Page 106 of Unbound By Shadows
“It’s… it’s good to see you,” Selene mumbled.
They continued to hold each other until Cass said, “Tell me everything you remember.”
Selene sniffed and looked into her sister’s worried face. Her first instinct was to tell Cass the truth about everything, but even her through her haziness, she knew how outrageous it would sound. The idea of explaining what had just happened to her made Selene start to doubt her own perception of reality. Demons, Harpies, vampires, cat people, other dimensions—how could it all be real? Was it just an elaborate dream?
“I must have slipped over in the mud,” Selene said slowly, before taking another drink from the water bottle. “Can we go home?”
Cass nodded. “Yes, but we’re finding you a doctor first.”
After they both changed clothes and collected their things from the guest house, Cass drove Selene to an urgent care clinic about 30 miles away from Rugby. Selene had resisted going at first but realized she needed to know if something was wrong with her.
Selene made Cass stay in the waiting room then told the doctor her symptoms were memory loss and confusion. He asked if she’d been through any stressful events lately, like a job loss or break up, which made her burst into tears.With a knowing nod, the doctor reassured her there were other fish in the sea and encouraged her to try online dating. He performed all the necessary tests, then revealed she was suffering from dehydration, but otherwise in perfect health. He speculated that a reaction to her new allergy medication might have caused her disorientation, but there were no indicators of head trauma. She was relieved, but also troubled to not have a reasonable explanation of her experience.
Cass drove home while Selene dozed. Once they arrived at Selene’s apartment, Cass took her luggage and helped her upstairs. It was unnerving to see the apartment just as she had left it. From thepile of mail on the coffee table to the dirty cereal bowl she’d left in the sink, nothing had changed. While Cass went to find her fresh pajamas and start the shower, Selene stood in the living room, trying to absorb all that had happened.
In the distance, she could see the Nashville skyline through her balcony door. She opened the glass slider, noticing how different the air was here—thicker, dirtier. She could smell the exhaust from the cars passing below and smoke from her neighbor’s barbecue grill. Her hands tightened on the balcony rail.
What now?
Swallowing thickly, she wondered if Sam was still alive. How much time had passed? When Zaybris took her from the cave, she was sure Sam was close to death. It was a miracle that King Asmodeus had said he wasn’t dead, but what if that had changed? Had Sam passed on to the Underworld? Or was he still lying in the dark cave—injured, alone, and sick with worry about her? Impulsively, she reached for the stone in her pocket, ready to try transporting herself back to him. But before she could visualize his face or wonder if the stone still worked, she paused.
Do I want to go back?
Snatches of the fight they had before Zaybris arrived ran through her mind.
Queen Thema’s note.
Sam’s lies.
The wordbait.
Sam telling her onlyshecould calm his violence. How he needed her to do so.
Anger simmered along with deep hurt. She had felt so stupid when she found the note, so betrayed. Especially since up until that point, she had thought she loved Sam. She was even thinking about staying with him in Aurelia before she learned everything about their relationship was built on a lie.
Cass called out to say the shower was hot, and Selene turnednumbly. She should be elated right now, especially since she successfully avoided being turned into a living blood bank. This was what she had wanted—a way home, a reunion with her family, a return to normal life. Aurelian Selene was gone, long live Ordinary Selene.
Maybe it really was all a dream.
Chapter 45
Selene slept all through Monday, and into Tuesday. She was plagued by dreams of an anguished Sam running through a castle calling her name, and the feel of Zaybris’s tongue on her neck. Cass made brief appearances at her bedside, and Selene was comforted by having her sister take care of her for a change. Vaguely, she remembered Cass leaving for work. When she woke again, Kevin was standing over her saying, “You’re still in bed? It’s nearly dinner time.”
Selene sat up groggily. “I guess I overslept. What day is it?”
“Tuesday. Your boss has been blowing up my phone looking for you. Why didn't you call in sick?”
‘Oh, I… ” It took Selene's brain a minute to recall that she had obligations and responsibilities in this world. “I didn’t think about it.”
“Where's your phone? You must have a million texts from him.” Kevin asked, gesturing at the empty space where her phone normally charged on the nightstand.
Selene frowned, trying to remember what her phone even looked like. The last time she could remember seeing it was within thebackpack Arkaya had given her, which was now on the floor of the cave. Next to Sam. The image made her breath catch.
“I lost it,” Selene said. “Cass and I went to Rugby and must have dropped it when were hiking.” She paused then asked, “Why are you here? I thought you were touring.”
Kevin pushed a lock of his chin-length hair from his face, and Selene wondered when he had last shampooed. “We’re back for a week. The drummer’s tendinitis was bothering him. I landed a gig at Maynard’s Tavern on Saturday though. You’ll help me out for it, right?”
“I guess,” she replied sleepily.
