Chapter 9 - Hollyn

I awoke in the dark even though light was pouring into the room. It crept towards my feet as I watched. I wanted to pull away. Wrap myself in the blanket someone had thrown over me and jump from the top of Thane's building.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid, Hollyn. I couldn't believe I'd shared that much of my life with him. I must have looked like such an idiot, cowering between his bed and a small set of drawers. Why he needed three drawers right next to his bed was another question, but it could wait until I'd climbed from the pit of boiling shame that was currently my life.

I rolled towards the light. Even my unconscious mind must have felt the crippling embarrassment, otherwise I wouldn't have managed to be completely under the massive bed. As soon as the fresh air of the chilly room settled over my skin, I bounced up to my feet.

I caught the towel as it slipped from under my arms. My lips twisted in irritation at having to use it. But I wasn't going to give Grumpy any more of a reason to grump at me.

A sheet of paper on the nicely made bed drew my eye. HOLLEN: I've gone to work. I've left my phone number on the pad in the kitchen. Please call me when you wake up. THANE.

I smiled at my misspelled name and gave the man a pass. It was an odd name, and he'd done the best he could. I wasn't sure what a phone was. And did he expect me to yell at him? If he was already at work, and I didn't know where he did that, I could potentially be yelling for hours before I found him.

Near the bottom of the page, in scribbles I had a hard time deciphering, it said: Clothes on the chair by the shower. Enjoy the rain.

A huge smile pulled over my face as I ran to the bathroom. Dropping the blanket, I made sure to keep the towel so I could use it when I was done. I stuttered to a halt when I saw the handle of the faucet, my heartrate picking up a bit.

"You did it last night. You can do it this morning, you big baby," I muttered to myself. I examined my fingernails again. Not a single hint of black. Maybe it was just the metal at the Oaks that I was allergic to? I shrugged as I spied the clothes Thane had left me. I put my towel on top of them and danced into the water room. The shower, I reminded myself.

First, I turned the knob to make the water fall from the ceiling. Then I turned the handle to get the temperature just right before I stepped into its sultry torrent. A moan purled from my lips as the water sluiced over me. I would go splash in mud puddles if it meant I could stand here ten times a day.

A hard knock interrupted my bliss. "Hollyn?" one of the men called.

I almost fell over, I jumped so high. "Y-yes?"

"It's Tove. Thane called, wanted me to check on you."

I laughed as my heart unstuck itself from my ribcage. Then his words dawned on me. "Wait! Don't leave." I slapped at the handles and knobs. Darted out of the shower and ripped the door open. "How do you call him? How did he call me? I didn't hear anyone yelling."

I made sure to stay in the bathroom so I didn't get Thane's floor fabric all wet. That could get stinky fast, and I wasn't going to be an ungracious guest.

Tove was just staring at me. Well, my body at least. I don't think he'd looked up to my face yet.

"Tove? Up here." I reached out and lifted his chin with my wet fingers. "My boobies can't talk to you."

He chuckled. It sounded a little strange. "Are you sure? Pretty sure they wanted me to lick them."

I laughed even as I heard a faint yelling. "Oh. Is that Thane calling me?" I reached down to the chair, grabbed the towel and wrapped it around me, up to the armpits. These boys were weird. "Why can I barely hear him? If I didn't know he was calling out for me, I wouldn't be able to hear him at all."

"THANE! I'M IN THE BATHROOM!" I yelled out towards the living room. At least, I think that's what Thane had called it.

Tove burst into laughter. He shoved a small black rectangle at me. "Here. Hold this up to your ear. Thane is calling you on the phone." He helped guide the phone up to my head.

"HOLLEN! I'M HERE!" Thane's voice yelled from the little device before I got it all the way up to my ear.

"HI, THANE. GOOD MORNING!"

Tove fell over, he was laughing so hard. Tears streaked down his cheeks as he held his belly.

I nudged him with my foot. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Hollen. You don't have to yell anymore," Thane answered.

My eyes widened. "It sounds as if you're standing right next to me. And I was talking to Tove. He's crying on the floor."

"Is he bleeding or otherwise in danger of dying immediately?" Thane asked.

I looked his replica—dang it, brother—over. "No. Not that I can tell."

"Then he's fine. Let him get it out of his system. How are you doing?"

I smiled. "Very well, thank you. Greetings and morning salutations, Thane."

"Good morning, Stretch. Did you sleep all right?"

I nodded.

Thane was quiet for a second. Then, "You need to speak, honey. I can't see you."

"Oh. How odd. Yes, I did sleep all right. Thank you for your hospitality. Did you sleep well?"

"I did. Do you remember last night? When I frightened you?"

I nodded. "Yes. You were very kind to me." I bit my lip. I needed him to forget everything I'd said. If they found out that I'd told anyone else what happened there, I could get these nice men in a lot of trouble. I shuddered as the results of the last person to leave slid through my head in sickly waves of fear. Maybe I should leave. I didn't want to repay Thane and his rep—brothers back with angry zealots.

"Can you discuss what happened?" Thane asked, pulling my attention back to the present.

"I can, but I won't. It's better for everyone."

"Everyone who, Hollen?"

"Oh. It's spelled with a Y not an E." I ignored his question.

"I'll make a note of that. And it's a very pretty name. Everyone who, Hollyn?"

I curled my fingers into a fist. "I can't tell you that either. Maybe I need to go. I don't want to get you guys in trouble. They say I'm a magnet for trouble. Which I don't really understand, but since everyone said it all the time, I guess it must be true. You know how sometimes other people can see things about you, but you can't see them? No matter how hard you try?" I nodded. I should go. "Could I borrow those clothes you gave me? When I find some new ones, I could give them back to you. I'm not sure when that will be, though. Would that be okay?"

"Hollyn, take a breath," Thane said in a strong, calm voice.

I inhaled noisily, my lungs burning in relief. "You really are a god. How did you know I needed to breathe? Are you sure you can't see me?" I turned in small circles, looking for the man who saw too much. I narrowed my eyes. "Are you hiding in your closet?"

"Hollyn," he said.

"Yes, Thane?"

"Stop searching for me. I'm at my office. About five miles away. Tove is the only one in the house. It's his day off."

"Day off of what? Does he go crazy on his off day? Do I need to be prepared? I can defend myself. Not always really well. Sometimes it comes and goes, but I defended myself against Grumpy. I could do it again." I shook my free hand. Hoped like the stars that I could produce Elektra again. That was the only spell I'd been able to master, and it had taken me close to thirty years. None of the other spells I'd memorized did anything. Ever.

Tove climbed to his feet, his expression somber. "I won't hurt you, Hollyn. I promise." He laid his hand over his heart like Thane had. "Day off means that I don't have to go into work. That's all. Like a small break every week."

My eyes widened. "But what happens to the work? Does it stop?" I would've loved to have had a small break from my work back in the Oaks. Sometimes, they wouldn't let me go relieve myself because there was so much work to do.

Tove shook his head. "It's there for me when I get back. Is Thane still on the line?" He pointed to the device next to my ear. "The phone line."

Oh. "I knew that." I nodded.

Thane chuckled in my ear, giving away my lie.

I narrowed my eyes.

Tove reached out for the phone. "Can I talk to him again, please?"

I handed him the phone. "Yes, of course. HAVE A GOOD DAY, THANE. I'M GOING TO GO GET BACK IN THE SHOWER."

Tove's face flushed red as he bit his lip. "For the love of your stars, keep the towel on until you close the door. I'm begging you."

I felt my shoulders sag. These men had serious hang-ups about nudity. It was probably good that I was leaving. Hopefully not everyone would feel the same way in Triport.