Page 46 of When Monsters Rise
Thewoman had been held captive in a magical cube for goodness knew how long.This…this must be so strange for her, and being treated like a pariah didn’t help.
“Jilyana, it won’t always be like this, you know.Withthem.They’llrealize you’re not the enemy soon enough.”
Hersmile was watery and lost. “Idon’t blame them for hating me.Ihate me.”
“Yeah,Iget it.It’lltake time for you to get over that.Wecan’t change the past, but we can fix the here and now.Wecan prepare for a better future.”
“I’lldo whatever it takes to make this right.Thisworld…Isuppose it’s my home now.”
“I’msure there’s a way to get you back to your world if you want.Oncewe’ve dealt with the monsters and the celestials, we’ll find it.”
Asmile bloomed in her eyes. “Ican see why he loves you.”
Shemhad said he loved me in the mall.Ilove you too…Saidin response to me telling him to fuck himself.Itcould be construed as sarcasm, but the tone…the tone had been all too real.He’dsaid it and meant it because he’d believed it was the last chance to do so.Heloved me, and that was enough.Iwouldn’t push him to hear those words again because we had a world to fix, and that…that had to come first.
* * *
Thenight feltlike it dragged on, and even thoughIslept and rested, my body disagreed.Iwoke at dawn, warm and cozy, sandwiched betweenShemandBastian.Shem’sarm was slung over my hip, his face tucked against my nape, andBastianlay facing me, one arm tucked under his head and the free hand holding mine.Theybreathed in unison—deep and even—andIlay still for long seconds reveling in this moment with them.
I’dfound bliss in a time of uncertainty, andIwanted to hold on to it for as long as possible.
Therewas enough light streaming in from between the boards on the window for me to make out the shapes in the room.Theother watchers lay around us, and the top ofBee’sgolden head nestled onTumiel’schest.
Butwhere wasJilyana?
Ah, there she was, on the other side of the room, curled up in a ball.Alone.Shemust be cold.Itried to slip free of the guys, butShem’sgrip on me tightened, andBastiangroaned softly in protest.
“Rue?”Shem’swarm breath kissed my skin. “Goback to sleep.”
Irelaxed. “Iwas going to check onJilyana.She’sin the corner.Shemust be cold.”
“She’sdjinn,”Shemsaid as if that was explanation enough.
“So?”
“Theydon’t feel cold.Orhot.Or…anything like that.”
“Theydon’t?”
“They’reelemental beings, and they experience the world differently than humans, just as celestials do.”
“Well, thank you for keeping me warm.”
Henuzzled the spot below my ear. “Hmmm, pleasure.”
“Isit morning?”Bastianmumbled, his eyes still closed.
“Yes,”Shemsaid. “Gomake coffee.”
Bastiansnorted. “Fuckyou,Shem.Youmake it.”
“Idon’t think we have any coffee…do we?”Ah, hope, the fickle bitch.
“Mirahas some,”Zaqpiped up from somewhere in the room.
“Ido,”Mirareplied groggily. “Nevergo anywhere without it.”
Icouldn’t help the smile that bloomed on my face because we might be in a shitty situation right now, but we were together, and we had the promise of coffee.
