Fables & Other Lies

“She’s not my lover.” He dropped his hand, letting the towel in his hand hang.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does to you.”

“Why would it matter to me?” I scowled, crossing my arms and glancing away, but my eyes got caught on our reflections in the mirror and on his golden flesh and ripped body.

“That’s a question you need to ask yourself.”

“No, I don’t.” I looked away from the mirror and up at his face. “What I need to do is get out of here.”

“You agreed to stay the week.”

“I know, and I will. That doesn’t mean I want to.”

He set his mouth into a thin line and nodded once before walking away from me. When he was gone, I shut the bathroom door and went about my business. I’d dragged the trunk of clothing in here yesterday and was grateful that it was still here. Today, I dressed in a dark green shift dress and black heels, hoping it would serve as the pick me up I needed to get through this. Two more days. I brushed out my hair from the braid I’d slept in and let it cascade over my shoulders. When I finished, I walked back into the bedroom, where I found River sitting on the daybed, reading the same book he was reading yesterday. He was wearing khaki pants, black loafers, and a white button-down shirt. He looked all the bit prep school graduate, the type that had a sailboat and an expensive vacation home somewhere along a coast. I couldn’t imagine that would be the case for River though.

“You done staring?” he asked, not looking up from his book.

“Yes.” I glanced toward the door. There was no use in denying that it was what I’d been doing.

“Good. Let’s go have some breakfast.” He shut the book with a loud thump and set it down.

“You’re not even going to mark your page?” I glanced at the book and back at him when he stood. Even with the three-inch heels I wore, he loomed over me. “Won’t you lose your place?”

“It won’t matter. I’ve read it before.” He started walking toward the door. I followed quickly, my heels clicking loudly against the marble.

“That huge book?” My eyes widened. “Why are you reading it again?”

“Why does anyone reread a book or rewatch a movie?” He looked over at me as we headed down the stairs. “It brings a sense of comfort.”

“I don’t read much.”

“That’s a pity.”

“Why’s it a pity?” I let out a laugh.

“I pity those who can’t get lost in fictional worlds.”

“Oh. I mean, I read magazines and message boards on the internet about old houses and photography, but I don’t read many books.”

“Like I said, pity.”

When we reached the first floor, I was surprised to see everything looked immaculate, as if there had been no party at all.

“Where’d everyone go?” I asked as we walked to the dining room.

“Home.”

“I thought you said they couldn’t get out of here.” I felt myself frown as I sat in the same chair I’d sat in yesterday. River took a seat across from me.

“The tide lowered and they were able to after all.”

“Hm.” My frown deepened. The food was already laid out for us and we dug in right away. Well, I did. River let me serve my plate first. I sipped on my coffee and looked up at him. “I saw you last night. You were a wolf.”

“A wolf?” He raised an eyebrow. “A protector. That’s what your kind would say about that dream.”

“My kind?” I let out a laugh. “You mean humans?”

“Sure.”

His answer gave me pause. He’d already told me he was human, but the way he said sure like that, so flippantly, filled me with turmoil. Even more so because I realized that despite myself, I wanted to believe in someone, maybe even dream a little like one of the characters in the fictional stories he liked to read. It didn’t make any sense, especially since by my own account I was dying to leave this place, but still. Far be it from crazy for me to be attracted to someone who didn’t even end up being part of the human race. Maybe he was lying and was really a ghost, like Esteban. I met his gaze. He was watching me closely. Waiting.

“Are you human?” I asked, my voice a near whisper.

“Back to this?” He chuckled. “I’m whatever you need me to be.”

“What does that mean?”

“If you want me to be a wolf, I’ll be a wolf. If you want me to be your lover, I’ll be your lover.” His gaze darkened. “But yes, I am human. I’m not a ghost or some creature of the night if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“I’m not worried about it.” I cleared my throat, still trying to get over the lovers bit. “Why is it always so dark in here? Doesn’t it drive you mad?”