by Eloisa Clark
The room had been completely transformed. Strings upon strings of Christmas lights hung from the ceilings, lining the walls, balustrades and bookcases. The mantel and windows were decorated with wreaths and garlands and an assortment of festive knickknacks. But, most impressive of all was the enormous tree, complete with lights, baubles and even a star, standing proudly in the corner of the room.
When the shock of the décor finally wore off, she saw Niko step out from behind the tree. His smile was small and hopeful. She couldn’t believe how good he looked in a snug white hoody and red pyjama pants. Juliet knew instantly that he had done this for her and for a minute she couldn’t figure out why, but then she remembered. The dream they had shared before that disastrous training session, which she had forgotten about soon after. Juliet could have cried if it weren’t for the three people in the room watching, waiting for her reaction.
She made her way over to Niko calmly, still taking in the intricacy of the decorations. She reached out her hand with a smile, unsure of what exactly she was feeling. He grabbed the hand and pulled her into his arms, kissing her a little too enthusiastically given they had an audience.
Scott whistled and pulled him off Juliet.
“Enough of that you two.” He said and led Juliet over to the armchair by the fireplace. He sat down, patting his knee as he grinned up at her.
She laughed and took a seat in his lap.
“So young lady, have you been naughty or nice?” He asked with a wink.
“Um... a little bit of both.” She said, unable to hide her amusement.
“Good answer.” He said.
“And as reward for such a good answer, my trusty elf will collect your present.” He nodded over at Niko who took a box out from under the tree and brought it over to Scott who then handed it to her.
The small tag on the box read; “To Juliet, From Fiona.”
And she smiled up at her friend who had made herself comfortable under a blanket on the couch.
“How long have you been in on this?” Juliet asked.
“Only since yesterday, I swear.” She said, crossing her hand over her chest.
“Hmm…” Juliet replied, she didn’t believe her for a second.
She opened the small box and unfolded the tissue paper, beneath which lay a simple, but beautiful bracelet. It seemed to be a string of silver, wrapped around itself several times and entwined with what looked like several tiny gemstones.
“It’s a violin string.” Fiona explained.
“I found it at the antique store in the village. I’ve added protective charms an’ the like.”
“Thank you, Fiona. It’s stunning.” She said, fastening it around her wrist as she admired the glittering jewels.
“What’s next, Niko. You got something else under that tree for the girl.” Scott said.
Niko leaned down again and picked up a larger, flat box.
In place of a gift card was the ‘Ace’ of hearts card, except that it appeared to be handmade. The back of the card which usually depicted a random, nondescript pattern, was instead decorated with a kaleidoscope of musical notes and symbols including treble clefs, crochets, and quavers.
The heart on the other side, she realised was actually two inverted bass clefs.
The card itself she would treasure as a work of art. Putting it aside carefully before opening the box, she stared at the contents in disbelief. Reading the first line of the framed, handwritten letter; “My dear Jascha,” told her immediately what it was. She gasped and looked at Niko in shock.
“How?” She whispered.
He shrugged his shoulders.
“Don’t tell me. You know important people?”
He nodded with a smile and sat down next to Fiona on the couch, looking pleased with Juliet’s reaction to his gift.
She hugged the letter to her chest sighing and closing her eyes. She knew without a doubt that no one, not even her father would ever know her better than Niko did.
Fiona and Scott were looking at her with furrowed brows, waiting for her to explain the significance of the gift. She looked at Niko, letting him explain.
“It’s a handwritten note from George Bernard Shaw to the Violinist Jascha Heifetz.”
Juliet read the letter out loud, running her hand along the glass as she absorbed the beauty of the compliment.
“‘If you provoke a jealous God by playing with such superhuman perfection, you will die young. I earnestly advise you to play something badly every night before going to bed, instead of saying your prayers. No mortal should presume to play so faultlessly.’"
Juliet looked up from the letter and explained its background in summary.
“He was nineteen at the time and had just made his London debut. He is arguable the greatest Russian violinist of all time.” She looked up at Niko again.
“This letter should be in a museum.”
Niko shrugged.
“Maybe it’ll find its way to one someday.”
Juliet ran her finger along the glass again, unable to stop the smile she saw forming in her reflection.
“So, Santa, what else do you have for me? Or is that it?” She asked Scott.
“Ho! Ho! Ho! No of course there’s one more thing.” He picked her up and sat her back down on the seat as he made his way to the tree. He pulled out three tall boxes and handed one to each of them.
“Ah, sorry I couldn't personalise your gifts. I’m not that thoughtful. But I did put a LOT of effort into these, I can promise you that.”
Juliet opened up the top of the box and lifted out a bottle of clear liquid. A handmade label which she suspected Niko had helped him make, adorned the bottle.
“Clair de lune.” Juliet read aloud, eyeing Scott.
“Yeah, get it? Clair de lune. It’s French, it means ‘Moonlight’. Give anything a French name and it sounds fancy.”
“I know what it means, by why call it that?” Juliet asked.
“Don’t you get it? Moonlight... Moonshine.” Scott laughed.
“It’s hooch. Made it myself. Special little vintage this one. I think you’ll like it.”
Juliet opened the bottle and sniffed; there was a hint of vanilla and rum. She shrugged and took a sip. It tasted divine and she smiled as she watched Fiona drink more than a second sip of hers.
“Careful there, Fiona. That there is a potent tipple. I’d go easy if I were you.”
The others exchanged gifts and Juliet remembered the presents she’d left at the bottom of her wardrobe. She excused herself to go and get them and Niko jumped up, offering to go with her. She nodded at him with a small smile before she turned to leave, ignoring the looks that Fiona and Scott gave each other.
They walked in silence towards Juliet’s room, making it almost halfway there before Juliet finally had to ask.
“Why did you disappear, Niko? I mean, I get that you caused a frenzy at that training session, but everyone knew it was an accident and we all got over it. Why did you just disappear like that?” She chewed her lip and took a deep breath before asking what she really wanted to know.
“Why did you shut me out?”
Niko was quiet for a moment, then slowly let out a long breath before answering.
“I wish I had a good reason. But honestly, I was just mad at myself. I couldn’t believe I’d made such a monumental fuck up. You’re not the only one struggling to adapt here. I have this intense need to protect you, it can be… overwhelming. I don’t deal well with being overwhelmed.”
Juliet nodded, surprised by how close Fiona had gotten to the truth. She really was incredibly insightful for someone so young.
“You know what the worst part of all of this has been?” Niko asked after they had arrived at her door.
“What’s that?” She asked.
“It’s not that I’ve missed you like crazy the past couple of weeks. Which I have.” He said, taking her hand in his as they entered the room.
He led them over to the bed and he sat on the end o
f it, but she remained standing, straddled by his knees as he took hold of her hips.
“And it’s not that I haven’t been tortured every night, by wanting to be with you. Wanting to touch you...”
He pulled her closer and lifted her top to expose her abdomen, running a hand underneath her shirt to caress her rib cage.
“Wanting to kiss you...” He said, planting a kiss above her navel and another one lower.
“Wanting to taste you...” He ran his tongue along the valley where her lower abdomen met her hip causing her to shiver and goose bumps to prickle her flesh. He looked up at her as he massaged her hips.
“It’s that you managed to land a blow on a Vamp, and I couldn’t.” He finished.
She raised her eyebrows, his answer not going where she had expected.
“How am I ever going to show my face again, now that everyone knows my girlfriend is tougher than I am?” He asked, his grin undoing her. She placed her hands around his neck and laughed as she leaned down to kiss him.
He caught her and spun her around, falling on top of her on the bed and kissing her on the mouth. She returned his kiss, enjoying the familiarity of his tongue and the taste of him. She bent her knees, cradling him between her legs as she pressed him to her. He released her mouth, caressing her jaw and neck with his lips before he quickly picked up where he’d left off.
“God, you’re sexy.” He said, his voice muffled as he tongued the gold bar in her navel.
He kissed a trail along her stomach and across her ribs, the sensitive flesh heating beneath his mouth. His lips moving further down as he lowered his body on the bed, sliding off it entirely and pulling her to the edge. He caught the waist band of her pyjamas and began to dip them lower before she stopped him, suddenly nervous. He came back to eye level with her, leaning on his elbows as he leaned his forehead against hers.
“Please, let me do this.” He whispered before kissing her. The wave of desire that came through to her via their connection was overpowering. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. The only thing holding her back was the insecure little voice in her head that kept telling her to stay in control.
Leaning back, she nodded as she bit her lip. His kissed it, releasing it from her teeth with a masterful stroke of his tongue. He took his time, only moving down her body when she relaxed completely. By the time his hands returned to her hips, he looked up at her, his eyebrows raised in a silent request for permission. She bit her lip again and nodded before a hot blush spread across her cheeks.
She saw him smile before he slid his hands into her pants and inch by inch began to lower them, kissing the flesh beneath them as he went. She focussed her attention on the ceiling, too embarrassed to risk making eye contact again.
To her relief, he didn’t dive straight into it. Almost lazily, as if he had all the time in the world, he stroked and kissed her hips, her inner thighs and even the back of her knees. His hands landed on her first, and by the time they did she was nearly begging for them. He began with unhurried circles, each stroke a masterful note in a symphony of pleasure. She felt the heat of his breath as he kissed a path from her knee along the sensitive skin of her thigh, but still he did not take her in his mouth.
The anticipation was maddening, she knew the game he was playing, and she loved the torture of it. Slowly, he slid a finger inside of her and heard him inhale sharply. They’d never actually talked about it, but if there had ever been any doubt, she was sure by now he knew she was still a virgin.
A flicker of self-consciousness distracted her, and she looked down. The hunger in his eyes banished her self-doubt entirely and she watched as he replaced his thumb with his mouth and began to suck, his eyes closing in rapture.
Juliet threw back her head and moaned, clutching the blankets is the most intense pleasure ricocheted through her entire body. Niko’s artistic finger stroked her inner core with expert skill. She wondered how he was not a musician, as talented as he was with his hands.
She felt herself coming close to the edge before he withdrew momentarily, she looked down to see what had stopped him and her vision began to blur as he licked her centre, plunging his tongue into the depths of her. He opened his eyes and locked them on hers as he stopped to suck his finger as well as another.
The sensation of both fingers entering her made her eyes roll into the back of her head. She jerked and writhed beneath him when his mouth latched onto her swollen clit and he swirled his tongue while sucking at the same time. She couldn’t hold on any longer, the explosion of her orgasm nearly sent her flying off the bed as her entire body convulsed and trembled as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over her.
Only when her spasms subsided, did Niko stop. He kissed his way up to her chest, lifting her shirt to nuzzle her bare breasts before collapsing in her arms. She stroked his back lazily, no longer troubled by worries of modesty or self-doubt.
“We should probably think about heading back.” She said.
Niko buried his face in her breasts and pulled his hood over his head, moaning.
“Screw them. I did all of that for you.” He said.
She could hear the pout in his voice, and she smiled.
“I know, but you know what Scott’s like. He’ll come looking for us if we don’t get back soon.” She said.
“Besides, I’m still half naked and we didn’t lock the door.” She said, stroking his back.
He looked up with a raised eyebrow.
“Are you saying if I lock the door we can stay?”
“No.” She said with a laugh as she pushed at him to get off her.
He cooperated and lifted himself off her bed, allowing her the freedom to get up and find fresh underwear and jeans. She was about to tie her hair into a bun when Niko stopped her.
“Leave it out.” He said, smiling crookedly.
She let her hands drop and he kissed her quickly. As she fished out the large sack full of gifts and sweets she’d stashed away, Niko reaching out to take it from her.
“You grab that.” He nodded in the direction of her violin case before turning and heading for the door before she could argue.
THEY SPENT THE rest of the morning playing games and singing Christmas carols, all the while getting drunk off Scott’s moonshine. By early afternoon Niko was asleep, his head slumping to the side as he snored softly in his armchair.
Scott was about to throw a rolled-up piece of discarded wrapping paper at him, but Juliet stopped him.
“Don't.” She said, “He hasn’t slept for weeks.”
She took a blanket over to him and draped it over his lap.
“How can you tell?” Fiona asked, her hands still fondling the large stone of Labradorite Juliet had gifted her.
She shrugged and let out an exhale.
“I went looking for him in my dreams, but he was never there.”
“So, it’s true then?” Scott asked, “You two really are bonded?”
Juliet nodded. She’d been fighting it for so long, but she really didn’t see the point in denying it any longer.
Scott whistled.
“That must be nice.”
“How so?” Juliet asked, raising an eyebrow. She still saw it as some kind of trap, the universe’s way of taking away her free will, her control.
“Well, you don’t have to wait years to find the one. Most people go their whole lives never meeting their soul mate. They just end up settling for someone who’s good enough.”
Juliet frowned at his despairing point of view.
“Do you really think that?”
He nodded.
“Absolutely. Most people give up trying to find their soul mate. Or they don’t even believe they’ll find them to start with, so they don’t even try.”
“That’s bleak. Which camp do you sit on?”
“Oh, I dunno. Before, I would have said that I didn’t really buy into any of it. Until you just confirmed it then, I wouldn’t have believed the soul-bond was even real. Now, I’m not so sure.”
<
br /> “But just because we have this connection, that doesn’t mean we’re going to live happily ever after. I still haven’t even worked out how I feel about any of this. We probably won’t even stay together after we leave here.”
Scott nodded, his lips forming a thin line.
“Yeah, but from what everyone says, Demon bonding makes you more connected to each other than to any other person. For the rest of your life, you’ll have to compare everyone to him. No one will stand a chance.”
“That’s even worse.”
“Worse than what?”
“I’d rather spend my life wondering if I’ll ever find the one, than find him and lose him and never find anyone else to love.” She thought about her father, about how broken he had become since losing the love of his life. Juliet hadn’t realised it until then, but she was terrified of meeting the same fate.
“Nah.” Scott said, shaking his head, “Even you have that kind of love for just one day, it’s worth it.” He said. Juliet couldn’t believe how convinced he sounded. She was so surprised by how naively romantic he was.
“Even one hour with the one you truly love, is better than a lifetime of never knowing what it’s like.”
They drifted off into silence and Juliet noticed Fiona’s downturned eyes. She was drawing lines on the marbling of her stone and her lips were tilted to one side in concentration.
A loud bang sounded at the window and everyone, including Niko jumped in alarm. Juliet watched in distress as a small bird flew into the glass twice more before falling away.
“It’s O.K.” Niko said, taking a seat next to Juliet and stroking her back.
“It’s probably just stunned.” She nodded, unconvinced.
“What the...” Niko said, as he pulled something away from her hair. A matching speck of white fluff appeared on the tip of Niko’s nose and when she reached out to grab it, it melted in her fingertips.
“Snow!” Fiona exclaimed, jumping up suddenly.
She was right, all around the room snowflakes were fluttering about lazily. Juliet followed their path and noticed that they seemed to be originating from the window where Scott sat, his hands in his pockets and a crooked grin on his face.