Chapter 18 - The Potential Dead

“Are you changing your terms of our rebellions?” Syra spoke softly as she gazed at his perfect face as her eyes caught on his lips.

“No.” There was a slight growl to his denial as he moved until their lips were almost touching.

“Good. I want to be alone so I can work on deciphering my vision.” She leaned away from his perfect lips and stood to walk away before she looked over her shoulder and saw his hungry gaze following her.

“Do you truly want to be alone?” His gaze looked longingly along her entire body making her swallow hard.

“Yes. I will call for you if I want you.” Syra turned her head to hide the blush as she realized the implication of what she said.

“Then I will leave my summoning card so you don’t need to send a maid to me.” He placed a card on the table and shifted his pants awkwardly as he stood.

Syra said nothing more as to avoid further embarrassment as she heard the door close. She immediately fell to the floor and covered her face in embarrassment. 

I want to scream, but do not want anyone to come in here. I need to focus on my vision and not the sensations I felt or how much I wanted to summon… Who? No. I need to focus on saving a life and not my feelings of any kind.

Syra grabbed her journal and sat. She shifted uncomfortably from both being sore and being aroused. As she reread what she had written, she began to make a list of her relatives that were not aquatic beings.

Robert, Eros, Robert’s many many children.

She placed a bunch of underlines under the ‘many many’ as she wasn’t even sure how  many children he had. She wasn’t sure if he knew either. After pondering a moment she added one more name with a question mark

Oceania?

She was unsure if her eldest sister would get a burial with family members present with how she left. Their mother was certainly furious at her choice of names. Syra smiled as she wished she had the bravery to rename herself after a Goddess and runaway to live a life of freedom.

Syra continued to ponder even after hiding her journal and as she ate alone in her room. She noticed the darkness outside her windows and decided she wanted answers so she grabbed Icar’s summoning card and a match.

 As she waited at the open window she felt so many emotions she couldn’t even identify what she felt. She watched the sky as she thought about the questions she wanted to ask them. 

After standing for a long time, she felt herself getting tired and decided to sit on her couch to wait. She left the window open as she laid down. She could smell Eclipse on the cushions and she felt her eyes get heavy.

Syra tightened her eyes against the light. She rolled and fell straight to the floor. She looked around confused as she remembered laying down to wait… She looked around and saw no sign that Icar had visited. She stood up and shut the window. She climbed to her bed and buried herself under the covers as she felt hot tears fall from her eyes. 

Hestia came in to wake her and Syra had refused to come out from her blanket fortress and face another day in this life.

When she finally felt like she had no more tears, she slowly sat up and was surprised to see a tray of food sitting on her bed waiting for her. As she took a small nibble of fruit she nearly choked as she heard a sudden voice.

“I take it your lover left you alone last night?” Eclipse was lounging across the couch.

“How dare you enter without permission!” She threw a grape at him and watched him catch it and eat it.

“I did knock, but you seemed to not want to come out. I decided to wait. Are you actually mad at me for being here or are you angry at your lover?” He sat up and raised an eyebrow as he slowly chewed the grape.

“I have every right to be angry. At you and them.” Syra hugged her knees as she buried her face into the blankets there.

“You are right, you have every right to your anger.” His tone was soft and gentle as Syra heard his steps cross towards her, “but you do need to eat and drink some water since you have been crying.” As she raised her head she saw him holding a glass of water out to her.

Syra took the water and as she drank, she did feel her headache begin to subside. Eclipse sat on her bed and watched her drink the glass before he picked up a piece of fruit and placed it against her lips. She opened her mouth and let him feed her.

“You deserve someone who won’t hurt you or abandon you. You should never let anyone mistreat you.” Eclipse’s tone was soft as he fed her another piece of fruit.

“Do I?” Syra didn’t feel like she knew many who treated her with kindness that did not have an ulterior motive.

Kindness always has a string attached. I doubt Eclipse is actually this kind without some kind of motive. Maybe he wants to piss off his cousin? Maybe he just wants to be invited into my bed. 

There is no such thing as pure kindness.

“You do, Syra. Where did the brave rebel from last night go? The flirtatious vixen who could command anyone with a look?” Eclipse placed another piece of fruit near her mouth and Syra smirked before she took the fruit and his fingers into her mouth.

She licked his fingers as he looked shocked and saw him shiver as she released his fingers with a slight popping sound. She liked the feeling of control she had over him when she flirted with him, but felt a pang of guilt as she knew of his feelings towards her.

Eclipse’s eyes lingered on her mouth as his hand hung in the air, still frozen on the spot. She saw the desire in his eyes. Syra took his hand in hers as her other grabbed a piece of fruit and offered it to him. His purple eyes stayed locked on hers as he carefully took the fruit and then kissed her fingers. She felt heat rise to her face and start to build lower. 

She gulped slightly as she watched him kiss up her arm slowly. He shifted to slowly move towards her as continued his slow gentle kisses. When he reached her neck she felt his mouth open and his tongue slowly lick. The sensation made her shiver as she grasped his hair.

“I guess I am late to this party.” Syra jumped as she looked at Icar standing in the window.

“You are not wanted here.” Eclipse growled as his body stayed hovering over Syra’s, barely sparing Icar a glance from Syra’s neck, “You already hurt her feelings.”

“Syra, how did I hurt your feelings?” Icar stepped into the room with their wings tucked tight.

“You left. You didn’t say anything and just left. Then you never came when I tried to call you to talk to you.” Syra’s eyes filled with tears and she curled into herself as she pushed Eclipse off of her.

“See? You already did enough harm.” Eclipse was still between Syra and Icar in a protective posture as he growled, “Leave.”

“Can we talk now? I am sorry I could not come earlier. I was dealing with my own issues, but I came as soon as I could. Please, Syra?” Icar stepped forward, but faltered at another growl from Eclipse as fear filled their eyes.

“Eclipse? I… I want to hear what they have to say. Could you please move a bit?” Syra wanted him nearby as his protectiveness made her feel safer than she had ever felt.

“Of course, Syra.” He stood and leaned against the wall next to her bed, but glared at Icar.

“I am so sorry. I was dealing with my previous lover. He needed help and I am a sap. I get too attached and I couldn’t leave him when he was so devastated. I wanted to make sure he was okay and safe before I came here.” Icar had slowly moved closer and looked nervously towards Eclipse, “Do you blame me for being a bad friend?”

“Icar… I-I cannot blame you for being a bad friend.” Syra felt guilty for being angry when they were being kind to someone else.

“She can blame you for being a bad lover.” Eclipse added from his spot against the wall.

“Yes, She can. Her other lovers cannot.” Icar glared before looking guilty at Syra again, “I am sorry that I was not here. I will do my best to be here for you. I did not know you had other lovers, Syra.” Icar sat on the edge of the bed and Eclipse stood up from his leaned position.

“O-other lovers?” Syra blushed deeply as she realized how it would be interpreted when viewed by others.

“Is he not your lover? He seemed to be in the midst of showering you with affection.” Icar leaned back on an elbow as they tried to seem relaxed while ignoring Eclipse’s glare.

“Are you jealous?” Eclipse moved to stand next to Syra and placed a hand on her back.

“I am a harpy. We don’t believe in monogamy. It is far too limiting. I do not care if my lovers have other lovers. Syra, do you care if I have other lovers?” Icar suddenly turned towards her, catching her off guard.

“I-I guess I don’t. That is your culture. Who would I be to tell you that I find that unacceptable.” Syra’s head was spinning with various emotions, “Sirens are not typically monogamous either.”

“You should have told her that before becoming her lover.” Eclipse growled.

“Did you ask her if she has other lovers before you became hers? You heard her say that sirens also are not always monogamous too, right?” Icar rolled onto their stomach as they smirked at Eclipse.

“I did not need to ask. I could smell you. My intentions towards her are different.” Eclipse looked down at Syra and met her surprised gaze.

“How so? Do you not wish for her love? Do you not wish to taste her and feel her skin? Do you truly not want that?” Icar continued to smirk as Syra blushed and Eclipse began to billow smoke out of his nostrils.

“Do you not know the difference between sex and love? I knew my feelings without having to touch her. I actually talked to her like a person. I wanted to know her feelings.” Eclipse began trailing his fingers across Syra’s back.

“Does that mean you do not desire her? Your body betrays your desire for her.” Icar smirked as they took a long look over Eclipse’s entire body.