*Song- Feel it still, Portugal. The man

'A crazed, starved maniac...'

The Royal Blue Treatment

I couldn't quite remember how I'd gotten here, but at the time, it didn't really matter.

My feet were covered with white sand and the beach was bathed in a golden glow. The sun was setting, but this strip of land looked completely unfamiliar.

I ran a hand through my black hair and moved my hawk-like eyes across the pale beach in search of any sign that might tell me where I was standing. The sky was almost lilac against the red glow of the sun.

I fiddled with the ends of my swimming trunks, not sure why I had them on in the first place. I felt the last rays of the sun glide over my bare chest and the air was humid and hot.

Was this a dream? When was the last time I'd dreamt?

I grazed my eyes over the long, thick strip of palm trees behind me- they were an odd, saturated green against the golden glow. The waves strolled in onto the white sand; completely relaxed. I felt confused, but calm, which was quite strange for me...

I couldn't handle situations where I didn't have the upper hand or where I wasn't in control in some way or form.

Here, though, I felt... serene.

Like when I'm with her.

And then something in the hot, sticky air whispered to me to turn back to the ocean, and as I did, my knees nearly buckled to the ground.

Aurora was walking towards me, slowly, her sharp eyes full of power. Her blonde hair was tussled and in waves, her body was slick with water and she wore the most enticing, silver-encrusted bikini that left nearly nothing to the imagination.

I swore under my breath.

I could make out the curve of her breasts and the swinging of her hips instantly put me into a heavy trance. I moved my feet closer, but they wouldn't budge further than where the waves crashed.

She swayed up to me, her eyes confident and her smile small and hypnotic.

I couldn't move my muscles as her hand ran down my chest, playing with the rough hairs below my navel; and then it dunked down into my trunks and I nearly fell to my knees.

"Aurora..."

She was smiling now- like she knew something I didn't. I wanted to seize her, but she was in control, and I was intoxicated into a numb heap.

Aurora pushed me down with her to the sand and pounced onto me like a predator. I panted as she moved her hips to my groin and started her dance. I rolled my eyes back and let her lead.

The sky's gold was hypnotic as my vision blurred.

My hands clasped onto her hips and spurred them on, but she stopped after a few seconds of rapture and bit her lip. Aurora's voice was dripping with honey; "I don't have my ring anymore..."

I didn't have to ask her what she'd meant by that- I knew exactly what ring she was talking about.

Her virtue ring.

"Now!" I threw her onto the sand and quickly undid my trunks. I slid them down and savoured the look of pure pleasure she had as her eyes skimmed down. I ripped her bare and soon enough I found my lips smacking onto hers with impatience.

I didn't waste any time- I slid into her, hard and bothered; the sand sticking to our bodies and the waves running up to meet our hips.

I felt slightly numb as I rocked into her, the feeling of finally being inside her strangely... dead.

No matter- we groaned loudly, filling the beach with our cries.

I shouted her name, like a maniac.

A crazed, starved maniac.

Suddenly, Aurora pushed me away, her eyes wide and full of terror. I growled and pulled her into me, but she screamed with such fear that it knocked the air right out of my lungs.

"Get away! Get away! STOP! No!" The lilac sky broke with a crack of dark red.

My eyes widened at her fear and I tried to reassure her, the numbness in my body becoming oddly throbbing; "No, baby, wait! I thought you wanted it? Aurora, don't leave! I won't touch you! Aurora!"

She was running towards the trees, but my feet wouldn't move; "AURORA!"

I was left panting and hollow- she was afraid? She didn't want me? I thought she did... Gods, I don't want her to fear me! I don't want her to think I'm some disgusting man who forces woman to do his bidding.

Aurora...

"Watch out, friend."

I lifted my head. Poseidon grinned. He was standing next to me with a large cup of ale in his hand. I furrowed my brows, the sand was now grass and the ocean was replaced with a deep lake.

"You're in love."

I stood up, my knees still shaking. I shook my head in confusion. "No, I can't love."

He laughed. "Says who?"

I looked down, my usual black attire of leather and armour dark against the sunny meadow. I grabbed Poseidon by the collar; "Where's Aurora?"

He chuckled in his silly, relaxed manner, but it wasn't him who spoke; "Calm down, Thany. She's on her way to meet Apollo." Persephone said as she poured herself a glass of wine. The meadow on her side was covered in dark, wilting red roses.

I growled; "Apollo?"

"And I heard she invited Ares along." Hypnos said from top of the waterfall. The ground shook as I roared; "WHAT!"

"I might go see her later too..."

I'd ever before wanted to rip my brother's head off, but the way his lips curved made me want to slice it off. Poseidon snickered, suddenly next to Hypnos as they stared down at me; "I'd like to have some fun with her too, would you mind, Thany?"

I shook my head and growled; "If you dare touch her, I WILL kill you both!"

"With what?" A new voice- old, haggard; "This?" Cronus appeared from the shadows, carrying his sickle like a toy. I flinched.

"When you're dead," He fixed me with his cold eyes; "I'll gladly keep Aurora warm..."

"No." It was a whimper. I backed away from him with my eyes full of fear as he held the sickle to my throat. I backed into someone.

I turned to the cackling faces of my friends; Hypnos, Poseidon and Persephone's eyes were all glowing red and their teeth long and sharp. I shot back as their laughing grew deep.

"You're not a god, Thanatos!" My brother's words cut through me like a blade.

"Gods don't love- you're pathetic!" Poseidon mocked me with a shrill laugh and Persephone clasped her cheeks with her hands as she giggled hysterically; "Oh, poor Thany actually thought Aurora could love him! How pitiful!"

"No!" I moaned.

They enclosed around me, surrounding me. I sunk down onto the grass, covering my head with my hands. I couldn't bear their manic cries and mocking faces. They looked possessed- evil. The sickle pricked at my chest. I didn't try to shove it away; their words pushing me down into a heap of terror.

"You're not a god!"

"You're not a god!"

Their words rang out in horrid cries and I tried to fight back but nothing helped; "I am!" I found myself pleading with the putrid air. "I am a god!"

They laughed, bringing the sickle down to my throat. "You're no son of Erebus!" 

My hands flew up to cover my ears in a desperate attempt to block out the hateful sneers and manic cackling. "You're just like Nyx! Mommy's boy! Mommy's star! A monster!"

Hypnos bent down with a wicked smile, something I've never seen him with before ever in my long life. My eyes pleaded with him to stop, but he leaned in until our noses touched, his hot breath fanning my face; "Erebus will be so disappointed baby brother; you're no god."

I cracked. "I am a god!"

Suddenly, I woke with a startle.

My eyes popped open and I sat up straight in bed; the sheet drenched in sweat. I gasped for air. I looked up to find Aurora standing in front of me with a cup of freshly brewed coffee. She looked shocked as I let out a shaky breath.

"Wow," She said with a dead-pan voice; "Even in your sleep you're arrogant."

I furrowed my brows, my chest heaving up and down; "Huh?"

She placed the cup of coffee down on the bedside table and scooted in next to me, her eyes full of worry. Her finger traced the creases in my forehead; "You were shouting 'I'm a god!' over and over. I nearly threw the coffee over you..."

I sighed and ran my palm down my sweaty face.

If this was what dreaming is like- no thank you.

"I had a nightmare, I think..."

Aurora's eyes widened. We were now in our second week in Caneyville, and we both were more relaxed than ever. I couldn't understand why all of a sudden my subconscious was trying to play tricks on me.

"Are you okay? You look shaken?" Aurora ran her hand down my arm and kissed my cheek soothingly. I savoured her touch.

"I'm alright..."

She nodded, but didn't look convinced. "It's always weird for me seeing you like this..."

I lifted my brow at her and gave her a questioning look; "Like what?"

"So... rattled. You're always so composed."

I smiled softly; "I'll be fine, just haven't had a dream in a very long time..."

"Would you like to talk about it?"

I looked up into her worried eyes. I felt my heart surge; "It's alright, angel."

"I'd like to know though? Is there something I could do to make it better?"

I smiled and pulled her closer; "You can stay in bed with me for a while. I missed you."

She cuddled into my chest and purred with delight as I laid us back down. I tried to push away the haunting faces of my friends and their words. Aurora ran her fingers up and down my arm in a calming manner. I closed my eyes; "Sorry, I'm a little sweaty."

"I like it- it's kind of hot."

I chuckled; "Thank you for the coffee, but you really don't need to do this every morning."

"But I want to."

My heart raced and I pressed her tighter. "When can I do the same for you?"

I could feel her smile onto my skin as she pecked my collar bone; "You do enough for me..."

I shook my head slightly; "Not nearly enough. Let me take you out to dinner tonight."

Aurora looked up with surprise; "Really?"

I kissed her softly; "Anywhere you want- you choose."

"But we were going to go have pizza at Sonya's tonight?"

I wanted to grumble and complain that we didn't have alone time anymore, but that wasn't entirely true- Aurora was a master at balancing her family, friends and me. Just yesterday I had her all to myself for the entire day. We'd spent it by relaxing on the beach and when we'd gotten home Aurora and I spent the rest of the night on her bed, talking and laughing about the simplest of things.

"Invite them along. My treat."

Aurora smiled up at me and leaned in to place a loving kiss on my lips. I sighed into her mouth; "You should be treated like a queen..."

Aurora placed my head in her hands and pressed herself deeper into my kiss; "I already am."

I pulled her on top of me and threw the blanket over our heads. She giggled. "My parents!"

I ignored her nervous whisper and instead kissed her senseless. Our tongues mixed together and the air under the blanket grew hot and steamy; "Let's stay in bed all day..."

Aurora laughed; "That's not suspicious at all."

I wiggled my eyebrows; "Please, pretty please?"

She giggled and tried to get up from my chest. "Thanatos! Let go! If my parents see you-"

"-If your parents see us, they'll think you're attacking me..."

"Which is why you should let go!"

I laughed as she struggled to get free from my strong grip. I growled playfully and climbed onto her; "Wait a minute!" I said in an overdramatic tone and Aurora's face instantly grew nervous; "I think I remember someone being extremely ticklish?"

"I don't remember that..." She said as she tucked in her elbows, leaving no room for my fingers to move over. I chuckled and pulled her arms away; Aurora struggled to resist, but I quickly overpowered her.

She laughed loudly while my hands found her sensitive sides, the sound of her squealing echoing through the big house.

"Stop! Okay! Enough already!"

I fell onto her and she huffed; "I'm going to kick your ass one day, I hope you know that..."

I laughed at her tone; "I know you're an optimist, but there's a difference between fantasy and what's realistic in life."

A slap found my bum; "Cockiness can only get you so far..."

"Between the two of us, who's more cocky? You're the one threatening a four thousand year-old death deity, little girl."

Aurora scoffed; "Look, I know you get discounts at the senior centre; there's no need to rub it in. By the way- you're the definition of a paedophile."

I snickered; "And you're parents need to give you a stern talking to. I'm old enough to be your great, great, great, great, great, great-"

"Fine!" She struggled to speak as she laughed; "I get your point!"

I quickly shot down and caught her lips. She stopped her mumbling immediately and the room quieted. A soft breeze from the balcony floated in while we kissed tenderly.

My lips were light against hers, almost scared that I might break her like glass if I pressed too hard. The image of the sharp sickle flashed across my mind.

Aurora sighed in satisfaction. "What was that for?"

I smiled, but my eyes were still closed as my lips grazed against hers, the sun's rays glowing against our tanned skin. My tone was soft; "I just wanted to feel my soul hum."

"That's beautiful."

"It's true..."

The clack of heels against tile broke us from our trance and Aurora quickly shot up from the bed and casually leaned back against the wall. I grabbed the cup of coffee from the bedside-table just in time as her mother popped her head into my room. 

She was monetarily stunned as her eyes ran across my naked chest, but she quickly recovered. "Morning, you two! Sleep well?"

Aurora just nodded as I spoke; "Yes, thank you, and you, Denise?"

"Surprisingly, I did. Your father's snoring wasn't as bad as usual."

We laughed and watched as she winked and walked on to the master suite; a small blush on her face. I lifted the coffee cup to my lips to take a sip of the delicious, dark brew. Aurora pulled a face.

"How do you drink that? There's no sugar or milk in it. And even then I can't put my lips to it."

I grinned and placed the cup back on the table; "It's addictive." I eyed her as she stood next to the bed, her arms crossed over her white, plush sleeping gown; "Just like you..."

She bit her lip and leaned down to kiss me, her hair falling over the side of her face; "Get dressed, Mr. Grim Reaper; the sun's already out and I want to swim."

I did as she commanded, with a wide smile on my face.

Thanatos had taken us all to dinner that night.

We were dressed to the nines and he certainly pulled out all the stops- champagne, oysters, lobster...

Thanatos even organised a private table outside on the veranda, over-looking the ocean. I'm not sure how he got it all right, but I had a feeling magic played a small role.

Sonya and Trita were busy paging through the dessert menu. We were already full of delicious seafood, but that never stopped us from ordering dessert. My mother always said that 'cake you eat with a different stomach'.

Thanatos was dressed in black pants, a sharp gray shirt and a thick black coat- which hung over his chair. He had his sleeves rolled up and his hand was on my knee under the table. I couldn't help but stare at him throughout the night. He was even more handsome bathed in candle-light.

"Oyster?" Thanatos asked as he picked up the last one from the ice tray and held it out for me. I smiled and shook my head; "No, thank you."

"You know..." He said softly as he squeezed some lemon over it; "They say oysters are a great aphrodisiac."

I shot him a look. My friends were right next to us, in ear-shot. Thanatos smirked and gulped down the oyster. I felt his hand tighten around my leg.

He put the empty shell down and took a sip of his red wine. "Then again, I don't really need an aphrodisiac. Not with you wearing this dress." 

I blushed as he leaned in, his breath minty and mixed with spices and wine. I giggled softly; the champagne flowing to my head. "Shush..."

I felt his hand glide up my bare leg. It trailed underneath my short, coral dress and his fingers casually played around my heat. I felt my insides burn up. I shot him a look of concern, but he didn't seem too bothered.

The sensation of his touch grew more addictive.

"So I'll get the berry cake, you're taking the apple tart and Aurora is having the Brandy mousse." Trita said as she closed the menu.

Sonya smiled; "So we can all share!"

I wasn't paying any attention- Thanatos fingers were too busy making magic.

Sonya raised a brow at Thanatos, who sat smiling politely; "Nothing for you?"

"I'll grab a bite by Aurora."

"I'll get the waiter." Trita said impatiently and flung her hand up and scoured her eyes.

Sonya gave me a strange look; "Rora, you okay? You look like you're in pain?"

I blushed, but luckily it was too dark too see; "I'm fine! Just-" His finger dipped under my lace panty and I had to stifle a moan; "I need the bathroom."

I quickly knocked his hand away and shot up. I smiled widely and grabbed Sonya by the arm; "Care to join?"

"Uh... Sure!"

I heard Thanatos chuckled as I raced off with Sonya hurrying behind me. "Slow down! My heels are long!"

I stopped as soon as I got inside the bathroom and Sonya lifted her shoulders in a questioning manner; "What the hell was that? Are you okay? You're cheeks are burning up."

I touched my face with the back of my cold hand. "Sorry, it felt a bit stuffy back there."

I washed my face with water and patted it dry with some paper towels. Sonya eyed me as she redid her light pink lipstick. I was careful not to smudge my eyeliner.

"Does he make you nervous?"

I lowered my eyes; "No, he's a good friend."

"I can see you two are very comfortable with each other, but, Aurora..." Sonya touched my arm; "It's kind of obvious that you're in love with him."

I opened my mouth to deny it, but the will wasn't there. Sonya smiled reassuringly; "Trita sees it too. You have nothing to hide. He's..." she shook her head in disbelief; "out of this world! You need to lock him down."

"You sound like my mother..."

She laughed and lifted my chin; "Where's the confident woman I've always known, hmm? I remember a time when boys would drool every time Aurora Venerelli walked into the room. You have that man wrapped around your pinkie!"

I scoffed; "In a way, I suppose, but-"

"In a way? Aurora, you may be in love, but that man- he's besotted. He can't keep his eyes off you; or his hands, frankly."

I raised my eyebrows; "Is he that obvious?" Gods, I hope she didn't suspect anything under the table, but it didn't look like it. If she had, I'd never hear the end of it. And Trita would be standing here giving me a solid high-five.

"Aurora, be realistic- Thane uses every excuse in the book to touch you. I can give you so many examples! Like last week; he ran his hand down your back when he was talking about his family. He didn't even notice he was doing it. Or like when we went to play mini-golf. Every time you handed him the stick, he'd hold your hand for like a minute before letting go!"

I knotted my brows. I suppose because we were so comfortable with each other, we didn't notice how affectionate we always were. It just came naturally.

"Or like tonight- he tucks your hair behind your ear, he stares at your lips when you talk, he even leans into whisper in your ear when he talks to you. Friends do NOT do that."

I blushed. "Don't tell Trita."

"She already knows- it's painfully noticeable. Besides, what heterosexual woman can resist him?"

I laughed; "Good point. Look, we're not official, or anything like that. I'm not sure what we are, but I do really, really care about him, so could you two maybe just let us sort it out on our own? I know you mean well, but you know how Trita gets with stuff like this."

"Miss. Meddle. I know. Relax, I'll tell her to back off." Sonya smiled. "True love usually grows best without help."

My hand found hers and I relished the warmth of my kind friend's touch. She always knew exactly what to say; "Thanks. Come on, let's get back before she eats all our stuff."

Sonya laughed, but grabbed me before I could open the door; "Wait, is he a good kisser?"

My grin was cheeky. "What do you think?" I said teasingly and dragged her out of the bathroom. Sonya giggled and we walked towards the table, but a soft voice caused me to halt; "Miss Venerelli."

I shifted my eyes to a short, long bearded man. His close-set eyes were a vivid green and his attire was various shades of brown. He seemed out of place for such a fancy restaurant.

"Can I help you?"

"Look for the mirror, the golden mirror."

My heart slowed down to a stop; "Excuse me?"

The room faded away.

"Look for it- you will need it." The man's voice was a mere whisper. 

I felt a presence close in on us. The man quickly spoke in a hushed tone and I saw the tip of a small white paper; "Find me later. Come alone. They're watching him too closely. We must speak."

I tucked the small paper into my fist. His eyes shifted nervously. "Be wary. Traitors are in your midst."

My mind was racing. I had to know more, but soon another voice was blocking my thoughts.

"Miss, is this man bothering you?" A head waiter asked as he eyed the wild-looking stranger. He turned his gaze back to me. I shook my head.

"No, no, I-" I looked over to the stranger, but he as gone, out the door. The waiter furrowed his brows and asked politely; "Do you have all your belongings, miss? I am deeply sorry about that- we won't allow him to enter again."

I merely nodded and thanked him, but my eyes were still on the door where the short man had run through.

I felt a hand on my back; "Aurora, angel, are you alright?"

I nodded my head to Thanatos as Trita and Sonya looked over at me from the table outside in concern. I tried to smile, but Thanatos could tell it was tight-lipped; "We need to get home. I think I might have something."

Thanatos understood immediately and smiled, just as falsely as me; "Of course. Monsieur, the bill please..."

My fist clenched tighter around the small, damp note.

Who's our mystery man and will Thanatos' nightmares keep him from some interesting epiphanies?

NEXT UPDATE- 16th of July