Hope.
… Ari, wake up, Jai’s voice invaded Ari’s conscience, bringing her out of the dreamworld and back to his. Her eyes fluttered open and to her happy surprise she found herself in Jai’s warm arms, his gorgeous face hovering over hers. Morning. He leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to her mouth, the bristles of his cheek scratching against hers.
Mmm, she mumbled lazily, brushing her fingers over his face, you need to shave.
His laughter made her eyes pop open and ask ‘what?’ He shook his head, smiling. It’s nice.
What’s nice?
Waking up to my girlfriend telling me I need to shave. It’s so normal.
Ari chuckled and kissed him again before pushing herself up into a sitting position. So… she was definitely his girlfriend. Good to know.
She looked away from Jai’s na**d chest, determined not be distracted. I can de-normalize things for you by telling you about the dream I just had.
Jai frowned. I want to hear all about it. But we better be quick. You can’t be found in here.
When she was done relaying the dream, they were both even more confused than they already had been. Deciding it was definitely time to tel Red, Ari scooted out of Jai’s bed and into her clothes, rushing across the room and out of it and into hers in record-breaking time.
After a quick shower, she stood in the middle of her guestroom and telepathed Red.
“You rang?” The Red King uttered droly as he stepped out of the Peripatos.
Ari smirked, and just in case there were ears listening at doors or watching through peepholes (and wasn’t that just a creepy-ass thought?) Ari replied, “We ready to leave?” and telepathed, We need to talk. Pronto. Somewhere private.
Red raised an eyebrow and nodded. “Yes. We’re leaving right now. I’l get Charlie.” He then telepathed an address in Los Angeles, teling her to give Jai the
address. I’ll bring Charlie. Let’s get going.
The Peripatos was definitely one of Ari’s least favorite things about the Jinn. Sure it was fine when you were just flashing from one room to the next, but leaving Mount Qaf for Los Angeles was gut-wrenchingly sickening. Ari colapsed on cement ground after what felt like the fastest, most vomit-inducing rolercoaster ride ever.
She felt strong hands wrap around her arms, steadying her to her feet.
“You okay?” Jai asked softly, his brows drawn together in concern.
Ari swalowed down vomit and smiled weakly. “Just peachy.”
“You made it,” The Red King’s voice brought her head up and Ari stared across the length of a practicaly empty warehouse to see Red striding towards her with Charlie at his side. Charlie looked refreshed and eager. She hated him for that, knowing she looked like she’d just donated three pints of blood.
“Where are we exactly?” Ari asked, brushing dust from her knees.
“A studio warehouse. TV.” The Jinn King grinned. “It’s got state-of-the-art soundproofing.”
“Oh gee, you think of everything.”
Red eyed her thoughtfuly. “Stil not used to the Peripatos, huh?”
“Was it the hair that gave it away?” Ari asked sarcasticaly.
Charlie snorted. “You have definitely inherited a bite since you became Jinn.”
“Look, I’m just trying to keep whatever pigeon we ate last night down so, can we get on with this.”
Red didn’t seem to take too kindly to her attitude. He stared her down until Ari began to squirm. “You wanted me here?”
“Yeah. Sorry. Your Highness,” she added for good measure, glad to see him smirk. “I’ve been having these dreams…”
When Ari was finished explaining the dreams, from the ones where she saw Lilif fighting Asmodeus, to the one where a faceless Jinn kiled Lilif, to the ones where Lilif bemoaned her fate as a simpering wife to Azazil, to the one of her speaking with White and finaly the last in which she’d lost her friend at a much earlier time in her immortality, Red had become strangely quiet. There was a tension around him, a crackle of expectation. When he realized they were al watching him, the blank mask slipped over his face, concealing his reaction.