The long carriage ride gave Elle an opportunity to think. Her parting from Mias that morning was indifferent at best, the usual 'have a good trip' and 'I'll see you soon' sort of conversation that were meant to put her at ease. It didn't. Her very life was dependant on this plan of his and her confidence wavered under the weight of it.
Anxiety of the heart raised further concerns as she questioned herself on the matter of love, if indeed that was what she felt for Mias. Just how had it happened? Did she guard herself too much? Or had her body tricked her into thinking sex meant something more…? She couldn't be certain, but knew she never would have slept with him the first time if she felt like she was sacrificing all her expectations. She always wanted a guy who was crazy about her, and in some sense, that was true of Mias.
It felt strange, and different from anyone else she'd ever had feelings for. It certainly wasn't a crush or innocent puppy love, but for it to have depth, meant it'd have to be something stronger and just how could she call that feeling 'love' when she didn't have any romantic fantasies about him aside from wanting to be physical with him all the time. That was her youth talking.
When she tried to take sex out of the picture, there was nothing she'd gain from being at his side. She knew that, and yet her own heart had become as cruel as Mias once was, making her love him when it was the last thing she wanted. Loving someone like him wouldn't end well if she allowed such feelings to remain, but ridding herself of them was another problem.
Obviously she'd have to tell him, but how? Approach him with it as a complication to their current arrangement? Or perhaps confess with confidence and complete sincerity. She could just picture the look on Mias' face. He'd be so happy, until he realized the depth of the situation. Then who knows how he'd react. Anger? Frustration? She couldn't picture him returning the sentiment, but he may tolerate it for a while.
And what then? Should she resign to stay with him forever? A part of her wanted to, but another still hadn't lost hope that all this would someday end and become nothing more than a fantastic dream.
The mere thought of Mias being nothing more than a dream sent a sharp pang through her heart.
Why? Why did she suddenly care so much about him? If she gave him her heart, that was it. She really would have nothing left to call her own, though it's not like she had much to begin with. If she gave it all to him, she knew he wouldn't let her regret it for a moment. His selfishness actually made him selfless like that at times, so putting up with his ego was no longer a problem. It was all his secrets. She knew next to nothing about him, and even if it was for her own good, it still felt wrong.
She heaved a silent sigh as she left her mind to look out the window at the passing scenery. After two days spent mostly in the small carriage cabin, she was relieved when they started seeing flocks of sheep and farm fields. Soon there'd be villages, and then hopefully their destination. "Are we close?"
"Probably," Marius said as he turned back on his seat and slid open a slot to talk to their drivers. "How much longer?"
"About another half hour, sir," Retti told him and held up a folded sheet of paper. "Would you like to see the map again?"
"Sure," Marius accepted the paper through the slot.
"Should I speed up?" Abernos asked, his hands ready to flick the reigns.
"No, there's no need to rush," Marius said as he turned back to face Elle and unfolded the map. He pointed to a road just outside a large city and smiled. "We're right about here."
"Where about is the estate?" Elle asked.
"Let's see… just North West of the city, so this patch of land…" Marius pointed out, though the map didn't reveal much. "It's a small map, so it may not look impressive, but I promise you it is. They use most of their land for grain and vineyards, so all these farms we're seeing now are owned by the current Lord Cromwell Rothbart."
"And Corrine is marrying is second son, but the first legitimate heir, Jarvis Rothbart," Elle recited from memory. "He oversees the shipment and trade of their wine and ales to other villages and estates."
"Right," Marius grinned. "Should we drill any more facts or do you think you'll remember everything vital?"
"I don't think I can cram much more," Elle weakly giggled. "I'll be fine. Small talk and gossip is more what I'll be pulled into since I'm a lady, right?"
"Yes, but you never know with noblewomen what will be the prime topic for their natter. It could be the lord's latest affair, or the secret financial distress of one of their businesses."
"Fair point, but I've never been one for gossip, and my acting skills aren't exactly… believable. I don't know if I can pass as one of Corrine's relatives."
"I doubt you'll find anyone that curious once the party starts," Marius said. "Just stick by me and we'll be fine. There's no reason anything should go wrong."
"You say that, but I wonder how realistic you're being," Elle said under her breath as she looked back at the window and towards a tall hill where she could see a giant manor resting on top of it and a long winding road that would eventually bring her to it.
Mias faced his own similarly daunting road as he took his time driving his stallion closer to the main estate. It'd been about a year now since last he saw the castle he was born and raised in, but it held no nostalgia for him, only bad memories. Compared his manor, the main house was five times the size and made of dark stone and black tiling on the roof. It wasn't designed to be welcoming, but even Mias would admit they could do with some color – at least hire more gardeners to remove all the moss that choked the life out of the shrubs and flowers.
Perhaps Elle's fears were well founded, he thought to himself as he grew closer to the front door. He dismounted his horse and gave the beast permission to flee if it desired, but the black stallion stood firm and intended to wait until his master's business was finished.
Mias pushed the doors opened and entered with his face cold and expressionless. He saw servants scurry and a few brave butlers bow as he passed by, though none were brave enough to speak to him.
"Mias!" A cheerful voice laughed his name that echoed throughout the halls, causing Mias to look up to the second floor balcony where one of his brothers was calling to him.
"Cassius," he spoke calmly.
"It's been a while!" Cassius laughed and jumped from the railing without hesitation. It was the quickest way down after all. He landed hard on his feet, his boots absorbing most of the impact and leaving him unharmed. "I didn't think you were actually going to come!"
"I was left with no option, wasn't I? Now, where's Durias? I'd like to get this over with."
"Busy with other matters since we didn't know when you'd be arriving," Cassius answered. "But if you can stand to be patient for a few hours, we can get this sorted business behind us."
"I see," Mias said calmly though his mind cursed.
"Well let's not just stand around! Aurelius is here somewhere and I'm sure you'll want words with Elias."
"Heh, I can't guarantee I won't wring that bastard's neck when I see him."
"You act like he's never interfered with your women before," he laughed. "Alright, why don't we go see Father?"
"No," Mias said firmly.
Cassius' smile faded. "Alright…"
"I'll be in my room," he announced, continuing down the hall and up a smaller staircase to the second level. The many twists and turns he had to take to come to one set of doors seemed endless, but his feet knew the way and carried him there without fail.
Entering his old room gave him some sense of homecoming. His old books and journals still in their place on the shelves amongst a few childish relics like an old wooden sword he used to dual his brothers with and his favorite toy horse. They held slightly more pleasant memories, but weren't tempting enough to make him reminisce.
He sat on his bed and lit the oil lamp on the nightstand, his mind already turning back to Elle. She'd love to poke around in a place like this and ask him questions about his boyhood, but there really wasn't that much to share from his point of view. He considered his early years no different from any other noble's: privileged, of course, but he got into mischief like any other boy would, played and fought with all his brothers, and dealt with scolding from his parents when he'd been particularly naughty.
The only thing that made him especially different was his powers, and while it might have appeared that this made him the favored son, in actuality it meant he'd be exposed to far more darkness than any other his brothers. The mastery of such skill required intense mental and physical training that began before he was breeched. All he could remember from those days was a burning agony throughout his body and the gruff voice of his grandfather forcing him through exercise after exercise.
He grew too tired to play with Elias after a time, and perhaps that's where it all began. Too exhausted and often cranky, he recalled many times snapping at his younger twin and chasing him away in tears. It was no wonder Elias resented him, and then of course once the fruits of his labor began to play off and the family was proud, resentment turned to jealousy. By then, it was too late to go back.
Now Mias wasn't the sort of man to wish his life any other way, but even he had to wonder what might have been if he'd been born just another Dormaeus like his brothers. It certainly seemed like a fairer reality seeing as in this one even as a magician he hadn't the power to restore the lost: loss of time, loss of relations, loss of life…
The only thing he'd truly gained from having this power was Elle, the first person in his life who made him content through no other power than simply being. And now his brothers wanted to take that away from him, and it was downright insulting to have his loyalty brought into question over something so ridiculous. He had the power to destroy them all if he so chose and yet obediently abided by the family's rules. All he ever asked was to be left alone and summoned when only his particular set of skills were necessary, and yet they couldn't even give him that.
He heaved a sigh and offered up a bit of silent empathy for Elle. Returning to his own cage only made it more obvious how much of an ass he'd been, and he laughed at the irony of it all.
"Elle!" Corrine bounced out of mansion ahead of the servants to embrace the girl tightly in her bosom. "I'm so happy you could come!"
"N-Nice to see you too, Corrine," Elle patted her back, unaware of when they became such close friends.
"Mr. Stag! How good to see you!" The brunette proceeded to greet Abernos and Retti. "And hello to you Miss Bromwin. Our staff will carry your things in, don't worry."
"Oh," Retti had already begun pulling Elle's trunk off the carriage when two men arrived to help her. "Thank you."
"And oh! Mias' baby brother! You're adorable!" Corrine couldn't resist giving Marius a good squeeze as well.
Not knowing if he could be upset, embarrassed, or delighted, Marius simply turned red and tried to avoid staring directly into her cleavage.
"Do forgive me, but so stressed the past few days even though I haven't had to do much other then sample the dinner menu," Corrine heaved a woeful sigh as she led the group inside while the servants tended to their luggage and the carriage. "My dear husband to be is still working and so here I am with my soon to be in-laws hoping I do not make a mistake in my selection of dining ware."
"But it's your wedding," Elle stated fact. "What difference does it make if it's what you want?"
"Yes, would that the life of noble lady be so simple, sweet Elle, but I'm the bride, not the groom, and from the lesser of our two families so they like to have these little 'prove-your-worth' sort of tasks. I wouldn't mind them were they not continuing up until the very ceremony," she groaned.
"Being a Lady doesn't sound very fun," Abernos said honestly.
"It's a challenge, but it's what I must do to marry the man I love," Corrine smiled gently in a way that truly told Elle her feelings were genuine.
"Um, Corrine, I know you're busy with preparations, but I was wondering if I might have a few minutes of your time in private," Elle asked.
"Oh I'd love to, really I would, but I only have time for a quick meet-and-greet at the moment," she said apologetically and glanced over her shoulder where a man in finer dress was beckoning her with his hand. "I'm sorry. I've got to get back to the tailor."
"It's alright," Elle smiled sympathetically and watched Corrine put on her best fake smile to continue with needed preparations.
"Nobility likes to complicate the simplest of events," Marius told her as they were led up the stairs by one of the many servants.
Elle agreed. It was no secret to her that the work of a bride-to-be was overwhelming, and with Corrine running about to please her future in-laws instead of herself, there must be an unbelievable amount of pressure on the young woman.
Her room was a large one, about the size of Mias' grand bed chamber, but with three times the color and décor. A style more typical of the French renaissance, Elle wondered if she'd ever be able to sleep in such a room, until she sat on the bed and was absorbed into the bedding.
"Oh my…" Elle exclaimed as she dragged her entire body onto the mattress and collapsed on top of it. The bed was begging for her to take a nap, and so she did.
She was tired from the ride, more so than she realized for when she woke up the sun had already set and her dinner tray had been brought to her room. It took some talent to escape the mattress, but after she did so, she approached one of the long windows to draw the curtains.
The last bits of sunlight sparkled off the pond in the backyard. It was a peaceful looking plot of land, no forest as far as the eye could see, but patches of trees and shrubbery here and there and silhouetted against the horizon rose the steeple of a chapel, or so Elle assumed. The small amount she'd read about religion told her there was some sort of marriage deity, though the deity itself was not technically a god, but a servant of god. God according to Alteria commanded the stars and couldn't be bothered with any mortal business, or so Marius had said. The Dormaeus family weren't known for maintaining the same beliefs and often used their powers in the past to manipulate men into worshipping them as living gods (a fact that didn't surprise Elle in the slightest). Perhaps there was some truth in it; after all, Mias had opened a portal that connected their two words. Any easily mislead being would of course proclaim this as the work of a god… or perhaps the devil.
Pulling the curtains closed, her thoughts changed to what she ought to do for the rest of the evening. She began with her dinner tray, still warm underneath the silvery dome. Beef steak with savory herbs, steamed carrots and potatoes washed down with a light red wine made it obvious the chef spared no expense even in the pre-reception meals, though it still couldn't compare to Percy's cooking.
Her meal finished, she replaced the dome and walked the perimeter of the room turning up the oil lamps and tossing a few spare logs into the hearth. The warm light provided its usual soothing atmosphere, but without Mias in her company, it felt eerie. She became suspicious of shadows in her uncertainty of whether or not Mias could convince his brothers to leave them be. If everything had gone according to plan, Mias would be on his way by the daybreak.
The tightening in her chest made her clench a fist over her heart. This feeling of longing and loneliness was unwanted, but it was all his fault for causing them in the first place.
The morning of her departure, she awoke first to the sight of the canopy dimly viewed in the early rays of sunlight. She draped her arm over half her face and groaned; she didn't want to get up. They'd spent the rest of yesterday and long into the night making up for lost time seeing as they wouldn't be able to be together at all for days.
Mias was understandably exhausted and sleeping on his side with his back towards her. Apparently he couldn't always sleep holding her, and that was fine. She almost wet the bed once when she couldn't pry his arm off of her.
Elle slowly sat up and pushed back the covers to crawl towards him as discreetly as possible. She didn't want to disturb him, but she liked seeing a vulnerable side to him.
Sleep was the only opportunity she had to see him looking this relaxed and unbothered by the world in which he lived. At least in his dreams he didn't have to worry about Elias, his family, or any of his blood bound duties.
Elle smiled and brushed loose strands of his hair back to reveal his temple which she then kissed. Her fingers continued to smooth back stray hair while her eyes drank him in without the pressure of his judgment upon her. She hadn't seen many male posteriors in her lifetime, but Elle was assured Mias' was perfectly carved just like the rest of him. She still felt a little naughty to be eyeing him up like an unsatisfied housewife, but she'd have to go days without even seeing him, let alone having sex.
Stirred by the gentle caress of fingers in his hair, Mias slowly turned onto his back and then onto his opposite side to confront her. He opened his eyes with a smile on his face and beckoned for her to lean down.
She obeyed, her lips quickly pressing to his to welcome him from slumber. "Good morning, Mias."
"Good morning," he whispered as Elle lay back down at his side.
"Sleep well?" Elle asked, bringing her hands over to cup his cheeks as she desired to touch his face.
"Yes, and no," he told her. "I was completely exhausted, but knowing you won't be near me is unsettling…"
"I could transform into a mouse and you could keep me in your pocket," she suggested.
"Heh… no, that's too risky," he said, turning his head to kiss the palm of her hand. "A lovely suggestion though."
"Mm…" Elle smiled and scooted closer to kiss his lips again. Her hands went further around him by wrapping around his neck and she brought one leg over his hip to truly have no space between them.
"Mm, and you think I'm insatiable?" Mias chuckled as he braced a hand on her buttocks to help ease them together.
"I-It's not that I'm horny," she said defensively as both their breaths quickened.
"Then what is it…?" He asked, taking to gently rocking his hips back and forth.
"…This is… the only way you'll let me be close to you…" she exhaled, bracing a hand on the arch of his back. Omitting her true feelings didn't change the fact sex was her only deeper communication with Mias, even if it was only physical.
He smiled for a brief moment, pinning her head down with a kiss and driving his hips downward at a new angle, earning a sensual cry from Elle. He used enough fancy phrasing to avoid saying certain things himself so it was obvious when a novice like Elle did the same. He knew what she wanted: answers to all her questions. Something to connect them on a slightly more intimate level when little did she know this was the most intimate he'd ever been with another. This strange emotion in his chest, guilt he guessed, began to make him question what harm such answers would do at this point. Elle deserved whatever she wanted and he'd be all too glad to give it to her, but certain actions would have repercussions that could very well destroy everything. No, he couldn't risk it. They both had gone through too much to have it all ruined by 'feelings'.
Reflecting back on that morning sent waves of warmth throughout Elle's body. Just something about the way he cradled her a little more than usual as opposed to a gentle groping. She got the feeling he was anxious about separating too, not that he'd admit it. He was assuring and comforting the entire morning until she had to climb into the cabin of the carriage. Then he was cold, almost. Just waving her away like she were any other guest.
Elle didn't know what to make of it. She didn't want to think it could be the last time she'd see him, but then again, perhaps it was better to have that thought in mind and treasure the last few moments if they were indeed her final memories of him. After all, the last time she parted from someone she loved, she never saw them again.
The Dormaeus household for all its vastness and treasures was a rather boring place for Elias Dormaeus. He knew every secret passage, every hidden room, and the history behind every heirloom in their possession. The people who inhabited the stone walls were also boring. His elder brothers tried too hard to be proper noblemen, following rules and never having any real fun. The servants were elderly and no longer easy to scare, either too blind or deaf to make playing with them any fun. The few who were spry remained wary and obediently bowed their meek heads in his presence. Boring. For once he wanted one of them to forget to bow, just for a little fun – Durias forbid him from causing ruckus without reason and somehow or other, he always had a way of finding out when he'd disobeyed the head of the house.
Work provided some amusement, but with the promise of Mias' appearance in the next few days, his duties were put on hold. With nothing to do aside from relax either with a smoke or drink, life was as dull and sullen as Duncan's resting facial expression. All he had to entertain himself with were pleasant memories and his aspirations for the future: dark though they were, Elias was always delighted to visit his mind.
Mias couldn't ignore Durias this time, of this he was certain. The only problem was Durias' leniency with Mias. Heaven forbid the prodigal son was ever reprimanded for his actions. It wasn't fair. Despite his not being able to manipulate magic, he was the only brother with immunity towards spells – hell, he could even negate and break a few. Didn't that power count for anything? If anyone should be Mias' handler, it ought to be him, not Durias. Durias only had his muscles and the luck of being born first. He wouldn't stand a chance if Mias decided to turn on the family completely.
While reclined in his chair, his hand felt its way to his side towards the bottom of his abdomen where every now and then he felt an itch from his healing scar. Stabbed by his own knife, and by a woman. It stirred a familiar feeling of pleasure, but not one of masochism, rather it was adrenaline – excitement. Something new that he'd never experienced before. Plenty of his captives fought for their lives even with trembling hands, but none of them were like Elle. Was it because her stabbing him was an accident? If memory served right, she even apologized for doing so.
No one was that good, especially after meeting him. He'd seen men and women alike revert to beasts in a last ditch effort to survive. He'd seen them break, cry, and beg too. Such fragile creatures they were… as was Elle, wasn't she? She hadn't any strength, no swaying words, or even the good sense to surrender. She fluttered like a startled bird in his hands, heart racing and wings flailing. So helpless. He could have killed her without breaking a sweat if he wanted to over a hundred times when he had her. Mias would have been devastated either way, so really, why hadn't he?
"Distracted by soft lips and supple buttocks," one half of his mind scolded.
"Nice tits too," the other half added.
"I should have fucked her when I had the chance…" Elias lamented out loud before groaning in frustration.
She'd never look at him kindly again knowing now who he really was, and normally that wouldn't bother him, but he'd heard about the recent developments at Mias' manor. How she was 'happy' to be by Mias' side to the point they had relations in the grassy side yard when they thought no one was watching. No trace of the fear and heartache he had instilled in her – all if it gone, taken by Mias. The elder twin once again had everything, while the younger only had a fading scar and a powerful thirst for revenge.
An abrupt click from the door caught his attention followed by the intrusive head of his brother, Cassius. "Elias, Mias is—I'm sorry, should I have knocked?"
"I'm rubbing my side, you pervert!" Elias hissed, quickly removing his hand from the wound. He wished he had been caught masturbating; convincing Cassius otherwise would be impossible.
"Your side, sure," he grinned. "Anyway, get your hand out of your pants and come to the grand hall. Mias is here and Durias is finishing up with Lord Morbury."
"Mias is here?" Forget about defending his actions, things were finally getting picking up.
"And you're not to bother him," Cassius added.
"Whatever do you mean?" Elias asked with feigned ignorance.
"You're the cause of all this so if you want Durias to take this matter seriously, you can't go prodding him."
"So I can't even say 'hello' to my brother? What sort of family is Durias running?" He approached the door, ready to stroll out and greet Mias properly.
"One he hopes to keep sane without having to see to every little argument the troublesome twins get into," Cassius said with some seriousness before flicking his pointer finger against Elias' forehead.
"Ow!" Elias grabbed his forehead and growled angrily.
"I barely touched you," Cassius laughed. "Now come on. We need to inform the others."
Elias kept his mouth shut and followed his brother seemingly obediently until the first split in the hallway provided him with an escape route, or so he thought until the second eldest emerged from one of the rooms and blocked his path.
"And where are you running off too?" Aurelius smirked, noticing Cassius down the hallway.
"Damn it…" Elias swore under his breath and was more or less forcibly escorted to the grand hall under the supervision of his elder brothers.
"You know you cause Durias more trouble than Mias?" Aurelius told him as they entered the room.
"Trouble? I'm owed a bit of fun for all all the dirty work," Elias reminded them. "Let's see your prissy little fingers deal with the garbage I get to hunt down."
"Watch your mouth, little brother," Aurelius warned coolly while Cassius chuckled in amusement.
"And what about you, Aurelius? Remind us what it is you do for this family," Elias paused to await an answer. "Nothing. That's right. You're removed in that little world of yours stinking up your room. Makes me grateful Mias at least had the sense to move out."
Aurelius didn't need words to deal with Elias. One swift set of movements locked the knife wielder's arm behind his back and the force of Aurelius' weight brought him to the floor, defeated and immobile, but all the more irritated.
"Ha! Nice one Aurelius," Cassius applauded.
"Thank you, Cass," Aurelius smiled calmly, twisting Elias' arm for good measure. "You'd think he'd learn after all these years, but he's so wonderfully stubborn."
"Get. Off," Elias growled.
"If I move now you're going to strike back at me. Just stay down until your temper cools," he said, making himself comfortable against his younger brother's body.
"Ugh," Elias had no choice but to comply.
"Aurelius, is that really necessary?" Thaddalius, the third born, asked as he entered the room.
"If it wasn't Thade, I wouldn't be doing it," Aurelius answered.
With a frustrated sigh, Thade took his seat at the table and patiently waited for their other brothers to arrive.
Pius came a few minutes later with Mias in his company. The fifth born said nothing and took his chair by Thade's side while Mias had to stop and smirk at his younger twin's predicament.
"It's not funny," Elias muttered.
"Oh, it's quite funny," Mias assured him. "Where's Durias?"
"He needed a few minutes in between meetings to collect his thoughts," Aurelius answered. "You know he hates negotiations."
"'Any problem you can't solve with a sword is a pain in the ass'," Mias quoted before taking his long absent seat next to Cassius.
"He'll be along shortly," Aurelius said as he finally released Elias so they both could take their seats.
How Elias would have loved to draw a knife on Aurelius, but now wasn't the time – too many witnesses. He begrudgingly took his seat across the table from Mias and felt his twin's eyes burning into him with an unforgiving glare.
"Your ride was fair, Mias?" Thade asked, deciding polite conversation was better than awkward silence.
"Fair enough," Mias replied.
"It's been forever since it was just the seven of us," Cassius reminded them. "You're not being mean to Mars, are you?"
"Do you really think I'd harm the runt?" Mias asked him.
"Well you're not exactly Mr. Warmth-and-Caring," Cassius smiled. "And we all know you blame him—"
"You 'know'? And what makes you so confident you know my opinion of him or of any of you? I've made my presence scarce in this house since I came of age and I assure you, none of you were reason enough for that decision."
"Easy, Mias, I was just trying to offer you some understanding," Cassius said.
"Cass, hold your tongue," Pius spoke, heading his brother. "You shouldn't let your mouth run before your mind."
"Jeez, I'm just trying to talk with the brother we barely see," Cassius crossed his arms and shut his mouth.
Cassius' guilt-tripping was ineffective, but for the sake of appearing cooperative, Mias thought he might at least sound like there was. "Forgive my absence, but as my presence was never necessary until now, I felt it best to conduct my magic works in seclusion where even fewer eyes can witness them."
"Bullshit," Aurelius called. "Grandfather's study, no, the study of the magician of the Dormaeus household has everything you could need."
"That study is filled with outdated theorems and formulas and smells like every old man who worked himself to death in it, not to mention it is cluttered with centuries of texts some of which that are too brittle to handle properly without the use of spell after spell to keep it together. I spent two years rewriting tomes in my training and over half of those books were useless to furthering my talent. If we were wise, we'd burn it and start from scratch."
"We are not burning Grandfather's study!" Thade declared. "That room holds our legacy!"
"I'm our legacy!" Mias reminded them with a simple flame swirling around his right hand. "It's in my blood, our blood… not those dirty old books kept by that cranky old man."
"Now, now. Keep your voices down," Aurelius scolded. "There's no need for things to get heated."
Thade and Mias both eased back into their chairs, their tempers calming just as the last of the Dormaeus men entered the room and brought all conversation to a stand-still.
"Still up for this so late in the day?" Aurelius asked Durias as he sat down.
"It won't be any better tomorrow," Durias grumbled and looked down the table, his eyes coming to rest on Mias. "And I doubt this one is going to grace us with his presence for long."
"Hello Durias," Mias bowed his head politely.
"Heh, being polite to me now, are you? You that desperate to keep this woman?"
"Yes," Mias answered without hesitation. "I'll do what I must to keep your sword away from her neck."
"Kissing my ass isn't going to do it," he said, producing Elle's foreign clothes from a bag he carried in with him. "I had our finest tailors look these over, and it's the strangest thing: none of them could figure out which country of origin they're from. Would you mind explaining that first?"
"I won't deny she's foreign to our lands, but it's better if you remain unaware of her exact origins."
"That's not for you to decide, Mias," Durias warned him. "The truth, please."
The truth would make things worse, but Mias doubted he'd be able to lie his way out of this. "I used my magic to open a door to Earth, the other world, and there in the country of England, I found and took Elle. So you see it's impossible for her to return to her people with any of our secrets."
The room was silent for a moment. Even Elias, who was unaware of Elle's exact origins, couldn't help but be taken aback by the revelation, and secretly took great delight in having this new little jewel of information to manipulate in his favor.
"Mias…" Durias began very sternly. "You know that sort of magic is forbidden."
"Only because the idiots before me were scared and didn't know the proper method to open the portal," Mias explained. "I cannot further my powers if I'm given limits."
"It's forbidden because stepping into a world without magic will drain you of yours."
"I had plenty of magical essence stored in my gems and I didn't stay more than a few hours," Mias didn't like where this was going. He'd come here to free Elle, not trap himself. "May I ask that you not lose focus of why I am here?"
"Very well…" Durias cleared his throat. "So, she is a woman from another world entirely… what do you plan to do with her?"
"I'd like to continue living with her," Mias glanced over at Elias. "Undisturbed."
"Hm," Durias tapped his fingers against the table as he thought, before he looked to Elias to see if the younger twin had any further argument.
"I think it's obvious there's a threat," Elias grinned. "But perhaps it's not with the woman. If Mias is jumping into other worlds, who's to say he won't abandon us entirely? You know, dear brothers, for the sake of our heirs, we cannot let the only magician born amongst us to continue to have such freedom. Cannot you sense this change in his demeanor? I bet his woman has told him stories of her world, enticed him like a siren, and had I not happened upon them, they might very well have left this world."
"You son of a—" Mias began before Durias cut him off.
"Mias needs to be reminded he's a Dormaeus," Elias continued. "He's abused your sympathy long enough and has never once used his powers for the benefit of the family whereas I have, and I alone have the ability to restrain him. With your permission, I ask that Mias and his powers be sealed until his senses return and as for the girl, it's unfortunate, but leave her to me."
"I won't argue that Mias needs to be reprimanded this time, but spilling the blood of an innocent without proof of her intentions is a hasty solution," Durias turned back to Mias. "This woman is nothing more than another tight fit for you, correct?"
Instinctually Mias wanted to deny that, but it wouldn't help his case if he singled Elle out further than he already had. "Of course. Do you think I'm that much of a fool?"
"I think both you and Elias have a habit of sticking your cocks where they do not belong," Durias stared down the two of them. "And the fact you're bickering over a pretty piece of flesh has me concerned if I've been lax with both of you."
Both twins felt a definite threat behind those words and quelled their tempers to avoid making it come to fruition.
"Bring her to me," Durias announced, tossing Elle's clothes down to Mias. "With you two bickering back and forth it's too damn confusing. Besides, I'm sure we'd all like to see what women from another world look like."
Mias wrapped his fingers around Elle's cotton T-Shirt as he hesitated to answer. Bringing her into the wolf's den was the worst possible solution. Even if Durias ruled that she wasn't a threat, having her in the same room as Elias would be cruel. "I'll agree on the condition Elias leaves."
"What?" Elias demanded.
"I will not have her on the same property as him," Mias declared firmly. "Unlike myself, Elias' methods of seduction leave a woman terrified and how do you expect to hold proper conversation if she's cowering beneath my cloak?"
"So you'll order me out of my own home?!" Elias bared his teeth.
"Damn it Elias, will you shut up for once?!" Durias barked, his own temper getting heated by the tension in the room. "I speak for this family and if I order you from this house, you will obey me. Is that understood?"
The younger twin muttered something unpleasant beneath his breath and sulked back into his chair.
"I'll see that Elias gets back to work. He's voiced his concerns so there's no further need of his presence."
"Splendid," Mias smiled, though he knew Elias' wouldn't be far, if he was at least off the property and maintaining a distance, there'd be no way any of his plots could be executed. "I'll take my leave then—"
"Mias." Durias paused. "You and I need to have a talk once this matter is settled. Is that understood?"
"Transparently…" Mias answered obediently; he knew he was still in trouble.
Elle was all but cleared of suspicion and he was sure having her meet Durias would put the matter to rest entirely. That's what was important. He could handle whatever slap-on-the-wrist punishment Durias would hand out if it meant going back to the pleasant life he led away from his family.
Looking at her Earthly clothes already brought his mind looking forward to spoiling her for his absence and longing to hop on his horse tonight to begin the journey eastward, but it was past sundown now and with their meeting adjourned, it made sense to dine and make nice for a few hours.
He certainly liked his brothers better with a bit of brandy in them as it melted the harden façade they all put on for the sake of their surname. They could just be brothers, if only few an hour or so before retiring to their respective rooms.
"I'm surprised you didn't run off as soon as Durias dismissed us," Elias began as he approached his twin.
Mias had removed himself to the corner chair in the room with his glass still full of liquor. He didn't feel like losing his wits tonight, especially with Elias around.
"Surprised you came at all, really," Elias continued and leaned against the wall, swirling his drink steadily in his cup.
"Well you went through so much trouble," Mias answered calmly.
"Hm," Elias finished his glass and set it upon the mantle. "So, Earth, is it? I knew she was foreign, but the other world? Were the women of Alteria that boring?"
"And you were quick to manipulate it to suit your needs. If you want this rivalry, so be it, but don't get Durias and the others involved."
"What? Scared Big D is gonna lock you up?" Elias grinned.
"You'd like that, wouldn't you? My powers sealed so you can carve me up how you like… just what do you think you'll accomplish?"
"You think you're so much better than all of us because a little green flame appears in your hand. You think you can leave this house and live a 'normal' life fucking pretty girls and never having to get your hands dirty. We're all due our share of arrogance Mias, but these powers don't make your our equal – you're just another one of the head's tools same as me."
"Yes, but I'm a dangerous tool…" Mias smiled darkly. "And I'll not betray this family so long as I'm kept away from it."
Elias fell silent for a moment, before heaving a defeated sigh. "You know, we could avoid all this if you give her to me. Little guttersnipe that she is, I still can't be satisfied until I know how tight a fu—"
"I'll punch your teeth out if you say one more word," Mias glared.
Elias could tell that wasn't an empty threat and didn't finish his sentence. "What's wrong with you? We never had any sort of spats like this over a woman. Aside from who would go first of course."
"I'm through talking," Mias pushed his glass into Elias' hands as he stood, before crossing the room with a forced 'good night'.
"Mias," Elias called out to him, only to be ignored and left standing there perplexed. Something was very wrong with Mias. Something had changed. Even when they were still at each other's throats they still had enjoyable back-and-forths. It was all Elias believed he had left with his twin and more and more he felt like Mias was slipping further out of his grasp. He squeezed the brandy glass tighter as a subconscious reaction until the glass cracked and shattered, slicing little cuts into his hand that burned under the coat of liquor. Yet he gave no visible hint of his pain for he was now dead-set on making sure the plan he already set in motion succeeded this time.
Elle never considered herself a night owl, but having napped the afternoon away, she found sleep to be futile for the time being. In her nightgown, robe, and slippers, she sipped quietly on a cup of chamomile tea with the pages of one of her novels open on the circular table in the corner of the room. She stood by the window, feeling the need to stretch her legs a bit and settle her curiosity of how the stars in the sky looked in this part of the country.
Without electricity, light pollution wasn't an issue, and yet the starlight seemed lackluster this evening. The moon was but a sliver, offering travelers no gentle light to guide them on their journeys and yet Elle still saw carriages arriving even once the clocks struck the midnight hour. Most of which appeared to be supply carts since they took the path around to the back rather than unloading in the front.
"Hm…" Elle sighed quietly and pulled the curtains over the window before returning to her chair. She finished her tea and returned the cup to its place setting, and then brought the book back into her hands. She read silently for about five minutes and then closed its pages, satisfied with the chapter's end, but not desiring to read further.
Were things going according to Mias' plan? What if they weren't? The over-confident git never talked about what to do in the event of an emergency. Elle's own plan was to run like hell, transform, and hide until Mias found her – which he would. No matter what happened, she knew it was only a matter of time before they were together again, embracing… kissing… having sex…
"Don't start," Elle scolded herself out loud as she shed her robe and slippers and crawled into bed, deciding she ought to try and sleep.
After dimming the oil lamp at her bedside and closing her eyes, she expected sleep to come quickly, but it didn't. Her imagination remained active, providing her lonesome body with erotic flights of fantasy she tried to ignore with tossing and turning.
Mias wouldn't hold back when next she was in his arms, and the thought twisted her gut pleasingly. He'd strip her down to nothing and squeeze every supple inch of flesh firmly in his masculine hands—
"Cut it out…" Her brain scolded again.
There was no point in filling herself with desire that couldn't be sated, unless she was in the mood for teasing herself, and she was in some small way: teasing reminded her of him. Delaying satisfaction meant she'd be all the more wanton for him once she could get her hands on him again, something that would no doubt please him. He'd certainly grin if he knew she was horny just thinking about him.
"Stupid Mias… This is all his fault," she groaned as she rubbed her thighs together, hoping to ease the growing tension between her legs.
The feeling wasn't anything new to Elle, but the frequency and strength of carnal craving were definitely at an all time high. And of course she'd want it the most when he wasn't here because the universe enjoyed torturing to her in such sweet, cruel ways. Teasing ways… Mias' ways…
Elle inhaled deeply as she snaked her right hand under her nightgown in hopes of tending to the problem herself. Maybe then she could finally get some sleep.
Her fingers traced the familiar steps Mias' often took, but even if she matched the pressure, something about the magician's own hand was far more exciting than her own. Rubbing circles on her sensitive bud made her miss him more. He was way better at this than she was.
"Mias…!" She called for him breathlessly as she turned onto her back to allow her left hand to cup and grope her breast. A part of her believed he'd hear her and somehow he'd magically appear to take over. Although knowing him, he might just stand at the foot of the bed and watch her with that damn perverted grin on his face, enjoying the delicious agony of it all until she broke and begged for him.
And the strange thing of it was, back at the Dormaeus estate, Mias did have a strange tingling sensation that Elle needed him. He stirred from his slumber and pulled himself upright as his mind tried to deduce why he had awakened. A twitch of his antenna-like lock of hair perked his senses and for a moment, he wondered how it was possible. Then again, no other being in this world was as impressionable to magic as Elle was. Perhaps the remnants of his power in her body made it possible, he theorized before the blood left his head to travel south.
He chuckled, finding the feeling oddly comforting. "I'll be there soon, Elle."
Panting and gasping for air, Elle wasn't sure whether she brought herself or orgasm or not. Either way, she finally felt tired enough for sleep, but with her mind still focused on Mias, her dreams became further proof she clearly missed the man.
She awoke at dawn to the sounds of a bustling household: servants running back and forth to meet the needs of their masters in preparation for the coming ceremony and guests arriving in greater frequency as the day wore on. For a large mansion, even Elle doubted it could hold every relative and noble that'd been invited, but apparently there were more rooms than meet the eye.
To get a better impression of its size, Marius and the others escorted her around the perimeter and to the back gardens where the bulk of the celebration would be had, and of course the openness and beauty instantly brought a smile to Elle's face.
"It's so… big!" She exclaimed. Looking out into the backyard in the daytime, it seemed to stretch on for miles with tended gardens, fountains, topiaries, and statues. "Is this all their land?"
"There's plenty more than this," Marius explained. "Being in the liquor business means they need many wheat fields and vineyards. This is just the homestead."
"I wonder how many gardeners they employ," Retti commented with a floored jaw. She was just as impressed as Elle.
"I don't get it," Abernos admitted honestly. "Is having more land better? They couldn't possibly use all of this."
"Some nobles follow the 'bigger is better' way of living," Marius explained. "All this land is tended to for aesthetics sake. If you want to see wasted property, you should see the land around the main house."
"It isn't grand like this?" Elle found that strange.
"Well it's grand in terms of size, but it hasn't been tended to in years. There's lots of overgrowth. Gardening was no longer a priority after my mother's death," Marius smiled sadly. "That's why I'm glad Mias keeps his property flourishing."
"It's mostly because he doesn't want to smell the horses," Retti explained with a bit of a giggle. "Though the wind from the sea makes the summer house very fresh, it's different at the winter house."
"How many houses does he need? I can live in a one-room hut just fine," Abernos commented. Even after living with humans for a few months, he still found them to be strange creatures.
"Mias just has the two," Marius chuckled. "The summer manor where you're staying gets quite cold once the seasons change and the winds come down from the north. You'll be grateful when winter comes that you'll be further inland."
"I'm furry so I'm already prepared," Abernos smiled.
Elle giggled as well before looking off to the right where the chapel steeple was. "So is the ceremony going to be held in there?"
"Oh, no, that's a mourning chapel. You can't tell from here, but it's a rather small structure. It's built specifically for funeral rites, burials, and the general memorial of the dead. We'll have to travel to the cathedral further down that road and over the hill."
"So there's a cemetery down there then too, right?" Elle asked.
"Yes. Most highborns have private cemeteries on their land."
"There used to be similar practices in my land, but I'd still find it a bit creepy to look over the land where you'll be buried someday," Elle admitted. "Though maybe it'd help you come to terms with death after a while."
"Maybe with your own mortality, but I don't think anything prepares you for losing a parent, a sibling, spouse, or child, be it sudden or expected."
The four stood silent for a moment as they let Marius' words sink in. For a boy, he was already having the profound wisdom of an older man, and to Elle, that was just as sad as it was impressive. He shouldn't have to think about things like that at his age.
"Um, how about I see if we can take out here?" Retti suggested, breaking the awkward silence. "I'll go see."
"Want some help?" Abernos asked.
"I suppose so, or I might get lost," Retti smiled and waited for the Stag to catch up to her before they continued back to house.
"Hm, if everything went according to Mias' plan, he should have left this morning," Marius said as he walked further into the gardens. "If he didn't take a carriage, he'll probably make it here late tomorrow afternoon."
"Mhm," Elle nodded. That was the plan after all.
"I can tell you're worried about him," the boy continued. "I've got this weird feeling myself about it…"
So he was trying to assure her, Elle deduced and reasoned she best try to do the same for him. "I can't shake it either, but this is Mias we're talking about. Even if something does go wrong, he'll handle it."
"I know, but I don't like that we're at odds with our own brother. Enough of the world is against us, we don't need discord amongst ourselves. It's just… stupid."
"And they don't listen to you either, do they?"
"Not a bit," Marius sighed and slumped against a stone banister overlooking a terraced part of the garden. "I don't think that'll change once I'm of age either. The runt is always the runt."
"Though it's no unusual for runts grow up to be bigger and stronger than their siblings," Elle told him.
"Ah, so I can make them listen to me," he grinned; half joking, half serious.
"Right," Elle smiled back.
Marius leaned his head over and gave her cheek a quick kiss. "Thank you."
"Hey," Elle eyed him suspiciously, wondering if perversion was surfacing. "Mias won't like it if you do that."
"Well Mias isn't here and I was taught it's proper to kiss a woman's cheek if you find her pleasing," he said sincerely, though his eyes looked anything but innocent.
"You're not a runt, you're an imp," Elle teased, poking him in the side.
"And when I grow up I'll be a devil," he said before trying to pounce on her.
Elle easily avoided him and jumped over the banister into the lower part of the garden. "Alright Marius, if you can catch me, I'll give you a kiss."
"Really?" He responded eagerly as he looked over the banister.
"'If'," Elle reminded him with a cheeky smile before running into the maze of hedges ahead of her. It probably wasn't the wisest of ideas to encourage the younger generation to be a skirt-chaser, but she wanted a bit of fun and felt Marius deserved the same. A good game of hide-n-seek tag seemed appropriate enough and this was the perfect spot for such a game.
Marius jumped the banister and ran after her, but quickly lost sight of her in the taller hedges. Still, he had enough stubbornness in him to not surrender so easily despite the odds. A kiss from Elle was on the line and it must be obtained at all costs.
Elle took a right, then a left, and then ran straight to a square section of garden where the hedges were replaced with rose bushes and cut at waist height. She could hear Marius' footsteps getting further away and decided to stay put for a little while to conserve her energy and take time to literally stop and smell the roses.
The soft sweet scent was calming, yet at the same time invigorating. She seemed hopeful now regarding Mias, assured he was already racing here as swiftly as possible. If he was in time for the reception, she'd make sure he was her first dancing partner. He'd spent all that time teaching her after all, so she wanted to show the fruits of her labor.
A rustling in the brush brought her back to attention and on guard, watching the entrances to the square with her knees bent, ready to run if Marius appeared.
However, Marius didn't appear. Instead, a tall, lanky gentleman with grey-white stepped into the square with his hands neatly folded behind his back and his head bowed, until he raised it to address her with his fangs bared. "Hello, Elle."
"You?" Elle felt a chill down her spine and a bit of sweat rolled down her cheek. This was Elias' servant, Duncan. Malcolm's cousin who he nearly killed him when Elias attacked the manor.
"The Rothbart wedding was a brilliant hideaway, but pointless seeing as I've been watching you for some time now."
"What do you want?" Elle dared to ask.
"I'd like you to come with me, and this can be done with or without your cooperation."
"I'd rethink that if I were you! Mias spoke to his brother about me and I'm sure your master is being ordered to desist with whatever plans he has for me!"
"Perhaps, but the orders of Durias mean nothing to me. I do only as Lord Elias instructs me. I get my hands dirty when he cannot. It's that simple."
Elle wasn't surprised Elias sent his servant to do his dirty work, just alarmed that he was here, standing right in front of her. She did what she always planned to do: run. Run and scream. "MARIUS! ABERNOS! RETTI!"
"Elle?" Marius heard her and immediately backtracked his steps, pushing himself through brushes when he couldn't find another way through. "Elle, where are you?!"
Responding to him was complicated at the moment as she had Duncan's boney fingers to avoid when he made grabs for her. She was too panicked to transform at the moment to, her mind's will solely focused on not getting caught.
"Fleeing will do you no good," Duncan took another passage that cut off Elle's path. "I've been studying these gardens all morning, just waiting for you to wander inside."
"You're not taking me!" Elle shouted, standing her ground and raising her fists to fight since this was what it was coming to. "You think Mias would let me remain helpless after all you two did?!"
"You're bluffing," Duncan called.
"Want to find out? I might be able to snap your neck," she threatened. She was bluffing. She'd had a few brief lessons in fencing, but no sort of hand-to-hand combat or martial arts, just the anti-rape tactics of aim for the balls and run.
"Then by all means, try," Duncan marched towards her and grabbed her arm before she could swing a decent punch. "You're weak. If you want to avoid pain, you'd better start cooperating."
"I can take the pain!" She screamed, kneeing him as hard as she could in the crotch, but it appeared Duncan wore quite the cushiony codpiece so such attacks were rendered useless.
"My, my. Lord Elias did say you were fiery," he grinned and wretched her head to the side to expose her neck. "And I've been given permission to drain you of that."
"NO!" Elle screamed, kicked, and even tried to bite him first, but for a slender man, Duncan was unusually strong and kept her pinned while his mouth loomed towards her throat.
"Duncan!" She heard Marius' voice and luckily the vampire's attention was drawn by the boy's voice. "Let her go!"
"Young master Marius, how good to see that you're well," Duncan smiled.
"Listen to me you damn hemovore!" Marius charged towards him and tackled him without hesitating.
Elle fell onto the stone pathway, but quickly got to her feet to help. "Marius!"
"Go!" Marius ordered her as he fought to keep Duncan pinned down. "He'll do worse to you than he will to me!"
"But Marius!"
"Please! I have to protect you in Mias' place! If anything happens to you, he'll never forgive me!"
"Alright…" Elle reluctantly agreed and made a run for it and finally found her way back onto the terrace. "Abernos! Retti! Anyone! Please, we need help!"
The maid and stag were busy setting out the tea at one of the tables when they heard Elle calling for them and their feet reacted before their mind, instantly rushing to her side.
"Elle!" Abernos caught her in his arms and squeezed her protectively close. "Elle, what's wrong?"
"We were followed by Elias' servant! Marius is trying to fight him off!" She cried.
"I'll go," Abernos grabbed the hot kettle from Retti's hand and pushed Elle into her arms. "Get her inside."
"At once," Retti rushed Elle back into the mansion while Abernos put his heritage to work by easily leaping over the hedges.
He found Marius still grappling with the man and losing, he was pinned and fighting to keep Duncan's fangs away from his neck.
"Hang on Marius!" Abernos quickly dumped the scalding hot water over Duncan's head, effectively stopping the attack but making the vampire scream out in pain. He kicked him off the boy with his hooves and quickly threw Marius over his shoulder. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," Marius frowned. He had a few scratches, but nothing serious. "Think you can capture him?"
"I don't think we're in much position to try," Abernos ran back out of the gardens and found a number of the staff and guests were gathering to see what was the cause of the ruckus. "There's an intruder in the gardens! He's attacked my lord and lady!"
"We'll get him sonny," one of the old gardeners had already grabbed his pitchfork and directed his co-workers into the maze of hedges to capture him.
Abernos hurried inside with Marius and was hesitant to put the boy down even once they were safely inside.
"You can put me down," Marius told him.
"Are you sure? Can you walk?"
"I'm fine, Abernos. Just a few cuts and scrapes," he turned red in embarrassment until the stag finally lifted him off his shoulder and set him on his feet.
"Marius! Abernos!" Elle cried for the two when she saw them and immediately rushed to hug them both. "Are you okay?!"
"We should be asking you that," Abernos smiled.
"I'm not hurt, but…" Her eyes were welling with tears. "I thought we were safe…"
"We are safe," Marius said. "I won't let anything happen to you, Elle. I promise."
"Heh…" Elle smiled as a single tear fell down her cheek. It seemed only fitting she thank Marius for his bravery and gratefully placed a kiss on his cheek.
Version II. Chapters 40-42. Originally written in 2014.