Eevie
Standing on the bank of the lake and staring at the sunset as it dipped low over the horizon, I relished that I was sharing this moment with Nori. It felt right somehow. Like it was meant to be. Like Nori and I were meant to be here. Together. I wasn't sure I believed in fate and all that, but I did believe in happiness. Nori was my happiness.
Coming back from the demon realm, I was depressed. Rightly so, I suppose from having to put up with my family. After everything and all that had come up, I felt so lost. I was so unsure of what I should do or what I wanted. How could I ever be happy knowing my father would always get his way in regards to me? Whatever he wanted goes. My happiness would never come into play.
When Nori looked at me, he wasn't looking through me, he was looking at me. Me. Eevie. True, he didn't know much about me. But I felt like we had known each other forever. Just being around him made me happy. Standing next to him as I was now lifted my spirits, and I wasn't so dower.
Did I have a right to pull him into my life when one of three things would happen? One, we would be together for a short time, but my father would have him killed to keep me marrying whoever they had set me up with. Two, we could technically be betrothed but then Nori will be under my father's thumb, which I would never wish upon anyone. Or Three, I would need to keep my distance.
I knew which of the three was best for Nori. But again my happiness would be pushed aside. Even here, my father controlled me. In the back of my mind, there was always this voice telling me that my father would ruin everything I had tried to create for myself. I wasn't allowed to be happy- my father wouldn't let me.
I'm glad Nori's here for you, Elena spoke up.
Looking over at Nori, I stared at his profile and wondered what he thought of me. We were still getting to know each other, if I ended his advances now, it would be much easier than later if I waited. I imagined the heartache I would feel if I lost him. Could I endure that a second time?
Honestly, I supposed the answer to my question was that I would need to pose the options to Nori and let him choose his own fate rather than decide it for him. I sighed heavily knowing I wasn't ready to talk about the things I had told Elena so soon with Nori. I knew I should, but I couldn't stand it if Nori would look at me differently.
"If you stare at me much longer, you're going to miss the sun setting," Nori smirked but waited a moment before he turned and looked at me. He looked at me with understanding in his eyes, and I couldn't deny that I needed that comfort right now.
Most everything I do is very calculated and thought out. But every once in awhile, my brain shuts off and my heart takes over. Now was one such occasion.
"What sun set?" I asked, and before Nori could give me a puzzled look, I grabbed his face between my hands and pulled him down into a soul searing kiss. I put all of my hopes and dreams into that kiss, everything I couldn't say out loud, I hoped Nori felt through the kiss.
He was startled for a second, but my body pressed against his was too tempting. He kissed me back with as much vigor as I was. Matching me pace for pace. I was letting go of the bad and was letting it all unwind into Nori's arms. He held me tighter against him as if he couldn't close enough to me.
I could hear Elena's gasp as she was feeling as passionate and full of desire as I was at this moment. I was very turned on, and as much as I didn't mind an audience, knowing that Elena and Noel were the ones watching stopped me from continuing this any further like a bucket of water on a burning candle.
After a few more moments, I pulled back from Nori, and he placed his forehead against mine. We were breathing heavily, trying to catch out breaths, still in each others' arms.
"Sorry," I whispered. "But I really needed that."
"That was nothing to be sorry for," Nori told me seriously. "At least, I'm not sorry it happened." He gave me a warm smile, and I returned it, smiling genuinely for the first time since we got back.
"I didn't want to keep going with the little ones watching," I teased, and Nori broke out into a grin.
"If we were a movie, we'd be rated M for mature," Nori continued the teasing.
I laughed heartily as I disentangled myself from Nori's arms. "I had hoped to switch back so Noel and Elena could watch the sun set," I told Nori honestly.
"They have the stars to gaze upon, which is just as good," Nori replied, and I found I agreed with him.
Elena
If Nori and Eevie's life were a book, they'd have the best romance story of all time. I loved watching them come together. They were like fireworks; their chemistry was so amazing. Something I aspired to find with someone. Noel maybe?
The impending arranged marriage for Eevie definitely would put a damper on their relationship. But how amazing would it be if she was to be betrothed to Nori! The thought of it made me want to squeal in delight like a hysteric fangirl. It would be destiny. Fate. Whatever you want to call it.
Suddenly, I was staring at Noel, and I smiled at him. "I think Nori did a really good job of cheering up Eevie," I told him.
He gave me a knowing look and replied, "She kind of took matters into her own hands."
"Something tells me Nori doesn't mind a dominate woman every once and awhile," I answered, shocked by my own boldness. I knew I wasn't wrong.
I bet Noel wouldn't mind it so much either, Eevie remarked. She must have been feeling better to be teasing Noel.
I smiled but didn't say anything, and when Noel's face turned a shade of red, I wonder if he could tell what Eevie had just said. When he turned to face the lake, suddenly very interested in the water before us, I wondered what Nori's comment was. Sometimes, I really wished the four of us could all hear each other.
Wanting to change the topic, I looked up at the stars to see if I could see a constellation. Seeing a couple I recognized, and said, "Do you know about the constellation Canis Major?" I asked Noel. When he shook his head no, I continued, "Canis Minor is one of the Greek constellations representing a big dog following the the hunter Orion in pursuit of a hare. Greek mythology really fascinates me. I wish my schedule would allow me to take a mythology class."
Yes, romance him with your knowledge of the Greeks mythology. Elena said sarcastically.
"That's a neat story about the constellation," Noel replied. "And maybe next year you'll be able to work your schedule around a mythology class."
I nodded. "I hope so. But we'll see. I don't know that I should take too many classes with all the demon fighting we've been doing. I don't want to fall behind in my studies."
Noel gestured back to the school and I nodded as I followed him back. We fell into a peaceful quiet between us.
"Do you miss your family, Noel?" I finally asked randomly.
"Sure, sometimes more than others. You?" he asked.
I nodded. "Yes, I miss my grandma to pieces. Maybe some weekend, we could go visit her. I've told her a lot about you, and she's been begging to meet you," I told him.
"She's begging to meet me?" Noel asked incredulously.
Yes, invite him home with you. Your grandma will fall in love with him faster than you are.
I ignored Eevie and nodded to Noel. "Oh yes. Just let me know when you have a free weekend. We can make a trip out of it. I'm sure there will be demons about in my hometown, so it's not like we'd be taking a break from the demon slaying."
"That sounds like a great idea," Noel nodded. And the thought of my grandma meeting Noel made me happier than I cared to admit.
