The crashing reality of everything started to invade my mind, and I felt the fog of uncertainty taint the moment. Harris reappeared with a damp cloth in his hand, breaking my thoughts. He knelt back on the bed and then wiped between my legs with care before placing the cloth on the bedside table. He’d always looked out for me. I shouldn’t have expected any difference, nor would I look into it deeply. Even if it was sweet.
He positioned himself on his side and lazily ran his hand over my thigh, ribs, and arm, sprinkling me with kisses. My body felt totally relaxed despite my chaotic mind. I could easily fall asleep once I settled my thoughts.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Great.”
“You’d tell me if you weren’t?”
I nodded, not really sure if that was true. Something told me he’d blow it out of proportion as he always had when it came to me. I chuckled to myself, remembering the time I fell and skinned my knee when we were eight. He carried me on his back and ran back to his house, screaming for whoever would listen that they had to call 911. Or the time in eleventh grade that I had to go home early because of overly painful menstrual cramps. He ditched the rest of the day and ended up at my door with a bag filled with a heating pad, ice pack, various pain relievers, teas, and chocolates. He was often amazing like that with me. That’s why it hurt even more when we first argued, and he left my life. I had hope, until months passed, that we would get past it. How could we not? I got sickened at the thought that fifteen years had passed, but now I understood why. Although I disagreed with it.
“Are you tired?” he asked, seemingly satisfied with my response.
I yawned before I responded, and he smiled, lying on his back. He then tapped his chest, and I took that as an invitation, laying my head on him. I felt him reach over and pull the covers over us. I had meant to get up and use the bathroom, but my limbs were heavy and so were my eyelids. I’d just take a nap and get up later. Lying on his warm, solid chest and inhaling his scent was too inviting. And if this was a dream, I didn’t want to break the moment.
***
I had to break the moment in the middle of the night. I looked over at the bedside clock; I’d left my phone downstairs. It was after 2:00 am, and I needed to use the bathroom, wash my face, and grab my phone. I shifted off Harris, horrified by some drool I’d left on his chest. I dabbed at it and looked up at his face to seeif he felt anything. He looked peaceful, a slight smile on his face. I wondered what he was dreaming about. He looked so beautiful under the cracks of moonlight peeking from the window blinds with his hair spread out across the pillowcase. I leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek before getting up, still naked.
I made it all the way to the closed door before I heard him call my name. “Where are you going?” he called.
I turned slightly to him, seeing him propped up on his elbows with a disappointed frown. I shook my head. “I’m just going to the bathroom, and then I’m going to grab some clothes and go get my phone. Don’t want to walk around naked in case I run into one of your guards.”
He tossed the covers off and got up. “I can get your phone. I like you naked.”
I harumphed, and he walked over to me, kissing me quickly on the lips. “And with clothes on. I like you all ways always.”
My heart squeezed as I watched him walk, also naked, to the door, open it, and leave. He really was bossy. A bossy sweetheart. I used the bathroom, leaving the door open so we wouldn’t be rolling around in agony, and then washed my hands and face.
What felt like a cold gust of wind brushed over my back, causing goosebumps on my skin. It was not the air conditioner. I’d felt this before, and my heart dropped. I knew better than to believe that just because Harris was here, it would go away.
I reached for the towel I had placed on the counter earlier and brought it to my face, drying it. I then opened my eyes, staring past my reflection in the mirror at the dark mass behind me. Only this time it wasn’t the shapeless mass that I was used to seeing. It was human-shaped. Specifically, shaped like a man. Tall and broad. A floating black shadow.
I gasped and spun around, knowing it wouldn’t be gone. It wasn’t a figment of my imagination. I knew better now. These were real. Portals that were opening on their own. Only I’d neverseen one that was human-shaped before. It made no sense. No, this was different. Had my father seen anything like this? He’d never said, and I could no longer ask him.
“Hello?” I whispered to what I thought was the void.
No response. Unsurprising. This wasn’t a being; this was a portal. Just an oddly-shaped one. But sometimes, you could call inside them, and someone would hear you. Someone or something would respond. When I was little, I used to think it was fun. My own imaginary friend, in a way. The older I got, the less exciting it became for me. Because sometimes I began to realize that the portals didn’t always open up to somewhere nice, and the voices that could speak to me weren’t always good. After my father left, I knew for certain how dangerous the unknown in the darkness really could be.
I reached out in its direction to close the portal, as I’d always done, with my magic. The black mass shot its hand shape at me and latched onto my fingers. I could feel its ice-cold grip. Panic ripped into me. This was not a portal; this was a sentient being. I opened my mouth to scream, but the sound got caught in my throat. Paralyzing fear taking over me.
I used my other hand to pull it off me, but the grip was so tight. Instead of fighting it with my strength, I pushed my magic through my hands. Instantly, it released me. What sounded like a haunted moan from a hurt animal came from the shadow, but it was cut short as the human shape folded in on itself, becoming a shapeless mass once more until it disappeared.
I clutched my chest and slid to the floor, trying my best to slow my heart. What the fuck was that?
Chapter Six
Harris
Camilla was holding secrets. I could tell by the haunted look in her eyes when she came from the bathroom. She insisted she was alright, but I smelled the faint whiff of fear. Orcs had exceptional senses. I’d heard a moan of pain in the bathroom, and she said she’d stubbed her toe. I let it go. I let a lot of things go tonight, but I would get the truth from her. Just not now. I knew better than to force things out of her, and she’d been put through enough in the last less than twenty-four hours. I had hopes that I had ended her night with something good. It had been good for me. Great. Soul-changing. I knew now for certain that she was made for me and I her. If she thought I’d let her go now, she was mistaken.
The next morning, I decided to try to see if she would tell me what was going on. “How are you feeling this morning? Not sore or anything?”
She sat up, pulling the sheets to her chest. “I feel amazing. And I don’t mind the soreness. Worth it.”
I kissed her shoulder. “I can get you some balm. I don’t like you in pain. And something for your foot.”
She gave me a quizzical look.
