“The bakery took a while,” Anax commented as Patience slipped him on again in her room.

“I may have run into someone,” she muttered.

“That hunter!” Anax gasped.

“Don’t worry. He didn’t harm me … but he did rough me up some in other ways,” Patience sighed. She undressed and reclined on the bed to show the skull the aftermath of her meeting.

“Did he force you?” Anax roared.

“No! Not at all—”

He snorted, “You let him do that to you?”

“I wasn’t entirely opposed,” Patience’s voice seeped from between pensive lips. Back in the relative safety of her hotel room, the girl breathed easier resting atop the sheets. “C-could you please clean me?”

The skull huffed, which Patience took as an affirmation. She pulled the tip of Anax’s snout to her sternum. Only able to see the dark recesses of Anax’s skull, Patience closed her eyes. Cold vapor fell across her shoulders as Anax began to coalesce. The soft bedspread cradled her naked body while the creature ran ropey tendrils over her, cleaning off any trace left by Valon.

Anax brushed the fresh bite marks and clicked his nonexistent tongue, “This hunter though …”

“Are you going to give me life lessons now?”

“No. I don’t blame you. Were he one of my kind, he would have many potential mates clamoring for his attention. He certainly is experienced, strong—very strong …”

Anax formed his thick arm and clawed hand. Patience only knew by feeling his forearm caress her belly, his fingers traveling down her waist.

“BUT,” Anax scowled, “I can’t share my pet! I do not approve of him marking you!”

“I know, but it meant nothing! All a part of negotiations. I’m talking him down.”

“With your body?” he rasped, clutching at her mound.

“Yes. Well—trying to,” Patience grunted.

“Is this something humans do?”

“They can. Human culture is varied and complicated.”

Anax relaxed his hold. He growled incoherently as he continued sweeping his hands and tendrils across her skin. One soft digit slid against her gap.

“Be gentle,” sighed Patience, “I’m still recovering. He was a bit rough.”

“Of course, Pet.”

Anax inserted a tendril and began excavating Valon’s remnants.

“You will get everything out? I’m not trying to carry a child.”

“Worry not. I’m thorough.”

Patience was not sure of the science behind it, or if it was magic, but Anax collected every last bit of dross from Valon around his coil. She imagined it was easier to target this foreign matter than the bloody material her own body made. Anax deposited the gunk in the wash basin to be cleaned out later by housekeeping.

She must have won some of Valon’s attention, though how much of that was diverted from seeking Anax, she did not know. She only knew she had to lead the dog away, and break his train of thought with a tasty morsel.

However, seeing both sides of the man made Patience sympathize with him all the more. She had intimately experienced his physical prowess and bore witness to his helplessness. Disease, a curse upon men. A war which never seemed to end. Patience scrunched her eyes and fists as past visions of her gaunt parents coughing and hacking filled her mind. She shook her head free from the darkest memories. The ways in which a body could decay while still holding onto life disturbed the girl the most.

“Perhaps Valon’s right …” said Patience, “Suppose you could actually help him recover. That—that could help revolutionize medicine!”

“And what? Have my kind hunted?”

“No, you’re sentient beings. I’m sure scientists could simply take samples of your bodies—”

Anax hissed, “I’ve done enough reading from your library to be wary. Do you really think with your species’ history of how they’ve treated their own kind that is likely to be the most they’ll do?”

“Wizards might be able to replicate the samples and—”

“Honestly, Pet, you’re getting ahead of yourself,” he snapped, “I’m not going to help him.”

“Anax …”

“What has he done for you? Naught but give you a good basting.”

She clenched her teeth. His tone grated her nerves. Patience raised her hands, threatening to remove the skull.

“Right. Run away from the discussion!”

She pounded her fist into the bed. He was right. Outside, the sounds of people going about their day drifted through the open gap in the window. How the girl wished to walk among them freely with the only decision weighing on her mind being what to choose for supper. She sniffed. Casting aside the possible advancements in medical science, her thoughts drifted into the wallows of self-pity.

Anax had a deep desire to see and experience new things. Doubts of whether she was fit to chaperone him rose in her chest. It took so much to get her to make this simple trip. She was not an adventurer. She enjoyed the comforts to which she was accustomed. Indeed, she was slowly creeping out of her cave, but perhaps Anax had little patience for baby steps. There must also come a time when he would grow bored of her, of her body.

“At full health, Valon might be a good life-donor,” Patience began. Perhaps Anax would do better with a different human. She swallowed. “He’s well-traveled, has lived through a lot, and knows so much …”

“Why are you trying to convince me to take his offer?”

“I-it could help the two of you …” she mumbled. “He could be cured, and you … you could see the world.”

“See the wo—?” he spat before falling into silence.

The girl’s lip quivered.

Anax’s voice curdled, “Did you ever think that I don’t want to leave you?”

Patience inhaled sharply and held still. All this time she had not considered how Anax would feel. From the moment Valon proposed the offer, she had only wanted to keep Anax for herself. She never thought Anax wanted to keep her. He saw her as his pet, a possession even. Patience thought she was disposable, that Anax would want to move on at the prospect of something more exciting. Never did she entertain the thought that he treasured her so highly. Her heart dropped at the realization. A sad smile formed on her lips.

“Even if Valon took me through every square inch of the earth, it would not be as enjoyable as a week spent with you,” said the skull.

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“I didn’t know you felt that way about me,” breathed Patience.

“I like you,” Anax stated. “Even with a new agreeable life-donor—which he isn’t—I would miss your opinion on things, the way you do things, you.”

These simple words pulled Patience back into a dark sea. Tears pricked her eyes. “It’s just if you offered to try and help, we wouldn’t force his hand to take more extreme measures obtaining your skull,” she sputtered.

“Pet …” Anax cooed. He formed a tendril and tipped it to Patience’s chin. It felt a touch warmer from the shaft of sunlight shining on the girl and skull. “You don’t think I can take him? I will protect us.”

“Unless he has a whole field of lavender to burn,” she blurted. More tendrils formed and he coiled around her in a tender embrace. She wearily slumped into them, finding familiar comfort in this coastal town far from home.

“I’m not going to leave you,” he said.

For the rest of the day, Patience remained in Anax’s company. Save for a quick trip to the deli for a sandwich, a bottle of lemonade, and another sausage link, she passed the time in her room in Anax’s arms. When a maid came by to tidy up, they explored the lower floors. The girl felt slightly vindicated when heavy clouds spread over the sky, threatening more rain. Patience bemoaned her lost vacation, but a small part of her was glad to return home the next day.

Almost mockingly the morning sun shone brightly as Patience boarded the train. The beautiful blue sky reflected in the puddles left from last night’s shower. The girl groaned and found an empty seat, an easy task as there were only two other souls aboard her car. She made sure to keep a good distance from them. Placing her carpet bag on the bench opposite of her, Patience took Anax out and put him on again.

“We’ll be off soon,” she whispered.

Anax’s eye rolled to look around. A whistle blew and the train chugged into motion.

“I sent Schuler a telegram before we left the hotel. He should meet us when we get back.”

“Then can we look around Haverston tomorrow?”

“Seeing as how our vacation in St. Phocas was cut short, we can even stay a couple of nights.”

Anax trilled. She blew a puff of air into his snout.

Patience listlessly watched the fleeting swaths of grassland pass by her window. Her mind raced even faster than the locomotive. Nevertheless, the rocking of the car eventually lulled her to sleep. When she awoke, the landscape had transitioned into familiar lightly wooded countryside. The rest of the trip was spent in silent rumination.

By the time they arrived at Haverston station, night had long fallen. Few people roamed the streets as most of the townsfolk were home settling down for the evening. Alone on the platform waiting for Patience was Schuler, still dressed in his performance attire. The black fabric bunched at odd places and made him seem thinner than he was. Upon seeing the man’s gentle smile, the anxiety melted away from Patience’s stomach.

“Schuler!” she yelled, running into his arms.

“Patience! Did you enjoy your trip?”

Pulling back from him, she dipped her head. “A lot happened.”

A brief pale of worry passed over the musician’s face. He softened his expression. “You’ve had a long train ride. Let’s get you something to eat.”

He placed a hand on Patience’s shoulder and together they walked side by side into town. Patience kept her head down while Anax grumbled something about being ignored.

“‘M guessin’ you don’t wanna talk about it,” said Schuler. “Well, whenever you’re ready … In the meantime, I’ll tell you about today’s show.”

Patience listened attentively, letting the sound of the man’s voice guide her down the streets. Anax stared at the passing storefronts. The light from street lamps reflected in their windows, forming similar orbs to gaze back at him. Naturally, the skull was more interested in their surroundings than Schuler’s words.

The musician brought them to a pub. Open late a rougher cut of townsfolk made themselves comfortable in the wooden den. They quickly ordered at the bar and sat at an empty half-circle booth lit by a lone sconce. The hazy light did little to illuminate the dark nook. Perhaps it was for the best. The darkness provided another layer to hide Patience’s face that would have been too easily read otherwise.

Schuler stopped in the middle of outlining how he and his friend Whit managed to hide a stray puppy in the prop room. He leaned in slightly in an attempt to meet Patience’s eyes and placed a hand on hers.

“Are you all right?”

Patience nodded, petting her carpet bag next to her on the seat. “I’m just thinking …” she sighed, and then added, “about that puppy.”

“I was just getting to that. It’s a happy ending. One of the stage hands adopted it!” said Schuler. Her lie seemed to have thrown him off the trail for the time being.

Just then a server came with their drinks and food. A luscious ham hock steamed beside a stein of beer in front of Schuler. Patience looked down at her soda water and creamy stewed beef over noodles. Her mouth watered in realization of her gnawing hunger. As she lifted a forkful of meat into her mouth, her eye caught a small tendril reaching her plate. She smiled to herself and hoped Anax liked the taste of the beef.

Schuler took a swig from his stein and leaned back into the booth.

“It’s strange being here. Even after just a couple of weeks, my body’s itchin’ to roam to the next town. Granted, going between Keaton and Haverston alleviates it a little. But having a home base …” He chuckled to himself while digging into the ham hock, “Guess I gotta get used to a fixed lifestyle again.”

“W-would you want to keep traveling?” asked Patience, stabbing a cluster of noodles.

“Honestly, yes,” said Schuler, eyes shining with wonder.

For the first time in his presence, Patience felt distant from him.

“I feel like this is what I should be doing, you know?” His leg jiggled, the vibrations reaching Patience’s side of the booth. “After years of doing all I could to get by, every odd-job I took, I didn’t have time to focus on a dream.”

“I thought your dream was to become a professional musician,” said Patience.

“That’s part of it. But once I accompanied my cousins on a rail excursion up the coast when I was twenty-two, visions of being a traveling musician began filling my head … well, now I’ve tasted it, I want more.” He met her gaze. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful to have a steady job now, but just going to new places, seeing what they have to offer … it’s exciting.”

Patience’s face soured slightly. “I see …” She swallowed a bit of her meal, washing it down with a sip of soda. The bubbles cleared her throat for what she mustered to say next. “What excites you about these ‘offers’?”

“Aw, c’mon, Patience. I can’t articulate what I don’t know I want yet. Like how I didn’t know I wanted to travel until I went up the coast.”

He had a point. She herself did not know how much she enjoyed her sensuality until Anax ravished her. Patience lowered her head to acknowledge the veracity of his words.

“So, speaking of travels, see anything interesting in St. Phocas?” asked Schuler, turning the conversation as he pulled bits of pork from the thick bone.

“I met some witches,” Patience said between a mouthful of noodles.

“You don’t say! What were they like?”

The girl told him her observations of the Lusines, how Tandy and Heledd helped her, and her encounter with Bing. Schuler listened enrapt. The hunter jabbed at her mind, but she refused to make any mention of him. If one pleasant memory came from the trip, it was that of the witches, and possibly the doughnuts. As Patience recounted her experiences, she remembered how nice it was to have an audience for her stories other than Anax. The conversation between the girl and the musician eventually meandered over rapidly diminishing plates and glasses, and ended when a server informed them they were closing.

“You headed back to Keaton?” coughed Schuler as they left the pub. The brisk night air stung their faces. Patience shrank into her shoulders.

“I was going to spend a couple of days here,” said the girl.

“Lemme walk you to your hotel then. It’s really late for a young woman to be out by herself,” said Schuler. He buttoned up his coat. “Where you want to stay?”

“I feel like splurging a little. Parkview’s the largest. It’s not too far from here is it?”

“Not really.”

He gently nudged her shoulder and took hold of her bag. She insisted she could carry it herself, but he would have none of it. As the dark windows of shops and residences passed them, Patience realized they were walking away from the theater, where Schuler most likely had his motorbike. She really hoped she was not keeping him for too long. Once on the golden-lit steps of the hotel, Patience grasped Schuler’s hand while he handed her the luggage.

“It’s late. You can get a room here too.”

“Don’t need it. I like feeling the night fly past me while riding.” He stared off into the distance with a grin. Turning back toward Patience, he hugged her. “Goodnight, Patience. I’ll see you around.”

The girl gave him a final wave as he stepped into the deep blue street again. She sighed before entering the hotel. Supper had filled her belly, but her soul felt empty. Valon still loomed down the coast, he knew what Anax could do. It weighed a bit too heavily on her mind. Now hearing that Schuler was willing to leave again crushed her even more.

“Did you intend Schuler to stay the night with you?” asked Anax as Patience readied for bed in their room.

“Maybe,” she replied. She released her braid.

Anax grunted.

Patience absentmindedly ran her fingers through her locks. “I just want some distraction. Valon, what he can do—that’s all causing a great deal of stress for me.”

“If it’s distraction you want …” Anax rumbled, sliding a tendril down Patience’s blouse.

“Not tonight. Seeing you only makes me think of that hunter,” she said while she patted his smoky rope. The girl then crept into bed. Relieved to feel the soft sheets against her shins, the rest of her body dropped. She made herself comfortable.

“We have the town to explore tomorrow. That should do,” said Anax.

“Easy enough for you to say,” sneered Patience, pulling the covers up to her chin. A heavy sigh escaped her chest. Perhaps she needed a trip to unwind from this vacation.