something we should all take into consideration when reading this chapter is that by this time Aegnor is one of the oldest living virgins EVER.

that is all.

~oOo~

Aegnor's world spun around him. He felt as if all concept of time was lost and he was no longer certain of his surroundings. The shock from seeing the face that leered before him struck at his core and images of anger, fire, and blood rushed his senses. The intensity of it caused him to take an involuntary step back against the bar. He was amazed and dumbfounded, he was stunned and yet slightly disappointed.

After all this time living through countless ages, after all the ages surviving wars and famine, loneliness and loss, after centuries of wondering and wishing and never discovering any others like him, much less his own kin, he now finds that of all of the beings given the choice that had been offered to him, THIS is the one he comes across.

Carnistir. Morifinwë. His cousin

"Do try to gather your wits about you if you can, you are causing a scene," the ghost before him drawled lazily.

Aegnor blinked and snapped shut his mouth that had been hanging open. He realized that in spite of the countless amount of years that had passed, his dislike for his cousin was still a constant.

He silently sized up the person in front of him. Much like Aegnor, Carnistir had cut his hair although it was still long enough to brush his shoulders, but other than the modern clothing he wore he still looked the same. Black hair, pale skin, ruddy complexion. Even though many had likened Carnistir's looks to his mother, Aegnor had never shared that sentiment. His cousin's expression was indifferent but Aegnor knew this to be a ruse for Carnistir's eyes were sharp and piercing, taking everything in and missing little, just like his father.

Carnistir sat himself in the barstool and gestured for Aegnor to do the same. Aegnor remained standing. If this bothered his cousin at all he showed nothing. His simply leaned back in the chair and laced his long fingers across his chest as his mouth curled into a smug knowing little smile, like some haughty Cheshire cat. Yes, his dislike for his cousin was most certainly still a constant.

"Now let me see, how does that saying go," Carnistir muttered thoughtfully, but then his face suddenly brightened and he grinned widely. "Ah yes! 'Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, of all the world, she walks into mine' ..."

Aegnor still stood there, saying nothing. Carnister sighed.

"Really Aikanáro, if all you are going to do is stand there gawping, then at least take a seat."

The arrogance of his cousin's voice and the irritation at Carnistir's lack of surprise at finding him here snapped Aegnor out of the stupor he had fallen in but disbelief was still the overall emotion. He sat down slowly next to his cousin who sipped nonchalantly from Aegnor's glass.

"Mmm, good stout," he mumbled approvingly and waved to the bartender for another. Aegnor shook his head.

"How ... what ... what are you doing here?"

"Having a drink of course," answered Carnistir with a sideways glance and a smirk.

Aegnor felt the irritation begin to grow in the back of his mind and he concentrated on keeping his calm.

"You know what I mean Carnistir, how did you find me? How long have you known I was here?"

It was now Carnistir's turn to look at Aegnor in disbelief and the look he have him was incredulous, but only for a moment. Almost immediately he started laughing and leaned back in his seat, looking at Aegnor with utter amusement.

"How typical of you to assume that I am here because of you," he said, still chuckling. "Still as vain and presumptuous as ever I see, just like all of your kin."

Aegnor's hackles rose in spite of himself and his eyes narrowed.

"Seeing as you are also kin, I suppose it would only be natural that you are the authority on the subject, especially when it comes to pride."

Aegnor braced himself for his cousin's response as it would no doubt be explosive, but for the second time that night he found himself taken aback with surprise, for instead of the red faced reaction he had expected, Carnistir simply smiled.

"Touché," he replied and held his glass aloft in salute. He drank and set the glass back down, leaning back in his chair once more and gave Aegnor a considering look.

"I am not here for you cousin. In fact, I have been in the city for quite some time with no knowledge of your presence, or your existence for that matter. No, I am here for ... someone else."

Aegnor noticed how Carnistir's eyes moved past him and over his shoulder and turned to see that his cousin's line of sight had landed on where Andrea and her friend stood talking at the end of the bar.

For a moment Aegnor thought he was referring to Andrea and his hackles rose as he prepared to rebuke his cousin, but then something happened. At the exact same moment, almost as if she were aware of his attention, the woman that Andrea was talking to looked up and locked eyes with his cousin. It was then when Aegnor saw it, just a glimpse, a flicker really, completely unnoticeable to human eyes but for Aegnor's glaringly obvious. A flash of light from within. Aegnor's brows came together as his eyes went wide and he spun to look at his cousin's eyes and took note of the light within, seeing it was not alone.

For the third time that evening, Aegnor was shocked to his core.

He is bound to her.

"Carnistir, what have you done?"

It was Carnistir's gave Aegnor a sideways glance, his own brow arched in challenge.

"Something you would never have the courage to do, or even had the courage to do for that matter." Carnistir turned to face Aegnor fully, leaning in. "What are you doing here Aikanáro? What interest do you have in this place?"

Aegnor sat up straight, pulling back and away from Carnistir in spite of himself.

"That does not concern you," he replied cooly.

Carnistir's eyes darted past Aegnor's shoulder to the two women who now approaching and grinned wickedly.

"It is the mortal girl isn't it? You have a pet, don't you?"

Aegnor was about to put an end to his cousin's leering face when Carnistir suddenly stopped all on his own. His eyes went wide as he looked at Aegnor and his voice became a hushed whisper that only Aegnor's ears could hear.

"You found her didn't you? It is her, the woman from the Tarn Aeluin? You have found her ..."

Aegnor would have simply ignored him at this point. Indeed, he was in the process of reaching into his pocket to fetch his wallet and pay so that he could get Andrea and leave, but something about Carnistir's voice held him still. The intensity of it, the sincerity, things that Aegnor in all of his long life, this one or the last, had no memory of his cousin ever possessing. He found himself answering.

"I ... don't know ..." he whispered back.

Carnistir sat back up, cold and imperious once more as he stared at Aegnor.

"You are looking for answers but there is no time, not now ..." Carnistir glanced over Aegnor's shoulder once more and back to him. "Tomorrow, in the morning, you will meet me. Freemans off of 2nd Ave, between Bowery and Chrystie, 8am."

Aegnor opened his mouth to protest but Carnistir was already gone, having moved towards the door. Aegnor turned back around to find Andrea and her friend walking up.

"Sorry about that," her friend Hayley apologized, "girl stuff."

Aegnor had his doubts.

"So Andrea, call me okay and we will try this again when there is more time right? And we can all get to know each other, kay?"

Even though she was looking at Andrea as she spoke, Aegnor knew it was directed towards him.

After the two women hugged, Hayley turned to Aegnor.

"I look forward to it," he said extending his hand. "Till then."

Hayley gave him small sideways smile as she took his hand and shook it. She then walked over to where Carnistir stood waiting by the door, a protective arm wrapping around her. He never looked up at Aegnor as he left but his voice spoke in Aegnor's mind.

Tomorrow.

Aegnor surpressed a sigh. How typical for him to enter one's thoughts uninvited. He looked over at Andrea.

"Would you like to get out of here?"

Andrea smiled.

Andrea stepped out of the car and looked up at the red brick building they had pulled up to.

"Where are we?"

"My apartment," he replied as he locked the car and headed for the building door, "I have some pieces I thought you might be interested in. I hope you don't mind."

"Oh, not at all," she said following him into the building. That would be an understatement of course.

They rode the elevator to the top floor and the doors opened directly to the apartment. Andrea's mouth dropped open.

"You have a private elevator?" She had wanted to sound casual but the words came out before she could put for the effort. Agner shrugged.

"There is an upper deck as well on the roof if would like to see it."

"Drinks on the veranda? How lovely," she laughed.

The apartment was quite large, despite his insistence otherwise. The kitchen, dining space and living area were combined into one great room with red brick walls and tall windows that looked out onto the street. The walls were not adorned with much. There were some paintings and masks that looked to be Korean to Andrea. Two large built in shelves framed the fireplace and were full of books. It was a beautiful room and yet something seemed to be missing to Andrea. A hallway branched off the main room and Andrea hesitated in front of it as Agner walked up and handed her a glass of wine.

"Feel free to look around. The items I wanted to show you are in the guest room. I will be there shortly."

Andrea walked down the hall as Agner returned to the kitchen. She noticed there were four doors and two were open. One was to a bathroom that Andrea enviously noted was much larger than her own while the other opened to the bed room.

It was a large room, easily the size of her own little apartment, with red brick walls and more tall windows that lit the room in a cool yellow glow from the street light below. There was not much in the way of furniture. A large, neatly made platform bed was against one wall with a trunk and side table next to it and a tall dresser against the other wall, but other than that there was nothing else. Andrea suddenly realized what it was that was missing. There were no pictures, none. Not a single one. No photos from childhood, no black and whites of grandparents in their youth, or family vacations by the seashore. She found it odd that no pictures of friends and experiences were set in little frames as a testament to the past. Her apartment was covered with photos and mementos from her past and present. Goofy shots of her and her friends, of her family. But then, did he not say that he was no longer close to his family? Having fell out of contact with them years ago and having no relatives in the city? Andrea frowned a little at that. How sad it seemed to her to lose that, to have no one worth holding on too. She glanced at the large bed and her mouth curved upwards into a naughty smile.

Maybe we can make some, she thought mischievously as she sipped her wine and turned to walk out of the bedroom only to walk right into Agner standing behind her.

"Eep!" she yelped as she held her glass up and away so as not to spill any on her or her host. She felt her face burning and was never so grateful that the lights were not on.

"Oh my God! I'm sorry, I didn't know you were there. I shouldn't be in here should I? It's just the door was open and so I just, I was just leaving and, I love the red brick! Is this the second room over here?"

Andrea made a hasty retreat towards the hall, only glancing back at Agner who followed silently, smiling.

Good thing he can't read my mind, she thought as she walked across the hall and waited.

Agner walked up from behind her and opened the door, entering the room and turning on the light. Andrea let out a little gasp as he did.

The room was full of display cases that were in turn full of artifacts. She moved to the nearest case.

"Is this Kybele?"

"Yes, from Catalhoyuk, Turkey."

"And these, are they Bronze Age?"

"From the southern tip of the Shetland Islands, and this," he continued pointing to another case, "was found near the Stones of Stenness I believe. Over here are –"

"Mayan and Olmec. Do you have any idea how old these are? Some of these pieces could date back to 3000 BC."

"I had some knowledge of this."

"Oh really," she said somewhat incredulously, as something caught her sight in the corner. "Is that –"

"A statue from the Qin Dynasty, from Emperor Qin Shi Huang."

"You have a terra-cotta warrior from the tomb of Qin Shi Huang? How on earth did you get a statue from the tomb of Qin Shi Huang?"

"I never said I got it from the tomb. It was a gift."

"Oh, so it's an imitation."

"… yes … yes it is."

"Well then that makes sense because there is no way you would get a real one out of China."

"Of course not."

Andrea moved over to the next case.

"These are strange," she commented, leaning in, "What are these, these markings? I feel like ..."

The case in front of her held several swords and blades and what appeared to be a faded map of territories that were not known to her. At least not entirely because there was something . . . familiar about them. Something about the faint writing that marked the map and adorned several of the weapons in the case. The way the letters swooped and swirled in graceful arches, something tugged at her subconscious. Agner spoke from behind her.

"Have you seen them before perhaps?"

Some memory flitted around, just out of her grasp.

"I … think, maybe … I …" she struggled, reaching in her mind. Something from when she was a child maybe? With her father? Or maybe her mother? It seemed as if, she should know, that she had to know. As she looked in at the case her eyes rested on a dried wreath of flowers so old that it looked as if it would crumble if touched.

"You know," she said distractedly, still desperately grasping the memory that danced just out of reach in the back of her mind, "women used to wear wreaths like this in their hair, during festivals or blessings. It would single them out as wise women of their tribes. Although, I think the story goes deeper than that …"

"And what would that story be Andrea?" Agner whispered.

"I …" Andrea stuttered, her head felt heavy and for a moment it seemed as if the world around her shifted and moved, whirling about her like the strange engravings on the swords. She was here with Agner and yet she was not here. Everything about this seemed so familiar but was also so strange.

Andrea squeezed her eyes shut and tried to focus. What is wrong with you, she hissed at herself, get it together! She must have more to drink than she thought, the combination of beer and wine going to her head. She set down her glass on the case and turned around to find Agner staring at her intently. Great, now he thinks you're crazy too. She waved off his concern.

"I'm sorry, I'm fine, really. Maybe you could show me that deck on your roof now."

"Yes," agreed Agner, "I think the air would do us both good."

He set down his own glass and took Andrea by the hand and led her out into the hall. When he took her hand Andrea thought she may get dizzy all over again simply from the thrill of his touch and when they entered his bedroom, she thought she may fall out right there. But once in the room he let go of her hand, and the weight of the emptiness brought her back down to earth. He walked over to one of the windows and opened it and the sounds of the city below came rushing in. He climbed out onto the fire escape and waited, peeking back in to see if she followed and reaching out for her to take his hand when he saw she had not.

Andrea walked up to the window and took his hand, climbing out after him. They made their way up the iron stair case to the roof where a small wooden deck with two chairs was covered by a wooden trellis with plants vining all over it. It was a beautiful view of the city and Andrea said as much.

"Thank you," he replied, "I come here often in the evenings. My favorite place I suppose."

Andrea stood out at the edge of the deck, looking at city skyline, her arms wrapped around herself for warmth. While it had been reasonably warm down on the streets, the breeze on the roof was far cooler and Andrea had left her jacket in the apartment. The cold did not seem to effect Agner at all however, and she resolved to tough it out if he could, but still she shivered.

"You are cold," he observed and walked over to where she stood, wrapping his arms around her. They stood like this for several minutes, her head resting against his chest, his chin resting atop her head. Andrea was content to stand there, wrapped in that silent embrace forever. It was Agner who broke their repose when he released her. Andrea looked up at him to see him staring down at her in such a way that she felt her heart catch and she thought that perhaps this was it, finally he would kiss her. But then he turned away.

"Come," he said softly, "you are cold and it is getting late. I will take you home."

Agner stepped down from the deck and walked over to the fire escape, leaving Andrea alone and confused . . . and slightly annoyed. She walked swiftly over the escape and moving in front of Agner began her descent first. She swiftly made it to the bedroom window and climbed in before he could offer any assistance. Once inside she made quickly and rather angrily for the door when she stopped. Agner was only halfway inside, one leg in the room and the other still on the balcony when she spun around.

"Did I do something?"

Agner froze in the window.

"Excuse me?"

"Did I do something, you know, wrong?" she snapped again. "Did I say something shouldn't have or not say something should have or do something repulsive that you just can't get past?"

"I am not sure I know what you mean …" he said warily.

"Because this hot and cold crap is getting kind of old you know? One minute I think you like me and the next you act like you can't get away fast enough. I mean, is it me? Am I not being clear? Because I like you. A lot. And would kind of like to see where this is going or if it could go anywhere but I have no idea if you are interested. Is it the ear thing? Because if so I am sorry. I had no idea and I don't even care! I like you Agner and I just want to know if you like me."

As Andrea spoke Agner had stood quietly surprised, only moving when she spoke of his ears and his hand had involuntarily reached up to the side of his face. Once she had finished he stepped completely inside the room, his eyes cast downwards as he shook his head.

"No, it is not the 'ear thing', nor is it you. Quite the contrary even for I like you very much. Perhaps too much."

"Well what is it then?" she asked moving closer as he seemed to struggle for words. "Well?" she said again.

"I –" he stammered.

"Well?!"

"I just don't want you to get hurt," he exclaimed, looking surprised at his own words.

Andrea looked at him skeptically.

"You don't want me to get hurt. Why? Are you going to hurt me? You aren't going to take into some weird red room and give me some cheesy line about how you have particular tastes are you?"

Agner looked at her in utter confusion.

"I have no idea what you are talking about," muttered hopelessly.

Andrea considered him for a moment before she walked to where he stood and took his hands in hers.

"You let me worry about me getting hurt okay? I am big girl and can handle it. Okay?"

When he did not respond she took his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. Agner said nothing for what felt like forever but Andrea refused to lose herself in the strangeness of those eyes, she met his stare unflinching, only breaking her gaze to take him by the hand and lead him out of the room.

"Come on tough guy, let's go. Like you said, it's getting late."

They rode back to her apartment in silence. Agner keeping his attention on the road as Andrea looked out the passenger window. This is not at all how she wanted this night to end. He likes her. He told her as much. But he pushes her away because he is afraid she will be hurt? What could he possibly do to her hurt other than what he is doing now? Maybe he has been hurt in the past. Some relationship that ended badly with him getting dumped or left at the alter. Well that was in the past and she was not that girl and it was time he realized this.

Agner walked Andrea into her apartment building and to her door to say good night. Andrea placed the key in the door and then turned around to face him.

"I really had a wonderful time tonight," she said.

"As did I."

"Will I see you again?"

"I would like that very much," he answered.

"Good," Andrea smiled, "so, you'll call me I guess?"

"I promise. Goodnight Andrea," he said and turned to leave.

"Agner?"

Agner stopped and turned to face her but before he could realize what was happening, Andrea was on him. She stood on tiptoes, her body against his as she kissed him. It was a hesitant kiss at first, but when he did not pull away, she became more bold. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck as mouths parted and tongues explored. It was not till she felt his hands on the small of her back, pulling her harder against him, did she gently pull away. Andrea stepped back, breathless.

"Well, goodnight," she chirped brightly and went swiftly inside her apartment, leaving Agner leaning against the wall she had pushed him up against, eyes wide.