CHAPTER TWO: BREAKFAST IS SERVED
Transitioning was cold, and it was not only because his body was unused to being in direct contact with air. The comforting presence of Andurek he had known for so long was replaced by another, new and unfamiliar, and absolutely terrified out of her wits. He hooked himself into her as to be unnoticeable, and immediately attempted to calm her nerves. He eased her body off of the adrenaline rush she was experiencing and spoke softly, saying that he would go to sleep now and let her adjust without imposing on her thoughts. It may not have been much, but it was all he could do before fading off into exhausted dormance.
Ellen staggered down to the parking lot in shocked silence and climbed into her truck. No sooner had the slightly battered pickup door closed her from the outer world than she slumped against the dashboard. She looked down at her hands and made the detached observation that they were shaking. Pressing her forehead against the cool glass of the side window, she closed her eyes.
A very loud and very large truck pulled into the parking space beside her, startling her out of her daze. Checking her watch, she realized she had been sitting there for nearly three hours. She needed to move to get back home before dark. She wearily pulled out her keys and started up the engine. One hand tenatively went up to touch the back of her neck, where she felt like there should be some sort of pressure, but wasn't. She shuddered, making her pickup jerk slightly as she forced her stomach to make peace with her racing imagination. The black Ford cruised out of the parking lot with a smoothness which belied the current turmoil in Ellen's mind.
Why can't my vacations ever end normally? she wondered to herself. For the strangest reason, she had the urge to wait for a reply. Her pause was only met with silence, and she abruptly decided to turn on the radio. The oldies blared on the stereo as she tried to ignore the past five hours and focus on the road.
By the time she pulled up to her apartment it was completely dark outside save the glow of the streetlight and the 7-11 across the way. She shivered, stepping onto the pavement. She stopped to stare at the overcast sky for a moment before heading up the dark stairs. She took them slowly, savoring the heavy quiet which lay uncharacteristically across the complex. Faded shadows lay across the cracked sidewalk and darkened the worn steps, and her chilled fingers fumbled with her keys in the dark before finding the correct one.
It was no small relief to at last collapse onto the couch. She had only taken the time to tap up the heat before kicking off her shoes, and was asleep, jacket and all, as soon as she hit the pillows.
Å-
Daelan awoke to a shuffling sound nearby. Cautiously, he opened his new eyes and took in his surroundings. A modest prod at his sleeping host's memory told him that this was her home, and that the sound was most likely coming from her roommate. Morning light streamed through the slitted blinds, revealing a small lamp in one corner, a grey and brown box across from him, several potted plants, and the entrance a small enclave containing what was presumably the kitchen.
"Good morning there, sleepyhead!" A voice teased just out of sight. It was shortly joined by the cheery face of a petite young lady. When Daelan just sat there, blinking, she stepped over to him and began to haul his upright by one arm. He grudgingly got up from the warm couch and followed her into the kitchen.
"You got back late last night." She said, sounding quite concerned. "I hope you didn't run into any trouble this time. It seems your vacations never go right, so I made you some waffles just in case you needed cheering up." Daelan smiled tenatively, hoping that he wasn't behavior wasn't extremely far-fetched from his host. He hadn't really had a chance to speak to her yet.
As if thinking about her hit some hidden trigger, he could feel her waking. As she came to full awareness, he had to suppress a loud "Why am I standing in the kitchen?" It was immediately followed with internal panic.
Why can't I speak? What's going on? Lanie, help!
Quiet down, please! No one can hear you but me at the moment, and you're hurting my...your...ah, ears! She didn't listen, her silent protests now reaching a piercing height. Lanie gave her a sharp once-over.
"Ellen, are you feeling all right?" Daelan's eyes widened, and he quickly searched for an excuse to leave the room. Oh!
"I just, ah, need to go use the..." he searched Ellen for the right word, "...bathroom." He hurried out of the kitchen and quickly located the proper place, shutting the door firmly behind him and sitting wearily on the floor.
Okay, Ellen, now we can talk.
WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON? She hollered. Daelan swore he heard echoes. Attempting to calm her down, he said,
If you will bring your voice to a lower level, I'll let you speak out loud, but I don't want your roommate thinking you have gone insane. Understand?
There was a very long pause before Daelan felt the silent touches of acquiescence. He let her have full motor control and sat back to talk.
Do you actually remember anything which happened back in the forest? He asked. She bit her lip and reluctantly memories began to surface. She remembered, and now that she did, she wasn't sure whether to be angry, frightened, or simply accepting of the fact. How would she deal with her family the same, her friends? She stared into the white linoleum as if it had all the answers.
Daelan let her think, then gingerly put in a comment.
Of course, if you have any extreme objection to my presence, I could... he halted. If he had been currently using her body, he would have been physically choking on the words. All things considered, he didn't want to die, but... I could...leave. I mean... despite his attempts to separate his thoughts from her own, she caught on to what he was implying and she swiftly covered her mouth, shaking her head firmly.
No! It's very...strange, but kill you? I would label myself a traitor for giving you hope and then taking it away like that!
But, Daelan asked her seriously, Do you believe that you made a wise decision in the first place? If you and I cannot co-exist, there is no point in life for either of us, but I shall be the one to go.
But she had made up her mind. Although her hands were trembling from the excessive strain on her emotions, she slapped down the possibility. At that moment, the debate ended. Lanie was knocking at the door anxiously.
"Ellen? Your waffles are going to get cold if you don't hurry up. Are you sure you're feeling okay?"
"I'm fine," Ellen called back, "Coming in a minute."
"And change out of those clothes, too. You slept in them."
"Yes, mom." Ellen murmured as she opened the bathroom door, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. Lanie had made waffles? It sounded like just what she needed at the moment. She hoped they were chocolate chip.
I don't like chocolate.
Yes, she very much hoped that they were chocolate chip.
