Then I saw Chase and Lucas together. They were a very familiar picture. They reminded me of Lysander and myself. Lysander was a giant nerd who ate gross chips and could talk about books for literally ever, and both of those things made absolutely no sense to me, yet I really enjoyed those things anyway when it came to him.
Lysander was the person I trusted most and I liked how his face looked. Of course I liked him. That was a natural conclusion. Son of a bitch. What the hell was I supposed to do about this?
~
Max
Frost set up an appointment to further investigate my supernatural origins. It seemed less painful and awkward than confronting my feelings for Lysander.
Maybe I was wrong about that.
Agent Stone and Lysander stared at each other in front of the relaxation room when I arrived for my appointment with the hypnotist. He immediately ushered me into the room and the left the other agent behind.
“Agent Stone is great,” he began stiffly.
She cleared her throat from the other side of the door, able to hear every word.
“Assistant Director Stone is great,” he amended. “Super capable. Just, um, are you sure… are you comfortable with this?”
“I’m willing to try.” Hypnotism seemed like a tame option. A hypnotist using ordinary methods couldn’t compel a person to do anything. This exercise basically amounted to me exploring my own psyche with a guide instead of some all-powerful being using a cheat sheet to peek at my insides.
Lysander fidgeted before steeling himself, words leaving him in a rush. “You might be more comfortable with someone else performing the session.”
"But I’m always comfortable around Stone."
Now he went completely still, like I stunned him. “AD Stone?” he clarified. “Gabriela Stone? The woman and werewolf standing right over there?"
Lysander opened the door between us and we were met with her incredibly pissed off face.
"Yeah," I said, still confused.
“Her?” he pointed his finger at Stone.
"Oh, for the love of—" she growled.
“Is that bad?” I wondered.
"No. Sorry. Of course not.” He tried to send me a reassuring smile as he casually inched away from Stone. “But most people find her intimidating and scary."
“Me too,” I said. “I like that. You know what to expect with her.”
Stone wasn’t exactly someone I’d feel comfortable sharing feelings with, but I trusted her to guide me. I didn’t have to worry about what she might be hiding because all her hostile characteristics were right there on the surface.
The person causing me more nerves was the agent in front of me. My heartbeat sped up upon seeing him, and I suddenly felt less calm than before. I needed to focus. Yet I couldn’t ask him to leave. Feelings or not, he was still my emotional support fox. The only thing I’d been completely certain of after he confessed was that I needed him in my life.
“Let’s get started,” Stone declared.
At first it was a bit awkward and not just because Lysander couldn’t meet Stone’s eye. I laid on what he called a classic therapist’s couch while he sat stiffly on a chair nearby and Stone lit incense, a special kind she’d requested. I focused on trying to identify the foreign scent, something earthy yet sharper.
Stone took me through breathing exercises, guiding me into a relaxed state. With my eyes close only her voice and my breathing existed in the darkness of my mind. Listening to her and following the instructions took time, but it became easier and easier. Eventually my limbs felt heavy and my mind felt quiet. I hovered somewhere between awake and asleep, drifting in a quiet calm place.
"What are we looking for?"Her voice reached me from far away.
"Answers."
"What answers?"
“About what I am.” My voice sounded heavy and distant. “My connection to the supernatural world.”
