Iris

Chapter Fifteen

“The soul exists partly in eternity and partly in time.”

~Marsilio Ficino

***

I could feel warm sunshine across my body. Opening my eyes slightly, I saw the curtain had been partially opened. I was sure that I had closed it completely before bed. I felt the luminae under my pillow, and then let out a deep breath. Turning my head, I looked over beside me.

Malika was sitting on the bed beside me. We weren’t touching or anything, and she was on top of the covers, fully-dressed, sitting up. Still, I’d have liked some forewarning that I’d be waking up in bed with a stranger.

“What are you doing here?” I pulled away, edging to the far side of the mattress.

She looked up from the book in her hands, and I caught sight of the title: And Then There Were None.

“I still have questions for you.” She closed the book, setting it aside. She was wearing sunglasses today, and there was no chance of seeing her eyes. I was getting past the ugly fear of what they might be and was moving into the curiously pissed category that might drive me to snatch the shades away, just to satisfy myself.

“Yeah, well, couldn’t you have knocked?” I demanded. “You don’t just walk into some guy’s room!”

“Well, while you were sleeping, I was looking for Adonis.” She replied. “But I think we both know that he’s not where he’s supposed to be, and I’m done waiting.”

“Didn’t it occur to you that I might need to get more sleep?” I glared.

Making an exasperated sound, she slid from the bed. A worn brown knapsack sat on the nightstand, and into this she slid the book. “It’s mid-morning. I think you’ve slept long enough.”

“If you were out all night, then you must be exhausted.” I looked around, searching for my shirt where I’d tossed it on the floor.

“I do not feel exhaustion.” She replied, throwing the knapsack over one shoulder. “Let’s go. I don’t have all day. I have things to do.”

“First off, I never said I was going to help you.” I stood, moving over to my suitcase and searching for something to put on that would cover the boxers and bare chest. “And secondly, if you wanted my help, jumping in bed with bed was not the way to go. I don’t take kindly to being snuck up on.”

“I feel like I’ve told you this before, but I’ll say it again, seeing as you obviously can’t remember.” Malika replied. “I have no use for your physical body, so being ashamed of me seeing it makes no difference to me. You could be completely naked for all I care, and I wouldn’t give a damn.”

“Uh-huh.” I found a t-shirt and slipped it.

“Are you really that full of yourself?” She gave a sigh. “I don’t mix business with pleasure, Phoenyx, and you are so strictly business that you could have your own economy.”

“Well, I’m not leaving with you until I’ve had a shower.”

“Fine.” She sat down on the bed. “I can wait.” She crossed her legs, one foot going up and down very slowly, as if listening to music I couldn’t here. She was still has a statue, and I had to keep glancing at her from the corner of my eye to be sure that she was actually there.

The bathroom was cramped, and the shower made creaking, screeching sounds before water finally issued out of the pipes. I wondered if I could request a new bunk. Anywhere but here, anywhere but near her.

She creeps you out.

Yeah—kinda.

No, no, she really creeps you out.