A Phantom Touch: Book One of the Ilinatha Prophecy

Soft moans began to emanate from the darkened room, the curtains fluttering from the light breeze that came from the open balcony doors. There was a rustling of silk sheets as Alstromeria Lastentier shifted in her sleep, her lips parting ever so slightly, the tip of her tongue wetting her lower lip. A fine sheen of sweat glistened on her skin as she shifted her slender legs beneath the sheets. A phantom touch caressed the skin around her taut nipple, causing her to moan out loud.

Meria, as she was known to her family and friends, shifted her head to the side as she tried to touch whoever was bringing exquisite pleasure just from the slightest touch to her breast. Despite her physical hand connecting with nothing, in her mind, she saw her fingers tracing along the pale arm of her lover.

Meria never saw his face. She could only catch glimpses of his majestic body as he delivered exquisite pleasure to every inch of her skin. Her back arched as that phantom mouth placed an open-mouthed kiss beside her nipple then shifted enough to take the taut peak between his lips as he began to suckle. She moaned quietly in appreciation at the sensation. Her pussy tingled as she shifted her thighs, creating a tactile sensation against her aching mound. She massaged her other breast, tugging on the nipple as the phantom mouth moved across the skin of her sternum to her other breast, latching onto its nipple and returning to suckling.

As the lightest touch from his hand gently brushed the skin of her stomach, moving further to caress the now dark blonde curls between her thighs, Meria let out a frustrated gasp, her thighs parting. She kicked away the sheet that was covering her. She almost thought she would orgasm right then and there as she felt the cool breeze blow over the moisture of her aching pussy that coated her inner thighs. She wanted that hand to touch her, possess her. She wanted to find her release, and she wanted to find it now.

"Fuck," she whispered, shifting some. "Please..." her voice sounded loud to her ears in the quiet of her bedroom. A soft, amused chuckle floated on the breeze that came through the window. She came close to snarling her frustration as those phantom fingers brushed the curls of her pussy again before parting the folds and finding the sensitive bud of her clit, flicking it. The sensations that tore through her body sent her arching off the bed, her voice keening in a loud cry of pleasure. Every nerve ending tingled with the sensation of it all. She shivered as she relaxed, only to find that phantom touch spiraling her up again.

"Please! Please!" Her legs thrashed, wanting her lover between her thighs, his cock sliding into her dripping wet pussy. She wanted to wrap her legs around his waist and thrust her hips up to meet his as he pounded her as deep as he could. Her hips started to lift to the hand, imagining the sound of his skin slapping against hers as he shoved his cock deeper and deeper.

Meria's nails dug into the palms of her hand. She was surprised that she did not draw blood at the pressure she was producing. She wanted more. It was always the case. More, more, more. But never quite enough. Her hips began to piston up and down to the hand caressing her. Her own fingers began to slide from the bed and over the skin of her hipbone, towards the juncture of her thighs. She hissed slightly as she was held from doing so by the other phantom hand as her clit was caressed.

"Oh, Gods!" She cried out loudly as she felt a tongue flit over the tip of her clit, sending a shockwave of pleasure through her. Planting her feet, she lifted her hips up sharply.

"Fuck me, dammit!" Her demand was a breathy cry, her voice laced with desire and need. Once again a chuckle sounded on the breeze, the curtains shifting ever so around the glass doors that led to her balcony. Meria sobbed with frustration, trying again to touch her aching pussy to bring herself some relief. Once again she found her hand restrained and that tongue flicked her clit again.

"Please," she said in an agonizing whisper. Her neck arched and she screamed as an orgasm ripped its way along her nerve endings as a phantom mouth closed around her clit and bit down. Pleasure and pain ran through her body as she trembled from the intensity of it. Her eyes rolled back and she almost thought she would pass out. Once the final tremor passed, she lay back feeling boneless as she caught her breath. Slowly her eyes cracked, blue slits peeking from beneath blonde lashes. Meria started to awaken completely and looked around the bedroom. She moaned, raising a shaky hand to her forehead.

"Not again."

After two tries to get her legs to work, Meria managed to shift to a seated position on the edge of the bed, her legs shaky. She sat that way for a moment, regaining energy enough to push herself into a standing position. She grabbed her short satin robe and pulled it on. She gasped a bit as she took a step, the shift in her stance creating a delicious tingle within as her oversensitized pussy was stimulated slightly from walking. She was always left feeling brutally satisfied but still burning with need after these encounters.

"The neighbors probably think I'm some perv that can't get enough of touching myself with the way I scream," she mumbled as she shuffled into her living room and turned towards the kitchen.

This was not an uncommon occurrence for Meria over the past two months. Each night, at least once, her phantom lover would come to her. Each night she found herself aching with the need to feel his cock inside of her, but she was denied each time. It was so real to her, that her body felt deeply satisfied when she woke from the dream, only to find herself alone.

Meria grabbed her teapot off the stove and turned to the tap, turning the water on to fill it. She glanced out the window that was over her sink, letting her eyes unfocus some. As she remembered the feel of her phantom lover's hands on her body, she felt the lightest of touches against the backs of her thighs. Fumbling slightly, she put the teapot down in the sink and grasped the edge. Delicate touches ran along the outside of her thighs up towards the edge of her robe, brushing the fabric aside.

Meria shivered as she felt the fingertips slide up over the back of her thighs up to her ass. She shivered as they brushed along her hips to the apex of her thighs, slipping through the blonde curls. She bit her lip and shifted her legs further apart as those phantom fingers began to caress her folds. She bit back a moan as they brushed against her clit.

"Please..." she whispered. The breeze brushed against her cheek, but she would've sworn it was the barest caress of lips against her skin.

Meria shifted back and rested her head on her forearm. Her hand slid down over her breasts, the nipples tight and straining against the fabric of her robe. She slipped her hand between her thighs, whimpering when she was restrained for a moment. A soft sob of pleasure escaped her as she was finally allowed to touch her pussy, her fingers sliding over her clit, teasing the sensitive bud. She was dripping wet, her juices sliding down the inside of her thighs. She slid a finger into her tight pussy, gasping as she wiggled it a bit. She jumped and groaned as she felt that teasing phantom tongue pass over her clit enough to tease her as she slipped her finger in and out.

She was becoming desperate as she continued moving her finger. She wanted to feel the thick shaft she knew her lover possessed. She wanted to feel it slide into her pussy to the hilt before their hips would move against one another, his cock driving deeper and deeper into her. A crescendo of pleasure would build and build before her body would explode in bright lights as she found her release, but that was not what she was getting. She had only her slim finger. She began shoving her finger into her pussy further, feeling how wet her hand was getting from her excitement. Her moans were growing louder as she continued pleasing herself. Shifting her hand, she brushed her thumb against her clit. The tiniest move was enough to snap her control and she threw her head back, screaming her pleasure as the orgasm rippled through her body. She felt phantom hands on her hips and the lightest brushing of lips against her ear. She was too lost in sensation to distinguish if she heard a voice whispering in her ear as she fingered herself to release.

Her knees finally gave out and she slumped to the kitchen floor. Meria leaned her head against the wood beneath her sink as she tried to catch her breath. She blinked sleepily and looked up a bit. For a moment she thought she saw his face finally. Strong features, and full lips... but not enough to recognize him. As his image dissipated, she already felt the demand for sleep settle around her and the image began to fade from her mind. It took her a moment to gather the strength in her legs to push herself up. Bracing herself on the counter, she turned off the water. For a moment she stood there, staring at her teapot. With a small shake of her head, she turned and started to trudge back to her room. The teapot could wait till morning.

With more effort than it should have taken, Meria stripped off her robe and slipped into bed, tugging the sheets over her naked form and the lightweight blanket as well. She had to find out who her phantom lover was and soon. It was driving her insane that she didn't know who it was. She'd start looking for him in the mor...

"You're living dangerously, son," Brusin Vionus said as he walked into the study where his son stood, pouring himself a glass of blood wine.

"Wine, Father?" Tor Vionus asked, glancing at him.

"Yes, thank you," Brusin said. "But don't change the subject."

Tor sighed as he poured another glass. He picked up the goblet and walked it over to his father, deciding not to use magic to float it to him. "I'm not trying to change the subject, Father."

"Do you want her found?" Brusin asked him. "I realize the pull you feel towards her is strong, but you need to be more careful."

Tor gave him a slashing look. "Do not treat me as if I am some mortal, Father. I know who she is and what would happen if it was discovered who she was."

"I don't think you truly do," Brusin said. He took a sip of from his goblet, letting the blood wine savor in his mouth before he swallowed and looked at his son. "She is the true Queen of a lost kingdom. The only living heir to something many have pushed back to the legend. If the wrong person were to discover her existence, it could lead to the end of life as we know it."

"I know!" Tor snapped, whirling to look at his father. "I know who she is. I know what could come if she is found before her powers are unbound and she has not been properly trained. I am no fool."

"You are acting the fool now!" Brusin said, slamming his goblet down on a nearby table. "Don't you see that? Invading her dreams leaves her susceptible to someone finding her, especially if you show interest. The Mark is easily evident on you. Showing this much interest in one woman is going to raise questions by the Dracul."

"Damned the Dracul," Tor said. "Why do we even associate with such beings? We are true Vampyres."

"You are not, my son. You know that, which is why you are watched more closely by them." Brusin walked over and put his hands on his son's shoulders. "I do not want to lose you as I lost your mother."

Tor sighed, his head lowered. He was quiet for a moment before he looked into his father's pale blue eyes. "You won't lose me," he said.

"Perhaps," Brusin said. "But do not push with her before it's time. Her powers need to be unbound before she can begin to train and you can claim her for your mate."

"Love, Father. Wife. Not mate. She's not a broodmare," Tor said.

Brusin smiled a bit. "I know she's not. And I know you want her, but you need to resist the pull of the incubus inside of you, or the Dracul will realize you have found her. They want you to find her, Tor, for them. They will use you to get to her and then use her to destroy you."

"I'll slit every one of their blood-sucking throats if they dare lay a hand on her," Tor snarled, his eyes glowing a pale green tinged with the faintest hint of gold.

"Easy, son," Brusin said. "I know you will. That is why you need to relax with your attention. The time is coming when she will be unbound and you will be free to lave your attention on her as you see fit, whenever you see fit. Both mentally and physically."

Tor sighed and nodded, running his hands through his dark, unbound hair. "This waiting is killing me."

"You've waited thousands of years, a few more days or weeks won't hurt," Brusin said.

"What if it takes longer? What if it never happens?" Tor asked, stepping back from his father. He began to pace the length of the room.

"Why is Tor pacing?" Edik Vionus, Tor's older brother, questioned as he stepped into the study, flicking his hand to release the cloak at his neck.

Brusin lifted his hand to indicate to Edik to wait a moment. "Tor it will happen. It's prophesized. That's why the Dracul are intent on finding her."

"Did he visit the Queen again in her dreams?" Edik asked, settling his long frame into the closest chair, resting his booted ankle on top of the opposite knee.

"Edik, quiet please," Brusin said.

"What do you care?" Tor asked snappishly. "It doesn't concern you."

"The hell it doesn't," Edik said. "You may be her future lover, but her destiny affects us all."

"Dammit, don't you think I know that?" Tor roared.

"Put a lid on your temper," Brusin said coldly. His gaze flashed to Edik. "Both of you. It gets us nowhere."

"I'll stay away. For now," Tor said after a moment of silence. He tossed back the rest of his blood wine and set the goblet down on the mantle. "Good night." He turned on his heel and made his way out of the study. He needed air, and time alone. Something. He had a raging hard-on and just thinking about Meria made him ache for her and he itched to reach out to her again. But his father was right: if the Dracul realized he was reaching out to someone, they would find her and kill her knowing what destiny she'd bring to them.

Tor had to protect her. He didn't know her. Not really, but he did know he loved her. And he had to protect her. If that meant not going near her till the time came, then so be it. He just needed to get his cock to understand that now.

Edik looked over at his father as Tor left the room. "Do you really think he'll listen?" he asked.

"It's not a matter of Tor listening. It's a matter of the incubus inside of him listening to Tor's subconscious. He doesn't want to bring harm to her, but when the feelings come as strongly as they do now, it's hard to stop," Brusin said, pouring himself a snifter of brandy. He lifted the glass, asking Edik if he wanted one as well.

Edik shook his head. "No thank you," he said. "Sometimes they are one and the same though. Tor is not one to follow rules all the time."

"I think this is different, son," Brusin said, leaning against the desk. "This could mean his life or his death."

"We can't die, Father," Edik said.

"You know that's not true. Your mother was proof of that," Brusin replied. "We can suffer a great many things, but there are some things that even we can not survive. But death does not always come from just the body giving out or being damaged. Death also comes to the soul. If Tor were to lose his Queen, his Chosen Love, it would destroy him. Your brother would become nothing more than a living, breathing husk of flesh. That is something I do not want to see, father or not."

Edik sighed. "Nor do I," he said. "Tor can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but he's my brother and I love him."

"So good to know," Brusin said dryly. Edik chuckled. "What of you, my son? How goes your search?"

Edik's light mood dissipated instantly. He shifted on the sofa a bit uncomfortably. "It's not," he said.

"Not?" Brusin asked, frowning at him. "It's nec--."

"I think we should concentrate on Tor and the Queen. That's what's important right now," Edik interrupted. He quickly got to his feet. "I'm rather tired, Father. I think I am going to turn in for the night."

"Edik," Brusin said a warning in his tone. "Do not walk away from this."

Edik sighed. He took a moment to casually bend down and pick up his cloak. He draped it over his arm, brushing away a few spots that seemed to have a few stray pieces of lint. At least that's what he told himself so he could avoid speaking to his father for a moment.

"It's not walking away, Father," Edik finally said. "Avoiding? Maybe a little, but we're so close to the time of the Prophecy right now that my attention needs to totally be on Tor and the Queen. I can't let it stray at all."

"That doesn't sound like you," Brusin said.

"Perhaps not..." Edik sighed a little. "I need to do this, Father." He looked over at the older man. "I need to put my effort into this first. I can't let my focus be divided. Once Tor and his Queen are together... maybe then I can find mine."

Brusin watched Edik, his heart aching for his son. "Are you sure?" he asked.

Edik smiled sadly. "I have to be," he said. "Good night, Father."

"Good night, son." Brusin watched with a heavy heart as his eldest turned and made his way out of the study. If only he could take away the heartache of his offspring. He hated seeing them in such pain. He quickly drained his brandy snifter before setting it down and he too made his way out of the study to head up the stairs to rest.

Aieela Lastentier looked up as the door opened swiftly and her flustered sister came through the door, her blonde ponytail streaming behind her. Aieela smirked and looked down at a fabric swatch she was studying. "Good morning, Sunshine," she said.

Meria sighed heavily. "I am so sorry," she said. "I overslept..."

"That's every day this week, Meria. Are you okay?" Aieela asked, glancing at her sister.

Meria put her bag on the counter behind Aieela, shrugging slightly. "Physically? Yeah. Mentally? Emotionally? Eh."

Aieela frowned, straightening. "Eh? What does eh mean?"

"It's... nothing," Meria said, shaking her head. She began to unload the groceries that she had brought with her to her sister's home, which also served as their dual office.

"It's obviously something, Meria. You are never just eh," Aieela said. She walked over and swatted her sister's hands as she took over putting the groceries away. At the rate Meria was going, Aieela would end up cleaning up a mess because she dropped something.

Meria huffed indignantly at Aieela for swatting at her. The two women were extremely close, in fact, everyone in her family was. It was how they were raised. Both women always suspected that it stemmed from the fact that their grandparents and parents were so young when they became parents, that they instilled the meaning of family into them young. Meria always thought it wasn't the age that did it, but the fact that her great-grandfather was never a very demonstrative man with his children and didn't allow his wife to be so either. After he died when her grandfather was almost seventeen years old, it left a mark on Kristoff Lastentier. It left even more of a mark when his twin brother, Marius, died just a few months later while fighting off an Ogre attack during the end of the Ogre War. Kristoff and his twin had been very close, and when Meria and Aieela's father was born, Kristoff named him after Marius.

"Hello?" Aieela said, waving her hand in front of Meria. "Gods to Meria; come in Meria."

"Sorry, was musing," Meria said. "Did you ask me something?"

"I asked you what was wrong," Aieela said.

"I said it was nothing," Meria said, moving to get a glass out of Aieela's cupboard.

"To which I said, yeah right," Aieela commented, pulling out a pitcher of orange juice. "Did you want some breakfast?"

"That sounds good," Meria said, walking over to take the orange juice from her sister and pour a glass.

"And that was not a means to change the subject," Aieela said, starting to pull things out of the refrigerator to make their breakfast.

A sigh escaped Meria as she walked over to the small island bar that Aieela had built into her kitchen, settling her slender frame onto one of the stools. She propped her head on her hand and watched her sister. "Just some weird dreams..."

Aieela's eyebrow arched slightly as she glanced over at the younger woman. "What kinds of dreams?" she asked. Her eyebrow arched closer to her hairline as her sister turned a deep shade of crimson.

"I swear, Aieela, they feel so real," Meria said. "I mean... I was in my kitchen last night for crying out loud when one started."

"Your kitchen?" Aieela asked, mixing pancake batter.

"Yes!" Meria said, sighing. "I start dreaming that this... lover I can't see is there with me at night. I mean... they are so real, Aieela. I can feel his hands on my skin, against me," Meria said.

"Kinky," Aieela said, a grin crossing her features.

"I'm being serious, Ai. I can even feel his lips. And I swear his body is near mine to the point that I can see the outline of his arm or his hand or something, but never his face. I don't ever see him tangibly. Almost like he's a ghost," Meria said, setting her juice down.

"Or an Incubus?" Aieela asked, growing more serious as she realized that Meria was being very open with her.

Meria arched an eyebrow at her before she tilted her head. "You think?"

"Well, what else can create such vivid images of that manner and leave you feeling like you just had a full night of lusty sex?" Aieela asked, the sizzle of the pan sounding around their words as she poured a dollop of pancake batter.

"They were more than just images, Aieela. My entire body tingled from the orgasm I had," Meria said. "It was literally like he was there with me."

Aieela frowned slightly as she crossed her leg over the other at the ankle and leaned her hip against the counter. "What little I know of Incubi, that's not something you'd feel. An incredibly erotic dream, yeah, but not the physical satisfaction... unless you did it yourself?"

"No, my hand was blocked," Meria said.

Aieela blinked. "What do you mean blocked?"

"The teasing was insane, it really was. Frustratingly so, in fact. I wanted release then and there, demanded it even. But when I tried to finger myself, it was like whoever this phantom lover was... he wouldn't let me touch myself," Meria said.

"That's... unusual," Aieela said. "I'm not sure how to explain that one."

"Neither do I," Meria said. "And it's driving me nuts. I've never wanted anything more than his touch, and it's not even real!"

Aieela flipped the pancakes she had cooking. "Well that's not entirely true," she said. "It's very real if you are experiencing an actual tactile touch and sensation... but the question is who is this man and why is he coming to you in a phantom way?"

"You think it's malicious?" Meria asked.

Aieela shrugged. "Maybe, but I doubt it. I mean... why? Yeah, our family holds prominence, but nothing is worth being malicious to a member of our family in their dreams. Well half-dreams."

"It really makes no sense," Meria said. She groaned lightly, laying her head on her folded arms.

"Maybe it's just someone that has a major crush on you and this is his way of showing you what he can do?" Aieela suggested.

"It's slightly creepy," Meria said, lifting her head. "I mean... the pleasure is... wow. Really. Wow. But it's creepy at the same time. An invasion of privacy." She waved her hand when she saw Aieela frown in concern. "I feel so torn, you know? It feels like an invasion of privacy, and technically it is, yet I crave the visits. The pleasure."

"Unfortunately, some magical beings do not get the concept of privacy, sticking to that particular subject. Mostly because they don't have privacy themselves with the magic they wield," Aieela said.

"And the rest of it?" Meria questioned.

"You can't help what you feel," Aieela pointed out, flipping a pancake over. "I can't give much advice there."

"I just want to sleep without waking up feeling as though I've been ridden hard and put away wet," Meria said.

"I'm sure you wouldn't mind if you had a warm body to snuggle up to in the morning," Aieela said, grinning.

"Well... not really. But that's different. I'd definitely know then why I had an ache between my thighs when I woke up rather than trying to figure out why in the hell I'm having such vividly sexual dreams," Meria said.

"I wish I knew a spell that could catch this person, mark him even so that if you ever met him face to face, you'd know it was him," Aieela said.

"Since when have you been dabbling in magic?" Meria asked.

"Oh... Dane," Aieela said.

"Oh? How are things going with you two?" Meria asked, sipping her juice. She was glad that the subject was shifting off of her and the lover she couldn't see or explain. Her sister, on the other hand, had been seeing a handsome man from one of the elf clans, Dane Atilin. They had been dating for a while now and she wondered if the two would get serious and eventually marry.

"They aren't," Aieela said, pushing off the counter with her hip as she carried a plate filled with the pancakes she'd just made.

Meria frowned, grabbing a fresh plate. "They aren't? What happened?"

"His parents. Or so he says. I think he had someone else," Aieela said.

"What did he say?" Meria asked.

Aieela shrugged a little. "He said his parents were not keen on him getting involved with a human," she said.

"He's half-human!" Meria said, her voice rising slightly in indignation.

"I know. His father is a typical elf, though. Yeah, he married his wife, but only because she was pregnant with Dane's brother. He did fall in love with her, but that doesn't mean anything. He wants his children to remain with elves and raise mostly elven children. He wants them to remain in elven society," Aieela said. "I was good for a romp in the sack, but not as a wife to a half-elven man or as the mother to elven children that would end up only having a quarter of magical blood."

"But you don't think that's the real reason?" Meria asked, thinking of what her sister said.

"He was growing increasingly distant the past month or so. Canceling plans for stupid reasons, working later... I'm pretty sure he found someone that was more suited to what his father wanted for him, but he still wanted to get laid regularly," Aieela said.

"Oh, Aieela..." Meria said, her voice full of remorse for her sister's broken heart.

"It's okay in the long run," Aieela said, smiling bravely. "The sex was fairly decent, but I doubt I would have married him."

Meria watched her worry clearly evident on her face. "You aren't just putting on a brave face, are you?"

Aieela smiled sadly. "Maybe a little," she admitted. "Look... it's ok. Really. Dane and I were not meant to be. Yes, I admit... it's stinging something fierce right now that he walked away, but it's probably for the best. We were from two different worlds. We were good for a distraction for a bit, but..." She shrugged.

"It's still not easy to let go of though," Meria said.

Aieela looked down, her shoulders hunched a little. She looked up, tears on her cheeks. "No, no it's not."

"Oh, Sissy..." Meria was up and off her seat, coming around the breakfast bar before Aieela could blink. She laughed a little as her younger sister's arms wrapped around her in a comforting hug.

"You haven't called me that in years," Aieela said, laying her head on Meria's shoulder, and closing her eyes.

"The situation called for it," Meria said, with a soft smile as she ran a hand down her sister's blonde hair.

"Is there something wrong with me, Meria?" Aieela asked quietly.

"What?" Meria asked, frowning.

"This is the second relationship I've had over the past three years that just ended this way," Aieela said. "What is wrong with me that I can't keep a man in my life?"

"Oh, Sissy. There is nothing wrong with you," Meria said, hugging her sister a bit tighter. "It's the men that are assholes." Aieela laughed against Meria's shoulder. She decided it was just best to gain strength from the younger woman. It wasn't often that Aieela would allow herself time to break down and let her other siblings be the ones to pick up her pieces. Normally she was the one picking them up and putting them back together. Meria chided her once for being too much of the big sister... even to brothers that were older than her.

"What's wrong?" Candius Lastentier asked as he stepped into his sister's home. Orlion Lastentier stood just behind his older brother. Both men quickly stepped into the house, closing the door. Their long legs brought them over to their younger sisters.

"Nothing," Aieela and Meria both said.

"Yeah... right," Orlion said, eyeing the two women. "Something is wrong."

"It's nothing. Meria was just giving me a hug to let me cry out the frustrations over the fact that Dane and I are no longer," Aieela said.

"Did he hurt you?" Candius demanded as Orlion's light blue eyes darkened with anger.

"Not in the sense you mean, and not even a broken heart sort of thing," Aieela said. "I knew, in the end, it wouldn't work. It's more of a sting that I'll shake off, but I hadn't told anyone yet. Really, I'm fine."

"Then why are you crying?" Orlion asked far too calmly. Of the four siblings, Orlion had the quietest temper and was probably the most volatile when he finally exploded.

Aieela gave her brother an incredulous look. "I'm crying because my relationship failed, there is just a nip of hurt there that it didn't work out, but he didn't hurt me physically and I wasn't really in love with him so he didn't break my heart. Back down from the protective big brother bit," she said.

"Okay, okay," Orlion said. He shook his head.

"Good," Aieela said with a nod.

"It's no fun being the big brother anymore," Orlion grumbled under his breath. Candius laughed, hearing the comment.

"What was that?" Aieela asked, her eyebrow arching.

"Oh nothing," Orlion said, grinning at her.

Aieela shook her head, mumbling under her breath. All Meria managed to catch was something about "bullheaded brothers..." and "kicking their asses." Meria shook her head, amused at her siblings' antics.

"Just remember I am still bigger and can dump your little ass into a large body of water," Orlion said, wagging his finger at Aieela.

Aieela smiled very sweetly as she looked at him. "And just remember... I kick a lot harder, have longer legs and I'm less likely to miss my mark." Orlion cringed, stepping back from his sister.

"Such violence in this family," Candius said, his eyes twinkling with merriment.

"I didn't say you were above receiving the same treatment," Aieela said, shaking her fork at Candius before setting it down and getting up to make some more pancakes.

"What did I do?" Candius asked indignantly.

"You made a comment," Orlion said dryly, but he walked over and hugged Aieela from behind, kissing her cheek. "You really okay?"

Aieela looked up at him and nodded. "I'm really okay, Orli. Trust me."

"That's pushing it." He grinned at her then "oofed" when Aieela's elbow made contact with his firm stomach.

"Been working out, big brother?" Aieela asked.

"As a matter of fact..." Orlion grinned.

"Who are you trying to impress now?" Meria asked, taking a bite of her food.

Orlion looked over, feigning hurt. "I am wounded, Alstromeria. You act as though I am always trying to impress a woman," he said.

"Hm mm. Who is she?" Meria asked. Candius chuckled, sitting beside his youngest sister.

Orlion's face split into a large, goofy grin as he walked over. "This leggy blonde that keeps coming into the club. She is the hottest thing I've seen on two legs..."

"Legs he just so happens to want to get between," Candius piped up.

Orlion glared at his brother. "Enough from the peanut gallery," he growled.

"Well it's true," Candius said.

Meria shook her head and waved her hand a bit. "Hottest thing you've seen on two legs that we are certain you want to get between..." she prodded, urging him to continue.

Orlion put his hand on his hip, shaking his head at her. "Okay, no more dinners for you and Candius, he's a bad influence on you."

"And you aren't?" Candius quipped at him.

"I'm the epitome of innocence," Orlion said. He grabbed a towel to catch the orange juice that started coming out of Meria's mouth as she choked on her laughter... and her morning juice.

"Warn me when you are going to say things like you being the epitome of innocence," she finally choked out. "I want to drink my juice, not inhale it."

Aieela giggled from where she stood in front of the griddle she set up to make more pancakes for her brothers. Or more appropriately, for her brothers' appetites. Candius chuckled as well, shaking his head.

Orlion put a hand over his heart. "I'm wounded, Meria, I really am," he said.

"Yeah, you look it," Meria quipped, hopping off her stool. "I'm going to go wash the juice off my face." She took the soiled towel with her, heading down the hall towards the guest bathroom in Aieela's house. She smiled a bit, thinking of her brothers and how hysterical they were together when they were teasing one another. She was glad for moments like this with her siblings. She enjoyed spending time with them. But alone in the bathroom, her mind went back to the man that was haunting her dreams. And apparently, now her reality as well as she remembered those fingers; that tongue, against her.

Meria washed her hands quickly then bent over to splash her face with water. She quickly washed her face, knowing that she'd have to either borrow some make up from Aieela, or run home before she did anything that night. She looked into the mirror, staring at her features. Meria wasn't ugly; she knew that she was attractive enough. Despite people telling her she was beautiful, she didn't see it. Each of her features, she thought had a flaw. Full lips she thought were too full, but had been described to her as sensuous once before. Her eyes were almost too big, in her opinion, though not quite large enough to suspect at possible elven blood. Her eyes were a pale shade of blue, a slightly unusual shade in comparison to her mother and sister. When she was a child, a classmate told her that her eyes were the color of a cornflower crayon. As she got older they paled slightly to a lighter shade of cornflower blue. They were one of the only few features that she really liked about herself and didn't criticize.

She was petite but still had a curvaceous form. While not always comfortable wearing them, Aieela often managed to talk Meria into wearing revealing clothing that showed off her skin and curves. Meria never understood why Aieela wanted to expose her, but Aieela always insisted that Meria had it, so flaunt it. The two often agreed to disagree on that particular bit of information. Meria's definition of beautiful did not include herself. She saw too many flaws when she looked in the mirror. Aieela told her that she was overly critical of herself. Aieela always told her that there was more to Meria's beauty than just the physical. Meria knew that this was true, but many didn't often look past the skin to what lay beneath the surface.

Her thoughts instantly drifted to her mysterious lover, wondering what he thought of her features. Did he see her fully or did he only see parts of her as he pleased her, as she only saw faint parts of him? She wondered what color his eyes were, what color his hair was in contrast to her own pale golden locks. Would he find her beautiful? Would he think her exotic and want to claim her as his Goddess?

"Where the hell did that come from?" Meria mumbled. She shook her head. "You are being an idiot, Meria."

She leaned against the vanity, her eyes unfocusing as her thoughts started to run rampant again. Her mind would not leave her alone regarding the man that came to her at night. Who was he really? Was he in fact a flesh and blood person that wanted her for a lover? Or was he a demonic being that was only using her for his amusement? Could he possibly even be a ghost that thought she was his long-ago love and he felt the need in her heart and was drawn to it?

"Suppose that's one avenue Aieela and I hadn't thought of," Meria mused aloud. "Could he be a ghost and that's why I only see shimmering parts of him? I mean I suggested a phantom, but I was only kidding at the idea."

She blinked a few times, looking at herself in the mirror. "Great... how I've taken to talking to myself. Wonderful," she mumbled.

Meria sighed, running her fingers through her hair. She wasn't going to get any answers while she stood there. She probably wasn't ever going to get any answers. She certainly wasn't going to get any answers by talking to herself. She pushed off the sink and left her sister's bathroom, probably more troubled coming out than she was when she had gone in for the sole purpose of washing juice off of her.