The walk back to the antique shop was a journey through a tempest of Freya's conflicting emotions.The lingering intimacy shared with Myra warred with the unsettling knowledge that her presence was already vilge gossip, compounded by the weight of Amelia's unopened letter and the disquieting encounter with Gareth. Her mind raced, each thought colliding with the next in a dizzying spiral of uncertainty.
She realized with a jolt that despite the intimacy they had shared, she knew very little about the intricacies of Myra’s life in the vilge, the ties that bound her to this community and its people. The revetion that her presence in the shop was already vilge gossip was unsettling. It was highly likely, Freya reasoned, that Myra had mentioned her name to someone, perhaps her grandmother, and that news had spread through the familiar channels of vilge talk. That much was logical.
However, Myra’s frantic behavior, the almost desperate way she had pulled Gareth away, was far more perplexing. What is she so afraid of? Freya wondered, her brow furrowing. Why the sudden urgency to get him away from me? The protective stance Myra had initially taken was understandable, but the subsequent flight felt different, tinged with a fear that Freya couldn’t quite decipher.
As Freya’s thoughts swirled with the ache of Myra’s absence, a cold tendril of doubt snaked its way into her heart, a feeling she hadn’t allowed herself to entertain seriously before. Could it be? she wondered, the question echoing in the quiet of the shop. Was Myra’s affection not as wholehearted as I had so desperately believed? Was she perhaps harboring feelings for that mortal, Gareth? The thought was a sharp, unwelcome pang in her ancient heart. The ease with which Myra had taken Gareth’s arm, the familiarity of their interaction before the interruption, the way they stood together, smiling… it all painted a picture that starkly conflicted with the tender intimacy they had so recently shared. The possibility, however painful, hung heavy in the air, casting a long shadow of uncertainty over the beautiful connection Freya had dared to believe they were building.
A frown creased Freya’s brow as she considered Gareth. He seemed… familiar with Myra, she mused, a knot tightening in her stomach. The way he spoke, the easy assumption of their shared history… it felt possessive, somehow. A sharp, unfamiliar emotion pricked at her, a feeling akin to a territorial growl deep within her chest. Why did Myra not correct him when he spoke so casually? Why the flushed cheeks and the nervous energy in her eyes? The memory of their passionate embrace moments before now felt tainted, overshadowed by this unexpected encounter. He looked at me with such btant curiosity… and something else. She couldn't quite pce it, but it felt like a challenge, an unspoken cim on Myra that stirred a possessiveness within Freya she hadn't known she possessed. What is this unwelcome sensation? It feels… hot and sharp, like a sudden, unexpected wound.
"He is… presumptuous," Freya murmured to the empty road, her voice low and tinged with a newfound sharpness. His smile did not reach his eyes when he looked at Myra, but when he turned to me… there was a different kind of interest. An assessing gaze, as if trying to gauge my worth, my pce in Myra's life. A wave of something akin to anger washed over her, surprising in its intensity. He speaks of 'harmless fun,' yet his friends’ behavior was anything but. And his knowing tone about the shop… it felt like an intrusion. The protective instincts she felt for Myra fred, mixed with a confusing, almost painful sensation whenever she recalled the easy familiarity between Myra and Gareth. This… this must be what mortals call jealousy. The realization was unsettling, a raw and unfamiliar emotion for an being as ancient as she. It is an unwelcome guest, this feeling. A sign of… what? Vulnerability? Attachment? The thought was both disturbing and strangely compelling.
Freya continued her solitary walk, the moonlight now feeling less romantic and more like a stark spotlight illuminating her confusion. Did I misread everything? she wondered, the question echoing in the quiet of the night. Was tonight just a fleeting moment for Myra, a temporary escape from her familiar life? The memory of Myra’s passionate embrace, her whispered words of affection, warred with the image of her hurrying Gareth away. Could she be leading a life of duplicity, caught between the allure of something new and the comfort of the old? The weight of centuries, the countless times she had witnessed fleeting human affections, pressed down on her. Am I just another passing fancy, a momentary distraction in Myra’s young life. The vulnerability she had allowed herself to feel tonight now felt like a painful exposure, a foolish opening of her ancient heart to the unpredictable nature of mortals. The thought stung, a cold premonition settling deep within her.
Back within the familiar, dusty confines of the antique shop, Freya felt an acute sense of loneliness settle over her. The air, still faintly scented with Myra’s fragrance and the lingering warmth of their shared intimacy, now felt heavy with her absence. The silence of the shop, once a comforting embrace, now echoed with her uncertainty. She wandered through the shadowed aisles, her fingers trailing over forgotten relics, each object a reminder of fleeting moments and the eventual passage of time.
A sigh escaped her lips, a sound heavy with a sudden mencholy. Perhaps I was foolish to hope for something sting, she mused, the earlier warmth of the evening now a stark contrast to the chill that had crept into her heart. Yet, a small ember of hope refused to be extinguished entirely. Maybe tomorrow… perhaps Myra will come back. We can talk. I need to understand what happened, what she truly feels.
Freya tried to push back the negativity, to cling to the genuine affection she had felt in Myra’s embrace. She offered herself to me. That couldn’t have been a lie. She reminded herself of Myra’s words of love, her eager participation in their shared intimacy. There must be a reason for her reaction tonight. Something I don’t understand about her world. With a conscious effort, Freya attempted to rekindle the positive feelings of the evening, to believe that their connection was real and worth fighting for. Tomorrow, she resolved, a flicker of determination in her crimson eyes, tomorrow I will know the truth.
With a sigh, Freya reached into the hidden pocket of her coat and withdrew the sealed envelope. The crisp paper felt heavy in her hand, a tangible symbol of the uncertainty that now clouded her thoughts. She stared at the Valerius crest for a long moment, the elegant insignia a stark reminder of a past she thought she had left behind. Turning the envelope over and over, she debated whether to break the seal, to confront whatever news Amelia had deemed important enough to send. But the current turmoil in her heart, the unresolved questions about Myra, made the prospect of dealing with old entanglements feel overwhelming. With a decisive movement, Freya walked over to an antique wooden desk tucked away in a dimly lit corner and slid the unopened letter into a locked drawer.
For tonight, at least, she would postpone confronting the past and focus on the uncertain future with Myra. The Valerius matters can hold, Freya thought, her gaze fixed on the darkened silhouette of the antique shop. Whatever news Amelia brings, it cannot be more pressing than this… this unraveling with Myra. A wave of longing, sharp and insistent, washed over her. I need to understand. I need to know if what we shared was real. The unopened letter suddenly felt like a distant concern, a muted echo compared to the urgent beating of her own ancient heart. Yes, she decided firmly, the letter could wait; my heart could not."
