And the peace of sleep finally called to me. When I returned to my bed, I closed my eyes and the weariness and fears of just a few hours ago was now replaced by a feeling of deep seated calm.
I knew exactly what had to be done.
The farce of a ceremony had been going on for close to three hours now, and the anticipation and buzz was electric. Soon Psyche would be presented to her “betrothed,” it was time to set my plan in place.
I’d stood beside the King and Queen the entire time, in the background. Unable to be seen by all, even my own mother.
When I sensed movement at my back, I knew it was time.
The king’s guards were bringing out the rat. A train of men held each of its chains, they heaved and grunted as they fought to neutralize the beast’s furious strength.
Without saying a word, I waved my fingers and suddenly a cloak of invisibility fell over the rat. The guard’s cried out, shocked and surprised by what they believed was the sudden vanishing of the monster.
I stepped into the light.
“It is still there. Simply hidden, so as not to frighten the dignitaries who’ve come to witness this momentous occasion.” As though on cue the rat grunted and the men all stiffened, resuming their tug and pull on the monster.
I had only minutes before mother would demand to know why I’d cloaked the monster in shadow.
I had to find Psyche.
Just as I was about to fly off in search of her though, she came out. She had a blindfold over her eyes and her maidens were gently guiding her out of the tunnel they’d been walking through.
With my heart in my throat, I walked quickly over toward them. Holding a finger up to my mouth. Silently telling them to be quiet and say nothing.
Then I took Psyche’s small hand in mine and guided her a distance away from the others so we would not be heard.
She trembled violently, and I could sense the fear in her.
I wanted to stroke her. To touch her. To hug her. But I could do none of those things.
Instead, I leaned into her ear and pressed my mouth to it. Speaking quietly above the raucous din of the drunk crowd.
“Do you trust me?”
She gasped, leaned back, and I could tell she was trying to peer at me through the scarf tied around her head. “You are—”
I gently laid a finger over her mouth, silencing her words. Touching her felt like touching a live wire. A bomb. There was nothing in this time that could come close to what I was feeling right now, but I’d once flown to the future of humanity and had watched as they’d set off an atomic bomb in the deserts of the Americas. Touching Psyche felt a lot like that.
“Do you trust me?” I whispered in her ear again.
She did not hesitate.
She nodded.
I swallowed forcefully.
“No matter what you think you hear, what you smell, or what you feel, know that it is all a lie. You are safe, female. Always safe. I will leave you now. We can never see one another again. But know that you have changed me. Forever. And for that,” I held up her hand and gently, tenderly, kissed her knuckles, “I will forever be indebted to you.”
Then without a backwards glance, I released her and went to find my mother.
She was easy enough to spot, sitting like a queen upon the raised dais erected in her honor. She smirked when she saw me. “And where have you been, my naughty boy? Look how they worship me,” she sighed. “Come,” she patted the space beside her, “let us watch the culmination of all my hard work. The beast comes no—”
The words suddenly died upon her tongue as the guardsmen dragged what looked like air into the center square. But the chains rattled and the sounds of the beast could be heard above the din.
“Why is it invisible!” she hissed, twirling instantly to glare at me.
I nodded, the time to be brave was now. Keeping up my calm façade, I shrugged. “There is nothing more frightening than the unknown. Also, there are children. I thought it wise that you, a just and good goddess would consider them.”
I knew my words moved her as the temper began to cool. She sniffed. “Fine. You are right, of course, I must think of the children. I only wish she could have seen the horrors I