Conquest Of The Fallen: Dark Dominions

RAFEL FREED ONE OF HIS HANDS to swipe his key card at his room door. Cora stood to the side and silently watched his movements; the key card was in the perfunctory maroon of his Arc, dipped at the sides in gold. Percival and he had agreed tonight was a no disturbance night. He had the spacious dorm to himself and hid out his apprehension beneath the glow of the door reading his mana print.

He was successfully identified a [Hellion], and the door softly swept open like a screen, with a click; never mind that it was four inches thick of dragon scale metal. The same iron of the first ancient knights who had lost many a head in the taking of the beasts.

Rafel took Cora's hand again and moved into the room with her. The door shut softly behind them.

"Feel free to look around. I'll get us drinks."

Rafel released her with a nod. He headed off the luxury lodging to the common area he shared with Percival. The chambers in Salem Hall could be equated to the exquisite and detailed lodges in the District of Lords at Titans Landing.

Styled in the architecture of one past Queen who had birthed twin boys and wanted them to share a chamber but not distract from the riches they were born with, the dorm rooms gave of the air of pompous strides and royalty.

It had to be the best of standards, considering the ilk of students at Corynthia.

Witches or not, the pupils of the [C. A. W] were the finest breed in all the land. Pureblood vampires, military heirs, daughters of naval Admirals; and as such their domiciles and quarters had to reflect this lavish lifestyle. Perhaps, even to a severe degree.

Rafel returned shortly with the drinks. He offered one to Corazón who still stood where he left her. She had not moved one bit. He said, "Grape juice. It's the only non-alcoholic we have in the cold room. I figure you'd wanna slow down after the party.

This will beat the hangover of the morning."

Cora nodded her thanks. They were standing in his section of the room. Rafel drank first and Cora followed with a sip. She noticed most of everything he had was black or some shade of it. No wonder he'd manifest for [Raven Arc] too. Cora's eyes dropped to the wide four-poster in front with the gilded canopy and red oak stabs.

The curtains were pulled.

For just the briefest of moments, she imagined the hot youth beside her, shirtless, with his head on a pillow, red hair streaking the sheets like flames. Cora dropped her eyes and cleared her throat. Read the latest on m_v-l'e|-NovelBin.net

"Uh, why did you bring me here?"

Rafel smiled. He got her meaning. "I shouldn't have brought you to my bedroom first. What a gentleman I am!"

Cora smiled back. "If it helps, I don't think you are. . .a gentleman."

"Fair." Rafel moved his head. "Come with me."

He led Cora into the common area with the fine sofas and private fireplace. The pinnacle of his plan for the night rested just above the mantel; good ol' memory-restoring Lady Fyre's painting. Cora's eyes didn't meet the abstract mural immediately, but Rafel wasn't worried. She would look upon it at some time before her leaving.

He would make sure of it—even if he had to execute another failed seduction.

Otherwise, the plan was going on smoothly. He knocked off the markers in his head.

'Invite Cora to the rager at Sigma House; check! Lure her to his dorm room; check! Turn her eyes to the painting and let the Lady Fyre do the rest. . .uh, ongoing!'

—and to think it all started with Mikhail sneaking that flyer under her room's door at Brightburn Hall.

"Shit. I almost forgot. Have you got a crystal ball? I have to message my girlfriend; she'll probably be looking for me all over the Sigma villa." Cora's sudden ask pulled Rafel out of his head.

Right! She wanted to text her girlfriend. What a loyal partner? 'It didn't seem that way when she was sucking me off like fucking toffee in the locker room.' Rafel pushed down his errant subconscious. It could get him in trouble.

Though he was inclined to refuse Cora, briefly entertaining the idea of lying that he didn't have a crystal ball to which she could send a message, but the huge fudge was that every single room—down to the institute's colossal grain silos—had crystal balls; for emergencies.

The little handpieces were portable, and delivered messages faster than he could teleport or a snow eagle could fly.

Plus, if Corazón was just as he remembered her, he didn't think he could get away with lying to her.

And so, he swallowed his hurt pride.

"Sure, mi Corazón, have a seat. I'll fetch the ball."

Cora took the love seats closest to the flickering fireplace. She stared a moment into the golden red flames, sipping on her juice, and watching Rafel out the corner of her eyes. For some reason, he seemed antsy. He was by a corner with a mural of one of Corynthia's many beaches. A sunset piece.

"You keep calling me that?"

"What?" Rafel didn't turn.

"Mi Corazón? I hate to break it you, but I am not yours." Cora inputted definitely.

'You are. . .mine, Corazón. You have always been, and you always would be. Even death couldn't keep us apart.' Rafel didn't say this out loud. He didn't dare—not yet.

But if all went according to plan, all that would change.

Instead, he walked back with a circular plate in his hand, and a little red crystal, rolling about its centre. The plate itself was ceramic. But the crystal was pure, solid energy. A mana device for transmission.

"Here you go," he offered it to Cora.

The girl had gone and chosen the one settee single in the damn room. He couldn't sit next to her. So Rafel did the next best thing. He scooted beside her and dropped right on the white Florentine rug at her feet. It was comfy enough. Cora had her legs up on the sofa.

He rested his back on the chair.

Cora spent a minute staring at the crystal ball and speaking into the ruby glowing pulse.

She cut her call with a sigh, finding Rafel at her feet.

She lowered the ceramic holding plate to a near stool. "Uh, what are you doing?"

"What?" Rafel looked up at her mischievously.

"—sitting at my feet?" Cora started.

"Uh, I'm sitting ON THE RUG." He caught her narrowed blue iris. "What? You took the seat closest to the fireplace. I just need some warmth too."

"That's a lame excuse—even for you, Israfel," Cora said.

Rafel laughed a rumbly sound. It exited Cora to her toes. She knew she had to leave, quick. His lovely amber eyes under her was not a good idea. At all. Rafel, in his own head admired her.

Cora tried not to let her smile slip out. "What the hell are you laughing about?" she challenged.

Rafel leaned his head back on the couch. It exposed more the gold in his eyes to the flames of the fireplaces. His gaze burned wicked hot. Rafel answered, "Nothing. I just remembered that's why I liked you. You don't let me have it easy.

Even if you have no memories of it, Corazón, you were the sturdiest girl I ever met."

"Is that a compliment?"

"Oh, believe me it is!"

Rafel laughed that wolfish sound again, and Cora felt the smile push through.

"There it is, girl! Gimme more!"

They both went on chuckling for a few seconds.

"Ah, my god!" Cora played with her silver curls; her first girlish attribute.

"Did you get through?" Rafel pointed at the ruby crystal ball.

Cora looked to the device. "Oh, my girlfriend? Nah. She's probably dancing it out, still expecting me. But eventually, she'll get worried or bored and head for the nearest [crystal ball] booth. She'll find the message I dropped for her.

It'll be fine." Cora grabbed a fat throw pillow. "Now, quit stalling. Tell me why you've brought me into your room."

"I will," said Rafel, scooting in, "but first, tell me about Mr. Mortimer?"

He watched Cora settle into the love seat, her ocean eyes fading into thought. 'The painting works, but you have to ease them into remembering; find out what they already know. . .it's the first step.' Dr. Shetty had said, the last time he was at her office. And what better way to ease her into her forgotten memories than asking about her father.