NYE Pt. 7

"Her heart is pounding in my ear and she won't look at me. Is she mad? Ashamed of what happened? I should just ask. I'm too exhausted for guess work."

"What's wrong?" Cress asked. She relaxed her head into Illia's shoulder and listened to the woman's rhythmic breathing. "I'm sorry I was mad earlier."

"Do not be. I am at fault for what transpired. Were I more diligent and not indulged in such hedonism, you would not have been injured."

"So you were flirting with that woman?"

"Never!" Illia's voice was sharp and rang with self-directed frustration. "I intended to tell you once we returned, but I will answer you plainly. The woman was a witch."

"A witch? Like the one we met at that tacky shop?"

"Indeed. She lured me with mana and in my inebriated state, I foolishly followed."

"Then was she a part of this?!"

"Unlikely. Her interests were directed at my progress finding a way home. But rest for now. We can speak of this tomorrow."

"You say that, but how are we getting home?"

The air whooshed around Cress and she clung to Illia's dress as the couple leapt onto the roof of a building at the end of the road. The city rooftops sprawled in front of them like stones across a river, illuminated by the pale moon hanging closely in the sky.

"Beautiful…"

"Indeed," Illia answered, half of her eyes watching Cress while the others determined the best rooftops to land on with each leap.

Freezing night air numbed the half of Cress's body not against Illia's, even through the improvised double coat blanket covering her. The wind rushed into her face with each rooftop they dashed to with Illia's comforting spiced scent bathing her with each landing. Even as they sped through the night, Cress barely felt like she was moving with Illia's every movement as precise and silent as ever.

By the time they got home, Cress's body felt like lead. She wanted to collapse in her bed, but Illia was quick to remind her of the blood soaking. Illia tried to help her shower, Cress adamantly declined. She was too tired to deal with the complex feelings showering in front of Illia would bring. That said, a set of pajamas waited for her on the bathroom counter when she finished cleaning herself.

"I feel bad for doubting her; I never knew I could be so jealous. She explained everything, yet my chest still feels like someone started a blender in it. Maybe I should be more concerned that seeing Illia kill those guys didn't bother me. I did think they deserved it, though I didn't expect her to implode a man's skull."

She flopped face first onto her bed. She was drained and had hoped she'd fall asleep instantly, but now that things were calm, her mind was in overdrive trying to analyze the infinite what-ifs.

"Are you dressed?" Illia asked from outside Cress's door.

"Yeah. You can come in."

The smell of warm chamomile and honey wafted through the room and Illia set a steaming mug of tea on the nightstand next to Cress's bed. "You once mentioned this was a helpful herbal brew for relieving stress so I prepared a cup."

Cress laughed into her blanket and rolled over. "I said that forever ago. I'm surprised you remember."

Illia didn't answer. Instead she knelt beside Cress's bed, silent as a church nun. She reached for Cress, only to try and withdraw it, but Cress caught her before she could. Pulling Illia's hand to her face, she closed her eyes and nuzzled it, soaking up every bit of Illia's spiced scent she could.

"Since when have you been so timid?"

"I merely… I was worried my actions tonight may have made you adverse to my touch."

"You're dumb. I let you carry me home. Wouldn't that count as touching?"

Tilting her head with a smile, Illia relaxed her fingers and cradled Cress's head. "I suppose you are right. Tonight's affairs seemed to have muddled my thoughts."

"That and the alcohol."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Cress asked, taking the tea from her stand and blowing on it. The tea still burned her lips when she sipped, but the floral scent and sweet taste of honey made up for the pain.

"Perhaps tomorrow. Your rest is of greater import."

"But I can't sleep. I feel like a sack of potatoes, but my mind is racing a hundred miles a minute."

"This will help," Illia whispered, massaging Cress's cheek and casting her calming spell. Sure enough, Cress's mind slowed and she struggled to keep her eyes open.

"Will you at least stay until I fall asleep?" she yawned, rolling over at Illia's behest. She felt her blanket slip out from under her and a moment later she was snugly tucked under it.

"Of course."

The light flicked off and Cress didn't bother to wonder how since Illia hadn't left her bedside. Other than the subtle glow of a silicone bird lamp on her desk, the room was pitch black causing a creeping panic to grip her.

"Are you still there?"

"I am," Illia answered in the darkness, her hand resting on Cress's shoulder.

"…Will you lay with me for a bit?"

Illia's hand flinched against Cress's shoulder, but a moment later she felt the mattress shift behind her. She grabbed Illia's hand when she felt its grip loosen and pulled the woman's arm over her until she could feel her warmth against her back.

"Just… like… this," she mumbled, taking in a deep whiff of Illia's scent and kissing her hard arm. Even though Illia's body felt like a stone slab against her, her embrace made Cress feel like she was drifting to sleep in an impenetrable living fortress that gently rocked her with each breath it took. Lips pressed against the back of her head as her eyes fluttered shut and she finished the night listening to the rhythmic lullaby of Illia's pounding heart in her ear.