Page 130 of Falling in Love with A Tiny Bat

In my arms, Ash wakes with a string of pitiful cries.

Thoroughly disinterested, Alexios drones, “Squeeze,Polly. Make my day.”

One by one, Pollux’s fingers unlatch to reclose, cracking, as he puts his fist firmly at his side.

Alexios straightens his collar, murmuring, “I always knew Meda was your favorite, but it is nice to know you would still mourn my death.”

“I would treat her no differently in this situation, Xios. You are toying with things you don’t understand.”

“Am I?” Alexios’s stormy eyes search Pollux’s for long moments. Then his tone softens. “You know what I am, Pollux. Are you sure you aren’t the one missing pieces?”

A stiff breath fills Pollux’s chest. “Castor took my wife and my daughter. Were Pila anyone else, he may havekilledher.”

Alexios looks down, letting a small smile lift his lips. “That’s another thing you’re wrong about, Pollux… When it comes to murder, Castor isn’t blameless, to be sure, but his house of statues is not a house of death. Still souls don’t long for nothingness; they already have it. They don’t harbor malice or chaos or brokenness; they are at peace. And they certainly are well beyond fear.”

Blood rushes from Pollux’s face as he steps back. “What…are you saying?”

“Castor’s stone victims are suspended in time, not dead. He is not an agent of death. He is an agent of peaceful nothingness. I feel what none of you can, so one might speculate that you are the ones reacting to things you do not fully understand.”

Pollux’s fist loosens. “You…believe there is hope for him?”

“I believe he is much more than what you have seen him be. I also believe that isolation can alter one’s character with some significance. He is a weeping soul, Pollux. Let’s not pretend I am anything but the tears of another’s.”

Pollux’s ink-painted eyes shift toward me, take in Ash, and close. Sighing, he cracks his neck and mutters, “I shall hesitate for now.”

“I appreciate your discretion.”

In one step, Pollux stands before me, grumbling, “Would you feel more comfortable if I ran a swab today?”

Heavy, my head nods.

“Allow me to get what I need…” With that, Pollux strides toward my closet, opens the door, and vanishes from view.

I stand, blinking at where a hulking mass of a man used to be. “Wha…”

Yawning and losing all his hubris, Alexios sleepily pouts my way. “Dream eaters have special access to paths that appear beneath beds and in closets. No doubt when you are fully fae, Meda will take you through them.”

I keep forgetting that all the cool things I see the faeries around me do are technically possible for me to do, too. I just need to befriend a story faerie first. Which means I need to find a story faerie first. At least I’ve decided I’ll open that conversation up withHi, I want to be the best version of myself and also bear false witness, what do you say? Help a sister out?

Alexios asks, “Do we need to talk about something before Pollux gets back?”

I recall that I am mad at him. But, after the altercation I just witnessed, I think I don’texactlyhave a right to be.

There’s a good reason Alexios wasn’t jumping on telling me about Ash, knowing our only option would be to involve Pollux.

Closing my eyes, I manage a deep breath, and remind myself that I wantso badlyto live in accordance with Christ’s character. Which means exhibiting grace, mercy, and understanding.

When I’ve remembered that Alexios cares about Ash, too, and would do nothing to harm him, I assess that my nerves are neither his fault nor his responsibility. He sat up all night withAsh, cleaning snot and making sure my little baby could breathe. All while he no doubt wrestled with the repercussions of asking Pollux for help.

While he was tormented and exhausted, I yelled at him instead of offering support. Instead of offering kindness and the opportunity to stand together, I was selfish.

And he’s…still being selfless.

Even in spite of how I’ve acted.

Alexios winces, making his way to me and pulling his hands from his pockets. “Hey…come now, angel…there’s no need to cry.”

I sniffle. “Y-yes, there is. I’m—” I swallow, hard, and cling to my baby. “—I’m going through a lot of emotions right now.”

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