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The moon shone through the door, bright as a thousand fireflies, and suddenly, a glowing silhouette blocked it out. The black and white critter climbed up the figure's long black cape and perched on their shoulder. The eerie glow began to fade, and in its place stood a certain familiar someone.
Callum's eyes met hers, and he stared, mouth agape, in shock. She looked different now, but the indigo markings beneath her bright violet irises were unmistakable. And her face; her jawline was stronger, more defined, but it was the same heart-shaped face.
"Hey," Rayla finally spoke. Her voice was softer and clearer than it had once been, but for the most part, the same.
"Rayla?" Callum mouthed, and it came out like a question, which he hadn't intended.
"Yeah... It's me."
"What are you doing here?"
"I, um..." Rayla started nervously. "I came back."
"Yeah. I see that."
"You look nice." She said with an awkward smile.
"Right, well... Thanks." Callum returned his attention to the book on his desk.
"You too, Bait."
The luminous toad grumbled in appreciation.
"I... Um." Rayla began, "I'm not sure how to say this."
"Don't worry about it. I'm going to bed." Callum said, closing the book and starting towards the door.
"Callum, wait," Rayla reached for Callum's hand. "Just a few minutes? I just... We haven't seen each other in two years."
"Yeah, that's because you left, remember?"
"I know."
Callum turned to face her. "Did you even find anything in the seven hundred and thirty-three days that you were gone?"
Rayla's gaze fell to the floor. "No. Not a trace."
"So you disappeared for two years, leaving only a letter, and it was for nothing--" Callum was fuming. Tears stung in his eyes, but he blinked them away before Rayla could notice.
The creature on Rayla's shoulder hissed. Callum jumped, startled.
"Easy there, calm down," Rayla pet the critter's head. It gave a small squeak and backed off.
"And who's this?" Callum asked, keeping his distance from Rayla's companion. He settled onto the sofa.
"This is Stella. She's a cuddle-monkey." Rayla playfully squished Stella's cheeks. "The poor thing was all alone, so I took her in, and, well, she stuck around. She's friendly, she's just feisty around people she doesn't know. Anyway..." She let the six-limbed creature climb onto her shoulder. "What I'm trying to say is, I'm sorry. But I know that doesn't just instantly fix everything..." she trailed off.
"Rayla, I can't do this right now." Callum said quietly. He didn't sound mad anymore. He was calm. Still upset, but more just sad as opposed to angry.
"That's fair... I understand." Rayla replied. "Would you rather I go, or do you want me to stay, and we just won't talk?"
Callum hesitated. Bait nudged at his boot, encouraging him, and waited for him to do something. So finally, Callum patted the cushion, motioning for Rayla to sit down next to him.
Rayla sat down with Callum. The room was silent, no noise but that of each of their breathing, until Callum yawned.
"Are you tired?" Rayla asked. She quickly realized she'd broken the no talking agreement, but Callum didn't seem to mind.
"Yeah." Callum set his head on a pillow. He hadn't been sleeping very well lately.
"I know a spell that will help you sleep," Rayla said, "and it's a full moon, so I can do spells without a power source. If you want, I could..."
"Yeah, sure," Callum mumbled. "Thanks."
"Somnum nunuc," Rayla whispered. Minutes later, Callum was asleep. Not too long after, Rayla was, too.
She drifted in and out of sleep, glancing at Callum's adorable sleeping face whenever she woke up. A time came when she found herself unable to fall asleep again, and she caught herself gazing at Callum. He was sleeping peacefully like he had the night she'd left.
She felt a pang of guilt.
Don't think about it. You'll deal with this later.
But of course, she thought about it.
"It's so much easier to say the things that need to be said when no one's listening. It would be great if I could say them when they really matter, wouldn't it?" Rayla sighed. "We had something so special... But I became so obsessed with revenge, I risked losing the best thing I ever had-- you."
At the time, she'd thought leaving was the right thing to do. She'd thought dealing with Viren was a burden she had to carry alone. She'd thought lying to Callum would've been worth it if it meant protecting him. And now, two years later, it seemed there had been nothing to protect him from.
If only she could go back to that moment and decide to stay. But that was impossible. The only way forward now was starting back at square one.
But that's okay. He just needs some time. I'm willing to wait. However long it takes.