Chapter 12

Chapter

Twelve

PHOENIX

“We need to get out of the house. It’s been a beautiful day, and we’ve spent it cooped up,” Ani says, holding back the sheer curtains of the attic window.

“It’s still beautiful inside ,” I argue. And it is because of her. She’s stunning, the sun behind her framing her in a golden-yellow glow. She’s a masterpiece in the flesh.

“The sun is going to set soon. We missed the day.”

“The sun sets every day. Nothing special when it does.”

“Phoenix… Sometimes you need to take in the small and simple pleasures. Mother Nature gives us that. You can’t stay locked up in this house forever. I worry about you, just as I know you worry about me,” Ani says softly, turning to regard me. Her eyes are so kind and understanding, and I feel my resolve crumbling, but I’m still hesitant to venture outside. “Vitamin D. We need to actually feel the light once in a while.”

“I’ll get you some chewables,” I say. “Orange juice and stuff.”

She glances over her shoulder at me and sighs. “Phoenix…”

“I can’t keep you safe if we’re not here. You say Mark is gone for good, but there is no way of really knowing that. I haven’t had time to speak with Apollo and put some additional security in place. I want to know exactly where Mark ended up so we can keep a close eye on him.”

The smile and softness on her face disappear immediately. Shadows and sadness take over. “He’s gone. Trust me. He’s gone. ”

“But until I know that for sure, we stay here.”

Ani takes a step closer to me, closing the gap between us. She places her delicate hands on my shoulders and looks me in the eye. “Phoenix, you were my protector last night, my knight in shining armor. You made me feel safer and more cared for yesterday than I have in my entire life. So, let me repay the favor. Let’s get you outside and knock down these prison walls you’ve made for yourself.”

She pauses to see if I’ll respond, but I simply watch her, tempted to go against everything inside of me that screams stay .

“Besides,” she adds. “If you say no, then I’ll just have to go for a walk on the beach by myself, and maybe someone will steal me away forever. Maybe the Kraken will rise from the sea and take me to the depths of the ocean.”

Though she’s teasing, I feel a pull of possessiveness at the thought of how easily she could be taken away from me, just like that.

She crosses her arms and gives me an exasperated look. “I know you don’t like going outside, and I understand. I’m not judging you in the slightest, but if we just stay here in the attic, we’ll miss out on so much life has to offer.”

I say nothing, but I’m watching the persistence in her eyes and finding it endearing.

“What if we go to Seattle? You said you have a penthouse there, right?” she suggests. “We’d still be alone. We still would be inside... safe. But we’d have a change of scenery from the attic. Maybe I could start looking for a job there and?—”

“No,” I answer gruffly, feeling constriction on my insides. I’m not ready to see her moving on with her life. Not yet. It’s too soon.

Ani is undeterred, her voice gentle and patient. “What about the beach? We could take a leisurely walk, and we wouldn’t have to worry about crowds. There’s no one around. It’s your land. It’s private.”

I take a deep breath, and my heart beats faster as I consider the possibility. I’m content being in the attic day and night, but she clearly is clawing at the walls and needs fresh air.

“Okay,” I answer. “We can go to the beach. On Godwin private land only.”

Her face brightens with surprise as she grins and rushes to give me a hug, her body so tiny compared to mine. “You won’t regret it.” Her voice is full of warmth and reassurance.

I nod, already regretting my decision but also knowing there is no backing down now .

She takes my hand and leads me out of the attic, down the stairs and out the front door. We walk together, our steps in sync, until we reach the beach.

The salty air greets us, and I inhale deeply. Ani stands beside me, looking out at the vast ocean expanse.

“This is amazing,” she says in awe. “It’s like a painting.”

We walk along the beach, feeling the sand beneath our feet. It is strange but invigorating to be out in the world again after so many years of staying inside the attic. One second, I like it, the next I don’t.

Ani looks up at me from time to time with a sparkle in her eye; she’s clearly enjoying herself. It’s nice to see that something so simple can bring her such joy. I stay close, watching her as she takes in the sights and sounds all around us. For the first time in months, a sense of peace washes over me, and I’m glad we ventured out. The rush of the waves lulls me into calmness, and I relax as Ani and I walk side by side along the shore.

We find a spot to sit and watch the sun set.

Ani wraps her arm around me, and I let myself feel the warmth of her embrace.

“Thank you,” she says, as the sun sets beneath the horizon.

“I can’t always expect you to want to stay inside,” I answer.

“Not just about the walk,” she says. “For everything. For giving me a place to stay. For making me feel safe for the first time in my life. For not judging me for my past and who I was. Allowing me the time to figure out who I am now.”

I nod, and Ani squeezes me tighter.

For a long time, we sit on a large piece of driftwood in silence, watching the stars come out in the night sky. The full moon is going to light our path back or I’d be nervous about her getting hurt climbing the hill back to the manor. Although I do see some storm clouds coming in, so I consider telling her we need to cut this short, but I also don’t want to spoil the mood—her mood.

Ani leans her head against my shoulder. I turn to meet her gaze, and it is full of understanding and contentment. It’s almost as if she likes me. Likes the real me. We remain as we are for what feels like an eternity, just being in each other’s presence and savoring the moments.

Ani speaks up softly. “I’m so glad we took this walk. It was exactly what I needed. And I think that even though you may sit here and act grumpy, you enjoyed yourself, too. But I like your grumpy.” She looks up at me with a small smile on her face that tells me she means every word.

Warmth spreads through my chest as I squeeze her hand in response. “I like your light. It helps with my dark.”

Ani squeezes my hand lightly before standing up and stretching her arms above her head. “I think I’m ready to go home now.” Her voice is quiet but determined.

I nod, and we make our way down the beach to where we started. I’m happy to be heading back to a place it’ll be safe.

Ani looks at me, as if she’s reading my mind. “You know... it’s possible to be safe outside, too.”

I grunt in response.

Ani just smiles back, her expression full of understanding. I take her hand, and together we make our way back to the attic. But she stops midway and points in the distance. “Look, a lighthouse. I don’t remember seeing that before.”

I glance over. “It’s on Godwin land. You wouldn’t have seen it or visited it before.”

Her eyes widen. “Then let’s go see it now.” She tugs my hand. “Come on.”

“I thought the plan was to head back.”

“Plans can change. Especially when adventure awaits.”