Fox Among the Demons

by Trudie Collins

  “Why are you here?” he asked as he sat down on the bed beside her.

  “I can’t sleep in my own bed. Komi’s there.”

  “And I take it you didn’t invite him.” Natasha shook her head. Fox sighed. He wasn’t angry at Komi. He wasn’t being thoughtless or insensitive. He knew that Natasha would be upset tonight and thought that she would want to seek comfort in his arms. It wouldn’t have occurred to him that she might want some other way of taking her mind off things.

  “Stay here,” he said. “I’ll get rid of him for you.”

  “Don’t,” she said, grabbing his arm as he stood up. “If it was that simple I could do it myself.”

  Fox sat back down. “So what do you want?”

  Natasha bit her lip nervously. “I don’t want to be alone tonight.” She then realised that what she said could be misconstrued. “I’m not coming on to you. I don’t mean....”

  Fox took hold of her hands. “I understand. You trust me enough to be there for you without trying anything on.” Natasha nodded. Fox smiled at her. “Go and get showered. I’ll find something for you to wear. I’m getting used to you borrowing my clothes. Ask me nicely and I will even let you use my toothbrush, save you risking going to your own bathroom and waking Komi.”

  “Thank you,” Natasha said. “I know how much I am asking of you. I greatly appreciate it.”

  She was not in the bathroom long and found a long t-shirt and underwear waiting for her on the bed when she entered the bedroom. She picked the clothes up and went back to the bathroom to put them on.

  Fox was in the bed when she returned. He indicated that she should get in the other side and pulled the blanket aside for her. Not wishing to impose on him any further than she already was, she turned her back on him and curled up in a ball, which was her usual sleeping position when she was alone.

  He turned his lamp off, then moved closer to her. Moulding his body around hers, he put his arm around her and took hold of her hand, which she grasped firmly in response.

  “Goodnight Nat,” he said, kissed the back of her head, closed his eyes and went to sleep.

  Birthday

  It was the early hours of the morning when Fox was woken by the sound of someone crying. For a moment he was disoriented and wasn’t sure where he was or why someone was in bed with him. Then he woke fully and remembered that it was Natasha and that he was in his own room.

  She was crying in her sleep, so he gently shook her awake. She rolled over to look at him and tears were flowing down her face.

  “Sssshhhhh,” he said gently and wiped a tear away with his hand. It was instantly replaced by another one. “You’re alright.”

  He placed his arms around her and pulled her closer to him. “I miss him so much,” she sobbed into his chest.

  “I know sweetheart, I know,” he said, stoking her hair in an effort to comfort her.

  “I’m sorry,” he heard her muffled voice say. “I’m getting your t-shirt all wet.”

  He could feel her tears soaking through to his skin. “Don’t worry about it. Cry as much as you need. Get it out of your system. I’m here for you as long as you need me.”

  Fox had no idea how long he held her, but she fell asleep before he did. Her sobbing became quieter and her breathing deeper. Only once he was sure she was sleeping did he allow himself to close his eyes. He kept his arms around her as he didn’t want to risk waking her.

  Natasha was the first to wake the next morning. She felt so comfortable in Fox’s arms that she closed her eyes and tried to get back to sleep, but it wasn’t long before Fox was stirring.

  “I should go,” she said when she knew that he was awake. “I don’t want anyone to catch me here. I’m not sure I’m up to trying to explain.”

  Fox wasn’t insulted that she wanted to rush away. He understood. She started to say ‘thank you’, but he placed his finger over her lips to silence her.

  “Don’t say thanks. It’s what any friend would do.”

  She slipped out of his arms then out of the bed and headed to the bathroom to retrieve her clothes, which she had left in a heap on the floor.

  Before leaving his room, she turned to look at him. “Do you know the difference between you and Komi? Komi gives someone what he would need in their situation whereas you give them what they actually need.”

  Fox didn’t know what to say and just watched her silently as she walked out of his room, closing the door behind her.

  Natasha breathed a sigh of relief when she entered her own room and found it empty. She had no idea what time Komi had left and she didn’t care; she was just glad he was no longer there.

  Before heading downstairs, she returned Fox’s clothes to him. She had no idea how she would explain them being in her own wash basket. There was no sign of him in his room so she left them on the bed, neatly folded.

  Everyone was seated around the table, eating breakfast, when Natasha arrived, except for Trey, who had yet to make it home.

  “Good morning,” Fox said, as though it was the first time he had seen her that day.

  “Where did you sleep last night?” Komi asked her. She didn’t like the tone of his voice.

  “Well I couldn’t have slept in my own bed, could I?” she snapped at him.

  Bolene and Lukine both looked up at her. “Why not?” Bolene asked, the concern on her face was mirrored in her voice.

  “It was occupied,” Natasha said, staring daggers of hostility at Komi.

  Bolene rounded on him. “You didn’t.”

  “I thought she needed the company.” He made the comment sound reasonable, as though he had done something anyone else would have done.

  Bolene smacked him on the back of the head, hard.

  “Can I ask a favour Fox?” Natasha asked as she sat down. “Can I install a lock on my bedroom door?”

  “You already have one,” Komi pointed out.

  “Not one that you can lock from the outside, to keep intruders out.”

  “Okay, I’m sorry,” Komi said, raising his hands up as though he was surrendering. “I thought I was doing the right thing. Looks like I was wrong. Satisfied?”

  Natasha stared at him incredulously. “No, of course I’m not satisfied. You invaded my bedroom. You stripped off and got into my bed; the place I sleep when I am here. You then expected me to join you. I can assure you I am far from satisfied with your meagre apology that is as sincere as a used car salesman. Either I get my lock or I never sleep here again.”

  “I can help,” Lukine said. “I can put a spell on your door like I did Fox’s workshop and the schoolroom. I can make it so only you can open it from the outside.”

  Natasha thought about it, then shook her head. “Thanks, but I would rather have a proper lock. What happens if I slip in the shower and need help? Nobody would be able to get to me. At least with a lock I can give someone the spare key.”

  “I’ll take care of it,” Fox said, effectively ending the discussion.

  Natasha had her usual lesson with Fox in the morning and in the afternoon, for the very first time, she agreed to try out the weapons on a live target. As long as the target was Komi. She never managed to hit him, but she came close and it made her feel a lot better. However, it wasn’t enough to make her forgive him.

  After she had left, Bolene sought out Fox. She found him in the schoolroom, preparing the Monday morning class for his students. He had left the door open, but she still had to ask permission to be able to enter. She closed the door behind her.

  “Nat spent the night with you, didn’t she.” It was a statement rather than a question, but Fox answered it anyway.

  “Yes, she did.” He had never lied to Bolene before and saw no reason to start now.

  “Fox,” she said with a weary sigh. “I thought we had had this conversation. Komi is going to win in the end and you are going to get hurt.”

  “And you are jumping to conclusions. Nothing happened. She couldn’t sleep in her own bed and I let her share mine
. She didn’t want to be alone and she knew I would offer her comfort, nothing else. I am not interested in Nat and she is not interested in me. There is nothing going on. We are just friends.”

  Bolene wasn’t convinced. “So why did you have Lukine spell this door to allow her entry and nobody else?”

  “Because she isn’t a child and it felt wrong making her wait outside if I was running late.”

  “Oh.” It was a logical reply and one she couldn’t challenge. Maybe her suspicions were wrong. He had never done or said anything to make her doubt his word. He didn’t even look at Natasha the way Komi did, so maybe she was imagining things after all and reading more into situations than she should.

  “I’ll take your word for it,” she said then left him alone to do his work.

  ————————————-∞————————————-

  Natasha didn’t return to the hotel until the following Friday and Fox handed her two keys as soon as she arrived. She immediately gave one back to him. “I trust you with this,” she said.

  “Why me and not Bo?”

  “Because Komi might be able to talk Bo into giving it to him and I know you never will.”

  Komi had been in daily contact with her, doing all he could to make her forgive him. He swore he honestly thought he was doing the right thing and wasn’t trying to take advantage of her when she was upset and vulnerable and she was beginning to believe him.

  She was early for her lesson so she had time to speak to him before it started. He was alone in the library, doing some research, and seemed surprised to see her when she called out his name.

  “It’s my birthday in a couple of weeks,” she said. “I’ll let you take me to dinner and if you behave like a gentleman the entire evening, I will think about forgiving you.”

  Komi grinned at her. “It’s a date.”

  “No,” she said. “It’s not.” Before he could reply she walked out and closed the door behind her. As she made her way to the schoolroom, she wondered if she was doing the right thing.

  Over dinner, Komi announced that Natasha had finally agreed to go on a proper date with him. Bolene glanced across at Fox to see his reaction, but the news didn’t seem to bother him at all. She was still looking at him when Natasha corrected Komi’s statement. Still no reaction. That told her all she needed to know. Fox had been honest with her when he said he wasn’t interested in Natasha and she put it from her mind.

  ————————————-∞————————————-

  Time passed quickly and all too soon Natasha’s birthday arrived. She was nervous and she wasn’t sure why. Was it that she didn’t trust Komi to behave, or was she more worried about what she would do if he did?

  He turned up on time, driving Fox’s car. She had left the arrangements to him so she had no idea where they were going. When she had asked him where he was taking her, his reply had been, “In the bathroom, in the bedroom, on the sofa. We may even try the kitchen.” She predicted that he would make some sort of comment like that and didn’t react.

  He drove them to a country hotel, causing her to raise a questioning eyebrow at him. “It’s not what you think. This hotel has the best restaurant in the area. I can assure you I have not booked a room and I have no intention of doing so.”

  Komi was right about the restaurant. The ambience was perfect, the décor fitted with the rest of the old-style building, the staff were polite and friendly and the food was excellent. He was really good company, making her laugh throughout the evening. Not once did he make an inappropriate comment or try to touch her in any way. He acted as though he was the perfect gentleman.

  She began to see a different side to him, the side he hid behind his ‘gigolo’ persona. He wasn’t quite as shallow as he made out.

  It had been a great evening and she was a little disappointed when it was time to leave. She allowed him to walk her to her door and didn’t pull away when he took her hand and kissed the back of it.

  “Goodnight Nat,” he said and turned to walk away.

  “Wait,” she called out. When he turned back, she took his face in her hands and gave him a kiss on the lips, soft and gentle. She had not meant it as an invitation, but he took it as one. He put his arms around her and pulled her closer to him, pushing his body up against hers as he tried to part her lips with his tongue. She kept them firmly closed.

  Somehow she managed to get her arms between their bodies and she shoved him away so hard he staggered back.

  “Why do you have to ruin everything?” she shouted at him, then turned her back on him, unlocked her front door, stepped inside and slammed it shut before he could follow her.

  “Problems?” a voice sounded from inside the lounge. Natasha had not been expecting Lucy to still be up, but she was glad she was.

  “Men!” she said. “I need a drink.”

  She poured herself a glass of wine then joined Lucy in the lounge. A sit-com that Natasha hated but Lucy found hilarious was on, but Lucy hit the mute button. Natasha didn’t ask if Lucy wanted to join her in a glass; she was still underage and, while she didn’t police her niece’s activities when she was not at home, while they were in her house she would not let her break the law.

  “Komi?” Lucy asked, needlessly. Natasha nodded. Lucy already knew about what had happened on the anniversary of her father’s death; Natasha had told her everything. Personally she couldn’t understand why her aunt was giving him a second chance. “What did he do this time?” she asked.

  Natasha told her and Lucy rolled her eyes. “When are you going to admit to yourself what it is you really want?”

  “When I know what that is.”

  The two women stayed up for another hour, talking, until Lucy said she needed to call it a night. Natasha, too, headed to her bedroom, but she lay awake for a long time before sleep finally came.

  Declarations

  When Natasha next went to the hotel, she was tense. She and Komi had not talked since her birthday and neither had mentioned to anyone, other than Lucy, what had happened. Natasha didn’t deliberately avoid him, but she did go straight to the schoolroom as soon as she arrived, instead of socialising with everyone for a short while first.

  There was no sign of Fox, so when her phone rang, she answered it. It was Lucy.

  “Have you spoken to him yet?” she asked.

  “No, I haven’t seen him.”

  “But you’re going to.”

  Natasha sighed. She felt like she had been having this conversation with Lucy on a daily basis since her birthday. “We have discussed this time and time again. I can’t tell him how I feel. He’s not even human, for God’s sake.”

  “And nor are you, according to him.” Natasha wished her niece wasn’t sounding so reasonable. What she was suggesting was impossible.

  “That is still up for debate.”

  “If that were true, you wouldn’t have started going there for lessons. Now are you going to admit your feelings or not?”

  “Not. It wouldn’t work out. We are very different people.”

  “You won’t know until you try.”

  “Drop it Lucy. Please.”

  “Not a chance in hell. You know this is what you want and I am going to keep badgering you until you give in.”

  “This conversation is over Lucy,” Natasha said and hung up.

  Fox walked in as she threw her phone down on the desk in frustration. “You know phones aren’t allowed in the schoolroom.”

  “Bite me.”

  “Okay. So it’s going to be one of those days is it. I was going to teach you about sprites, but as punishment for that comment it will be a politics lesson instead. Sit down and we will begin.”

  Natasha groaned, but obeyed.

  “Our leader is called the Director. He is kind of like a president or prime minister, only a lot more powerful. The Director doesn’t just rule one country, he rules them all. His word is law and he doesn’t have to have the agreement of any kin
d of cabinet, though he usually does. I’m saying ‘he’ because our current Director is male, though over the centuries there have been just as many women in the position. We are not as sexist as humans appear to be.”

  Fox paused and frowned at Natasha. “Why aren’t you taking notes?” She always had her notebook out when she was in the schoolroom and usually wrote many pages each lesson. Today she didn’t even seem to be listening.

  Natasha said nothing as she retrieved her notebook and pen from her bag. Fox waited until she was ready, then continued. He told her about the three moons that his realm had and described them and their various orbits around his planet.

  “Roughly every ten years, ten years and twenty two days to be precise, they come into alignment.”

  “What has this got to do with politics?” Natasha asked.

  “I’m getting to that. Have a little patience.” He went on to talk about the celebrations that went on throughout his planet in the days leading up to Alignment Day. It was also the equivalent of an election day. It was the day the new Director was voted in. Everyone in Yong had the right to vote, regardless of age. Even the wizards and witches had been allowed to keep that privilege. In the months leading up to Alignment Day, all candidates would campaign, even the current Director, if he or she wished to stand again.

  Not only the Director was elected, but also the Assistant Director and the Deputy. Death of a Director did not lead to an election; the Assistant automatically took over, followed by the Deputy, should anything happen to the Assistant. Almost every demon was recalled to Yong from Earth for at least the month prior to Alignment day so that they could hear the campaigning. Many returned as soon as it started, in order to make sure they were making an informed decision.

  Fox stopped talking. Not only had Natasha’s pen not moved for a while, she was staring into space, rather than looking at him or her notebook.

  “Are you listening to a word I’m saying?” Fox asked, raising his voice to get her attention.

  Natasha jumped. “Sorry. Yes, I was. You were talking about the Director, the Assistant and the Deputy.”