Halfling (editing in process)

Chapter Thirty-One

Payne and Marcus were already gone by the time Aria woke up. She yawned softly and slowly got out of bed, her gaze falling on a small tub of steaming water, a simple blue dress and a note.

Breakfast is waiting downstairs, get cleaned up and join us when you are ready. I wanted to let you sleep on an actual bed as long as you needed. I've already bathed and have gone to assist Maven in working for my cure. Take your time my love.

- Payne

Aria smiled softly and stripped off her old dress. She bathed and dressed, braiding her hair back so it would stay out of her way while drying. She walked downstairs and found Payne and Maven at the table, Payne drinking a now purple liquid from a ladle. Maven was hovering around her, muttering softly under her breath.

Payne's eyes locked to Aria's and she smiled, motioning her over. There was a hot plate of food waiting for her along with juice. Aria sat down and began eating, watching both of them curiously.

"So... What exactly are you doing?" Aria questioned.

"The potion is to assist in numbing her and weakening the enchantment." Maven replied.

"You know she can't feel pain right?"

"I... Did not, but it will help weaken the enchantment. Then I will break it and before you know it she will be good as new."

"Please go on then."

Maven gave Payne two more ladles of the potion and then stepped back.

"Open your mouth." Maven demanded.

Payne opened her mouth, Maven moving her head back to rest against the back of the chair. Maven then moved over and pulled a leather working needle from the hearth, her hand glowing with a protection spell from the white-hot metal. For a moment, Aria felt her heart still, remembering a similar needle being used when Payne's tongue had been cut out originally. She moved over to Payne and forced her mouth open further.

"Brace yourself." Maven muttered.

Her hand holding Payne's jaw open began to glow red, goosebumps breaking over Payne's arms. Maven tightened her grip, starting to whisper a mixture of elven and demonic. With a quick precision, she drove the needle into what remained of Pain's tongue, red electricity crackling from her hand, making Payne's dark hair stand on end. The smell of burning flesh pierced the air. Payne gripped the edge of the table, the wood creaking loudly as a loud moan escaped her, her back arching lightly.

Maven ripped the needle free and stepped back, breathing heavily.

"That... That was one hell of an enchantment you put on that blade Payne. Very difficult to break but... you should regenerate shortly." Maven said breathlessly, leaning back against Javen as he rushed to her.

Payne's head slowly righted itself, a trickle of blood leaving the side of her mouth. Her eyes, glowing bright red, focused hungrily on a horrified looking Aria.

"...e...ve..." Payne croaked, her eyes moving to Javen and Maven.

"What?" Maven questioned.

Payne rose to her feet and moved towards Aria. "...eve." She croaked again, pulling Aria to her feet.

"I don't underst-" Maven looked up as Javen began pulling her to the door.

"Maven how about we go to the river for a while? We still have a lot to discuss." Javen mumbled.

Marcus trotted out the door as soon as it opened and disappeared in the forest. Payne watched Javen and Maven leave before turning to Aria, a wicked grin appearing on her face. Aria looked up at her, biting her lip softly.

"P-Payne?" She questioned.

She shivered as Payne cupped her face and angled her head up, their eyes locking. Payne moved down and kissed her softly, drawing her close. Aria practically melted against her, gasping as Payne's grip tightened as her kisses became more intense. A heated sound left her as she was forced against the wall next to the stairs, unsure when they had moved from the table. Payne's movements became more heated, Aria squeaking softly as Payne ripped her dress down her back.

"Payne!" Aria exclaimed against her lips.

"..et you a... ew one." Payne whispered, fusing their lips once more.

They managed to get up the steps and to their room, the remains of Aria's dress resting outside the door. Payne threw her across the room, Aria landing and bouncing harmlessly on the bed. Her face was flushed, her eyes dazed and her mouth beautifully swollen.

Aria looked to Payne, her heart racing as she watched Payne undress. The last time they had been together, her first time, Lucien had taken both of them. Panic gripped her in a rush as memories threatened to surface, her heart beginning to race wildly. He could find them again easily, and this time he wouldn't allow them to get away, and what if he captured Javen and Maven as well? Maven was pregnant, would he kill the baby? Would he wait for it to be born and then raise it for dark purposes just like her father had done her? Her breath hitched in her throat, the heat that had previously coursed through her starting to die down as ice pulsed through her veins.

Payne must have noticed the shift, seen the panic in her eyes, because she moved over and gently pulled Aria close to her, their eyes locking.

"Don't think of him." Payne whispered. "Don't let him ruin this moment between us. He's not here, and he will never touch you again." She pressed a soft kiss against her lips.

"You... You can talk." Aria replied quietly.

"I can." Payne replied with a soft smile. "Now wipe those thoughts from your head. I love you." She whispered, kissing her again. "And I will not leave you again, now that the bloodlust is controlled, now that I will not frenzy and try to hurt you..."

"What was that downstairs then?" Aria questioned with a soft smile.

"I didn't say I could feel pain. I still feel pleasure, and damn... When Maven pressed that hot needle into my mouth..." She shuttered. "I couldn't help myself... You were sitting there, all delectable..." She smiled lightly and nuzzled Aria's throat. "And I plan to have you. When I was down there, though I hated myself for thinking such things, I would sometimes dream of you... The soft feel of your skin, your eyes glazed with heat... A sweet torture." She drew her close. "And now that I don't have to worry about hurting you, now that I will not lose myself in a pain frenzy... I can have you again, I can be close to you again, and I will never leave you."

She looked up to find tears trailing down Aria's cheeks. She smiled and kissed them away.

"Never leave me again." Aria whispered.

"Never." Payne replied quietly.

Aria moved up and pressed their lips together once more and a new kind of frenzy began. A frenzy of heat, of passion, that continued until both were finally sated. Wrapped in each other's embrace, they spent the better part of the morning and afternoon exchanging soft words and quiet kisses, finally together once more.