The Lycaetos

Chapter 17: Trusting is Fun

After clarifying things with Kirsa, who it turns out is a Siren "cursed" with a little telepathy, I decided to fly home. Now knowing also that Kirsa figured out my other form as soon as I thought about it in front of her. Even hearing my thoughts sometimes from a distance, but 'only the really public ones', whatever the hell that means. Honestly I didn't want to know what Kirsa knew. So I stopped asking and finished the conversation there.

I finally got home though as soon as I landed, I tripped hard, falling face first into the floor. A sudden banging headache had instantly turned me human and messed up my footing. I tried to get up but the head pain worsened and the room started to look like it was spinning. I felt weak. 

Unlike me. I don't know what do. Tonight has been an absolute shit show and now this. I'm not angry but I don't know how much I can take. 

The pounding worsens. Instead of even attempting to get up from the floor I use my hands to grip at my head. 

A stronger hand grabs my arm and pulls me up.

I hear a whisper, "What the hell." Then another hand touching my necklace. Tugging at it lightly, holding it up. I try to shake my head no, but the pain is too intense. Another tug then the necklace is pulled off. 

Instantly the head pain is gone and my vision clears.

Hunter is in front of me, glaring. 

"Who did you kill to steal this." He questions. 

I glare and snatch it from him, putting it immediately back on. The head pain and vertigo hit me like strike of lightening but I don't care.

I spit out, "Leave me alone." Closing my eyes so I don't have to see his angry face. See whatever punishment was coming my way. 

Instead I just got to feel his hands now gripping both my shoulders. A lot more gentle than I expected. 

Even as he commanded, "No."

One of his hands moved behind my back while I felt the other go to under my knees. Suddenly I was lifted up and placed in my bed. Covers thrown over me, providing comforting warmth as I struggled with the increasing sharp pangs shooting in every direction of my skull mixing with the throbbing pound sensation already occurring at the speed of a ticking time bomb. I start to feel tightness around my arms and legs, and realize he is tucking me. 

Hunter whispers just loud enough for me to hear, "Hide that better Ara, if any of the others' see it, I can't let you keep it."

I didn't expect that. Why would he help me? I manage to slide my hand out from under the sheets and from sheer guessing grab at what was luckily his shirt collar before pulling him down and closer to me. 

Whispering much quieter than him, I answer, "Fine... Thanks." Then, I let him go. 

The door clicks shut and sleep takes me. 

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I awake to an extremely bright light, but surprisingly am not annoyed in the slightest. My whole body feels so relaxed, as if I had spent the night before at a spa. All of the pain from before is completely gone and a sense of clueless warmth fills my being. 

Reality hits me and I check for the necklace like my life depends on it. Indeed its still there around my neck. I instinctively tuck it in under my top. Memories of the night before flood my mind in crashing waves. No way. I try to think it off.

The rest couldn't have been real, right?

Suddenly I get a message from Kirsa.

'It could.'

"Damnit."