’ll wake you when they wake, join us, here?”

Again, I shake my head. I do want to. I want to be close to him and the children to fill

this odd empty place inside me, but

Autopilot actives distraction mode.

“Excuse me.”