Page 37 of Entranced By the Basilisks

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Jasper carriesmy suitcase all the way to the guest room Ari directs us to.

My jaw drops at the sight of the room. It’s as lavishly decorated as the rest of the house and large. The canopy bed is out of my childhood dreams but for the sultry dark red, almost purple, sheer curtains with gold beaded stars.

Despite all the patterns in the room, rugs, pillows, and tapestries galore, everything has a cohesiveness that works. I’m incredibly impressed with whoever Ari hired to decorate.

“Will this do?” Ari asks, almost earnestly.

Jasper ducks his head as if to hide his smile.

“This is fantastic!” I say and the earnestness vanishes from Ari’s face.

“I’m so glad you like it,” he says. “If you need anything, the kitchen is at your disposal and my room is the one next to this.”

Awkwardness descends and I’m too tired to piece apart the undercurrents of the setup.

Jasper clears his throat. “I should be going.”

I widen my eyes. “You’re not staying?”

Jasper freezes.

Since Ari and he are together, I thought he’d be here too… I’ve made a miscalculation.

“Sorry, it was silly of me to assume that.” My cheeks are hot, and I shake my head. I don’t know the depth of their relationship.

Ari grins and turns to Jasper. “Yes, won’t you stay here too? It would obviously comfort Emilia.”

“Don’t put words in my mouth.” I scowl, annoyed that he’s right. Jasper’s presence does make me feel better.

Jasper blinks before his brow furrows. He looks to me, his thoughts a complete mystery.

“I’ll stay,” he says. “I just need to go to my place for some things.”

The relief is quick, and I don’t want to analyze it.

“Good,” Ari says, his hand coming to Jasper’s shoulder and directing him out. “You can use some of my clothing tonight and pack things tomorrow, it’s late. Wash up and relax, Emilia.”

Ari closes the door behind them.

I take in the room without an audience. It gets more beautiful the longer I look at it. I explore a little more and open what seems to be a closet but turns out to be a closet-bathroom combo.

I eye the shower and the craving to stand under hot water and forget about my life is otherworldly. I pull off my clothing without another thought. My shirt catches on the necklace and a hiss has me freezing. What if the snakes didn’t like water? Do I have to take off the glamour?

It doesn’t really make much sense to keep it on now, right? Other than I’d need to see the creatures in the mirror. With that thought, I look at the mirror.

Good god, I look absolutely haggard.

The illusion of hair is fine, but my eyes are bloodshot and have a puffy quality associated with crying too much. The mascara made a valiant effort to stay on, but the rest of the cosmetics are long gone. The skin of my face is tight, as if my body is still geared up to react to anything.

I don’t really want to see the snakes tonight. Wasn’t Medusa defeated by her reflection?

One thing at a time, Emilia.

I start the water in the shower before clicking off the light. The instant the image of the tired woman disappears in the darkness of the room is a relief. I unclasp the glamour necklace and carefully put it on the counter.

The hissing from the snakes gets louder but it isn’t that bad. I step into the water and the hot flow of it over my body is all I ever want it to be.

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