The lovely harlot had come back again. And because she had, Feliks took notice to the level excitement Toris had for such an event. He was joyous; ecstatic, even. And that simply didn't seem correct.

Toris was glowing; not the sort of glow that was silent for the all too usual.

"Toris, have you been sleeping with Elizaveta?"

Hot blood grew cold.

"Darling, what would make you ask such a thing?" Toris' heart began to speed up, kicking at his ribcage. But he managed to mask the sensation.

"You seem too happy for something like another visit from Elizaveta. She comes so often it seems as though her arrival would be somewhat commonplace. However, it's almost as though it's her first time coming here simply because you're so blissful. Like you're excited to meet a new person. It's off; to say the least."

"Oh Feliks. That's not odd. I'm just ecstatic to leave my work for a couple of days. Perhaps it's not so much Elizaveta herself but the rest she brings me when she arrives. If it were any other guest, I might feel the very same thing."

Feliks regarded his opposite a very long while, chewing upon what he was just fed.

"Please, Feliks. I wouldn't do that to you."

The blond came nearer to his dear Toris, his dear lying Toris, and placed a slight grip upon chin, staring into his eyes. Their gazes tied together, and it was almost as tough Feliks could read all of those thoughts, written down in perfect font and size.

"Are you lying to me?"

The Lithuanian stared for brief seconds. "No."

Then the grip was released.

"I believe you. I'm sorry to make you so uneasy. It's just been sitting at the back of my mind for quite a while."

"Oh, Feliks. You could have told me." The Polish man was given a kiss upon the cheek. "I wish you would have, if it was bothering you."

"Thank you, Love." Feliks left a mark in return. "Well, I'm going to bed now. I'll see you there whenever you arrive."

"Yes. I was going to read for a little while. I hope you don't wait up for me."

Sweetened presses joined together in good-night and that pair separated.

That was close.

That was very close.

Toris took a sigh of relief, when his companion was far from ear shot. A bit of cool sweat had gathered at the nape of his neck; his lips had gone dry.

Yes, he would go sit in the library but he would not read. Toris would calm himself before his heart began to panic. Thought would slash him like a dagger had he not allowed that mind to alleviate each of those terrible considerations.

Elizaveta arrived a few days later.

As usual, she kissed either upon the cheek.

"Hello, Elizaveta."

"Hello, Feliks. Hello, Toris." She took either of their hands softly, a warm smile written all about her visage. "Thank you for allowing me to visit again. You're both so sweet. I would love for either of you to come visit me someday, if you like."

"Oh you're too kind, Elizaveta." Another kiss upon the cheek."Well, we know where you want to stay." Feliks offered a petit smile. "The servants will take your bags. Until then, we should all go talk over tea."

"Oh, that sounds wonderful."

So they went inside one of those lavish little chambers and spoke as their tea was poured. It seemed that Feliks had so much to say.

"Oh, I love your hair Elizaveta."

"Do you? I thought it could have been a bit much."

"I do! Goodness, I'm jealous. Mine is so straight and boring…"

"But it's not!"

Simply two women jabbering away. Toris was willing to go to sleep. On a few occasions, he almost did.

He was awakened by Elizaveta's laughter.

"Goodness, we're boring Toris."

Feliks held mirth as well. "I'm sorry, Toris. Would you like to do something else?"

"No, no. I couldn't fathom being so rude. I'm sorry. For some reason, I feel exhausted."

"We wouldn't be offended if you wished to sleep. We'll probably continue talking for quite awhile. Perhaps it's all this tea that's making me drowsy."

"No please."

Either simply stared at their companion.

"Do you want me to go? It's quite alright if you need some privacy."

"It's not about that, Toris…" Feliks touched his opposite's knuckles. "We'd rather have you well rather than in that odd vegetable state." A bit of joy. "Do whatever you like. We won't be offended either way."

"Well, alright. I'll go." The man rose from chair. "I'll see you both a little bit later."

"We'll see you, dear." Elizaveta waved to that sweet little liar, and the women were left to their drivel.

Toris went to his chamber, but the man did not lie amongst those dreams, nor did he even shut those hackneyed lids. Instead, he sat against those sheets and allowed his mind to well within its thoughts and torture.

He wondered what those two were speaking of now that he had left.

Were they speaking of him?

Did they wish to speak of him? Perhaps that's why they had insisted upon his exit.

Well, it did not matter, did it? Feliks did not have the courage to ask Elizaveta the very same thing he asked Toris. He would not disturb what peace they had. However, there would be a slight suspicion. Of course there would be. But that was not enough to send the marble statue plummeting to earth.

Eventually, the Lithuanian man had gotten so tangled within those convoluted thoughts; the nonsense of sleep took him hostage. All of these malformed ideas were nothing but taxing. What had he to worry about? If the worst did come, Elizaveta was willing to lie. And so was he.

And Toris awoke to that lovely doll at his side, in the middle of the night. It took a moment to reclaim that consciousness.

"What time is it, Elizaveta?"

"Midnight. You slept right through dinner. I even came to get you, but you wouldn't budge, even when I kissed your cheek. Are you alright, dear?"

"Yes, I'm alright. At least, I believe I am."

"Is there something wrong?"

"No…"

"Oh come now, Toris. You can tell me."

There was lengthily moment of silence.

"Well…Today Feliks asked me if I was sleeping with you."

"Hmm." Elizaveta let the news sink in a moment. "Well, does that mean you two are together?"

"…If I said 'yes' would you disown me?"

"No, Toris. Besides, I had a feeling that was the case. As much as Feliks tried to hide it, I know he likes other men." Elizaveta kissed her lover's cheek." I just hoped it wasn't true."

"Why is that?"

"I feel bad. I don't like to take men that are already with another. It always makes things so complicated."

Those brows dropped. "Did he say anything to you about me? Or indicate that he had an idea?"

"No, not really. However, he did ask me what I thought of you." Elizaveta was unbuttoning her lover's shirt.

"What did you say?"

"I told him you were a kind and good companion." That sweetened palm sat against the man's susceptible cheek. "That your eyes are lovely. And that's all I said."

Toris pressed his lips to hers. "That's what I would say about you, Love."

Elizaveta laughed, a very hushed laugh, and the pair began to come together, tongues wrapping and limbs twining.

"Wait…Perhaps we shouldn't."

"Oh Toris. Don't worry about Feliks. He must be asleep; he went to bed far earlier than I had."

Consideration. "Are you certain?"

"Yes, I am. It's late as it is."

"Well alright, Elizaveta." Toris slid those fingers beneath her night gown. "If you're certain."

So the pair began to fondle one another, touch finding those common places (well, common to either of them) as mouths connected. Clothes tore from skin and fell onto the floor, as the shredded flesh from a serpent, and bodies kissed one another as those two completed wonders. Elizaveta would moan softly, as would Toris, and those noises were made to be low.

However. They still seemed to attract a grand amount of attention.

The door opened. And then that blond intruder came in, an oil lamp within his hand a look of disgust written about his expression.

The coupling two separated, covering their nudity with the knotted sheets they had dirtied, and everyone managed to stare at one another, speechless.

Simply speechless.

You could almost hear Feliks' skin tearing as he clutched that light, hide driven into the handles with a sort of white-hot rage. Feliks did not know what to say. For a minute, he did not know what to do. Despite the temptation to throw that lamp into those horrible silken sheets and burn the fucking thing to ground.

"Feliks…" Elizaveta's voice was crippled.

"You whore!" The man's chest was heaving wildly. The lamp was slammed upon the night stand near that bed. "Get out! Get out of my bed!"

Elizaveta in her all consuming shame, moved from the mattress and collected her clothing from the floor, throwing it around her and briefly leaving. In a flash the muse had disappeared and Toris was left with the enraged siren.

Feliks simply glanced at his former love, shrinking into his humiliation. Never had he thought that this moment would truly arrive. The bomb had been dropped and the man was convinced he would perish inside its conflagration.

No bother was taken to say words- not even an apology. It would only infuriate that angered tiger more.

"You-!" A furious gasp. "You're nothing but a filthy liar! How long have you been doing this with her? Just how long?"

"A few months."

"Months? Months? How dare you? How could you do this to me? After all the loyalty I've shown you, you sleep my best friend? What will happen now, Toris? Do you realize you've ruined more than one relationship? I'll never be able to speak to her again! Much less even glance at her!" Tears broke about Polish man's cheeks. "I can't look at you right now."

The blond exited the room and left Toris to himself, and from that second, everything had been tarnished. Toris had lost all his bliss in a matter of two minutes. It was cremated, burned and buried. No resurrection would bring that glow back.

And Toris was the one who slit its throat.

There was no one to blame but himself.

At that instance, the winter had come. The room grew cold and what life was left expired beneath the snow in a violent flurry.

Nothing was there to look forward to.

Toris went into a rocky sleep.