Connection - Golden Lycans Sequel 3/3 [in progress]

Question Time

***Ophelia***

There is a knock at the door to the flat.

I am the only one not in their room at the time, so I answer it, thinking it may be a member of staff or perhaps one of the other occupants of the building.

When I open the door, there is no longer anyone there, but they have left a box on the floor. I pick it up and take it into the flat, putting it onto the breakfast bar as I open it.

Inside is a large folder. I have a quick flick through it and there are instructions for locating and downloading two phone apps. One app would have all the information about the university, our class schedule, form basic communication with our lecturers, and allow us to upload files for our coursework. The other app was strictly for supplies and food that would get delivered directly to the flat.

"Ooh what is this?" I hear Maddy say behind me, having emerged from her room.

"Information mostly. How to access our class schedule and all sorts," I reply. Maddy peers into the box and removes a grey unmarked box, which she opens.

"Oh! We DEFINITELY need to do this, and there is no time like the present," she exclaims excitedly, before marching off towards the guy's doors and rapping on them loudly with her hand.

Both doors open at once.

"Come on, gather around everyone! It's time to get to know each other using this handy little question game," she says happily. Her eyes fall on Ash as he comes out of his room, "yeah, I mean...I definitely want to get to know you better. Mentally…physically…even spiritually if applicable and necessary."

I can't help but feel second-hand embarrassment from listening to Maddy talk to the guys in such a brazen manner. But at the same time, I wish I had even a quarter of the amount of confidence she appeared to have.

Perhaps it was all talk? I really didn't know....although…perhaps I am about to find out.

The four of us troop over to the modular sofa, Maddy and I on the bottom of the 'U' and the guys taking seats opposite each other on the straight ends. Maddy takes out a handful of cards and splits them into four piles before handing out a pile to each of us. Each card has a question on it.

"Courtesy of this fabulous place, they’ve provided us with some questions to help us get to know each other. How about…we can go around clockwise, and we ALL have to answer. I'll start," she says happily before she crosses her legs up on the sofa comfortably.

"First up; Why did you apply to Vale?" she says, looking at each of us, "So. All my family have worked in public services. I am the youngest in my family, but I am the first to study medicine because basically all the brains and charisma went to me."

She then gestures toward Ash. He puffs his cheeks out a little and nods subtly.

"Well...there is not much to say. My dad is a doctor and my mum is a nurse, so…it’s a family thing. My dad actually did his junior training with Ella Landry, and he now works with her at Gaia, heading up their cardiac medicine department," he says.

"Oh my god have you MET her aside from the interview?" Maddy says. Ash shakes his head.

"Not for a few years, she's pretty busy. I didn't have an interview,” Ash admits, earning an annoyed look from Maddy, “mainly thanks to my Dad, but my grades are pretty high.”

He laughs a little awkwardly before he looks over to Ares. He looks a little shocked for a moment before he takes a deep breath.

"I want to heal people," he says succinctly, fiddling awkwardly with his hands.

"Concise," Ash nods. They are now all looking at me.

"A bit like Ash. My mum is also a doctor. But, my dad works in...well, I guess he's a politician of sorts. I take way more after my mum. I want to understand everything about the biological processes of every species, to help them in any way I can. I think I would quite like to work in a hospital, but ultimately, I want to work at Gaia. I would love to be in the thick of it," I say honestly. They all nod as if in agreement. Ash clears his throat again.

"My turn…what is your claim to fame?" he says with an arched eyebrow, "uh...I mean I don't have one. I guess the fact my dad is a long-term colleague and friend of Ella Landry? That's about it."

He gestures toward Ares who looks a bit puzzled by the question.

"Uh…my life is not that interesting. Although I did meet the king of England twice this summer. My father often fences with him,” he replies. This intrigues me, since he’s referring to my uncle. Now I want to know who his dad is, but…asking would be a little obvious. I look up and realise that everyone is looking at me again.

What do I say?

My mother built this place...my dad is the golden alpha who is the leader of the international supernatural council...my aunt and uncle are the king and queen of the British Commonwealth?

"My aunt is good friends with the actor who was just announced as the next James Bond," I reveal. It's true, but doesn't give the reality of my life away. Maddy looks at me with her jaw wide open.

"Oh my god, have you MET him? He is SO hot," she asks.

"Yeah, I've met him quite a few times. He's a really nice guy and said I could come to one of his premieres one day," I nod. Maddy then decides to hit us all with a blunt statement.

"I f****d an alpha Lycan in the summer," she says quite blithely. The three of us stare stupidly at her.

“What does that mean?” I hear Ares mutter.

"How is that a claim to fame?" Ash then asks quite loudly. Evidently it isn’t, but I get the impression that Maddy really just wanted to tell us all that and this seemed like a good 'in' for her to do so.

"Well, that would depend on the alpha," she says with a sultry expression.

"Are you going to say who? Not that we have any clue who they are, of course," Ash asks. Mads shakes her head.

"Nope. He's an heir to the second largest pack in the country. I met him in the Lake District over the summer. His dad runs a massive whiskey company,” she says, and I wince a little, because this is most definitely my quasi-cousin Azrael. Arguably…this could be a claim to fame...

“…they don't exactly date humans, do they? But I highly recommend crawling into bed with one and having a good old howl yourself, if any of you get the chance," she adds, looking slowly towards me with flick of her eyebrows.

I feel my cheeks go pink at the idea. I am an alpha Lycan.

Sort of.

I couldn’t say my regretful ‘fumble’ at Exton with a random beta had been ‘howl-inducing’, if I were honest.

"Your turn, Ares,” Maddy says softly. He clears his throat and looks down at the cards in front of him.

"Uh...name a talent that you possess," he says with a sigh, looking as if he can't decide if he has any talents.

"I am highly dextrous and have excellent hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness. Remarkably so. I know I will make a good surgeon."

"That's cool, man," Ash says with an approving nod.

Ares then turns his insanely dark eyes towards me, issuing a slight eyebrow movement to indicate that it's my turn. My talents were probably all tied up in my entirely dormant genetics.

Ares' expression looks inquisitive as I consider the question and how I can actually answer.

"I genuinely don't have a talent," I admit sadly, feeling a little emotional at this, "I mean...I'm smart. I got an unconditional offer to study here and never had to interview. But that isn't a talent. I like to play basketball with my dad...but that's...it."

"I happen to be epic at blow-jobs," Maddy announces. Ash and I burst out laughing.

"Seriously, is every answer going to be s****l, with you?" Ash asks.

"Well, like everyone here, I'm also an academic beast. But...I do happen to give a damn good blow-job. Depending on the size, there is certainly some talent involved," Maddy says proudly.

"What is a 'blow-job'?" Ares suddenly asks.

We all turn to look at him in great surprise.

"Whoa. Are you serious?" Ash asks.

"Oh honey..." Maddy says sweetly, with sympathy. I'm almost sure Maddy is about to offer her services, but she just looks at him a little adoringly, "you've led a bit of a sheltered life, huh?"

"Apparently..." he replies, looking confused and embarrassed at the same time.

"I am epic at calisthenics," Ash says suddenly, clearly keen to help change the subject.

"You know, I would never have guessed," I joke, earning a smile from Ash.

"Right, I mean you LOOK like an alpha Lycan...are you one? I mean..." Maddy says. Ash looks a little chuffed at her question.

"No, purely human. I think we all are, in this flat," he replies. I look down at my cards, wondering which one to ask that isn't going to prompt a saucy reply from Maddy. Thankfully, there is a nice easy one. I just hope Maddy doesn't answer with 'd**k'.

"What is your favourite food? Mine is virtually anything that can be cooked on a barbeque. If it's a little charred, that’s even better," I laugh.

"Chinese food. The more MSG the better. Gives me an inflamed gut sometimes, but I fudging love it. Chilli beef in particular, and I do love prawn toast," Maddy replies enthusiastically. Phew, finally a safe answer from the most Lycan-minded human I have ever met.

"My favourite is a roast dinner with all the trimmings. Turkey can jog on, though, way too dry. Gammon is one of my favourites and I need a healthy amount of thick gravy and Yorkshire puddings. Crackling is my soft-spot, though," Ash says happily. Clearly, we've touched on a subject he is rather keen on.

"Steak. The rarer the better. I believe the term is ‘blue’, but not many places are willing to serve it like that, I hear," Ares muses.

"Ooh excellent choice. Right on, brother," Ash replies, making an agreeing hand gesture.

"Oh! What is your deepest fear?" Maddy asks, heading straight to the carotid with her next question.

"Any type of arthritis," Ash says and we all laugh, "technically, any sign of aging in general. I like to feel like I can continue to push limits, and at a point, those limits start to push us. I don’t look forward to it."

"I do not fear anything," Ares casually says.

"What? Surely you fear something? Failing here? The dark? Spiders? Maybe you fear the vampires?" Maddy asks.

Ares sits up a little straighter and narrows his eyes a little at her suggestions before he shakes his head.

"Truly, I fear nothing," he says, sounding entirely confident in his reply.

He then turns to look at me, hoping for me to move the conversation on, I am sure.

My fears are abundant.

I feel jealous of Ares, if anything.

Fear of disappointing my dad, fear of never becoming Lycan or Fae, fear of everyone finding out and realising I am the least functional Landry Alpha that has ever existed.

"Something tells me that Lia, here, is having a hard time picking just one," Ash says. I look at him and shoot him a nervous smile.

"I am. I have a lot of fears, and they're all relating to not disappointing people, my parents in particular," I admit.

"Oh, are your parents tough?" Maddy asks with a sympathetic look.

"No, not at all. They are legitimately the most wonderful people. I could not ask for better parents. Truly...I am insanely lucky. But that is exactly why I fear disappointing them. I fear not living up to the massive expectations people have of me for being their daughter," I say sadly, thankfully stopping myself before I reveal who my parents actually are.

"Must be some impressive parents," Maddy says.

"You have no idea," I reply.

"Well, since we are going to be living together for a while, possibly the whole seven years, I may as well dig deep," Maddy says, sounding more normal, now, "I am afraid I won't be able to have kids. I had ovarian torsion two years ago and lost an ovary. I know the other one just picks up the slack, but I already know I have a low ovarian reserve, and I have endometriosis on top of that. Something Gaia has no cure for just yet. amazingly. I remain optimistic, but...yeah. So, apologies if you hear me howling in pain sometimes. I really cannot help it."

We all sit there in silence for a moment, probably taken aback by this sudden show of humanity from Maddy, or perhaps out of sympathy.

"Good thing you're in a flat with wannabe medics then, eh? We'll look after you," Ash says kindly.

"Definitely! Hot water bottles, an entire sofa and whatever you need on the television, just tell us," I add.

"My mother faced infertility for a very long time. Having me put a lot of purpose back in her life, so I understand the desire and what it would mean to you. I truly hope you can achieve your dream of having a family, Madeleine," Ares says quietly.

"Oh no, Ares! Only my DAD calls me Madeleine, but…thank you," Maddy says with a laugh, her usual manner returning to her.

"Right. Most unforgettable moment," Ash reads out, flicking the question card repeatedly across his fingers thoughtfully for a moment, "mine would have to be the sky-dive I did two weeks ago. Just...epic. So epic. Wish I were Fae so I could fly. Nothing is going to top that feeling, I imagine."

"Fae are always women, so you could not be Fae," Ares interjects.

"Are they? I don't really think anyone knows enough about them," Maddy suggests.

"No, Ares is right, they are always women," I then hastily add, "I've heard that from a reliable source."

"For me, it was the moment my father told me that I had been accepted to study here," Ares then says, "not very exciting but...I am young. I have a lot of time to experience something unforgettable."

"Seeing both the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis. It was just...such a beautiful and emotionally moving experience. Pure beauty in nature at its finest, all courtesy of the sun," I say with a little smile, remembering those moments fondly. I went with the family on one of our many trips. I didn't like to dwell on the reason why, but I knew the Aurora Borealis had a particularly significant meaning to my parents.

"I would not mind seeing that myself, someday," Ares pipes up before he looks down at his cards, "name your hobbies."

He then looks pensive for a few moments, "when I have not been studying, I have drawn…things. I think that is the closest I have to a hobby."

He shrugs a little and sits back in the sofa, looking disappointed that he couldn’t name anything else.

"Basketball, photography, skiing, sailing, star gazing...I like a lot of things, actually. Most of them are just because my whole family enjoy it," I explain, gesturing towards Maddy.

"Boys, duh…" she says simply before she laughs, "I kid, don’t look at me like that, Ash. Well, I’m kidding a little. They are a hobby. But, I like making jewellery sometimes, but studying got too intense for a while so I haven't done it for a long time."

We now all stare at Ash.

"Uhh...I'll go for something less obvious than intense calisthenics and anything related to the gym. I...happen to love karaoke. So, yes, we will be having a karaoke night and yes, I do take it very seriously. My specialty is Michael Bublé. It gets the ladies every time," Ash jokes.

"I'm sure it's probably the fact that you look like a catwalk model, love," Maddy laughs, and I laugh too before I look down at my remaining two cards.

"When was your first kiss?" I ask, casting my mind immediately back to mine...far before my Lycan and Fae woes came into my life and turned my self-esteem upside down and caused me to make poor choices, "so...mine was when I was thirteen. It was a school dance. He was a really lovely boy I worked with a lot during self defense and ju-jitsu classes. He was actually a natural born vampire in the year below. One of the first. We had a couple that came to my school, but they both left by the end of that year. People weren't kind. I really liked him and he was such a nice guy...so it was a shame."

"Oooh, interesting. Someone likes her men to be a little exotic huh?" Maddy jokes, "well, I was nine. I think. Spin the bottle. We WILL be playing that, I can promise you that."

Ash groans and I’m with him on that.

"Oh god, spin the bottle is tragically juvenile for us as adults," Ash says with a snort of laughter, "mine was age fourteen, only about a month before I lost my virginity. Crazy month. Hot girl…generally a hot month. Short-lived and something I regret now, but whatever. It was onwards and upwards after that."

"Hmm, I bet things did go upwards," Maddy says salaciously. We now all look at Ares and...he looks back at us blankly. Then he starts to look really awkward. Oh no...perhaps I should've asked something else.

"I have not had the opportunity. I was homeschooled," he says bluntly, clenching his jaw anxiously as he looks at all of us. Maddy looks absolutely dumbstruck.

"SERIOUSLY? That is so weird! I mean...you're pretty cute…even kinda hot. Not hot in the same way that Ash is hot, but honey...that's so tragic. I don't get it!" Maddy says rather tactlessly, in what has seemed like actual word vomit. Ares' cheeks turn pink and I immediately turn to scowl at her.

She shrugs and looks apologetic once she sees my expression.

"I'm sure it'll mean that much more to you, now that you're older, and it would be that much better," I suggest, hoping that it's a helpful comment, "I mean mine was so awkward. Sweet, but...I wish I'd been older."

"To be fair, what I experienced at nine was quite rubbish. You'd have to fast forward about twelve guys into the future until I experienced a good one. I think I was about fourteen when that happened," Maddy says pensively, "but rest assured, Ares, if that bottle points to you I'm gonna make sure it's a good time..."

"What an offer," Ash says a little sarcastically, "she's got a slight point though; it's probably not going to suck when it happens, and you're a good looking medical student; so don't worry, it'll happen."

"Uhh...I guess I have led a more sheltered life than most," Ares replies awkwardly.

"Well, university is the ideal time to broaden your horizons, brother," Ash replies with a wink.

"What is your idea of a perfect date?" Maddy says slyly, beaming at us all, "well. I would say a two course lunch somewhere good but not too fancy, a walk around the beach, woodlands or somewhere else for a chat, followed by dessert...and then if they're really lucky they get me for their second dessert."

"That was more normal than I was expecting," Ash jokes, and I nod and laugh in agreement.

"How would they get you for a dessert? You cannot be eaten, Madeleine," Ares says seriously. Maddy bites her lip and looks back at him rather fondly, and I am praying she doesn't make an unkind comment about this, too.

"Oh honey," she says with a little sigh, "one day I'll enlighten you."

"My perfect date is pretty fluid. I think it's a thing you agree together. If I ended up doing an assault course with an awesome girl, bring it on. If she only wanted to do the cinema and food, I'm game for that. Driving range? Also down. I'm quite flexible," Ash replies. I tentatively look towards Ares, wondering how he is going to answer this.

"I...have never thought about it. Truly, I do not know. My father is very wealthy, and he can buy anything he wants. But it is the small gestures, the simple things she enjoys, that my mother enjoys the most. I don't believe it should be a lot of effort, I suppose," Ares says, looking as if he has had enough of this 'game'.

"Honestly...I could say exactly the same as you, Ares," I say with a warm smile, "my parents went for lunch followed by a walk, on their first date. Ended badly, actually,...but...I guess a true connection is louder than extravagance. If it's real, it'll still be good with a bland sandwich, a walk in the rain, and a bitter coffee."

"Sounds like we're all a bunch of saps in this flat," Ash says with a chuckle, "Maddy...perhaps a little less so...."

...

***Ares***

I breathe a sigh of relief as I shut the door to my room, finally feeling like I can relax. Evidently I still needed time to myself, having spent so much time in my own company. I felt like I needed to recharge myself, like my social capacity had run out.

I was grossly underprepared for this, that was for certain. My older brother Atticus had attempted to sit me down and school me on social matters, but I had rebuffed him, thinking it would be fine, that my conversations and interactions with him and the rest of my small family, was enough.

It had not been, and that was glaringly obvious, now.

The effects of having spent the last eleven years of my life, living entirely alone in another realm, were becoming more and more apparent. It had been a means to an end, of course. When Vale had been announced a little over two years ago, that was that I made my decision. At the tender age of eight, I already knew exactly how I wanted to live my life, and I knew I wanted to study at Vale, to be on the cutting edge of supernatural science and healthcare.

When I was younger I would return at the end of a full day in the realm, just in time for the next meal at home. Time moved much faster there than it did here, which was how I had turned two years at home, into eleven in the realm.

As I grew older and more capable, I would spend several days at a time in the other realm. I'd come back home to collect more books, more food, and more of whatever I needed. My family didn't notice me gone too much, but they saw the gradual difference as I got older, the stark changes as I hit my teens, and the difference to my body mass that maturation and living in stronger gravity had caused.

I was twenty-one on the outside, but socially I was still as innocent and unworldly as any teenager...perhaps even younger.

Otherwise I was incredibly well-read, and I had a vast knowledge of many things, all thanks to the Incredible library of books I had available at home.

It was one of the perks to having a father who had been collecting them since the concept of books was invented.

There is a knock at the door and I sigh a little to myself. I really just needed to be alone right now.

I get up and open the door to see Lia standing there with her arms folded a little awkwardly.

"Hello..." I say, unsure of what I am meant to say in this instance. I did not usually answer doors.

"Hi..." she says herself, "uhh...we were just discussing ordering pizza for dinner tonight. Are you interested in having some too?"

Order from where, or what, or who? There weren't onsite food services aside from a daytime cafe. I am perplexed by a few things and I can feel my heart racing a little with the anxiety over this one likely very simple question.

Dinner...I knew what that was.

"I have never had pizza before," I admit. I knew what it was but it was a little low-brow for my father.

Lia's eyebrows knit for a moment at my admission, but then her expression softens.

"Umm...do you like tomato or BBQ sauce?

"Yes, both."

"Cheese? Melted, that is."

"Yes, I really enjoy cheese," I reply, wondering if I had ever had it melted; I wasn't sure.

"Spicy cured sausage?"

"Oh! I do like pepperoni, chorizo and salami...all of that."

"Okay, then I think you would like to have some pizza," she concludes.

"Perhaps I do," I reply.

"I know what to get you," she says with a little smile, "and...I'll knock when it's here. You can eat it here or out there with us, it is fine either way," she says kindly, before she folds her arms a different way, "you know, everyone's journey is different, but eventually we all end up in the same place. As long as you're happy, it doesn't really matter what that journey looks like."

I can see the point she is trying to make, and I appreciate it. Apparently, the pizza was going to appear here at some point and I had to trust that.

"That was a little inspiring," I reply quietly. She laughs a little, amazingly.

"That was my goal," she says with a slight flick of her eyebrows, and then she adds "come the turn of the New Year, I am sure things will look very different."

"Different?" I query.

"Yep. You're going to be just fine, Ares."

She smiles and then heads back into the living area, and I shut my door.

Perhaps a lot could change in a couple of months.

Perhaps I could, too.