Page 20
Then again, the creatures chasing me out of the Devotion were real…
As I am about to slide off my dress, my body freezes. The presence of another pebbles my skin, and yet as I look around, the room remains empty, save for my presence.
"Say it again…" It's his voice, the same one from the statue. I can hear it all around me, yet it echoes like he's far away. "Tell me where they took you…" His voice is gentle, and inviting. "Say my name, so I may find you…"
I breathe heavily, my chest vibrating inside. I touch the flesh between my breasts, almost clawing at it, trying to dig to the source of what’s making me so damn drawn to whatever is happening.
I look down and stare at the ring on the stool.
"You are not in trouble… let me find you… the gargoyles or Reapers will bring you to me…”
The words do something to me that I am not equipped to handle as my knees weaken. The vibration in my chest has spread to my limbs, my fingers, the base of my skull—this is the frequency my body has been straining toward whenever I get a sense of grounding.
I almost answer him.
Instead, I grab the ring, jam it back onto my finger, and the vibration cuts off like someone yanked a cord from a wall.
The silence is devastating.
The absence of him is worse than the yearning. I stare at the waters of the tub, hardly blinking as my gaze focuses on nothing.
What just happened?
I strip off the dress and put on a robe, barreling down the stairs like I'm outpacing a murderous beast. I confront a surprised Judica. "I took off the ring—it’s back on, don’t worry. He spoke to me, in my head. Who am I? What does he want with me?” My eyes widen with fury when she appears indignant, like reprimand is to follow, which only instigates a fury within, like a storm is brewing. “And don’t you threaten me with those insects of yours. I demand the truth.”
My shoulders relax I feel as if a wave has just washed through me, the candles all flickering dramatically before returning to a calm burn.
Her eyes widens, her shoulders slouching. "By the Dayim, there is strong soul magic here."
Judica’s gaze glosses with disappointment, pressing her thin lips together as she sighs. "Well, that's what you get for reengaging."
"I demand to know—“
Judica throws a cup near her hand right at my head, only for it to eerily hang in front of me like it's frozen in ice, my reaction time too slow to have dodged it. "That's dragon’s shit. He's not going to find you with that ring on. I don’t care what you demand, you need to listen to me. I understand the pull is strong, but you must rest." The mug goes back to her, and she smacks it on the counter, pouring her tea. "Don't do it again."
"I don't —"
She glares at me. "Don't. Do it. Again. Can you have patience for one single night? Control that human side of you?”
I huff a bit, my hands fidgeting with air. “You get this one night,” I say, speaking as if I have any authority.
“If you remove it again, Penelope, I will lace your drink and make you comatose. Please don’t do that to me.”
My lips move all around as if something tastes sour in my mouth, the name Penelope so wrong. “Will you explain everything tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
I give her a silent nod, my heart still racing as I slowly ascend the staircase, facing my bath before re-shuttering the windows.
Can I even accept the way his voice wrapped around me like a visceral temptation?
The ring sits on my finger like a stone, but I leave it on. It’s as if adrenaline won’t let me rest, almost aggressively undressing and dramatically entering the tub. I bathe as if I can wash that history off my skin. I pause when I realize the water is salt water.
That depth in the center or chest grows heavier, like there’s a longing to something I can’t even recall the shape of.
I’m not sure how much time passes as I stare at my legs through the water, completely losing myself like everything I just experienced didn’t matter—there’s an answer in this salt water, and I know it. Even then, I don’t press for one, as if knowing the water is akin to the ocean is enough to calm me down.
I even hear Judica enter at a point, but I don’t budge.
