The Second Layer

Chapter 29: Garen

Chapter 29: Garen

Garen had just dropped Jayna off after yet another amazing date. They'd gone out each night since the day he'd explained to her the truth about everything. He'd had to slip off to the bathroom a couple times during the date to take phone calls from other freaks that he couldn't take in public, but Jayna hadn't seemed to mind. In fact, she'd seemed happier in the past few days than he'd ever seen her. And he'd had to admit, it was incredible, being with her. Just being able to do so ordinary a thing as going out on a real date and being able to call it one. It was better than he'd ever imagined it could be.

But he still felt unsettled. His nervousness from before still hadn't gone away. Though none of the freaks he'd interacted with in the past few days had noticed anything was wrong, whenever he was around them he still couldn't get over the irrational fear that somehow they knew, or would find out just by being near him. That any moment they'd suddenly ask him out of the blue if he'd really thought he could hide a relationship with a human from them. He was being paranoid and stupid, he knew. He was worrying way too much, but he couldn't seem to help it.

"You can never worry too much," a conversational voice said from the passenger seat of his car beside him.

It startled Garen so much he probably would've leaped out of his own skin if it was at all possible. Tossing a quick glance to the side, Garen saw something that made his heart leap into his throat, and his stomach sink. Where a second before there had been nothing, there sat Talen, a True Mind. He'd appeared as if out of thin air. But then that seemed to be a habit of True Minds.

"Lord Talen, I.... I wasn't expecting you, sir," Garen got out. His mind seemed frozen. He couldn't think, he could barely breathe. He could feel fear coursing through his entire body.

"I'd say that's obvious. So, how's Jayna?" Talen asked.

Only now did Garen's mind wake into full-blown panic mode. In fact his brain was absolutely screaming at him. This was a True Mind. He couldn't fight him, he couldn't intimidate him, and he couldn't stop him. "My lord, please... She's... It's not her fault! I chose to tell her, I'm responsible. Please, just punish me. Leave her alone."

"I know precisely how it happened, Garen. And as you'll notice, she's not dead yet," Talen informed him.

Suddenly Garen found he could breathe again. He was still worried beyond belief, but at least now things in his head had grown a little more subdued. "You're... Not going to hurt her?"

"If I'd wanted her hurt, she already would be. She's a really sweet girl, Garen. She suits you. And she was being honest with you when she said that she wouldn't tell anyone else the things you told her. She'll keep the secret, so she's not a risk. And my kind can allow our rules to be bent when the eventual result serves our best interests. So I have no intentions of harming the girl," Talen replied evenly.

"I... Thank you, sir. Thank you," Garen said, feeling a wave of relief wash over him, when something occurred to him. "How does her not being harmed serve your interests, though, my lord?"

"That's not you concern Garen. Suffice to say that not only is she safe from me for now, but no freaks will harm her either. That doesn't mean that I'll protect her, mind you, rather that she won't need protection for awhile. Which gives you time, time to be with her without fear, which is what you wanted. So don't ask questions. Just be grateful," Talen told him pointedly.

"Yes, m'lord. I'm sorry, you're right. Again, thank you," Garen quickly responded. He noted the fact that Talen had said that he and Jayna would only be safe for awhile, but that was still better than nothing. The time would come when he'd need to worry again the way he had the past few days, but at least that time was no longer now.

"You're welcome. Unfortunately, though, I didn't come here tonight just to reassure you and receive your thanks. There's something I need you to do for me, Garen," Talen said.

"Of course, my lord. Just name it," Garen offered.

"In a little over two hours, there's a phone call I need you to make, and something very specific I need you to say. Here's what you do," Talen began.