Chapter Eleven - word count 2474 - Download the PDF
11.
      Drew stepped out of the shower and stood in front of the full-length mirror.  She was  trying to see if there were any physical differences in her body.  She picked up the lavender body lotion she and Selphie had bought the day before and started spreading it on her limbs.  The routine was soothing, allowing her to mull over the day’s events in her mind.
      She’d spent the afternoon and early evening resting – doctors orders.  Jesse had made it clear, after he’d come to check up on her, that she needed to get as much as possible.  She’d also received orders to stay relatively near Seth, he’s exact words had been, “at least in the same building”.  
      The pain she’d experienced had him worried and he’d insisted that Seth stay near her in case she had a relapse.  
      Apparently none of the drugs he’d given her had helped.  In the end the only thing that had worked was physical contact with Seth.  It had Jesse baffled and he’d admitted to her he didn’t like to be baffled.  So he assured her that he’d be doing some research and seeing what he could find out about the situation.  
      
      She turned slightly looking at her body.  She might be imagining it but she seemed a little firmer.  She’d never been flabby, she spent too much time working on her martial arts to get flabby, but she did seem to have more mussel tone.  She knew she felt different inside.  
      She could feel another presence, a being separate from her.  She assumed it was her animal, her leopard.  She was quiet eager to transform into animal shape for the first time.  Though she had to admit it was frightening as well.
      The changes that were going on in her body were sweeping and scary, but exciting too.
      Her sense of smell had improved and she was pretty sure her eyesight was keener.  
      Drew wasn’t sure how she felt about all of this, it was strange to her how easily she’d fitted in amongst these people.  She’d always been a little anti-social.  She’d been a bit of a geek as a teenager and never one of the popular kids.  Now she was around creatures that oozed with mystical cool, and she wasn’t uncomfortable or awkward.  Hey, maybe there was such a thing as destiny, and this was hers.  
      She knew one thing for sure though.  Her attraction for Seth was getting out of hand.  Trust her to get the hots for the one guy she was sure had someone in his life already.  
      Why couldn’t she have gotten all hormonal for Ross, Marcus or Darius.  Drew was pretty sure none of them were otherwise involved and she’d be lying if she said they weren’t hot.  Ross especially, there was just something about him that was… well, yum.  The only problem was, he didn’t affect her like Seth did.  Seth was the only one who could steal her oxygen and get her heart doing an incredibly steamy tango.  
      Attraction like this was beyond her experience so she wasn’t sure how to deal with it.  
      There was enough change at the moment in her life without adding an attraction to a man who probably wasn’t available.
      A soft knock on the bathroom door interrupted her musings.  
      “Drew, its Selphie.”
      The door opened a crack and Selphie passed a garment bag through the door.  
      “Here, this is your outfit for tonight.  Get dressed then come so I can do your hair and make-up.”  
      Drew reached for the bag, and from the weight of it, she was sure there were shoes in it as well.
      “Okay, I’ll be out in a sec.” She called through the door and opened up the bag to see what Selphie had chosen.
      When Drew stepped out of the bathroom Selphie was waiting, she clapped her hands together in delight.  
      “You look simply stunning!”  
      Drew looked down at herself, the outfit was a two piece black number. The bodice was tight, more like a bustier, with little cap sleeves. There was a space between the shirts hem and the top of the skirt that hugged her hips, which left her belly ring in plain view. It was a bit too snug over her breasts, and cut low so that she had more cleavage than she was used to showing.  
      The skirt was satin, in an A line cut, that clung to her hips and thighs flaring out around her ankles, the front of the skirt had two slits in it that cut up to mid thigh, giving her moving room where the skirt tightened over her thighs.  The boots that came with the outfit had a high heal, but nothing so terrible that Drew’s balance was affected, something she was grateful for, the tops of the boots reached just above her knees.  Leaving a tantalizing glimpse of thigh between the edge of the boot and the top of the slits.  
      “Wow, seriously.” Selphie stepped back, and made a twirl gesture with her hand.
      Drew obediently turned all the way around so Selphie could inspect the outfit.
      When she faced Selphie again the nymph had a naughty grin on her face.  
      “I can’t wait!”  
      “You look stunning your self.” Drew smiled as she took in Selphie’s outfit.  She wore a sheath dress, also black, that hugged her curves and had a long slit up the side that ended very high on Selphie’s thigh.  The black of the dress made Selphie’s white blonde hair almost glow.  Her shoes were also high heeled and tied with cross lacings up Selphie’s calves.  
      “I have to say you’re heaven sent Selph, I had no idea what to wear since I don’t even know what type of place Fiends is.”
      “Ah, not heaven sent – Seth Sent.” She winked at Drew.  “He thought you might want some help.  Fiends is a goth club.  Or at least the Goths think it’s a goth club,” she laughed “its more a place for the Mythos to congregate and relax.  Normals just think we are weird Normals, although you do get the occasional Norm that comes in the hope of meeting a Mythos.”
      Drew nodded “Sounds interesting. I can’t say I’m not broadening my horizons” she smiled.
      “Selph, there is something I’ve been meaning to ask you…”
      Drew wasn’t sure how to broach the subject so she thought she’d just come out and ask. “about Seth.  Is he your… “ She fumbled over the word “I mean, are you two dating.”  
      Selphie stared at Drew in such shocked amazement she was unable to answer for a long moment.
      Drew flinched, assuming a positive.  “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked, it’s none of my business.”
      Selphie shook her head, still completely amazed.
      “Where did you get the idea that Seth and I were a couple?”
      Drew felt her adrenalin kick in as excitement clawed its way through her limbs.  She’d never been happier to hear anything in her life.
      “You mean you aren’t a couple?”  
      Selphie chuckled, “Nope, never was and never will be.  Gods, I helped Seth’s mother change his diapers, I could never even think of him along those lines.”
      Drew was grinning like a fool and trying with all her might not to start dancing for joy.  
      “Does he…”
      “No, he doesn’t.” Selphie answered her question on whether he had someone or not before she could finish asking it.  
      “But,” Selphie couldn’t hide her smile, things were going to work out exactly as she had expected.  Her l-dar was never wrong.  She just had to warn Drew about Seth’s feelings where women were concerned. That Veronica bitch had really messed him up.  She prayed to anyone that would listen, that this wouldn’t scare Drew off.  
      “Before you get too excited.”
      “I’m not excited.”  Drew blushed embarrassed that she was so transparent in her feelings.  
      “Oh common, you’re talking to a nymph. Who exactly are you trying to fool.” Selphie rolled her eyes at Drew.  
      “Your emotions, especially those of a romantic nature are open for me to read.  I’ve known from the start you were attracted to Seth.  Personally I think that’s fantastic, you are just what he needs.  But, he has a history with women or rather, a woman, that is painful.”  
      Selphie moved over to the dresser.
      “Come sit and I’ll tell you about it while I do your make-up and hair.”
      Drew obediently went and sat down.  
      “About fifty years ago…” Selphie started only to be interrupted by Drew
      “Wait, I thought you were telling me about Seth.”
      “I am.”
      “Then why start fifty years ago.  He’s no where near fifty years old Selph.”  Drew pointed out.  
      Selphie’s laugh made Drew frown up at her.
      “Didn’t he tell you how old he is?”  Selphie asked genuinely amused.
      “No, but any one can see he’s about twenty eight.”  
      Selphie burst out in a fresh peel of laughter.  She made an effort to control her laughter when Drew scowled at her.  
      “I’m sorry,” Selphie chuckled a bit more.  Then sobered because her words were about to knock Drew flat on her backside.
      “Seth is four hundred and twenty years old.”  
      Drew felt her jaw drop, she gasped.  “No, you’re just trying to freak me out.”  
      Selphie shook her head.  “Sorry Drew, it’s the truth.  Didn’t Jesse explain about lycos to you?”  
      “Yeah, but he didn’t say anything about lycos being walking antiques.”  
      Then Drew remembered,  “Seth did say we live a very long time.”  
      “But you never thought to ask how old he was?”  Selphie asked
      Drew blushed, “I was kinda distracted.”  
      Selphie chuckled.  “Don’t worry you’ll get used to the idea.”  
      “So you are all older than you look?”
      “Oh yes, for instance, I’m much older than Seth.  Don’t ask me how much older.” Selphie pulled a face.  “Cause then I’m going spend the evening feeling old and decrepit.”  
      Selphie moved forward and started applying eye shadow to Drew’s eyes.  
      “Over the shock?” she asked
      “Yeah, for the most part.”  
      “Okay, back to the story.  A long, long time ago, about sixty years in the distant past.”
      Drew had to laugh at Selphie’s wit.  
      “A Du’call lycos named Veronica showed up here at the complex.  She was a werewolf, and a stunningly beautiful woman.  I’m not going to lie to you, she had more than her share of the men here eating out the palm of her hand.  But for some reason she wanted Seth.  The only one problem she had getting Seth, was Kyle.”
      “Who is Kyle?”
      “Seth’s younger brother.”  Selphie answered then continued with the story.  
      “Kyle had a serious thing for Veronica.  Seth knew about it, so he wouldn’t go near her.  No matter how many times she threw herself at him.  He had admitted to me that he was very attracted to her.  But Seth would never have done that to his brother.  Kyle was obsessed with Veronica and she knew it, she used it against him.  Getting him to do what ever she wanted, promising him herself and the world.”  
      “Bitch.”  Drew spat
      “You have no idea.” Selphie answered then continued. “Veronica got frustrated that she couldn’t get Seth’s affections and decided to get back at him.  So she waited till he would least suspect it and she drugged him.  Then she seduced him.  He was so drugged up I don’t think he had any clue what was going on, and its one of my biggest regrets that I didn’t figure out what she was doing until it was too late.”
      Selphie had stopped applying the make-up while she told the tale.
      “What happened?”
      “She used the Du’call call and called Kyle to her. He walked in on them in bed.”  Selphie shook her head.
      “That conniving bitch planned it that way.  She screamed and wailed telling Kyle that Seth had raped her.”  
      Drew gasped “Oh my god!”
      “Kyle went psycho, he pulled Seth out of the bed and attacked him.  Seth was too drugged up to respond with any reason, he was being attacked and he reacted as any animal would, he fought back.  Somehow, no one is sure how, though I suspect Veronica gave it to him, Kyle got a silver dagger, they struggled for it, but as strong as Kyle was he was never a match for Seth.”
      “No, oh no.”
      “Yeah, Seth stabbed Kyle through the heart.  There was no way to save him.  He died in his brother’s arms, while that bitch laughed hysterically in the background.  It took Ross and Marcus to hold Seth off of Veronica when he realized what that he’d killed his brother. He would have killed her right there.”  
      Drew was stunned speechless, she couldn’t believe anyone could be that vindictive.  
      “What happened to her?”
      “Gabriel banished her.”
      “What!  She should have been executed!”
      Selphie nodded.  “Oh I agree, most of the compound felt the same.  But Gabriel is in charge and he wont take a life easily.  He banished her on pain of death.  If she ever shows her face around here Seth has Gabriel’s permission to kill her on sight.  There are more than a few of the Mythos here who would gladly hold her down.”  
      “Add me to that list.”  Drew was furious, she felt a burning need to go find this Veronica and rip her limb from limb slowly and painfully.  Just imagining the hurt Seth had endured because of Veronica made Drew’s stomach clench in anger and pain.  She wished she could go back in time and stop the tragedy from happening.  
      Selphie spoke again.
      “Seth hasn’t been with a woman since then.  Not one lover in sixty years.  I think he’s decided to never let a woman near enough to hurt him again.”  
      Drew’s heart sank with those words.  What chance did she have with Seth.  She didn’t blame him for the way he felt, she would have felt the same, but she ached with the knowledge that he would never let her near him or give himself permission to feel for a woman.
      Selphie’s fingers under her chin lifted her head.  She looked into Drew’s eyes.  
      “Listen to me carefully sister of my heart.  You must not let this discourage you.  Seth needs you.  He needs all the love you can give him.  Don’t let his stubbornness put you off.  I’m telling you now, you were meant for that man.  Weather he wants to know it or not.  I know this with every power being a nymph gives me, I’ve never felt such an incredibly strong connection between two people before.”   
      Drew felt a smile tug at her lips.  
      “That’s better,” Selphie smiled. “Now lets get the hair and make-up done before those men accuse us of being typical women.”
      They both pictured the men waiting impatiently for them, and laughed.
 
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