ARTIFICIAL

W A K E U P C A L L

Ravina

I wake from the most soaring sunlight, I wish I could throw something at it. I want to get up but my body is heavier than usual and my head is in pain.

I take a sniff at whatever I'm lying on and it smells strongly of the sexiest person I know. For a moment I hum, melting into the sheets under me as if they would provide the comfort I need. Just as I start to relax, a terrifying thought passes through my mind.

No, a memory.

My eyes instantly snap open upon the realisation. And as much as I wish it were a dream, the foreign setting of the room I am in is an indication that it -in fact was not a dream.

I shuffle to lie on my back, only for my eyes to meet a tattooed figure facing away from me. A perfectly toned back with tattoos of multiple dangerous insects occupy the body, whilst the bottom is covered by dress pants.

I would recognise that body anywhere. Hell even with my eyes closed.

My heart beats so fast, suddenly I forget the reason I am here. I rarely see Nathaniel naked but my goodness this is a perfect way to wake up.

I feel the heat build up on my chest and between my thighs as the thought of being in his bed, in his room and being completely intoxicated. It sounds hot but unfortunately I can't remember. And I definitely wish I remembered.

"We didn't have sex." The walls to my imagination came crashing down once he spoke. Disappointment is the first emotion. "If that's what you were thinking."

It, in fact, was exactly what I was thinking and I definitely hoped we did. I contemplated getting up and stomping away but I don't have that luxury of showing an attitude. Although I wonder, if we didn't have sex, why am I in his room?

"Why am I here then?" I ask, my voice hoarse from the lack of use while I was asleep.

"You asked to sleep with me. Don't you remember?" He states before he reaches for a white shirt on a small couch at the corner of the room.

I definitely don't remember asking that.

"I asked you what?" I say in disbelief, that definitely does not sound like me. "And you agreed?"

He turns to face me, and unfortunately I didn't think his back view could be better. Fresh out of the shower it seemed. His face and his body were illuminated by the morning rays of sunshine entering from the window. His dark and wet hair seemed to cling onto his face.

His growing beard seems to add a new contrast to his face, I can only describe him in one way. A man.

Once I come to a conclusion of how good he looks, I remember that I had just woken up so I might look like shit. I attempt to sit up and fix my hair, luckily braids don't result in me looking like I do crack in the morning.

But I don't know about my face. "I was entertained. I never expected you to get into my room. Or to be drunk."

"I did what?" I mutter the words to myself this time, it seems the more I find out what I did last night, the more horrified I become. "And you're not angry?"

He walks over to me as he buttons down his shirt. I note his pants aren't buttoned all the way up, showing grey underwear with a band written about the popular brand, Calvin Klein. I definitely didn't expect him to wear Calvin Klein at all.

My eyes unfortunately stay on that part, the more I stare at it, the hotter I feel my body get. What could possibly be the cause of this, I mean I'm not usually this easily turned on. I suspect I may be ovulating.

"You wouldn't be the one I'm angry with." He states once he's in front of me.

I don't reply to his words, I know what he's insinuating and I doubt j can change his mind, he already dislikes her. His hand holds my chin up so I look at his beautiful brown eyes. "Just so you know, the only reason I hadn't act upon your requests is because you were inhebriated." He states. "Don't let it happen again."

"I- wanted to celebrate my last days before marriage." I lie, I don't know what else to say. I note the disappointment in his eyes as if he wanted me to say something different, but he doesn't question it.

He lets go of my chin this time, "You don't have to lie for the she-devil. She's already going back to Seattle tonight." He states getting back to his feet.

"What? But it's too soon." I immediately pull the covers off of my body to try and catch up to Siren. I don't know how much time I lost.

I don't pay attention to the fact that I am only dressed in the dress I had last night and no shoes.

"She's not here. She said she had lunch with someone an hour ago." Says Nathaniel earning my attention.

My body runs ice cold at the mention of that. It's lunch already. How could I have been asleep that long? How could I let Siren meet up with Angus alone? How could Nathaniel even allow her to go out there alone?!

"What- how could you let her go?!" He halts his movements when he notices my change of moods.

"I missed the part where I was in charge of her." He gives me a smart response but I definitely am in no mood for that.

"You know how much of a loose cannon Siren is and you let her leave? You did that on purpose didn't you?" I accuse as anger gets more and more difficult to bear.

"Which you brought in here and- why am I even entertaining this." He stops himself before he continued.

"You wanted her to pull something like this didn't you? That's why you didn't stop me right? You want me to fail like he does. You want to cancel this wedding." I start spiralling as the consequences of my actions start piling up into a big, wet, stinky mess.

"Who are you talking about?"

"Angus! Okay, he's the one who wanted to bring Siren here for some deal he wants to pitch to the Salians. Siren is not going to entertain that and he's gonna-" I pause when I lose my words.

Suddenly my heart beats so fast I lose control of it. The air thickens as I try to breathe through it but I struggle. "He's-" I attempt to speak again but the room suddenly starts to spin.

"Ravina..." I hear Nathaniel's voice call out but the lack of oxygen takes over any functions of my body as I feel myself losing consciousness.

"Ravina!"