Page 19 of Eboenia

What if he’s lying about Charmden’s history? Could this be part of his punishment too? Nah, those paintings were too graphic…too detailed. What in the hell really happened?

Iwalked out of the bathroom after a much-needed shower and some oral hygiene care. War was sitting on the edge of the bed, fully dressed, casually smoking a blunt in the bedroom across the hallway. I entered the room and noticed the big bed, his jacket draped over a chair, and cologne on the dresser. The space was filled with plants, the walls painted a deep, consuming black. His bedroom was dark and serene, the air rich with the organic scent of his cologne mingling with the sweet smoke.

“Your body ain’t but so big, what the hell take you so long to shower?” he questioned, exhaling a plume of purple and red smoke that danced in the air like enchanted wisps.

“It was calming,” I replied.

He rose from the bed, looking like a mysterious figure veiled by night. He always wore black, but damn, he looked good in it. I turned away, clutching the towel tightly to my body, avoiding his eyes that seemed to strip me bare.

“I’m going to take this cuff from around your neck until we come back. I promise on everything, I’ll do you dirty if you try to get away from me,” he said.

“Where are we going?”

“To a friend of mine’s party at the strip club. He’s human, no ties to our worlds. So when you go, act normal,” he replied.

“I can just stay here.”

“Nah, you’re coming with me. I’m trusting that you know your place and won’t do anything once that cuff comes off,” he said.

“I promise, I won’t.”

I was just excited to feel my wings again, to have magic coursing through my body. I also wanted to show War that he could trust me, despite everything.

“What if we run into the people from Charmden? Many of them come out to party.”

“They don’t give a fuck about you, Eboenia!” he snapped, his anger flaring.

“My friends care about me.”

“I’ll let you have that,” he replied sarcastically.

A gold key surfaced in his hand as he unlocked the cuff from around my neck. Instantly, my magic rushed back—my wings burst free, flapping wildly. “My wings,” I breathed, then louder, “My wings!” I spun in a shaky circle, desperate for something to hold onto, the thrill of freedom cutting through the ache, even if just for a second.

I zipped back and forth across the room, my joy uncontainable, accidentally knocking over a statue in my excitement. “I know I got a fly swatter in here somewhere,” War muttered, rummaging through a drawer with annoyance.

I shrunk to the size of a butterfly, trying not to disturb the pristine order of the bedroom. As I fluttered in a circle, I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror. My wings, once fluorescent with a golden hue and black rose flower pattern, were now the opposite—black wings with intricate, shimmering gold flowers. I touched my horns and stared into my soulless eyes.

“I have her wings too?” I shrieked, turning to face him.

“I don’t know why you’re surprised. You thought I made your family’s history up? The only people who lied to you are the ones back at your forest. I might be a lot of fucked up things, but I’m not a liar. Your people started this war, but this time around, I’m going to end it,” he said.

Can I be the peacemaker? Shit, what am I even thinking? War wants a bloodbath. But maybe I can talk him into sparing my friends and Sin.

I extended my hand and chanted in an ancient tongue to summon my wand. It appeared in my grasp, and I exhaled in relief, having feared War’s curse might have banished it. With a graceful twirl above my head, a cascade of granite-colored dust shimmered in the air, gently settling over me. As it descended, fabric wrapped around my body, contouring perfectly to my curves. Black pointed stilettos formed on my feet, adorned with velvet black roses. The long sleeves draped over my wrists, trailing with delicate strands of lace. The sheer black one-piece was beautifully embroidered with black roses.

I landed on the floor and strutted over to a brass mirror to admire my transformation. “My clothing is no longer vibrant,” I mused aloud, yet I couldn’t help but appreciate how the outfit embraced my hourglass figure. The fabric was sheer, butthe roses provided just enough coverage, leaving much to the imagination.

Turning to the side, I admired the open back, revealing the markings of my wings. War stood silently, watching me, utterly speechless. The magic had truly come to life, transforming me into a vision of dark allure.

“What do you think?” I asked War.

He leaned back slightly, a smirk playing on his lips. “I think you’re embracing your worth as an easy fuck,” he replied.

“That just means I look good.”

War chuckled, his eyes narrowing playfully. “If you wanted me to be your pimp, that’s all you had to say.”

Is he jealous?… HA! What am I even thinking?

---