Cold Flames

Chapter 22 : Symbiotic

I was sure that I had just drifted off to sleep not too long ago, but I was still waking up too soon. I felt movement beside me. I opened my eyes to see I was in the privacy of my own home, which wasn't very often. I looked over to see Firen constantly shifting, moaning, and crying. I caught few words in between the moaning like "No"and "Stop" amongst many intelligible. I had already figured that she couldn't easily get over what had happened back in that terrible mansion... Or more so small kingdom. But I knew she didn't want to talk about it either. I squeezed her tightly as she continued her symptoms of reliving torturous memories in her nightmares. I knew I couldn't help her, all I could do was be there beside her. Watching silently of treatment I knew took time and mental strength to be used too. She needed her sleep, even if this was the only thing she will be dreaming about.

I twirled her hair coils hair through my fingers, and held her close the whole night as she tossed around in fear. It was a long night, but we were going to manage. This was my entire fault to begin with. I knew this would happen. Especially after what happened to Limana... I had to endure the pain she felt... for her sake. For the sake of all crimes I knew committed against her people by my own. Granted we both had parties playing on their side of the war, there was clear reasoning behind one versus the other. As the sun slowly rose, Firen woke with screams. I was already on top of her. She looked around dazed, then up at me. Her expression did a complete 180˚. She smiled up at me with a warm expression, mines mirroring a worried look. "Good Morning." She said with a particularly chipper pitch in her voice. She mocked my expression, and then laughed it off. She then pushed me aside as she sat up. "Hey where's the bathroom?" Firen asked casually. I told her where it was, and off she went. I stared after her confused on what just happened. Was she trying to play that off? It was obvious she wasn't... but would she be willing to open up about it? Was I not dependable? I know I was the one who let S.V.O. kidnap her, but must this be my punishment? I followed after her to see sitting on the toilet peeing, as she poured bubble bath into the Jacuzzi bath tub with an outstretched arm, and a disinterested look every present on her visage. The water was running, I'm sure on it's hottest temperature. I'd much rather prefer an ice bath, but to each their own.

That's funny... didn't know I had any bubble bath weirdly enough. She looked up at me startled, and then smiled mockingly. "You have bubble bath?" she laughed. "I'm a romantic. So sue me." I replied amused with her question, equally confused of the product. Must have been an impulse buy of curiosity. Once it was full with water, Firen turned off the running water. She looked up at me with a raised eyebrow. "Care to join me?" she said with what appeared to be seduction. But everything she does seems arousing to me. I sauntered to the bathtub, and stepped in, letting the heat sting my skin, making this a bit like a stunning sensation rather than a relaxing occasion. That's fair. I needed to be alert right now. She wasn't as predictable as she usually was. With my legs outstretched. I casually extended a hand towards Firen, and waited patiently. With a cute smile flirting her lips, she flushed the toilet, and washed her hands, before taking my hand to join. She sat in between my lap, and I could smell the faint smell of cinnamon on her. That must be like their body odor or something... or something in her diet that has her permeate such a scent. My knowledge on pure bloods is severely lacking these days. Too much partying and drinking I assume has fogged the memory a bit. I looked down at her tempting neck and wet tips of hair, but held the urge to let my hormones lead me in another direction. I needed to help her with these new unusual tendencies she's been up-keeping.

Firen reached over to a fresh purple hanging rag, and lathered it up with soap. She took my hand and started to slowly rub my arm with the rag. The smell of lavender from the bubble bath made it truly relaxing. But this was the perfect time to talk about what's really bothering her. "Firen?" I said as she moved to my hands. "Yes?" she replied, as she shifted arms, mindlessly drawing patterns weirdly familiar into my arms with her finger through the soapy bubbles. "I want to talk about what happened. You know... back at that place?" She paused her rubbing, and didn't say anything. I took that initiative to take the purple rag, and started to wash her back. Silence followed after my statement, as I continued to knead into her muscles, slowly making it down to her waist, and back up her spine. "There's nothing to talk about." She said bluntly. When my hands slid up to semi caress their roundness, semi spread the sudsy rag, she immediately moved to the opposite end and faced me, I noticing her nipples taking on a particularly harder state.