this disguise and I engaged with you. I knew I had to have a plausible background. I couldn't present myself as what I truly was or you would have rejected me immediately."
She blinked back tears again. "But why do this to me?"
"I wanted to spend time with you, that's all. I can't really articulate my motivation. I have been so lonely. I have enjoyed my time with you, I really have. I don't want to leave so soon, but I am fading into sleep. I wouldn't let those monsters hurt you. I wouldn't let anything hurt you, Nora."
"Except you," she said quietly, as the tears started to flow. "You don't even know what you did. You lied to me! You played a game with me, Corbin, and now you're breaking my heart."
He tilted his head to the side in a bird-like fashion. "Your heart is functioning properly. I can hear it beat, and it beats so fast right now."
She laughed through the tears. "It's a figure of speech, which you don't understand. I've been so stupid. You fooled me. You fooled me good. I thought you were kind of strange, but I'm no stranger to strange. You were also kind, intelligent, and good company."
"I wasn't trying to play a game or make a fool of you. I never meant to be unkind to you."
"No?" she snapped.
He drew back a step. "I really did not intend harm."
"I believe that. I really believe that. But you've done harm because you don't understand what it is to be human."
"I think I've learned much in my time with you."
"But you don't know what it means to break a heart." She pulled a tissue out of her purse and wiped away the tears.
"Nora, I may have lied about my nature and background, but I didn't lie about my feelings. I do care about you more than I've ever cared for anyone."
"How can you expect me to believe anything you say?"
"I suppose I can't," he said.
"I'm going inside now. If you can get those things away from Fletcher's Cove, I'd appreciate it if you would do that."
"What about us?"
"I-I have to go think about that. You need to go now, okay? Just go. I'll let you know if I want to see you again."
He drew back. "Very well. But there is not much time."
"I know."
He blinked, just once, and was gone.
Nora walked to Castle Peak. The waves smashed against the bay in a reflection of her inner turmoil. She sat down on the bench and cried.
"My dear child," Victoria said to her some time later, "what's wrong?"
Nora sighed. "Corbin lied to me."
"Oh, no. What about?"
"Everything. Who he is, what he wanted, when he was leaving."
"Goodness gracious," Victoria replied. "Then who is he, what does he want, and when is he leaving?"
"He's just a guy who wanted to have a fun summer with an interesting woman with no strings attached. He let me think it could be something more when he had no intention of staying or even keeping in touch with me. He just wanted some fun and then that's it. All done. He played me for a fool," she snapped. "For someone who can really see what's there, I couldn't see through all his lies."
Victoria patted her hand. "I'm sorry, my dear. I'm so sorry. I know you cared for him very much."
"And that makes it worse. I almost want to forgive him, but he has no clue how badly he's hurt me. And I don't think he ever will. He's just not that kind of person."
"Do you think you loved him?"
"I could have. I care for him more than I thought I would."
The waves crashed against the rocks.
"You should see him again before he leaves," Victoria said. "You don't want to leave without saying what you need to say. Trust me on this."
Nora sighed. "You're probably right."
Three days later, Nora sent a text to Corbin to meet her at Castle Peak.
He appeared out of nowhere.
She turned and looked at him.
"I was afraid you wouldn't see me," he said as the sun set. He looked up at her with his own eyes.
She gasped. They were hawk yellow with a silver reflection.
"I didn't make it easy for you to see what was really there," he said. "I knew you would see right through me if I didn't try to hide my nature."
"Well, that makes me feel a little better about being such an idiot."
"You are not and were not an idiot. I did deceive you, and I meant to. I have no excuses and you have every right to resent me for that."
"Well, good," she replied.
"And I'm sorry I hurt you. You were right; I had no real concept of how my actions could hurt you."
"I'm not sure I can forgive you."
"I understand. So why did you agree to see me?"
"Closure. Humans are big on it." She walked up to him. "I don't get attached to people easily. It's just not my nature. But when I do, I really get attached. When I care, I care deeply. I really enjoyed spending time with you. I thought maybe this could last beyond one summer. I know, with me being on the road odds were against that even if you were exactly what you said. But I would have been willing to try. That's how much I care."
"I cannot undo what I have done," he said. "If I could turn back time, I would have told you the truth from the beginning. I would not have broken your heart."
"Oh, you still might have," she said. "But I would have been more careful and would have known what I was getting into. That would have made a world of difference."
"I am sorry."
"Corbin, or whatever your name is, I'll try to forgive you," she replied as her eyes stung with tears. "Ignorance doesn't make me hurt less, but at least there was no malice. You were lonely and I can't resent you for that. Anyway, I'll move on. That's human nature. But you'll go back to sleep, lost and forgotten and that seems like a much worse fate than a broken heart."
He nodded sadly. "I made something for you to remember me by," he said, and held out his hand. Lying on his palm was an intricately woven silver ring. "Once the world knew me by this symbol."
Nora started to protest.
"To take this is not a commitment to worship me. You will have no other gods; I understand that. I would never ask you to abandon the faith that gives you such strength. This is a gift from a man to the woman he cares for."
"Alright."
He slid the ring on her right ring finger. "I have enjoyed this time with you, Nora, more than I can express. I am grateful for your generosity and compassion." He gently caressed her cheek. "Remember me, and I will not be forgotten. Cherish those memories, and I will not be lost. But I must go now, and descend again to my realm." He leaned forward and kissed her.
She returned the kiss.
"One day the stars will spin in the sky to the right alignment. Perhaps we'll meet again. Until then, I wish for you to receive all your heart desires."
"Goodbye, Corbin," she said, her voice breaking.
"Goodbye," he said. He took a step backwards and then vanished.
Two weeks passed. The mysterious creatures in the woods were gone, no more pets disappeared although the ones that were gone did not return, animals returned to their normal behavior, the weather returned to normal, the sea was no longer angry, and people stopped talking about the curse of Castle Hill. Life went on in Fletcher's Cove as it had for decades and the unpleasantness was soon forgotten as the tourist season drew to an end.
The band's van pulled into the driveway and the women knocked on the door.
"This still looks like the kind of place that should be in stories that start with, 'it was a dark and stormy night,'" Leah said.
"But it's sunny," Maryann countered.
"I'm surprised your hair always looks so good with so much going right over your head," she said sarcastically.
"Thanks!"
Both Leah and Isabella rolled their eyes.
Mrs. Amos let them into the house. "Nora's in the ballroom at the piano again," she said as she led the way. "She's
spent a lot of time in there lately. I guess her young man must have left."
"Young man?" the three said in unison.
"She didn't tell you? Oh, well, I guess I've said too much. There she is."
Sure enough, Nora was at the piano playing a melancholy take on ‘Moonlight Sonata.’
"Nora!" Maryann said.
"Hey, everyone."
They rushed to the piano.
"You didn't tell us you got a boyfriend! Why not?"
Nora smiled sadly. "I wrote a song. Do you want to hear it?"
"I want to hear about your boyfriend!"
"This will tell you everything."
"Well, sure," Maryann replied, quite confused.
Nora played the song.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Maryann said after she was done. "I'm real sorry."
"Do you want to tell us the story?" Leah asked.
"Maybe later. Let's have some tea and you can tell me where the next gig is going to be."
"Alright," Isabella said. "Hey, where did you get that ring? It's like nothing I've ever seen before."
Nora smiled sadly. "He gave it to me, before he left. Come on. We shouldn't keep Aunt Victoria waiting."
The Lyrics:
Everything about you is wonderful
You're already my best friend
I think we can have it all
I hope this never ends
I've never been so sure about anything
I've never felt love so strong
But I think you're pulling away
What is it; is something wrong?
Refrain: Just because I could hurt more
Doesn't mean I hurt any less
This isn't as bad as murder
But this isn't an unkindness
But you said that you loved me
You said I was your best friend
Were you lying to me?
Is this where it ends?
You can't break my heart
And then run away
What's wrong with you?
What do you have to