Foolish Mortals

Chapter 16

im-mu-ta-ble

i(m)ˈmyo͞odəb(ə)l

adjective

unchanging over time or unable to be changed

synonyms: fixed, set, rigid, inflexible, established, permanent, enduring, steadfast

It was late, too late to be pondering. But I stared at the scribbled note in the side margins of my latest composition, doing exactly that. Pondering. 

I think Liam is trying to control my emotions by touching me. 

There it was, in black and white. After all the new things I'd learned, it wouldn't be the craziest thing ever. But I really think it would crush me. It felt like, at this point, he was the only one in this new world I could trust even a little. 

Underneath the existing note, I added a second scribble. If yes - how do we find out for sure? 

Just the memory of his fingers dragging through my hair and skimming over my skin made my drowsy eyelids start to tug closed. Surely that was a sign that either we were soulmates, or he was fucking with my mind. 

It had been a few days since I'd seen him, but that was no surprise. He told me he had to leave town to take care of business - something about rogue Vassals causing trouble - and that I should do my best to stay out of trouble while he was gone. I was glad to have time to think. To come to terms with things. 

Not that I'd really come to terms with anything yet. How could I do anything except go with the flow? I had no power other than just being myself, and that was barely getting me by. Hence, the comfort food and ice cream. 

Shit, the ice cream. The half full carton was melting all over my bedside table. Damn. I carried the goopy mess to the freezer and pushed it in next to the three other cartons in a similar state. I always told myself I'd eat it later, but melting it totally ruined the texture, so I just ended up getting a new one.

I resolved to toss the really old, expired one tomorrow, then trotted into the bathroom to brush my teeth. I stripped off my clothes, tossed them in my dirty laundry hamper, and climbed into bed, sighing in ecstasy. I began to drift to sleep going over my next day's teaching schedule in my head. Monday, that meant Rachel, then Evan, but Gabby had cancelled...

Ugh. Somebody was flashing a giant light in my face.

"Not funny," I mumbled, throwing my arm over my eyes.

"You are sure she is the one?" A high pitched male voice swam through my consciousness.

"I know it is hard to believe, but yes. Grab her already, and let's go."

Was that... "Percy?" I blinked my eyes open, squinting against the bright light blinding me. "What are you doing here?"

"Now you've woken her. Hurry up and knock her out," the strange voice said.

"You knock her out," Percy-voice protested.

"Fine. But you owe me."

I opened my mouth to let out a piercing scream. Before any sound could emerge, I heard a loud crack, then saw a burst of stars that faded to darkness. Sharp pain began throbbing in my temples, and as I struggled to retain consciousness, a final thought drifted through my head. I really did need to start sleeping in pajamas.

***

When I woke again, it was all at once. One moment, I was in a troubled, pain-filled dream full of strange flashes of light. The next, my head was filled with beautiful music, the deep voice of a man singing, and playing maybe... ukulele? The pain vanished, my hearing cleared, and I jerked up to a sitting position, blinking my eyes open.