Hello again two updates for you today:) Enjoy Chapter 13 Part II
The curtains fluttered in the wind, the dry sound rousing Lavi from sleep. The skies were dark outside, not too late for only the brightest stars had yet risen in the deep blue canvas. Silent as a shadow, Lavi rose from the bed grabbing the first article of clothing her hand found on the floor, a long cotton shirt that was missing its top button, and threw it on. The night was cool and set to become colder still. Lavi shut the window as quietly as she could and left the room.
From the bathroom she retrieved a robe and bushed her hair in a way that would be passable, and then cautiously she opened her front door a crack hoping to find a servant she could trust. Luck was with her as the first maid to walk by was the strawberry blonde Melia. Quickly she gestured for Melia to come closer to the door.
"Miss, Allen asked me to check in on you. Is everything alright? You haven't been answering the door at all this evening." Melia wrung her hands like a concerned, nervous mother.
"I'm fine Melia, honestly." Lavi assured the maid. "If it's not too much of a bother Melia would you bring up enough hot water for a bath?"
"Of course miss, right away."
"Thank you." Lavi said genuinely grateful for Melia.
Soon Melia had hauled up the required water for Lavi and against Lavi's protests the maid did not leave until she had mixed the water to the perfect ratio and with the best combination of scents in the tub.
"It's not a problem miss, you look exhausted I wouldn't expect you to do this yourself." Melia brushed away the complaints and stubbornly made things ready. "It's my job after all miss."
On her way out of the room, Melia noticed the dark coat slung over arm of the lounger. The maid tipped her head towards the bedroom door questioningly. Lavi nodded ever so slightly and Melia fell upon her in a warm embrace. "Be strong Lavi."
Lavi had not expected that reaction and awkwardly patted the maid on the shoulder, a rush of gratitude flowed through her though for the way Melia easily accepted even this aspect of her. In the mirror she caught a glimpse of the scarring coming through the thinning layer of Jonny's miracle cover-up cream.
"Doesn't my eye scare you Mel?" Lavi said in a small voice. "You didn't see it that night. Isn't it ugly?"
"I didn't take you for one who would care about beauty or ugly miss? A scar is just a scar miss, it isn't you." Melia blithely said. "And if you don't like it you can always keep covering it up the way you do."
"Tomorrow," Lavi held on to Melia tightly, "will you get rid of everything I have that doesn't belong in a ladies' wardrobe."
The request shocked the maid but she assured Lavi that it would be done. When the maid left, Lavi washed herself of the days labour and quietly reflected on the day. Lavi donned the shirt and bathrobe again and sat down at the mahogany dressing table. Mechanically LavI brushed out the tangles of her hair; absently she placed the dark handled brush down and traced the lines around her eye that stood out red from the heat of the room.
A long tray-like cupboard pulled out of the dresser to reveal sectioned compartments of various cosmetics carefully organised and untouched. The only pot that was disturbed was a small black bottle, containing the flesh coloured liquid that saved her from losing a bet once. It was this bottle that Lavi chose now. Pouring out a splodge onto to the back of her hand and using a fine horsehair brush Lavi applied the lotion with care.
The lotion had barely dried and set when a knock came at the door.
"I expected you to arrive sooner." Lavi said to the newcomer, opening the door wider to let him in.
"I wanted to bring this to you personally my dear." In his hands, Sheril held a long linen covered package on a wood and wire hanger and a cardboard box. "Sorry to keep you waiting, but the dress just was not ready earlier."
Sheril bent down to kiss Lavi's cheek and then went to work look for a suitable sconce to hang the dress. He grinned wolfishly, clearly more excited about the unveiling than Lavi ever could be. "Would you like to see?"
Without waiting for a response Sheril pulled up the covering, revealing the dress inch by inch. The sight of it was unexpected and Lavi felt even her breath catch in her throat.
"I can't wear that." She gasped. Reaching out to touch the dress, it was so light; the material shimmered and felt like air beneath her fingers. "It's beautiful."
Sheril took her outstretched hand and bought it to his lips. "You will wear it and you will be the most beautiful woman any room you walk into. They will love you."
The dress was so different from the day she had last worn it that Lavi could hardly believe it was the same dress. Jonny had added layers of skirts that she knew would billow out as she walked. The bodice was studded with sequins that caught the light of the candelabrum and glittered. The colour was magnificent, blue, the deepest blue Lavi had ever seen that it was almost black.
"What's this? A mask?" A black mask embellished with silver hung about the neck of the hanger by soft velvet ribbons.
"Did I not tell you? It will be a masquerade ball." Sheril said excitedly. At least she will not be the only one over-dressed, Lavi thought to herself.
"And in the box?"
"Shoes! Try them on!" Sheril grabbed Lavi and sat her down on the lounger and set the box before her. He lifted the lid and inside wrapped in coloured paper were two dainty heeled shoes the colour of midnight.
"They're lovely Sheril, thank you. But now I just want to go to bed. It has a long day. Forgive me." Lavi played his game as best she could. Sheril's excited demeanour diminished before she had even completed her sentence.
"Yes, It has been long day for you. How was your 'picnic' Lovely?" Sheril's eyes bore into hers.
Lavi shifted uncomfortably on the spot. "He wanted me to leave with him. I said no of course."
"That's my good girl." Lavi's skin crawled as Sheril kissed her neck and shoulders. "Your hair is wet. It's late to be having a bath at this time, pray tell, have you been busy up until now doing something that required freshening up?"
"No reason, my lord." She felt something soft pushed into her lap. Looking down she saw that it was Tyki's jacket. Heart racing Lavi's mind worked double to conceal her thoughts and create a story for it being there. As always Lavi chose her own brand of truth.
"I'm not fool enough to not recognise my own brother's coat." Sheril whispered dangerously low. "Is he here now? Maybe I should have you now and let him listen. Remind him that you are only a little whore."
"Don't make me sick my lord." Disgusted Lavi pushed Sheril away roughly. "I returned before he did, but Tyki ever the gentleman gave me his coat to keep out the chill. You would be doing me a favour if you took it off my hands and returned it to your dear brother." She all but threw the coat at Sheril puffing angrily. "You know better than I do but do you really think that Tyki would ask me to elope with him and then idly sit by while I kiss his brother. Do you think he has no honour? Tyki's a better man than you and I turned him down." Lavi snarled.
"Oh very good, you are absolutely right of course so I will believe you for now. He will have a wife of his own soon, I'm sure his attentions will be healthily diverted. Until then I'll commend you on your self-control. Can I trust you while I'm gone? I thought I would be able to, but now…"
"Trust me?" Lavi scoffed. "That's your dilemma not mine Sheril. I am a whore remember, perhaps Tyki will name the right price."
"I love it when you're feisty." Sheril crashed his lips against Lavi's, pushing her onto her back. Lavi felt invaded, her arms pinned down to either side of her head she could do nothing to counter the weight of Sheril. He engulfed her completely. The panic rushed in and Lavi did the only thing she could.
Waiting for her chance Lavi angled her mouth and bit down as hard as she could on Sheril's bottom lip. She tasted blood and then sweet fresh air and then only pain as white lightening filled her vision.
"Slut!" Sheril had retreated to clutch his mouth that dripped blood. "You know what will happen when you do stupid things like that."
"I wasn't ready." Lavi said stubbornly, deliberately ignoring the pain radiating from her cheek. Don't let him see you hurt Lavi told herself. "I told you not tonight. Do what you want Sheril I don't care how you hurt me. Just do it tomorrow." Lavi was proud of her tone, she sounded almost bored with Sheril's presence.
"You've got fire Lovely. I respect that, tells me I did not choose a fool." Sheril rose and went to the door. "You can have tonight, I'll be back tomorrow. And woman I will not be refused."
The door clicked shut behind him and Lavi let out a breath of relief.
Clutching her face in her hands Lavi lay down on the lounger outstretched, slowly calming down her racing heart. That was a close call; there had been no telling how Sheril would react to her standing up to him like that. She would have to try hard to please him the following day. While Lavi had made it clear that it did not matter how much he hurt her, Lavi knew full well that Sheril had someone else he could hurt in her place.
"Does this mean I have no honour then?" The lounger sank under the extra weight and a large warm hand followed the line of buttons from hem to collar. "I was looking for this, although I must agree it certainly looks better on you. But I do need it back at some point."
Lavi kept her arms over her face, not quite able to hide the smile on her lips. "I guess we have a bit of a dilemma then."
"I have the perfect solution." The desire dripping from his voice, an almost growl that affected Lavi in such amazing ways. Lavi propped herself up on her elbows to better watch in anticipation as Tyki loomed over her, eyes alight with passion. The muscles of his shoulders rolled predatorily, matching each movement he crawled the length of her body, dipping his head to kiss his way up along the way. And like an animal with it prey between its paws, Tyki caught her heartbeat between his lips.
Lavi buried her fingers deep into his loose hair, savouring the satin feel at her fingertips and the urgency of the butterfly kisses travelling along her jaw. "Tyki…" A low moan was all Lavi could manage before Tyki captured her mouth and she felt herself falling deeper and deeper into him.
Earlier that evening Lavi had opened the door to let in Tyki who had come to retrieve his coat. Tyki did not say a word, only waited and looking windswept, hair blown out of place and collar upturned as if only now he had returned from the woods.
"Wait here, I'll bring it for you."
Heedless of her instructions Tyki walked into the room behind her. His shoulders were drawn and tight; the tension that filled Tyki's body spread and filled the room. Lavi folded her arms across chest, clutching at her elbows feeling more exposed now in a dress than she had wearing in the woods and nervously she watched Tyki, unconsciously counting how many times his right foot tapped impatiently against the floor.
"Y-your jacket is right there. I think you should take it and go." Lavi pointed to the lounger, hating the way her voice shook.
Tyki went to the lounger, but rather than taking his coat and leaving, Tyki took a seat and stared up at Lavi with a scrutinising expression. "There is just one thing that bothers me, just this one thing that I can't let go."
"I've said all I had to say already Tyki." Lavi hugged herself tighter anxiety climbing to fever pitch with every second Tyki remained in the room was dangerous. There was no telling what the fallout it would be were Sheril to enter the scene too. "Whatever you're thinking please put it out of your mind. I will not be leaving with you to go anywhere."
"Why!" Tyki was on his feet. "You said you can't, why can't you? What is Sheril holding over you? If it was because you won't leave, because you would rather stay here with him then I could accept it Lovely. But what is it that is keeping you from walking out of here with me right now?"
"That's not your concern Tyki."
"It is my concern when it's keeping me from the woman I love."
It started as a bubbling in her stomach that rose as a short squeak, high and shrill and Lavi found herself in a fit of laughter. How good it felt to express the turmoil in her into such a wonderful feeling. Love?! How ludicrous. The very thought of it made her head spin.
"Oh this is too much for me. Love me? Really? Tyki what do you know of love?" Lavi held your stomach, her cheeks aching from the strain. She had to wipe the tears from her eyes. "You don't love me Tyki, I'm simply the first woman to say no to you and you have confused desire for love. It doesn't mean a thing. You don't even know me Tyki."
"And what would you know of love from inside Sheril's arms?" Tyki snapped back in a voice like steel it stopped the laughter in Lavi's throat.
"I am property Tyki, and property cannot be loved. Sheril will be here soon, you should go." Lavi stood up straighter trying to ignore the anger, resentment and the hurt that smouldered inside. It was a standoff, Lavi stood her ground her eyes boring into Tyki who also stood, nostrils flared as he took deep steadying breaths. The airs on the back of her neck stood on end.
Lavi nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Fine!" Tyki shouted and he snatched up his coat and marched to the door and froze leaning with a fist on the wall, his back to Lavi. The pure white cloth of his shirt was pulled taut over Tyki's shoulders and around his arms. She could not ignore how pitiful Tyki looked, his head bowed, Lavi could only imagine that his hair had fallen over his eyes and that it was a romantic figure he cut standing there in there half-light of the early twilight. Lavi killed the urge to go to where he stood and wrap herself about those muscles.
When he spoke again it was in a low, small voice and Lavi had to strain her ears to hear him at all.
"I know you better than you think Lovely. I know that you are not so stranger to this part of the world, your accent is not too different from any of the towns and villages nearby. I know that you don't use your real name, that you would rather use an alias because it would be better lose your body than to lose your identity. I know that you are not a shallow material woman. That thing that keeps you here, it is not the luxuries, the clothes and the jewels that Sheril provides you with. I know that he must have a power not over only you but it must over someone who you genuinely love. Not a sweetheart or a husband, family maybe, but you don't have family so I don't know."
"Why can't it be a sweetheart? Then I could tell you to leave me be because I have someone who I love dearly." Lavi said softly, wiping the tears roughly from her eyes with the palms of her hands. Like a book Tyki was reading her.
Tyki turned around slowly, the intensity with which he examined Lavi from head to toe. "I know now that it isn't and I'm glad. Because now I know that on top of everything you are not the type of woman to play with men for comfort but a woman who can love deeply enough to sacrifice herself."
"Now do you see why I cannot leave?" Lavi choked the words out like a poison from her system. Tyki pulled her close, kissing her hair, her forehead, working his way down. He breathed in her scent and tasted the salt that clung to cheeks and lips.
"If I could be loved enough half as much as you love that person, I could die happy." Squeezing her shoulder gently, Tyki kissed Lavi on the forehead one last time and turned away from her.
"Wait." Lavi stumbled two steps forward, unable to stop the words and actions of her body. "Stay."
Tyki looked over his shoulder, puzzled. "What did you say?"
"Stay." Lavi repeated more firmly this time. "Don't go."
"What about Sheril?"
"I-I can deal with him. Just stay with me for tonight. Could you do that?"
Lavi was stock still, watching Tyki for any sign. Time was frozen. Finally Tyki surged forward, he threw his coat over the arm of the lounger and swept Lavi into his arms. Body to body the two connected and scrambled in a passionate clash each reaching for as much of the other they could possibly have. Lavi in her haste to find skin wrenched Tyki's shirt apart, the whizzing sound of a button flying past her ear was not even registered.
"Easy Lovely," Tyki chided gently. "I won't have anything decent to walk out of here in."
Lavi ran both hands up Tyki's abdomen, finally feeling the washboard sheet of hardness jump under her hands that she had been longing to touch since she first laid eyes on them. Lavi broke away from his lips for just long enough to see him better now. She grinned devilishly up at Tyki. "Shirts are over-rated don't you think?"
Tyki's golden eyes glinted as he carried Lavi into the bedroom.
Hours later, Lavi still lay in Tyki's arms on the lounger, enjoying the feeling of being cocooned and warm against him. The man had since taken his shirt back, though it remained unbuttoned, allowing Lavi to trace his scars lightly with her fingertips.
"That tickles." He mumbled sleepily and Tyki gently scooped her hand into his and sat up bringing Lavi up with him. "It's late Lovely, you should go back to your bed."
Tyki re-did his buttons, winking when his fingers came upon the loose thread of the missing button. Lavi laughed feeling a little bit self-conscious and a little bit more embarrassed. She pulled the robe closer against the lost heat but remained seated.
"You can sleep here tonight if you like Tyki." Her face burned, hot enough she felt that her face might match the colour of her hair. "I-I'd like that."
"No, if I stay any longer, it will be even harder to leave when morning comes." He looked at Lavi sadly. "I doubt that anything I've said or done tonight has been enough to move you and get you to come away with me Lovely. But until the day that happens I can't share you with him."
"Mmhm." Lavi nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Warm hands were on her knees and Lavi looked up to see Tyki kneeling down before her, an earnest look in his eyes. Her gut twisted, Tyki knew she had only ever meant a one night bargain. Lavi used him to comfort her for a night and Tyki knew it.
"Until then can we be friends Lovely?"
A lump rose in Lavi's throat, but she swallowed it down and again a nod was all she could manage. One last touch of his lips and he was walking through the door, away from her.
"The dress is beautiful by the way." Tyki added as an after thought, not even looking at the dress that hang from the wall sconce.
"Do you want to know my name?" Lavi called after him suddenly with no reason why she had said it.
Tyki turned back surprised at first, and then his expression settled into the sort of smile you would find on a mischievous school boy who knew too much. "No, Lovely. I'm even curious anymore. I trust you will tell me when you're ready."
The door closed with a gentle click behind him with a finality to struck a chord in Lavi's heart.
Thank you for reading. (Who knew I'd ever make it to this many chapters?!)