Reflections of Light

Days And Nights

He hadn't returned for three nights.

Nyx had stayed awake, waiting, until way past the time he usually came; until the dragging tide of sleep pulled her under into its comfortable embrace.

It had rained on-and-off for the past few days, the tail-end of the storm blowing over their heads, making its presence known with ongoing half-hearted drizzle.
She'd been stuck indoors most of the days because of this, her every action seeming almost bizarrely normal; in a way that couldn't help but spike a sense of anticipation.

She couldn't help but worry what his sudden absence might mean; for him, for her, for everyone. Too many possibilities, some worse than others- some very much worse.
Her stomach would twist into various knots just thinking about it.

She distracted herself throughout the days, through spending time with Abby and her siblings- mindless girly fun with Selene and daring walks with the baby in the clear moments between the mizzle seemed to be just what the doctor ordered.
She could convince herself it was fine, that there was nothing to worry about and she was blowing it way out of proportion.

But then the night would come.
And all she could see was that moment out in the storm; and the dream that had followed, almost seeming like a warning.

Looking out of the window now into the night, she scolded herself for her concern; absent-mindedly watching the drops of rain slide down the glass. With a small smile, she traced her finger along the watery path they carved down the window pane, drawing random patterns on the glass.

Turning away, she went to get ready for bed, looking at her bookcase as she did so. Maybe she could read, if she didn't feel like sleeping yet. That could be nice.

She could hear Abby stirring on the next room, and could tell from the sounds that meant the girl was going to rouse shortly. She was getting much better at sleeping through the night, but there still was the odd occasion she got up, and of course she made sure Nyx knew when she was awake.

Pulling her dressing gown on over her pyjamas, Nyx quietly opened the door and crossed the small space of landing between their rooms, easing open the door to Abigail's bedroom and peering in.

Almost as she expected, she found Abby sleepily blinking open her eyes and slowly kicking off her blankets, as she turned her head to smile drowsily at the figure that had just entered her room, reaching her arms out to Nyx in an obvious signal to be picked up.

"You are supposed to be asleep." Nyx said, walking over to the baby bed and picking Abby up, cradling the child against her. Making soft cooing noises, Abby laid her head on Nyx's shoulder, relaxing onto Nyx's frame.

"So you're just going to go to sleep on me, are you?" Nyx chuckled, rubbing the small girl's back soothingly. "Oh well. I don't mind. My, you're growing big, you are. Where did you get all these muscles from, eh?"
She said, stroking her knuckles down Abby's arm, before Abby moved to grab Nyx's finger in her pudgy fist. "Aww. You're adorable. Come on, back to bed. Us gorgeous girls need our beauty sleep." She giggled, poking Abby's nose; before placing her back in the crib and tucking her in. "Now, no kicking off the blankets again, you'll get chilly. It's a cold night."

She placed a kiss on the child's forehead, smoothing down her golden curls as Abby's eyes peacefully fluttered closed in sleep. "Sleep tight, my little chick."

Silently closing the door behind her, she crossed back towards her room; a rush of cold air dousing her in shivers and bringing her out in goosebumps, causing her to pull her robe up closer around her throat.

A rush of cold air, coming from around her door.... Like the window she knew she'd closed was open wide on the other side.

Something twisting on her stomach, she picked up her pace, hastening to the door to push it open wide, to see what lay behind.

"Oh my GOD!"