Private Jets

Marv ran across the zebra crossing towards the food court at OR Tambo airport. She jiggled as she ran, her crystals and beads hitting each other when she spotted them. There they stood, fresh out of their style runways, while Marv looked like a bohemian rainbow. Arioch stood in a forward black bandhgala with a royal blue and purple dupatta over his shoulder. Minjun stood in a subtle military blazer and his combat boots, while Nandi stood in an elegant boho suit and tight corset. But Marv looked like she just came from a hobbit country. 

She threw the thought behind her and wobbled towards them "Sorry, I am late" she exhaled as the three just looked down at her "But I did say I would meet you at the gate but then I realized, you didn't send me the ticket" she held her bags at her side. 

"No problem. " Nandi placed her hand on Marv's back. "We got time and you won't need a ticket. " 

Minjun appeared next to Marv. "May I take your bags," he smiled down at her. 

"Sure," she handed them over, "so what number is our gate?" 

"Do you need coffee?" Arioch asked Marv with a straight but alluring face hiding behind sunglasses, to which she shook her head "Lets go then" he walked off, not looking back, but Nandi hooked Marv's arms and pulled her along. 

…

Marv was squished between Nandi and Arioch while Minjun sat in the front with the driver. Nandi sat typing on her phone while Arioch stared outside the window. His expression was hard to read behind those sunglasses and wide-brim hat.

"I thought we were going by plane," Marv said when her eyes caught a private jet. 

Nandi turned to Marv "We are"

The car stopped on the tarmac where a matt black jet sat, Minjun opened the door, and Arioch held out his gloved hand for Marv, which she took to get out of the car. Then he proceeded to help Nandi out. He placed his hand on Marv's lower back and escorted her towards the jet. Up the steps onto the red velvet carpet and couches, the dark wooden counters were lined with gold where fruit and pastries sat. 

A flight attendant moved us to our seats. Marv jumped into the armchair and rubbed her fingers onto the smooth red couch. Nandi took a seat at a high table, and Minjun sat behind Marv while Arioch took the seat before her. 

Everyone buckled up as the jets started up, Marv grabbed the armrest, and her knuckles turned white. The anxiety pulled at her throat and the jet's door flew open and the windows shattered while bombs could be heard in the distance. Marv was pushed back in her seat, with her hands shaking and eyes frantically shivering. 

"you need to eat," Arioch said, turning to the flight attendant. "Butter chicken, roti, and curd rice to finish off. " She nodded and slipped away. Minjun appeared next to Marv with a glass of champagne, but Arioch grabbed it from him and took a sip. "Eat," he grunted as the flight attendant placed a steam bowl of butter chicken and roti. "Enjoy" he whispered. 

….

*BANG!!* *BANG!!* "Marvel!! Marvel!! Leave her alone" 

Pain spread up between her legs and bruises burned into her skin, her eyes were swollen shut and her lips felt like two balloons. 

"Noah?" she felt herself say, and she knew she was back but didn't want to be here, not now "NOAH!!!" she couldn't help but scream "NOAH!!! Please…" she whimpered "STOP" cried pushing off hands that touched her "STOP" she pleaded in whimpers and soft grunt "DAMON!!! STOP" she called out in anger and everything stopped. 

Marvel sat up in the red velvet armchair. She was shaking, but she needed to get her body under control. Annoying tears began to fall from her face, which she wiped away quickly, and frustration raised the hair on her arms and the back of her neck. She heard an exhale, and she whipped her head towards Arioch, still sitting before her, like nothing had changed. 

Marv's eyes scanned to room to find Nandi and Minjun sleeping. "How long was I out?" she asked, rubbing her eyes. 

"About thirty minutes," he whispered. 

"I thought vampires don't sleep," Marv said with grit in her voice. 

"We don't. We rest and relive memories," Arioch said, looking at the others. "Are we going to talk about your nightmare?" he stared at her hands. 

Marv looked at him through her eyelashes. "Are we going to talk about the people you killed?" his eyes instantly cast down. 

Arioch's eyes snapped up at her. "You can't guilt trip for something you want to be done to you. " 

Marv gave him a bored expression. "It's not guilt-tripping when your subconscious is doing that for me," she said before laying back down into a fetal position, with her back to him. 

Marv closed her eyes and opened them to an endless sunset sky, on a green plush hill, with her arms at her side and a faint laugh lingering beside her "Noah" she hushed and turned, crossing her arms under her head and smiling at him. 

"taste the sky," he whispered in that smooth but distant voice. 

Arioch didn't like the nerves of the woman who slept before him, her feet shaking. She wasn't her pesky cheerful self, the woman who broke into his manor, who didn't listen to him and talk back. He felt indifferent towards her like he didn't know where he stood with her. 

"Noah," Marv whimpered, but this time wasn't distress or fear or pleading. It was one of nostalgia and delight, like a wonderful memory. 

It made Arioch heart ache so suddenly that he grabbed his chest, a feeling he never felt in years.