That's complicated

Reminder:
These are my interpretations of Muse's. A muse enbody's one thing. Love, or Hope, or Envy... Anything is possible. So long as that one thing is around a Muse cannot die. A Muse also has limited powers over whatever they are.

Example: Motion.

The Muse of Motion could slow or speed up their own or someone else's motion.
All of my Muse's have some things in common. Near immortality, speed, physical strength, that sort of thing.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy.
Please remember to Rate and Review.
Thanks!!!!



Prologue



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Flickering light, no... my eyelids fluttering open. Already standing upright. My right hand touching something solid yet gritty. Sandstone? No, maybe something like it though. The roughness making friction enough to heat my slightly cold fingers. Heat? Friction? I was moving. My sight still blurry I relax the muscles of my neck, looking down.


Flimsy looking cotton, like white curtains flapping in the breeze, must be my pajama bottoms. Light sky blue smudge, closer to my face then the pants, my belly shirt. My feet are bare, I feel the same gritty solidness as I do on my fingers. I am indeed walking under my own volition.


The blurriness dissipating slowly, my vision focusing like a camera. I look back up and before me. Inky darkness five feet away from me. The wall of... the cave? The passage? Whatever the wall on my right is of a rosy hue, rock of some kind. I can hear something, but it is muffled as if my ears are stuffed with wax.


I turn my attention behind me, nothing but more tunnel, leading into inky darkness five feet away, just as in front of me. My brow furrowing I turn my attention before me again. My right hand now falling back down to my side. Wait a second... something is wrong.


I raise my arm before me to scrutinize. Again a muffled sound, though this one is my own voice making an exclamation. My skin tone is not suppose to be this bronze color. Wonderingly I look at my skin, soft as silk, firm with youth, muscled more then usual as well. Bronze skin... I must be dreaming.


A thought filters into the smoky depths of my mind. My beautiful golden blonde hair? I almost feel like crying, it was my only good trait. I bring my bronzed arms up to feel my long velvety hair. It is pulled back into a braid. I flip the braid over my left shoulder. Longer then it should be, it looked like a wheat colored rope laying over my shoulder down past my stomach to my knees. So my hair was still the same color, I could feel the tears instantly dry before ever
falling.


A high pitched noise rose around me. Instinctually I brought my hands up to cover my ears. The noise droning on until I felt I could no longer take it, but then... Nothing. I stood up, not knowing when I had knelt down, one knee on the floor. As soon as the motion was complete I knew that I shouldn't have stood.


Screaming, racing toward me the wind picked me up as if I where a feather and deposited me unceremoniously on my rear ten feet from where I had been standing. Something took over though and just as I felt the ground beneath me my body rolled backwards. My back on the floor, my feet above my head, then my hands flat against the ground, and using my momentum I stood on my hands for a moment, then dropped my feet to the ground.


"Ni'esh sho dare ." The words tumbled from my mouth sounding in a lilting musical voice. I shouldn't have known what they meant but I did. It has begun. And without another thought I turned and began running as fast as I could the way I had been going before stopped. I ran faster then I have ever been able to run before. The walls on either side of me became a pinkish smear of color.


I had to make it! Make it? To where? To get away from what? These questions seemed to trip me, encumber my legs in damp thickness. It would destroy me! A slight cry of frustration escaped my lips. I wasn't going to make it.



Part # 1

Waking Dream



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I woke my legs tangled in my sweat soaked sheet. A cry tumbling from my lips. My pajamas sticking to my body. My hair wetly plastered to my face, and neck. The dream, for I don't think it was a true nightmare, fast removing itself from my thoughts no matter how I tried to cling to it, to remember it.


I looked around my dark room. The sun tried to peek in between the heavy black curtains. I was in the middle of my huge four poster bed. My midnight blue comforter laying half on the floor to my left. I looked up at my ceiling, black except where it was sprinkled with glow-in-the-dark moons, comets, stars and other planets. I sat up and separated my legs from the damp sheets.


I rolled over to the right side of my bed and swung my feet toward the floor, but they hung as always not touching the black marble floor. I blindly grabbed for the remote that I knew lay on the mahogany nightstand beside my bed. My hand collided with the only other thing on it besides the remote, the clock. Moving that aside I found what I was looking for.


Wiping sleep from my eyes with my left hand, not looking I pressed the purple button on the remote. Soft music floated to me. I always enjoyed, Hear you calling (Dark Moon Remix)-Aurora when I first woke up. Or perhaps the Vivaldi Remix by Digital Espionage. I pressed the yellow button next, the curtains swished open as I closed my eyes and turned my face up to catch the morning light. I pressed the gray button and I listened as I heard my closet door swing open and tap the wall. Falling back onto my back on the soft goose feather bed I pointed the remote above my head and pressed the blue button. I heard the sudden sound of water falling.


Done with my morning preparations I sat back up, dropped the remote to the nightstand, and stood up next to the bed. I walked the twenty feet it took to get to the window, I always enjoyed to look outside onto the lush garden below my window. I stretched my arms above my head, a popping sound as my back realigned. A big yawn and then I looked out on the new day and smiled.


The flowers had only just started to bloom last week. I remembered when they had begun, my birthday. I was twenty one on the first day of spring, and it had been warm enough for the flowers to bloom. I had been so happy. My Mother had said, "Even the gods must love you for they gave you that gift," I had rolled my eyes.


Swinging slowly around to face my gigantic room I looked around it. The room was indeed big, it was twenty feet by twenty five. The walls where covered in maroon velvet instead of being painted. The closet build into the wall in the five foot space behind the head of the bed, was powered by a machine to whirl the clothes that hung in it around for there where many. Here and there where fuzzy maroon rugs in no pattern whatsoever.


My mahogany four poster bed was the only big thing in the room, it was eight feet wide and twelve feet long and the top of the bedding was at least three feet from the floor. The nightstand looked small in comparison. There was a vanity near to the door that led into the bathroom. The speakers where hidden in the walls as was the rest of the stereo, though a button on the remote moved part of the velvet from the wall so I could change CD's. There was a huge mahogany armoire against the wall on the left side of the bed, my right as I looked at it now.


I wondered over to the bathroom door, between the vanity and the armoire and stepped from black marble to cool gray-blue marble. This room, only slightly smaller then the one I just left, but longer. There was steam coming from the already falling water of the giant shower. The glass door of it merely closed enough to keep the water from spilling out onto the floor. Only giving the wall of mirrors to my left a cursory glance I made my way over to the sink. It's porcelain whiteness gleaming from the overhead light. I must have left it on last night.


I run the hot water and mix the cold in with it. While waiting for the correct temperature I divested myself of my pajamas, just letting them drop to the floor. I reached up for my tooth brush and the toothpaste and went to work, gagging at the mint flavor. Finishing up I put things away and turned to use the head. Enya came drifting to my ears, the CD had changed. I made my way to the shower and swung the door open and stepped inside.


I'm immediately struck from almost all sides by semi-harsh streams of water that are the perfect temperature. There are a total of twenty four shower heads in here. Six on the ceiling, set two side by side, like on a dice. Four on the tiled wall where the door is, two just above head level and two just about waist level. The wall to my left has the same two by two setup. The wall I face has three by three instead, but the wall to my right has two by two again. There are six drains in the floor so that the water left as quickly as it fell on my head.


I move to the very middle of the shower, listening to Enya (for there where speakers setup so I could hear it in here) and letting the water flatten my blonde hair into wet brown currents falling about my creamy white curves. I lifted my face, closing my eyes to the spray from the ceiling, which I had set up to only be mist-like. My hands went to my white throat and slowly up my chin, fingers splayed across my face. Achingly slowly up, my small rounded nose between my fingers, then going up over that, level with my high cheek bones, across my closed eyes, then smoothing my hair back from my face.


I stand there and enjoy the tickling insistent hands of the water as it seems to want to kiss every part of my petite body. I could feel goose bumps starting to cover me, my nipples rising to a hardness as the goose bumps spread down my body. My belly tensed as the sensation that the goose bumps gave slowly went away.


After my shower I turned off the flow of water, put lotion and deodorant on, and made my way back into my bedroom, turning off the bathroom light as I went. A towel wrapped around my head for my hair and a towel wrapped around my body. I glanced at the clock on my way to the closet. Eight eighteen. I decided to wear my black cotton under garments. Dropping the towel on the floor in front of the armoire I pulled it open and found what I wanted. I put the bra around me and hooked the hooks, lifting the straps and sliding my arms through them. I snatched up the tight boxers that matched and put them on as well.


As I turned to go to the closet the stereo went silent, the changing of CD's. Then one of the CD's that I had burned came on. It was a mix of songs about women, the one on right now was Your Woman by White Town. I smiled and stood before the closet. Nothing planned for today so I guess I could go for comfort. I picked a pair of crushed velvet parachute pants, silver and an emerald green cotton belly shirt. I past by the armoire again to get black socks. I picked the comforter up off the floor and flung it onto the bed, my rear following it. I sat on the bed and put my socks on, my black knee high combat boots following. My towel falling off the top of my head, making a waft of my fruity shampoo hit my face. My still wet hair tumbling free about my body, down to my waist.


I walked back into the bathroom, flicking the light switch back on. I looked at myself in the wall mirror and smiled. My pink lips curving up at the sides, and dimples appearing on my cheeks. I walked over to the counter and rummaged through the lotions and other bathroom supplies. I found my brush and a spray in detangle conditioner. I used them both and then used the blow dryer and my brush once again. My hair turning from wet brown clinging masses into dry golden layers of silk.


I rummaged through the stuff on the counter again and found my perfume, Haiku. I sprayed it into the air and walked through the mist falling to the floor. I put it back on the counter and walked out of the bathroom, forgetting to turn the light off. As I entered my bedroom I saw a figure leaning over my towels on the floor, the figure was cleaning up of course and I laughed. Her flaming red hair told me who it was immediately, she wore a uniform of grey and black tennis shoes.


"Amanda, I was going to get that you know." I smiled as she stood up straight and grinned at me, her features showing her Irish heritage. She merely winked at me and deposited the dirty towels in the laundry basket she had wheeled in. I ran over to the bed and helped her make it. "So who all is still in the house?" I asked hoping everyone had already left for whatever it was they where doing today.


"Well, my mother and her newest love are getting ready to go to temple, and Allen never came home last night. Paul is still asleep I think." Amanda hauled the laundry basket past the bathroom door, reaching in and turning the light switch off. I grinned impishly. Amanda asked if I needed anything before she left my room. Shaking my head I walked over to where the remote sat. Picking it up I closed the closet, the curtains, and turned off the stereo as the singer was in
mid-sentence.


I walked over to the doorway that led out into the hallway. Stopping in front of it I listened to be sure no one was outside in the hallway. Satisfied I opened the door and walked out into the silent hall. My boots making a shushing noise on the thick red hallway carpet. The stone walls a white-grey, and the stained glass windows throwing rainbows of colors across everything in the hall. Local artists works hanging on the walls between the suits of armor and the vases of wild flowers.


My home, some old castle that used to be called Poenari castle, in central Romania, the Vallachia region. I was told when I bought it from the family that owned it that the last person to live here, their distant relative, was around 1450 A.D. I don't know much about the person myself, after all that was at least 1,000 years ago. I had to practically rebuild it on the decrepit ruins of the old. It sat on a cliff and the only way that you could reach it was by 1,400 plus stairs. Then I had it rebuilt and now it was much easier to get to. Though it was still in the middle of beautiful hills that where lush and green.


I think I remember hearing that the person who used to live here was some kind of monstrous man, but I think that is all fiction myself. The only thing you had to worry about was wild dogs. No super natural boogie men here. I rolled my eyes thinking about dusty myths of the past. Well, that is my job I suppose.


I made my way through the warm castle hallways, the red, yellow, and blue of the stained glass windows throwing colors over me. I walked slowly past a clear window and glanced out at the bright green forest outside. Most people don't consider the country to be this beuatiful, but I moved here because it was so green and still so wild looking. I walked down the back stairs until I reached the kitchen, stopping at the refrigerator. I grabbed the milk and set it on the counter in the middle of the kitchen next to the stove. I walked over and opened up a cabinet getting a cup and setting it next to the milk. I reached over and grabbed one of the fresh oranges sitting in a bowl on the bar and then poured myself a glass of milk. While I was replacing the milk in the refrigerator Amanda walked into the kitchen. "You want your breakfast in the library? Oh, and you have a guest to see you. It's that man who keeps calling...what's his name...Fane, Bane....no...Thane that's it." I smiled just listening to her Irish lilting voice. She starting getting busy, making scrambled eggs and bacon.


"Don't forget my pancakes." I said as I started off down the hall toward my library. Before I got there I was stopped by Paul.


"Miss, there's someone to see you, he said he was disappointed you didn't come to see him when you first got back. It's Amen' Tory Naten." I grinned and wondered what my two guests thought of each other. I nodded as Paul swept his brown medium length hair out of his hazel eyes. I tossed Paul the orange I still had in my hand. He raised an eyebrow but turned and walked down the hallway. I watched his lanky form, he was wearing his red flannel shirt and blue jeans and was tossing the orange up in the air and catching it.



Part # 2

Buisness and Pleasure



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I walked down the hall and stopped before I got to the opened library door. "Are you here to speak about work to her as well?" A deep british accented voice inquired. I stood still to listen to Tory's reply.


"Oh no, I'm just here to see my old friend is all. So your here to see if she'll do some work for you then?" His voice sounded lazy and he spoke with absolutely no accent, and as if he really couldn't care what the man's answer was.


"Tory, get your feet off my desk." I said as I came into the room. I hadn't even looked, but he was always sitting in my chair with his feet up on my desk. He flashed a most charming smile at me. It took my breath away, as always. He took his feet off my desk and stood up. Six feet three inches tall but not lanky. He fit his height with a well muscled build. Dark bronze skin, and curly black hair that always made me want to run my fingers through it. His brown eyes dancing with mirth. He always looked like a panther at rest to me. Today he wore a silver poets shirt with soft looking black doeskin pants, and black moccasins.


I had to tare my gaze away from him to look at my other guest. Thane stood next to the window, multi-colored light spilling onto his black suit. A briefcase sitting on the window ledge. Thane was a tanned caramel skinned man with short curly black hair, and a cute goatee. He had brown eyes that looked as if they read every move I made, but had totally forgotten Tory was even in the room.


I smiled and greeted my guests, hugging Tory and shaking Thane's hand. I took my seat and put my feet up on my desk as the delightful smell of old books washed over me. Tory sat over by one of the bookshelves looking for all the world like a cat sunbathing. I watched the sun kiss his skin for a moment longer before turning my attention back to Thane. Thane took the seat directly across from me glancing at Tory, who had his eyes closed with his face up to catch the sun, just as I had this morning. Thane took one more look around my cluttered, but clean library. It's two stories tall, books on every space currently available. The old oak ladder is hooked up to a wheeled contraption that Paul made so that it could go anywhere against the shelves. My huge solid oak desk, its natural shade, is very solid and currently has the most cleared off space in the room. There are other smaller tables about the room, with papers and books on them. An empty fireplace against the far wall, clear because it is getting pretty warm.


Deciding to get to the point Thane opened his mouth to speak, but I startled him by quickly pulling my feet off the desk and sitting up straight. Tory laughed, Thane looked from Tory to me with a strange look on his face. Amanda had come into the room carrying my breakfast. "Miss do I need to remind you that I have to clean that desk? I don't need you putting your feet up on it." She set the tray on the desk and smiled at me. "Can I get anything for you sir?" She asked looking at Thane. He shook his head and she turned to leave the room, but then saw Tory. A great big grin on his face. "Well, you know how to get to the kitchen Amen' Tory, if you want something get it yourself." She grinned and hustled out of the room.


I looked at Thane and smiled. "So you where about to let me in on this big secret you wouldn't tell me of on the phone." I said and then promptly began to eat. Thane looked like he was getting a speech ready in his mind and then brought his briefcase to his lap.


"Actually Ma'am I am under strict orders only to show you the photos I have with me, give you the check I have for you and this invitation." He set his briefcase on my desk, opened it and turned it toward me. I leaned forward intrigued. I reached over and pulled out a manila envelope, below that was a check made out to me for 150,000 dollars. I raised my right eyebrow at the amount. Beneath that was an ornate invitation for me and one other to a masquerade ball. "You do not have to decide if you will take the job now, you will be able to give your answer at the ball, either way you are to keep the money." Thane deposited the check and the invitation on my desk then closed his briefcase.


I opened the envelope and pulled out the pictures. One glance at them and something deep inside made me shiver. I had never seen anything like the writing before in my life. Never the less I knew I would take the job, my soul told me to. That's strange, but it's how I feel. I suppose Thane saw it in my eyes for he smiled and waited for me to say something. "I'll be at your ball." With those words Thane got to his feet and made a polite goodbye.


When he was well out of the library and I heard Paul with him I returned the photo's to the envelope. Tory sprang from his seat and was in the one across from mine in a heartbeat. I didn't even notice until he was chewing with his mouth closed that he had stole some of my bacon. That lazy amused look in his eyes as he drank in my appearance. "Tell me again why we have never bedded together?" His smooth voice interrupted my thoughts, but made me grin.


"Why Tory my love, I never knew you where interested." An eyebrow arched high above his eye and he gave me a half smile, then his face looked totally serious. "Oh you really mean it. Well I suppose that would be because whenever one of us is interested the other is taken." Finished with my meal I slowly stood up and walked around my desk stopping next to his chair.


Only a hair from touching, how I longed to touch him. I looked at his handsome face, a sly grin on it. He started to stand up, almost brushing against me, but I moved back. "How is your man anyway?" His voice was silky and musical as it flowed into my awareness. I sighed and turned to walk to the door, knowing he followed but not hearing his footsteps on the hardwood floor.


"I am no longer with him. How's Karen?" I turned around at the door and he was right there before me. He leaned down so that he could look into my eyes. Another lazy grin on his face, he leaned in close, I thought he was going to kiss me, but at the last moment he moved so his lips brushed my cheek and stopped right at my ear.


"Karen and I have not been together for the last three months." His voice was no more then a whisper. His breath on my neck made me want him right then and there. He straightened up and gestured at the door. "After you."


I turned and walked out into the hall. I wasn't sure where I was going quite yet, Tory past me and started humming as he walked down the hall. I followed him in a daze wondering what he was thinking. He walked the maze-like halls, apparently knowing where he was going, so I tagged along. It took me a little while before I realized what he was humming, Tainted Love. Well I knew we both liked old music.


He had led me into one of the rooms that opened out into the gardens. He walked in, opened the sliding glass door and walked right out into the garden labyrinth. I could hear the sound of the water fountain and knew that's where he was going. I stopped by a picture on the wall, pulling on it until it swung from the wall. I turned the garden alarm off and then turned the stereo on so we could listen to music while in the garden.


The first song that came on made me laugh. Techno, Lambada. I could hear Tory's laughter out in the garden. I turned and went to the door, he was there. "I would like to ask you a favor my fair one." I smiled at him. "I would like to go with you to this Ball." The smile dropped from my face. He looked at me a forced smile replacing his normal lazy one.


"Why?" I asked tilting my head to the side. His right hand moved from the doorsill to my face, touching my cheek. My eyes involuntarily closed and I moved so that his hand was more firmly on my cheek.


"Sweet one, is it not enough to know I want to be with you?" I could hear the laziness in his voice again. My eyes opened to see him inches from my face. I quickly closed my eyes again thinking that if I looked at him much longer he would pull away.


I opened my mouth to speak just as his mouth closed on my own. It felt right, it felt like something clicked inside me. I felt a warm darkness in close me. His arms wrapped around my body in a fierce embrace.


"Oh my... s.. sorry Miss." I heard Allen as if from far away. Tory reluctantly let me go, and I turned to face Allen. "I just wanted to let you know that the gentleman Thane left you plane tickets." He held them out while looking anywhere but at me. Allen was Amanda's brother, and seventeen. He had had a crush on me since I was adopted by my parents four years ago. He blushed furiously as I took the tickets with a smile and a thank you. Allen retreated quickly out of the room. Almost tripping over his booted feet, with his head down and his red hair in his green eyes.


I looked at the tickets, Cairo Egypt. Ah, for the masquerade ball. They are roundtrip of course, and there are two tickets. With a half a smile on my face I turned back around to face Tory. I looked at an empty doorway. Sighing I stepped over to the door and looked out.


Stashing the tickets in my back pocket I walked out into the garden in the moment of silence between songs. I was immediately assaulted by the smell of flowers, roses being the predominant smell. The suns rays growing stronger as I walked up to the first six foot tall hedge that made up the walls of the labyrinth. I followed it to the wooden arch that has roses growing up the sides of it, one of many entrances.


I stood under the arch and listened to the fountain, and then a melody floated over the garden. I was looking at the only thing in the labyrinth that you could see from the outside, it towered over the hedges, the weeping willow that was next to the fountain. Mouth by Bush, the song that was playing as I shook myself out of my day dreaming. I actually laughed to myself, this song always seems to make me smile, though I can't tell anyone why. I stepped through the arch and no longer was able to feel the week breeze that had been stirring the weeping willow branches.


I walked through the maze not really watching where I was going, after all I had memorized it's paths long ago. I started to think about the kiss that happened but moments ago. Stop thinking about it. Don't make it bigger then it was. Oh but it was nice... So yummy. I am so glad I went to France three years ago when my Foster Dad wanted me to instead of going to New York like I had wanted to, otherwise I would have never met him.


The music changed three more times before I finally stepped out into the clearing surrounding the fountain. White iron benches sat intermittently around the perimeter. Every color imaginable in flowers is somewhere here in the center of the maze. Old looking statues of women in flowing robes, mildew growing from the bottom of the robes, standing around the garden at different spots. The branches of the weeping willow leaning down and touching the fountains surface.


The fountain itself bubbling up from rocks in the middle of the large expanse of water. It was clean water, and in some spots it was deep enough to jump into without touching the bottom. A white iron bridge ran across the near-center of it. The sun kissed the surface of the water, warming it.


I looked around for Tory just as the music changed. A remix, Nothing Else Matters by Apoptygma Berzerk. He stood in the middle of the bridge, leaning on the ledge looking into the water. Hot. My first thought as I looked at him, the sun seeming to caress his skin like an old knowing lover. To kiss his hair with tenderness.


I started walking over to him. I could feel his gaze on me when I reached the bridge, I looked up from the ground and our gazes met and locked. I licked my bottom lip and bit it as I watched his customary smile crawl across his face, and reach into his eyes. Chewing on my lip I approached him, not once turning my eyes away from his.


I reached him, silence between us. Not uncomfortable like I expected though. He reached out one arm and wrapped it around my shoulder, pulling me close to him. I rested my head on his chest and looked out over the water. He kissed the top of my head and I heard him whisper something into my hair, but I could not decipher what it was he said.


We stood like that for what seemed like hours, just being together. Open Your Eyes by Sirius came on when I finally moved so that I was in-between him and the guard rail, facing him. He didn't remove his arm, so his wrist rested on my shoulder, his fingers playing with a stray strand of my hair. "So, I suppose I'll take you with me, though I know you have ulterior motives for going." I raised my hand up between us, touching his lips with my fingers. "Don't try to say differently." I dropped my hand back down to my side.


He took my hand in his open hand and brought it to his lips, kissing my knuckles. "Good, then it's a date. Do you have something you plan on wearing?" Still holding my hand, though he dropped it from his lips after speaking. I shook my head. "Then let me take care of it. I have the perfect thing." I opened my mouth to speak, he shook his head. "I'm not telling what it is. Not until you have to wear it." His lazy grin was replaced with a devious one.


I rolled my eyes. "Nothing to provocative I hope." I gave into the urge, finally. I reached up and ran my fingers through his black curls.


"Oh, I had planned on it actually, though I guess I could tone it down a little for you." His devious smile still playing across his full lips. I laughed and played with his hair. He didn't seem to mind, as he played with mine.


He moved in closer to me, I could feel the heat from his body. He let go of my hand to wrap both arms around me, pulling me into a loose hug. "Will you have the outfit done by the end of the week? That's when we leave." I asked as Nas Ne Dagoniat by Tatu came to my ears. In response his arms tensed so that he hugged me harder.


"It won't be hard to get a hold of." His lips brushed the top of my head when he spoke.



Part # 3

Imagine if you would



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I stood at the entrance to the informal dinning room that I always ate in when I didn't have people over. Amanda and her family, along with Tory where the only people who where here for dinner. Tory had asked earlier if he could stay in a guest room tonight, it was a long way home for him. Amanda had made a fuss about cleaning a guest bedroom for him in another wing of the castle from where my own room was.


I stepped into the room, glancing around I found I was not the first person here. Amanda's mother and her current lover where already seated, as was Tory. The room was spacious without being to big. It had a normal sized dinner table made from mahogany, with eight matching chairs. The fireplace on the other side of the room was empty. The three huge
windows against the opposite wall had the curtains all opened to the starry night beyond.


The forest outside was dark and you could hear the howling of the wild dogs over the music that played. The theme song for the movie Dark City. I walked over to the table and sat at the head of it. Tory sat to my right, Amanda's mother to my left, her lover to her left.


Amanda's mother, Sharon looked much like Amanda, only twenty years older, at forty six and her red hair just starting to gray at the temples. Sharon's lover looked somewhere around thirty six or so. She had long straight black hair that was pulled back from her face by a simple silver clasp. Her green eyes showed mirth at something Tory had said before I came over.


"Hello Sharon, how have you been fairing?" I asked as I looked over at her. Sharon was holding her lovers hand and moved it to hold under the table. I smiled and wanted to laugh at that, but decided against it.


"Miss," Sharon said by way of a hello. "This here is Katrina. Tory was just regaling us with the story of how he met you." Katrina nodded her head at me.


"Oh?" I laughed and turned to look at Tory. "Do start back from the beginning so I can listen in to." Katrina giggled. Paul walked in followed closely by Allen, they both sat down at the table beside Tory. "Or are you now to chicken to tell with men in the room?" I grinned.


"Ah, but I think they may learn something from the telling." Tory replied in his lazy way. "So it was a warm summer day in Paris France, and I was walking past one of my favorite outside cafe's." His voice unusually taking on a lilting quality. "I was just going to my hotel and through the crowd I saw what I had thought to be tiny strands of gold flying in the wind." I rolled my eyes as everyone looked at me. "So I wondered over to the cafe and there sat a woman, her back to me, the sun painting her hair gold. I smiled to myself thinking that I must meet her. So I walked over and struck up a conversation with her." He leaned back in his chair and stretched his hands high above his head, a loud crack as he popped his back.


"I was starting to believe you would not come. I had said from behind her. As she turned to see who was speaking to her I moved and sat at the table. Seeing no one, she turned back to find a stranger sitting at her table. She nearly jumped three feet into the air." Everyone laughed and looked at me, I blushed.


"Who? What? I think that was the only thing she could say at that moment." He grinned and started to talk with his hands. I remembered, he had given me a strange look when I had asked that. He had obviously thought that I had been someone else, or I had also thought, he may have know me from before the accident. "I had smiled at her as a waitress came by and I ordered a drink. She asked the questions again. I leaned forward and said that I had thought she was someone else. You would think I had given her bad news with the frown that settled on her face when I said that." Again everyone laughed.


"Well I had thought that you might have known me before my accident." I said in a voice so low I didn't think anyone heard me. Tory looked at me sharply, his head snapping in my direction. There was absolutely no expression on his handsome face.


Before anyone else noticed though he swept his hands out and finished his tale. "We introduced ourselves to each other and had lunch together. I can't believe you actually tried to use that as a pick up line, she said to me at the end of lunch. I had laughed and shrugged. We had decided to go see the sites together the next day, and here we are, still friends." He grinned and everyone else at the table smiled.


There was silence before the music changed to a techno version of Because the Night by Jan Wayne. Amanda came bustling into the room with a cart of food, everyone starting to inquire about what was to eat. "Oh, I made Amen' Tory's favorite. Cheese enchiladas, there is Mexican rice as well, and tortillas, but you all have to serve yourselves." Amanda said as she put the food on the table. She went over and sat down next to Katrina.


Everyone served themselves and then waited for Sharon to pray. I was the only one in the room who did not wait for her prayer, I began to eat as she prayed. As she prayed everyone had there heads down, eyes closed, except Tory who just stared at me with a weird look on his face. When she finished everyone else dug into their portions. Small talk was plentiful through out the dinner, and everyone was seeming to enjoy themselves.


When the last fork hit an empty plate Sharon and Katrina got up and said goodnight. Paul and Allen left shortly after them. I stood and started to put the plates on the cart. Amanda sat starring at Tory until I was done. "I'll do the dishes tonight Amanda, you can go to your much deserved rest now." I stated as I wheeled the cart into the kitchen.


I took the cart right up to the sink, so that I could rinse the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. After that, task complete, I put the cart away. As I closed the pantry door, I saw Tory in the corner of my eye, watching me. I heard the volume of the house stereo turn down, a sure sign that Amanda had gone to bed. Kate Ryan's voice lowered now, the song seemed a strange one at this moment, My Love.


Delaying the moment as much as I could I finally turned to Tory. He leaned against the door frame, his arms crossed at chest level. His handsome face again absolutely free of expression. He tilted his head to the side at exactly the same moment I did. A smile broke across my face at that.


"You have never told me exactly what the accident was." Tory said in so low a voice that I almost didn't hear. I slowly walked toward him, stopping about two feet from him. We just looked at each other until the song was over.


As I spoke the next song began, Crazy the remix done by Kidney Thieves. "I suppose you want to know about it then. Let's go somewhere more comfortable." Tory stood up straight and turned abruptly, leaving the room. I followed him into the hallway, he walked toward the bedrooms. Smiling I cleared my throat to get his attention.


I tilted my head toward my right, a long stone and glass hallway. The walls, stone up to waist high, and then made from glass, the ceiling made from glass as well. This hallway led to one of my favorite places in the castle. The roman styled bath and in door garden.


We walked down the hallway side by side. I looked anywhere but at Tory. The view was beautiful. The stars sparkled in the dark sky. The labyrinth garden on one side, a small outdoor garden on the other. Tory reached a hand up to touch my arms. Only then did I notice I had them crossed, hugging myself. He took one of my hands in his and held it, still not speaking.


We reached the dark bathing room. Lights came on automatically as we entered, I had build in motion sensors in some rooms of the castle. It was bigger then my bedroom, the garden part build against the walls. Flowers and small shrubs in big pots, a few red marble benches against the walls. Red marble, that was what made this room. Columns stood around the bath, which itself was built into the floor and was six feet deep at its farthest point. The bath was full and heated, I always had it full, I never actually bathed in it. I did swim in it though. To the right was a small mostly enclosed area, where one could either sit and not be seen, or change.


I walked us over to the right toward the enclosed part. Once Tory deciphered where I was headed he sped up, not letting go of my hand, he was a step ahead of me. We reached the chosen destination as Love Spell by Inkubus Sukkubus came on. Tory sat down on the red marble bench, pulling me down on his lap. He leaned his back against the wall and I leaned against him. He wrapped his arms loosely about me.


I normally would protest, and sit next to him, but I was tired and didn't care. I sat there with him in silence as we listened to the song. I didn't speak until it was over, and Billie Holiday's beautiful voice came to our ears. I picked my words carefully.


"I was found in a gutter in Wichita Kansas four and a half years ago. The only thing I could remember was my first name. I could not answer why I was beat to shit, nor could I identify those who had done it. They did a rape kit on me, and I had been raped by more then three people. They figured me for about sixteen or seventeen. I was fixed up and put into foster care, after they asked me a lot of questions that I could not answer. The people at the hospital thought that my memory would come back, but it never has. I had hoped for a little while that the cops would find the people who had... had done this to me. They have not to this day. I was put up for adoption soon after that, though no one including me thought I would be adopted. We where of course all wrong, my parents didn't want a young child. They where looking for someone already old enough to look after themselves. I think they thought it a bonus that I had amnesia. They have never said that mind you, I just think it." I blurted it all out, barely even stopping for a breath.


Tory did not speak for the rotation of three songs. When Dark Sweet Piano by various artists came on he moved his arms. He gently pushed me into a standing position. I didn't turn, I was crying and didn't want him to see my face. I felt him stand up behind me, making a lot of movement. So I took the time to wipe the tears from my face with my hands.


"I want you to know," His voice was not even loud enough to be considered a whisper. "That will never again happen to you." I felt like laughing at his words, but they were said in such a way that they could not be doubted. "You will never again be alone." He said the last statement as he wrapped his arms around me, holding me in a firm embrace. It takes me a moment to realize that his arms are bare.


I lift my hands to rest them on his. We stand like that for the six minutes that are left in the song. I turn to face him as Bitter Sweet Symphony by Verve comes on. I take in his well muscled abdomen with hungry eyes. Noticing that he has tribal tattoos almost covering his six pack and going up onto his chest, the tattoo looks as if it goes onto his back as well. No, at some point the tribal work blends into letters that I have seen somewhere before, I just can't remember where at the moment.


I look up into his eyes, he is watching me intently. I wrap my arms around him and hug him close to me. He kisses the top of my head. The CD starts to skip, and then changes to In the Dark of the Night by DJ's Mystik and Epic. I vaguely wonder why he has taken his shirt off. Then I feel his hands pulling my shirt up, I back away from him and look at him.


He's eyes smile but he holds no other expression on his face. I lift my hands above my head, and he pulls my shirt off. Tossing it over with his shirt with one hand he grabs me and pulls me against his chest with his other. He feels behind my back and undoes my bra one handed. Come on, stop thinking about stupid romance novels. God how I loath them. My thoughts actually listened to me, and just evaporated into nothing. I drop my hands as I pull slightly away from him. I lean forward slightly so my bra just drops to the floor.


Tory finally smiles, grabbing me by my upper arms he turns me so that my back is to the wall, and then sits me down on the bench he has recently vacated. I carefully school my face into no expression as he kneels down onto his knees in front of me. Oh My Goth! by Razed in Black comes on as he takes my right foot and plants it on his thigh. He unties my boot and pulls it free. Tory moves his hands up from my ankle to the top of my sock, grabbing a hold of it he pulls it from my foot, then repeats the process with my left foot.


He stands, towering above me and I watch him only half aware that he is taking his moccasins off as I watch the tattoo ripple on his skin. Like black flame dancing across bronze. He puts his hand out, shaking me out of my reverie. I grab it and he haul myself to my feet.


He slowly starts to lean down until his face is even with mine, his lips brush mine. Then quickly going to my throat. I feel a trail of fire follow his lips down my throat, to my collar bone, in-between my breasts. Lingering there a moment, then trailing down to my stomach, my navel, and then his face is even with the buttons of my parachute pants. He looks up at me without lifting his face up, and manages to look me in the eye as he unbuttons my pants with his teeth.


He unzipps my pants and they fall to the ground, ensuring me that gravity works as I feel like I'm floating. He stands up, and backs away from me a step. I step out of my pants and kick them toward the shirts. I stand half turned away from him for a few moments, not looking at him. I turn back toward him as he is stepping out of his pants. Smiling I see that the only clothing between us is our boxers.


He tosses his pants down in the pile of clothes. I'm not sure what I want to happen next. I have always wanted Tory, but I hope that this isn't some sort of pity thing from him. I look up into his eyes, he has his customary lazy smile back on his face. I'm not sure that this reassures me.


He steps forward and wraps his arms around my waist. I smile up at him and run my hands over the smooth, soft skin of his upper stomach, then his chest, and stop with my hands resting on his shoulders. That's when Aaliyah, Are You That Somebody? comes over the speakers.


Tory adjusts his hands so that they sit on my hips, his fingers sliding inside the elastic top of my boxers. I let out the breath I didn't realize that I was holding. When all of his fingers are inside the elastic band he hooks his thumbs on the outside. I let my hands flow down his upper arms, then drop to his waist. As I do that he pulls me forward, sliding his hands back and grabbing my ass. I check myself before a noise escapes my lips.


I hook my fingers into his waistband, and we both pull each others boxers off at the same time. Pulling them down until gravity takes over and they fall to the floor. Tory half lifts me by my ass so I stand on the tips of my toes, and kisses me on the lips. It is fierce and passionate and deep and wet.


Then he just suddenly lets me go, I almost fall forward, but take a step to catch myself. I stare open mouthed at his back as he walks away to the bath. He slowly walks down the steps that go into the water. I shut my mouth and walk over there after him. I stand at the top, not going into the warm bath water. As he gets all the way down the steps Inside Out by Eve 6 starts playing.


He turns and faces me. "Join me," He waits a moment before continuing. "You know the water is warm my lovely." His voice has gone back to his characteristic no lilting, no accent. I smile in response to the one that lights his face. I walked slowly down the steps, the water rippling at my passage. I reach the bottom, the water coming to just above my nipples. I blink, and when I open my eyes he is gone.


I brace myself for anything, but he comes up out of the water at the other end. Near the small waterfall that falls out of the marble statue of a woman with a water basin. I slowly go under the water, until I kneel down, and touching my knees to the bottom, I start to float back up and let myself. I come out of the water, my hands smoothing my hair back, and my eyes closed.


Tory kisses me while my eyes are closed. He came back while I was under water. I open my eyes as he pulls his lips from mine. He takes my hands in his under the water and pulls me deeper into the bath. He stops when the water has risen to my collar bone, and takes me to the side of the bath. There is a ledge to sit on that is high enough that I will not be under water if I happen to want to sit on it.


He lets go of my hands long enough to grab my hips and lift me up to sit on the ledge. Then he grabs my hands again, but stays approximately a step away from me. I know that he wants me as much as I want him, he is a man and naked, so there is a visible way to tell. WOW! Bigger then even I thought... Not the stupid romance novel thoughts again! GGRRR! Stop it already! I ground my teeth at my thoughts.


Tory and I talk until morning. We talk about everything and nothing, interesting, boring, funny, or serious things. We just talk. He eventually slides forward to kiss me and I wrap my legs around him.