Chapter 20

                                    

                                          
Davina was making the best of a bad situation.
It was clear that nobody could be remotely happy with the news of Aiden's death. Andra hadn't known him very well (or at all, really), but she hated the idea of a relationship ending in such a violent way. She'd lost past partners in similar ways, and wouldn't even wish that pain upon her worst enemy. 
However, Davina was trying to think positively, trying to figure out the best way to continue onward even with this horrible event. While Andra prepared the weapons she figured she'd need once the plan kicked off, Davina held Landon, thinking of what Marcel had told him.
My girls.
And that was no accident. There was absolutely no way he didn't mean to say it, deep down. He knew it, Andra knew it. Davina and Landon even knew it.
She and Josh had thought of setting them up, but what if there wasn't need for that anymore? What if she just had to encourage one of them to speak up?
Andra was there, so available, with no idea what was coming... 
"I think I really like Kol," murmured Davina when Andra was trying to pick between three slightly different spears. "I started thinking about what I might do if I ever lost him, and I don't think I could survive it. I thought I liked Tim in the same way. But things were different then, I'm different now."
The golem glanced up between her lashes, not at all stupid. All she could hear while sorting the knives was 'my girls'repeated over and over again. Marcel's perfect lips and comforting voice and that smile and those muscles and that not-too-strong but still beautifully-scented cologne she was starting to associate with happiness. It was making it hard to concentrate on her sorting.
"Just remember one thing," said Andra. "How much older Kol is than you. I know they say now age is just a number– often in very strange contexts– but in this case you should consider it. Mainly because you are still very young, a teenager. And while he may act like a teenager and was stuck as one, he isn't a teenager, he hasn't been one in a long time. He's seen kingdoms all across the world, he's had all sorts of relationships, experiences that make him far more mature. Not to mention his reputation. The killing, the bloodlust, the inappropriate games he would play. Marcel told me about the time Kol compelled actors to perform a play and he witnessed people being stabbed. Kol almost turned him by force when he was eleven. All of Marcel's warnings are for a reason. He worries because he knows what Kol is capable of. I like to believe people can change but never forget what they've done in the past. Maybe he is a better man now but he is still capable of gruesome things and can flip as easily as a switch if provoked."
"I know," said Davina. "He is just... so funny and sweet with me, he teaches me all this magic and when I see him, I see a future, I see possibility..." she hesitated, "Have you felt that before? How do you even... go about it, once you know? I don't know if I should say something to him or if I should do something different now that I'm aware..."
"I've been in love a few times in the past. I've learned to just seize the moment and say what you feel. Unless there is a really strong reason not to. I don't think anything is really stopping you from telling Kol how you feel. It's up to you. I just worry, Davina, but I know that after what you've been through... I have no right to command you to do one thing or another. I only hope you are smart with your choices and you really listen to your gut if something feels wrong. And never forget that I am here to help you. If you ever feel odd or just need to talk something out, I want you to feel you can talk to me about it. I won't judge you and I won't tell Marcel... unless it is really bad. In which case I will skin Kol alive myself."
Davina smiled. "Yeah, that's a good point. What's stopping you, then?"
Andra stared at her for a moment, lips curling upward when Davina stared back as intensely as she could. "It would be dangerous for all parties. And I'm not sure I can handle another loss. You're young, you still have a lot to learn, mistakes to be made that, while we hope you don't have to suffer for them, do technically help a person grow. I've lived my life, I know what to look out for and this... this scares me."