Lucio sent Lilyann home, promising he'd have a costume and name picked out for her by the time he'd call on her to step into the Colosseum. She trudged through the city, through the market, and toward her aunt's shop; her mind reeled, the consequences of her agreement with Lucio made her stomach turn. She wasn't a killer. She wasn't even a fighter. Her own life would be at risk.

If anyone spoke to her during her travel, she didn't hear it; her ears thrummed with her heartbeat, deafening her to all but her thoughts. She stopped at the shop's door. The lantern was lit indicating it was open; she stared for a moment, watching the flames changing colors–it'd been Asra's idea to use arcanic fire to draw customers in. 'A phony fortune-teller isn't going to have color-changing fire. It proves our validity!' he'd said. Her aunt agreed.

Lilyann held her hand up toward the lantern with the intent of snuffing it, closing the shop for the rest of the day while she explained to Kyla and Asra her and Lucio's deal, but… Her hand fell to her side as she let out a sigh. They would try talking her out of it; Kyla would likely even go so far as to revoke the arrangement herself, and who knew what Lucio's reaction would be to such a thing; imprisonment? death? Rubbing her temples, she took a deep breath.

The door opened suddenly.

She flinched but calmed at the sight of Asra's fluffy, white hair.

"Lily!" He beamed and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I thought I heard someone at the door. You coming in?"

Faust popped her head up from behind his shoulder; her little pink tongue quivering as she sniffed the air Lilyann carried with her. Her body draped around Asra's neck and collarbones, the purple scales shimmering as she twitched around him.

Forcing a smile back, Lilyann gave the snake a little scratch under her chin and followed Asra into the shop. He gave her another quick kiss and disappeared out the back door toward the garden; her aunt often put him to work out there when her joints were particularly sensitive.

Kyla stood behind the counter rearranging a display of their more expensive crystals they had for sale.

"Where'd you run off to?" Kyla asked with her back to them.

"Nowhere important," Lilyann replied. "Just a stroll through the city. Needed to clear the lungs of incense." As she spoke, she reached over the counter and pulled a fresh incense stick from underneath. Her fingers pinched the tip of it, lighting it on fire for a few seconds before blowing it out and placing it in the holder beside the register. "Been busy?" she asked.

"Not really," Kyla answered. "You missed the shipment from Jamieson."

"Did he bring anything worthwhile?" Lilyann stepped around the counter and beside her aunt. She knelt and rifled through the crate at her aunt's feet; dozens of crystals, some wrapped in protective fabric, small ones grouped together in pouches.

"He gave us a nice piece of lepidolite," Kyla replied. She turned and held the large purple crystal toward Lilyann. "A few others as well."

She took it, running her fingertips over the rough edges. It was a staple in aiding with anxiety; the thought of attempting to convince her aunt to let her keep it crossed Lilyann's mind–she certainly needed some relief after her day–but she bit her tongue and handed it back.

"Could use that as a weapon," Lilyann joked, curling her lip at the thought of doing such a thing in the Colosseum. "Do you need me for anything?"

"Nah," Kyla said. "We'll be closing up in about a couple hours. Can't imagine we'll have many more people stop by." She finished with her display and turned toward Lilyann. "Why? Got plans?" she asked, eyebrow raised.

Lilyann shook her head. "Just a bit of a headache. Was thinking about going to lay down."

Kyla frowned, the wrinkles seemed to have grown deeper in the few hours Lilyann had been gone. "Go ahead. I'll send Asra up with some peppermint tea in a few."

"Thanks." She gave a small smile before heading upstairs.

The afternoon sun spilled through the window and onto her and Asra's bed: a nest of mismatched pillows and blankets that they never bothered arranging whenever they woke. She closed the heavy curtain, blocking out most of the light, before falling into the bed. Her eyes followed the shape of the fabrics hanging from the ceiling, a myriad of different colors rippling along this handmade ocean Asra created.

He appeared shortly after, carrying the cup of tea Kyla promised. The bed shifted with his weight as he sat down beside her.

"Heard you have a headache," Asra said, handing her the cup when she sat up.

Faust slithered down his torso and onto Lilyann's lap. Her tongue brushed along the tip of Lilyann's nose a few times before she pulled back and watched Lilyann with her head cocked to the side.

She smiled at the snake before turning her head toward Asra. "It's not too bad," she explained. "Just hoping to catch it before it gets worse."

"Any idea what it's from?"

Lilyann shrugged as she sipped the tea. Probably the adrenaline of breaking into the Count's chambers wearing off. Or that she learned Kyla was harvesting human hearts for the Count for who knew what. Or maybe the feeling of dread in her stomach, the feeling that she'd just made a deal with some sort of demon.

"No idea," she replied.

"Well," he grunted as he lowered himself and laid on his side, "why don't I offer a hand." He smiled and wiggled his fingers, the tips glowed ever-faintly.

She reached over him and placed the cup on the nightstand before lying back down; Faust took the opportunity to slide up and coil onto Lilyann's stomach.

Lilyann closed her eyes and let her body sink into the bed. The light showed through her eyelids as his fingers moved along her face; barely touching the skin, but leaving it pleasantly tingling and warm. He began at her brows, then down the bridge of her nose and over her cheekbones; he traced her jaw and brushed over her lips. Over and over his touch and magic grazed her face, making her feel as though she could melt into the blankets.

"Hmmm."

"How are you feeling now?" Asra asked.

"Not sure." She smiled, her eyes still closed. "Can't tell if I'm relaxed or turned on."

"Can't it be both?" Asra replied, his tone growing husky.

The cold weight of Faust's body slipped away as the snake retreated from the room.

Asra chuckled and let his fingers trail the length of Lilyann's neck to her collarbones and back up to beneath her chin. He tilted her head toward him, prompting her to open her eyes.

"You know," he began, his purple eyes dilating, "they say sex is one of the best pain killers you can get."

"Do they now?"

"Mmh hmm."

He leaned down, guiding her to him, and pressed his lips to hers.

Soft, careful not to jostle her head too much; always so careful. She smiled against him and wrapped her fingers around his shirt, pulling him over her with no resistance.

Asra pulled away a moment and simply looked at her. She felt like she'd been plunged into a hot bath under his gaze; an unspoken devotion to her and only her shimmering in those violet eyes.

She pushed back one of his unruly locks of hair and caressed his cheek, his deeply tanned skin making hers appear paper-white. Her thumb ran over his bottom lip while her other hand rested against his neck, feeling the quick beating of his heart.

Leaning up, she pressed a kiss on his neck where her hand had been; his scent surrounded her, sweet like vanilla, earthy like patchouli, and something almost spicy that she never could quite place. He smelled like home, like safety, like everything good in the world. He let out a groan and she pulled back, not realizing she'd sucked on the skin, leaving a deep red mark. Lilyann smiled, feeling a touch satisfied with herself since he typically would be the one leaving her marked.

"Red looks good on you," Lilyann muttered before placing her lips on the other side of his neck.

Another moan escaped him as her teeth pressed into his skin.

The creak of wood startled both of them, and they froze; Lilyann held her breath to listen.

"I'm surprised you're not with Lily and Asra," Kyla said, her voice traveling up the stairs. "Why don't we check on them?"

Lilyann reached past Asra and flicked her wrist, forcing their bedroom door shut. Asra did the same to lock it.

"I didn't even realize you left it wide open," Lilyann remarked, rolling her eyes. "Hoping for a bit of exhibitionism?"

Chuckling, he leaned down and muttered into the dip of her jaw, "I would gladly show the world how much I desire you."