Christine and Kryvek finally realized they shared a bond beyond adopted siblings, and decided since they shared no blood whatsoever, it was okay to be a couple. They sat holding hands on a bed. Edofine had his arm around Lira, sitting on the other bed. John and Sara sat in armchairs, John more genial towards the rest than he had ever been. Sara had something concealed in a large duffel bag. Krith watched everyone from a cooler filled with boiling water, a temporary refuge from the elements but a very inconvenient one, as he had to be soggy in what he perceived as lukewarm liquid.
“I need to come clean with you all,” Christine began. “I’ve been studying you.”
“What?” John asked. The room was full of raised eyebrows and perplexed expressions.
“Ever since Edofine moved in, I’ve been writing down what goes on between all of us. This has been an unplanned experiment in how the different species interact in daily life when they are brought together. My report on the romances, fights, reconciliations, and friendships in Pleasant View Apartments is what made the OMHI decide to buy Pleasant View. The idea is to provide a supportive, economical environment for non-humans, where they can get to know ordinary humans and foster understanding and peace between the races. To the outside world we are a community of emotionally or mentally ill individuals who function well, but have delusions of being Elves, demons, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, magicians, seers, and so on. There will be rules for tenants preventing discrimination, violence, and intolerance, and anyone who doesn’t follow these rules is out. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about this earlier, but if I had you wouldn’t have acted naturally. Is anyone mad at me?”
Edofine said, “Elves are used to everyone knowing how they feel, so this is no different.”
“Exactly,” Lira said. “Besides, you know I support you in everything. The OMHI can use the money, since our budget is being cut by ten percent. Without Edofine and his idea, it would have been much more.”
“Glad to further science,” Kryvek said.
“Does this mean I’m famous?” Sara asked.
“Um, do they know about the fight Sara and I had?” John asked, squirming.
“I’m afraid they do,” Christine apologized. “Your denial and slow acceptance of the truth was pivotal in the report. You were basically the control, the average man.”
“Oh.” John sank into silence.
“Everyone admired how you turned around,” Christine hastened to add. “They’re thinking of giving you a medal for saving my life.”
“Oh!” Though it was the same word John had just uttered, the tone was very different.
Sara patted him on the back. “You’re a hero to the non-humans, isn’t that great? Maybe I can give you my own medal.”
“Oh...” John smiled.
Edofine admired how much John could convey with one syllable. “I have news as well. Lira finally said yes.”
“Though I insist we set the date a year from now,” Lira added.
Christine clapped. “Yay! That’s wonderful! I love weddings. What season will it be? Will it be outdoors? Can I be the maid of honor?” She hugged Edofine as tightly as she had when she first met him and accidentally made him faint. “You’re so smart to pick her. Lira, I’m so happy! Can I see the ring?”
Lira handed her a gold ring set with a single amethyst. “The gem is my mother’s, and the Arrows Clan made it for us.”
“Congratulations,” Sara said.
“I hope it works out well for you,” John added.
Kryvek grinned. “My little cousin, look at him now: a fiancée.”
“We shall set up the time bubble as soon as Pleasant View is livable again. I wish to study to be a credible psychiatrist.” Edofine stroked his tresses. “I will have to shorten my hair, though, which grieves me greatly.”
“What setting will you use for the time bubble?” Kryvek asked.
“Eight years in eight days. Is it acceptable for the team to create the bubble in your home? Lira said she would not mind you staying with her and Christine. I will pay you afterwards, once I have begun working.” Edofine was nervous about his endeavor, but he felt certain this was the correct course.
“No need for you to pay. You’re like a brother to me,” Kryvek said.
“What about me?” Krith asked. “What happens to me? Everyone forgets me. The water’s getting cold.”
Sara stood up and spread her arms. “Ta-da! Look well, humans and demons and Elves! I have something to show you.” She unzipped the duffel bag and pulled out a chin-to-toe, red, puffy coat with odd bulges. “See, I have removed some of the down, not all of it, and sewn pockets which will hold hot water bottles right against the skin. The cloth is heat-proof—I tried cooking it in the oven all day, and I got an Elf from the OMHI to do spells to make it even more heat resistant. If Krith wears this, he can safely sit on ordinary surfaces, though to touch anything he’ll have to wear oven mitts and wear boots. He has to be full size for it to fit. I’m getting a patent and selling the design to the OMHI. I’ve got other ideas for Elf, Eudemon, and Archaedemon inventions. If we can make things the demons want, they might be willing to trade with us. At least I hope so.”
Everyone looked at Krith, whose orange eyes grew in astonishment. He lifted the cooler lid and stood, four feet in height. “It’s going to get cold in here, and I mean cold for you, not cold for me. I need to get bigger.”
“He will draw the heat into himself,” Edofine explained.
“Why didn’t he do that before?” John asked.
“It gives him a terrible headache, and also there has to be enough heat available surrounding him.” Edofine stood and pulled the blankets off the bed, wrapping them around Lira. “Proceed, my friend.”
There was no sound, but everyone shivered from the sudden temperature change. Krith grew two feet higher and considerable thicker and wider, standing in a few inches of hot water. He rubbed his temples. “Ow. I wanted to try the coat on, so it’s worth it.”
Sara walked to him and handed him the coat. “I’m hoping it works. I filled it up with boiling water before coming. There’s a pair of old, used, but thick boots too.”
Krith pulled the coat on, and slid his feet into the fleece boots. He stepped out of the cooler and spread his arms, his loose, batlike membrane stretching out. He smiled. “It’s a little cool, but I feel fine.”
“Care to give me a hug?” Sara asked.
Krith cautiously put his arms around Sara, being sure not to touch her with his hands. “Lady, you’ve set me free.”
“Here are oven mitts,” Sara said, letting go and pulling them out of the duffel bag.
“Now the OMHI can hire you instead of the furnace,” Christine commented.
“Really? I wouldn’t have to do anything but fire spells and suck the heat out of rooms?” Krith laughed. “This calls for a drink! Anyone have vodka? Whisky? Bourbon?”
“I have some beer,” John said.
“That’ll have to do. I’ll cook it in the coffee maker.” Krith rushed around the room, relishing his new mobility.
Edofine spoke. “You are to be commended, Sara.”
“That’s really clever,” Lira put in, enveloping her fiancé in the blankets.
“I can’t wait for them to rebuild the apartments,” Christine said. “Conference ended.”
The formal part was over, but no one left the room. Instead they talked, worked, played games, laughed, and loved. That wasn’t about to end any time soon.
About the Author:
Donaya Haymond, a half-Thai, half-American college student, began writing her first novel at age 13, in 2003. It took until 2008 before she managed to get it published, but by then she was well on her way, having won several accolades in high school. Her favorite authors are Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Bill Bryson, Rumi, and James Branch Cabell. She also has a deep fondness for such disparate delights Calvin & Hobbes, xkcd, Doctor Who, Tintin, Firefly, The Decemberists, and The Dresden Dolls.
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f Donaya Haymond on Facebook for the most up-to-date news on her books, or visit her website at:
http://sites.google.com/site/legendsoflaconiausa/
Also by Donaya Haymond:
Halloween Romance
Bite Me
Waking Echoes
Also from Eternal Press:
Waking Echoes
by Donaya Haymond
eBook ISBN: 9781615721412
Print ISBN: 9781615721429
Young Adult Paranormal
Short Novel of 51,653 words
Accepting yourself can be unusually difficult. Taylor Calvin is a hardworking, intelligent high school student who’s been stretching herself a bit thin lately. This is not improved by the appearance of Tylianvornika, a ghost that claims to be Taylor from a previous life in another dimension, one she shared with her closest friends. Now Taylor must juggle daily problems that merely feel like the end of the world, along with memories and a persistent haunting concerning the actual ending of a world.
Also from Eternal Press:
Unwanted
by Jane Toombs
eBook ISBN: 9781615722785
Print ISBN: 9781615722792
Young Adult Fantasy Romance
Novella of 21,446 words
Unwanted: In the world into which redhead Ella with her green eyes falls, red-haired green-eyed women are killed on sight as witches…
Red-haired, green-eyed Ella Mack is lucky enough to cheat death when her car skids off a Nevada cliff. She falls into the Underworld, but lands in a country where red-headed women with green eyes are considered witches and killed on sight.
How can she stay alive in a strange land where she doesn’t even speak the language?
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Humans and Demons and Elves Page 14