Victor sighs deeply as he just lied to his friends. He knows that he can’t come out to them. “Wow, I have to come out again! But this time, as a Warlock. Should I tell them?” He looks at the time; it’s only 9 a.m. “What the fuck are they doing up at this god-forsaken hour?”
“Maybe they worry about you?” Leo comments as he leans against the doorframe.
Victor is startled and pulls the covers over himself because he’s naked underneath. He looks over to the bedroom door, and there’s Leo in a robe, holding two mugs of coffee.
Leo chuckles as he enters the bedroom. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“It’s okay,” Victor says as he sits up against the headboard. “I was just texting with my friends.”
Leo takes a seat and leans against the headboard as he hands Victor a mug.
“Thank you,” Victor mentions, taking the mug from Leo. They sit in silence for a few moments while they sip their coffee. Victor turns on the TV, and the weather report comes on. They look onward at the TV until Victor breaks the silence.
“Leo, about last night . . . “
Leo holds up his hand to stop Victor from continuing. “It’s okay. Don’t worry.”
“I just don’t want to seem like I overstepped,” Victor says.
“You didn’t,” Leo explains while watching the weather report.
“Okay,” Victor responds as he takes another sip of coffee. “So, what are our plans today?”
“We are going to review some books,” Leo answers as he gets up from the bed. “Why don’t you freshen up, then meet me in my room?”
Leo is about to leave the room when Victor asks a question. “Does anyone know?”
“About our kiss?” Leo asks, turning back around.
“No, about you being a warlock,” Victor clarifies.
Leo walks back over and sits back down on the side of the bed. “My family are also magic wielders. But the only friends I have are fellow witches and warlocks. I don’t have any mundane friends. At least, not anymore.”
“What happened?” Victor asks as he crisscrosses his legs.
“Remember, I’m 66, but look in my 30s,” Leo mentions. “My mundane friends are already in their 60s and 70s, and they look it too. One died recently, and I hesitated to go to his funeral. But I did it against my better judgment.” Leo takes a moment, remembering his friend’s funeral. “I acted like I was visiting another gravesite to not seem like a mysterious person in the shadows.”
Leo sips his coffee before continuing. “I believe you should cut your losses with your friends soon. I don’t mean to sound like a total asshole about it, but as soon as you start using your powers, it will only be a matter of time before you look like you have stopped aging while you see all your mundane friends grow old.
“And before you suggest necromancy, remember how Anakin became Vader? He gave himself over to the dark side. And if you don’t know how to avoid the temptation of necromancy, you’ll lose yourself in it. I watched one warlock attempt to revive a dear friend of his. He had to fight his friend and take him out.” Leo stands up and walks over to the door. “Now, freshen up. I ordered room service, and it should be arriving any minute. We have a long day ahead.”
Victor walks into Leo’s room in regular clothes. He notices Leo is still in his robe as he looks over a few books from a box on the couch. Two more boxes are on the lounge chair. Breakfast is already set on the small table near the window in the far corner.
Leo looks up and smiles at Victor. “Come on in. Eat. I’m just looking for the right book to give you first.”
Victor takes a seat and uncovers his breakfast. He sees an omelet made to his liking, a bagel with cream cheese and salmon on top, freshly squeezed orange juice chilling in the bucket on the side of the table, and a fresh cup of coffee. Victor is about to start eating when Leo sets a book in the center of the table. He looks at it and wonders about a few markings along the spine. He’s never seen them before, but they look very familiar.
“I’m going to take a quick shower. Eat up, and we’ll review this book when I return.” Leo retreats to his bedroom. Victor looks over at a mirror that looks in. He watches Leo take off the robe, allowing him to see Leo’s firm back and ass. He watches andhopes Leo turns around to see the front, but Leo walks into the bathroom. He’s halfway through his breakfast when he hears the bathroom door open.
Curious, Victor looks in the mirror. Leo walks out, but he has a towel wrapped around his waist. Victor can see Leo’s muscular and fuzzy chest. The hairs on his chest are dark against his tanned olive-colored skin. Leo doesn’t notice Victor gazing in the mirror as he closes the bedroom door.
A moment later, Leo walks into the living room wearing a T-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops. “How’s breakfast?”
“It’s good,” Victor answers when he finishes swallowing his food. “They cooked the eggs just the way I like.”
“Of course they did,” Leo smirks.
“Is food always going to be this way now? Where is it to my liking?” Victor asks.
