Daevari -II-

Chapter 6.4: Ideations

Ari sat in the hot springs, his head resting on his arm. Ever since his visit to Auovin, a restlessness had settled deep within him. It was embarrassing—having to relieve himself due to the overstimulation brought on by Auovin. How many times had it happened? More times than Ari cared to admit. Each time, the thoughts of Auovin's hands... his mouth... filled his mind. Heat traced across his thoughts, causing him to bite his thumb, as if coaxing down the useless feelings. His needs, his desires—they would remain unmet once more. Entertaining them any longer was futile. It was better to leave sooner rather than later, Ari reasoned. He could not endure this much longer.

He stepped out of the water, wiping himself down with a towel before wrapping himself in a robe. This had been his sixth bath in just a few days. He dared not meet with Sascha or Kaval, fearing he might use them as an outlet for the frustration that had begun to consume him. But Ari felt more in control now. He did not wish to depart without speaking to them first. The sooner he did, the sooner he would be away from the source of his turmoil.

Drying his hair with a towel, Ari opened the wooden door, stepping back inside the lavish villa. There were several villas scattered across the land, he had come to realize. Auovin had his, Nis had his, and the remaining ones were split between them. One, in particular, was always filled with eyes. He often caught them slinking off toward the temple nearby—the one he had once visited with Xaaza.

Something felt amiss here, the air growing more ominous with time. It was best to check on them and return quickly. As soon as he stepped through the door, an eye led him to get dressed and changed. Since his arrival, Ari had been waited on hand and foot, more so now that he had begun venturing outside his rooms. At first, it made him uncomfortable, but over time, it became familiar, as if it had always been this way.

His memories of before had begun settling into place, melding seamlessly with the present. Ari hardly noticed the changes, but when he did, they made him more conscious of his actions. His feelings for Auovin only intensified when it happened, and that was yet another reason he wished to distance himself.

Auovin's words still echoed in his mind: that was what he always did—devour, consume. Ari could try to look at it in a positive light, but since his first trip to the hot springs, he had begun grasping the deeper meaning behind those words. He did not want to overwhelm Auovin with his emotions. He would give him time and space if that was what was needed for them to move forward. But that was all. Was that so wrong of him? As Ari could not imagine a forward without him in it. If he had to take a step backwards to take two steps forward, he would do that.

Ari dressed quickly, leaving without a word to the eye with its bowed head. He was beginning to understand the layout of the villas, and could now find places well enough on his own. He had spent much of his time in Auovin's villa, staying in the library, visiting the hot springs, and exploring. He had not returned to Nis' villa, where his rooms were, in quite some time, as he was provided for wherever he went. Ari took his time heading back to Nis'. He had not spoken to Kaval or Sascha in some time and wished to see them once more.

Because he took his time, it was nearly half a day before he reached Nis' villa. Unlike Auovin's, the candles were sparsely lit throughout. The carpets here were a deep purple, lined with silver, whereas Auovin's were maroon embroidered with gold. More eyes roamed these halls as well, many more than the last time Ari had noticed.

He made his way to Sascha's room first. It did not take long to arrive, as he entered through the side door rather than the front. The stairs were close by, and Sascha's door was not far once he ascended. Ari knocked. There was a brief silence before Sascha's freckled face appeared, his bright smile greeting him.

"Ari!" Sascha embraced him, kissing his cheek and then his lips. "How are you? How have you been?"

Ari smiled, lowering his head. Had Sascha always tasted so sweet?