Page 24

And I come.

Chapter 11

Iwake alone and naked with no idea how much time has passed.

I was so tired, but I remember him carrying me through hallways and corridors to this chamber.

It’s tall and wide enough to fit the entire East Gloaming town hall inside, with a bed big enough for both of us, with room to spare. There are soft pillows stuffed with feathers, and sheets made from the softest silk.

But what I don’t remember is the life-size Dolly Parton statue standing near the bed. It must have been from a movie promo or something. She’s wearing her salmon pink sweater from 9 to 5.

“That’s weird,” I mutter, frowning.

Then I notice the stack of Dolly Parton records. And the peanut butter crackers. And… are those bottles of chocolate Yoo-hoo next to them?

There are tampons, shampoo, toothpaste. Everything a girl could need when she’s moving in somewhere. And stacks of clothes, mostly black. There are two robes hanging on a tall carved pillar to the left of the bed as well. One is three times my size and the other one, more Dolly-sized.

When did he bring all this stuff? And from where?

And also… Where has he gone?

His heat lingers on my skin and in my bones, but I don’t sense he’s here.

Kenny comes swooping in, and I drag a heavy black fur pelt up my body. “Maybe you should knock next time?”

He spins around the stone ceiling for a few loops, then lands on top of one of the stacks of cracker packages with a little bat-like chirp, folding his wings behind him.

“Those are mine. Fangs off.”

He hisses and takes off again, out through the door, and I’m alone again.

My body aches in all the right ways, stretched and humming, still pulsing and sticky between my legs. I’m suddenly chilled, and I remember that glorious black hot tub…the black water will chase away the cold and likely ease the soreness in my muscles.

I wrap myself in one of the robes and head out to wander my new home.

I find my glasses, once again folded on a ledge, put my disguise back on out of habit, and wander the silent corridors, trying not to feel abandoned. Not after everything he said. Everything he did.

I sit by the edge of the pool, dangling my feet in the always-steaming water, opening the robe and letting the steam warm my body.

Kenny hangs from one of the crystal veins overhead. He watches me with those two pinprick eyes.

The silence hums in my ears.

It’s not just the quiet of the temple. It’s the hush that comes after you’ve survived something no one expected you to.

After your whole life pivots and leaves the world you knew behind.

I think of my room back at the last house where I stayed, the Dolly posters, Mama’s copy of Coat of Many Colors on vinyl, the books with dog-eared pages.

The taste of boxed mac and cheese.

The way people in town looked at me, but no one really knew me. Dolly got the same body I got, and the whole world loved her for it.

She told every joke about her figure first, told it better, and laughed all the way to the bank. When I tried that, people laughed too. Just not with me.

And now she’s gone. I didn’t think anything would hurt like losing Mama again.

I didn’t know Dolly, not personally. But she mattered, and it felt like the same old wound had opened up.