Confusion..
#7 of Lunar
© All characters and storylines surrounding these characters belong to me, Eben Black..
That night I slept in the sound arms of the white tiger who I loved. His muscular arms tensed and relaxed as his tall frame spooned around mine. I'd woken a few times, lying there, huddled against Snow and gazing upon London's thick white blanket as the blizzard continued heavier and heavier. I took a deep breath and could smell the coconut on Snow's fur. He grumbled and mumbled my name a few times in his sleep, his fingers kneading against me as he dreamed his dreams. I trailed fingers along his forearms while I lay awake and laced our fingers together, holding his hand and squeezing. He remained asleep, but his body moved slow and dazed. He would raise his arm while I traced fingers along his forearm and he'd mumble with a gentle pleasure at the touch. I rolled over and faced him, watching him sleep soundly. I smiled at the gentle whiskers that twitched now and again in his slumbering form. He huddled closer and I snuggled down against him, I rested my face against his chest and he rested his chin atop my head. It was then that sleep swallowed me again. The world blackened and I was down for the night.
Morning came and sunshine bore down through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows along one wall of the bedroom. The blanket of snow that sheltered London looked beautiful in the bright sunlight. It looked like someone up in the skies had scattered a handful of diamonds across the thick blanketed streets and buildings. Hyde Park looked like a large white expanse, almost like a white desert. I saw children throwing snowballs and people skating along the frozen lakes and pools here and there. I sat upright and heard the sound of the television in the lounge. I clambered across the bed and scrambled for the double doors, I peeked inside and saw the back of Snow's head as that feline watched what looked like Hockey on the plasma. He was wearing a pair of chequered blue three-quarter-lengths and a white tank top. One muscular arm cast over the back of the couch while the other was draped over his raised knee, the black remote clasped between his fingers as he watched the programme with a relaxed ease about him.
Snow was very much an athlete when he wanted to be, and when we weren't hiding from a madman relative of mine, he'd spend some time a week down at the gym, working out and even practising his sport of choice. Hockey's all well and good for hobbies, but Snow trained in boxing as his main sport. All that muscle and prowess was for more than show. My excercise was swimming and running, and while sometimes Snow ran with me, he was more the fighter than a swimmer or runner and preferred to be beating the Hell out of a punching bag. He turned from the plasma and looked at me, his eyes warm and a smile gracing those lips.
"I looked at the menu for room service, and we can either dine for breakfast downstairs, or order up here?" he explained as he raised the menu in his other hand.
"Let me shower and we'll go down. Alright?" I asked. Snow smiled and turned back to the game on screen.
I shut the bathroom door and turned on the hot water. I tested it and when I was pleased I clambered inside. Part of me wanted to call Snow in here so we could share the shower like last night, but another part of me was hungry, and having a naked, wet dream like Snow around was more than enough to distract you from breakfast. I lathered up and washed, and even tried the hotel shampoo. Not the lavender kind I liked, but I wasn't picky. I stood in more hot water as the suds and shampoo were washed away. I looked down and allowed the water to bathe the back of my neck. In the back of mind was my worries about Ethan. The man was out there and had been reported to be a true lunatic, but what puzzled me was the fact apart from that time he'd knocked on at home and spoken to Snow, I had not even heard from him. I wondered if it was wise to turn the mobile back on? I shuddered at the thought. This was safe. This whole scenario was better, than opening a channel of communication to a person who wanted me dead and had proven his madness through violence. But still it bothered me.
Would it be an idea to speak with Ethan? Even if it was over the phone? If he panicked me then I could hang up and remove the SIM from inside the phone. No problem. No! Was I seriously considering this? I needed an opinion. I turned the water off and stepped out of the bathroom. I pulled a towel from the pile atop the clothing basket and dried my head fur. I brushed my teeth and padded into the bedroom. I opened the wardrobe and looked at what Snow had packed. I trusted him not to make me dress like an absolute twat for the next week or so. I decided I'd wear a pair of denim jeans done in blue, the knees torn out from wear and tear, a pair of white and grey high-tops. I slipped on a black tank top and donned a dark blue button-up shirt that had rolled up sleeves passed the elbow. I donned the usual silver loops in one ear and looked at the whole attire in the mirror on the inside of the wooden wardrobe's door. I looked decent enough. I closed the door to and turned, finding Snow standing at the bedroom doors, he leaned heavily upon the door frame and smiled at me.
"Something wrong?" I asked with a smile.
"You look well rested. Relaxed even. Its good to see you look like that again."
I nodded and then admitted what I'd considered earlier. "Do you think it wise to speak with Ethan? On the phone I mean?"
Snow considered me for a moment and then took a deep breath as he stepped inside the room, hands buried in his pockets. "You want to do that?" he asked.
"I'm just thinking, he knocked on our front door, he's been diagnosed as a madman who seems to have a penchant for violence, and I'm his prime target. Yet he's been quiet."
"Quiet?" he repeated.
"He's not made a move since that time he knocked the door. There's been no word from the police."
He padded across the room and hugged me, his warm bulk holding me close. "Its been less than forty-eight hours since we came here. Better safe than sorry?"
"I know, I know. But what if talking to him helps?"
"What if talking to him doesn't help? It might antagonise him."
"He's my brother at the end of the day, he may hate me but we share the same blood," I replied.
"Yeah, blood that he's vowed to spill if he ever sees you again. He's a madman, a raving lunatic, Eben. Talking won't help him," Snow assured me.
I took a deep breath and sighed. "Fine, but sooner or later I'm going to have to come out of hiding. The guy frightens me, but I need to live, Snow."
Snow looked at me with a saddened frown, he then walked around the bed to where the mobile phone sat. He held it in his hand and then held it out over the bed.
"Just turn on the phone and see what happens?" I suggested.
"You want me to do it?"
"Suddenly all my nerve has disappeared. Please?" I asked. I smiled weakly as Snow shook his head and sighed. He turned on the phone and we waited.
The room was full of a thick tension like none other. Moments turned to minutes, minutes turned into an awkward exchange of looks between us and then it happened. The mobile vibrated. No ringtone.
"Text message?" I asked.
Snow looked down at the mobile's screen and nodded.
"What does it say?"
"Hang on." Snow pushed a button and went quiet for a moment. He read what was written there and then looked up at me. "Are you happy with your service provider?" he said with a weak smile.
I exhaled a breath I had not realised I'd been holding onto. "Seriously?" I stammered.
Snow nodded and without a word turned the phone off. "No more games?" he asked as he placed the phone back on the bedside table.
"No more games. Breakfast?" I asked.
"Yeah, lets go get some breakfast," he replied, that smile was still sad around the edges, but as we held hands leaving to hotel room, I felt somewhat better. I was still confused as to why Ethan had not got back in touch considering he wanted me dead, but for the moment I'd take the peace that had followed the man's threats and taunts.
Snow and I dined and took complete advantage of the hotel's services. A swim in the pool and a workout in the gymnasium too. I was still anxious around the edges, but knowing there were policemen scattered around the hotel's entrances made me feel somewhat better about being in a public space again. The whole while I was constantly reminded that I was safe, whether it be the caress of Snow's hand, or the gentle smile he held for me and just me. I soon found myself dozing on the couch upstairs, not one hundred percent back to normal, but pleased I had Snow there. I lay back my head in his lap, the sun was setting and the man I loved was playing with strands of my hair. It never occured to me that this whole series of events was making us stronger. His other hand snaked up under the tank top and caressed the charcoal coloured stomach fur while I murred at the touch. He smiled down at me, that cerulean gaze looking magical in the sunset's bright colourful skies.
"Feel better?" he asked in a low murmur.
I nodded as the sensation of him rubbing my stomach was making me want to doze into a deep sleep.
He smiled and played with the slightly darker fur that slithered down my naval. "Your are so beautiful, you know that?" he asked.
"You think so?" I breathed.
"You don't agree?"
"I've never considered myself beautiful before. Not bad looking, but never beautiful," I admitted. A blush crept up my muzzle.
"Believe it. You are beautiful, you are a wonderful person who I've grown closer and closer to over these years."
"What is all this all of a sudden?" I asked looking up at him. I raised an eyebrow as I spoke.
"What do you mean?" he replied, a blush blossomed across his own muzzle.
"Your being way too complimentary today. Is it the situation? Is that what's made you say all this?"
"Can I not call you beautiful when I want?" he asked with a grin. He lowered his head and kissed me on the lips, a brush of flesh on flesh. "Just being a good boyfriend," he added.
I frowned at him and decided not to push things. I rolled onto one side, and snuggled closer to him.
His hands snaked through my head fur and up along the base of my spine. "Going to sleep?" he asked.
I nodded against his abdomen and slid a hand under his tank top to touch his white and black striped fur.
"Good night, baby," he breathed as he touched his lips to my temple.
I had a dream. A dream? No. I had a nightmare. I smelled vanilla, a thick heavy smell of vanilla hung on the air while I gazed around my surroundings. I was standing in the hotel swimming pool, I was standing on the surface of an expanse of deep clear water. This was an eerie and surreal dream. I looked down and found I was standing in what looked like the clothes I'd worn earlier that day. I touched both hands to my abdomen and chest. It felt real. What was I doing here? I gazed around the pool and then took a few steps. I had walked about three steps when the surface gave underneath me. I plunged below and sank in a rush of bubbles. I closed my eyes and held my breath, as the bubbles diminished I opened my mouth and realised that I was breathing. It was a dream after all. Breathing underwater was nothing, I suppose. I gazed around underwater and stopped dead at who I saw.
Standing upside down, feet touching the underside of the pool's surface stood Ethan. I went cold and stared at the estranged brother I'd heard had turned deranged and insane from the hatred he had toward me. He stood at six-foot-one. He was slender but muscular underneath the clothes. He looked like the photograph had depicted. He was jet black, pale blue eyes looking at me, full of resentment and hatred, the one ear torn. His mouth twitched, an angry growl caused bubbles to rise from his mouth toward the surface. He was dressed in a simple black suit. The suit was tailored, a dark red shirt underneath, a slender black tie. Black dress shoes finalised the outfit. His tail hung behind him, moving with the water as he raised a hand from inside the trouser pocket it had been concealed inside. A silver ring was fastened around his engagement finger. He raised that hand and a growl escaped his muzzle as he glared across at me. I swallowed and stared back, unable to move or even speak. I swallowed again and tensed.
"You seem shocked?" a deep, gravelly voice echoed through the pool.
"This is a d-dream. This is not real, I'm i-imagining e-everything," I stammered.
"If that were possible then wake up. Wake up and stop this dream, little brother," he snarled. He spat the phrase little brother.
I wanted the nightmare to end, I wanted to be awake, I wanted to be back in Snow's arms.
A bark of laughter escaped Ethan's muzzle as he took a step across the underside of that pool. "Can you not do it? Can you not wake up, little brother!"
"How is this happening?" I demanded.
"I needed to make sure you got my warning, and this seemed the best method to do so," Ethan sneered at me.
"Your making this happen? That's impossible. This is all in my head. This is all a bad dream," I sobbed as I pushed back and tried to swim backwards. The water was suddenly like a mould that was holding me.
"Panic, little brother! Panic and let me see the fear that I cause inside you!" he threw a hand out to me and took another step forward, the water rippled this time.
"Leave me alone!" I demanded. "Leave me and Snow alone!"
"Ah, your pussycat boyfriend. A handsome one that feline. You should keep an eye on that one!" Ethan growled with a grin, a snarl of white fangs.
"W-What do you mean?"
"This may all indeed be a dream, little brother, but what is your lover doing if not waking you up?"
I considered that for a moment and all of a sudden was frantic again. I wanted out. I wanted the dream to end. I looked up and saw the surface not five feet from me.
"You intend to run from me? You've been doing that all along, brother, and look where that got you. A seedy night with your hunk of a boyfriend?" Ethan laughed again, a bitter sound. His eyes widened. "Your in trouble, in danger, Eben. And the man you claim to love and adore is lying there, watching, watching you writhe in panic and fear. Or perhaps, he's not watching you at all! Perhaps the kitten is showering. This could all be bad-timing instead of a betrayal. He could be asleep too, he's a heavy sleeper. I've watched him sleep. I've loomed over him and considered tearing out his intestines and spilling them over your bedroom floor, and he never woke up. I've spoken with him, and he turned his back on me to check those damned cookies about ten times. I could've shot him. Stabbed him! Tore the flesh from his bones, Eben!" Ethan screamed the last part.
I reached up as I pushed against the thickened water that was pushing back against me.
I looked down and found Ethan standing in front of me, his upside snarling muzzle inches from mine. "Tearing you limb from limb would be too simple. I want him!"
"I fucking knew it! Don't you dare go near him, Ethan!"
"Then again! This is your dream. Maybe the real me doesn't want him, and just wants to skewer you on a pike?" Ethan growled. He raised a hand to touch my hair and I panicked again. I pushed hard and with a rush of sound broke the surface of the water! I gasped for air and stared around wildly. I was back in the hotel room on the couch. A cold sweat trailed down my back as I gazed around for Ethan. No one. No one was there. I fell back and lay there, hands covering my eyes.
No one was there? No one was there!?
I sat bolt upright and yelled, "Snow! Snow?!" No response. "Snow, where the fuck are you?" I demanded. I jumped over the back of the couch and pushed open the bedroom doors. Deserted. I padded through, I yanked open the bathroom door. No one! I gazed around, hoping to see another door. Nothing. I headed back through the bedroom and stopped dead. I gazed at the bedside table. The mobile phone! I scrambled across the bed. I turned on the phone. I needed police. Before I could punch in a number, several text messages popped up at once. I opened one and read: I'LL BE WAITING AT HOME. All the text messages read the same. They all dated as far back as yesterday evening. There were dozens crammed in there. Had Snow read one of them? He'd read a text message earlier. No doubt this is what he saw. Had he gone somewhere? Had he gone to confront Ethan!
I saw the Davidson keys on the bedside table too. He'd not taken the bike then. Good! I grabbed them and hurried out, grabbing a hooded sweatshirt from the wardrobe as I went. I hurried out of the hotel room door and looked down the corridor. There should've been a police officer there. I stormed down the corridor and punched the elevator button. The doors slid open and someone called my name, "Eben? Eben Black!" I looked behind me and saw a policemen, he'd been a familiar face when we'd been taken here under their protection. What was his name? Michael? Marshal! Marshal, that was it.
"Marshal? Have you seen Snow anywhere?" I demanded. I slammed a hand over the doors to stop them closing.
"Um...Snow? That tiger you were with?" he asked. I nodded. "No, I just came to tell you that a body has been found in the Thames. Its chargrilled to the point no one can identify it, but there was one item that had not been burned, a silver ring crammed onto one finger. After speaking with Doctor Bishop, the coroner believes the body belongs to your brother."
"Ethan?" I stammered in disbelief.
Marshal nodded. "Its unknown as to why he was set alight, but he was insane, so anything's possible. I've been asked to take you to the morgue."
"Later. I need to head home for a moment and pick up Snow," I replied. I released my hand from the closing doors.
"Thought you didn't know where Snow was?" Marshal demanded.
"I have a hunch he's at home. Just let me go get him," I replied as the door closed off all sound. Snow. Snow, what the Hell were you thinking? If Snow had indeed gone to see Ethan, then was Snow responsible for Ethan's death? Snow had promised he'd kill Ethan if the man ever threatened me again. But why burn him alive? And then dump the body? Something didn't add up. Ethan was a madman, fair enough, but his hatred for me in its own way prevented suicide. If Ethan hadn't set himself alight and Snow had killed him and dumped the body, then he'd be home, no doubt there.
I still had a bad feeling though. As the elevator doors opened and I rushed through the hotel car park to where the Davidson was hauled up, I continued letting thoughts run through my mind. And one thought continued to annoy me. What had Snow been thinking? He was not one for confrontation. So why head to where a madman is and kill him? I needed answers and I needed them now.