Decisions

             “How could you let this happen to her? I sent you and Hothlepoya to watch over her.” The words chilled Rea and she was wondering why she couldn’t move, all she saw was the back of her eyelids and she heard angry voices. I’ll just lay here and maybe it will all come back to me. Rea’s head was pounding and she wished they would stop arguing, but she was curious to know what had everyone so pissed off.

            “I’m sorry your majesty, Theron was causing problems amongst the nymphs. You know how nasty wood nymphs can get when they are provoked.” Rea heard that voice before too, where has she heard it before. There was the soft swish of cloth and then the pounding of feet on the floor.

            “What good is being my chevalier if you do not follow my orders? For christ’s sake Hothlepoya we almost lost her! And you,” there was the sound of scurrying and Rea groaned, she wanted to go back to her blissful darkness. “I’ll deal with you later Cybil, I believe you had something to do with the wood nymphs going berserk. The Queen will stop at nothing to defeat me.” There was a loud snort and then giggling. Why do I believe that wasn’t wise? Rea groaned again and pain stabbed through her head, her brain felt like it was on fire.

            “Oh please your majesty, as if I would bother with wood nymphs, those haughty little b*****s aren’t worth my time. As for the Queen she has nothing to do with me being back. If you must know, Gail asked me to help your precious Rea. This is the thanks I get?” the voice was indignant and Rea applauded the girl for standing up to the man, if she could talk she would tell his majesty that she has been nothing but helpful.

            “We shall see Cybil, but since you have the tendency to play both sides I want you to stick close to Hothlepoya.”

            “Oh Lepo and I go way back don’t we?” her voice was purring and Rea felt odd listening to this conversation.

            “Stuff it Cybil, if your majesty is done. I must find out what Theron was doing working with the howlings. They never work with anyone.” The door slammed and then there was giggling again.

            “I do know some things about what her majesty is up to but I have to confirm my information first.” There was a sigh and then a growl, Rea’s skin felt a prickling sensation, and then she screamed as feeling flared back to her body. There was cursing and then piercing white light blinded her vision.

            “Leave Cybil!”  That smooth voice was edged with anger and Rea screamed again as she convulsed on the bed.

            “As you wish.” Rea wanted to die, it felt like she was dying, so why couldn’t it all end. Coolness swept over her and she was pinned down on the bed. She screamed and fought the weight holding her on the bed. There was a grunt and then she fell silent, the fire in her veins was subsiding but she was still in pain. Lips touched hers; she felt fangs brush against her parched lips. She opened her mouth and welcomed the intrusion; the need from the other person spilled into her body and filled her with desire.  The lips pulled away and she was left panting, covered in sweat, no longer in pain.

            “Sleep, I will come to you then. For as long as the Queen lives, it is the only way you and I can be together.” She felt the man’s presence, his voice caressed her body, and she heard the longing in his voice, the edge of sadness that hung in the air.

            I wonder why he is so sad? Who is the Queen? I suppose it will all come to me when I wake up. This is a weird dream, although I’m not complaining I do like where it is going. Her thoughts turned to dandelion fluff and floated away on an unseen breeze.

~***~

            Rea walked into the marble hallway and admired the columns; they were a pale creamy color, with veins of red running through them. Flowers twined around the columns filling the air with a rich, luxurious scent. The sky was bright and cheery, a kaleidoscope of colors played in the clouds that skirted through the blue expanse. She felt warm and light, this was paradise compared to some of the places.

            “I was wondering what was taking you so long.” She turned around and saw him leaning against a column; his lean body was the same color of the marble columns.  He was usually paler, his eyes were green when she saw him, now they were two different colors, and his hair hung in a loose ponytail down his back, dark blue and forest green complimenting each other. He stood staring at her, a smile tugging at his lips and then he raised his eyebrows, daring her to make the next move.

            “You don’t look as pale, also your eyes are two different colors, I thought they were green.” He chuckled and heat flooded Rea’s body, caressing her, teasing her. She became aware of her hardened n*****s and looked down at her outfit. It was a sliver of silk that barely covered anything, two thin pieces barely covered her n*****s and it went up behind her neck, leaving her back and navel exposed, a full skirt was slit very high so that when she moved flashes of leg and naughty bits were visible. She blushed and looked at the sparkling lake.

            “You don’t like this look? Are you not happy with my present?” there was hurt in his voice and she shook her head biting her lip. She was very aware of how much skin she was exposing and how her body reacted to being near him.

            “It isn’t that, I prefer this look, you look healthy. As for the dress, umm.” She was flustered, she felt him move close to her. His warm skin pressing against hers, he was aching with desire and a need for her. She could feel it from every pore on his body.

            “I told you this is the only way we can be together.” His voice soft, and purring in her ear, most breath on her neck. She gasped and felt herself pressing against him. Don’t let this dream end, that is all I ask.

            “Look at me Rea.” Melanthios barely whispered, the breeze grew stronger and Rea’s nostrils were burned by the rank smell of sewage. She cried out grasping for the Melanthios but found broken pillars. “She has found us, wake now before you are fully hers.” The world collapsed and shattered around her, sewage, thick and sludgy, bubbled from the lake and made its way for her. Rea screamed but acrid smoke filled her mouth and she gagged.

            “It’s the end for you two. Right under my own nose, how rude!” the voice was  thick and Rea turned to find the skeletal Queen glaring at her. The Queen held out a bony hand and dangling from it was Rea’s necklace, she ran towards the other woman but she was being swallowed by the muck that sucked at her legs.

            “Such a pity, but know this. Not even your dreams are safe from me anymore. Your days are numbered.”

~***~

            Rea sat up gasping and clawing at her neck; she looked around the bare room and saw a man with golden colored skin watching her. His eyes were silver rimmed with purple, his hair was a deep red streaked with gold. Rea yanked the covers around her and glared at him. She wanted to know who he was and how the hell she ended up naked. A smirk tugged at his lips and he handed a black sweatshirt to her.

            “Thank you.” He shrugged and went back to the chair, he crossed his long muscular legs and she couldn’t help but gawk at him. He wore jeans and they were tight in all the right places. He raised an eyebrow and she turned away blushing furiously.

            “Like what you see? Unlike my brother, I don’t mind it when people check me out. In fact if you would like a better look I could remove my pants.” Mischief danced in his eyes and Rea looked at him horrified. She snapped back to reality and shakily got out of the bed. She wouldn’t yell at him lying down, she would look him in his beautiful face and yell at him.

            “Who the hell are you mister and where are the rest of my clothes?” He laughed and she nearly buckled from the wave of desire that washed over her.

            “The name is Theron, as for your clothes, well I much prefer you naked in my bed. If you insist on wearing clothing though.” He shrugged and gestured toward her bag that lay on the floor next to the bed. She wobbled toward the bag and bent over, he whistled and she realized that she was flashing him. She stood up too fast and felt the room spin around her. Solid arms grabbed around her waist and she leaned heavily against them.

            “Alright back to bed with you young lady.” He grunted and picked her up; he carried her back to the bed and covered her up. There was something she was supposed to remember about two men in the forest. Theron and Hothlepoya, one of them was the Queen’s man and the other the King’s chevalier. There was one she wasn’t supposed to trust.

            “I wouldn’t worry my pretty little head over my brother and I.” She turned bleary eyes on him and saw he was shirtless, his muscles rippled along his back and she caught a strange marking on his back.

            “Don’t read my thoughts. How did you get that mark on your back?” he stiffened and she regretted asking, he turned to look at her, the icy look in his eyes told her she went too far.

            “Don’t ask questions and I won’t read your mind. The only decision you need to make right now is to let me heal you, or to die.” Her throat went dry and she looked at this man standing there, his eyes were cold and calculating. He was a killer, she felt like she was in the sights of a deadly snake.

            “H-h-how will you heal me?” a smirk tugged his lips and he shrugged.

            “Just tell me do you want to live or do you want to die. Either way I can comply with your wishes you have to make the decision to trust me or not.” What other options did she have? Part of Rea screamed at her to try to run away, but another deeper part of her trusted him.

            “Time’s running out love make a decision. Personally I would like to explore where this is going.” What an odd thing to say.

            “Where what is going?” he shrugged and his eyes were smoldering, she turned to liquid and nodded.

            “Heal me but you owe me answers.” He smiled and warmth touched his eyes, she was probably giving herself over to the serpent but either way if it meant that she could get back out there and find the missing people then so be it.

            “As you wish.” He took off his pants and she gasped, what was he doing?

            “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!” he looked at her strangely and her eyes felt heavy.

            “Trust me love. Now relax.” She fell into a blissful slumber and wondered exactly who Theron was, and why he had to be naked to heal someone. All valid questions, but her mind didn’t want to try and sort the answers out, she rode the wave of bliss and decided tomorrow she could pick it all apart. If she lived until tomorrow.

Reviews

[Marie]

Rea is cool.