Kris's Story

by Trudie Collins

  Zoo

  Five years passed before my great-grandmother finally relented and allowed me to visit Rachel. By then she had qualified as a doctor and was working in the geriatrics department of a large hospital as well as volunteering to help out in the A&E department a lot more than was good for her. She was over working and I was worried about her health.

  I knew the reason why though. Death. He had become a regular visitor at her hospital and was willing to act as a go-between for the two of us. He was more than happy to pass on messages and love notes and I’m sure he began to enjoy the time he spent with her. She was doing a good job of winning round my family.

  Ankou acting as her date had worked out so well that I asked other members of my extended family to help out and they were all willing to do so. Whenever she needed a date for an event, Tammara would let Ankou know and one of the eligible young male demi-gods would play the role.

  One time Spatha volunteered, saying that she wanted the opportunity to get to know Rachel a little better. I didn’t have the heart to say no. I have no idea what any of Rachel’s friend’s thought, but both of the ladies seemed to have a good time; at least that’s what my sister told me.

  It was coming close to Rachel’s birthday and I was debating what I could get her when I had an unexpected visit from my great-grandmother. I was no longer hostile toward her; I had seen where that got me, but the love and warmth I used to feel for her was gone.

  “Rhea.” I was being as polite as I could be. For some reason I could not bring myself to call her great-grandmother any more. Verbally acknowledging our relationship felt wrong.

  “Kris,” she said as affectionately as always. “It is so good to see you. Where have you been keeping yourself? None of the family seem to be seeing much of you these days.”

  “I’ve been busy.” Did she really think I was going to tell her where I keep going? My island is coming along nicely as I am able to spend a little more time there now that my family have relaxed their protective watch on me and it is still a secret from everyone except Ankou. And, of course, I still visit Earth regularly.

  “Doing what? Spying on Rachel?” There was a gleam in Rhea’s eyes as she spoke. I froze. “Did you really think I didn’t know about your visits to Earth? The only reason I haven’t put a stop to it is that I know you are not letting Rachel see you so you are not technically breaking the rules.”

  I didn’t relax. There was a reason for her bringing this up and it wasn’t just to let me know that I had been found out. “However,” she continued, “it does have to stop.”

  I remained silent, not trusting myself to say anything. She seemed to be expecting me to argue and looked almost disappointed when I didn’t.

  “I’ll make a deal with you,” she said when it was obvious I was not going to react. “You stop your illicit visits to Earth and I will allow you to spend her birthday with her.”

  “All of her birthday?”

  She knew exactly what I was asking and frowned at me. “No. Just the day. You will NOT stay the night with her.” I had been expecting her to say that, but there was no harm in asking.

  I cannot describe the feeling of joy that flowed through me. I was going to be able to talk to her, to hold her. I would be able to give her her present in person. Then I began to panic. What if she didn’t want to see me? I temporarily forgot all of the love notes Death had been delivering to me that told me exactly how much she longed to see me. Thankfully Rhea reminded me.

  “Feel free to have Death let her know if you wish. I know he has been acting as your messenger. I will be having a few words with my grandson about that.” I realised I ought to warn my uncle. Hopefully I would be able to get to him before she did.

  I don’t know how long I was silent for as I tried to cope with the emotions flowing through me without letting them show on my face; there was no way I was going to give her the satisfaction of knowing how much her words were affecting me.

  She lost her patience. “Aren’t you even going to thank me?”

  “Thank you,” I said robotically. It was the best she was going to get from me so she did not push it. She made to leave, then stopped and looked at me. “I will allow you to give her the ring, but you will not ask her to marry you.” With that, she vanished. How did she know about the ring?

  I immediately transported myself to Death’s study, arriving just in time to witness the end of an argument. Ankou stormed out, slamming the door behind him. I don’t think he even realised I was there.

  “Do I want to know what that was about?”

  Death shook his head and tried to smile at me. “Probably not. To what do I owe this unexpected visit?” I usually arrived outside of the office and knocked on the door, but today I didn’t have time.

  “Rhea knows that you have been delivering messages to Rachel for me. She said she is going to ‘have words’ with you. I thought warning you was the least I could do.”

  Death did not seem concerned. “Don’t worry about it. I can handle grandmother. But I appreciate you letting me know.”

  “Can you do me a favour?”

  “Of course. Anything.” I knew that he meant it. Anything was not just a word. He really would do anything and everything I asked, unless it went against the rules of course. He was still feeling guilty about how he had treated me and Rachel when Rob had tried to swap her for Tammara, despite my repeated protests that he had more than made up for it.

  “Next time you see Rachel can you please tell her to cancel all of her plans for her birthday.”

  Death grinned. “What have you got planned?”

  “I don’t know yet, but I have time to think of something special.”

  Death would not let me leave before joining him for his midday meal. Ankou did not show up. I would hear all about it from my cousin later, so I did not ask Death what they had been arguing about this time.

  When I finally left I went straight to my island. Ankou turned up a short while later.

  “The usual?” I asked. He nodded his head.

  “I don’t understand why my father thinks I need to settle down and get married. We keep having the same argument over and over again. When will he realise I will never give in?”

  “You’ll find the right girl eventually. Then you will wonder why you were ever against settling down.”

  Ankou laughed. “You forget who you are talking to. It will never happen. I plan on staying young free and single forever. But speaking of getting married, have you finished the ring?”

  I pulled it out of my pocket and handed it to him. He studied it critically. “The diamond is a bit small isn’t it?”

  “She won’t like anything bigger.”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “If you say so. Are you planning on doing it properly? Down on one knee etcetera.”

  “No. Rhea has banned me from asking her. Apparently it’s just a ring, not an engagement ring.”

  The words Ankou used made me glad that nobody could hear us where we were. Rhea’s reaction to some of the things he was saying about her would not have been pleasant to witness.

  When he finally calmed down I handed him a beer then we spent the rest of the day on Earth, scouring the bookshops for information on plumbing and house building. I was planning on making Rachel a home and I was going to do it properly; no magic would be involved at all. Ankou thought I was an idiot, but was happy to help out in any way he could.

  A few days later Death came to visit. He was in the sun room with my parents when I walked in.

  “I gave Rachel your message today,” he said as soon as he saw me. “I would have given it to her yesterday, but she was too upset.”

  “What happened?” I sat down next to my mother, refusing the glass of wine my father offered me. I was too anxious to hear about Rachel to be distracted by anything.

  “A car crash victim was pregnant. The baby died.” I sighed. Despite being used to witnessing people dying, Rachel still had trouble handling it when it was a chi
ld. I wish I had been there to comfort her. I suddenly felt jealous of my uncle. He got to hold her and I didn’t.

  “How is she?”

  “She was in a better mood today. Especially after I gave her your message. I didn’t tell her why you want her to keep her birthday free, though I think she will probably be able to guess.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

  “I also got her to agree to work less hours.”

  This took me by surprise. “How did you manage that?”

  “I told her how worried you are.” I knew that would not be enough. He had been telling her that for the last couple of years. “Then I threatened to stop visiting her.” She would have known that was a lie. “When that didn’t work I told her I would not give her your message unless she agreed. She was too eager to hear what I had to say to argue.”

  I couldn’t help smiling. She would have known that Death would have told her anyway, so it was reassuring that she didn’t want to wait.

  “She promised to drop at least one shift a week,” Death continued. It was not as much as I hoped for, but it was a start. Maybe I could persuade her to drop more when I saw her.

  Having told me all he needed to, Death soon departed and I went to my room to plan my day with Rachel.

  By the time her birthday arrived I had the restaurant booked, Ankou had agreed to let me have his car and I knew exactly where I wanted to spend the day.

  I felt strangely nervous as I walked up to her front door and knocked. All thought left me when she opened the door and saw me. She had never looked more beautiful. Without saying a word I took her in my arms and kissed her deeply.

  My arms did not want to let her go, but I forced them to. “I have missed you so much.”

  “I can tell,” she said breathlessly. “Why are you here?” I don’t think I have ever heard a more stupid question.

  I grinned. “Apparently we have both behaved ourselves a lot better than expected, so I have been granted permission to spend the entire day with you.”

  “Just the day?” she asked, raising her eyebrows suggestively.

  “Unfortunately. Now go and get dressed.” I turned her around and pushed her toward what I hoped was the bedroom.

  “I need to shower. Care to join me?” I didn’t need asking twice. By the time I eventually managed to persuade her to put some clothes on, half the morning had gone. I instructed her to put on sensible shoes and reluctantly left the room.

  She emerged wearing jeans and a t-shirt and it was all I could do to keep my hands off her. I led her to where I had parked Ankou’s Ferrari, opening the door for her before sliding into the driver’s seat. Despite leaving much later than I had planned I drove within the speed limit.

  “You drive much better than Ankou does,” Rachel said. “I’m scared half to death whenever I am in the car with him.” I made a mental note to have words with my cousin about taking better care of my girlfriend when he was acting as her ‘date’.

  Rachel was obviously taking no notice of the road signs as she was surprised when I pulled into the car park.

  “You’re taking me to the zoo?” she exclaimed.

  “Yes. I wanted to do something a normal couple would do on a date.”

  “It’s perfect,” she said, grinning broadly.

  The day could not have gone better. The sun shone, the display boards were informative, the keeper talks were interesting and I spent the entire time holding Rachel’s hand. It wasn’t easy eating a hot dog one handed, but I didn’t want to let go of Rachel for even one second.

  We stayed until closing time, then I drove her back so she could get changed. She walked out of the bedroom wearing the red dress that Len had given her and I’m sure my jaw hit the floor. She looked stunning.

  I shook my head. “No.” I couldn’t let her outside looking that good.

  “Why?” she asked in surprise. “I thought I looked alright.”

  “You look more than alright.” I walked up to her and slipped my arms around her waist. “And that is the problem. I only have a few more hours before I have to leave and I am already envisioning peeling that off you.” I don’t think I have ever been turned on just by looking at a woman before.

  “In that case, who needs to eat?” she said, taking my hand and leading me into the bedroom.

  By the time we came out again it was way past the time I had our table booked for, but when I phoned the restaurant they agreed to hold it for us. I managed to persuade Rachel to put on a less revealing dress so at least my mind would be partially on the food.

  I had booked the restaurant I took Ankou to. I had begun eating there nearly every time I spied on Rachel so they knew me well. It is clean and comfortable and serves good food. What more did we need? It had been an energetic day and we were both starving.

  “This is my favourite place to eat whenever I am in the area. You can relax and be yourself while eating portions that are a descent size. It is reasonably priced and the staff really make you feel welcome.”

  “And how often are you in the area?” she asked.

  I’m sure I blushed. I should have kept my mouth shut. “Not very often,” I lied, refusing to meet her gaze.

  “Uh-huh,” she said, obviously not believing me.

  “Well, I may have checked up on you once or twice during the first few years.” Rhea had banned me from continuing to do so, so what did it matter if Rachel found out now?

  “Once or twice?” She raised a questioning eyebrow.

  “A week. Until great-grandmother found out and banned me from ‘spying on you’ as she put it. I wasn’t. I just wanted to see you.”

  “I know.” She smiled at me. I knew she would understand.

  Neither of us felt like desert, so I drove her home. It was just gone eleven by the time we reached her house and Ankou was waiting outside the door when we arrived.

  “You’re late,” he said by way of greeting.

  “Sorry.” I wasn’t, as my tone demonstrated.

  “We have to go.”

  “Just ten more minutes?” Rachel asked, giving him a smile he would not be able to resist.

  He sighed. “Make it five.”

  She dragged me inside, shutting the door before Ankou could follow. It wouldn’t have kept him out had he really wanted to get in, but he had the decency to give us some privacy.

  Fifteen minutes later he was banging on the door. “I have to go.” I ran my hand gently down the side of her face, relishing the feel of her skin against mine.

  “When will I see you again?” she asked.

  “I don’t know.” I started to walk away, then stopped when I remembered that I hadn’t given her her present. I pulled the small box from my pocket and handed it to her. “I almost forgot to give you this. Happy birthday.”

  She undid the bow and opened it up, gasping when she saw what was inside. “It’s beautiful.”

  “I made it myself, even the diamond.” She removed it from the box and put it on the third finger on her right hand, causing me to shake my head.

  “It’s not an engagement ring. Apparently I’m not allowed to give you one of those yet, but I want you to wear it on this finger.” I removed it from her right hand and slipped it onto her left. It was a perfect fit.

  With my finger I traced from her knuckle to her wrist. “A long time ago people believed that there is a vein that runs from your ring finger all the way to your heart. This is the how the tradition of wearing your wedding ring on this finger came about. It would mean a lot to me if you would wear it here.”

  “I promise I will never wear it anywhere else,” she said. I turned her hand over, kissed her palm then released her. We didn’t say goodbye and she didn’t show me to the door. I just forced myself to walk out of her house and vanished the moment the door closed behind me.

  Wedding

  “What’s that you’re holding?” I asked as Ankou walked into the room, fanning himself with an envelope.

  “An invite to Tammara and Der
ek’s wedding,” he said. “She said that if it wasn’t for me and my father she would never have known what Rob was really like. She would probably have ended up marrying him and never meeting Derek. This is her way of thanking us.”

  I felt like I had been stabbed as a sharp pain surged through me, but it was just jealousy. Ankou had already informed me that Rachel was going to be chief bridesmaid and now he was going to see her in her dress and I wasn’t.

  “Seeing as you’ve got your own invite, any idea who I should ask to be Rachel’s date?” I forced myself to ask.

  “You owe me big time,” he said, a huge grin spreading across his face. He looked very pleased with himself. A feeling of dread crept into me, starting in my stomach and working its way up to my chest.

  “What have you done?”

  “I had a chat with Rhea. She has agreed to let you go to the wedding. Assuming you would not say no, I have arranged with Tammara for you to be Rachel’s ‘plus one’. Rachel, obviously, has no idea.”

  I didn’t know whether to hit him or hug him. Was he winding me up? No, he wouldn’t be that cruel. But I couldn’t take his word for it. Without saying anything to him I vanished. He would know where I was going and would wait for my return.

  I was not gone long and was still feeling a little shell shocked when I rematerialized next to him.

  “Thank you.” The words were completely inadequate to express the depth of my gratitude, but then again, no words would be good enough. I don’t know how he did it, but Rhea had confirmed that he had been telling me the truth. I had a curfew so I would not be able to spend the night with Rachel, but what did that matter? I was going to see her again. I would be able speak to her, touch her, hold her, kiss her.

  I dragged my mind away from the path it was heading down before my body started to respond.

  “You need to think about what present you are going to get,” Ankou said.

  Present? Why would I get Rachel a present? I know her well enough to know that she would not want a present; the chance to spend time together would be more than enough.