Chapter 2
1106 Words
2
“You okay?” Amanda was jerked from her thoughts by Tony’s concern. She hadn’t even been aware she’d zoned out, but he noticed the vacant look in her eyes.
“Oh, yeah, I’m fine. I was just thinking about what to do about getting one of my friends over here, that’s all. That, and who to get over here.”
“What about that twittering one? The one who’s always all bubbly and scary?”
“You mean Sylvia?” Amanda guessed, and Tony snapped his fingers.
“That’s the one! What about her?” Amanda winced at his suggestion and bit her lip.
“I don’t know. She’s okay, I guess, but her keeping me company might be a little much.”
“Then she’s perfect. You need to have a little too much happiness to make up for what’s happened these last few days. I know I haven’t been much help cheering you up.”
“I’ll admit you haven’t-” Tony flinched at her honest admittance, “but you haven’t been that bad. I mean, you didn’t get us killed when we went up to the cabin.”
“Thanks,” he replied with a roll of his eyes. “Makes me feel so much better.”
“I try to help,” she countered with a snicker.
“Yes, well, how about you help me by telling me where you’re going to be staying while I’m gone, and then getting some shut eye?”
“I already told you I was going back to my apartment. It’s closer to work and Sylvia would need to get to work with me.” That, and a distinct shortage of underwear was occurring because of her frequent trysts with the creature.
“Then all the more reason for you to get some sleep right now. You’ll have to get up with me and get out, because I can’t remember where I put my spare key.”
“You gave it to me, remember?” she replied. Amanda nodded toward her bedroom. “I think it’s in my purse as we speak.”
“Well, that’s one mystery solved. I hope I do a better job on that place up in the mountains.” Amanda suddenly prodded him in the gut and he winced at her pointed finger with those long nails. “Ouch! What’d you do that for?”
“For you to keep your promise and get your butt back here.”
“Hey, I’m going to keep my word. Monster or no monster, you’re going to see me at your apartment the day after tomorrow. Probably some time in the evening, since I’ve got a lot of snooping to do around there. You know, look into dusty old libraries and talk to that even dustier old man.”
“Just don’t rough him up too much. He seemed like a nice guy.”
“Yeah, if a little bit weird,” Tony replied. Then he let out a yawn and stretched his arms high above his head. “But let’s say we hit the hay? Got work and that drive tomorrow, and you have to try to get Sylvia to room with you for at least a night.”
“I don’t think it’ll be that hard. She likes any excuse to chatter, and having me as a captured audience at my apartment would be a dream come true for her.” After her long, harrowing day, Amanda had to admit she was also utterly exhausted. She covered her mouth to hide her yawn, but Tony noticed.
“And that tells me I’m not the only one who needs some rest.” He grabbed her shoulders and turned her around toward the bedrooms. Then he gave her a little push for encouragement. “And don’t let me catch you sneaking out here completely naked. I’d hate to have to tackle you and have my way with you.”
“Only in your dreams,” Amanda shot back with a laugh as she made her way to her bedroom door. However, Tony had one last subject to bring up.
“Oh, where’s that rock, anyway? If I’m leaving directly from work I’d probably better put it in my car,” Tony reminded her.
At his request Amanda froze. Now she knew he was completely serious about ditching that rock where it’d come from, and she felt her heart beat a little faster. She had the impulse to tell him it was all right to keep the rock, that she wanted a memento of her harrowing experience. That was partially true, but she lusted for the affects that lovely piece of stone promised her.
“You still have it, don’t you?” he asked.
“Oh, yeah, definitely. Let me go get it. I stowed it away just so I wouldn’t have to look at it.” Amanda scampered off to her bedroom and hurried into the bathroom.
The young woman looked into the tub and jerked back at the surprise that awaited her. The rock had shattered into several small pieces, the largest of which she’d taken for herself, but now she found that all the small pebbles and flakes had vanished. She knelt down beside the tub and looked around for even a speck, but nothing presented itself. Her only assumption, insane as it was, was that the bits had been reabsorbed back into the main portion of the rock. Nothing on earth would convince her the pieces had merely slipped down the drain, not with a stone as strange, wonderful and frightening as this one.
Amanda grabbed the rock, held it in both hands and turned toward the door, but her eyes first glanced over to the cupboard at her right side. The largest fragment of the stone lay in there, and she wondered if it wasn’t worth Tony’s affection to shove the broken off piece back into the main portion. He was willing to put himself in danger up there on that mountain to find the answers to her problems. She couldn’t just have an affair with a piece of stone while he was gone.
While she sat there pondering her decision, she hardly noticed how closely she clutched the rock to herself. The smooth sides pressed up into the valley between her breasts and through her shirt she felt a soft, soothing heat radiate off the stone. Her hands trembled and her breath quickened. The room around her faded into the background, swallowed by the shadows which pulsed from the rock. They washed over her and wrapped her quivering body in a warm, soothing blanket. She felt the shadows massage her bare skin and creep beneath her clothing. Her eyes closed and she bit her lip to suppress the groan which begged to be released.
Out from the depths of the stone small tendrils wound their way around her clasping fingers and down her arm. A small smile slid onto her lips as those twisting limbs crept closer to her heaving breasts. She licked her lips, awaiting its gentle touch and the embrace which it promised.
“You need help finding it?”
- Writer
