There's an Invisible Man Sleeping in My Bed

Chapter 34

            Thalia had barely registered the faint tremorrunning through Colt’s body, when she felt herself being lifted up. The experience was disconcerting on the one hand, Thalia could feel Colt’s arms, one in the bend of her knees, the other wrapped around her waist as she was cradled against his chest. On the other, she couldn’t see any of him. It was like she was just floating through the air. She thought about asking Colt what was going on, but the rigidness of his body told her that it wasn’t a good idea.

            When he gently placed her on the edge of her bed, Thalia looked up at where she guessed his face was. “Who was that? And why is he dangerous?”

            She heard the one wonky floorboard in her room, the one just in front of her, creak. It was quiet then creaked again, in an almost rhythmic way. It took her a few seconds to realize that Colt was pacing. “He’s one of the Builders.”

            “I got that. He told me himself.”

            “He’s the one that was threatening your cousin the other day. More than that, he even had the temerity to imply that he’d harm you. He is nothing other than a base, honourless, sewer-sucking wretch of a man. I would not trust him with a single solidus. He is a danger, especially to you. As such, I cannot allow you contact with him. It’s far too risky.”

            As he spoke, the creak came faster and faster. Thalia guessed that Colt was becoming more and more agitated. “You need to calm down.”

            There was a long moment of silence before Thalia felt Colt’s hands on either side of her face. He tilted her head back until she thought she was facing him straight on. “You don’t understand. You don’t understand how truly dangerous other people can be. I have seen humanity at its best and at its worst. At its worst…even the most fell of deities cannot compare. This man is a threat. A serious threat. I’ve seen his kind before. His is the type that will stoop to any means to reach his goals, sacrificing any and all as it suits him. And you could all too easily be seen as an obstacle by him. That is why I don’t want you near him. That’s why I intend to stay as close to you as I can until we’re rid of this lot. Do you understand me?”

            Almost reflexively, Thalia nodded. She heard Colt sigh. His thumbs stroked her cheeks as she felt him lay his forehead against hers. She thought things through for several heartbeats. “You’re worried, aren’t you?”

            She could feel his nod. “There are more of them and they are more ruthless than I had imagined. At first, I just wanted to be rid of them. But now…your safety is my priority.”

            “No. Our priority should be keeping them from finding out you’re real,” Thalia said, frowning. “If they know you’re here, they’ll never give up. It’s better we let them come to the conclusion that you’re either not here or just a delusion. It’s safer for all of us in the long run this way.”

            “But…I’m not going to allow you to put yourself in harm’s way!”

            Thalia kept her chin up and her eyes steady. “I didn’t say that. I’m saying if you’re too overprotective, you’ll give yourself away. Which do you think will be worse, a temporary nuisance, or a permanent one? I’ve been thinking this over ever since we first encountered the Builders. And if at least one of them is as dangerous as you say, then the safest option is to outwait them.”

            “You…this…”

            “This is the best plan. I’ve already discussed it with Ruth and she agrees. This means you’re only allowed to help when it won’t be noticed. If things change, if they find out anyway, then we have back-up plans. But for now, you need to be even more…invisible.”

            Colt choked, his hands falling away from her, but Thalia didn’t give him time to form words. “You say you don’t want anything to happen to me. Well, I feel the same about you. I might not have known you very long, but you’re a part of my life now. A big part.”

            It was the look in her eyes that decided Colt. The gently blue-grey was gone, replaced with something far more steely. He’d never really realized that she had so much iron in her backbone. If he were honest with himself, Colt would admit that he’d always seen her as a kind of sparrow. Intelligent, gentle, delicate, and quite, in need of him to keep the predators away. But now…She was far more like an eagle. Regal, proud, and not about to let him tell her where and how to fly. Colt sighed. He wasn’t sure he liked this aspect of Thalia as much. He felt a lot less…useful now. “I understand,” he said, hoping she didn’t one day decide she didn’t need him at all.

            The smile she turned on him kept his heart from sinking further. “Thank you. Without your help, I don’t think I’d have been able to as calm and logical about this as I have been. Secret societies threatening people I care about…It’s not something I ever imagined having to deal with.”

            He had to chuckled at that. “It’s not something I think anyone contemplates happening to them.”

            “Anna might have. Her researches always give her different ideas. And sometimes get her into trouble. Like the time she got caught breaking into one of the supposed psychics’ houses so she could put up hidden cameras. It was part of her plan to reveal the woman as a fraud. One of the police officers thought it was funny, but of course, her parents weren’t amused.”

            He laughed again. “I almost want to meet her.”

            “I know if it comes to it, she’ll be ecstatic to meet you.”

            “And Ruth is still comfortable with me?”

            “Oh, she’s fine. I think she’s been coming up with more questions for you, so be prepared,” Thalia replied, her eyes dancing.

            As he leaned in to steal a kiss, Colt reflected that if Thalia was happy, then he was doing his job just fine.