Chapter 6

I sat on a bed that was bigger than my half room in my apartment. On the table beside the bed was a stash of drinks, bars and snacks. I wondered if anyone would be offended if I packed those to take with me when I went home.

Home. Did I still have one? And what was I doing without Erin? I had no job, no way to pay rent.

All this quiet was bad for my internal morale. Didn’t these people watch television? I hadn’t seen one on either side.

When someone knocked on the door, I almost ran to answer it. Anything to get me out of my head was good right now. I opened it to see Michael standing there. I opened it further and then turned to walk back to the stand by the couch. Yes, this bedroom was big enough there was a couch and chairs. I couldn’t even think about the tub, it was like a small swimming pool. These people did nothing in small measures.

I watched him as he walked in, trying to figure out what the expression on his face meant. “Is Leone okay?”

He kind of nodded and shrugged at the same time. “It will take some time.”

I clasped my hands together in front of me. “If I could roll back time, I would.”

Tucking his hands in his pockets, he didn’t even acknowledge I’d spoke. “I came to see if you were all right after the workout.”

I snorted. Using magic was like a workout. “I’m good now, thanks.”

His blue eyes searched my face. “Tomorrow isn’t going to be easy.”

“Why break the pattern of my life and do something the easy way?”

He did smirk at that. “I know a lot has been dumped on you the past few days.” He inclined his head like he was trying to decide what to say. “I’m not entirely sure we’re on the same side in all aspects, but I did want you to know that I am here if you have questions.”

I stood there trying to figure out what that meant. How weren’t we on the same side? I swallowed. “What’s your,” I waved my hand, “job here?”

“I uphold the law.” He stated it simply.

“And Leone is the enforcer of… the law?”

He nodded.

My stomach tightened. I had this horrible feeling I was going to end up in my own personal glass cube again after I helped them trap Davis and his creepy crew. I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I don’t have any questions. Well, I have about a million, but none that I need answers just yet.”

Michael continued to stand there and look at me. “Leone is…”

“Standing right here.”

We both turned to see Leone standing in the open door.

Michael gave me a brief nod and turned to walk to the door. He stopped in front of him. “Do you want me to stay?”

Leone glanced to me over Michael’s shoulder and shook his head. “I’m in control.”

Michael turned to me. “I’ll see you in the morning.” He went past his brother.

I hugged my arms around my waist, almost wishing for the barrier to make things simpler. “Sorry about earlier.”

He walked in a few feet and then stopped and crossed his arms. “I think that’s my line.” He tapped his head. “I’m a bit of mess, in case you missed that.”

I shook my head. “No, I got it.” I wanted to offer him something. “Uh, after spending some time in there, I’d like to tell you that it’s not as bad up there as you think.” I sighed. “Or it wasn’t until I messed it up today.”

The strain of the silence had my heart beating, then he spoke again.

“How much did you see, then,” He motioned to his head. “When you were whispering to me constantly?” His jaw was clenched.

I stood there, not sure if I should answer or change the subject. “It’s not like I was browsing through your memories.” I leaned against the back of the couch. “It took a great deal of energy, to keep the connection, so I really only felt your immediate thoughts.” I smirked. “Like wanting me to shut up and go away.”

He almost smiled, then sobered immediately. “I’d been wondering.”

“If I could see everything, I would have known you were ten feet tall and had fangs,” I motioned to the air, “and all this other realm stuff and would have run the other way, fast.”

“Six foot five-ish.” He said unamused.

I rolled my eyes, “well from my elevation of a whole five feet, I’m seeing ten.” I was having trouble thinking of how to keep him from exploding again. I couldn’t take seeing that pain on his face, knowing it was more my fault than anyone. “I have an odd question.”

“Which is?” He dropped his arms, like he was expecting something that would be hard to handle.

“Don’t you guys watch t.v.?” I lifted my hands. “I haven’t seen one.”

His mouth twitched. “We do. Can you handle a six-foot t.v. screen?”

My eyes widened, I put my hand on my chest, then gaped at him. “Did you say six feet? Oh my god, is this heaven?” I looked around.

He laughed. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

I nodded, then held up a hand and ran to the bed and grabbed a few of the food items. “Okay, now I’m ready.”

~

I stood in the middle of the room, not caring if I was blocking a small portion of the large screen Michael was trying to watch. Surrounding the room full of huge couches and chairs were rows and rows of movies. Like every movie ever made, I was sure. I wiped my chin and looked at Leone, “did I get all the drool?” I rushed over to the nearest wall and ran my hand across the titles. “I’ve found my zen,” I whispered and kept looking. Glancing over my shoulder, I smiled at him, “Can I just sleep in here? Actually, I volunteer to live in this room and keep it clean and…” I frowned, “and… I don’t know but I’ll do it.” Turning I leaned back against the movies and looked at him. “Is this like the family room or does all of Alterealm watch t.v. here?”

He sat on the back of a large couch. “Family, a few of the guards.” He shrugged, “sometimes it is decades between uprisings and crises.”

I held both hands over my chest and gave him a pleading look. “I vow to serve and protect…” I turned and ran my hands over the movies, “every single title on these shelves… forever and ever.”

Michael laughed. “I take it your favorite sport involves a remote control?”

I turned and grinned at him. “Yes.”

He raised one eyebrow. “T.V. pause.” He said evenly.

The movie that had been playing paused. I stumbled toward the screen. “Oh my god. T.V. play.” It started playing and I squealed like a schoolgirl. “T.V. rewind.” It did. “T.V. play.” It started playing. I spun around to see Arius standing there smiling. “Can I stay?” I looked from Michael to Leone. “You don’t understand my t.v. is like,” I held up my hands in front of my face about a foot apart, “fifteen inches. One of you could probably span the whole screen with one hand.”

Still smiling, Michael looked around at Arius, “Were you looking for me?”

Arius nodded, “yeah, need to go over a few,” his eyes flicked to me briefly then back to his brother, “things with you.”

Michael got up. “I was just trying to unwind a bit.” He rolled his shoulder, “a little tense after earlier.”

Leone looked guilty.

Arius shrugged. “We’re all out of shape, Leone, thanks for the hard work out.”

I snorted. “I don’t want to see you guys in shape.”

Michael glanced to Leone. “You good?”

Leone nodded. “Yeah, I think I’m through the crisis for the moment.”

Glancing to me, Michael inclined his head to me and followed Arius out of the room. I cleared my throat. “Do you need to be in on planning or a meeting or…”

Leone shook his head. “No. My part tomorrow is pretty simple, just act pissed off when Davis shows up.” He shrugged, “won’t even have to act.” He motioned to the t.v. “Did you want to watch something?”

I nodded. “Anything.” I sat down on the nearest large chair, that was bigger than my bed. “The television is my spirit animal.”

Leone chuckled. “If I get up and leave, don’t take offense. I don’t usually allow myself to be near…”

“Female humans?” I’d remembered our talk when he was trapped.

“Yeah.”

“No offense will be taken.” I turned and looked at the screen, actually had to slump down to look up at the screen. I watched out of the corner of my eye, he sat on the couch on the other side of the room, facing me not the screen. “T.V., play.” I grinned as it did.

I tried to focus on the screen, usually when there was something on the magic box, I was enthralled, and nothing else got through. After several scenes, I couldn’t even concentrate on the dialogue with Leone still watching me. “You know, you’d probably relax more if you looked at the screen and not me.” I said while looking at him.

“I find you far more fascinating than what’s playing.”

I looked at him. “Me?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I don’t know what to make of you.”

What is someone supposed to say to that?

Leaning forward, he studied me. “I know you’re a fierce, loyal friend or you wouldn’t be in this situation.” He shrugged, “I wouldn’t be in this situation. But I don’t know anything else about you.” He looked at my hands, “magic skills aside.”

I turned so I was facing him. “There is nothing special about me.” Sighing I looked at my hands, “magic is it. I grew up a street rat and learned to get by, that’s my life in summary.”

“Street rat?”

I nodded, “yes, finding places to live because you really have no home to go to.”

“You were in the system?”

“Foster system, yeah, but I didn’t stay in it long.”

He clenched his jaw a few times. “I’ve heard that from a few others recently as well.” He motioned around. “I don’t understand a life like that. As the second youngest of so many…” He snorted, “I’ve, at times, had too much family.”

“From what I’ve seen, how can that be a bad thing?” I pulled my legs up and sat crossed legged, watching him.

He leaned back. “It has its moments. Try having your first girlfriend with seven brothers interfering all the time. Or worse, not aging along with seven brothers so the girl you’re infatuated with is like ‘oh your brother Chase is so hot’.” He rolled his eyes.

“It’s true.” Chase said from the door.

Leone rolled his head and looked at his brother. “Figures you’d walk in.”

“My timing is always impeccable.” Chase grinned and hugged Alona against his side. “We’re going to try to sleep for a few hours.” He looked at him for a moment, concern on his face. “Are you good?”

Leone exhaled loudly.

I sat forward. “I’ve promised not to bite him or keep him out too late.”

“Ah, very good, sparky. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

I waited until they left and then looked at Leone. “He’s going to always call me that isn’t he?”

Leone nodded. “Yeah.”

“Great.” I sighed. “I’m tired. This has been a day, and then some.”

Leone stood up, “I’ll show you back to the room.”

I looked at the t.v. longingly.

He smiled. “Too many are in and out of this room to get any sleep.”

“OK. Fine, lead the way.”

The walk back was completely silent. The thought of what would happen to me after tomorrow kept rolling around my mind. I didn’t think any of them would just use me that way—then again, I’d used Leone so all bets were off.

When we reached the door, he opened it and then stood there. I looked into the room and then up at him. “It’s huge. My bed is in a closet at home.” I pointed to the actual closet. “That closet is bigger than where I sleep.”

He blinked, “I don’t,” he frowned, “I can’t picture a room that small.”

I looked down at his feet and back to his face, “you probably wouldn’t fit, so that’s a good thing.”

The silence was back. His brown eyes moved over my face, I held my breath, not knowing what to expect or do. Should I just walk in and close the door, did I wait until he said good night? We were the epitome of awkward right now.

His expression changed, but before I could figure out to what, he lowered his head and kissed my mouth softly.

Straightening again, he frowned. “I’m not…” He nodded. “Good night, Bethany.” With that he walked down the hall with long strides.

I released the breath I’d been holding and went into the room. That was—I didn’t know what that was. Shaking my head, I kicked off my shoes as I walked and headed for the swimming pool in the bathroom. Some soaking and thinking was required to work that out.