The cab brought us straight to the hotel where we would be staying this week.
-Hero, explain to me what this place is.
- I don't understand what you mean, we are in the hotel "The Great Castle" located in the city of Kinnitty.
-Yes, I understand that, but can you explain to me how we are going to pay for such a luxurious hotel, neither of us have the money to pay for it and I doubt that the university is paying for it.
I was exasperated, I was quite confident in Hero's abilities, her ability to organize trips is exceptional, even if it doesn't seem so, because her room is always a disaster, that's why I always ask her to take care of the transfers and the lodging, but this is not going to break the bank.
-Relax Gran, I talked about this with dad, he even agreed to pay the lodging for Professor Hector, besides....
Hero glued himself to me, put his arm around my neck.
-So it wouldn't be so expensive, we'll stay in the same room.
I went from exasperation to nervousness in a single moment.
-I've underestimated you, you've become a complete pervert, you even made dad spend a lot of money, how did you get him to agree?
-It was quite easy, he only asked for one thing.
Don't leave me like this, tell me what he asked for.
-Nothing important, he only said: give me two grandchildren.
I remained silent for a while contemplating nothing.
-But what the fuck, you dirty old man, and you how... Auch!
Hero hit me in the forehead with his finger.
-Don't talk about dad like that, did you hear me?
-Youth these days is getting worse and worse, stop chattering and let's go.
All this made me forget that the professor was with us.
-Someday I'll put cyanide in his coffee.
-That's Machiavellian even for you Hero... I'll help you.
The hotel was grand, it was like going back to the 14th century and visiting the castle of some greedy king who liked gothic art.
We were greeted very pleasantly, the girl who attended us was quite pretty, I couldn't help but take a good look at her, I was surprised at how young she looked, much younger than we were, but her manner was that of a real experienced maid.
-I need your credentials, and your reservation dear masters.
The girl checked our information on a computer straight out of the cold war.
-Everything in order Mr. and Mrs. Venture, your room is 1295, I give you your key, I ask you not to lose it, my name is Amelia Linches and I will be your personal maid during your stay.
-Much pleasure Amelia, could you take our luggage to the room?
-Hero, don't abuse, we can carry them ourselves.
-Don't worry, Master Venture, here in the Great Castle we are here to take care of you, I will personally take care of the luggage for you.
He gave us both a nice smile and took care of our bags.
I don't think I'm used to the word master.
-Short, helpful, flirtatious face, red hair, nice ass, she's definitely your type of woman.
I just managed to let out a nervous giggle.
- Do you think I didn't notice that you looked at her from head to toe?
Hero's face gave off a demonic air.
-Don't be unfaithful to me, Mr. Venture.
-You're not going to get tired, are you?
-Of you, never.
I guess this time it won't hurt to play along for a while.
I took her by the hand, I noticed she was surprised by it.
-Let's go to our room, Mrs. Venture.
-Great...
She hugged my arm, squeezing it a little without letting go of my hand.
The auditorium of the university could fit without problems in this room, the rock walls, along with the chandelier that hung from the ceiling made the place pleasant, I walked around the room, there was a large wooden armchair carved with fabric, probably from the thirteenth century, I touched the seats.
-How soft.
I took off my coat to be more comfortable.
I went to the balcony of the room from where I could see the beautiful garden of the castle.
The sun was caressing my face, despite my complaint about being in such an expensive place, I was enjoying it all.
I went back inside to unpack my suitcase.
-Great, the bathroom has a Jacuzzi.
-It's really huge in here, but can you explain why there's only one bed!!!
In the center of the room was a single circular bed that I'm sure could easily fit 6 people.
-The double room was cheaper than asking for 2 pieces, besides when we were kids we always slept together, it will be nice to remember those times.
-I don't know when you came up with this Machiavellian plan.
-Since 2 years ago... since we entered the University we have grown apart, not that I'm complaining, but I miss the brother who always wanted to be with me.
-I guess you're right, we each made our friendships separately, then we both had boyfriends, I think that's when we showed how lousy we are with other people.
-Speak for yourself, I still get along with Rury.
-I didn't know you still had contact with her, Hero.
-We write to each other from time to time, although it annoys me that she always asks about you... I'd better go take a shower, I hope you're not a peeping tom.
-Here between the two of us, you are more likely to spy on me than I am to spy on you.
When I turned around to reproach her, Hero was undressing.
-Can you stop seducing me for a minute and don't leave your clothes lying around!!!!
-I don't know what you're talking about, I'll leave the door open for my safety.
-You can take a quiet shower without peeping toms and I'll go to sleep for a while, you pervert.
I thought for a while about what my sister said, I never thought Rury would ask about me.
-It doesn't matter.
I went to the balcony, I lay down on the stretcher there, I took out my old notebook, I started to look for a specific page, once I found it I read it to myself.
-Damn ghost.
It was already night, the cold woke me up, apparently I took more than a little nap, I got up and entered, the room was dark, I approached the switches to turn on the light.
-Don't turn on the light Gran, come closer... I'm in bed.
How strange... when I got to her I had mixed feelings.
Hero was lying on the bed with her knees to her chest, she was only covered by the white hotel robe, her face was flushed.
-Hero, stop it, you're taking this too far.
Hero grabbed a pillow and threw it at my body.
-I want us to be... together.
-Alice, we are brothers, realize once and for all that we can't be together...not like that.
Alice looks at me sadly, she knows I only call her Alice when I get mad at her, which is not very often.
-So terrible is the idea of you being my partner, so horrible is it that I love you.
-It's not about that...
- Then what is it about?
I remained silent without being able to answer him, it's painful for me to see Hero cry, but even more when I'm the one responsible for it.
-Tell me that you don't love me, and I promise you that I will leave all this aside, I will never bother you with my feelings again.
Their words affected me, seeing her like this....
-If that's what you want, well, Alice I don't lo... you... I don't... lov... By a demon.
I pounced on Hero without thinking, I grabbed her arms, she let out a small gasp, because of the situation her breasts were exposed, but I didn't pay much attention to it.
-You know what I suffered when you went out with that idiot Arthur, when I gave him your first time, when you went out with Rury, even when I was with Diana I left her because I couldn't think of anyone else but you, even when I had sex....
I don't know at what point, but we were both yelling at each other.
-... You are the person who saved me when I lost my mother, how can I not love you?
-If you love me, then why aren't we together?
-Because we're brothers, understand that at once.
-Fuck that, we were only raised together, we're not even real siblings, so I'm asking you to be honest for once and for fuck's sake.
She grabbed me hard by the collar of my shirt.
-I can't... I can't.
Tears welled up in my eyes.
-Why not?
-Because I don't want to lose you.
-You idiot, how can you lose me when you're with me, it's the opposite if you act like that you'll end up per...
I gently wiped the tears from Hero's eyes.
-Trust me, that's all I can do now.
-You fool... How can I trust you, if you can't tell me why you can't be with me?
-When we find her... I promise you that when I resolve that issue with whatever we saw that day, I will dedicate my whole life to being able to love you.
- Great... What does that ghost have to do with all this?
-It's hard to explain, no, in fact, I'd rather not.
-Gran...at least let me sleep like this tonight with you, just cuddling, nothing else.
I couldn't hold back, my breathing was too fast, his lips glistening in the little moonlight that came through the windows.
-I can do a little more for tonight.
I slowly approached her lips, the closer I got the more my heart was beating, Hero closed her eyes and stretched her delicate lips, I took a long breath, she smelled like honey, I didn't prolong the situation, I kissed her mouth, it was wet, almost clumsy as if we were teenagers, even so I wanted more of the sweet taste of her lips, I let our tongues caress each other, a small current ran through my head, for one night, although nothing more than that kiss happened, we were happy in a reciprocal love.
-Hero...
-No, don't say anything.
She began to unbutton my shirt.
Like her, I also had a tattoo, a tattoo that I never mentioned to anyone, and I didn't want her to discover it, honestly I was ashamed.
-You can keep my shirt on.
She smiled slightly at me.
Seeing her at this moment was like a drug, she looked fragile, exposed, beautiful.
-Whatever you want.
She finished taking off the last button and hugged me under the shirt, we were like that contemplating each other for a long time until we both fell asleep as if we were two lovebirds cuddled together.