As Nemia walked through the already open door of the lounge, she was surprised. Not your traditional, old styled sitting area filled with white and golds. Rather it looked more like a den, animal head mounts littering the walls strategically. A brick layed corner fire place in the right hand corner furthest from the door. Deep velvet curtains were drawn back to let in the natural sunlight and revealed plush sitting areas along the bay windows.
The room, more updated than some of the others included a large flat screen mounted of the wall. Wedged between two of the windows on the left side to her. A little further down was a pool table, behind it was a small bar. In front of the TV, aside from the russet, glossy brown coffee table was a deep brown leather couch and two recliners that looked identical to the couch.
That was where Dorian and Nik sat, Nik in one of the chairs and Dorian splayed out loosely in the center of the couch. The TV wasn't on as they were in a deep discussion and Nemia quietly walked up to them from the backside.
"Sure has been a while, I wonder if they'll bring any of their children." Nik was saying as Nemia approached.
"I sure hope so, I'd love a chance to meet at least one of em. God's I'm excited to see her though." Dorian replied, unaware of Nemia's presence. "So you'll stay here and get things ready for them while I go with Nemia?" He asked Nik.
They must be talking about Dorian's sister, seemed like she was coming up. Nemia smiled, she could tell Dorian was happy in the moment.
"Sure thing Dorian. I'll get everything ready, after all. Lillian's room will be ready after tonight, right?" Nik commented in question, from the angle Nemia approached she couldn't see his face but could only guess the crude look he gave Dorian at the question.
Nemia decided now was the proper time to interject as she crossed her arms and buffed. "Mind your business, Nik." Annoyance lacing into her tone.
The two of them both flinched and their heads swiveled in her direction simultaneously. She greeted them with an obviously fake, toothy grin before dropping it. Still keeping her arms crossed and looking at Nik pointedly.
"Now look at who's scaring who." Nik commented, grabbing his chest in an overly dramatic scene for fear.
Nemia rolled her eyes and shook her head softly, starting to laugh. "Yeah well remember what happens when you scare me."
Dorian looked between them confusedly as Nik rubbed his jaw with a laugh. "Good point."
"Okay, I'm obviously missing something here?" Dorian slipped in, still looking confused.
"Your girl here has got a hell of a left hook, which honestly makes me more scared of the right." Nik confessed with a laugh but eyed her right hand with caution.
Dorian's confusion only seemed to grow as he looked to Nemia. "You hit him?"
Nemia shrugged, walking over to pat Nik on the shoulder. "Just don't sneak up and scare me. That's what he did, whether it was intentional or not. I'm goosey. He's lucky I refrained the second time right after breakfast, but more people was around so it was less effective."
Dorian seemed to relax as the puzzle pieces started to fit in with the information. Then, he barked out a laugh and quickly covered his mouth to stifle it. "Damn, wish I could've seen it. I bet the look on your face was priceless." Dorian chided Nik and laughed again.
Nik just shook his head and relaxed back in the chair. "I'm sure it was, but don't scare her." He warned with a laugh of his own. Confirming what Nemia had said herself. "But Nemia's here now so I assume you two are ready, I'm sure Sebastian is already outside waiting." Nik moved along.
"Sure am." Nemia flashed a quick smile and stuffed down her nerves at the fact that doing this was one step closer to solidifying her ground here. Whatever that was going to entail.
"Then we shall be off, it'll be nice to see where you stayed before. Even if it's just a glimpse into you." Dorian replied with a dazzling smile that made her breath hitch.
'Yeah, I can do this.' She thought to herself as Adira brushed across her mind. Adira was impatient, but happy that Nemia was starting to accept everything.
Nemia smiled back at Dorian, lifting her hand to be enveloped in Dorian's as he had reached for hers. The two of them leaving Nik in the lounge and headed out of the castle to the already waiting Sebastian. It didn't take long for them to get settled into the back of the stretched townscar. Sitting opposite of each other this time however, Nemia's call though she could see it hurt Dorian just a bit. She just wanted to be able to talk with him though without being overwhelmed by the closeness. Though she couldn't bring herself to tell him that.
The first ten minutes or so of the drive was oddly quiet. Dorian sat completely still, has hands clasped together and propped on his knees. Leaning in towards Nemia. She on the other hand, was restless. Fidgeting with her hands, her eyes darting everywhere but at Dorian.
"Why does it look like your ready to jump out of the moving car?" Dorian finally broke the silence and half laughed, though there was concern layed in his voice.
Nemia's eyes finally snapped to his and she could feel the heat instantly rush across her cheeks. "I-I'm not." She sighed, that stutter definitely didn't go unnoticed by either one of them and she sank back into her seat, letting her eyes drift to the ceiling as she cursed the gods in her head.
"Second thoughts?" The question was low, strained.
Nemia's head shook side to side, her eyes still averted upwards for a moment.
"Then what is it? You can talk to me... Trust me." His hand invaded her senses as he gently placed one on her knee, reassuring and caring.
She took a deep breath before shifting herself to look back at him. "I'm just nervous Dorian. No, I'm not having second thoughts, but I am... Overwhelmed? A lot has happened the past two days, things are happening fast and I feel like I'm not in control anymore." She laughed harshly. "If I was ever in control to begin with, that is." There was a hint of bitterness in her last statement.
Dorian sat silently for a moment. "You have all the control right now, Nemia. Just say the word and whatever you need, is yours." He offered with a tightness in his voice.
Nemia sighed and put her face into her hands for a moment. "Let me rephrase, I have no control over me. I'm being thrusted into places of power. I'm being given control. But... How am I supposed to be the one people come to for answers when I can't even answer questions about myself? I feel like I'm flailing, alone in the dark. Given control, but having none at the same time." She huffed out another sigh. "I don't even know who I am anymore, two days ago .. I could've told you who I was. But today? I'm lost."
The thoughts running through Dorian's mind was clear as day in his eyes as she looked back into them. She could see the worry in them, that maybe he had pushed her to far, not meaning to. "If things are mo-"
Nemia cut him off, holding up her hand to signify him to stop. "Taking your mark tonight is the one thing that I know I can control and damn it, I'm not going to shy away from it." Nemia's stomach tightened into a ball. "No matter how nervous that in itself makes me." She mumbled softly, casting her eyes down to the hand he still has on her knee.
Dorian laughed softly, moving his hand from her knee to her chin, tilting her head back up to meet his gaze. "If it makes you feel any better, I'm nervous too."
He looked sincere, but Nemia still had a bit of doubt. "Why would you be nervous? Being what, 500 years old or so? Surely you know your way... Around?" She hinted at the underlying question she didn't blatantly ask but danced around rather.
Dorian chuckled softly. "I've not, been around, as you say. I've never even kissed another woman in any sexualized, endearing manner aside from you." He paused for a moment to let what he said sink in before he added. "I made a vow that I would never touch another woman that wasn't my mate." He chuckled again, leaning back in towards her. "Who knew that vow would drive me insane for 500 years?"
His eyes were growing dark with the same lust Nemia felt growing inside herself. Licking her lips softly. "No other woman?" She breathed, not believing it but at the same time, she knew he was telling her the truth.
"Not a single one." He murmured, moving even closer. Nemia could feel his tantalizing breath cascading across her lips and cheeks. Her heartbeat pounding in her ears.
The door opened suddenly and Nemia jumped, hissing lowly at the intruder. It was just Sebastian though, relaxing slightly. She hadn't even realized they had stopped.
"We have arrived." Sebastian bowed low as the two climbed out of the car. Straightening back up, he spoke again. "Please, let me know if you need any assistance. I'll be right here if needed."
"Thank you Sebastian." Nemia replied with a soft smile in which he returned. Turning to look up at the apartment building in which Julia had lived in for several years prior to Nemia joining her. It's only been two days since she left here, but it still felt like it's been much longer.
Dorian reached down and laced his fingers into hers. "Let's go get yours and Julia's stuff, shall we?"
Glancing up at Dorian, a small smile tugged at the edges of her lips. "Let's make this official." She murmured, refocusing back on the entrance as they started moving towards it.
She noticed the police officers hanging around the entrance though, and her brows knitted. She wondered what had caused them to come out. As the two approached one of the officers held up their hand. "What apartment are you here for?" He asked, the authority in his voice being over demanding.
Nemia rose a brow. "318, why?"
"318." The officer mumbled, glancing down at the paper in his hand. "Yep, you're it. Please, let me show you to your apartment. You can tell me what's missing, it seems someone broke in yesterday." He motioned for them to follow.
Nemia and Dorian looked at each other, their knitted brows of confusion mirroring one another. Great...