'I was struck down, as if by lighting- my body numb and my senses only enticed by her...'
Drowning Deeper in Blue
My head was pounding- the feeling of a familiar jackhammer slowly working its way down into my skull with severe precision.
I picked up the empty bottle of Macallan and held it up against the burning sunlight.
Dammit; this was a rare bottle! And I drank it all in one go...
Oh, gods... Did I make a fool of myself in front of Aurora? Did I start singing the 'Bee Gees' again? I always sing the 'Bee Gees' when I get this drunk!
And who in their right mind opened these curtains?
Gods! The sun is boiling...
I groggily pulled myself up from the leather couch and dragged my feet to the window. With a huff I pulled the dark curtains over the force of the blinding light. In an instant, my headache softened and a sigh of relieve escaped from my parted lips.
I glanced at my reflection as I walked back to the inviting couch.
My hair was tousled and hanging partly over my one eye. The white's of my eyes were clouded with a red hue, my shirt was creased and untucked, and there were dark circles under my eyes. I rubbed my growing stubble with my palm and ran a hand through my dishevelled hair.
Even completely hung-over I don't think I looked too bad...
What on earth did I do last night? What did I say? Did I try to force myself on her? Dammit! I'd at least want to remember any and all forms of action I have with Aurora.
"Good morning, Freddie Mercury!"
Speak of the devil...
Aurora's sweet voice pierced my ears. I turned around slowly to glare at her as Silas directed her to where I'd passed out.
"Inside voices, Aurora..."
She smiled broadly, a glint of mischief in her eyes, and placed a long finger over her lips. "Sorry..." She whispered and took a seat on the brown divan. I slowly sat down on the couch, closer to her side. Silas bowed and softly asked; "Can I get you anything, my lady?"
"Oh, no. I'm fine," she quickly glanced at me, "but perhaps you should get your lord some aspirin?"
"I don't need it. Leave, Silas."
The young man nodded, not fazed by my harsh tone. He was more than used to it by now. Aurora, however, shot me a glare, probably because she felt I was being rude, or something dreary like that...
Silas closed the door with a click, leaving me alone with my only remedy.
I leaned closer to her and ran my cold hand over her cheek; she jumped slightly from the unexpected touch.
"Come sit next to me..." I whispered, hoping my voice would lull her towards me.
"You know I can't. How many times must I remind you-"
"Aurora!" I bellowed, "We're the only two people in the room. Get over here- now."
She paused; my eyes serious and my patience low. I wanted what I wanted- no questions asked.
Aurora stood up slowly; her deep red dress falling to the floor. It was the same shade as my eyes, and I couldn't help but feel like it was a symbol of my hold on her. I smiled softly at the thought- yes, she was mine.
Aurora sat down next to me, a small space between us, but I pulled her in closer. She yelped softly and huffed up her chest like a fierce kitten. I paid her no attention as I buried my face in her hair.
Vanilla and Brown sugar.
Would anything ever smell as good?
"How's the head?"
I cringed. My voice was soft as I mumbled against her thick, blonde tresses; "Painful."
Her giggle was angelic. I shivered and wrapped her up closer to my chest. We stayed like this, frozen with content, for a few minutes, but not long enough to satisfy my growing desire to have her near. Aurora's arms found their way around my neck while she pressed herself closer to me. Her chin nested comfortably on my shoulder.
What's this feeling in my chest?
It felt like it was growing- feeding...
"Don't gods heal faster or something?" Her delicate voice trembled against my earlobe.
"We do, but alcohol is a very ancient and godly substance, it's been with us since time began. If you over do it- then too bad, it's not like its poison."
"Well, what about alcohol poisoning?"
I reared back my head to dryly glance at her; "Do I look mortal to you?"
Aurora rolled her eyes, but a soft smile played on her lips. I wanted to widen it.
"Did I do anything... strange?"
Aurora ran her hand through my hair, unknotting the black tendrils. I leaned my booming head against her chest and listened to her calm breathing. The pain submerged ever so slightly.
"You, Thanatos the great? Never!"
"Har-har... You're hilarious."
She chuckled, causing my head to slightly bounce against her chest. I pressed myself closer to her warmth.
Gods, yes... Where has she been all my existence?
"Well, other than drinking yourself into a stupor, throwing a book into the fire, calling me 'sugar-muffin' and 'the woman with the most beautifully shaped eyebrows'- no, you were pretty normal."
I grimaced.
Sugar-muffin? Really? Of all things...
Well done brain. You've excelled yourself.
And of all the shapely things I could compliment her on...
"Oh, wait... There was one other thing..."
I paused.
Suddenly, with a loud bellow, Aurora stared singing, causing my ears to figuratively bleed with excruciating pain.
"'Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk
I'm a woman's man: no time to talk!'"
"NO!"
"'And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive-
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' aliv-'"
I quickly clasped a hand over her mouth, an unexpected and unfamiliar heat rising to my cheeks.
I knew it!
I can never get drunk off of whiskey and NOT sing the Bee Gees! Why on earth I do it, I don't know! And now Aurora knew, and she was laughing her ass off with tears in her eyes.
I huffed up my shoulders and crossed my arms over my chest; my brain pounding like a hammer. Aurora continued to laugh into the armrest of the couch; her body shaking with loud cracks of chuckles.
I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah, yeah... I like the 70's, sue me."
"Oh! Brilliant!" Her words came out in loud giggles. I was monetarily distracted by how adorable she looked whilst laughing so whole-heartedly.
"Are you done?"
Aurora straightened her back and wiped a few tears away from her cheeks. She cleared her throat, "Ah, yes-hahahaha!" She laughed again, this time trying hard to keep it in, "Sorry, sorry!" Another attempt at clearing her throat; "I'm good. I'll stop now..."
"It's not like I laugh at you drooling all over your pillow every night."
Aurora shot me an incredulous look, a faint blush creeping up to her face; "I do not!"
I smirked; "Oh, sure... Whatever you say, angel."
She clicked her tongue and scooted a bit away from me. I raised a thick brow in response.
"So, your brother?"
I grumbled.
Aurora moved her feet up on the couch and tucked her dress under her legs. I turned to face her, my gaze stern; "Hypnos and I haven't spoken in a while and I'm just a bit sour still- that is all."
"So I've heard." Aurora's smile was knowing; "Relax, you'll probably make up as soon as he gets here. You're brothers after all."
I nodded my head- she had a point. I just didn't like that fact that I was the one waving the white flag this time. Although, I suppose I am the reason behind our last spat...
Honestly, sometimes Hypnos really had a stick up his ass.
I lifted my eyes to her face. Her blue eyes were shining more brightly this morning- like the sun, but only their light I didn't want to extinguish. I propped my feet up and over her lap, warmth seeping through my body.
I knew my brother wasn't the only reason I wanted to forget last night.
Aurora.
The feast with the gods. I couldn't keep her from them any longer; it was to be held in a few days. I needed to prepare her for it- for her sake, and for my own. This growing panic inside of me was consuming, and no matter how much whiskey or sarcastic joking I occupied my time with, it wouldn't take away the fact that I was anxious.
Gods, was I worried.
What if this plan didn't work? What if Zeus decided he'd find someone else so he could have her? What would I do? What could I do...
I would murder.
I would try and murder a god for her.
The realisation of that hit me head on- out of nowhere. With the force of a steam train the recognition collided with me head on, without warning. I felt monetarily numb. Since when did I feel this strongly about the situation? Always?
It's funny how when you try to push back the tide it crashes in stronger than before. I noticed too late that I was pushing back before the wave took me under; drowning me in her blue eyes. Longingly, I stared- drowning wasn't that terrifying as described.
"Unfortunately, my brother isn't the only reason I let loose last night..."
Honesty, she appreciated honesty. I would try and give it to her as best I could.
"The banquet is in four day's time."
Aurora's eyes widened and the soft smile on her lips dropped. The growing sensation in my chest cried out.
"The plan is in motion; all we need to do now is give you a quick crash course in the gods, and the proper etiquette when meeting them. It'll be easy, I promise."
It wasn't Aurora's etiquette I was worried about.
"I keep thinking it's so far away, but..." Her voice was soft as it faltered; it was easy to tell that she was nervous. I sympathised with her- the gods were a strange bunch; very eccentric and there were vast differences among them. Take me for example.
But then again- if Aurora could make me, of all gods, like her, the others would be a piece of cake. But then again them liking her too much was the problem...
"Don't be nervous; I'll be with you every step of the way."
Aurora nodded; her eyes solemn. "When do we start?"
"Tomorrow... I'd love to help you today, but I think I need a long shower and some quiet time."
Aurora pursed her lips and looked down. A strange expression of anxiety flashed across her face. I had a feeling I knew what she was about to do- throw herself into her studies.
I'd quickly noticed that's how she coped with angst.
"Alright, let me know about tomorrow."
She tried to get up, but I grabbed her hand before she could leave me with my confusing and foreign thoughts.
"Stay."
If not for my sanity, but for hers.
Aurora loosened her shoulders; her eyes falling on our intertwined fingers. I pulled her closer to me, my eyes never leaving her blue ones- two beacons in the dark ocean.
"I have work."
"Conrad will understand."
Aurora shook her head; "The plan... We can't be together like this."
I clenched my jaw in frustration. I was tired of this 'plan' and it was only the third day.
"I'll keep the servants out. No one will know."
Aurora looked up towards the closed double doors of my room, but my eyes refused to budge from her face.
Say yes, say yes...
I was about to nudge her closer, but suddenly, Aurora was on my lap; her face buried in my neck. The shock of her giving in was sudden and thrilling. I instantly clasped my arms around her and pressed her close. Her body was trembling slightly; either from the cold of the room or due to fear...
"I'm scared."
As she should be. My chest ached.
It was odd, to see her like this. So frightened and open. Her walls were down and she looked to me for comfort. The monster in me lapped it up in glee, but, the now bigger part of me, cried out to soothe her.
She was vulnerable- like that night she'd came to my room with plaguing nightmares.
"Shh... We'll make it work. No one will touch you."
"It's not just that- what about the assassin? We have no idea when this killer will strike again, or with what? Next time it could be with something far worse!"
"You don't need to worry about that. Your safety is my concern."
And what a concern it was...
If anything happened to her- No.
I immediately stopped that train of thought. There wasn't enough whiskey in the world to deal with that. Not right now- not ever.
Aurora nudged closer and crawled into a small ball against my chest.
She fit perfectly.
I tried to lighten the mood with my dry, teasing tone; "You want me to read you a bedtime story?"
She laughed; the sound made my frozen body melt. There truly wasn't a more stunning sound. I felt addicted...
"What will it be this time? Rapunzel and her long list of insecurities?"
I laughed loudly. It brought me joy that she was the only one who really managed to make me laugh as genuinely as I did. I hadn't laughed as much as this in a very long time...
"What about the 'nutcracker'?"
"Sounds normal enough..."
I wiggled my eyebrows; "That depends on what 'nuts' you're talking about."
Aurora's loud laugh was music to my ears; my headache became of little note. Her wide smile was back and beaming. A sense of pride shot through me, and like a drug, I wanted my next fix.
"Thanatos, are any of your stories rated below 'R'?"
"Oh, please..." I scooped her up in my arms.
Aurora giggled and let me carry her to my bed like a child. The feel of her smooth legs sending shudders down my spine. I gently laid her down. She smiled up at me with those blue, bright eyes and my breathing hitched.
A pounding in my head was back, but not from the drink.
I leaned down to kiss her forehead and caressed a hand down her neck; leaving goosebumps in its wake.
"Rest; I'm going to take a shower."
"Enjoy..." She brought her lips up to kiss my cheek softly. I felt the monster inside me stumble.
It took quite a considerable amount of effort to not fall over my own two feet as I walked to the bathroom door; both from the hangover and her kiss. Never before had a silly kiss on my cheek left me breathless and dazed.
What did King Henry V say to Catherine of France in Shakespeare's famous play?
'You have witchcraft in your lips...'
Aurora certainly had just that.
I was struck down, as if by lighting- my body numb and my senses only enticed by her.
I opened the door, but paused my foot over the threshold. I turned around slightly and tried to give Aurora the best seductive look I could muster in my current dishevelled state; "Care to join?"
I knew there wasn't much chance of her accepting my offer, but I would never stop trying. One day it would pay off. It had to...
She glanced up at me- I could hear her breathing catch a slight snag as she looked directly into my ravenous eyes. She gulped, but a sly smirk formed on her lips;
"I thought throwing one shampoo bottle at you was enough?"
I chuckled as I remembered that not too long ago she'd thrown me with a shampoo bottle in my face when I'd tried to kidnap her back in Seagull's valley disguised as that petite ginger girl- Celina? Celine? Something like that...
"You're sure you don't want to join? I need someone to scrub my back."
"I'll call Opis for you..."
Aurora made a move to stand up from the bed, but I quickly waved my hand at her and laughed; "Hold on there! I'd rather you do it, angel..."
Aurora laughed; her smile blinding. My knees buckled.
Fuck.
What's wrong with me?
"Of course, but where would the fun go if I gave you everything you wanted?"
"Oh, I could show you multiple locations where the fun could go..."
Aurora blushed slightly, but tried to hide it as best she could. I didn't bother to suppress the lust-filled grin from my face. Just the thought of her dripping wet under the shower, naked and all that tanned skin glistening and ready...
Her hands on the glass door, the steam rising up and clouding the mirrors- the sensation of my body pressing hers against the cold wall and watching her slick hips-
"Thanatos?"
"Excuse me?"
Aurora's eyebrow was raised in a questioning manner and a small, knowing grin ran up her luscious mouth.
"I said I'll pass, 'sugar muffin'."
I rolled my eyes at her jab and pouted; a tad disappointed by her answer, even though I knew what it would've been from the start; "Suit yourself, but I guarantee you that you're missing out."
I turned into the bathroom. A sly grin formed on my lips; "I'll leave the door open, in case you change your mind."
I could only hope...
I hadn't had any intimacy with a woman in months- this was a new painful record. I needed a release, but not just any release. No, I knew that anyone else would be unsatisfactory. I needed her.
I only wanted Aurora.
And if she couldn't give me what I craved- it'd have to settle for the next best thing; the thought of her.
Bloody hell, when's the last time I had to resort to doing it on my own...
"How thoughtful..." Her voice only caused my body to scream louder for some form of release.
I stilled my breathing and shot her one last confident wink before turning around, but Aurora's last words caught me off guard, "I always preferred a good bubble bath anyway...", and I was back to stage one- stumbling.
Needless to say, my shower went from a normal five minutes to a longer, much-needed fifteen.
And the water was ice cold.
Seems Aurora's not the only one having strange new emotions...
How are the chapter titles thus far? (^.^) I freaking love making them!
Leave a like and a comment and let me know you're thoughts-
Any new suspects?
What do you think Hypnos will be like?
What happened between those two brothers?
And when will Thanatos buy a karaoke machine?
NEXT UPDATE- sooner than you think ;)