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‘Because you were thinking with your knob, literally,’ Willow teases me, knowing there’s nothing I can do and trying to lighten the mood.
‘Yes, I suppose so. I should have fought harder,’ I begrudgingly admit.
‘Knots, you can’t keep a woman like that tied down. She needs to be free to make her own choices. You’ve gained your body back during a time when women no longer need a man’s permission to do things. All you can do is give her advice and make sure she has what she needs. I know it’s hard for you, but all you can do is be there for her when she needs you and try to support her where you can.’
Damn.
Willow once again hits me where I least expect it, my pride. She’s right, of course. She’s been one of my best friends for as long as we’ve had our posts in the doors, and she hasn’t steered me wrong yet. It’s still a hard pill to swallow, though.
I’ve always had a soft spot for my wards. It’s my job to protect and watch out for them. It’s been different with JP, Moni, and Rez. I guess you can include the furball into that group as well, even though he tried to piss on me and threatened to cut me. They have become more like family, including me in their talks around the dinner table or when they’re all watching TV together, even back when I was just a Door Knight to them.
It’s hard to adjust to this different role of… whatever I am to each of them. Fuck, this anxiety is killing me. Walking into Rez’s bedroom, I head out onto the balcony, trying to see what’s going on with the Rebels.
Cloaked figures rush into the fray but don’t attack the building like they should for a proper attack. They launch a few fireballs into the sky, but with the downpour, they are quickly extinguished, covering the grounds in smoke. Hmm. Why not use the hotter fire spells to do damage? Why use weaker spells? Unless they are just a distraction?
For the first time, I wish I had one of those cell phones. I smack myself in the forehead and thank the Fates no one is around to see my foolish behavior.
Note to self: Ask for a phone and learn how to use it.
Withdrawing from my surroundings, I open my communications with the other Door Knights.
‘Urgent! Rebels are using weaker spells. This could be a distraction. Reinforce the portals, entrance ways, and doors, and pass along to any leaders close by. Again, this might be a distraction.’
Multiple acknowledgments echo back to me as I pull myself back to my surroundings and focus on what’s before me. A flash of silver catches my eye. A silverback gorilla is using the cover of darkness to run to the woods, where the rebels are waiting.
My jaw drops as I recall whose animal is not only a gorilla but a silverback. What is he doing running into the fray without backup?
Banging on the door pulls my attention away from the Rebels down below.
“KNOTS!! Let me in,” Chester yells.
Not knowing what’s on the other side of the door with Chester, I pull my sword free, mentally unlock the door, and decide to meet him in the entranceway. I find him leaning against the wall, and since no one is rushing in behind him, I allow him to enter and lock the door before sheathing my sword to refocus on him. He’s a mess, wearing Moni’s satchel on his back, covered head to toe in mud and debris, and drenched from the storm outside.
“Where is she?” he says in a panic as he holds the back of his head.
“Who?” I ask, my shock mirroring his own.
Chester pushes his crooked glasses dotted with water droplets back in place before shoving off the wall and walking past me.
“Moni.” He drops his hand from the back of his head, revealing a dark matted spot of hair as his head swivels around looking for her.
“Is that blood?” I ask, reaching out to grab his shoulder.
“Yeah,” he brushes me off and starts down Moni’s hall. “MONI!”
“Hey, why are you bleeding? Why aren’t the girls with you?” Grabbing his shoulder, I whirl him around and push him against the wall.
“Where the fuck are the girls?” My fear spikes, making my voice come out harsh as I get in his face.
“I don’t know,” he yells back, shaking his head. “Moni and I got separated from Rez in the Ever Woods and found ourselves surrounded by Fericrocs.”
Shit
“Moni fainted after she knocked them out with her sonic boom, and I carried her back here as fast as I could. I… I was so worried about getting her back here safely that… that I didn’t notice my surroundings.” His voice chokes as he throws his arms into the air before he looks down at his chest in defeat. Placing my hands on his shoulders, I lean down to make eye contact with him.
“Breathe, Chester. I need you to take a deep breath and tell me what happened. Where’s Moni?” All I really want to do is shake this man before me, but I know that won’t help. He’s already admitted that they lost Rez out in the moody ass woods in this horrid storm, but I might be able to still help Moni if I know what’s going on.
A sob leaves him as he looks up at me, his bottom lip trembling. “I don’t know. I was jumped by someone at the edge of the woods. I woke up and found her missing. I was hoping she ran here.”
