Living Forest

He is taking way too long… Hope thought, holding a paintbrush between her fingers, shaking it from one side to another. It's been over one hour. Should I call him up? She asked herself, her eyes locked on the unfinished work in front of her, but her mind now was already diverging from the piece of art.

The sky had already darkened, and dinner was served in the Salvatore School, but wanting to have dinner with her boyfriend, Hope had been putting off dinner, waiting for John, after he texted her saying he would be a little late.

However, that text was sent by him more than one hour ago. And by this moment, hunger was not the only reason for Hope to wonder why he was late, worry was starting to take a presence as well.

The only thing stopping her from reaching out to him earlier was the thought he might be occupied with something related to the Dragon. But after so long, the worry overwhelming her made her unable to wait more.

"I will text him a message." Hope muttered, putting down the palette and paintbrush on her hands, reaching out for her phone.

But when her fingers brushed the cold surface of the screen, ready to grab the device, she frozen. A slight tremor shook her room. 

Cries came from beyond her opened door, telling her she was not the only one to feel it.

Out of the corner of her eye, Hope glimpsed something in the forest's direction. Approaching her window, she saw it. Roots, as thick as trees, surging higher than the forest's trees' crowns, twisting and coiling in the air, their movements with a certain… intent behind.

"What is happening?" Hope asked herself, despite knowing she wouldn't have answers as she looked at the location where these seemingly huge roots came out. That's exactly where John was.

She saw the roots arch towards the sky, intertwining in an intricate, impenetrable weave, forming a colossal dome-like structure, trying to seal out the entire area off the forest for some reason.

But then, through the small spaces between the fast enclosing roots, a searing red glow erupted, illuminating the forest partially, as a pair of scorching red energy carved through the roots, burning it with intense heat, splitting them apart as the two crimson lights traveled across wherever the roots were, leaving a scenery of roots falling in blazes wherever it passed. Casting a dreadful but beautiful scenery, the blazing embers illuminating the looming night.

The scenery unfolding froze her in place. The scarlet flames engulfing the vegetation sent a slight shiver across her spine, spreading throughout her body, trying to root her feet to the floor of her room.

Fear gripped her, the scene before her was different than anything she'd ever seen.

Dread spread through her, cold and suffocating, making her legs feel like lead.

But, the same sentiment that tried to control her mind was also the one to make her take action. Because fear, just as it was paralyzing, was a great motivator to act.

Because, this same fear whispered in her mind. What if something happened to him?

"John!" She screamed, jumping through her window, running over the school's roof. Her pupils dilated, heartbeat quickened and movements turned restless as she fastened her pace. 

These signs of anxiety, fear, worry for someone dearest to her, these emotions were enough to push aside her rationality, making her act out of impulse.

When she less noticed, Hope perceived she had crossed half the distance between the school's roof and the ground, with she attempting to find balance when her feet landed against the dirt beneath; leaving two prints on it. 

At the moment her balance was barely established, her strength was revealed by the pressure imposed by her feet, the footprints on the ground getting deeper. 

"Hope, wait!" Alaric shouted, breaking out of the school, his clothes ragged by the suddenness of the situation. 

His words were not enough to get her attention, barely brushing her ears, ignored as the feminine figure turned into a blur running towards the woods, disappearing under the embers falling and the darkness casted by the trees' branches.

However, overlooked by the girl, the trees around her trembled. A faint creak echoed through the forest. Then, a deep, groan of straining wood, the scrape of bark shifting unnaturally. 

To the ears of all living beings, the sound would be seemingly familiar to when they wake up after a long slumber, their body rigid from a long night of sleep. 

However, in this case, the sleep lasted more than just one night, it lasted dozens, maybe hundreds of years.

And when these sounds were becoming loud enough to be impossible to ignore, Hope halted her steps, but not for long as a faint but sharp sound hissed against the back of her neck. 

Screech…

Down! Her mind screamed. Following her instincts, she barely dodged the swift movement of a branch that tried to take her head. 

Looking up, Hope's eyes went wide, the scene strangely calming her down in her rush.

Trees uprooted themselves from the soil, the dirt falling off their roots and leaves trembling in the air, but without the aid of it, just by the swing of the branches. Their movements were full of intent, but their rigid nature makes them lack fluidity.

Hope's breath hitched as she took in her surroundings, overwhelmed by the unnatural sight.

"What the fuck is happening…?" She courted out, watching the trees move in her direction.

 …

"Interesting." John muttered under his breath, floating in the air, watching over the situation around him. 

His eyes glowed a dangerously crimson red, the lights coming out from them searing through the endless roots that engulfed the space around him, the smell of scorched bark and wood hanging in the air.

Without the necessity of him moving, the crimson rays bended in the air, finding the right angle to strike the coming attacks from behind.

The crimson lights started to appear everywhere, creating after-images that hung in the air, intertwining between them, forming the image of a crimson red web that defined a limit, a borderline that no roots or vines were capable of crossing despite their numbers.

The seared through plants fell down on the ground, the embers dancing over their burned edges igniting the grass beneath, the temperature in the air rising because of the fire and the crimson lights.

However, before the fire could spread more, a huge root broke out of the ground, using its huge size to fall over where the fire was forming, the impact blowing out the fire, leaving only embers that were blown to the air.

Conscious movement or self-preservation instinct? John murmured internally, observing the scene ahead of him. I imagined it would have a repulsive reaction to hot things since it's a plant. Let's see how much. 

With a hand raised in front of his body, palm faced forward, a whisper escaped the lips of the young man. "Igni." 

At the pronunciation of the word, the magical energy present in him swirled, obeying the speaker's command. 

A searing orange glow spread across the large palm, the alteration of the magic into fire heating up the air around the hand. 

From the middle of the palm erupted a striking brilliant fire, a torrent of flames forming and consuming the space ahead, the countless plants shrinking in pain by the burning sensation the fire brought.

Within one second since the cast of the spell, the fire consumed a circular area the size of a small house, going deeper into the intertwined vines and roots, the fire spreading viciously, turning the suffocating green forest into a black lifeless area that just expanded, a void in that direction of the living forest that enclosed the young man.

Screech!!!

Strangely, it seemed the forest itself screamed, the trees expressing a behavior similar to what one would expect from someone when burned alive—Pain.

Interesting. With his eyes locked over the withering trees and shaking vines and roots, an amused expression took over the young man's face. It seems to have a certain pain threshold. It didn't react so outwardly earlier. But I wonder what- Hm? 

At the middle of his thought process, John found himself forced to stop it and observed the scene ahead of him.

While the fire spread itself across the countless vines and roots, the ones still unscathed, after the response to the pain, acted. Through the forest, countless vines and roots started to cut through the air, the results of their actions a simple one, cutting down the damaged plants from the healthy ones, separating them from the group before they spread the fire to the others.

Severing its own parts to prevent more damage… Again, a conscious movement, or a self-preservation instinct? John wondered inwardly, observing the seemingly living forest around him purposefully harm itself to prevent further damage. 

Everything happened quickly, in a moment, the thousands of plants burning started to fall to the ground, leaving an entire area of the living forest devoid of plants, devoid of life.

Rustling…

After the purge of the damaged plants, the entire forest seemed to have suffered some sort of change. The leaves hanging onto the branches and vines rustled differently. Earlier, they moved according to the movements of the trees and the blow of the wind, following the wishes of those they relied on to exist. But now, things seem to be different.

They behaved with individuality, each one doing what they wished, pointing in different directions and dancing at their own rhythm. 

And at the same time, they seemed to share all their existence together, their dances forming a cheerful choreography, a festival of their own. 

"What is happening?" John muttered, noticing the changes. A shiver, not of threat, running down his spine. But something in what was happening in front of him intrigued this instinctual response. 

Succeeded by the change transpiring across all the forest, an intriguing scene happened. 

The plants, every single one of them damaged earlier by the fire, and had to lose an extension of them by the others so as not to spread the fire, started to grow back to their previous state at an alarming rate. 

Second by second, the plants started to recover from their previous loss, filling the empty space of the forest in moments. 

And while all of that happened, John looked at the scene with fascination, his expression lightened by his own curiosity.

"Well, that's rather inte-!" Once again, the young man found himself halting his words. But now, for different reasons.

In front of him, carrying a strength greater than any seen previously and slicing the air with a velocity that didn't belong to its nature, the young man, eye-widened, observed the colossal vine looming over him, its size eclipsing the moonlight that attempted to illuminate this enclosed space through the small breaches of the plants.

Boom! 

The impact of the vine and an invisible barrier sent ripples through the air, the force making the barrier bend for a second, a result that brought more than surprise, it also brought a slight worry. 

"Shit…" John groaned, the strength behind the impact being far greater than he expected. 

Boom! 

Raising his left hand, the young man looked just in time to see another huge vine trying to reach him again, with the same viciousness as the previous.

Crack…

"Are you fucking kidding me?" John muttered, the noise coming from below making him look down, only to see what he expected. 

Dozens of roots, thicker than any truck, breaking out of the ground, shooting in his direction. 

However, their target was not only him. Amidst the roots, some aimed for their other and primary target all this time, something that was behind the young man and floating in the air alongside him, protected by him. 

They were attempting to kill the Dragon. 

Raising his hands, more out of habit than necessity, the young man started to form telekinetic shields around the dragon and himself, stopping attacks from hitting them. 

Boom! 

With every clash, the sound of the impact rippling across the air echoed through the night, adding a frightening and even warring sentiment to the scenery. 

The attacks came from all angles, waves of plants trying to overwhelm the boy with a singular strength.

And the attacks didn't come only from the humongous vines and roots, hundreds, even thousands of the more normal or tree-thick ones attacked him, constantly trying to invade the barrier.

Is it my impression, or their numbers also grew exponentially? John thought up, calmly. Trying to keep his emotional state steady, unwavering.

And it was because of the clarity of his mind, amidst the situation, that he was capable of listening with clarity the familiar voice that brushed against his ears despite the constant ripple of the air and the sound of impacts resounding through space. 

"John!"

"Hm?" Hearing his name being called by that familiar voice, the young man's attention diverged for a moment, his eyes seemingly piercing through the endless roots and vines, seeing the girl who was so important to him and calling for him at a certain distance from him.

With a swift response, the young man reached out to the mind within his range, connecting with it without alert on his part.

Hope, what are you doing here?! John promptly asked.

Trying to find you, obviously! Hope immediately replied, a little too strong in her tone. Where are you?! 

I am still quite deep in the forest. Don't come here, the situation has grown a level. The young man responded, splitting his mind temporarily to have a certain focus on the talk and the situation in front of him.

More explanation, please? She asked— demanded.

Short version? Being capable of manipulating plants trying to kill me and the dragon. He replied, nonchalantly even. 

Listening to these words, Hope's expression shifted slightly. Why does it want to kill the dragon? 

It's simple, actually. We know someone sent the dragon, this someone knows we very probably didn't kill the dragon. So, it sends something else to possibly deal with the dragon, probably to prevent leak of information. If we had already taken care of it, then it just needs to take care of us. In the end, it will have one goal or multiple ones. John said, immediately frowning a little when noticing that the impacts over the telekinetic shields were getting stronger. Threateningly so. In some areas, the shields were getting weaker, getting weared off by the plants' strength.

Smart move, despite its simplicity. Hope said, understanding everything. 

I agree. John said, a little casually. But at his end, his expression took a thoughtful form, all because of what transpired across his mind.

Any idea what are we dealing with? Hope asked, unaware of her boyfriend's thoughts.

I have a few guesses. Well, I'm taking into account that whatever we are dealing with is just like the dragon, a mythical creature we thought to not exist, but actually is real somehow. I am basically going through my mind about any mythological being that has plant-related abilities. John said, opening a small space over the barrier, large enough so only a single vine that was shooting at that location at that moment passed through it.

Then I presume you know how to deal with it. 

I have a few ideas, but the situation is quite tricky to deal with because of whatever we are fighting. He said, grabbing the vine immediately. 

How so? Hope asked. 

What we are dealing with is something that apparently not only can manipulate plants, but it can become part of them as well. John said, his eyes wandering the surroundings, looking into something not revealed at the surface. You see, earlier, I felt like something was looking at me. And, strangely, all my senses pointed in a single direction, the trees.

Then, you are saying that whatever we are fighting against, can become one with the forest itself? Besides having the power to control plants? 

Yes. John mentally nodded. There might be some details we are missing, but that's the gist of it. He added.

Okay, do you have any idea how- At the middle of her words, Hope had to dodge incoming attacks from a pair of trees swinging their branches against her. -how to deal with it? 

Yes. Unfortunately, it will be a drastic one. John said, burning down the vine he had been holding all this time, constantly trying to fight against his grip. I just did a location spell with a plant that apparently seemed to have… the essence of this being? 

Essence? 

I don't know what to call. It's this strange existence coursing through every single plant alongside the magic. John said, looking at what was hidden from the normal eyes. 

In every plant in his sight, every root, every leaf, every vine and every tree, the young man noticed something peculiar coursing through them besides the higher than normal amount of magic in them. Something that seemed intent, to possess a certain level of intelligence.

It seemed to be a will of sorts, but more. The young man didn't know how to explain it exactly, since this was the first time he saw something like it, despite its similarities with what Malivore did in the mind of the Dragon.

And, intertwined with that essence was an almost unperceived black energy, present everywhere it was as well.

Okay, and what you learned? Hope asked.

What we already know. That it's everywhere. Every single plant that moves, it has its presence on it. It's not wrong to say that it became one with this part of the forest by what I can see. John explained.

Then, let me guess. To deal with it, we need to take down the whole forest? Hope hurriedly asked, doing her best to parry and evade more incoming attacks.

It seems so.

Are you really suggesting it?! Taking down a whole part of the forest? Of how much destruction are we talking about?! These plants are stretching for hundreds of meters from what I saw earlier. How do you plan to destroy all of this? Hope said, disgruntled at the idea proposed. With an almost mental deep sight, she added. Tell me you have a better idea.

Unfortunately, none at the moment. None that I could think of and think it might work somehow. John replied, truthfully. At the moment, he couldn't think of a better idea. Locator spells don't seem to appoint a main figure we could focus on. I tried to invade this apparent magical system with my own magic, but the results also proved worthless. 

How worthless? Hope asked.

What I was doing was basically fighting its essence and magic with my own magic, infusing my own magic in an attempt to make it lose control of the plants. John said.

And?

Not feasible considering the scenery. We might have enough magic to do it, but it can simply retreat to other plants if the plant we are trying to do is merely connected to any other vegetation. We would only be spending our energy. Not to mention it seems to have some "home advantage" when I'm doing it. John explained, his response mildly annoyed by his results.

Faced with the results, Hope quickly ran through her mind in an attempt to find something that could deal with the current situation. 

Then how about a Locking Spell? Hope suddenly proposed.

…Never heard of this spell. John said, intrigued by the mention of it. Care to elaborate? 

Basically, we could use it to lock its existence to this part of the forest. Essentially, it would not weaken it or ultimately deal with it, but it would make it impossible for whatever we are fighting to leave the space we mark. She quickly explained, a little fast in her thoughts even for the already fast pace of this mental conversation. 

Can you show me a mental image of the spell? John asked, wanting to see the intricacies of this spell.

Not everyone can make their mind work flawless in dire situations. Hope said, her answer directly.

Considering the current circumstances, she found it extremely hard to show the magical formula of this spell. 

Then, do you think you can manage casting the spell alone? I will try to keep it occupied while you do it. John said. Lowing down a shield, letting a dozen vines and roots pass by, just to cut them down before raising the shield once again.

I wouldn't suggest a spell I don't know how to cast. Hope said, taking a few steps back in the school's direction.

Do you need anything? John asked.

You said every moving plant basically has a part of this being within it, correct? And what if they are cut off? 

They will be locked within that plant from what I can see. But as I said, any physical contact with any other vegetation and it can retreat. John replied.

Okay, I got it. Back me up, I'll be done with it soon. Hope said, retreating from the forest, running through the attacks launched by the branches and vines. 

Relax, do what you must do. No harm shall come to you while I am here. John said, feeling her going farther from him.

After he noticed she was about to leave the woods, he returned his full focus to the situation around him, facing the endless vines and roots that seemed to just be continuously appearing.

"Okay, wood-brain. Let's see if you can entertain me." John said, his eyes glowing golden for a moment, the air getting heavy by his words.

[Hope's PoV]

"Ventus!" I shouted, my hand producing a sharp potent wind that cut down a branch that tried to pierce my tight, the plant falling on the air in front of me, still shaking and moving.

I caught it before it could hit the ground, gripping it tightly as I sprinted towards the school. As I ran, I infused the branch with my magic to see something.

It really has a resistance. A strong one at that. 

Although it wouldn't take much to overwhelm it with my magic, considering what John said earlier, it seemed really impossible to deal with whatever this thing was with the method he told me.

Fortunately, what I have in mind will only require this small branch for things to work out. And that way, we don't need to burn down the whole forest. 

Approaching the limits of the woods, I started to see a few figures in the open field behind the school, which separates the building and the forest. Among them, one I would need his help.

"Dr. Saltzman!" 

"Hope, please tell me you know what's happening!" He shouted as well, facing me with a clueless expression. 

"No time to explain, take the students back into the school. I've got work to do." 

"Not before you tell me what's happening. Why are you holding a branch? Where is John?" He asked me. 

But before I could say anything, I turned around because of a sound that I caught.

Boom!

Breaking out of the ground, a huge root shot in our direction, trying to smash us with its strength.

When I was about to cast a defensive spell, the root stopped in mid-air for a fraction of a second, only to be later pulled in the forest direction. 

And although Dr. Saltzman couldn't hear it, I could hear the voice coming from the deepness of the forest. 

"I am your opponent!" 

"See? No time to explain. Please, retreat with the students while I deal with it." I said, ordered actually, and waited no reply before I turned around, holding the branch with both hands as I closed my eyes to concentrate. Just hopefully that Dr. Saltzman would listen to my words.

And fortunately, although I could not see it, I could hear him sigh and turn around. "Everyone, back off to the school! This is an emergency situation! Those who do not obey will be suspended, with the possibility of expulsion!" He shouted, and I could immediately listen to everyone who was at the open field running back to the school, Dr. Saltzman as well. 

The less presence around me, the better I can concentrate to cast this spell. 

This was a very old spell I found in my family's house. Many from the past few centuries or millennia, some even older than my family themselves, and that's to say how old these books are.

Emptying my mind, I started to visualize what I intended, while the chants of the spell traveled from my mind to my tongue. 

"Per voluntatem et verbum, vincula texantur…"

As the words from the ancient language escaped my lips, I let my magic flow out, following the course required to properly execute the spell. 

My magic invaded the branch once again, but this time, the amount that invaded it was like a tsunami compared to a soft wave, completely dominating the strange existence within the plant.

Screech! 

From far away, a chilling, otherworldly wail resonated through the trees,as though the very soul of the forest was in agony.

"Hoc esse domui aeternae alligetur…"

Boom! 

In front of me, I heard sounds coming from below, like the ground had broken apart and from it something rose.

And my mind warned me. It told me if I didn't move right now, I wouldn't be able to see the next second. My life as a mortal would cease and be reborn as an immortal.

But against my own instincts, I remained in place. Because my own subconscious might not have the belief that my consciousness had him. Because I believed in his words, an assurance greater than any to me.

And when my mind seemed to be screaming at me, feeling the dread looming closer, the sensation suddenly disappeared, vanishing into nothingness.

And alongside it came a gust of wind that slightly blew my face, like a fast object that suddenly came to a halt close to me.

"I expect you weren't scared there. It would pain me knowing you don't believe in my word." That familiar voice brushed against my ears, getting from me a smile that just naturally came out.

"Continue the spell. I will do my part." He said to me, I could feel his presence passing by me, standing in front of me. 

And as he put himself there, separating me from the threat that assaulted us. For a moment, amidst the darkness created by my closed eyes, I could see a light, glowing faintly, without form. 

"Iter fractum…" 

More words escaped my lips, and alongside them, my magic stirred, doing its assigned purpose, to lock this being into this forest, forever.

[John's PoV]

The spell Hope was casting seemed to be working perfectly. I could see it, the magic affecting the entire being,the entity attempting to interrupt the spell, probably because it could feel what would happen if she succeeded, it would fail its task. And although I don't know exactly what failing Malivore means, I sure know it wants to prevent it.

And what did it do to prevent it? It threw caution to the wind, using all at its reach to come at us.

In a blink, the sky above me was covered by a swarm of plants, blocking my view from the stars and the moon hanging high. It was almost like the clouds had come down to stop the light from reaching the ground.

The ground broke at every part, its surface changing continuously as countless roots swimmed under it. 

"Nullu gressus ultra, nulla fuga…" Hope said, continuing the spell.

In the meantime she said those words, the attacks were upon me, ready to strIke the next moment if I didn't act.

Fortunately, I was ready for it. 

Stretching my arms out, I summoned all my strength, opening my palms in an attempt to help me achieve what I desired mentally. 

In front of my palms, a barrier started to form, and at an alarming rate, it expanded in all four directions, up, down, left and right. 

In the split moment that took the plants to reach my location, the barrier covered an area that encompassed hundreds of meters horizontally, and pierced through the ground and raised to the skies, protecting us from above and below.

Boom! 

No matter how many times it happened, I was always surprised by not mentally, but how physically affected I was when using my telekinesis to communicate with the world. 

And now, using it to block the literal strongest strike I had ever faced, stronger than any attack unleashed by the dragon, I couldn't help but grit my teeth in pain and the shock I suffered under the impact. 

And strangely, passing my longer over the top of my upper lip, I could feel the slightest sweet taste of my own blood tracing down from my nostril. 

Well, that's new. But considering the headache I am feeling right now, it's understandable. I wonder what level this attack reached. And I wonder how I would be if I had to take another of these attacks.

Fortunately, it seems I won't have to worry about it.

"Fato sigillatum…" The magic around Hope increased by every syllabus she muttered.

The words she formed carried a power that obliged the plants to obey, enforcing them into their location, turning the barrage of attacks into an unmoving scenery. It seemed the living forest had been locked in time. 

"-Sic fiat." At the end of these words, I found the world around me changed in its essence, the spell reshaping reality itself, bending the living forest to Hope's will.

And her will was for the forest to be ever locked in where it appeared for them. 

Whoosh! 

Suddenly, all the plants frozen in place jerked into motion, shooting back to the forest, forced to it by an invisible grip that held all of the living plants and dragged them to a place that would be now its inescapable home.

That, that's Magic. That's what it should be able to do. I told myself, impressive at the result of Hope's spell.

In a second, the tenacious living forest that encompassed the whole open field was gone, leaving it vacant, with only Hope and me present on it.

I slowly made my way to the ground, landing on it and doing the same to the dragon that I had to drag with me all this time.

"Wow…" I said as soon as my feet touched the grass, having a little trouble finding my balance. 

"John." Hope called me from behind.

Turning around, I saw her coming my way, a worried expression stamped on her face. She certainly saw my lack of balance just now.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"I am fine. Just a little tired, I think." I replied, giving off a weak smile, trying to soothe her worry. 

Although it seems it didn't work, she didn't bother with it, just silently worrying about me.

"I guess it's understandable considering all you had to do." She said, taking a look at the dragon resting in the backyard of the school. "It seems everything ended well."

"It seems so." I nodded, letting out a sigh to take off some tiredness in me. "Or at least for now." I said as I turned around once again. This time, to face the forest. 

Hope followed my movements and looked into the woods from where we were. 

"Are you seeing it?" I asked her. 

"Yes…" She replied, looking at the same place as me.

Between the woods, hidden beneath the darkness created by the trees' crowns, two full weary green eyes hung in the air, looking at us… in what I could say to be interest and a little of respect despite the aloofness it expressed as well. 

And looking at those eyes, that seemingly just vanished from existence a moment later, an eerie stillness settled in my chest, a fear that I didn't feel in a long time.

 I couldn't help but feel a shiver run down my spine. And this time, by a slight fear I didn't feel in a while.

"Are you sure you don't want to let me burn the forest and end whatever we are dealing with?" I asked Hope, trying to sound unwavering despite the tiredness I felt when talking. 

It seems that attack took more of my energy than I expected. 

"Yes. I am happy with this result." Hope said, a small smile forming on her lips. But the happiness she expressed seemed to exceed that small action. 

Hm, I'm curious why she is so happy about not burning down the forest. And I could think about it now or ask her, but truly, I just wanted to sleep, I'm not gonna lie.

"Is it my impression, or are your eyelids getting heavy?" Hope asked me, getting closer to me. 

"Your impression." I said, unfazed. "Although, I wouldn't refuse if my girlfriend wished to take a long and comfortable nap with me." 

"And what are we gonna tell Dr. Saltzman about all of this?" Hope asked, pointing at the direction where the pair of glowing eyes disappeared. 

"Tell him that the forest is off limits by now." I said, turning around and starting to walk back to the school. "And tell him to make sure no one messes with the dragon. I don't want them to wake it up and then I have to wake up to deal with it." I added, passing my arm over Hope's shoulders. "Now, would you please ask me if I wanted to sleep with you?" 

"Actually, I haven't had dinner yet." Hope said, a certain meaning in her words.

"Okay, let's have dinner and go to sleep." 

"If that's what you want…" Hope said, a winning smile on her lips.