Kiss of Osiris

Chapter Fifteen

"That was then though. Now I don't know. Everything changed once Alcinous came. Fantasy merged with reality and everything I've known turned upside down. Geez, I thought I had problems. My trauma couldn't hold a candle to what happened to Al. Turned into a devil against his will, when all he wanted was to be a simple priest in his village."

"Born in poverty, subject to racism and oppression. Having Lucifys turning his whole village against him. Al killing his neighbors and clan in confusion. Having his father killed by Lucifys and being impersonated by him. Having his mother die."

"And oh god, Aren. He finally found true love and someone who accepted him, but she died right there in his arms. Al accidentally killed her father, had to live with the weight of that. He had to deal with the burden of all those innocent lives he took out of hunger. The agony of not being able to stop his evil deeds, which afflicted his righteous heart."

"And yet he stills tries to have such a positive attitude! He's almost cheery at times! Aren't the vampyrii supposed to be sad, mopey, fair-skinned creatures? He fits none of those characteristics. I almost admire him. Who would have thought that a monster such as he, would be the most human of us?"

"I still don't know what I'm doing with my life. But it looks like things are looking up at long last. At least here with Al, I sort of have a purpose. I guess we're archaeologists finding the treasures of the world. Who would have thought the Staff of Osiris actually existed! In my most wondrous dreams, I never thought I would see it in real life. And there were other treasures in that room."

"Maybe we should go back and get them? As if Al needed it. He had already acquired so many treasures from his 'digs' and taking things from the crime lords he killed, wealth must be almost meaningless to him." 

He struck her as sort of a little kid playing out in his sandbox, content to do what he was doing. Or perhaps like black dragon Smaug in The Hobbit, who liked to collect and guard his treasure though he didn't have any need for it. And. Oh, uh...he had kissed her hand. 

"Right? That happened didn't it? Right before he dropped into that shaft. He told me that I looked just like her. Just like Aren? Why would he say that? Was he just being nice? Did it mean anything at all? God, he can be so frustrating! With no thought at all for how his words or actions affect other people!"

"Why would he tell me that I looked like the woman he loved? Was it just an observation like, hey that grass is really green, or was it like a hint that like 'hey I like you?' God that is so frustrating, I wish he hadn't said that or kissed my hand, this is going to drive me bonkers."

"Whenever we get home I'm stabbing him in the knee with a sharpened broomstick! What does he think of me? He probably thinks of me as a silly little girl who needs saving. He sure as hell likes to tease me. Am I just his play-thing? Something just to use and discard when he gets bored of me? Is he just toying with me until he just one day eats me, like how a cat plays with a mouse until he decides to eat it? God, all of this is just too much. So much has happened it's too much to take in. I need a glass of wine, some chocolate and to sleep for like four days straight."

She had been noticing some startling things. Maybe she wasn't acknowledging them or was pushing them way deep down. For one, she wasn't holding on to Al because she was afraid of falling, but because she felt safe in his presence. That his smell and presence soothed her. She secretly liked it when he teased her but didn't know how to express herself except in comical overreactions. 

She would find herself staring at him when he wouldn't notice it. Evee expressed real concern for his well being with the various dangers they encountered in the pyramid. She shed real tears for him. She felt real anger at those who tried to hurt him. Not fully understanding these feelings she denies them and buries them away, like a little squirrel burying nuts for the winter. 

Evee deeply admired Al and cared about him first as a friend, but now something more. She understood his darkness, having a sordid past herself, but also identified with his desire to do good. His pain made her sympathize with him and she wished to help him through it. If she had the opportunity she would have made a great doctor or counselor because she had a natural gift for empathy. As Evee flew them through the tenebrous night in Al's strong arms she couldn't stop a little sleepy smile from forming on her face.