Chapter 20: Part of My World

                                    

                                              
"Are you trying to kill me?" I swore, my hand going to my chest, hoping to calm the rapid beating of my heart.  
                          
He turned his head towards me, a long purple black braid falling over his shoulder.  He was dressed simply in a black t-shirt and black pants that looked loose and comfortable.  A small silver ring inset with sapphires sat on his hand, brilliant against his dark skin.
                          
	Tom raised an eyebrow at me.  "I told you I'd find you," he answered simply.

                          
	I stared at him.  Did he seriously not realize how freaky it was that he was suddenly in my room, on my bed?  
                          
	But before I could open my mouth, he asked, "Who was that?"
                          
	Who was?  Jake?  
                          
	"A friend," I said simply.  "Do you think maybe, next time, you could try knocking on the door?"  
                          
	"Seemed like more than just a friend."
                          
	I closed my mouth.  "Is this a social visit, Tom?"
                          
	He grinned.  "Just curious."  He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed.  
                          
	"Have you been practicing?"
                          
	I narrowed my eyes at him.  "I just moved in, I'd rather not light it on fire."  But that wasn't completely true.  Like a loose tooth, I couldn't keep myself from reaching in and touching the magic, feeling that energy swirling inside me, if only to know it was still there.  That it was real.  But I hadn't tried pulling on it again.  Not without Tom to guide me... and to bring me back from the brink.
                          
	"Liar," He said softly, a devilish smile on his face.  
                          
He stood and walked to me.  "I can smell it on you."
                          
He was so close to me now.  "And what does it smell like?"
                          
"Power."  He walked past me, circling me like a lion.  A chill embraced me, my hair fluttering from a mysterious draft that hadn't been there a moment ago, but from what I could see, he never touched me.
                          
"Maybe that's why Marack doesn't want to train you."
                          
"Has he mentioned me?"
                          
Tom shrugged.  "Does it matter?  You are still here and not in Spectra."
                          
I guess it didn't but it did still hurt.  
                          
	"How many are there of you?"
                          
	"There's only one of me," he said with a wink, his gray eyes flashing.  
                          
	And despite it all, I laughed.  
                          
	"Thank the Gods for that." 
                          
	I watched as he walked around the room, scrutinizing my little living space which was littered with boxes and plastic bags.  
                          
	"Quite the... hovel," he remarked. 
                          
	"It's..."  There was no point in getting upset or defensive.  It was less than ideal, but it was mine.  "It's what I can afford right now."
                          
	For a moment, he looked like he was going to say something, maybe snarky for all I knew, but he thought better of it.  
                          
	"I am sorry, I stayed away longer than I expected," he said, settling down on the floor next to one of my giant book boxes.  
                          
	That shocked me.  Tom radiated arrogance but, to say that, meant a lot to me.  Because part of me didn't expect to ever see him again.  
                          
	"Thanks.  It's ok," I said, waving him off and taking a seat next to him.  Not knowing what else to do, I opened the box and started to take out books, sorting them by their genre.  It was busy work, something to keep my eyes off Tom and focused on something else.  
                          
	"It's not," he said, putting his hand on mine.  I froze, feeling the warmth of his skin against mine.  I had never had much physical affection outside of Jake.  It was nice and scary at the same time.  Because as much as part of me screamed not to let Tom in because he would hurt me, he was the only one who cared enough to be there.
                          
	I swallowed and set the book I was gripping down and looked at him.  
                          
	"I never thanked you for trying to save me.  You know, no one has ever tried to do that before."
                          
	I snorted.  "You obviously didn't need much saving."
                          
	He chuckled, "No.  But still, why did you do that?"
                          
	"Because that's what you do isn't it?  Help people who are in trouble?"
                          
	"It was very noble of you, even after being sent away the way you were.  To still want to help."  He picked up the book that I had put down.  He flicked through it, pausing to read a bit in the middle.  "Vampires?  How can anyone believe in such nonsense."
                          
	I stared at him.  Seriously?  Says the dude who kills demons with crackling black magic? 
                          
	"I don't believe in vampires.  No one believes in vampires, except you know the deranged..." I made crazy gesture next to my temple.  "It's just entertaining."
                          
	"Entertaining, hmm."  He set the book down.  "What else do you find, 'entertaining'?"
                          
	I laughed, running a hand through my hair, my fingers snagging on a curl.  
                          
	"I dunno.  Normal stuff.  The internet." I paused.  "Were you like reborn recently or something?"
                          
	Tom gave me a strange look.  "Reborn?"  Realization suddenly lit his eyes.  "Oh, I see...  more like I was asleep."
                          
	"Do you live in Spectra all the time?" 
                          
	He nodded.  "Something like that.  Why?"
                          
	I hopped up, grabbing the laptop off of the kitchen counter and bringing it over to him.
                          
	"Ever seen a cat get a brain freeze?"
                          
*********
                          
	I wasn't sure what entertained Tom more: The laptop, the amount of information people had at their fingertips yet chose not to use, or the fact that people on the internet were obsessed with cats.
                          
	But as we watched a fat, fluffy cat with gray stripes named Maru slide through two soda can boxes, I caught myself watching him laugh out of the corner of my eye.  I barely knew him, but I could tell that he spent most of his time stoic.  It must be hard to constantly be focused on winning an ancient war, and even though I desperately wanted to have that meaning in my life, it made me realize how much I should cherish moments like this.  Moments of lazy enjoyment with no responsibilities hanging over my head.
                          
	For a few hours, Tom seemed like a normal guy.  And maybe that's exactly what he needed.  
                          
	The day began to break, the sun turning the sky a brilliant pink and orange as it crept up from the horizon.  I yawned and swore.  
                          
	"The internet is dangerous," I groaned.
                          
	Tom's eyes flicked to mine, surveying me for a few moments.  
                          
	"How so?" He asked.
                          
	I yawned again and pointed to the window.  "We wasted the entire night.  I assume you had a reason for showing up, unannounced as you did," I chided.  "The internet is like a black hole, it sucks you in and never ends."
                          
	He chuckled.  "I can see that."  But he wasn't looking at the computer anymore.  His eyes were on me, an amused expression on his watchful face.
                          
	I flicked his braid playfully at him.  The action seemed to surprise him for a moment before he flashed a devilish smile at me.  
                          
	"But, you are right.  I did have a reason for popping in, but it seems what you need now is rest." He winked at me as another yawn escaped my lips.
                          
	"Well," I said, "I am only human."
                          
	"Not quite," he said snidely.  "Perhaps I'll stop by again.  Tonight?"
                          
	"Yes."  I was already looking forward to it.  
                          
	With a flourish, he gave me a mocking bow before he vanished again in a ripple of energy.  I shut the cover to the laptop, leaving it on the floor, amongst the pile of unpacked books.  I slipped out of my pants, leaving them in a disheveled pile next to the bed before I curled up, pulling the covers up to my neck.  
                          
	And as I drifted off to sleep, I wondered what Tom had planned for tonight.