Diablo 2: Longing to be with you

Diablo 2 – Longing to be with you
By Lady Jasmine

Chapter 7: Sobriety
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Legal stuff here: This is meant as a parody. Characters mentioned are not mine, they belong to the creators of Diablo 2, and, if you're not within the legal age of your country to read things of an 'intimate' nature, please don't continue. Yadda, yadda, yadda...

This is the rewritten/re-editted version. (Oct 2007)

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Among the scattered flower petals and silk pillows thrown on the bed, a pair of sleepy dark brown eyes beneath strong eyebrows peered out from its fluttering eyelids. It felt as though his eyes were crispy and shut together; it was quite disgusting, but it matched how he felt on the inside. Nausea reigned in his being as his vision slightly blurred when he caught the flame of the lamp that illuminated the room. It seemed painfully bright but, in truth, was quite dim and poor for visibility.

Erix groaned and grasped the side of his head in response to the chorus of dull pain echoing from his throbbing temples. He threw the thin silk blanket off of his nude form.

His body was sore from his and Nevia's lovemaking. The pain was worth it though.

The angry flickering of the oil lamp from the wind’s warm and gentle breath forced the shadows of all the objects in the room dancing in hypnotic rhythm that beckoned him. He sat up in his bed, shaking his head momentarily before focusing his eyes.

Through the open doors of the balcony, a gust of the dry desert wind floated in, sweeping lightly like whispers on his bare skin and making him shiver as though in a ghost’s wrath. Faint sounds of distant chattering, conversation and singing drifted into the quiet sanctuary along with the musky smell of burning incense laced in the gusts of the Lut Gholein wind. Another strong burst of wind rushed in, playfully running along the masculine curves of his body and ruffling his hair..

Erix licked his lips. The painful dryness of his cracked lips left but the strange taste in his mouth remained. Perhaps it was morning breath, but an odd one with a slightly tart and dry aftertaste, reminding him of a sleeping draught he once downed in a desperate attempt to cure his insomnia.

He groaned in disgust as he looked around the room for something to wash down the horrid taste.

"Mmmmm..."

Erix smiled to himself as he remembered Nevia's passionate joining with him. She was anything but shy and not at all what he had expected. He had known she was an innocent, that she had also been spurned before, by Rune no less. That name soured his mood instantly but he refused to let the gloomy past interfere with the future that lay ahead.

The paladin smiled and leaned into the hourglass figure that was lying on its side away from his adoring eyes. The white silk blanket covered her completely from head to toe except for a few locks of her hair spilled past the security of the blanket's cover. Erix was helpless to stop himself from curling the locks in his fingers, admiring the coarse but luxuriously thick hair.

He never remembered hair hair feeling coarse though.

"Nevia," he murmureds has hand falling upon the shoulder of his blanketed lover. "Wake up."

Nevia didn’t move an inch in response to his shaking. She lay perfectly still, her breath freezing in her chest.

He chuckled. He knew damn well that the woman wasn’t a morning person. Often after they camped out the night, he'd find her cranky in the morning and looking as though she'd spontaneously combust if sunlight graced her skin. But even though he woke up to her grumpy face with a dread on all the countless mornings of their journeys, he knew that today would be different.

Too bad he had no idea how different it would be.

"Wake up," he murmured again in a low voice, pulling the warm blanketed body closer to his own nakedness. The corners of his lips twitched playfully. "Nevia, get up or we'll have to do it all over again." Of course, he was hoping she didn’t respond at all so he could caress every curve of her body once more. He also hoped she was purposely refusing to respond to give him an excuse for another round with her.

With a satisfied grin, Erix counted to three, his hand slipping under the blanket and finding one of her voluptuous breasts to bestow an affectionately possessive squeeze upon. He gently kneaded the soft flesh of her breast and was thanked with a small moan.

"Nevia..." he murmured, lifting away the thin blanket to kiss his beloved’s face.

His own face contorted with shock and confusion when the dainty facial features he was expecting to find were replaced with a much stronger facial structure and dark eyes staring back—dark eyes which weren’t of Nevia’s hue.

"Nevia?" the woman repeated in a puzzled tone.

Erix’s eyes widened as he pulled back, getting off the soft bed, unable to comprehend the switch in women; it must be some horrible prank.

"F-Fara???" he stammered, his right hand grabbing at his hair. "What’re you doing here??"

Groggily, the female blacksmith slowly sat up on the bed, her dark skin standing out against the silken ivory blankets. She was naked completely. Granted she was splendid her all her nude glory, but not the woman he had wanted to see in the morning.

"E-erix?" she stared at him, one eye half open but displaying the same bemused expression.

The paladin could barely believe his eyes. What was she doing here? He thought, shaking his head with a silent prayer that any second he’d wake from this nightmare. But his prayer remained unanswered as his eyes swept over Fara’s body. His eyes drifted from her half-lidded eyes to the curve of her neck and then to the dark circles of her nipples.

Catching the target of his gaze, Fara became fully aware of her nakedness and Erix’s. She quickly pulled the blanket up, clutching it close to her chest to hide her charms. She turned away and blushed furiously, her thick tangled hair falling in front of her face as though to shield her from any more embarrassment.

Erix responded identically to her own actions. He grabbed at one of the blankets and wrapped himself in it. He sat down hesitantly on the edge of the bed, unsure of what to say.

Fara however was the one who broke the short silence. Her strength in her demeanor returned. "What the hell is going on?"

"I thought you were Nevia," Erix said flatly, looking irritated.

"I thought you were Warriv," Fara responded, looking downcast.

Now was not a good time for Erix to feel a little jealous that Fara would prefer an old caravan traveller to him. But he did anyway.

"Nevia..." he said with a sigh.

Fara's eyes softened. "Erix... we were drunk."

"I know."

"I won't tell her."

Erix said nothing. Even if she didn't tell her, Erix wasn't so sure he would be able to keep silent about this horrible mix up nor was he certain that Rune wouldn't be doing cartwheels on his way to report to Nevia's whose bed he accidentally got into.

He still said nothing even after Fara hastily got her clothes back on, told him to cheer up and left the room.

Around him, the room was perfect; a room designed for romance. It was something he would've set up for Nevia. But instead it was used on the wrong woman. He didn't understand how a mistake like that could be made; it was unnatural. The two women looked nothing alike, they were both different in stature. Yet even in his memories he remembered making love to Nevia.

What the hell have I done? He asked himself, cursing under his breath.

He blamed alcohol, what else could explain it? In his head played the quick flashes of Nevia beneath him, writhing against his own sweat-slicked body while her nails lightly raked his broad shoulders. All of it seemed to hit him at once. He could still feel the rough, though loving, kisses she happily returned when she cupped his face in her hands. He could taste her lips ahe whe way she kissed him with increasing ardor every time he murmured her name. All of it, every desire-filled moan, every heated caress haunted him. He was expressing his emotions for the wrong woman. He fucked Fara with all the feelings he should’ve given only to Nevia.

However, Fara was the lucky one. She was with no one, thus she had no one to scold her for her actions.

Regardless, Erix had to find Nevia. This wasn't something he could keep silent about and it certainly wasn't something that should come back to haunt the two of them. He had to find her. His best bet was at the nearby tavern.

The walk to the bar was short, but felt stretched out to make him feel like he was a murderer walking to the chopping block. He knew well what was coming. Nevia would cry a lot, but never in front of him. She’d say naught to him and dismiss him as though he held no meaning to her. Only once he was absent would she allow herself to weep. He knew her actions well and had no doubt in her mind how she’d react.

His heart wrenched as he pictured Nevia’s grief-stricken face. She would instantly pale, throw him a hurt expression with her tears welling before averting her eyes to stop herself from crying. It wasn’t so much the tears that would tear him apart, but the message of her eyes alone could drown him in sorrow if her tears didn't: "You betrayed me."

At the corner of the building near the entrance, Erix took a deep breath and was still unsure of what to do. He could hide it from her... but how long could he keep up the charade? An unsettling thought struck him. What if one of the townsfolk broke thrridrrid news to her if he lied? Who knows how many people had spotted him running lustily to the inn with an equally eager Fara in tow? It would be worse to hear it from someone else and he knew it well.

Frustrated, he shook his head and uttered low curses at himself through clenched teeth. He didn’t want to tell her, but he knew he should. After all, if he really loved her, he’d be honest to her even if it meant risking that very love she had for him.

But... wouldn’t it be best to protect her from all the hurt? He thought suddenly, a plan forming in his mind. She doesn’t have to know. We could just leave Lut Gholein right away.

Trying to look as casual as possible, he sauntered into the dirty tavern, his eyes scanning the interior with each. His gaze darted from person to person and not one of them was the woman he was searching for. His thoughts suddenly turned sour upon spotting the thick orange mane of hair belonging to the man he currently despised.

Rune, he thought venomously, walking towards him without the man noticing until it was too late. He stretched out his hand, reaching towards the druid’s shoulder.

***

Rune was in a foul mood. His knuckles turned white as he roughly gripped the dirty mug in his hand and downed the alcohol. When the alcohol burned warmly in his belly, he grumbled aloud, not giving a damn if anyone heard him.

The druid had a right to be in a bad disposition. His carefully laid out plan——as carefully laid out as one could make it in a span of a few hours——had gone awry and he had very little confidence in his current way around the mistake. He lifted his mug to his lips again, drinking in the beer and it's mind-dulling effects.

A hand suddenly fell upon Rune’s shoulder; it was not gentle at all. In mid-swallow of his drink, he choked, the alcohol stinging his throat as he coughed, fighting the urge to spit out the beverage.

"Where’s Nevia?" a voice demanded.

Rune grimaced. He wasn’t expecting Erix to show up so soon. But even so, that did not change anything. He had to stay on track and continue his plan until the absolute bitter end.

Turning on his chair, the druid’s eyes stared strangely at the paladin, confused, "I thought you were with her at the inn." His eyes flattened to a sardonic glare. "Did you lose her?"

Erix paused, unsure of what to say. He didn’t want any reminders of the inn, but it was too late. The image of Nevia’s lithe body in a sheen layer of sweat with her heaving breasts crushed against his bare chest. That image was suddenly blurred by the reality of Fara waking up next to him and naked like him.

Rune shifted uncomfortably on his stool. "Erix, are you okay?"

He realized he had been staring blankly into space with a dread-filled look in his eyes. "Nothing. You haven’t seen her at all?"

"I thought she was at the inn with you. Why?"

Erix frowned, his eyebrows furrowing. He was unfortunately wrong. He was certain that the only place Nevia would’ve come to would be the tavern. "No reason. You seen Deckard Cain or Warriv?"

"The town center square," Rune replied with a nod, setting the mug down.

As Erix quickly spun around and headed to the door, he stopped abruptly in response to the sound of Rune’s voice, "Why don’t you ask Fara if she’s seen Nevia?" His voice had a very sharp edge to it.

A chill ran up Erix’s spine. He didn’t like the tone Rune used in his suggestion.

"Uh, right," he muttered, sounding unsure and nervous.

"By the way..." Rune’s serpent tongue spoke again and Erix stopped, turning around to listen. "... I stopped by your room earlier looking for Nevia..." He paused for effect, fighting off the urge to smirk triumphantly. "I’m guessing that she wasn’t the one you were with, huh?" He turned around on his barstool, hiding his joy at seeing Erix’s face turn pale.

Rune continued on. "Poor poor Nevia..." He quickly narrowed his eyes. "You’re pretty low to treat a woman like that," he hissed, his hand curling into a fist. "Especially Nevia."

Erix shook his head. "Look here," he began. "It’s not what you think, I was—"

"—drunk." Rune cut him off. "Yes, I know. I heard that from Atma, as well as the rest of the people in the tavern." He frowned, a glare piercing into the paladin’s eyes. "I don’t believe that for one damn second and neither does anyone else. If anyone was drunk, it was Fara. You got her drunk and took advantage of her."

The paladin’s face burned at the appalling accusation. How dare the bastard pin such a crime upon him! He was a holy soldier, he would never dishonor a woman in the way a street thug might. He squared his shoulders and glared at the rugged druid. "I would never do that to Fara."

"But you did."

"I did no such thing."

"You did so. It doesn’t matter whether you drank the fucked her or whether you purposely seduced her," Rune muttered, returning the paladin’s glare. "Fucking is still fucking no matter what comes before it."

Erix’s body stiffened from the druid’s words. His gaze lost its energy and no words rested upon his tongue to throw back. The druid had easily struck him down with that fact. He knew deep down inside the drink was an excuse, but what was he hoping to accomplish in using that? Nevia would not welcome him to her bed or to her heart again once learning of his coupling with Fara. She’d be greatly disappointed in him.

"I don't need to explain myself to you," he muttered, turning on his heel to exit.

Not once did Erix notice the broad grin on Rune's face as he left.

***

"So... now what?"

"Impatience, thy name is Nevia," Krysta murmured with a tiny smile.

"We're lost, aren't we?" the sorceress sighed, leaning against the spider-web and dirt laced walls.

Krysta's eyes darted side to side as she tried to recall what direction to go. Her eyes narrowed, trying to penetrate the darkness in the distance. As much as she hated to admit it, the smell of the corpses was really starting to make her skin crawl. She should be used to the smell and she knew it. She was an assassin, dealing with death was her specialty. It was unfortunate that her stomach however didn't agree to be impervious as her career would require.

She hastily turned to the left hallway and sprinted through it while making sure her boots made no contact with a dead corpse. Last time she stepped on a corpse, her heet cat caught in the eye socket and she tripped, nearly slashing Nevia's precious neck.

After much turns and twists, the two women found themselves staring at a dead end.

"I think we are lost," Krysta finally admitted with an irritated laugh. She shook her head with mild disgust. "Sorry, but I don't have any town portal scrolls."

When Krysta looked at Nevia expectantly, she sighed. "I do, but I don't want to use it.

"It's only a scroll, don't be stingy," the assassin scowled. "I'll pay you back."

The sorceress frowned, shaking her head. "No, it's not that... it's..." She trailed off, wringing her hands together.

The assassin patted Nevia's shoulder. "I know, it's that bastard who can't seem to remember what woman he claims to love." She muttered darkly under her breath about doing something violent to the forgetful beast that was "cowardly hiding in Erix's pants."

Nevia laughed inappropriately, her mirth betraying the sadness in her eyes. "I don't want to back like this," she whispered, wiping her eyes on her sleeve as she lowered her head. "I don't want to see him... I-I can't. Not yet, anyway."

The assassin gave Nevia a sympathetic hug. "I'm sorry, you're right. But... it's been hours. Maybe he's out looking for you? Besides... aren't you hungry?" She gave her a pleading, girlish gaze.

Nevia broke out laughing at Krysta's expression. "You weakling." She smiled and quickly tossed a scroll up, her eyes squinting briefly when the bright, blue, swirling light appeared before them. "After you."

"No," Krysta smiled. "After you."

Nevia shook her head but complied anyways; she was tired and wanted to rest.

The portal always made her feel dizzy. The bright lights combined with the heat that flooded her body was sometimes too much for her.

When the light and the warmth faded away, she reopened her eyes and found herself staring into a pair of green glittering eyes that could only belong to one particular druid.

"Nevia," Rune uttered hoarsely, ignoring her leather-clad companion shooting eye-daggers at him. "Where have you been?"

She stared blankly. "... what's wrong?"

Rune's hands gently gripped Nevia's shoulders. He gazed deeply into her dark eyes, a sympathetic stare reaching her. "It's Erix. He's done something horrible."

Nevia's eyes darkened. "Rune... I know... I was there."

The sorceress' gaze turned to the ground sadly and Rune smiled, forgetting about Krysta's presence.

The assassin however was quick enough to catch the grin and made a mental note of it.

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Comments and Criticism appreciated (ladyofjasmine@gmail.com)

Blog on progress and writings at http://jasminegardens.blogspot.com/