Candace thought of walking back home. It was tempting but she came with one thing on her mind. She stood in front of a pale door, completely still.

The idea seemed ludicrous now, but the dark street ahead encouraged her to knock on the door. The sky was starless, and the air was tranquil with only the sounds of night creatures making their presence known. It reminded her of those nights you'd spend playing outside as a kid when the weight of the planet wasn't on your shoulders. 

It was the best, running through the dead forests with the light of the moon guiding your way. Setting the fallen twigs aflame, leaving a bright burning path behind her as she ran. And good friends like Moselle would follow closely behind to douse the flames, bursts of giggles filled the air. Those were the good days.

The sound of the door opening brought Candace's attention back to the present. She beamed, her hazel eyes coming to life. Nero stood on the other side of the door in a grey robe, rubbing his eyes, perturbed. She thought he was radiating with beauty or was it just the light from his house shinning behind him.

"What?" he snapped, a little annoyed the last good night's sleep he'd probably ever get was interrupted. Her smile faded. Of course, he didn't know why she was here. Candace merely glanced around before shrugging.

"I just need to talk," she said, her hazel eyes blazing.

Now? Nero thought. He pinched his nose bridge briefly, wondering what she might think if he suddenly closed the door in her face. The young beamed at his door and he couldn't think of anything else to do rather than move aside to let her in. He watched as she walked past him, her waist-length flaxen hair slightly mid-air due to the speed she moved with. He shut the door.

"Tea?" Nero asked whilst standing in the same spot. Candace was in the middle of his living room with her hands held behind her back. She simply nodded.  Nero made an exit to the kitchen. 

Candace had never been inside Nero's home before. She often wondered what it'd be like to be amongst his stuff, taking in his natural scent... learning his darkest secrets, deepest desires. 

She peered around while he moved about in the kitchen. The walls were a beguiling amber colour, mostly to Candace, as they reminded her of his enrapturing eyes. The sofas were a plain claret with a rich-toned, cedar coffee table. Everything in here screamed 'fire'. 

A large bookshelf stood near the window, resting against a bare wall. She thought they were ancient books, but as she got closer to it, she realised they were his diaries. Candace raised a brow. This was an intriguing detail. She reached out to grab one, but someone cleared their throat.

She spun on her heels. Nero leaned against the kitchen door frame with two olive mugs in his hands, his stare trained on her. His dreads were tied to the back, falling to his hips. 

"I didn't know you wrote," she said as she took a mug from him with a small smile. Steam rose to her face. It smelled of chamomile.

"Yeah," he sighed as he walked towards a sofa and sat down. He liked the welcoming feeling of soft cushion all around him. "I haven't had the time lately." He sipped from his mug and then his eyes slipped shut. Candace took a seat opposite him. She stared at the dark coloured tea in her mug and all that was unseemly flew through her mind. She could never control her thoughts, which was probably why she usually acted on impulse.

"With all, that's happening, Aspeon disseminating to shit." She peeked from under her eyelashes at Nero. He was blankly staring at a wall. "What's on your mind?"

"Huh?" He rubbed his face and blinked. He was only able to catch a few of her last words. "Uh, I'm sorry. You said you wanted to talk." He looked sheepish. Candace placed her mug on the centre table, walked to up Nero, took his mug from him and placed it on the table as well. His brows furrowed together. What was she doing? "Are you alright?" he asked once she just stood there for about a minute.

"Wonderful." Candace stood there for a split-second contemplating her thoughts. It would be just as easy as she imagined, right? No more time to think. She gripped Nero by his shoulders and wasted no time in flinging her lean legs on both sides of his waist; her knees deepening dents in the sofa. Nero's eyes widened as he froze,  all the sleep fleeing from him. He had no idea how to react to that. It wasn't the type of behaviour he should be condoning. Her eyes bore holes into his as he struggled for words. 

Of all the training Nero gave his students, he never thought once to prepare himself for something like this.

"Uh, Ca-" he began, but was interrupted by her enticing lips pressed against his.

***

Kaia sat outside, warming her hands near the dying campfire. The sound of the burning wood settled her troubled self. She didn't like being out this late at night. She thought she would gather a feeling of serenity from the flames, but they were slowly dousing as Aspeon soon would, and that made her nerves start up again. 

Kai walked up with Roman and dumped a pile of wood on the dark ashes. The rise of the flames reflected in his russet eyes. He held his hand out and gradually the flames increased. He held a smug look as he observed his powers in action.

"Great work," Roman commended him as they sat on the logs that surrounded the now ablaze wood. He rubbed his hands together.

"So... what now?" Kaia asked. She looked at her twin as he shuffled in his seat. He seemed profound. Kaia didn't like it when he brooded. It usually meant the most outrageous of ideas were coming into play.

"Kai and I have been talking," Roman said with a grin. "Our mentors, the Elders, have been shaken to their core." He picked up a stray piece of wood off the ground and began mindlessly sharpening it with a pocket knife he heated with his hands. "We've been instructed to tell our family nothing of what's to come. And frankly, we can't rely on Sibyl." A breeze picked up as soon as her name was spoken. Kaia's eyes widened as she looked to the night sky, noticeably shivering on the spot. Her eyes shot to Roman.

"Roman, you know we can't speak her name like that without a thought!" Kaia dictated. His leafy eyes bored holes into hers as he stared.

"Why not? She's nowhere around." Kaia was taken aback. Why would he think that?

"Nero clearly stated that she's back," Kaia snapped. Roman snorted as the wood he continued to sharpen slowly transformed into an oak picket.

"I don't believe it."

"Really? Then what do you have in mind?"

"Kaia, think about it," Kai spoke up. He pressed his hands on his knees. "Aspeon has been in orbit for over 6000 years and suddenly something has changed its course. Something is missing."

"Like what?" Kaia stared in wonder with her doe eyes.

Kai shrugged.

"We don't know. But that's what we're going to figure out." 

Roman stared at her, his forest eyes glowed with the flames from the pit they created. Kaia crossed her arms over her chest and glared up at the dark night sky. Nothing in sight but a few transparent clouds. Kaia promised herself she would never get involved in their sceptical plans. Her earthly nature kept her planted, but where her twin was involved, she felt herself wavering. 

"Do you need me to tag along?" Kaia asked with an eye roll, already regretting her decision.

"Hey, we need all the help we could get. Which reminds me," he frowned. "Where's Candace?"

***

Nero was beyond confused. He sat completely still as Candace placed moist kisses on his neck while her hands began to explore his chest area. 

She had untied his robe, revealing smooth brown skin and toned muscles. 

Nero simply had his shorts on and was contemplating throwing Candace off him. He was sure she could hear his heart beating out his chest. But then he thought about the days to come and the possible ending of their existence. 

If there was a ninety per cent chance that their small planet would soon be nothing but pieces of rocks floating in space, then why deny this. Each day passing was one step nearer to the end. 

So, when Candace returned to devour his lips, he responded this time, with equal passion as her.

He ran his hands along her body, stopping at her waist. Without warning, he flipped them, pinning Candace down on the sofa, lips still locked on hers. For Nero, this was the last chance at pleasure. 

For Candace, this was a long-dreamt fantasy she never thought would come true. Even when all their clothes were discarded, and she was practically screaming his name, she was sure it was all a dream.

Taja D'amore ♡