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 Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 9:45 am
"I got a friend named that," Owle remarked. Was he...protecting Sarielle...from her? He sure had pulled Sarielle back from her awful fast. What, did he think she would harm the woman she was entrusting her child to?
Why did he even think she could do any harm?
"Yes, please," Owle said to Sarielle, smiling a little. "I...Sarielle, something really bad is happening. When it's over, I...there's a very real possibility that I might not be able to come back for him. If I don't return...please...will you find a good place for him?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 9:54 am
"Really. I suppose it's not that uncommon a name," was all Angel said, loosening his grip a bit as he did so. He gave Sarielle an apologetic wink. He hadn't meant to squeeze so hard.
"Not come back?" Taka had just returned with more paper for Rand. Sarielle's eyes traveled to him, so innocent and clueless. "Of course we wouldn't turn him out, but what...?" The woman wasn't even quite sure how to finish that question.
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 10:02 am
Owle shrugged at Angel, then sighed at Sarielle. "I probably...the more I tell you, the more I run the risk of getting you involved. Let's just say, a bunch of..." She hesitated to say 'gods.' The way Angel was acting, and the way Taka had acted earlier, made her cautious. "Really powerful people are really angry at me for something I did a long time ago. Someone I love kept them from seeking vengeance on me...but he's powerless to do so, now. If things go the wrong way, well..."
Owle tried to sound nonchalant about it. She tried really, really hard. She'd told herself it was alright, she could get through this, she'd been in such danger before and got through it. But looking at Rand, thinking this might be the last time she saw him...the shifter's eyes threatened tears, though as yet there was no sign of them.
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 10:13 am
Angel looked away, but the wheels were turning.
"I...see." The woman pushed a few bright, umber strands from her face. She should offer refuge, offer help...it was, after all, the right thing to do. But her eyes fell on Taka, squatting by little Rand, and if she'd only known, her expression mirrored Owle's own.
No. There were some things she couldn't risk. Feeling shamed, she stayed silent.
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 10:21 am
Owle glanced at her feet, shuffling them a moment. "I wouldn't dream of asking you to keep him longer than you could...but everyone else I know is swept up in this business somehow."
She looked at Rand from the doorway, nodded, and made to step inside. "I suppose I'll say goodbye to him, then. Thank you, Sarielle."
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 10:36 am
"I understand. I'm glad we can help." Sarielle watched this woman enter her house. Was it possible to fake the emotion on her face as she looked at Rand? Somehow she couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity...but it could just be the face. "Take your time."
Sarielle wanted to move closer, to get a better look at her, but Angel still hadn't let go.
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 10:45 am
"Thank you," Owle said again, ducking her head gratefully. She walked in, and over to Rand, who had once again busied himself coloring.
She knelt down, and put her arms around him, drawing him into her embrace.
The little boy squirmed. "Mom! You'll ruin the drawing!"
"Sorry," Owle said, quietly. "But it's going to be a long time till I get to see you again. I had to give you a hug before I left."
Rand turned to look at her, then. "Where are you going?"
"Someplace very boring," Owle replied. "You'll have much more fun here with Miss Taka and Sarielle."
"Okay.." Rand said. "When will you be back?"
"In a week," Owle promised. In a week, or not at all. "Now, come on, give me a proper hug goodbye."
He put down his crayons, and put his arms around his mother, quickly. "Byebye."
"Farewell, Rand." Reluctantly, she let him go. "Be good while I'm gone."
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 10:59 am
"That'll take a small miracle," Taka muttered under her breath. She couldn't have been this exasperating when she was little. She couldn't.
But Sarielle had latched onto another word: Mom. Rand should know his mother better than anyone...impossible as it seemed, maybe this new woman really was still Owle. At any rate, Sarielle pitied her.
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 11:00 am
Owle smiled at Taka's comment, but pretended not to have heard it. She stood up, and headed quietly back to the door.
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 11:12 am
Angel hadn't spoken again. Sarielle shot him a quizzical glance; but his sapphire eyes gave nothing away.
"Good luck." It seemed so inadequate...but what else was there to say? "We'll try to keep him from missing you too much while you're gone."
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 11:16 am
"Thank you," Owle said. She seemed about to leave without another word, but suddenly turned again to Sarielle. "In a week...something's going to happen, and it's going to be...weird. So just, be careful, okay? You and Taka both."
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 11:32 am
Eyebrows rocketed upward - both Sarielle's and Angel's. Taka was helping Rand sharpen crayons, and was paying no heed.
"We will."
Angel's grip had tightened on her convulsively again; flesh ground uncomfortably into bone. She felt compelled to speak again.
"Angel's going to be staying with us for awhile, so at least we won't be alone."
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 11:35 am
Owle nodded, seeming glad of that. "Take care of them for me," she said to Angel. With a faint smile, she turned to go. It seemed she really would leave, this time, if no one stopped her.
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 11:52 am
Angel's short laugh was almost incredulous. "I intend to. Now, if there's nothing else you need..."
His point was clear.
"Angel!" Rudeness was so unlike him.
He said nothing more, but moved across the room to plant himself on the couch.
"I'm sorry." It was hard to tell if he was sincere.
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 11:57 am
Owle just...stared at him.
"I don't know who you think I am," she said. "Or what. But I didn't come here to harm either of them."
And she closed the door behind her, fuming quietly outside.
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