The Ossuary: Soul and Bone

Chapter 5

When she woke again Ingrid felt different. She could feel she was in a warm bed, covered in thick blankets and furs. She lied with her eyes still closed trying to process what had happened.

"She had died", she thought. "Or had she?"

If she had died then how was she still here? She was forming thoughts. She had a body.

"Wait, did she still have a body?" she thought as panic filled her.

She ran her hands up and down her torso, patting her body. Her skin was warm to the touch. Everything felt normal. She tentatively opened one eye, peering down at her body. Everything appeared normal. She heard a soft chuckle from across the room. The man from last night stood near the window, watching her. She assessed the room, It had stone walls, and a fireplace that was lit with warm embers. The room was decorated nicely, if not a little extravagant for her taste. Dark red curtains draped over the windows. It appeared to be dusk outside. If she had to guess, she was in a castle of some sort.

"You!" she shouted jumping out of the bed, racing over to the man.

She didn't know if she would even be able to fight this man, he was definitely much taller and muscular than her. But she didn't care. Anger flared inside of her as she approached him. Suddenly he turned away from her.

"You may want to put some clothes on before you try to murder me." he said.

Ingrid looked down at her naked body, her anger turning to embarrassment as her body flooded with heat. She retreated to the bed pulling a blanket across her body.

"What is happening?" she said with confusion in her voice.

The man took a step toward her, pulling a stool to the edge of the bed, so that they were eye to eye.

"What do you remember?" he asked.

Ingrid's thoughts began to swirl around like a storm cloud slowly clearing as she replayed the events from the night before.

"I died", she said.

"Yes." he replied matter of factly, "What else?"

She thought for a moment.

" You can read my thoughts. Who are you?"

The man leaned in closing the space between himself and Ingrid. Electric shot through Ingrid's body as fire formed in her core. She hated the way her body responded to him. Who was he to deserve sure desire?

"My name is Ciaran." he said in a thick, deep voice.

She looked into his seagreen eyes, lost in their depths for a moment.

"Ciaran," she whispered.

The air between the two was tense. She felt herself filled with a deep need as her aroisal dampened. She suddenly wanted him to touch her. To feel his skin on hers. She wanted to feel his strong arms embrace her. To feel his length pressed into her. A smirk made its way across his mouth, and she was suddenly very aware that he could read her thoughts. Anger boiled within her as she shoved him away with all of her force.

"What do you want from me?" she shouted.

"Well it seems not as much as you want from me at this moment," he said as the corner of his lips twitched.

Her face reddened.

"What are you?", she cried.

Just then there was a knock at the door. A short round man, with a balding head peered through the door.

"Forgive my intrusion sir, but the Council has requested your presence in light of recent..." he glanced over at Ingrid, "events".

"Of course," Ciaran replied.

He grabbed a neatly folded pile of clothing from the table and handed it to Ingrid.

"Here, get dressed.", he said. "We have much to discuss, but I must attend to this first."

"Meet me in the dining room once you are dressed."

Ian can show you the way." he said, gesturing to the small man.