Author's Note: Sorry for the delay! Believe it or not these chapters are actually already written I just have to edit and format them for psoting. Unfortunately I have been a bit busy. My goal is to release weekly, but I get caught up sometimes. Anyway...
Thank you for the continued appreciation, comments, and favorites. The story is definitely in a slow spot for a few chapters as we uncover what Joran and Miramae's dynamic is. Excitement will come I promise!
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Chapter 5:
When Problems Arise:
My eyes flickered open, met only with darkness. The fire had burned out, but the room was still warm. I turned my head, looking for any sign of light coming from the windows just down the hall, but saw nothing. I rolled over, pulling my phone from my pocket after a bit of struggle. The screen's light stung my eyes, and I was met with a string of unread notifications and messages. I ignored them, yawning, looking only at the time.
5:26 am.
I groaned softly, my body feeling the effects of using Tempo twice in half a week. It wasn't terrible, considering it had been in short intervals, but it was still enough to make my body ache. I'd once kept the gate to Tasori open for an entire day. I had hardly been able to get out of bed for the next three that followed.
I sat forward, shaking and stretching my stiff joints as I looked around the darkness.
"Miramae?"
There was no response, but I wasn't too worried. I had a feeling she wouldn't run out on me, and even if she did, it wouldn't matter. I'd be able to track her down quickly enough.
I lifted my phone, using the light of the screen to scan the area. The frail illumination didn't reveal much in detail, but it was enough to spot the Vermyr.
She had settled on the couch, pulling a small multicolored quilt over her body. My eyes fell on the barely visible skin of her pale shoulder, no longer covered by the dark silk dressing gown she'd worn earlier. I lowered my phone, sliding it back into my pocket. I could already feel my body stirring strangely in response to the sight of her. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I glanced back towards where her shoulder poked out from beneath the covers.
The Vermyr seemed to have an active vendetta with clothing. It made me curious whether she had sensitive skin, or if clothes were somehow painful for her to wear. If that were the case, I doubt she would've pulled the heavy quilt over her while she slept. It seemed like she just enjoyed the freedom of being unburdened by the additional layers.
Sighing with resigned frustration, I rose with quiet care and tiptoed out of the room, heading for the kitchen. I needed a caffiene boost, and a moment alone. It did feel a bit strange to think about making coffee in a dead family's home, but I shrugged aside the discomfort. Coffee was a must and they wouldn't be using it any time soon.
The kitchen was as nice as the rest of the mansion. Dark marble counter tops and rich oak cabinets ran in a wide 'U' around a center island of mathcing marble. Sleek and well polished containers held expensive ladles and cooking utensils of a consistent bronze. The knobs and handles of all the drawers and doors were furnished with same metallic coloration.
I walked slowly around the space, opening and closing various storage as sorted through them in search of mugs. I found them eventually, setting the cups out preemptively as I turned my attention towards the brewing of the liquid that would fill them.
They didn't exactly have a coffee maker, but I wasn't complainig. The massive, bronze contraption settled in the counter's corner was an even better find. I blew a small kiss into sky, thanking my excellent luck, and set about making the morning Espresso.
After about ten minutes I had two steaming cups in my hands. The smell alone made my brain begin to buzz to life as I made my way back to the living room. A small amount of light has pushed its way inside now, brought by the rising of a tawny morning sun. It cast a lovely blanket over the room, bathing one of Miramae's long, muscled, legs in a lovely orange hue as the scandalous limb stretched along the top of the couch's back ridge.
I set her cup on the table next to her, wafting the aroma towards her gently. After a few seconds of nothing, I shrugged and returned to the fire. I grabbed the remote responsible for its ignition and clicked the ON button. The blue flames fluttered to life, fanning into a bright yellow inferno. I stared into the dancing fire, thinking about the situation I'd found myself in as I sipped at my drink.
Setting the cup down on the hearth, I lifted my hand to the Monji around my neck, giving the little black ornament and evaluating glare. I would be traveling with a Dread, so it wouldn't be necessary to wear it for the time being. It would really only serve as jewelry.
I'd send it back to Damoria for now.
I clasped my fingers into a tether and mentally connected the pendant to the interior of the small box thousands of miles away, then released it. There was a small hiss as the trinket vanished. Nodding, I reached back down for my drink.
"Mmmmmmmm. Huh?"
Behind me, Miramae groaned a deep and sensual longing. I turned, raising my eyebrow in equal parts amusement and annoyance. It seemed the coffee was doing its job, but noises like that sent shivers of desire through me that felt both foreign and invasive.
"Uhhhng." She moaned again, her chest quivering beneath her blanket.
My amusement faded, and my annoyance transitioned towards something more akin to trepidation. I watched as her tongue darted out across her lips and she moaned again.
"Miramae." I spoke loudly, attempting to break her from whatever illicit dream she was having.
I felt my body tense as her eyelids flickered.
A heartbeat later they snapped open, her pupils dwarfing the color of her irises like little eclipses. She lurched upward, the blanket falling away from her naked breast as she breathed heavily. I felt myself stiffen in more ways than one.
"Get--get away. Oh Eldar's staff..." She spoke with a strained focus, but a small dribble of drool was falling down the side of her mouth as she stared hazily ahead.
"Wha--what did you? Your smell. It's--" She was beginning to tremble, the rims of her eyes glowing a bright yellow again.
I clenched my teeth together, my mind racing as tried to figure out what had caused the sudden change. I sorted through the morning's events, watching her struggle to remain in place as spit continued to compound at the corners of her mouth. Subconsciously, I raised my hand to my chest.
The monji.
It was the only thing that made sense. It had been combating my natural aroma, and it must've been helping the Dread ignore her thirst. I immediately formed my fingers into a Neyum'cona tether, envisioning the amulet. Across the room Miramae's head snapped in my direction as I moved, her shining eyes locking on to me.
I felt the Monji reappear in my hand.
There was a rustle of movement and I raised the disc instinctively, preparing to feel Miramae's body leap on to mine, but she was nowhere to be seen. I lowered the Monji slowly, glancing around the room.
"Miramae?"
"Yeah. I'm here." She said weakly, her voice muffled from behind the couch as she waved her hand timidly.
"You alright?" I asked, standing up and pulling the amulet over my head.
"Sorta. What did you do? Your scent was even stronger than yesterday. FUCK. I barely kept it together there."
"I made a mistake. It's fixed now though." I looked down at the amulet curiously as I spoke.
It was an increasingly useful tool it seemed.
I raised my eyes, looking towards the couch where Miramae had been laying. There was no sign of her.
"Miramae?" I asked, still remaining a safe distance from where her voice was coming from, more for her sake than mine.
From behind the couch her head slowly appeared, her bedhead only serving to make her look more wonderful as she smiled tiredly. She reached over the couch, grabbing the blanket, and pulled it to her chest as she rose to full height.
