Chapter 10 – The Antipathetic Testing
Alinson had woken up with a start with the feeling that she was alone and that the shadows were up to no good again only to see Kendor asleep on the arm chair slouched back with a book on his lap open on a page he last left off, she looked around the dimly lit room and sighed rubbing her eyes and holding her head, was it just a dream she had about those things that lurk around proberly ever shadowy nook and cranny or was it real, from the only window in the room she noticed that daw soon about to break and the clock read it was around five in the morning, her eyes were still tired but she couldn’t sleep or get back to sleep.
Her eyes were blurred and her head light and dizzy as she made a attempt to sit up, she began to stretch and rub her eyes while letting out a yawn, but her mind drew back to the shadows with the feeling she thought one had moved but it was her imagination or was it, she didn’t know, Kendor thinks it’s in her mind but Issac was sure they were real, no he knew they were real, she couldn’t make sense of it all, but Kendor was here in the room, she could just wake him and tell him how she felt, but that look on his face, the shyness, it was though all his confidence was gone, she sat up on the bed with her feet touching the stone floor, it was cold to her touch but she had been used to it before.
Left on the end of the bed was a gown to be wrapped around her and tied off, it was made of some sort of wool and felt slightly heavy but comfortable when she tried it on, she looked over at the sleepy dragon and walked towards him with her arm and hand stretched out wanting to wake him but she stopped in mid air put off by his moving tail, she didn’t want to disturbed his sleep as she lowered her arm and smiled walking by only to be stopped by his tail first wrapping round half on her body then around her waist till she was pulled closer to him.
It was instinct for him even in his sleep as she drew closer trying to unravel the tail until she was free of his sleepy grip, but what made her wait and laugh was when Kendor’s tail slowly moved to his chest to the point where he started to cuddle it letting the book fall to the floor with a slap, but her attention was soon distracted by a strange little clinking noise that she heard before and the location was known to her, it was his room, Nicolas’s room, her mind began to wonder as it let her gave way to her own curiosity, with or without her knowing one foot was in front of the other slowly walking towards the dimly lit corridor and down to Nicolas’s room.
It was chilly but the closer she got it was colder still until she found herself standing in the door way looking into his workshop, it wasn’t the first time she got a look at his study but she had the wired feeling that it was slightly more messy then she remembered, the only clean thing in the whole room was his bed that looked like it hadn’t been touch in centuries but clean enough not to be coverd in cobwebs or dust.
He sat with his back faceing her as he tinkered around with another one of his creations with Alinson looking on with curiosity, he didn’t stop as he said “i’m surprised you’re awake?”
Alinson was caught by surprised by his question as she hesitated before answering “well i was...”
Nicolas interrupted her talking just in a higher tone “look my dear i understand that your awake but why come here?”
Alinson took a deep breath, not once had he turned his head round to acknowledge her but he kept it down on his work “well, you’re the only one awake so i thought...”
“you thought what that you would come here to disturbed my work or make idle chat?”
Alinson sighed and looked down at the floor and then at Nicolas still with his back to her “i was just...”
“look girl i have no time for chat or anything so if you would be so kind as to leave me in peace, soon i’ll come for you to try out that invention in the bathroom, until then make yourself scares”
Alinson nodded but slowly found herself walking in without a sound until she sat on the edge of the bed watching Nicolas still carrying on with his work, she was still tired and her mind wasn’t thinking properly as now and again her eyes started to close and then open, Nicolas found himself slowing down his work to the point where he stops and sighs until he looks at his bed only to find her, asleep on it, the shook his head as he stood up and walked over rubbing his slightly greasy hands together and then on his work trousers, he sighed as he started to nudge her “hay you can’t sleep here this is my room, wake up girl!”
It was futile in making her budge or even wake as he ended up shaking almost violently, it wasn’t long before he gave and waved her arms in the air and sighed and groaning “oh for spanner sake, well she is quiet if nothing else”
It didn’t take long for him to sit down and start carrying on with his work before the silence was interrupted by something soft and slowly getting louder, it was distinctive yet both annoying and almost feminine until he look over at her sleeping still and snoring at the same time, he didn’t need to rest but he couldn’t work with her snoring away like that, he placed down his tools and made his way to the bed again until he was towering over, this time he sighed and again started to shake her but this time calling her name “Alinson, Alinson wake up girl!”
She stopped snoring while being woken up by his shakeing till she was looking at him with blurry eyes but looking at a familiar shape in turn, she rubbed her eyes noticing that it was Nicolas as she said “yes?”
“your asleep in my bed and in my room, what is more is that your snoring is disturbing my work”
Alinson rubbed her eyes and with a tired sweet voice said “sorry, i could hardly sleep, those shadows are in my room”
Nicolas raised a eyebrow “shadows? What about them?”
She yawned and her eyes felt heavy “they’re in my room and they won’t leave me alone they are after me”
Nicolas rolled his eyes “look, im am not interested in your dreams”
“But they weren’t dreams they were real”
Nicolas sighed “yes they are, they are created by light and solid objects creating a shadow”
With another yawn and a slight smile “that is what Kendor said now he is asleep in my room”
Nicolas found a slight bell ring in his mind as he leaves her in his chambers and walks with a purpose out his room down the hall but he stopped as his mind said wait! What am i doing, do i care if he is in her room? although i wonder if he did anything? Nicolas took a deep breath and smiled slightly as he said “awww the poor old dragon never got that far, i wonder “
Curiosity caught up to him as he peeked around into the guest room only to find Kendor asleep holding his tail and kissing it from time to time, his face started to grin as he leaned against the door frame listing him mumbling in his sleep “oh my dear, your skin is smooth to my touch oh how i would love to..”
He cut himself off as he turned and feel out of his seat looking directly at book and a pair of shoes he recognised, it took time for his vision to focus and his head hurt from the fall, his chest was flat aginst the stone floor and his arms beside him pushing up, then he realised who the boots belonged to, with a series of push ups he said “twenty eight, twenty nine, thirty, oh hi Nicky boy just doing my work outs to keep fit”
Nicolas shook his head “really? And here i thought you feel out of your chair declaring your love to your own tail?”
Kendor jumped to his feet and stretched his arms and carried on like it didn’t happen as Kendor said “me, no i admit i dosed off”
“sure you did, so why are you here in her room?”
Kendor smiled “well my dear boy she asked for me to stay till she fell asleep”
Nicolas nodded “ok so where is she?”
Kendor looked surprised as he replied “what do you mean where is she, she is right here of course”
Kendor looked round at the bed realising that the she was not there his face turned to panic and confusion as he rushed to the bed throwing the bed covers off and looking under the pillows followed by underneath the bed as his tail searched underneath it as well like a snake on the lose looking for pray lashing out, Nicolas’s couldn’t help but to roll his eyes up as he sighed, Kendors ears perked up and looked back with a slight anger in his eyes “what did you do to her?”
Before Nicolas could respond Kendor jumped from the bed and closed the gap pinning Nicolas up against the door frame with both hands on his shirt lifting him a foot of the ground, his voice was raised “What have you don’t to her?!”
Nicolas smiled “sigh, you see this is what happens when you have feelings towards the opposite sex, one, if you thought i killed her or any of the sort you would smell and see blood on me”
Kendor’s stern fixed gaze slowly laxed to a more surprised sorry look as he slowly lowered him to the floor till both feet were firmly fixed to the ground “and second do you really think i would let something happen to my test subject”
Kendor had let go by this time still looking at him square in the eyes “Test subject? She is a person not a thing”
“that may be so but she is still someone i need to study to see if my invention works”
Kendor lowered his head and shook it raising it back up with a smile on his face “your so called shower idea involves water correct?”
Nicolas raised his eyebrow, he seen this smirk one too often “yes both hot and cold, why you ask?”
“well just saying she would have to be all natural wont she?”
Nicolas was waiting for it, he could see where he was going as one arm crossed his body while the other rested on top holding his brow with one hand rubbing it “go on”
“so do you really think that, a person of the opposite sex as you phrased it, in this case Alinson would allow you to watch her...naked...in the shower”
The last few words cut into him as he hadn’t even considered it, all the while he had been too preoccupied by creating and planning his inventions and the fact that Kendor would most likely be the subject, he sighed and cursed under his breath “well i have to take that into account, thanks for the spanner in my works”
Kendor walked up to him and playfully slapped him on the cheek “sorry chap, but i guess its not like i can take her place, or would you like that?”
Nicolas sighed “no i wouldn’t”
His hand turned to a flat palm stroking Nicolas’s cheek “aww what a pity, so you don’t like the thought of water dripping of my masculine body?”
Nicolas took hold of Kendor’s hand and placed it by his side “she is in my room on my bed”
With a gleeful smile and bright eyes he hugged Nicolas who was taken by surprise, it was strong as Nicolas had the wind taken from him and before he knew it Kendor let go and happily skipped down the hall but stopped short down the hall, he turned his head back over his shoulder “why is she in your room?”
Nicolas took a step out of the room just outside the door frame and shrugged his shoulders “how do i know, she was awake then asleep in my bed”
With another rush of agility Kendor was again holding Nicolas’s shirt shaking him “how could you do such a thing? She is only young? I turn may back for five minutes and you have your filthy way with her you sick basterd”
Nicolas was able to get free and land a hard punch across Kendor’s jaw making him stagger backwards holding his jaw “get a hold of yourself man i didn’t do the sort”
Kendor eventually got his balance rubbing his jaw, he pouted his lips and said “you hit me”
Nicolas sighed and flopped his arms “well you acting like a fool, any way pull yourself together and get her out of my room”
Kendor waited for a moment and rubbed his jaw watching Nicolas walk by him without looking back, he soon followed behind him “you know you haven’t lost your touch”
“What do you expect?”
Kendor was still rubbing his jaw “maybe a slap next time”
He looked up to see Nicolas standing by his door crossed armed only giving a head guester to say which way it was, but as he walked in it was almost like he forgot the pain in his jaw as he clasped his hands together with a big smile “awwww she is so cute when she is sleeping”
“i don’t care she needs to go”
“aw come on Nicky boy, she is asleep and looking cuter with each moment”
Nicolas placed his hand on his brow “oh for the love of, look wake her or carry her out”
As Kendor was about to say something Alinson started to stir with the commotion, she rubbed her eyes and looked up to see two blurring figures before her, she could make out one of the figures as her vision came round “hello”
Kendor bent down with a smile “hello my dear how are you feeling?”
Alinson sat up on the bed “fine”
Nicolas took a couple of steps forwards “ah good now she is awake, time to test my invention”
Kendor shot Nicolas a look that said how could you say that but his words said it all “aww come on she just woke up”
“you say that but you have a bath when you wake up”
Kendor stood up with a smile “oh you noticed have you?”
His hands clenched and stomped the floor “That is not the point, Alinson are you up to doing it”
She shook her head “no, i still don’t want to”
“look my dear the deal was already struck between us, you either leave or be part of my invention testing”
Alinson sat at the edge of the bed “have you thought of just asking me instead of making deals?”
Both Kendor and Nicolas looked blankly at each other with confusion and surprise as with a tired yawn and stretch of her arms she said “neither of you seem to understand that i do have my own mind, but i do know that a deal is a deal, you both did let stay, so this is one way of repaying you, but next time ask will you?”
Kendor smiled “ok my dear we will ask from now on”
He looked back at Nicolas and furrowed his brow “wont we?”
Nicolas held Kendor’s gaze “fine for as long as she is here, but in thirteen days she is gone, so are you going to or not”
Alinson stood up her face had turned to a slightly frustrated look “fine, but i would appreciate that one of you could take me out to see the local sites if that’s ok?”
Nicolas crossed his arms “day or night?”
She shrugged as he watched her walk by “eather”
“fine, Kendor your tacking her out”
With a another smile and a gentleman’s bow he said “it would be my pleasure”
Alinson smiled “thank you Kendor”
Nicolas looked up and shook his head only to look into Alinson’s eyes when there was a quiet moment, her face was of displeasure “well are you coming or not?”
He let out a loud groan and sigh “ok, ladies first”
Alinson turned her head looking forward walking down the hall back to her bedroom, eventually as she stepped though the door she waited to one side for Nicolas to arrive and eventually when he did he walked past her not bothering to say a word but just opened the bathroom door and gestured for her to be inside, when she walked in there was a large square of marble with a drain at one edge, it was slightly slanted so the water would run, attached to the wall was a series of copper pipes that ran from the bottom to the top, on two of the pipes was a red valve and a blue valve, on eather side was two glass plains to stop the water from spreading out, it was new and shiny as Alinson said with a raised eyebrow “so is this the shower?”
Nicolas stepped in just behind her, with a slight smile of achievement “yes it’s a Sieved Hot Oxygenated Water Extravagant Rinser or shower for short”
Alinson looked back at Nicolas then at the shower “it’s a bad name”
Nicolas look of acomlipsment was whipped from his face in a moment “well in any case, it’s simple really, you turn the blue valve and it produces cold water”
Alinson turned around to look at him “and the red is hot water?”
“You catch on quick, all you have to do is stand underneath it, adjust the valves so its comftable for your liking”
Alinson nodded and gulped “ok”
“so if you would be so kind as to undress all the way then we can...”
Alinson eyes nearly popped out “if you think i am taking my clothes off in front of you then you have another thing coming”
Nicolas took a step back “but i need to write down the results and study to see if it works or if i need any improvments as well as..”
Alinson cut him off “Nicolas either you don’t watch or i don’t do it at all”
He paused for a moment with his thinking about what Kendor had said, he sighed “ok fine, i wont look”
Alinson nodded “ok, well here i... no i wont do it”
Nicolas sighed and placed his hand on his forehead “oh for flip sake, just do it”
Alinson watched the machine in front of her as a image started to form of her with no hair, then skin, flesh down to just bone or melting away completely down the drain followed by the mad image of it laughing at her.
She took a few steps back but was stopped by the unmovable force of Nicolas’s behind her, her hair stood on end as she could feel his cold breath, she slowly looked up at him only seeing a pair of cold staring eyes, he sighed, look its fine how about i show you it’s just water, he slightly moved her to one side and walked over to the shower, he turnd on both valves and held out his hand, the water sprayed his hand with water and splattered his shoes and trousers with dark spots “see, i said it its fine”
Alinson walked over to it and held out her hand but not before drawing it back a few times, she took a deep breath and thrusted her hand in the water and quickly drew it back and shaking her hand with a slight look of worry and fear “its cold”
“well all you have to do is turn the red tap more or the cold tap less”
Alinson looked at it and then back at Nicolas “couldn’t you make a tap that does both, you know you turn it one way for hot and the other for cold?”
Nicolas gave her a blank look as his mind was thinking what?! Why didn’t i think of that?, wait i did why didn’t i just do it? “That is absurd girl, it can’t be done”
Alinson feeling that her idea had been shot down in front of her, she sighed “i suppose”
“look are you going to do this or not”
With the thought in her mind of eather getting wet ot thrown out she took a deep breath “ok but you have to do something first”
“yes and what might that be?”
She used her finger to say turn around and with a huff he did just that with his back faceing her, she looked at the invention and its surroundings, it felt cold but yet there was a glimmer of beauty in it, she took a deep breath and relaxed as she took off her gown, but she thought of something “Nicolas do you have a couple of towls?”
Nicolas looked back slightly “yes there on the...”
He paused taking her in, her curves seemed to sparkle from the sunlight through the special window, it started off with her face as his eyes slowly glided down taking in each detail, her face, neck, shoulders, her chest, arms and legs, there was something he hadn’t felt in a while, he was used to his man hood being awake but this was different he looked away and took a deep breath “there on the towel stand next to the shower”
She looked over and nodded “ok thank you, umm would you mind stepping out as well please?”
Nicolas nodded “fine”
He took a single step out and waited, he hadn’t noticed at first that there was a mirror attached the dresser until something caught his eyes, it was in the right angle for him to watch but he was not surprised but almost in awe as she took her long chemise off, he watched her as his man hood was still on end as he caught more of her naked skin, it looked smooth and sleek with a slight shine, her breasts and pinkish flesh were standing on end from the cold, next came her bottoms, as she bent over to slip them down he could now see her full figure and naked thighs followed by her behind as she turned around to face up to the shower.
His fangs were slightly protruding and sharper than normal, he wanted to rush in there and bite her but was dashed from his day dream when she yelped, he was about to look back and shouted “are you ok?”
There was a pause as she said “yes fine, just the cold water is really cold and i had to adjust the hot tap quickly”
Nicolas nodded “ok, so how does it feel?”
Alinson was too busy washing her hair and rubbing her body over with water to answer, it felt relaxing and calm, like a waterfall but warm to the touch, in front of her on a small wooden stand attached to the shower was a bar of soap and a bath loofah, she shrugged and used the soap on her body.
Nicolas could help but to watch even though he tried on more than one occasion to look away but found his gaze at her body but as he looked deeper in the mirror he found himself invisible in its reflection with just his clothes in his place, he had the realisation that he was hollow, all his work that once had meaning meant nothing, just the sake of making them, like his invention he himself had become cold and like a clockwork toy, the same rountine over and over again but he saw something that was unique, it was a smile as he watched her while she rinsed out her hair and used the loofah to wash her body, his mind was thrown off as Kendor walked into the room “hay nicky boy i would have joined you sooner but..”
“Kendor turn around now”
Kendor hadn’t noticed that was testing his invention until he heard the splash of water and with a smile said “oh i see, ok i will i am a gentleman after all”
Kendor turned around and took a couple of steps back until he was shoulder to shoulder with him, he turned his head to look at Nicolas “so how is it going? She not bald is she”
Nicolas looked at him sarcastically “no, in fact she seems to be enjoying it”
Kendor chuckled and crossed his arms “i can tell”
Nicolas noticed his tail wagging like a dog rather rapidly and then saw his eyes on the mirror and with a lick of his lips Kendor said “well, she is quite stunning isn’t she?”
Nicolas looked at the mirror “nothing special about her”
Kendor turned to his side facing on at Nicolas “really? Something tells me otherwise?”
Nicolas turned his head only to face Kendor gaze with a sterner look “why are you even staring down there?”
Kendor took a step closer “well my dear Nicky you know what i’m like”
Nicolas sighed “sadly i do, i see your the same”
“aww you noticed have you?”
Nicolas snorted “don’t kid yourself, it’s your tail, that thing is a more give away then anything in your tourusers”
Kendor sighed “yeah it’s a shame, but i wonder if she would mind?”
There was a sudden sound of silence as Nicolas and Kendor turned their heads to the open door way of the bathroom only to find Alinson standing there with a towel round her head and one around her body, little beads of water droplets clung to her arms, legs and chest revealing only the slightest cleverage, the towel was wrapped tight around her so that it pushed her breasts up, with a curious look she said “who is she then?”
There was a slight pause as Kendor noticeing her and the steam coming off her, he went slightly red in the face and Nicolas turned around looking at the mirror only to still be watching her, Kendor found himself frozen on the spot not being able to move like a certain something else that is attached to him, with a flick of his arm Nicolas grabbed Kendor and span him round only to also find himself looking into the mirror, it didn’t help either of them but Nicolas had a thought, would she notice the mirror.
Alinson smiled and shook her head “well never mind, umm Nicolas?”
He didn’t want to turn around out of respect for his guest and tester but all he could muster was a cold “yes?”
Alinson still had the thought that he didn’t like her, what didn’t help was when she too looked into the mirror she couldn’t see his reflection “it works Nicolas, after turn the valves i found it warm enough, though i prefer baths but if i need a quick wash then i guess I’ll use that”
Nicolas nodded as Kendor blurted out “you can use my bath anytime my dear!”
Nicolas slowly turned his head to one side gazing at Kendor as his face was red and his tail was on end up right along with something else of his, Alinson smiled “ok Kendor thank you, if you both don’t mind i would like to dry up please”
Nicolas nodded “sure come on Kendor”
Kendor didn’t move a inch as he stood still staring into the mirror, but was soon on his way when he was grabbed by Nicolas and forced out as he grabbed the back of his shoulders, neather of them said a word as they silently but slowly walked out, Alinson thought it was strange at how they were acting but shrugged and sighed, her only option was now to get dry and get dressed for the rest of the day ahead.