“Her daughters should be home and her sister—” he stopped talking and smiled at someone emerging from the house. My head tilted to the side in confusion as I saw my dad’s fiance emerge from the house and come walking towards us. My eyes slid to the tattoos covering her body and I grew further confused. His fiance had practically lived with us for two weeks while in Spain for a month. I’d definitely remember all those tattoos.
“Maria,” my father said in warmth, reaching out and hugging the woman. She looked startled a moment but pulled back with a smirk as she looked him over. Seemed his fiance had a twin sister.
“Amador, I’m glad you made it alright. And this must be your son,” she said, her eyes sliding to me. “You two could be twins,” she joked. Wow, how fucking hilarious. I stared at her blankly a moment before turning to look back at the house. It was nice at least.
“Sorry, he’s tired from all the traveling,” Dad said. I rolled my eyes. They’d learn soon enough that this was me in a good mood.
“Well then, come on, let’s get you two settled. My sister should be back tonight but everything is all set up for you two.” We moved towards the front door, it was made of thick wood planks with iron detailing. Inside was dark with lots of wood. The rooms had vibrantly painted walls. The hall was forest green, the living room a cabaret red. The furniture was modern but the drapes and carpets looked antique.
“Caspian,” Maria said, getting my attention. “My niece, Ava, was in charge of getting your room ready. I hope it’s to your liking.” I raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She shared a smile with my dad as if they were in on some joke. We walked under a chandelier hanging in the foyer and began going up a wide set of stairs. Then we were standing in front of a door and Maria was slipping an old key in my hand.
“That’s the key to your room. It’s already unlocked though. Come on, Amador, I’ll show you the master.” I’d never seen a house where each bedroom had its own special key. My dad patted me on the back and then left me standing there alone, looking at the door of my new room. I pushed inside and looked around in curiosity.
It was big and thankfully, everything inside was modern. The room had been painted in gray-blue. I dropped my bag on the Queen sized bed but then something immediately felt off. I walked across the room with wide, shocked eyes. My gaze swept every picture and piece of art the room had been decorated with.
They were all of the water. Rivers, lakes, underwater images, waves, storms over the sea.
“How?” I asked. There’s no way they would know. I knew my father wouldn’t share what we were. It wasn’t even something considered. That part of us was almost always a secret we lived and died with.
“Hello,” a feminine voice came from my doorway. I turned around to see a girl around my age standing in the doorway, one arm held across her stomach. She looked nervous, her eyes aimed at my bed instead of me. Her black hair was swept over her shoulder and she was wearing a school uniform made of a navy blue skirt and a white button-up short sleeve shirt. The buttons strained over her chest as if begging to be opened.
So this is who I wouldn’t be touching. A catholic school girl.
“Which one are you?” I asked in apathy. There were two daughters. Ava, the same age as me and who apparently readied this room. Then another named Elizabeth, who was two years older.
“I’m Ava,” she said, rubbing her arm. “We can change anything you want with the room…” her eyes tipped up to mine and I staggered back, falling into the desk behind me and nearly falling over. Brown eyes took up my entire vision as my chest blossomed in pain. I grabbed at my shirt over my heart, my mouth popping open to try and breathe but I felt like I was suffocating.
She ran towards me in a panic, yelling out over her shoulder for help. I fell to my knees in front of her, looking up at her in awe. Had I ever seen something so beautiful? I grabbed her hands, sliding my fingers up her wrists, needing to touch her. Her skin felt smooth, warm, electric.
My body was on fire, my heart careening at breakneck speeds in my chest. My eyes swept every part of the girl in front of me and the only thing I could think was just how perfect she was.
“Are you okay?” She asked, her eyes crested in concern. I couldn’t speak so I just shook my head no. I was not okay.
I was dying.
I was being reborn.
A mounting explosion I couldn’t control built inside me. I wrapped my arms around her waist, burying my face in her soft stomach, and groaned as I came in my pants, removing any potential confusion over what exactly was happening. I was imprinting.
Her hands rested gently on my head, her fingers brushing my hair from my face. I’d have expected her to push me away but she wascomfortingme. I heard footsteps running up and I sagged, feeling depleted.
My hands slipped down her legs, gripping her thighs, and then fell to the floor. I was on my hands and knees at her feet, taking deep breaths, and only wishing I had enough energy to reach up and grab her again, press her to me, hold her.
“Oh Caspian,” my dad said in what sounded like pity. My eyes tipped up to see him standing in the doorway. He knew what had happened.
“Are you okay?” Ava bent down in front of me. Her eyes were big, sweeping over my face. I could barely comprehend that she was real and not a fever dream.
“I’m fine,” I said, my eyes sweeping over the curve of her cupid’s bow at the top of her mouth. I turned towards the doorway to look at my dad and Maria behind him. “I’m more out of it from the trip than I thought and she startled me accidentally.” My dad gave me a tentative look.
“You sure?” Maria asked.
“Yes,” I said maybe a little too forcefully but I wanted them gone. I glared at my dad. Finally, he nodded and they walked off. He had made a point of opening the door even wider though, a subtle point that I wasn’t to do anything.
“I guess you’re my new stepsister,” I said with a small laugh, eyes sliding up her legs. The skirt was tucked under her knees. I took my time looking her over, trying to see every detail hidden behind her outfit. My obvious checking out had her looking slightly flushed. She nervously pushed her hair behind her ear and stood up.
“Not officially,” she said, giving me a little smile. “Are you really okay?” I slowly got back up. All of my muscles were sore and my boxers were damp. Her eyes widened as I stood up fully in front of her, towering over her.
“I’m really okay,” I said and I’d never answered that more truthfully. The constant ache was finally gone. Suddenly everything was so clear. I knew exactly what I wanted. I wantedher. I’d never realized how empty I was until this moment. How aimless and cold until this girl stood in front of me, filling me up with warmth.
