My first dinner with my girlfriend’s parents began just as her hair bit my ear.
I winced but otherwise didn’t move. I was used to this by now. Sometimes Didrixe’s moods and emotions affected the behavior of her snakes. When she was excited or anxious, sometimes her hair liked to nibble. I’d come to understand they didn’t nibble just anything, either; that was a treat reserved for me as someone they’d become affectionate with.
It was Didrixe who moved first, lightly tapping the snake’s snout and causing it to dart away, chastised. I felt the gorgon’s fingers brush gently against my ear next, and she sighed disapprovingly.
“Sorry about that. Again. At least you’re not bleeding this time.”
“I told you it’s okay. It just means they like me. Do you think they’d like it if I nibbled them back?”
“I can’t say the thought has ever crossed my mind. For some reason you’re the first one to ask if you can bite the snakes on my head.”
“Really? Huh. I thought you got that all the time. Maybe I’ll try soon.”
Didrixe shot me a withering look, and I couldn’t help but stare into her beautiful snakelike eyes. Their vivid green matched so well with the colorful rainbow garters on her head, and I loved every moment her eyes were looking in my direction.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but if you absolutely must, wait until we leave my house. My parents like you but there’s a limit to how much of your behavior I can explain.”
“Hey, they seem to like me because of my behavior. Which is also how I got you to like me, by the way. Everyone’s only encouraging this.”
She shifted in her seat to face me more directly. For the moment we sat alone at the table as her parents finished getting things ready. I’d offered to help several times, but was told that since I was a guest, all I needed to do was relax. It was hard to relax when I was focusing so hard on making a positive impression on Didrixe’s parents, but at least right now teasing Didrixe herself was helping distract me.
Tonight she wore a satin green button-down shirt tucked into long black slacks, and even as she faced me her back remained straight, her posture nearly perfect. While she dressed business casual just about everywhere, I hadn’t expected her to do so in her own home, but I’d quickly learned that was normal, too. As impressed as I was, I felt a little underdressed by comparison. I’d chosen one of my nicer pairs of jeans and one of the only sweaters that had any red on it, realizing belatedly that I had very little in my wardrobe with colors for the holiday season. Didrixe had told me to simply come as myself and not to overthink it, but suddenly I wondered if I should have chosen something else instead.
“We’ve had this discussion,” she continued, her expression telling me she knew full well I was teasing but that she wanted to play along anyway. “I like many of your traits and virtues. Your behaviors, on the other hand, have a tendency to be chaotic, and are why I consider babysitting you a part-time job. One I’m not getting paid for, mind you.”
“Of course you are. You’re getting all the kisses you could ever want.”
Before she could say anything I leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips. She didn’t protest, but when I pulled away again I saw her mouth fall partway open with surprise while her cheeks burned. I was just about to tease her further for this when I heard another voice from right beside us.
“I’m glad to see you’re getting along! Careful behind you a minute, I’ve got a hot plate here.”
My mouth snapped shut and I felt my own face grow hot as Domytion, Didrixe’s father, scooted past our seats toward the other side of the table. Sthisume, her mother, was right behind him. Both of them carried bowls and plates of food which they set down in the center of the table. One dish contained a beautifully toasted eggplant moussaka while another displayed several carefully-arranged spanakopitas around a colorful salad. Finally came a beautifully-prepared plate of lamb slices around which a few lemon halves sat. Despite my embarrassment, my eyes widened and my stomach growled. I had no idea what to expect save only for what my nose told me while I waited, but now I was excited to dig in. Politely, of course.
The long glass table was decorated with a white tablecloth with images of pinecones and log cabins in snow. The end of the table not taken up by food was decorated with arrangements of rosemary and red berries. This was part of a tradition largely pulled from the human world that some beings here found quaint, though with many human celebrations, there were some things I wasn’t sure carried over accurately. Several large figures were placed around the house of a large werewolf-looking creature dressed in red and white. He had shining red eyes and a gaping maw filled with jagged teeth, and he carried a large bag over his shoulder. From what I’d learned, this being was called a Santa Claws, a horrifying creature who terrorized human families that didn’t put a protective tree inside their house, which was usually decorated with the severed appendages of the families’ enemies that would scare the Santa Claws away.
It was an oddly macabre thing compared to the rest of the holiday’s cozy atmosphere, but it also wouldn’t be the first holiday to do something like this. If I ever made it back to the human world, I’d have to find more details.
Domytion and Sthisume took their seats across the table from us as Didrixe readjusted her own chair, and I made myself take a deep breath. This wasn’t really a first impression, I reminded myself. I’d met her parents a few times already, and they said they liked me. I just had to make sure it stayed that way now that I was having a holiday dinner at their house. How hard could that be?
Unlike Didrixe, her parents both wore scarves to cover the snakes on their heads. Didrixe lacked the paralyzing power most gorgons had but refused to wear a scarf, embracing that which made her different with enviable confidence. Still, I felt a little bad; I knew they didn’t have to wear scarves when it was just the three of them at home together, so this was something they were doing purely for my benefit.
I kept my hands in my lap, waiting to follow their lead if they did anything special before eating. I hadn’t been to many other beings’ houses before, but some of them liked to offer a prayer to Hestia, goddess of the home and hearth, or some other deity. But they both immediately reached for the serving tongs as Didrixe unfolded her napkin and placed it neatly on her lap.
“Take as much as you like, and don’t be shy,” Sthisume told me warmly. “We’ve got more where this came from, so don’t worry about taking too much.”
“I asked Didrixe what a human’s appetite is like so we could prepare the right portions, but then my wife told me not to be rude,” Domytion added with the slightest hint of a sly smile.
Sthisume shot him an imploring look. “And that still applies now. Goodness, it hasn’t even been a minute since we sat down.”
“It’s okay,” I offered, taking the tongs when offered and helping myself to what I hoped was a reasonable portion. “I’m used to getting questions. I don’t mind answering them, but they probably won’t be as exciting as you might expect.”
“I would imagine so. You might be the only human in our world, but you’re still a living being just like the rest of us. You must have gotten so much attention at school, poor dear,” Sthisume said.
“Actually, not too much. The novelty wore off pretty quick, especially when everyone realized I was just one of the weird kids,” I admitted.
“Which was probably for the best, as a lot of the attention one can attract in high school especially isn’t exactly positive,” Didrixe added knowingly.
“Indeed,” Domytion agreed. “But those days are behind you at last. Speaking of, how’s everything at Elysia Cilidon, Anastasia? Didrixe gives us regular updates, but I’d like to hear your side of things. You’re majoring in… communication, is that right?”
I nodded. “I’d like to get my four-year degree in it, and I want to get certified in project management, too. Didrixe put me on the idea, actually. She said I could use things like this to find work managing volunteer organizations and charities, things like that. Stuff where I can focus on organizing how things work while still getting to be hands on.”
“What a wonderful idea,” Sthisume said approvingly. “From everything I’ve heard of you so far I’m not surprised. You seem to have a mind for things like that.”
“I hope I do. I didn’t even realize I had skills like this until we went through, uh… the things we did. I think Didrixe was hoping I could get into something less dangerous.”
‘Less dangerous’ was probably an understatement. When we’d first been put together to work on a school project with several others, Didrixe hadn’t liked me at all. When we discovered we were in the middle of a plot that could have gotten us all killed, I’d managed to help us escape after we were kidnapped, then staged a daring raid to find and stop the leader of the plot—something we only just barely managed to accomplish. After that we were offered a visit to Elysia Cilidon University, one of the top universities in the world, and almost immediately upon our arrival, not one but two serial killers stalked the campus. I’d managed to figure out both their identities and stop them, but not before Didrixe herself was nearly killed. To top it all off, once our group of friends went on summer vacation to celebrate graduating high school, we discovered that the beautiful lake our cabin sat right next to was home to the grisly body of a god of the void, one that threatened to wake and end all life as we knew it. We’d put a stop to that, too, but again just barely.
That was one reason I still found myself a little surprised to be sitting at the dinner table with Didrixe’s parents. After everything their daughter had been through just from being in my vicinity I’d almost expected them to come to my front door threatening to return the favor. At least, I couldn’t have completely blamed them if they had.
“Yes, well, things have changed a little since then. But I’m still glad you’re doing what you are,” Didrixe said, glancing at me pointedly as she took a sip from her glass. “It’s nice to have something stable to come back to when we aren’t working on a special assignment.”
“Very true,” Domytion chuckled. “But you both must be excited. From what my daughter’s told me, it took her a while to come around to the idea of solving mysteries on purpose. It sounds like you were able to convince her, Anastasia. Was this always an interest of yours?”
“I’m… not sure,” I said truthfully. This was something I’d thought about myself ever since our first ‘adventure’ together as a group that had almost gotten us killed. “I think maybe I’ve always been like this but I never had a chance to figure it out. I mean, no one expects to almost die during a school trip where your own principal is the guy trying to kill you. But when everything happened at ECU I realized I couldn’t just stand by when things like that were going on. I think that part has always been true no matter what.”
Sthisume stared at me from across the table, and at first I couldn’t read her expression. But then she smiled.
“It’s an admirable way to think and live. And I’m grateful you were there when all those things went wrong. You likely saved many lives with your bravery. But I also agree it’s good you’ve found something more stable, and that this Hidden Moon you’ve been working with is giving you their resources.”
I forced a smile even as I felt my insides twist. I didn’t like to think about who I’d saved. Or maybe it was more accurate to say I had a hard time doing so. The only thing I could ever seem to think about was everyone I hadn’t managed to protect. The beings who’d died because I’d been too late, too slow. Didrixe was always there to talk me through the moments where I felt at my lowest from guilt, but the feeling wasn’t going away as quickly as I hoped.
As if knowing exactly what I was feeling, I felt Didrixe place a comforting hand on my leg. She gave me an encouraging smile from where she sat, but didn’t say a word.
“I feel like Anastasia might have gotten her brave spirit from the rest of the Graves family,” Domytion commented. “I’d never met any of them before these recent events but I heard the stories. A whole family of gifted and powerful witches and warlocks, enough to give themselves quite a reputation around town and beyond.” Then he turned to me. “What was it like growing up in that house? Tell us a little about your family.”
I finished my mouthful of moussaka, thinking about how I wanted to answer this question.
“If I had to describe it simply, I’d say it was… fun. My parents are both really loving, and my sister is just the best. And having my grandma there all the time is nice, too. I know what some beings say about our family being weird, but honestly, until I grew up a little and saw other beings’ families I didn’t even know there was anything unusual. My family taught me a lot and made me feel loved and confident. I always knew I was different, but they were all so unique in their own way I guess I never really felt it as much.”
“After I went to her house a few times I understood how Ana put up with the teasing at school,” Didrixe snickered. “The first time our school group went there to work, her house’s decorative gargoyles nearly attacked us. Another time a ghost showed up in her bedroom before her grandmother chased it out with a horseshoe. Apparently she regularly hunts ghosts…?”
“Just the one ghost,” I clarified quickly. I didn’t want Didrixe’s parents thinking my house was constantly overrun with spirits. “It’s just a poltergeist and it usually sticks to the attic. The boggart was an exception.”
Sthisume and Domytion shared a look, their eyebrows raised in unison.
“I don’t think we heard about your ghosts yet,” Domytion said, clearly unsure how to feel about this. He didn’t look alarmed, however, which was a good sign. “I suppose they’re in the right place. I only know one neighbor who was being haunted once, and wouldn’t you know it, he went to the Graves for help. They sorted him right out quickly enough.”
“You are an interesting girl, Anastasia,” Sthisume added placidly. “I have no doubt you have many stories to tell. But for now I’d like to know more about what you’re doing for the holidays since you’re home from school. No doubt your family has a great celebration prepared.”
I smiled, grateful for this change of subject. It was true. Even in this world of myth and magic my family was considered odd. And while Didrixe’s parents seemed accepting so far, it was probably best I gave them all the details in small doses.
For all my nervousness the rest of the dinner went smoothly, and by the time it was over I found that I genuinely enjoyed their company. They were more easygoing than I’d initially suspected, and they even both seemed to appreciate my sense of humor. When Domytion asked how Didrixe and I came to like each other after our rocky start, I quipped that our relationship was something akin to that of Theseus and Pirithous; the latter in particular was infamous for being sometimes reckless and a little too daring, while Theseus sometimes followed along out of nothing more than obligation.
“Don’t tell me that means you’ll be trying to kidnap Persephone one day too,” Domytion chuckled.
“No way. Besides, she’s taken. If Didrixe ever breaks up with me I’d have to kidnap a goddess who’s single,” I replied instinctively, but then I stopped, wondering if a joke like that was appropriate here. I didn’t have to think on it long before Sthisume snorted with laughter as she took a sip of water, then hastily excused herself as she began to cough.
“As if I would do such a thing,” Didrixe snickered. “But now I know that if I do you’ll be off angering the high gods themselves the very next day.”
“You don’t know that. I’ll have you know I never kidnapped a single god even before I met you.”
“You’d find some other way to irritate them. You’ve told me multiple times that you would punch Poseidon for me, and I know you well enough to understand you were only half joking.”
“You should get to know me even better then, because I wasn’t joking at all,” I answered airily.
Didrixe shook her head in disbelief. “And this is why I feel the need to babysit you.”
As the evening grew later, it was finally time for me to go. I was a little reluctant to leave, but I couldn’t deny I was also a little anxious to get home. A little anxious in general, actually. The holidays were a time of great cheer and joy, but I was starting to understand why adults were often so stressed this time of year.
Didrixe and her parents walked me to the door, and even as Domytion opened it for me I saw my mother touch down on the driveway outside, broom in hand, ready to fly me home.
She waved at me, and I smiled back.
“It was wonderful to have you, dear,” Sthisume said, pulling me into a hug. “I liked just being able to talk with you outside the excitement of your adventures. I hope we can do this again sometime.”
“Of course,” I agreed happily. “Thank you for having me. Dinner was amazing, and you guys are pretty cool.”
“Ha! It’s been a long while since anyone’s called me that,” Domytion chuckled. “Have a safe trip home, and if I don’t see you before the holidays are through, best of luck. If you haven’t finished all your shopping yet, things get a little chaotic in the last few days.”
I laughed nervously. I had done most of my shopping, but I’d saved the hardest for last.
“I’ll see you soon,” Didrixe said simply, kissing me lightly on the cheek. I felt the tickling sensation of a few snake tongues against my face as well, and I smiled as I kissed her back. The stress wasn’t so all-encompassing that I couldn’t appreciate moments like this.
But as I walked to meet my mother, I knew I’d have to take care of it soon. And I knew exactly how I was going to start.
“So… it’s three days until Hibernal Grace and you’re stressed because you haven’t bought Didrixe’s gift yet? That’s not too bad. I’ve waited until the night before to do my shopping loads of times.”
I threw the demon a weary look as we walked down the sidewalk near my house. Laurent had been only too happy to come over when I called; although he now went to university far from home, being around his parents so much during the holidays was still a little difficult even if they were slowly getting better about the way they treated him. And despite seeing him so often at school, I still liked his company here, too. It made me think of when we were younger, back when Fairfield was the extent of our worldly experience.
“It’s not that I haven’t bought her gift, it’s that I don’t even know what it should be in the first place,” I answered. “I thought it would just suddenly come to me or that I’d get some magic inspiration, but the day is almost here and I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“And so you came to your old pal Laurent, who of course has the answers for everything,” the demon replied, grinning widely to show his sharp teeth. “But you know her best. What kind of stuff does she like? Have you had any ideas so far?”
“Sort of. I know what she likes and doesn’t like, but this feels like it’s about so much more than that. Maybe I’m overwhelmed by choices and don’t even know it. I’m probably overthinking it. Do you have any ideas?”
Laurent scratched his chin as a chilly breeze suddenly blew by. I shoved my hands into the pocket of my hoodie. We didn’t get snow much in Fairfield, but today felt like it was cold enough to allow for it.
“What about jewelry? Something with snakes,” he said finally. “She doesn’t wear jewelry very often, but I wonder if that’s just because she doesn’t buy it for herself. She’d probably wear it if it came from you.”
I thought about this for a moment, feeling skeptical. “Maybe. I think she would, but she’s never seemed like much of a jewelry girl even when she gets dressed up. She’s pretty particular with her appearance; she always thinks about what impression she’s going to give others. And I’m not sure if giving a gorgon jewelry with snakes on it would be a good gift. I wonder if she’d think I’m mocking her.”
“No, that’s just it,” Laurent continued more eagerly, “you’re right about the way she cares about what impression she gives. And part of that is that she’s always been really proud of who she is, right? Even though she can’t paralyze anyone, she never wore a scarf to try to fit in or hide that part of herself. She got teased for it for a while, but she didn’t change, because she was that determined. A gift like that could show her that you think her confidence is a beautiful thing and that you love that part of her.”
I stared at him, equally surprised and impressed. “That’s… a really good way to think about it. I don’t know if I’m fully convinced, but that was a great pitch.”
Laurent stretched his arms high above his head, looking quite proud of himself. “There’s a lot of stuff I’m not good at, but I’d like to think I know how to be good with other beings. It takes conscious effort, but you learn stuff. You make yourself remember names and details about them, make an effort to really listen, and figure out what’s important to them and what their values are. It takes getting used to at first, but once you make it a habit, I think anyone can do it.”
I smiled, but I had to fight to keep it from being a grimace instead. Laurent was good with other beings, which was part of the reason I’d called him to ask for advice, but it was a double-edged sword. I certainly wasn’t the best at interacting with others—I’d always been a little socially awkward, among other things—and in this particular case I didn’t like to hear that something like this should be easy.
I tried to look on the bright side. Asking for help wasn’t too bad. Surely that meant that I was resourceful or something. Learning was never a bad thing either.
“Well, thanks. I really appreciate your help. I’m sure I’ll get it figured out no problem,” I said finally, trying to sound casual.
Laurent glanced down at me with his dark eyes, and I could see the doubt there, but gratefully he let it be.
“No problem! You’re definitely always welcome to join me on my Hibernal’s Eve shopping adventures.”
“Yeah, no. I’ve seen how beings get when they’re fighting for the last few gifts on the shelves. Like, actually fighting.”
“Need I remind you that one of the first things you got a reputation for in our group was for punching bad guys? I need you there to protect me.”
I laughed and shoved him playfully, which only resulted in me pushing myself backward. Laurent was six feet tall and made of muscle, possessing the strength of several grown men combined. I occasionally envied him; for all my training, the natural strength and resilience of demons was orders of magnitude greater than anything I could ever achieve, and they didn’t even need to work for it.
“Yeah, you need my help. If I really am that desperate I’ll pay extra for a courier instead. But good luck in the trenches.”
He gave me a mock salute, then pointed down the street. “Let’s get back to your place. I want to take some of whatever your dad’s cooking so I’ll have the strength to fight the hordes of Fairfield shoppers in a couple nights.”
Only too happily I agreed. Besides, I thought, I still wanted to ask for more advice… and I knew who to ask next.
* * *
I had to call three times before the necromancer picked up her phone. It was only six in the evening, but I could never tell when she’d be asleep. Her misfiring powers led to her raising the dead on accident on a regular basis, which left her constantly exhausted.
“Hullo?” came October’s muffled voice from the speakers.
“Uh, hey,” I ventured. “Is this a bad time?”
There was a slight scuffling sound from the other end of the line followed by a long yawn.
“Not at all. You actually might have just rescued me from a terrible ache in my neck,” she answered sleepily. “I apparently fell asleep upside down on the sofa. My head was at a very odd angle, which explains the dream I had about someone trying to strangle me. Thank you for waking me.”
I blinked. “Okay, but why were you even in that position when you were awa— never mind. I wanted to ask for your advice. Do you have a minute?”
“Advice?” The surprise was evident in her voice. “I’m happy to offer what I can. Have you got a corpse problem? Did you find a body somewhere?”
“Huh? Wha— no, no, nothing like that,” I answered hastily. The ease with which she asked these questions did not escape me, but in an oddly comforting way it told me that if I ever did have a corpse problem—whatever that was—I knew who I could call. “I’m… having trouble thinking of what to buy Didrixe for Hibernal Grace and I wanted to ask if you had any ideas.”
The phone went quiet for so long that for a moment I worried October had fallen back asleep. Just when I was about to ask if she was still there, however, she said one word.
“Books.”
“Books…?” I echoed uncertainly. “Like, any books?”
“Probably,” October yawned, but then continued, “If I know anything about your terrifying girlfriend it’s that she values growth and personal improvement. She’s always learning something or doing something to make herself better. It’s kind of alarming how motivated she is, honestly. I could never.”
I pondered this. I had thought about giving her a copy of one of my favorite books, a romance between a lady knight and a vampire countess who fell in love after the knight came to kill her in her castle. It was one I’d read countless times, and I wanted to share it with her, hoping she might like it as much as I did.
But October’s advice had taken a turn I didn’t expect.
“That’s not a bad idea I guess, but… I feel like giving her a self-help book or a textbook or something for the holidays wouldn’t be fun enough.”
“Maybe it’s not fun per se, but it’s something she’d like, and that’s what’s important,” October explained. In the background I heard the creak of what sounded like bed springs, and I assumed the necromancer was getting into bed for a proper nap. “But here’s what I think. Didrixe is a very driven being. If you give her books about her hobbies or things she’s studying, you’re showing her that you understand what she’s interested in and that you want to help her along her journey. The books don’t even have to be perfect—it’s the idea that you see her and what she thinks is important and you want to help her with her goals.”
I let myself take in her words and process them. I had hoped to give Didrixe something exciting or fun or sweet for Hibernal Grace, but October suddenly had me thinking that what I thought might be boring would actually be a good idea after all. Didrixe was incredibly ambitious; it was one reason why I was still occasionally surprised that she was happy in a relationship with me. I certainly had my own goals and ideas, but the gorgon seemed to spend every waking moment in pursuit of her career and future and didn’t accept anything less than the best from herself.
For my part I knew that, more than anything, I wanted to help her as best I could.
I tried to be helpful here and there at school—sharing a dorm made it easy for me to make her lunches, help put away her things when she got back from a long day of classes, and other little things here and there—but I sometimes worried that my efforts amounted to little more than housework and moral support when she really needed something more.
Maybe books wouldn’t be a huge step toward that end, but it was something I hadn’t yet done, and October had made a compelling argument.
“That’s a good idea. Thanks a lot,” I said finally, and I felt a little better already. I knew what Didrixe liked, and there was a bookstore not too far away. I could work with this.
“Have you gotten all your stuff figured out?”
“I finished all my shopping in February,” October answered sleepily. “It saves me from agonizing over situations like this. You should probably do the same next year.”
“I might have, but in February of this year I still thought Didrixe hated me, and the closest I got to talking to her were the daydreams I had about her,” I replied, then abruptly felt my cheeks flush.
October laughed quietly. “Daydreams, hm? I won’t tell her you said that.”
“I appreciate that.”
“I will tell Laurent, though.”
“I figured, but he already knows. Anyway… thanks again.”
“You’re welcome. Now, I’m going to sleep. Good night.”
Before I could respond, October ended the call. I smiled faintly. October might not be very close with Didrixe, but she was definitely perceptive. Part of that was because of her training for work—much of which involved the dead, including how they came to be so—but she wasn’t half bad with the living, either.
My smile faded a little. I wished I could be as good. At the very least for someone like Didrixe.
But then I cheered up a little. I was due to meet Didrixe herself the next day. The nearby mall was decorated for the holiday and put on a light and music show every year, and this year I was only too happy to be going to see it with a girl I really liked. I’d think more about gift ideas, but I could put off the stress until after the show. I’d already procrastinated this much, I reasoned. What was another twenty-four hours?
Fairfield’s biggest mall was set in the middle of the city’s largest park, which made it a beautiful place to hang out on a normal day. Grass fields dotted with tall trees and planters and winding paths stretched out for several acres on all sides. An enormous fountain near the front of the mall was a popular spot for many beings on hot days and it served as a companion for many performers during shows. Tonight was no exception; in fact, the winter performance was always one of my favorites.
Thanks mostly to Didrixe’s insistence that we arrive early we got two seats on the sweeping lawn right up near the front of the stage. I’d brought a blanket for us to sit on, as well as a few snacks. Two dozen chairs had been set up for the orchestra with two raised platforms behind for the choir, and as the afternoon turned to evening the performers began to fill their seats, tuning and preparing their instruments as the choir members performed quiet vocal exercises nearby.
All were dressed in navy blue suits and gowns with tiny jewels like twinkling stars.
Before the sun even set fully the moon began to rise behind the mall and fountain. In just a few more days, right on time to welcome the new year, it would be full and cast its light down over the night of Fairfield as if to give us all a bright start.
“How many times have you seen them perform?” Didrixe asked, leaning into me.
One of her snakes wound itself partway around my neck and pulled me even closer, and I happily obliged. When I was growing up I’d wondered about gorgons and their snakes—what it was like to have other living entities on your body like that. Learning how they came to be so hadn’t answered many of my questions, which in my young mind were more logistical in nature. But now I had become remarkably comfortable with them, even looking forward to feeling their touch. They were as much Didrixe as the rest of her was, all of them and all of her more beautiful than I could describe.
“Almost every year,” I said happily. “It was sort of family tradition for a while. The first one I remember I was… I think four years old. I don’t remember a whole lot except beautiful music and all the lights. I caught a golden petal made of light in my hand and I felt warm for the rest of the night.”
Didrixe smiled. “What a wonderful memory. I’ve only been a few times. I didn’t actually know this was an annual thing until I was in middle school. Corana and most of her family were going, and since she and I were good friends by that point, she invited me along. It was a big deal that year because about half her siblings were in the choir. I remember feeling so happy that I’d gone, a little frustrated that I hadn’t known about it in years past, and… well, a little embarrassed.”
“Why? It’s okay if you didn’t know it was happening. I don’t think most beings our age went to stuff like this—”
“No, it’s not that. I try to be good about not scolding myself for not knowing things.” She shifted slightly. “It was the music. The singing. I… I didn’t even realize I was crying until Corana reached up to wipe the tears from my face.”
Didrixe pursed her lips as if daring the memory of this moment to tease her. I snickered, nodding in understanding.
“There have been a few years they got me too. They always say the sirens aren’t allowed to use their magic, but even when they don’t, there’s something about their voices no one else will ever be able to match.”
Didrixe turned her green eyes on me, searching my expression. “I can’t tell if you’re mocking me.”
“I’m not!” I assured her. “I even remember the first year it happened to me. Maybe it was the same year. I thought I knew what I was in for. Same as all the other years, right? Except… then they sang. And it was like their voices got into my head and right past any defenses or control I might have had. Like they weren’t even there. And I remember thinking that I’d never heard music before, not really. That everything I’d listened to in the past was just muffled noise, and that only this could ever be called song. It was the clearest I’d ever heard anything. I thought Vixel would make fun of me but she was crying more than I was.”
Didrixe returned my smile, scooting even closer to me. “Sirens really are something. It makes me think of Evarea and Echonore. I wish we could have heard them sing more. Normally, that is. I didn’t like being hypnotized by them even if I have to admit their song was also beautiful.”
“I’m sure we could have asked, but I’m also sure they would have made us do something embarrassing to ‘earn’ it,” I said, amused. The twin sirens who lived in Bellshire Lake had become friends of ours by the end of our stay there, but they’d enjoyed teasing and taunting us whenever we were in their vicinity, knowing that there was nothing we could do about it. I missed them, but wasn’t sure I could handle being around them every day of the year.
Didrixe looked like she wanted to say something else, but then the lights of the surrounding area dimmed, and there came a quiet gasp from the crowd as everyone realized what was going on. Soon the only lights came from the special ones set up around the fountain and performers, casting a soft glow on them as they prepared to play and sing.
And then the lights changed, narrowing their focus on the musicians and the fountain, and the music suddenly began. Immediately the orchestra started an upbeat tune, a holiday song that was one of the most recognizable, the strings and winds and drums emanating an almost victorious sound.
When the choir began to sing, nearly everyone in the audience joined them. The words were a prayer to the high gods, asking their blessings as we prepared to enter the new year. Many considered it good luck to add their voices to the call, while others simply liked the tune. I counted myself in both categories; while to my knowledge the high gods had never had an impact on my life, I figured it couldn’t hurt. As for the rest, I was only too happy to sing along, swaying back and forth to the rhythm where I sat. When I caught Didrixe’s expression, amused if not mildly embarrassed, I grinned and sang even louder.
While they played and sang, the water behind them seemed to come to life. Great bursts of water shot skyward in time with the music, some of it falling back to earth while the rest stayed aloft, twirling itself into beautiful patterns that glowed from within. When the verses to Artemis were sung, the floating waters took the shape of a bow and arrow and wild boar before shifting into the visage of a robed figure with a lyre as the choir sang for Apollo.
As the evening wore on the music became more somber as the air grew cooler. I stole another look at Didrixe to see a faint smile on her face, watching the musicians as if entranced. As beautiful as the music was, I found myself similarly captivated by her, as I so often was. I could watch the lights in the reflections in her eyes and feel I was missing nothing.
I couldn’t help but notice how her snakes remained close to her head and body now, seeking warmth from her in the cool night air. I shifted closer to her and put an arm around her waist. She leaned closer without hesitation, and even this was enough to make me smile. It was hard to imagine that things between us had ranged from indifferent to actively antagonistic just earlier this year.
As if on cue, the snakes on her head closest to me wasted no time pushing themselves against me, nudging my cheek and winding close to my neck and shoulders. It was as much for warmth as it was a sign of affection, but I loved it anyway.
After an hour and a half the performance came to a close, ending on another upbeat song that had the entire crowd on their feet with excitement. The lights pulsed rapidly, the conductor held his arms high, and the choir called a beautiful harmony as the fountain behind them sent water hundreds of feet into the sky.
When the last note struck, the water burst far and wide like a firework, but instead of raining down upon everyone below each droplet turned into a tiny glittering crystal, like thousands upon thousands of jewels falling slowly toward us.
The crowd applauded and cheered as the musicians took their bows, and then the lights of the surrounding area slowly came back on, signaling the official end of the show.
Didrixe and I hung back, intent on letting much of the crowd disperse before making our way out of the park. The night was still young, and while the mall and park’s decorations weren’t as impressive as the show we’d just seen, it created a delightful atmosphere in which to take a walk, especially after dark.
“So, what did you think? As good as ever, huh?” I asked cheerfully as we started toward a quieter part of the park.
“It’s always wonderful. I think my favorite was my first year, but as long as I’m in the area I’ll always come back for this,” the gorgon answered. She yawned, and I automatically checked my watch.
“Don’t tell me you’re sleepy already. It’s only just after eight,” I teased.
“Only a little. I had thought coming home for the holidays would be relaxing, but I should have known better. Helping my parents decorate, visiting extended family, going out for celebratory excursions like this…”
“I’m sorry, but also you’re welcome.”
Didrixe snickered. “And what about you? I don’t know how you have so much energy. Surely your family keeps you busy.”
“Kind of? I like to help with the decorating where I can, but my whole family loves using magic, especially my dad. He even gets some of his colleagues over every year to help. There’s just not a lot someone like me can do compared to so much fairy magic. We don’t get a lot of extended family visits, and when they do, they usually come to us.”
“I’m almost jealous,” Didrixe said, though she didn’t sound displeased. “At least I pretty much only have to worry about socializing. Some beings I know are still stressing about gifts to buy.”
“I-is that right?” I asked, feeling the minor kick of anxiety in my chest. “Are you all done, then?”
“Of course. I’ve been done since early December,” she answered matter-of-factly. “I like to account for possible shipping delays, especially since I was having everything delivered to our dorm; I’d hate to think that a last-minute gift might be delivered to school after we left it for the holidays.”
“That sounds smart,” I agreed, even as my insides twisted a little. Didrixe and I hadn’t actually talked a lot about gifts—we were too busy packing and talking about how we looked forward to seeing our families—but I should have assumed she was already completely prepared on that front as well.
And then, as if I hadn’t been worried enough already, another thought struck me. If she had already been done for several weeks now, did that mean I had been easy to buy for? How had she done it? I was tempted to ask, but more than anything I was worried I might give myself away. It was bad enough I wasn’t done looking for gifts yet; she didn’t need to know that.
We walked for another twenty minutes before we decided it was finally time to get out of the cold. Didrixe pulled out her phone to call for a ride, and as I waited with her, my mind raced. I didn’t have much time left, and as wonderful as tonight had been, I started to worry if my procrastination might get me in real trouble this time.
The next morning I wasted no time. I started with my usual run and weight training, followed by stretches and a steaming hot shower. The instant I was dressed I took my phone off its charger and sent off a text.
I didn’t have to wait long for an answer.
When my phone rang with an incoming video call, I picked up before it had time to ring twice. On the screen I saw Corana Hirei and Wilfred Hogwood sitting in a brightly-lit room in Corana’s house. In the background I heard several other voices and what sounded like the clinking of silverware.
When I set my phone down on my desk and waved, the siren beamed and raised her hands, signing as she did so.
Hey! I’m glad you texted. I was going to ask if we’re still all on to hang out the day after Hibernal Grace.
“As far as I know,” I agreed, smiling. “None of us would miss it for the world.”
Great! I figured... but I was asking Wilfred if everyone would show up and he gave me his usual answer about how he’s not allowed to reveal the future or something... and it made me a little nervous so I wanted to make sure.
“The answer will always be the same, so I’m not sure why you insist on asking,” Wilfred said lightly. The young man was a son of The Fates, and as such had the ability to see the past, present, and future—even if the quirks of his powers made it so he always got a few details wrong every time he tried.
It bugs me that you won’t answer my questions... so I’ll bug you by continuing to ask them, Corana teased, sticking out her tongue at him. Then she glanced back at the camera. So! You said you need advice. What’s up?
“I’m having trouble deciding what I should buy Didrixe,” I answered, deciding to get straight to the point. “I feel like I know her really well, but when it comes down to actually making a decision I just don’t know what to do. I don’t even know why it’s so hard. But I wanted to ask for your help.”
Corana nodded knowingly, and this helped me feel a little better already. At least one other being seemed to understand my struggle.
She’s always been tough to buy for. Honestly... for the first few years of our friendship I just gave her handmade cards because I didn’t know what else to get her. But my advice is to get her something practical. Didrixe loves gifts she can use. She doesn’t mind decorative gifts but doesn’t always know what to do with them. But if you give her something that has a purpose she’ll use it until it’s worn out completely.
“That makes sense. She’s definitely a practical being. But I guess I wasn’t sure about buying her something she could use, if only because I didn’t want to come off like the best I could think to give her was school supplies or something.”
I understand why you’d feel that way... but that’s the thing- she would unironically really appreciate it, Corana continued. She’s going to need stuff she can use eventually... and she’ll buy it herself if no one else does. Notebooks... schoolbags... replacements for things around the dorm... it’s not an ‘if’ she’ll need it... but ‘when.’ If you get her something like that rather than some trinket... it’ll show her you’re paying attention to what she needs and that you understand the importance of those needs. You wouldn’t offend her by doing that. Practical stuff is her love language. Trust me.
“If I may,” Wilfred jumped in, “you may be unconsciously preoccupied by the idea that all gifts are supposed to be meaningful in the same way. Most commercials will have you believe that you need to choose the perfect item which values sentimentality over all else. In reality, the type of gift that’s right for each being will depend on the recipient. Corana and I prefer different types of gifts, but even the recognition of that from each other is meaningful to us.”
I nodded slowly. I couldn’t deny Wilfred was at least partly right. Every time I thought about giving Didrixe something practical or useful, I assumed she would take it as disrespectful because I wasn’t getting her something with some grander purpose, some elusive perfect item that would encapsulate the entirety of our relationship and my feelings for her all in one beautiful package. Part of me knew that Didrixe would probably like something that was useful, and that she would be genuinely grateful for it.
But I felt I owed her more than just something that was useful. I wasn’t struggling with knowing what she’d like. It’s that I wanted to give her something that would show her that I paid more attention than just what school supplies she used or what subjects she was studying. I was closer to her than almost anyone. Shouldn’t my gift reflect that? How could I give her something that was both practical and a sign of the closeness we’d developed? It seemed paradoxical somehow.
I looked up to see the two of them watching me expectantly.
“You’ve definitely given me something to think about,” I said quickly. “If nothing else you’ve made me feel a little better about maybe getting her something that she’ll just be able to use.”
Yeah! You’ve got this, Corana signed encouragingly. If you still need more help... you can text me photos when you’re at the store and I can tell you what I think she’d like best.
“Thanks, but I think I’ll take that last step myself,” I answered. If I let anyone else have that much of an impact on my final decision, I thought, the gift might as well not even be from me. “What about you, Wilfred? What kind of gift do you think she’d like?”
“I’m afraid I cannot offer input to that extent as it may interfere with spacetime,” he said unabashedly.
Corana and I stared at him in disbelief.
You absolute lying liar, she signed, then swatted him lightly on the shoulder. As if your powers mean you can’t offer advice on what to gift someone for Hibernal Grace.
“The strands of fate are fickle, and I dare not say anything that might throw the world’s entire future off course,” he continued blankly, but then added a little more quietly, “However, I’m afraid I’m also not very good at offering advice like this.”
“Well, at least you can use the safeguarding of everyone’s futures as an excuse,” I snorted. “I appreciate it anyway. I… think you were right about how I might be overthinking this.”
“It’s entirely common,” Wilfred offered, and he gave me a small smile, a rare show of emotion from him. “There’s a reason this time of year is so universally stressful. Still, given how close the two of you have gotten, I’m sure everything will be fine.”
He’s right. The two of you really like each other... and even if Didrixe doesn’t always show it in the same ways... she’s head over heels for you. She adores you. As long as you try... she’ll see it, Corana added.
“I hope so. All right. Thanks, guys. I have some thinking to do, but I feel better about all this now.”
“Best of luck to you. And I look forward to seeing you the day after Hibernal Grace,” Wilfred said, and Corana nodded eagerly.
I’ll double check with everyone else to make sure. You’ve got this! But also... go soon so everything isn’t sold out!
We ended the call, and I let out a breath. Our chat had helped in several ways, and I did feel a little more confident, but at the same time I couldn’t help but notice that every single being I’d asked for advice on this matter had given a different opinion on what a good gift for Didrixe would be.
I looked at the clock, trying to gauge how much time I could reasonably spend at the neighborhood stores to hunt for something. I was almost out of time. But there was someone else I wanted to ask for help before I went, and luckily for me, she wasn’t far away.
It was all of ten steps to my sister’s room, and as soon as I knocked on the door I heard her quick footsteps approaching. She threw open the door and smiled delightedly when she saw me.
“Hey you. Miss me already?”
“We’re staying in the same house, don’t be weird.”
“If you don’t want weird, you’re in the wrong place,” she continued brightly. “What’s up?”
“I wanted to ask your opinion on something. Can I… come in?” I said slowly.
Vixel nodded immediately. “Of course. Nyasi would love to see you anyway. She’s been too lazy to wander around the house unless she’s on my shoulder so she’ll love that you’re coming to her.”
I closed the door behind me as I walked in, taking a moment to savor as I always did being able to spend time in this particular room with her. It hardly happened anymore since we were both away at university. But I had fond memories of this place. So many times when we were younger I would come into her room and we’d lie on her bed together staring up at the ceiling which looked like the starry sky at night, almost like just this part of the house had no roof and we could stare into the endless expanse above. We’d tell jokes and talk about our fears and dreams, build small forts with sheets and pillows and cushions, and watch scary movies late into the night until we were too scared to sleep.
We were never alone in this room either. Apart from her familiar Nyasi, an enormous black widow, other spiders tended to congregate wherever my sister went due to her affinity for them. It took some time, but a few days was usually enough to cause at least two dozen spiders to move in to her living space. I saw two large Huntsman spiders on the wall over her bed, several orb weavers building webs near her open window, and a grumpy-looking tarantula in the far corner of the room. Because they were drawn to her by her magic they were usually easy to reason with and respected our personal space so long as we respected theirs.
Nyasi herself was hanging upside down just a few feet above the head of Vixel’s bed, and as soon as she saw me she clambered across the strings of her web until she was right in front of my face. I leaned forward so she could climb onto my head, and I felt her step carefully down onto my shoulder, her long front legs tapping at my cheeks in greeting.
“Good to see you too,” I chuckled, ducking to avoid disturbing her web as Vixel and I moved toward her bed.
Vixel hopped onto her bed and sat cross-legged, peering at me curiously. No sooner had I sat then she spoke.
“What’s on your mind?”
I took a breath, then explained everything. My difficulty thinking of a good gift for Didrixe and how everyone I’d asked so far gave me different suggestions. I told her how frustrating it was that everyone had such good advice, and how their varied suggestions might make it sound like it’d be easy for me to choose something, but how in fact made things more difficult in some ways.
Vixel listened attentively, nodding as I spoke without saying a word.
When I finished, she pursed her lips thoughtfully before speaking.
“Well, there’s two things I could say to that. As far as gift suggestions go, Didrixe strikes me as someone who would appreciate an experience as much as an actual gift. You know, like going to the movies or a special date. She likes spending time with you, and I know it’s the same in reverse, so a gift of a day or maybe even a couple days out somewhere could be a really cute way to make that time even more special.”
I considered this, but didn’t have to think on it long. I had been debating the idea of buying us tickets to a concert or play, or if I was feeling ambitious, a weekend away in a place I knew she wanted to visit. My hesitation came from how it didn’t feel like a gift. It wasn’t something I could put into a box with a bow. The idea of getting a gift to unwrap from Didrixe, only to tell her that I had nothing for her now but that we were totally going to do something in the future, struck an anxious chord with me.
“What’s a good way to present that to her?” I mused. “Do you think I could write a card with a picture of where we’re going or what we’re doing? I’m thinking I should give her something to unwrap just so I’m not standing there awkwardly, but—”
“Hold on. Before we get that far,” Vixel interrupted gently, “I want to say the second thing. It’s more of a question, I suppose. This is about more than just trying to get the perfect gift, right?”
“More than…?” I paused. “I don’t know what you mean. That’s the biggest part, anyway. It’s important to me that I get her something she likes, but also something that shows her I know her and that I pay attention to her.”
“Oh, I know you want to get her something good, and I know why you do. But everything you’ve told me makes it sound like there’s even more, too. Maybe some fear?”
“Fear? I don’t know if I’d go that far. I don’t think she’s going to get angry at me if I don’t get her the right—” I began, but then stopped as I realized what she was actually saying.
“Oh… yeah. Maybe there’s some of that.”
“Tell me?” Vixel insisted quietly, though from the look on her face I was sure she knew what I was about to say.
I exhaled quietly. “I keep thinking about how much trouble I’m having thinking of what to get her. I do want to get her a good gift, but I’m afraid that since I’m having so much trouble, that maybe it means… I don’t know, that I’m a bad girlfriend or something. That if I actually knew her as well as I thought I did, I wouldn’t have any trouble. We’ve talked so much and I know so much about her and what she likes and doesn’t like and what’s important to her, but I can’t even think of a present to get her. I feel like I’m failing her somehow. I’m afraid that once this Hibernal Grace happens she’ll see that I’m not nearly as good as she thought. And maybe she’ll be right.”
Vixel watched me sympathetically, but just as I thought, she didn’t seem surprised. I wasn’t sure if that made me feel better or worse.
“You really have been overthinking it, huh?” She scooted closer on the bed and Nyasi slowly walked onto her shoulder. “I’ve heard this kind of thing before. The truth is that giving gifts can just be hard sometimes. Knowing someone better can make it harder, which is weird, right? But that’s how it is. Having trouble knowing what to buy someone is pretty common.”
“I mean, maybe,” I answered uncertainly, “but this is Didrixe we’re talking about. She’s probably picked out just the right thing and hasn’t felt any doubt whatsoever. And knowing her it is going to be great. So even if this feeling is common, it’s still going to feel weird to get something so nice from her and know that I had such a hard time thinking of something in return. And I still don’t know if what I get is going to be good.”
“It will be, and I know that’s true no matter what you get her,” Vixel said softly. “You’re thinking too much about the gift and not the being you’re giving it to. This is your girlfriend. Anything you get her is going to have a lot of thought behind it. She’ll be able to see why you thought to get it for her, whatever it ends up being. Even if the thing itself isn’t the coolest gift she’s ever gotten, it’s still a gift from someone she likes who knows enough about her to do that especially for her. That’s what I want you to focus on. She’ll like the gift not just because of what it is, but who it’s coming from. You’re setting your personal standard way too high. You’re a lot better at this than you think you are. What you do will be enough. I promise.”
I didn’t answer immediately. I wanted to believe she was right. And in all fairness, it seemed like that was the truth for everyone else. Whenever I’d gotten gifts from family during the holiday I was never so focused on them that I couldn’t appreciate that I now had them because my loved ones had taken the time to pick them out for me. That had always felt like more than enough.
“Maybe I am being a little tough on myself. I just… this is our first Hibernal Grace together. I really want to make sure I do this right,” I said finally. “I want to prove myself to her. And maybe I want to prove myself to me, too. She’s always so put together and confident and she makes it all look so easy. I want her to know I can keep up.”
Vixel laughed quietly. “Oh, you can. And I’m pretty sure that in some ways she has to try to keep up with you.”
I frowned. “Didrixe? Keep up with me?”
She nodded confidently. “You two are kind of different in the way you approach things. She might be ambitious but she’s also very methodical. She has a process. You’re more… how can I say this…”
“Chaotic?” I suggested, and she giggled.
“Yes. That’s a good word. Not that you aren’t also thoughtful and smart in your own way, but coming from someone who watched it happen on the sidelines, it was a lot for her to get used to. But she likes that about you and so she has made the effort just like you have with her. So give yourself some credit.”
“I’ll… try,” I acquiesced, and she threw me a knowing look.
“I’m sure it’ll take time. You’re confident in your own way, but when it comes to things like this, I know sometimes you need to see it to believe it. At least at first.”
Nyasi waved one of her front legs at me as if in agreement. I smiled faintly, then glanced down at my phone.
“Right. Well, at least in terms of buying her gift, time is something I’m running out of. I’m going to need to leave soon if I want to get what I need.”
“Oh? Does that mean you already know what you want to get her?” Vixel asked, for the first time looking like she hadn’t expected this.
“I have some ideas,” I said lightly. The truth was, now that she had helped me get to the heart of my anxieties, I realized that the hard part wasn’t what I thought it was. Between my friends’ varying suggestions and my concern over the ramifications of giving Didrixe her gift, I hadn’t let myself appreciate that I actually had a pretty good idea as to what she might like. And now that I was taking my sister’s words to heart and letting myself believe that my efforts would be enough—at least for the moment—I discovered I was already getting a little excited about putting it all together.
Of course, now I had to actually do it.
“In that case, I only have one more question for you,” Vixel said as I got to my feet, ducking under Nyasi’s web as I did so. I turned to look at her, and she grinned. “Do you need a ride?”
The day of Hibernal Grace dawned bright and cold, and the house was pleasantly warm with artificial heat. My mom, who had an affinity for the weather, conjured a light snow that covered the entire block as she usually did, which delighted many of the younger children who lived on our street.
I always liked looking out my window first thing in the morning to watch the snow; it was one tradition I’d loved ever since I could remember. When I was younger, my dad would help Vixel and I create unique creatures out of the snow and then use his magic to bring them to life, making them walk around the yard or fly up and down the street, leaving tiny snowflakes in their wake. My favorite memory of this was when I was six and Vixel nine, and he made seven reindeer out of snow and had them pull a sled with us riding in it through the neighborhood. My sister and I laughed and then screamed with delight when the reindeer began to fly, taking us slowly over the nearby houses and giving us a view of all of Fairfield beyond.
When we all arrived downstairs, our next tradition was to gather round the table and eat coffee cake and cinnamon rolls. This year they were made by my mother’s familiar, who was taking cooking lessons from my dad—to its credit, they turned out nearly perfect. After that we gathered around the tree to open gifts. My parents loved picking our tree, each year trying to make it more memorable than the last. This year our “tree” was a tall carnivorous plant with black thorny branches and bright red and yellow flowers that snapped angrily if you got too close. We’d hung up our decorations a week earlier with only a few injuries, but with how often the tree shook to throw off the baubles and trinkets we hung upon it, we decided to keep the breakable ones in a box until the next year.
We exchanged our gifts and ate some more treats as the morning wore on, delighting in the surprise and joy on each other’s faces as they opened their presents. As I watched, I couldn’t help but think about Vixel’s words, which made me consciously realize something I think I’d always known. The giving of each gift was just a method of expressing love and appreciation. The items themselves were only of secondary importance, as wonderful as they all were.
Early in the afternoon we split up; the afternoon was usually spent quietly resting until dinner, which was a large family affair. But this year was a little different for me. While I usually went to my bedroom to read, this year I would be otherwise occupied. With that in mind, I went to my room and took an unopened bag, its contents hidden by tissue paper. I walked downstairs, put it under the tree, and waited.
There soon came a knock at the door, and I got to my feet so quickly I almost tripped. I smoothed my shirt, cleared my throat, then ran my fingers through my hair to make sure I looked presentable. Then I took a breath. It was time.
I opened the door to find Didrixe standing across the threshold, her hands clasped politely in front of her, holding a bag that was larger than I’d been expecting. She smiled when she saw me.
“Happy Hibernal Grace,” she greeted me, and I echoed her words back to her, suddenly feeling nervous. No matter what Vixel said, I wouldn’t feel completely better until I got to see Didrixe’s reaction myself.
“How was your morning?” I asked after inviting her inside. She took off her shoes and placed them neatly by the door.
“It was nice. My grandmother and grandfather on my dad’s side came by for a few hours, and it was really nice to see them. It’s a little harder for them to make the trip from Sundale every year, so we were talking about maybe starting to visit there during the holiday instead. Do you get many visits from extended family?”
“Not too much. Every so often a weird relative or two will pop in but I never know when or why,” I answered. “I also never know how exactly we’re related, or if we actually are. But they don’t usually come for holidays.”
I led her into the living room where the tree stood, and was just about to offer her a seat when something caught my eye.
“Hey!” I stepped forward quickly and snatched the gift bag for Didrixe out from under the tree. One of the red and yellow flowers nearby was now munching on the colorful tissue paper, and while it hadn’t yet eaten enough to expose the gift within, it still left clear teeth marks on what was left of the paper.
I looked closer at the flower to see if I could justify trying to pull any of the paper back out, but I decided I didn’t want to risk it. I gave the bag a quick once over to make sure everything was intact, and luckily everything seemed fine. I tried not to let Didrixe see just how relieved I was. I was already concerned enough about the gift; I didn’t need any of it to be damaged.
Didrixe stared at me quizzically.
“Ana… was your Hibernal Grace tree just eating that gift bag?”
“Yes. Or at least the paper. But it’s not supposed to do that, I swear. It’s carnivorous, so it shouldn’t even be interested in paper.”
“You have a carnivorous tree in your h—?!” she began sharply, then paused to collect herself. “Of course you do. That’s on me for not being prepared.”
“Sorry. It’s not usually carnivorous either,” I tried to assure her, although even as I said these words I understood what a low bar I was setting. “Though… it’s honestly not so bad. It’s kind of pretty. If you just keep your fingers away from the flowers there’s not much danger.”
Didrixe stared at the tree as though desperately trying to see it through my eyes. I was worried she’d make a quip about how she didn’t have to worry about her tree at home biting anyone. But then she nodded slowly.
“It’s… nice. Unique, but nice. Especially with the decorations on it.”
“Right? Yeah! We had a good time as a family putting it all together,” I said thankfully, although I held the bag close to me all the same.
“I’d love to hear about some of the other trees you’ve had over the years,” Didrixe continued, “but first, I’m eager to give you your gifts.”
She held out the bag to me and I took it gently, surprise by its weight; it was much lighter than it looked, and its contents hardly jostled at all.
I held out my bag for her in return, and she took it carefully. My bag was not nearly as neatly packed as hers was, and I heard something within slide as she sat down and placed it in her lap. I watched her for a moment. Something about her looked different, but I wasn’t sure exactly what.
When I realized what it was, I nearly gasped in delight.
“What?” Didrixe asked quickly. Then she saw what I was looking at, and when she continued she sounded almost embarrassed. “Oh. I thought I might try something a little different, and… well, they seemed to like it.”
“They look great! Look how handsome they are,” I exclaimed, kneeling next to her to take a closer look at her snakes. Nearly every single one had a tiny ribbon in red, green, or gold tied gently around its neck. Now that they were inside out of the cold they were more animated than usual, stretching proudly toward me as if eager to show off their holiday clothes. “How long did this take you?” I continued, impressed.
“An hour. It might have taken less time if they weren’t all so intent on ‘helping,’ but once they saw what I was doing, they all wanted to be next,” Didrixe explained, not quite able to meet my eye. “I’m… glad you like it.”
“It’s cute! They should get dressed up more often.”
“Please don’t encourage them.”
I snickered, then took a seat across from her. “Who’s first?”
“You are. You’re so kindly opening your home to me, so it’s only fair.”
I peered at her, a teasing smile playing at the corners of my lips.
“Since when is that a reason?”
“Since I decided it was. Also, I’m impatient to see what your reaction will be.”
“There it is.”
I hefted the bag in my hands, trying to guess what could possibly be inside. One item was definitely a large box, though that didn’t help much. There was also a smaller box, as well as what might have been a card or thin slip of cardboard, though for what purpose that might be in there was anyone’s guess.
Didrixe raised an eyebrow. “What’s your analysis, Detective?”
I frowned thoughtfully. “It is… definitely a gift.”
“Well, goodness. I don’t know why I even wrapped it. Your powers of deduction are unrivaled,” she remarked, amused.
I winked. “What can I say? I’ve always been this good. Even my parents always say—”
“Open it.”
I snapped to attention and set the bag down, grinning as I pulled away at the tissue paper on top of the box. Unlike mine, which was pushed into the bag with at least some semblance of order and purpose, Didrixe had neatly folded the paper so that it created a few layers, each a different color and slightly overlapping. It looked like the gift bags set up in storefronts as part of the decorations, and I was mightily impressed. I didn’t even know tissue paper could be used this way, but it was no surprise Didrixe found a way to bend it to her will.
Out of the bag I pulled a small, squat box, then a card in an envelope with my name written in Didrixe’s handwriting, and then finally a large box with a company’s logo on the side.
When I realized what it was, my eyes widened.
“You didn’t,” I said softly, gingerly opening the box’s lid. Inside was a pair of running shoes, a pair I had been eyeing from a brand that was well known for its athletic footwear—and which had prices to match its reputation.
“The soles are supposed to adapt to the terrain you find yourself in, and with this particular model you’re supposed to be able to teach the laces to tie themselves however you like,” she informed me.
The next box contained a scented candle, one of my favorites. Didrixe liked to light them for us when we were both together as a way of relaxing after a long day, and I’d quickly come to love those little moments. Finally, the envelope contained two gift cards to a massage parlor nearby, one I’d seen several times and which was apparently highly rated.
“I thought we could go together sometime. Maybe after we’ve exhausted ourselves with our respective activities and want to wind the day down,” she suggested.
Her smile was as confident as ever, but I could see the glint in her eyes that waited for my approval.
And I was more than happy to oblige.
“I love this,” I exclaimed, looking down at the gifts almost in disbelief. “It’s all so perfect. I can’t wait to try these out… and I’d love to go with you. Thank you.”
She inclined her head lightly, looking pleased.
“I’m glad you like them. I thought the candle might remind you of me when we’re not together. As for the shoes… I had no idea the idea of buying such things was so controversial.”
“Is it?” I asked, surprised.
“Apparently. Lots of beings say a gift card is better so the recipient can choose their own. It’s a fair statement, but… I’d already gotten you one gift card, and I was certain you’d like these. At least certain enough to buy them.”
“You must have been really certain, knowing how much these go for, but… you’re right. I was actually looking at these myself. I just wasn’t sure if I was ready, like maybe I wasn’t enough of a ‘real’ runner to get something so nice, but… wow. You were definitely right.”
She threw me a pointed look.
“You are ten times the runner any of the rest of us will ever be. I say that both to tease you and compliment you. What you can do is really impressive. So… I hope those help.”
“I know they will. But I’ll let you know! Actually, you could always come on a run with me. See them in action, you know?”
“A text will do.”
I laughed, then set the gifts down safely on the floor. Now this was done, I felt a little nervousness return. Now it was her turn. As I’d expected she’d been as confident as ever, enough to spend quite a bit of money on something despite whatever discussions she’d seen. She was that certain she was correct. And she had been.
I hoped I could muster the appearance of even half that conviction.
She pulled out the tissue paper, unable to completely hide her smirk at the teeth marks where the tree had started gnawing on it. I held my breath as she began pulling out what was inside, laying each item down before her after inspecting each one with interest. But it was only when she read the card I’d placed inside that she truly smiled, as wide and genuine and beautiful as I’d ever seen it.
“Oh, Ana,” she said quietly, taking a quick moment to meet my eye before her gaze returned to the card. “These are wonderful. How thoughtful of you. I look forward to using all of these.”
When it came to what to give her, I’d decided that all of my friends had been right—and that her gifts could combine elements of all their suggestions as a result.
First I’d given her an arrow that was more for effect than anything else, but attached to it was a coupon I’d drawn that said I would go with her to the archery range for a session whenever she wanted. She was an excellent archer and more than once had hinted she’d like us to go together. Next was a gift card to a popular bookstore along with one to her favorite restaurant in Fairfield, and a handwritten card telling her that before the holiday was over that I wanted to take her on a date to buy some new books and then get dinner. Finally, the biggest item by volume was a new schoolbag that my dad had enchanted for me, making it so the bag would never feel heavy no matter how much was put inside it.
“R-really?” I asked, and I could tell I sounded maybe a little too relieved. “I know you always wanted to go to the range with me so I hope that’ll be okay. And I know you like getting yourself new books, even if they’re non-fiction sometimes, so that could be part of the shopping trip. And you’re always carrying so many books, too, so I thought—”
“Ana,” Didrixe interrupted gently, “they’re perfect. They’re all perfect, and I like them very much. Thank you.”
“Yeah! Great. I mean, you’re welcome. That’s— I’m glad you like them.”
She got up, placing her things carefully on the sofa cushion, and then came to sit next to me, staring meaningfully at me.
“Were you worried I wouldn’t like them?”
“Not too much!” I answered immediately, then cleared my throat awkwardly. “Yeah, definitely.”
“Why? They’re such nice gifts. They’re exactly the sort of thing I like, and you know that.”
“Yeah, it’s just…” I scratched at the back of my neck. “I had a hard time narrowing it down and thinking of the right gifts, that’s all. I was worried that they wouldn’t be enough, and also worried about how it took me so long to think of them. I didn’t want to let you down.”
She watched me for a moment as if uncertain how to respond.
“Ana… you’re such a dork.”
I blinked. That wasn’t the response I’d been expecting.
“Wha— me?”
She gestured around the room and raised her eyebrows as if to say, Who else?
“Yes, you. How long were you agonizing about this and I had no idea?”
“Maybe a couple weeks?” I replied hesitantly.
“You should have talked to me,” Didrixe insisted, but she didn’t look at all annoyed. “I could have put your mind at ease. I didn’t want you to be spending your precious holiday time worrying so much about what I might think of a present.”
“Well, when you say it that way it sounds a little silly, but… you’re important to me. I wanted my gifts for you to properly reflect that,” I protested.
“They do, but not because you got me the perfect ones. It’s because you were thoughtful enough to get me something in the first place,” Didrixe said directly. “You don’t need to explain why you got me each one, for instance. I can look at them and tell you why. That’s a wonderful thing.”
“I’m… glad,” I relented, smiling. “I guess some of it was the fact that this is our first Hibernal Grace together. It felt like kind of a big deal. I guess I should have been more relaxed like you.”
At this, a look of uncertainty flickered across her face.
“I don’t know if I’d say I was so relaxed.”
“No?”
The gorgon cleared her throat, now looking uncharacteristically uncertain.
“To tell the truth, I… was worried about the same thing. I scolded myself for it. The only reason I knew how to reassure you just now is because I’ve been trying to tell myself the same things.”
“What do you mean? What were you worried about?” I asked, totally taken aback.
“I was just afraid that I might not do it right, whatever that even means. All the research I did for your gift, it wasn’t just to make sure it was of quality. I don’t always completely understand or relate to the things you like to do, but I want to give you things to support you anyway. Then there’s the candle; I don’t know how much you like sentimental sort of gifts, but from experience you seem to like those kinds of things, but I also wasn’t completely sure and I didn’t want to impose or assume but I thought you might like it if—”
She broke off as I laughed, and I quickly put a hand on her shoulder, eager to assuage her fears.
“You don’t have to explain them to me, either. Everything you got me is perfect, and half the reason for that is because they all came from you.”
Didrixe opened and closed her mouth a few times, unable to find the right words. And then she gave me a grin that showed her fangs.
“It seems we were both on the same track there. Hearts in the right place but too anxious.”
“What made you worry? I guess I’ve never thought of myself as hard to buy for.”
“I don’t think you are, but at the same time, I’m not used to buying gifts for beings who aren’t my family or the same friends I’ve had for years like Corana. And you’re more than just a friend, so I suppose it felt like it was extra important that I do this right. I know what I just told you, but… I felt the same. I didn’t want to let you down.”
“I don’t think you could ever,” I said warmly, placing my hand on top of hers.
“You’re right. We really were both way too worried. But I didn’t see even a hint of that from you. That’s one reason I was nervous: I thought I was the only one feeling that way.”
“I’m good at hiding things like that,” she stated simply. “Though don’t get me wrong: this uncertainty is rare.”
“Awh, you mean you saved it just for me, then?”
“That’s an interesting way to phrase it, but yes, I suppose I did.”
“I’m honored. The Didrixe Sarena is only ever uncertain about little ol’ me, which is super cute honestly, I—”
“Ana?”
“Y-yes?”
I gulped when I realized how suddenly close she was to me, a mischievous smile on her face.
“Shut up.”
She kissed me then, one hand at the back of my neck to gently pull me toward her, the other caressing my cheek. Caught by surprise, I practically melted into her touch as I so often did. What could I say? I had a weakness, and her name was Didrixe.
I could have stayed there an eternity, but after a few moments she broke away, looking very pleased with herself. I was still speechless, but even if I wasn’t, her smirk and playfully arched eyebrow would have taken all of my words away again.
“Don’t look so disappointed. I’m not leaving yet,” she said airily.
“Oh, fine,” I managed, not able to keep myself from glancing one more time at her lips.
“In that case I guess I can try to be a good host or something. Do you want something to eat? Toq made a bunch of cinnamon rolls.”
“I was wondering what made your house smell so good. Why don’t you grab two for us and we can sit and watch a movie, and maybe light your new candle?”
“That sounds great! Pick something super cheesy, okay?” I agreed, handing her the remote and then springing to my feet only too happily. Even as I got up I noticed one of her snakes nibbling at the ribbon tied around another’s neck; this quickly caused them to start hissing at each other as the latter attempted to protect its ribbon. Didrixe sighed and reached up to nudge them away from each other, which for the moment seemed to calm them.
I had a bounce in my step as I headed to the kitchen. The most nerve-racking part of the holiday was now behind me, and in the best way possible. I doubted this meant I’d never feel nervous again, but now I felt I understood her, understood us, better than ever before.
We had about a week until we had to return to school, and it looked like it was going to be a busy one. I planned on helping my parents take down decorations before I left, there was the big friend get-together we had planned while we were all back in town… and then there was a certain beautiful girl I wanted to take to dinner and the bookstore. All the things we wanted to do together would take a full day, maybe even two.
And all of it sounded like it would make for the best holiday I could possibly have.