Woo-hoo! Reviews already! I'm so happy! :D I thought I'd make up for the slack in posting the last chapter by posting this one now.
Thanks to watergoddesskasey, MissKeith, and ArmoredSoul for the awesome reviews! I'm glad you're enjoying it.
watergoddesskasey: Glad you like it!
MissKeith: I'm happy you like my writing. If you tell me what you find unclear, maybe it could help me write better. :)
ArmoredSoul: I'm glad you like Wendy, and OH so glad she's not a Mary Sue!
When she returned, she had a black guitar case in her hand. Abe hadn't moved.
"Where'd you go?" he asked.
"My room."
"Why?"
"This." She set the case in the floor, unlocked and opened it, and took out the dark wooden guitar. She held it lovingly as she sat near Abe on the couch. He didn't know what to say, so he remained silent. "It was my father's guitar," she said quietly.
"Did he teach you to play?"
"No. He agreed with Mom about the violin. Don't get me wrong, I love the violin. I was just angry with them and went against their wishes. I found his guitar, so he let me keep it."
"Why were you mad?"
"Because—" She sighed and plucked a gentle tune. "Seems stupid now, but I was mad that they made me move during my senior year of school."
"It's not stupid. It's normal to be angry for a move during your final year of school." She gave a sharp nod, but didn't say anything. Abe listened, but couldn't tell what song she was playing. "What's that song? I don't believe I've heard it before."
"It's 'Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.'"
"Religious?" She nodded again.
"Come, thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above. Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, mount of thy redeeming love," she sang quietly.
"You sing beautifully." She blushed.
"No, I just sing."
I never heard Nuala sing, Abe thought sadly.
"What was that?" Wendy inquired, thinking he'd said something.
"Oh, did I say something out loud?" Her hands stilled.
"I guess not. I just thought I heard you say something."
"What did it sound like?"
"I'm not sure. Someone not singing, I think. Probably just my mind playing tricks on me again." She began playing a different song and Abe leapt from the sofa, quickly making his way to a bookshelf. "Abe? What's going on?"
Hold on, he intentionally thought.
"Okay, but I don't have anything to hold on to." He spun and pointed an accusing finger at her, though his blue-green face remained expressionless, as she put her guitar in its case. She held up her hands in surrender and swallowed thickly, scared now for she didn't know what was happening. "W-what's going on?" she asked again, stuttering this time.
"I didn't say that out loud."
"What? 'Hold on'?"
"Exactly."
"Then how did I hear you?"
"Give me a moment and I'll tell you." His dark eyes scanned the shelves, looking for the right book. He picked up a few and put them back until he found the thick volume he was searching for. "Here it is." He leafed through it until he came to a long passage; he pointed it out to Wendy, who had stood and walked over to him. "'A nymph (all elements) is a creature who draws others in with a feeling of safety before…" He faltered, but continued after a confused look from Wendy. "'Before consuming them. It is often reported that they are capable of hearing thoughts.'"
"But that's not true! I've never eaten anyone!"
"Just a minute. It says here that half-bloods don't consume. They just have the power to make others trust them."
"What about the thoughts I'm hearing?"
"Um…here it is. 'If a half-blood hears another's thoughts, that other is the one they are to be with, the one meant for them.'"
"Okay. I'm not stupid, but let me get this straight. I can only hear the thoughts of whom?" Abe swallowed, as thickly as Wendy had before.
"Your mate."
Wendy had never before fainted in her life, but she felt close now. To avoid falling in the floor, she carefully made her way back to the couch and plopped down.
"So, that means…" She couldn't finish, didn't know how to."
"Yes, it means…that your…um, your system…has—has deemed me…worthy or—or… sufficient enough to be… to be…your—" He closed his eyes to calm himself; Wendy had never seen him flustered because she didn't think he could be, but what did she know? She'd only known him a few days. After taking a deep breath, he continued, "—to be your mate." Wendy's face was flushed red, and Abe's seemed to be slightly purple. She supposed he was blushing because red and blue make purple.
"I'm going to go. I believe I need to think over the implications." Abe nodded in understanding and put the volume back as she left…without her guitar
--
The alarm didn't give Wendy much time to think. It blared the second her hand touched the handle of her door.
Oi, she thought, but ran towards the briefing room, glad that she had thought to strap her holster on before going to the library.
She was one of the first through the door to the briefing room. Manning scowled at her informal dress.
"What?" she asked. When he didn't say anything, she continued, "Ask my boss from New York. I never wore a skirt or dress pants unless I had to. Jeans are just more comfortable." Some of the men at the table smirked and Manning's scowl deepened.
"I may just have to do that," he said tightly, then proceeded to ignore her. She shrugged and chose a seat just as Abe and Johann walked in; Hellboy and Liz were already seated. Johann sat beside Wendy and she noticed that Abe sat as far away as an open seat allowed. The thought saddened her, that he was at the other side and end of the table. "We have to travel for this one," Manning said. "London, England. There have been sightings—"
"Werewolves?" Wendy kiddingly suggested.
"How'd you know?"
"Oh, I was right?" He nodded. "I was just thinking of the song."
"Anyway, it shouldn't be a long trip. You're dismissed to pack and you'll be briefed upon arrival." Abe was one of the first to leave.
"Why is he so jumpy?" Johann asked Hellboy on the way out.
"Beats me." Wendy sighed, pinched the bridge of her nose, and followed everyone out.
--
The plane was larger than Wendy expected. She had her clothes in a backpack slung over her back, and she had a few, very large tomes in her arms, one of which was the one Abe had read from earlier. Also, she had put on a black leather coat, not a form-fitting one, which hid the gun at her back and the one at her waist. She had also changed into a dressier shirt, but jeans won over any other lower covering. Overcoming her surprise at the immensity of the plane, she stepped in and found a seat near the back next to a window. She curled up in the seat and opened the book telling what she was, what she didn't want to be.
When Johann, Abe, Hellboy, and Liz entered the plane, she ducked down so they wouldn't sit with her. She just wanted to be alone while trying to figure out what she was; they sat in the middle of the plane, on the opposite side from Wendy, in rows of facing seats. Abe and Johann sat in the seat facing back towards Wendy, and Hellboy and Liz faced forward. After everything and everyone was loaded, Wendy sighed in relief at her loneliness and turned her attention back to the book as the plane took off.
What will happen on the plane ride?
Will the werewolves be more than the team can handle?
Find out soon!
Please review! Muse is happy!
(that's a pretty good band, too...lol)
A/N: Thanks for those who gave me some ideas on Finally Free [*cough* ArmoredSoul *cough* ;)] I still welcome any others anyone may have. All ideas are welcome, even on this story if you wish.