Page 22 of Semblance

“Come walk with me in the gardens,” Shadow said.

“Right now? Can I take a nap first or something?”

“Do you want some cheese with that whine of yours?”

What a jerk. All the pretty rich boys I met in my life were all the same—all dicks and no substance. Shadow didn’t seem any different.

“Fine, I guess I can go for a little stroll. But then you’ll have Abraham drive me home?”

“I cross my heart,” Shadow replied as he opened the doors in the study, leading to the outside pavilion.

The first rays of dawn’s light were peeking over the horizon illuminating the dark sky like the flame of a candle.

Shadow took me gently by the wrist and led me down a cobblestone path towards the gardens, the sweetsmells of the flowers overtook my senses.

I opened my mouth to speak, but he quickly hushed me.

“Not yet,” he said. “Not here.”

It wasn’t in my usual nature to be silenced by anyone, but the serious look on Shadow’s face was enough to keep me from arguing. He seemed deep in his thoughts, whatever they were.

I tried to keep track of where I was going, but eventually after the fifth—or was it the sixth?—turn off I had given up trying to draw the mental map in my head. I prayed that Shadow’s intentions of leading me into this garden maze weren’t sinister in nature. Where were breadcrumbs when I needed them?

Eventually we ended up in a secluded spot where a stone bench rested underneath an ancient oak tree, its branches stretching a hundred fingers out into the beautiful orange dawn sky.

We both took a seat, much to my relief. I kicked off my heels, giving my poor feet some temporary relief.

“You probably have a lot of questions,” Shadow said.

“Why did you choose me?” I asked, jumping right into it. “Those three girls were on their knees, ready to throw themselves on you. Just to let you know, I’m not one to kneel down for anyone, if that’s what you’re expecting.”

“Those three women were harpies,” Shadow replied. “All they wanted was to sink their money grubbing talons into a pound of my flesh.”

“Who’s to say I’m not the same way?” I asked.

He smirked. “You’re not,” he said.

“How can you be so sure?”

“You’re just not. One thing I’m very good at is reading people.”

He seemed confident about himself. Perhaps I could have a little fun with him, ruffle his dark feathers a bit.

“Read me then,” I said. Shadow shrugged and looked at me with those hypnotic crystal eyes of his. I couldn’t help but feel naked before his piercing stare, but for some reason, I didn’t feel uncomfortable. In fact, I almost welcomed it.

After ten seconds or so, he smiled at me, though I noticed traces of sadness behind it.

“We’re similar in some ways,” he said.

“What do you mean?”

He was about to say something, but then paused and shook his head. “Nothing, don’t worry about it.”

“Hey, don’t leave me hanging like that,” I said. “When you start a sentence, you best damn well finish it.”

He folded his arms and leaned back against the massive tree trunk and sighed. He looked out towards the sun, which peered back at us, casting a warm orange glow against our bodies.

“They expect me to get married and have an heir soon,” Shadow said, shaking his head. “It’s not something I want. No offense to you. Out of all the women here, you’re the most intriguing.”

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