Inheritance

Part 2. Chapter Sixty-Three: Vulnerability

Pollyanna, leaning her cheek on her hand, listened to Them's story with rapt attention. She wanted to know what it was that men liked and desired out of women, even though she knew it was silly and pointless to know. Making love, having children... There's no point to it for me. The point of having children is so they can carry on your legacy. Because I can't die and I can't have children, I am my own legacy.

And yet, she couldn't contain her curiosity. She couldn't contain a need she thought she had killed off long ago of wanting to be touched and loved by someone else. Eory had dredged up the feelings, she knew. He had been dredging them up since they had met.

He had made her ancient heart flutter and opened a window to an innocence she had long ago cast aside when she saw him playing in the snow months ago.

Pollyanna remembered thinking he was cute back then as she thumbed away a speck of snow on his cheek, but she also felt an awakening a lust that she hadn't felt since Fjorn had died. In this young, sweet man, as fresh and pure as snow, she was reminded of femininity, and how it had long evaded her and she it.

She craved his submissive and selfless nature, his soft skin and blond hair, and that... Vulnerability that she could no longer feel either physically or mentally.

She consistently rubbed her temples as Them told his story. He spoke of kissing and flesh, of reaching for personal places and the caressing of soft skin that she so craved. Uncontrollable, burning desire was overcoming her, and suddenly, she found her old prospect--her greatest dream—of being the greatest warrior, known and feared throughout the land, to be a ridiculous fancy when she considered what she had to pay for it.

No... What am I thinking? I have no need for base desires like love making. I've had my fill of that! I have achieved immortality, and I am the greatest warrior who has ever lived! And yet, she found herself in a jealous rage of both Maruka and Them for taking an interest in her Eory. Her mind felt foggy, she had trouble thinking of anything else other than the bare flesh of Eory.

"Pollyanna...?" Them waved a blue hand in front of her face. "Are you paying attention?"

Pollyanna snapped back to reality. "Yes, I'm paying attention."

Them leaned back in his chair with a smirk. "Alright then. What did I just say?"

"Well," Pollyanna replied. "Taylor bit off a chunk of your ear after you let her smother you."

Them chuckled. "I guess you were paying attention. Now, I'll test you! Do you know what it is I love about Taylor now? Why I won't abandon her unless I have to?"

Pollyanna looked down and gave it much more thought than either she or Them thought she would. She answered sincerely, "It's her vulnerability that keeps you coming back..."

Them's mouth opened wide in shock. "I'm shocked. You actually knew!"

It's the one thing I don't have... Pollyanna thought to herself. That's why no men are attracted to me.

At her blooming frown, Them felt the need to be extra perky and cheerful to pull her out of her funk. "You know, being strong all the time can't be much fun. I think you'd have more fun with Eory if you were vulnerable with him." Them winked. "Maybe play hard to get, show him some tears..."

Pollyanna swallowed a lump in her throat. I'm too old to be playing games like those even if I wanted to...

At her silence and her sullen face, Them wondered what to say. "I don't see what the problem is... He seems to like you quite a bit. I don't think Maruka is any competition for you."