Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 128(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 128(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
What if all of the other women in his life know about his secret identity, and I'm the only idiot who didn't have a clue about it?
"We're here, miss."
My cab driver's voice pulls me out of my thoughts, and I mumble my thanks as I step out of the backseat.
Hugh and Leslie are in the dining room when I let myself in, and their expressions immediately turn into mutual alarm upon seeing me.
"I'm fine," I say right away. "I'm not sick, not in danger, not in trouble or anything like that."
My parents are visibly relieved, and the two resume peeling potatoes while I take the vacant chair at the head of the table.
Both men are in their late thirties, and because they're also annoyingly attractive and athletic for their age, people often mistake them as my older brothers, and they love it. Then again, maybe it also has to do with how...immature they can sometimes seem?
"Anything on your mind?" Hugh asks.
"There is, actually," I admit.
I clear my throat, and the two put their peelers down in perfect synchrony.
"So there's this girl..."
Hugh's brows shoot up to his hairline. "And she made you realize you're gay like us?"
"Uh...no, it's not like that."
"Are you being bullied again?" Leslie frets.
"No, no, this isn't anything to worry about, really. I'm actually here because of a girl...who's a friend?"
Hugh takes Leslie's hand and gives it a squeeze. "Did you hear that?"
Leslie sniffs. "Our daughter finally has a friend."
They start mopping their eyes...while I end up rolling mine.
"I'm being serious—-I mean, my friend has a really serious problem."
"And you think we can help her solve it?" Hugh questions.
"Uh...yeah?"
****
It's already half-past nine in when I say goodbye to my parents, and the only reason they've stopped trying to convince me to stay the night is because of another lie. I told them that I have another "friend" who's come to pick me up, and I let them think it's a boy when in truth all I wanted was to walk aimlessly around town while I work on sorting out my feelings.
Do I book an Uber back to Rosethorne or do I text my god and tell him I want to see him?
While a part of me is still hurting, I no longer feel as lost, and it's all thanks to my parents. Those two may act like there's nothing in life that they take seriously, but they're always there when I need them, and they always seem to know the right things to say.
No one is perfect, Hugh had said earlier.
And that's it? I had asked him incredulously.
That's it, Leslie had replied firmly. Whether you're mortal or immortal, human or divine, we are all imperfect beings. To love is to choose to overlook such imperfections, to love is to work hand in hand in overcoming such imperfections. And that's why, my dense little pumpkin, it is also our ability to love that is the closest thing we have to perfection.
My vision blurs a little, but the memory serves me well, and I'm finally able to make up my mind.
Me: Where are you?
But before I can even hit Send, invisible arms have already wrapped around me from behind, and I stiffen in shock.
Eros?
Unseen lips touch my hair, and my vision blurs anew.
How did you get here so quickly? Have you been stalking me?
I'm not sure how I'll feel if my god actually says yes, but the answer will have to wait—-
(what the hell?)
—-since we both hear it at the same time: a cacophony of sounds exploding from somewhere nearby, and none of it spells anything even remotely close to 'safe' or 'good'.
There's the unmistakable swoosh of a portal opening up, the raging growls of creatures unseen, and the stampeding thuds of hooves pounding towards us. There are countless other audible alerts of danger, but it goes without saying that both Eros and I don't care to waste even a second analyzing what all of it is.
Once you've faced the specter of death, it's a feeling you'll never forget, and that's why, even though neither of us has seen what we're up against—-
Eros, my parents!
Mist swirls around me, and my body shakes with relief. I know what this is, and after but a moment, I'm not surprised at all to see my god pouncing out in his bestial form.
This was how I first saw him: a massive creature with white-as-snow fur, but unlike before he is far from silent, and the beast's monstrously ferocious snarl is terrifying even for me.
Go, Halyna!
I pick myself up at his command and make a run for it, but the crushing thuds of hooves thundering behind my back is already too close for comfort. Fear insidiously tempts me to cry out for help, but I refuse to become a brick around my god's neck. I can and will keep myself safe, and I manage to do this...for all ten seconds.