"I'm a little drunk on you, and high on summer time."
Summer dragged on in the best possible way for the unusual couple. The vanity mirror was almost wallpapered with photos of Celeste the ghoul had taken and printed. Celeste was surprised in his talents with photography and appreciation for physical photos, an art long gone with the tech age. The two were currently out on the deck, drinking in the mid September sky. Celeste stretched her out her right hand, fingertips reaching towards the clouds bent over in the yoga position. Betelgeuse watched from the lawn chair, sipping a beer and enjoying his view of his lover's suggestive poses.
"We should try that one tonight babes." He cackled thrusting into the air. Celeste shook her head, standing straight to roll up the yoga mat as she finished her session.
"I think I'm still sore from the last time you decided to get creative. Good thing I've been doing yoga again regularly." She winked. Betelgeuse watched as she stretched upwards and to the side, her tank top lifting to reveal her midriff. But it wasn't the smooth skin that caught his eye, but a quick glimmer of white, pink and blue. His head cocked to the side, making sure the sun wasn't playing tricks on him.
"What the fuck is that?" He said, sitting up to look closer. Celeste blushed as she lifted the front hem of the cotton tank.
"You like it? I got it done when you took me to Vegas last weekend."
"How the hell did I miss that one?"
"You were out cold, I was hungry and the piercing place was open. I gotta say hunny, drinking on winnings when you juiced the tables dry was not the best idea. What do you think?" Celeste asked. The ghoul wasn't sure what made his arousal throb more: the way Celeste bit her lip suggestively looking down at him, the tiny piercing or the fact she had committed such a rebellious act for her sweet nature. He gripped her hips and pulled her closer, kissing the patch of skin next to the twinkling diamond.
"I think that shit's sexy as hell." He growled.
"Yay! I always thought they were cute but I was too big for something like that. But it's actually really pretty."
"Too big my ass, yer wastin' away to nothing babes. I'm gonna have to start bringin' ya midnight snacks."
"You think so? I thought my clothes have been fitting better, must be all our hikes in the forest and the yoga."
"Don't ferget that extra cardio." He said with a bite to her inner gave the ghoul a playful shove, turning to tend to the small garden that had flourished on the deck. Betelgeuse watched as the runes on each pot glowed as she touched them. It warmed his cold heart to see her using such great power for good. Any other entity would be causing havoc, but Celeste just wanted fresh ingredients for dinners. Despite his mischievous suggestions, she stuck to her white magick. He had finally convinced her to use her powers of sight, now fully developed, as a source of income.
Celeste had vended as a tarot card reader at Winter River's summer festival. The line from her tent had weaved throughout the street and she didn't close the curtains until far past the end of the night. Word spread like wildfire about her gift as her powers made her omens and predictions accurate. Her grandmother's spellbook had also lended a hand in making natural remedies she began selling. While some were skeptical, the majority kept coming back to the newly deemed "Witch of Winter River", asking for her salves that healed burns, passion candles that rekindled intimacy, or crystals that guaranteed a good night sleep when placed under your pillow. Of course, Celeste had infused all the items with her energy, amplifying the results. And yet, despite all the happiness their little life had brought him, Betelgeuse still could not let the wonder cease about the darkness Seline had warned him about.
"Hey uh Ells, I've been meaning to ask ya somethin'."
"No I'm not putting in my two weeks, we don't know how long this buzz will last. We'll see how the online sales do." The ghoul had been persistent, positive this was her way out of her nine to five and more time with him. Then again, the ghoul wasn't a fan of work in general. Betelgeuse stood, holding the girl to him.
"I'm not talking about that, what I was wonderin' was…" Betelgeuse paused and gnawed on his lip, not quite sure how to bring up the subject.
"She must tell you this in her own time." Seline's words echoed in her mind.
"Uh, earth to Beej?" Celeste raised her brown at his fidgeting.
"Sorry, uh, what I meant was...could I take a look at that spellbook? Curious what's all in there."
"Sure! Let's go inside, I have to pack some orders up to ship tomorrow anyway." The ghoul followed her inside, grabbing a fresh beer from the fridge and giving the girl's bottom a swift swat as she passed.
"I can deal with yer pudge gone but don't let too much more of that ass melt off."
"I'm still fat." Celeste frowned. The ghoul placed his arm around her, nuzzling into her hair.
"You don't knock that shit off I'm gonna have to spank ya till you think otherwise."
"Well there's plenty of my ass to go around. Here you go imp." Celeste smiled, handing him the spellbook. The ghost flipped through a few pages, looking up to watch his lover hum around the kitchen table that had become a mailing station. How could someone so pure have something sinister following her?
"Hey Ellie, yew know if there was anythin' ya wanted to get out in the open, you can tell me."
"Oh-kay? You feeling alright? You've been acting weird, even for you." Celeste walked over to the ghoul, reaching up to wrap her arms around his neck. "Hey, maybe we just need a nice night in." She said with a wink.
"Oh, I like the sound of that babes, but uh maybe we should freshen up a bit." The ghoul lifted her over his shoulder, bounding up the stairs towards the bathroom, Celeste squealing in protest.
A steaming shower and two healthy plates of homemade barbecue later, the couple's laughter weaved throughout the home, a strange song of Celeste's child like giggles and Betelgeuse's high pitched cackling.
"No shit, Jackie boy was so mad I mixed his bones in with the Halloween decorations, I thought he was going to rip muh own marrow sticks out." The ghoul cackled, recalling the prank on his skeleton room mate. Celeste clapped as she laughed.
"Can I get some more of that?" Celeste asked, reaching for the bottle in the ghoul's hand. Betelgeuse held it out further from the girl's reach.
"What's the magic words?" He asked playfully, raising his eyes brows.
"Please!" Celeste cried reaching again with a laugh.
"Please what?"
"Please...bone daddy?" Celeste asked, sticking her bottom lip out. The ghoul leaned in to kiss her, biting gently at her pout.
"That's muh girl." He smirked, handing her the bottle. Celeste poured herself another shot, quickly throwing it back.
"Oh man, I am fucked up." The ghoul wondered if he had been an influence with the young witche's vocabulary. But then again, he also liked seeing this other side of her.
"Wasted already? See, you are skinny-in' up lightweight."
"I'm gross looking. I just need something to even me out." Celeste stated, haphazardly making her way into the kitchen.
"Don'tcha be talkin' about muh lady like that, have ta kick yer ass. And did you ever think some people like chicks with a little potbelly? " He called out.
"A potbelly on a girl is gross!"
"Yer fuckin' smoking alright?" Betelgeuse lifted the book from the coffee table, stopping as he noticed a page had been torn out.
"Hey babes, something's missin' from this crone cookbook."
"Yeah, Nonna said if a spell was too dangerous she'd destroy it."
"What the hell ya digging for in there?" Betelgeuse called out. Celeste reentered the living room, a small wooden box in her hands. She smirked as she sat on the floor opposite to the the ghoul.
"My peace pipe." Celeste raised her eyebrows at him as she produced a pipe from the box with a small baggie. The ghoul sat up wide eyed.
"Shut the fuck up, yew've had that thing all this time?"
"I don't do it all the time, just when I'm really anxious."
"So like...all the time."
"Shut up, you want a hit of this or not?"
"I'd have a puff." The ghoul smirked, taking a drag and exhaling a large cloud into the air. Celeste did the same, a look a pure content washing over her as the drug took effect.
"Oh man, I love this song!" Celeste exclaimed, standing clumsily to turn the volume knob on her surround sound up. Celeste sang along somewhat out of tune, swaying back and forth. The ghoul smiled genuinely, watching his mate dancing before him. The girl's change in size allowed him to see just how much of a hourglass shape she truly possessed. He rose from the coach to take the girl's hands, dancing with her the latin pop music. He went to spin the intoxicated witch when she lost her footing, flopping onto the floor in a fit a laughter. The ghoul chucked, following her onto the floor. He hovered above Celeste, leaning in to kiss her. Celeste moaned, pulling him closer. The ghoul wasn't sure how long they had laid tangled together but soon Celeste's arms fell from his chest.
"Let's getcha to bed kid."
"I'm not sleepy!" Celeste protested, immediately yawning.
"Come on baby." The ghoul cooed, scooping up the drunken girl. Celeste, barely conscious only nodded and cuddled into his chest.
"That's weird."
"What?"
"You're warm." She slurred.
"Yeah...you kinda have the effect on a guy." The ghoul helped the girl undress, Celeste was asleep before her head touched the pillow. Betelgeuse removed his shirt, calling Sage and crawling into bed. He never dreamed he could have it this good, a normal life again. And she gave it to him. He nestled into his usual spot, kissing her head gently before whispering gruffly into her ear. Knowing she'd never hear his confession, at least not yet anyway.
"I love you Celeste."
Celeste groaned as she shuffled into the kitchen, rubbing her face and holding her head. Betelgeuse smirked, impressed she was standing. He rose from his seat, handing her a coffee cup.
"Good morning sunshine." He said with a kiss to her forehead.
"Shut up...ugh...I feel like garbage."
"Hot garbage. Hungry?"
"No, I'm good for now. This coffee will fix me up." The ghoul nodded and return to his place. Celeste sunk into the kitchen chair, trying not to focus on the room that was still spinning. Sage jumped into her lap, sniffing at her coffee.
"Beej, I was wondering, you changed to go to the concert and family reunion. Was that, what you looked like before?"
"It's been so long I've looked like this, how the hell would know? Why, you fancy that guy better?" He asked raising an eyebrow over the newspaper.
"No, I like you just how you are. But if you did look like that, I'm glad you didn't change. I like how you look in death, as weird as that sounds. It's just strange, you looked...almost familiar." Celeste trailed off. The ghoul looked up from the obituary section. While the dead normally don't dream, he'd had his own rough night of unknown voices and faces. He couldn't ignore this any longer.
"Ells, I'm gonna ask you something. Have you been having dreams or visions lately? Of yourself but not yourself?"
"Yeah actually, more and more. I thought it was you playing tricks."
"Babes, have you ever tried finding anything out about yer past? "
"I've never tried past life recall on myself, no. But I have what I need to try."
"Maybe we should. I just gotta feeling there's a reason we're having that deja vu."
"I don't know, we might not like what we find. This is why I kept my distance from speaking to the Ether. You're the only good thing that ever came of it." Betelgeuse couldn't help but smile at her comment. He juiced a cigarette, exhaling deeply.
"I saw you once, it looked like you had taken a nap at the bottom of the river for a few months."
"What?"
"I had a vision. It looked like you drowned. I gotta hand it to ya Ells, not often the creeper gets creeped." His snickered. Celeste's gaze never left him. She sat up, eyes unsure and questioning.
"That's crazy you say that. My great great aunt was tried for witchcraft. Nonna said they drowned her and-."
The house phone rang loudly on the receiver causing Celeste to jump. She stood and walked across the kitchen.
"Jesus with this thing...Hey Mags...home, I just woke up a while ago...no I'm not sitting down but what's going on?" Betelgeuse nearly choked on the cigarette. He closed his eyes, swearing under his breath and thankful the newspaper acted as a shield.
"What...when? But...but I just talked to her a few days ago! Okay...yeah, I'll...we'll get on the next flight. I love you too, bye." Celeste could barely get the phone into the cradle, leaning her weight against the wall. Betelgeuse stood swallowing nervously.
"Babe? What's up?" He asked, knowing all too well. Celeste turned, eye bright with tears and lip trembling. She threw herself into this chest, holding on as if she would fall through the floor if she let go.
"Nonna...Nonna's gone!"
Well, I wanted to give you guys a little bit of fluff before shit hits the fan. And check out the new cover image for this fic! A dear fellow artist sketched up the dynamic duo, you can see the full image at my CaraghCapri Deviant Art page (link in bio)
Stay tuned! Reviews always appreciated! ~C.C