Read Online Muse (Descended From Myth) by Erin McFadden - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Erin McFadden
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right; it was hard to convince myself that we were really inherently wrong for each other.
We decided to eat outside the cafe instead of taking it back to the room. Anna told me all about her day, laughing about this and that. Even when she wasn't using her Influence, I could tell that she was special. She's kind, caring, compassionate and has this sparkling, infectious sense of humor. I've never met another Talent like her. I've never met another girl like her. We walked back to the hotel, taking our time and talking about anything and everything but the stuff I should be telling her about.
As we crossed into the lobby, the lady at the desk waved me over and handed me a thick envelope that had arrived while we were at the job site. I already knew it had to have come from Gabriel, but the crest emblazoned on the envelope confirmed it. Damn. I sighed, took the envelope and led Anna into the elevator. As the doors closed, she reached over and took my hand in hers.
“Whatever it is that you're avoiding talking about, I'm sure I won't react that badly, I'm pretty tough,” sh e said with a touch of bravado.
“You do seem to handle everything well,” I answered fondly. “I do think we should go over some stuff. I'm just nervous because it's going to change things between us.” And if I don't do it now, I may never be able to force myself to do it , I thought to myself.
We entered my room and dropped onto the bed since it was the only available seating. I should have given her some time to get comfortable, or tried a gentle approach to what I had to say, but instead I just threw myself into the explanation headlong. If I didn't go into it now, I might lose the nerve to do it all and keep right on benefiting from Anna's ignorance of the w ay things worked in this world.
“Most Talents have been around a Guardian their entire life. Obviously, either their mother or father was a Talent (sometimes both), and so they grow up with Guardians around. That means they already have certain expectations about how they interact with us, and what is or isn't permissible. You have to understand that all Talents come from wealthy and powerful families, families that have lived privileged existences for many, many generations. They can have anything they want. Most of the time, Guardians are seen and treated more like servants than equals. Most Talents appreciate the service we provide, but don't really want to have us too involved with their lives. It's something they see as being beneath them. Especially when they can and do socialize and romance people with much higher social standing. So, do you understand what I'm trying to say at all?” Frustration poured over me, I wasn't making any sense, and this was important for her to understand.
Anna tilted her head to the side. “Are you trying to tell me that I could do better?” she asked, a little laughter in her voice.
“No, well…kind of. I'm saying that as you grow further into your powers and into this world, start interacting with other Talents, then you might feel differently about me. I don't want you to have regrets. Plus, I'm your Watcher so I'm supposed to be assigned to you indefinitely. If you decided later that you'd rather move on to better things, well…that would be very difficult for me. That's why it's discouraged.”
“I see. So, you already told me that there are more female Talents than male, and that all of the Guardians are male. Are you seriously telling me that this has never happened before? That doesn't even make sense.”
“Of course it's happened before! Talents get bored and slum around with their Guardians all the time. Being with your Watcher is like dating the gardener, or the pool boy. Then they move on, find someone with money, or fame. Someone who's more exciting and the poor schmuck Guardian who fell for it is left watching from the shadows,” I spit out. The look on Anna's face told me that I'd taken my argument just a little too f ar,
We decided to eat outside the cafe instead of taking it back to the room. Anna told me all about her day, laughing about this and that. Even when she wasn't using her Influence, I could tell that she was special. She's kind, caring, compassionate and has this sparkling, infectious sense of humor. I've never met another Talent like her. I've never met another girl like her. We walked back to the hotel, taking our time and talking about anything and everything but the stuff I should be telling her about.
As we crossed into the lobby, the lady at the desk waved me over and handed me a thick envelope that had arrived while we were at the job site. I already knew it had to have come from Gabriel, but the crest emblazoned on the envelope confirmed it. Damn. I sighed, took the envelope and led Anna into the elevator. As the doors closed, she reached over and took my hand in hers.
“Whatever it is that you're avoiding talking about, I'm sure I won't react that badly, I'm pretty tough,” sh e said with a touch of bravado.
“You do seem to handle everything well,” I answered fondly. “I do think we should go over some stuff. I'm just nervous because it's going to change things between us.” And if I don't do it now, I may never be able to force myself to do it , I thought to myself.
We entered my room and dropped onto the bed since it was the only available seating. I should have given her some time to get comfortable, or tried a gentle approach to what I had to say, but instead I just threw myself into the explanation headlong. If I didn't go into it now, I might lose the nerve to do it all and keep right on benefiting from Anna's ignorance of the w ay things worked in this world.
“Most Talents have been around a Guardian their entire life. Obviously, either their mother or father was a Talent (sometimes both), and so they grow up with Guardians around. That means they already have certain expectations about how they interact with us, and what is or isn't permissible. You have to understand that all Talents come from wealthy and powerful families, families that have lived privileged existences for many, many generations. They can have anything they want. Most of the time, Guardians are seen and treated more like servants than equals. Most Talents appreciate the service we provide, but don't really want to have us too involved with their lives. It's something they see as being beneath them. Especially when they can and do socialize and romance people with much higher social standing. So, do you understand what I'm trying to say at all?” Frustration poured over me, I wasn't making any sense, and this was important for her to understand.
Anna tilted her head to the side. “Are you trying to tell me that I could do better?” she asked, a little laughter in her voice.
“No, well…kind of. I'm saying that as you grow further into your powers and into this world, start interacting with other Talents, then you might feel differently about me. I don't want you to have regrets. Plus, I'm your Watcher so I'm supposed to be assigned to you indefinitely. If you decided later that you'd rather move on to better things, well…that would be very difficult for me. That's why it's discouraged.”
“I see. So, you already told me that there are more female Talents than male, and that all of the Guardians are male. Are you seriously telling me that this has never happened before? That doesn't even make sense.”
“Of course it's happened before! Talents get bored and slum around with their Guardians all the time. Being with your Watcher is like dating the gardener, or the pool boy. Then they move on, find someone with money, or fame. Someone who's more exciting and the poor schmuck Guardian who fell for it is left watching from the shadows,” I spit out. The look on Anna's face told me that I'd taken my argument just a little too f ar,
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