Page 24 of When Death Called Life Home (When Deities Awaken #1)

Chapter 24

The Scholars Academy

ALORA

M aelo had been her best friend, second to one other. Second to him . He had been it. Her forever. Alora hated herself for forgetting him. For forgetting what it felt like to kiss him. To touch him. To have him wrapped around her with nothing but protection and love pushing him. She didn’t understand what triggered the memories to flood back to her, or whether growing closer to him over the last few days had helped open the dam, but she didn’t fight it. She didn’t question it. She relished in the pure light that encompassed her.

“Take it off,” Alora commanded Ascian. She didn’t need to clarify what she was talking about, not with the heavy need that darkened his eyes.

His scarred fingers worked at the buttons and laces that held every item of clothing to her. Loosened them until he could pull the material off without damaging the fabric. They had time. Despite what likely headed their way, Alora knew in her heart that they had time to reacquaint themselves with the other's body.

Her skin pebbled as the cold night air breezed over it. Her nipples hardened beneath the thin fabric of her bandeau. Ascian leaned up, pressing his warm mouth to both and bringing short relief before his attention shifted to the rest of her body. Soft lips exploring every inch of her smooth skin. Her hands buried in his hair, gripping the dark strands and keeping him close to her. Alora doubted he’d willingly separate now, if his thoughts were anything like hers.

A quiet moan left her as Ascian nipped gently at her ribs, moving his grip to cradle her torso and pull her body closer to his, as he moved his kisses back up and across her throat. Alora lifted her chin and tilted her head back, exposing it to him. He groaned at the gesture, his touch moving to her hair. Ascian gripped it, tugging her head back further and kissing beneath her jawline, sucking the skin until it pulled a mirroring groan from Alora.

The pressure in her hair lessened, his hand disappearing and reappearing on the small of her back. Alora opened her eyes to look at him, watch him take her in. She slowly pulled the bra off, the straps sliding down her arms at a leisurely pace while Ascian drank the movement in as though it was the oxygen he breathed. When she finally tossed the piece of clothing to join the rest of her upper garments, Ascian let out a slow breath, shaking his head as a smile stretched across his lips.

“Magnificent.”

Alora grinned, unlacing his blood covered shirt and tugging it up his body. Ascian reluctantly removed his hands from her long enough to get his own upper garments off before he laid back and pulled her down to taste her lips again. Her body moved over his, hips grinding into his and drawing more groans and uneven breathing. He dropped his hands to her hips, guiding her into slower, more torturous movements until she let out a whine and pulled back to rid herself of her bottom undergarments, too.

“Come here,” Ascian breathed. His dark gaze locked on to her heated core. “I want to taste you. ”

Alora moved herself over his face, lowering and hovering above it. He sent her a look, eyes narrowed.

“Sit.” Ascian tugged on her thighs, bringing her hips flush against his lips. Alora moaned deep in her throat, gripping the headboard in front of her as Ascian pressed his tongue to her and licked every inch of her sensitive flesh. Her abdomen tensed, body jolting as a jab of pleasure flew through her. Gods, she wouldn’t last long if he kept at it.

Ascian swirled his tongue around her clit, flicking it and getting another body jolt from Alora. Each time her breathy pants grew heavier, transitioning into throaty moans as she moved one of her hands to his hair and gripped it tightly.

“Ascian,” Alora begged, her core throbbing. He listened, dipping his tongue down and into her, drawing another indistinguishable word from her lips. At this point, all her brain could comprehend was him and his wonderfully skilled tongue.

He shifted beneath her, removing his tongue and replacing it with a finger that he curled inside her. His mouth sucking her clit back between his lips. A second finger entered, curling with the first and pressing against a little hard spot. Alora felt the rise of the pleasure and then it crashed into her as he gently bit down on her clit. She cried out, toes curling as her legs tensed and shook, her body following. Still, Ascian didn’t let up. He wrung every last whimper from her until she fell to her side, slack and breathing hard.

When Alora opened her eyes again, Ascian hovered over her with a stupid grin on his face. He licked his lips, drawing Alora’s attention to them. “You taste even more delicious than I remember.”

She couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled from her lips, shaking her head in disbelief. She could barely find her breath for the laugh, let alone to speak. Ascian noticed straight away, climbing off the bed to grab one of his shirts. He used it to clean her up and then chucked it with the rest of his dirty clothes while he laid back down and pulled Alora to his chest. She frowned, turning into him.

“You didn’t get your release,” she murmured.

Ascian chuckled and kissed her forehead. “Tomorrow. You need rest.”

“But-.”

Ascian cut her off with a kiss, resting his forehead on hers when he pulled away. “Tomorrow, amorsa. We have time.”

Alora tasted herself on him. He noticed the shift in her mind and chuckled, licking his lips, again. Alora rolled her eyes playfully, knowing full well she wore a pout, and rolled away from him. His large arms slipped around her waist and pulled her back flush against his chest. She allowed it, letting her body relax into his warmth and the steady heartbeat behind her guided her towards sleep.

In the light of the day the Scholars Academy looked like it came straight from a dream. Every square inch of the building was made with sandstone and hardwood. Upon leaving their room, Alora found windows covering a majority of the external walls, each of which were intricately made to resemble leaves and the veins that covered them.

Alora followed Ascian along the hallway to a large kitchen where others were already awake and eating. A few paused as the two of them entered. Ascian’s body tensed, hands flexing at his sides as though he sensed a fight about to happen.

They were on neutral ground, though. He’d said they’d be safe here.

A couple of the students stood and put their dishes in the sink before leaving, glancing back as they exited past them .

“Why do I sense they’re not friendly?” Alora asked Ascian quietly. She moved closer, her side and hand brushing his. His fingers slipped through hers, keeping her securely next to him.

“They can’t do anything while on the Scholars' ground,” he answered in return. Alora frowned at him.

“That’s not what I asked.”

Ascian pulled his attention away from the now empty door to settle it on Alora. He sighed, “You sense it because they’re not. Word must have already spread of my absence at the Elders’ meeting for Kallias and Xylia.”

“Will they still kill them?” Alora hated the strain in her voice. The giveaway that she cared, even with memories still missing, she knew she used to have a complicated relationship with her brother. One where they helped each other.

Leverage .

The word still raised a bitter taste to the back of her mouth. Whatever complicated relationship they’d had before Earth no longer existed. Kallias solidified that when he let the damned word leave his mouth as an answer.

“Honestly,” Ascian said gently. “I don’t know. Maybe. Whatever they decide to do, it’ll cause the most pain possible. It’s the one thing I’d never agreed with the Elders on, before I realised how much they were lying to us. Death doesn’t have to be painful. It’s a gift after a long life lived, and nor is it the end. It’s an … intermission before the next stage.”

“Reincarnation?” Alora asked, her eyes widening.

Ascian nodded. “Everyone starts a new cycle until they’ve fulfilled their soul's mission.”

“This is a far too heavy conversation to be having this early in the morning.” Maelo’s voice echoed in the now empty kitchen. She passed them and headed for the fridge, though Alora didn’t miss her eyeing the abandoned seats.

“Why don’t you go find the library?” Ascian murmured, his gaze shifting from Maelo to her. “I’ll bring you some food to eat.”

Alora glanced between him and Maelo, nodding after a moment. “Only because I can imagine this library being glorious and massive.”

Ascian chuckled and nodded in confirmation. It was enough to put blinders on Alora. Ascian squeezed her hand before letting her go, and she darted off in the direction he told her.

The study at the Lexington’s had been honourable but small, and its book collection even smaller. At least in the genres that Alora enjoyed escaping into. As she reached the entrance to the library here, Alora’s heart beat wildly in her chest. The doors themselves were beautiful and whimsical. Carved wood with clear imagery of many beasts and creatures, as though it, too, told a story of the Scholars Academy. One Alora didn’t understand. Not yet, at least. Perhaps she’d find a book within the library that told it in full.

In truth, Alora wished to find a book that might give her some way of getting the rest of her memories back. Or simply the important ones. The ones that would tell her what her purpose here was. She no longer wished to escape into another fantastical world when one stretched out before her waiting to be explored.

Upon entering through the carved doors, Alora found a large u-shaped desk with who she assumed to be a librarian sitting behind it. She looked human in appearance; pale skin with long, light brunette hair that whitened where it framed a kind face. A heavy strip of freckles covered her nose and cheeks, and forest green eyes crinkled at the corners as she offered Alora a smile.

“Hello,” she hummed quietly and pointed to a sign sitting atop the desk. “Please note the guidelines of utilising our library. If you require any help, don’t be afraid to come and ask me: Zillah Ashbourne, pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Alora offered a smile back. “Thank you. I’m sure you’ll see me again.”

The comment made the woman let out a soft laugh, her lips widening to reveal deep dimples. Though, she didn’t say anything further, and went back to whatever paperwork Alora heard rustling in front of her.

Alora went to look at the guidelines, to become familiar with them so as to not get herself kicked out, but the rest of the library tore her gaze away and her mouth dropped open. Her feet took her closer to the towering rows of shelves, each with a ladder attached to reach the highest shelf. Beyond the floor ones, more rose higher with stairs spiralling around with them into what could only be the tip of spires. At a certain point, a railed door – like that she’d imagined to be in dungeons – cut off the very top shelves from anyone who didn’t have a key. A sign was attached to the bars, but Alora couldn’t read it at a distance.

Her feet took her past the bottom bookshelf and to the raised platform before the spires. With her gaze locked on the barred doors, Alora didn’t notice another standing in her path until she collided into her back. The woman stumbled forward. Her hand shot out and grabbed the nearest shelf as an owl on her shoulder ruffled its feathers.

“I’m so sorry,” Alora started, keeping her voice hushed. “I didn’t see-,” she cut herself off as the woman turned and revealed clouded eyes. Blind. She’d run into a blind person.

The woman’s mouth parted, the dark lashes that framed her eyes shuttering as those she recognised Alora, but how could she recognise someone she couldn’t see?

“Alora?”

Alora faltered, stumbling back a step. Nope. Okay, she can definitely see somehow.

“I never thought I’d see you again.” She spoke the words as if in a haze, her hand reaching out slowly and brushing up Alora’s arm. She paused a second later, the owl's head turning to look towards the entrance of the library. “Are you here with Ascian?”

Alora frowned, her gaze shifting to the bird. “Who would like to know?”

The woman paused. She dropped her hand back to her side, her fingers twitching. “You don’t remember me?”

“No,” Alora muttered. Her defences sliding into place. “Should I?”

The woman studied her for a second, as much as Alora could make out with the owl’s gaze roaming over her so intensely. “You’ve changed.”

“I’m sorry?”

She smiled at Alora, soft and knowing. “I should have believed him. Riven always guesses right.”

“If you do not stop talking in cryptic messages, I will leave.”

The woman laughed and nodded. “My name is Tallulah, which you’ll probably remember in the future when your memories return. We were friends, sort of.”

Alora pursed her lips. “Sort of?”

Tallulah shrugged. “Ascian brought you here when you grew frustrated at your lack of energy. I see that has also changed.”

“How … exactly do you see that?”

A laugh broke from deep in Tallulah’s chest, bouncing around the silent space and earning a raised eyebrow from Zillah. “Sorry, it’s just refreshing to have your bluntness.” She points to the owl on her shoulder. “She allows me to see. Not many have the ability to form such a bond with a creature outside their guardian, but it is incredibly useful. In addition, owls have spectacular vision, Elysian owls more so than Earth. I can see the energy around you, flowing like green ribbons in a stream, all around you.”

“What are you confusing her with today, Tallulah?” Ascian’s warmth entered Alora’s personal space, flooding over her in a calming sensation.

“Not confusing, only reacquainting and noticing the differences since we last spoke.”

Ascian hummed, his hand easily sliding back into Alora’s. “And what differences do you see?”

Tallulah finally tore her gaze off Alora and onto Ascian and paused. Her lips parted. “They are awakening.” At Ascian’s raised eyebrow, Tallulah added, “You want to stop this war?”

Ascian nodded.

“Then find your deities.” She points to Ascian, “Death.” Then to Alora, “Life.”

“Aren’t they in hibernation, or something?” Alora asked Ascian.

His brows furrowed. “We tend to say they’re sleeping.”

“Wake them,” Tallulah cut in, an almost glare forming on her face. “You think the Scholars Academy is a safe place? It was safe when there were clear cut boundaries. The Nymphs you killed in that camp by the Elders order? That blurred the boundaries and now everything and everywhere is fair game to those most wicked on both sides.”

“How does one wake deities?” Alora queried quietly.

Ascian didn’t get a chance to respond as Tallulah said firmly, “Figure it out.”