40 In a new ligh (2/2)

Rin sighed before looking back at his mother, ”She needs something to wear, I'll explain what I know on our way to the laundry.” He began walking down the corridor without checking to see if his mother was following.When he was far enough away from the room that he was sure Shelly would not be able to hear what he had to say he began his explanation.”So, she wasn't too pleased to find out her brother, my friend Russell, began having a... relationship... with one of their guardians, Jos...”

”Oh my! Russell Boosilis?” His mother interrupted.Her excitement built as she put the rest of the pieces together.She was nearly jumping up and down with joy as she guessed. ”He has mated with Joslyn?! How amazing!!! They will make a very powerful couple indeed!”

Rin let out an irritated sigh, his mother loved gossip. ”Yes mother, anyways as I was saying, she was aggravated and ended up staying with Dante DeMarco.Russ...”

”OH NO! Not Dante!” His mother covered her mouth in shock.

Rin rolled his eyes, ”Yes mother, now please let me finish.” He cleared his throat.”Russ, Jos, and Raven were under the impression she was just pissed off and acting out and part of that was moving in with her 'new boyfriend', but when several weeks passed without any of them actually seeing or talking to her Russ asked if I would try getting in contact with her.”

”But why you?” His mom asked, her shock replaced by eager curiosity.When Rin shot her an irritated glance she quickly apologized, ”Sorry, keep going, son.”

Rin's gaze switched from irritation to a distracted aw. ”Russ asked me because I've known them since I first moved to the United States... And he knows I... care... for her...” His cheeks took on a slight pink tent as he struggled to oversimplify his feeling for the young werewolf.

Rin's mother clamped down on his arm, pulling him to a complete stop. ”Oh, Rin! You care for the girl?!How great!” She pulled him into a tight hug and squeezed tightly.

Rin began coughing as he pushed against his mom's grip, ”Mom stop! Let go!” His face flamed with embarrassment. {Yep, I will definitely die of embarrassment before the day is over!}”Of course I care for her, she's my best friends sister after all... They were the first friends I made when I moved to the U.S.” He let out an impatient huff, ”Now would you like to hear the rest of what's going on or not?”

”Oh yes, sorry... It's just been so long since I've seen you and now all the excitement... I bet she's a beauty!” Rin's mom was nearly clapping with joy.

Rin's blush deepened, ”Yes, she is very… pretty...” He shook his head, trying to dislodge the images of Shelly.”Anyways... Russ thought she was with a 'boyfriend' and asked me to contact her, a few hours after I texted her, she called me in a panic asking if I would meet her.When I showed up, she was dirty, covered in cuts and bruises and dried blood... You could tell she had been abused.” He let out a long sigh.”I don't believe he was her boyfriend in any sense of the word.I believe she was more of a prisoner and his meals...” Rin ran his hands through his hair as he continued walking through the corridors.

His mom sent him a questioning glance as she tried her best to keep pace with him, ”What makes you say that?”

Rin squeezed the back of his neck as he looked away from her. He could feel a headache slowly coming on and this next statement was not going to improve the situation.”...Because she's still a virgin...”

His mother's eyes lit up with this information.”Surely not!” She began to actually clap.”This is wonderful!” She grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him to a stop, ”Are you going to form a contract with her?”

Rin frowned, ”I'm not sure she would want that kind of relationship with me... I'm not sure if she wants any kind of relationship with me, to be honest... She's probably already promised to some well-bred werewolf on her island.” Rin sighed as his straightened his slumped shoulders, ”Right now all that is important is to help her feel safe and get back to as normal as possible after such a traumatic experience.”

His mom furrowed her brows, ”But Rin, you don't understand how rare it is to find an adult that's virtuous.The former master was raised to be so, not even their later generations could withstand celibacy.”

Rin looked down into his mother's bright, hopeful eyes, ”Mom, you have to promise me, you will not say anything to her about the genies contract or any of that stuff okay?” He took her hands in his and gave them a gentle squeeze.”I like her, okay... I know the powers that come with signing a contract... but for her, I would gladly give up all the powers in the world... I just... I want it to be her choice...”He looked away embarrassed of his own confession.”I want to be the one to explain it all to her... when the time is right.”

His mother pulled her small hand lose from his grip and gently caressed his cheek.”I understand fully, son.Don't worry your secrets are safe with me...” Her smile brightened, ”Now let's go dress this beauty!” With that his mother took off down the corridors ahead of him, a new determination powering each tiny stride.