CHAPTER SEVEN: EMUNAH
Perhaps, you know, I could have broken the news to Red more gently. But there's NO gentle way of saying stuff like that. Aravah started bawling and I took him in my arms, murmuring Aghama knows what, stroking his hair. Becoming Wraeththu really brought out my feminine side. Who'da thought? Bethany groaned. Ara and me rushed over to her.
"Hey." I said, clasping her hand.
"Thirsty." she croaked back.
Ara poured some water from a carafe into a glass as I sat Beth up. After she had drank, she reached out and caressed Red's face.
"Will? Is it really my Willow?" she said with wonder.
Aravah nodded and pressed Bethany's hand to his cheek. His eyes were tearing up again. I felt jealousy gripe in my belly but I kept my trap shut. This was the love of his life and he hadn't seen her in many long years. Anyways, he could no more consummate that love than I could. Beth was a parage, we were hara.
"How d'ya get so beaten up?" I asked.
"I had a really shitty day," Bethany said, "They had an almost perfect one."
"Almost perfect?" questioned Ara.
"I was supposed to end UP dead, not left FOR dead. Crap! Some rat-faced bastard took my cross!"
"It's safe." I assured her, drawing it from my pocket and giving it to her."
"Did you get the vermin? Did you hurt him?" asked Ara fiercely.
"Yeah. Broke his arms and made him suck muck."
Red beamed at me, kissed my cheek. "Good for you, tiahaar!"
I dimpled at Ara and blushed. Not something I'd normally do but it'd been a strange day.
"Emmy," said Beth, "You gotta tell him about Xander."
I lost my glow immediately. I didn't want to tell that story, I really didn't.
