by N P Hector
“So, what’s the plan for the rest of the day?”
“Sorry we ran a little late with that last lecture. Their interest in the course will die off as it goes on.” She adjusted her work satchel and put on her sunglasses. “It’s a beautiful day. How about we grab some lunch and then I can go back to the estate to work on the report from the bank incident?”
“Well, that’s convenient. I figured that you’d need to eat sometime, so I called Jamie and Katrina, and they rounded up a few other people for a group lunch.”
Selene shook her head, “you’re a miracle worker. I could really use a girls’ lunch.” Joan took Selene by the elbow and steered her towards a popular, trendy tapas restaurant on the corner. The place had a beautiful walled orchard with gorgeous exposed brick. Upon entering the courtyard she immediately spied Jamie ordering a round of mimosas.
Jamie looked over and caught her eye. “Selene! Joan! Come on over!”
Jamie was sitting at a table with the girl Selene had met earlier, Katrina. She was seated next to Selene’s friend from school, Abby. She was so happy to see Abby there, she hadn’t seen her in a very long time.
Everyone looked comfortable under the sun and in the comfortable courtyard. Katrina and Abby seemed to already be getting along. They were laughing and discussing menu items--their two red heads blurring together as they shared a menu. It was nice to see some of her new friends mixing with the old.
She rushed over and waved. “Abby! I haven’t seen you in forever. How are the kids?”
“They’re little rascals but there’s something magical about watching them grow so quickly.”
Her friend stood to greet her and pulled her into a big, warm hug. She and Abby met during their second year of the PhD program because they shared the same thesis supervisor. While she had gone on to work as a negotiator, Abby had fallen in love two years after graduation-- much to their supervisor’s consternation. “A damn waste of intelligence. And all for a man” he had said.
At the time, Selene had agreed. But looking at Abby now, her friend positively glowed with contentment.
Joan pulled out a chair and stole a menu. “So, what are we eating today?”
Jamie offered everyone Mimosas. When Abby turned down a glass and sipped on her tepid water, the keen lawyer in Jamie perked up. Her eyes zeroed in on Abby, and she blurted out, “Abbs, are you pregnant again?”
The waiter had chosen to take their orders at that moment, but the man wisely ducked out and attended to another table.
When Abby didn’t say anything Jamie gasped, “Abby, you just had Ethan!”
Abby blushed and sipped her mimosa. “I’m not that far along so I didn’t want to announce it, but yes, Ethan and Ruby will have to share their toys with a third.” Abby cradled her flat stomach and Selene felt a strong pang of what could be described as envy just below her rib cage. Jamie’s jaw dropped, and she squealed and threw her arms around Abby.
“That dog! We have to find a way to get Jonathan to leave you alone!”
Katrina’s eyes were sad, but she toasted Abby, “I only just met you, but I wish you all the best. Motherhood is an amazing role.”
The other women agreed and raised their glasses in support. Selene leaned over and offered her old friend a smile. “Are you happy? Truly? I thought you were thinking about going back to the UN to work.”
Abby explained to Joan and Katrina, “Selene and I had the same PhD supervisor-- that’s how we met.” She then turned to address Selene, “I won’t lie. Sometimes I miss the field so much it hurts. But at the same time, I really, really wanted time with the kids. And we’re trying for four. I’d love a big, chaotic house.”
Before she could help herself, Selene blurted out, “but you worked so hard! For so long! I watched you cry in the library stairwell during late night study sessions.”
“Oh, trust me, I still cry late at night when Ethan’s teething and Ruby doesn’t want to sleep in her own bed and I feel overwhelmed.” Katrina hummed in response. “And I did work hard, but I’m also allowed to change my mind. And this is what I want.”
“I’d love to have what you have. A house bustling full of kids with a husband who can’t keep his hands off me.” Katrina looked at Abby’s stomach longingly, and Selene wondered if her kind was able to have children without their soulmate.
The way the other woman looked at Abby’s stomach made her think that such conception was unlikely. Selene put her hand on her shoulder to reassure her. Katrina responded by covering Selene’s hand with her own and squeezing.
Jamie noted the sadness stemming from Katrina’s comment and turned her attention to Selene. The waiter had returned, and after giving him a roundup of the table’s orders, she commented, “Well, it does happen! I never thought Selene would settle down, but all of a sudden she looks like a well-loved woman. But she hasn’t told me too much about Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome.”
Selene laughed, “Rom? Honestly, I don’t even know where to begin.”
Katrina leaned towards Abby and filled her in while Selene spoke to Joan and Jamie, “I think I’m falling in love with him. And he’s in love with me-- he’s told me since the beginning.” Abby and Katrina tuned in after a quick synopsis, and Selene admitted “but that kind of commitment he wants, it’s scary. To be with someone forever? No one else? I mean, I’m only 25!”
Abby nodded. “Falling in love with Jonathon and realizing that even with my dream job, I missed him was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced-- aside from back labor.”
Jamie leaned forward and rested her head on her hand. “You never told me that.”
“I didn’t want to tell you guys because I didn’t want to be talked out of it. It was already hard enough to talk myself through it. I was only 26 when I met him. But I realized that there was no magical age or time together that would be ‘appropriate’ to get married and fall in love. So, I just jumped. I knew that it would look like I was tossing away my career, but I wasn’t happy with just my career anyways. I wanted both, and for now that means kids and then a career. Jonathan is taking paternal leave and baby duty once this one is born. Then I’ll go back to the UN.” She smiled softly and rubbed her belly. “I just wanted to be a mom for a few years, you know? Now he wants time at home to be a dad.”
Katrina nodded. “God, I miss that. My husband and I were love at first sight too.” That’s a bit of an understatement. “He’s gone now, but I’ve always treasured that first day together.”
Joan caught Selene’s panicked look and tossed in her two cents as the hamburgers and soup arrived, “I’ve felt the rush of love at first sight, too. But I kind of get where Selene’s coming from. I mean, just because someone’s your ‘true love’ doesn’t mean that they won’t hurt you and that everything will be perfect.”
Selene jumped on the life raft Joan was offering. “Yes! And then you’re stuck with that person forever.”
Abby shook her head. “But that’s the thing. A lover will hurt you and then not work to fix it. But a true love is there with you through thick and thin-- even if they’re the ones responsible for the ‘thin’ part.”
Abby then turned to Selene. “You were with your ex for what? Three years?” Selene nodded. “So, do you think that you have to be with someone for a certain amount of time before you know them and can commit? I mean, somewhere between year 2-5 you already know them. No amount of time will make you feel more secure in commitment at that point.”
Jamie, ever the devil’s advocate, took a big bite of her hamburger and chewed out, “well, if it’s your true love/ soulmate won’t they wait anyways?”
Katrina looked to the side. “Not always. Sometimes you don’t get that choice.” Her words were ever so quiet, Selene almost thought that she misheard her. There was a beat of silence before Abby spoke again.
“Selene, I know that I haven’t met Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome”
“--Rom”
Abby nodded. “Rom.” She added, “but I do know that w
hen it is true love --which you can immediately tell is different from ordinary love or lust-- that you should embrace it.”
Jamie nodded. “Not all of us are lucky enough to find it.”
Katrina took a delicate spoonful of her soup, “but when we do, it’s worth every heartache that follows.”
Chapter Fourteen
There is a special bond between twin soulmates – unconditional love, respect for each other, bringing out the best in each other, and highly compatible.
– Mettrie L.
Katrina and Joan flashed Selene back to the estate after lunch. For the first time since becoming a part of this crazy, crazy world, Selene was able to walk confidently out of the portal. No tripping. No rolling.
When she exited without any mishaps the other two woman laughed and clapped. Taking a playful bow, Selene smiled deeply.
The other two women had portaled them all to the edge of the estate and near the gate. “You really have to walk the estate grounds to get an idea of how beautiful it is, trust me.” Joan had prodded and Katrina nodded earnestly.
Landing between the large willow and the fence, Joan waved her hands as she explained, “so this gate was originally loose stones with mortars. But when the mortar started to come loose Romulus had it replaced with limestone.”
“Cullum and Dougall thought that brick would be more appropriate, but Laura and I thought that it would be too New Hampshire-esque.”
Joan nodded and directed them to follow the river rock path around the lake and towards the manor. The manor’s prominent turrets and copper roof stood out in stark contrast to the pristine lawn of the estate.
Beside it she could see a greenhouse that she had missed during previous tours of the estate, along with a larger building and a smaller cottage.
The cottage was nestled in between two other willow trees and a pond. Ducks dipped in and out of the still water. It was heartbreakingly picturesque. There was something so still, so quiet about the Order’s Estate. It was quiet. Selene had only experienced that quiet in the middle of winter when feet of snow fell and muffled the sound of the outdoors.
She couldn’t resist taking another look at the tiny little fairytale cottage. “Oh! How beautiful! Who lives in that cute little cottage?”
“I do. Along with all the smaller Order children who are travelling. I’m like a sorority house mom, just with elite kids.”
Joan murmured, “and thank god you took that bullet. If you didn’t Dougall would have overseen the petition children. And then our species would be doomed.”
Selene tilted her head and looked at the small size of the cottage. She tried to imagine Kat and all those visitors in the charming little abode.
The redhead must have read her mind, because she nudged Selene and motioned to the cottage, “Oh trust me, it’s enchanted and is much bigger on the inside.”
The three women laughed and Joan directed them to the greenhouse. Selene was not much of a gardener, but Joan seemed to have intimate knowledge of everything growing in there. She took them on a tour of the tomatoes, peas, and fresh herbs that she grew. Selene was just basking in the warmth of the sun and the humidity of the greenhouse when movement outside of the cottage caught her eye.
She watched as a very athletic, bald man exited the cottage. He was covered in tattoos and black clothing. Thinking he was a member of the Order, she waved to him and smiled, trying to appear welcoming and friendly. Something about the man seemed familiar, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
Where have I seen him before?
Joan paused her description of the merits of cedar and pine potters and tapped Selene on the shoulder. “What the hell are you waving at? You look like a lunatic.” She could always trust Joan to give her the cold hard truth.
Selene waved in the general direction of the cottage. She spoke casually. “There was a man coming out of the cottage. He seemed really familiar, I just can’t remember where I’ve met him before.”
Katrina laughed and Joan groaned, “good lord, what a strange human you are. There’s no one there.” Selene looked towards the cottage again quickly and squinted when she couldn’t see the man.
That’s so strange. I could have sworn he was there.
Shaking off the sliver of unease that made its way up her spine, she moved to the peonies and asked Joan more questions about their fragrance. Joan and Selene were peering closely at the delicate folds of the peony’s petals when a blast shook the glass planes.
Instinctually, Selene covered her head with her forearms and flinched in anticipation of falling glass shards. When the glass didn’t fall, she looked up to see Joan holding her hands up and seemingly keeping the panes together.
Before she could ask what had happened Katrina screamed,“Oh my god. The kids!” and was out the door of the greenhouse like a shot. The once peaceful cottage now had smoke billowing out of the window. But no one emerged from the small building.
Selene and Joan followed Katrina. But Selene’s human legs couldn’t keep up with the two women, and she clutched her side. Bent at the waist, she tried to catch her breath. She jumped as a portal appeared beside her.
Romulus was at her side in an instant. He ran his hands tenderly over her. “What’s wrong? I was in a conference with the Eastern lord when I felt your panic. Where are you hurt?”
Selene waved him away and wheezed out, “there was an explosion! Katrina’s cottage.”
“What?!” His eyes flashed silver and he stood to his full height. When he caught sight of the flames and the cottage, he put both hands on her shoulders and told her very earnestly, “stay here.”
So of course she followed as soon as he took off running towards the burning building and yelled, “Call Cullum!”
“I can’t reach him!” Joan called back as she tried to pry the door open. She tried her best to kick the door open. Seeing Romulus approaching she called out, “Romulus, all the windows and doors are barred!”
Selene watched in horror as the roof caught fire. Making a mad break for the greenhouse, she unfurled the house and tried her best to drag the blasted thing halfway to the cottage. Dougall and Richard appeared at her side and helped her lug it over to the fire. It didn’t reach the entire way, but it was close enough to quell some of the fire around the windows.
Selene pulled out her phone to call 911. Just as she was about to hit 9 the cell phone flew out of her hands.
She scrambled to run after it when Dougall clapped a hand on her shoulder and told her very sternly, “your human firefighters can’t make it onto the Estate. It is forbidden.”
“But I’m human.”
“No lass, not even remotely.”
She wasn’t about to argue with him while a structure housing children was on fire. So, she booked it back to the hose’s spout and cranked it open. As the water flowed out of the house Dougall was able to lift some of the water from the hose to the house.
But no matter how much water doused the house, the flames continued to climb. She felt a feeling of helplessness wash over her.
The smell of pitch and tar filled the air along with black smoke. Selene looked nervously for Katrina. She couldn’t find the small woman.
Perhaps she’s gone around to the back.
Thinking she could help pry the window open, she made her way to Joan. Now that she was closer to the building she could hear strangled screams coming from the inside, and fists beating against the window.
She turned towards Joan with panicked eyes. “Can they teleport out?”
Joan continued to blast energy at the window to break it open. “I can’t! I tried! There’s something blocking it. And they’re too young to portal out alone.” Her voice broke with desperation, “oh my god, those kids!”
Selene looked around frantically for Rom. She found him crouched on the ground, his near white hair falling forward. He looked towards the cottage intently with eyes that were now entirely silver. She ran towards him and knelt at his side.
“Rom? Rom, can you hear me? How can I help?”
His voice was deep and dark, his eyes unfocused as if he could see something that she could not. “There’s a barrier around the cottage. I can’t portal them out.”
She looked back at the building. “Joan hasn’t been able to break the window.”
“If we can’t get them out, then we’ll have to go in.”
Eyes still flashing silver, he straightened to his full height. Before she could ask what he was doing, he flashed towards the cottage. The muscles of his back bunched below the white collared shirt he was wearing as he vaulted from the ground and onto the edge of the roof.
Holding on with a single hand, he twisted his massive body and lurched onto the roof. Crouching on the roof, he gave a great roar as he punched through the roof and collapsed into the building.
“Oh my god, Rom!”
Joan ran to Selene’s side. “Did he go in?”
“He said that it was the only way, and then he was just on top of the roof. Have you seen Katrina?”
Joan shook her head and searched for any sign of activity within the cottage. Katrina returned from the back of the cottage, tears streaming down her soot covered face. She was screaming desperately, “Joan! Joan, I can’t get in! You need to get Rom!”
“The fool went in alone! I don’t care how powerful he is, no one can walk through fire like that unharmed.” She shook Katrina slightly to crush the hysteria. “Kat, you have to go and warn Dr. Lauren that she might have a busier medical wing than expected. Create a portal between here and there so we can move people quickly once they come out.”
Katrina nodded and disappeared. Dougall waved towards them and yelled, “this place is going up! We don’t have much time!”
In that moment, Selene felt deathly afraid for the man she had only just met. The man who had run into a burning building wearing slacks and a dress shirt without a single thought for his wellbeing.
