Heart of Stone

39. Modern Life

After her snack, Mary took a shower. When she was combing out her hair, she heard the balcony door open.

“Aiden?” She called.

“Yes, dear one.”

She opened the door a little to see if there was anyone with him. When she realized there wasn't she came out into the room in her nightgown. He bent down to deliver a soft kiss.

“What's that?” She asked, pointing at the wooden bowl in his hand. It wasn't a vessel she recognized, though whatever was in it had a very pleasant aroma.

“It is a calming lotion Esme made for you.” He set it down next to the bed.

“That was quick. I've only been up here for a couple of hours.” Mary smiled and leaned over the bowl, drinking in the scent of lavender and chamomile.

“She had it prepared already. She tells me that human females are often uncomfortable in the later stages of pregnancy. If she had known how uncomfortable you were, she would have given it to me before now.”

“To you?” Mary asked.

He smiled a little. “Yes.” He started to undress.

“I don't think that's what Nigel had in mind when he told me to stay in bed.” Mary smirked.

He laughed and tossed his garment aside. “You misunderstand. Undress.”

Mary looked at him for a moment and then pulled the nightgown off over her head. She held it in front of her body he situated himself on the bed with his back resting against the headboard. He smiled and patted a spot between his legs. Mary moved awkwardly, but she finally sat down with her back to him. He took the nightgown away and pulled her back against his chest.

For a few minutes, he just held her with his arms and his tail, and Mary found that alone to be a little slice of heaven. Eventually, he reached for the bowl and took some of the lotion onto his hands.

“Esme says that this will make your skin tingle to begin with, but it should be pleasant.” He started massaging the lotion into her shoulders. The warmth of his hands and her skin was making the smell of the lavender even more intense. A pleasant tingle radiated out from where his large hands stroked her skin, and a deep relaxation followed. Mary closed her eyes and sighed softly.

“She could make a fortune if she bottled that.” Mary murmured.

Aiden's hands moved down her arms. “I think that Nigel has spoken to her about the other lotion she gives you. She is reluctant to embark on such a venture.”

“I'm not surprised. Every time he sees me he says he's never seen anything quite like it. Why is she reluctant?” Mary noticed that each time his hands moved over her skin the tingle returned, but much more softly.

“We have never needed or desired anything material. The earth provides the majority of what we need, and during the time of alliances, those we protected provided the rest in return for what we offered. Commerce in the way that humans conduct it is not an activity we ever saw a need for.” He positioned Mary's arms out to her sides.

She squirmed a little when he began to apply the lotion to her breasts, but the relaxation quickly returned. She let her body go limp again. “There was trade with other clans, though.”

“Barter, yes. For the things that could not be made within the clan. There was no set cost of an item though, it was based on need or want. If both parties were satisfied with the deal, the trade would be made. Esme is uncomfortable wading in to your more complex economy.” His voice was soft. His hands lingered longer on her breasts than they had on her arms and shoulders. That was fine with Mary.

“It's a different world, though.”

He started to rub the lotion over her swollen tummy. “Calvus has been trying to convince her of that. Now that Cerex has been awakened, I am not certain that adjusting to a new economy will be her top priority.”

Mary was silent for a few minutes, both enjoying his touch and the deep relaxation that followed, and trying to frame the next question. Relaxed as she was, she didn't want to offend him.

“Ask.” He murmured.

“Ask what?”

“The question that has been on everyone's mind since Cerex woke.” He said. His tone hadn't shifted, and there was no anger in his words. For the first time, his hands stopped moving. Mary looked up at him.

“Were all concubines treated so badly?” She asked.

“No.” His hands started to move again. She could hear the edge of anger and disgust in his voice. “In fact, I have never seen one that was so brutalized. If it were not for the fact that her owner was leader of his clan she would have been released. Now you and then others think we are the demons we appear to be.”

“No, that's not-”

“You were all horrified, I saw your faces.” He said. His hands had stopped moving, he just held her close.

“Well, yes we were.” Mary admitted. She turned a little more toward him. “I don't think any of us were expecting what we saw. I know I was shocked because you've always been so kind to me. I know your customs are different, but I guess I never saw them as violent for the sake of violence.”

“They are not. Even when we are violent with each other there are strict rules that govern what can and cannot occur. In most cases, even when death was an acceptable outcome it did not go that far. Violence to another outside of those narrow settings was always punished in some way. To treat another like that, I cannot even begin to imagine it.” He kissed Mary's temple. “Turn and face me so that I can reach your back.”

Mary turned slowly and let him guide her so that her spread legs rested over his. He pulled her forward gently, so that her body was closer to his. When she leaned forward to rest against him though, she felt as though she couldn't breathe.

“Wait, that's not good.” She backed away again.

“Are you in pain?” His hand rested on the side of her stomach.

“No, it feels like the baby is pressing against my diaphragm that way. Maybe if I lay down.” He helped her move back and then arranged the pillows for her. Mary settled into the little nest he had created for her, her back facing him.

“Is that better?” His hand rested on her hip.

“Much, thank you.”

“Good.” He kissed her shoulder lightly, and started to work the lotion into her back and down to her hip.

“Did Cerex say why he did all those things to her?”

“He injured her wing after she attempted to escape. The rest he did for his own pleasure.” He said. Even without looking at him, Mary could tell that the words left a bad taste in his mouth “I have never seen such depravity, nor can I understand how inflicting such extreme injuries on a female one is supposed to protect can bring pleasure. Even in all my anger at Bergit, the punishments I inflicted were meant more to humiliate her than injure her. They left no permanent mark and I would have been horrified if they had.”

“Protect?” Mary asked. If she hadn't been so relaxed she would have turned to look at him. “I didn't get the impression that concubines were very well-cared for.”

“Not in the same way that a male protects his mate, no. There is an obligation though, much like the one Jerel has to Kitra. At the very least, the laws of decency apply.” He said. His hands moved down over her leg to her foot.

“Esme said you disliked the idea, even before.” Mary said.

“She is right. I disliked the idea of one female be lesser than another for something that she had no control over. If one proves herself less worthy than another through her own actions, that is something different.”

“Have you told Robbie all of this?” She asked.

“He has not asked.” Aiden said. “None of the others have asked anything.”

“Maybe they don't know how. You said yourself that they were shocked. Maybe they're still processing it all.”

“Can you turn onto your other side?” He asked.

“Yes, if you'll move the pillows.” Mary said. She sat up slowly and he rearranged the pillows so that she could be comfortable on her other side. Once again, he started at her back and worked down to her hip, chasing the tension from her muscles. For a few minutes, silence reigned.

“You think that speaking to Robbie will help the others understand?” He asked.

“I don't know, but I'm pretty sure they're probably already asking him questions.” Mary said.

“I will seek him out after you fall asleep.” He said. His hands moved down her other leg, banishing tension and ache as they went.

“I don't think that'll take very long. That lotion and your hands are a magical combination.” She smiled a little.

“I worried you would fear me.” He said. His hand lingering on her thigh.

“No.” She opened her eyes and smiled up at him. “You're the best thing that ever happened to me.”

He kissed her, his lips lingering on hers for a long, luxurious moment. “And I feel the same about you, child.”

He lay down behind her, one arm resting just under her breasts. Mary closed her eyes and left herself drift off to sleep wrapped in a perfect mix of Aiden's warm, spicy scent, and the sweet lavender aroma.

*~*~*~*~*~*

For most of the first day of her enforced rest, Mary slept. She hadn't realized how hard she'd been pushing herself to keep up with everyone else until she wasn't doing it anymore. She was almost glad that no one but Nigel had stopped in to see how she was during the day. In the evening, Aiden spent several hours with her before going out to hunt, and after he returned to apply more of the lavender lotion to her skin. It had the same affect as the night before, and she was asleep again before she knew it.

The next morning she felt much better than she had in quite awhile. She got up, called down to the kitchen for breakfast, dressed in comfy sweats, then stretched out on top of the covers with a book. She was surprised when Robbie came in along with Maureen and her breakfast tray.

“You're looking well-rested.” He smiled.

“Thanks. I'm feeling better than I was the other night.” She said. When Maureen finished setting up the food and coffee on a small table in the sitting room, she left.

“I'm glad to hear it.” He said.

She moved to get up and he offered his hand. Mary took it gratefully. He held her arm while she sat at the table as well.

“You know I stopped in yesterday around this time and you were sleeping.” He said.

“You should have woke me up.” Mary started with the sausages on the plate. They were overdone, just the way she liked them.

“I most certainly should not have.” He said, and poured himself some coffee. “You were sleeping and that's exactly what you needed. I don't think we should have pushed you so hard to wake Cerex so soon after the other attempt. It caused you to draw too heavily on your energy reserves.”

“How is Cerex? Has she met everyone yet?” Mary asked.

He took a sip of his coffee. “She has, though as to how she is, I'm not sure how to answer that. She's still terrified, although that seems to be starting to ease. Esme never leaves her side. She's started to learn a bit of English as well. Hopefully that will help her feel more at ease.”

Mary watched him closely. “There's more to that story.”

He smiled. “You know me too well. Andy and his little group think that this is some sort of a sign that the gargoyles are too barbaric to live in today's world. The others reminded him that what Cerex suffered was an aberration and that there are humans who do the same kinds of unspeakable things to their partners.”

“Have you talked with Aiden?” Mary asked.

“Yes, that first night. I don't think I've ever seen him so troubled.”

“I know he's worried about what the others think.” Mary said. She finished the sausages and moved on to the banana. It was the first time she'd been able to stomach fruit in nearly a week.

“And he's worried about you.” Robbie said.

“I wish he wouldn't worry about me. There's so much else on his plate.” Mary stroked her swollen stomach.

“But you and the baby are the only ones that he loves.” Robbie smiled a little. Mary looked up at him with a weak smile. “What's wrong?” He asked.

“All of this happened at the wrong time.” Mary said. Her voice cracked as she fought back tears. “It was the wrong time to get pregnant, now if something doesn't happen to end all this...” She couldn't finish the thought. Speaking it out loud would only make it seem worse.

He took her hand. “Everything happened at the right time. If the timing wasn't right, it simply wouldn't have happened. That's how life is.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

After Robbie left, Mary stretched out in bed to read, but promptly fell asleep. She woke about an hour before dinner when Nigel knocked. He seemed thrilled to find her resting and looking so refreshed. Ramona, Caroline and Veronica had dinner with her that evening. She got to hear all about Ramona's sister's third marriage breaking up and Veronica's granddaughter's desire for a belly button piercing. It was a wonderful frivolous conversation that almost made her feel as if everything in the world was normal. Mary had an strange feeling that it wasn't though. She couldn't explain why she felt that way, or even what the feeling might mean, but she couldn't shake it either.

After they left, Esme and Cerex came in. Esme wanted to check on Mary and drop off a fresh supply of the lavender lotion. Cerex came along because she didn't feel comfortable without the older female. Mary was only too happy to let Cerex practice her limited English and to teach her a few new words as well.

The next day was very much the same. People dropped by to visit, she napped and then Aiden came in to spend time with her until she fell asleep for the night. In all, it was almost idyllically peaceful, and a time that Mary was almost sorry to see end. The feeling of something brewing was still with her though.

The next few days were almost as calm. Mary spent time downstairs, but she still disappeared to nap when she needed to, and she still watched the crowd when she got a free moment. There was something different about them now. To Mary it didn't look like there were as many as before, and all of them weren't perfectly still like before either. Every so often she would catch a flicker of movement from one of them. Those movements were few and far between though. She was almost able to convince herself that she hadn't seen anything at all. Almost.

The feeling that something was changing clung to her, surprising her in quiet moments with its intensity and staying just on the edges of her consciousness like an itchy mosquito bite that could be ignored. Aiden noticed her unease and did his best to help her relax before bed. It worked for awhile. She was able to sleep for about four hours before she woke up again. By that time she had to go to the bathroom anyway. Convincing herself that a cup of tea would be relaxing was a fairly easy step.

In the quiet downstairs hall, Mary noticed that there was a soft light drifting out from the the library. The quality of the light made her think it was most likely from her computer. She smiled a little, figuring it was probably Meris. She made her tea and then went in to join him.

She stood in the doorway for a minute, not wanting to startle him. His brows were drawn together, his eyes were intent on the screen. “You look more comfortable with that.” She said softly.

“Z'tavick, are you familiar with Twitter?” He asked, not looking up.

“I've heard of it, I don't have an account though. Why?” She walked closer and set her tea on the desk.

“I do.” He said, looking up at her for the first time.

“You do?” Mary couldn't keep the surprise out of her voice.

He moved a chair so that she could sit. “I do not post anything, I did not think it would be wise. I do follow others though.”

“Who?” Mary asked curiously.

“It began with the news agencies you directed me to. Then celebrities they mentioned often. Eventually I began to follow ordinary people. I wanted to know what people do, what they think about, how they experience their lives. Right now this is the only way I can do that.” He spoke quickly, as if she were going to reprimand him.

Mary smiled. “I think that's a really good idea actually.”

A smile whispered across his features. “Thank you, Z'tavick.”

“You're still upset though.” She said.

He nodded. “It seems this house, and the crowd surrounding it has become a topic of speculation and discussion.”

“What?” Mary's eyes widened, bells started ringing in her head. That's why the crowd seemed different. “What are they saying?”

“At first it was simply a curiosity, but that sparked further interest in others. Now speculation is rampant about what draws the crowd, what is going on in here, and why no one can get past your boundaries.” He said. “Tonight I found that there is an extensive photo gallery on another website.” He turned the computer a little and Mary clicked on the series of photos.

Most of them just showed the exterior of the house in the daylight. They were all from too far away to show any detail of what might be happening inside. Someone did get a long distance shot of the gargoyles when they were resting. Mary began to click through more quickly. There was a night shot that showed some the empty blocks where an awakened gargoyle had left for the nighttime hours. It was only sheer luck someone hadn't captured one of them leaving or returning. The second to last photo made her stop.

It was a picture of the gates and crowd beyond. Her mouth went dry.

“This was taken from the house.” Mary said. She started to get up and lost her balance. Meris took her hand and steadied her while she stood.

“Z'tavick?” He asked.

“Get Aiden and the others. I'll try to figure out who I can trust and wake them up.”