“What time is it?” I mumble, sliding the comforter back over my head.
“It’s time for you to wake up and kick some ass.” I feel the bed dip as she sits down on it and rips the covers away from my face. “Oh holy jumping beans. Medusa is alive!” She giggles, shrinking down to her preferred two-inch self.
“Shut up,” I grumble and throw a pillow at her that she easily dodges.
“Oh come on, you promised. It’s not like I’m actually looking forward to this damn meeting with the she-demon from Hell. I would rather go to class,” she whines.
Oh yeah. It’s Tuesday morning, and Moni has her appointment with her mother that I promised I’d attend as her backup. “Yeah. Sorry, I forgot. Let me take a shower and eat, then I’ll be ready to help rain hell down on your psychotic womb broom.”
“JP made breakfast before he went to class, I’ll heat it up for ya,” she announces before flying out and leaving me in a stupor. Pulling myself out of bed, I turn around to grab my sheets and pause at the dried blood smeared across them.
What the fuck?Where did that come from?
I catch a glimpse of my red palms before my body starts shaking uncontrollably, dropping me to the floor in a heap.
Oh God. It was one thing when I couldn’t see him but only thought it was him in that dream. The cut on my hand…But last night—his body, his blood, his eyes. A scream is wrenched from me without warning. I feel myself crumbling, as if the world is about to fall down around me. I don’t know how long I lay there before I feel myself being squeezed and pulled back together. Looking up, Knots is kneeling over me and holding his sword with the point down toward the floor. There’s a shimmering force field around us that’s pulsating along with my irrational breathing and that alone, just watching it, seems to calm me down.
Knot's left hand comes up and starts rubbing circles along my back as I sit up. “Do you have control of yourself now?”
It’s kinda weird phrasing it like that but, “Yeah. I think so.”
“What happened?” he asks, letting his force field dissipate, taking his sword with it.
Lifting my hands, I show him what sent me overboard.
“I see your dreamscapes are becoming more. Do you want to talk about them?” he asks, not pushing me to disclose my nightmares, which I appreciate.
Shaking my head, I give him a small smile and a kiss on the cheek. “No, but thank you. I’m just glad Desar was willing to set up a time for tomorrow night to help me.”
“If you need to talk, you know I’m here.” He pulls me into a hug, and I fight not to break down into tears at how sweet my Door Knight is.
“I know. I just have to make it through tonight and then maybe my dreams, or better yet, nightmares, will make sense to me.” Squeezing Knots back, I readjust my disheveled clothes as he helps me off the floor. “I'm gonna take a shower. I’ll be back.”
“Take your time. I'm going to change the bed sheets,” he announces and I feel a little guilty since it’s not his mess. I almost go to stop him when he snaps his fingers and the bedsheets are magically replaced. Oh yeah. Magic. I forgot about that.
When will that become the norm for me? The more I see the others using it, the more I want magic too; the kind that I can wield and use to blow up shit. Like giving my enemies bad hair days with just a thought. Now that would be kinda cool.
Moni
Within an hour, Rez has her shower and eats breakfast as promised. During that time I told Chester a little bit about my mother and how we don’t get along. Basically, she abandoned me and left me to die, so I think I’m justified. To help out my adopted father, I’m going to see the soulless bug and I’m not looking forward to it. I promised to go into greater detail later but wanted to make him aware that I might be a mess of emotions later. He gave me a hug along with a kiss on the forehead and promised he would be my cuddle monster for the rest of the night if need be. Someone wrap me in bubble wrap because I think my bark just fell off and left me a little vulnerable. I don’t think I could fall any harder for this man.
Now we are in front of the dragon's lair, AKA the industrial building with bold letters spelling out Dangles. I don’t know why everyone keeps going on and on about this place. From what I’ve heard, it’s completely overpriced and elitist. And why should one person have so much say in what’s in style?
Reaching down to take my hand, Rez gives it a squeeze. “It will be okay. I won’t let anything happen to you. Alright? So calm down and breathe. We don’t need you to look like a kaleidoscope walking in there.” I have no doubt I currently look like a flashing disco ball, but I do as Rez instructs and feel the tension release from my shoulders a tiny bit.
“You’re right. I don’t owe her anything. She’s the one that left me,” I remind myself out loud and throw my shoulders back.
“That’s right. She’s the one that made the mistake. And she’s the one that should be groveling at your feet with gallons of coffee, begging for forgiveness,” Rez confirms.
Oh yes, coffee!
Pulling out a gallon of Sparks’ magical java juice from my fuzzy wuzzy...nope the name still needs work, I follow Rez into my hell. The inner sanctum doesn’t do much to ease my nerves, but I guess that’s what the coffee is for. At least the friendly looking satyr at the front desk has a pleasant smile.
“Hello. Welcome to Dangles. I’m Josette. How may I help you?”
“Hi, yes. We have an appointment with Ms. Teal this morning,” Rez says, giving the lady a friendly smile.
“The name please?”
