Rising by Holly Kelly

conclusion that it tasted as bad as it smelled. He didn’t even have anything to compare it to, but given the taste, texture, and burning hot temperature, the lobster was definitely dead.
    Xanthus did his best to look as if he were enjoying the food. Sara’s company more than made up for the terrible meal. He was both shocked and delighted to see she was not afraid to speak her mind. It was very different from Dagonian females, who rarely spoke to males—and that was only if directly spoken to. Even when they did, they never voiced an opinion. Hades. If he hadn’t been so close to his own mother and sister, he wouldn’t have known females even had opinions. Sara not only had her own opinions, she spoke them clearly and intelligently.
    Resisting her enticing scent was still a trial, but he was finding it easier. She was just so sweet . He couldn’t imagine breaching her trust.
     
    ***
     
    Sara smiled, enjoying every minute of her date. Xanthus gently pushed her and her wheelchair across a sidewalk lined with coconut trees. The sun was just beginning to set, bringing a warm radiance to everything it touched and the cool, floral-scented air breezed through her hair like a gentle kiss. The glowing concert hall beckoned ahead.
    “Sara ,” Gretchen squealed the moment Sara and Xanthus stepped through the door. Gretchen hurried over and Hal followed. She beamed at Sara and then looked up at Xanthus. Her eyes went wide and her jaw slack. “Wow,” she mouthed, then composed herself and smiled. “Hi, you must be Xanthus. Sara has told me so much about you.” Gretchen and Hal both had to crane their necks to look Xanthus in the eye.
    “Hello Gretchen,” Xanthus said. “And this must be Hal.”
    Hal looked taken aback by Xanthus’s overwhelming presence. “Nice to meet you,” Xanthus said. Hal hesitated a second before he came forward, clasped Xanthus’s hand, and shook. He then turned to Sara and his face lit up. He came forward and took her hand in both of his. “Sara, you look stunning.” She smiled wide, pleased at his compliment. Then she turned to Xanthus.
    Xanthus’s eyes were ablaze.
    He was jealous. Wow. How he could be jealous of anyone else was beyond her, but still she needed to squelch this before it got any worse.
    S ara released her hand from Hal’s grip and reached out to pull Xanthus in closer. “Xanthus, Hal is my hairdresser.”
    Xanthus crinkled his brow in confusion.
    “He’s a hairstylist. He just did my hair today.”
    “Oh, well he did a wonderful job ; you look beautiful.” He made an effort to look relaxed, but Sara saw lingering apprehension.
    Sara wondered how Gretchen was taking all this talk of her looking so beautiful and glanced her way. She should have known. Gretchen’s face was beaming as she smiled and winked at Sara. It was an ‘I told you so’ wink. Gretchen was always telling her how pretty she was. Sara was forever doubtful and now Gretchen was gloating.
    Gretchen came forward, taking Hal’s hand. He melted into her side. “We’d better take our seats,” Gretchen said. “Xanthus, you could push Sara to her seat but the aisles are so narrow that it might be easier if you just carry her. She’s not too heavy for you, is she?”
    Sara was mortified.
    “This little water lily too heavy for me?” Xanthus asked. “I don’t think so.” He lifted her out of the wheelchair. Sara was surprised by his quick movement and, for a moment, felt off balance. She threw her arms around his neck to steady herself. He had a smirk on his face and she knew he’d done it on purpose. Her heart beat double time. She wasn’t sure if it was from the surprise or the excitement of being held by Xanthus. It was probably from both.
    “I’ll make sure Sara’s chair is taken care of ,” Gretchen said as she pushed it away.
    Moments later, they were seated near the front. Sara looked on in amazement at the concert hall. Plush seats filled the wide hall and even more seats filled the