Whispering Suits

I wake up in bed, the room is dark and I fumble around trying to find my bedside table. But, I can't find it. Then I notice that the bed I'm in feels different, it's much larger, and the sheets feel almost like silk. As my eyes adjust to the light, I feel my heart beating in my chest as the realisation hits me, this isn't my room. I try to remember what happened, but everything is blurry. Then, I catch sight of the red ring around my wrist and it all comes back to me. Cyrus, I must still be in his flat. I frantically feel myself but I'm still fully dressed and except for the ringing in my head nothing hurts. I finally find the edge of the bed, and swing my legs over the side. I check my pockets, but I can't find my phone or the tarot deck. I wonder if somehow Cyrus has taken it, but the deal we made said he couldn't touch it, and I have to believe he won't break our deal the same day we made it. At least, I think it's still the same day. I hear a noise coming from further inside the flat, I suppose sitting here isn't going to make things any clearer. I cautiously make my way out and through the flat. I check the living room, but it's empty. Though, I spot my tarot deck and phone on the table by the fire and relax a little. I check the deck, it doesn't look like it's moved since I placed it there. I slip the deck into my pocket and check my phone, and am somehow not surprised that the battery is dead. I've never been great at remembering to charge the damn thing, but I'm suddenly feeling very anxious to know I have no way of telling anyone where I am. I head back out down the corridor towards the whistling sound, I open a door and look into the kitchen. Cyrus is cooking something, something that smells really good. I'm not sure whether to disturb him, he looks weirdly at piece chopping and frying things. He must hear the door open behind him, because he half turns and grins at me as I finally make my way into the room. “Good, you're awake. I was a little worried the magic had been too much for you. How are you feeling?” he seems, different. Maybe he really has stopped the Faerie charm, I’m glad I thought to include it in the terms. “I'm…I'm doing ok. What happened, exactly? I remember making the deal…but then I can't remember anything, and I woke up in your bed…we didn't…” I feel awkward asking, I'm fairly certain he didn't do anything. But then again, I've though that before and been wrong. Cyrus looks almost insulted by the insinuation and shakes his head dramatically, putting down his knife and turning to face me. “No. Nothing like that. The spell, it's pretty powerful, and I hadn't realised you were sick or I wouldn't have cast it. You passed out, and I didn't think the living room floor was a super comfy place to hangout so I moved you to the spare bedroom. I swear. I would never take advantage of someone like that. Afterall” He paused and takes a step further. “If I wanted to bed you, I'd much rather you be a willing and able participant” he says, his voice deep and almost husky. He nearly had me then, for a moment I almost imagined he might be sincere. But it's all show, I half chuckle to myself. At least I can trust his word, if he had done something he'd have no reason to deny it. I feel myself relax ever so slightly, at least I can leave with my dignity. I look at him. “How long was I out? It feels like it's been…a while”. I hold up my phone to show it's dead. He gets this anxious awkward look on his face. “Erm…it's been a couple days.” He fiddles with his sleeve slightly as he talks, and I can see the red band on his wrist is glowing slightly. So, he really does have to tell me the truth. “Shit”. I say, and turn to leave. Gran will be worried sick. He reaches out to stop me, and though he doesn't actually touch me the action does make me pause. “What!?” I half shout at him, doesn't he understand that I have people who will worry about me. “Well, when you passed out…after a bit I figured you weren't waking up anytime soon. So, I used your phone to contact your family. As far as they know, you've spent the last two nights at a friends place”. I state at him, is he crazy. “Why on earth did you do that? Why couldn't you just have taken me home?” I can hear how ridiculous I sound. “Indigo, you were unconscious. And you made me agree not to go near your family. I couldn't take you home. But I didn't want them worrying about you…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you.” I stop at that. He seems genuinely upset. “Why do you care?” I ask, genuinely confused by why he seems to have changed since we made this deal. He sighs, and half turns away, I could be wrong but I could swear he is blushing. “The spell I cast. It didn’t just bind our deal, it seems to have bound me to you. I suppose you could say, I'm your protector now. So, I have a vested interest in your continued safety”. I laugh, actually laugh. All my worrying, all my anxiety about binding myself to a Faerie, and this deal has clipped his wings. It's like taming a lion, his claws and teeth might still frighten me, but he cannot hurt me. Better yet, those claws and teeth now aim to protect me. He seems annoyed by my laughing. I finally settle down. “I'm sorry, but you have to see the humour of it. You thought you were trapping me under your control, but it seems things have ended up rather the other way around. You have to admit, it's kind of funny”. His face softens a little as I talk, and the look in his eyes makes my heart flutter a little. I don't mention that he's not supposed to be using any Faerie charm on me, afterall I shouldn't kick the lion while it's down. “I suppose, I could see why you'd find it amusing” he quips back. He turns back to the hob. “My point is, you aren't expected home right away. So you might as well have some food before you go. Don't worry” he casts an eye back over his shoulder. “No funny business, it's normal human food. I just figured it might be nice to actually talk, now that our deal is made. But, if you have to rush off, I suppose I can eat all this food on my own”. He finishes plating up the meal, it looks like steak with stir-fry veg and it smells heavenly. I feel my stomach rumble, between being sick and the spell knocking me out I can't remember when I last ate proper food. “Okay” I say, “I suppose it would be rude to waste this food”. Cyrus carries the plates and leads me to the living room. I thought we might talk, but we end up eating in almost total silence except for the music Cyrus has on. After we finish, he sees me out and I'm surprised to find a car waiting for me downstairs. He tell them my name is Indy, and that they're to drive me wherever I want. He gives me a card, and tells me to call that number any time I need a lift and they'll pick me up. He reminds me of our next lesson, and tells me to look after myself. I feel weird saying goodbye, and Cyrus seems to feel the same. It's awkward, this deal we have made seems to connect us somehow. But, we're still strangers, really. When I finally get in the car, I let out a deep breath. At least I can head straight home, and hope that there's a higher power that can save me from Grans wrath. As we drive, I look out the window and can see where the latest storm has felled a tree. I shiver slightly, winter seems so cruel. I make a mental note to ask Cyrus more about the courts and the seasons at our next lesson. At least next time, I can focus on getting answers rather than worrying about him trying to use his Faerie wiles on me. And yet, even today after the deal is in place, I found myself still being drawn to him. I feel a familiar pit in my stomach, and I have to repeat the mantra in my mind. I don't like him, even without a Faerie charm his glamour is still designed to be irresistible. It's all an illusion. I just have to keep that thought in mind.