After breakfast was over, Liam took me back to my room, and we started packing. He already had a suitcase that was here from his initial visit, so that made things easier. He took out the dirty clothes that were in his suitcase and made room for my stuff. I forgot that Donna and Nicole got me clothes, and they were in the dressers in my bedroom. Liam packed my clothes neatly in the suitcase and put it by the door.

Then, Liam grabbed a set of towels and ran a bath for me. He poured a bunch of liquid in the tub, and bubbles sprouted from the water. The room became warm and smelt very sweet. It felt like I was in a hug, even though no one was touching me.

Liam grabbed a bubble and put it in the palm of my hand.

It stayed there for a while and bounced softly in my hand before popping.

"Wow, that bubble stayed for a long time. If a bubble stays on you for more than a second, then the rest of the day, you have good luck." Liam said while shutting the water. The bath was overrun with bubbles, and I smiled.

"Really?" I asked, and Liam nodded. "I guess I'm lucky today."

Liam smiled and patted my head. "Go ahead and undress. I need to make a phone call. When I come back, you should be done."

I watched him leave and shut the door behind him.

I started to undress and put my clothes on the toilet. I slowly got in the tub, and the warm water made me relax. The bathtub was bigger than me, so my wings slowly loosened them from my back. The water on my wings felt heavenly. I was surrounded in a field of bubbles, and I smiled. One bubble was dancing along the water, and I scooped it up with my hands. Water ran through the cracks in my fingertips, but the bubble stayed intact, happily dancing.

48. I love bubbles.

The doorknob suddenly jiggled before being turned. The lack of attention on the bubble made it pop as I faced the door.

Ember walked in with a small clear jar of cookies. He had a cookie in his mouth and was munching on it. His black hair was swept to the side, and his arms were exposed. He was wearing a short-sleeve shirt with a skull on it, and a flame pattern licked the bottom of it. He had on khakis and black hightops that completed the look.

He closed the door behind him with his foot and went to sit on the toilet. I sat and stared at him as he lazily finished his cookie and placed the jar on the ground.

When he finished, he asked, "Did something happen to you while I was gone?"

I played with the water. "I found out I was allergic to apples."

"I figured. I felt something wrong happening, but I couldn't get out of Hades' house. I knew you were fine because Liam and the gang are here, but I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner." Ember ruffled his hair and placed his elbows on his knees.

I shook my head. "It's fine. Liam, Xavier, and Nicole helped me out." I stopped playing with the water. "How did you know something happened?"

Ember tapped his head. "It was like a signal. If our bond were stronger, then I'd be able to figure out what it was just with a feeling. But, since our pact is still new, I just had a hunch." He leaned over to place a bubble on my nose.

"I came over once Persephone let me go. She was holding me hostage in that kitchen." He picked up the cookie jar and lifted the lid off. He pulled out one cookie and handed it to me.

The bubble on my nose popped as I took the cookie with my wet hands. With little effort, I broke it in half. I offered the other half to Ember, and he took it.

"These are chocolate chip cookies. No apples or peanuts in them." I nodded and took a bite. It melted in my mouth with ease, and the chocolate danced daintily on my taste buds. I swayed back and forth to the sweet melody the cookies made and smiled wide.

49. I love chocolate chip cookies.

"It's good to see you happy and eating," Ember commented. "Persephone's a great patisserie."

I nodded numbly and ate the last bits. "Did you give any to Charon?"

The question caught him off guard, but he answered it. "Yeah, I managed to give him some. He doesn't smile much, but he does get happy for some cookies. He may not look like it, but he has a sweet tooth." He gave me a toothy smile.

Ember grabbed a hand towel that was on the sink and a brush. He tossed the hand towel in the bath and pointed to it. "Grab that and dunk it in the water. Start wiping your body down, and I'll wash your hair and wings." He got off the toilet and opened a cabinet under the sink. He picked up a bucket and sat on his knees next to the bathtub.

He dipped the small bucket in the water and held it above my head.

"I'm going to pour this water on your head, so close your-" Ember stopped. He put the bucket back in the water and looked at me with concern.

"Kye? Why are you shaking? Is the water too cold for you?"

I was confused at his words until I looked down. I didn't notice when my arms wrapped around my shoulders. I didn't realize that my hands were trembling and how much they gripped my shoulders. I loosened them and put them in the water. The warm water stilled their movements, but my shoulders were slightly shaking.

"N-no, it's fine. I guess my body just remembers some bad memories." I know I've come to terms (somewhat) with what happened with Jeremy, but my body didn't want to forget yet. I looked away from my hands and to Ember. He was reaching into the jar and was grabbing two cookies.

He pulled them out, not bothering to close the jar.

"I'm sorry I had you remember something unconsciously." He handed me the cookies, and I took them. "I'll wash your hair and wings, so you just eat your cookies and chill."

*** 

I finished the two cookies, and Ember made my hair heavy with soap. He asked if I was ever going to cut it, but it has never crossed my mind at that point. I gave him a shrug, and he laughed. Afterward, it became a comfortable silence between the two of us. Ember massaged my wings, and it felt amazing. I didn't know my wings were so stiff, but I felt much looser after Ember cleaned and rubbed them.

While he was doing that, I managed to wash my body with a bar of soap next to the tub. It smelled like sweet but not as sweet as the cookies. After I was all done with my bath, Ember held a towel (that covered his vision), and I stepped out of the tub. He wrapped me in the comfort of the cloth, and it felt soft and cozy.

As we were leaving the bathroom, I remembered something, and it made me stop.

Ember, who was in front of me, turned around as he sat down on the bed. "What?"

"We are going to a beach house."

"So, that's what the suitcase is for." Ember nodded to the bad at the door. "I'll figure something out when it comes to clothes."

I sat down next to him with the towel wrapped around me. My wet hair coiled on my back. "I'm sorry I should've told you earlier."

He waved his hand. "It's fine."

The front door opened, and Liam stopped to look at us on the bed. "Ember? You got here faster than I thought."

He shrugged. "At least you knew I was coming."

"I guess Kye told you about the beach house, huh?" Liam walked over to the cookie jar and helped himself. He took a bite and hummed.

"Yeah, I'll get some clothes later," Ember said nonchalantly.

"No need. You and Kye look like the same size, so I packed some clothes for you too." Liam took two more cookies before closing the jar. "Who made these cookies? They're delicious!"

"Hades' wife, Persephone. You already packed me clothes?"

Liam nodded. "Yup. So, you're all set."

"Wow." Ember was surprised.

"Why do you sound surprised?"

"Doesn't seem like something you'd do."

"Well, I'll have you know that I volunteered to put up with you while we are here."

Ember squinted at him. "Who paid you?"

Liam scoffed. "Can't I be nice for free?"

Ember leaned into me. "Be careful, Kye. Could he be a weirdo? I mean, think about it- man in a room with two teens? Sounds a bit suspect to me."

Liam was going to say something but gave up. At his defeat, Ember chuckled at his misery. I chuckled but was cut short with a sneeze.

Liam sighed and pulled Ember off the bed by his collar. Over Ember's words of discomfort of being dragged, Liam said, "Go ahead and get dressed, Kye. When you're done, we'll start packing the car, and then we'll head out."

The door shut, and I was left in silence. I went over to the dresser with my other clothes and picked up a shirt and shorts. My mind was racing too much with the upcoming fun that awaited me at the beach house.

I set my clothes on the bed and silently squealed.

50. I'm so excited for the beach house!