Part Four: Perception

Chapter Eleven: Evangelina

Evangelina looked down the length of her long, long legs, pointing her toes out in boredom, then drawing them back in. She smiled when Tiberius patted her on the head, letting her know that she still existed.

She loved her sisters very much, but Gissele and Ariel had a connection that they just couldn't share with her. Sometimes, that made her feel a little alienated. It wasn't her fault that she was the last of them to come into the group. Only Tiberius made her feel like she wasn't invisible. And for that, she loved him.

No, she really loved him. She was completely infatuated with him. But he only had eyes for perfect, little Gissele. She was annoyed by it, but she didn't really mind it as much as she would have thought. They were just right together.

"Tiberius, are we going to get Orlando back?"

"Yes." A definite answer.

She tilted her head up, looking into his eyes. "Well, I can't say I'm too excited to see Tymmie again."

"We won't have to. Only Ariel and Orlando will face him."

"How do you know?"

"It comes with age, Evangelina," he told her, keeping a calm face.

As smile spread across her elfish face. "You're deep, Tibby, very deep."

He scowled at the nickname. She loved that. He was always like a dead man, impervious to emotion. It was sexy, but very unusual. She loved when she could bring some kind of emotion to his face. That made her curious. What was it like to make love to Tiberius? Was he passionate in those intimate times, or as emotionless as he was the rest of the time? She really wished she could know.

Gissele walked back into the kitchen, her face smooth and sort of blank. Vange was sure that she would have come back frustrated, or thoughtful, or even angry.

"Okay. Okay," the woman muttered, her shoulders sagging as she gave in.

Tiberius gave her a funny look before crossing over to his lover. She smiled at him brilliantly. Evangelina smoldered a tiny bit. They were connecting, and then Gissele just had to come back into the room with that perfect little body and sweet little smile. She knew it was hopeless to even try, but the obsession to play at the Roman man was too overwhelming for her.

"Okay what?" Vange asked, her voice gruff as the anger deep in her smoldered away.

"Ariel won't back down. We know this. We're not going to let her go alone. We are the Daughters of Mischief. If she stirs up trouble, then we all do."

Vange grinned, actually loving that miniature speech. This could be a test of her skills. "How much longer will she be asleep?"

"Most likely until morning. It's pretty late. We should probably rest up, too," Gissele suggested with a shrug of her shoulders.

You should just go ahead and announce that you want the love of my life in your bed this instant, Vange thought dejectedly.

However, the elf just yawned in reply. "I guess so. I'll be out on the couch."

Gissele smiled at her before grabbing Tiberius' hand, taking him down the hall into the guest room since Ariel was in their bedroom.

Vange sighed, plopping down onto the couch. She was a freakin' Amazon! There was no way she was fitting on this couch. She curled up anyway, her eyes wide open, unable to find sleep as easily as she would have wished. She even thought of sitting outside of their door, listening to them, but that was shameful.

Maybe Evangelina would love her own protector when he came to her, and she could finally forget about the great and silent Tiberius.

Next Up: The great and silent Tiberius opens up and reveals a hidden secret.