The Chimera Summoner – ch 36 – part Lorna (3)

Part 3 - The Ledge and the Mirrolin cliffs.

“I answer the call when I must.” She said.

“You don’t like doing it?” I asked, worried. “I haven’t really been clear on what’s in it for you all. Other than the adventure.”

“Astral entities are more powerful than most sapient species, by nature.” Lorna explained. “But we find it far more difficult to grow. Spending time as a Familiar lets us share in your potential. It is of great mutual benefit. In most cases.”

She once again stared into the distance of the sea. I sensed another topic she would rather stay away from.

“Tell me something about yourself.” I prompted, hopefully.

She tilted her head thoughtfully.

“What would you like to know?” She asked.

I shook my head, sensing her doubts.

“Just something you like. Or something you don’t. Do you have hobbies?” I grinned. “You know. First date stuff. You know, like the tea! I didn’t know you liked it. Is there anything else like that?”

Lorna nodded, settling. “Well. Since you so kindly ask, I also enjoy hot cocoa.”

“Hot cocoa!” I repeated, excitedly. “Me too! You said tea makes you feel calmer, ‘cause it reminds you of Melody. What’s the story behind Cocoa?”

Lorna gave me her low little chuckle behind her hand. A little lighter blue tint in her cheeks indicated a blush.

“What?” I asked, perplexed at the uncharacteristically embarrassed ghost.

“It’s silly.” Lorna said dismissively.

I grinned. “Excellent. Pleeease?”

Lorna crossed her hands in her lap, smoothing out her new gown carefully.

“Cocoa makes me feel festive.”

I blinked. “Any particular…?”

She shook her head, sheepishly.

“Ok. Ok! Cocoa is festive.” I smiled. “I will keep some cocoa around for you, from now on.”

“No, no!” Lorna blurted.

I held up my hands.

She blushed even deeper blue.

“It’s not festive if it’s always around. It’s a special occasion drink.”

“Understood. Well then, you tell me when it’s the right moment, and I will drop everything and get you some.” I promised.

Lorna looked out to sea and carefully tucked a long strand of her oceanic blue hair behind her ear.

“I would love that.” She agreed.

The main course came along with a long tray of teas, each on its own little ritual circle. The waitress must’ve observed what she was using it for, and silently activated the circle under each cup so that it would slowly simmer for her to breathe it in. Lorna was delighted.

I mentally raised the woman’s tip to a dizzying height.

I had never eaten anywhere so fancy, but the stipend that Valant had set up for me from the alumna was staggering. And I hadn’t used any of it until today, since Bayloft ran exclusively on its own token system.

The only thing I wanted to spend money on was spoiling my girls.

Lorna and I spoke slowly, taking many pauses to watch the waves and simply share company. The awkwardness from the beginning of the date was behind us, and it felt like we were in it together again.

Our bond was thrumming, and I could feel even more how much Lorna had needed this ‘last day’ as she had called it. Before she revealed whatever it was that she knew that was troubling her so.

The shadow of that revelation fell on me a few times. But soon the delicious food, the lovely atmosphere, and my stunning date would distract me.

I polished up every crumb of the dessert Lorna had selected for me, feeling happy and full.

“Did you enjoy your meal?” Lorna inquired, happily wafting various steams into herself with a dainty hand.

“The best.” I said. “My date knows my tastes better than I do.”

I smiled, leaning back and feeling just the right amount of full.

“May we walk?”

“Sure? Did you have–” I popped to my feet and shuffled around and pulled her chair back.

She rose into the air gracefully, smoothing her gown against her lovely form.

“The cliffs overlooking the water are supposed to be lovely at night. It's a full moon tonight.” she suggested.

I scooted around the table and offered my arm. “Princess.”

“Scoundrel.”

~~~~~~~~~~~

The moonlight dusted the inky nighttime waves as she crashed into the distant waterline below us. We wound our way around great weathered trees that clung to the cliff. The glowing windows of our restaurant quickly faded from view as we walked and floated respectively.

Lorna rested her hand just over my arm, slowly coating my borrowed dinner jacket in frost.

I kept stealing glances at Lorna’s serene, dignified face, framed by her deep blue hair that shimmered ethereally in the moonlight.

Her new gown wafted in the night air, clinging to her slender ghostly curves.

She was breathtaking. A ballerina. A goddess.

A tiny smile crept over the corners of her lips as I stole another look, and I thought she was pleased with my admiration.

“What happens when you take the dress off?” I asked, suddenly curious. “Does it become solid again, or is it ghost stuff forever now that you've worn it?”

“Thinking of undressing me, now that we are alone?” Lorna asked, tilting her head, and raising an amused eyebrow.

I covered my face.

Lorna chuckled, brushing her fingertips over my arm, sending delicious little chills over me.

“The dress is mine forever, I fear. I do thank you for it. It's just to my taste.”  She said.

“Lucy picked it.” I admitted.

“She knows how I love to provoke your imagination.” Lorna said, a note of mischief entering her voice. “Don’t you find me…thought provoking?”

She grazed her finger under my chin, icy cold, and guided me to look over her, letting me run my eyes over her subtle curves, lithe form, immaculate hair, slender kissable, bite-able, chokable neck–

“Noted.” I coughed. “Pretty. Night. Moon. Water. Pretty moon night, water is… is waves.”

“Indeed.” Lorna agreed.

I hung my head.

“It's hard to talk around you, sometimes.”

Lorna slipped her hand from my arm and drifted over the edge of the cliff to gaze up at the moon.

“How so?” She asked over her shoulder, showing off her bare back in the moonlight.

She had MASTERED the over the shoulder look.

It was somehow inviting, scandalous, smoldering… but also entirely innocent and regal. Like she was catching me running my eyes down her smooth, naked back, and could banish me for it. But she wouldn't.

I puffed out my cheeks as air rushed from my lungs.

She tilted her head expectantly.

“Huh?” I asked, following her as I ran my eyes over her, drinking in the vision.

She turned and held up a hand, suddenly serious and stern.

I stopped. And looked down.

I was very close to the edge.

I stepped back as she floated back to me as we giggled.

I instinctively closed my arms around her as she pressed into my chest and we shared a mirthful kiss.

Too soon, she faded again and my arms slipped through her.

“I’ve got to be more careful.” I said ruefully. “Wally always said a pretty girl would be the death of me.”

A shadow fell over Lorna’s face and she drew back, wrapping her arms around herself tightly.

“Hey, hey.” I murmured, holding my arms open.

She drifted between them, and I encircled her, holding my arms around her as she were in my embrace.

“I’m sorry, I was kidding. It's ok.” I soothed, bewildered by the sudden strong reaction. “What's wrong, princess?”

Lorna gave me a little smile, with more than the usual amount of mournfulness behind it. She glanced at my encircling arms and melted, placing her hands over my chest. I felt an intense, building longing in her.

“I want you to hold me.” She whispered.

I [spectral waltzed] and squeezed her. She gasped and pressed her cold cheek into my collar bone, clinging to my shirt like she might lose me at any moment.

Which of course she did. My Skill ran out and I slipped through her.

“Sorry.” I said. “We’ll Level up as hard as we can, and I'll be holding you for real before you know it. The other girls too. You know Lucy can't wait to get her hands on you, for realsies.  Almost as much as me.”

Lorna took on a determined look.

“What?” I asked.

“It may be some time before I can maintain extended substantiality. But possession.”

I tilted my head. “I thought you could only do objects or a monster of a lower Level?”

“Unless…” Lorna twisted, staring into the gathering dusk.

A moment later, the sounds of someone stomping through the underbrush floated to us. I thought I recognized the voice, as she cursed in a steady stream between stomps.

I felt Lorna bid me wait, and soon an irritated looking Jennie emerged from the darkness.