Chapter Three

“Is she dead?” The deep, rolling brogue was unfamiliar to her. Lola was afraid that someone had broken into her apartment and after possibly going insane, she was about to be murdered.

“No, I think she’s coming to.”  A lighter, but still very masculine voice said from somewhere near her right side.

“Go halainn,” another voice said from further in the room.

“She is, but you shall not lay with her.” A grumbling voice said from somewhere near the couch.

“I do as I please, and if she wants to, I wouldn’t be opposed. It’s been a long time, she’s pretty enough even if her hair is a strange color.” The voice that had said the strange words said, his voice coming nearer as he moved closer.

Lola opened her eyes slowly. She was lying on the floor with two men standing above her. No, that wasn’t right. They may look like men, but something about them screamed other to her. She closed her eyes, willing them to be gone when she opened them.

They were not. She let out a shriek and tried to crab walk away from them, slamming her tender head against the wall again. She fell back to the floor and brought her hand up to probe the knot on the back of her head.

“If you’re planning to rob me, then go for it. I don’t have much, but there’s money hidden in my sock drawer. Please, don’t hurt me” Lola said with a wince. Her head was throbbing and her stomach felt queasy. Did she have a concussion? Was that what this odd feeling was?

The man with curly red hair stood up, a smile on his face as he patted the coin purse that hung at his waist. He stood, heading towards her bedroom.

“Lu, you’re not stealing her money.” A hand shot out to grab his arm. Stopping him in his tracks.

“She told us where it is, I would only hold it for safekeeping,” Lu said with a frown. It had been so long since he had any money that wasn’t his own in his hands.  

“Lu,” the dark-haired man warned.

“Fine,” He huffed as he moved to sit on the couch with a pout.

“If you aren’t planning to rob me, why are you in my apartment?” Lola asked as she looked between the three men crouched around her. The throbbing got worse as she spoke, and she rubbed her eyes.

“You have set us free from our prison,” The man with white blonde hair spoke.

“I think you have me mistaken,” Lola said as she moved to sit up in a more comfortable position.  

“No, you have the box that they trapped us in.” The man spoke again. He brushed his hair out of his face.

Lola was pretty sure she saw gills along his high cheekbones.  

“I think I may have bumped my head harder than I realized. That box couldn’t fit you guys. This must be some elaborate prank. Yeah, that’s got to be it. Why would four hot guys who look like they’re going to a comic con or a renaissance festival be in my apartment dressed this way? It’s just a prank or I’m hallucinating. That’s right, I’ve started to finally crack and I’m imagining you guys.” Lola said in a rush as she pointed at the men.

The dark-haired man with red eyes reached over and ran his hand up her calf with a dark smirk as his hand crept higher until he reached her thigh.

“Hey, oh no you don’t. Owww!” Lola yelped as he pinched her inner thigh.

“Oh, we’re real acushla,” The dark-haired man who had pinched her said with a smirk. He rubbed her thigh where he had just pinched her, soothing away the pain.

“Hands, keep them to yourself,” Lola said, pushing his hand away as he let out a chuckle that made something inside of her body clench tightly.

“Don’t worry, the next time I touch you. You’ll beg for it.” He said as stroked her skin one last time with a smirk.

“Great, my subconscious likes pain,” Lola said as she buried her head in her hands. A masculine chuckle made her head snap up, and she winced at the movement.

“I must remember that for later, but no. We are real, ignore Bodach. He’s only teasing,” He said as he took her head in his hands, “Looks like you’ve knocked your head good. Close your eyes, for a moment.”

“Why?” Lola asked as she looked up at the man with dark auburn hair.

“So I can heal you.” He said smiling down at her, Lola felt her breath catch in her throat at his closeness. She closed her eyes, feeling his breath fan across her face. She could see sparks behind her eyelids as she felt his warm fingers probe her scalp, making the pain fade away.  

“Thank you,” Lola said, opening her eyes to look up at him. His golden luminescent eyes were studying her face with an intensity she wasn’t used to.

“If you’re done Puca, maybe we should introduce ourselves so we can thank our lovely host?” The man with gills said.

Lola stood up and looked around the living room. It looked like a tornado had torn up the room. Books were scattered on the floor, her lamp was knocked over, the blub smashed, and torn pages were scattered about. The box sat on her coffee table, opened. She looked at the man they had called Lu as he sat glaring at the box.

Had they really come from inside that box, or was she really losing her mind? They felt real enough, she’d give them that.  

The man with white-blonde hair and gills stepped up to her, “Go halainn, I’m Merrow.” He said taking her hand in his and kissing the back of her hand. His lips lingered on her skin as he looked up and winked at her with his sea-green eyes twinkling with mischief.

“What does that mean?” Lola asked as she pulled her hand from his.

“You’re beautiful, and he’s not wrong. I’m Bodach.” Said the red-eyed man with dark hair who had pinched her earlier.

“Thanks?” Lola said, confusion coloring her voice as Bodach caressed her wrist with long thin fingers. The man with dark auburn hair pulled her hand away and gave her a sheepish smile.

“Sorry, we haven’t seen a woman in a really long time. Forgive our behavior, I’m Puca and the one pouting is Lu.” He said with an almost shy smile.

“I’m Lola and I’ve got so many questions right now,” Lola said, looking between the four men and the box that sat on her coffee table still.