Nephilim

44

Ryder's P.O.V.- Present Day

"Ryder." A voice mutters, a body in the bed next to me, slightly hovering over my right side. I jerk into action, grabbing the person's throat, throwing the body down and squeezing.

I lean over grabbing my witchlight off my nightstand, watching it light up the dark room, revealing the person in my bed. Wrenching my hand back, I instead pull the person into a hug, dropping the witchlight onto the bed. This has got to be a dream. "Kirstin!"

"Kinky." She coughs out, rubbing her throat slightly. I bury my face in her hair, breathing her in, "Oh, don't do that! I haven't showered in forever. Get off, you're fat." I roll to the side, pulling her so she's straddling my waist.

"Better?" I reach over clicking on the light so I could get a better view of her. Her normally slightly curled black hair is flat, dirty, and extremely tangled. She was wearing the same outfit she was when she was taken, though it was also extremely dirty, "Are you okay? How are you here?"

"No, not better. I'm fine. I'll explain that later and I need a shower. And you might want to.wash your bed sheets. They're probably covered in stench now." She swings a leg over me, easily stepping off the bed, "Mind if I used your shower? Your bathroom is the one without a mirror."

"Uh..." I stare at her for a moment of silent confusion. "Yeah, sure. I will grab your clothes from your room." Moving to the door, I stall momentarily when she lets out a startling yelp.

"No! That'll tip him off that I came here! The less he knows the better!"

"If he's using the cameras, then couldn't I just teleport to your room? I grab the stuff and get back here without him seeing anything. Sounds good to me." I move to open the door, but Kirstin grabs my wrist.

"Except that he's also watching through mirrors, Ryder. You don't have any in here, but I have at least three in the entirety of my room. Going in there will easily set him off. Can I just... borrow something of yours? Or I could get into the Compound and grab it, it might take a-"

"Hell no. You are not leaving this room without me. You can just wear one of my shirts and I have a pair of shorts you can wear just... get in the shower, I'll get everything ready." She nods walking to the doorway before turning and acting as though she's going to say something, "I won't go in front of the mirrors or cameras. I won't even leave the room, okay?" Another nod.

After a moment or two, the water kicks on, breaking the eeriness of this whole situation. I should go wake the others up, tell them that she's okay. At least text Tony. Tell him she's sleeping so he doesn't come barging in. I continue to ponder my options, pulling one of my shirts out of its designated drawer, slowing down when I get to a drawer I haven't opened in a long time. Almost a year. Huh.

I carefully open it, finding it full of familiar clothing. A sundress, two pairs of jeans, three shirts, undergarments and a pair of pajama shorts. There was also a necklace, a beautiful one at that. I didn't even know she left that here. I stare for a moment, running my hand over the cold metal. It was a circular pendant, a pretty simple design too. A tree with an owl resting on it. Julian had gotten it at an antique store for her birthday. I close my eyes, sharply inhaling, grabbing the clothing and necklace and sliding the drawer shut. It still hurt, but nowhere near as excruciating as the beginning. I've moved on, Livvy. I will always love you... but I have to let you go. I already have. Even as I think it, and recognize the truth in the words, I still have a grip on the necklace.

I must've taken longer than I thought, because the door opened with a slight click, revealing a towel-wrapped Kirstin. Still could be a dream. Could definitely be a dream. Maybe heaven. Probably going go to hell. "Hey. Uh here." I hand her some clothing spinning around to face the wall.