Lennox finishedher bite and smiled. “Sorry. It still sounds crazy to hear you refer to me asCauld Ane even though every molecule in my body knows it to be true.”
“I supposethat’s not too much of a surprise, is it? You’ve been taught to hate and fearus for so long, it must be confusing to beone of usnow.”
“That’s theweird part. I’m not confused at all. In fact, I feel more at peace than I everhad. And the craziest part is I’m stillme.”
I laughed. “Ofcourse, you are. Who else would you be?”
“I don’t know.”She shrugged. “I guess I was afraid that after bonding I wouldn’t feel likemyself. That giving up my humanity might mean giving up a part of who I was.Maybe evenallI was.”
“But you don’tfeel that way now?”
She shook herhead with a smile. “Not at all. In fact, I feel more myself than ever. If thatmakes any sense.”
“I think so. Iwas born Cauld Ane, so I don’t know what it feels like to become one, but Ithink I can understand how you might be feeling.”
Lennox’s eyesnarrowed. “I can show you, can’t I? I mean, I can project to you how I feelright now?”
I nodded. “Aye.”
Lennox droppedher breakfast sandwich and took my hands into hers.
“You’re sticky,”I said. “Is that chocolate sauce?”
“Shhhh,” sheadmonished, quickly licking a finger before taking my hand again. “Let meconcentrate.”
The words had nosooner left Lennox’s mouth when I felt an overwhelming sense of venerabilityovertake me. It was terrifying. I broke contact with her as quickly as I could.
“Pretty cool,huh?” Lennox asked excitedly.
“What the cripeswas that?” I said with the least bit of air left in my lungs.
She smiled.“Isn’t it wonderful?”
“Are you joking?”I grimaced. “Wonderful? That was a nightmare.”
“What? Youdidn’t feel like you were swimming effortlessly in a warm sea of knowledge andenlightenment?”
“More like agiant raw nerve ending falling down a glass staircase toward a sea ofoblivion.”
“Oh, my gosh.”She gasped. “Did I hurt you? I was trying to show you how great I felt.”
“No, no, it’sokay,” I said, taking her hand again. “You’re changing, and your emotions andfeelings are for you alone to process. They don’t resonate properly with me becausethey aren’t meant for me. Does that make sense?”
She nodded.
“Good.” Igrabbed a Pop-Tart from the table and took a bite, instantly regretting mydecision. I ran to the sink, spitting the chemically sweet, preservative laden,food substitute into the sink. “That’s horrible,” I said, wiping my mouth. “YouAmericans really eat that for breakfast?”
“Mable asked meto make a list of anything I might like or need during my stay at the castle.”
Mable had beenmy parents’ housekeeper for going on twenty years now. She was human and hadtaken over the job from her parents. She loved our family and had practicallyraised me and my siblings, so she was more like an aunt than an employee.
“And yourequested miniature, sugar-frosted, drywall panels?” I asked.
“This breakfastwas meant for me alone,” she droned in a horrible Scottish accent.
I raised aneyebrow. “Was that supposed to be me?”
Lennox giggled.“I bet you didn’t know I was a master impressionist, did you?”
