Tethered to You (Alastor X OC)

Ch 9

Ariels POV

My brows stitched together in exasperated concentration.

C'mon... just a little bit more.

'Your nephew has contracted tuberculosis'

No! Don't bring that shit on my covered wagon!

I furiously pressed buttons, and we only had 40 pounds of food left.

Suddenly my screen faded to black, and my eye twitched.

'You have died of dysentery'

"Fuck!" I exclaimed and pushed my laptop away from me.

"How unladylike," came a voice from behind me and I yelped, then turned and glared at him.

"Did you see that bullshit? I'm 4 miles from Oregon and she dies, just dies!" I grumbled frustratedly and Alastor tilted his head.

He's begun popping up several days a week, sometimes he spends the night. He never tells me when he's doing so, though.

"Whilst I wish I could participate in your frustrations, I'm having a difficult time understanding why you're upset," he said, confused.

I closed my laptop and sighed, "it's just a game," I chuckled, and shook my head, "it's called Oregon Trail, and I basically just have to not die," I explained briefly.

He hummed, and then shrugged. I guess he's done with that topic.

Suddenly he appeared next to me on the couch, and he had a look on his face like he was about to jump out of his skin.

"Do you know what today is, darling?"

His eyebrows rose, and my eyes widened. How did he even know...?

"How the hell..."

"I have my ways!" He exclaimed, then nudged me, "but why didn't you tell me it was your birthday? Do you not enjoy it?" He asked and I shrugged.

"I just never had anyone to celebrate with, so it never crossed my mind really," I replied and he hummed in thought.

"Well, now you do!"

I looked over at him quizzically.

"What have you gone and planned?" I said, suspiciously. He waved his hand, looking away from me with a cheeky smile on his face.

"Oh nothing, nothing! However, I hope you don't have any plans come 7:30, because we have reservations," he said slyly, and my eyes widened.

"Alastor seriously you don't—"

"Nonsense!"

I couldn't help but smile as he talked on and on. He told me the restaurant is a secret, but it's to die for.

He then cracked up laughing.

I giggled, "you're so ridiculous," I shook my head and then my mouth fell open in shock when he pulled out a little box.

It was wrapped neatly in dark red (what looked to be) cardboard paper. Tied around it was twine, and it was sealed together with an elegant maroon wax seal.

On the seal was an A in fancy cursive, and I stared in awe at the package.

"Alastor..." I couldn't find the words. My brain couldn't comprehend that not only had he remembered my birthday, he went through the trouble of getting me a gift...

I had to fight the emotions that were trying to spill form behind my eyes.

He handed it to me, an unfamiliar sparkle in his eyes. He looked almost...alive in a way.