Her velvet red locks pour out of either side of her hood, hanging over her chest like blood. Ilse V. Rensburg, Sleight of Hand
"Are you sure you don't need me in there with you?" Logan asked, walking me to the training room.
"I'm sure." I turned to face him. "This… it's violent and dangerous. I know you're going to worry about me, but I've done this over a hundred times. It's only a few hours, and I'll come find you as soon as it's over, I promise."
He took hold of my face, kissing me deeply. "Just… be careful, Red. I love you."
"I love you too." I kissed him one more time, then headed inside.
I locked the door and darkened the viewing window, so that no one, especially Logan, could see what I was doing. Pushing a straw into the blood bag, I used it to draw a large circle on the floor. I sat in the middle, using the rest to draw the symbols I needed around me. I could feel the power in it, and I took a deep breath, letting it rush through me.
Taking out my knife, I cut both my palms. I lay back, palms down, allowing my blood to mix with the blood on the floor.
There was completely silence, and I closed my eyes. It was taking a little longer this time, which I figured was because I was late.
I inhaled through my nose, and exhaled through my mouth, over and over. Then finally, I felt the floor begin to warm beneath me. I opened my eyes, finding that the room had darkened. The blood lifted up, swirling around and shining with a deep red light. I stood up, still within the circle, and held out my hands.
After a moment, hands covered mine, healing my wounds. I looked up to find Isla standing there. It wasn't her I usually saw, but I guess that since she'd just died she was reaching out to me.
"You're a little late, Annie." She spoke softly, gently squeezing my hand.
I nodded. "I know, I'm sorry. It's been a long week."
"Just be careful." She hugged me tightly. "You're still learning, and it's not easy to do this."
"Did you know you were going to die?"
"I wasn't certain but I could feel it coming." She touched my cheek. "This isn't your fault, I want you to know that. We all fight, and sacrifice, for the people we love. You need to stay strong, if you don't want to lose what you have now."
I hesitated for a moment. "I don't know if I can do this."
"Yes, you can. I know your mother kept you out of things so you're still new, but you are stronger than she ever was." She let go of me, stepping back. "You need to read the book, it will help I promise. Now, sweetie, lie down and finish the ritual."
"I miss you."
She nodded. "I know, I miss you too. But we're all watching over you. And we know that you'll get through this."
I closed my eyes, allowing myself to fall backwards. I slowed before I landed, hovering a few inches above the ground. The blood swept around me, spiralling over and under my body. It ripped into my skin, cutting and healing over and over as it spread around the room. There was no pain, just power surging through me.
My mind was drifting out of myself as I fell into a trance. It was always so strange, like I was floating away from my body.
I came to a few hours later, lying on the floor. I felt refreshed and stronger, but I was tired. The blood was gone, absorbed into my body. Picking up the empty blood bag, I left the room and threw it in the bin outside.
I turned, finding myself in Logan's arms. He held me tightly, like he was worried I would disappear.
"Hey, I'm okay." I whispered, wrapping my arms around him.
"I heard your voice, and then there was so much noise." He ran his fingers through my hair. "What happened in there?"
I shook my head, still feeling a little shaky and off balance. "I black out for most of it, so I don't really remember."
"As long as you're alright." He softly kissed my cheek.
"Well, I'm starving, and a little tired. But yes, I'm fine." I stood on my toes to kiss him. "I'm going to go get the book, then I'm heading down to get some food, are you coming?"
He nodded, following me. After grabbing the leather-bound book, we walked to the dining room. He sat me down, then went to get some food.
I opened the book, beginning to read. It wasn't easy, because it was written in a mix of Scottish Gaelic and old English. I was so focused, when Logan placed a coffee and a chocolate muffin down in front of me, he scared me.
"Thanks." I gave him a small smile as he sat sideways on the bench, facing me.
"How's it goin'?" He asked, resting his hand on my knee.
I shrugged. "It's hard. The one thing my mother taught me from her childhood was the language, but this is old. I'm basically piecing it together and hoping I'm getting it right."
"I'm here if you need a break and a distraction." He nuzzled my neck with his nose, sliding his hand up my leg.
I felt my breath catch in my throat, my heart pounding in my chest. I gently pulled his hand off my leg. "If you let me eat without too much distraction, I will put the book away and you can have me for the rest of the afternoon."
He held his hands up, a sly grin on his face. "I'll be in my room."
I ate my muffin quickly, finishing with the coffee. I didn't care how tired I was feeling, I wanted him so much. Grabbing the book, I ran straight up to my room and put it away.
I pushed his door open, kicking it shut behind me. He came over, trapping my arms behind me as he pressed me up against the wall.
"No distractions this time?" He asked, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
"Just the one you provide." I stood on my toes, but with my hands trapped, I couldn't get high enough to reach his lips.
He took a deep breath in through his nose, nuzzling my hair. "You smell slightly different. And your skin is softer, your hair is brighter."
"I could tell you more, but do you really want me to talk right now?"
"No." He released my hands, lifting me onto the dresser. "No talking."
I clutched his jacket, pulling him between my legs. Everything felt better after the ritual, every touch was warmer, every kiss excited my nerves more.
He kissed me, biting my lip as he slowly slid my singlet up my chest. We broke apart, only for the short time needed to take our shirts off. His tongue swept over my piercing, making me moan.
I held him close, wrapping my legs around him. Running my hands down his bare chest, I undid his pants. In moments, he had my shorts and underwear off, and was plunging inside me. My body reacted even stronger this time, shuddering with every thrust.
Clinging to him, I buried my face in his neck. As I pressed kisses to his skin, he wrapped his arms around me tighter, holding me in place. He ran his tongue along my jaw, that beautiful growl rumbling up in his chest.
"Fuck, Red, you taste so good." His voice was ragged.
I leaned back just enough that he could see my face. Running my tongue over my top lip, I kissed him hard. He dug his fingers into my back as he held me so tightly.
Then he wrapped his hand around my throat, pushing me down onto the dresser. I felt my nerves go wild as his other hand began to play with my breasts through the lace of my bra. I was right on the edge, writhing under his touch.
"Ooh, I'm so close!" I moaned, clutching at his hand. "Please, Logan!"
He leaned over, pulling my bra down and taking my nipple in his mouth. Gently sucking on it once, he pulled back.
"Come for me, Red. I want to hear you scream." He slid his hand between my legs, playing with my clit.
It didn't take more than a few seconds before my orgasm hit, my hips jerking off the dresser and my back arching as I let out a scream. He scooped me up, slamming me against him as he shuddered, emptying his soul inside me. He growled, burying his face in my neck.
I wrapped my arms around around him, gently running my fingers up and down his spine. He pressed a kiss to my shoulder, gently pulling back and helping me off the dresser.
"If we're going to keep doing this every single day, you're going to have to start keeping snacks in here." I skipped away, laughing as he caught me.
He pulled me against him until my back hit his chest, wrapping his arms around me. "I'll get some tomorrow."
"Mm…" I breathed, leaning my head against him. "Can I go have a shower? Or do I have to stay here?"
"You can have a shower, in a second." He turned me around, kissing me gently. "Now you can go."
I turned on my heel, grabbing my underwear and heading to the bathroom. I didn't want to spend too much time in there, because I just wanted to be back with him. So a few minutes in there, washing myself off, and I was back out. I pulled on my underwear and walked into the bedroom, pulling Logan's leather jacket on over the top. He'd put his pants back on, but they were sitting low on his hips. He was lying on his back, reading a book, so I walked over, climbing onto the bed and sliding under his arm.
"What are you reading?" I asked, resting my head on his chest.
"Dracula." He didn't stop reading, but he wrapped his free arm around me.
"Will you read to me?"
He ran his fingers up my spine, then began to read aloud. "The view was magnificent, and from where I stood there was every opportunity of seeing it. The castle is on the very edge of a terrific precipice. A stone falling from the window would fall a thousand feet without touching anything! As far as the eye can reach is a sea of green tree tops, with occasionally a deep rift where there is a chasm. Here and there are silver threads where the rivers wind in deep gorges through the forests."
Between his soft, deep voice and the slow rise and fall of his chest, it didn't take me long to fall asleep.