by Sadie Anders
“Okay, you’ve convinced me. It’s beautiful. Five hundred.” Raphael laughed under his breath. I was never very good at bargaining anyways.
The woman nodded her head in affirmation and began wrapping the object carefully in its packaging. When she had made sure that it was secure, she wrapped it in a sumptuous paper, thick and blue like the color of sapphires. She wrapped a burlap ribbon around it, and handed me the parcel.
The paper felt decadent in my fingers. This purchase was special to me, and she had gone out of her way to make it so.
Raphael handed her the note, and she gave us the change back. I placed the parcel inside my backpack, and I noticed that he slid her a little bit extra as I did so. The woman shot us a beaming smile as we walked away.
Raphael and I wound through the city streets, retracing our steps to the River Acheron that we had taken together a few weeks before. We turned a final corner from a wide alleyway to the main harborside road, and we found ourselves at the water’s edge.
Indigo light from the sky reflected on the still waters of the massive river, making the entire scene ethereally beautiful. I sat down on a bench facing the water, wanting to take it all in for a minute. Raphael sat down beside me.
“The river is peaceful, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I said. “But it’s also full of possibility.”
He thought about this for a few seconds. “That’s interesting. Most people from your realm inherently fear this body of water. It’s called the River of Woe. Warped knowledge of it has passed into the otherworld as a frightening thing.”
“Why is it frightening?”
“It’s viewed as a boundary between realms. A place where people are ferried to their new existence. For ages, humans have interpreted this new reality as a type of punishment or even literal hell.”
“Well, what one person sees as hellish uncertainty another can see as possibility, I suppose.”
“Absolutely,” he agreed.
We sat in silence for a while, gazing at the scene. The ripples from the breeze moving across the water lulled me into a place where my fear and anxiety were at the back of my mind instead of pounding furiously to be heard. This type of contentment was the last thing I expected to find in Asphodel.
I reached my hand out and placed it on top of Raphael’s, and he did not pull away.
I wasn’t sure what was going on between us, if anything even was going on between us anymore. But I sure as hell was getting some mixed signals from Raphael.
As we sat, our hands entwined, a boat slowly approached one of the docks. One person leapt to the shore to help secure the boat’s ropes against the moorings. When they were fully docked, a group of four or five sailors jumped down from the small vessel. They joked and laughed as they walked into the city, no doubt searching for dinner or drinks somewhere.
Raphael looked over at me, reluctance written across his face. “I suppose it is time to move on.”
I didn’t want to, but I agreed. “You’re right.”
We couldn’t stay in this perfect moment forever. That wasn’t how the world worked.
But neither of us made a move to stand up. I stared straight ahead, not having the will to break the moment. Finally, Raphael did it for us, rising from the bench and offering his hand to help me stand. I looked up at him as I took it, nervous, like I had never touched him before. I was so unsure of where I stood with him.
I rose from the bench, and my legs were shaky beneath me. My feelings for him were powerful, and they wouldn’t simply go away. I wondered how he had managed to make his own feelings disappear, or if he ever had any at all.
We started walking down the harborside and turned down the vast alley that led to our destination. At the mouth of the alleyway stood a small square, with a few shops nestled together inside this little nook. In the center stood the Kylix, the name emblazoned in illuminated letters above the hunter green exterior. The lights from inside the pub shone through the thick multi-colored stained glass windows.
We were here.
The bar was busy, just as before, filled with patrons, reveling and singing along to the boisterous music being performed inside. I couldn’t see the corner where the small stage was set up, but the tune was jaunty and wormed its way into your brain.
We walked to the bar and found a couple of barstools. Timaeus, the kind barkeep, made his way to us.
“Ah, new patrons. Welcome to the Kylix. How may I be of service?”
I had to catch myself from greeting him, remembering that I was wearing a glamour and he wouldn’t recognize me. I couldn’t blow my cover within thirty seconds of entering the place.
Raphael spoke first. “Two ales, if you please. And we hear that you might have rooms available for the night.”
“Aye, we do.”
“Then two of those as well. Preferably rooms next to one another.”
Timaeus looked pleased to have customers buying something beyond a drink. He bowed politely and got to work pouring our pints.
Two rooms.
That answered my question about where we stood. Not together. That was where.
Timaeus delivered our beers and a couple of room keys. They were old fashioned. Not electronic key cards, but thick brass keys with a number attached to each key fob.
Rooms seventeen and nineteen.
Raphael pocketed the keys for both of us and grabbed his drink. He turned to face the room as he began sipping it, and I followed suit. The ale was delicious.
It was easy to get lost in the jovial nature of the crowd, of the friends commiserating, the lovers flirting, the local storytellers spinning their tales to a table full of listeners. A pub like this was the lifeblood of the city, and these people clearly loved every minute of being here.
After a while, a table in the center of the room opened up, and Raphael and I grabbed it. From this vantage point, we could see everything that was going on in the bar, including the entertainment.
When I looked over at the stage, I noticed that it was my acquaintance Kai doing the singing, as before, his red hair bobbing up and down as he danced and sang to the band backing him. I considered Kai to be one of the few people that I trusted in Asphodel. He had been invaluable in helping Raphael and I escape the last time we were here, as he tipped us off before Heliodor’s agents burst into the inn looking for us. He had even jumped out a window with us and rushed us down the back alleys to safety, at much personal risk to himself. He was the real deal.
I watched Kai dance and sing, and I found myself singing along, quite enjoying myself. When I glanced over at Raphael, he was watching me, a smile on his face. He noticed my look, and he quickly looked away, joining in the song himself. When Kai had finished performing, I clapped loudly and cheered.
“My friends and compatriots,” he said. “I will return to you once again after a brief break and many libations.” He took a little bow and headed off of the small corner stage, heading straight to our table.
Oh, hell.
Why was he coming over here?
“Greetings. May I join you?”
Kai pulled up a chair to our table and leaned back, relaxing. He raised his hand in the air, calling Timaeus over to the table. The kind barkeep rushed over to take Kai’s order.
“What’ll you have, Kai?”
“I’ll have an ale. And another round for my friends here. I am happy to see them again.”
Timaeus lifted his eyebrow, clearly not knowing who we were and questioning Kai about us. He nodded and turned to retrieve our round of drinks.
I didn’t know what to say.
Had Kai really guessed who we were that easily? Or was he merely being friendly?
“I am glad to see that you have fared well since last we met,” he said.
Well, that answered my question.
“We are doing well,” I responded, still guarded.
“I’m glad. I feared the worst for a time, but then I heard nothing further about you. I hoped that you had escaped.
”
His face became somber.
“But I see that you have returned. I hope that it is not to confront the one who came after you before.”
I noticed that he was careful not to mention any names, neither mine nor Heliodor’s. Kai knew full well that a place like this was full of ears, all eager to listen for any juicy piece of information. This was why this was the ideal place for us to begin our search for the Phos Eos.
“We have returned, yes, but not for the same reasons. In fact, I hope to avoid that particular menace altogether.”
He nodded and leaned in to whisper. “Now I understand your need for subterfuge. Well, it is delightful to see your bright shining faces again, even if you look a bit different than the last time we met.”
I smiled. “We’d love to discuss things further with you, when you have the time.”
Timaeus brought our drinks to the table, placing them down in front of us and turning to go.
“For friends such as you, I am always available,” he said more loudly, kicking back and taking a sip of his drink. “Typically. But tonight I am busy. I must attend to the libations and songs and revelry before me.”
He gazed at me intently, speaking into my inner core again, as he had done the night I had met him. It was a disorienting feeling, like he had tapped into my heart and whispered to it.
Are you lodging here at the Kylix as before?
I nodded, almost imperceptibly.
Splendid. I will come to you again after things wind down for the evening. It is never safe to discuss serious business openly here, and I judge from your glamours that you have serious business to pursue.
He downed the rest of his drink and rose to leave, speaking out loud once again.
“Perhaps we can schedule a time to catch up soon, dear friends. Until then, I take my leave. Please enjoy the Kylix.”
He gave us a small bow and returned to the stage once again. The musician next to Kai handed him a lute, and they began a rousing tune. The crowd began singing along, and we were soon lost inside his musical spell. This guy had a way with melody, with singing, with performance. It made me think that music was a kind of magic all its own, and given that Kai clearly had some powers, maybe there was some actual magic involved, too.
Raphael tapped his fingers on the table along with the music as he drank his pint. I reached over and placed my hand inside of his. I wasn’t sure if it would be welcome, but after our moment near the River Acheron, I had a spark of hope.
He looked over at me, confusion crossing his face as before. After a pause, he intertwined his fingers inside my own. Warmth spread throughout my body, and I felt like I was someplace familiar, someplace real.
Someplace like home.
We spent the evening enjoying Kai’s music, hand in hand. As the evening wore down, the band’s music became more mellow at times, allowing for people to talk and dream and stare into their pint glasses.
A sweet and mellow tune began, and Raphael stood. He leaned down and extended his hand, inviting me to dance. I probably knew as much about dancing as an infant, but I agreed. I’d be crazy to pass up a chance to dance with this beautiful man.
We made our way to the tiny dance floor, and Raphael took me into his arms and began moving me slowly from side to side. This kind of dancing was really my speed. Not much skill involved at all.
I leaned into Raphael’s chest, taking in the scent of his cologne. Even though he looked different because of the glamour, he still smelled amazing and familiar. I thought of how intoxicating his scent had been when we had held each other in his bed, a time when I had felt perfectly content. The way your sense of smell could bring you back to a time or place or person was unique, and I realized how intensely connected to Raphael that I already was.
Steeling myself with bravery, I nestled into him, leaning closely against his body and closing my eyes, rocking side to side. Raphael wrapped his arms around me in a hug, drawing me in closer, smelling my hair. It was like a luxurious vampire cocoon.
He didn’t pull away as I placed my arms around his waist, making our bodies fully embrace. My body was so responsive to him. I was turned on by being this close to him, and I couldn’t help but dig my nails playfully into his back. He groaned quietly.
“Mm, Alexis. Why are you doing this to me?”
“Doing what?”
“Making it impossible for me. For anyone. How on earth am I supposed to resist you?”
I opened my eyes and looked up at him, staring into his eyes intently. Even though his face was different, I still recognized his eyes. It was still Raphael.
“Why on earth are you resisting?”
Raphael looked back into my eyes deeply, thinking. I wasn’t sure what he was struggling with, but I could tell that he wanted me. It was obvious.
After a few beats, he leaned down and kissed me.
6
A sigh escaped my lips as I completely melted into Raphael, his kisses like breathing.
I devoured him with abandon, letting go of all of the uncertainty, the fear, the stress that I had been carrying with me the past few weeks. I didn’t know what was going on between us, but I did know that I wanted this man.
Raphael thrust his hands into my hair, and I felt a shock of electricity move through me down to my toes. We bumped into another couple on the dance floor, and I suddenly came crashing back to reality, realizing that we weren’t alone, that we were in a room full of people. And those people could see me hardcore making out with this incredible man in the middle of the dance floor.
I blushed, embarrassed at having lost myself so completely around Raphael. Still, how could I not? He completely intrigued me.
And even though I felt that there was something still between us, obviously, I felt like there was something that I was missing, some reason that he had been so cold to me earlier.
But right now, with the way he was looking at me, I didn’t really care. That conversation could wait.
“Why are you blushing?” he asked. “Don’t want to be seen with me?” His eyes sparkled and he had a playful smile. It drove me crazy with lust.
“Not at all, but maybe we should go somewhere a little more private.”
He cocked one eyebrow up at me, enticed. “Are you trying to seduce me, Ms. Guignol?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time.” I bit my lip and gave him an intense look.
He took me back to our table and pulled out my chair.
“Wait here for a minute.”
He walked away towards the bar. I lost him in the crowd, so I couldn’t see what he was doing. Maybe he wasn’t interested after all. Maybe he decided to let me down easy and was going to get another round of drinks. My heart fell a little bit at the thought.
Was I that bad at reading people?
After a couple of minutes, I saw him walking back toward the table, but he didn’t have any drinks in his hands. Curious.
He approached the table and extended his hand to me. I took it and stood up, and he led me through the crowded bar to the stairs at the back of the building. I knew these stairs from before. The Kylix’s guest rooms were on the floors above.
When we got to the stairway, he stopped and turned around, scooping me up into his arms and carrying me up the stairway.
“We have someplace to be right now,” he said.
My heart started thumping strongly in my chest. I didn’t know what to say, but I knew that I wanted this to happen. My body ached for him, remembering what had gone on between us before.
He carried me up two flights of stairs, this time to the top floor of the building. There were fewer rooms up here, only one on each side of the hallway. Rooms seventeen and nineteen were nowhere in sight. Raphael set me down and produced a key from his pocket, swinging the door open. He reached in to turn on the light and swept me up in his arms again.
As he carried me over the threshold, I looked around. It was a massive room. When we had stayed at the Kylix before, we had rented a small
room with a bed barely big enough to fit us both. This time, we were in a well-appointed suite with a four poster bed. Sumptuous fabrics decorated the windows, and an intricate tapestry was hung on the far wall. The room smelled faintly of honeysuckle, and everything had a beautiful amber glow from the lamps lighting the place.
Who knew the Kylix could be so cushy? Leave it to Raphael to get the best room in the city.
“This place is gorgeous,” I told him.
“I’m glad you like our room.”
Our room. He must have gone to alter the arrangements when he left me to wait at our table a few minutes ago. I wondered what had changed his mind.
Judging from the look on his face, his hooded eyes filled with an insatiable hunger, I think I knew.
Raphael kicked the door closed behind us with his foot and carried me over to the bed, tossing me playfully onto the mattress. I giggled as I bounced onto the springy surface on my back. He took off his boots and glided over to me. His steps were as light as a feather, like a panther stalking his prey, only he had a sly smile written across his face. I leaned up onto my elbows, and watched him approach. At the last second, he leapt onto the bed, pouncing on me, his arms and legs around me and my body bouncing on the mattress beneath him. I let out a a delighted laugh.
“I love to hear that, Alexis,” he said. “I love it when you’re happy. I haven’t been able to see that very often since I met you. Not with everything that has happened.”
He was right. I was typically a pretty laid back person. I loved to laugh, but since my entire world had been turned upside down and thrown into a far more magical one, I hadn’t been the same jovial person that I normally was. Too much stress would do that to a person.
“I’m happy when I’m with you. I know that much.”
A confused look crossed his face, one mixed with pain, but it quickly disappeared. I didn’t know why he was so uneasy, what was bothering him, but I wasn’t about to let that get in the way of our time together. We didn’t have much before we had to find the Phos Eos.
Raphael towered over me, and his glamour’s long blond hair fell forward, the amber light behind him crowning him with a glow. It was different, and I missed the old Raphael, but I still felt drawn to him. I reached up and grabbed his shirt with both of my hands, pulling him towards me. We fell into a passionate kiss, his body pressed against mine.
