Chapter II - A Journey

I'm not sure why I let him drag me all across the city. Sure, I had no where else to go, but he chose to stop everywhere but his house. If I weren't in such a hurry to find Ryker then I wouldn't mind being Ezra's errand companion. But...I was, so the fact that I was wasting time with groceries bothered me.

"I thought you said we were going to your house?" 

Ezra snapped his head back to glare at me, "I'm helping you out, so I suggest you don't question me."

"I don't have time for this, I need to find Ryker."

"We'll find Ryker, remember that I'm doing you a favor! Now stop nagging me! Jeez, you're worse than my mother!" 

Shutting up, I let him take me to a few stores while he chatted it up with people here and there, picking up deliveries, and dropping off payments. Finally we managed to dodge cars while sprinting across the street to his loft building. It reminded me much of the World Trade Center before it fell, at least the outside looked like it. Little elf boy must be rich.  

Ezra nodded at the doorman before pulling me through the revolving doors. I practically fell into the elevator and Ezra was quick to shut the doors. Sighing in relief, he slumped against the wall looking completely drained. 

"Are...you alright?" I asked not sure of what to make of his sudden change. To be honest, he physically looked sick, which was amazing because he was perfectly fine a few minutes ago.

"I'm...fine. I just need my sustenance soon," he whispered, breathing heavily. 

"You need some holly bread?" I asked. That's usually what elves eat, along with fruits and veggies, sometimes wheat grains. Their kind was very sensitive to what they ingest, very fragile stomachs. 

Ezra looked up at me with the most hateful and incredulous expression I had seen him make yet. "You think I'm an elf?" he screeched.

I quirked a brow, "Well aren't you?"

"I'm a nymph, you moron!" 

A nymph. They were conniving creatures, very dangerous and very clever. One thing for sure, you can't trust nymphs. I shouldn't have come here.

Ezra practically fell into his loft dodging furniture and stopping to clutch the back of his black leather couch, doubled over in obvious pain. Did he starve himself or something?

"So what do you eat?" 

"I don't need food for sustenance," Ezra growled with a funny look in his eyes. The amber color had darkened to a deep gold hinting at black. I took a step back. 

"What...do you need?" I asked taking another step back when he stood straight and eyed me like a piece of meat. Oh dear, this does not look good. How do I get myself in situations like this? Oh I know, by following strangers home.

"Sex," he hissed. "Lots and lots of sex." Ezra's eyes melted into the most gorgeous honey color, it practically sparkled. He swayed in his movements, but suddenly his body was glowing, like a God or something, it was strangely enticing. 

"Ezra," I warned, backing away as he took slow steps forward. 

"I need it," he whispered.

"My lover, remember? You are helping me find my lover, Ryker. I can't sleep with you."

It really seemed like he could care less about that and more about seducing me into his bed. Was this his plan all along? Lure me here to have sex with him?

The elevator doors slid open and in walked a thin model-like man with short platinum spiked hair and big black shades. He wore tight black leather pants with a gray sweater pushed up on his forearms to reveal his pale white skin. He strolled right in like he owned the place, sizing me up openly before moving on to Ezra. 

"How many times do I have to tell you not to bring strays in here?" The man lowered his glasses slightly. 

"Just get over here," Ezra growled yanking the man closer and crushing their lips together. Ezra stumbled the entire way but managed to lead them into a secluded area. 

Feeling completely awkward by the situation, I sat down on the couch and tried to ignore all the...inappropriate sounds coming from just around the corner. Looking around, I took note of the black and white theme. White walls and black marble countertops. Flat screens and dining tables, it looked like the typical bachelor pad. I liked it, it reminded me of Ryker and our house. 

After what seemed like forever and it was already well into the night, Ezra stumbled back into the living room with a sheet wrapped around his waist. He looked at me with an almost apologetic expression. But that couldn't be, Hell hadn't frozen over yet.

"Sorry if I took too long, I hadn't fed in awhile."

"I understand." I raised my palms up and turned me head letting him know I was fine with it. In reality, I wasn't, but I'm not in the position to complain. He was helping me after all. 

"You can stay the night here and we'll set out in the morning," he told me, waltzing into his kitchenette to fetch a glass of water. Must be dehydrated after so much physical activity. 

"You'll let him stay the night? How very unlike you Ez, are you getting soft?" the man from before quirked with a crimson red silk robe tied around his slim frame. His once perfect hair was a mess on his head, and now without his glasses I could see his crystal blue eyes.  He was actually...not very attractive to me. His face was too sharp and features too harsh.

"He's not a regular. He's just some guy I'm helping out," Ezra snapped then gulped the rest of his beverage before tossing it into the sink. The man raised a manicured eyebrow before sashaying his way over to me. He eased down beside me with a devilish grin and reveal a bit too much skin. I averted my eyes feeling slightly uncomfortable.

"But he's so cute! Hello, I'm Tawnie. I apologize for not meeting you before. I'm afraid our situation was urgent. Had I not stepped in, Ezra would have had you for dinner. And I do mean that literally," Tawnie smirked leaning close and slyly brushing my thigh with his hand.

"Um, the names Noah. Noah Kismet. Nice to meet you."

"Oh it is my pleasure." Tawnie leaned in even closer until his lips were just a breath away.

"Cool it Tawn, he's taken," Ezra warned in a slightly bored voice. I looked up to see him sitting across from us on the opposite couch.

"That never stopped me before," Tawnie grinned. 

"He's dead," I snapped feeling angrier than I ever had before. I'm not sure why this tidal wave of emotion started to wash over me, but it did, with full force. I wanted to tear this man's head off just for disregarding my lover as if he were insignificant.

"Dead? You're trying to find a dead guy? For goodness sakes, why?" Tawnie gaped at me as if I had just spoken a language that describes all types of stupid. He wouldn't understand, I bet he was a sex-crazed nymph just like Ezra.

"I need to find his body so I can lay him to rest properly. And say my goodbyes." I left out the part that I planned on killing myself too. They didn't need to know that, and if they did know, Ezra probably won't help me.

"Makes sense," Tawnie shrugged leaning back into the couch. "So what are you, because you're obviously not a nymph."

"I'm a witch," I sighed, waiting for the inevitable reaction.

"A witch?" Ezra and Tawnie cried in unison. They both had jumped up and leaned towards me. 

"Holy crap! Now it all makes sense. Noah Kismet. You're from the Kismet Clan, aren't you?" 

I nodded.

"That's the most powerful Clan of witches that ever existed! And there are only three Witch Clans in existence! Most of them died off!"  Tawnie exclaimed which only annoyed me further.

"Witches have trouble reproducing."

"I wonder why that is?" Ezra thought aloud. I sighed again, sinking further into the couch.

"So this lover of yours, was he a witch too?" 

I nodded again. 

"From which Clan?"

"Wells Clan," I answered curtly.

"Wells...Wells...Wells...oh no!" Tawnie gasped placing his hand over his mouth in horror. I raised a brow.

"What?"

"This lover of yours, he isn't Ryker Wells, is he?" 

I jumped up and grabbed Tawnie by the shoulders a bit aggressively. "Yes! Do you know where he is? Have you seen him?"

Tawnie's entire face darkened, no sparks behind those blue eyes. "Just forget about him. You don't want to mess with that."

"What do you mean? Tell me where he is!" I demanded, shaking the small man.

"That man is done for and you'd be a fool to go after him," he retorted staring blankly at the wall, as if in a trance.

"Do you know if he's...alive?"

"No, but probably not. He's a hotheaded idiot who doesn't heed people's warning. Came around here earlier today looking for the Land of Forbidden Spells. I told him to turn right back around to where he came from, but he bulldozed right past me on to the path. Crazy, I say."

"Ry," I whispered. He wouldn't heed my warning and he wouldn't heed Tawnie's. How many people told him it was dangerous? How many people has he ignored? Is there a possibility that he's still alive, out there somewhere?

"Aw hun, I didn't mean to make you cry!" 

I wiped my face and examined the salty wetness on my finger. I hadn't even realized that I was crying. "I have to find him. Dead or alive. I have to."

"You'd be even more stupid to go after him. Just forget about it and go back to your Clan. We can't afford to lose any more witches."

"I don't care if I die! I can't live without him!" I screamed pushing away from him. "I can't," I added more softly. 

"We'll talk about it in the morning. Tawnie, go home. Noah, I'll show you to the guest room. I have some clothes you can wear to bed." 

Tawnie pouted but got up and went to retrieve his clothes. After Tawnie left, I followed Ezra down a hall to a nook where a queen sized bad had been set up. Right across was a second bathroom. I smiled in thanks.

"I'm sorry for how things turned out for you. I'll help you as much as I can," Ezra told me softly, placing a hand on my shoulder. 

"May I ask why you are helping me? Because it seems to me that you don't like me," I noted, aware of his disgust at trying to comfort me, though it was badly hidden. 

"I don't like you. I actually can't stand you, but I can see how much you suffer and as a man with a conscience, I feel its my duty to make sure you're happy again. Though I don't see how finding a dead body will make you happy."  Strong emotions for someone who hasn't known me very long.

"Why don't you like me?"

"Well for starters, I hate being snuck up on. And second, you were following me. That's very creepy by the way. Then thirdly, you thought I was an elf. Do I even look like an elf? You know what; don't even answer that!" He stormed off in a huff of frustration while I held in my laugh. He was one strange guy but I owe him one.

A little while later, after my shower, I found a pair of gym shorts and a t-shirt on the bed for me. I slipped them on and crawled into bed. When the darkness crawled over the walls, I allowed myself to meditate.

Focus on strength. Focus on power. Let go of the body and let the mind free.

Focus on strength. Focus on power. Let go of the body and let the mind free. 

Focus on strength. Focus on power. Let go of the body and let the mind free.