He began creating the treasury. The outer rooms, his parents' rooms. The fire in the middle was a brilliant bright light that hurt his eyes, but he welcomed the feeling. He clothed himself in the same fashion that was in the painting on the wall. Only this leather was gray, rather than the brain-tanned white he'd had on in the picture. He kept his wings pulled in; he didn't want to frighten her with their first actual introduction. It hurt to keep them withdrawn at all times, but like the bright flame, for her, he welcomed the feeling.
He placed Velori in Melisa's room with the door shut. She had on the same outfit that she wore to the tomb. He even gave her a dusty look, one he knew from her mind, that she was fond of. He placed her on the floor holding her head. He would have to allow her access to the Illusion with her body, so she could walk, talk and move, without feeling as if she were being programmed to do it. He wanted her comfortable, and content. Not on her guard. He wished her to trust him.
Maneuvering in her mind was easy while in her subconscious. She didn't know, that was what she was using, and it was very open because of it. If she would have projected herself out of her body on purpose, there would be a chance she would find out he was controlling things. The only thing he didn't have full access to were her memories. It seemed that her memories were locked away and not by her. They had been closed by a very strong Verrah, one that she didn't seem to have access to. This was done without her permission, and without serious effort, they couldn't be messed with.
Interesting. Even more mystery with this female.
There were no lights on in her room because the door was shut, and the fire didn't reach into it without it being opened.
"Hold on Pet, I'll be-"
"Stop calling me pet names. I don't know you, and I don't care for the feelings I get when you call me them."
Every time he had said anything nice, or sweet it was like someone was pouring more oil on the flames within her and was trying to send her skin into a sweat.
Again, he found himself smiling. Something he rarely did without pushing for it. She was all lightning and he loved it.
"It is my way, no harm intended."
He walked up to the stone door and leaned against its cold surface. The hard, cold, rock felt good against his body. He was nervous! Why? No one made him nervous. Who was she, that she could have so much of an effect on him without his permission?
"You were saying? Hurry and get the lights on, I hate not being able to see." And she did, it was true. Control allowed her to keep a small version of sanity alive in her world. Without it, she felt helpless, and that was something she swore to herself she would never be, again.
A smile was such a foreign feeling to him, but he was doing it from ear to ear. He stepped back and placed his foot on the stone slab to open the door. A small movement, but one he felt good doing. It gave him strength, seeing the door slide open, with so small an effort. No matter how old he was, the feeling of strength would always surprise him.
She could hear the sound of the door opening. As she looked over towards the sound, she was blinded by a flood of light, causing her to quickly look away. It was so bright, compared to the darkness from before, that her vision blurred. Looking up, she could see a shadow coming forward out of the brightness of the other room. It had the shape of a man . . . With wings?
As he moved closer to her, her vision cleared, and she was staring at a man. And a very handsome man, with long silver hair, and eyes so bright blue they were almost white. They reminded her of a bird for some reason. They were so striking it was hard to look away and see his other features.
Her skin felt on fire, and she feared if she touched herself anywhere, it would explode. Then just as intensely, she shivered, as if she were standing out in the cold. It was an odd sensation and had a tint of wrongness to it.
Unsettled, she tried to focus back on the man in front of her. He looked so much like Gairett, but he was more... animalistic? Like the bird, she could see in his eyes.
He had his hand held out as if to help her up. By that time, she caught a look at his lips and the shape of his mouth, and it was all she could see. A mistake, it seemed, on her part. They were as breathtaking as his ice-blue eyes, and wild hair. When she didn't take his hand he smiled, showing off his predatory grin. Her breath caught and her heart nearly stopped at the sight.
He leaned lower, stretching his hand out further, making a mass of silver hair fall over and brush against her thigh and fingertips. It sent a silent shock throughout her body, boiling the oil in her veins. It went from her thighs to her neck and back down to her toes, making her nipples peak and ache. A gust of wind came in and formed a skin of gooseflesh all over her body. Once again, she shivered from the cold. It made her heartbeat again, only it wasn't the steady beat that she was used to; it was a frantic wild beat that she couldn't get under control.
She moistened her lower lip with her tongue and bit down to take back control of her emotions and body. Before she knew it, he grabbed her hand and was pulling her up. He was much shorter than he looked when she was sitting on the floor. The top of his head was only about two inches taller than hers. She was standing next to him and holding his hand when she noticed his chest and refined muscles. He had no shirt on and only a loincloth to cover himself. She couldn't help the blush that took over her body.
The thought came of pulling him back down to the floor and finding out for herself if he had anything to hide underneath it. Then she'd get to see if he maneuvered his tongue as well as his smile. Which, at the moment, was growing bigger and much more predatory looking, as if he could read her thoughts. Her blush turned to a deeper maroon. What is WRONG with me?!
"Ma Joie, you cannot think things like that. I am here to help you. Not to confuse you. Please, do not tempt me with such thoughts."
Velori's eyes grew wide, and she took in a deep breath, out of shock. She was looking right at his perfect mouth, and it never moved. It only kept that gorgeous grin that was now beginning to irritate her. Yet she heard him as if he spoke right next to her ear.
She ripped her hand out of his and put it back up to her head. She was looking at him with confusion so he couldn't help but read her mind again. She was confused by him talking to her with his mind.
Does she really not know?
"I apologize, Ma Joie." He bowed so low she thought he meant to kiss the floor. Then, barely raising he looked back into her eyes, making her heart go wild again. "I should 'ave warned you. I do not need to speak the way, with my vocals, as others might. It is much more efficient and far more..." He stood straight and took a few steps closer. So close that she could feel the heat of his body. "...comforting..." He was looking at her with those eyes and was so close she could smell him. His scent was a mix of deep forest wind and sweet spice. "…to use the mind. Don't you think?"
Ignoring everything he just said and the look of his body, the memory of being attacked flooded her mind. In fear, she backed away, once again feeling trapped and alone with a man. Even the walls themselves seemed to be closing in and stealing the air from the room.
As she was withdrawing, she tripped over her bag and began to fall to the floor. Her heart was beating so hard that it hurt. Soon, she thought, she'd be back on her ass, and at his feet. But that's not what happened. Hale was instantly there. Plucking her from the floor and running out of the tomb. She didn't even have time to blink.