CELESTIA

by Yumoyori Wilson

  "Working out. Finn thinks his ass can beat me in karate. Got to teach him a lesson," Hunter announced.

  Finn rolled his eyes. "I don't think. I KNOW I can kick your ass without trying. Just admit the fact you've lost to me since we were fifteen and will always lose to me," Finn acknowledged.

  "I'm just going to watch." Theo shrugged.

  "I'm the referee, apparently," Orion stated, looking bored.

  I grinned. "Aww, friendly male bonding. Go have fun," I hummed.

  They all mumbled something incoherent, looking flustered.

  "We'll bring back dinner. Bye, Cutie Pie," Finn called out, turning to take his leave.

  "Hey. Don't go try to get ahead of me. You’re gonna try and get the better black belt!" Hunter huffed. "Bye, Celestia," Hunter called out, chasing after Finn who was already out the door.

  "Isn't a black belt just a piece of cloth?" Orion asked, looking confused.

  "Yup. They do this all the time. Let them be," Theo stated. He patted Orion's shoulder and slipped his running shoes on. They both turned to face me.

  "See ya, Cutie Pie! Cairus is napping upstairs and Caio went for a run," Theo informed me.

  "Good to know. See you in a few." I waved to him.

  He said something to Orion who nodded. When Theo left, Orion turned to stare at me.

  "You're going to be okay alone?" he asked, a worried expression on his face.

  "I'll be fine, Orion. Cairus is asleep, but here and Caio will be back later. I'm just gonna study and maybe do some yoga," I reassured him. I loved how he always was so concerned about my wellbeing and safety.

  "Okay. I'll bring you something back." Orion gave me a small smile, waving goodbye. He slipped on his sandals and headed out the door, peeking in one last time to make sure I was okay.

  I laughed, waving back at him.

  He nodded, before finally closing the door.

  I returned to my homework, quickly jotting down the answers to the simple history questions before moving on to the more complicated questions, drawing out the magical spells that would help stall a Forsaken if you got into a jam where you couldn't beat it.

  An hour passed and I'd finished most of my assignments and was able to read a few chapters ahead of the class outline. It wouldn't be long until midterms were around the corner and from the way the professors kept talking about some test, we were beginning to believe something was brewing that would catch us by surprise.

  I sighed, resting my head on the table. I didn't used to mind how quiet the house got, but it felt weird now. I was used to Hunter and Finn fighting and complaining, Theo and the twins talking about something new they had discovered in class, and Orion keeping me company and listening to me talk about my previous training lessons with Magnor in exchange for him teaching me some new spells.

  Now that the house was silent, it seemed out of place and I felt a little lonely.

  "Arielle," I whispered. I heard the flapping of wings and lifted my head to see Arielle glide into the room. She landed on the table next to my crossed arms.

  "Bru-ree?" She tilted her head, fluttering her wings before hopping onto my arm to rub her head against my cheek.

  "Nothing. I just felt lonely," I admitted.

  "Bru." She nuzzled her head against my cheek over and over until I laughed.

  "Okay. I'm not lonely anymore. No more nuzzling." I giggled, petting her head.

  She hopped off my arm, stretching out her wings and relaxing beside me. She closed her eyes, looking like she was going to nap with how her body fluffed up.

  "Are you going to nap?" I asked.

  "Bru," she replied.

  "Okay. Maybe I should sleep too?" I pondered, resting my head on my arms.

  I'd been trying to get a hold of Magnor, just to check on him, but both times I tried to call, he hadn't picked up. He was more of a letter person, and I'd sent him two letters, one per week, but I'd yet to hear back. He wasn't the type to delay in responding, but with the recent increase in Forsaken incidents, especially during our exam, he must have been busy.

  I closed my eyes, listening to Arielle’s soft inhales and exhales and the ticking of the clock. I hadn't realized I'd fallen asleep until I felt something brush against my cheek.

  "Cutie Pie?"

  I opened my eyes to see gold and amber ones staring at me.

  "Caio?" I asked.

  "Hmm. Are you getting sick? You've been sleeping a lot lately." Caio gave me a worried look.

  "No. I was taking a nap," I admitted, lifting my head up to yawn.

  Arielle was still in her spot, sleeping away. Caio was sitting across from me, his orange locks were still wet and were wrapped in a white towel.

  I lowered my gaze to his bare chest, noticing his neck tattoo wasn't only on his collarbone but trailed down his right shoulder to the middle of his bicep. It reminded me of his tiger stripes, the thick black stripes of ink in some type of tribal design.

  I silently cursed the table that prevented me from seeing past his defined pecs, but if he had the same build as Cairus, I figured he also had a six-pack.

  "Okay. As long as you’re not coming down with anything," he stated.

  I nodded. "I'm fine, promise. Did you just get back?" I inquired.

  "Thirty minutes ago. I thought everyone was out, but I could sense Cairus upstairs. I checked on him and he's still asleep. He loves training in the middle of the night. I'm surprised he's able to get up for morning classes with what little sleep he gets," Caio complained.

  "He's a night person versus you who likes the day?" I asked.

  "Yup. He loves the moonlight and anything that revolves around night time. It's like he gets an energy boost of some sort. I'm rather sluggish during the night. I only get up to train because I prepare for the sunrise," Caio explained, resting his elbows on the table. He placed his head in his hands to stare at me.

  "Sia loves the night and I love the day, but we both get rather weak without sunlight. That's why Sia trains during the first half of the night. Once it gets past three in the morning or if we've been in a dark area for too long, we get really sluggish," I explained.

  Caio nodded in understanding. "I feel like a plant," he joked.

  I laughed. "Me too! It's ridiculous. I love the power boost I get in the day since it helps me to stay more focused on tasks and training, but sometimes it would be nice to enjoy the night," I expressed.

  "Yup. Especially when some dimensions and villages do night festivals. It's something I've always wanted to participate in, but never got the opportunity. I'm hoping one day I'd be able to go and enjoy one," Caio admitted.

  "That would be awesome. I hope I'll be able to come with you," I admitted, imagining how awesome it would be to go to a festival with all of the guys.

  "Maybe when we have school break?" Caio suggested; his gaze looked far away, but he had a peaceful expression on his face.

  "That would be fun," I replied, matching his serene look. I lowered my gaze to his tattoo again, curious as to if he'd been born with it.

  "Are you intrigued?" Caio asked.

  I blinked, feeling my cheeks grow hot at him catching me checking him out. "Yes. Is that a tattoo or a marking?" I questioned.

  "Marking. I was born with it. Cairus has the same thing, just on his left side. I guess it somewhat helped my parents figure out the difference between us, although our mom can tell us apart much better than our dads," Caio explained.

  I nodded, staring at it yet again. I wished I wasn't across the table and could get a better look at it. I always hid mine just as I hid my unique hair until recently. I didn't know if I had enough confidence yet to walk proudly with my markings showing in front of a lot of people. It wasn't like I needed to be ashamed of it. I was proud, but to draw attention to myself, especially in my current situation wouldn't be wise.

  Caio watched me carefully; a small smile formed on his lips.

  "Celestia. Come here."

  I blinked out of my daze, giving him a confu
sed look. He just continued to smile at me with that soft expression. His eyes glittered with amusement. I pushed back my chair, getting up and walking to his side. He pulled out his own chair and stood up.

  His hand slipped in mine and he directed me to the chairs in the living room. He sat down on the beige sofa and pulled me into his lap. I blushed.

  "Caio?" I asked, even more dumbfounded than before.

  He merely grinned, gesturing for me to extend my legs on the second half of the sofa. I fought to calm my heart as I did what he’d asked, trying to ignore the weird tingles I felt flutter through me.

  "This way you can see it up close and touch it if you want," he revealed.

  I gave him a hesitant look. "Are you sure?" I asked, my finger already inches away from his chest.

  His grin widened, “I'm sure, Celestia." His low husky voice made me all too aware of our closeness. It was hard to think straight, yet the urge to feel his bare flesh was overwhelming.

  I lightly trailed my finger along the black outline. I knew some markings could be more sensitive than others. When I lowered down to his shoulder, he shivered, closing his eyes.

  "Are your markings sensitive?" I asked.

  "A little. I'm just not used to someone touching them," he admitted. He opened his eyes to meet mine. I bit my lip, lost in his gold and amber hooded gaze as he stared back at me. His eyes lowered to my lips, making me wonder if I should take his brother's advice and let my body guide me.

  Did I want to kiss him? Did he want to kiss me? I didn't know what I wanted and if I wanted Caio to be my first official kiss when I wasn't unicorn drunk.

  Caio smiled, leaning forward and pressing his forehead against mine.

  "I want to kiss you, Cutie Pie. But...I'll wait. Cairus is awake," he admitted.

  I blushed, completely forgetting his brother was upstairs. "You even know when the other is awake?" I asked.

  "Yup," he replied. Before I could lean back, he tilted his head; those soft pink lips pressed lightly on my cheek.

  "Caio?" I asked, my voice a pitch higher.

  He grinned leaning back against the couch to stare at me. "Oops," he responded.

  I giggled, enjoying his cute face and lightly tinged cheeks. He joined in, laughing quietly.

  "The others should be back soon. Why don't we make lunch?" Caio suggested.

  "Hamburgers!" I announced.

  Cairus and Caio had made hamburgers yesterday on the BBQ outside and they were so amazing that I'd eat them every day if I could.

  "You're obsessed," he pointed out.

  "Not my fault you guys make good hamburgers," I pointed out.

  "Anyone can make a hamburger on the grill," Caio argued.

  "Orion burned his, remember?" I recalled.

  Caio rolled his eyes. "Orion's an exception. He's good at making desserts, though," Caio revealed.

  "Really?" I tried to imagine Orion making cakes or other sweet desserts.

  "Yup," a sleepy voice agreed.

  I turned my head to see Cairus’ bare chest and low riding sweatpants. I stared at his six-pack and lowered my gaze to the waistband of his grey sweats.

  I remembered a clear image of their naked bodies during the exam, an image that continued to haunt me in my dreams and left me needy for more.

  "You see something you like, Dearest?" Cairus asked, a playful smirk on his lips.

  I blinked, quickly shaking my head. “Nope!" I lied. I felt Caio’s hands that had been on my waist slide down to my thighs.

  "She doesn't need to see anything. The whole package is right here," Caio teased.

  I groaned, my face probably completely red. "I'm...gonna go shower," I grumbled, sliding off Caio’s lap, who just laughed.

  "I hope it's a nice cold one," Caio called out.

  Cairus chuckled, blocking my path. He leaned forward, whispering in my ear. "Or I can join you if you need company," he voiced, sending shivers through me.

  I slapped his chest.

  "OW! Not the marked half, Dearest. I'm sensitive," he complained, guarding his chest against any further slaps.

  "Good," I huffed, walking past him.

  "Serves you right for teasing her," Caio called out.

  "You had her on your lap. You’re worse than a tease. You're a bad influence," Cairus replied.

  Their voices faded when I reached the top floor. I walked into my room, grabbing my workout clothes to change into. I might as well do my yoga before showering.

  I changed into my black tights and neon yellow sports bra. I looked for a hair tie, sighing when I remembered I didn't have one.

  "Orion and his hair tie prejudice," I mumbled.

  "I don't have a hair tie problem," Orion voiced.

  I jumped, looking over at the door where Orion was leaning against the gold frame, his hair tied up in a ponytail.

  "Orion? When did you guys get back? I didn't hear you," I huffed.

  "I know," he grinned. His purple eyes glanced down my body. "Going out for a run?" he asked.

  "No. I'm gonna do yoga in the training room," I pointed out.

  "With your hair down?" he asked.

  I gave him a look, crossing my arms.

  He blinked. "Oh," he realized.

  "Uh huh," I grinned, noticing he was hiding something behind his back.

  "What’re you hiding?" I asked.

  "You have to close your eyes first," he declared.

  "Is it for me?" I asked, bouncing on my feet.

  He gave me a serene smile. "Maybe. But you won't know unless you close your eyes," he encouraged.

  I immediately closed my eyes, giggling with anticipation. I heard Orion’s low chuckle, followed by his footsteps. I tried to stay still, curious as to what he got me.

  I felt his presence behind me; his fingers slid through my locks, gathering my hair up and put it in a ponytail. Before I could ask him how he'd tie it, his hand tightened and I heard the twisting of a band. When he let go, my hair stayed in a ponytail.

  I heard his footsteps again, sensing him in front of me once more.

  "Okay, you can open your eyes," he announced.

  I opened them to see his long flowing white hair. I loved to see his hair down, giving me a glimpse of his majestic side, whereas when his hair was up, it highlighted his angular features. My eyes lowered to the tray of cupcakes in his hand.

  I gawked at their magical appearance. Each cupcake was decorated differently, in varying mixtures of purple, blue, pink, and white. Some had gold stars while others had silver or bronze. Each had a different type of shifter on it, but the last two both had unicorns.

  "Orion? Did you make these?” I asked.

  He nodded. "I made eight...but I ate one. And Finn stole his," Orion grumbled the second half, looking displeased.

  I laughed, never having seen that expression on his face. It made him even cuter. "But there's no occasion for this," I pointed out.

  "Well...Theo said we missed your birthday. And we've been so busy that we didn't get to do anything. I thought cupcakes would make you happy," Orion admitted.

  "Orion," I swallowed the lump in my throat. He didn't have to do this for me. It made me feel special and loved.

  "Do you like them?" he asked.

  "I love them," I replied.

  His face lit up with joy. "Want to go downstairs and eat them before yoga?" he suggested.

  I nodded. "Yes," I replied. I grabbed a crop top, quickly slipping it on. I walked up to his side, letting my hand run through his tresses.

  "You gave me your hair tie," I grinned.

  He blushed, looking away. "It’s okay," he replied, walking away.

  I giggled. "So shy," I whispered, watching him walk down the hall.

  I couldn’t wait to share more time with Orion and the others during the school year. Maybe with time, I’d get to witness Orion come out of his shell as we shared more endearing moments.

  As you've been informed, Forsaken have been seen around campus. Being a Hunter and Huntress schoo
l, it's your duty to stall these Forsaken until one of the council members arrive on the scene to annihilate them. Do not be a hero and try to prove your worth. Battling with a Forsaken means risking your life," Ms. Arcadia announced.

  Another three weeks had passed and midterms were next week. None of us could believe we'd been at Aslan for almost two months. I still hadn't heard from Magnor which was causing me to grow even more worried. I had gotten a quick chance to ask Othello and he reassured me Magnor was well, just extremely busy with the increased appearances of Forsaken. No one knew what was going on, but all the professors were encouraging us to continue doing our part as future hunters and huntresses by training and paying attention to the lessons they taught us.

  We were in the middle of Advanced Magic class with Ms. Arcadia when the topic was brought up. Rumors about Forsaken appearing during the entrance exam had spread, but no one knew our team was the one who fought and defeated them.

  Orion sat on my left and Hunter on my right. Theo and Finn were in the row in front of us and the twins sat behind us. Arielle was getting a back rub from Hunter who was barely paying attention to the lesson while Orion was doodling different cake designs in his notebook.

  "I think that’s ridiculous. If we're powerful enough, we should be allowed to kill it," Vincent exclaimed from his seat in the far corner of the classroom.

  A few students nodded in agreement, the majority of them being in Vincent’s crew of vamps.

  "Oh really, Mr. Dreven?" Ms. Arcadia raised an eyebrow as she leaned against her desk up at the front of the classroom.

  "Yes. I'm more than powerful enough to defeat a Forsaken. Bring them on," he huffed, leaning back in his chair with a prideful smile.

  His friends who sat next to him patted his back, giving him words of praise.

  "The cocky ones are always the first to die," Hunter announced, not even stopping to look at Vincent while he continued to rub Arielle's back.

  "Bru-Ree!" Arielle agreed.

  A few students snickered while others were awed by Arielle's responses to the conversation.

  "Shut it, Mr. McGinty. You’re one to talk, with your family history," Vincent snarled.