The Strings That Attach

Chapter Eight

We finished up dinner with some light-hearted conversations. Nylisa looks about ready to pounce out the door, so I give her a quick look telling her to get her final things ready. I slip on my shoes and verify with Ash that she can handle the kids for a few minutes. I wait by the front door for what feels like forever but was probably only 10 minutes.

"Nes, I thought you were ready before dinner," I say with an eye roll. She comes out looking even more beautiful, and I smile, "trying to impress, I see."

She glares at me, and I smile. I swing the door open and let her lead the way there.

"So, do I get to meet him?" I look at her expectantly.

"No, it doesn't matter anyway," She just looks straight ahead and keeps walking. She's trying so hard to keep it together. She keeps tapping her thumb on each finger, from index to pinky. If she messes up, she shakes her hand several times and starts again. She has done this since she was a little girl; I think it helps calm her down. We walk the rest of the way in comfortable silence, and I make sure not to mess her up.

As we round this corner, we stop. I look over at her, and she starts to pull at her fingers.

"It's just up there," She points to three houses down. "Wait here for about ten minutes in case things go bad. I'm going to tell him right away, and don't wait four hours; that will be too hard. Come back in two, please."

I nod. "I will be back in two hours, and please don't try to walk home by yourself in the dark. It's not safe," I grab her hand, "and I really am sorry, Nes. I wish things could be different."

"It's okay," she takes a deep calming breath, "it's okay," this time I believe she more said it to herself. She turns around and heads to the door.

She knocks on the door, and an older woman opens it. Well, at least we know it's not an old man she's seeing, and he still lives with his parents. The older woman backs up slightly, and I see a handsome younger man bring her in. He places his hand on her back, and I can already tell her ends are starting to come undone. Finally, the door closes behind them.

I wasn't planning on leaving at all and just waiting for her. However, I will go into some of the still open shops and try to get everyone some stuff they may enjoy, helping lift their spirits. I wait an extra five minutes to be safe, and she seems okay. I brought one silver with me that I will allow myself to spend. I haven't spent like this before, and I am slightly nervous.

I walk down the street to a clothing boutique to see if I can get everyone a new pair of shoes. I begin to look around at the tags and shudder at all the prices. I can afford them with one silver, but it's so hard to spend like this. I grab a pair of shoes for Nylisa, a pair of black boots; Elidy, a pair of blue shoes; and Alsira, a pair of soft pink shoes, all in one size bigger than what they wear so they can wear them longer. I then grab everyone new undergarments, including me, as I have started to run low. Finally, I grabbed a new dress for both girls, a new pair of pants, and a shirt for Elidy. I gather everything and bring it to the store owner.

"Lovely items you have today," she smiles warmly and does the math for what I will pay. "Okay, that is 80 coppers today." Her smile got bigger when she heard that number.

"Can I grab something else really quick, then?" I ask, and she looks confused.

"Oh, um, yes, of course, I will just place your items over here for now." She sounds glum.

"I'm coming back, I promise. I want to spend my whole silver," I smile at her, and she smiles wider.

I started to walk around again and found a small section for weapons. It has a bunch of different sheaths for different-sized weapons. I palm my new knife that "Riv" bought for me and look at a couple. My eyes fell on the prettiest leg sheath I have ever come across. The part that wraps around the leg is a comfortable black fabric that connects to a purple sheath. On the sheath, some black and gold Achilleas are embroidered throughout. Achilleas is a rare flower to be seen in art, such as embroidery, which makes it extra unique.

This sheath looks like it was made for this blade. Not only do the colors align perfectly, but it is also covered in my mom's favorite flower. I quickly grab it off the wall and head back to the owner.

"Okay, add this on," I say quickly before I can change my mind. I start going over all the ways I can reason that with myself. Buying myself a twenty-copper gift is something that I would never dream of doing. But I had the extra money, and it would make life easier to hold it this way than in my shoe.

"Have a great day, and thank you so much," the shop owner says, waving me out. Then, I head back to Nylisa. After a couple of steps, I decide to put on my new sheath and start carrying my knife with me. I pull out the knife and look at my dress when I realize there isn't an easy way to get my knife from my leg.

My dress has a good amount of layers on the sides, and it would be easy to hide a slit on the side. Gently, I take the knife and slice a slit in the seam of my dress, making an opening long enough to fit my hand, and the dagger hilt through.

I give another quick look around to make sure I'm alone. I slip into the leg sheath and cover it again with my dress. Then I test it out. I try to subtly slip my hand into the opening and quickly pull out the dagger. I smile at how easy that was. I could probably hold the opening together with a button that would only take a second to open. I could modify all my clothes this way.

As I walk back to the house Nylisa is staying at; I start thinking of all the ways I can adjust and train like this. I should practice using a dagger, especially when it feels like I'm about to walk into a wolf den.

I knock on the door to get Nylisa out, as she always knows exactly when she needs to be ready. I don't even get to three knocks before she swings the door open. Tears ruin her makeup, but she still looks beautiful. Even her boyfriend looks devastated and has a couple of tears.

"I'm sorry," I tell them both, and they turn towards each other. They hug one last time as she sobs harder. She leans up and gives him a big kiss that makes even me blush a little. But that could be the embarrassment of me standing here while it happens.

They pull away, and she runs over to me. I give him a shake of my head as a goodbye, and we start to walk off. Nylisa has always been a strong kid who always hid her pain. I would always try to get her to open up to me, but the closest I got was that she didn't want to burden me. I just wish she would know that I am always here for her and that her pain will never be a burden.

I hold her tight and rub her shoulder as we walk. I don't say anything because there is nothing to say. The only thing that will fix this wound is time, and that is something I cannot give her. So, I hold her and whisper nothings into the air. She cried all the way home, and I just kept holding her.

"I saved up a whole silver and bought everyone something they really needed. I promise I did not take anything out of our regular budget. Do you want yours now? Or I can wait to give it to you in your room if you want to be alone." I try to list all her options but realize I'm rambling.

She dries her eyes and rubs off the last makeup, "No, I want to be around you all right now," She looks down and does that finger thing again, "I don't want to be alone right now."

I gently grab her chin and meet her gaze. Another tear runs down her cheek, but no more after that. "Anything you want, we will always be here for you." I wipe away her last tear and give her a small smile. "Let's go in."

I open the door for her and walk in. I know she will want me to pretend the walkback didn't happen. That is just between me and her.

"Hey guys, I got everyone something," I shout to the other two. Ash knows she didn't get anything because she can afford her things herself.

I lay out everyone's shoes and undergarments, and everyone looks pleased. I look down at the hole forming in the toe of my boots and sigh. I should've bought myself new shoes and not this stupid knife sheath. I sigh and accept it. What's done is done.

"Okay, everyone. We have a couple of things to do before we go to bed. Everyone must pack whatever they got from their trunks and place it by the door. Then we must go to bed and be up early for when they come." I start directing everyone to their locations and get them to bed.

(Sorry it has been so long since I updated. The holidays were a struggle at work and I had no time to write. I hope to be good now and back to normal updates.)