Chapter Eight: The Quiet

I held Nicole's hand as I finally felt my feet touch the floor. We stumbled but quickly recovered. I looked around and saw that we were in a large chapel, dimly lit with stain glass windows and rows of pews. I pushed open the huge wooden doors, and there was a Marleybone guard at the entrance. Nicole walked along next to me when I introduced us.

"Private Kinchley," I said with a curt nod. He nodded back.

"How ya doing?" he replied in a deep tone as we followed him to the apartment. He'd grown gray with strain from being so active with the new war going on.

"Not so hot... You know the story don't you?"

He sighed. "Yeah... I meant otherwise, I suppose. How's mother?"

"She's well, thank you. She says hello." I had known Private Kinchley since I was little. I always said hi to him when I visited Marleybone and he's known Dalia since they were young. As we talked, Nicole just looked around, stunned at the big city.

"Here we are," he said, stopping at a door. He knocked twice. In a few seconds, none other than Andrew Coleman opened the door, removing his glasses.

"Good day! Good day! Hello Malorn, my boy!" He greeted me with a hug and shook the private's hand vigorously. "My, you've grown!" He stepped back and examined Nicole. "Why hello there," he said, taking her hand. "You must be the Nicole I've heard so much about."

"Yes! Nice to meet you!" she said, sweet as always. She looked a little uneasy though. I took her hand and squeezed it. She looked to me and smiled.

"Thank you very much Private. I'll be seeing you," he said with a smile. Private Kinchley gave us both a nod and a small smile, shutting the door behind him.

"Well now... certainly you have bags, no?" he asked. Nicole and I glanced at each other.

"Sir, we were told to only carry what we could on our backs," I said for us.

"Well that's no problem at all! Let me show you to your room!"

"Thank you Mr. Coleman," Nicole said quietly.

"Please! Call me Andy!" He started up the stairs when I saw something move in Nicole's bag.

"What is that?" I asked, pointing to the bag. Nicole put her finger over her lips as if to quiet down.

"Here we are! First down on the right is the bathroom, and the one at the end is my wife and I's room. The one on the left is yours."

"Thank you, Andy," I said with a smile. Nicole smiled too.

"I'll be downstairs if you need me. I'll call you down the hall to the dining room at six. My wife is quite the lovely cook! Oh! And before I forget! Nicole, dear, your lessons begin tomorrow morning at nine, sharp! Best to be on time, you know." He seemed to take a breath before turning to me. "And Malorn, my boy, your mother informed me that you wished to volunteer to bring Nicole back and forth as well as helping me in my office. Work will begin at ten, but I'll only make you work for a few hours. See you in an hour!" And he scurried off in a rush.

I closed the door behind him.

"I didn't know you volunteered to work for him," Nicole commented.

"Neither did I..." I said with an eye roll. Then I moved toward the bag she left on the bed, but Nicole quickly snatched it away.

"Please don't kill me," she said with a guilty grin on her face. I looked her over, though she's naturally tiny to start with, she was still thin as bones from her... time away.

I sighed. "What is it...?" She opened the pull-string slowly and – as I guessed – out flew Sir Chester, her baby dragon. "You're insane," I added, dully.

"I couldn't leave him home! He's just a baby!" she said, petting his blue head as he fluttered his red wings.

"Fine!" I said, throwing my hands in the air. "But if you get caught, I'm not taking the blame for you!"

"I don't care. As long as he's safe with me." She hugged him close to her.

"I've got news for you, he's probably in more danger with us than with your other pets at home."

"I still want to take care of him. And now that you know he's here, I don't have to carry him on my back. And he's not mischievous. I've got plenty of snacks to last him for months anyway."

"Alright..." I threw my bag in the bottom of the closet, waving my wand over it and all of my equipment and clothes folded and stacked themselves neatly on the shelves. I turned around, and watched as Nicole stared at the bed.

Then it hit me.

The bed.

It was a double.

There was only one.

My face turned red, and to cover it up, I grabbed Nicole's bag, throwing it onto the dresser and did the same trick to arrange her stuff. When I turned around, she must have stopped staring because she was petting Chester.

I walked over to the window and saw the city streets with shops and apartments all around us. In the distance, I saw green... a park.

"Hey Nicole," I said, pointing out the window. "You see that over there?"

Nicole walked over and looked out the window. "The park?"

"Yeah... Would you join me for a date tonight?"

She turned to me, her eyes wide. But then they softened and she smiled brightly. "I'd love to!"

*One hour later*

Nicole and I sat across from Andrew and his wife, Malinda as we ate dinner. We had mashed potatoes with bread and chicken soup.

"It's delicious," I said, going for another mouth-full. Nicole smacked my arm under the table. I ate slower.

Malinda and Andrew laughed at that. "Well aren't you two the sweetest couple," she said. Nicole and I blushed.

And of course, I heard a small whimper coming from down the hall, followed by the sound of flapping wings. Nicole and I shared a glance.

"What was that, darling?" Malinda asked Andrew. He shrugged, taking another spoonful.

And then Chester came flying into the room and perched on Nicole's shoulder. Her eyes widened and she shrugged. "Haha... surprise?"

"Oh, don't be silly! Your pet dragon is more than welcome! Here, have some bread." He held it out to Chester, which was immediately followed by the dragon making toast out of it, and eating it whole.

"Quite an amusing little fellow, isn't he?" he said, dusting off leftover crumbs.

"Indeed," I said with an eye roll. Nicole shrugged with a smirk.

*Two hours later*

Nicole and I walked to the park late at night. By this time on a weeknight, most people were at home, but we decided to spend it together.

It was quiet, other than the late-night creatures roaming the woods: various pixies, piggles, and firecats. You could hear the occasion howl of the hellhound in the distance, but it was all very relaxed. The pathway was lit by streetlamps and the stars shown bright overhead.

Nicole was amazed at how beautiful a magical park was as opposed to the ones she knew from Earth. I slowly touched her hand, and when she smiled at me, I held hers in mine. We walked around for a few minutes, as she stared at the magical creatures and I stared at her. Every so often I'd squeeze her hand gently and smile at her or kiss her hand. She smiled or giggled at everything I did.

We walked in comfortable silence. And somehow, I felt... at peace... whole, with her around.

I didn't feel the anger or pain. I didn't feel some weird, ultra-power that I was supposed to have. Nicole just lets me be... me... But I was a newer, happier me.

I stopped walking and she stopped too. I turned to her and just leaned my forehead on hers with our eyes closed. Then we stared at each other for a long moment...

Nicole closed the space between us with a kiss.

A slow, amazing kiss.

*Later that night*

Nicole and I got back to the house late, so we just teleported to the bedroom. I took off my hat, robes and shoes and turned to get in the bed in red boxers. Nicole was just taking out new clothes.

"What's that for?" I asked.

She shrugged, looking away. Then it clicked. She's nervous.

"Oh... Sorry," I said, rubbing the back of my head.

"No, no, it's okay!" she said, blushing. "I'll get changed and be right back."

A few minutes later, she came back in the room. I sat up in bed. She wore my old black t-shirt and some blue shorts. She, as usual, looked pretty sexy... I turned red.

I patted the bed next to me. Her eyes widened, but she slowly came over. She pulled the blanket over her legs and sat up. I remembered the horrible stories she told me about her time with Malistare and his minions… and the threats they gave her. I put my arm around her shoulders... she was practically shaking.

"Hey, no need to be nervous," I said. She wouldn't look at me. "Are you scared?" She turned away.

I took my hand and gently touched her chin, guiding her to face me. "I will never hurt you. I promise you that. Nor will I ever let any harm come to you. Do you understand me?" She smiled slightly and nodded.

"I'm sorry... It's just... I didn't expect..."

"To be honest, neither did I." I said with a sigh. "And I wasn't planning on trying anything when I saw the bed. When you're older maybe," I stopped when I said that because I could swear I saw a trace of disappointment. My heart leapt. "Or when you're ready," I added with a sincere smile. She smiled back. "I love you."

"I love you too." She wrapped her hands around my neck and kissed me slowly and softly, gripping my hair. I felt hot under the covers, probably just from the fact that I was with Nicole.

In a bed.

Then I pulled back and smiled at her. I kissed her forehead, and she smiled. Both of us went under the blanket to lay down. But surprisingly, she curled up next to me, and laid her head on my chest. I put my arm around her and closed my eyes.