The barghest had been vanquished. Not a trace of hair, smoke or the smell of onions and garlic left. Still Lucian remained at that one spot where he had uttered the last words of an ancient chant he was taught as a kid to vanquish evil. He hadn't been sure it would work but it was the only thing he could think of that could work.He could feel her eyes on him, the hair at his nape standing as sharp as a pin. Voluntarily or not, he knew when she was around, could sense her presence before he even confirmed it. If it wasn't the citrus mixed with flowery scent that gave her away, it was the rush of his pulse, the skip in his breath, the feeling of eyes watching him, caressing him, making him yearn for something he shouldn't.He dreaded turning to her. What would he say? What could he say? She had asked if he saw it meaning she did as well so that could only mean she's a supernatural. What he wasn't sure of however was if she actually didn't know, or she was just pretending. The surprisin
217 BC"Luci, come here," Laura, a tall, brunette called, her hands outstretched waiting to be joined by her son's. "We're having a meeting with the leaders and I want you by my side, who knows you might be one of them someday." A hopeful smile graced her face as they brisk walked to the court room."Yes, as if those fragile aliens would ever allow that.""Well, they'd have no choice if your dad has something to say about it," She assured pulling his arm as she hurried to the double doors that marked the entrance to the town hall where fates were decided."Mother, wait. I told Van we'd go in together. Can we wait just five more minutes? Please mother." "You'd both be locked outside or sitting on air if we wait even a minute longer." She retorted not slowing down her pace in the slightest, if anything, she increased her pace."Well, I don't care about the stupid court case in the first place. Why do we even let powerless people contribute to our fates?" His face scrunched up in disgust
217 BCThe air was stale, spiced only by the bad blood and barely held back opinions. The tension could be cut by a knife and suffice should a thread suddenly be needed. He heard the double doors shut behind them and the walls closed in on him, they were trapped.What have they walked into?The division was as obvious as the grey sky and the strong wind. The Lortals sat on the left and the Lecanthers on the right. Usually the majority of the Lortals did, but on other days -good days, there would be a few Lortals scattered on the right and a few shifters scattered on the left. The gods, however, never left the right but today, no one was even a toe on the wrong side.Laura pulls on Lucian's hand as she sat looking just as confused as he felt. Their confusion was soon cleared when a bag of blood with a touch of flesh was dragged in, a trail of merlot in his wake.Gasps erupted just as quickly as he had seen one of theirs in chains. It filled the space turning threads of bad blood into a
That was how what should have been ended as a squabble between the two factions became the match to a raging fire. "Ever heard of the Punic wars?" He asked, hoping he wouldn't have to explain that to a history and archaeology student."Wow! I knew to expect something unexpected but nothing could prepare me for that!" Clara exclaimed, a faraway look in those stormy eyes.Lucian inched to grind out his question again but held himself back. If she really didn't have any idea about being a supernatural then she was taking this as best as anyone would. He chose to be patient instead."Like I've heard stories about the wars between the humans and gods and how gods once lived among us but I always thought they were just that. Stories," she said, daring to look at Lucian."Then why are you a history and archaeology student? If you already have your mind set on not believing anything you have read or are taught.""I don't know. I just can't help myself when it comes to history. It's like this
“Uh maybe we continue this some other time?” Clara offered creating some much needed distance between her and the reason for the ache between her thighs. An attempt at escape, maybe, but she didn’t need it. He hadn’t move a single inch closer.She pulled her hands to her side, picked up her notes and handout, and walked the final steps out of the auditorium. Their private lesson long forgotten, but something else proving more stubborn to push out of her head - a certain pale embodiment of masculinity forged to turn her defenses to mere crumbs, a man she should run in the opposite direction from, a man with an infinity symbol on his forehead that gnawed at her curiosity.She walked by a few students loitering the hallway but paid no attention to them. Her thoughts well occupied by a bronze-skinned, lean lecturer of hers with a questionable stubble and a shadow of a beard that begged to be caressed. She could just see her dorm a few turns away but decided to make a quick stop at the li
He watched her pick her things, his eyes drifting ever so slightly to the widening of her hips as she bent to pick up the handout she had dropped on a desk earlier. He couldn’t help but be drawn to the sway of her full hips as she strutted out of the hall. He had wanted so badly to stop her or say anything that would, but his faculties were still intact and couldn’t let him do so. Just a second longer and he would have known how those plump lips would feel against his.Would she pull away or would she melt against him, he wondered. He had not intended to close the distance between them but when it happened and he could see the desire coursing through his veins reflected in her eyes, he couldn’t help but wonder what explosion of pleasure awaited him should he choose to think with everything else but his brain.He cursed as he swept a sweaty palm through his hair frustrated at how she had once again clouded his thoughts. What was she doing to him? He had gone decades without so much
Peeking from the side of the desk, she could see a big breasted blonde woman. She walked in like she owned the place, wearing a skirt shorter than Clara’s short shorts. Clara was sure she had seen that face somewhere on campus before but could no remember where exactly that was. She looked too young to be a college lecturer but what if she was?! Shit! Clara ducked deeper into the desk when the lady was a few steps away. She heard shuffling above her, deepening her curiosity. No, it just wasn’t possible. Did Mr Snowe have a girlfriend or worse, wife?! She hadn’t even thought in that direction in all her mindless drooling. But again, she looked too young. Wait, why did that matter now? Most importantly, why was she thinking about that now? If you have a potential lecturer’s wife going through said lecturers files above you while you’re on nothing but short shorts and hoodie, you think about how to survive with an ounce of your dignity intact and not think about your chances with said l
"Aside from him visiting after so many years, what else that made you think your bestie could be the one working with Mars? I mean why not suspect one of the witches? It is their hometown after all," he questioned.Evander was not stupid as to form an alliance with someone whose wife he was entangled with, most especially not someone like Mars who was known for being utterly ruthless when it came to punishing offenders and betrayers alike.“I know what you’re thinking. Evander is not that stupid.” Wait, Evander? As in her Evander?! Clara pressed her ears harder against the desk, straining to hear more. If she was caught at this point, she didn’t care, she was too far gone at this point. She couldn’t have heard that right, right? Had to be another Evander, not hers. Hers knew nothing about any supernatural nonsense and most of all would never sign to a unison with someone even these two didn’t trust. Her Evander was sweet, thoughtful and definitely was no side dude to any bimbo!Just
“Breathe, Clara," Lucian said, getting on his knees.He held her hands and her trembling stilled, as her eyes met his. He wanted to look away, at anything but those grey abyss but he couldn’t bring himself to. She stared at him like she wanted to remain there but also wanted to die. They had been so lost in each other that they hadn’t notice her breathing slowing and her shaking stopping. Clara felt much better but didn’t make a move to move away or take her hand back either. She felt comfortable with him and oddly enough, dare she say, safe?Lucian noticed that her hand laxed against his, bringing back an image from few months ago when she had been having a mental breakdown. That had been the first time he had held her hand and the familiar connection repeated itself. Who was she and why did he feel this uncontrollable pull to her? Why her and not someone not already involved with Van? Not someone he’d be risking his job being around, not someone he was starting to feel something he
"Aside from him visiting after so many years, what else that made you think your bestie could be the one working with Mars? I mean why not suspect one of the witches? It is their hometown after all," he questioned.Evander was not stupid as to form an alliance with someone whose wife he was entangled with, most especially not someone like Mars who was known for being utterly ruthless when it came to punishing offenders and betrayers alike.“I know what you’re thinking. Evander is not that stupid.” Wait, Evander? As in her Evander?! Clara pressed her ears harder against the desk, straining to hear more. If she was caught at this point, she didn’t care, she was too far gone at this point. She couldn’t have heard that right, right? Had to be another Evander, not hers. Hers knew nothing about any supernatural nonsense and most of all would never sign to a unison with someone even these two didn’t trust. Her Evander was sweet, thoughtful and definitely was no side dude to any bimbo!Just
Peeking from the side of the desk, she could see a big breasted blonde woman. She walked in like she owned the place, wearing a skirt shorter than Clara’s short shorts. Clara was sure she had seen that face somewhere on campus before but could no remember where exactly that was. She looked too young to be a college lecturer but what if she was?! Shit! Clara ducked deeper into the desk when the lady was a few steps away. She heard shuffling above her, deepening her curiosity. No, it just wasn’t possible. Did Mr Snowe have a girlfriend or worse, wife?! She hadn’t even thought in that direction in all her mindless drooling. But again, she looked too young. Wait, why did that matter now? Most importantly, why was she thinking about that now? If you have a potential lecturer’s wife going through said lecturers files above you while you’re on nothing but short shorts and hoodie, you think about how to survive with an ounce of your dignity intact and not think about your chances with said l
He watched her pick her things, his eyes drifting ever so slightly to the widening of her hips as she bent to pick up the handout she had dropped on a desk earlier. He couldn’t help but be drawn to the sway of her full hips as she strutted out of the hall. He had wanted so badly to stop her or say anything that would, but his faculties were still intact and couldn’t let him do so. Just a second longer and he would have known how those plump lips would feel against his.Would she pull away or would she melt against him, he wondered. He had not intended to close the distance between them but when it happened and he could see the desire coursing through his veins reflected in her eyes, he couldn’t help but wonder what explosion of pleasure awaited him should he choose to think with everything else but his brain.He cursed as he swept a sweaty palm through his hair frustrated at how she had once again clouded his thoughts. What was she doing to him? He had gone decades without so much
“Uh maybe we continue this some other time?” Clara offered creating some much needed distance between her and the reason for the ache between her thighs. An attempt at escape, maybe, but she didn’t need it. He hadn’t move a single inch closer.She pulled her hands to her side, picked up her notes and handout, and walked the final steps out of the auditorium. Their private lesson long forgotten, but something else proving more stubborn to push out of her head - a certain pale embodiment of masculinity forged to turn her defenses to mere crumbs, a man she should run in the opposite direction from, a man with an infinity symbol on his forehead that gnawed at her curiosity.She walked by a few students loitering the hallway but paid no attention to them. Her thoughts well occupied by a bronze-skinned, lean lecturer of hers with a questionable stubble and a shadow of a beard that begged to be caressed. She could just see her dorm a few turns away but decided to make a quick stop at the li
That was how what should have been ended as a squabble between the two factions became the match to a raging fire. "Ever heard of the Punic wars?" He asked, hoping he wouldn't have to explain that to a history and archaeology student."Wow! I knew to expect something unexpected but nothing could prepare me for that!" Clara exclaimed, a faraway look in those stormy eyes.Lucian inched to grind out his question again but held himself back. If she really didn't have any idea about being a supernatural then she was taking this as best as anyone would. He chose to be patient instead."Like I've heard stories about the wars between the humans and gods and how gods once lived among us but I always thought they were just that. Stories," she said, daring to look at Lucian."Then why are you a history and archaeology student? If you already have your mind set on not believing anything you have read or are taught.""I don't know. I just can't help myself when it comes to history. It's like this
217 BCThe air was stale, spiced only by the bad blood and barely held back opinions. The tension could be cut by a knife and suffice should a thread suddenly be needed. He heard the double doors shut behind them and the walls closed in on him, they were trapped.What have they walked into?The division was as obvious as the grey sky and the strong wind. The Lortals sat on the left and the Lecanthers on the right. Usually the majority of the Lortals did, but on other days -good days, there would be a few Lortals scattered on the right and a few shifters scattered on the left. The gods, however, never left the right but today, no one was even a toe on the wrong side.Laura pulls on Lucian's hand as she sat looking just as confused as he felt. Their confusion was soon cleared when a bag of blood with a touch of flesh was dragged in, a trail of merlot in his wake.Gasps erupted just as quickly as he had seen one of theirs in chains. It filled the space turning threads of bad blood into a
217 BC"Luci, come here," Laura, a tall, brunette called, her hands outstretched waiting to be joined by her son's. "We're having a meeting with the leaders and I want you by my side, who knows you might be one of them someday." A hopeful smile graced her face as they brisk walked to the court room."Yes, as if those fragile aliens would ever allow that.""Well, they'd have no choice if your dad has something to say about it," She assured pulling his arm as she hurried to the double doors that marked the entrance to the town hall where fates were decided."Mother, wait. I told Van we'd go in together. Can we wait just five more minutes? Please mother." "You'd both be locked outside or sitting on air if we wait even a minute longer." She retorted not slowing down her pace in the slightest, if anything, she increased her pace."Well, I don't care about the stupid court case in the first place. Why do we even let powerless people contribute to our fates?" His face scrunched up in disgust
The barghest had been vanquished. Not a trace of hair, smoke or the smell of onions and garlic left. Still Lucian remained at that one spot where he had uttered the last words of an ancient chant he was taught as a kid to vanquish evil. He hadn't been sure it would work but it was the only thing he could think of that could work.He could feel her eyes on him, the hair at his nape standing as sharp as a pin. Voluntarily or not, he knew when she was around, could sense her presence before he even confirmed it. If it wasn't the citrus mixed with flowery scent that gave her away, it was the rush of his pulse, the skip in his breath, the feeling of eyes watching him, caressing him, making him yearn for something he shouldn't.He dreaded turning to her. What would he say? What could he say? She had asked if he saw it meaning she did as well so that could only mean she's a supernatural. What he wasn't sure of however was if she actually didn't know, or she was just pretending. The surprisin