A Blood-Like Rain

— Kaden —

I took a careful step in her direction.

She didn’t try to stop me this time.

I took another step, then another.

I could see she was hesitant, so I walked cautiously, but I kept walking.

I think she only processed my proximity when I got within arm’s length. She put a foot back, I stopped. She extended her arms to give me back my bandana. I took it and in the process my skin touched hers.

It was like a lightning bolt of shivers. I didn’t take my hand away. I wasn’t sure I could. I heard her breath caught in her throat, her body sway lightly towards mine. I took one step closer. One long step that got our bodies nearly touching. My hand was still on hers, the bandana forgotten and lying on the grass now.

The moon was rising, it was a bright night tonight, but not bright enough to see within that hood. It was just shadows.

I wanted to ask her a million questions. Her name, to see her face, where did she live? But all those questions crumbled in my mind. It was like trying to hold water in your hands, constantly slipping away. I should use restrains but my body didn’t want to listen to me. I lowered my head barely catching myself in time, barely holding back. But in respond she bent hers back, and it was all the invitation I need.

I lowered my head further and pressed my lips on hers.

I’ve kissed a woman before, I’ve done plenty of things with a woman before, but it felt like, all these years, I had no idea what kissing could really be. There was, at this very moment, and entire universe opening before me.

The only way for me to release my hold on her hand was to wrap my arms around her waist.

She mewled and it was the sweetest little sound I’ve ever heard. I pressed her harder against me and her arms went up over my body to give her fingers access to my hair. Her grip was strong but not painful and she tugged at me to deepen the kiss. Which I willingly obliged.

We were taking short breaths in between caresses. Our lips never truly apart. Our breath intermingling. Our heartbeats deafening.

The intensity was such that it took me a little while to realize something was wrong.

— Elaeya —

My heart was becoming painful, my feet faltered. I was starting to think I was about to be sick. I opened my sense to decipher what was happening to me. That’s when a sound got me out of my head and back into reality.

Steps.

Someone was coming. Someone close.

And suddenly my malaise took a whole new dimension. Was someone doing this to me? Was someone hurting me? Attacking me?

tried to extend my senses

I turned and easily saw the large figure close by. Too close. How did

dusk light gave me a glimpse of his face. He had a few days old stubble. He was made of hard lines

moved towards me, looking straight at me with purpose and the pain in my chest intensified.

took a step back in alarm and he stopped.

guess at his intentions, but I feared the

to tell him to back off. My left. The one for protection.

you doing to

his head to one side

sniff slowly the air then get his attention more focused on

and went down to grab a small rock. I didn’t understand this gesture. I focused my eyes on him, opening my senses

confused than ever, I

feel any magic, any energies stirring when he did this. I didn’t sense

attention completely off him, but I turned my focus some. And I got a smell. A new smell. It wasn’t strong olfactory speaking, but it grabbed my full attention.

couldn’t stop myself from inhaling

understand right away what I was smelling, only

on him. I couldn’t see his eyes, like he probably couldn’t see mine, but I know our gaze met. And there was knowledge there. He

mates more than anything. Some could go

born. That it’s like the world tilts, the axis changes, and now gravity find a new source. Never did those words make any sense as much as now. I thought I understood him, but

until I could finally see his

he stopped moving. I could see he was worried. His expression was hard to read, it was guarded, but I could also see that he didn’t want

cursed when I first laid eyes on him. Now I understood he was himself a poison far deadlier than anything I could have ingested. All of a sudden, the cloth in my

back to him, but it got worse.

never realizing the lethal potential something so simple could have.

as he grew

thought I had lost my mind, but never so much as

careful around. I could distantly feel a strength emanating from it, it should have been a warning. Something for me to be wary of. Not something to seek. Not something to embrace. Not someone to throw myself

be so reckless, so impulsive. I knew restraint and control. But not tonight, not anymore. And the enchanting attraction of that

were probably both out of control, the temptation

me by surprise, and I tried with all my might to focus on it instead. Like someone drowning in rapids,

was that of a sword. And next to it

that knowledge harder.

armed and

was just there kissing

lower my right hand

We needed to gain back control.