Strange Love 104 Magic Touch

Apprehension weighed heavy through the room as worried eyes traveled back and forth between the now draining tub and Raven as she unloaded her drug store shopping bag. With every drop of water that pa.s.sed the drain and every centimeter the water dropped, Jos's condition worsened. Her pale skin took on a slight blue tent as her breathing became more labored.

Russ felt his body seize with panic as Jos's eyes rolled back in her head and her body began to shake violently. "Raven! Raven!" He yelled as he held Jos's writhing body tighter against his.

Raven glanced over but didn't slow her hands. She fought hard not to show her own worry and concern for one of her oldest and dearest friends. "It's okay, just keep holding her. Don't let her hurt herself. I'm almost ready." Once she had all the items separated out and nodded to Orion and Arei. "Do either of you have anything of the ocean with you?" She asked them hopefully then added, "Or are any of your tattoos directly linked to the ocean or your father?"

Arei and Orion nodded in unison, each lifting their shirts to reveal their personal bandings. Orion had a large bear head set inside a drawn bow and on either side of it was matching tridents standing out from the surrounding tribal designs. Arei's branding sat in the exact same place as Orion's, atop his heart. His was dual horse heads facing each other, one of the sea with a long fish like body and tall and the other with wings that curved around the to meet the fishlike body and complete a circle. the large trident sat above their heads and its long shaft separated the stallions. His too was encircled by intricate tribal designs all etched into the smooth tanned skin overlaying ma.s.sive, strong muscles.

Raven's eyes widened in a mix of appreciation and surprise. "Well... that will do…" One side of her mouth curved up as she continued mixing her purchased items in separate bowls. "I'm sure if the spell itself doesn't snap her out of this, you two will." Her eyes sparkled mischievously as her eyes traveled over each of their lengths noting the various patterns inked into each of their skin along the bases of their wide necks, the bared skin exposed by their short sleeves, and each of their currently exposed chests and stomachs. Her smile widened as her eyes lowered and she noticed ink through the wholes in Arei's jeans and the numerous patterns coving all of Orion's bared calves and legs. "You guys are covered in tattoos? Are they all linked to the sea and ocean?" She asked a spark of excitement colored her words.

Orion nodded, "Yes, they each depict different aspects of our lives. We get new ones with each journey we complete."

Arei laughed and chimed in, "We are pretty old ya know... We had to get a bit creative in... places..." He grinned and winked at her as he dipped the waste band of his jeans down with the other hand.

Raven's eyes widened and she shook her head. "Well one thing is sure. If the spell doesn't wake her up the sight of you two should." She clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. "I'm going to need you guys to... expose... any areas that may have symbols linking to the ocean or sea. I'm going to use them to help draw power." Her smile fell and expression turned more serious as she focused on the supplies before her. "I'll admit, I was a little worried whether this would be enough." She lifted a sh.e.l.l trinket from the jewelry section of the drug store. Setting it to the side she finished with the various herbs and oils separated out into several different bowls and grabbed the sharpie from the bag on the bed giving Sh.e.l.ly a comforting half smile as she did so. She then hurried to the mirror beside the large jacuzzi tub.Orion was the first to finish striping down to a pair of short, dark navy boxer briefs. "What now?" He asked.

Arei glanced over at his brother a light blush creeping up his neck. "This probably wasn't the best time to go commando…" He laughed when the wolf on the bed rolled her eyes and the boy in the tub gave him the worst of looks. He smiled and shrugged his shoulders, "What can I say, it's hard getting too much squeezed into the jeans..." He laughed when the wolf shook her head and turned away.

Raven glanced over her shoulder as she drew a large sigil on the mirror. "As tight as they are, I'm sure you won't have any problems cupping the contents in a palm." Arei arched a brow at her, "Is that a d.i.c.k joke? Are we making d.i.c.k jokes right now? Maybe you should go put yours on and we'll compare." he said as he unb.u.t.toned his fashionably faded black jeans. He pulled down the zipper suggestively, teasing her. Raven rolled her eyes into the mirror as she continued working. "Only if I get to use it on you after."

Arei let go of his fly and through his hands up in surrender, "Alright, alright! I'll not press you." His grin widened as he shot Orion a glint. "But Ry may take ya up on the offer later."

"f.u.c.k of Arei! Can't you ever be serious." Orion asked walking closer to the tub and cupping a hand over Russ's tense shoulder.

Arei snorted turning away from everyone's eyes as he dropped his pants to the ground. "I am being serious. I bet it would tickle all your fancies... may even open up a whole new world of adventures." He held out a hand his tight a.s.s checks clenching involuntarily against the cool breeze of the AC unit. "Could you toss me a towel while you're just standing there?" He caught the wolf's shy eyes gazing over at him from heavily vailed lashes. He turned his hips slightly farther away from her, cupping himself the best he could, and flicked the extended hand toward her. "Just turn your cute fluffy head that way, this is no sight for a child." He stuck his tongue out at her teasingly, "Just prove my point about dogs and cats being pervs."

Orion huffed, "She's hardly a child, Arei. She was married for the sake of the G.o.ds." He throw up a hand toward her not realizing how his words pained had pained her more than Arei's teasing. He frowned as the wolf's head jerked toward him and tears began steaming out her bright blue eyes. She leaped down from the bed and took off toward the door. Orion's irritated look shifted to surprised understanding. "s.h.i.t!" He took off toward the door but Raven stopped him.

"Don't! She'll be back in a minute. Trust me she won't go too far from Joslyn's side, especially right now." Raven stood back and admired her art. There was two large circles on inside the other between their rings there was words written in an old dark fae language. Four smaller circles broke through the rings and writing marking north, south, east, and west. The symbol of Poseidon sat inside the north circle, south was an ocean specific water symbol, east held a symbol for healing, and the symbol inside the western circle was a possession symbol. A large seven armed pentagram filled the center and inside the small circle of the pentagram held two intersecting infinity symbols for protection. She crossed an arm over her chest and cupped thumb under her chin and rubbed her chin with her finger. Looking from the table of sigil to the table of bowls, she mumbled. "Something is still missing..." Her eyes traveled over Jos's pale, weak body encircled in Russ's large, trembling arms to the ma.s.sive twins that now stood by the tub. Her eyes traveled across Arei's tattooed body that was covered only by a small towel in the front most vital area over to Orion's equally tattooed body. "Humm…" She searched the ink across his chest working her way up until her eyes landed on a stone hanging from a necklace around his neck. Her eyes narrowed and she moved quickly to his neck, flipping the stone over in her hands. "This, is it natural? Did you find it by chance?"

Orion furrowed his brows he glanced down a Jos. "I didn't... it was gave to me... by her... shortly after we met and I turned it to a necklace after holding onto it for so long."

Raven smiled pulling the necklace loss from his neck. "A holed stone from her home, perfect!" She gripped it tight in her hand and quickly grabbed the five gallon jug of spring water from the floor. She shoved it toward Orion and clutched the necklace to her chest. "Start pouring this over her slowly as I chant. She began chanting in the same accent dark fae language until all the water had been poured out into the tub. It didn't cover much more than the bottom but Raven carefully dropped the necklace down into the small water pool of water letting the chain glide out of her grip. She closed her eyes lifting both hands out straight one in the twin's direction and the other aimed at the sigil. This time the rhythm and wording was different but it was still in the foreign tongue.

Orion and Arei both let out a pained grunt as if they'd both been punched in the gut. Their eyes widened as they exchanged looks. Several of the tattoos covering their bodies were glowing a vivid blue. They turned in unison to the sigil. It too was emitting the same vibrant blue. They could see the curious gaze of the wolf as she stuck her head into the room.

Russ's eyes were closed, his mouth pressed to Jos's head whispering rea.s.suring words into her wet hair, and his arms wrapped tightly around her shivering body. A cold chill ran up his spine and goose flesh covered his body. He wanted desperately for the words he was whispering to be true but fear set in as the already soft tap of her heart against his chest slowed and the time between the taps s.p.a.ced farther apart. "I can't lose you... hang in there baby." He gripped her tighter tears streamed hotly down cool skin of his cheeks. "I love you, I love you so much! I don't care what you are!" He buried his face into her hair as he began to rock her limp body in his arms. "Please, baby don't leave me... not like this..."

Arei could feel his own eyes burn as the boy's hushed words reflected his own thoughts. He fought the urge to push the boy out of his way and hold her tightly himself but another painful pulse coursed through his body reminding him of his own role in it all. He clinched his teeth as he pulled his attention away from Jos's lifeless looking body to the sigil on the mirror. The two outer circles turned in opposite directions casting a bright glow over the room. The smaller circles of the four corners sat out boldly over top moving rings and the center pentagram had opened up and was now the refection of a sandy beach with soft waves lapping at her banks. His eyes widened and the pain radiated farther into his body causing him to grit his teeth harder and clinch his fists. He could feel every muscle of his body ripple and pulse against the pain and the draining feeling. Something took over and he could feel it consume him... control him.

Orion and Arei both threw their heads back and cried out at once, their arms out by their sides with palms facing the sigil. Water from the tub flew out and into them as if commanded. Raven's chanting grew louder and more rapid causing the markings along the twin's bodies to light up more. Their eyes popped open simultaneously emitting the same brilliant bright blue light and focused directly on the sigil. "Φέρτε στο προσκήνιο," They said over and over in unison.

Sh.e.l.ly couldn't help stepping farther into the room. Even with all the stress and worry over Jos's wellbeing the sight before her was enchanting. She watched in amazement as the huge, hulking men called forth the oceans and the tides of sandy beach on the other side of the sigil began to rise an flow out of the mirror into the tub. The now rough waves splashed through the room soaking everything but also filling the tub with fresh, natural, warm ocean water.

The chanting's tempo slowed and she slapped her hands loudly together causing the sigil's center to close and the brilliant blue light dimmed. Orion and Arei both let out loud gasping breaths and fell to their knees beside the tub. Raven said softly, exhaustion heavy in her words. "It's done." She staggered back to the closest of the two double beds and sat down resting her elbows on her thighs as she struggled to catch her breath. Sh.e.l.ly came up beside her and nudged her with her nose. Raven stroked the soft fur of her head. She gave Sh.e.l.ly a weak smile. "She'll be alright now."

She glanced up to Russ and the other eyes that were on her. "She'll just need her rest, as I'm sure we all do by now." She gave a half laugh.

Russ nodded, his attention fully on Jos. "Her breathing seems to be easing and I can feel her heart better now though it's still not beating as strongly as usual." He gently pushed her hair from her face as he continued examining her.

Arei pushed himself up from the floor and leaned over the edge of the tub. He reached an arm in and stroked his hand over Jos's back letting his palm rest firmly against it to feel her heart as well. He nodded, "She'll recover." He Pushed himself up bringing the towel back up with him. He reached his free hand down to his brother and help Orion up as well. They exchanged glanced and both nodded. Orion and Arei each set a hand into the water letting the salt water charge their wounded bodies. Arei removed his first and drug the remaining salt water on his hands across his face and into his disheveled hair. "Well that was something else... Didn't realize we could do... THAT..."

Raven smiled tiredly up at them. "Me either, but it was worth a shot... and it worked so..."

Arei arched a brow and chuckled, "Worth a shot? You didn't even know it would work yourself?" He shook his head. "You may actually be crazier than me."

Orion rolled his eyes as he gathered his wet clothes. "You have know idea. The first time I met her was dragging her a.s.s into the council for misusing dark magic to create f.u.c.ked up weird animals."

Raven shrugged. "I don't understand the difference between making them magically than the G.o.ds creating them from having s.e.x with literally anything."

Orion huffed out a begrudging laugh, "Far enough point, but if it wasn't for Isha you would have never gotten off so easy."

Raven smiled her eyes focused more on past memories than the present. "Good times..."

Arei walked over between the beds and grabbed his clothes as well. Though they had fared better than Orion's, they too were soaked. "Glad I packed plenty of extra. How about you, Ry?"

Orion frowned, "I'll need to borrow... ugg..." He rolled his eyes. "Forget it I'll just wear them wet."

Arei chuckled "What's wrong bro? Afraid ya can't fill them out?"

Orion scoffed, "Afraid I couldn't fit in them, you were them so tight."

They continued bickering and teasing each other through the rest of the night until exhaustion finally caused them each to drift off into an uneasy sleep... except Raven. Once she was sure everyone was asleep she grabbed the unused bag of supplies and some of the left over herbs and oils from the dresser. She dipped the container meant for ice in the tub scooping out some of the water and made her way silently out the door.