Weaver of Shadows

He kept holding her tight. He wanted her to know that he was there for her, that he wanted her there. “What does the voice say?”

Ok…Jenny needed him again. And a hug. He stepped over to her and put his arms around her, hugging her close to him. “What’s wrong?”

Edgar helped her dig, Gift becoming a shovel. Reluctantly, he left for a moment, changing into a clean set of clothes. He returned to Jenny, and threw his bloodstained ones next to her, then piled dirt on it. He finished, sweating slightly, and let Gift return to its normal position. He looked at Jenny. He wanted to hug her again…would she be ok with it? He didn’t want to bother her, so he didn’t try to hug her.

He smiled at her. She was so petty, whether clean or covered in Gorgon blood. He took a moment to respond. “Probably bury, we don’t know what fumes the blood could release. I should probably change my clothes too…” He didn’t leave.

“Hmm?” he said, distracted. “Oh yeah. Don’t be sorry, I’m the one that hugged you.” He went with her, washing his hands. He wanted to hug her again, to have her in his arms, but they were both covered in possibly deadly blood. He didn’t care, but for her sake, he just grabbed her hand, rubbing his thumb across it gently.

“I won’t leave,” he whispered. “How could I leave you?” He gave her a weak smile. He hugged her tight back, clinging on to her as if she were his only lifeline. And she might have well been, he didn’t know what he’d do without her.

She would be better without him. Sure would be better without him. She…needed him? He was hurting her. And he was doing it, knowing what it would do to her. Why? Because he didn’t deserve to be happy. The pain he felt from all of this…he didn’t like it, but he needed it. He deserved it. But Jenny didn’t. He’d have to find some other way to be hurt, a way that didn’t hurt her. He didn’t say anything at first. Instead, he reached out and put his arms around her, pulling her close to him. “I’m here,” he whispered eventually.

“No.”

“None of your business.”

“I have my own reasons for it.”

“And I know you think everyone is as selfish as you.”

“No, it isn’t actually.” He blushed.

“I know.”

“You already know this.”

“Since I was born, and so was he. You don’t become a demigod. And he already is a better demigod.”

“It is. I’m not Harold.”

“It does. I know I’m that too.”

“You think I don’t know I’m weak? That I’m a failure? That I’m not trustworthy?” He laughed again. “You’re more of an idiot than I thought.”

“I understand that.”

“Good.”

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t know how you did it, you did do it. And at least you didn’t attack your own allies, like I have. Twice,” he said bitterly.

They don’t relent.

“Don’t patronize me!” Edgar said fiercely. “You’ve seen how useless I am. I can barely defend myself, you can incapacitate tens of people at a time.” “And you,” he said, turning to Rob and spreading his arms. “You did this! I have nowhere near that skill or power.”

Edgar laughed. “You know that’s a lie. I’m a passable fighter at best, nothing compared to the rest of you.”