by Andrew Lynch
“Okay. So let’s go over the rules again,” I said. They all looked attentively at me. “Oh, no no. I don’t know them! Dad?”
I could tell he was a split second away from face palming. “There’s no time to go over them all again. It’s a preliminary meeting, and we just want to mend broken fences. Leave that to the grown-ups. Long story short, don’t say anything.”
Ariel jumped up and down then laughed.
“Exactly,” my dad said. “You two girls just follow Ariel’s example, and we’ll all be fine. Oh, and the golden rule is…?”
Me and Erin said together, “Don’t tell Mr. Leland.”
“He did say that he kind of hates elves,” I said. “‘Vicious and evil’ were his exact words.”
“Well he’s not stupid,” my dad said. “All right. Let’s go! Rel, if you want to do the honors?”
I turned away from my friends and family, and raised my fist. I stepped forward to knock on the door, but… I couldn’t do it. Come on, Rel. This was bad enough the first time when you were on your own, but now you have an audience! Oh my God, even now, after everything I’d learned and become, I couldn’t bring myself to knock on Rick’s door. Just move your hand. This isn’t even the hard part!
I wished that something would come and just swallow me whole before the others realised I was frozen in terror. Couldn’t something save me?
The door swung open, and Mr. Anderton was stood in the doorway. I could have sworn it was the same suit that he wore when I saw him last in Ariel’s ruined house. Maybe that was his security blanket. No, no, his lucky armor. He’d prefer I called it that, probably.
“Hello everyone. I didn’t bother waiting for the knock, I could hear all of you talking, I hope you don’t mind. I trust everyone’s ready for,” he stopped to gulp, “an interesting lunch?”
My dad stepped forwards, my mom beside him. I was pushed to the back as the adults presented a cordial front.
“It’s good to see you again, Anderton,” my dad said. “Of course you’ve met Freya before. Whether these circumstances are better or worse, I’m not sure yet.”
“Oh don’t be so stiff, Tom.” My mom elbowed him in the side and he flinched theatrically. “It’s good to see you again, and of course we’re ready for lunch. I just hope you’ve cooked enough human souls for everyone!”
I had never heard silence like the silence I heard just then. Oh mom…
A woman from inside the house cleared her throat. I recognized it from the hospital room. “A swing and a miss. I’m Claire.” She stepped forwards to shake their hands, but thought better of it at the last second and changed her step into an awkward curtsy.
I peered past the adults to see if he was there. “Where’s Rick?”
Everyone looked at me. My parents’ faces were clearly trying to hide their embarrassment. Mr. Anderton’s was a carefully schooled mask of neutrality. “For obvious reasons, he won’t be joining us. Myself and Claire already know of…” he slipped a hand inside his jacket, and removed it a moment later, like some nervous tic. “Supernaturals. But he doesn’t. And won’t. His hospital stay left him with plenty of homework to catch up on.”
“Can I say hi?” I asked, trying to hide my disappointment. Let’s be honest, this entire meeting had just sounded like a good way to spend time with Rick.
“I don’t think that’s–” my dad began.
“Don’t worry, Tom. It’s a good idea,” Mr. Anderton cut in. He stepped out of the doorway, allowing everyone in. “Please, everyone take a seat. We’ll just be a second.”
Everyone filed into the dining room, but Mr. Anderton motioned me to follow him up the stairs. I ran my hand along the dark lacquered wood, and followed Mr. Anderton to the left. I’d never been upstairs before. Unlike the downstairs, it was carpeted. At the end of the hall were two doors. The door on the left was plain and undecorated. The one on the right was covered in stickers of places I’d never heard of, and a few countries I had.
Mr. Anderton stopped and turned on me. He whispered so no one else could hear. “You’re alive because of Richard. Nothing else. You will never hurt him again. Do you understand?”
I nodded.
“He… likes you. So as long as you make him happy…” he sighed as if he could hardly believe he was about to say whatever it was. “You can… spend…” he waved a hand in the air vaguely. “Time together.”
I couldn’t keep a grin from spreading over my face. “He really likes me?” I may have hopped from foot to foot as I asked.
Mr. Anderton groaned. “I do have one ultimatum though. He can never find out about this side of you and Sanctuary. I’ll be your chaperone for as long as I possibly can. Earn my trust and… maybe, maybe, I’ll let you out of my sight.”
The grin didn’t leave my face. I may have jumped up and down a little.
He rolled his eyes, but continued on to Rick’s door and knocked. “Rel is here to see you.”
I was hot on his heels, and as soon as he pushed the door open, I got to see Rick again.
He’d cut his hair, and it was short on the sides now, but I barely noticed as our eyes locked. I wanted to look around his room, and get to know what he surrounded himself with. Maybe one day I could be one of those things in his room. Umm, that he surrounded himself with, I mean. Not in his room. At least I hadn’t said that out loud.
It had been a long three weeks, and a lot had changed. Ultimately I had done everything for myself. Rick had started my changes, been my catalyst, but this had all been about me and my life without him. It was my own strength, and the support from friends and family that had made me stronger. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t be my reward.
“Hey, Rel,” he said, and his smile grew to match my own.
Then I felt it return.
I couldn’t wait to taste him.
Note from the Author
www.lynchwriting.com
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about Rel and Mr. Anderton! I've got plenty of world for these guys left to explore, and I can't wait to continue the story.
I've got a big epic fantasy on a slow burn in the background (who doesn't these days?), but right now I'm enjoying writing in a more colloquial style, so I'm doing a bit of work under a pen name in a different genre. I think the next thing from me as Andrew Lynch will be another young adult urban fantasy. Since I wrote Sanctuary's Fiend, I've grown so much as an author, and I want to put that to the test in other ways.
Finally, if you enjoyed this book, the biggest payment I could receive from you is telling like minded folk. And a review! If you want to keep up with my work, check out my website (and sign up for my newsletter) at www.lynchwriting.com
Thank you,
Andrew Lynch
About the Author
Andrew Lynch is an avid writer, gamer, craftsperson, and fitness enthusiast. He lives in eternally sunny Kent, England. He came late to the writing game, only publishing his first book at the ripe old age of 28.
He can usually be found at his computer playing games instead of writing, or perhaps in the local coffee house where he has to write. Sometimes, he’ll even be in his workshop, creating his next leathery masterpiece. On occasion you can find him half way up a slab of rock, extolling the virtues of utter terror as inspiration to keep fit.
Unlike many authors, he does not owe his success to a nomadic tribe of cats rampaging through his house.
When not doing what he enjoys, he can be found in full time employment, cursing the fact that he is still required to contribute to society. He longs for the day that he can give it all up and write full time.
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