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6__Housemates

The darkness enveloped everything, thick and blinding

Maia couldn’t even see the hand she held up before her face. Gulping, she held the trembling hand out, carefully trying not to fall.

“What is this?” she muttered to herself. “Does he live in a cave?”

The sound of a slamming door startled her and footsteps approached.

“I can hear you,” Rogan muttered. “And no, my house is not a cave.”

“Then why’s it so dark?”

Rogan rolled his eyes, watching her reach around blindly in the dark. “Cause I like it that way.”

Grabbing her hand, he latched it onto his shoulder and started walking, leading Maia through the dark.

She had bad sight for a werewolf. Could she not even see through this slight dimness? Sure, his Vampire half gave him better sight than her, but still, even Aiden, who was a Geminus, could see in Rogan’s dark house.

“W-where are we going?” Maia asked.

“Be quiet.”

She scowled into the darkness, holding his shoulder tight. He was so sharp-tongued, this Vampire sorcerer, Maia was sick of it. But she had to take it. She needed him for now. Once she was sure the Zoars weren’t looking for her anymore, she’d give this guy a sharp kick and run off to the furthest forest she could find. Until then, she needed his eyes which could scare them off with one look.

Rogan suddenly came to a halt and Maia collided with his back, knocking the breath out of herself.

He turned his head to the side, giving her a look. Silently, he reached forward, gripping something in the dark and Maia watched as, with a shove of his arm, a door opened before them, revealing a room that was dark but with a stream of moonlight filtering through a curtained window.

She looked at the room in awe. It was simple with just a four poster bed and a single wardrobe, but it was still beautiful. The stream of glittering moonlight glowed over them making Maia even more awed.

Rogan scoffed, sensing her admiration. “It’s just a basic room, no need to feel touched.”

She looked at him from where she stood behind him and nearly gasped.

He wasn’t wearing his glasses.

Rogan slowly turned to face her and Maia immediately shut eyes tight, her body tensing in fear.

Rogan frowned down at her. What? She was also afraid of his eyes? Was she not a werewolf but a Geminus then? And if so, what Gemini soul did she have? If he had to judge by her hair, he’d guess that her other form was a porcupine.

One hand rose to scratch his jaw as he calmly watched her. “What the hell are you doing?”

Maia casually waved a hand, attempting to look normal with her eyes tightly shut. “Oh, nothing. D-do not remove your glasses, okay? Let’s make that a new part of our deal! Agree?”

Rogan slid his hands into his pockets, studying her. He scanned her face from the top of her wild hair to the soft jut of her stubborn chin. It was just a quick scan, but something strange pricked up within him as he looked at her. Her appearance must have been exaggerated in the moonlight because, surely, she wasn’t this… beautiful?

His gaze grew darker, more intense on her face and Rogan mentally reared back, slapping himself out of it. Stunned, he turned away from the girl, blinking himself back into focus.

What was that just now? Rogan glanced at her and looked away again, frowning to himself. What had he just been thinking while looking at Rag-skins? What level of sorcery did she have? He narrowed his eyes on her. Was she a Temptress instead of a Werewolf or one of the Gemini?

Maia tilted her head at the silence around her. Was he gone?

“Gl... Sorcerer?” she called softly, her hands reaching out blindly.

They landed on a hard chest, gently patting around to identify the object.

Rogan's jaw clenched as he looked down at her. “I told you to not touch me.”

Maia gasped when he shoved her hands off, making her stumble back in the dark. Her eyes opened from surprise and she blinked when she realized that she was alone.

She looked behind her and saw nothing in the darkness. He’d left.

And now she was alone in the dark.

Her eyes darted toward the room and Maia hurried in, shutting the door behind her.

She looked at it, biting her lip in thought.

She was alone, didn’t know the Sorcerer and had no weapons. Not a situation that would give her sweet, restful sleep.

She had to find some way to stop him from entering without her permission. Or even the Zoars if they found her.

Looking around, her gaze fell on the dresser and Maia hurried over to it, pressing both hands against one solid side.

With gritted teeth, she heaved until the dresser started moving inches.

“Come on!” Maia muttered, putting all of her strength into it. “Gotta… do it!”

Her body was overheating from the work, but she didn’t quit.

Another heave had her sweaty hands slipping off the side and Maia landed in a heap on the floor.

“Ouucchhh…” she whined quietly, gripping her elbow.

The pain centered in her arm and slowly spiraled out to the rest of her body, making Maia clutch her sore limb and roll about in pain.

The aching finally dulled to a slight throb and she lay still in the moonlit spot on the floor before scrambling up to look at the dresser with sharp eyes.

“This is nothing,” Maia muttered in challenge to the dresser. “I have moved fallen trees before!” She scowled at the floor. “This wood is just far more slippery compared to the forest floor.”

Huffing, Maia crossed her arms in thought. What could she do? If she couldn’t ensure her own safety in this room, what could she do? She didn’t even have a weapon or two to protect herself. Long gone were her bow and arrows.

Maia bit her lip. Well, that was it. If she couldn’t sleep safely here, she had no other choice.


Rogan ran both hands through his tousled hair, thinking it needed a cut, but not really giving a damn.

He had no reason to look presentable. Once he found the ingredients he needed and broke the curse keeping him alive, he’d be kicking the bucket anyway.

Rolling his shoulder, he attempted to unplaster his shirt from his back, glued to his flesh from sweat. This morning was too damn hot.

Yeah. Why not just blame his sweaty body on the morning climate? It was far easier to deal with than acknowledging the internal torture that kept him awake every night, dripping sweat down every part of him. Far easier to throw aside the twisted dreams that plagued him and simply blame his overheated body on the bit of sunshine outside. Rogan's jaw clenched as he leaned an arm on the wall, gazing out at the Geminor kingdom. Leaving his past behind did not actually leave his past behind. It followed him. And every night, it made itself known. Not one night of peaceful sleep. Not one.

Rogan scowled, tossing aside the thoughts in his head.

He hated the Geminor climate, anyway. It was too often sunshine and goddamn roses over here, perfect for the Geminis and their cheerfulness, but horrible for Rogan’s half Vampire body.

He felt like he was melting away.

With a groan, he peeled off his shirt, tossing it back into his chambers as he walked out into the house, free of the inhibiting garment.

With the dawn, Rogan’s usually dark and dreary home turned into a wonderland building with beautiful streams of light pouring in and dark green vines curling around every pillar. The windows that had color streamed in a light that looked like rainbows, completing the fairytale look.

Rogan despised it.

The day fairies or pixies discovered his house, Rogan knew he’d have to fight them out of it. He loved the thick darkness at night, but was just too damn pretty in the day!

Walking toward his kitchen, Rogan paused when he noticed the door near the stairs.

He hissed. Shit, he’d forgotten about the girl. Was she still alive? He hadn’t watered or fed her last night.

Walking towards the door, Rogan pushed it open, not expecting much.

He blinked at what he saw, however.

Empty.

She was gone.

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