Destiny's Three Stars

15

Nona left around eleven after ordering dinner for the three of us. We sat around the TV watching movies and not talking about the current situation. I liked it that way. I liked feeling like I was normal again and that nothing wrong was going on in our lives.

But she had to leave sooner or later which meant Michael and I were left alone with each other.

He volunteered to sleep on the couch, leaving me to stay in his room. I knew he was being nice and considerate but I was sure he really just wanted to keep an eye on me. If it were really up to him, I'm sure he'd sleep in front of the door.

He had a pillow and blanket under his arm as he stood in the doorway, talking to me before he left the room. "I took tomorrow off so we can figure out what we're going to do."

"Sorry you have to do that because of me."

"It's my dad's fault, not yours."

"If you wouldn't have met me, this wouldn't have happened."

He raised an eyebrow. "Destiny, I'm glad I met you. I wouldn't change that for anything. I just wish things had been normal between us. As normal as that can be."

"Do you really mean that?"

He nodded. "I do."

"You should stay in here tonight. It's your room."

"You need to get some sleep."

"I can do that with you in here." I said, rolling my eyes.

He held my gaze before he sighed and walked toward the bed. He tossed his pillow at the head end of the bed then climbed onto the mattress.

"If I... bite you, will that turn you into... something like me?" I asked, rolling on my side to face him.

He laughed. "No, it doesn't work that way. Only my father can control who gets turned and who doesn't."

"Could he turn you if he wanted?"

"If he wanted to. He mostly does it to create soldiers to fight his battles or for revenge for someone who's wronged him."

"Where does that leave me?"

"Somewhere in the middle, I suppose. He's using you but not to fight for him."

"Now I know why he's called the devil."

"Do you think he had anything to do with your parents' death?"

I shrugged. "I've never thought about, honestly. I just thought it was the way my life was supposed to go."

"Most people would have been angry that it happened. Especially at God."

"I have the girls now. He gave them to me. There are plenty of other people who could use them more but He chose me."

He brushed the hair from my face and I froze. We'd talked about being... something before but it had never escalated to anything more. I wanted us to me more but I was never sure if that's what he wanted. But now, I was sure I knew.

He leaned closer to me and brushed his lips against mine. He was slow and careful with me and, in my current state, I needed it.

He knew what he was doing, that was for sure. He cupped my cheek in his hand as he kissed me. His lips were warm against mine and it made me forget everything that had happened over the last few days. I felt normal again. I felt like a girl who found someone she could talk to. A girl who really wanted things to work out.

"We're going to figure things out, Destiny. I promise."

I could see my eyes in his and they scared me. They were completely black and scary and I hated it. I didn't like this new me.

"I'm not making you go because of me. You need to do what's best for you."

"I am."

I shook my head.

He put a finger against my lips. "I want to help you and if this is how I can do it then so be it. You mean more to me than-"

"Don't say that."

"It's true."

I shook my head again. "I'm not... You have goals and a job and... I can't take that from you."

He kissed me again. "I want to help you so that when things are normal again we can be together and be happy and-"

"What?"

He raised his eyebrows.

"Be together?" Did he really just say that? Did he really want a future with me?

"Isn't that what you want?"

"I-I didn't think you felt that way." I said softly.

He smiled. "Well, yeah. I wouldn't have 'run into you' so often if I didn't like you."

"That wasn't just... spontaneous?"

"That's one thing I learned from my father."

"What else did you learn from him?"