Chapter 590: Another Serene Night
A cute girl falling peacefully asleep in your arms has got to be one of the greatest pleasures that life has to offer for us lonely, hollow men out there.
Nothing felt more like bliss than this simple gesture of trust and intimacy and, on a couch, on a bed, I’m sure it was just that. But in the cramped squeeze of a bathtub, I was far too busy keeping from bumping my knees and elbows trying to keep her mouth and nose above water, trying to pull myself free from the soft, tantalizing weight of her bare, naked body.
I still wasn’t sure how I managed to do it, but in the end, I had us both dried, toweled, dragging, and crumpling silky satin sheets with my knees as I clumsily yet ever so carefully placed the slumbering vampire to bed.
Now, I wasn’t sure really if there was a common cold equivalent to these terrifying prowlers of the night, but you can be sure as shit I wasn’t going to be taking any chances on having another mythical being fall ill under my watch... especially one with wrath and fear incarnate as a doting little sister.
Adalia’s dress lay in a clump by the bedside in an endless bundle of tangled strings and laces which I did not even dare try and unravel.
I had some spare clothes somewhere deep in the mess of my wardrobe, and after quickly rummaging through Narnia, I pulled out a big baggy shirt that managed to fit her all the way to her thighs perfect – good enough for temporary sleepwear.
The room was pitch black in the dark of night, and turning the lights on was a no-go if I wanted to stand the slightest of remaining in control of my libido, and so, faced with so little options, I opted to just feel my way through the entire dressing process, my very klutzy hands somehow hitting every springy bump and supple curve along the way.
.....
Unintentionally, of course... ahem...
Of course.
It had only just struck nine, with the pale moonlight gleaming through the kitchen blinds, when I’d finished wiping clean the last dusty and grimy countertop.
Gradually, day by day, the cleanliness of the house was slowly faltering. The floorboards don’t sparkle and shine the same way they used to, dust bunnies were gathering in every narrow crack and crevice, and frankly, the sheets in every room could use some changing.
While I do absolutely try my best to keep things spick and span, the unfortunate truth was my best couldn’t even come close to Ash at her worst. She’s a gift, that girl... her thoroughness, her efficiency, how she handles every task so effortlessly... and every day without fail, her high standards only seem to rise evermore.
Running out of groceries, I just realized too...
Seriously, I think I might be relying too heavily on her shoulders a little too long if I’m in this way over my head during this brief period of absence of hers. It makes me wonder, honestly...
Where exactly would I be right at this moment without her?
Would I still be in that cramped two-room apartment space? Filling out surveys for quick cents while submitting my resume at every mention of the word ‘applicant’ I find? Slurping melted ice-cream soup in the sweltering darkness of unpaid electric bills?
So many things would have ended up vastly different. I probably wouldn’t have known Irene as well as I do. I’d probably only be a bit disheartened hearing about indiscriminate mysterious abductions. An unknowing frightened bystander in the face of a mysterious black rain. Not to mention, a complete and total stranger in the lives of people I’ve grown to care for oh so much.
I probably wouldn’t also be called Master...
Truly, really... what would I be without her?
It’s only the brink of another year’s end, and yet it feels like decades have passed with the number of happenings that’s transpired in just these past few months.... a few things for the worse... and everything else for the better.
And no doubt they’ll be much more happening to transpire, many more things to discover- including now.
Eshwlyn was deep in my head, Ash was burrowing deep in my thoughts.
The tray of food in my hands sounded a clatter as I knocked firmly upon a closed door. In the briefness of the silence and darkness, I waited, breath bated, ready for the long night and tale that awaited me behind this door.
Faintly, I could hear someone shuffling, creeping, and the door slowly swung open with a click and creak, revealing the distinct luminous glow of gold lurking behind the dark gap.
I presented the tray forward, smiling, “Dinner, Sera. For her.”
The glinting gold blinked, skirting quietly to the side, violet flutters closely trailing along, and I stepped over and beneath the widening doorway, once again, feeling my senses immersed in the scent and atmosphere of an entirely different world.
A very musty, stuffy world without much ventilation, a world that smelled sweetish, dampish... a world that smelled much like her.
“Master...” came a soft whistler, and a large lump on the bed began to squirm, then out from the thick covers, emerged glazed green eyes closely accompanied by a loose tender smile. “You are late today.”
The silver tray gave another soft metallic quiver taking space on the nightstand from a recently resuscitated smartphone resting close by. I slowly placed myself on the edge of the bed, scooting closer, reaching over, to gently run my fingers through her snowy-white hair.
“Late?” I inquired, keeping my voice low and light. “I don’t remember ever making an appointment.”
Ash was actually starting to look a lot better now, really. Articulate, lucid, her skin fairer, her voice stronger, and the soft glow of green in her eyes shining vibrantly than ever before mine. I’m not even sure if she even recalls much of the night prior... or the wish she made to me.
But judging from her behaviour now... probably not.
“I’ve familiarized myself with your daily visits. And for some reason today, you have strayed from your normal scheduled time, ” She said, her pointed ears fluttering rapidly as my fingers reached around them. “Mmm, Master... what has kept you this long away from me, I do wonder?”
“I showered.”
“Ahh,” another warm smile peeked at me through the covers. “I should have known.”
“Here now, though,” I said, feeling her feverish warmth as I reached to stroke her on the cheek. “And I’ll stay for as long as you want me to.”
“Forever, then, Master, if you’d be so kind,” She said, nuzzling the palm of my hand right back. “Or shall it unfortunately seem unlikely, then another night’s rest closely accompanied would more than suffice.”
“You want me to sleep here with you again?”
“The fleeting nights are all I’ll ever have with you, ridden still with this blight... I’d be a fool of an Elf, a lover... shall I ever choose to squander these precious moments with you.”
Y’know I made chicken soup this evening, as well as some piping hot herbal tea, thinking I’d try and soothe her discomfort... and yet here I was, having my soul healed and mended instead.
“And umm...” I drifted my eyes over to the lurking silent figure in the furthest darkest corner of the room feeling like a certain familiar vampiric presence I’ve grown ever too accustomed to. “What does Sera have to say about it?”
“She wishes to stay...” Ash muttered, turning her head over towards her. “If only to observe...”
Observe, huh?
“Observe, what?”
“Us...”
“Us?” I asked, throwing my eyes at the brooding, cloaked figure again. “Why, us?”
“My, Master, feeling a bit self-conscious now, are you?” She teased, a sheepish grin suppressing a faint giggle. “It’s not as if you’ve any intentions of doing anything other than sleeping tonight, yes?”
Actually, if I were to be honest – I do. I do have another intention for tonight... which makes the lingering presence of another, especially someone like her, someone so deeply involve... that much more harder to see through...
But that was a question, a discovery, an intent, for later...
“Guess not,” I said, shaking my head.
Much later.
For now, however... I only had one single intention, and a more innocent, purer one at that.
“C’mon...” I reached for the tray, spoon in hand, and another smile at the ready. “I’ll feed you your dinner.”
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