Some suggestive and sexual language!

He shook his head several times as the buxom blonde approached, an audible whimper emitting from his parched lips. Endymion shifted his robes around him, covering as much exposed skin as he could from this beautiful stranger.   

Why is it so hot in here!? 

The woman raised a slender finger tugging loosely at her extremely thin gown, a light rouge tinting her suggestive expression. The man swallowed and looked away, grabbing a pitcher and poured himself a glass.  

“Water?” he said sheepishly, his polite smile tipping ever slightly into a grimace.  

She stopped her advance raising an eyebrow at the lord, “I didn’t come here to chat and keep our clothes on.”  

Endymion turned away his face flushed a bright red, “Well, maybe you can leave...please?”  

Is there something wrong with me? He thought, his mood growing worse by thepassing second.

The answer hung ominously as the woman stormed out of his room, leaving the stench of her heavy perfume to suffocate him in the dark.  

“At least she didn’t slap me like the last one,” he whispered to himself then chuckled at his own feeble attempt at comedy.  

Then he sighed, making his way to the silken sheets of his bed, “I probably need a vacation...” Endymion sat absently, running a hand through his dark curls.  

He worked as the king’s High Advisor, handling most of the happenings inside of royal court. Perhaps his old friend would let Endymion go for a week or two.  

“Maybe...”  

King Gavril was nestled amongst many large pillows; to his right, a bowl of exotic fruits, and to his left stood a small servant girl with short hair and a purple paper fan easily twice her size.   

Endymion shifted uncomfortably as the girl stared at him with glowing blue eyes, too bright and seeking to be human.  

She's of Fay origin, he thought to himself, reveling in her otherworldly appearance.   

He tore his gaze away from hers and addressed his best friend once more, “Please, Gavril.”  

The slightly younger man let his fingers hover over the bowl of fruit before selecting a single grape, “Listen here Eddy,” the king managed to remove himself from the mountain of pillows and stumble towards Endymion, “I’ll give you as many women as you want to ‘relax’ in the evenings with, just so long as you--”  

“I don’t want women.”  

“Men?” Gavril tilted his head in confusion.  

“No!” Endymion picked at his fingers absently, unaware of the dripping blood, “I don’t want a man nor a woman. All I want is a change of scenery and some peace of mind...”  

The silence that followed was awkward and tangible with discomfort.  

The king motioned the girl over and pointed to the crimson spots on the floor. She nodded, leaving the two men to stare at each other, one slightly amused, the other completely miserable.  

“I would like to visit the countryside.”  

“I would like for you to stay and finish your duties.”  

“But most days, I do nothing but wander the palace grounds...There’s nothing for me to handle.”  

“Would you like me to change that?”  

“No! I would like a vacation!”  

“Watch your tone with me young man.”  

Endymion rolled his eyes at the king's amused tone, and he lowered his voice as the girl returned with a wet sponge and parcel in hand, “I am tired. I just need a week.”  

Gavril groaned dramatically and threw his head back, scaring the servant girl so badly she jumped.  The king winced and mumbled an apology to the girl before placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder.  

“Then a week you shall receive,” he then turned and nodded to the girl, and she took Endymion by the hand, wrapping small bandages around his mangled fingernail. She was gentle but stared at him firmly when he tried to pull away, sending a shiver of reverence through his spine.  

“Pack up and head out from the port whenever you wish, Eddy.”  

Endymion nodded and bowed, moving to exit the room.  

“Shall I escort him, my liege?”  

The girl’s voice sang through the air reaching his ears in a cacophony of young voices.   

The king seemed unaffected by the horrid sound and nodded nonchalantly, returning to his makeshift den.   

They walked through the halls of the extensive palace, silence their only company. The Fay girl was carrying two of his four bags, stopping every now and then to adjust the heavy load. Endymion couldn’t shake the haunting feeling her voice had left him with, recalling every now and then the way the sound had scrapped against itself.  

“I apologize for the distress I may have caused you.”  

The harsh sound lessened as she spoke, the noise softening to the telltale sound of a little girl.  

“It takes some getting' used to, but it fades rather quickly.”  

Endymion nodded, glancing down at the servant wearily, “You are Fay...correct?”  

She took a minute to readjust the luggage before continuing into the port room, “Yes. ‘Though only part, my eyes give it away.”  

And her blue eyes are what held Endymion’s gaze as he stepped through the teleportation port, leaving the capitol city of Paristol behind. 

Two days into his vacation, as Endymion lounged on the sunny balcony, he heard a quiet whisper from up on the roof.   His intensive training to work for the king kicked in and he rolled silently into the shadows, straining his ears for the voice.   

“Why couldn’t she have just done her homework?”  

A woman?   

Endymion leaned forward, squinting as he honed his senses once more, trying to grasping for the conversation when he was suddenly met with a pair of swirling colors; vibrant eyes bordered by long lashes. Endymion stumbled back quickly as she yelped and tumbled onto the floor from the roof. He sat there for a moment, watching cautiously as she sat up and tenderly explored a small cut along her cheekbone.   

“W-what were you doing on the roof?!”  

The woman froze as Endymion spoke, her chocolate-colored curls floating around her shoulders. She turned slowly, glancing at the street below.  

“At least a thirty-foot drop,” she turned back to Endymion, a sly grin glittering on her face as she traced a circle on her chest, “Ten coppers if I make it.”  

“NO!”   

Endymion lunged at her with speed he didn’t know he possessed, grabbing the woman by the waist just as she clambered onto the railing to jump. She gasped and he shouted as they fell into a heaping pile, her arm on his face and his knee trapped under her ribs, then they quickly scurried apart from each other, their weary eyes tracking the other with suspicion.  

“Who are you? A thief?” the lord rose to his feet, hesitating before offering her a hand.  

The woman slapped his hand away, rising to her feet with a low grumble.  

“Wow, way to treat a lady.”  

Endymion regarded her appearance with a careful eye, her wild hair free of ribbons and ties, her garments, a lightweight tunic and leggings.   

“Pardon me,” he smiled and bowed in mock earnest, “But I did not take you for a fair maiden.”  

She laughed in response, studying him with interest from the corner of her eye, “That would be because I am not,” the woman peered down onto the bustling road below, but made no advance towards the rail, “I apologize for disturbing your peace, but might I have a boost?”  

Endymion blinked in confusion, and she pointed to the roof in response. Stepping towards her slowly, he swallowed and stuck out a hand as a gesture of peace.  

“I’m Lord Endymion,” he offered the woman a small smile, but she was too busy gathering her hair into a low knot to take notice of him, “I’m sorry, but I can’t help you until you tell me why you were on the roof in the first place.”  

The woman groaned in exasperation and turned towards him, swiveling her body with such momentum, her spicey scent wafted into his face.   

“Listen, buddy, I’m not going to pretend to be something I’m not, ok?” she reached up and patted his cheek, “A handsome thing like you can get his way in any woman’s world, but mine.”   

He blushed violently, retracting very quickly, “I-I didn’t mean anything like--”  

“Besides, all I need is a boost, then you will never have to worry your pretty little head about me ever again,” her tone was sweet, but her eyes gleamed with sinister intensity.  

I just wanted to know why she was on the roof, He thought, knealing to shifting his weight amd support her as she climbed up.   

Placing her knee on his shoulder, the woman wobbled slightly, surprising him by taking the hand he offered. His moment of elated politeness was squashed as she used his face to balance herself once more.  

“My bad,” she glanced down at him with a sly smile, gripping the roof and swinging herself up with newfound grace. She didn’t move for a moment, instead staring down at him words forming on her tongue with hesitancy.  

“Thanks,” she flicked her long hair back, grinning at him once more before disappearing from his line of sight, “Endymion...”  

That afternoon, as he made his way to a nearby café, Endymion slowed his pace to take a deep breath of country air, coming to a stop as a strange smell met his nose. Not quite spicey but still warm with a sweet lingering scent.   

He smiled and peered around, curiosity filling him as he made his way further down the street, weaving between children that frolicked and people that went about their afternoon routines. The scent caught his attention again, and he peeked into a small shop, smiling at the owner only to run into someone. Endymion turned quickly to apologize to the woman he had knocked down, freezing as a strange heat crept up his neck. The woman from the roof scrambled to her feet, glancing around cautiously before landing her sharp glare on him.  

“You.” She growled, pointing an accusing finger at Endymion’s chest, “Did you follow me?”  

Endymion's mouth fell open and he backed up, careful not to run into anyone else. 

“N-no! Why-” 

The woman glanced behind him, her vibrant eyes going wide as she cursed. Endymion looked over his shoulder, surprised to see a motley group of guards making their way towards him. Endymion turned to question the woman, but she had disappeared, taking that sweet smell with her. 

“Excuse me, sir?” He turned to stare at the guard who had spoken, his mouth still parted in surprise, “That girl you were talking to...did you see where she went?” 

“N-no.” Endymion’s eyes darted back to where the woman had stood only moments before, “She just disappeared.” 

Another man approached, short and hunched with lines of age etching his features. He cleared his throat and pointed to a small alley way.  

“She escaped that way.” 

The guards thanked the man and ran in the direction he had pointed, barking at the village people to return to their homes at once.  

Endymion stared after them and swallowed hard, flinching when the old man took his elbow in a vise-like grip.  

“That witch...” He smirked as Endymion’s features twisted in shock, “Yes, my boy, she was a pretty, little witch. She will return to her marsh to inform her sisters of the feast she has found.” 

The old man gestured at the village people who now moved with nervous purpose, returning to homes and crowding into shops to escape the threat of the flesh-eating witch. 

“W-what-” 

The old man dragged him down the almost empty street, guiding him to the edge of the village, where he pointed to the forest line in the distance.  

“Their marsh...” the old man hummed in an excited tone, “Their marsh is disguised as a cursed forest. I will sneak in through their underground tunnels.” 

Endymion stared at the old man and tried to tug away again, but the man’s grip only strengthened.  

“Release me!” The younger man attempted to retreat but was pulled forward once again. 

“Do you want those poor people to die?” 

The old man’s gaze made Endymion’s skin crawl. In the eyes of the man, he saw a hunger that gnawed at the color of his irises.  

A warlock. 

“You will help me,” the man pulled him forward and nodded to a hole in the ground that had definitely not been there seconds before, “You will help me to get what I need so that these people will not die, yes?” 

Endymion felt helplessness spread through his bones.  

As much as he didn’t want to help this warlock- this monster that fed off of black magic and the souls of the damned- he couldn’t let that witch kill these people. 

“...Ok.” 

For the pleasure of the readers, a picture of Endymion; Please Like and Support!