Chapter 45: Xzina Ardour

The same purple mist that he trailed before flows from some of her tails and parts of her body. She is clad in a black waterfall skirt and a tucked-in black blouse paired with a small jacket which makes her pure white skin and tails stand out. Her fingers don't look human, they are almost like claws, sharp but beautifully shaped with a hint of purple to them.

She lifts her head up, showcasing short and wavy hair in streaks of white and grey. She opens her eyes slowly, and it turns out that the real deal is far more mesmerizing than the water reflection. So sharp that Neo almost feels like he is getting cut just by their golden gaze.

Neo can't do nothing but stay completely frozen, unable to utter a single word in her presence.

Nae, even if he could, what would he say?

The female in front of him giggles, "A new toy!" she says, her voice soothing and attractive. Some of her tails turn into mist, flying towards Neo.

Neo gulps, standing completely still.

The mist stands in front of him as she manifests back, up close and in front of him facing him, her tails surrounding them.

"Go on, touch me," she seductively commands, staring into his eyes.

Neo raises his arm slowly and it starts to head towards her. Her tails starting to engulf him, closing in slowly as his arm gets closer.

"One touch, with desire. That's all it takes!" she urges, smiling.

Neo's hand gets closer, almost touching her body.

"That's it, love. Let your guard down," she coaxes, still smiling gently.

Her tails still keep closing in, wrapping around them.

. . .

Her tails abruptly stop in their place.

Splash!

 A small object falls on the surface of the water.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

The clear water beneath Neo's feet turns red with each drip.

Neo is breathing heavily, his mouth open as blood dribbles down his teeth from the tongue he's bitten off.

His hand doesn't touch her, and he has retracted it.

"Huh," murmurs the female, rotating around him.

"Interesting, maybe there is something to you. Something that thing can see. That's why it planted a path to you," she remarks, facing him again.

"Tell me more about yourself," she says, smiling again.

Neo looks up at her, still panting.

She chuckles, "What's wrong, love? Fox got your tongue?" she asks, lifting her right hand towards his face. She holds his cheeks with her thumb and first finger.

"Let's find your spot, love!" she says, leaning in to give him a deep kiss.

. . .

Her golden eyes glow.

Neo's eyes glow purple and purple mist starts to leak out from them as he starts to see visions. They are clear visions and continue to come in.

More.

Everything is starting to become clearer.

Until it all suddenly stops.

. . .

She pulls away and uses her left thumb to wipe off some blood spilling from the side.

"This is more intriguing than I thought. Finally, a man that can maybe satisfy me!"

Holding Neo's face still as his tongue starts to regenerate, she places her forehead on his head.

"Entertain me about how you will get everything, and when you do, come and get me," she says but doesn't move her mouth. Neo hears her taunting and enticing voice in his head.

She grabs him by the waist using one of her tails.

"Don't break quickly like my last doll, at least. Here, as motivation, if you entertain me and last long enough, I'll be exclusively yours," she winks, smiling gently.

She starts moving above the water and looks up at him, "Hope you enjoyed your first kiss, love. By yours truly, Xzina Ardour! I am looking forward to the next time I get to taste you," she says, licking her lips.

"Until next time then, Mr. First," she bids him goodbye in a kind and gentle voice as she snaps her fingers, letting go of him.

Instead of falling towards the surface of the water, Neo starts falling up again.

He stays completely silent and contemplates what just happened. Soon, he starts seeing a light, from a hole he is falling towards. Reaching it, he passes through, getting back to where he was underwater. He doesn't move for a second and stays there underwater, looking at the surface above and the light.

"Charlotte!" he exclaims soon after and starts swimming upwards towards the surface.

Emerging out of the water and back inside the whale, he takes a deep breath in.

"Neo!" he hears.

He looks behind him and sees Charlotte in tears.

"You idiot! Where did you go?! I thought something happened to you!"

He swims towards her and gets out, walking towards her slowly while she tears up, unable to muster any more words.

She looks into his eyes, at his expression, and decides to not say anything for now.

Neo picks her up gently and walks towards the inner mouth of the whale again. He rests his back on the wall and slowly starts to slide down until he completely settles.

He sits there quietly as she continues to cry in his arms and calms down shortly after.

They both sit in silence for a long while.

. . .

"Want to get married?" asks Neo, his voice raspy.