Page 7

Even after a full day of traveling, Lune was still angry.

Confused. He slammed the door of the little beach house, and fell into a chair facing the ocean.

His head lolled back. The tired ache radiating from his bones finally hit him, and he slumped further.

If he wasn’t so exhausted, mentally and physically, he’d go for a swim.

Despite the magic scarf around his neck, he needed the touch of genuine water.

To reconnect himself back into the natural elements.

Maybe he could just flop around in the surf and watch the stars.

From his peripheral vision, there was a note propped up on the kitchen table. He dragged himself up to fetch it. The key to Calico’s bedroom was attached.

My dearest siren chick peep,

Being the God of Space and Time, of course I knew you would come home. No judgment. I raised you to think for yourself, to protect yourself and your mental wellness, but also to have compassion for others—but not at your personal expense.

I apologize for not attending the formalities of your proxy.

It can be devastatingly disheartening when first impressions do not hold up to proper expectations.

But give it a chance, for you have not even gotten started.

I understand your discord, as I too, have had strife with my own chosen mate.

At the moment, my estranged ex-husband and I are in a very delicate truce.

Over what I shall not reveal. I will only say that he broke my heart to the point I was certain I could never forgive or return to the pairing, despite it being a celestially destined match.

Finding you, raising you, has been such a joy to me, and I thank you for allowing me to be in your life.

You have healed a wound inside my soul, and helped me to reflect.

If I can grant this relationship with my ex-husband one last chance, allow him this one last chance to prove himself, will you not consider your own?

Love, Calico

Calico was married? That was a huge surprise. It was likely the reason his father had started wandering again in the last year or two. Perhaps even visiting this mysterious ex-husband Lune had never known about.

Lune wasn’t too surprised though, that Calico had already known of the proxy. He should’ve realized that on the way home. Because Calico was the physical embodiment of Time itself.

As a child, he never could hide anything from his father. Calico knew before Lune even realized he wanted to lie about skipping school to dive off cliffs and explore underwater caves.

Still, he’d always miss Calico’s company.

But as the letter stated, he was attempting to work on his own marriage.

It surprised him Calico had even been in a relationship, as he’d never talked about it before.

With a smile, Lune wondered what type of person had caught his father’s eye, but soon put that thought aside. He had his own turmoil to deal with.

Or not.

Despite Calico’s advice, Lune wouldn’t take it. Not this time. Why should he put his heart and his energy into someone who considered him a bother and an inconvenience? He folded the note and placed it in his pocket for safekeeping.

He couldn’t help sneak a look at his compass though. The two jewels encircling the bevel were still out. Lune froze at the odd feeling he got from it. Then shrugged and stuffed it in his pocket so he wouldn’t be reminded.

To busy himself and keep his mind off his failed Compass-marriage, Lune fussed around the beach house.

It was so depressing to have to go around and pull off all the dust dropcloths and fold them for storage.

There was also no food in the pantry—he should’ve remembered.

He found that out the hard way, after the sun had set.

Digging through all the cupboards came up empty.

It would be highly embarrassing to ask the neighbors for something to get him through the night.

The cast iron waffle mold wasn’t in the pantry.

That depressed Lune more. He’d been hoping to have a silly little lifeline to some trivial comfort.

So he’d just sit here and suffer until morning, watching the waves and questioning his sanity, wondering if he’d made the right decision. Lune snorted. Of course he had!

His stomach growled. Right now, he lamented the loss of waffles more than a selfish, dense, haughty asshole of a Compass-husband.

Water was the only thing to fill his belly with, but he didn’t look forward to the sloshy bloat as he lay here and stewed.

He really should have swung by the market during his trek, but he’d been too wrapped up in his fuming.

The merchants had been closing up for the evening anyway, anxious to get home themselves .

Suddenly, he blinked as the realization dawned. Calico’s bedroom. It had always been off limits. He didn’t even know what it looked like inside. He’d tried once or twice as a youth, but the door was magically locked, and he had no such ability.

He wondered… Well, at least it would make for a distraction from his hunger.

Lune lunged to his feet, grabbed the key, and stopped before the door.

His heart was already pounding. Eager curiosity got the best of him.

He touched the doorknob and there was no magical push back.

He inserted the key and pushed the door open.

A gentle whiff of cinnamon tickled his nose. The room was a pale cheery blue with plank board walls and white trim. The bed was big, neatly made, and covered with a plain blue blanket. A little blackened pipe stove was clean and well-used. A fitting accessory for a phoenix.

Twinkling crystals hung from the ceiling and near the large circular window that took up the entire wall—a window that had privacy spells upon it so that you couldn’t look in from the other side.

He blushed, remembering. Calico had cast that magical curtain when Lune had been old enough to start snooping.

The view from the big, round window let in as much light as possible, and faced the tide pools where Lune had spent his years as a fry.

A small section of the garden was also visible.

It had always been lovely, full of flowers and fresh vegetables.

When Calico lived here, he’d always be out working in the garden or baking in the kitchen.

Lune knew the garden was currently stripped and spent, because he’d helped Calico close out this particular growing cycle just a few days ago.

Lune shook out the yearning for the harmony he’d grown up with. He resigned himself to the fact that his Compass-mate hadn’t been a match after all .

A plate of food on the corner nightstand caught his eye. Dried meat, cheese, and crackers were an eager delight. There was another note with his name on it tented upon the cheese wedge.

Lune chuckled. Calico knew him too well. Walking across the planked floor, he picked up the paper.

Hello again, my siren child.

I have removed anything dangerous or magical from this suite—even the spells upon the window—but not its magical fire-proofing. You will probably need that.

I knew you could not resist sneaking a peek at my private abode. You are free to use this space as your own, for the beach house is now yours. The updated deed is filed at the town hall. A fitting wedding present, as I will not be returning anytime soon after all.

In the meantime, I could not let my boy go hungry. So here is a snack to get you through the night, and some currency to carry your meals through the week. Consume wisely, for after that, you are on your own.

Love, Calico

P.S. Yes, I have taken my waffle iron pan home with me. Agustin enjoys waffles just as much as you do.

Ah! The mysterious, estranged ex-husband had a name.

Lune folded up the notes before inserting both of them in a drawer for safekeeping.

Too bad about the waffle pan confirmation.

He could’ve gone for some of Calico’s strawberry and honey waffles about now, but the small meal Calico had left more than satisfied his belly.

It was also only fair to share the treat with this Agustin.

The poor fellow had been deprived of Calico’s waffles for twenty years, at least—Lune felt his face turn beet red.

Dammit, his mind just had to dive off into the gutter.

He gave his head a shake to reset himself.

Because he loved waffles too much to associate it with a double entendre.

Even though Calico taught him how to be self-sufficient, if Lune did make the treat for himself, it wouldn’t be the same.

Not to mention the ingredients were expensive here on the farthest island.

He’d be living on what he could catch from the ocean, but he and his stomach had grown too accustomed to human food.

Sitting around twiddling his thumbs would give him too much time to overthink as the days passed. Getting right back into work would help. Because there’d been yet another headache waiting for him. When he’d disembarked from the ship that had brought him home, he’d swung by to talk to Sachin.

The Jade Raptor wasn’t anchored in her slip, or in the repair cove.

He’d have to check in with the harbormaster to pin down Sachin’s whereabouts.

Lune wasn’t too worried yet. His friend knew the beach house was always a haven, and the gargoyle didn’t need to ask permission for somewhere to lay his head.

Lune took a second glance around Calico’s former quarters. The closet was surprisingly a space he could walk into. Inside was a small writing desk, and rows of empty shelves. Propped up against the wall was a long piece of wood about as tall as him. It had notches at both ends.

It was a bundling board.

He had been in this suite before! Lune remembered that now.

When he was very small. The plank had been hooked into the bed’s header and footer.

Calico used it during Lune’s nightmare phase—to keep Calico from being sliced to pieces as Lune wailed and cried that the predator fish in the ocean were attacking him, chasing him .

Lune paled. He flipped the bundling board around.

Tiny, child-sized claw marks were gouged in the wood.

He shook the flood of memories loose. It was a shock that he’d even gotten back into the water after those night terrors.

But Calico had also helped with that. Letting him swim around and play in the big bathtub for as long as he wanted.

Then returning to the tide pools before graduating back into the ocean.

That also brought back the memories of Calico gently shushing him as a toddler, every time he felt happy enough to sing.

Sometimes, Calico urged him with gentle inquiries to adjust his tone, usually when he was too happy.

Calico assured him it was just his nature.

And that his song should be tempered for the safety of others, not shut away.

It was unfortunate that the instruction never took hold, for Lune still sang or hummed from time to time.

The once-lost memory gripped him. Lune tensed up enough that he had to grip the door frame to steady himself. As a child, during their many swim lessons, he’d nearly drowned Cal on several occasions with his siren’s singing. Immediately, he shook the once-fogged memory out of his head.

Taking a deep breath, Lune exited the closet and strode over to another closed door. Yes, it was the spacious, private washroom. The bath consisted of a nice tub that could be a small tidal pool. In another enclosed alcove, at the far side of the room, there was a toilet.

This place was fit for a king. No…a god, just as Calico was.

Lune decided to fill the tub for a good long soak. As he did, he couldn’t help but think back and wonder if he could have handled the encounter with Narsus any better.

But as he dried off and headed for bed, doubts surfaced. No. He’d made the right decision, and the gentle crashing of the waves outside confirmed it. He was home. This is where he belonged. With the Jade Raptor. And sailing his local routes with Sachin.

Only, some small part of him still obsessed over Narsus. Of how his Intended had carried himself. That mysterious and aloof mood, further enhanced by his slightly terrifying appearance. The deepness of that muffled voice…

Lune grabbed a pillow and shoved it over his head, trying to shut out the disruptive thoughts. And failed.