To the Depths of My Heart

Hypnotism

Tom awoke, not remembering where he was at first - the tones of the room muted by the dusky light that just barely managed to filter through the east-facing window and making abstract shadows of the furnishings. It wasn't until he rolled to his other side and saw Cora on the other bed, her body curled with her back to him, her long hair a wild spray on the pillow above her head, her feet poking out from under the sheets and blankets, that his mind cleared and he remembered. The cabin.

He stretched and sat up, not realizing that Cora also stirred until he looked back in her direction and saw her gazing at him, a blank expression on her face. "Did you sleep well? " he asked, the sound of his voice jarring her from her sleep drunk stupor.

Cora nodded, her eyes widening as the realization that she'd been staring at him hit her. Embarrassed,  she glanced away. "Yes," she answered, "Thank you."

"Listen..." Tom began as he stood up and made his way around her bed to the door, "I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable. That kiss... won't happen again." He saw her flinch before her eyes flicked up to him. "Unless you want it to," he finished.

Her skin began to flush, a faint rosy pink that grew from the apples of her cheeks until her entire face was colored. "I..." she stumbled over her words like her mouth was full of marbles. "I... didn't... dislike it." Instead of averting her eyes, she studied him with a steady gaze, hoping to gauge his reaction. 

Smirking, he chuckled. "I don't know how to take that, really. I can't say I've ever had a woman say that about a kiss, much less one of mine." He turned to look at her, thoughts swirling in his head clarifying to a vision of her in his arms, succumbing to a passionate kiss. "Cora," he started to say, only to be interrupted by a knock on the door.

A voice followed the sharp rap on the wood. "I hear voices, does that mean you're awake?" Despite the muffling of her voice, they could tell it was Diana. 

"Come in," Cora invited. "We're only talking." 

"Please," Tom said as he opened the door and stepped out of Diana's way. 

In the early evening light, Diana appeared even more like a supernatural being, angel, fairy, goddess on high. Her skin seemed to shimmer, her silvery hair was loose and draped over her shoulders in long locks that melted into the fabric of her garments as threads. "I've been sent to inform you that both Daniel and Samian are now here and would like to start the session as soon as possible."

Cora scowled. "I'd like a bit to eat before, if that's alright."

Diana shook her head. "Hypnosis is best done on an empty stomach," she explained. "Your body is less likely to be affected by the food you consume and you'll be more in tuned with what is happening."

"I'd think the opposite would be true," Tom shrugged. "I guess not." He watched as Diana turned and left, Cora following her into the hallway, then closed the door behind himself as he brought up the rear of their little group. She led them down the stairs and into the sitting room they'd initially seen when they entered the cabin.

Two men were sitting in opposite armchairs - one younger man with dark hair, dark skin and dark eyes, with a cherubic, jolly face, dressed in a long-sleeved shirt advertising a soccer league, jeans and loafers, and one older man who shared Diana's ethereal beauty with fair hair that flowed in gentle waves to his shoulders, sparkling ice blue eyes, barely rosy cheeks, a friendly smile, dressed in a tunic and baggy pants and moccasins. They stood as Cora and Tom entered the room and bowed. "Dr. Samian Coruma," Diana introduced motioning towards the darker man as he bowed, "And, my love, Daniel." She moved to the side of the lighter man and grasped his arm, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Samian is the hypnotist you were told about."