Three Hearts, One Soul

Holy Cheezits

I came to an abrupt stop. Another mystery had appeared, this one's arms becoming stone shackles around my waist while i'd been busy keeping Mystery Man in sight, holding me against a strong but slim muscular form. That same obnoxious shiver went through my traitorous body as this new stranger's large hands wrapped themselves around my hips, his fingertips gently gripping the flesh of my stomach where my shirt had gotten skewed in my attempt..to..walk. Sigh. Tingles spread through my body languidly with this man much the same as with Mystery man #1 but where the first man had burned me with his gaze and his touch had warmed me in a pleasurable but intimidatingly intimate way, the sensation running along my skin now felt cool and soothing, as if a soft, chilled cloth was being stroked along my flesh. Like those memories from childhood when your mother checked on you in the night and felt your feverish head, the kind, cool touch radiating love and care.

Where the first gave me the impression of strength and security, he would be the proverbial sheepdog watching over me; this new man's chilly embrace made my..nerves calm, my heart slow. He felt..They.. felt like home. Like I was finally home after years of being alone with my own dark and twisty thoughts and emotions, as if this one was shining a light into the darkness while Mystery man reached in and ripped me out of the abyss.

What the hell is wrong with me!

His embrace should be scaring the fuck out of me, hell the whole situation was surreal and my many forms of  anxiety should've already had me on the ground in a ball of panic yet here I stood, feeling comfort in a stranger's albeit forced embrace.

Oh god, I have never been so thankful to have not downloaded It's Raining Men bc with my luck in the last few minutes....

I freeze, my whole body trembling with the realization that this new person had effectively caged me in between mystery man and his own body, the former having stepped up to look down at me, his eyes catching mine and his nearness making it impossible to see who had their arms tightly wrapped around my waist, one of which slowly relaxed its grip to slide a gentle hand to my elbow. His fingers ran along the length of my arm, sending more of those unknown feelings tingling out in their wake, strangely soothing me even as it caused fear to tighten my chest. Who the hell is stroking my arm like I'm a skittish kitten?! And why did this simple touch make me feel as if I was wrapped in a peaceful cocoon, my body relaxing itself? A quiet, angelic voice came from the man holding me, softly said by my ear but directed at Mr. Mysterious, "Are you scaring people again Marius?"

So he had a name! And of course it's sole purpose in this moment is to bring to mind a certain artistic vampire from Queen of the Damned. A certain sexy vampire with a flare for painting I might add..

I was brought out of my name game by a chuckle from the man still holding me and what sounded like a growl from Marius, who had managed to wrap his hand in my hair without me noticing, normally like a moment ago I'd be flinching away from any physical contact before it was even implemented, a curse can sometimes be a gift, at least for self-defense. Yet, at this moment, my traitorous 'gift' seemed to have abandoned me, because I was standing between two men I didn't know, both of them with their hands on me, and I was pretty much calm besides the obvious awareness that they were strangers and outweighed me by several hundred pounds all together, and my own inexperience with other people touching me let alone stroking my arm and playing in my hair. Marius was mere inches from my face, his eyes burning me, multiple emotions flitting through them too fast for me to follow, I felt like he was looking inside me and seeing every dark and horrifying secret. I wasn't sure in that moment if I minded the feeling.

And that's the thought that had me going completely rigid in their embrace, no one was allowed inside my head. No one.

The magical community had spread and flourished since it became inducted into society with rights and political allies shouting for equality. Some of those people terrified me. They could read your inner most thoughts passing you down the street if you were open and unguarded, therapists these days could get to the root of your issues with a simple touch. Hell, half the coffee shops across the country were ran by or employed fairies these days, no one else could sprinkle that perfect amount of charisma in a lawyers cup, or boost a shy girl's Java with a shot of courage before a tough conversation. That didn't bother me, I make my own coffee but I like the Fay Cafe as much as the next person. Yet the thought of someone seeing the memories, knowing the gory details I never even told my family, was more than I could handle. There were many reasons I literally did nothing besides work and go home, the idea of strangers seeing my personal demons was at the precipice of that list.