by A E M
She covered her mouth with her hand and knelt down in the bathtub, her forehead touching the bottom of the tub. She froze. Blood. Where was the blood coming from? She raised her head and stared down. Blood flowed from between her legs. She gulped. Of course. How long had it been since she had had her last period? She had been a child for a while. She thought of the months before that. No. Surely. She hadn’t been paying attention. How had she not been paying attention to that? She put her hand to her stomach. She hadn’t sleep with Beau. There hadn’t been a reason to believe she was pregnant.
She gripped the sides of the tub. She hadn’t had a period since before she had transformed. How could that be? She tried to stand, but her legs shook. She sat back down in the tub. She listened to the water spraying down on her back and focused on the flowers on the wallpaper. She looked down at her skin. Had she turned into a fairy?
She had sworn in the dungeon that she would never turn into a fairy again, but she supposed that wasn’t a decision she could stand behind for very long. She flipped her arms over. Was she a fairy? She couldn’t tell. She didn’t see a glow, but she did feel weird. Her breathing increased. How was she supposed to turn back if she was a fairy? The other times she had thought of Beau and the happy times, but now the thought of him made her terrified.
A wave of pain rolled through her body and she felt the snap. Now she was definitely a fairy. Blood gushed between her legs and she gasped. What was going on? Her arms and legs shook now. It couldn’t be good to be losing this much blood.
Vincent rapped on the bathroom door. “What’s wrong?”
She gripped the tub again and panted. She wanted to tell him, but then again, she was too embarrassed to let him know exactly what was happening.
“Look, whatever is happening woke me. I don’t mean to pry, but I’m worried.”
Charlotte pulled the shower curtain aside and ripped a towel down from a rack and pulled it around her body. “Come in.”
“What’s going on?” He stepped in, but kept his distance.
“This is the first time I’ve had a period since I’ve changed. I’m bleeding too much.” Her voice shook. “I don’t understand what’s going on.”
He kept his eyes on the ground. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Can you get David?”
He looked up at her; pain crossed his eyes. He sat down on the toilet lid and stared out the bathroom door for a moment. “Yes, of course. He could get Sebastian, I suppose. We need to be very careful about who knows we are alive. We might be able to get help from Bouldershaker, but first let’s get you out of there and into clothes. Do you have something in your pack for the bleeding?”
Another wave of pain hit her. She curled up tighter in the tub and more blood poured out between her legs. “Monty!”
He was there, then. “You told me that fairies have to learn or die, right?” He laid a hand on the towel on her back. “Focus.”
She closed her eyes. “I don’t feel well.”
“Focus, Lotts.” He whispered. “If you don’t, David is going to show up here with Beau and I’m not going to stand a chance against an angry bird man. He’ll toss me off a cliff.”
She snorted, but a tiny smile crept across her lips. “I’ve missed you.”
“I don’t remember what you’re missing.” His shift in tone cut right through her. “I’m going to get breakfast started. Figure this mess out.”
“You’re leaving me?” She sat up straighter in the tub.
He held onto the door. “You left me, remember?”
“It was you who left me!” She yelled after he closed the door. “You don’t remember, but it was you who left me. You got to walk away from it all without any consequences or even a memory of it, and I had to carry the weight of it all alone!” Her skin rippled with more heat. “You always leave me when it gets hard!”
The door opened. “So that’s what this is?” He asked calmly. “You punishing me by leaving the apprenticeship because it’s hard? You punishing me for things I don’t even remember? You punishing me without explaining first and giving me a chance?”
The sound of the water splashing against her skin and the tub filled the space between them. The bond throbbed. Charlotte shivered. Her teeth rattled, yet her skin burned hotter.
“Get out.” She whispered. “I’ll do this on my own.”
He left the door cracked open.
She shook her head at the door and gulped. He was right, perhaps, but so was she. How could they bridge the gap between them when he didn’t remember what had happened? And if David did restore Vincent’s memory, would he even want to bridge the gap? Would she? She shook her head. She had already laid that foundation. She had had no choice but to try to bridge the gap. And he? Well, they were linked, and he had a job to do. Perhaps they could make a bridge out of necessity. She could use a friend, even if she did have to wait for a while to build the friendship.
Her legs shook harder now. She pressed her feet into the bottom of the tub and stood. The water turned into steam as it hit her skin. She closed her eyes and thought of starry nights and shady spots under trees and secret notes in books. She felt the hard snap out of her fairy side. The bleeding lessoned and her legs stopped shaking. She scrubbed clean and dressed and stepped out of the bathroom.
Vincent looked up at her from the edge of David’s bed where he sat. “Okay?”
She stared at him.
“I wasn’t going to leave you completely alone.” He offered.
“I’m okay.” She set her pack down on the bed with a thump. “The heavy bleeding stopped once I changed out of the fairy side.”
“Good.” He stood. “Hungry?”
“Yes, but you don’t have to—”
“I’m going to feed you.” He knelt down by the fire and added some logs. “Will you stay and rest today?”
“I don’t have time to rest.” Charlotte straightened the blankets on the bed and looked out the window at the falling snow. “He’s out there somewhere. I have so many questions I need answered, and I don’t have time to sit around here and rest. What if he’s injured? What if my parents are out there injured? They could have been rescued like Bouldershaker did for Chime and Phoebe.”
“You’ve been through a lot.”
“So have you.” She countered. She thought of him dying and unconscious for so many days. He crossed to the kitchen and banged around the stove and skillets. Soon the smell of eggs and coffee filled the cabin. Charlotte found the plates and set the table. “It’s not what you said.”
“Then what is it?”
She tried to speak, but the tears got in the way again and her skin started to ripple with heat. He grabbed his gloves off the counter and slipped them on before taking her hand. “Close your eyes.”
She shook her head no. “I can’t do the dark. I can’t.” She cried harder. “It was so dark there.” Her body shook, and she hated herself for it.
“Look out the window. Watch the falling snow and imagine that you are a snowflake. You are light and tiny and you drift down in a circular dance before you hit the soft pile of snow on the ground.”
She watched out the window much longer than it took for the heat to subside.
“I know you had to be in control because your life depended on it.” He whispered from behind her after some time. “But you aren’t in control yet. You can’t go out there on your own, and now isn’t the time. We are both technically dead and I’m afraid that there will be some kind of attack like the first time after a stronghold was taken down.”
She nodded.
“We won’t go as master and apprentice. I know you went through a lot when you were taken. I know there’s something you aren’t telling me.” He swallowed hard and took a step back. “We won’t start those roles up again until you are ready.” He squeezed her hand. “Although I will help you as I see need of it.”
“Then what are we?”
He let go of her hand and went to the stove. “Really awkw
ard companions.”
She rolled her eyes at him and filled her plate.
“I don’t like this.” He sat down. “You haven’t been completely honest with me and I still can’t see straight through the bond.”
“What?” She frowned. “I thought you knew how it works?”
“I do!” He insisted. “But it’s weird with you. I can’t see up from down through your emotions. It’s maddening.”
She snorted. “Try living it.”
“What do you think I’m having to do?” He pointed his fork at her. “I know you are keeping stories about us from me. I felt what you felt about us this morning. About an us that I don’t even know about.”
Charlotte stood and stomped toward the sink. “I’m not the only one who keeps things to myself.” She scrubbed away at her plate. “And I think it’s right under the surface. I can—. You still—. I know—.” She shoved the plate into the drying rack.
“I’m not interested in that kind of a relationship with anybody right now. And not for a very long time.” He said quietly. “Do you feel that, too?”
“Yes.” She spat out. “And I know you think I’m stupid for wanting to marry right now.”
“You’re too young.”
“You’re bossy.”
“You’re argumentative!”
“You’re a know it all.”
A loud knocking interrupted their fight.
Vincent turned from the sink. Charlotte reached for his arm. “Who knows we are here?” She whispered.
“Just David.” He looked at her shaking body. “What is it?”
She gripped his arm tighter and thought of the man’s warning. “Does the Weaver Council know?” Would he tell them? “Did you report me to have my memories wiped since I wasn’t a good apprentice?”
“Protégé.” He said gently. He hadn’t meant to slip back into their apprenticeship names until she asked to come back, but it flowed from his lips before he knew it was there. “Don’t be ridiculous.” He hugged her quickly. “It’s probably just somebody looking for David.”
He crossed to the back door and gave it a good open and hard shut. “Stay in the pantry. They likely heard us shouting, but I’ll say you stepped out.”
She nodded.
He walked slowly to the door, twisting his ring on his finger, and glanced at the wands over the fireplace. He looked out the window. It was Lennox. His clothes were dirty and torn, and his eyes darted around. Vincent frowned and opened the door.
“How do I know it’s you?” Vincent asked immediately.
“Caterpillars and mud.” Lennox replied.
“Come in, old friend. Would you like something to eat or drink?”
“No, thank you.” Lennox looked around the room. “Where is she?”
Vincent frowned, offered a small smile, and sat down in a chair. “I sent her out to collect wood. She was disrespectful.”
Lennox’s shoulders relaxed and he smiled. “Still having a hard time with her, eh?”
Vincent nodded and sent calming messages through the bond. He hoped she was paying attention. Something was off with Lennox, and he didn’t want Charlotte to get hot headed and reveal herself. “It seems like we still have things to work out.” He nodded to the couch. “Would you care to sit down?”
“I won’t bother you for long.” Lennox peeked around the fireplace. “David here?”
“No. Do you need me to get in contact with him for you? Are you in a hurry?”
“I’m in a hurry today, yes.” Lennox answered. “But I don’t need you to get David.” His eyes drifted over the cabin slowly.
“Lennox?” Vincent straightened. “Are you okay? Do you need something from me? From David? Are you checking on us?”
Lennox bowed and smiled. “I’m sorry, Vincent. I’m a bit out of sorts today. I meant to check on both of you today. Make sure you were okay after having been under a transformation for so long.”
“We are okay.” Vincent said.
Lennox stepped closer. “And Charlotte? Is she okay?” He scratched at his neck. “I worry about her. She was so young when it happened. I worry about her feelings. Being a girl and all. Have you talked to her about what happened? Are the two of you okay?”
Vincent shrugged. “I’m not used to girls.”
“Mhmm.” Lennox grinned. “I wondered about that. Perhaps it’s too early to be punishing her with collecting wood, eh?”
Vincent sighed and looked around the room. What was going on? This wasn’t like Lennox at all. He looked back at the man and frowned. “I just sent her out. She won’t be back for a bit.”
“You know,” Lennox started, “I helped your brother with you a bit, and I know a little more about girls than you do. I could go talk to her if you like.”
Vincent stared at him for a minute. “I guess it’s okay.”
Lennox laughed and patted him on the shoulder. “Always the reluctant one, you.”
Vincent smiled. “You know me.”
Lennox nodded. “But are you okay? I came to check on you, too.”
“I’m okay.” Vincent said. “Do you want me to start some tea for you? Will you be back after you talk to Charlotte?”
Lennox looked out the window. “Yes, that would be great.”
Vincent stretched his legs. “How are things at the den? I heard that travel is limited right now. I’m a little surprised to see you.”
Lennox turned his head sharply back to Vincent. “The den is as it always is, of course.” He offered a half smile. “And you know me. I get special traveling privileges.”
“Of course. I had forgotten.” Vincent stood. “You’ll have to forgive me. “I’m a little on edge right now.”
“Perfectly normal.” Lennox said. He pulled a packet out of his jacket and put in on one of the end tables. “I meant to drop this off for you and Charlotte. It’s nothing more than soothing tea, but I thought it might help calm both of your nerves. Everyone at the den is drinking it—” His face paled. “After it happened.” He winked. “I suppose we are all on edge. The fauns, you know. We don’t want that kind of attack again.”
“No, of course not.” Vincent stepped a little closer.
Lennox stepped into David’s room. “It seems like yesterday that you were the little boy running around this place. Now look at you all grown up.”
“You said you were in a hurry. Do you want me to go get Charlotte?”
“No, no. I won’t be a bother.” Lennox backed out of the room. “I’ll see myself out and find her. I imagine it won’t take long to track her down in this snow.” He smiled. “It’s good to see you. I’ll ask her a few quick questions, and then I’ll be on my way.”
“Hey, do me a favor and send her back when you are done.”
“Sure.” Lennox winked. “Why don’t you get some of that tea ready for her when she returns?”
Vincent nodded. “Good idea. Will you be checking on us again soon?”
“Yes.” Lennox tapped his fingers on the doorframe. “Very soon. I take it you will be here? There’s no point in you being anywhere else, is there?”
“Not really.”
“See you soon then.” He left with a whistle, and Vincent locked the door after him. He hurried to the pantry, where he found Charlotte huddled on the floor.
“That’s not Lennox.” She whispered. “Somebody else knows I’m alive. That we are alive.”
“I know.” He helped her up. “We have to get out of here. Get your pack now.” He felt for his own pack strapped on his leg while she ran around the corner to get hers. He pulled his Quire out and tapped David’s icon, but his call went unanswered. He kicked the kitchen chair and put his hand on the wall. “House, prepare for safe mode.” He commanded. The shutters on the cabin shut all at once. Charlotte ran into the kitchen.
“I’m sending the cabin someplace safe.
“What about us?”
“We are going to use a portal to one of the castle’s tunnels that David and I used to go back
and forth.” He pulled her into the pantry as the banging began on the back door. He placed his hand on the wall again. “House, thirty seconds.” He opened the odd door in the pantry and pulled Charlotte in after himself. He aimed his ring down at the circle on the floor. There was a tug and a twist and push and they were gone.