Nadine

The bedroom held her scent. Orchids. Threaded with something warmer, harder to name. 

Gabra glanced around. The king-sized bed lay unmade, sheets the deep red of ripe pomegranates, thrown into soft, chaotic folds.

A lacey red bra draped over a velvet arm chair. Heat crept into his ears. 

Nadine shut the heavy wooden door behind them. The fabric of her red dress shimmered as she crossed the room, stopping close. She lifted a hand and caressed his cheek, her fingers lingering as they traced away. 

She was tall, almost as tall as his own lanky frame. 

“Gabra.” His name lingered, slow and sweet. “You’re so… young, yet already powerful.” She tipped her head slightly. “I wish…” A pause. “That amulet should have been yours.”

She straightened, letting out a quiet sigh as she stepped away, taking her warmth with her.

He looked at her, taking in the fall of her raven hair, her skin glowing in the light of the setting sun. 

His hands drifted to his throat, fingers finding the bare leather cord.

“Julian’s keeping the amulet to himself,” Gabra said. “He says he has to work out the safety parameters before we can use it.”

He hesitated, then pushed on, not meeting her gaze.

“He thinks the sense of power could be dangerous. The psychological impact. That it might… drive us mad.”

Nadine studied him. A wistful smile touched her lips, like regret passing briefly through water. 

“Gabra,” she said gently. “How sure are you that he’s acting in good faith?”

Her tone was mild. “Power like that… it can corrupt relationships. Are you really certain he intends to share it?”

She paused. “It’s a heady feeling. The depths it can take you to.”

A sigh, slow and measured. “You’re older than he is. More mature.”

Her gaze sought his. “Wouldn’t you be a better custodian of Gurdjieff’s treasure?”

Gabra twisted the leather cord around his fingers, his jaw set tight. “Julian thinks I’m not ready. That I can’t sustain one pointed attention long enough to really master the amulet.”

“It really sounds like Julian thinks himself superior to you” Nadine said. “Do you think he’s right?”

Gabra flinched, nostrils flaring. “He– ”

He stopped, drew a breath. “He’s been my friend a long time,” he said. “Since we were children.”

Nadine met his gaze. “But you’re not a child anymore, are you. You’re a man now.” 

A knowing curve touched her lips. “And men take what they want.” 

Gabra swayed, the room tipping with him.  “But... I can’t. He keeps the amulet locked up in his bedroom when he’s not working with it. For safety.”

He glanced around the room, taking one step towards the door.

Nadine wound a lock of hair around her fingers, red-polished nails catching the light.“Didn’t you say his parents were out of town today?”

She let the thought settle. “You could climb the tree to the rooftop terrace,” she went on. “And the lock…” She smiled faintly. “That wouldn’t be much to deal with.”

Gabra gave a small laugh. “You’re not serious. That… that wouldn’t even be legal.”

Nadine fixed him with a look. “A wizard like you…”

She let the words hang. “Those petty rules,” she went on softly.  “they aren’t made for one like you.”

Gabra stared back, eyesbrows squeezed together. “What do you mean?” 

Nadine moved nearer, her voice lowering.

“Think of the spells we could cast,” she said. “The power the amulet would awaken in you.”

Her eyes held his. “The true power of the black essence, at our fingertips.”

A faint thrill entered her voice. “We could summon the ancient wizards. Let them teach us.”

“Us?” Gabra’s breath caught.

“Us”, Nadine breathed, leaning in, her gaze lifted to his.

“You could go tonight,” she said softly. “It’s getting dark.” 

She caught her lower lip briefly. “I could drive you.” 

Gabra looked at her, caught and uncertain. “Julian…” He faltered. “He’d never forgive me. He’s—”

He swallowed. “We work together.”

A shy smile touched Nadine’s mouth.

“You and I could work together,” she said.

She eased closer, erasing the space between them, her breath suddenly warm on his face.

Gabra drew in a sharp inhale. Eyes fluttering shut, fingers tightening gently on the leather cord around his neck, his lips brushed hers, light, uncertain.

Nadine stayed close, allowing the moment to linger. 

He drew her in, the kiss turning urgent, clumsy at the edges. 

When he let her go his voice was quiet. “I’ll go.”

A small, satisfied curl played Nadine’s mouth. She slipped a dainty set of lock picks out of her nightstand. The silver caught the last of the light.

Gabra’s eyes widened as she pressed them into the pocket of his jeans.

Nadine took his hand. “I knew you had it in you,” she said, already leading him toward the door.