It was a new uni trimester and in the afternoon I was happy to see Khloe, back from her Aspen trip. .
"Is there something on you're mind?" Khloe asked, eyes narrowing on me seated across from her. The uni cafeteria was buzzing, we had to huddle at a small table in the corner. She munched into her sandwich while mine was left on the table untouched.
There were a million things on my mind, and none of them were simple to explain. A lot had changed since Khloe last saw me and Alor. She'd probably think I was crazy for feeling the mixed emotions I was feeling. All for a demon that nearly used her as a sacrifice.
Normalcy had returned to my life, I was happy. But not as happy as I'd pictured in the past. As much as Alor had annoyed me and put me through hell, I'd grown close to him. I'd been drawn to his presence, as I had in another life.
I unwrapped the plastic from my sandwich. "I'm the one who cut off his dick..."
Khloe stopped chewing, her eyes wide. She swallowed. "I... don't know what to say to that."
"In a past life. We seemed to have had a tumultuous relationship." I began eating, filling Khloe in on my quarter life crisis. "Thats not the only thing. He want's me to have his baby so he can return to the Spirit Realm."
Now Khloe choked on her sandwich. I passed her my cup of water to help wash it down. Once she recovered, she grabbed my free hand and caressed it comfortingly. "Do we need to get you a plan B?"
"No." I smiled.
Khloe looked at me, as if trying to gage what I was thinking. Instead she said. "Tell me how you're feeling."
"I'm terrified of making a decision." Finishing my sandwich, I gripped her hand tighter. "I'm still figuring out what I want to be. I was so set on not being connected to the Spirit Realm, I thought uni would take me somewhere. Get a serious job." I looked down at the discarded plastic. "But now things have changed. I don't know what to do."
Khloe sighed, giving me a sympathetic look. "You've grown to love him. It happens. The fact that he's a different species is a whole other ball park but," Khloe waved her hand. "If you've embraced your connection to the Spirit Realm, maybe you were meant to discover something new? Life isn't a straight line, it's a zigzag."
She was right. I'd never envisioned my special talent as a job or being important in my future. But now that I'd gotten a taste of Alor, new and exciting doors were opening. He said he was a king, and he needed an heir.
Didn't that mean I was the Queen?
I had no living family. Envisioning a family of my own didn't seem so bad.
***
November became December. Families were visiting for Christmas, the streets of Seattle were full of them. I'd gone out to get some hot roast chicken in the evening, the dark sky illuminated by glowing storefronts, cars, and streetlights. I'd not expected it to be so busy, as I walked back home among crowds of families in the snow. I never felt so alone.
It was hard not to think of my parents. As a child, we'd have a quiet Christmas dinner with just the three of us, and watch Christmas movies until it was way past my bedtime. One of them would carry me to bed and tuck me in. Good times.
If I could have isolated one moment in time, it'd be that. I'd stay there forever.
I shoved a hot piece of chicken in my mouth, savouring the succulent flavour mingled with gravy. I flicked through the channels on my tv, trying to find something Christmassy when there was a knock on my door. My heart fluttered and I surged up from my dinner.
Alor.
But who would actually face me at the door? It had been almost two months since he left with Kaz in pursuit of his true body. Alor could be in his real form. It would be like seeing each other for the first time again.
Or would I jump out of my skin and be terrified of what I saw?
Kill the anticipation
