Essentia (5 page)

    After our food arrive we sit and eat in silence. I notice that enre glances out the window ever few moments. I wonder what he is thinking. Soon we are finished eating. We pay our bill and exit the diner.

     I look over at Enre and tell him "Let's go to the book shop, I would like to meet this woman that has overtaken your mind." She would have to be special if she has him this distracted.

     "Ok, but we should not tell her your real name right now. I still don't know much about her, and your name is in the book many time, we don't know how she will take it if she was to see it ok," he says to me.

    "Alright, call me Thane then. That's what you use to call me when you first started talking" I smiled.

    "Ok let's go," He said as we started walking across the street. Enre looking nervous as we go.

                     
 
Chapter Five

          Terra

          As I slide the key in the door to unlock the book shop, I have a weird sensation of being watch. So I glance around, but I don't see anyone so I head on in the shop and turn on the light and flip the open sign on.  These dreams must be getting to me. It feels like my nerves are on end here lately.

    I head back to my work table and begin to start fixing the book that was brought in to me yesterday by that curiously handsome man. It really is a lovely book, and it has an unusual pleasant smell to the paper. Different books have different smells. It comes from the environment that they are stored in and the paper itself. Whatever this scent is, it smells good. Almost familiar but I can't place where I have smelled it before.

    While I am looking over the damage on this book my cell phone rings. I look at the screen and see Abby's happy face. "Hello,” I say. knowing full and well that she is going to ask about tonight.

    "We are still on for tonight aren't we?" She asks. No Hello or Hi or nothing. Hehe.

    "Yes, we are most defiantly on for tonight" I had to hold the phone away from my ear she was practically hollering into the receiver.

    "YAY!!" I wait till she calms down before I say anything, then I tell her. "I will be ready by six thirty ok."

    "Ok I can't wait till you see the outfit that I bought for tonight, it is awesome" just then the bells on the front door start jingling, and I tell Abby I have to go. She said "Ok chic, I will pick you up at 7 ok. Later."

With that I hung up and hollered to the front of the shop "One minute, I will be right there." I put my phone back in my bag and head to the front. "Welcome to Broken Bindings, OH hey Mr. Arthfael. I'm happy to see you again. What can I do for you?" Maybe he forgot that I told him his book would be done Monday.          "Please call me Enre," he said in a husky voice. The kinda sound that runs goosebumps across your skin.

     "Ok Enre. he he. What may I help you with?"  I say my voice almost cracking.

     "Nothing at all My Lady, my brother was wanting to meet the beautiful woman I told him was fixing our book," he said smoothly. I instantly blush and turn my head away.

     Shyly I say with a laugh. "I may fix books, but I am not beautiful, I'm average at best, but thank you anyways." I never saw myself as beautiful. On a good day, I was alright, but today was not one of those days.

    I heard a deeper Voice. One I have never heard before say "You are as beautiful as my brother had claimed you to be My Lady" I turn to see who had just spoke. A man that could pass as Enre’s twin stood there just behind him. Except he had a blondish color hair, where Enre had brown. And he has a scar on his face just like Enre, except for it being on the other side of his face. Odd, Very odd. I think to myself.

    Enre spoke up and said "let me introduce my older Brother Thane, Thane this is Terra. Terra this is my Brother Thane" I put my hand out to shake his, but he turns it over and does the same thing that enre did the day before. He kissed the top of it while saying "It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance My Lady."

    The look of shock must be apparent on my face because Enre snickered and said "She looks as though you have scared her Thane." A thin line of worry appears on Thane's forehead.

    Shaking my head, I say "No no no. I was just shocked is all. I'm not used to my hand being kissed, and you two look so much alike it just caught me off guard." The worry seemed to vanish off of Thane's forehead, and I felt relieved.

     I smile at them, and Enre said. "Thane was worried about me leaving the book here. So I thought that I would just bring him by to curb his worries. I told him it was in accomplished hands." Then he flashed a breathtaking smile at me.

    "Umm yea, I will take very good care of it and return it to you just like new" I say to them. Knowing that I am probably red from head to toe, I try to calm myself down.

    Thane then added "I have no doubt in that my lady. I mainly wanted to meet the beauty my brother was staring at from the restaurant across the street" he winked at me.

    Enre smacked his brother on the arm. "She is going to think I'm a weirdo if you say things like that Thane. We were just eating breakfast over at that the diner" Enre said with a sigh.

    I giggle at their altercation. Then say. "Stacy's has great food. I usually eat lunch there every day."

    Looking as though he is relieved Enre says "I was staring at you though. It's hard not to stare at a creature as stunning as you. My apologies My Lady, if I have made you uncomfortable." Then he looked down like he was ashamed of telling me that. I was uncomfortable for a moment, but this was different than before. Is he just as shy as I am?  Hmm, I wonder if he will blush if I say something embarrassing to him.

    I just had to see for myself. So I flash a small smile at Thane and then place my hand on Enre's shoulder. He raised his head up and looked at me with a surprised expression. I lean in and whisper in his ear "I think you are very handsome yourself Enre." Instantly he raised up and turned really bright red.

    Thane was dying laughing as he said. "You are all red enre, what's wrong?" Still laughing.

     "Nothing is wrong brother, nothing at all" He stated as he turned back to his normal color. With a smile on his face.

    After a small awkward moment, Thane said. "Well My Lady it was a pleasure meeting you, but we need to get going. I do hope we get to meet again." with a small bow he turned to leave.

    Enre then bowed and said "My Lady" and turned as well. They both walked out the door. I sat down in one of the wooden chairs and sighed to myself. 'what was I thinking saying that to him?' Even though I thought every word was true, I had never been so bold to do something like that.

    After getting back to work, I was thinking about how much the brothers look alike even though they are not the same age. Both of them are very good looking. But enre has a sweetness to him while Thane seems to be a bit more straight-forward. As I finish up with my work for the day, I lock up the shop and head home so I can get ready to go out tonight. Abby will kill me if I am not ready when she shows up to get me. I pick out this tight fitting black dress that comes half way up my thighs and makes the twins look bigger than they are. I put my makeup on and fix my hair in a messy up-do.  Adding a few pieces of jewelry, I look in the mirror and hardly recognize myself. I rarely get cleaned up like this, but I knew if I hadn't then Abby would gripe at me and make me do it anyway.

    While I am waiting for them to show up, I fix Le'ander's food and make sure I have my money and ID in my little clutch bag. DING DING... The doorbell. "I'm coming" I grab my keys and head for the door. When I open it, Abby is standing there in a slinky Blue number with impossibly tall matching shoes and Jeremy was in a pair of jeans and a gray button up with Converse tennis shoes. "OMG! you look AMAZING Terra" Abby screeched.

     "Thank you" I replied smiling at her.

     Jeremy said, "You do." Short and sweet as always, I think to myself. "Ok let's go," Abby said. And with that, we leave for Norpool.

         Chapter Six

    The Norpool - Terra

    We realize after arriving at Norpool, that we should have come earlier because there was a huge line to get in. All the people standing in line are all dressed up, hoping for the chance to get in. Unless you are really important or extremely beautiful, you can't get in. Then you had to wait outside with the ordinary people. Every now and then they will let the 'normals' in, but only a few at a time. The only reason Me and Abby use to get in was that she use to date the bouncer. But from the looks of it, he is not at the door tonight. Oh well. I guess we are waiting. While we stand here chatting with each other, I notice a beautiful fancy car pull up to the front, but I didn't get to see who got out of it. I let out a huff "Someone important I guess" I say to myself. I really do hate waiting in line.

    After a few minutes passed by, One of the Bouncer came walking down the line. Hmm, I wonder what that is about. As I think this he stops right in front of us and says "Ms. Ogden, if You and your friends will follow me I will escort you in." I just stood there for a minute. What just happened? Why are we getting in, and How did he know my name? Maybe it Was someone I know or done work for that told them to get us. I'm not going to argue though. My feet are killing me in these heels. So I just smile at him and nod my head.

    Abby practically skipping behind the bouncer, followed by Jeremy. The people standing in line giving snarky looks at us the whole way to the door. When we finally get there, he opens it, motioning for us to enter and said "Have a great night" I nod at him again, and say "Thank you."

     Norpool was a theme club, decorated like a palace inside, it was exquisite. Suits of shiny silver armor lined up against the walls with floor to ceiling royal blue curtains. Swords and shields were hanging behind the bar, and all of the staff was dressed very nicely, it was very tasteful and very popular tonight apparently judging by a number of people in here.  Abby leads us to the bar where we can sit for a bit and get a drink. "And what was that about?" She was looking at me with her one of her eyebrows raised.

    "I honestly have no idea, but I am not going to argue, are you?" I ask her. Relieved that I can sit for a minute.

    "Nope. Not at all" she Giggled.

     The Bartender headed over to us and said "What can I get you lovely ladies to drink?" Abby ordered a Calypso, and I ordered an Andalusia. After that he asked Jeremy, I think he ordered a beer. Typical man. I laugh to myself.

    Not long after that the bartender returns with our drinks and I ask "How much?"

    "It’s already taken care of My Lady" Then he winked. Not catching the 'My Lady' part till after I started drinking.

    "By who?" I asked with a curious look on my face. "The Gentlemen in the clouds." He said. Pointing up to the largest VIP area which was made to look like giant clouds. I looked up there and could see 3 figures, but I couldn't make out the faces because of the lighting. So I tilted my glass up in that direction thanking whoever it was that had done this.

    I sense Abby staring at me, so I ask her “What?" as I smiled at her. "Really? You know what," she said.

    "No, honestly I don't. Are you gonna pass on a free drink?" she shakes her head. I grin at her and say "I didn't think so hahaha."

     We sit there for through a couple of drinks listening to the music and watching all the people. When Jeremy asked Abby if she wanted to dance. She said yes, then looked at me. "Are you going to be ok for a few?" she asks.

     "Of course, go dance, have fun. I am gonna have another drink" I reply.

"Ok Hun, I will be back soon." I smile at her and shoo her away. I let out a giggle as I watch them dance.

    "That's a beautiful sound" I hear someone whisper in my ear. Startled I spin my barstool around to be face to face with Enre.  "Enre, hey there, you scared the living daylight out of me" I put my hand on my chest. He was the last person I expected to see tonight.

    "I am sorry My Lady" he did a mocking bow, and then grinned up at me. I just laugh and smile at him. He then said "How was your drink?" a wicked smile on his face.

     My drink? "Wait. That was you?" I look at him stunned. "Yes, indeed My Lady" he calmly added. Again with the 'My Lady' stuff

    "And I guess you're responsible for us getting in as well?" I raise my eyebrow up at him. Already knowing the answer.

    "Uh huh. I saw you standing outside when we arrived, So I told them to let you in" still smiling at me. So he was the one in that fancy car. I feel sorry now for complaining about it.

    "You didn't have to do that, but thank you very much Good Sir" I reply, Then I bow to him like he did to me earlier.

    "No, no, My lady. A creature as Beautiful as you bows to no one" he puts his hand under my chin and raises me up running his finger along my jaw line cupping my cheek.  "You look ravishing tonight My Lady" I start to blush. Feeling like I am about to start glowing, my face is so hot. I guess he noticed and removed his hand. I don't know how to take him. The way he carries himself is old fashioned and his words are beautiful and elegant.     "I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, My Lady, I have a bad habit of speaking my mind." He looked away and down like he really was bothered that he had embarrassed me.