"We've been walking in whatever this is for hours. Why haven't we found a way out yet?" Lauri said exasperated. Dorian looked away from the wall to where Lauri had stopped. She was hunched over holding herself tight, shivering slightly. Dorian smiled softly. "You are from a hot country. This is your first experience with snow and ice, isn't it?" Dorian asked quietly. Lauri scowled. "If this is what the cold is like, then I'll pass." Lauri said. She looked up at Dorian reproachfully. "Are you not cold?" She asked her lip trembling slightly. Dorian chuckled. "Back when I used to sneak into earth to go visit my sister in England, I experienced weather like this all the time." He said, backing up and walking beside her. "I've never felt cold like this before. I didn't even know that what cold was until I got to Vemos." Lauri said. "In the place I lived, there was only two seasons, the heat of summer and cool breezes of spring. We never knew things like fall or winter. I only know of them because of the books Simeon had me reading in the tower." She said, her breath coming out in visible puffs of air. "Those books are some of earth's history. As a witch in Vemos we have the power of traveling between the different realms and different time periods on earth." Dorian said. "The sky is the limit, once you have learned all the different aspects of your powers."
"That sounds nice. But for now, how do we get out of here?" Lauri asked. "I'm sure we'll find a way out; this place can't go on forever." He said. Lauri scowled, "What is this place anyways? Some sort of ice maze, to make unwanted guests walk through it forever, never finding any peace." Lauri moaned. "I think that's a bit of an overreaction." Dorian said. "It's not like we are never going to escape." Dorian said. Lauri scowled, turning to look at Dorian, who glanced down at her, but before either of them could say anything, there was a loud sounding crack. Dorian froze his eyes wide, and immediately looked down, seeing a visible crack in the ice. "Oh shit." He said his eyes wide. Dorian had barely time to look at Lauri before the ice fully broke and they both fell through the ice. They fell in mid-air for a brief moment, before being plunged in frigid moving water, that pulled them down, down into what seemed like an inescapable tunnel. The tunnel finally widened into a wide pool of water, Dorian pulled at Lauri both of them rising up from the middle of the pool to the surface. Lauri spluttered as she finally got air in her lungs again, swimming to the shore, or at least where there was ground. Dorian followed her, pulling himself out of the water, lying flat on his back trying to gain his breath.
"What the hell was that?" Lauri said her voice breaking.
"We fell." Dorian said, ignoring the glare she gave him for pointing the obvious. "What fresh hell is this?" Dorian asked looking at their new surroundings. The tunnel of water had somehow plunged them into an underwater cave of some sort. He looked around the circular stone room, and immediately realized that other than how they entered there was no other way out. He leaned on one of the cave walls, he was soaked to the bone. His eyes widened as he realized so was Lauri. Lauri, who had no experience with cold, and no other clothes to warm herself with. Dorian started walking towards her, pulling at his clothes as he went.
"Lauri take off your clothes." He said dispassionately.
Lauri's eyes widened at his words, forgetting for a moment that she was completely wet and chilled to the bone. She forgot that she was shivering so deeply as she watched Dorian strip out of his jacket and shirt. She felt her cheeks fill with warmth, despite how cold she was, as she took in the water dripping across his now bare chest. "Strip. Take off your clothes." Dorian said, again his eyes avoiding Lauri's face. He knew that she was looking at him. That this was most likely the first time she had seen a bare man in front of her. For all of Raphael's bluster, and superior looks Dorian knew very well, that other than sleeping with Lauri, and marking her he had yet to claim her. "Wha-what." She said stuttering. Dorian froze from where he had been unbuttoning his slacks. "Lauri." He said his voice pained. "Unless you want to die here, you have to take off your clothes. It's freezing."
"And how will taking off my clothes help that?!" She shrieked. "Body heat." Dorian said, walking close to Lauri, he gently rubbed his hands over her shoulders, down to her arms. Not thinking about the desire that ran through his veins as he did so.
"Please trust me." He said even though he knew that trusting him at that moment was the last thing she should be doing. Not when all he could think about was how much he wanted to lick the drops of water that was rolling down her body off her skin. He moved his hands to gently push down the zipper of her jacket, brushing it off her shoulders.
"Dorian." She said softly, her hands gently touching his hips. Dorian swallowed thickly as passion filled him. He knew this was wrong. But he also knew that if she didn't take off her clothes she would freeze to death. He pretended that it was concern that started the tremble he felt as he saw more and more of her skin. His heart raced as he pushed off the tunic she had been wearing under the jacket. His hands went to her waist as soon as it was off, squeezing her gently before pushing her against his chest his hands going around her back. He rubbed her in the back trying to create friction.
"Your cold." She whispered, pressing her head on his chest. Dorian chuckled. "We are both still wearing pants. That might be why." He said feeling her growl against his chest. "I hate this stupid realm." She muttered, her lips pressing against his chest. Dorian closed his eyes at the touch. He kissed her forehead, "Come on," he said bending down and grabbing her thighs picking her up and holding her close.
He walked to one of the cave walls turning and bending his knees holding Lauri close and continuing to rub her back trying to warm her as fast as he could. "Don't fall asleep," Dorian warned, as he brushed hair off her cheek. Lauri looked up at him her eyes weary. "What will happen if I fall asleep?" She asked softly.
"You fall asleep with this much cold and you will never wake." Dorian said his voice soft. "It's the danger of the cold. This land is full of ice and snow. Its dangers are many and nothing at all." He said softly. "Why would the heart of the forest lead us here?" Lauri said her head going to Dorian's neck her arms encircling his chest trying to get warm. "There must have been a portal somewhere there." Dorian said looking away from Lauri for a moment, he knew he was holding close temptation. Long had he coveted what did not belong to him. It was most likely the main reason why he had felt so against her coming with him on this journey. And now they were stuck in a frozen ice cave trapped, with no idea if their friends were even looking for them. Dorian and Lauri sat silently in the cave for what felt like hours, Lauri still moved restlessly over him, so he knew she was still awake.
"It's getting warmer." Lauri muttered against him, surprising him by breaking the silence. "I told you, body warmth does help. I wish I could do more." Dorian said looking around the cave.
His eyes glanced at the middle of the cave, and he jumped slightly. "Lauri. Do you see that in the middle?" Dorian said, Lauri glanced at Dorian before moving slightly and looking to where he was watching as she moved her hands fell down Dorian's chest making him shudder with desire. He refused to acknowledge the shudder or the fact that if he looked down at her now he would see the curve of her breasts in the dark, the same breasts that had been crushed to his chest. He swallowed, feeling her move against him as she left his lap, standing up unsteadily she waved her hand in a circle before lifting her palm up, a purple fireball lighting over her palm, she made a twisting movement, with her wrist and the fireball flew to the middle of the floor that had been cleared to obviously make room for a fire.
"Thank god." She said breathlessly, leaning forward and pulling her still damp tunic back on, and moving the rest of the clothes closer to the fire. "Do you want your shirt?" She asked glancing upwards at Dorian who still sat in the same place, his knee up. "Nope," Dorian said, glancing at her once before putting his head back, leaning against the cave wall.
"Don't fall asleep." Lauri said. Dorian smiled opening back his eyes. "Stay close to the fire. You were far colder than I was."
"You said you felt weather like this before?" Lauri asked, going down on her knees facing Dorian sitting close to the now burgundy colored flames. Dorian looked back at her his eyes dark in the shadows of the flames. "My sister Samara, was banished to merry old England, in 1842. The years of Queen Victoria's reign." Dorian said. "When we go back to the castle remind me, and I'll show you the Timex. It's a magical book that we have in the library that has information of every year in the human realm. Eighteen-forty-two was during what is known as the Victorian era. Cobblestone streets, poverty, and long dresses and men dressed to the nines in three-piece vested suits. My sister lived in one of the old country manors in the far west of England." Dorian said, he watched Lauri then closed his eyes, putting his hands behind his back, his muscles flexing at the movement.
"Banishment in Nathaniel's reign was different then normal banishment, you weren't just banished, but you were reborn as a human. You believed you were human, until your sixteenth year when all your memories of being a demon comes back, as well as the hunger. I think that's why so many myths of Vampires were created, in the human realm." Dorian said, yawning as he spoke. "London was a beautiful place. I should've left her alone, but I couldn't help but be watchful of her. She was my sister." Dorian said his voice becoming melancholy as he remembered his sweet little sister.
"She was called Lucille as a human. Lucy, I called her when I was on the earth. She called me her sweet blue-eyed boy." Dorian said smiling softly. "I would've done anything to make her happy." He said softly. He felt Lauri's hand go into his, her hand warm after the fire. "I'm sorry. It must've been hard to see her again." She said softly. He opened his eyes, looking at Lauri who was so much closer to him now.
"It wasn't hard." He said looking at her, his eyes roving around her face. Before she could move Dorian leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, cupping her face with one hand and bringing her closer with his other. Lauri pressed closer against him for a moment kissing him back before she leaned back looking at him breathlessly.
"Dorian." She whispered her breath hot against his cheek. "I've been wanting to do that since the first time I saw you." Dorian said leaning forward and biting her lip. Lauri's eyes darkened once more leaning forward before they both heard a loud thumping sound. They both turned surprised to see that the cave wall opposite, was shaking.
"What the hell?" Lauri said her eyes wide, she looked back down and grabbed her damp leather jacket sliding it on and throwing Dorian's jacket towards him. He slid it on as well, but stayed on the ground, his hand going to his pocket. "What are you doing?" Lauri hissed at him. "Waiting to see if there's an actual reason to worry." Dorian said quietly, his eyes narrow as he watched the cave wall, he glanced back at Lauri. "Come back here." He hissed looking at Lauri with guarded eyes. She went and stood right beside him leaning against the wall.
The cave itself finally buckled, they both looked away guarding their faces from the approaching dust. When they looked back as the dust cleared their eyes widened as they saw Christian, Cassie and Bram walk through the now empty cave wall. "Oh, thank god." Lauri said walking forward into Cassie's arms. "What happened to the two of you?" Cassie asked taking in their wet clothes. "We came into an ice fortress when we crossed over, where did you guys end up." Dorian asked taking Christian's hand and letting him lift him up.
"Just beside it." Christian said groaning.
"I wish I had known that." Bram said. "How did you end up here?" he asked looking around the grotto.
"We were trying to find a way out and fell through a hole we didn't even realize was there, ended up submerged in deep water."
"When we swam out of there, we ended up here," Lauri said.
"We actually met up with one of the locals." Cassie said. "The necklace of the Strigoi is here, but it can only be found by the one who can wield it." Christian said, pointedly looking at Lauri. Lauri glanced around, looking at the cave walls. She lifted one of her hands, lighting her whole hand in a sphere of fire. "Whoa." Cassie said backing away slightly from her. Lauri started walking looking at the cave wall. "There's a passageway. Do you see it?" She said looking at Dorian, then Christian. Christian narrowed his eyes. "Your going to have to lead the way, Hun. I see nothing." He said. Dorian nodded to Lauri as she looked back at him. They all watched as she carefully made her way to what had looked like an ordinary cave wall until she turned sideways into what was clearly a hidden passageway. Dorian glanced at Cassie who grinned widely at him. "Here we go again." She said, before following after her, Bram closely behind. "You two looked cozy." Christian said, a smirk on his lips. "I've no idea what your talking about." Dorian said, following Bram. The corridor they now found themselves in was extremely small, but weirdly warm. "Weird." Dorian said. "It's her." Christian said behind him. "The flame that she has control of, is called the eternal flame. It has powers you would not believe." He said.
"That I can believe." Dorian said, as they followed, the corridor opened up into a wide cavern, the walls were slick with ice, that made spiral designs on the wall. In the middle of the room was a decorative Blue and silver chest. Lauri walked straight to it circling the chest till she came to the opening she looked up, glancing at Christian and Dorian as she did. "Am I supposed to do something special before I open the chest?" Lauri asked raising an eyebrow. "Praying might be helpful." Cassie said. Lauri turned to look at her once, smiling before she opened the chest.
"Well that was anticlimactic." Bram said glancing at everyone. Lauri lifted the necklace out of the chest, it was a long silver chain at the end held a violet diamond shaped stone, encrusted by ruby spikes. Lauri slipped it on the stone falling in the center of her chest. As it slid in place, the whole cavern shook once. "That would be our cue to leave." Christian said. "How do we get home?" Dorian asked, as they all turned and ran back through the corridor.
"Oh, you are going to love this."