Luxe Aeterna
The thirty-person orchestra strummed a waltz, music filling the royal palace of Melody with jubilation.
The party was in full swing, crowds of endless faces melting together as the ballroom bustled and danced about. The air smelled of the spices of cologne and rose perfumes. Trays filled flutes of libations and hors d'oeuvres made their rounds while nobles and royals mingled, drunk off of the energy buzzing from every corner. It was too large to be considered intimate, but some people preferred the large open spaces to discuss bawdier topics or pick up new lovers.
One woman in particular was on the hunt for a lover.
Musa had donned her best dress that night: a couture gown made of red silk that fell around her in layers, standing out against her pale skin. The corset was tight enough to accentuate her naturally tiny waist as well as push up her cleavage in a tempting manner. Rubies glistened along the expanse of her milky throat, sparkling in her ears and around her wrists as well as holding her elaborate updo together on the tops of decorative hair sticks. She was the epitome of glamour and luxury. Every man in the room stared as she past, unable to tear their eyes away. Every man except the one she searched for.
All her friends had come as couples, holding hands and kissing, but it served as no surprise. Aisha and Nabu had been recently married, as well as Stella and Brandon and Flora and Helia; she had not been able to attend their weddings, but the pictures were splendid. They all looked so happy, and she was secretly jealous of their perfect lives. Bloom and Sky were engaged, and Tecna and Timmy were still in a committed relationship. Everyone was together...everyone except she and Riven.
Years of trials and tribulations of war had left a huge rift between them. Riven had his own demons to battle, as well as the guilt of carrying responsibility for those he left behind. She had to deal with the fallout of a ruined kingdom, rebuilding it piece by piece and dedicating her life to protecting her planet as Guardian Fairy in a way that she had never been able to before when she fought with the Winx. They had both done some growing up, some soul searching and maturing. Now that Melody was stable and Riven had been given his space, it seemed a good a time as ever to try again.
Though technically separated, she had invited him just to be polite in hopes that they would finally rekindle their romance. However, he had yet to show up, leaving her alone in a crowded room wearing the most beautiful dress she had ever owned.
Dejected, she meandered out to the balcony, her favorite place in the entire castle outside the music hall. The view from the third story overlooked the lakes of Melody, the moonlight shimmering down and reflecting off of the still, blue water, illuminating the gardens. It was the most romantic setting, yet no one was there to share it with her.
She sighed and moved towards the railing, leaning over to reach out and touch the roses that crawled up the stone walls. They were a soft pink, the color of her cheeks, and for some reason, they made her sad. Maybe it was because they reminded her of the romance she craved yet was constantly denied.
"Beautiful…" someone murmured from behind her.
It was a familiar voice, one that caught her off guard. So when she spun around, it was no surprise to see Nabu standing there, walking forward with two glasses of champagne in hand. His swagger exuded confidence, his smile entrancing. He looked handsome tonight: his hair cut short and coiffed so that part of it fell perfectly onto his forehead in a curl. He had grown very attractive with age, and for some strange reason, it made her heart stutter in her chest.
"Did Aisha tell you to come check on me?" she asked
"She mentioned something of the sort," Nabu replied lightly, passing over one of the glasses which she gratefully accepted. "Though, you look rather disappointed to see me. Expecting someone else?"
"I thought so, but I guess not."
She leaned on the railing, taking a long sip of her drink. The fizz rolled in her empty stomach, which only added to the subdued layer of misery.
"Someone like Riven?"
Was she that obvious? Could everyone in the ballroom tell that she was pining after a man who was always going to disappoint her?
"Is it stupid that I keep hoping things between us will work out?" Musa asked, knowing that she was not nearly close enough with Nabu to be asking such a loaded question. But, the two men were best friends, so Nabu was the only one who really knew what Riven's mind was like when they were not together.
"I don't think it's stupid. I think you're brave to still want to take him on despite everything."
"What happened to him isn't his fault."
"He abandoned the group. He deserted us in our time of need," Nabu said bluntly, the hurt still present even though he was not around personally to watch Riven walk away from the brothers in arms he said he'd always protect. "He left you behind, and the fact that you're willing to forgive him makes you a saint."
"You forgave him though, for not being there when you needed him."
"It is something I am still working through, but yes, I am trying," Nabu admitted reluctantly. It was hard for him to talk about his time asleep in Tir Nan Og. It was even harder for him to convey how much it hurt to find out that his best friend was not there to welcome him back when he woke, that he had just given up. "It is not the same thing - being in a romantic and platonic relationship. Friendships are easier to rebuild. But to give your heart and soul to someone so fickle, someone who has willingly hurt you time and time again? I don't think I could do it."
"Aisha was not the perfect partner. She was ready to move on. There was Roy, and Nex," she pointed out, feeling slightly guilty when Nabu flinched at the reminder. "I don't want to give up on Riven. I think there's still good in him. It might be buried deep down under years of mistrust and anger, but it's there."
"And how many times has that mistrust and anger led Riven down the wrong path? If you recall, there was once a time Riven hurt you because he thought that by your talking to me, you were being unfaithful."
She remembered the event with clarity. Riven, in all his clout and wounded pride, venturing out to the Golden Kingdom to reclaim what he thought was his. It was ridiculous then, and looking back, it was even more ridiculous now. Jealousy had always run his heart and head.
"It sounds like you are trying to talk me out of reconciling with him."
"What I am trying to do is put all the cards on the table. It is best to know everything before making a decision. This is your future Musa. You need to make sure you're doing what is best for you."
She stood up straighter, looking Nabu right in the eye.
"And what is it that you think is best for me, exactly?"
"What I think is that right now Riven is gone, and you need someone who can cherish you. Someone who can respect your power and position. Someone to hold you and support you as you deserve. Someone to do this…"
Before she could process what was happening, Musa was swept up into a passionate kiss.
Despite her initial shock, Nabu pressed on, his lips soft and warm and insistent against hers. As much as she didn't find it right, Musa found herself melting into the embrace. She started to kiss him back, grabbing the back of his neck to pull him in closer, their mouths moving powerfully against each other. She let his tongue past her lips without hesitation, the muscle swirling inside her mouth, playing with her own, and she moaned into the kiss, the vibrations causing her whole body to tingle.
Nabu swallowed her noises with fervor, backing Musa against the wall so that they were bathed in shadows. She raked her fingers though his hair, messing up his perfect coif as he moved to kiss her jaw. He left a trail of kisses, venturing further and further down her neck until he found that one sensitive spot near her collar bone. He grazed his teeth across the creamy expanse, nipping there lightly; it sent shivers down her spine, and she nearly stopped breathing as he sucked on the soft skin that resided there.
She elicited a moan as pleasure ran through her body before settling in her core. It felt like a hot iron had stabbed her between the legs, a wetness precipitating down her thighs and onto her panties. With all that pleasure, also came a deep shame, one that made her feel dirtier than she had ever felt in her entire life. She was letting myself accept pleasure from her best friend's husband for Dragon's sake! If that wasn't the most evil, whore-ish act one could commit, she didn't know what was! But, she couldn't stop. Emotions were in control now, and she let the pain over losing Riven get washed away with every bump and grind of their bodies.
Musa arched her back as Nabu's hands roamed over her through the fabric of her dress. He rested them on her hips, guiding her backwards and hoisting her up so she was seated on the railing. Her legs shot out to wrap around his waist, holding him close in the cradle of her hips. If she had even been in half of her mind, she would've looked to make sure no one was watching, but right now the thrill of being caught was one of the main motivators spurring her on.
Reaching up, her hands found purchase in that gorgeous brown hair and she pulled Nabu down for another kiss. His arms tightened around her waist, pulling her up and forward so that she shifted her weight to lean on his hips. The bulge in his pants protruded against her core, creating a delicious friction that made her gasp each time she ground down on him. She could hardly breathe, her head spinning as their mouths molded together. The hardening bulge kept growing, creating wild fantasies about how large the erection was when he was finally free from the confines of his pants. She wanted more, the fire in her soul growing with each delightful moan.
Fingers traced the back of her bodice, tugging impatiently at the strings. They loosened fairly quickly despite how tightly it was synched earlier, the fabric near her breasts falling from place, exposing ample cleavage. Nabu buried his face inside her bosom, his hot breath tickling between her breasts as he lavished the skin with attention.
Nabu started pulling at her corset, the little exposure of skin not enough. He wanted more, and she could hear buttons popping as she held him closer and closer, kissing his hair and taking in his scent: a rich musk interspersed with the first hints of sweat and sex. This was so wrong, wronger than wrong, but it felt so right. The ecstasy she gleaned from his body with only a few touches was so profound that she could only imagine how it felt to have him naked on top of her. Was it so bad that she wanted to feel wanted? That she wanted to share an intimate bond with someone and get the same desire in return?
Her corset was so close to coming off, the chilly night wind causing goosebumps to erupt across her bare back. She was going to let him remove it. She was going to expose herself in the most primal way possible and let him have his way with her, until another couple came running out onto the balcony, laughing and singing loudly. They didn't see them, their backs turned in the opposite direction, their drunken animation filling the space.
"I apologize..." Nabu said breathlessly as he pulled away, looking as if coming out from under a spell. However, there was no trace of magic. There was only the two of them disheveled in the moonlight. "I should not have done that. I do not know what came over me. Forgive me."
Not knowing what to say, or how to feel, Musa fled the balcony.
Back in her room, Musa studied her reflection in the vanity.
Lipstick smeared across the corners of her lips, cheeks flushed considerably more than a decent blush, flyaways sticking out of her sagging updo. She looked like the epitome of debauchery.
What have you done, stupid girl?
She had just allowed herself to do the unimaginable. She had betrayed a good friend, a loyal friend who had done nothing but show her love and compassion throughout many long, hard years. Now she had to go and socialize with Aisha and act as if nothing had happened, as if she hadn't ran her hands through Nabu's hair and down his deliciously toned body as she ravished him.
It was for the bet that she had not turned to see if Nabu had followed. She had dashed through the crowd so quickly that no one could see the evidence of her deeds. She did not stop to rest until she made her way inside her chambers and slammed the doors safely shut, her maid quite distressed at the spectacle. The woman asked no questions as she fixed the laces to Musa's corset and re-applied a fresh layer of makeup. By the time she was done, Musa looked as good as new, but felt used and dirty.
Sheer luck granted that none of the lords nor ladies had stopped her on her way to her chambers. Had she been caught looking as she did, the vultures would swoop down and eviscerate her good name until she was reduced to nothing but a common street whore. She had come to learn that the social circles of Melody were unforgivingly conservative. One toe out of line, and that was it. Shame that would last lifetimes. There were families she knew of who still bore the weight of their grandparent's sins.
Yet, if there was a sin for finding pleasure in the tender caress of a good man, then was it really a sin at all?
The thought alone was enough to get her heated, and so she banished any and all thoughts of the like.
Composing as much dignity as she could, Musa made her way back to the party.
Thinking it best to avoid the ballroom, and thereby any lingering temptations, altogether, she diverted her path to the drawing room. The occupants of this room were mostly male, and mostly old. Glasses of amber liquids were passed and poured while cards were dealt and cigars were smoked. The ash and dust of sweet nicotine floated above the room like a haze, creating a dizzying affect.
And through the fog, standing against the mantle of the giant fireplace, was the one man she thought she would never see again.
Riven.