Word Count: 1887

¬Luella

I can't hide my skepticism for Time's claim to protect me.

He's been here for a few hours now, wandering around, examining Thought's house with a consistency that is clearly irritating Thought. But knowing the pointlessness of shooing the immortal from his home, he has bitten his tongue, and allowed for Time to stay, as long as he supplies us with information about the immortals who are aware of the curse affecting me.

But he's been awfully frugal in the manner of which he is imparting information. Thought is clearly tense with the unannounced arrival of his brother, but has the peace of mind to stay quiet about it. As much as Time worries me, with the amount of power he conjures beyond the surface, I will take any help I can get.

As long as he hurries up with this information.

"Hanging onto the past, or just a poorly outdated taste in furnishings?" Time comments from where he is walking around the living area, deciding on mini statue in the shape of a lion to comment harshly on.

"I'm inclined to agree," I say dismissively. Thought looks at me pointedly while I smother a smile. To be honest, it's enjoyable watching the way Time twists Thoughts patience. No one bothers him more than Time, so it's interesting to see him try to rein in his anger. Time winks at me, clearly aware of my motive. There is no way Thought is going to send his brother away when there is information on the line.

Thought stands, putting down his glass that was once filled with some kind of murky alcohol. "I'm going to bed. You two can keep yourselves entertained with my possessions."

Both Time and I watch silently as he leaves the room, having had enough with our antics. Maybe it's the wine I've been sipping for the past hour or so, that has given Time a sense of humour I like. Or maybe I'm just thankful to have someone take my mind of this curse.

Either way, he poses no threat to me yet.

"Thought and I mended our relationship a long time ago, but he's extra sensitive when it comes to me being around you, as if I don't have my own mate," Time says as he comes to sit next to me on the couch, lounging back against the arm rest. I watch the way he looks at me, trying to decipher his motive. Despite how comfortable I'm feeling, I'm skeptical if he's actually here to protect me.

"He has a lot to be protective over, but I can look after myself. How do you think I got into your head in the first place? As long as I keep working on that skill, I can protect myself against these immortals, even without you," I tell him, kicking my feet up near him.

Time swirls the red liquid around his glass. "That will take a great amount of time, and there is no guarantee you will even get close to matching Thought's abilities."

"There's also no guarantee it won't happen."

I'm not allowing myself to pretend like I will have any power like Thought, but it is nice to dream. This is the first time I've had any semblance of power in my life, and as much as it scares me, it's empowering.

"It took Thought centuries to perfect his use of his powers. Even then, he has weaknesses, but because he's so powerful, everyone fears him. Just the mention of his power being spread to another being has elicited a lot of fear in immortals, who right now, know more about Thoughts abilities than you do. It's unlikely you will have one percent of his power, but they won't want to take that chance," Time explains grimly.

Swinging my legs off the couch, I pat Time's leg with mock affection. "It doesn't matter. I have a mate who will teach me how to protect myself. Feel free to go home whenever you like."

Time's eyes glint. "This isn't just about you, Miss Luella."

"What are you getting out of this, other than to irritate a few immortals?" I question. I should have known an immortal does nothing out of the kindness of their heart, but out of their own necessity. You don't live as long as they have to think being a nice person gets them anywhere.

Time drains the rest of his glass, brushing his shoulder against mine as he rests it on the coffee table. I shiver at the touch, as brief as it may be. If any inch of Time was compelled to kill me, he could do so with an ease that I could never compete him. Yet I refuse to let him bother me further than a simple bodily reaction. Anyone in my situation would have it...

"Protecting my brother, learning more about my competition. But irritating some pesky immortals means more to a spiteful bastard like me than you think," he says, the slightest quirk of a smile upon his lips making me believe him more than his words.

"Whatever," I mutter as I get to my feet, deciding I've had enough of this. "I'm going to bed."

"In my brothers bed?"

Looking over my shoulder, I glare at him and his amused expression. "Don't you have your own mate to go mess around with?"

Time doesn't reply, and I don't give him much of a chance to, as I leave the room, walking up the stairs. Time doesn't need to know this, but I am going to sleep in Thoughts bed, like I have been doing since I arrived here. We have been trying to take it slow, and we haven't...done anything just yet, especially with everything that has been going on lately.

Thought is sitting up in bed when I walk in. He glances up at me, giving me an indulgent smile that clearly indicates he's pleased I've come to join him.

"Ready for bed?" he asks, as I slide beneath the covers beside him. I smile lightly, resting my head against the pillow. Thought is shirtless, but I can't see much under the covers. Still, just seeing his bare upper body makes my stomach flutter. He's so unbelievably attractive, with those sultry silver eyes and thick black curls.

"I thought we could...talk, first," I say softly. I'm not sure what has come upon me, but suddenly the idea of being atop my mate is very appealing.

There's a dip between Thought's eyebrows, as he fails to understand what I'm meaning. That is, until I lean my top half over him slightly, looking down at him with the softest smile on his face. There seems to be a moment where he clicks, and suddenly, he leans forward toward me.

His lips touch mine, brief, tentative and soft.

With what has come upon me, I'm in no mood for soft. Instead, I grab his face, and deepen the kiss, demanding all that I can get from him with my lips, my tongue, everything. He seems surprised for a moment, at my very sudden and audacious reaction to simply lying beside him. Maybe Time's words were fuel to my fire, but now I want him.

"What are you doing?" Thought murmurs through rushed breath and passionate kisses. Without separating myself from him, I swing my leg over his hips, balancing myself on top of him. Still, his hands find my waist, delving beneath my shift to my bare skin.

"What does it look like?" I breathe in response, kissing from his lips down past his jawline and to his neck. His sudder makes me smile despite myself, knowing I can make this immortal react with pleasure.

Suddenly he flips me over, my back pressed against the bed while he presses part of his weight against me. A part that proves to me he's enjoying this more than he would like to let on.

"What happened to taking it slow?"

Even as he says that, he's kissing me, right upon my neck where the most sensitive place lies. Gripping his hair, letting my hands slip through his silken curls, I embrace the feeling of his lips against me and the way his hands rise up along my ribcage, circling beneath my bra.

Then all of a sudden, pain hits me directly between my temples, making me pull away from Thought. He leans back completely, starting down at me with concern.

"What's wrong? Did I hurt you?" he questions, looking over me for any sign of a mark that he could have caused.

"No, it's not you. I think it's just a headache that's come on very quickly," I tell him, as he goes to la beside me. I swallow, but a dryness has settled in my throat that doesn't seem like it's going anywhere. I'm not sure where this headache has come from, but at least it's settling to a dull ache that will hopefully be gone by morning.

Thought pulls his sheets over me. "Time for bed I think. Maybe we can resume his another time, okay?"

Maybe he is right

***

I wake very suddenly, shrouded in a mess of sheets.

The moment I pull myself back to air, the extent that my headache has managed to get to sets in. It hits me in waves, each bringing with it a new form of torture. It's excruciating, pounding at my temples with vigor, easily being the worst headache I've ever experienced.

Swinging my legs out of bed, I switch the lamp on, wincing against the harsh light it beams. Glancing over at Thought he is spread out across the bed, completely and utterly asleep, and in no pain at all.

Getting up, I stumble into the bathroom, opening the cabinet to search for some medicine while I massage my temple. I've gotten headaches before, but never something this persistent, leaving me in so much pain my vision is blurry, my body reeling at the foregin feeling. Grabbing at a box of medicine I'm assuming is pain medication, I lean over and sip from the tap before swallowing back the pill.

In search of fresh air, I wander past the bed where Thought lies, opening the doors to the small balcony outside. The cold air helps mitigate some of the pain, but not nearly enough. Still, I lean against the railing, looking out into the night, across the back of Thought's property.

And then I notice something. Time.

He's walking near the edge of the cliff, steps strange, movements stiff. Frowning, I concentrate past the blurriness at where he is heading. By the looks of it, he's walking right to the edge. Maybe I should call out to him, to see what he is doing, but against my better judgment, I keep quiet, instead opting to just watch the immortal.

That is, until he stops in his place, staring out over the edge of the cliff. And then, he falls, straight over the cliff

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