Chapter 6
Maia's warning had unsettled me; it made me skittish, and Kieran noticed. Not for the first time he regarded me strangely when he materialized beside me and I jumped what seemed like a few feet in the air, unintentionally starting to scream and then stopping myself, the result being a muffled squeak. I was now careful to guard my thoughts from him. If he knew about what Maia had told me, and he surely would, as it plagued my thoughts often, he might have Maia disposed of.
I constantly felt Kieran's eyes on me, trying to bore into my skull; he knew something was off, but he respected me privacy enough as to not force his way into my mind. If I wanted to talk to him about something, I would.
Maia was ill for the next few days, so I spent my time idly in the garden. The early summer air was thick with the scent of rich flowers that was carried through the air. More than once my gaze wandered to the narrow opening in the dense wall of forest, but I forced my mind away from it to no avail. The path, surround by thick, menacing brambles, tantalizingly clouded my mind nearly as much as the warning of danger. What lay at the end of that trail? What was so horrible that Kieran would warn me against ever entering it?
"What are you doing?" Kieran's voice held a note of amusement.
I lurched to my feet, whipping around at the same time. He was leaning comfortably against a tree about ten feet away from me. "How long have you been here?" I asked tensely. Had he picked up any of my thoughts?
Kieran shrugged nonchalantly. "Not too long. I figured you would be thirsty. You've been out here for a while now." He held out a glass of what appeared to be lemonade. I took it and sipped cautiously. Sugary tartness burst in my mouth, and I quickly drank most of the contents of the glass.
"You never answered my question," Kieran reminded me, crouching down to sit with his long legs unfolded before him. He looked up at me, then patted the ground beside him. "What were you doing?"
I sat down, pressing the cool glass against my burning forehead. I shook my head, squinting out into the sharp sunlight. I squinted out into the brightness of the azure sky before leaning back against the rough tree bark, my eyes closed. "Nothing much. Just thinking."
He waited for me to go on, but I didn't. He shrugged again and we sat in silence. The sun's rays soaked soothingly into my skin and the wind whispered lightly through the trees, rustling leaves and telling a story of ancient fairy tales. Breaths of wind caressed my face as I thought, Perhaps I'll just rest for a little while.
When I awoke, I was cradled in Kieran's arms, my head against his chest. Silken sheets slid over my skin as I sat up. He had transported us to his room, or his bed more specifically. First I noticed that Kieran was still lying in peaceful sleep, and that he had taken off his shirt, for what reason, I don't know; then I realized that I wasn't wearing what I had been earlier. I passed my hand through my tangled hair, and realized that it was damp. I blushed furiously. How had I gone to sleep in my junky outdoors clothes, and woken up in a skin-tight, rather revealing, bright red tank top and very short cut-off jean shorts, neither of which were mine? Had someone bathed and changed my clothes for me, and I didn't even wake up? I frowned, deciding to try to ignore the fact that someone very well may have done that.
I looked around, then down at Kieran. My eyes traveled up the length of his lean body, and stopped at his defined, muscular stomach. I gently ran my hand over the smooth skin, then traced each line individually with my finger. His broad shoulders and his arms were hard with muscles. At last my eyes reached his peacefully sleeping face.
I treasured the feel of his thick silken hair as it slid through my fingers, lighter than air as I pushed it out of his serene face. I traced his features, large, almost almond-shaped eyes that turned up slightly at the outside corner, giving him an air of constant mirth, a strong, straight nose, high, delicate cheekbones that gave him an almost childish look, and that mouth. Full, sensual lips that parted slightly, letting the air escape from his lungs.
Old habits die hard, I thought with a smile; he didn't have to breathe since he was already dead, and his body required no air.
My body ached with longing. How could a creature like himself look so wonderful and so alluring? I knew that vampirism smoothed the skin, hardened and defined the muscles, but nevertheless, Kieran must have been drop-dead gorgeous as a human, if he was literally god-like in his death.
I giggled unintentionally as I realized what I had just said.
Without realizing it, I had been leaning closer and closer to him, until my breath mingled with his. One of my hands lay over one of one of his own, and the other caressed his velvety cheek. My breath and heart quickened as I leaned over him.
My body seemed to be leaning downward of its own account. My lips barely brushed his, but still a jolt of electricity seemed to pass through me. Too my great surprise, Kieran responded by pulling me down and kissing me with fiery passion. This time it was not just a single jolt, but thousands of them assailing my body at once. I was aware of everywhere we touched, from my lips to his hands in my hair and on my back. Heat raced through me like lightning. Why did he have this effect on me? Vampires weren't supposed to seduce witches like myself.
Kieran rolled over and pulled back so that he was leaning over me. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, and he didn't bother to hide it. His eyes actually seemed to convey a trace of light, of amusement.
For the second time that day, he asked me what I was doing.
"I was, um- that is, I, uh-" I stuttered for a moment before being silenced with another more tender kiss.
"Kieran?" I said, pushing him away for a moment. "Where did- I mean, How did-?"
I felt him reach into my mind and read the question as it trailed across my thoughts.
"You want to know how you got in here." He gestured vaguely around with a flick of his hand. I nodded, and he continued. "You came inside, and bathed, then I tucked you in to the bed."
"Why don't I remember doing that?" I asked suspiciously.
He smiled innocently, and confirmed my thoughts. He had put me into a vampiric-like state of sleep. "You haven't been sleeping well lately, so I helped you. and as for the clothes, I bought them for you. I was right; red goes with your black hair well."
"But-.how did I.I mean, I was asleep." Now I was pretty thoroughly confused.
Kieran shrugged, an aloof smirk on his lips. He lightly tapped his temple, and then mine. "Mind control."
Oh, how stupid of me, I thought sarcastically. Mind control.why ever didn't I think of that?
"You didn't-"
He snorted with laughter. "No, I didn't watch you bathe, Kala. Honestly, you should know by now that I respect your privacy more than that." But I wasn't so sure I trusted him. His tone was off somehow, but I'm not sure why. Unconsciously, I attempted to cross my arms over my chest.
Kieran laughed lightly, making my cheeks flush a brilliant red. I refused to meet his eyes. "Now is not the time to go and get all self-conscious." He paused, scrutinizing my face with a frown. "Are you okay? You just went from bright pink to white in a record time."
"Fine," I said distractedly. "Must've been spending too much time outside; it wore me out." I could tell he didn't believe me, and he had good reason.
It had just occurred to me that he was actually in my mind, controlling my movements. Could he have read what was so close to the surface? Maia's warning wouldn't have alarmed him much, but my deep yearning to travel the footpath would've made him furious. I was contemplating to do something he told me not to, and although I had known him for such a short time, I knew that he didn't like being disobeyed; no vampire did.
His frown slowly changed to a smile as he studied me, one finger absentmindedly twirling a single spiral of my hair around and around.
"You're-" He started to say something, but was interrupted by the opening of the door; we both turned to see who it was.
"I'm sorry," Maia said sarcastically, looking rather pale as she hung onto the doorknob for support. "Did I interrupt something?" Her eyes trailed over us, over Kieran, who was lying half over me, at my arms that were loosely entwined around his neck. Kieran climbed off the bed and pulled me off with him, his arm snaking around me waist to hold me by his side.
"What did you want, Maia? We were busy," Kieran stated.
Maia's stony gaze locked on me. "I wanted to talk to Kala."
Kieran took a step away from me, and shrugged. Maia took this as permission and grabbed my arm and towed me out of the room. One last look back showed that Kieran was standing there, smiling after us, his arms folded over his muscular chest.
Questions? Comments? E-mail me! MidnightsFlame@hotmail.com And also...REVIEW!! REVIEW!! REVIEW!!! or I'll go on a strike and not write again...ok, maybe I wouldn't do anything that drastic, but hey...just review it please...*puppy dog eyes*
Maia's warning had unsettled me; it made me skittish, and Kieran noticed. Not for the first time he regarded me strangely when he materialized beside me and I jumped what seemed like a few feet in the air, unintentionally starting to scream and then stopping myself, the result being a muffled squeak. I was now careful to guard my thoughts from him. If he knew about what Maia had told me, and he surely would, as it plagued my thoughts often, he might have Maia disposed of.
I constantly felt Kieran's eyes on me, trying to bore into my skull; he knew something was off, but he respected me privacy enough as to not force his way into my mind. If I wanted to talk to him about something, I would.
Maia was ill for the next few days, so I spent my time idly in the garden. The early summer air was thick with the scent of rich flowers that was carried through the air. More than once my gaze wandered to the narrow opening in the dense wall of forest, but I forced my mind away from it to no avail. The path, surround by thick, menacing brambles, tantalizingly clouded my mind nearly as much as the warning of danger. What lay at the end of that trail? What was so horrible that Kieran would warn me against ever entering it?
"What are you doing?" Kieran's voice held a note of amusement.
I lurched to my feet, whipping around at the same time. He was leaning comfortably against a tree about ten feet away from me. "How long have you been here?" I asked tensely. Had he picked up any of my thoughts?
Kieran shrugged nonchalantly. "Not too long. I figured you would be thirsty. You've been out here for a while now." He held out a glass of what appeared to be lemonade. I took it and sipped cautiously. Sugary tartness burst in my mouth, and I quickly drank most of the contents of the glass.
"You never answered my question," Kieran reminded me, crouching down to sit with his long legs unfolded before him. He looked up at me, then patted the ground beside him. "What were you doing?"
I sat down, pressing the cool glass against my burning forehead. I shook my head, squinting out into the sharp sunlight. I squinted out into the brightness of the azure sky before leaning back against the rough tree bark, my eyes closed. "Nothing much. Just thinking."
He waited for me to go on, but I didn't. He shrugged again and we sat in silence. The sun's rays soaked soothingly into my skin and the wind whispered lightly through the trees, rustling leaves and telling a story of ancient fairy tales. Breaths of wind caressed my face as I thought, Perhaps I'll just rest for a little while.
When I awoke, I was cradled in Kieran's arms, my head against his chest. Silken sheets slid over my skin as I sat up. He had transported us to his room, or his bed more specifically. First I noticed that Kieran was still lying in peaceful sleep, and that he had taken off his shirt, for what reason, I don't know; then I realized that I wasn't wearing what I had been earlier. I passed my hand through my tangled hair, and realized that it was damp. I blushed furiously. How had I gone to sleep in my junky outdoors clothes, and woken up in a skin-tight, rather revealing, bright red tank top and very short cut-off jean shorts, neither of which were mine? Had someone bathed and changed my clothes for me, and I didn't even wake up? I frowned, deciding to try to ignore the fact that someone very well may have done that.
I looked around, then down at Kieran. My eyes traveled up the length of his lean body, and stopped at his defined, muscular stomach. I gently ran my hand over the smooth skin, then traced each line individually with my finger. His broad shoulders and his arms were hard with muscles. At last my eyes reached his peacefully sleeping face.
I treasured the feel of his thick silken hair as it slid through my fingers, lighter than air as I pushed it out of his serene face. I traced his features, large, almost almond-shaped eyes that turned up slightly at the outside corner, giving him an air of constant mirth, a strong, straight nose, high, delicate cheekbones that gave him an almost childish look, and that mouth. Full, sensual lips that parted slightly, letting the air escape from his lungs.
Old habits die hard, I thought with a smile; he didn't have to breathe since he was already dead, and his body required no air.
My body ached with longing. How could a creature like himself look so wonderful and so alluring? I knew that vampirism smoothed the skin, hardened and defined the muscles, but nevertheless, Kieran must have been drop-dead gorgeous as a human, if he was literally god-like in his death.
I giggled unintentionally as I realized what I had just said.
Without realizing it, I had been leaning closer and closer to him, until my breath mingled with his. One of my hands lay over one of one of his own, and the other caressed his velvety cheek. My breath and heart quickened as I leaned over him.
My body seemed to be leaning downward of its own account. My lips barely brushed his, but still a jolt of electricity seemed to pass through me. Too my great surprise, Kieran responded by pulling me down and kissing me with fiery passion. This time it was not just a single jolt, but thousands of them assailing my body at once. I was aware of everywhere we touched, from my lips to his hands in my hair and on my back. Heat raced through me like lightning. Why did he have this effect on me? Vampires weren't supposed to seduce witches like myself.
Kieran rolled over and pulled back so that he was leaning over me. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, and he didn't bother to hide it. His eyes actually seemed to convey a trace of light, of amusement.
For the second time that day, he asked me what I was doing.
"I was, um- that is, I, uh-" I stuttered for a moment before being silenced with another more tender kiss.
"Kieran?" I said, pushing him away for a moment. "Where did- I mean, How did-?"
I felt him reach into my mind and read the question as it trailed across my thoughts.
"You want to know how you got in here." He gestured vaguely around with a flick of his hand. I nodded, and he continued. "You came inside, and bathed, then I tucked you in to the bed."
"Why don't I remember doing that?" I asked suspiciously.
He smiled innocently, and confirmed my thoughts. He had put me into a vampiric-like state of sleep. "You haven't been sleeping well lately, so I helped you. and as for the clothes, I bought them for you. I was right; red goes with your black hair well."
"But-.how did I.I mean, I was asleep." Now I was pretty thoroughly confused.
Kieran shrugged, an aloof smirk on his lips. He lightly tapped his temple, and then mine. "Mind control."
Oh, how stupid of me, I thought sarcastically. Mind control.why ever didn't I think of that?
"You didn't-"
He snorted with laughter. "No, I didn't watch you bathe, Kala. Honestly, you should know by now that I respect your privacy more than that." But I wasn't so sure I trusted him. His tone was off somehow, but I'm not sure why. Unconsciously, I attempted to cross my arms over my chest.
Kieran laughed lightly, making my cheeks flush a brilliant red. I refused to meet his eyes. "Now is not the time to go and get all self-conscious." He paused, scrutinizing my face with a frown. "Are you okay? You just went from bright pink to white in a record time."
"Fine," I said distractedly. "Must've been spending too much time outside; it wore me out." I could tell he didn't believe me, and he had good reason.
It had just occurred to me that he was actually in my mind, controlling my movements. Could he have read what was so close to the surface? Maia's warning wouldn't have alarmed him much, but my deep yearning to travel the footpath would've made him furious. I was contemplating to do something he told me not to, and although I had known him for such a short time, I knew that he didn't like being disobeyed; no vampire did.
His frown slowly changed to a smile as he studied me, one finger absentmindedly twirling a single spiral of my hair around and around.
"You're-" He started to say something, but was interrupted by the opening of the door; we both turned to see who it was.
"I'm sorry," Maia said sarcastically, looking rather pale as she hung onto the doorknob for support. "Did I interrupt something?" Her eyes trailed over us, over Kieran, who was lying half over me, at my arms that were loosely entwined around his neck. Kieran climbed off the bed and pulled me off with him, his arm snaking around me waist to hold me by his side.
"What did you want, Maia? We were busy," Kieran stated.
Maia's stony gaze locked on me. "I wanted to talk to Kala."
Kieran took a step away from me, and shrugged. Maia took this as permission and grabbed my arm and towed me out of the room. One last look back showed that Kieran was standing there, smiling after us, his arms folded over his muscular chest.
Questions? Comments? E-mail me! MidnightsFlame@hotmail.com And also...REVIEW!! REVIEW!! REVIEW!!! or I'll go on a strike and not write again...ok, maybe I wouldn't do anything that drastic, but hey...just review it please...*puppy dog eyes*