BURNING BLOOD

ASTERIA

(Lia)

The week went fast and before we realized it was time to go.

Asteria is unknown to most humans. To pass the gates at the borders you must have some magic in your blood (or you are a supernatural creature).

We knew that Issa wasn't a human because her parents were supers (her mother and grandma were witches and her father was a shifter) so she would pass with no problems.

I was afraid of how she will feel after telling her the truth, and more importantly what was all true.

Was she a witch and so the Seer? And why she has no scent?

My brother Alarik thinks that when she was in a coma she lost her inner self that was now surfacing. Aria's mom thinks that she is spellbound.

Maybe they are both right.

"Park the car at the cafe near the borders. We will meet you there." Alarik told me shortly after I informed him we were there soon.

"You want her to walk through the gates, to be sure she is one of us?"

"Yes. I need to see what she will detect after that.

You know that every super discerns something different the first time".

"Fine bro. But please don't scare her.".

"She lived with you two so I think that she is probably ok with weird.". "Asshole!!!".

(Issa)

After a long trip, we stopped at a nice small cafe near the border's gates.

I was in a good mood for a change. We order some food and coffee while waiting for Lia's brother.

I wondered if they look alike.

"You'll see, my bro seams harsh and too serious but he is like a little puppy. He is smart and a good person".

"Soo...your opposite?".

"Hahaha, very funny Issa !".

Aria was laughing so hard at my comment, while Lia was showing me the finger.

Then, a very tall and handsome guy entered the cafe.

He was huge, 7"4, with long wavy blond-brown hair and a pair of the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. They were emerald green with a golden ring.

His full lips were smiling in our direction.

Breathtaking.

He was walking to our table.

" Hi Aria, Accalia." shortly he greeted the girls.

"I am Alarik, nice to meet you, miss... Issa?!" he said in a profound voice.

I was ogling the man.

"You are drooling!

Close your mouth!" whispered Aria.

"Oh. What?!...

I'm so sorry. Nice to meet you." I shake his hand still in shock.

" Well, if you girls are done we should go," he announced and went to the counter to pay our bill.

My eyes landed on his butt, and I found myself wanting to go there and slap it or maybe bite it or...

What the f**k was I thinking?! "Khm, khm...bad girl," Aria said sneering.

" Ha? What? Me? Why?".

"Very naughty, indeed!!" replied Lia hugging me.

Outside, the car wasn't in the parking lot, but inside the borders of Asteria.

"Why is the car already there?".

"I took my liberty to move it so we could show you the field at the borders and to walk a little".

"Ok, thanks.".

Walking behind Alarik I whispered to Lia "You said puppy!! Maybe the puppy of a bear and a wolf? Because saying he is like a puppy is very wrong!

Did you see his shoulders?? They are wide like a mountain!! ".

"Ahahahahah .... tell the truth, you like him!" said Lia.

"Who me?? No no no... no".

"You are a terrible liar".

(Alarik)

She was looking at me with those gray eyes with interest, something that was new to me.

Lust, anger, sadness... these feelings I knew very well.

That girl with no scent was a riddle. While we were walking I heard her saying that I look like a puppy from a bear and a wolf.

That made ne laugh. True to be told, my mother was a witch who occasionally took the form of a bear and my father is a Lycan so her comment was meticulous.

Maybe, she is the Seer.

"Ladies, please follow me through the borders".

"Wow" was all that she said, looking all over.

"What you find so interesting?" I asked,

"This variety of flowers, trees, and plants... well everything is so beautiful".

Hmm, she didn't see any super animal. Strange.

I was lost in my thoughts when she asked Aria

" Is that... a thunderbird? How is this possible?".

Indeed it was.

Noone saw a thunderbird for a long time.

It was looking at Issa while she was walking slowly towards the beast.

"Do I know you ?!

Yes, I do. But, ...

I can't remember from where, and how...

I mean how is possible, a myth alive...." she was speaking to herself.

"Welcome home Annissa Enya, daughter of the light beneath the dark, the Seer, the one with the burning blood!!" the beast lowered his head in submission while her eyes were bright gray with a ring of amber dancing in it.

She put her small hand on the forehead of the thunderbird and whispered

"Adad, old friend of mine. Shadow of my past, Shield of my future, my familiar!" and then she blinked and looked perplexed at the hand resting on the creature.

Then for the first time, I could hear her thoughts:

"What is wrong with me?".

"Nothing Mylady. You were spellbound when you were six years old and now it's time to fully break the spell".

"Fully? And why you say welcome home? I wasn't born here!!".

" But your powers were.

You were here with your parents eighteen years ago, they brought the last parchment with the instructions where is the Book, and when you saw it you start to unveil it even if you didn't know how to read jet.

Your parents knew that it was too soon to awaken the Seer in you and that a child would be in great danger. So were spellbound till the time was right and all your protectors, the four knights, awoke ready to stand by your side".

"Oh...I thought that I have some strong sixth sense or something.". "Well, the spell cracked that day when your parents were killed.

The explosion was made of magic. Your powers saved you!".

"I heard the doctor said... that it was a miracle that I survived...

I feel sorry...".

"For what?".

"For not protecting my parents too". "Don't blame yourself.

You barely escaped and I know the scars that you carry from that day. And I don't think just the ones on your skin. I can feel your soul too.

It is me who is sorry. I wasn't fast enough.".

"Were you the blue and yellow thunder that I saw before losing consciousness ??".

"Yes.

I felt your powers whispering my name....".

"Well thank you.".

"Now, for you to regain all your powers and find the Book you need to awaken the Seer.

To do so I will give you a shard of my powers to help you.

In the time of need just call my name.".

"I don't know how...

What I am and what I should be... I'm so confused".

"Lean on the four knights.

They will explain and guide you.

Be safe.

Do you remember what you said to me ??".

Her eyes were becoming amber "Not everything evil walks in the dark, nor all light means good, sometimes the two intertwine, so see what is beneath." her voice was deeper.

Then she leaned her forehead on its. A rush of power emerges surrounding the two.

The beast bowed and before it flew away said to me

"It is very rude to eavesdrop, but I let you this time because you had to hear this".

I nodded.

Her foggy eyes darted to the sky, tears were running down her cheeks before she collapsed.

Lia was fast to catch her tiny body. Now I was sure she was the one.

"Bro, let's go home.

She needs to rest. And a lot of explanations.".

"Yeah...

You two should come too. When she wakes she will flip off seeing four unknown men.".

"You are probably right".

I took her in my arms and breath in her scent.

Nothing again, I thought disappointing.

Perhaps when the spell is gone...

(Issa)

I woke up with a headache pounding like a hammer.

In front of me were a naked chest and the biggest abs I have ever seen. I poked one with my finger thinking of loud

"Wow, soo hard!".

Hearing my comment the owner of the eight-pack laughed and bowed his head near my face.

A waterfall of honey brown hair surrounded my view.

"Pretty" I blurted out taking a strand of hair and twirling it on my index finger.

"I was called by many names, but pretty...I think that is the first time". I snap out and looked at the face. Full lips ready to kiss senseless and emerald-golden eyes were looking into me.

I felt aroused and wanted him to kiss me, to devour me, to take me. "I.. I... I'm sorry.

I don't usually act... like this.".

"Really? So I'm not pretty?".

"N... n.. no, I didn't say that...

You are very pr...

Wait a minute!!

I said that your hair is pretty!!". "Ouch! So I'm here so hard and pretty for you for nothing?!".

"What? Are you mocking me?".

"Are you petting me??"

the question startled me and I looked at my fingers still wrapped around his hair.

I blushed and withdrew my hand to my chest.

"Ok, I stopped.

So you can roll over and play dead.".

"Ahahahaha feisty! I like you!".

Aria and Lia were looking at me like I had a third eye.

"What?".

"Issa, do you remember the thunderbird?".

A wave of pain hit me so forcefully while remembering the encounter and the recollection of my past.

I felt all my life enrolled inside me. Taking a deep breath I stood up.

"Yes.

I think it's time to tell me the truth.

I want, no, I need to know.".

"Call the guys," said Aria to Alarik.

I was sitting, restless on the big sofa. The girls on my sides.

Alarik entered the room with three men I met the other day.

"Beautiful are you here to see me?" said Emrys kissing the palm of my hand.

"In your dreams!!".

"As you wish for!" he went smiling to the other sofa.

I was looking at him with a raised eyebrow, whispering

"Weirdo".

They all start laughing so I cross my hands

" I'm not here to entertain you!! Can somebody please tell me what is going on?".

" Sorry, we didn't laugh at you.

You see, even if you are spellbound you can sense the truth. Amazing.". "Sense what? I'm so confused.".

(Aria)

"Humans aren't the only living race.",

I took her hands in mine

" Do you remember that old book with myths from all around the world that I gave to you to read?".

" You mean the one with different languages?!" she said.

"Yes. And then I explained to you that if you could read it you have a job in Asteria.".

"Of course. This is why I am here right now?!".

"Yes. But now not just for that.

How can I explain...

Ah, do you remember what was written??".

" Sure. I heard it before. My mother and my nonna told me that story a lot".

"Issa, it isn't a story or a myth.

That's the truth, and you... are the Seer".

{The balance of good and evil was destroyed after King Lord Typhon was murdered by a dark sidhe, father of his lover Amari. Fights for dominance escalate and lead the rest of the Lords to shift in other forms, disguising themselves among humans and supernaturals. That was the beginning of the creations of new kinds of creatures. Still, the war for rule led to the extermination of some and the mixing of others.

When all hope was lost six different parchments appeared, all saying that a Seer will be born, with the power to read the Book of All Knowledge, where is written where are hidden the thirteen gemstones that form the rulers crown.

The Seer will be the only one who will be able to find and read it; the one who will restore the crown and see who is worthy to be the new Lord.}

(Echo)

"Now you know.".

"It seems like a make-up story. Spellbound, Seer, powers, creatures, Lord, Book...." she took a breathe

"I should be this Seer, but I don't know where to search, or how to break the spell.

If spells and supernatural exist.

Too many pieces of information.

I don't know what to believe anymore. I need to lay down." she said very quietly looking at her hands.

"I will show you your room.

Your suitcases are already in. Unpack if you feel so, or leave it for tomorrow. ".

" Thanks".

We walked in silence upstairs.

"Lia's room is the purple door in the left hallway. Aria's is next to hers, the white door.

Yours is in the right hallway. The blue door. Any question?" I asked while giving her the key.

"No. Thank you." she smiled at me. "Rest well Issa.".

(Issa)

The room was bigger than my apartment in Padova.

In the middle of the room was a small beige couch, a blue coffee table in front of it, a small glass vase with daisies.

A blue bookshelf on the right wall, near it a desk and chair, both beige with blue stripes.

On the left side were two doors and one window. One blue with beige dots, the other half beige, half blue. The first was the bathroom, with a large bathtub, a wide sink, and an oval mirror.

Everything was in blue or beige.

It looked like a sandy beach, and I like it.

The second door was a walk-in closet.

At the bottom of the room was the king-size bed. The pillowcases were blue with a daisy, like the cover. Someone knew my taste.

I start unpacking and then I saw that the window near the bed faced a beautiful garden. It made me so happy.

After an hour all my stuff was unpacked and stacked in place. Then I took a short bath and went to bed. I didn't want to think anymore.

(Emrys)

"I'm going to peak into her dreams. Maybe I'll discover how to unlock her powers.".

"Really? Is this your only motive?" said Alarik.

" Well you know she said to meet her in my dreams.".

"Don't f**k up!!" yelled Soran.

" Will you tag along??".

"This is the first good idea you had." Soran replyed.

"Sometimes I can catch a glimpse of her thoughts.

There is a shield, like a brick wall, that unable anyone in her mind.

The thunderbird was the one who let me in. Watch out.

Maybe it will be difficult to enter her dreams too." Alarik said looking at us.

" I see. I didn't try to read her. Maybe is just you" replied Soran.

"I tried. Nothing. I believe that's because she is spellbound" Echo said.

"It is better to go slowly.

We need to explain what we are to her.

What we are and what she is.". "What do you mean Echo?".

"Soran, she still thinks she is human and that we all are one.". "Oh, s**t!

We forgot to tell her the most important thing!".

" Ok. Stop.

Tomorrow we will see how to explain that, and hopefully, she starts looking for the Book. Meanwhile, you two don't do anything shady in her dreams!!" ordered Alarik, and without another word, he left the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was having a nightmare, a memory buried deep inside.

I felt my skin melting, smelling my hair burning, the cries of my mother ...

Then a pair of strong arms pull me out of there, and I was sitting in a meadow, looking at a beautiful waterfall.

I was so happy.

I was alone but not lonely.

Then a man was beside me.

He was very handsome.

Dark, midnight hair reached his knees like a veil. Tricolored eyes were gazing at me.

I was in awe.

The iris had some purple, a ring of yellow, and onyx.

And then on his head, I saw two horns, antelope alike, black, with few golden strands twirling around.

"Beautiful" I whispered.

"Do you think I'm beautiful?" he asked.

"Yes!".

"Aren't you afraid of me?".

"Why? Should I be?

Will, you hurt me?".

"No, I will never hurt you.".

" Can I touch your hair?".

"You like my hair?".

"Yes. It reminds me of a midnight sky".

"You can touch whatever you want," he said sitting in front of me.

I blushed.

He smiled and took my hand putting it on his hair near the ear. I leaned and sniffed the hair in my hand.

"You smell like roses and red wine. Mmm," I said without thinking.

He grinned.

"Can I touch your horns?" he didn't answer, simply nodded, pulling me closer, looking straight into my eyes.

Gently, I put both my hands around his horns and slowly stroke them. They were hard but the golden parts felt like silk.

A deep moan brought me to the reality of the moment.

I was so mesmerized with the feeling that I didn't realize how close I leaned.

I was on my knees and my boobs in front of his closed eyes. His hands on my waist kept me in place. "Khm...I'm sorry. I...".

"Don't be sorry. I... like it!!".

" Really?".

"Yes. Would you like to touch something else?".

"Like what?

Have you got a tail too?" I leaned more to look over his shoulders.

"You are so pure" he smiled kissing my neck.

"Thanks?! I think" I felt hot and blushed.

I was looking at his lips and I put one finger to touch them.

He kissed it, took it in his mouth, and twirled his tongue around.

I moaned loudly, while his right hand scooped me in his lap.

His hand touched my core

"Mmm so wet for me...

so soft...

so pure.".

I was speechless.

Then with a whoosh on my left side landed another man.

He had dark, mahogany brown hair that reached his butt.

But the thing that catches my eyes were the wings.

Big, dark, concrete-like wings. "Wow!!".

" Hello!" said the guy, taking me from the first one.

He seemed he didn't mind.

"Go to him," said the first kissing my forehead.

"Are you ...an angel?" I asked the second man.

"Something like that.".

"Oh... Ok.".

"Are you disappointed?"

He put his index finger under my chin and raised my face.

He had a peculiar color of eyes. They were like rubies with black spots. Nonetheless, they were beautiful.

I remembered that he was waiting for my answer.

"For what?".

"Me, not being a heavens angel"

He was now kneeling in front of me. "No, not really... I..."

my hands were on his naked chest, realizing that both men weren't wearing anything but black linen pants, I blushed deeply.

He chuckled.

"How it feels? Having wings? Flying?".

"Free and careless, sometimes.

Do you want to touch my wings?".

" Yes!! Are you sure?".

"You are a very kind girl,"

he said kissing my cheek.

"Yes, you can play with my feathers."

he winked at my blushing face.

I looked in silence while he spread his gray wings around me.

I felt protected.

Slowly I touched the feathers following the lines with my fingertips. They were soft like velvet.

I sight and turn around following the strands of ruby in each feather. They were hard, like steel.

The feeling of the contrast was something spectacular.

Even so, I was very gentle touching now with both hands. My fingertips gradually moved like on piano keys. " Are you enjoying yourself? "

he breathed on my neck.

I didn't realize that he was hugging me from behind.

" O my... I spaced out."

I slightly moved and brushed my butt into his crotch.

I felt his member, hard and big.

He cupped my breasts and pinched my n*****s. I moaned so loudly.

His scent... strawberry and champagne were so inviting.

He bent and licked my jaw, whispering

"Mmm so sweet...

so ready for me...".

I moaned again.

How could words make me so aroused?!

What was I doing?!

I stepped away and took a deep breath to calm myself.

"Yes, I enjoyed it. Thanks.".

He smiled again and withdrew the wings.

He kissed my neck gently.

Now both men were standing in front of me.

"So docile when she dreams".

"So pure in her sleep"

they said disappearing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~