Whatever was in the drink, it was hitting me. A warm, tingling sensation spread throughout my body, and the colors of the garden seemed even more vibrant than before. My senses were heightened.

Elijah lead me out of the bar and further into the garden. He seemed to notice the change in me, and grinned. "Feeling it now, aren't you?"

"A little bit," I nodded, "What is it?"

"Just something."

At this time in the evening, there was fairly enough moonlight which glinted over every face I crossed by. There were scattered cabins all around the area, women and men walking in and out, some of them barely even clothed.

My brows furrowed, but I didn't question the surrounding. The silence was beginning to envelop around me, and my heart beat began to race.

We followed a winding path, passing through archways of flowers and beneath towering trees that seemed to spark with a subtle, otherworldly glow. I wasn't sure if it was reality, or if it was the drink I just had. The trees weren't glowing at the entrance.

Probably me.

The air was thick with a sweet fragrance of fresh flowers, most of them that I had never seen before. They swayed gently in the night breeze.

Eventually, Elijah stopped near a secluded clearing surrounded by lush. In the center, there was a small, crystal-clear pond, reflecting the moon and stars above. The water rippled gently, casting shimmering patterns. Near to the pond, there were several large flowers that caught my attention.

Their petals were wide and velvety, creating a beautiful display of colors. The hues shifted from deep indigo to vibrant violent, with a hint of blues and greens. The flowers stood tall, reaching up to five feet in height, their thick stems sturdy and covered in soft fuzz.

Without a warning, Elijah plucked one out and bought it to me. "These are Moonlit Melodies," He paused, bringing it closer. "They only bloom here. It's believed that the scent they release can numb parts of your mind, send you in a trance, quite similar to the drugs they have in the mortal world."

My hand wrapped around the flower and I lowered my head. It emitted a captivating scent, a blend of jasmine and honey.

"Take deep inhales."

I wasn't sure where this was heading to, but there was nothing stopping me tonight. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, allowing the intoxicating aroma of the Moonlit Melody to fill up my lungs. The scent seemed to penetrate every part of me, causing a wave of calm to wash over me.

My body relaxed, and the edges of my thoughts seemed to blur, as if I was drifting into a dreamlike state.

For a moment, my vision blurred and I believed I lost balance. My hand went around Elijah's arm as I held myself up.

He chuckled and pried the flower off my hand. "It usually takes a few moments to get used to the effects. Don't worry."

My hand went straight to my head as it began to turn numb. "It feels good." And it did. It took every worry off my shoulders. I didn't think of anything—anything at all.

"It's supposed to."

"I'm going to need more of that." I said, straightening my shoulders and parting my hand away from his arm.

"And you'll get it. Just not here."

We left the pond and went into one of the timber cabin's nestled among the greenery. It wasn't the same one with that woman, or the bar. It was a different one. As we approached the entrance, the door swung open, and a young, beautiful woman walked out.

Quietly, without a single word, she invited us in. Stepping inside, I caught a glimpse of the warm interior, and the few people that were in the cabin. My vision cleared for a moment as Elijah led me up the stairs and into a room.

The room was intimate. A fireplace crackled softly in one corner, making the room warm. There was minimal furnishing, plush bedding on the ground, silk sheets scattered over the bed and a small table with several drinks that stood nearby.

I settled down quickly, giving my feet some rest after all the walking while Elijah plucked the petals of the flower and placed them inside the bowl, before adding some water into it.

He offered the bowl to me and I reached up from the bedding, and took it from him while sending odd glances at his direction.

"Don't even for a second think that you can do anything to me if I get high. I've done plenty of drugs when I was in high-school, I've great tolerance." A warning set off in my tone as I placed the bowl over my lap.

As much as I wanted to enjoy this, I wanted to be sure about Elijah's intentions. He was a tricky man, just like his mother. Maybe he bought me out here to kill me as that would surely bring an end to the curse.

Fuck. My wild thoughts were returning again.

"Don't flatter yourself," he turned away from me and sank the rest of the petals into another bowl. "If you want to stay here, I better not hear anything nasty leaving your mouth when I'm in seventh heaven. I'll be sober by morning, and we'll head back after that. But until then, enjoy and let me too."

I raised the bowl to my face and took a deep inhale of the intoxicating scent. My mind buzzed and my irrational thoughts disappeared along with all my anxiety.

The warmth of the room and the flickering light from the fireplace only added to the atmosphere, lulling me into a relaxed state.

As the effects began to take hold, I couldn't help but steal glances at Elijah. In the dim light, his features seemed softer, and for a fleeting moment, I almost forgot about our feud.

That was until there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

My head snapped to him who remained seated on the ground, his back pressed against the wall and his legs stretched over the bed.

"Who is it?"

His finger reached my mouth, and he silenced me down. "Don't question any thing that happens here."

My head turned away from him and onto the door, where I found a woman walking in. She wore nothing but a silk robe that barely covered her body, and a mysterious smile played on her lips. She carried something in her hand, a plate and my first assumption was food, but I quickly realized it was something else.

"Your usual, Mr. Blackwood. I haven't forgotten it." She said, her voice melodic.

Mr. Blackwood?

I cocked a brow at Elijah, clearly remembering his name, and it wasn't Mr. Blackwood. He gestured me to remain silent while the woman came closer.

"Yes, I'll just have the Starlilies, nothing else in my usual." He said, to her and I quickly recognized the shift of atmosphere between them.

It was clear they had fucked.

"Well, that would be a disappointment, but it's alright," She crouched down and placed the plate of pink lilies above the bedding before stealing a glance at me, and then diverting her eyes back to him. "Would she be your misses, Mr. Blackwood?"

"No," I snapped, breaking my silence. "Never."

"She's just a friend."

Her gaze shifted to me. "It must be your first time here, then?"

"Yes."

"Do you want try the Starlilies? They are magnificent little treats, and Mr. Blackwood enjoy them the most here." She offered me a small, warm smile, her voice like honey.

I hesitated, glancing Elijah for reassurance. He nodded, and I decided to give it a try. After all, I had already let go nerves with the Moonlit Melodies.

She sat down over the bed, nearing me while Elijah watched. The crystal plate was filled with petals, and she picked one with her finger before bringing it closer to me.

They weren't meant to be inhaled, were they?

My lips parted.

"Don't swallow, they are meant to be tasted. Let the favors dance on your tongue and savor the sensation before letting it go." She instructed, her voice soft and soothing.

I nodded, and opened my mouth wider. She placed the petal gently on my tongue before parting away. The solid petal turned into a liquid in my mouth. A burst of sweetness, and then, it was gone by itself, leaving me with a warm, tingling sensation as the other flower had done.

However, this was different.

"Do you want more?" The woman asked.

I didn't hesitate. "Yes."

Her head turned to Elijah, and she asked him. "Should I give her more, Mr. Blackwood?"

"No," He moved away from the wall, and removed something from his pocket before handing it over to her. "That will be all. Ensure no one else comes up here."

The woman smiled and nodded before lifting herself off the bed, and then proceeding to leave the room.

"I wanted more." I whispered as she left.

Elijah stood up and headed toward the door to lock it. My chest rose and dropped. I peered at him as he returned and stood tall in front of me. My neck stretched back as he placed a hand over my cheek before lowering himself onto the bed.

A shiver ran down my spine.

"And you'll have." A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes before he picked up one of the petals from the plate and bought it close to me.

Knowing where this was heading, I couldn't deny, or stop it.

He placed the petal on my tongue, and it melted in my mouth, sending waves of electricity through my body. It was addicting, surely. His hand went underneath my chin, gripping it while he leaned in. Heat grew between us. His lips brushed mine, and I felt his tongue slip into my mouth.

The taste of the petal mixed with his taste, and I felt like I was floating on a cloud.

The kiss lasted for only a mere second before he pulled away. "You like that?"

I nodded, unable to speak.

"Good," He gripped my chin and raised my head. "Because there's more where that came from."

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