“The massage therapist is here,” Victor mentions without looking to see who’s at the door.
Leo gives Victor a stunned look. “You can sense her?”
Victor hops off the couch and walks to the door. “Him.” Victor opens the door, and a very handsome, toned man is on the other sidewearing perfectly ironed light-tan slacks and a simple white polo.“Aloha,”Victor says under his breath as he takes in how stunning this man is.
“Aloha,” the handsome man says with a gorgeous smile. “I’m here to give you gentlemen a massage out on the lanai. May I come in?” Victor steps to the side, allowing him to enter. “It will take me a few minutes to get set up. Who would like to go first?”
“I volunteer as tribute,” Victor blurts out before Leo can get a word out. Leo laughs as he turns the blender on to make the drinks.The man smiles back at Victor as he heads to the lanai.
A few minutes later, the man walks back inside. “Okay, I’m ready.” Victor doesn’t hesitate, taking his shirt off before stepping outside. Leo chuckles as he sips his freshly blended cocktail.
After a much-needed massage and nap, Leo and Victor walk hand-in-hand to the luau on the beach. Nali greets them again, waiting for them with fresh leis. She escorts them to their seats close to the stage. As they take their seats, two servers set a drink and a basket of sweet breads in front of them.
“I have never been to an actual luau,” Victor mentions as he picks up his drink.
Leo leans over and gives Victor a peck on the cheek. “You’re in for a treat.”
Victor does his best not to blush. “Are you sure you’re not in danger with what we are doing?”
“What do you mean?” Leo ponders.
“Holding hands, kisses on the cheek, sleeping in the same bed?”
“Nothing bad has happened to me yet,” Leo says as he sips his drink. “Also, the definition of adultery is slightly different in witchcraft than in the mundane. We would have to engage in intercourse without the other spouse’s consent. All these other gestures are harmless and friendly.”
“If you say so,” Victor worries. However, his worry dissipates when the food arrives.A server sets a silver platter featuring generous portions ofkaluapig, slow-roasted until tender,alongsidelomi-lomisalmon and moist chicken long rice. Sides of sweetpoi, haupiacoconut pudding, and fresh tropical fruit traditionally accompany the main dishes. They enjoy their meal and the show as the sun slowly lowers into the water, turning day into night.
In the middle of the night, Victor tosses and turns. His facial expressions show he’s having a bad dream. Leo is on the other side of the bed and doesn’t move when Victor sits up abruptly, breathing heavily. Victor is covered in sweat, and his hands are shaky. He looks around the room to get his bearings.
Victor looks over at Leo, who is sound asleep. He tries not to disturb him while quietly getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom. Halfway there, Victor stops and stands straight up. A chill runs through his body, causing his skin to break out in goosebumps and his hair to stand on end. He takes in a slow, deep, and shaky breath. There is a feeling that someone else is in the room with him.
Victor slowly examines the room and cannot see anyone. He opens the door to the living room; he doesn’t notice anything. He slowly walks over to the window, placing his hand on the curtains, trying to hold back his nerves. Before Victor opens them, he closes his eyes and takes another deep, shaky breath. He swallows dryly, opens his eyes, and slowly pulls back the curtains.
The bedroom fills with the bright light from the full moon. As Victor looks around outside, his scans bring his attention to the water. There is a figure of someone standing on the shore. The figure has a darkglow to it. Victor can’t make out whether it is a man or a woman. The waves crash against their feet. As Victor focuses on the figure, they look back up at him.
Their eyes glow a lime green.
“LEO!” Victor shouts as he runs to the bed.
Leo is startled awake. “What! What is it?” Victor abruptly pulls Leo out of bed and over to the window. Victor rips back the curtains, but the figure is gone. Leo looks outside and then over at Victor. He can see Victor is frightened. “What did you see?”
Victor looks down at the spot where he saw the figure on the beach. “I think she foundme.”
Leo grows concerned. “Who? Morgana?” Victor slowly nods. Leo turns Victor to face him,but Victor doesn’t stop looking towards the beach. “Are you sure it was her?”
Victor licks his lips before he responds. “I-I don’t know. Someone was down there. I couldn’t make out who it was. They only had this dark glow to them. And when they looked up, I could see a green glow coming from their eyes, just staring right back at me.”
Leo pulls Victor in for a tight hug. Victor buries his face into Leo’s shoulder as he returns to shaking. Leo lightly rubs the back of Victor’s neck. “Shhh, it’s okay. You’re safe and with me.”
Victor shakes his head on Leo’s shoulder. “You don’t get it. I sensed so much fear. It manifested in my dreams. Whoever was out there projected fear onto me.” Victor pulls away from Leo. “Look. I’m still shaking.”
Leo goes over to the nightstand on Victor’s side of the bed. “Where’s your silver card?”
“It should be with my jacket in the closet,” Victor responds.
“You should be keeping it close to you,” Leo mentions. Leo rushes to the closet and rummages through Victor’s garment bag. He finds the silver card and hurries back to Victor, who hasn’t moved from his spot. Victor clasps the card in his hands and holds it against his chest. Leo pulls Victor back in for another hug.Victor’s heart rate begins to slow down, allowing him to relax in Leo’s arms.
“Well, isn’t this touching?” a mysterious voice comments behind them.
