14. Osiris

14

OSIRIS

“ S o, let me get this straight,” Elias said, standing in his doorway with a pinched expression, seeming to hold back his amusement at Osiris’ suffering. It was a mockery. “You wish to know about human men seeking pleasure?”

His trip to Elias, though not far through the enclave, was taking longer than he wished. Eleanor was still in his cottage. She had been so cross with him that she had retired to the bed— with the weapon —right away, completely ignoring his very presence.

He had told her that he was leaving and that he would return soon, but even then, she had offered no response.

Osiris sighed, his fire brightening. He hardly made a point to see anyone in the enclave. Ever. When he and Elias did converse, it was usually outside of Osiris’ home. Still, he knew where the vampire kept his dwelling. After all, Osiris was the one who helped build it when Elias showed up at the edge of Evermore Forest. There was no question in his mind whether to offer his help. He was a being, lost and alone, just like Osiris. The whole point of the enclave was to offer safety and community. Not that Osiris spent much time with the community himself.

“Yes,” he groaned. He had tried seeking answers from Elias without telling him the reason. But the vampire still gazed upon Osiris with unmasked suspicion. “In my book—”

“The one from reading hour?”

Osiris nodded sheepishly. “There was a man who offered a kind deal to a woman, and she became quite cross and violent with him. She was the one who asked if he wanted pleasure,” he tried explaining, shrugging his shoulders as his flames dimmed under the scrutinous gaze of the vampire, “and when he accepted, she became murderous .”

“I see…” he said, his brows raising as his voice trailed off.

“And,” Osiris continued, gesturing to his head, “her face became pink all over. Even down to her collar bones.”

Elias looked Osiris up and down, pursing his lips before he spoke. “And this was in a book?” Osiris nodded. “Did anything else happen? To the man perhaps?”

Did anything else happen?

Osiris couldn’t say much of anything happened on his part. Though, as he thought back, his body had reacted out of character.

“Actually, yes. The man’s heart had reacted in an abnormal manner. Perhaps he was suffering from arrhythmia?”

Elias’ face contorted as he doubled over, bursting out in laughter.

“What?” Osiris asked, frustration beginning to crackle through him.

Elias gripped the door frame as he lifted himself, using his free hand to wipe the wetness from his eyes. “You mean to tell me, that you truly do not know?”

“If I knew what he did wrong, I would not be standing here just to be insulted. I had thought I could ask you because you used to be human.”

Elias coughed, composing himself before leaning against the frame. “Osiris, do you know what pleasure means?”

“Of course,” he said, pride bubbling in his chest, “it means an act that brings one the feeling of satisfaction or enjoy-”

“No, no, no,” Elias cut in, pinching the bridge of his nose. He released a breath and then looked back up, holding Osiris’ gaze with a flash of amusement crossing his eyes. “Not the definition, do you know what it means for pleasure to be exchanged between two bodies?”

Osiris’ light dimmed as he began to open and close his fists, shaking his head.

“No,” he admitted.

Elias chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest as he gazed knowingly at Osiris. “Sex, my innocent friend. When a man offers to give a woman pleasure, it means he wishes to bed her. To fuck her. To sate her darker desires.”

“S-sex?!” Osiris exclaimed, his irregular heartbeat returning as his flames brightened enough for Elias to smirk. “He said he was going to bed her?”

The vampire nodded, reaching forward to grab Osiris’ shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. “And it was not arrhythmia this man was suffering from,” he teased, “but I cannot give you all the answers. Mayhap, if you keep reading, you will figure it out.”

Elias dropped his shoulder as he shrugged, his grin spreading wider across his face, revealing his fangs.

Before Osiris could protest, Elias stepped back, closing the door in front of him.

Sex.

I asked Eleanor for sex.