Page 24 of Alien God

CHAPTER TWELVE

Wylfrael

Aiko met us on the stairs, descending to the landing outside the room I’d chosen just as we reached it.

“Ah! My lord! The chambers are prepared. There was not much to do. Though we did not know when you would return, we have kept everything ready for you.”

“Thank you,” I grunted. I stepped aside, making room for the panting, wobbling human who trailed behind me. At several points on the walk here, I didn’t think she’d make it. But every time I paused, sensing the need to go back and haul her up myself, she’d made it abundantly clear she did not want any assistance. She didn’t have much further to go, now. The only thing left above this landing was the room I’d chosen for her, and it was directly overhead.

“Take her up to her room,” I said to Aiko, jerking my chin at the human. “I assume she eats, so bring her a meal.”

The human watched me flatly. All the warmth was gone from her eyes in the gloom of the stairwell, endless obsidian pools.

For some reason, that bothered me.

“And bring a blasted firestone for this landing,” I said, more curtly than I’d intended. “It’s too dark here.”

“Of course, my lord!”

I fought to steady my voice, to regain some composure.

“Thank you again, Aiko. I will be in my room. When the human is finished eating, I expect her to be brought to me.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Good. Go.”

I opened the door to my chamber, stepping through. Clearly, there had been some confusion, though, because the human followed me in.

“No, Sionnach preserve us, not that way!” Aiko bleated nervously. I spun on my heel, catching the human’s narrow shoulders in my hands. Her eyes opened wide. In the warmly lit chamber, her gaze had regained its golden hue.

Better.

“Go with Aiko,” I said gruffly, spinning her in my hands until she faced the Sionnachan Mistress of Affairs. I let her go, and she stumbled forward.

She turned back to look at me, her brow wrinkled with a lack of understanding, or maybe with suspicion, as if she didn’t believe I was going to let her out of my sight.

“You.” I pointed a clawed finger at her. “Aiko.” My finger swung to the Sionnachan. “Go.” Now I pointed back out towards the landing at the stairs.

Something came over her face, then. A slackening. Relief.

“Don’t get too excited,” I muttered darkly. “You’ll be back here before you know it.”

But my words had no effect. Something did excite her – fear, or maybe pure, vicious hatred for me. Whatever it was, it quickened her movements more than I would have thought possible.

She ran from my room like it would kill her if she stayed.

I remained there, looking out the doorway into the shadows of the landing, until I heard the door above mine open, then shut.

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