Anna opened the shop as she had promised and waited impatiently for her friend to come down. As time passed she would imagine many scenarios that might have taken place. Such as Haldora might not be home yet, she could still be with Michael, or maybe they were both up there alone, still sleeping. Haldora was taking too long to come down and so Anna’s mind diverged to uglier scenarios. They had a fight, or one of them might not have liked to other. The night had not ended well. Close to lunch hour, Anna was tired of waiting and so went upstairs to satisfy her curiosity. As she took the last steps before Haldora’s door, she smelled paint and cigarette smoke. Anna turned the knob and opened the door slowly to find Haldora smoking and adding frescos to her wall. They were images of fairies and elves, also goblins and cherubims, and the strangest beings Anna had ever seen. She entered on tip toe not to disturb her friend, before a sound was made Haldora looked at her in desperation.
- Bad night? -, Anna asked cautiously.
- I screwed it up. -, she answered as she put down her paint and took a drag from her cigarette.
Anna came close and sat on the bed, noticing that the drapery around it had also been recently stitched. She waited for her friend to continued.
- He kissed me. -, she told. Anna smiled. – I lost control and… blew a hurricane into his living room.
Anna tried to remain serious but it was impossible. She began to laugh, imagining the situation. Haldora, herself snickered at the situation. She sat down next to her friend.
- It was terrible. He hates the kind of music I like. I hate the film he liked. And then… there was the whole tornado thing and… he touched my scar and it didn’t hurt anymore and I freak and I left. -, she told.
- What were you doing naked in his house? -, Anna asked.
- I slipped wine on my dress. –, she explained. She took a new drag from her cigarette, - In the car and then in his apartment I was back there, the place where I first saw him. I was back there, unable to say an intelligent word besides pleasantries, but overflowing inside from the waterfall of things I want to tall him.
- Hal, look at it this way, you were at his apartment, you had drinks, he kissed you. He likes you. -, Anna explained.
- Why would he kiss me? He has a girlfriend. Why would he kiss me?
- Do you think he’s cheating? Just want to get into your pants?
- I can’t think of him like that. -, she answered in a half whisper.
- But you sure tried not to think. -, Haldora got up to throw her cigarette on the fireplace, - I mean I don’t think painting frescos and stitching is something you do every night.
- I was wondering if I such call him and tell him something. -, Haldora explained as she leant against the fireplace, ignoring the heat. – And tell him what?
- Can’t help you there, sorry. -, Anna got up and walked towards the door. – I’ll leave you to think about it. But if you take an advice, you should think of him as he is today and not as he was before.
- That’s the thing, Anna. He hasn’t changed.
Anna walked out, leaving Haldora to her confused thoughts.
The day passed slowly and every hour seemed to linger for as long as possible. But no hour brought clarity to Haldora’s head. She was unable to rationalize what had happen the night before. She was almost certain it had been punishment for getting too close to Michael. She had decided to stay at a distance and as soon as she had reneged on her promise to herself she had lost the ground beneath her feet. No amount of work that she undertook, gave her anymore rest, in fact it only seemed to bring more questions. Haldora decided to attend to the preparation for the Full Moon Festival, though her head was by no means in that direction. At last she decided to give it up. She lit a single candle and watch as the Moon came up in the sky. She asked solely for clarity. Next candle she placed the figurine of the Egyptian God of Writing, Toth, she had gotten for Anna, it would be blessed by the light of the Full Moon and inspire Anna for sure. Haldora lied in bed to continue her thinking after this.
The sound of tapping on glass reached Haldora. She got up and slowly came down to the shop, to find Michael at her door. He raised his hand when he saw her. She rushed to let him in. They stood for a second in the dark shop in awkward silence, Haldora then led him the stairs to her home. She helped him with his coat and waited for him to say what had brought him there. Michael just stood by the door in silence, holding a potted plant that Haldora had not even seen.
- Let me give you the grand tour. -, she said, - This is the only room, there’s the bathroom and there’s the garden. -, she explained as she pointed to the doors.
- Spacious! -, he commented.
Michael walked through the room, getting his attention caught by the frescos.
- I wanted to apologize for a horrible night. -, he finally said, after inspecting the pictures, - So I brought you this. -, he handed her the potted plant, - It’s a violet. I read online that it’s important for witches.
Haldora took the plant and admired it.
- Thank you. -, she opened her garden’s door and placed the pot next to so many other pots, Michael stood by the frescos, - But I’m the one who should apologize. -, she said as she came back to the room, - I left…
- Yes, but… I made you leave. I shouldn’t have acted the way I did. -, he explained.
- I thought so too. -, she stated as she walked towards the fireplace. – I mean you’re with somebody and we shouldn’t have… -, Haldora silenced when she noticed Michael expression had changed to confused.
- I was talking about your scar. I shouldn’t have looked at you… like that. What were you talking about?
Haldora couldn’t speak. Her jaws were frozen.
- I’m not with anyone. –, he announced, - I broke up with my girlfriend a couple of months ago. That was what you were talking about, right?
Haldora nodded shyly.
- We… Routine was killing us and we took a break. I’ve been alone for a while. It’s been good. I haven’t really been looking for anyone, but… You… You are nothing like routine. You’re even better live then online. You’re straight forward and … strange. And I like that. -, he explained.
- Michael, where is this going? -, she asked.
He came closer.
- I don’t know! But I like that. Live the moment and forget the future. -, he explained as he got closer to her. – That’s how you always said you lived.
Haldora nodded. She was surprised she was not falling out of control. She was nervous, but not as much as before, although he was as close as he could be.
- I did say that. I do say that. -, she whispered.
Michael slid his arm around her waist and pushed her gently towards him. Behind them the fire roared lightly. He took her face in his hand and joined his lips with hers. This time Haldora let herself be kissed without so much as a movement. She surrendered to the moment. Michael unlocked their kiss and embraced her feeling her shallow breath and the coldness of her skin. Haldora wrapped his arms around him feeling his warmth as a consuming fire. He kissed her neck lightly, as her breath became deeper. Soon they were involved in another kiss, but this time it was deeper and more passionate. Their tongues pierced into each other’s mouths and played with each other as snakes mating. Michael pulled Haldora towards the bed. She stopped him as they were close. She leaped on it and proceeded to close the heavy drapery. At last when all of the bed was enclosed, she extended her arm out, allowing her night gown to slide down to the ground. Michael took his clothes off and entered the closed bed. Inside it was dark, though the fire was strong, he could only see shadows and as he tried to grab them, he would notice they were just shadows.
- Hal? -, he called out.
- Come find me. -, she whispered.
Michael followed her voice, as if he hadn’t forgotten his warrior training from before and soon had his hands on her naked body. He touched her abdomen and followed her body upwards, touching her breasts, her shoulders, her neck, until he arrived at the face, where he took his time, feeling her cheeks and her lips. He pecked her lips and her cheeks, then her neck and her shoulders. While he did this, Haldora slid her hand down his spine, making him shiver. Michael pulled her knees to make her lay down, making her let go a little scream. He covered her body with his and continued to caress her body as did she to him. Amidst the kissing and the caresses, Michael slid himself inside Haldora, who arched her body in acceptance. His movements were slow and gentile. Haldora could feel what she had not felt in too long, since she had been in cave a long time ago. The blood ran through her body and there was warmth emanating from her skin. Her scar gave her no pain and her heart pounded on her breast. She felt alive as Michael moved inside her and as his tongue pushed farther. As she looked up to his face she could see him in all his former lives and all seemed to fit with that once moment. Haldora felt as if her heart was about to burst from her breast. She took Michael’s hands in her own. He pushed them hard over her head as he and she amongst moaning erupted into each other.
Michael rolled to his side, still clutching one of Haldora’s hands, he kissed it.
- Did I hurt you? -, he asked.
- No. -, she whispered, kissing his hand.
He took her hand close to his chest as if to say he didn’t want her to slip out of his touch. Haldora stroked his hair in silence. She could see he was struggling to keep awake, so she stroked him as you do a child to help him to sleep faster. Tired and sweaty both bodies laid next to each other as dead.
Michael woke in the dark. He felt the bed around him and could not feel Haldora’s body anywhere. He pushed the heavy drapery back to find her sitting on the sofa, looking at the fire, that wasn’t so high as before. She noticed he was awake and walked towards the bed, kneeling next to Michael and placing her hands so her face could be over his. He looked up at her at the light of the fire, still sleepy.
- Déjà vu. I’ve dreamed this. -, he muttered.
Unaware of what he spoke Haldora planted a kiss on his lips. His arms embraced her and did not seem to let go.
- Sleep! -, she request as she passed her hand in front of his face.
- I don’t want to sleep.
She slid the hand down his torso and to his legs. He pulled her to him. She sat on his thighs. He caressed her legs as she kissed his neck. This time he could see the paleness of her body, through the opening of the drapery. He touched her scar and Haldora squirmed away. He sat down and took her torso into his arms, kissing her scar lightly. She still believed it would hurt, so she prepared herself, but she felt no pain, nothing but pleasure. Taking her face in between his hands he again took place inside her. This time Haldora had to set her own rhythm. Michael laid back and held her hands. Haldora covered his body and waved her body as she kissed him. Haldora moved faster then before and soon she felt her heart beating too fast. She stared at his face as the feeling got stronger.
- My warrior! -, she let out with a moan.
- My lady! -, he answered back as again both collided into each other.
Haldora laid her body on his and allowed herself to rest. She could hear his heart beating and his breathing. He stroked her hair. She kissed his torso.
- I don’t want to leave here. -, she said.
- You don’t have to.
She lied down next to him and slid her arm beneath his neck, pulling his head to the breast.
- Sleep in my arms. -, she request.
Michael snuggled with his back against her body and held her hand. He kissed her arm and closed his eyes.
Hypnotic breathing… Softness… Morning light…
