Chapter 5

RHEA

With every step close to Jack's room, I find myself questioning why I thought this was a good idea and what the best way to get out of it is. Though from the way Jack's been acting, I have to assume that he'd be okay with me just saying I don't want to do it anymore.

But I also don't want to let him down, which is definitely making things harder for me than I want them to be. I don't even know him that well. It's been a couple of weeks and that's only been a handful of meetings. Maybe it's because of what introduced us to one another that it feels more intense. The strong emotions and grief we've both experienced make it impossible not to form a bond.

I sigh and push the thoughts out of my mind. It doesn't matter why I feel like I want to help him, the fact of the matter is that I've agreed to turn him into stone and I want to see it through. Especially if there's a chance it might help him with his magic.

The door swings open before I can knock and I smile to see Jack standing on the other side.

"Hey." There's something hesitant in his voice that makes me think he's not feeling quite as brave as I thought he was.

"Hi." I shift from one foot to the other. "One of your flatmates let me in. He didn't seem very concerned considering we haven't met before."

"Oh, that was probably Rupert, he knew you were coming."

"Enough to know what I look like?" That doesn't seem likely.

Jack shrugs. "Maybe he really doesn't care much. Want to come in?" He gestures to the inside of his room.

I nod and move past him. There's a faint smell of cleaning products and the arm of a shirt hanging out of his wardrobe in a way that makes me certain he tidied just because I came. It's cute, but I know better than to say anything about it.

"You should sit on the bed, the desk chair is so uncomfortable," he says.

"Sure." I make my way over and perch on the edge of the bed while he takes the chair and wheels it over so we're face to face. "Do you have any questions before we do this?" I ask, my nerves starting to make themselves properly known.

"Do the snakes have names?"

I stare at him for a moment, realising that it's a question no one has ever asked me before. And that it's not something I expected him to say. "No..."

He raises an eyebrow. "Really?"

"What makes you think I'm lying?"

"The expression on your face," he responds, leaning back in his desk chair. "And the fact that I don't think I'd be able to have snakes living on my head and not be able to name them."

"Granny used to call hers fudging nuisances."

"Fudging?"

"Well, that's not exactly what she calls them, but I repeated her once and got yelled at by my dad."

Jack chuckles. "Fair enough. So what are your snakes called?"

I bite my lip. "Don't you think it's weird that I name them?"

"I think it's weirder if you don't."

"I guess." I take a deep breath. "The one on the left is Rattle and the one on the right is Hiss."

"That's...not what I expected." His amusement is clear on his face.

"Probably because you're expecting them to be named by the eighteen-year-old me you've just met and are forgetting that I named them when I was still a child."

"Ah, yes, I do suppose I forgot that part."

As if they know we're talking about them, they slither down onto my shoulders and look at him, clearly curious.

"They're the same snakes as when you were born?" he asks, watching Rattle with an intrigued expression on his face.

I nod. "Though they've shed a few times. And I seriously recommend not asking me about that part of the process, it's not particularly pleasant."

He chuckles. "Got it. Is there a chance you'll gain more of them?"

"No. Two is my lot. Gorgons can be born with anywhere from no snakes to hundreds, and as far as I know, no one gains new ones as they get older."

"There are so many things I don't know about gorgons."

"And yet you still want me to try and turn you into stone." I'm worried he hasn't thought this through.

He shrugs. "I've tried a lot of other things first, this is just something I haven't tried."

"All right then, let's do this." I close my eyes and I take my glasses off, my heart racing at the prospect. I've never even done this accidentally to someone, never mind on purpose. "Are you ready?"

Rattle raises his head to get a look at what's happening. Maybe he realises that I've taken my glasses off and knows what that means, though that would require inbuilt knowledge of gorgon magic that I doubt he possesses. And if he does, I have a lot of questions about why I'm not able to access it.

"I'm ready," Jack responds.

"You don't sound nervous."

"Why should I be? I know the risks."

I nod. "All right, then let's do this." I open my eyes, meeting his gaze.

Neither of us move, and I spend what feels like hours but is definitely just minutes staring into his eyes and noticing every fleck in his grey-green irises. There's something surprisingly intimate about it, even if this is only a practical thing.

A weird feeling starts to grow within me as I hold his gaze.

"How long does gorgon magic take to work?" he asks.

"I've always been led to believe a few seconds."

"So I should have turned to stone already."

"I think so."

"Ah." Disappointment fills his eyes.

"I'm sorry." I pull my gaze away and reach for my glasses, putting them back on. "Maybe I'm doing it wrong."

"Maybe," he murmurs, his shoulders slumping.

I pull out my phone and type in a search for gorgon magic and gargoyles. I groan. "Why didn't we think of this?"

"Think of what?" Jack asks.

"Gargoyles are immune to gorgon magic." I show my phone to him so he can read the article I have open.

"Ah. Well, I guess that answers why I'm not made of stone right now."

"Except that you kind of are, that's why you're immune. It makes so much sense when you think about it." I drop my phone onto the bed, trying not to be too relieved that I haven't accidentally turned him into stone.

"Thanks for trying anyway," he says.

"You're welcome." I rub my thumb against my hand. "What are we supposed to do now?"

"No idea. Maybe watch a movie?"

"Sure." I smile at him. It may not have worked, but he seems to appreciate that we tried.