Serial Story: Under His Wing, Part 16
This story is presented weekly in draft (unedited) form. Enjoy!
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 |
Dunning Manor, Book 1
Under His Wing
Part 16
“Is that too heavy?” Thomas asked ten minutes later. They were standing in the foyer, Zariah looking on as they prepared to leave. He’d given Katie a small pack containing some supplies for their journey and a full canteen to hang around her neck - the later of which had her wrinkling her pert little nose.
“No,” she said, adjusting the straps of the pack across her shoulders. “I can handle it, but a canteen? Really? How old is this thing? And when was the last time it was scrubbed out? How would you even get it clean, anyways?”
Thomas sighed and shook his head. “You worry too much. Canteens are only used for water, never anything else, and left open to dry after use. I assure you, you have nothing to worry about.”
“It just seems unsanitary is all.” She looked at Zariah. “Don’t you think so?”
The pixie-woman smiled at her. “No more so than the substances your people use to carry water in now.”
Thomas shouldered his own pack and slung two more canteens across his body. Taking the long pole he’d retrieved from the dungeon in hand, he opened the door.
“It’s time. Let’s go.” Stepping back, he motioned for Katie to go first, but she shook her head and held up her hands.
“Oh no. You first. If Peter’s lurking out there, he can deal with you. That’s the deal, right? You protect me from him?”
Zariah stepped in to put a hand on her arm. “He’s not out there, Katie Watson. He’s gone back to the city, and waits for you to return. You have nothing to fear now, but you must leave the manor first. Thomas cannot leave until you do.”
Katie looked from one to the other and then turned to the door. Thomas could almost feel the apprehension wafting off her form as she peered out, glancing one way and then the other before taking that first, tentative step over the threshold.
Thomas wanted to hurry her along - it would be dark soon and they had a long way to go. But he could see how tense her muscles were, the fear that seemed to hold her hostage, and he knew harsh words would get them nowhere.
Moving in behind her close enough so she’d feel the heat of his body, he bent down to speak softly in her ear.
“Do you trust me, Katie?”
Her body twitched at his words, though there was no way she could have missed his presence. The sudden movement brought her back up solidly against his torso, and he fought the instinct to wrap his arms around her waist, giving her the security she seemed to need.
Her breathing was faster, the pulse in her neck visible under that pale porcelain skin. She was lucky he wasn’t a vampire, he thought as he watched each beat of her heart. It was a long, tense moment before she finally answered.
“Yes.” The word slid out on a sigh, and it was as if the whole manor sighed with her as a gentle force pushed them both from behind, nudging her onto the porch. He did grab her waist then to keep her from falling forward.
The electricity between them almost crackled in its intensity, and he felt it deep in his bones the moment her focus switched from fear to arousal.
Removing his hands he stepped to the side, moving out to the edge of the ten foot radial boundary he was allowed. There was much to be said and this tension would have to be dealt with, but right now, he needed to put her welfare over his own comfort and get them in motion.
Katie took another step away, frowning when he was forced to take one forward.
“What are you doing?” She took another step back and the boundary pulled him forward an equal distance.
“Katie, stop.”
Zariah’s command came so abruptly that Katie followed it, crossing her arms over the canteen as she waited.
“What now?”
“Thomas should have told you before,” Zariah said, casting a disapproving look at him. “When you are outside the manor, he must stay physically within ten feet of you at all times.”
Katie looked at them both in disbelief. “Ten feet? Why? And how am I supposed to...do private things? That’s ridiculous!”
“It’s for your own safety,” Thomas said. “I can be quite discrete even from this distance, I assure you.”
Tossing her hands up, Katie turned away and started another step, pulling up short at the last minute. Turning again, she cocked her head to the side.
“So what happens if you go outside the boundary? Do you turn into stone dust or something?”
Thomas met her stare straight on. “The boundary will hold me to you as long as I’m alive. The only way our connection will be broken is if one of us dies. Now, if you’re ready, let’s start walking. I’ll answer the rest of your questions on the way.”
Enjoy
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 |
Dunning Manor, Book 1
Under His Wing
Part 16
“Is that too heavy?” Thomas asked ten minutes later. They were standing in the foyer, Zariah looking on as they prepared to leave. He’d given Katie a small pack containing some supplies for their journey and a full canteen to hang around her neck - the later of which had her wrinkling her pert little nose.
“No,” she said, adjusting the straps of the pack across her shoulders. “I can handle it, but a canteen? Really? How old is this thing? And when was the last time it was scrubbed out? How would you even get it clean, anyways?”
Thomas sighed and shook his head. “You worry too much. Canteens are only used for water, never anything else, and left open to dry after use. I assure you, you have nothing to worry about.”
“It just seems unsanitary is all.” She looked at Zariah. “Don’t you think so?”
The pixie-woman smiled at her. “No more so than the substances your people use to carry water in now.”
Thomas shouldered his own pack and slung two more canteens across his body. Taking the long pole he’d retrieved from the dungeon in hand, he opened the door.
“It’s time. Let’s go.” Stepping back, he motioned for Katie to go first, but she shook her head and held up her hands.
“Oh no. You first. If Peter’s lurking out there, he can deal with you. That’s the deal, right? You protect me from him?”
Zariah stepped in to put a hand on her arm. “He’s not out there, Katie Watson. He’s gone back to the city, and waits for you to return. You have nothing to fear now, but you must leave the manor first. Thomas cannot leave until you do.”
Katie looked from one to the other and then turned to the door. Thomas could almost feel the apprehension wafting off her form as she peered out, glancing one way and then the other before taking that first, tentative step over the threshold.
Thomas wanted to hurry her along - it would be dark soon and they had a long way to go. But he could see how tense her muscles were, the fear that seemed to hold her hostage, and he knew harsh words would get them nowhere.
Moving in behind her close enough so she’d feel the heat of his body, he bent down to speak softly in her ear.
“Do you trust me, Katie?”
Her body twitched at his words, though there was no way she could have missed his presence. The sudden movement brought her back up solidly against his torso, and he fought the instinct to wrap his arms around her waist, giving her the security she seemed to need.
Her breathing was faster, the pulse in her neck visible under that pale porcelain skin. She was lucky he wasn’t a vampire, he thought as he watched each beat of her heart. It was a long, tense moment before she finally answered.
“Yes.” The word slid out on a sigh, and it was as if the whole manor sighed with her as a gentle force pushed them both from behind, nudging her onto the porch. He did grab her waist then to keep her from falling forward.
The electricity between them almost crackled in its intensity, and he felt it deep in his bones the moment her focus switched from fear to arousal.
Removing his hands he stepped to the side, moving out to the edge of the ten foot radial boundary he was allowed. There was much to be said and this tension would have to be dealt with, but right now, he needed to put her welfare over his own comfort and get them in motion.
Katie took another step away, frowning when he was forced to take one forward.
“What are you doing?” She took another step back and the boundary pulled him forward an equal distance.
“Katie, stop.”
Zariah’s command came so abruptly that Katie followed it, crossing her arms over the canteen as she waited.
“What now?”
“Thomas should have told you before,” Zariah said, casting a disapproving look at him. “When you are outside the manor, he must stay physically within ten feet of you at all times.”
Katie looked at them both in disbelief. “Ten feet? Why? And how am I supposed to...do private things? That’s ridiculous!”
“It’s for your own safety,” Thomas said. “I can be quite discrete even from this distance, I assure you.”
Tossing her hands up, Katie turned away and started another step, pulling up short at the last minute. Turning again, she cocked her head to the side.
“So what happens if you go outside the boundary? Do you turn into stone dust or something?”
Thomas met her stare straight on. “The boundary will hold me to you as long as I’m alive. The only way our connection will be broken is if one of us dies. Now, if you’re ready, let’s start walking. I’ll answer the rest of your questions on the way.”
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