I went Underhill that evening. I owed Connie an explanation. I looked around my house for her. It always seemed she was gone when I got there but showed up soon after. At first, I thought she was fading and I was recreating her. But she claimed that wasn’t the case and I’d seen evidence she’d been there when I wasn’t. “Connie?” I called. She didn’t appear, so I found things to do. My garden needed attention. Staying away from Underhill like I had been, it was starting to suffer. Weeds weren’t as prevalent here as in the human world. I didn’t need to tend it like I would back there, but it did need attention. I grabbed my tools and started working. Most of the produce that was growing was things that had been allowed to go to seed for years, so the rows weren’t as neat as they should be, so the work was slow. I was a quarter done when someone handed me a glass of lemonade. I looked up from my weeding and saw Connie. I smiled. “Thanks.” “I was wondering when I’d see you again.” “I’m sorry. Things are getting complicated.” Usually, Connie was dressed in flowing silk with gold or silver trim like I saw people wearing when I was at the palace. Today, she was wearing pants and a tunic. I wondered about that. “Are you and Lorraine getting serious?” She knelt beside me and started pruning the plants I’d just weeded around. “No. Do you remember that Scott I mentioned? They’re engaged.” “So, you’ve avoided coming here so you wouldn’t turn to me for comfort at your loss,” she guessed. I tried to avoid sleeping with her believing it was better to have relationships with real people. But there had been a few times. “No. I slept with Lorraine, but we were never more than friends. There’s been no loss.” It was nice to have someone to garden with. “You haven’t been working on the thefts this whole time, have you?” “No. The new moon was on Christmas Eve. Friends wanted me to spend time with them so it was better to just worship at home. On New Year’s Eve, I was at a party with my neighbors. I spent a lot of the party with Kara. I realized I had feelings for her.” “So, you’re dating her?” I nodded. “We went on our first date last Saturday.” “It’s almost the equinox. Humans celebrate the New Year just after the winter solstice. It took you three months to ask her out?” She seemed amused that it had taken me so long. I wasn’t shy and normally, I had no problem going after what I wanted. I shrugged. “I’m not a decent guy by human standards.” “I disagree.” “I asked her to sleep with me when we first met.” “So? We slept together and you still don’t even know my name.” “I said human standards. And I’ve flirted with her and tried to kiss her once. Her last boyfriend was an asshole who pushed her around and got abusive. I wanted to show her I’m not like him.” She looked up at me with that revelation. She nodded. I was bold, not pushy. “So you avoided coming here so you could say you even refrained from sleeping with a phantasm. Did you think I would be upset because you chose her over me?” I didn’t look at her but focused on the weeds. She took my hands in hers. “Yesanith, I’m not here to be someone to sleep with. I’m here because being alone was getting to be too much for you. You need to be around other elves.” The way she said that was unsettling. Most phantasms didn’t even acknowledge they weren’t real. This one accepted it and knew why she was there better than I did. “There’s Kat now,” I pointed out. If Connie was there because I was alone, shouldn’t she have faded when I found another elf? “She needs someone too. But she’s Unseelie. It separates you.” “Not as much as it once did,” I said, remembering the last Solstice. I had invited Kat to join Connie and me. As we danced, things grew intense. I conjured a phantasm of a cross between Jonan and one of the men I served with and gave him Unseelie coloring to distract her from the idea of sleeping with me. I didn’t want to sleep with her and didn't want to risk her reaction when I rejected her. “You handled that well,” she said as if reading my mind. “And I’ve avoided everyone since.” I continued the weeding. Connie laid a hand on my shoulder. “I’ve joined Kat a few times when she’s been Underhill. I can do an Unseelie glamour,” she said as if to assure me I wasn’t abandoning either of them. She started pruning again. “Come back for the equinox. I’ll respect your relationship with Kara.” “Thanks.” “You serve the Goddess of Loyalty. It wouldn’t do for me to do otherwise. And as Kara learns more of your dedication, she’ll trust you more.” “I hope.” “She will. Now, help me pick these ripe vegetables. I’ll can them for you to take back. You eat way too much iron.” “Keep some for yourself. You need to eat too.” I conjured a basket to put what we picked in. “Do I look like I’ve gone hungry?” I didn’t look and risk the temptation her figure would bring. "I created you. You're my responsibility." "Are you going to create a phantasm for me too?" I looked at her. "Do you want one?" "No. I'm fine." "Even when I'm gone so long? You don't get lonely?" "No. I can still talk to the Gods. They come sometimes you know." I nodded. "I saw Dhiarus the last time I was here. I was looking for you. Where were you? What do you do when I'm not here?" She shrugged. "I was around. There's plenty here to keep me busy. It's getting late. You should head back." I nodded. She rarely told me what she did when I was gone. "I'll see you on the equinox." I used the door to my house to make the gate back. *** It was late when I returned to my apartment. There was a message from Kara asking me to call if I got back before ten. I looked at the time. I had five minutes. I looked out my door. It looked like her light was still on. I called her. “Am I too late?” I asked. “No.” “Is everything okay?” I worry I’ll be Underhill sometime when her mom upset her. “Yeah, I just thought we could talk. Were you still at work?” I relaxed. “No. I went Underhill.” “You saw Connie?” “I did,” I admitted. “It didn’t seem fair to abandon her there alone without even an explanation.” “That’s true.” “I told her about us and she said she would respect the relationship rather than risk upsetting Shandalar.” “Smart woman. And maybe the three of us can spend time together sometimes so she isn’t alone all the time.” The offer surprised me. “You wouldn’t mind?” “No, I feel sorry for her.” “You’re a sweetheart. I know it’s last minute, but would you like to go to an art show on Thursday?” “It won’t be very late, will it?” “No. The doors open at 7:30. It can vary how big it is. It’s the annual amateur and beginner artist show at the Alnar Kale Gallery. I like to sup... “Alnar Kales? Can we even get in?” I understood her sentiment. The gallery only catered to high-end clients normally. “They’re open to the public on Thursday. I’ve been to it before to support the new artists. I’d love your company.” “Sure.” My grin couldn’t get any bigger. “Great. We’ll head over about eight, so the last-minute fixes and fusses are over.” “Sounds good.” “I’ll see you then.”