Chapter Nine
1771 Words
Ally got home and went right to her room, she moved quickly. She felt like a teenager sneaking in after curfew instead of an adult that just went on a job interview. She noticed her father dozing on the recliner in the family's den and hoped he stayed sleeping as she snuck past him and up the stairs. She shut her door and breathed a sigh of relief. She was safe.
Knock, knock, knock. She tightened her lips and made a fist, "Dammit," she whispered. She knew that knock was her father's. She kicked off her shoes and opened the door.
"Hello, Papa," she greeted.
"Hello, Alyona. Where did you go today, all dressed for business?" he asked as he walked into her room.
"I went to Avec, today to see Circe about the sword, and that sleeping oil she gave me. It smells wonderful and I wanted to know that if I kept it from my temples if I could wear it as perfume," she said. She wasn't lying, she did go and she did do those things. She was just keeping the interview out of the equation. Besides, she probably didn't get the job anyway. Not after he saw her with a bag full of candy.
"I see," he said, but she could tell he didn't fully believe her. "James from the records department came to see me today," he said as he walked over to her bag of sweets.
Ally swallowed, she had forgotten how much James likes to talk. She was watching her father rifle through the bag, she knew what he was looking for and they were in there. The little butterscotch candies in the yellow wrapper. They were one of her favorites, too along with the cinnamon ones. The plastic on the wrapper seemed especially loud as she waited for her father's next phrase.
"So, where is the job?" he asked as he placed the sweet in his mouth and moved it to his cheek.
Alyona looked down, "I'm not sure, papa," she said. She was nervous about what her father would say about the job.
"Well, you know, Alyona, I have plenty of connections. If you were looking for a job, I could have made sure you got one," he said. He was trying to get to the bottom of her problems and be there for her. Ever since their celebration in January, she has been different. He was worried about her.
Ally's smile was small but grateful. "I just need something to do papa. Please, don't tell momma about it. She'll worry too much. Besides, I probably didn't get it," she said walking over to her father and taking a piece of the candy from the bag, and popping it into her mouth. She didn't want to tell him, that if, and that was a big if, she got the job she would be leaving the pack for a while. This was something she needed to do for herself and to protect her family.
Her father quirked his eyebrow at her, "Why do you say that?" he asked. "You're a quick learner, loyal, and stubborn, just like your papa," he said. "Don't worry about it, Ally. You will get that job," he said.
Ally wrapped her arms around her father, he said just what she needed to hear. He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly. "You are a bright, loving woman, dear Alyona. Some day your mate will be so proud to have you in his life," he said.
Ally swallowed the lump forming in her throat at her father's words, there was no way any mate would be proud of a broken, impure, mate like her. That was why she spoke her rejection out loud that night. All she could do was nod her head, "I will be going back to Avec tomorrow with Chusi. Circe has a storage room full of Aislinn's things so we are going to search there to see if she has any answers."
"Okay, then you better get some rest," he said. "That sounds like a long day ahead of you." he was concerned about her body language when he mentioned mate. She, of all his girls, had been the one that wanted one so badly.
She nodded her head, "I will papa," she said as he left. At the soft click of the door, she walked over to her closet to grab something to change into. She noticed the gape in her gowns and her eyes narrowed. Who was in her room? She sank to the floor, stunned. She was waiting for the right time to get rid of the gown, without her mother seeing it, and now it's missing! What if someone found out? What if someone told them? Was there someone here, that knew who did this to her?
Her mind was racing and she was sobbing on the floor of her closet when the door to her room opened again. This time it was Chusi.
She went straight to the closet and sat beside Alyona. She rubbed her back, and calmly informed her, "I am the one that took it. Your mother doesn't know anything about it. You're safe, Ally," she said.
Ally looked at Chusi, "You don't know that," she whispered. "Where did it go?"
"I didn't think you wanted to keep it where you or even your sisters or mother could see it. So, I sent it, with a few other things, over to the island. Jane is keeping it all safe," she said.
Ally looked panicked for a few minutes, until Chusi said, "She doesn't know either, she won't even open the boxes."
"Promise?" she whispered softly, almost begging that what she was saying was true.
"I promise," Chusi assured her. "But, when you're ready, I know a few people that can help us take care of the asshole that did that to you," she said. Chusi knew full well that all she had to do was contact Hyptu and Cassius. The scum that hurt Alyona would be nothing more than a memory if only she would talk about it.
"Okay," Ally said with a weak smile, "Oh, I spoke with Circe, you and I are going to Avec tomorrow to go through storage she has of Aislinn's maybe there is something there about the sword."
Chusi was shocked, "You got a lot done today," she said. "Judging by your clothes and the bag of candy?" she didn't finish the question.
"I don't know, but I saw Raven and Freya too," she said.
"Yep, it's a girl!" she was excited to be an aunt. She was wondering how long Freya would be pregnant though since the baby would be part dragon. Hell, she wondered what it would be like for her since Bardik is a werewolf and she's a dragon!
"Well, we can look for stuff to spoil her tomorrow when we go out. But, Chusi, I'm over the day," she said. Asking her to leave without being rude.
"I understand," Chusi said. As she walked out the door she turned, "Ally, we are all here for you," she said, letting the door shut and Ally alone.
"If they only knew," she said as she walked into her bathroom to scrub the terrible memories off her skin.
**********
Abigor was back on the Isle, his mind wandering back to the interviews. Sure there were a few there that stuck out in his mind. But he wanted that last girl. He was pacing back and forth in the office, his agitation, different than usual. The minions were unsure of his attitude.
Wash came in with a tray of food, "Master had a long day?" she asked timidly. She was getting braver with him as he has begun to calm down.
"You could say that," he agreed. He looked down at the tray. He was thankful for the food and it did look amazing. The seabass was cooked perfectly with the rice seasoned nicely. The glass of Friulano looked inviting as well.
"Thank you, Wash," he said dismissing the minion and seating himself at the desk. He was hoping that Apollo and Selene would return soon, he had a few questions for them.
He opened the folders of the few applicants that had caught his attention, flipping through their profiles, not really looking at the information in front of him. When he got to Alyona's. He couldn't help the smile that showed up on his face at the thought of her. He was surprised when he felt nervous butterflies around her, that had never happened to him in his life around anybody. Let alone a female.
He left his mind go back to Dreamers, where he saw her again. His smile growing broader when he remembered her sweet tooth. The fact that she didn't even bother to lie about the candy made him think.
Apollo and Selene walked in then, "Do we even have to ask?" the god asked. He looked much more relaxed now that he was out of the suit and shoes and back into his sandals and chlamys.
"About?" Abigor asked.
"Who you've chosen as a partner?" Selene said. She knew this would be the easy part. It's the second part that would need ironing out.
Abigor picked up the folders to the three other applicants, and Alyona's. "I have it narrowed down to these four, but," he said putting down the other three and keeping hold of hers, "This one has me interested the most."
Selene and Apollo shared a glance they knew who that was. "I told you so," she whispered.
"She seems to me, the most qualified for the job," he said. "Her portfolio has all of the work she has done for her family's businesses and they seem to own quite a few. I'm surprised, actually at all of this," he said as he skimmed over the list again. He had been to a few of these restaurants as well as the hotel she had listed.
"She is," Selene said confidently.
Apollo interjected, "Have you looked into the hotel and restaurants?" he asked. He knew what else the family did and wanted to be sure that Abigor was aware.
"I am familiar with them, yes," he said. He had heard the rumors around Avec about the family, but he wouldn't let that stand in his way. As far as he was concerned that was what they were, rumors.
******
The Fates were happy with the way things were going. This was all in their plans. But, even they can miss a few steps.
- Writer
