Page 45 of Possession

Of course.

Well, we’d have a house all to ourselves. What do you think?

Canada is north, Aris replies after a moment. Our body would get cold.

We can get clothes.

And food?

You could hunt.

Not humans, I suppose.

No, but animals. I wince at the thought of Aris in control, tearing out the throat of any living thing. The death of an animal would be difficult to watch, but it wouldn’t be a human dying, and the blood and a chase would placate Aris.

But would it placate him enough? Could it really work?

I shift, starting to doubt my own suggestion. Living with him, going into the wilderness together… Am I insane? How could I hope to live in peace with him? How could I ever think he’d be satisfied “sharing” a body? Aris doesn’t lie; he said that the arrangement works, but, just because it suits him now, doesn’t mean that it always will.

Aris hears my doubts, but he doesn’t respond to them. He is quiet, which is always a little concerning, but our discussion and the strain on my wound has tired me out.

You lost a lot of blood, Aris tells me. Sleep.

What about…?

We’ll figure out what to do when you wake.

And if someone comes?

You will be protected.

Does that mean that he’ll take control? He did at the gala, and nothing happened. Maybe my disappearance before was a fluke. Though the thought should reassure me, it does the opposite; if the amulet isn’t broken, there’s nothing holding Aris back.

I nod wearily. I’m exhausted, and staying awake worrying won’t make me any less tired. Once again, I’m out of control. We both know it.

I’m asleep as soon as my eyes shut.

***

When I wake, my hand goes to thumb the edges of my amulet, and I find the room almost the same as it was before. The food by the bed has changed, the TV is now off, and the blinds are pulled down, but these changes are mundane. Given my life as of late, it’s a breath of fresh air not to have an assassin or wizard waiting to ambush me.

Assured enough by the sight, I’m in the middle of deliberating going back to sleep when there’s a knock at our door. I’m assuming it’s a doctor or another nurse, and I’m questioning hospital etiquette. Do I have to invite them in? Aris volunteers no answer from his side. I’m still contemplating when the door swings inward and a familiar face walks in.

My elbows go down instinctively to help push my body up, but the weight and pain quickly prove to be too much, and I collapse back down in a huff, still too surprised to feel any embarrassment.

“Henry,” I say, and I’m not sure if his name is a greeting or an exclamation

Chapter ten

He looks the same. Of course, it’s only been two weeks, but, then again, what an eventful two weeks they’ve been! He looks me over once and then again, as if to double check that I’m really there, before allowing himself a small, contented smile.

“Mary,” Henry says, walking towards the bed. He turns a plastic chair from its place against the wall and sits in one fluid motion, looking at me pleasantly all the while. “It’s good to see you.”

I don’t know what I was expecting. I wasn’t expecting him, so I didn’t have time to prepare any expectations when he came through the door. Even still, I’ll admit that I’m surprised that he isn’t angry with me. I couldn’t have made his job any easier by leaving—not that it was my fault.

Aris, rapt and at attention, is even less happy than he was before. There’s numbness emanating from him, aggressive almost, like trying to walk on a leg that’s fallen asleep.

I can’t read his mind, says Aris. He must have an enchantment on him.

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