Sorry that it took me so long to update this story, I was quite behind with everything that I'm doing at the moment. I hope you did not forget about it and will read the next part :) Opinion, review are welcome as always! :)

Thanks for everyone who reviews so far! You keep me going!

Kurtis was lying on the left side of the double bed, hands under his head, his ankles crossed. No matter how hard he tried, he could not fall asleep. Thinking about the happenings, he was still angry. Angry with Lara, angry with Kaleb. How could he be so damn irritating? How could she find him interesting? But most of all, how could it be that he had the chirugai and he was still there? He could not find the answer to any of these questions. The shadows of the nights started to stir on the ceiling, a storm was coming. Not that he would care. Kurtis closed his eyes for a moment, but it didn't help, the swirling thoughts did not settle in his head. He had not thought of her all this time, trying to concentrate on his own business. However, seeing her again changed a lot. Now it was even more thrilling to touch her than that time in Paris. Not to mention her fingers. He could still feel them on his stomach. Damn it – he hissed silently. This was the worst timing ever. He needed a clear mind to finish what he had started. Lara lingering on his mind did not help it.

Irritably, he sat up and lowered his feet to the ground. Should he go and see her? On the other hand it was middle of night, he couldn't just wake her up saying he needed to talk to her. He lay down again. Trying to regain his peace of mind he closed his eyes again. The orange glow was getting stronger as the chirugai stirred and raised in the air. First very slowly, just spinning, hardly moving forward. It was just levitating in mid-air, slowly turning around its axis. His breathing was settling, a deep, soothing sound in the silence. The chirugai was coming closer to him eventually, it cast a warm light on him revealing the long scar on his stomach again from the darkness that surrounded him. He still did not get completely used to the sight after six month.

His hand reached out, the chirugai slowed down, it stopped spinning. He gently grabbed it, watching it in awe. It had been six month, but it still followed his orders just like on the first day. That was something he could never erase from his mind. Kaleb must be able to do this too – he thought. Maybe Lara was right. He needed to be trained. This time he couldn't rely on luck, he needed to be prepared. Kaleb had to learn how to command the chirugai, Kurtis needed his power to finish off Karel.

He didn't even notice, but she was on his mind again. A few hours ago it was still her hand that held the weapon. As he put it down to the bedside table, he sat up on the bed again. The decision came just as sudden as the lightning flashed in the night sky. His self-confidence lasted for five steps, when he came to the door, he hesitated again. This is madness – he thought again. What do I want to tell her? She must be sleeping anyway – he tried to convince himself turning around again. But then he still grabbed the handle. When he opened the door to a crack, something grabbed his attention. It was only a barely audible noise, but he could hear it. A shadow was passing along the corridor, and suddenly the anger returned in him, stronger than before.

..

Kaleb did not need so much time to decide what he wanted. When darkness covered the whole house, he knew that his time had come. He tasted her and he wanted more. If Kurtis did not want her, then he would. What would it change, they had the same look anyway. He could be like Kurtis, or Lara would realise that it was not Kurtis anyway, who she needed. There was a cocky smile on Kaleb's face when he passed in front of the room where Kurtis slept. It was a competition and he was winning, of that he was sure. In the afternoon, Kurtis had his chance with her, but now it was his time. He sneaked silently along the corridor, knowing that this night would be fun.

..

Lara could not sleep either. Not wanting to toss and turn in the bed, she decided to walk down to the kitchen to drink a tea. Winston had been long sleeping, though she did not need him for this. No matter what others thought of her, she was not so helpless in the kitchen. Her knowledge was at least enough to cook some water. That she would manage for sure. She could not help smiling when she thought of the current situation. Two Kurtis, and still so different. The one cocky, almost arrogant, lose, the other reserved, silent, angry. But the same blue eyes, both of them so damn sexy. She could not understand how she could not see that it was not him. Now that she was thinking about it, it must have been really awkward for Kurtis to have seen her with Kaleb. Shit happens, doesn't it? – she thought grinning, stirring the tea. Putting one elbow on the counter, she supported her chin on it. All was so quiet and peaceful, only a distant thunder disturbed the silence from time to time. She couldn't help comparing the two men. It was a strange feeling that this was the only time she had ever kissed Kurtis.. better to say Kaleb. It made her curious. Would it be the same to kiss him? Would she feel the same thrill? The urge was there in her. The urge to find out. But how would this look to walk to his room in the middle of the night and tell him she wanted to kiss him. Lara giggled at the idea. The only problem was that the thought settled in her mind and wouldn't let go. Staring into space she licked off the small spoon, which was not a very polite gesture, but no one could see her. Winston would have highly disapproved her doing so, but now she didn't care. Her fantasy filled her mind with all kinds of images... naughty images, very tempting images. The light silk of her dressing gown was floating after her when she walked in the dark, with one thing on her mind. She wanted to see Kurtis.

Lara felt like a schoolgirl, secretly sneaking around in the house that actually belonged to her. As if she was doing something forbidden. What she planned was definitely not forbidden, only disapproved. But she was sure, Kurtis would not have anything against it. Else she would find some silly excuse what she wanted from him at the dead of night. She did not need light to find her way, she knew every stone in the manor too well. When the next lightning flashed, anticipation could be seen on her face. Her bare feet made no noise of the floor, she moved as a ghost, almost looked like one too wearing the white gown. At his door she came to a halt, leaning closer she was trying to listen if she could hear any noise. There was dead silence. Barely audibly she knocked on the door, then opened it to a crack when she heard no answer. It creaked silently. Lara stepped in, but needed a second to realise that Kurtis was not lying in his bed. She raised her eyebrows, contemplating shortly where he could have been.

„Kurtis?" – she whispered, but did not really expect an answer. For a moment it ran through her mind that he had left, but then she glimpsed the chirugai next to the bed. He would never leave without that – she thought in relief. Maybe it was better this way. She turned to leave again. On the way back to her room, she was smiling to herself. Afterwards she found her idea rather silly. When she opened her door, the smile disappeared from her face. Kurtis was standing there in front of her window, gazing out watching the storm. The next lightning showed his serious face when he turned around to face her. Lara suddenly did not know what to say.

„What are you doing here?" – she whispered, pulling the dressing gown together on her body.

„I wanted to see you" – Kurtis said without making a move. Lara did not want to tell him, she was coming from his room.

„Did you think about what I said?" – she looked at him asking.

„Yes, you are right" – he said simply and turned away from her again.

„I'm glad to hear this. You can't let him face Karel without knowing what he is doing" – Lara agreed.

„Are you worried about him?" – Kurtis asked without looking at her, his voice a bit harsh.

„Why do you say this again? I thought we already talked about this." – Lara found it annoying that Kurtis mentioned this again.

"Sorry." – he said softly.

"Is this all what you wanted to tell me?" – Lara started towards the bedroom, but Kurtis turned to her when she passed him.

"It was a mistake to come here…" – he started.

"You think so?" – Lara frowned at him, cutting in his words.

"Let me finish…" – he looked at her seriously. "It was a mistake, but I don't regret it." – a faint smile appeared on her face hearing him say this.

"What if you stay here till you are both ready to leave?" – she offered facing him. Outside the storm started to really build up, lightning were flashing so often that they did not need any lamps in the room to see each other.

"Yeah…. whatever you say." – he whispered pulling her closer to him. "I want to enjoy this moment" – he added. How did this happen that whenever she looked into these blue eyes, she forgot everything else around her? The only thought on her mind was that now she would know it. How it was to kiss him. She had enough of courtesy, of waiting. Her hands slipped to his waist and grabbed the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head. A move of pure want.

Her gaze wondered down his muscular chest, but then her eyes widened in surprise. He looked exciting, tempting, but one thing was missing. The long scar was gone.

"Damn it!" – she exclaimed pushing him away. "How can you do this to me again?" – she recoiled.

"What's wrong, honey?" – Kaleb asked back smiling at her. "I know you want him, and I'm exactly like he." – he stepped closer to her again, and Lara got confused for a moment. It was him talking, it was his body. Except the scar.

Lara hardly noticed the little noise coming from the door. She looked up, and Kurtis was standing there looking at them. Just like the first day. If this was no déjà-vu.