Page 31 of Ondine, Vol. 2 (Cash City Omegaverse)

News

Ondine

I t’s later that day when I get the call from the symphony.

I’m staring at the back of Sebastian’s truck at all my belongings he rescued from my apartment.

Freddie and Arnie returned from their hike and are napping inside.

(I guess Freddie accidentally picked a difficult trail and nearly killed them both).

Shadow is on the porch with a book. Jake is inside working.

“Hello, can I please speak to Ondine?” There’s a noticeable pause as the person looks for a last name but doesn’t find one.

“Speaking,” I reply.

Sebastian looks at me with curiosity. I put the phone on speaker.

“Oh ok, good. I wanted to call to let you know that the Cash City Performing Symphony Orchestra thanks you for taking the time you took to audition.” Shadow hears the call from the porch and makes his way over.

“We know that it is a lot for any musician to do. Your talent and dedication to your art is apparent in your work. At this time, we have decided to not fill any new roles this season. But we will invite you back next year if you are still interested in auditioning.”

I knew it was going to happen. I knew it. I knew the moment I stood up from playing. I should have known it even earlier. I should have never let myself believe it might happen.

My whole life I’ve never been able to predict what happens next. I’m always ready for those unexpected changes. Because nothing can be relied on, so there is absolutely no reason to ever imagine. Hope is always a bad idea.

But I can’t argue out of my feelings.

Not this time.

I thank her and end the call. I blink and two tears fall down my cheeks.

Oh no.

This hurts.

I wanted it.

I shouldn’t have wanted it.

Oh boy, this is bad.

“Sabbies, she’s upset. Do something,” Shadow says from the end of a long dark tunnel.

Sebastian turns me and pulls me into his arms. My face burrows in his collarbone and I can’t stop the tears.

“It’s ok,” Sabbies says as he rubs my back.

I pull my face away and say, “I don’t know why I’m crying. It’s fine. I knew I wasn’t going to get it.”

“This is bullshit. The fact my family couldn’t even help you is bullshit. Who do you have to be in order to get on their fucking symphony? They wouldn’t have to even pay your salary. You have the talent, that’s not even a question. What the fuck!”

I’m trying not to listen to him. Because it’ll make things worse.

A slight purr comes out of Sabbies’s chest and it really helps.

I just need to be rational and calm down. It was dumb of me to get excited about this.

Shadow comes up close to us, his hands reaching for me, and because I’m so rational and calm I growl at him. He puts his hands down and backs away.

“Wow, are you ok Ondine? Shadow didn’t mean to upset you.”

I huddle closer into Sebastian.

I know he didn’t. I know.

A little growl comes out again.

The alphas exchange a look and Shadow leaves us with purpose. Maybe to go get someone.

“I’m sorry,” I say into his chest.

“You’re upset. No worries. I understand.”

“No, you don’t. I’m sorry. I’m feeling…possessive.”

He doesn’t make any indication he’s even heard me.

“Possessive? Of me?” He finally says.

I nod.

Jake comes running out of the house toward us. Sabbies turns us so he’s protecting me from Jake’s trajectory.

“Ondine!” He yells and Sabbies continues to turn us away from him.

“Sebastian, I swear to god if you keep moving away from me I will bite your ear off!”

“Leave her alone. She’s upset,” Sebastian says calmly.

Jake mutters a whole bunch of mean and inappropriate things before he huffs and gives up.

“I didn’t get the position,” I mumble to Jake.

“I know, baby. Shadow told me. I think it’s about time we pay a visit to the conductor and knock his skull around a few times. Show him what alphas can really do.”

I smile, despite myself.

“It’s just so stupid I’m upset about it. I knew I wasn’t going to get it.”

Jake growls. And Sebastian growls back.

“I need Arnie. And my nest,” I blurt out suddenly. Shadow jumps in suddenly, “I have your little nest here.”

I pull out of Sebastian’s arms to see Shadow holding my book with the tie and the comb. I grab it and pull it to my chest. Oh my god, that feels good. A rush of endorphins pumps through me.

I step back into Sebastian, my back to his front and he puts his hands on my shoulders.

“Fuck ’em,” Shadow says. “Fuck those bastards. They have to be incentivized to take on an omega and they still can’t get out of their fucking circle jerk to try? Fuck ’em.”

Jake adds, “You don’t need them. You have so many more options. Bigger and better options. There’s the solo performance. It’s much better than being one of many in a place that barely recognizes you.”

I use my finger to ask him to get closer and he does. I kiss his jaw and tell him thank you. A genuine smile spreads across his face. “And thank you, Shadow.”

Shadow nods.

“Come on, sweetheart. Let’s bring your things inside.”

My chest gets tight. “But I don’t have a room.”

Before anyone reacts, Sebastian replies, “The whole house is your room. Your things will go everywhere.”

I look at my things and smile at that.

“Wait, where is my beanbag chair?”

Sebastian visibly shudders.

“It didn’t make it.”

I eye him suspiciously.

Shadow, Jake, Sebastian, and I start bringing in my things. I direct them on where I want my pillows, books, and dishes. Everything has a place by the time Sebastian is cooking shrimp tacos for everyone for dinner.

Arnie emerges from his room limping and looking ragged as hell. He kisses me on the top of my head and then joins me on the couch.

“Freddie is a big hiker, I’m guessing.”

“He thought it was a 10 mile loop. It was a ten mile there, and ten mile back trail. I don’t know if you know this, but I’m not a big hiker.”

I laugh at my poor, sore man and snuggle up close. He was gone for like seven hours.

I tell him about not getting the position on the symphony. He is so kind and sweet to me about it. I tell him about bringing my things inside. He says that last night he cleaned out most of his place. His lease is up in two months and he’ll let it go after that.

His fish tanks already have a new home.

“We’re really doing this thing?” He asks me.

Sebastian calls out that dinner is ready.

I pull Arnie’s face to mine.

“Yes!”

“Cause I can take them, if I need to. Maybe not right now. Give me a few days. But I’ll get us out of here if you don’t want it.” I kiss him on the bridge of his nose.

“I want to keep them.”

“Ok, honey. I’ll just get better at hiking then.”

He stands up and offers me his hand pulling me up off the couch, and we go into the bright kitchen where everyone else is.

And for the first time we all eat together.

We talk and laugh and tell stories. Jake chides Shadow for not cleaning his plate.

Freddie and Arnie eat like 20 tacos between them as they talk about being lost in the wilderness, leaving everyone laughing so hard our sides ache.

Jake makes margaritas and passes them out to everyone.

I start out in my own chair and then in Freddie’s lap.

Sebastian pulls out some playing cards and shows me his favorite game.

Hours go by before we leave the kitchen to pile up in the entertainment room for Shadow to show us some YouTube videos he was telling us about. The YouTube videos turn into a movie, and eventually I fall asleep in Arnie’s arms, Jake laying on my hip, and Freddie on the floor between my legs.

I’ve never been happier.