Having a tail had its advantages. Lorelei was able to lean back, naked, in bed with a book in one hand, and a steaming hot cup of coffee in the other. The narrow tip of her tail flicked the pages while she read, and it was also flexible enough to twist the doorknob, without having to get up, when Marci returned to the dorm.

Occasionally Lorelei would reach out with her tail to grab a snack from the bedside table, or a soda from the small fridge at the corner of her desk. All the while, she could just lay back, and read her book in peace. Even Marci, who’s entire lower half was serpentine, wasn’t so flexible.

Marci often made fun of her for reading paper books, rather than from a tablet, but Lorelei loved the smell and feel of real paper. The leather of the cover felt smooth to her fingertips, and its spine held many creases, despite it being read only once.

Lorelei was happily munching on a fresh chip when she turned to the last page.

Have I really reached the end? How long have I been reading?

The lamp light flickered next to her, as the groan of a lasting clout of thunder passed by. The wind was thrashing against the windows of her enclosure. It was enough to distract her, if only for a moment, to ponder how strained the magical barriers must be. She had full confidence the wards of Voxsturm would hold, they’ve held for decades with little issue, so why would they fail now?

Her memory was foggy, but Lorelei could’ve sworn it was light out when she first cracked open the cover. She only meant to read a few chapters, but found the story too riveting to put down. And once she got to the last act, Lorelei simply couldn’t stop. Her eyes were glued to the pages, carefully studying every scene, as she immersed herself into the adventures of Lyra Blade.

Now that Lorelei had reached the very end, her hands were clammy.

It couldn’t be the end, not yet!

As her eyes darted down the page, her anxiety was justified. The cliffhanger of all cliffhangers was realized! And there was nothing she could do about it!

Crap crap crap, Lorelei’s cheeks burned as she threw the book across the room.

She had been following the tragedy of Lyra Blade, a tough sweetheart who fought like hell protecting the man that she loved, only to get captured by a spiteful slave handler, and tortured into a lascivious breeding slave. The show adaptation had become wildly popular in Voxsturm, however, the series had yet to catch up to the latest book. The seriel flick ended the last season on a terrible cliff hanger, which left Lyra trapped, and with little hope for rescue.

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Lorelei was so anxious over the whole affair that she started reading the books, rushing past where the seriel ended, and getting to the future. It started so hopeful, and grew especially titillating. For a brief moment, Lyra’s rescue seemed assured, and then her lover was captured as well. Lyra had only discovered how to break her chains when the last chapter ended, but by that point it was already too late, with her betrothed about to be brainwashed behind the scenes.

Apparently the author of the books was completely satisfied leaving things stuck from one cliffhanger to another.

Lorelei scowled, her tail lashing back and forth, almost as if it had a mind of its own.

This author must clearly get off pissing us off.

Her book cast aside, the young Redever collapsed back onto her sheets, stretching her arms overhead, and trying to tune out the noise from the thrashing wind outside.

She wondered what Theo was doing.

Probably playing video games by now, Lorelei considered. Or maybe, he could be downstairs doing laundry?

She considered sneaking downstairs to be sure. There were many places to hide, making it easy to sneak around down there. If she were quiet, Lorelei was fairly convinced she could spy on the young man without him even noticing she were there.

Then again, there was a greater chance he was playing video games. Lorelei rolled her eyes at the thought.

Sometimes Theo kept his dorm room open, so others on his floor could hang out while he and his roommate played war games. Women were generally not allowed on the mens floors. Even though it was easy to break that rule, this time of night would be risky.

Even Marci new it was better to smuggle herself into Mike’s dorm before nightfall, preferably in the afternoon, if she wanted to stay the night.

As Lorelei laid there, lost in thought, she snapped her fingers out of habit, causing tiny flickers of flame to sizzle in the air. Pyromancy came naturally to her, and it had its perks. For one she never truly felt cold, which offered a small mercy when she was on the front lines. The downside, was that she tended to burn things far too often. If she wasn’t careful, she could easily light something on fire. A single lapse of concentration, and her casual finger snaps could end up scorching the bed post.

Lorelei snuggled into her comforter, wrapping her naked flesh under layers of blankets, before letting her mind begin to drift to sleep.

Her dreams her hazy, at best, but before long she could remember the smell of gunpowder, and the sounds of artillery.

Tap…tap…tap-tap-tap.

Lorelei groaned, twisting, and turning under the sheets as someone continued to poke at her shoulder.

“Babe? Lori? Wakey-wakey,” Marci’s voice sounded distant, slowly dragging Lorelei’s mind back to awareness.

Lorelei opened her eyes, her eyelashes scratching against the pillow case. “Five more minutes,” she pleaded, while trying to bury her face in the linen.

“Get up, were going out,” Marci poked her shoulder again, this time harder.

“Tired,” Lorelei protested, her trail emerging from the edge of the comforter, to retaliate against her aggressor.

“Your always tired! C’mon, time to get frisky,” Marci noticed the tail striking toward her, and dogged it. She reached out, and grabbed hold of it, keeping it from thrashing at her again.

“Don’t feel like drinking tonight,” Lorelei squirmed. She hated people touching her tail, but she couldn’t blame her roommate.

Marci was careful, she had gotten some practice over their time as roommates, with holding her extremity, without causing any pain.

“Mike will be there,” Marci leaned in to whisper into the Redevers ear.

“So…?” Lorelei groaned.

“He’s bringing his roomie,” That got her attention!