Figment of Dreams
Yule Break Trip (2)

The fire was cackling and the two dogs were snoring at my feet. I had been staring at the book in my lap for the last hour. I had reread the same page a million times so after a while I decided to just look at the mesmerizing play of the flames to ooze my mind. I kept on replaying that night. It violated my every thought and I could not get rid of it. At night the nightmares had been worse than ever. Almost every night I was visited by the dark stranger now.

Sebastian and Dexar had been out today. They had asked me to join them on some wild water rafting adventure, but I was not feeling up for it. They had been so kind to invite me along and even though I knew the castle was big enough I wouldn’t be a bother, it still felt a little strange. I had not known them long and I was intruding on their friend getaway.

‘Little bird, how was your day?’ Sebastian entered. He was more casual than I had ever seen him. Hair wet from a recent shower. He was in the Rivellin College hoodie and sweatpants. It was black with light blue lining and a crest on the right side of the hoodie, that showed a Peacock like bird being eaten by what looked like a hippopotamus. Dexar was wearing the same thing. His shorter red hair almost dry already.

I put my book down and gave him a soft smile. ‘Some reading and napping. So it was a good day.’ I lied. ‘How about you?’

He ignored my question and went to the bar. ‘You want a drink?’

‘What are you having?’

‘Fae Whiskey. Have you tried it?’

‘Sure, I’ll try it.’

Dexar sat down next to me and motioned to Sebastian that he wanted one as well. ‘Well we survived a huge fall out of the canoe. No thanks to Barrington over here.’ Why was I not surprised. Everything that boy did spelled trouble. He probably tipped the canoe over himself just to have some more ‘adventure’.

Sebastian brought back three tumblers with a lick of fae whiskey. I smelled it and it smelled rough. ‘Damn.’ I said out loud. Took a small sip and starting coughing. ‘That’s… that’s rough.’

They both laughed. ‘Now easy on the sips love, don’t go tipping that back like I saw you do with the Tequila the other day.’

I rolled my eyes. ‘I did not do that with the Tequila.’

‘I saw you in the Dunnager love, you did that with the Tequila.’

Oh crap he was right.

The card game was fun and it took my mind of things. I was also kicking their asses and I had just learnt how to play this game an hour ago. ‘Are you guys sucking so badly or are you letting me win?’ I sighed. ‘Well he sucks so badly.’ Sebastian drawled and took another swig from his glass before placing another card down. ‘What about you?’ I added.

He just winked at me.

‘Sebastian! Don’t just let me win!’

Dexar glanced at his Telvice and smiled. ‘Well, I got a hot date with Lindsay in the library. So see you guys tomorrow.’ He stormed out and I could only stare. He was sure working quickly with the ladies.

Sebastian took all the cards and asked me if I wanted to play another round.

Three hours later we had been playing for real. He had given up to let me win and was now really trying to beat me. But I was surprisingly good at this and he was getting frustrated with losing.

‘Gotcha!’ I yelled as I put my final card down. ‘That’s thirteen- thirteen. Take that Barrington.’

‘You are a criminal Elmrose.’ He said dryly. ‘Nobody should be that good at this game that fast.’

I laughed and drank from my whiskey. Which I started to like more and more which each sip.

‘Maybe I had a good teacher.’

‘Well the apprentice has just beaten the teacher.’

‘Facts.’

‘Hey you want to do something fun?’

‘If it’s dirty I don’t want it.’ Because everything was dirty with that boy.

‘It’s a little dirty.’ He saw me looking. ‘But not like that.’