My face flushed as I gathered my locks and lifted them off my neck. His large hands appeared in my peripheral vision, the collar draping loosely between them. He pulled it back until it pressed flush against my throat, probably a little tighter than he intended. My heart raced.
I felt his fingers fumble with the cross ties on the back of my neck. He gave a firm tug of the laces once everything was settled in place. I shuddered at the gentle constriction—hoping nobody could tell. I didn’t have a lot of experience being touched by the opposite sex, much less beingchokeddelicately by them. I was learning something new about myself, and it felt indecent in front of someone who was like a mother to me.
“Now, Theo, I don’t have much—” Ida leaned back in her rocking chair. “—but I don’t like accepting favors for free. So, tell me, what can I give you as payment?”
“This is perfect,” he remarked, gesturing at the choker.
“No, that’s for Vivian. What doyouwant?”
I went to tell her that really wasn’t necessary, but Theo spoke before I could protest.
“Could you show me what types of jars you have? I could use some.”
Theo
The elderly female cared for Vivian deeply.
I wasn’t thrilled at the threat of being lit on fire by another Pyran, but her fierceness in protecting the goddess was a good sign. I wasn’t sure Ida knew the actual stakes at hand… E.A.R.T.H. and energy factories and captivity. But shedidat least seem to recognize that this female not being from Trebianna was worth keeping secret.
I’d watched them interact closely. Ida treated Vivian like her own child. She was hyper-concerned for her safety and occasionally addressed her authoritatively. Motherly. Vivian behaved like a daughter who’d long since outgrown their angst. She was patient and tended to her friend hand-and-foot despite all the sass sent her way. This dynamic made sense to me. It was real and honest and loving.
My risk assessment? Vivian was safe with Ida.
“We’ll get to town just in time for nightfall,” I said, breaking an anxious silence.
It was raining, so we couldn’t see the daytime stars setting, but it was starting to get suspiciously dark. Unspoken concern began to float between us. I wanted to say, “don’t worry,I won’t let any night beasts hurt you”, but that may only confirm any suspicions that wewerein danger. We weren’t.
I would make sure of it.
Besides, we hadn’t crossed paths with any wildlife in some time… we must be close to civilization. They generally avoided the town by about a mile, and I’d only recently learned why. The crystals. I pictured the reflective wall surrounding the town, it wasn’t hard to put two and two together.
Vivian shielded her eyes from the heavy droplets as she looked up at the sky. “Should we set up camp?”
“We can find a place in town to stay for the night. It’s been a while since you slept in a bed, right? My treat.” I knew she didn’t have money for an inn, and I wanted to spoil her however I could.
“Oh my god, that would beamazing!” she moaned, her mouth gaping at the idea of having something as simple as a mattress to sleep on.
“I guess a bed should be the first thing I make for you when we get back,” I chuckled. A warmth filled my chest. She was excited by the comforts I was offering.
“I bet Ida can make the casing, and I’ll gather some stuffing,” she mused. “This homestead is about to be one big team effort!” The cheeriness in her voice subsided and a shadow crossed her expression. “I wish I could move Ida in. I feel bad having all the new luxuries to myself.”
What we were throwing together wasfarfrom luxury. That said, Ida needed new living arrangements sooner than later. Those floorboards wouldn’t last much longer. The roof was in even worse shape. But moving her to the field may not be much better. I wasn’t educated on how to make accessible housing,and the uneven terrain may be difficult for her to traverse with her missing limb. Not to mention she missed engaging with the community she spoke so highly of—roaming town, seeing old friends, shopping… The Pyran wasn’t my priority, but shewasVivian’s—so, tangentially, she was part of my purpose here.
“What should we do about dinner?” Vivian asked, redirecting my attention. I’d think more about the Ida situation later.
“Are there foods other than meat that you can’t eat? Dinner is on me. I’ll even buy you a drink if you ask nicely.”
I immediately regretted throwing that offer out there, too quickly remembering her words from before. Why did she have to say she’d do “unholy” things in exchange for alcohol? Knowing damn well alcohol wasmy gig. The enthusiastic throb inside my pants felt wrong.
Usually,holythings came to mind when I thought about the goddesses. I came from a religious family and had prayed to the goddess of vitality—her mother—my entire life. I was devout. But my veneration of Vivian was different. Although still reverent, the things I felt when I looked at her too long weresinful. Every stolen glance blasphemous.
“Aw you’re taking me on a date!”
Not helpful. “It’s been a long day. We both need to refuel.”
The sacrilege of taking this goddess on some shitty pubdateafter a long day sloshing through fresh mud made my stomach turn. No. This was just… grabbing food. No different than eating berries in her alcove.
“I’m not picky as long as it doesn’t poison me,” she laughed. “I’ll take your word on what to order. I don’t know much about Trebiannan cuisine.”
