Original
LANIAS
Lanais couldn’t say what woke her up, but one minute she was curled up next to Alek and the next she was up, looking out the window. Her eyes narrowed on the mist that covered the land beyond the glass. Its wispy traces seemed to call to her.
She rose from the bed, stopping when she remembered she was completely naked. She bent down and grabbed her torn shirt, using a small amount of Magic she changed it into a loose jump suit. Pulling it on, she brushed a hand over her hair, the short mass turning pin straight once more.
She worked her mouth, using magic to clean her teeth. She couldn’t deny her preference of using the human way because it felt cleaner. Still, she didn’t have time, something out there was reaching out to her. Although she had given up a lot of her old ways. She wasn’t ever going to be caught dead looking a mess.
Walking around the bed she paused by the door to glance back at Alek. He was laying there with arms and legs wide. The man’s body was a work of art, she thought back to the things she’d said in the throes of their passionate love making. Her stomach flopped as she remembered her promise.
“Shit, Lanias,” she mentally groaned. She’d always coached her workers not to catch feelings for their clients.
Don’t mix up good sex, with a good heart.
Turning her back on the sleeping temptation, she stepped outside.
“I wasn’t sure you’d be able to sense me,” Roni greeted when she stepped into the hallway.
Dressed differently from the day before he now wore a simple clean white T-shirt and grey sweats. His hair was loose, and he wore some bracelets that she immediately noticed had magic stones embedded in their weaving. They were common stones that were mined by Werewolves.
“I’m not accustomed to having someone invade my mind,” she said, letting her displeasure show. “Next time, just knock.”
He offered her a smile, but no promise and glanced at the door behind her. “Are you not going to bring your Vampire?”
“I don’t think he needs to come.”
“Are you sure? Isn’t it because you don’t want him to know who your father really is?” Roni challenged a knowing look in his eyes.
Stiffening, she exhaled, purposely taking on a nonchalant pose. She wasn’t new to this tactic of questioning. It was herfavorite game. “You should watch how you ask questions. It’s almost like you’re implying I have secrets.”
“A half-breed always has secrets,” Roni rebutted.
“Well, this half-breed isn’t afraid of them. That’s the difference between you and I,” she said, her voice cool. “I may lose a few people, but that’s it.”
He pushed off the wall and half-turned. “But isn’t that what you fear the most?”
“Let me worry about that,” she snapped.
He stared her down, but Lanias wasn’t the type to wilt under a stern gaze.
“Are you staring at me with those eyes because you want me to take them or,” she smirked striding to his side. “Are you wanting a taste of what I gave my Vampire in there. A warning, I’m not cheap.”
Roni ignored her words, choosing to continue forward. “Come, I will show you your mothers’ memorial tablet.”
“Yay,” Lanias said with mock excitement. Truthfully, she felt nervous. The days of being unsure about who she was, and her existence were about to come to an end. But at that thought she felt a sudden emptiness.
Once she learned the truth about herself, what would she do after?
As she followed Roni, she found herself taking in the place she was staying in. The inside colors schemes were soft pink and rose gold. There were portraits that decorated the walls and as she started paying attention she frowned as they reached the top of the steps. “These pictures.”
Roni stopped on the second step and glanced up at her.
“Are these the same person?” she asked, lowering her gaze to the first portrait again — a woman wrapped in layered robes, her head covered, long ropes of pearls spilling down around her face.
Lanias shifted to the next painting of the same woman. In this one she wore a Victorian gown and held a Mona Lisa smile, carrying more humor than mystery.
“Yes, it’s the very woman you’re interested to see,” Roni said before continuing his descent down the steps.
