Joleena sat at her desk in her magic library looking at various books and writing down anything she found useful. She had given Anna a week off so she could search for information about this Tenebrosi Sanction Antonia mentioned. Fina's healing had done wonders, but she could still remember how painful it felt when she was slammed into that marble pillar by Antonia's dark magic. And dark magic was the absolute worse thing to be hit with. She didn't want to tell that sweet girl Fina this, but dark magic was nearly impervious to healing magic so Joleena's body still stung a little where it had touched her. And that was well over a week ago.
Joleena waved her arm and three more books floated towards her and opened themselves. Her eyes glanced over the pages but she didn't find anything useful. Just rumors and urban legends. Some were consistent- they seemed to be a guild of dark magicians and possibly time travelers, but that information was scant at best. Other rumors though seemed like regular, paranoid gossip- the sanction had already taken over but no one realized it yet, they live amongst us in secret... nothing useful or valid.
Her father had given her this magic library, starting with samples from his own vast library and encouraged her to add to it over the years. Some of the books she acquired were so ancient and brimming with magic that she couldn't even touch it with her bare hands. She also had to be careful using her own magic in here, because any mistake or magic leak could set off a chain reaction.
"Oh la. I am barely finding anything." Joleena sighed and took off her reading glasses.
There was a timid knock on her door and her maid called out from the other side. "Excuse me Miss, but you have a visitor."
"I am busy right now." Joleena said in mild irritation. "Tell whoever it is that they may make an appointment on their way out if they wish to see me."
"I didn't know I needed an appointment in order to see my own girlfriend!"
Joleena's heart sped up, sending one of the books flying across the room. She barely noticed though as a wide smile split across her face. She jumped up from her desk and rushed over to the door. She assumed a calm expression though before she opened it. Joe's grin broadened as soon as he saw her and her maid gave a small apologetic bow.
"My apologizes ma'am, but he insisted on coming upstairs." She said shooting a small glare at Joe.
"It's alright Marcy, you may make an except for him." Joleena gave her a small nod to dismiss her and pulled Joe inside.
Before she had fully closed the door, Joe wrapped his arms around her tightly and pulled her into a gentle, but firm kiss. She let out a small moan and melted in his arms. Her heart still hadn't slowed down nor did she want it to. The only other time that she felt this kind of euphoria was when she was learning a new spell or magic technique, but even that didn't come close to what she was feeling now. It was absolute magic the way his lips melted with hers and his hands lovingly caressed her back.
Joe pulled away from the kiss slowly and leaned his forehead against hers.
"Hey beautiful," he whispered, "I missed you. How's your day been?"
"I've missed you as well, mon amour. I've been in here researching this Tenebrosi Sanction all week and I've found almost nothing."
Joe smiled and kissed her forehead. "Sounds like you could use a break then."
He went over to her couch to sit down and held his arms out for her. Joleena felt her smile falter a little. She hesitated and then sat down close to him, but not too close, with her hands primly in her lap. Joe gave her an odd look and closed the space between them. Joleena felt her face heat up, but tried not to show it.
"You okay?" Joe said with a small frown. "You seem uncomfortable."
"Um," Joleena pressed her lips together and looked away. "It's just... I've never really had a boyfriend over in my house alone before."
Joe chuckled and raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Really? You 'Miss-Beautiful-and-Desirable' have never had a guy alone in the house with you before?"
"No I haven't." Joleena narrowed her eyes, beginning to feel a bit irritated. "Why would you assume that I did?"
"No real reason," he shrugged, "from what Anna told me though, you've had a lot of boyfriends before me. I just assumed that at some point you guys hung out here. Or where ever you were living at the time."
"Well we didn't." Joleena tossed her hair in his face. "You are the only boyfriend that I've ever had over here."
Joe didn't say anything for a moment, but then gently touched her face and turned her to look at him. She gazed into his dark green eyes and felt her irritation fade away. He gave her a soft, warm, smile and grazed his thumb along the edge of her bottom lip.
"I guess that makes me special then, huh?" He said in a low whisper.
"Yes," she whispered back, "very."
They began to kiss again and Joleena's heart pounded in her chest. His fingers caressed her cheek and drifted slowly down her neck. A ripple of nervousness went through her, but Joe pulled away before things went any further.
"So," he said wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Have you eaten dinner yet? I know a great restaurant."
Joleena raised an eyebrow. "Joseph, I hope that you are not seriously suggesting that our first real date be at that affreux pizzeria you and your friends like to frequent."
"Well I don't know what 'affreux' means but no, we aren't going there." Joe smiled and playfully tugged on her hair. "I have a different place in mind."
While it certainly wasn't Daniel's, Joleena felt that the restaurant had a certain... charm to it. True when Joe pulled up to it and opened the door for her, it took all her will power not to balk at its homeliness, but once inside she found it was nice.
She looked up from her menu and found Joe staring at her with a pensive look on his face. While Joleena was used to guys staring at her, it felt different when Joe did it. Nicer.
"What is it?" she asked with a small smile.
Joe sighed. "I promise when I get some more money I'm going to take you somewhere really special."
"You don't have to do that." Joleena reached out to touch his hand. "I just enjoy being with you. It does not matter to me where we go, and you know that I can always pay."
Joe chuckled and laced his fingers with hers. "You know I still can't believe someone like you actually agreed to go out with someone like me. Although who can blame you? I am incredibly good looking and funny."
"Oui, and don't forget charming and oh so humble." Joleena laughed rolling her eyes. "And to think it only took you an entire year to win me over."
"It was worth it." Joe kissed her hand and a sigh escaped her lips.
A waiter came by to take their order and she tried to conceal her disappointment that he wasn't wearing more proper attire for a waiter or that he didn't offer them any wine or champagne choices. She ordered a salad that she hoped wasn't too expensive while Joe ordered a burger and fries. Their food came quicker than she expected and they fell into easy conversation.
"So Joseph," She said taking a bite of her salad. "I must admit I find it pretty incredible that you are the owner of The Book. Tell me, how long have you been studying it?"
Joe hesitated and took a bite of his burger. He chewed while she waited for his answer.
"Well," He said after he swallowed. "My uncle Joe gave me The Book for my tenth birthday and I messed around with it for about a year-"
"Messed...around?" Joleena looked at him quizzically. "You mean, you inherited one of the most powerful time magic based objects in the universe and you didn't take the time to study it? Learn it's many vast and powerful secrets?"
"Well, I was going to, but..." Joe huffed and looked away. "Look, I don't really like talking about it, but something bad happened a few years ago so I stopped using it for a few years."
"I see." Joleena said quietly.
"What about you?" Joe said trying to quickly change the subject. "When did you get started with magic?"
"Well, magic has been present in my family for generations, so I started when I was pretty young. Four or five I think." She said with a small smile. "My parents though were much too busy to teach me, so I spent a few years learning with my grandmother, then with my aunt and uncle, before I was finally sent away to an academy for young female magicians. I left when I was around fifteen."
Joe gave her a small frown. "They sent you away? That sucks."
"Oh no, not at all," she shook her head with a small smile. "I was able to grow and develop my magic abilities quite rapidly."
"But weren't you just a little home sick? Or lonely?"
Joleena smile faded and she shrugged. "A little. I must admit I didn't have many friends while I was there. But it was worth it to learn what I have over the years."
"I dunno, I always thought friends and family were more important than magic." Joe shook his head and smiled at her. "Let's talk about something else. What's your favorite movie?"
"Well I don't watch movies often, but I would have to say either Titanic or... well, anything with that Will Smith actor."
Joe grinned. "Will Smith has to be one of my favorite actors of all time. I loved Hitched and the Men in Black movies."
Joleena giggled. "Oui, those were to die for! But I was a wreck when I watched the Pursuit of Happiness."
"I know! Don't tell Fred or Sam this, but I almost cried watching it."
They both laughed and kept talking about their interests, making sure to keep the conversation light and friendly. Joe paid the check despite Joleena's protests, and they drove to the park for an evening stroll. They walked together talking quietly and holding hands. Somehow the conversation ended up on their life styles. That was when things got a bit awkward.
"So, in the summer you don't always go abroad?" Joleena asked quizzically. "And not because you choose not to go?"
Joe sighed in exasperation. "You know Joleena, not everyone is rich enough to afford vacations in Europe."
"But Anna tells me that you and two of your uncles are magicians. Surely between the three of you, your family must have accumulated some sort of wealth or acclaim."
"Magic doesn't automatically equal money. Besides, I told you that I don't really like talking about my uncles."
"I'm sorry, I did not mean to offend you." Joleena sighed sadly. "I just wanted to get to know you better. I've never met anyone like you before."
Joe was quiet for a minute before he let out a heavy sigh and stopped walking altogether. Joleena stopped walking too and looked at him. He grabbed both of her hand and gently kissed her knuckles.
"You know I'm not rich right?" He said with gentle seriousness. "And I doubt that I'll ever be rich."
"You don't know that." Joleena said quietly.
Joe shook his head. "I'm pretty sure I do. The question is, would you be okay with that?"
"What do you mean?" she said feeling her heart sink. "Are you breaking up with me?"
"I don't want to, but..." Joe let go one of her hands and rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean I really want us to work, but you have to understand that we come from two different worlds. You're rich and affluential and I'm pretty average. You're a powerful sorceress and I'm... not."
"But you're the future Warp Wizard." Joleena insisted. "All that will come. And even if it doesn't, I wouldn't care."
"Really?" Joe looked at her carefully. "You wouldn't care if I never advanced in my magic? Because what happened in Pompeii was more of a fluke than anything."
"Joseph." Joleena smiled and placed her hands on either side of his face. "I have dated many wealthy boys, many time travelers, and many well trained and established magicians. And not a single one of them has made me as happy as you have made me in the past year alone."
"And I was just a friend then." Joe's soft smile became flirtatious and he wrapped his tightly around her waist. "Think of how happy I'll make you now that I'm your boyfriend."
A light blush spread across her cheeks and she looked away with a small smile on her face. Joe tilted her face back towards his and he kissed her lovingly and with longing. Her heart leapt as she wrapped her arms around his neck and eagerly kissed him back.