Sink in, it did. And when it did, it left Sadb speechless.
She opened her mouth, then closed it several times, because the words wouldn't come even though she tried. Looking away from him, she played with the end of one braid, worrying at the damaged edges and running it through her fingers to keep her hands busy as her mind raced--along with her heart. Deep inside, she wanted it to be true, and she hadn't realized how painfully lonely and frightfully afraid to actually was until he struck right to the heart of the matter. She'd been alone for several years, struggling to survive and doing terrible things to survive, unspeakable things.
She was sure even if this man was genuine, he'd balk when he learned what a monster she truly was.
He'd struck at a weakness of hers, her desperate hope for help, for salvation, for just someone to talk to--and, she realized, that was dangerous. Dangerous for everyone. There would be no happy ending to his good intentions.
"I..."
Oh! So you finally found someone for me! I won't have to eat your heart after all, a voice whispered in her ear then, and Sadb shuddered.
"Go away," she said out loud, speaking aloud to the fae--but hoping desperately that he would hear and listen, that he would think the words were for him. Because they were.
How rude! You had better hope he doesn't leave, the fae said, and Sadb felt her lean against her shoulder, glamoured to invisibility but very much a physical presence. I want him. I want his blood. You'll give him to me, won't you?
Sadb went silent, and the fae brushed her cheek.
I'll give you three days, the fae said. The traditional number, and the days until the full moon. And if I can't have him, dear heart, I'll just have to take you. And then she was gone, leaving Sadb chilled as though from a ghost.
Sadb rubbed her forehead. "You really don't know what you're doing," she mumbled. "But...okay."
