Levi sighed in contentment as he eased himself into the hot tub on the deck of the cabin. While dealing with the Sellers family and their guests had been an awkward affair, the money they put up for an upgrade in accommodations was very welcome. Levi wasn’t confident the propane water heater in the initial place he had booked would even put out enough hot water for Lorelei to shower let alone himself.

He looked down at the water. Though distorted, it was still easy enough to make out the scars on his torso, evidence of a long career fighting for The Congregation. He knew that if he could see his back the remains of the burn left by Beth would be readily apparent. While he had been patched up quickly after the fight it had been a rush job and the after the fact salve Talise had given him would take time to restore his skin to its former glory.

“I should really get these things taken care of,” he muttered.

“Wow, that’s a lot,” he heard someone else say.

Noelle stepped onto the deck in her swimsuit and a can in each hand. He shouldn’t have been surprised, neither by the suit (he had told her the bring it for swimming) nor her being awake (he had learned over the months that she kept odd hours) but seeing the figure she cut on the moonlight still caused his heart to skip a beat.

“What? You’ve never seen someone shirtless before?” he retorted.

“I’ve never seen you shirtless before,” sniped Noelle as she eased herself into the hot tub. “Nice muscles.”

“That’s what you’re focused on?”

“Oh boo-hoo. You want me to comment on that patchwork adorning your chest? You look like my grandma’s old tablecloth. What’s with the ‘getting these things taken care of’ comment anyways? Feeling self-conscious?”

“No. It’s just that you can avoid or get rid of scars with the right spells and tools. It’s like getting your teeth whitened at the dentist.”

Noelle wordlessly tossed one of the cans towards Levi as a response. He gently caught it before looking at the label. It was beer. A cheap, corny brand of beer at that. The type you’d fine littering the floor of a frat basement.

“Do you really go for this stuff?” Levi asked.

“It fits my budget.”

“Still, I pegged you as someone with fancier tastes.”

“That’s because I am. I just wanted to try this stuff to understand what a poor loser like yourself sees in it.”

You mean you bought it for me, thanks. Levi decided it best to keep that reply to himself.

“Enough of this,” said Noelle, “where’s my compliment?”

“Your what?”

“A beautiful maiden has appeared before you, complimented your scars, and given you a fine beverage. I think she deserves a compliment of her own, don’t you?”

“Um…your hair…is extra silky today.”

“That’s so insincere.”

“Your eyes are really…sparkly in the moonlight.”

“You have three seconds to give a real one before I reprimand (kill) you.”

“Whoa! I feel like you said something really scary under your breath!”

“One…”

“Um…”

“Two…”

“Well…”

“Thr- ”

“Y-your breasts look really great in that swimsuit!”

She threw her can at him.

Having said her piece, Noelle turned to rest her arms on the ledge of the hot tub. She stared up at the moon, no longer paying attention to Levi.

He had been grasping at straws when giving out his compliments, but it wasn’t like they weren’t truthful. Her hair really was nice and so were her eyes. The way she looked up out of the water and the backlight of the hot tub and moon framing her body were things nobody in their right mind could complain about seeing.

Noelle’s head turned ever so slightly, just enough so she could make eye contact with Levi. She brought her hands up and began to stretch, looking at him from the corner of her eyes all the while. The motion of her arms caused her shoulders to roll, emphasizing her back muscles and shoulder blades.

It was nice.

She continued to stare at him.

It was…nice…

She continued to stare at him.

“You like?” she chaffed. “I thought the curve of the back and the shoulder blades were the best aspects of a woman?”

“Shut up,” he mumbled, turning to face away from her. He gazed out into the woods absentmindedly as he sipped his drink. If he cut Noelle off for long enough she’d get bored and calm down.

Subtle movements in the water told him that Noelle was moving closer to him. It wasn’t like she was a threat so there was no need for him to turn around and face her.

Still, he did a little jump when he felt the coolness of her fingers on his back.

“Does it hurt?” she asked, as she pressed her palm flat.

“No. It wasn’t even life threatening. I’ve had nastier injuries.”

“When you were working for The Congregation? You should tell me some stories. Y’know, get it off your chest.”

“Because I don’t need to get anything off my chest? You just want to hear about me getting hurt!”

“Hmph!” Noelle removed hand and slapped him on the back. The sound of her hitting him was distressingly loud as it reverberated through the night.

“How’d you like that five-star, bitch?”

“Is something wrong with you today?” sighed Levi as he faced Noelle once again.

“I should be asking you that,” she replied. “What’s with this friend you’re running off to see tomorrow?”

“Oh, him? That’s nothing!”

“It does when it has something to do with Lorelei. Don’t even try to deny it, there’s no way you would be so secretive over anything else!”

“I-I don’t even know who that is!”

“You get lowlier and less intelligent by the day, I swear,” Noelle complained as she rapped Levi’s shoulder with her knuckles. “Tell me this at least…is it something we should be worried about?”

“…I hope not.”

“And if there is…you’ll tell us right away?”

“…of course,” he conceded.

“Fine,” she said, sitting back down in the water and bringing her can to her lips.

“Just like that?” he asked.

“If I get mad again I can always take it out on you later.”

Levi felt around his pockets to double check. Wallet, keys, filter; everything was present and accounted for.

He had assumed he would be waking up early enough to slip out unnoticed, but that wasn’t the case. Everybody except the two teens and Emily was already awake. Wide awake at that. Levi could pump himself with some magic to wake up faster, but the others were simply freaks. People with fancy degrees and careers were just built different, early to rise and late to go to bed. Even Noelle was up, and she had stayed outside to tease him into the early AM.

She watched him out of the corner of her eye as he opened the door. He’d have to tell her what was going on sooner or later.

That was assuming if anything was going on. It could be nothing, though the bad feeling in the pit of his stomach argued otherwise.

He almost made it to the car before Andrew intercepted him.

“Going somewhere?”

“Just into town. Picking up a few things.”

“I’ll tag along. We never had the chance to really speak last night.”

“Oh no, I couldn’t trouble you like that!”

“It’s already decided! Let’s go!”

It had been ten minutes of small talk with no sign of stopping as Levi drove to Bar Harbor. Andrew presented an enigma. The man had dated Noelle, after all. There must be some dark facet to him, but he was ordinary so far.

Too ordinary at that, like he was trying to blend in. Noelle said he had cheated on her several times. His relationship with her could have been just like this, a veneer of politeness as he worked his way towards what he really wanted.

A snake coiling around Levi’s throat.

He’d sooner take a million and one acerbic but honest comments from Noelle before voluntarily being stuck with Andrew, yet here he was. It was only a matter of time before the man played his hand.

“We’ve beat around the bush long enough. I guess I’ll just get to the point,” Andrew abruptly stated.

“I’m listening.”

“I want you to hand her back to me.”

“Hand?” Levi’s grip on the steering wheel tightened.

“Oh, my apologies. It’s just that one tends to assume when a man and a woman show up together.”

“We’re just friends.”

“Then that should make this easy,” Andrew said as he leaned back in his seat, folding his hands. To him, anything he was about to request was bound to happen.

“I think what Noelle does is up to her.”

“Of course, but I think she’ll see things my way soon enough.”

Levi was about to protest that line of thinking, but Andrew barreled on unprompted.

“The Sellers family is a good one. They have money, brains, status…just as much as my own. It’s a natural fit, wouldn’t you say? Her parents as well as mine have already given their approval.”

“I’m not under the impression the two of you like each other very much.”

“The marriage is what matters. That bitch can do whatever she wants once we take our vows. Lord knows I will.”

Levi’s arm jerked before he could stop himself. There was a satisfying crunch as his elbow smashed into Andrew’s face. Droplets of blood were flung from the impact, splattering against the window and the dashboard.

“You son of a bitch! I’ll kill you for that!” roared Andrew as blood flowed freely from his nose.

“Kill,” murmured Levi, “You don’t even know what that means.”

“You wish!” Andrew went to grab Levi’s hair.

Levi didn’t even have to look to grab Andrew’s wrist before it could reach him.

“You won’t have to find out,” said Levi as he gathered magic in his filter to a fever pitch.

There was a flash of light and Andrew fell silent for a moment before coming to.

“Ugh! What’s all this?! Blood?! Shit my nose hurts!”

“Are you okay?” asked Levi, feigning ignorance. “I had to brake suddenly because of a deer. You hit your face pretty hard on the dash.”

“Just my luck,” growled Andrew. “Great seatbelts this hunk of junk has. Be sure to give me the name of the rental agency you used later. I have some choice words for them.” He fell silent, opting instead to cover his nose with his shirt to control the bleeding.

“Sure,” replied Levi. Only ten minutes to go before they reached town. Hopefully Andrew would stay blissfully quiet for all of them.