Dear Readers, for those of you who have sent me emails and comments, thank you so much for your patience! Only one more chapter left after this, so I hope you all enjoy reading as much as I have enjoyed writing! Leave your comments and don't forget to vote!
Upon arrival in Munich, Heidi informed them that it would be best to catch a train ride to Memmingen in Allgäu. The one hour ride gave the trio of men a breath taking view of the Allgäu Alps- the lush forests and occasionally, a glimpse of wild horses running against the wind.
The beast inside whimpered loudly, his heart beat straining against its rider's- lustful for a run in the wilderness. Adrian could literally smell the fresh air of spring, with remnants of the frosty winter in the atmosphere. It felt like time slowed down for them. And if he let himself, Adrian felt himself drifting off into a sweet sleep.
"We're here everyone," exclaimed Heidi. Despite her initial protests about their trip to her hometown, her facial expression showed otherwise. Adrian watched the way her blue eyes shimmered, reflecting the colour of the sky and the snow on top of the alps. Even her hair became shades lighter in the cool air.
"So how will we be going to your house from here?" asked Raphael as they alighted from the train. He too was excited. He had never been to Germany, much less the Alps and he was hoping to have tales to write and tell about for years to come.
"My uncle lives here, in this town. I will ask if he would lend us his automobile to ride down south to Füssen."
Her uncle happened to be the owner of the car rental shop in town and was thrilled when Adrian paid him, in excess, in American dollars.
"Show off..." mumbled Heidi to herself. "Wait till you get to our farm... all your Armani and Gucci will suffer such horrendous fates!"
****
"Butterkäse!" was the welcoming word when Heidi stepped out of the car.
"Father," she replied, trying to conceal her embarrassment. Her father had been calling her by that name ever since he found her nibbling on Butterkäse cheese secretly in the barn when she was four.
Her father did not look a day older than the day she left him to study in England. But boy was his belly getting rounder!
"Ah, I see you brought guests! Tis means feasting! Anna! Where is that woman of mine!" he yelled in German, towards their house.
The guests turned towards the house he was referring to and saw a plump woman with a rolling pin in her hand coming out, yelling back in German. Heidi was laughing but neither of them understood the joke.
Her family loved guests and were most pleased when they were told that they would be playing host to the three men for a few days. Her mother, especially was thrilled to have such charming and handsome men in her house. Heidi knew that she would be making her own moves on them soon on behalf of her daughters...
While the men rested, Anna busied herself in the kitchen in preparation for dinner. By the time they were all seated at the table, it was heaped with glorious amounts of food- from Beef Sauerbrauten to potato dumplings to a lovely blackforest cake.
Raphael was looking appreciatively of the food, his stomach rumbling in anticipation. However, the two brothers simply started at the food, then smiled politely to Anna while seating themselves. Adrian wished that Heidi's mother had not taken such pains to cook for them... for he and Aqurico could not taste anything. They did not need to eat for they were not really human. But it was the polite thing to do and so Adrian accepted Anna's heaping of food on his plate.
It smelled wonderful, he thought and cut a slice of the beef and placed it in his mouth. At once, the burst of flavours shocked his senses. He ended up coughing as though he had choked on something.
"Adrian!" exclaimed Heidi, positioning herself behind him in the event that he had really choked and required her to press his stomach.
"No... no... I'm fine," he croaked. "Mrs. Lang... I have not tasted... something this delicious for a very very very long time... thank you..."
Aqurico was looking at his brother for a long time and eventually smiled.
Later that night, Anna took her guests to their rooms upstairs.
"You two may sleep together in this room. This one belongs to my brother- ah yes you've met him today? He doesn't live here anymore but his bed is big enough for two of you yes?" she said, ushering Aqurico and Raphael into the room. After that, she led Adrian down the hallway to a smaller room.
"Tis is our guest room. Unfortunately there's no queen bed here my dear. Heidi's room is just beside yours," she said with a twinkle in her smile. "I've always told her that her bed is just too big for just one person."
With a cheeky laugh, she left Adrian standing at his door. He was laughing to himself as he entered the guest room. The room was right at the end of the hallway; which means that he had two windows instead of one. From where he was sitting, he could vaguely see Mélas, Purrós and Khlōrós thánatos wandering around in the pasture where the cows were kept. He knew his baby sister couldn't resist not coming along. She had secretly followed them in her spirit form and must have used her mental blocking abilities to prevent him from noticing her. He knew that the three horses were taking care of her. Maybe he should go down and see her for himself... to make sure she's alright.
He worried for her.
Changing his form, Adrian left the house, unseen by his hosts. Only when he reached the pasture did he turn back into his human form. Mélas had neighed his happiness and caused quite a stir among the cows.
Ushering the horses towards the stables, he whispered,
"Hush Mélas... You'd wake the whole house!"
Once they were in the stables, he approached Aurora's pale green horse and said,"Don't hide behind your horse, Aurora. Come, let me see you."
Khlōrós thánatos stared at him with her jade coloured eyes and rubbed her nose at his cheek.
"I'll be fine this way, Adrian..." he heard her say in his mind. Rubbing down the horse's back, he smoothed its hair and sat down beside it, resting his head on her back.
"You came because you're curious didn't you?"
"Who me? Curious? Of course not."
"As if."
"Heh. Anyway, this stable is sure warm and comfy. Want to join me?"
"Is Aqurico sleeping with you?"
"Yes I am..." came the reply. "You don't expect me to sleep with another man do you? Especially not one that kicks in his sleep!"
"Good of you to join us brother," said Adrian, rubbing Purrós's nose. He was wondering why his siblings refused to materialise in their human form but chose to stay within their horse's body.
"It'll be warmer and safer this way. You'd never know when anyone of them would come by and see us. In her horse form, Aurora is least dangerous. You know that," said Aqurico.
Kneeling down, Purrós sat close to Aurora and cuddled in her warmth. Suddenly, they heard some rustling.
"Who's there?" a soft voice asked nervously.
Adrian contemplated changing his form but it was too late for Heidi came into view and shocked him. She was in her nightgown, a soft cotton material that was too thin to be worn in such a cold weather. He could see her nipples straining against the material.
"It's me," he said quickly as he started walking towards her to turn her around to go back to the house.
"What were you doing there? I thought I heard people talking..."
"No, it's just me... I was looking at your horses. I love them very much."
