BURNING BLOOD

DREAMS AND FEELINGS

(Issa)

That dream was different from anything so far.

Maybe it was how my brain was trying to understand all that happened.

"Good morning!"

said Lia as she peered through my bedroom door.

"You are unusually quiet. Is something wrong?".

"No...

I just... had a very strange dream.

And with everything that happened till now...

Nothing... I'm just overthinking."

I didn't want her to worry.

"Sleep well? Any hot dreams?"

asked Emrys smirking at me.

He reminded me of the man in the dreams, the one with horns, and I blushed.

" Hmm, my guess was right?!

What were you doing? Or who?

Was he handsome like me?"

he whispered in my ear.

I stood there numb for a second

"You suck!!".

"I think that Soran is the one who sucks, but for you, I'll do it."

he leaned his lips near mine and lock his eyes

"I'll do you in every way you want...

Whatever you want..."

he was soo close and my heart was racing. My face, red as a tomato.

" Horny??"

I said stepping back, recomposing myself.

" Allways!".

" Then go and play with yourself!! ".

I went to the kitchen counter still a little bit flushed.

A burst of baritone laughter broke the silence.

It was Soran,

"So docile when she dreams... "

he laughed again.

A flashback of the dream made me wonder how he knew that.

"What did I miss?"

said Echo pouring a cup of coffee.

He was wearing jeans and a sleeveless shirt.

My eyes darted at his tattoo, now fully exposed. I felt something stirs inside me.

(Soran)

She was looking at Echo's tattoo with amber eyes, the same shade she had that day at her home.

"into the Dark Depth of the Sky's furrow,"

she whispered while her finger was tracing the words.

"Mylady"

bowed Echo to Issa.

She put her hand on his and said

"Nayiri, Lord of the Seven Seas, spirit child, Water Knight, my protector".

Silence

"Alarik, did anyone say to her his syren name??"

asked Emrys perplexed.

"No.".

"Than...".

"The Seer will soon awake.

We can't rush things, but being near her... helps".

Alarik was right. The Seer and Issa are one, divided by a spell.

She was still emotionless, her hand on Echo's. Her eyes now gray.

"How are you feeling?"

he asked.

Nothing.

"Alarik try to read her"

whispered Echo, knowing he was the best in mindreading.

"I can't!!

She is blocking me!"

said Alarik frustrated.

"The same here... Soran?!"

Emrys was worried.

"I'll try but..."

I didn't finish speaking when she screamed in pain, holding her temples.

She fell on her knees and throw up blood.

We felt her agony spread from her body to everyone in the room.

Lia and Aria run out the door crying.

(Alarik)

We were all in shock.

What was happening to her?

What kind of spell was used??

"Please, can you help me?!"

she said quietly.

"How can I help?

Tell me what to do"I asked lifting her slowly of the floor and putting on the barstool near the counter.

"I'm thirsty".

Soran gave her a glass of water.

"Thanks"

she gave him a shy smile.

" Better?!".

" Yes".

Aria and Lia were cleaning the floor.

" Please, leave it.

I will clean my mess.

I need just a few moments to... ".

" Don't worry. We are already done!".

" I feel so embarrassed!".

" Please girl, you cleaned worse when Lia was at Fabrizio's party!!".

"Ahahaha I forgot that!!"

she smiled.

I was looking at my sister,

"What bro?!

Like you are a saint?!?".

" Let's ask father what he thinks??".

"Noooo".

Issa was smiling wide at our bickering.

" You are so cute!"

she said taking the cup of coffee from Soran.

He raised an eyebrow at her comment.

Echo and Emrys were making breakfast, stopped, and started laughing.

"So now I'm cute?

I'm not pretty anymore?!"

I looked her in the eyes.

She blushed.

"Nothing? No reply?

I'm deeply wounded!"

I said and she blushed more sipping the coffee.

She sight

" I'll throw you a bone tomorrow!

I don't feel good enough to play fetch".

"Ahahahaha you are amazing!!"

said Soran and kissed her cheek.

(Aria)

I knew it was time to visit my mother.

She is the best in spells and she will know for sure what to do.

"Issa, eat something and then rest a few hours.

I'll go to my house and ask my mother to help us.

Lia is going to buy groceries so if you need something tell her".

" Ok. Thanks.

I don't need anything special.

Buy as you would normally do.".

" Fine.

Guys take care of her"

said Lia smacking Echo's finger from her pancake.

Issa went to the fridge and bent down to take an apple from the lower drawers.

Alarik was looking at Issa's butt and licking his lips.

"You dog!!"

said Lia smirking.

" What?"

he said playing innocent.

"She did something similar sooo..."

I said to Lia. She rolled her eyes.

" Ha?"

asked Issa bitting the red apple

"Who did what?".

"Nothing!" said Lia and Alarik in unison.

She shrugged and headed for her room.

"So she likes my behind too?"

asked Alarik.

" You know that she likes you!!".

" She likes all of you!

And you all well aware of it!"

said Lia.

"Jealous?" asked Emrys.

"Not really.

She is the Seer, you are her knights.".

" And that is fine with you too Aria?"

now was Soran asking.

" Yes. She was born to find the new Lord.

You are made to be her protectors, her knights, her friends, her lovers,...".

"We were friends with benefits.

Now we will be just friends."

added Lia.

Aria's words let me thinking

" I hope she forgets that we were fuckbuddy's or at least that that fact will not affect you three.

Seams that she fancies Alarik the most...".

"I'm aware of that...

But don't underestimate our charming moves"

said Emrys seriously.

(Alarik)

Aria said what we all knew from the first time our tattoos appeared.

We all were very powerful hybrids, but eighteen years ago her involuntary reading awoke the knights in us.

And we wait for her all this time.

Now our duty was to break the spell and let the Seer lead us.

"Bye,"

Lia said closing the door behind herself.

"So what now?"

asked Emrys.

"In the dream, she wasn't afraid of our true form.

She likes you the best and she recognizes Echo's true self without seeing it".

"Maybe if she sees the parchments..."

Soran was speaking more to himself than to us

" Maybe... But let's try.

Just without pressing.

In her tempo....".

" I think you are right!"

said Emrys.

I nodded.

"Can I visit the next dream?"

suddenly asked Echo.

"Why not ?!

But let me warn you - in her sleep,

she is slightly different"

said Emrys.

"Different how?

Bad or good?".

"Oh, she is... freer".

"I would like to see that!"

was my first thought.

"Do you want to join?!".

"Yes. I want to see that side of her".

" Ok. Then tonight you are all sleeping in my room."

said Emrys.

" Why yours?"

asked Echo.

"Mine is next to hers.

On the other side is Alariks room but we all know that he isn't comfortable sharing his den".

"Ok. I'm going to see what she would like for lunch"

said Soran.

" I'll put out the parchments, so after lunch, she can look"

replied Echo.

We parted.

(Soran)

I knocked at her door,

" Issa, can I come in?".

"Yes.".

" What would you like for lunch?".

"I... whatever you want is ok.

But...".

"Is something wrong?"

"Oh no no...

I just would like to help.

I love to cook and it is my way of relaxing...

I know it's weird...".

"It isn't!!

Is the same reason I cook ".

"Really?? You too?"

she said smiling,

"Yes. Come on!

You can show me how you make lasagna!"

I winked and took her hand.

She was smiling while listing the ingredients for a proper, Italian lasagna.

I was happy to see her so relaxed and talkative.

Her small hand was still in mine when we entered the kitchen.

She put her hair in a ponytail and rolled up her sleeves.

I was looking at the scars on her neck while she was washing her hands

"You know, I can feel your stare...

You can ask...".

" I... sorry... you don't need to say...".

"I have scars all over my body...

this, that you see are the smallest ...

the ugly ones are mostly on my back..."

she sight.

I didn't know what to say, so I hugged her and whispered

"No scar can make you ugly.

They are the prof of your strength!

Don't hide them, proudly point them out!!".

She hugged me tightly, thanking me in silence.

(Emrys)

I saw her cry in Soran's hug.

He looked at me and briefly mind-linked at me of what was happening.

He whipped away the tears and said

" Let's start!!".

" Emrys do you like lasagna? "

she looked at me waiting for my answer.

" If you make them then yes! "

my response made her cheeks red.

Soran rolled his sleeves and began chopping the onions as she asked for.

She turned to give him a clove of garlic and stopped looking at his tattoos, written in Sanskrit, on his right arm.

" the Abyss has the roots in the Feathers..."

her bright amber eyes were glowing.

Soran bowed his head and kissed her hand.

I mind-linked Alarik and Echo, not knowing what would the reaction be this time.

They were at the kitchen's doorstep when she sighs, then blinked, and gave us all a questioning look.

"Are you ok?"

Alarik asked.

" Yes. Why?

Was I supposed to throw up blood again?"

she said raising an eyebrow.

Soran cupped her face and kissed her forehead.

She rolled her eyes

" I think that you didn't tell me everything...

And me reading your tattoos is just a part of it... right?"

she said tracing Soran's tattoo with her fingers.

I looked to Echo than to Alarik, whose focus was on her fingers.

The moment she reached the inscription her amber eyes were looking up saying

" Helel Nuri, Lord of the Weather, darkness child, Wind Knight, my protector! ".

Silence.

Bloody tears were running on her pretty face.

Soran licked them away.

She was breathing shallowly.

Alarik gave her a glass of water.

She stood there with the glass in her hand.

We heard a power-thunder coming from her, shattering the glass in her hand, and before I could blink Alarik had her in his arms.

She was shaking.

"Shhhh relax. I got you!"

he whispered.

"Thank you. All of you."

her cracked voice answered.

"Ok, I'm fine now.

You can put me down".

"Mmm you are welcome to stay here for the rest of your life"

Alarik was nuzzling her.

"I.. I... I... please, let me down!"

she was blushing again.

He patted her ass and put her on the counter.

(Issa)

I was blushing again.

What was happening to me?!

Was I missing something?

I never felt like this. I was acting strange.

Alarik smirked

"Still no scent...

But kitten... I can smell your arousal!"

and walked away.

"Khm khm... Earth to Issa"

Soran said.

"Oh yeah... ye.. yes.

I'm ok. Let's cook ".

The time flew with me telling Soran what to do and Emrys who would now and there take pieces of food for a degustation (as he said).

Soran made tiramisu' for dessert, a big bowl of mixed salad to go with the main course, and open a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. Echo helped set the table. The girls come back in time for lunch.

" Issa, did you cook?"

asked Aria.

"Yes.

Well, I had help."

I was pointing at Soran.

"I enjoyed it.

You are an excellent cook and teacher!"

Soran praised

"Thanks. You are also very good.

I can't wait to try the dessert.

Now let's dig in!!".

"This is the best meal I ever had!"

said a deep voice on my left.

Alarik was looking at me and I felt hot, very very hot.

He sniffed the air and smiled.

I was dumb old.

Soran broke the tension bringing the tiramisu'.

"Wow!! It is good!"

said loudly Aria.

"Thank you!"

replied proudly Soran.

I took a full spoon of it and moaned.

It tasted amazing. He did it well!

All men were looking at me, the girls chuckling.

"What?!"

I asked showing in my mouth some more of the delicious dessert.

"Kitten, if you continue to moan like this... hmm...

I'll f**k you on this table!!"

whispered Alarik in my ear.

" Excuse me... I...I...

see you later"

I rushed from the table and went to the library.

Sitting on the first armchair to recompose and finally breathe.

On my left was a large desk with some papers all over it. I stood and looked.

Some notes were written in a notebook. Someone tried to figure out some inscriptions. A few papers were in different languages, saying the same thing. Maybe someone was trying to decipher a book?!

And then I saw the parchments. Six very old and with different letters all over. On the corners were hieroglyphics. Odd. Some inscriptions reminded me of the tattoos the guy has. But it seems like they are all mixed, like a puzzle.

"Issa, have you got a moment?"

Lia's question startled me a bit.

" Yes. Tell me.".

" Well, Aria and I are going tonight home.

We start working tomorrow.".

" I see. I'll miss you!"

I said very sadly.

" We will visit every weekend and you are not alone.

The guys will be here with you! ".

" Ah, yeah...".

" And my mother said that she will send something to help break this spell".

" Is your mom a witch or something?".

" Yes. Like it was yours!"

" What??"

" Oh, nobody told you?!"

" Told to me what??

That my mother was a witch? Am I going crazy?"

" No, you are not!!!

I think, and my mom agrees, that she was the one that spellbound you.

Throwing up and crying blood... it is something...

how can I explain??".

" Spellbound by blood?!"

" Yeah. Exactly that!"

" I do realize that still, I don't know all the truth.

Everyone is tipping around me like I'm a cristal vase... "

" The guys will tell you everything in the next few days.

Can you wait that long?! "

" Do I have a choice?!"

" No. It's for your good,"

she said and walked away.

I nodded and looked at the parchments again, moving them and changing their order.

Every move made the inscriptions different, sometimes it didn't make any sense, other it was clearer but still...

(Alarik)

I stood by the door looking at her trying to understand the parchments.

In one hour she made more progress than all of us in twenty years.

She was so absorbed in her thoughts she didn't hear me approach.

"Any news?",

she jumped and put a hand on her racing heart

"O my God!! You scared me!!"

" I'm sorry!"

"It's fine"

her heart was still beating fast.

She looked down at the parchment and moved her head slightly revealing her neck to me.

I growl deeply becoming hard at her involuntary invitation.

She looked surprised

"Did you hear that?"

"What kitten?"

I was trying to hide the bulge in my pants.

" The... nothing...

I think I'm done for today!"

she said quickly.

Then suddenly asks

"Have you got a gym?"

"Yes, in the basement. Why?".

"Oh... is something... I do... when I need to think.

Can you show me the way?".

"Of course. Follow me.".

I wonder what was her way of thinking...

"Here is the sparring area and thru that door are the weapons and lots of different types of equipment.

The showers are there."

I pointed to the left corner.

"Ok. Thanks.".

" I have some work to do. Catch up later?"

"Ok. I'll call you for dinner".

"You don't need to cook.".

"But I want to!!

I can't just lay all day!"

" Just don't overwork yourself!"

" Thanks. See you later!!"

she said and went upstairs.

I could not wait for tonight.

To see if she would be scared of my wolf and my Lycan form.

(Emrys)

I heard music and singing from the kitchen. Issa was there cooking, the volume of the radio high.

She was humming the song Sweet but psycho and moving her hips at the rhythm...

How enthralling!!

I caught her from behind, taking her left hand in mine and my right under her breasts.

Slowly I started moving along with the song. She froze for a second, then relaxed and turned around with a big simile. She continues singing in my arms.

As the song was at its end I lowered myself and whispered to her ear

" I'm hot but psycho and you are the one who will be screaming...

my name, in pleasure, all night...".

" Is that a threat?"

she said playfully.

" Oh noooo...

It's a promise!!".

Her reaction caught me off guard.

She moaned deeply and passionately in my ear then fast stepped back mumbling to herself.

She came back after ten minutes.

" Please call everyone to dinner,"

she said avoiding my eyes,

"Is something wrong beautiful?".

" I... I...

Sorry, I never act like this...

I'm mortified... I...".

"Oh... But I like your reaction so much!".

"Wha.. what?!".

" So pure...".

(Issa)

I darted my eyes and run into the dining room.

What was with me and these men? What was happening?!

At dinner I was quiet and I try to avoid any strange scene. All my answers were short and polite.

The girls suddenly asked

" Are you ok?"

" What? Yes... I.. I'll miss you girls. That's all!"

that was partially true.

I was afraid to be in this big house alone with these four gorgeous men.

I was afraid of myself, of the feelings...

"Issa, are you ok?"

asked Lia.

" Yes. Don't worry.".

"Call if you need us!!

And bro... if someone hurts my friend..."

she was dead serious.

He nodded in approval.

After saying goodbye to them I went to my room. I was in no mood to speak to anyone.

I took a shower and went to sleep.

(Echo)

" She is sleeping. What shall we do now?".

" We go to my room and wait till she starts dreaming.

If she has a nightmare it will be easier to take her out"

explained Emrys.

"So you don't go in her dream but you pull her in yours ?"

" Yes. It is the only way she allows to interfere.

It just her defense, as the mind.. she is shielded, unless in distress"

"Or horny"

added Alarik.

We all laugh at his comment.

Sensing she was in a deep sleep and dreaming something painful, Emrys rushed us to lay on his bed, giving a few tips on how to behave.