Meditation and remembering.

Will texted Amelia, asking her if she could come over to his place when she was available. He told her he had important things to tell her, some about himself and some about the building she had bought.

“Do you think she’ll believe you caused the incident with the way you worded that?” Ruth asked him, laying on her stomach on the bed, kicking her feet in the air.

“Please don’t make me start questioning every word that comes out of me…”

Will began to pace around his apartment, waiting for a reply. Amelia was a busy woman, so he didn’t truly believe she’d answer so quickly, but he at least could think his words over in the meantime.

“Wiiliam Sawyer, relax,” Reina told him from the couch.

“I know I should, but I can’t.” Will sighed.

‘Keep yourself busy.’

‘Doing what?’

‘You have two gorgeous girls here. I can think of a few things.’

‘I’d rather not be found fucking if Amelia drops by without warning.’

‘Alright, then how about you meditate?’

‘Meditate?’

‘Any chance you get to get more acquainted with the flow of your aether is a good chance, don’t you think?’

‘...Actually not a bad idea.’

Will sighed. “I’m going to try something for a while. Mind if I use the couch?”

“Hm? Sure. Actually, Ruth, why don’t we go buy some wine? Will doesn’t have anything to drink other than soda.”

“Alcoholic,” Ruth teased, yet she still stood up from the bed and went out with Reina.

Taking advantage of the sudden peace and quiet, Will sat down on the couch. He had no real clue how to meditate, so instead of trying to copy movies, he simply found a normal, comfortable sitting position and closed his eyes.

He felt the heat of his own aether in his body. Slowly, his awareness of the world around him began to be replaced by awareness of the ethereal world inside him. It was akin to trying to feel one’s own heartbeat, yet following a flow of heat through the entire body.

Aether was the energy he used to strengthen his body, to make these strange flameless explosions with his hands. It was the energy that made supernatural phenomena possible in this world, but inside him, it was inherently sexual in nature. Feeling it made him more aware of his body, and it conjured pictures of the women he had been with. Keeping those images away was a struggle, but then he realized doing so was pointless. His aether was sexual energy, it grew stronger by following his sexual desires. If he wanted to meditate and gain a better understanding of himself, then remembering his sexual encounters was perhaps a good idea.

Will remembered his first time with Amelia. It had started on the elevator of this very building. He was feeling unusually horny, and Amelia quickly accepted his advances. According to Ishtar, there was little else involved there than her alluring aura and Amelia’s sexual frustrations. She wanted it, Will offered it, and she accepted it. It was an explosion of passion, the one that set Will on this path.

Will remembered his first time with Cynthia. He now knew she was already under Jack Evans’ spell, its effects weakened by time, sloppy work and her unfulfilled sexual desires. Will’s presence was the catalyst for her to loosen the chains and act on those desires. She wanted him desperately, and after their many other encounters, Cynthia began to build a resistance to Jack’s mind control thanks to her exposure to his sexual energy. Whatever her decision was regarding him, Cynthia was now truly free, and that was what mattered the most.

Will remembered his first time with Reina. It was nothing more than a strange work deal, an idea Cynthia had to add subtle erotism to the published photos and increase site traffic. But Reina ended up liking him, and it scared off Will. He wasn’t ready for a relationship again, so he turned her down. Weird to think where they were now.

Will remembered his first time with Anna. Not exactly a good memory, but eased by the strong partnership he now had with Ishtar. The reckless spirit took advantage of a moment of weakness in him to take over his body. With it, Ishtar made him fuck Anna in public, in the middle of a loud, busy club. There could’ve been a thousand and one better first steps to starting their partnerships, but it was what they had to work with.

Will remembered his first time with Ruth. He was only looking for a hot girl to test his newfound powers on, and boy did he find a hot one. But Ruth didn’t stop at being hot. She was as loyal as they came, deciding to stick with him through all this supernatural crap. A chance meeting that honestly should’ve come way sooner.

Then… Will remembered a stranger. An attractive, busty blonde. A woman who tried to accuse him of molesting her in public. The side effects of sexual energy drove his emotions wild, and he… he used his powers deliberately to make her want to have sex with him. He… He **** her. At that moment, he was no different than Jack Evans. It was a moment where following his desires hadn’t felt right, a moment of blind sexual hunger fed by shame and anger.

…

The image of his aether flow became distorted. He couldn’t conjure it back. His heart began to race, his brow and back felt cold and sweaty. It took him a moment to realize his breathing was deep and ragged.

That memory… The insane events that he got involved in had helped in pushing it back, but meditation brought it to the forefront of his mind.

It hurt. It was clear evidence that there was a fine line between indulging in one’s desires and abusing his power. Maybe… so long as he and Ishtar were together, his life would be all about threading that line and avoiding the side of power ****.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Ruth, Reina and Amelia staring at him with worry in their faces.

Wait. Amelia?

“H-How long was I…?” he spoke. His mouth felt dry.

“About an hour,” Reina told him, now visibly more relieved. She stepped closer to him and put a hand on his forehead. “When Ruth and I came back, you were in a trance. We didn’t want to bother you, so we kept quiet.” She looked back at Amelia. “She arrived only ten minutes ago.”

“You didn’t reply to my reply,” Amelia said, arms folded and with a weak smile. “I can see you were busy.”

Will chuckled weakly. “Would you believe me if I said it was a nap?”

“No.” Amelia shook her head. “I’ve known for a while that there was something off about you, Will, but I never knew what. Think you can finally tell me?”

Will nodded. “So long as you can keep an open mind.”

“You know me already. That won’t be an issue.”