29 comments/ 65444 views/ 151 favorites Spell, Crook and Handle By: Lost Boy All characters are 18 years or older and have given their consent to have their secrets revealed to the mundane world. Also, no demons, spirits or elementals were harmed in this story, well none that didn't have it coming that is. ***** The Rare Book Section: I guess I am amazed at how many people still visit the public library. I would have thought that the internet and all the Wiki sites would have doomed an antiquated notion such as a brick and mortar thing like a library but it is still going strong. I have the opportunity to visit it quite a few times a week since my older sister works there. In fact she is the assistant head librarian. She even has her own domain of the library she lords over, the rare book section. It is more like a climate controlled vault than an actual section of the library. Most of the volumes are very valuable and require a certain temperature and what not. I don't pretend to understand it. To even get into the vault, I mean rare book section; you need credentials and permission from the head librarian or my sister. I guess for me it is like I have a sister that works as a roadie for a band. I go in and out of the rare book section all the time. When she told me some of the books were worth over a hundred grand I about pissed myself. Now I understood the security and the location of the vault. You couldn't just walk in and walk out. The rare book section was located on the fourth floor of the library. The vault itself was pretty much in the middle of the floor so you had quite a walk to either a stairwell or elevator. They had security in mind when they installed it. On this particular day I had just gotten off of work. I was saving up to go to college. I hadn't managed to land a full ride the way dear old sis had. So I worked for my mom and dad as a maintenance guy for half a dozen or so properties they owned. It sure kept me busy and as they were often fond of saying, out of trouble. It allowed me plenty of time to flirt with the MILFs in some of the complexes but not enough time to take full advantage of them. I was working six days a week and by the end of next year would have enough socked away to quit and go to school full time. I wanted to study archaeology of all things. The thought of digging in the Valley of the Kings or some other exotic location kept me going. I already had a leg up and thanks to a few language courses I was fairly fluent in Latin, Arabic and Mandarin. I was working on Greek at the moment and struggling. I turned off my MP3 player as I entered the main branch library. It was air conditioned inside and I shivered as the sweat I had earned cooled on contact. I greeted the guard by name and headed for the nearest elevator. One ding and a short ride later and I was on the fourth floor. I greeted the two other librarians by name as I headed for the rare book section. Sis would be tapping her foot when I got there since I was close to fifteen minutes late. It wasn't my fault I ran into traffic heading downtown. I slipped through the old fashioned turn style and entered the reading area of the rare book section. It was here that the valuable books could be taken by students, academics and others to read under the unblinking scrutiny of not less than four security cameras. That was strange; sis was usually waiting at the open doorway of the vault. I could hear her moving around inside the vault and humming. Humming was good that meant she was in a good mood. I stepped in and saw the minor chaos that was completely unexpected. Sis was bent over one of the two work tables located within the confines of the vault. She was dressed as always in a knee length skirt, white blouse and comfy leather shoes. I paused to take in the scene and had to admit, if she hadn't been my sister I'd hit that. She had a well-rounded bottom she inherited from our Latin mother and the dark red hair she got from dear old dad. I wondered if I lifted up that skirt of hers what I would find, panties, t-bar or was she going commando? "Commando," I said breaking the silence. "Perv," she said back as she stood up and adjusted her skirt. She only did that when she was being self-conscious which meant I was right. "I don't know how you do that." "It's a gift. So what the hell is going on?" "Shit, I forgot to call you... again. I know, I know but this time I had a very good reason," she said as she turned to face me. "She finally let you reorganize and properly catalog this mess," I said stealing her thunder. Sis narrowed her eyes but then smiled and let out that annoying sound of hers. "Squeeeeee," she said hopping in place. I took full advantage and noted the luscious way her boobs bounced. "You really need to get laid." "I agree, so when do I pick you up?" "UMMMM..." she said and another one of her tells came up as she nervously interlaced her fingers. "Oh hell no," I said as she closed in for the kill. "OH Pleaseeeeeee," she begged. "I really need your help on this one." "Lily," I weakly responded knowing I was already doomed. "I have already worked eight hours and I am all filthy." "Three things," she said grinning almost maniacally. "One, you can use the staff showers. Two, I stopped by and picked out some clean clothes for you. Three, Rhonda has agreed to pay you this time around. She has a voucher for a full grand." "Whoa, a thousand dollars for one night of work," I asked. "WELLLLL, a grand for three nights work," she said cringing. "She wants it done by Monday. There are big wigs flying in from the state capitol and they are going to inspect the library." "Damn, let me call mom and dad... you already called them didn't you?" "Yeah, they are cool with you helping out," she grinned wickedly. I knew my way to the showers. I had used them before, just not with permission. Lily had already placed my clothes in a locker for me, how considerate of her. I opened the locker to inspect the contents and amazingly she had not only packed clothes but a towel, shampoo and body wash. She had forgotten however to get me a comb, wash towel or loofa. Oh well, she had done better than usual. I showered, dried off and dressed. I returned to the vault and she showed me her schematic of the new lay out of the rare book section. Now I knew why she wanted my help. Some of the books were really big and quite heavy. I was going to be the muscle of the team while she cleaned and verified each volume. I would move it to its new resting place. It seems like it had been decades since anyone had performed this particular task. No one had the eagerness that my sister possessed and just let things be. The ledger that held the contents of the vault was ancient and falling apart. Sis had a brand new one as well as a laptop that would enter the books into the central register. We were entering the computer age here people. I wasn't surprised really. The librarian was a civil job and the wheels of progress moved slowly indeed. I was actually getting excited. Many of these works hadn't seen the light of day in a decade or more. The first task was to move all of the books from one corner of the vault clean the shelves and then begin the laborious duty of hunting down the right books for that section. There were over five thousand books and many didn't have writing on the spines or that writing had faded a long time ago. I would be handling many of the same titles over and over again. It couldn't be helped. We did our best to move books from the old shelf and place them in the vicinity of their new location to minimize the insanity. There was one book that caught my attention early on. It was like many of the others being a beautifully crafted leather bound tome without title or author on the outside. What really made it stand out was the fact that there was no title or author on the interior. I didn't have time to look it over properly bit it nagged at the back of my mind. We halted at midnight that first night and shut the vault behind us. I was so damn tired I could hardly keep my eyes open. I handed sis my keys and followed her out as she turned on the alarm and relocked the outer doors on our way out. She drove and I fell asleep on the way home. I stumbled up the stairs unlocked the front door and staggered in waving goodbye to her. By some miracle I managed to reach my room in one piece, strip down and crawl under the covers. I was asleep before my head hit the pillow. The alarm went off at seven o'clock and I hit the off button. I rolled onto my back and looked up at the ceiling. My stomach growled loudly since it hadn't been seen food in over twelve hours. I told it we would go by a pancake place before I returned to the library to help sis out. Suddenly the bed shifted slightly and I realized I wasn't alone in my bed. I turned my head and there was a mane of deep scarlet hair poking up from the covers. Why was my sister in my bed? Did I finally cross the line and do the nasty? I didn't remember anything like that. "Lily... Lily... LILY... what are you doing in my bed," I asked. "Morning sunshine," she said her eyes only half open. "I was TOO tired to drive all the way home last night. I didn't think you'd mind having a naked girl in your bed." "Naked, Lily why are you naked," I asked. "It's only fair after all," she giggled still half asleep. "I got to see your junk so it's only fair you see my stuff." "Perv," I said and sat up. Then I slid my hand over and it came across the naked flesh of her left ass cheek. "You really are naked." "Yep," she said as she rolled over and my hand landed square on the fullness of her right breast. Instinct over ruled manners and I cupped her tit and gave it a bit of a squeeze. "Naughty old you, they'll be plenty of time for that later. I AM HUNGRY!" Yes my sister can be a ditz at times but this was something new for me. I shrugged and got up and headed for the bathroom to relieve my aching bladder. I had barely finished when sis raced in, shoved the lid down and plopped that juicy bottom of hers down. She let out a very healthy sigh as she followed suit. I looked down at her nakedness and she looked up at mine. I bit my lip while she just winked and suggested I start a shower. Oh hell, we had already seen all the naughty bits what was the harm now. I turned on the water and when the temperature was okay I slipped inside. Sis, giggling now, stepped in behind me and slid the frosted glass door closed behind her. I lathered up first while she stood under the flow of hot water. We traded places as I rinsed off and she built up a sensual lather over her entire body. "Can you do me," she asked suggestively. "What..." "I mean can you wash my back and butt for me. Pleasssssssse," she asked blinking her eyes all innocent like. "You are fucking evil," I said as she turned to face away from me. "Damn!" I muttered under my breath as I worked my way down to the ass that could launch a thousand boners. "You love me," she said in her flawless coy tone. "When's the last time you got laid anyhow?" "Too long for this evil shit," I said handing her back the loofa. "I'm sorry, I just assumed you were..." she said and then stopped. "I am really sorry!" "Hey, it's okay, I just overreacted a little," I said as I opened the shower door and left her alone. I toweled off and returned to my room to dress in peace. I found an overnight bag of Lily's and put it on the bed. I went downstairs and started a pot of coffee. By the time it was ready sis appeared wearing jeans and a navy blue t-shirt. I was confused as all get out. "The rare book section is closed until Monday," She said. "So until then I get to dress down for work." "I need pancakes," I said and she smiled back. "Fix a cup to go and we can get on the road." Sis grabbed one of the chrome mugs she had brought home from work and given to my dad. It had the state seal on one side and city crest on the other. We hit the road and managed to get a table for two at the nearest pancake place in reasonable time. We might arrive a little late but sis told me we had some leeway considering the amount of hours we were going to be putting in. While we made small talk I suspected there was something on her mind but she didn't want to talk about it in public. Sure enough the minute we finished eating and returned to the car she broke the awkward silence. "Do you think I'm ugly," she asked as I started the car. I turned off the engine and turned to face her. "Have you lost your fucking mind," I asked and she looked like she didn't know how to react to my outburst. "You are one of the most attractive, intelligent, if a bit ditzy women I have ever met. Who the hell told you otherwise?" "Well, there's this guy," she began and I saw the pain. "He said some really mean things and..." "Listen to me. You don't need anyone to tell you who and what you are." I said angry now. "Jeez Lily mom and dad taught you better than that. Wait a minute. When is the last time you got laid?" "A... a...," she fumbled and the tears came. "It's been almost a year." "No fucking way," I said stunned. "How the hell can someone that looks as good as you not get laid?" "I scare them off," she said as she wiped the tears from her eyes. Now I got it, she was so damn smart she would talk about books and they would be intimidated by her. I buckled up, started the engine and told her there was a solution. As we headed for the library I gave her options on how to find the right guy. "So either I play dumb," she said as we pulled into the underground parking garage. "Or I hang out with other smart people. Where the hell do I meet smart people at?" "Comic book shops or Sci Fi conventions," I said. "The next thing you'll want me to start doing cosplay," she giggled. "Couldn't hurt," I told her. "Dressing up like a sexy anime girl could only help your self-esteem, besides guys go bat shit for that kind of role playing." She went quiet on me as she pondered the variables. We took the elevator from the garage to the fourth floor and went to work. Rhonda, Lily's supervisor, was waiting for us and seemed happy with our progress so far. Rhonda was an older blonde in her fifties dressed impeccably as always. She was barely five foot with a healthy dusting of gray in her golden locks and bright blue eyes. Sis filled her in and after a few minutes we were back at it. I noticed that the area was roped off and a security guard was posted to keep gawkers at bay. There weren't many at first but as the day went on the guard had his job cut out for him. I asked sis why people were hanging out around the vault and she told me that the big wigs were bringing something special along with them. She couldn't tell me but when the workman arrived to install the pedestal in the middle of the reading area I was intrigued. Were they going to be displaying something? That is the only real reason for all this work. The main branch was going to be hosting something special and I was going to have a hand in it. The work seemed less monotonous after that. I kept trying to figure out what that something special would be to help pass the time. We took few breaks and worked until midnight again. Sis asked to stay over this time around and I agreed. After we locked up we went to her place to pick up clothes and necessities. When we got back home I let her have the bedroom to herself while she undressed and got into bed. I stripped down to my boxers and slipped beneath the blankets before I tugged them off and held the up for her to see. "Roleplaying," she said quietly. "What sort of roleplaying?" It was like that train of thought had only been put on hold until now. "Well, I hate to say it but guys are easily intimidated by a beautiful woman. Now add brilliant to the mix and it is a man's worst nightmare." "But you're smart, do intelligent women scare you?" "Not me, I am used to living in your shadow so it's not so bad for me," I said watching her expression change. "My shadow," she said. "I never meant... to hurt you." "NO... you never hurt me Lily," I said shaking my head. "It's just mom and dad used you as an example, all the time. You gave me goals to try and meet. Why do you think I learned three languages over the last four years?" "Three and a half," she corrected as she sunk down to a prone position now. "I envy you." "Say again, why the hell would you envy me? You are working your dream job. You have gone from entry level to assistant librarian in record time. Why on god's green earth would you envy me?" "You are so down to earth," she said thoughtfully. "People like you and you can talk to anyone." "I am a social creature," I admitted. "I like people. I love to people watch when I go to the coffee house. I adore interesting women." "Am I interesting," she asked using that uncomfortable in her own skin voice. "Yes... very... if we weren't related I would..." I stopped feeling like a line was about to be crossed. "You would what," She asked her voice soft and hungry now. "Tell me." "I would devastate you," I said giggling. "You would wreck me," she said soft and sultry now. "Over and over again," I said. "Goodnight." "Night," she giggled. To keep from doing something really stupid I rolled onto my side facing away from her. My erection hidden from her and safely out of reach, I hoped. I was half asleep when the evil fucking thing from hell rolled onto her side and spooned behind me. I could feel her hard nipples pressing into my back. Her heat was infuriating and her scent was intoxicating. "I hate you," I whispered. "I know," she replied. By some fucking miracle we managed not to have sex that night. When I woke up Saturday morning I was on my back as usual and Lily was on her belly with her arm over my chest. I was sporting morning wood like no body's business and prayed I could slip away before she noticed, didn't happen. I felt the hand on my chest travel south and moments later her fingers wrapped around the shaft of my dick. I whimpered softly even as I tried to roll away from her. "Un-uh... not a chance," she whispered in my ear. "I noticed how thick you were but I had no idea you were this big." "Lily... UNNNNNNN," I groaned as she gave my cock a long healthy squeeze. "Shhhh... I'm busy getting to know you," she moaned as she nibbled my ear now. "Damn you are rock hard now!" "Not my fault," I replied as her hand began to move up and down now. "NNNNNNNN you are driving me crazy!" "Yeah I know," she said as she rolled onto her side and snuggled closer still. "Don't move an inch." Sis let go long enough to pull the covers off of us and then returned her loving grip to my hardness. She could see my cock now and purred in my ear as she stroked me. How long had it been since I got any? It's been like eight months or more. I've been working these six day weeks for so damn long. Lily's hand moved faster now and my breathing became more and more ragged. "Are you getting close," she asked her lips brushing my ear and I nodded. "Good, now where do you want to shoot your load, on my face, or maybe my tits or should I swallow it?" "Oh god you're killing me," I said through clenched teeth. "Your 'cock' really twitched when I said swallow," she moaned. "Mouth it is..." I should have stopped her but I was just too damn caught up in the hand job to fight back. Sis shifted her position and knelt on the bed with her head over my lap. I watched as she lowered her head her eyes never leaving mine. She opened her mouth and took the first few inches of my dick between her lips. Oh god I could feel her tongue as it flickered and swirled around the tip even as she began to double-fist my erection. I was shaking now and pleading while she locked her lips tightly around the head and patiently waited. She didn't have long to wait. A minute later I warned her and with a guttural cry shot down her throat. I watched her throat muscles work as she swallowed. Her hands and tongue milked every last drop from me and left me a shaking husk on the bed. Lily licked me clean and then gleefully snuggled close and looked me in the eye. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 02 The Heart of Ashurbanipal: All characters are 18 years or older. Historical figures are long dead but have given their approval to appear in this story. Much of this narrative wrote itself so blame it not me. If you are weirded out at any point think of how I felt being forced to write by the damn voice in my head saying 'they'll love it' or 'no don't delete it, it's awesome character development'. You have been warned, so without further prattle on my part here is part two of Spell, Crook and Handle. ***** *Onsen - Japanese hot spring or resort built around a hot spring Intro: The World Court convened this month and ruled to empower a multinational agency for the preservation of antiquities. With the recent activities of terrorists and the destruction of not just national treasures but sites and artifacts that are considered treasures of humanity. This group will possess the rights to enter any nation under threat and handle those threats with extreme prejudice. A team of handpicked historians, archaeologists and anthropologists have been chosen to aid military forces in rescuing said treasures. The scientific liaisons have undergone combat training with firearms and basic military tactics. After completing this training these men and women were dispatched to collect and secure specific artifacts that were considered under threat. These relics were marked and sent to museums worldwide with the promise that they would be repatriated when the threat was eliminated. The intelligence community began monitoring for signs of not just threats to life and limb but to historical treasures as well. At the Heart of the Matter: I leveled the pistol at my target and carefully squeezed off nine shots. When I had begun this training I had been uncomfortable with a weapon in my hands. Now I was at the range at least twice a week. After that little event in China I was one of the first people chosen for the Antiquities Preservation Taskforce. I had been to Bagdad twice and dropped into Syria once. Bagdad had been pretty damn hairy but Syria was a fucking nightmare. They had completely underestimated the force we had been sent against. The soldiers managed to turn things around and though they were outnumbered we were the better trained force. I say we because I managed to rank up a few kills during the firefight. You'd be surprised what you are capable of when you are staring death in the eyes. We managed to secure the relics with little problems after the firefight. I never thought I would ever see these antiquities much less hold them in my hands. There were three of us attached to the military force. We handpicked the rarest of the treasures to rescue and packed them for travel. The team was safely extracted and flown to Zurich. I had a layover there and enjoyed the hospitality of the Swiss government. The three of us, Professor Tetsuo Watanabe, Doctor Emelia Vanderbloemen and I went to a local watering hole the Old Crow. While we had shared the intimacy of a firefight and the rescue of Syrian relics we knew little about each other. The military teams lived and trained together but the advisors were drawn from an availability pool. The three of us just happened to be free when the call came. So we spent the next few hours swapping stories. Tetsuo was a short wiry fellow with a light dash of silver in his ebony hair. His eyes were pebbles of jet set in a handsome face with an easy smile. There was something new now that lurked behind his eyes. The hint of fear and pain was deeply etched there and would remain for years to come. I learned Tetsuo was a huge anime fan and he even had a fairly extensive costume collection. You find out a lot about people after a few beers. He invited us to visit him if we ever landed in Japan. He knew the best karaoke bars, onsen and restaurants in Tokyo. Dr. Emelia Vanderbloemen was a tall leggy German born in the outskirts of Berlin. She was a western Berliner and very proud of her heritage. She was a natural blonde who wore her hair short for practical reasons. When you are venturing around in the wilds long hair could be considered a detriment. She was good looking the way a farm girl or even the girl next door type. She had bright blue eyes and a figure that got her a lot of attention. The top she was wearing showed off that ample cleavage quite nicely. Emelia shared a few interesting stories but I felt she was holding back. So I made a command decision and ordered a round of shots. Three rounds of shots later I was able to coerce one interesting story from Emelia and it was a doozy. "So we snuck into the museum's vault and 'borrowed' some clothing for the University Halloween party. Everything was fine until the head of the History department saw us and remarked at how authentic our costumes were. We took first place in the costume contest." We all laughed and then it was my turn. I was trying to decide what to share when I was ambushed by the pair. They looked at each other and smiled. "Tell us about China," Tetsuo said pouncing. "Yeah, what REALLY happened," Emelia asked in that seductive tone. "All the files are sealed." "Well," I said expecting this might happen. "There isn't much I can share. There are a couple of governments involved in that little incident." "Oh there has to be something you can share," Emelia pleaded. "There are a few things not covered by the gag order," I said and watched their eyes widen. I launched into why we there in the first place. I told them about looking for a first dynasty temple to one of the Eight Immortals. They hung on every word. If it had been any other audience they would have been bored to tears. Until you've dug for buried treasure you don't understand the thrill. Yes it is back breaking labor and requires a ton of patience but it is worth it. I set the stage describing the river valley and the local legends told by the indigenous people. "They say that a monk that lived in the region centuries ago was able to bind Yaoguai, demons. It was said he was a Taoist sorcerer of the first order and a blood descendant of one of the Eight Immortals. I can say that we did find pottery that dated back to the first dynasty." Tetsuo just smiled while Emelia wanted more details. I shook my head telling her I had already pushed the boundaries of the court order. Reluctantly she backed off and took another sip of beer. It looked to me that Tetsuo was lost in thought so I left him to whatever had him enthralled. Emelia looked at her beer and the empty shot glasses and threw up her hands. She surrendered and plopped down some cash to help cover the tab. I watched her make her way with only a hint of a stagger out of the Old Crow. Tetsuo rose to the occasion and waved energetically to me as he followed Emelia out. I wondered if they were going to hook up or if he was just being a gentleman. "None of my damn business," I said as I polished off my beer. "There is a lady looking for you." "A lady," I said looking up at my server in confusion. "What kind of lady? Is she cute?" "I will let you judge that for yourself," another voice chimed in. I turned and looked up at the stunning brunette. "May I join you," the newcomer asked. "Two more shots, a beer for me and whatever the lady would like," I said as I pulled out the chair nearest to me. "Jack and coke," the lady said as she sat down. "So, what is one of the Saudi royal family doing in Zurich?" The first salvo struck her between the eyes and her mask fell away. I took a finger and pushed her jaw up. I sat there as she recovered her composure. Our drinks arrived and she snatched both shots for herself and downed them in quick succession. I took a healthy swig of beer and continued. "I have been briefed for any and all complications over my last assignment. There was quite an extensive file on your grandfather and his ties with Syria. For what it's worth, your photo doesn't do you justice." "I apologize," she said. "I am unaccustomed to dealing with..." "Is this easier," I said switching to Arabic. "You may have to speak a little slower but I should be able to keep up." "Yes, thank you," she said. "I have a job offer for you." "Well, I am currently my own man," I told her and she looked at me puzzled. "I am between assignments." "Ah, then this opportunity may be quite fortunate," She replied. "Who, what and where," I asked and she rewarded me with a gorgeous smile. "This is a briefing of the object you are being employed to acquire and verify. There will also be a tactical team going with you to see to your safety. Workers will be assigned on an as needed basis." "Let me read this over and I'll... what?" "I'm afraid the file and I go together. The object in question is a national treasure and must be treated with great care and your utmost discretion." "I suggest we retire to my hotel room so I can look over your offer in privacy," I said not expecting her to agree. "Lead the way," she said as she snatched up the file and returned it to her briefcase. I walked up to the bar and paid the tab in full. I had to wait for my change so I looked over my shoulder at the pretty young thing. She was the epitome of Middle Eastern beauty. She stood about five foot two with a long mane of silky black hair. Her skin was smooth, dusky and free of blemish. She was stunning and any man her family chose for her would be damn lucky to have her. The limo ride back to my hotel was not a great surprise. She was after all the granddaughter to one of the richest men on the planet. Though how much longer that would be was in question. I had sat in rapt attention when the press conference was held over the history making discovery by Richard Sterling. He had, if the testing proved true, a cold fusion device he had unearthed in the Egyptian desert. This could change life and history as we knew it. If they could reverse engineer that kind of technology oil producing nations would be in a world of hurt. "So are you a virgin," I asked and her eyes sharpened to laser points. "How dare you ask me such a question? You don't even know my name and... damn it you did it again!" "You are Qadira and you didn't answer my question," I replied watching her cheeks flush even more. "I don't think that has any bearing on the current situation," she said. "True, but it shouldn't take more than a half hour to read the brief," I said looking her over blatantly. "So you are thinking ahead is that it?" "MMMHMMMM, and by the looks of it we could have an amazing time," I said watching her blush even more. We arrived at my hotel and I got out first. I offered her a hand out but she hesitated. I could see her steel herself and then take my hand. I helped her out and she glared at me. Two of her bodyguards followed us up but instead of going to my room we went straight up to the penthouse. I looked at her and she just winked. She had played me and I had fallen for it. I guess that made us even. The bodyguards remained near the elevator while Qadira led me to a cluster of couches and chairs that looked out thru a wall of windows. That wall faced the heart of Zurich and it was a glorious sight. I walked over to the windows and looked out at the wondrous mix of old world and cutting edge engineering. I heard the pop of the cork as Qadira opened a bottle of wine. I took in her scent and like some sort of sexual bloodhound I was able to identify just how aroused she was. In my opinion it wouldn't take much to break her restraint. I turned to face her and took the glass from her. I toasted to her and again she blushed. "You aren't used to someone being nice to you," I said low enough for her to hear. "No, I am not used to such things," she admitted. "Are you always this bold with women you've barely met?" "Only when they are as gorgeous as you are," I said then sipped my wine. "MMMM, have you ever had someone fuck you up against a bank of windows?" "No, it is a beautiful city," she purred. "Are you offering to violate me and press my tits against cold hard glass?" "In a heartbeat," I growled watching the bodyguards carefully. "Let's get this presentation over with and see what happens." She nodded and handed me her glass. Alone, she walked into the bedroom and returned with a laptop. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to see the top of the line holographic display. I actually went to the Numenor website and priced their top model and it was close to twenty grand. He, Nick Shaw, was like a living breathing Tony Stark and every I.T. guy's hero. Qadira spoke to the laptop and it produced the files she requested. She asked one of the bodyguards to lower the lights. The holographic display came to life and there hovering near my head was a jewel. There had to be some sort of graphic augmentation because it looked like there was some sort of radiance at its core. The jewel rotated and I could see it from all sides. The glow at its depths had a definite pulsing pattern to it, just like a heartbeat. I noticed markings at the bottom of the hologram and asked her about them. She explained those were verification stamps from the insurance agent that inspected the gem. "Are you telling me your grandfather is in possession of such a stone," I asked and she shook her head. "Was in possession," she replied a frown forming on her kissable lips. "A guest took the stone." "No shit, who would have the balls to do that," I asked but she shook her head. "That is not the issue here," Qadira said her voice very professional now. "My grandfather has spent a small fortune to find another stone like the one he lost. He believes he has found such a treasure and he wants you to head the expedition." "I am flattered, but why me," I asked and she smiled. She turned and ordered the bodyguards out of line of sight. "My grandfather pulled quite a few strings to acquire this," she said and footage that less than twenty people in the entire world had ever seen appeared. "This is China, no?" "Yes, yes it is." Fifteen minutes later the video footage ended and I glared at her. I turned to leave when I felt her hand on my arm. She begged me not to go and at least listen to the offer. I stopped and turned. I faced her and she called out to one of the guards. He reappeared holding a metallic briefcase. He handed it to Qadira and returned to his position by the elevator. He motioned for his partner and he joined him by the elevator. Qadira set the case down and opened it. I was expecting currency of some sort not the small gold ingots. There must have been at least one hundred of them and I half expected to see Nazi swastika stamped on them. I looked at Qadira and she smiled. "This is a down payment for your services. You will be provided whatever tools and equipment you require." "Let me read the files and see what I am getting myself into," I said as I sat down on one of the couches. Qadira brought over the files and sat down next to me. I heard the elevator doors close and knew we were alone. I began to read the files about the treasures just as Qadira upped the offer. I felt her hand on my thigh and her lips on my neck. "How far are you willing to go to secure my services," I asked looking over at her. "As far as is needed," she purred. "I hope you swallow," I said and returned my attention to the paperwork. As I read the documents and looked at the photos Qadira moved to a kneeling position on the floor. She unzipped my pants and fished out my cock. She gasped before she began to seal the deal. I paused when I felt her tongue lick the underside of my erection. I rewarded her with a soft moan as she went down on me. I skimmed the rest of the information and got what I needed as soon as I could. I set the folder to the side and grabbed her by the hair. She continued to work on me as I slide my fingers through her soft silky hair. After getting fully erect she sat back and did the math in her head. "I'm not sure I can take all of that down my throat," she admitted. "Do your best," I said as I unbuttoned her blouse. "What you have to worry is if you can take all of it in your pussy." "You are going to ruin me for my future husband," she said as she lowered her mouth over the head of my cock. "Like I've never heard that before," I said and she giggled. Qadira closed her eyes and licked and sucked as if it had been years since she gotten any. I bent down and helped her out of her blouse and bra. Damn, she had amazing tits and I couldn't wait to taste them. They had to have been a large C cup bordering on a D. Her areoles were large and dark with cute little nipples that begged to be sucked and bit. I took off my shirt while she had her way with my cock. True she couldn't deep-throat me but that didn't diminish the pleasure she was giving me. I watched as her cheeks caved in and I let out a yelp of pleasurable surprise. Her head bobbed up and down and she licked and sucked for all she was worth. I didn't even try to fight my orgasm. I warned her that I was getting close. Qadira opened her eyes and looked up at me with that burning hunger that blazed so deep. I kept her gaze even as my orgasm swelled up and came crashing down. I cried out as cum pulsed down her throat. I watched as she swallowed and she smiled once she had achieved her goal. "Not bad for my first time," she admitted. "That was your first blowjob," I asked but she giggled. "No silly, that was the first attempt at swallowing. You taste delicious by the way." Qadira stood up and unzipped her skirt and let it fall to the floor. She turned to face the windows, bent over and grabbed her ankles. I leaned forward, grabbed her panties and slowly pulled them down to those fine ankles of hers. She shivered when she felt my breath on her soaked pussy. I settled my hands on her ass cheeks as I buried my face between her legs. I tasted her and she let out a squeal of delight. I lapped at her labia and drank just a small spark of her life force. I had learned over the last seven years how to control the demonic hunger. She whimpered and moaned as my tongue discovered her clit. I licked and suckled her sex as she managed to keep from falling over somehow. I spit on her puckered asshole and teased it with a fingertip to test the waters so to speak. I was pleasantly surprised when she moaned even louder and didn't complain. I think my fascination began because of dear sweet Lily, my sister. I eased just the tip of my finger into her sphincter and felt her body shudder. "Please quit teasing me," Qadira moaned. "I don't know what you mean," I replied as I eased two fingers into her tight little pussy. "NNNNNNN, no I want it," she begged as I began teasing both holes slowly. "What is it that you want," I asked feeling how her pussy was squeezing my fingers. "You know, don't make me say it," she was shaking harder now. "So close... I'm going to lose my mind." "Tell me what you want," I ordered now. "UNNNNNN... I am so damn close," she howled. "Give it to me... give me... damn you... give me your cock!" I thrust my fingers as fast and hard as I could. I watched her as her orgasm shook her like a leaf in the wind. I took my fingers from her holes, licked them clean and then caught her up in my arms. She looked in my eyes and smiled. I held her until she had caught her breath. "You taste divine," I said. "You are a very mean man," she growled. "Tell me that one minute from now," I said as I stood up with her still in my arms. I carried her towards the bank of windows and set her on her feet. I lightly touched her shoulders and faced her outward. I then I laid a hand on the small of her back and pushed until her nipples touched the cold glass. She flinched and cried out at the contact. I laid my hands on her hips and tugged until it was stuck out at the proper angle. Qadira lifted her arms up over her head and laid them on the glass in surrender. I stood behind her and teased her slit with the head of my cock. She whimpered and begged until she felt me push forward and slowly fill her. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 02 "YESSSS," she cried out. "You were right. You are a good man." "Here it comes," I said as I began to push. "I am going to melt," she howled as I began to hammer her now. The hunger was rising in me and I had to be careful or else she would end up comatose or worse. The view was spectacular and it wasn't the city. Her backside was as lovely as her front. I couldn't tear my eyes from watching my cock slide in and out of her. I drank lightly from her as her pleasure built and built. I should know I had been on the receiving end of this experience before. "Why are you really here?" I asked as I slowly moved my hips. "You are asking me that NOW?" She growled between moans of pleasure. "Color me a curious guy," I said as I moved a little faster. "Okay, okay... my grandfather thought it would be safer sending me rather than one of my brothers or my father." "Well that makes perfect sense." I said and she looked over her shoulder at me. "Your family is at the top of a watch list for stolen artifacts. Let's just say he has a history of acquiring rare antiquities." "Are you calling him a thief?" "No, I am saying he has them in his employ. I am not condemning him. Everybody has a dark side, even you." "I do not," she said in her best coy voice. "Your cute little asshole is quivering Qadira," I said. "Why is that?" "Because I have a long thick cock inside of me," she moaned. "HMMM, I was thinking that maybe your puckered little hole was lonely," I said and I felt her stiffen in response. "So it's true, you do like having your ass teased." "Nooo," she said her voice rising in pitch. "Are you lying to me," I said as I stopped moving. "I am not a freak," she growled. "We can't continue if you are going to fib to me," I said as I began to pull out. "Yes... stop... I am a freak... damn you do you always have to be right?" "Here's your reward," I said as I began thrusting again. "Tell me what you want." "Grrrr... I don't know why but I have always like having my ass played with," she said. "So what are you going to do about it?" "This," I moaned feeling the wave of desire radiate from her. I summoned the dark miracle and held onto her tighter now. The demonic blood allowed me things other men would kill for. She felt the tip of the second cock touch her puckered hole and I slowly pushed forward. Qadira yelped in surprise. She pushed back trying to move but all she did was to impale her ass on my cock. It was halfway inside of her before she knew what had happened. I let her settle before I began to move and she panted and moaned as she was filled up completely. Her surprise faded just like all the others had in the past. The demonic magic took hold and she was caught up helpless in the sensual whirlwind. "UNNNNN, how are you fucking both..." she asked even as she climaxed. "It's a gift," I told her as I hammered her for all I was worth. "I can feel you getting bigger," she panted. "Are you going to cum?" I pulled back and thrust as hard as I could and my orgasm hit me. Poor Qadira nearly fainted as I stole more life than I intended. I held onto her until I could catch my breath. Such a gorgeous thing, pity she has to return to a family that doesn't appreciate her. I eased out of her and carried her to the bathroom so we could clean up. Qadira was semiconscious when I ran the water over us. I washed the funk off of us. Her spark was still strong and a good night's sleep should fix her right up. I dried her off and carried her to the bedroom. I slid her beneath the covers and turned off the light. I stood in the doorway and looked at her sleeping form. She looked so innocent while she slept even after everything I put her through. I suspected everything that had transpired was the demonic magic at work in the background. I had flirted with her, hell who wouldn't, but I never really expected anything to actually happen. Oh but it did and in spades. The image of that small full mouth of hers wrapped around my cock got my juices flowing again. I walked over to get a better look at her again. My hand pulled down the cover and I looked at her breasts again. I licked my lips and felt the urge to wake her up with my cock between those firm young tits of hers. She rolled over in her sleep showing off that ass of hers. The hunger rose like a white heat inside of me. My cock was iron hard and wanted to be buried inside of her again. But if I did I could kill her. "MMMMM, are you going to climb in behind me or not," Qadira moaned. "I'm getting cold over here." "If I do, I could hurt you." I said. "My ass is on fire but my pussy could take a little more pounding if you please," she purred dreamily. I began to move onto the bed and stopped. If I fucked her I would drink every last drop of her life. I couldn't do that. She deserved better than that. I covered her up and bit back a groan of disappointment. I left the room and got dressed. I went to the bank of windows and stood there looking out at the city. I pushed down the hunger with a great effort. I turned to look at her bedroom a few times and I knew it was time to leave. I felt as if I had just awaked from eight hours of sleep. Qadira's life force was coursing through me after our love play and I felt alive like I did at no other time. It was like a drug that had no equal. I picked up the case containing the gold ingots and pressed the elevator call button. The doors opened a minute later and Qadira's two bodyguards were there. "I accept the offer. You know where to find me." I took the elevator to my floor. Two corridors and three turns later I could see the door to my room. There was something on the floor in front of the door. I few more steps and I recognized it for what it was. I reached my door, unlocked it and picked up the hand woven basket. I carried it in and closed the door behind me. I set the basket on the small end table by my bed and plopped down on the mattress. "Damn, I want to fuck her again," I said unable to let go of the hunger. "She was my kind of freak. But if I do I could kill her." I felt the gnawing guilt and took out my cellphone. I called my sister Lily. It rang twice before she picked up. "Shouldn't you be out partying or something," she said giggling. "Stop that my brother's on the phone." "Your cowboy itching for another ride," I asked and sis made a rude noise. "You are so out of the loop little brother," she said. "He went on the rodeo circuit a year ago and we lost touch. Why are you calling so early on a Friday?" "I need to talk," I said and I guess the tone of my voice spoke volumes. "I said cut it the fuck out," sis snapped at whoever was with her. "Yes, he needs to talk. I'm sorry. Why not be a dear and fix us another drink. Okay, what the hell is going on?" "I got close tonight," I said. "I don't know what to do?" "Breathe," she said. "You can handle it. You are the strong one remember." "I remember, I guess I just needed to hear your voice." "When are you coming back," she asked. "I was supposed to return on Tuesday but things have changed. I have a rare employment opportunity." "Sounds like a lot of money," Lily replied. "You never call college work employment, it's always a job." "I can't share any details, but if I secure this I could focus on getting my PhD." We talked for a few more minutes and I let her get back to her nameless companion. I stared up at the ceiling and felt a great deal of the anxiety leave me. She is my eye of the storm and while she was a phone call away everything was going to be alright. I opened the case with the gold bars in it and took one of them out. It was so small and yet so heavy. Each was stamped, numbered and appeared to have been produced in the states. The stamp bore the name Marsh on one side and Innsmouth on the other. They had been crafted early in the twentieth century. Each ingot was one ounce and depending upon the market rate was worth around fifteen hundred American dollars. So the entirety of the case was worth about a hundred and fifty grand. I put the ingot back in the case and closed it. I checked my watch and it was only two in the morning. I wondered if the banks were open on Saturday. I turned my attention to the basket. I recognized its construction at once. They had tracked me down once again. The lacquered exterior marked it as Chinese but the pattern of the weave told me it came from a certain river valley. I lifted up the lid and looked down at the gifts they had given to me this time. Once a year the villagers gather a few of their finest crafts and place them in a basket. This time there was silken trousers, a matching silk top and swaddled in the silk a hand carved jade dragon. The jade was pale, almost white and its translucence was lovely. This was a gift worthy of one of the emperors of old. How had they managed to quarry such high quality jade and manage to get it out of China undiscovered? I returned the dragon and silk to the basket carefully wrapping the delicate object that had so obviously been carved with love and affection. I couldn't sleep so I decided to walk the basket and briefcase down to the hotel safe. The elevator was playing 'The Girl from Ipanema' as I rode it down to the lobby. My foot was tapping to the tune when the door opened. I walked to the front desk and asked about bank hours and storing of valuables. They would be happy to store my things until the banks opened on Monday morning. I filled out a card detailing the objects to be stored and walked with the night manager to the vault. He assured me my possessions would be safe until I retrieved them. I returned to my room and decided to try and get some sleep. I stripped down and slid under the covers. I closed my eyes and tried to relax. I couldn't get Qadira out of my mind. This was strange since I had been with quite a few women since my change. Why would she of all women get under my skin? That was the last coherent thought before I fell asleep. It was the dream. There were recurring images that haunted me on nights after I had fed. I was floating in the darkling nimbus of what I had come to call the womb. There was warmth here, a sense of peace and I was not alone. She appeared slowly out of the darkness wrapped in glory and power. I was weightless in that place and we floated towards one another as we always did. The red headed goddess adorned in her black cape and an ebony crown. "Who are you," I asked. "Are you free," she asked, she always asked this. "Yes, are you in prison," I reply. "Of a sort," she replied smiling wickedly. "I do not know you. How can I not know you?" "I don't understand," I said. This is new. She never said that before. "Are you my brother or sister or something else," she demanded. "I must be something else," I replied. "I have only seen you in my dreams." "Are you a Watcher," she asked putting such emotional emphasis on the last word. "I don't think so," I said and she smiled again. "You are not demon or angel then," she accused her image changing. My red haired goddess was now crowned with horns and attired in massive black wings. "Succubus," I said flinching. "You are not the one from the book are you?" "Traitorous BITCH," she spat. "I know that one, are you her Master?" "I was." "Was, tell me you didn't free her," the succubus roared. "No, I burned her book," I said. "Too late, she had already fed me her blood." "Justice at last," she crooned. "How long into the change are you?" "Six years and some months," I said frowning. "Rejoice my brother," she said. "For you are free and in time you will only grow stronger. I will grant thee a gift if you would receive it." "Why should I trust you?" "You should not, but we are kin now and I would reward you for your courage. Will you shun my offer?" "No, I would be a fool to do that," I said. We had been orbiting each other in that weightless place. But now we grew closer and closer until we touched. It was a maelstrom of emotion, images and sensations. I cried out as I awoke. I was shaking and I recognized the aftermath of a powerful orgasm. My body was covered in sweat and I tossed off the covers to cool off. I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling. If I smoked I would have lit one. I sat up and that's when I felt the difference. I looked down and screamed. I raced to the bathroom and my eyes adjusted instantly to the darkness. I turned to face the mirror and did not recognize the image reflected back at me. What the fucking hell? The body I now inhabited was nothing short of stunning. The face reminded me of the succubus I had shared my dreams with. The longer I looked the more I noticed the lack of flaws in that face, my face. God help me I turned around to check out my new ass. Damn, you could bounce a quarter off that ass. It was full, round and screamed spank me baby. Oh hell no, I screamed in my head. I am a guy! Was this the gift the succubus had given me? I knew from my research that demons possessed no specific sexual identity. They could be male or female on a whim. Was this the succubus' way of telling me I was utilizing only half my options? I fought the urge that every guy on the planet fantasizes about and failed miserably. I cupped the tits and felt their weight and man were the nipples sensitive. It was like an electric shock when I touched them. The moan that escaped my lips surprised and shocked me. The voice was so much higher and different than my own. "Damn is that me," I said and I couldn't help but smile at how sultry it sounded. I turned around, turned the water on in the shower and stepped inside. If I was going to do this I was going to do it right. I hoped the water would mask the noises I would make. I lathered up a loofa and washed off the sweat and funk from this body. I was still emotionally distancing myself from saying those words, my body. I rinsed off and put down the sponge. I reached down, stopped and then decided to do this in increments. I cupped one breast and placed a hand on my lower belly. My hand was shaking as I touched myself down there for the very first time. I was soaked. God what a thought! I started by teasing those pussy lips and wow what a feeling. "Oh damn that feels good," I growled. "This is going to be addictive." Before I knew it I was sliding my fingers between the labia and pinching a nipple at the same time. My moans got louder and louder. I lost control and eased two fingers into that pussy. My back arched and I was utterly lost in these new pleasures. When I found that clit it was like gasoline on the flames. I cried out as I felt my first orgasm build and build. I was so damn close and I was pinching my nipple hard and fingering my pussy as fast as I could. My knees buckled and I was on the floor of shower when I climaxed. "My tits... my nipples... my pussy," I whimpered as the water fell on me. "This is going to be a long day." I laughed when I managed to get back on my feet. I washed my mane of black hair, no wait red hair. As I ran my fingers through my hair it changed to a deep scarlet just like Lily's. I began to play around with freckles, birth marks and even tattoos. Before I knew it I had embraced this new body entirely. It was my new birthright. It would be a sin not to savor all its pleasures. I turned off the water and dried off. I tried to do the towel thing with my hair and failed miserably. Sitting down to pee was a very emotional event. It was so weird. I was staring at my reflection in the mirror making faces trying to get used to this new side. My phone rang and I ran into the bedroom and grabbed it. "Hello," I said without thinking. "Um, is Louie there," Lily asked from the other side. "Oh hey Lily," I said and then I realized she didn't recognized my voice. "Hold on, I'll get him." "Thanks," she replied. The change was swift and easy. "Hey sis," I said. "Back to normal, I mean how are you?" "I'm great and by the sounds of it you scored a real winner," she replied. "Yeah, uh," I stammered and sis picked up on it instantly. "What's going on," she asked her voice up half an octave. "There is something I've never asked you about," I said. "I guess it's time I did so I can address something that has been bothering me." "Ask away," she said a hint of relief in her voice. "Do you remember archiving the rare book room?" "Yeah," she said and her voice did that thing when she was remembering something nice. "You want to know why I did what I did, don't you?" "Yes, it's important. I haven't asked before this because I was afraid of what you might say." "Well, there was this crazy time for me that lasted a couple of months." "Crazy how," I asked already suspecting her answer. "You know when you're alone and you are just thinking to yourself. Well that voice in your head, it sort of took on a life of its own. It urged me to do things I didn't have the courage to do normally." "You mean us," I said and I heard the sigh over the phone. "So what happened?" "Remember when the cabin burned down," she asked. "You gave me that pretty bracelet and well the voice in my head went back to normal. It was quiet like it used to be." "I am not sure you are going to believe this or not," I started but she knew or suspected. "Does this have anything to do with that girl that passed away at the New Year's Eve party?" "Did she seem familiar to you at all," I asked and sis rewarded me with a grunt of acknowledgement. "There is a reason for that. I know this is going to sound insane but was it her voice that sounded familiar to you?" There was silence on the other end of the phone. I hated doing this but how else could I explain what had happened to me. I hated keeping secrets and if she was going to be my life line she needed to know. I heard the soft cry of realization. She was mumbling something about how could it be and I told her I would explain it all when I got back to the states. Lily agreed to let it drop for now though and knew this was a subject that needed a face to face conversation. I told her how much I loved her and needed her. She knew of course and told me to call any time of the day or night. We hung up and I felt better but I also felt a little guilty leaving her hanging like that. I would make it up to her when I got home. I laughed when I realized we had never discussed whatever it was she had called me about. It was around two in the afternoon when the knock came at the door. I opened the door and there was Qadira standing there. She still looked a little under the weather. I stepped aside and let her in. I looked out into the hall but there were no bodyguards. I closed the door and Qadira had already settled into the only chair in the hotel room. "I apologize, the room is not nearly as nice as your accommodations," I said and she smiled. "I suppose I can tolerate this for a little while," she said and then her expression became serious. "Are you a Jinn?" "What is a Jinn?" "God created three races according to our beliefs. The first are the angels, those who watch over us and were crafted of the element of air. The second are the Jinn, those who are the builders and taught man all the crafts and are forged from fire. Last is man, who humbles himself before God and was formed from the soil of the earth." "Watchers," I said. "Yes, that is another name for angels," Qadira said noticing my reaction carefully. "Are you a Jinn?" "Have you spoken to anyone about last night," I asked and she shook her head. "I am not a Jinn. I am something else. I am not exactly sure what I am anymore." I launched into the entire story about the demon in the book and all that came after. I don't know why I told her but it felt good to share it with someone if only for a little while. Qadira sat there and I watched as her face changed as each chapter of my new life unfolded. At the end the terror in her eyes was enough to confirm what I had to do. The memory spell hit her and her expression went slack. It was a modified forget spell where I could edit what she remembered to the minute detail. She awoke and smiled at me. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 02 "We really should go over the details of this recovery mission," she said. "Fine, would you like some coffee," I asked and she nodded. I was about to order room service but she shook her head and told me about a café nearby that served a great cup of coffee. I offered her my arm and we left for the coffee house. We rode down the elevator serenaded by the classic 'House of the Rising Sun'. The weather was a little overcast and was a blistering seventy degrees for a Swiss summer. The café wasn't far from the hotel and they had seating outside so we could people watch as we talked business. "So tell me about this jewel," I asked as we sipped our drinks. "There are two stones. The Heart and the Fire of Ashurbanipal that are said to have been the eyes of a heathen idol millennia ago. They were spoils of war by the Assyrians when they made war upon an unknown people that are only mentioned as the people of the black stone. The Fire was lost in the city of Iram and recovered by looters a century ago. Of the twenty men only one survived and died placing the jewel into my great-grandfather's hands. The gem secured his place upon the throne." "And what about this Heart of Ashurbanipal, what became of that?" "It was recorded to have been placed in a temple outpost near the fall of the Assyrian Empire. The exact location was never recorded and it took time and money to discover it." "So me and a crack team will secure this treasure for your grandfather," I said and she nodded. "When do I leave?" "The team is still being assembled. I will let you know. If you give me your measurements I can make sure you are properly attired for your desert excursion." "Or you could take them yourself," I offered. The gauntlet was thrown and she accepted. We were able to find an old fashioned tape measure after visiting three thrift shops. I learned that unless you own a boutique or make suits for a living they were damn hard to find. We rushed back to the hotel because Qadira was quite eager to take all of my measurements. She had the audacity to have me strip so that her measurements would be as accurate as possible. Why she got naked was a mystery to me. She started with my neck and worked her way down. It was all good until she took the tape and measured my erection. She didn't write that one down though. No, she was too busy taking the bottle of oil she had hidden under the couch and drizzle the contents on her chest. I watched her rub it in until she had a nice sheen going on. Qadira smiled as she wrapped her tits around my cock. Her eyes were bright with excitement as she used her breasts to pleasure me. "How do they feel," she moaned. "I've never done anything like this before. I've done a little research of techniques you might like." "MMMMMM damn that feels nice," I said and she grinned. "Try using your tongue on the tip when it pops up." "Anything you want," she said lowering her head and lapping at the head of my cock when it poked from between her tits. "Like that?" "Uh HUH," I moaned. "I like that." That is all she needed to hear. She tasted the precum from the head and smiled again. Qadira made an almost animalistic noise as she let her breasts drop and she began using both of her hands. Her mouth descended and the tip was caught up in that talented mouth of hers. As she double fisted me and licked and sucked the head like mad. I could almost hear her voice in my head. 'Give it to me! Give me your cum!' I fought her this time and tried to hold off as long as I could. Her enthusiasm was contagious and soon my hips were moving thrusting the head a little deeper now. Her thoughts came louder and more pronounced now. 'Cum for me damn it! Shoot your load down my throat! I need to taste you!' I lost the battle and I howled as cum hit the back of her throat. Qadira swallowed over and over again to get it all. She let out a triumphant sound as she lifted her head and looked up at me. "AH," she gasped as she licked her lips. "Damn woman," I whimpered. "I am addicted to you," she growled. "Are you going to fuck both my holes again?" "You want me to slide my cock into your pussy?" I asked and she nodded. "What about your ass you want it there too?" "Please," she begged. "I sucked you off good right? I deserve a reward!" "Why yes you do," I said. Qadira got to her feet, walked over to the windows and assumed the position. She pressed her tits against the glass and stuck her ass out as far as she could. How could I turn down that kind of invitation? I picked up the bottle of oil and walked up behind her. I eased my cock into her soaked slit even as I let a little of the oil hit her puckered ass. As I thrust in and out of her tight little pussy I rubbed the oil in. The sounds she made while I fucked her just made me want her all the more. "Bigger, you are getting bigger inside of me," she groaned. "You feel so damn good!" "I could eat you alive," I said as I began thrusting harder now. Those words haunted me and I paused for a moment. Qadira stiffened and looked over her shoulder with a look of surprise and fear. I soothed her fears and began moving again. I bottled up the hunger and locked it away. I didn't need to take anything from her. I just wanted the simple joy of taking my pleasure from her and reciprocating it. I dug my nails into her ass cheeks and thrust so hard I could hear the squeak of her tits moving against the glass. "I'm going to cum," she wailed. "Fuck me harder!" I gave her what she wanted and pounded her so hard I almost feared we would crash through the glass. Suddenly she was screaming and bucking against me. I held her close and savored her closeness. It took a few minutes for her to catch her breath and I had not fed at all from her. "I want to see you cum inside of me," she said and I pulled out slowly. She pulled me close and held me. I took in her scent and I growled in her ear. She giggled and then whispered in my ear what she wanted from me. I looked her in the eye and she nodded. Qadira and I walked over to the table in the living room. She hopped up onto the table and laid back. She brought her knees up to her chest and reached down and grabbed her ass cheeks. As she pulled them apart I just smiled and followed her orders. I knelt down and lowered my lips to her pussy while I slid two fingers into her ass. "UNNN, am I a bad person," she asked as I lapped at her labia and clit and finger fucked her ass. "No, you know what you want," I said looking up and watching her reactions. "I am almost ready," she panted as I began suckling her clit. "That feels amazing you evil man you." I could feel her squeeze against my fingers as I teased her. I knew she was ready when her hips left the table and she was grinding against my face. I slid my fingers out and stood up. I gave her that look that said 'are you sure about this' and she nodded. I pressed the tip of my cock against her and pushed. Qadira pulled her ass cheeks further apart and yelped when the head popped inside of her. She let out short hard breaths and nodded when she was ready for more. I pushed slowly and Qadira groaned as inch by inch I filled her up. "You are in my ass again," she whimpered. "Something is different from the last time." I didn't answer as I began to move my hips slowly. Her eyes widened and her breathing became ragged as another climax was almost upon her. I thrust a little faster and was rewarded with Qadira's cry of release. I stopped again and waited for her to catch her breath. "You ready for the second half of your plan," I asked and she nodded. She sat up and scooted her ass to the edge of the table and I picked her up. Her legs wrapped around me as I walked her to the bank of windows again. I pressed her back against the glass and then began to thrust up into her. We were both panting now. I was grunting in time with each thrust of my hips. "Something is missing," she whimpered. "I wish I knew what it was." The spell had robbed her mind of the selected memories. Her body still remembered the feeling of having two cocks in her at the same time. I was so torn and her hunger won out. I summoned the dark miracle and watched Qadira's eyes widened in pleasant surprise as I slid inside her other hole. I paused to let her enjoy this new sensation. Her teeth on my shoulder told me she was eager to feel me moving again. I started thrusting again and we were both panting in sync. "That's it," she cried out. "That is what was missing!" I hammered her for all I was worth and her cries got louder and louder. When I shot inside of her I had to lock my knees to keep from dropping us both to the floor. All I could hear was my heart tripping in my chest and her breathing in my ear. I think that was more intense than the night before. I eased Qadira's feet to the floor and pulled out. I was still quite aroused but she was in no shape to continue. I turned to head for the bathroom to clean up and that's when I saw the girl sitting on the top of the couch with her legs spread wide. She had fingers buried in her sex and she had been watching us for the last couple of minutes at least. She was Middle Eastern like Qadira and there was a distinct family resemblance. Her tits were actually a little bigger than Qadira's with smaller areola and perky little nipples. She was a little skinnier and her pussy was shaved bald. "Who the hell is the naked girl on the couch," I asked Qadira. "Oh, that is my younger sister Alia. She was supposed to be out shopping for the rest of the afternoon." "He does have two cocks," Alia said still fingering her cunt furiously. "I didn't believe you but there he is." "You told her about me," I said rounding on Qadira. "Just her I promise," Qadira said fidgeting. "I made her promise not to tell." "Well, have you kept your mouth shut?" "Yes, but uh my silence has a price," Alia purred. "I want you to fuck me just like you did her." I shook my head and pondered mind wiping the pair but the opportunity of tagging this girl was just too tempting. I walked around to the back of the couch and snatched her up into my arms. I set her down and bent her over the couch. "Try to relax," I said as I lined up both cocks. "This might be a bit much the first time around." "The first time," Alia squealed as I pushed slowly forward. "Oh my god, you are going to fuck both at once!" "That's the idea," I said as I slid inside her slowly. I let her adjust to the new feeling and when she nodded I pushed the rest of the way into her. Alia was shaking as I began to move. She was whimpering and moaning as we fucked. Qadira watched as I violated her sister with extreme prejudice. I knew she was ready for more when she began thrusting back against me. The sound of our bodies slapping against each other was loud and lewd in my ears. "Take that and that you dirty little slut," I groaned in her ear. "Yes, I am your filthy little whore," she shot back. "Oh god I am so close! Make me cum and I will be your personal little cock slot!" I hammered both her holes harder and faster now. Alia screamed as she came and felt both her holes clench tight around me. I held her by the waist while her body shook. Unlike her dear sweet sister I kept thrusting since I was so damn close. "Stop, for the love of god stop!" Alia begged but it fell on deaf ears. "You're going to break me!" "A lesson learned," I said through clenched teeth. "Almost there..." I came in a double burst filling her to capacity. Alia's fingers were clenched around the top of the couch as if she were clinging to the edge of a cliff. Qadira stood there transfixed at the brutality of our love play. She seemed upset and I awaited the eventual slap at any moment but it never fell. "What did I do wrong," she asked as I pulled out of her sister. "Huh, I don't understand," I replied. "You didn't do anything wrong." "You didn't fuck me like that. Tell me what you want. I want you to love me like that." "Jeez, follow me," I said heading for the bedroom. "Wait for me," Alia said. "I want in." I led the girls into the bedroom and instructed them since they were obliging me so nicely. Qadira lay on her back with her sister on top facing her. I knelt on the bed below them and with a little bit of maneuvering managed to spear each of their soaked cunts. I grabbed Alia's ass for leverage and began moving. The girls began moaning in time with my thrusts and my control slipped as a dual portion of life stuff flowed into me. That energy went directly into my desire to please the pair. I began hammering them now and they urged me on begging me to thrust even harder. I gave them what they wanted. After a few minutes the sisters took over. I pulled out and was shoved onto my back. Their attack was accurate and well panned out. Qadira took the lower cock while Alia claimed the upper. Alia faced me and straddled me first and lowered her body slowly. Once she was impaled Qadira positioned herself facing away and eased me into her soaked cunt even slower than her sister had. The sisters moved up and down alternating their bodies like sex pistons. I had never experienced anything like this ever. The girls rode me until I had fired a salvo in each of their tight little pussies. They had planned this entire thing from the very beginning. I rewarded them over and over again. What had begun at three in the afternoon ended three grueling hours later? I had ignored their pleas for rest and took every pleasure I wanted from them. It had all ended with a double blow job with each sister taking a cock. I left them two puddles of quivering flesh. I showered, dried off and returned with the towel wrapped around my waist. The sisters were drifting off to sleep when I returned. "Ready for round two," I asked and Qadira's eyes narrowed. "I will hit the panic button if you get any closer," she threatened. "I was joking," I said smiling. "I wasn't," she grinned. "Now why don't you climb under the covers with us?" "I will be good," I said as I slid in between them. We snuggled and as they drifted off I wove a little used spell called a compulsion. It was obvious to me that altering their memories was useless. So I took a different tack. The compulsion spell would keep them from mentioning my gift in any way or fashion. My secret safe I closed my eyes and fell asleep. Sun's Hammer: I had never parachuted before but that didn't stop whoever had planned out our mission. The cargo plane would drop not just us but two vehicles into the middle of what the Bedouin called Sun's Hammer. It was a flat white waste that spanned kilometers of desert. There was no sand just hard packed earth that god had forsaken in the distant past. I would be jumping attached to the most skilled sky diver on the team. There were nine of us together, six soldiers, two diggers and myself. The diggers were diving tandem just like me. The vehicles would follow us down and hopefully land safely. The back of the plane opened and we leapt out a perfectly good airplane. I screamed like a little girl for about ten seconds and then the thrill kicked in. The chute opened and we were hauled up to slowly drift to the earth. I looked down on the hell we were falling down towards and shivered. I remembered how to land and bent my knees upon impact as we landed. We detached, picked up our chutes and gathered together watching our transportation land as smoothly as we had. We had crossed the first hurdle towards our goal. If we had lost even one vehicle we would have been fucked. This mission had little margin of error. This particular op rested on us crossing international borders with a nation that was on dubious diplomatic standing with Saudi Arabia as well as America. The soldiers armed themselves and I took a sidearm for my protection. The diggers were strictly non-combative. We all wore eye protection to keep from having our retinas burned out by the glare from both above and below. As we drove you could see the shimmering heat distortion radiating off the ground. The air was so hot it hurt just to breath. While I could adapt to the environment the others could not. Even those born in a harsh landscape this was like being dropped off in hell. We couldn't afford to run the air conditioning since it would eat up fuel necessary to get in and back out to our extraction point. I remembered Qadira's story about the single adventurer that had walked out with the Fire of Ashurbanipal clenched in his fist. Would we repeat that tragedy? Would I be the only one to survive this treasure hunt? I hoped not. I had grown quite close to these fearless men over the last week of briefings and training. I wanted every one of us to get out of this alive. While Fakhir, the navigator and I checked the satellite images of the area we plotted our course for our destination. Even with the vehicles it would take two days to cross what I had lovingly named the anvil. I shared my thought with the others in the vehicle and they laughed. "Ai, this is the anvil struck by the sun's hammer," Hassan, our leader replied. I stared out at the unchanging landscape and when the monotony had begun to take its toll Aaron our sniper seated behind me handed over his mp3 player to me. The driver pointed out the USB port and I plugged it in. Soon classic rock music was blaring from the vehicle's speakers. "Eagles," Fakhir said as he patted me on the shoulder. "Take it easy..." Soon we were all singing along with the music. It definitely helped pass the time. We set up camp as the sun neared the western horizon. We had eater energy bars for our first meal but now we would cook some real food. The music was in the background and water was passed around and the others noted how little I was drinking. "You must drink more," Aaron suggested. "You will get dehydrated if you don't and that can be lethal out here." I drank my share of the water and that seemed to alleviate their worry. We all shared stories and this was a great way to improve my Arabic. When my time came they like many others asked about China. I fought the urge to roll my eyes and turned the question around. "What do you know about it so I don't bore you by repeating myself?" So they took turns telling me all the stories that they had heard. They ranged from all the internet conspiracies to actual news reports about the 'freak' weather incident. Once they were done I pondered what to tell them and what not to. I was under strict orders not to discuss what had happened but there was a high probability some or all of us may not return. "I will tell you what I can. It's not much but I have little choice in this matter." They nodded and I launched into basically the same story I had told Qadira. When I finished we ate our meal and I looked up at the billion stars above my head. We were so far removed from civilization that the heavens were revealed in all their glory. I forgot to eat I was so enthralled by the sight. Lais, the digger sitting next to me, lightly nudged me reminding me to eat. "It is so beautiful," I said as I ate. "God is great," Idris, the other digger, said and it was echoed by the others. We finished our meal and retired to our tents. It had been a long day and we had more of the same ahead of us. I fell asleep almost instantly. I dreamed. I was standing outside my tent and looking up at the sky. I was not used to dreaming except for those involving my red headed goddess, the succubus. Where was she? Was I so far away from humanity that she couldn't find me? I walked around the camp and heard sounds coming from the other tents. I walked towards one of the tents and in that dreamlike way I passed through the wall of the tent and into what appeared to be a Middle Eastern marketplace. There were people on both sides of the street hawking their wares. The detail of the people and the entire setting was so detailed. How the hell was I able to envision this? Then I saw her, the succubus. She was further up the street and I raced to catch up to her. She was wearing a white cotton dress and her hair was loose and fell to just above her ass. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 03 Note: All characters are 18 years or older, some are way older. I have been fighting a sixty page piece that was supposed to fill this spot, but it won. So I am jumping ahead in the timeline a little and will post the other once I beat it into submission. Working title on it is currently 'The Lost Year'. Thank you for your patience and I hope you enjoy. Please feel free to comment and vote. ***** Preface: It has been three years since I recovered the Heart of Ashurbanipal. The nightmares that plagued me have been vanquished and are more or less a thing of the past. I have left my posting in Japan for Paris and the promise of safety and the possibility of answers to question as yet unasked. I have taken a small apartment in a fine neighborhood. It has a coffee house, several interesting shops and a bakery. My only constant companion now is my A.I. familiar Feng, a gift from a former lover and dear friend. Part One: Path of the Inquisitor I kept the double doors that open onto my balcony open at night. I did this so that when I wake up I can smell the delicious scent of fresh baked bread waft in on the morning breeze. My alarm woke me up promptly at six in the morning. I didn't open my eyes I just took a deep breath and inhaled that glorious smell that makes this apartment worthwhile. "Goddamn I love the smell of fresh baked bread," I said and reluctantly sat up. "You have said that for the last three mornings," the sleepy voice said next to me. "Marie, you are spoiled," I told her. "You grew up in Paris." "True, but damn it man do you have to praise the morning so fucking enthusiastically?" "I will get you a cherry muffin and a cup of coffee," I said. "Will that appease that foul mood of yours?" "MMMMMM, you weren't calling my mood foul last night while you were fucking my brains out." She said as she rolled onto her belly. "My poor pussy is still quite sore mon ami" "J'adore that fine pussy of yours and you know it," I said as I rose and threw on my clothes from last night. "Remind me I need to go by the laundry and pick up my clean clothes." Marie just lifted her arm and shot me the bird as I slipped on my shoes. I walked the two flights of stairs down and crossed the street. The sign on the door said closed but I walked in anyway. The bell above the door rang and Veronica, the owner's lovely granddaughter, came out to greet me. "Bon Jour Louie," she said smiling as she always did. "What can I get you today?" "Run away with me and I will show you the world," I said as I always did when I greeted the buxom teen. "Alas Monsieur, if I did, it would break my grand papa's heart. Now, tell me what you really want." "Well, in that case, I suppose I will have two loves of seed bread, a cherry muffin and three blueberry pastries." "Cherry you say, that tart must still be warning your bed," Veronica said curtly. "Are you jealous," I asked and she smiled and winked at me. She filled my order and I noticed when she turned around that the top two buttons of her blouse were suddenly undone. I could just make out her youthful cleavage as she had intended. I paid for my goods and kissed her hand before I left. I bid her a good day and decided to kick Marie to the curb after breakfast. Things were beginning to look promising with the young Veronica, very promising indeed! I carried the brown bag containing my bake goods to the coffeehouse and ordered two large coffees to go. Daniel, the middle aged barista, always took good care of me since my advice on women had panned out so well for him. His fiancé was proof that I was a talented matchmaker. He handed me the cardboard holder with my two cups of coffee and a free double shot of expresso. I spotted Tina, his Italian fiancée, and winked at her as I left. I returned to my apartment and found Marie coming out of the bathroom. She was wearing one of my t-shirts and a smile. I handed her the muffin and coffee and I was rewarded with a peck on the cheek. "Still sniffing around that young girl," Marie asked as she sipped her coffee. "Yep," I said biting into my pastry. "I think I have made some real progress thanks to you." "Me, I have never even spoken to her. She is a child. She can't be more than nineteen, hardly a suitable lover for a man like you." "Doesn't matter," I said. "I am leaving Paris soon anyway." "Leaving," Marie repeated frowning. "I thought you were going to finish out the summer here?" "That was the plan, things change," I said as she ran fingers through her wavy blonde hair. The silence that followed was awkward and tense. I sipped my expresso as her mood worsened even more. I could feel the disappointment smolder into anger and that kindled into a full blown rage. She rose up and began a long ass tirade about men and how they are born to destroy everything and everyone they touch. It ended as all her rants did with her on my lap and hugging me fiercely. "I haven't repaid you for your kindness Louie," she whispered in my ear. "I didn't do it for payment," I told her for the umpteenth time. "I did it because I wanted to." "I owe you my life," she said kissing my cheek. "If you really want to help," I said and her eyes met mine. "I need two errands ran. I need my laundry and I need you to pick up a parcel at Sal's." She nodded and laid her head on my shoulder. I held her close until she was ready to get dressed and go out for me. I watched her get dressed and smiled as she stepped out the door. I let out a sigh of relief. Thank god she was going to Sal's for me. The place was being watched night and day now that the Ordo Malleus had arrived. The fucking witch hunters were on my trail and I had to be careful and discreet. I could leave the city easily enough but I had to have the parcel first. I finished my coffee and half a pastry before I hit the shower and washed up. I dried off after my shower and wrapped a towel around my waist. I paced the floor wondering if they would intercept Marie or not. The waiting was horrific and I absently twisted the platinum and diamond ring on my left hand. It was the ring that I had been given back in the states. The ring was my most prized possession. It held the crystalline core for my digital familiar Feng. The twisting must have alerted her to my dire impatience. "Louis you are pacing, again," she said as she appeared. She hovered over the little round table that marked the virtual location of both my living room and my dining room. It was a tiny apartment. Feng appeared weightless as she floated. Her hair was a kind of sapphire cloud around her head and the black skin tight suit clung to her quite nicely. I had personalized every aspect of her appearance to the tiniest detail. I liked the silvery circuit design that covered both sides of her body suit. It accentuated her assets quite nicely. But it was her raw beauty that I had really outdone myself. The heart shaped face with the upswept almond shaped eyes the color of frost, her petite nose and small mouth with their full pouty lips. Her ethnicity was a perfect blend of Irish, Thai and Elf. The pointy ears were a definite giveaway to the latter origins. "Louis, someone is coming," Feng said as she sat up and regarded the front door. "I'm back," Marie said as she stepped inside. "No, I wasn't followed." She walked over to the table and set down the small package wrapped in brown paper. My laundry she was good enough to place in the closet. Feng watched Marie move around the apartment but Marie could not perceive Feng. It was complicated but involved eye drops and an injection at the base of my skull. The only external hardware I possessed to access Feng was my ring. Marie took her seat at the table and finished her meal. "Thank you," I said and she smiled at me. "Are you going to show me what I retrieved? I hope it isn't drugs or anything illegal." "No, it is something I haggled for with that old fart. We went round and round for over a week before he settled on a price. I think in the end it was more about the haggling than the money itself." I saw the expectant look on her face so I picked up the package and opened it. I methodically removed the wrapping first. The box was made of some sort of dark wood. There was a deep and lustrous texture to it and it was inscribed with an intricate Celtic knot on the lid. A simple silver clasp held it shut and when I opened it Marie let out a gasp of astonishment. "What is that?" She asked. "It is an uncut gemstone," I said and she narrowed her eyes at me disapprovingly. "I can see that but what kind of stone is it?" "Orakulum," I said. "It is a very rare volcanic mineral." "Never heard of it," she said. "But it is gorgeous." "Just wait until I have it cut," I told her and she smiled. I heard the cock of the pistol's hammer. I shook my head and looked over at the silenced .45. She made a gesture for me to hand over the stone. Again I shook my head and brought the protective spell into my thoughts and focused on it. There are many ways to cast a spell. This particular method was developed by the Hashashin, Middle Eastern assassins. It is where we get the word assassin from. They mastered the art of hanging spells. You could look at it like this. You cast 99% of the spell and hold off on the very last syllable. The number of spells hanging depends upon the skill of the mage. In my case I have ten hanging at any given time. Most of them are defensive, two are killing spells. "Don't... please..." I said without any hint of emotion. "You are out of time Louie," she said as she squeezed the trigger. "Vun," I whispered and the barrier sprung to life. The bullet smashed into the barrier and disappeared for a millisecond. One millisecond later it reappeared travelling in the opposite direction. It crashed into her skull, her head snapped back and she crumpled, dead before she hit the floor. I sat there unmoving until the police arrived. I had closed the box and slid it beneath my bed. The police arrived and all the questions began. I told them she tried to kill me but something went terribly wrong. They tested my hands for gunshot residue and released me. The police photographed the scene, took the body away and in the end it was a terrible tragedy. I packed up my few belongings and prepared to move into a small hotel. It was now just a matter of time. My name on a police report would generate attention, attention I did not need or want. I couldn't leave without looking suspicious so I had to change my plans. I would have to get creative. My trip to Antwerp to have the stone cut would be cancelled. I would cut the stone myself, with a little help. "Feng, I want you to discreetly look up everything there is to know about cutting gemstones." "Yes Louis, it will be done. I will require a day or two at the most." "Good, that will give me time to prep the second half of this endeavor." Feng vanished and I snuck out the building via a nearby roof. The group of reporters was just going to have to work a bit harder for that on camera interview. I paid cash for my hotel room and check in under the name Johan Schmidt, the German equivalent of John Smith. It wasn't in the best part of town but it served my purposes well enough. I put my clothing away and placed my precious box in a nice secure location even the witch hunters would never locate. I began my research with the manufacturing plants closest to my current location and worked outward from there. I had very specific needs and I was able to cross off potential sites fairly quickly. Paris was eliminated within the hour. It was close to midnight before I found what I had sought. Now the hard part began, I had to crack their security. That would take precious time I didn't have. The Ordo Malleus was actively seeking me and they would not be idle. The attempted murder placed me in the city and under scrutiny until the investigation was finished. I needed to get some rest and recuperate before the hounds were at the door. I placed the wards on the windows and the front door before I lay down to sleep. The wards would keep my presence at the hotel hidden from magical detection or intrusion. It had taken nearly a year to hone those skills to an effective level. I closed my eyes and tried to relax. I used astral projection and sought out a willing plaything to feed from. They were like twinkling stars in a night sky. Those dreamers who were in a state of sexual arousal and I was the moth drawn to their flame. I sought the brightest and hottest flame to throw myself at. I rose up above the rooftop and looked down. I rotated slowly seeking, searching, hunting for my prey. There she was! A scintillating spark of white hot lust and I willed myself by her side. I entered her dream and was struck at its simple beauty. I guessed it was a rural home beside a lake with an orchard of apple trees nearby. She was standing on the dock at the edge of the lake. Her back was to me and my attention was torn between her long mane of ebony hair that kissed that round ass of hers or the fierce hunger in her eyes as she looked over her shoulder at me. She was tall, slender and stacked like nobody's business. This pretty young thing was wearing a tres chic micro bikini that hid little of that luscious body beneath. Her eyes were a blue bordering on violet that accentuated her heart shaped face, high cheek bones and full kissable mouth. She embodied the stuff of dreams. "Who are you," she asked her voice as pleasing at the rest of her. "I came for you," I told her as I approached. "Have you now and what makes you think I want you?" She asked and I sniffed the air. "You smell like a bitch in heat," I said watching her reaction carefully. "Do I now? Should I get down on all fours and bark for you? Or are you going to take me by force?" I regarded her for a long time as she turned to face me. Damn, her tits were distracting! She must be at least a double D or larger and her nipples were hard little pebbles pressing against the black material of her bikini. We walked towards one another and the closer we got the stronger her scent. There was a fire in her eyes and it screamed challenge and yet her body language howled submission. We stopped when we were within arm's length and I waited. "You didn't answer my question," she said licking her lips. "Here is my answer woman," I said as I stepped forward, grabbed her by her hair and pulled her into a hungry kiss. I snatched just a tiny amount of her life. It is the same way a wine connoisseur swishes his glass, sniffs the contents and only then takes a taste. She tasted of peaches and cream. There was a purity underlying her erotic persona. Could she be a virgin? Was this all an act in her dream? Is that why she wanted me to take charge? Very well, I would be gentle. I pulled her into my arms and let her body mold to mine. The kiss deepened and her eyes slowly closed as she yielded to me. I felt her body tremble as I broke our kiss. "I will mark you as mine," I told her and she just nodded. I kissed her neck slowly and she whimpered as my lips pressed against her flesh. I made a fist in her hair and drew her head back exposing her neck completely. I could see the vein running alone the side and bit lightly to gauge her reaction. She moaned and lifted one leg to wrap about my waist. I lowered my free hand to her ass cheek and caressed it. "OH..." she gasped. I dug my nails into her cheek and her cry was louder this time. I lowered my lips to her covered nipple and she arched her back bringing them within easier reach. I suckled her nipple through the material and her trembling increased. "Are you going to cum just from this?" I asked and she nodded once. "Expose them for me." The nameless girl reached up and tugged the bikini from her tits revealing her large dark areole and iron hard nipples. My mouth watered and I bit lightly at her sensitive flesh and her orgasm was my reward. Another tiny chunk of her life flowed into me and the dark magic took hold completely now. She was mine and she knew it. I feasted on her tit flesh as she moaned and begged for more. "Fuck me... please fuck me," she pleaded. "I need to feel you inside of me!" "No," I said and she frowned. "There is so much to do before then. I want to become acquainted with every inch of your body." "It feels so intense," she whimpered. I kissed my way down to her belly. I tapped her leg and she lowered it to the dock. I dropped to a kneeling position and pulled the small bit of material covering her sex. I smiled up at her as I pulled her clam shaped pussy apart. She was soaked and the scent of her hunger was overpowering. I buried my tongue between those lips and tasted her secret self. The girl cried out and dug her fingers into my hair. She clung on as my tongue invaded her sex to its core. I had long since mastered the snake tongue technique and she was powerless to resist it. "Oh my god," she cried out. "It is going so deep! How can you do that?" I ignored her words for now and focused on pushing her over the edge a second time. The undulating action was working far faster than I would have thought possible. Her juices ran freely now and she was grinding her hips against my face. Her cries echoed off the surface of the lake and beyond. I could feel the sudden shift in her body and knew she was on the verge. "So close... so fucking close! Fuck me with your tongue!" I drank a little larger chunk of her essence as she climaxed for me. Her knees gave out and I withdrew my tongue quickly as she crumpled to the dock. She was panting and shaking as her sweat covered body shivered in delight. "Have you ever sucked a cock before?" I asked and she shook her head. "You're a virgin aren't you?" "Uh huh," she managed. "I am only eighteen for crying out loud." "Good enough for me," I said as I rolled her onto her back. "This is going to be epic!" I parted her legs and positioned her just right. I took my erection in hand and teased her with the tip. She growled but lay there too weak to complain. I eased just the head inside of her and she gasped. Then I slowly fed her the rest until she was impaled completely. Her eyes were wide and she bit her lip as I began to move. She met my gaze as I thrust into nice and slow, for now. I wanted her to enjoy her first time. I began grunting each time I slid inside of her, her pussy was so damn tight! I watched her reactions carefully and it didn't take her long to recover from the shock of her first penetration. "Faster," she said. "Fuck me faster..." "Okay," I said as I stopped, rolled her onto her belly and got her up on her knees. "Here comes faster." I grabbed her ass cheeks and hammered her faster. It wasn't as fast as I could go but a decent pace. She cried out in surprise as her breasts swung with my rhythm. The girl grabbed one of her tits and teased the nipple as I rammed into her harder now as well. "Je-sus... I wasn't expecting that," she yelped. "I have barely begun," I told her as I slowly ramped up both the power and speed of my hips. "Oh shit... oh shit..." she repeated as her third orgasm began to crest. "I am going to cum again!" "Relax and go with the flow," I ordered her. "I have a secret up my sleeve." "Unnn unnnn unnnn I can't wait," she groaned. I timed my thrusts with her orgasm and when it hit I slammed into her and held on. Her scream lasted for a long time and a good sized piece of her life fed me. The dark magic was boiling in her veins now. I could almost see its aura surrounding her. "Fuck me... fuck me more! I need your cock lover! Give it to me!" We were entering dangerous territory. If I continued I could put her in a coma or worse. There was a reason the witch hunters were after me. I had lost control six times since I left Japan. One didn't survive and the other five were still hospitalized. I tried to fight the hunger but it was as much a part of me as breathing. So I tried a different tack that might dissuade her and help me slow down. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 03 "You have given me your virginity," I said and she nodded eagerly. "I have and with not an iota of regret," she purred. "Now it is time to lose the other one," I said and caressed her ass cheeks. "Wait, you don't mean..." she said as I pulled those lovely round globes apart. "Yep," I said and l lowered my face and let my tongue flicker her other hole. I was sure she would freak the fuck out and that would be that. I would shoot my load inside of her and I would be done. Fate and the dark magic had other plans though. "Will it hurt?" She asked looking over her shoulder at me. "Yes," I said as the tip of my tongue entered her. "UNNNN... your tongue is opening my nasty little hole," she groaned. "That feels so weird." My tongue worked its way inexorably towards her other core. I watched as her eyes rolled up in her head when the rippling began. Her mouth fell open and she was moaning now. I could feel her entire body begin to shake and her orgasm stunned both of us. "I came from your tongue... in my ass... I can't believe it! What would your dick feel like then?" "Well, what will it be," I said after retracting my tongue. "What, are you nuts, of course I want you to violate my ass with your cock! I will come like nothing I ever dreamed of!" I summoned the dark miracle and her eyes locked on the second erection with wonder. I pressed the tip against her entrance and asked one final time but she nodded and grits her teeth. I watched her expressions closely as I pushed. The tight sphincter opened reluctantly to the girth of my cock but it yielded, eventually. She was panting and her face covered in sweat but she smiled despite the pain. I pushed slowly and her eyes widened as I filled her up. "God damn, my ass is so full of cock," she whimpered. "It hurts so good." "You are a freak," I said as I knelt there letting her acclimate. "I am your freak, just you remember that," she replied catching her breath. "Alright now fuck me properly." I moved slowly and her expression shot passed worship in seconds flat. She was enchanted and her life trickled into me now. As I fucked her one orgasm followed the next as her life faded by the second. I was as much a victim of the dark magic as she was. The pleasure wasn't just a physical one, there was a deeper connection that only a being such as I and a mortal woman can share. My orgasm was building swiftly and I was thankful. I hammered both her holes remorselessly until I lost my battle and shot into her. The girl collapsed in front of me but she was still conscious. "I love you," she whispered as I pulled out of her. "No, you are in lust," I told her. "Rest up; we might just meet beyond your dream." "I am dreaming? Wait... what is your name?" I shook my head as I stood up and left her dream. My eyes snapped open and thanked whatever gods were out there that she was alright. The fatigue had been purged from my system and I turned on the television. I was waiting for the inevitable. I got to my feet and began to practice my spell craft. I was going to focus on stealth so when the time was right I could slip away unnoticed and leave the hunters behind. My red headed goddess had been right. The longer I was around the stronger everything became. When I first tried a spell it was like learning how to drive a stick shift. I had to break down each action until I got it right. Now I get into a car and I can drive it without thinking about it. The same is true for spellcasting. "I hope she is okay," I said to myself as I manipulated the shadows around me. They grew thicker, darker and more menacing. I found that certain types of magic were harder than others. I discovered those I had a knack for and focused on them. My experiments with mental magic were limited to seduction and attraction. While I could alter light, sound and matter with great ease. Of course there were abilities that I could utilize that were less ephemeral and I considered skills rather than magic. My shapeshifting was one such ability and I had raised it to an instinctual thing now. I could shift not just my body but my clothing with a thought. That had saved me from the hunters on more than one occasion and speaking of hunters my wards just went crazy. Wards are a strange blend of magics that requires a lot of patience and imagination. They are part alarm, part lock and a just a dash of offensive. They can not only alert you to the presence of enemies but can, if said enemy gets too close, zap the shit out of them. I use it as a heads up and a chance to slip away before things get too hairy. There were six hunters in my vicinity, not good, not good at all. I sat down on the floor, closed my eyes and extended my perceptions to the astral plane. The vibrant energy of Paris night life blazed in my vision. But that is not what I was looking for, oh no. I was seeking dark patches in the landscape. That is where the hunters would be. They would be armed with seals, sigils and anti-magic devices. The very things that protected them would alert me to their positions. The totems that dispelled magic would work on all magic. That meant that they would appear dark against the bright backdrop of natural energy. "There you are you fucker," I said as I spotted one of them. It took a bit but I found all six. The down side they were all around the hotel. The bright side is that they were moving on. They were methodically searching and were already passing by. I let out a sigh of relief. I kept watching until I knew they were gone. I opened my eyes and there it was on the television. The breaking news report was repeating itself. "Christina Milano, Olympic hopeful was found in a vegetative state early this morning by her teammate. She was taken to..." They showed an image of her and it was someone else. She looked nothing like the girl whose dream I had entered. It wasn't the girl that I had been with, thank god. The news continued and it got even worse. "Christina is the tenth young girl to fall into an unresponsive coma-like state in the last six months." What the holy hell was going on? I looked at the image of the ten girls and I recognized none of them. That's why the witch hunters were in France, specifically Paris. They were hunting someone or something that was feeding off of young women. The youngest victim was eighteen and the oldest twenty two. This was something else and it was preying on the young and vulnerable. This was bad and I was as shocked as the hunters. I needed to find this thing and dispatch it before I crossed paths with the Ordo Malleus. I shook my head and did a mental checklist of how I could try and track down this beastie. If it was sentient I would find it and warn it out of the area. If it wasn't sentient I would hunt it down and kill it. I couldn't track it until I knew that the hunters were long gone. I got dressed and headed out. I kept a low profile and made my way to the hotel downtown where the athletes are staying. There is a small crowd around the hotel along with several police cars as well as news vehicles. The smart thing to do would be to wait until the crowd thinned and the police left. But if I waited the psychic trace would be that much harder. I found a nice quiet spot that was secluded and shifted my form. I figured a nice athletic brunette would draw far less attention and get me in the front door. It was still weird taking on a female form but it was necessary. I walked up to the police line and I noticed how many of the men stared at me as I passed. A smile and sob story was enough to get me inside. I took the stairs and began my trace there. Imagine you are a bloodhound but instead of sniffing out the predator with your nose you follow a faint visual trail. I shifted my vision to the astral plane but only partially. The effect was to mute my physical vision and allow me access to the spiritual realm. Four flights later I got my first hint of activity. The fifth floor door looked real promising. Whoever or whatever it was had passed by that door. I ditched the high heels for tennis shoes and chose casual clothes and a duster over a LBD, little black dress. I opened the door and looked around. The hallway was empty but the trail was strong. It took me a full minute to determine directionality. I followed the predator and rounded a corner and stopped short. There were two figures, a man and a woman, and they wore the badges of the Ordo Malleus. They had their backs to me and I paused waiting to see what they were going to do. The man was obviously the subordinate as the woman directed him to continue on with the search. He left and headed away from me. I let out a sigh of relief until the woman turned to face me and I saw the insignia on her lapel. Holy fucking shit she was a full-fledged inquisitor! I kept my face calm and met her penetrating stare. I was comforted by the gauss pistol pressing reassuringly against my lower back, but still. "Who are you," the woman asked staring me down. There are quite a few ways to handle people. There is the submissive meek individual that will bow down under pressure and respond without hesitation. There is also the average run of the mill type that is suspicious and ignores the question to move on. I went with C, the loud mouthed Yank who gets in your face. "Who the fuck, are you," I said in my best New York accent. "I am the one asking questions," the woman responded her eyes narrowing dangerously. "I am none of your fucking business, that's who the hell I am," I replied as I began walking past her. I was shoulder to shoulder with her when she sniffed me. I looked over at her and she was smiling. I continued walking when she placed her hand on my shoulder. "That was your last mistake bitch," I said turning to face her. "My last mistake," she said and I could hear a hint of Italian in her speech pattern. "Be a dear and tell me my other mistakes." "One, you opened your mouth. Two, you were all high and mighty and three..." "Yes?" She asked as I slapped her across the face. "You put your hands on me," I said as murder entered her eyes. The Inquisitor began reaching for something. I followed suit and actually had my hand on the grip of my pistol when another voice intervened. "Do you have a room on this floor?" The police officer asked. "I don't but a friend of mine does," I responded as the Inquisitor stood completely erect and let her hands fall to her sides. "No, but..." "You," he said pointing at me. "Get to your friends room and you, you must leave the hotel at once." "Thank you officer," I said in my sweetest voice as I walked past him. I didn't hear all of what transpired but it definitely escalated. I held back my giggle as I continued tracking whatever was responsible for the athlete's attack. The trail became clearer as I neared a laundry chute. Did they still use these things? I glanced around before opening the chute. I peered down and the path was bright and strong. I sniffed the air and wrinkled my nose at the powerful scent of sulfur. Damn it that was my first strong clue that something demonic was at work. I made my way to the service elevator and changed my form to accommodate the situation. I stepped out on the ground floor in a hotel uniform and got a glimpse of the beastie. "Aw crap it's a barghest," I said as I entered the kitchen. These hell hounds are built for combat and are the underworld's dogs of war. They are heavily armored, pretty damn quick and carry a deadly neurotoxin in their bite as well as their claws. They have four eyes that allow them to peer into the astral as well as mundane spectrum. They are bred to kill and possessed neither compassion nor morality. They are perfect killing machines. They are typically summoned familiars of dark wizards. However, on rare occasions they can make their way to earth via conjunctions or weird magical instabilities. They are normally deadly and almost always slay their victims. I suspected someone was controlling this beastie. They wanted to take this poor girl out of the competition for whatever reasons. The hell hound was making its way towards the underground garage attached to the hotel. I was running now as I chased it down. I hit the door to the garage and it flew open. I had lost visual on the thing but it was nearby, its stink was strong and close. I drew out my gauss pistol and loaded it with silver ammunition. Silver worked on not just lycanthropes but most demonic forces as well. I slipped into a crouch and began my hunt in earnest. 'Come out come out you fucker,' I thought as I sniffed the air. I had shifted my vision back to the astral to better find this deadly predator. I had made it to the second curve when I heard someone else enter the garage. I recognized the voice. Damn it all to hell, it was that fucking Inquisitor and her lackey. I ditched the bright colored uniform for a dark colored hoodie, jeans and tennis shoes. I pulled up the hood and wrapped myself in shadows. The silver would work just fine if I was forced into a conflict with the witch hunters. "A barghest, shouldn't we have back up?" "Shut up, you are giving away our position," she snapped at him. I watched as they approached my hiding place and I held my breath. The Inquisitor was armed with a wicked looking dagger and her companion was sporting a sawed off shotgun. They had nearly passed me when the barghest struck from the shadows. Its angle of attack placed the witch hunters between me and it. The young man went down with his throat ripped out. The hell hound gobbled up his soul as he died. The Inquisitor struck and her blade grazed the demon's armored hide. I crouched and took aim. I inhaled and waited for my shot. The beast spun and its mace-like tail knocked the Inquisitor to the ground. God help me I hesitated. A part of me wanted to kill two birds with one stone. Faster than its bulk would hint at, the barghest spun on the Inquisitor. I was sure she was dead, but I was wrong. She had managed to get her legs between her core and snapping jaws of the beast. Her feet were lodged against its chest and she kicked hard. The beast was too heavy to do more than lift its head but that was enough. I fired a heartbeat later. The silver disc struck the upper left eye of the thing. The force was enough to toss it into the air and smash it against a red SUV. The alarm went off and the hell hound got to its feet. The Inquisitor had snatched up the shotgun and leveled it at the demon. It growled low in its barrel chest and began stalking her. They circled each other and I took up another firing position. The barghest lowered its body and leapt at the hunter and she rolled out of the way. I fired off a three round burst, two struck along its side while the third missed. The beast rolled and struck the wall hard enough to crack the cinder block bricks. It roared and recovered in seconds. The Inquisitor took aim and as the beast leapt a second time she caught it in the face with a blast from both barrels. As she backed away she opened the gun, yanked out the spent cartridges and reloaded. The left side of the hell hound's head was a bloody ruin. While its depth perception impaired it the silver shot served only to piss it off beyond reason. Another deafening roar from it announced its next attack. The hunter raised her weapon but the beast was nowhere to be seen. I had watched as its skin shimmered and the thing faded from view. Much the same way a chameleon or octopus changes its color to blend into its environment the hell hound shifted out of phase. I slowed my breathing and used my eyes to look for the beast. It could run away now, but it wouldn't. It was too badly injured and whoever had conjured it had lost their hold on it. I watched the hunter as well to see what she would do. She pushed her long coat away from her hip and reached into one of the pouches on her hip. She brought her hand, palm up, and blew. The silvery powder went everywhere as she slowly turned covered a hundred and twenty degree arc. There, a shimmer of contact, she brought her weapon to bear and fired from the hip. A hit, the barghest appeared as it charged her. The Inquisitor rolled away but not quick enough. The claw raked her side and cut through her body armor like it was nonexistent. She cried out and landed hard and panting. She clutched at her side as the fell wound festered. The barghest's path took it into a nearby pillar. It huddled there as the silver coursed through its system. I could see the two of them and had the power to put them both out of their misery. "I know you're there," the Inquisitor moaned. "I saw the wound you inflicted. Kill it! Slay the beast!" I took careful aim and placed another round into the beast's head. It destroyed its brain and severed its connection with the physical plane. I stepped out of the shadows and confronted her. I kept my form of the young Latin lad just in case. I kept my gun trained on her but I didn't fire. Yes I was being paranoid but it had served me well in the past. "Inquisitor," I said and delighted in her shock. "You... you are well informed," she said looking me over. "And you are dying," I said. "You have a gift for the obvious," she replied as the hell hound's venom attacked her nervous system. "Shall I call your people," I asked. "No," she shook her head and winced in pain. "I would be dead by the time they arrived." "A pity," I said as a crouched down and looked at her lovely features. "You are quite beautiful for a Vatican Pawn. Is it true?" "Yes," she said her breathing becoming labored now. "I am a virgin, you perv." "What if I could heal you," I asked and her eyes fluttered open. "It is possible but you must decide quickly." "At... what price?" "I don't want your soul, if that is what you are concerned about. I want your virginity. I collect them you might say." She actually blushed as she contemplated my offer. I rose to my feet to leave when she called out. The hunter nodded and stretched out her hand to me. I smiled as I scooped her up into my arms as gently as I could. I invoked one of my hanging spells and teleported to a safe house I had outside the city limits. I laid her on the bed and placed my hand upon her wound. The energy I had gotten earlier now flowed into the witch hunter and not only stopped the demonic poison but closed her wound completely. "Sleep, you need rest to fully recuperate," I said and her eyes closed. I built up a fire in the hearth and watched her sleep. I was tired but I had done the right thing. She may be a bit misguided but she was a good person deep down. She couldn't help what she was any more than I could. She had been raised since birth to serve the church. Once they determined she could utilize magic her fate was sealed. I had been told there were entire bloodlines dedicated to breeding Inquisitors. It could all be bullshit but it made a sick kind of sense. Unfortunately for the church a majority of their mages were women. The few male mages were usually promoted to bishops or even cardinals. While the best a woman could hope for was to reach the esteemed title of Inquisitor. The current Grand Inquisitor was one Rinaldo Giovani, the Archbishop of Berlin. He was envied, loved and feared by his flock. He has executed fellow Inquisitors for speaking out that a woman could and should be Grand Inquisitor. I suspect that given time a woman will knock him off his pedestal. While I feared them I also respected the witch hunters for their dedication to their god. It was getting dark when Feng appeared and informed me she had gotten the information I required. I was amazed at her efficiency. When I asked her where she got the information she was reluctant to respond. Instead a download icon appeared in my field of vision. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 03 "What is that," I asked. "That is the information you required. It is the life work of a master gem cutter." "Whoa, what kind of format is it in?" I asked and again she was loath to answer. "Okay, I guess I will just have to see for myself." I stared at the icon and blinked. The rush of information was a maelstrom of sensory overload that forced me to shut my eyes and let the download finish. I think I screamed when the input reached its height. I opened my eyes and there was silence. I looked at Feng and she was now kneeling at my feet. Due to our shared link I could actually feel her hand on my leg. "I didn't know it would be so intense I swear," she said digital tears streaming down her cheeks. "I am alright, but how about a diagnostic to make sure there is no permanent damage." "I am doing so as we speak." She said as she looked at me intently. "Scan complete, no neurological damage detected." "Well that's a relief," I said. "Now I am ordering you to tell me what the hell I just downloaded." "The life work of a master gem cutter," she said and then continued. "His name was David Asher and he passed away at the end of the 18th century. He was considered at the time the world's most gifted gem cutter. He had no peers and was courted by nobility all over Europe and the Near East." "That is all well and good but you've evaded my question, again. What sort of format did I just download?" "A majority of the file was what you could call muscle memory. The rest was intimate knowledge of raw gems and their qualities and characteristics." "That is fantastic," I said. "Now for my last question, I promise, where the hell did you get that information?" Feng knelt there for a very long time. She must be processing a shit ton of possible responses and then she blinked before she spoke. "I discovered them buried in Master Nick's digital vault. The vault led me to a physical location that was quite isolated. That location yielded the memory engrams you downloaded." "You are protecting that source aren't you?" "I promised," she said. "There are more engrams at that location isn't there?" "Yes." "I respect your desire to protect your source." I said and left it at that. "How do I access these new memories?" "I suspect performing task or tasks related to gemology or mineralogy." She said smiling now. I smiled and looked over at the sleeping Inquisitor. I had to deal with her first and then I would see what kind of treasure was now hiding in my head. I stood up and walked over to the bed. She was definitely easy on the eyes. She was of average height but she possessed a lean muscular build. It was a fine balance of power and dexterity. Her breasts were a large B to a small C cup with small areole with perky nips. Her eyes were still closed but she wasn't sleeping. I plopped down next to her and she opened her eyes. "Do you usually talk to yourself," she asked as she sat up. "Um... where are my clothes?" "In the closet, do you want them?" I asked and she slowly shook her head. "You actually saved my life," she said with a look of surprise. "You could have killed me." "I could have but I am not wired that way," I told her. "I just want to be left alone." "I was sent here to hunt the barghest not you." "Now that we have that settled you can leave if you feel up to it," I said. "I can step outside while you dress or I can get your clothes for you." The Inquisitor looked at me and I could see the wheels spinning. She shook her head and looked down at the sheets. I will admit it I was enjoying her discomfort. I leaned close and kissed her cheek. She blushed and I looked in her eyes. "You don't know how to ask do you," I said and she nodded. "Do you want me to get things started?" "Please," she said in a whisper. I took her chin in my hand and turned her to face me. I leaned in again and kissed her lips lightly. She let out a soft moan. I broke the kiss and looked into her eyes again. They were half lidded and she was biting her lip now. I kissed her again and her arms went around my neck causing the sheet to fall away from her breasts. She was a natural kisser and had me aroused in no time at all. "Touch me," she moaned in my ear. I kissed her neck as I cupped her left breast. She let out another moan but it quickly turned into a growl. When I teased her nipple she gasped and arched her back. Her body was beginning to shake and I suspected she was getting close to cracking. I decided this was a perfect time to change tactics. I stopped, slipped behind her and held her close. "What are you doing," she asked as I snuggled close. "I thought you might want to cuddle," I said and she looked over her shoulder at me like I had lost my mind. "Cuddle? You just want to fucking cuddle." "What did you have in mind?" "Well more that cuddling!" She said whimpering. "I got an idea," I said smiling. "I know you're a virgin and all but have you ever um well..." "Masturbated, is that what you are asking?" "Yeah," I said grinning even wider. "You want to watch me get myself off?" She asked and I nodded. "...Only if you do it at the same time." "Fair is fair," I said as I began tugging my shirt off. So I stripped down and leaned against the headboard of the bed while the hunter took up a position at the foot of the bed. She propped her head up with a couple of pillows so she could see me. The Inquisitor spread her legs and reached down to begin pleasuring herself. I followed suit and took my cock in hand. We watched each other as we masturbated. Unhappy with her position she grabbed her pillows and scooted until her pussy was mere inches away from me. Satisfied she returned to diddling herself. "See how wet I am," she moaned. "This is what you did to me. You are very big. I don't know if that will fit inside of me." "Sure it will," I told her as I slowly stroked myself. "It will fill you up nicely and make you cum easily, I promise." "It is so close," she purred. "I can't wait to feel it inside of me." She pulled her pussy lips apart to show me her rosy pink flesh. I watched as she teased her clit and slid two fingers in her cunt. Her ass lifted up and off the bed as she ground it against my hand. She moaned and whimpered as she rubbed against me now. I took my hand and placed it on her sex while her other hand wrapped around me. We had switched roles now as we teased each other. She cried out as my fingers slid inside of her. I shuddered as her hand moved along the shaft of my cock. "You are killing me," she growled. "Fuck me already! You got what you want! I am begging for it now." "How do you want it? Shall I keep you on your back or do you want to be on top?" "Just do it already," she cried. I shifted my position and knelt between her spread legs. I took the tip and tapped her clit with it and she glared at me. I took her hand and she guided me inside of her. I watched intently as her mouth opened wide and she let out a long low moan. I felt her pussy wrap around me as I filled her up. She cursed and blasphemed as I began moving my hips. I grabbed her tits and squeezed them as I thrust into her. "Oh shit... oh god... I never guessed how good this would feel!" I just giggled and moved a little faster now. The hunter's body shook as her first orgasm crashed over her and another cry escaped her lips. The first touch of the dark magic was felt as she begged for more. I continued thrusting and she shifted her legs over my shoulders so I could plunge deeper still. I smiled down at her as I rolled her onto her shoulders. I was driving my hips down into her now. She looked up at me with a hint of worship in her eyes now. The loud slapping sound as our bodies met was loud in my ears. She was grunting each time my cock filled her up now and urging me to shoot inside of her. "I want to feel it, I need to feel your seed shoot into me," she said. "Close..." I growled as my first orgasm crested. "I can feel it! You are getting bigger! Holy shit you are stretching me even more!" I cried out as I lost control. She echoed my cry as her body mirrored my own. Her orgasm hit her hard and fast. Panting, I lowered her body back to the bed. Her arms went around me and pulled me close. I could hear her heart tripping in her chest. "Can you go again? Ooh you are still hard... here let me..." She rolled me onto my back and took over. She was awkward at first but was a quick learner. Her movements became more and more confident as she fucked me. I was enchanted as she lifted up her body slowly and she watched as my cock disappeared inside of her. She bit her lower lip as she moved. "Gabrielle," she moaned. "My name is Gabrielle." "Louis," I replied as she thrust downward. "UNNNN... you are enjoying yourself." "UH HUH... I love your cock," she growled as her gaze intensified. "The more I come the better it feels." "That's how it works," I told her as I began thrusting upward to meet her body. "Oh I like that," she said excitedly. "Are you going to fuck me from behind?" "Only if you want me to," I said. "Oh yes... I want to feel it all!" "It's going to be a long night," I said and she nodded. Gabrielle and I fucked for hours. I let her experience every position I could think of as well as letting her suck me off twice. Her first blowjob was awkward but the second one she actually tried swallowing. It was early morning when we finished in a sweaty pile on the floor. We shared a cold shower and the old Inquisitor reared its ugly head. "This complicates things," Gabrielle said as I washed her hair. "How so," I asked and she laughed. "I am Ordo Malleus and you are... wait a second... what exactly are you?" "I am not sure, to be honest. My story is convoluted." "I believe you," she said as she rinsed out the shampoo. "Want to share?" "I have the blood of Watchers in my veins," I said and the silence was profound. She turned to face me and looked up into my eyes. There was an expression of shock and awe on her lovely features. She looked at me and I could see she was looking at me intently. Her tears were almost invisible in the confines of the shower. "You are a Watcher," she said putting maximum emphasis on the word 'are'. "I am now," I said and she made a puzzled face. "I was born human, like I said convoluted." "I will protect you," she said. "Let me travel with you, please." "It will be difficult for you," I told her. "I am not the monogamous type. You must accept that fact or leave now." I could see the shock on her face but then she nodded. She leaned against me and placed her head against on my chest. I gave her all the time in the world she needed. Her answer was direct and clear cut. She dropped down to her knees and began licking and sucking quite enthusiastically. "I am guessing that your answer is a resounding yes," I moaned. Part Two: Demon in the Mirror Vancouver, Canada It was the end of a gorgeous day. Gabrielle and I had just taken up our positions to observe Port Metro in Vancouver. The green hillside looked out over the water giving us a direct line of sight on any and all water traffic coming into the city. I had learned over the past six months both sides of having an Inquisitor as a companion. The plus side, no one was hunting me anymore and she had become a complete freak in the sack. The down side, we were hunting things I would have steered cleared of before we hooked up. Take our current situation for example. The Grand Inquisitor himself had ordered her to Vancouver to intercept some sort of shipment from Europe. I didn't like the lack of details this mission was based on. While Gabrielle, the good little soldier, didn't bat a luscious eyelid at how ambiguous her orders were. When I questioned her she just shrugged and told me it happened all the time. Not that I didn't trust her with my life, I didn't trust her boss one iota. I had Feng run the specs on this cargo ship as well as monitor the High Inquisitor's communications and report back to me with all pertinent data. Our ship was due in tonight so to pass the time I decided to practice. I unfolded the small table I had packed in my backpack. Then I placed the tools on it and took out the raw uncut stones I had purchased. Gabrielle watched me intently as I examined one of the stones before attempting to cut and shape it. "I didn't know you were trained in such things," she said as she munched on a roll we had purchased as part of our supplies. "I'm not," I said as I looked at the stone through the jeweler's eyepiece. "Hmmm... this should be simple enough." "Wait, if you aren't trained then how can you expect to succeed?" "Convoluted," I said and she threw up her hands in surrender. I placed the stone in what I hoped was the proper position and brought the blade down upon it. I managed to cleave the gem perfectly. I reexamined it and chose my next cut carefully. An hour later I handed the finished jewel to Gabrielle. She held it up to the fading light and whistled. "It is gorgeous," she said and handed it back. "No, keep it," I said and she blushed. "I have taken an oath of poverty," she said. "You also took one of celibacy and you see how well that turned out," I said smirking. "You are awful you know that," she smiled. "Trust me, I know," I said and we both laughed. I put the tools and table away. I had lost my light and we should be on lookout for the ship anyway. I took out my gauss pistol and loaded it with standard rounds. Gabrielle eyed it with what I would have sworn was envy. "It was a gift," I told her. "I know that," she said. "I just wondered how it fires." "There is next to no kick considering the amount of force it exerts on the projectile. I have handled quite a few pistols and this one is the most accurate by far." "The Vatican attempted to purchase gauss weapons but they were turned down." She said and I laughed. "What's so funny?" "They were turned down when a certain someone discovered they were hunting me. Besides I don't think she trusts your High Inquisitor much." "I take it that 'she' was the one that gave you that pistol." "Yes, but she gave me a matched pair," I said. "...with custom grips and a biometric security system to boot." "Are you telling me that you are the only one that can even fire that pistol?" "Uh huh," I said. "That precaution was all my idea." I handed her the gun and watched as she looked it over. She tested the balance and turned it this way and that. She pointed to an aperture just below the muzzle. I told her it was what the manufacturer called a smart gun link. I explained that the hardware, when activated, projected a ruby colored dot where the round should hit. I took it back, turned off the safety and pointed. She looked at me with one eyebrow raised in disbelief. "I don't see anything," she said. "The display is projected directly onto my retina. So it doesn't give away my position to an enemy." "Oh now that is just too damn cool," she said smiling. I placed the pistol's safety back on and holstered it. We sat close and watched the ships come in. It was nearly ten at night when the ship arrived. If I was expecting something small and manageable I was sorely disappointed. I grimaced at the massive cargo vessel pulled into port. It was one of those beastly fuckers that carry hundreds of the large cargo containers. "Mother fucker..." I cursed and made a face. "We better hurry," Gabrielle said as she got to her feet. "We have to meet that ship and keep it from being unloaded. We have to search it." "Feng," I said as I stood up. "I am on it," she said. "I am searching the ship's digital manifest. The port authority receives a copy of all containers on each ship. I will endeavor to isolate which one you are seeking." We returned to our rental car and drove to the docks. The other positive aspect of having an Inquisitor with you is all the false ID's that she carries on her. As I drove she opened her purse and took out one and hung it around her neck. I was simply her driver and she would do all the talking, which was fine by me. We reached the security check point and we stopped. She got out and met the guard. He took one look at her credentials and waved us through enthusiastically. Gabrielle returned to the car smiling. The gate opened and we drove through as she fought off the giggles. We reached pier 124 and parked. The Grand Marianas had dropped anchor and thrown the massive ropes that would hold the vessel in place overboard. The dock crew tied them off and a gangway was lowered into place. We were out and ready to intercept the captain. Feng had isolated twelve questionable containers that were purposely vague. I was impressed. We could have been forced to search over a hundred and she had narrowed it down to a dozen, good girl! Crewmen began to exit the ship as we walked on board and were directed to the bridge. Captain Miguel Santos was the master of this ship. He was an older man, Argentinian by birth and well-seasoned in all the rules and regulations concerning questionable cargo. He and Gabrielle did a little legal dance until she threatened to impound the entire vessel until such time as each and every container was searched. That shut him down and took the fight out of him instantly. I read out the numbers on the containers and on the fifth one he reacted. It didn't take Feng to tell me his heartrate was elevated, I could smell his fear. "Why don't we star t with that one," I said and he nodded. I left Gabrielle on board as I went to the dock and watched as the container was offloaded. I casually clicked the safety off on my pistol and unsnapped the cover. I wanted to be able to draw and fire. The ground crew brought bolt cutters and cut the lock off. I backed away as they opened it slowly. The entire container was packed tight with wooden boxes of all shapes and sizes. The men around it left me to it and returned to their other duties. I walked closer and I felt it. The blast of psychic cold was palpable! There was something dark and sinister lurking in this container. I silently went through the spells I had hanging and waited for the hammer to drop. I turned to look up at the ship and Gabrielle was looking down at me. I gave her a thumbs up and she waved back. The hairs on the back of my neck went up and I looked around. There was activity all over the place. This pier was not isolated and this ship wasn't the only one docked and being unloaded. The truck approached at a normal speed and seemed like it was going to continue on. I got a look at the driver and saw the expression of anger and surprise. Even as he turned the truck in my direction and gunned it I crouched, drew my pistol and fired. The three round burst struck the front of the truck turning the engine to scrap. Damn Newton and the laws of motion! The vehicle had already picked up sufficient speed and momentum to make it lethal. "Kuun," I cried out and the barrier snapped into place a moment before the truck would have struck me. The vehicle stopped and the kinetic shield dissipated. I raised my weapon and took aim at the driver. He held up his hands but his passenger lifted the assault rifle up and fired off a wild burst. The windshield shattered and I rolled away. Men began to pour out of the rear of the truck and I switched the pistol to full auto. I fired into the cab and the rifle fell deadly silent. I took up a defensive position behind one of the open container doors. More automatic gun fire erupted and I aimed at muzzle flash. Three volleys of bullets struck in and around my position. I pulled back and instinctively wrapped the shadows around me. I moved slowly to a flanking position when Gabrielle appeared. She had an auto pistol in each hand and fired controlled bursts into the rear and side of the truck. I raced towards the rear of the vehicle to create a crossfire. I reached my goal and crouched. Three men lie dead on the concrete, two were wounded and five were holed up in the back of the truck. Two fired at Gabrielle while three reloaded. I lay down a line of fire into the back from one corner to the other. I looked over and Gabrielle was picking herself up off the ground. She was wincing from the impact with her body armor but she was otherwise unharmed. We made sure the threat was over and checked the injured and dying. They surrendered and were disarmed. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 04 All characters are 18 years or older. Someone suggested I introduce a strong villain into the storyline and so I have. I hope you enjoy. Feel free to vote, comment and offer suggestions. Repercussions: I looked out over the city of Miami from the balcony of the hotel room. The sun had long set and the innumerable lights shone brightly over the concrete skeleton of the city. Cars were moving along the strip, neon lights flashed in front of the clubs and businesses open late and the sprawl of foot traffic was heavier than it had been during the day. I had my towel wrapped around my waist since I had just stepped out of the shower. Gabrielle was lying sprawled on the bed panting and gasping. She was still recovering from our fierce little romp in said shower. "I told you to leave the shampoo bottle where it fell," I said over my shoulder. "Next time I will listen, I promise," she moaned weakly. "Did you have to pound me quite so energetically?" "Yes, yes I did," I continued. "I lose all control when I see that fine ass of yours undefended." "You mean naked," she fired back. "That's what I said, undefended." There was a knock at the door and I turned to answer it. Gabrielle waved me off and when I ignored her she scrambled to the bathroom to grab a towel or robe or something. I just smiled and opened the door. The young lady in the ugly brown uniform informed me that she had a priority delivery. I signed for it and lifted the heavy box from her dolly. She smiled, blushed and stammered as she left. My towel lay at my feet and I waved goodbye to the crimson faced delivery girl. I kicked the towel into the room and closed the door. I set the box on the queen-sized bed. "Your order is here," I said and stepped well back from the bed. "It's HERE... It's finally HERE," Gabrielle said as she appeared with her trusty silver dagger in hand. She slashed the top of the box open with clinical precision. While her firearm skills were adequate, her skill with a blade frightened me. I watched as she opened the top flaps and dug through the mounds of packing peanuts for her prize, or in this case prizes. In the end she dumped the entire contents, peanuts and all, onto the bed. She found the packing slip and checked the contents with it and smiled. It was like Christmas in October. "Care to share," I asked as she sorted the contents. "Well," she said her voice an octave higher and sounding like she had just consumed a triple shot of expresso. "These are the new and improved grenades I suggested. They are smaller and like your gauss pistols they have a variety of ammunition, if you like." "Are you telling me you can choose what kind of shrapnel it produces?" "Heavens no, but that is a brilliant idea," Gabrielle said smiling. "No, they are color coded for each type of munition they carry. The blue ones are silver, the red are phosphorus and the green are high explosive. Ooh and I almost forgot the gold ones are flash bang." "Now all you need is a utility belt and smoke pellets," I said and I saw the wheels turning. "I was joking!" "I'm not, oh and they repaired your body armor," she said tossing me the light weight impact armor. "They didn't repair it, they replaced it again. Just when I get used to how something fits, they up and change things. Oh, there's a note." "Read it out loud, maybe there is something about the grenades in it." Gabrielle said as she began scooping up the packing peanuts. 'Your package should find you in Miami unless you change your itinerary, again. I find your partner's insights into explosives as discerning as ever. She does love blowing shit up. The grenades are color coded per her request and we added a little extra feature to the high explosives. There is a blue button on each of them which will magnetize them. It will make it easier to attach them to key targets. Now, about your new body armor, this is a prototype so try and keep it in one piece. The Nano carbon fiber construction will make it lighter and more flexible. There is an integrated 'light weave' array built in so give it a try and don't forget the mask this time. Once we get the data from this field test we will tweak it and begin manufacturing the first lot. Well good luck and god speed. Q.' "What the hell is a light weave array," I asked and Gabrielle just shrugged. "How is your birthday gift working out," she asked smiling. "I am still getting used to it," I replied absently touching the base of my skull. "It is still a little tender." "Show me," she said batting her eyes at me. "Fine," I said and switched Feng on remotely. "...Feng?" "Yes Louis," she replied as she manifested in the air between Gabrielle and me. "How can I be... you're naked again." "Does it bother you," I asked and she blushed as she shook her head. "...Fibber." "Okay, maybe a little," she said. "Come here so we can see how well the new link works," I said. She floated over and stood in front of me. I held out my hand palm out and she duplicated the gesture. Our hands touched and I could feel her. The old interface allowed me to touch her but it felt like I was running my fingers across cold hard glass. This new interface involved a tactile response protocol. In other words I could feel her as if she were flesh and blood. Her hand was warm to the touch and her skin was smooth and tender as any woman's. "Nick's been busy," I said and Feng blushed again as she snatched her hand back. "Did you feel that?" "I did indeed Louis," Feng replied and looked quite uncomfortable. "How does it make you feel?" "Feel, I guess I feel alive. I can touch you and it feels so different than what I am accustomed to. The engrams he acquired are quite intense. Please give me time to acclimate." "Take all the time you want," I said and she vanished. "I am going to have to ask your other love interest about those eye drops. I feel like a third wheel when you talk to Feng." "Other love interest," I said and she pouted. "I will ask Kat about getting you some more toys, okay?" Gabrielle let out a squeal of delight and I tried on the new armor for a test fit. The material had a kind of memory quality to it. It would and could fit anyone once it adapted to its wearer's measurements. The unforeseen benefit is that it could acclimate on the fly and change as I changed. I put it on and it reminded me of the pajamas I had as a kid that had the feet in them. Once it was on my body heat would automatically fire up the built in sensors and it would begin to adjust. Five minutes later the full diagnostics were finished and the suit was up and running. I pulled up the hood and Gabrielle tossed me the new face mask. I slipped the mask on and finished the last calibrations. I went through the internal check list and it was green lights all the way. "It's all good," I said. "So let's see this light weave array," Gabrielle said and I nodded. "Bringing up the HUD and selecting light weave," I said and nothing. "It's a no go, nothing is happening." "Holy fucking shit," Gabrielle said as she clapped her hands together and grinned. "It is like optical prism armor or something." "What the hell does that even mean," I asked. "You are invisible, sort of," Gabrielle said trying to describe the effect. I walked to the bathroom and looked at my reflection in the mirror. A new dropdown option appeared, light weave calibration. I clicked on it and a light humming sound began and I watched my distorted outline crackle, distort and then over time fade completely. I brought my hand up and could not see it. I moved my hand and there was some lag for it to compensate. But if I stood completely still the light weave was flawless. Oh yes this could work quite well. I walked into the bedroom and Gabrielle was on her knees gathering up the last of the packing peanuts. I snuck up behind her and gave her a healthy swat on the ass. She spun and looked around. She glared and placed her hands on her hips. "Take it the fuck off right now," she snarled. "I want to try it on... please!" "You are so fucking spoiled," I said as I switched off the camouflage and removed the armor. "Yes I am," she said chucking her towel and slipped on the armor. "Yes I want to set up a new user, geez!" "Wait, you can set up multiple users," I asked and Gabrielle nodded. "That will make certain things easier." "That's why I asked them to install that feature," she said as the armor fitted itself to her body. "You are brilliant," I said. "Maybe you should consult for them?" "Who says I'm not," she replied as she placed the mask on and vanished from sight. The carpet made hearing her move impossible. There was a slight distortion in the corner of my eye and I turned to look in that direction. She had moved behind me and grabbed both my ass cheeks. While I had surrendered the new toy swiftly Gabrielle was reluctant. She was having way too much fun. I stood with my back to the dresser and noticed the grenades were gone from the bed. Did the armor have hidden pockets as well? I was about to ask her to take the armor off for the sixth time when the door flew off its hinges and three very menacing individuals walked in. They stepped over the remnants of the door as they entered. "Where is the Inquisitor?" The lone female of the group asked. She was tall, with a pale complexion and noticeable fangs. I tried to fight the urge but I lost. I looked her over from head to toe and smiled. She didn't miss that little fact and neither did her two male companions. The closest male vampire charged me. He was reaching out with what appeared to be some seriously wicked claws. He was moving pretty fast but not fast enough. I didn't fight his forward momentum I took advantage of it. I grabbed his wrist and shifted my stance and weight propelling him towards the balcony and over it. He hit the pavement a few seconds later. "Mother fucker," the second male roared and drew a pistol. "NO," the female said and he didn't squeeze off a round at my head. "We take him with us and let her find us. Get some clothes on and be smart." The last bit was directed at me. I got dressed and we walked out of my room. The female led the way while the male kept the gun, now hidden beneath a folded newspaper, aimed at me. I watched the hypnotic way the female's ass moved and I approved. "Natural or practiced," I said. "Shut up," the male snapped. "Is what natural or practiced?" The female asked in a very sexy tone. "Your ass, do you practice that walk or is it natural. Tell me it's natural." "You are a bold one," she purred. "I see why she likes you." "It's the cock," I said. "That's why she likes me. Hey, you might like me too." "Shut the FUCK up," the male snarled. "You talk too goddamn much!" "Oh," I said glancing down at his groin. "Sorry dude... but hey your immortal, that is so cool." The gun was pressed against my head and he had cocked the hammer. The female spun and told him to chill the fuck out in a language I had never heard before. I understood her just fine and kept that my little secret for now. He returned the gun beneath the paper and we reached the elevator. The door opened and we stepped in. I noticed that the doors tried to close and paused before they finally shut. The song on the way to the lobby was 'Blood letting by Concrete Blonde'. I started laughing and the two vampires looked at me as if I had lost my mind. "It's my superpower," I told them. "Elevator music is always appropriate to the mood. Oh come on, you don't know this song? What kind of vampires are you that don't know this?" "We are Akhkharu," the male snarled. "I hate the V word." "We all hate the V word," the female added. "Sparkle... sparkle... sparkle... too soon?" I said and I swear the female rethought the decision to keep me alive. "If he says another word shoot his dick off," she said. I shut up. I am very partial to my man junk. We stopped at the front desk and the female actually left a note for Gabrielle. The clerk placed it in the slot for our room and we left the hotel. A limo with tinted windows pulled up and when the female bent over to get inside I let out a soft moan of appreciation. I was shoved into the back followed by the male vampire. "You must have balls of brass to do that," she said once the limo was in motion. I sat there silent with my hands over my crotch. She smiled and I hated to admit it, she was cute as hell. I began to wonder if she sucked blood while she sucked dick. I knew I was making my patented thoughtful expression and they picked up on it quickly. "If you are thinking of escape or rescue, it's not going to happen," the female said. "You can speak if you choose." "No I was not thinking about escape or rescue." I said and went silent again. "Then what were you pondering," the male asked. "You aren't going to like it," I said and he aimed the gun at my chest. "Okay... okay, I was just wondering if little miss sunshine sucked blood as she sucked dick is all." The kick came out of nowhere and caught me on the side of my head. The female smiled and I kept my mouth shut for the rest of the drive. Luckily for me they didn't. The two vampires talked business and actually mentioned where the majority of them were nesting. They spoke in what I guessed was their native language. It was a gorgeous language with plenty of complexity, tonal qualities and sounded damn sexy coming from the female. I needed to feed soon my brain was locked on banging the shit out of this vampire chick. The limo pulled up to a warehouse and the huge doors opened and we drove inside. There were nine figures standing in three groups of three. The limo stopped and we got out. I got out after the male and sadly before the female, pity. I heard the soft shot of a silenced weapon and figured our driver would not be joining this little party. The two vampires I had ridden along with dropped to their knees at some hidden signal. I stood and stared at the middle group of three and looked them over. The man in the middle was tall, a little over six feet and dressed impeccably. His entire demeanor screamed well-bred and filthy fucking rich. He had the same pale pallor as the rest and I assumed he was the highest ranking Akhkharu. His suit alone must have cost him ten large. His features hinted at either Russian or some Slavic origins. The woman to his left was fucking drop dead gorgeous and wore the dark pin striped suit very well indeed. Her hair was a red so dark it bordered on black. She was either Celtic or Scandinavian stock. Her emerald green eyes regarded me the way a hawk does a mouse. Oh, I liked her, a lot! She had one hand at her side and the other behind her back. She was a bodyguard no doubt about that. I bet she was wicked fast and a world class cocksucker, okay the cocksucking was just a bit of wish fulfillment. The man to his left was handsome the way cowboys and wildcatters are sexy. He was rugged, thick of build and reminded me of a Russian mob boss. His eyes were black and dead. He looked at me as if I were already dead at his feet. The suit he wore was nice but it was also utilitarian. He wore it because he was a businessman not as a sign of prestige. I noticed his hands and they were rough and scarred. He was old and not above getting his hands dirty. I began to suspect he was the real leader of this little get together. The other six were as remarkable and well dressed and deathly pale save one. There was the buxom blonde wearing the secretary's suit and mid-thigh skirt. Her skin was smooth, flawless and heavily tanned. One of these things is not like the other. Who are you sweetheart? And what is your role in all of this? I returned my attention the man center point and clearly unhappy. "Where is the Inquisitor," he asked in English, for my benefit I am sure. "She was not there," the female kneeling next to me replied. "Why is this worm not kneeling," the green eyed bitch asked. "You never asked," I said as I dropped to one knee. The collective gasp was music to my ears. I figured my odds of walking away were 70/30 against. So why not be loud mouthed and indignant. The male struck me with the butt of the pistol and I went from kneeling to full prostrate. I spit blood and a few drops landed on someone's brand new shoes. Pity, they had been polished to a mirror bright quality. A second sound rose from the assembly and the female next to me moved to lick his shoes clean. His gesture stopped her. "I know you," the leader said. "You were all over the news years ago." "He is the archaeologist," the bodyguard added. "That's it, there was a huge cover up regarding you," the leader continued. "Tell me about China." "Speak worm," the female next to me demanded. "I would love to, but several governments had ordered me to remain silent on that particular subject." "Are you actually refusing me," the leader asked. "Yep," I replied and waited for the pain. "You must be insane," he said. "I can have you tortured and kept alive for decades as a hobby." "Ah marriage," I said and a few of the elders actually giggled. "SILENCE," he roared. "Secure him and tie him to a chair as we await the arrival of the Inquisitor." I was bound by the ankles and wrists and duck taped to a chair. The elders spoke about some sort of plan or offering they were going to make. Hm... maybe they weren't going to kill Gabrielle after all. I couldn't wait until she made her entrance. It was going to be epic! I changed the spells I had hanging to fit my current situation. I had just finished when a little green light appeared in my vision, I had a text message. Thanks to eye drops from a certain young lady I was able to access not only Feng remotely but also internet, phone lines and even satellite feeds. I got the dot into the center of my vision and blinked. 'You look awful perty all tied up like that.' G 'You say the nicest things,' I fired back using a drop down keyboard. 'What's the sitrep,' she asked, Sitrep meaning situation report. 'There are at least eight elders maybe nine. The rough looking guy in the middle group is most likely the actual leader. The redhead is a bodyguard and the tanned blonde has got me stumped.' 'Waiting on dawn, keep your head down when shit hits the fan. Xxxooo.' I decided to see how long until we had some sunlight on our side. I asked Feng and she replied, one hour. They were already getting restless. I decided to stir things up a little to help pass the time. I looked at the bodyguard and imagined her naked. I undressed her with my eyes and did some nice guestimating about her figure. She caught me looking and I winked at her. The effect was instantaneous and predictable. She stormed in my direction and I smiled. Once she was in range I fired off the dark magic at her. We made eye contact and she stalled in her tracks. The look on her face was fucking priceless. I felt the connection and took full advantage. I imagined my cock sliding between her legs and rubbing against her clit and labia. Her eyes widened and she bit her lip to keep from moaning. I saw her fist ball up and I maintained the visual of a hard cock teasing her soaked cunt. I saw her legs quivering and I knew she was losing the battle. I waited for a few minutes and no one seemed to take notice of her plight. I smiled serenely as I changed the visual. The cock slid inside of her in one long slow motion. I saw blood dripping from her fist where her nails dug into her palm. Her eyes narrowed and she stiffened at the phantom erection moved inside of her. 'How?' she mouthed and I shrugged. I moved the cock faster and harder now. The bodyguard bit her lip now and chewed on it. I could feel her getting close to climaxing and poured on the steam. I felt the wave rise up and crash over her. She collapsed and fell to the concrete floor. That drew some attention and I had taken a healthy chunk of her life force to boot that would keep her quiet for a while. The two that had brought me here rushed to her side and the elders turned to see their fallen comrade. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 04 "What the hell is going on," the leader asked. "Take her below," the man with the rough hands ordered. "Did the worm do this," another asked and the leader scoffed at the idea. "How could he, I sensed no magic," he snarled. "Make sure she is fed." The dark skinned blonde walked over and looked me over. She looked like she was puzzling something over. She squatted down and I got a healthy glance underneath her skirt. I smiled as I stared at her trimmed pussy. It was a Sharon Stone moment. "You are a surprise," she purred. "So you want to fuck me. That could be dangerous. I tend to kill off mortal lovers." "You are Akhkharu," I asked and she nodded. "I had no idea there were day walkers." "I am a member of the Sun clan little snake. There are few born to my clan these days." "You think I am already dead don't you?" I asked and she nodded. "I have lived an interesting life," I said. "Tell me about China," she asked as she sat down on the concrete. "Since you asked so nice," I said looking at her covered tits. "They look like they are quite edible. Anyway... here's what happened..." I told her all about China. I shared every little detail and noticed the other elders watching us. Feng gave me a silent countdown to dawn. My story ate up quite a bit of time. Ten minutes to dawn and the elders lost patience. "She is not coming or is stalling until dawn," the leader said. "We should retreat below," the man with the rough hands added. The elders began to leave when Gabrielle struck. The blonde hair elder sitting on the floor erupted into a column of fire from a gorgeous head shot from a gauss pistol. The next second the silver grenade went off amidst the gathered Akhkharu. The younger vampires were dead in seconds while many of the elders suffered the same fate. The leader and rough hands raced off at inhuman speed for the access to below. They were on fire and burning as they reached for the sewer lid. The leader snatched back his hand as the magical seal Gabrielle had drawn on it blazed to life. I giggled for a second until I felt the razor sharp teeth sink into my leg. I cried out as the desperate vampire at my feet tried to heal using my blood. I was amazed the blonde bitch was still moving after a clear headshot. I felt my strength leave me and all I could muster was a single syllable. The spell struck her crushing her skull. She dropped to the ground and remained still. Unfortunately the bitch had opened up an artery in my leg. I was bleeding profusely and began to see spots. Feng was in full panic mode. She was calling for a helicopter to evacuate me. But it would still take precious minutes for the paramedics to arrive. The bodyguards appeared and pinned Gabrielle down with wild fire. I focused my remaining strength and spoke the lynch pin for my second spell. My bonds fell away and I tumbled face first onto the concrete. I managed to roll onto my back and pass out. The last thing I remember was an explosion and then everything went black. I floated upon a darkling sea. The sky above me ablaze with a billion stars. It was directly overhead, an all too familiar constellation the sultan and around it the companion stars of his court. I don't know how long I drifted on that nameless sea but I was washed ashore eventually. Was this my fated afterlife? I stood up and looked out over the stygian beach with its black sand and an overwhelming stench of the dead and dying. I was drawn inland and followed the compulsion. If I didn't know better I was simply dreaming. But those times were behind me. That blonde bitch had opened up an artery and I had bled out on the cold concrete floor. I found a path in the jungle's interior and followed it. I saw the top of the monument long before I reached the clearing that held it. It was hundreds of feet tall and appeared to be constructed of massive stone blocks. How the hell could anyone fashion a thing like that? The jungle fell away and I stepped into the clearing but I wasn't alone. A hooded figure was standing next to the stone tower and once more I followed the overwhelming compulsion. I walked over and greeted the figure in gray. "Doctor Livingston, I presume," I said and the silent figure turned to face me. 'Louis, you made it,' the mental voice belonged to Yog-Sothoth or Akasha as I had learned in Japan. "Do I call you the Key and the Gate or the Root?" I asked and it laughed. 'They are but titles to try and describe me,' it said in that sexless voice. 'I am so much more than mere titles Louis. But that is not why you are here.' "Go on oh limitless one," I said and again it laughed. 'That is why I chose you. You are irreverent and bold to the end.' "Now hold on, I was the one that reached up and touched those characters in the Black Cathedral. I chose you." 'Yes you did,' it said and that is how I was snared. '...Curiosity.' "No use bitching about it now, I am dead and I suppose this is what passes as an afterlife." 'Louis... you are constantly jumping to conclusions. You were right to alert Gabrielle to the dark skinned Akhkharu. She was the oldest and most potent of the elders assembled. You failed to learn why they lured you to the warehouse however.' "So I am not dead and they didn't want to kill Gabrielle," I said. 'Just so, they wanted to form an alliance,' Akasha explained. 'The Akhkharu wanted to fashion a cease fire between the Inquisition and themselves.' "Somebody must have spooked the shit out of them to do that." 'A correct assumption, one of the great powers has grown too powerful and the balance is threatened. Seal the breach before it is too late.' I heard the sound of water thundering in my ears. I turned to see the tsunami rising above the jungle. I managed two words before it crashed over me, oh hell. I woke up and was gasping for air. Gabrielle clung to me and held me as the wonderful sensation flooded my being. I looked down and the bodyguard for the leader was swallowing a load. The dark magic still held sway over her and I watched while she straddled me and impaled her cunt with my cock. Her hips moved with powerful thrusts as she rode me. "What the hell," I said in just above a whisper. "I found you on the floor in a puddle of your own blood. You had somehow managed to shift your form and stop the bleeding. I killed every last one of the mother fuckers except for her. She was sealed below and has become a very useful tool. Drain her dry and let's get the hell out of here!" "I can't," I said and saw the confusion on her face. I told her all about the Akhkharu wanting a cease fire and why. This was of course between moans of pleasure as the bodyguard climaxed twice. I rolled her onto her back and called on the dark miracle. I wasn't out of the woods yet. I was still too weak to travel. I pounded her and drank deep but not enough to kill her. Each orgasm sent a flood of healing energy into my body. When I was strong enough I managed to pull out and leave her relatively intact. "Make me yours," the bodyguard begged. "Fuck me... more..." "I need your help," I said and the vampire nodded. "Anything, I will do anything for you," she whimpered. "The peace treaty," I said and she nodded again. "Tell me all about it." Her name was Leah O'Connell and a member of the shadow clan. It was her duty from birth to guard the elders from harm and carry out spying and assassination missions. Even though she was an elder herself, nearly fifteen hundred years old, she was still duty bound to serve. It was by order of the Twelve that peace be sought with other groups, among them the Inquisitors. When I asked about the Twelve she only said they were the eldest of the Akhkharu. "Twelve bloodlines and twelve progenitors," I said and Gabrielle nodded. "So what are we going to do?" "You are going to the safe house with little miss donor here. I am going to Rome. The new Grand Inquisitor is to be installed soon and after that I will return. In the meantime, rest up, fuck her and keep her in line." "Is that an order?" I asked and she smiled. "I can't believe I am saying this, but yes, that is an order soldier." Interlude: Lesson the First The cab pulled up to the address and the man paid the cabbie. He stepped out and looked up at the old gothic church. The man walked up the steps and tried one of the two large wooden doors and found it unlocked. He pulled it open and stepped inside. There was a sense of silence and serenity about the place, like a library and he hated it. The man passed into the church itself with its aisles and aisles of wooden pews. Sunlight streamed through the stain glass windows casting a myriad of colors upon the floor. At the front was an altar raised up above the main floor and behind it a crucified figure. It was getting better now. The man liked the sacrificial altar and the image of the dead man nailed to lumber. "You have never set foot in a church before." "No," the man said spinning and glaring at the man in the navy blue suit. "What do you want?" "I like that," said the stranger. "Direct and straight to the point, I want someone to suffer. I have a list. I want you to work your way through that list. You don't have to kill anyone unless you want to but I want them to know fear. I want them to squirm and panic and run. Once you have done that I will take care of the final target myself." "So let me get this straight," the man said. "You are hiring me to frighten a couple of people? Get someone else, I don't do that." "I didn't pick you out to frighten a couple of people. I want you to put the fear of god into them. I want them to sweat, to panic and to be looking over their shoulders as if death itself were on their heels. They need to suffer and never know a good night's sleep. That is what I want." "Oh well, now that you put it that way," the man said. "I'll do it but it'll cost you." "I believe that this holds some corporeal value," the stranger said as he tossed the diamond necklace at the man. "I am sure this will meet your avaricious expectations." "It'll do," the man said as the stranger turned to leave. "...Oh uh, by the way, why are you doing this?" "This man that I will slay, murdered my sibling," the stranger said. "The list and files are behind you, have fun hunting." The man turned and there was a briefcase. He was sure it hadn't been there a moment ago. He sat in the pew and opened it. The contents were a series of envelopes. Each envelope had photos and a complete biography on the subject. A single folded piece of yellow note paper contained the order in which he was expected to act. He didn't mind when they were going to die. He just needed time to do a little research and decide how to entertain them. He was an artist after all and art must never be rushed. There it was that rush of anticipation. He felt that giddy rush and placed the diamond necklace into the briefcase and he closed it. The man rose to his feet and turned to leave. "Anticipation... Anticipation is making me wait..." he sang under his breath as he left the church. By the Book: Dead Angle (angle outside the reach of the defenders) It has been close to ten weeks since Gabrielle left for Rome. The Ordo Malleus was in a stalemate on who to elect to the position of Grand Inquisitor. She had been ordered to stay until the deadlock was broken. She shipped back my body armor and we kept in daily contact via emails and texts. It was unwise for anyone to know about me just yet. She still feared discovery and her heroic account of the previous Grand Inquisitor's self-sacrifice had brought some to tears. The power vacuum had kept the order ineffective and rudderless for the time being. I just hope the replacement didn't come too late. My new companion and I had been on the move since Gabrielle left. We were currently off the coast of Corpus Christi. I had seen for myself what long term exposure to the effects of the dark magic could do to a person. It was rather frightening really. The bodyguard, Leah O'Connell, was completely subservient to the smallest suggestion without a hint of free will. She still possessed self-preservation instincts but she would die protecting me. It was the beginning of December and this was our first night out in Corpus Christi. I had to feed the bodyguard. So we hit the club scene and I allowed her to pick out someone to feed from. She never killed, that was dangerous and drew too much attention. So we would find two maybe three individuals every few nights for Leah to sip from. We stood by the bar and she got the usual amount of attention, a lot. While I sipped my beer she would observe the crowd and find her meal. She tapped me on the leg and I turned. I followed her gaze to the stunning blonde in the tight top and short skirt. Leah smiled and I gave her the okay. She didn't go directly towards her prey. She circled the blonde and cut through the crowd like a shark through water. Suddenly she was next to her and whispering in her ear. The blonde smiled and nodded. Leah slipped her arm around her waist and headed for the bar. I finished my beer and got the bartender's attention. By the time he got to me Leah and her new friend was standing next to me. "Guinness for me and..." I said letting the blonde order for herself. "Tequila with a beer back," she said. "Thanks for the drink. Your friend is very persuasive." "I know," I said and turned to get a better look at her. "Wow, you are stunning, I hope my forwardness doesn't offend." "Thank you, I feel like we've met before." She said. "I am Gillian by the way." "Louis and this is Leah," I said as I placed my hand over hers. The contact was electric and Gillian shivered at my touch. The dark magic wormed its way into her mind and her erogenous zones. It was insidious that way. It was like a dark current of energy seeping through cracks and invading her deepest desires. Gillian had that sexy southern drawl and a smoking hot body. Leah had chosen well. She was around five feet four inches tall that long blonde hair of her hit her lower back and a cute round butt. Her face was round with prominent cheek bones and dark brown eyes. Her full mouth tasted of tequila, beer and mint. As we danced we kissed a few times to test the waters. "You are a good kisser Louis," she said in my ear over the pounding music. "It comes easy with someone like you," I told her and she blushed. "Mind if I cut in," Leah asked and she guided Gillian into an intimate dance. I smiled and let the vampire play. She didn't get out as much as she was used to. I returned to the bar and watched the pair on the dance floor. I caught the moment as Leah's lips brushed Gillian's neck. What appeared to be a series of butterfly kisses was so much more. She was making tiny cuts and then as her tongue went over the wounds her saliva closed the wounds. It was very clean and effective. "You young studs think you are all that," a very drunken female voice said. "Excuse me," I said turning to the middle aged woman. "You heard me," she said frowning. "Do you know how difficult it is competing with those young sluts?" "I find that hard to believe," I said and she blinked. "A sophisticated woman as beautiful as you must be beating them back with a stick." "I..." she stammered and blushed. "You think I'm cute?" "I do. Would you like to dance," I asked and she nodded. I released Gillian from the dark magic and focused my attention on Candy. As we danced she was silent but her body spoke volumes. Her hunger was so strong and a single nudge would break what little control she still possessed. "I bet you are quite a gifted lover," I whispered in her ear and she nodded. "I won't be crude but I am eager to see how easily you pleasure a young man like me." "You want to..." she whispered in my ear and I nodded now. "Oh god it has been so damn long!" "Ever make love in a bathroom stall," I ask and she shook her head. "No, but I have always wanted to," she purred. "The thought of being caught gets me soaked." "I think we should go," I said as I led her off the dance floor with Leah not far behind. We hit the men's room and I picked out the largest stall at the end. It was unoccupied and we slipped inside. I pushed the lock into place and turned. Candy was on her knees and waiting. She unzipped and took me out. "Jackpot," she said as she began giving me head. I was right. Age came with some serious benefits. She had half my cock down her throat in no time at all. I grabbed her by her hair and began thrusting slowly. Candy's hands went under her skirt and between her legs. As she diddled herself I fucked her throat. I didn't push her too far she had been drinking quite a bit. Her hunger peaked and I pulled out of her mouth and she got to her feet. She bent over the toilet and told me when she was ready. I flipped up her skirt and eased inside of her nice and slow. Candy lowered her head and began thrusting backward even before I was all the way inside. "Oh damn, you are fucking huge," she growled. "I love a nice young cock!" "Keep your voice down," I said and she nodded. "I knew you were a talented lover." I began to feed from her taking just tiny bits for now. Candy whimpered as her first orgasm hit her. She looked over her shoulder at me in surprise. I took over and began hammering her from behind now. Her soft moans grew even more insistent as a second climax grew in her. "How are you doing that," she asked as I fed a little more. "I never come more than once ever. Oh shit here it comes!" She bit her lower lip as the second climax shook her to her core. I fucked her faster now with shallow thrusts and Candy was all promises of love and fidelity as a third orgasm built. I took a little more essence triggering an even faster build up. "This is impossible," she hissed. "A third one... your cock is killing me!" "Hush and enjoy," I told her and she complied. Our bodies developed a perfect rhythm guided by the ever growing dark magic circuit. The slow steady trickle of life force from Candy fed me and drove her body crazy. I was sitting and she was riding me slowly now. I watched her fuck faces as climax after climax struck. "I am close," I told her. "Where do you want it?" She scrambled to her knees and greedily sucked me off. We ended as we had begun. I loved the way she worshiped my cock and her throat muscles worked as she swallowed. We were both panting as we recovered. Candy sat on her heels and looked up at me with a mix of wonder and fear. The dark magic withdrew and she began to laugh. "Yahtzee," she giggled. "I just turned forty and in my entire life and all the lovers I have had none of them have fucked me like you just did. You my boy are a fucking miracle. I came here tonight to drink, dance and then go out and blow my brains out. But now, oh now I have a mission. I am going to fuck myself silly as often as I can thanks to you." "I am glad you chose to live. You are far too special a lady to snuff out your light prematurely." I helped her adjust her clothing and her hair. She looked fit and hungry for life. I peeked out the door and there was no one in the hall. Candy left the bathroom and blew me a kiss as she returned to the bar. "She is a walking corpse," Leah said from behind me. "You have only delayed the inevitable." "We are all walking corpses to an immortal," I said and she nodded. "So even if she has only a few more days, they will be the most vibrant and amazing days of her life." "And that is of some great significance," Leah asked. "If you were facing death what would you remember from your long life?" I asked and she became contemplative for a long time. "You," Leah said at last. "You are, of the centuries I have lived, the singular most influential figure." Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 04 "Really, how so," I asked curious. "I am your slave. I am bound to you as I never committed myself even to the Twelve. You are the core of my existence and have remade me. Even if you were to release me I would crave your touch to the end of my days. So when that day comes I will walk into the sun and immolate myself because I cannot imagine a world without you." Her words cut me to the core. I had gotten to know her and not just physically. She was witty, intelligent and romantic. I had destroyed that with the dark magic. It was worse than the girls I had killed. They could not suffer any longer but Leah was another matter altogether. "I am sorry," I said and she suddenly clung to me. "NO... you misunderstood," she told me her lips near my ear. "Our bond is very important to me. I don't regret a single moment of it. I do not know if there are words to explain it." "As long as you are content then the burden is bearable," I told her. "Perhaps I can take some of that burden off your shoulders," Leah purred. It was a long night. A long pleasurable night and Leah showed me the depth of her devotion. She wanted me to understand the joy she felt in my embrace. We ended our love play before dawn. I had replaced the windows in the cabin to opaque bullet proof glass. It was as much for Leah's protection as my own. I slept the dreamless sleep of the well fed. I received the text just before noon. I was up and dressed ten minutes later. Leah looked out from beneath the covers. "Louis, you are quite agitated, your heartbeat is accelerated," she commented. "Got to go," I hollered. "Stay here... will be in touch..." "LOUIS... stop Louis what is wrong," Leah said forcing me to stop and explain. "My father is in the hospital, he has a heart condition, stay here and be safe," I said and threw clothing into one bag. "I will catch up with you. Leave me an address before you leave." Leah said with a strange tone in her silky voice. "Okay," I said and grabbed a pen and paper and wrote out my parent's address. "Consider yourself invited." "Fuck you Louis that is just in the goddamn movies!" "I know I was making sure you were you." I left the boat and had Feng get me a flight home. By the time the cab reached the airport there was a private jet waiting for me. I was home in a few hours. A cab was waiting for me and that was a good thing. I was so upset I couldn't have driven if I wanted to. I paid the cabbie and raced out and was called back to the cab to retrieve my bag. He was in ICU and my mom and sister were in the waiting room/lounge. We all hugged and I asked how he was. Mom and Lily looked at each other and I knew something was amiss. "What the hell is going on," I asked and mom stepped up to field my questions. "It isn't your dad's heart," she said. "I think you should see him and then I will explain. This isn't going to be easy." I followed them to dad's room. There was a police officer posted outside. A doctor and nurse were already there checking his condition. The doctor turned and glanced at my mom. "This is Louis," she said. "How is he?" "He lost a lot of blood, but we have him stabilized. He is sedated for now to deal with the pain and trauma he suffered." "Trauma, what kind of trauma," I asked and then I looked at my father. All of his fingers were wrapped and they looked terribly swollen. His face was bandaged in several places and there appeared to be multiple stitches beneath the gauze. I looked at the doctor and he began to explain what had happened to my father. The longer he talked the more horrified I became. In short someone had kidnapped and tortured my dad. To hide his or her identity they had fed him GHB and thankfully his memory of what had transpired was gone or delegated to the realm of nightmares. The rage was building by the second. Someone had broken his fingers and toes, cracked three rips and cut him in places that were painful but not life threatening. "They were a pro," I said and the doctor agreed. "The breaks and cuts were very precise. They had done this before. Does your father have any enemies?" I shook my head. My dad was about as mundane as they got. He didn't have an enemy in the world, oh but I did. I broke down and cried. This was all my fault! Whoever this was, was after me and was going at it through my family. The rage was white hot and it suddenly turned ice cold. I was going to find this son of a bitch and kill them. But before then I had to get my family to safety. "It's my fault," I said and everyone in the room looked at me. "I am going to make some arrangements for my family and then I am going to hunt this fucker down like the goddamn animal he or she is." "Louis..." Mom began and I looked at her and the words died in her throat. "I will make this right," I said. "I promise." "Louis, we can't just let you take this on alone," Lily said. "He's not alone," Gabrielle said from the door. I turned to see her in full Inquisitor garb and a shiny new pin, a gold one. Somebody got promoted and she looked quite pleased with herself. There were three other Inquisitors outside the room and they were speaking with the police officer. What the hell was going on? Mom looked at Gabrielle and her friends and then at me. "Louis, care to explain your friends?" Mom asked with a subtle smile. "Um mom, this is Gabrielle," I said and Gabrielle rushed in and hugged her. "Can I call you mom," Gabrielle asked and Lily laughed. "We will take care of his security. No one will lay another finger on him or your family." Gabrielle promised my mother and I could tell mom felt a sense of comfort. A priest stepped in and went over and spoke with the doctor. I couldn't tell what they were talking about but they went to my dad's x-rays and began discussing them. My attention was drawn away from them when Gabrielle was in my arms and kissing me. "Congrats on the promotion," I said once her tongue was out of my mouth. "Thanks," she purred. "I missed you." "I can tell. So what do I call you?" "Boo-boo kitty-fuck," she offered and she grew a little more seriously. "Don't laugh, but my official title is..." she leaned in close now. "...Mistress Inquisitor." "No fucking way," I said. "I look forward to calling you..." "Silence," she said. "By the way, where is that little item I left with you?" "I left her on the boat," I said. "She will be here after it gets dark." We left my dad to the doctor for his care and the Inquisitors for his safety. Mom and Gabrielle began to talk and a new deep seated fear took hold. Lily jumped in and suddenly there were offers of naked baby pictures and I attempted to put a halt to it and failed. "So what are your intentions towards my boy," Mom asked and Gabrielle stammered and I let her hang herself on that one. "Louis, a little help here," Gabrielle said with a hint of fear in her eyes. "We are living in sin and having amazing sex," I said and Mom smiled. "Welcome to the family," Lily chimed in. The silence that fell was profound. Who the hell would kidnap and torture my dad? Why not go straight at me? Unless they wanted to make me suffer first and sow fear in my friends and loved ones. I glanced over at Gabrielle and I saw the same understanding in her eyes. We huddled and discussed strategy. My dad was safe for now. We had to be concerned about Lily and my mother. We had to assume that he or she wasn't done yet. Gabrielle agreed to assign Lily a bodyguard while mom and dad would be under the protection of the Inquisition. "Louis, I have some disturbing news," Feng said appearing on her own. "I didn't realize you were on the case," I said and mom looked at me and then Gabrielle. "I have pulled every bit of footage that I could find and ran facial recognition on it. The only thing I can tell you is that whoever dropped off your father at the hospital was male. Sorry, I could not find out anything more." "No one mentioned that dad was dropped off," I said and looked at mom. "Oops," she said. "Details... take your time... good coffee and I am all ears," I said and Gabrielle waved over an Inquisitor and requested food and good coffee. She left and fifteen minutes later we had some amazing food and the best coffee I had tasted in years. I will give them this, they had some serious resources. So while we ate mom told me everything that had happened. Dad had disappeared while collecting rent from their properties. He had been gone for less than six hours before he was dropped off in a wheelchair at the emergency room of this hospital. It was obvious that the kidnapper wanted him alive for now at least. A flash of rage hit and I bit it down. Anger wasn't going to serve me. I needed a clear head to be able to protect my family. "I think you need to get some air," Mom said. "It is going to be a while before he is awake." "No, I want to be here when he wakes up," I said and settled into my chair. "Has he always been this stubborn," Gabrielle asks and mom just smiled. "I could tell you stories," Lily said and launched into tales of my childhood. I closed my eyes and left my body. I was going to hunt this fucker myself. I visited each and every property my family owned. I walked through every apartment seeking signs of emotional turmoil. It wasn't going to be that simple. I found strong negative emotions in six apartments but no particular sign of my father there. I cursed and returned to my body no further along than before. This was so frustrating. I opened my eyes and the 'girls' were still chatting and giggling. I got up and they all glanced my way and I shook my head. I needed some fresh air and some alone time. I took the elevator down and the music was off or broken. That kind of just added to my mood. I stepped outside and stretched. The chairs in the waiting room were not very comfortable. If I were to design a hospital waiting room that would be the first thing I would change. If your loved one was in a critical situation you could at least be comfortable. The night was bitter fucking cold but I hardly even acknowledged it. Was this another sign of my lessening humanity? The image of my father in his hospital bed popped into my head and the cold rage kindled into action. I punched one of those bright yellow metal tubes filled with concrete. It bent and folded where I struck it and I snatched back my hand in pain. "That was foolish," Leah said from the shadows. "How the hell did you get here so quickly," I asked. "I left a little while after you did," she replied. "Let me see your hand." She approached and was wearing a fur hood that covered not just her head but kept her face out of direct sunlight. She made a tsk-tsk sound and bit her lip. Her blood fell on the broken skin and soothed the pain instantly. She licked her lip and the wound healed instantly. The pain in my hand faded and the skin closed and healed as I watched. It was still sore as all hell but it wouldn't bother me. I looked at her and smiled. "Thanks," I said. "How is your father?" I told her what had happened and she grimaced. She looked around the parking lot and narrowed her eyes. I was about to ask when Leah looked at me and took my arm. She led me back into the hospital and only spoke once we were in the elevator heading up. "This is a game Louis," Leah said, her tone more serious than usual. "Your opponent is moving pieces and forcing others to move." "He hurt my dad to see who came to my side?" "Exactly, he wants to know who is close to you. He is tricky this one. I would be very wary as should anyone in your orbit." The elevator opened and I led Leah to the waiting room. Mom stood up and made a face. She was confused to see another woman clinging to my arm. Gabrielle looked up and smiled. I sat down while Leah and Gabrielle walked off to talk. "Two," Lily asked. "You have two women in your life." "It's complicated," I said. "Define complicated," Mom said weighing in. "I have an extended romantic circle," I said and watched their faces go pale. "Wait a second, are you fucking them both," Lily asked and mom glared at her. "Sorry, they are both intimates?" "Yes," I said and mom shook her head. "I am going to ask this and you better be honest. Are these the only two?" "No," I said and they gawked. "How many are you stringing along," Lily asked. "None, they all know the situation. I have kept my non-monogamous status open to everyone involved." "So they are okay with this?" Lily asked and I nodded. "You, son of mine, are a man slut," Mom said and laughed. "Are you keeping them all happy?" "Extremely," Leah said. "Most assuredly," Gabrielle added. "Damn... just damn," Lily said and we all laughed. "I needed that, thanks Lily," I told her. "We all needed that," Mom said. "Really? You are able to..." "MOM... god," I said cringing. "Boundaries... lines... you know." I introduced Leah to my family and when she pulled her hood down they gasped. Lily looked over and me and mouthed 'holy shit Louis'. Mom's mouth fell open and she smiled after a short pause. "You my dear deserve better," Mom said and I wanted to disappear right then and there. "But you appear old enough to know what you're doing." "I know what I want," Leah said as Gabrielle and I giggled at mom's age comment. "What's so damn funny?" Mom asked glaring. "Nothing," I said. "What the hell?" I saw lights shining against one window and then another. I stood up and looked out. My mood soured when I saw the news vans. I told everyone that reporters have arrived. Mom said something about the inevitable. I was after all a local celebrity. We were discussing who would be the family spokesman when a very loud Spanish speaking woman slithered up, hips swaying, tits bouncing and wearing a fur coat, scarf and dark sunglasses. Who the holy hell was this? "I tell you, those men are so annoying," the stranger said switching to English. "What the fuck are YOU doing HERE," Mom roared as she got to her feet. "Dah-ling, I haven't seen you in absolute ages," the woman said and then she looked at me. "You must be Louis, you look just like your father." "Mara, leave it be," Mom growled in warning. "You haven't told him have you," the woman purred. "Now is NOT the time," Mom said crossing the distance between them. "All I heard is that your husband is in the hospital," Mara said. "I assumed it was his heart. It's not, is it?" "No, it's not," Mom said her composure fracturing. "Don't do this now, please!" "I would never do or say anything to upset you sissie," Mara replied hugging my mother. "Sissie," I said and noticed that Lily didn't seem surprised. "What the hell! Mom has a sister and you never told me, either of you." "It's complicated," Mara said as she took off her glasses and head scarf. "Holy shit, your twins," I gasped. We all sat down and Mara didn't miss the fact that Leah sat on my left and Gabrielle on my right. She smiled and let Mom explain everything. It went all the way back to when Mom and Dad were dating. Apparently Mom and Mara decided to play a trick on Dad. Mara went out on a date with him pretending to be Mom. Unfortunately Mara and Dad ended up having sex that night. To make matters worse it was their first time hooking up. Mom was furious over the betrayal by Mara. Dad was heartbroken that Mom would play such a cruel trick. It nearly ended their relationship. "You fucked my dad," I asked and Mom went beat red. "I fucked your Mom's future husband," Mara said and I found that quite telling. "So who are these two lovely young things?" "We are Louis' fuck buddies," Leah said watching Mara's jaw drop. "Just like your father," Mara said after she recovered which resulted in a punch in the leg from Mom. "How about we address the white elephant in the room," I said and Mom looked down at her lap. "Mom had a onetime fling with a perfect stranger and you were the result," Lily said. "So, my dad gets kidnapped and tortured, I have an aunt I never knew about and I am a bastard. Fuck me, best day ever!" I jumped up and left them sitting there. I don't think it could get any worse at this point. I clenched my fist and winced. It was still tender from the last time I lost my temper and punched that post. I wanted to scream but that would only make things worse. "You know," Mara said from behind me. "When I get overwhelmed I grab a guy or two or three and fuck myself silly." "You fucked my dad," I said. "He IS my dad! He loves me and raised me." "Of course he is," she said. "Your mom didn't want me around because she knew I would tell you. When I heard what happened I was here as quick as I could." "Three guys, really?" I asked and she smiled and did this thing with her eyebrows. "You betcha, I can fuck with the best of them." "Sex will just have to wait until I talk to dad. They say he is going to be in a lot of pain for a long time." "What you need is a quickie in the bathroom," she purred. "...Something to take the edge off." "Maybe you're right," I said and glanced at Leah and Gabrielle. She grabbed my wrist and tugged. I looked at her and she winked. She let go and pouted. She stomped her foot and returned to the group. Did she actually want to help me take the edge of herself? No fucking way, she is my aunt. She plopped down next to Mom and continued pouting. I headed for the elevator and took it up to the top floor. The song playing was Stephen Stills 'Love the One You're With'. I began laughing. The music god was once more pointing the way. The door opened onto an empty floor. There were plastic sheets hanging everywhere and signs of construction everywhere. "I overrode the security," Feng said as she appeared next to me. "You've been tweaking your appearance," I said noticing the black silk Chinese dress she was wearing. "Do you like," she asked and I nodded. "I am glad. I will find the man that harmed your father, I promise." "We will do it together," I said. "You are upset." "My emotion subroutine is very sophisticated. I want to help. I want you to be proud of me. I uh... I have other tweaks if you want to see them." "Do you now," I said smiling. "Oh yes, I have been doing some research on human sexuality and fantasies." "Um... is there some reason why you are doing that Feng?" She reached out and I felt her hand slip into mine. That was all the answer I needed. She began to do a kind of digital fashion show for me. The first few dresses were nice and pretty innocent. But as she continued I noticed she had tweaked her physiology and was now sporting hard nipples beneath. The black teddy with stockings and matching panties took me by surprise. Instinct kicked in and I looked back to check out her ass, that had been modified too. It was much rounder and more bubble like. A few more costumes later and there she was with school girl uniform, cat ears and swishing tail. "This one is quite popular in Japan," she said blushing. "I bet it is," I said swallowing hard. "Your heartrate is elevated Louis," Feng whispered. "Am I making you uncomfortable? I can stop before I begin the cosplay portion." "Cosplay, you mean like anime and comics?" "Oh it includes all manner of entertainment and genre. Shall I continue?" "You did go into all that research," I said. We stopped and I sat on a large plastic cylinder. She stood in front of me and began to pose as she displayed all the characters she had selected. I think the thing that really struck me was she didn't duplicate the character. It was Feng as that particular character. She began with well-known characters like Cortana and Harley Quinn. She moved on to more obscure Japanese anime characters. Some I had seen at conventions but others she had to tell me the character name and the anime. The scarlet skinned twil'lek with the tribal tattoos all over her body was one I hadn't heard of before. Apparently she was a very popular villain for a time, her name was Talon. She wore black calf high leather boots, a black loincloth and a matching black leather bustier. Feng stopped when she monitored my reaction to the character. She turned to the side so I could see all that leg, the swell of her ass and just a hint of a shaved pubic region. Feng bent over and grabbed her ankles and I swallowed hard. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 05 All characters are 18 years or older. I am enjoying getting into the head of my villains. Exploring not just the how they do things but why. What motivates a hero is pretty easy but a villain can be downright twisted and convoluted. Louis has had a pretty normal upbringing with a loving family while our Artist had nothing we would consider loving or supportive. At some point he just fucking snapped and his path was set in front of him. Is he bat shit crazy or is there a higher power at work here? I guess only time will tell. I hope you enjoy this installment. Please vote and comment and tell me what you think. Any suggestions are always welcome. So without further delay... Lhiannon Sidhe: [LEE-ah-nen SHE] A breed of Fae that dance around their victims draining them of blood and life. They are a kind of Irish vampire that firmly declare that they are most certainly not Akhkharu. Knocking on the Sky: Three days, it's been three days since my sister was taken and thirteen innocent people perished. What had been a questionable assignment for the Inquisition had now become a very personal vendetta. When three of their own had been murdered they threw the entire might behind finding and cleansing the killer. My father had been moved from the hospital and my mother went with him. They would be under the full protection of the Inquisition. I stayed behind even though they had insisted that I be put under their protection. Gabrielle assured her superiors that she would see to my safety. I was lying down on one of the couches in the living room. I was staring up at the mural on the ceiling. It reminded me of the creation of Adam. On the left side of the painting was a young man and he looked somewhat familiar. I guess that is why I found it so interesting. The 'god' figure was bearded but he too was young and as muscular as the man he was reaching out to. Behind the god figure was an assortment of interesting figures. Few appeared to be angelic; they did have an almost fey look about them. This was just one of the many strange things I had discovered since I had agreed to stay at the Ordo Malleus chapter house. The decorations and treasures under glass crossed centuries and continents. I had to admire whoever had laid out each room. They made the disjointed objects work despite how diverse they were. My aunt Mara decided to make an appearance. I knew it was her since my parents were in Rome for the duration of this situation. She really did look like my mom and it didn't help the way she dressed. The skimpy outfits were causing havoc among the younger male members of Inquisitors. Today's ensemble was a dark purple bra, matching panties and mesh stockings. I could see Mara's hardened nipples and her dark areole. "You look like hell kiddo," Mara said as she plopped down across from me. "When is the last time you slept?" "Seventy two hours," I said in a dull monotone. "Have you eaten today," she asked and I shook my head. "Let me guess seventy two hours." "Uh huh," I said. "You need to do both and soon," she said. "If you don't take care of yourself you won't be good to anyone." "She's right," Gabrielle said as she sat down next to me. "If you collapse from hunger or sleep deprivation at a critical moment..." "Okay... okay... you win, I will go get some sleep and eat when I wake up. Fair enough?" "Yep," the pair said. I pulled myself off the antique couch and headed out of the living room. The main hall was lit by a huge crystal chandelier setting the dark rose wood alight with scintillating rainbows. The stairs that led to the second floor was wide with carpeted steps. The pattern on the carpet was the runic design that belonged to this particular chapter house. I grabbed the banister to keep my balance. They were right, lack of food and sleep were having a major detriment on my health and sanity. I managed the stairs and turned left towards my bedroom. Gabrielle and I were not sharing a bedroom since we were under close scrutiny. I opened the door and stepped into the gorgeously decorated room. The plush carpeting felt wonderful beneath my bare feet. I closed the door and stripped down on my way to the bed. I crawled underneath the covers, closed my eyes and was asleep before I knew it. I was dragged down into the depths of exhaustion. It was dark at first and then details began to form around me. It was a well-lit park and it looked awfully familiar. I knew that I had been here but where and when eluded me. I walked along the cobblestone path and after a few short steps the downpour struck. I was soaked in seconds. I looked for cover from the ice cold rain. I could see my breath as I jogged down the path. The public restroom came out of the gloom. I raced over to it and huddled under the overhang by the men's room door. About ten seconds later a girl appeared and took up a position next to me. She was short. I guessed she was barely five feet in height. The rest was hard to determine since she had a light gray hoodie on and the hood was over her head. She began to shiver so I moved behind her and slipped my hands around her waist to share body heat. "I'll keep you warm," I told her and she nodded as she reached up and touched the right side of her head. "I am not wearing panties," she said in broken English as she ground her ass against me. "Are you alright," I asked her in Japanese and again she touched the right side of her head. "Yes, I am okay. Do you have a nice big American cock?" She pulled her hood down and a waterfall of black hair tumbled out. She turned her head and I could see her cute features. But it was her bright blue eyes that startled me. They had to be contact lenses. I watched as she touched her right ear and nodded. She turned to face me and cupped my groin gently. "Can I suck your big Yankee dick? I want to see if I can take all of it down my dirty Asian throat." "Um... are you..." I began as she dropped down and unzipped me. "Oh shit darling you are an eager one!" The girl pulled her hood back up and then renewed her attack on my cock. One hand stroked the shaft while the other was up her skirt. I couldn't see much but I could feel all of it. She pushed her head forward in rolling thrusts that drove my cock passed her lips and into her throat. I could feel the suction she applied and growled as I got harder by the second. She brought both her hands into play and double stroked me as she sucked me off. "I love Asian hospitality," I told her and she stopped and reached into her pocket and produced a condom. "Wanna fuck my tight Asian pussy?" She asked as she unwrapped the condom. "It would be rude to say no," I said as she used her mouth to put the condom on. "How do you want me? I am your play toy mister." I grabbed her by her hips and pinned her back against the wall of the restroom. She spread her legs and I slid inside of her easily. Whoever this gal was she was fucking soaked. Once I was inside of her she wrapped her legs around my waist. I moved slowly and she cursed as my cock stretched her tight little cunt. "So goddamn big, oh shut up... you don't have a log inside your pussy! Fuck you... oh shit he is breaking me!" "Who is on the other end," I asked. "My no dick husband," she growled. "Damn, they grow them big where you come from! You are hitting my fucking womb!" "Why the ear piece," I asked as I began to hammer her. "UNNNN... oh fuck... he likes to tell me what to say," she said between cries of pleasure. "Just keep fucking me! Biggest cock ever... I bet you are real popular!" "Yeah, I get that a lot," I told her as I tugged up her hoodie so I could see her tits. "Damn, talk about big; those are some amazing tits you got!" "If you are real nice I let you slide that monster you got between them." "I'll be nice," I told her as I thrust faster now. She came with a scream and clung to me even tighter now. I adjusted my grip on her and mauled her tits as I kept up my assault. She looked up at me begging for a break and I shook my head. She bit her lip and dug her nails into my clothing. I began feeding and her eyes went wide with surprise and the quick succession of orgasms left her shaking and pounding on my chest. "I need a fucking break," she cried out. I lowered her feet to the ground and eased out of her. Grinning she turned me to face the path. She moved behind me, knelt and began jacking me off. I looked down at her and she was mouthing profanities at her husband. They loosely translated to 'you see this... this is what a real cock looks like you fucking loser'. I was grunting as I got close to coming. The woman tugged her hoodie over her head and knelt in front of me. She cupped her tits and trapped my cock between them. The soft pillow-like breasts enveloped me and she knew how to give a tit job. "You like paizuri? Does that fat cock of yours like my tits?" "UH HUH," I moaned as I got close to climaxing. "You can paint my face if you want," she said as she massaged my cock with her tits. "Getting close," I warned her and she wrapped her lips around the head. My cry echoed across the park. She swallowed a lot but some spilled between her lips. I stood there panting while she continued to suck on my dick. I guess it was only fair. She kept me rock hard and stood up and bent over. "You can go again right," she purred. "I love it from behind." "Let's try something new," I told her as I knelt down and began lapping at her puckered asshole. "Hey, I don't do that," she growled. "Oh... is that your tongue sliding into my ass? No... wait... unnnn... that feels unnnn good. Are you going to fuck my ass?" "I am going to fuck them both," I told her as I eased a finger into her ass. "You are going to lose your fucking mind, I promise." "Why the hell not," she moaned. "Wait, how the hell are you... NNNNNNNNNN... damn... I've never been DP'd before. Slow... that's it... nice and fucking slow... the tips in... I am in lust..." "Shut up you talk too much," I said as I lifted her up and fucked her standing up. I faced her out towards the park and lifted the foul mouthed MILF up and down on my cocks. She squealed, cursed and praised me all in one breath. She leaned against me and panted as I fed a little more now. Her first anal orgasm threw her for a loop. "I came from a cock in my ass," she said dreamily. "Oh god I am close already? Are you even human?" "Yes and no," I told her as I pummeled her holes. "Two cocks, I'd call that not," she moaned. "Cumming again and you are still rock hard in me. I will divorce my husband and be your little cock slot. What do you say handsome?" "Coming!" I cried out as I fired twin salvos. I pulled out and set her on her feet. She spun around and hugged me. I watched as this married woman pledged her body to me. Was it just the dark magic or were there something deeper and more disturbing going on. "What is going on, really," I said as I walked her into the men's room. "I Gotta take a leak." "Can I hold it for you," she asked and I just nodded. "What happened," I asked as she gently held me as I emptied my bladder. "Are you asking why I am so damaged," she said and smiled. "I was sold to a business partner of my father. My dad couldn't pay his debt in the traditional way. So at the tender age of eighteen I moved into his house and his bed. He took full advantage of his position. If I didn't behave he would ruin my family. So I did every little thing that his warped little mind came up with. I put up with it for four years. I think I got too old for him and he let me go. I found and married a man as fucked up and abusive as him. I figured what decent man would want me." "Wow, you really are messed up," I said and she smiled. "Yeah, I know, you wanna go again," she asked and I shook my head. "Why?" "I might hurt you," I said and she began crying. "I will keep an eye out for you. Leave me your address and I will see what I can do." She took out a business card and pen from a fanny pack. She jotted down her name and address. I glanced at the card and it was all jumbled. So this was just a dream after all. It felt so real. The woman waved and the environment wavered and changed. I was standing outside looking out over a lush forest of strange trees. It was night and three moons hung in the air. The largest of the moons was a pristine white and appeared to be snow covered. The second moon was half the size of the primary and had a distinct green tinge to it. The last moon appeared as large as the secondary and was blood red in color. I looked behind me and I was standing on the roof of what appeared to be a cunningly crafted step pyramid. The blocks making up the structure were translucent and veined with what appeared to be capillaries that pulsed with energy. "Wow, when I dream I go all out," I said. "The dreamer and the dream are not always author and poem," a voice said. I turned to face the tall pale skinned figure. He was dressed in a shimmering body suit covered in the elegant characters I had seen in another dream. He had a thin yet muscular build. I had thoughts of a dancer versus a boxer. His dark hair seemed to have the same translucent quality as the blocks. It was almost as if his hair was composed of glass. The ends of his locks became nearly transparent lending credence to my thoughts. Around his waist was an elegant jeweled belt that also had the runes woven into its construction. He was sporting matching daggers that were as lovely as they were deadly. "I am glad we can speak face to face Anatari Baharr," he said to me. "Anatari Baharr... night wind," I said and he nodded. "You need my help if you are going to catch this killer," he continued. "Do you know who has my sister," I asked feeling the panic rise in my throat. "No, but without my help she will not survive," he said. "Follow me and I will share my thoughts with you." We walked down the steps of the pyramid and into the weird woods. The trees were gorgeous possessing intertwined trunks and red-gold leaves. Between the trees was a vast network of webs that formed multilayered roadways for the huge freaking spiders that made this forest its home. I watched as one of the spiders disappeared and reappeared a hundred yards further down the path. The more I looked the more I saw these phenomena. He led me to a lake with violet colored water. I wondered if the color of the water was due to the atmosphere or from minerals in the water itself. We sat down and the tall quiet man looked out over the lake. "Do you see how tranquil the surface of the water is?" "Yes, it is very peaceful," I said. "Now observe," he said as he chucked a large rock into the lake. There was a huge splash and ripples raced across the surface before dissipating. "You are like the rock. You create a large disturbance when you travel what you call the Astral Plane. You draw attention from a great distance to yourself. Would you prefer to be a leaf or a stone?" "A leaf," I said and he smiled. "Good, now attend and I will show you how to be a leaf." He stood up and walked across the surface of the lake as if it were ice instead of water. He left not a single ripple on the surface. He gestured for me to join him. I got up and walked to the edge of the water. If this was a dream I could manipulate it. I willed myself to weigh nothing. I took a step forward and my foot sunk below the surface but only about six inches. I still left huge wakes in the water as I strode forward. He nodded and smiled as I stood next to him. Grinning he sat down on the surface of the lake as if it were the shore. He spoke and told me about what he called artifices of the mind. He talked about the nature of the Astral Plane and how it mirrored the physical universe and how it doesn't. The differences were subtle and exploitable. If I learned how to hack the Astral I could walk unseen by friend and foe alike. He paused and looked at me as if deciding to share these secrets with me. "Why are you here," I asked. "Am I a threat to you or an asset?" "Both," he said and continued. "A limb from a tree can be used to build a house or crush a skull. I am deciding if I am building a house or a cairn." "I know there is a lot I don't know. I was thrust into this life quite unexpectedly. For what it is worth, I am doing the best that I can." "I shall kindle a light in you. I will give you a torch and trust that you don't start a forest fire." "Thank you," I said and he shook his head. "No, you may curse me before this quickening has ended. Now we shall begin..." I opened my eyes and looked over at the clock by my bed. The LED display read 4:15 a.m. I woke Feng and checked the date. It was the same night I had gone to bed, but that just isn't possible. I sat up and my muscles screamed. If there was any doubt to the training I had received it was over. Boy was Gabrielle going to be pissed in the morning. Oh damn, I gotta take a piss! I clenched my teeth and sat up. I clamped both hands over my mouth to keep from screaming. I was glad this room had its own bathroom. I heard some of the cadets weren't so lucky. I somehow made it to the toilet without waking the entire chapter house. The simple joy of emptying one's bladder was an accomplishment. I turned on the light and squinted. When I looked down at my arms I nearly fainted. The bruises weren't limited there; no they covered every inch of my body. My skin was a patchwork of black and blue and that explained the pain but how was I going to explain the bruises? I needed ice, lots and lots of ice. I managed to slip on a hooded robe complete with the Ordo Malleus insignia. I pulled up the hood and headed for the kitchen. I crept down the stairs wincing with each and every movement. I managed the dining room without being spotted, so far so good. I snuck through the butler's pantry and to the door that led to the kitchen. I smelled something cooking. Damn it, I was going to have to try and explain myself to the kitchen staff. I took a deep breath and opened the door. There were two of them. They were elderly gentlemen with long gray hair that was distinctly braided. They wore the garb of chefs and were working at preparing bread for the morning meal. They must have been up for hours already. Dozens of loaves of bread were waiting for the oven when I entered. The two paused and looked at me. One smiled and raised an eyebrow. "I need some ice please," I said and they looked at each other and grinned. "Now why would you be needing ice so early this fine morning," one said in a thick Irish accent. "I was thinking the same thing brother. Why is Her charge up this early wanting ice," the other said in an equally robust Scottish accent. "Oh hell," I said and opened my robe. "Saints preserve us," the first said and almost fell to tears. "Dear God," the other said and fetched a large metal bowl while his partner opened one of the freezers and heaped ice into it. Peter, the Irish chaplain, summoned one of his acolytes to help me back upstairs. He scolded the youth and made sure her ladyship didn't hear about my bruises until the good lord intended. I ran a bath and dumped the ice into it. The youth helped me in and I told him I would be okay. He reluctantly left me to my ice bath. I listened for the outer door to close and slipped my entire body beneath the surface. Damn it was cold! I decided to attempt something that had saved my life before and shift my form to accelerate the healing. If it could close a wound on my leg maybe it could fix this. 'Well, here goes,' I thought as I performed the change. I winced fearing the change would only aggravate my situation, it didn't. It actually helped. I let out a soft yelp in a low alto as the ice made my nipples feel like they were going to fall off. How did women stand this? I shifted through my entire 'cast' of characters I had created over the past few years. By the time I hit the female albino I was fully healed. I was tired and hungry but I was free of pain. I got out of the bath, pulled the plug and dried off. The long ass hair was going to take a while to dry so I glanced in the mirror and went from hair down to my ass to short cropped in seconds flat. I was yawning as the fatigue hit me hard. Just a little nap and I would be fine. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 05 I slipped beneath the covers and fell asleep right away. No dreams invaded my sleep this time and I was thankful. I was shaken awake and rolled over to look into Gabrielle's loving features. She smiled while she caressed my cheek. "Have you lost your fucking mind," she whispered in my ear. "What if I had sent someone to wake you?" "I had a good reason," I said. "I am hungry is the bread ready yet?" "How did you know there was freshly baked bread? Were you out and about like this?" "NO, I was my handsome self," I told her and her scowl disappeared. "I met two old men, an Irishman and a Highlander. They were making bread." "Why are you..." she said tugging the covers down and sneaking a peek. "Oh damn, I like this one a lot! Can we play with this one later?" "Maybe," I said snatching the covers up. "I am just a toy to you." I said in my best pout. "Yes you are, now change and get dressed for breakfast." I got up and Gabrielle stared at me and I gave her my best puzzled look. I glanced down and bit my lower lip nervously. The Mistress Inquisitor grabbed my shoulder and turned me around. She touched where the remaining bruises were the worst. I flinched and yelped as she pressed the tender skin. "I am sure there is some amazing story behind this," she growled. "Hell even the top of your feet are bruised. What the hell Louis?" "It is complicated," I said and she let go. "I thought all the shifting I did last night would have gotten rid of them, I swear." I changed back to the default me and picked out some clean clothes. I slipped on the impact armor and put street clothes on top of that. It was Gabrielle's standing order, body armor at all times. I sat down to put on my socks and when I put on my shoes they feel oddly uncomfortable. Maybe it was just the bruises or maybe it was something else. We went down to breakfast and took our assigned seats. Gabrielle sat at the head of the main table and I was near the end next to the fourth year recruits. The Morning Prayer was said and then the food was served. I forced myself into my mindfulness discipline despite how hungry I was. I ate slowly and deliberately tasting and enjoying the meal. A few of the recruits followed my example and slowed their eating pace. "Can you explain this to me," the cute acolyte next to me asked politely. "It is called mindfulness," I said. "It is a way of appreciating life in all its simplicities. You can use it at any time. Personally, I try to focus on food, beauty and instruction. I break down things into their smaller actions and I focus on them. It is especially effective when I eat." "Thank you Linguist," she said. "Linguist," I asked. "That is her ladyship's title we are to address you by," she said and smiled. I returned to my meal and managed to snatch a few extra rolls for later. The meal ended and the recruits went off to class and Gabrielle disappeared to attend to the daily affairs of the chapter house. I went to the courtyard and picked up the five and a half feet long Bo staff. I went to an empty sparring circle and began to practice. My fingers, as well as the rest of my body, were still stiff but I wanted to push through it. I took my initial stance and began slow. I dropped the staff a few times at first but as my practice progressed I felt the confidence build and my technique improve dramatically. I shifted my arm and leg muscles on the fly ridding them of fatigue and lactic acid. I pushed my speed and difficulty as my workout progressed. I could feel the center of gravity of the Bo staff and made it work for me; demand it to do my will. That desire became all-consuming and not limited to the staff. I directed that force of will to my entire body. While the Bo staff spun and moved my body leapt and twirled in the air. I reached the last Kata, or series of practice maneuvers, and stopped to get a bottle of water. I looked around and there were a full thirty recruits and instructors staring at me. I shrugged and one of the Inquisitors tossed me a towel. "Thanks, sorry for taking up the ring," I said and the woman who had tossed me the towel touched my arm. "Why are you not teaching here? Linguist my ass..." she said and looked over her shoulder as Gabrielle stepped forward. She looked pissed. "Linguist, attend me," Gabrielle said and I placed the towel around my neck. "What the holy hell was that?" She asked once we were out of ear shot of the others. "I don't understand," I said and she saw I was in the dark. "Where the hell did you learn to move like that?" "I have no idea what you are talking about. I was just practicing." Gabrielle snarled and walked over to one of the Inquisitors. She handed over the video camera. Gabrielle went to the beginning of the footage and let me watch it through the camera's viewfinder. Now I understood. I watched as I went through a series of maneuvers that looked like Jet Li had choreographed it. I made a face and handed her the camera. "If you tell me it's complicated I will box your ears," she threatened. "Not here," I said and she nodded. She led me into the chapter house and up to her office. I closed the door behind me and she opened her belly drawer and pressed something. She dropped down into her chair and glared at me. I waited for her to say something but after a few minutes it was obvious she wasn't. "I had this crazy dream," I began and her eyes narrowed. "...A dream that lasted six hours." "Dreams don't last that long," she said. "Tell me what happened." "It is all very disjointed," I said. "You know how dreams can evaporate when you wake up. I usually feel refreshed after sleep but this morning I was bruised all over. It was a lot worse before I took the ice bath. I spent a good hour shifting from one form to another. Each shift healed me a little but you saw for yourself. I am still pretty battered." "You will tell me if you remember more," she said. "You know I will." I went to the living room, what the acolytes called the common room. The large plasma screen was on and the news was covering the lack of forward movement on my sister's case. The public was upset and there had been a candlelight vigil already. I sat down and one of female students sat down next to me and asked how I was handling the situation. I looked at her and rejected the vitriol response that immediately sprang to mind. "I am doing the best I can, considering," I told her. "Can I ask a personal question," she said. "I have the option to refuse," I asked and she nodded. "Ask away then." "Do you believe in God," she asked and conversations in the room ended. "I have no doubt there is a god," I told her. "However, I am not sure he or she is what we think they are." "I don't understand," she said. "And you shouldn't or any of us," I said. "I believe god is as far above us as we are above a virus. We could not conceive the mind of god as a virus could conceive of color or sound." "I see your point," she said and the collective sigh of relief was palpable. "What about evil?" "That's very subjective," I said and she frowned. "I believe there are things that are objectively evil. I mean that no matter how you perceive them it is just wrong. There are gray areas that I prefer not to tread in." "What about a personification of evil," she said. "...A singular source of sin." "No, I think there are many different things and beings that inspire wickedness. But a single source, no." "I respect your opinion," she said and returned her attention to the television. I watched the newscast and realized Feng hadn't chimed in yet. I checked my hand and my ring was still there. I wonder what was going on. 'Feng,' I sent silently but no immediate response. 'FENG?' 'Masssterrrrr,' she said her voice distorted. 'Oneeee mo... ment... I am nearly... finished...' 'What the holy hell is going on?' I asked and waited. 'Sorry Louis,' she said a minute later. 'I was just finishing reallocating data dumped to your neural implant.' 'Care to explain, why did you need to move data around in the first place?' 'Someone hacked your implant and placed hundreds of terabytes of data there.' 'Terabytes of data, what kind of data? What sort of format are we talking about?' I asked. 'I am still analyzing it but it appears to be highly compressed packets of varying size. The smallest is a single rune form, the largest is a rune circuit that contains hundreds of characters.' 'I still don't understand. Show me...' I said and closed my eyes. I reversed the connection and entered Feng's digital citadel once more. This time she was alone and holding a familiar rune cupped in her hands. I walked over to her and she handed me the digital construct. It was the runic language from my dream. The rune I held literally meant the hunter's patience. I interpreted it as when you are ready. 'What do you think,' I asked. 'This character has an executable function. I suspect, when you are ready you activate this and it links to all the other rune structures. It is a guess but the most logical I can formulate.' 'Anything else I need to know about these clusters of data?' 'Three executable have already been activated before I moved the inactive bulk to your ring.' 'Do you know what they've done or their purpose?' I asked. 'All three were activated when you put on your armor. I suspect they affected it somehow.' 'Can you access my armor and see what's going on? Is this some kind of trace program or a virus?' 'One moment please,' she said and closed her eyes. 'Link established... running diagnostic... anomalous energy source detected... formatting in progress... ETA six hours until termination. There are several subroutines reconfiguring your armor. I suggest you wait until the process is finished to determine its effects.' 'So basically sit back and wait. What systems are being affected?' I asked. 'From what I witnessed all of its systems are being modified.' 'I am glad you are alright,' I said and she blushed. 'You really like this Talon character.' 'I like the way you look at me in this form,' she admitted. 'If another pleases you more I am always open to suggestion.' 'Any news on my sister or the man responsible,' I asked and she nodded. 'I have attributed at least two hundred and thirty seven murders to this individual. He has been active for nearly twenty years. I am working backwards and when I find his first I will tell you.' 'Thanks make that your top priority,' I told her. I left her and opened my eyes. Again the time difference was huge. The same newscast item was on when I closed my eyes. I was being helped out by party or parties unknown for their own reasons. I had to accept the fact that I was a piece on a much larger board. I didn't like it but if it would save my sister and return her home alive I would accept it, for now. I had six hours on my hands until my armor was done percolating and Gabrielle was busy with Inquisition business. There was only one thing to do, hit a strip club! Interlude 1: Crashing Thunder It had been three days or that is what the sick song of a bitch told her. It could have been three hours. She hadn't slept or had what passed for a block of sleep in what seemed like forever. That was his plan after all. The entire system was on a timer and when it went off the klaxons blared at 100 decibels and the overhead lights blazed with a blinding brilliance. It was enough to drive a person crazy. Fortunately she wasn't just anybody, she was Louis' sister and she was defiant. She sat on the floor of the cell, legs crossed, back against the wall and eyes closed. Louis had been to Japan and when he returned he had insisted on teaching her to meditate. "It will help you de-stress and relax during those frustrating days at work. I know it seems strange but it works, it really does." "Thank you Louis," she whispered for the thousandth time. "Now find me so you can kill this son of a bitch!" The sprinklers kicked on and cold water fell from above. She wanted to howl in frustration but Louis had sat beneath a freezing waterfall during his meditations. How could she do any less? I will endure! I will not break! I am a mountain. I am water and water is patient. Water always wins! You hear that you sick son of a bitch... water always wins! Above her cell the unblinking eyes of the security cameras watched her every move. There wasn't much to see and that infuriated and amazed him at the same time. He stared at the monitors and shook his head. He still had a blank canvas and that just wouldn't do. She just sat there and did nothing, said nothing. She was depriving him of his reward. Where were the screams of fear? Where were the howls of rage? She should be in a fetal position begging him to make it end, but she wasn't. No, this one was unlike any of the others. She was not clay or wax or even bronze. This stubborn bitch was a diamond in the rough. He just needed to find the right blow to shatter her into a million pieces. I am the fucking artist here and this is my studio and your mind and flesh are my canvas. But first she must break! She must crack and scream and cower in fear. Metallica's Master of Puppets plays in the background as he glares at the screen. He runs his fingers lovingly over one of the monitors whispering his promises of pain and fear and death. His rage reaches a flash point and his fist crashes through the screen and it goes dark. "Fuck, that is the third one is three days... this bitch is going to be expensive!" The Cage: I was jogging along the path around the chapter house. It wasn't like any of the Inquisitors had a list of strip joints on them or likely want to drive me to one. They were a repressive lot. If they only knew what went on when their precious Ladyship left the grounds. That brought a laugh as I hit the wooded section of the trail. "Louis! Over here Louis," Leah called out from a darkened patch of the woods. "Leah, what the hell are you doing here?" I asked fearing for her safety. "I knew you would be worried about me," she purred. "I missed you!" "Of course I have," I said. "I have been occupied with my sister and..." "I know and I understand," she said bloody tears streaking her cheeks. "I will take you." "Huh, take me where?" I asked and she wiped the tears away and licked her fingers. "The Cage," she purred again. "It is the most prestigious gentleman's club in the city. Consider it a kind of lusty Diogenes Club with the king makers running it." "How the hell could I get into a place like that," I asked and she smiled as she pulled up her hood. "I dance at the Cage when needs be," she said taking my arm. "I have a car nearby." The limo drove us down to the business district downtown. I was told the dos and don'ts of behavior within the confines of the club. We entered via the underground parking lot. Leah directed me to the red elevator. We took it down with the help of a plastic key card she kept in her purse. She opened the door that held the emergency phone in case the elevator failed. She slid the card into a slot below the phone and pressed and held the L button. It turned blue and she released it and removed the card and closed the door. Leah slipped the card back into her purse and clung to my arm. "You are going to love the atmosphere of this place, I just know it!" The door opened and we stepped into a hallway. There were two burly looking men in dark suits and glasses. Leah pulled back her hood and they were all smiles. She told them my name and the guy on the left picked up a tablet computer and checked it. He nodded and we proceeded down the hallway. I asked her why my name would be on a list for this club. She just laughed and explained that the governor had put my name of the list years ago. When he chose me for the education grants he also dropped my name with the owner of The Cage. I just shook my head. People never ceased to amaze me. I sniffed the air and detected the scents of flowers, food, drugs and of course sex. Oh, I was going to like this place, no doubt about that. The hall ended in a pair of double doors. Two more scary looking guys were posted here. Unlike the first pair, these guys didn't appear completely human. There were hints like elongated incisors, slit pupils and heavily scaled skin across the backs of their hands. But they were quite polite and opened the doors for Leah and me. "Enjoy your visit Sir," one of them grumbled in heavily accented English. The Cage was a series of interconnected rooms. Each room had a particular style and inclination. A few rooms were designed simply for mingling while others were strictly for a specific fetish or lifestyle. The first room had a kind of industrial feel to it with lots of exposed brick, metal and neon signs that read XXX Live Nude Girls and the like. There were perhaps a few dozen people standing around sipping cocktails in this room. Most were human but several were most definitely not. I noticed strong eye shine from a darkened corner and the flash of canines, Akhkharu or perhaps something else. I was treading into waters that could be deceptively shallow. I was surrounded almost at once and condolences regarding my sister hung in the air until Leah pulled me free. She took me into the corner I had first noticed and she introduced me to the two dancers that were lurking there. "These are Tara and Tera, they're twins," Leah said as I got a good look at the pale skinned nightwalkers. "We are Lhiannon Sidhe," they said in one voice. "We are Fae not Akhkharu." "I have never met a Fae before," I said and the look that provoked was priceless. "Ooh, I do love a first timer," Tara said or was it Tera? "We share everything and everyone," the other said. "I look forward to it," I said and we were off through the next door and a whole new experience. This room was much larger and had a dance floor at the center, bars and snacks along the walls. The motif was something of a grunge rock look. There was a full lighting rig hanging over the dance floor which included a disco ball and even pivoting lasers. This crowd was much louder and more diverse than the first room. While the majority of the clientele were human a full twenty percent were something else. I guessed that most were either vampires or fae but a few I just wasn't sure about. We didn't stay and it became apparent that Leah had a particular room in mind. The next section was a series of rooms dedicated to one specific theme, high school. There were signs that read 'Warning: School Zone' and 'Children at Play' and my personal favorite 'No Loitering on School Property'. I heard some very interesting sounds coming from behind that particular door. Leah just smiled and nodded. I opened the door and peered in. The sound that had caught my attention had been an odd metallic sound and now I knew what it was. There was a cute little blonde in a cheerleader's uniform; she was bent over and gripping a chain link fence. The guy behind her was hammering her slow but with a great deal of force. He had her skirt up over her ass and I could clearly see his cock driving in and out of her. I closed the door and let them be. "You could've joined in if you wanted," Leah purred in my ear. "You could have slid your cock from the other side of the fence and let her suck you off." "That would have been nice but he really had his groove on. I didn't want to bust the mood." "Always so very thoughtful," she said. "Let's go, there are people eager to see you." I followed her through three more rooms and three more diverse bodies of members and entertainers. We reached her goal and amidst the blaring music and overwhelming scents of sex and drugs was the Quietus, the room of silence. It wasn't exactly silent but there was no music and it was finely decorated in late Elizabethan furniture and atmosphere. The men wore suits, smoked pipes and cigars and sipped cognac. The ladies wore collars and either hung on the arms of their male companions or crawled on all fours in search of attention. I did spot a few men seated reading while a woman sucked them off quite leisurely. I couldn't help but smile at that. The pets were patterned after animals, some were cats or dogs or cows or even a pony. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 05 "Would you like a cocktail Sir," a lovely brunette dressed in a harness and sporting a horse tail poking out of her ass asked. "Tequila with a beer back," I said. "Dark or light beer," she replied. "Dark, Guinness if you have it," I said and she smiled as she left to fill my order. "Louis, well as I live and breathe," the Governor said from a corner of the room. "I am glad Leah has brought you to our little quiet slice of bliss. If you need anything just ask. I have been on the phone with the FBI and police chief everyday over this insanity." I heard a deliciously naughty sound and turned. What a sight indeed! There was a woman lying sideways on a high backed chair, her head was hanging over the arm of the chair while a man fucked her throat. Despite the act she had an air of nobility and grace about her. I watched as he buried his erection between her lips in a steady rhythm and she took it all without a hint of a gag or any sign of discomfort. She was dressed in an Arabian dancer's costume and a long strand of pearls dangling between her large breasts. "I believe you've met my wife," the Governor said gesturing to the woman on the chair. "Oh, it's been a few years," I replied as coolly as I could. "She looks well." "That's what I like about you Louis," the Governor laughed. "So polite and so kind, if you want to have a go at her it looks like Simon is about ready to shoot off." The man Simon he mentioned turned out to be Simon Birch, the District Attorney. His face was bright red and a few seconds later he let out a deep guttural groan and the Governor's wife swallowed every drop. He withdrew his cock and she sat up and settled into the chair and licked her lips. She looked at her husband with a questioning look and he shook his head. She smiled and seemed quite pleased with herself. The Governor reintroduced me to her and she hopped up and hugged me, her tits crushing against my chest. She told me if I needed anything all I had to do was ask. I leaned in close and asked. "Oh you naughty boy you, I would love to," Sindy giggled. "How do you want me?" She sat down and placed an ankle on each arm of the chair and leaned back. She beckoned me with a motion of her finger and I walked up. I watched as she unzipped me and freed my member. Her eyes lit up when she saw the length and girth that I offered. "Oh my, this is going deep," she purred. "Here let me." She guided me between her legs and I slid in quite easily. She was soaked after sucking off the D.A. and was eager for a good pounding. "Not don't hold back just because we are in a room with other people. You ram that fat cock of yours as deep and hard and fast as you want." Sindy said as if she were talking about the weather. I slid into her completely and she let out a woof of surprise. She reached up and grabbed the back of the chair for support and nodded. I began to move slowly now and a small crowd formed around us. It was easy to feed from them. They were so intent on what was going on in front of them; their lust was a tangible thing for me. I thrust harder and that got her juices flowing. I had a goal and by god I was going to get it. I hammered her harder and faster now. I watched as her demeanor began to crumble and she looked to her husband for support. "It's okay sweetie, if you want to go ahead. Nobody will blame you with that fine specimen inside of you." The Governor told his wife. "Thank you dear," she said as I invoked the dark magic and snared her in it. "Oh shit!" Her first orgasm hit so fast and without warning she almost fainted. I pounded her hard and fast and she cursed like a fucking sailor. Leah leaned against the Governor while I reached up and pinched his wife's nipples hard. Her hips bucked against me as she came for the second time. The look of disbelief was evident to all. She used her hands and pulled her ass up and off of the chair's seat. I let go of her nipples and grabbed her thighs to help support her. I adjust my footing and drove my cock as deep as it could go with every thrust now. "Fuck me motherfucker," she screamed. "Oh my god I am coming again!" I wanted to curse back at her but bit it back. The energy from her was heady but that from the crowd watching was a whole new flavor for me. My balls were slapping against her asshole and as her fourth orgasm closed on her my first was cresting. "Oh shit he's getting bigger," she cried. "Are you going to cum?" "UH HUH," I growled. "MY tits... shoot it all over my TITS!" she demanded. I nodded as I hammered her so hard the chair threatened to tip over. Leah stepped in and braced it from behind. I slammed into her cunt until the very last second. I yanked my cock free and plastered her tits, pearls and her face for good measure. "Oh well done," someone behind cried. "Excellent aim Sir," another offered. "Me next," a female voice begged, it was the pony server. The Governor's wife slumped down, very unladylike, into the chair and panted as she caught her breath. She closed her eyes and licked her lips. I stepped back as the pony and the cat rubbed my cum into her skin as if it were lotion. They licked their fingers afterward and smiled. Leah did me the service of licking my cock clean before I tucked it in and zipped up. "I am sure I speak for my wife," the Governor said. "I would like to invite you and a guest to our next little party. I hope you can come." "Unless a break in my sister's case prevents me," I said. "I will be there." "Well said Louis well said." He said smiling. "Oh, it looks like Sindy wants another round with you." "She is a very adventurous woman," I said and he agreed. "Oh yeah, a cock hungry slut that one," he replied. "One of the reasons I married her." The pony delivered my drink and I downed the Tequila and paused before I drank my beer. That was the best Tequila that ever passed my lips. The Governor saw my expression and smiled. He told pony to send a case to the chapter house with his regards. I thanked him and he shook his head. Apparently the pounding I had given his wife was reward enough. As I sipped my pint of Guinness a soft melody came over hidden speakers and the entire climate of the room changed. The subdued gentlemen acted more like horny teenagers. I followed as they pushed open a hidden door behind one of the bookcases lining the room. The passage lead straight to a large room decorated with stripper poles, cages and plenty of tables. I was led to the center table and before it a caged stage with a pole inside. "Oh you are in for quite the treat," the Governor said excitedly. "She only comes out for special occasions." "She," I asked and he pointed to a wheeled cage that was being pushed towards our stage. The cage was covered but I felt something. The smell of ionized air was heavy in the air. A storm was approaching and it was electric! I found my fingers digging into the surface of the table. Who was under that cloth? No, what was beneath that cloth? The closer it got the stronger the feeling became. Oh no, I recognized it, that magnetic force that I knew intimately well. But that was impossible, where did they find her? The cage was docked and the doors of both cages swung inward allowing the thing inside to pass from one to the other. She wore a hooded robe but I knew what she was even before she revealed herself. The cage doors closed and the music began, Son of a Preacher Man drifted over head as she dropped the robe to the floor. The succubus was stunning to look upon. She had chosen the appearance of a buxom yet innocent looking teenager. She wore glasses, hair up in pigtails and a short pleated skirt to finish the look. As she danced she fed from the crowd. Her dark magic strong and heavy in the air and only the iron manacles around her wrists and ankles broke the illusion. The seamless jewelry kept her from shredding the cage and making a massacre of those assembled. I severed her connection to me with some effort and enjoyed her performance. I saw the glassy eyed look on everyone else and understood their hunger for her. She was their dream girl and perfect fantasy in the flesh. She made eye contact with each man and woman in the room. I could almost see the soul stuff drifting through the air in a kind of spiritual miasma. She shed the skirt to reveal the black thong beneath. I had to admit she had a world class ass beneath. By the end of the song she was down to bobby socks and a devilish grin. The next song began, Scorpions 'Send Me an Angel' and she shifted to a tall leggy brunette with hair down to that world class ass. Her dance style was as mercurial as her form. She was working the pole now and doing some seriously acrobatic maneuvers. When we made eye contact she faltered and this little fact was not lost on certain patrons. "She really likes you," the D.A. whispered in my ear. "In the six years I have been coming here she has never made a mistake on the pole." "Lucky me," I said. Her third and last song, Iron Maiden's 'The Fallen Angel', began and she was now a busty redhead with freckles, green eyes and plump pussy begging to be fucked. She was in full feeding mode now. Her style shifted to a gymnastic form and the pole was removed. It slid silently upwards and used the entire stage now for our entertainment. Her eyes never left mine now. She was as curious about me as I was about her. 'Who are you,' her mind speech slithered into my consciousness. 'No one to be trifled with,' I replied and she laughed. 'A mage... Fae... damn my iron prison... I can't see you clearly,' she growled in frustration. 'How long,' I asked. 'My prison,' she replied and I nodded. 'Forty six years and some change, my own fault for being too arrogant.' The song was nearing its end and her body was covered in a gleaming sheen of sweat. The cage doors opened and she returned to the smaller one. She spoke to her handler and he looked at me and then back at her. He nodded and she sat down crossed legged in the center of her cage as it was wheeled over to a side of the room. I was approached by her handler and he told me to sit in the chair provided and not to touch her for any reason. I agreed and walked over and sat down. "What is your name," I asked and the succubus laughed. "Nice try Mage," she snarled. "My Master is far too clever for that. I can smell your power from here and it is intoxicating. Pity I am in here and you are out there." "Yes a real pity," I replied. "Do they know that you are a Mage?" "No, I am just a humble archaeologist," I said. "You are marked historian," she purred. "You are owned as surely as I am. It is good to know that I am not the sole slave in this room. Your leash is more ephemeral than mine but just as binding. She is still alive by the way, your sister. But the pawn has a patron. The patron wants you to suffer before he strikes out at you." "How do you know that?" I asked and I saw the delight my pain gave her. "If you were more observant you'd know. The patron protects his pawn." Our time was up and she was wheeled away. What did she mean the patron protects his pawn? Was someone shielding the kidnapper? She was a creature of magic and it made sense she might sense such things. Who would want to protect a monster like this one? I sat in that chair for a long time. Long enough for the crowd to dissipate and seek other distractions. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned to look at the man in the white suit. He could have been anywhere from his late teens to early thirties. It was his eyes that had that ageless quality about them. "It is unwise to take a succubus' words to heart. They are bitter and mischievous creatures." "You must be the master she mentioned," I replied and got to my feet. "A very astute deduction, I am indeed her owner. The name is Torre, Victor Torre, at your service." "Everyone just calls me Louis," I said. "She mentioned that you are a Mage of sorts," Victor said. "I don't suppose you could perform for my guests?" "I will need a few female volunteers from the audience," I said. "I think I can wrangle up a few," he said. "Follow me." The room was patterned after a medieval dungeon along with all the toys. Victor had hand-picked my audience and among them was Sindy and her husband the Governor. I knew it was a bad idea but I felt like I owed him something for his hospitality. Sindy was one of the four female volunteers. I directed them to strip down and stand in the open area near the center of the dungeon. The men formed a loose circle around them as I cast the spell. I had been playing around with this spell and customized it a little. The fog rolled across the floor and the ceiling this time. The two circles formed around the women and the eerie illumination flashed within and all eyes were fixed on it. I invoked the second phase and the whip-like appendages appeared from above and below this time. Arms and legs were grasped as the women were lifted up into the air. "Holy shit," a man gasped. "Is he going to do what I think he is?" "Yep, look..." another man exclaimed pointing at the ground. The four tentacles emerged from the fog and slithered up towards the women and they squealed in delight. I could have just impaled them then and there but decided to drag things out. This was as much about feeding from them as entertaining the masses. The tips of the tentacles sprouted mouths and tongues. The tongues began to lap between each woman's legs. The only sound now came from the women as they growled, grunted and moaned. I let them beg me to fuck them but I waited. I watched them carefully and when their legs began to tremble I yielded. The tips of the tentacles became more phallic and eased into them. The cry from them echoed off the stony walls. The men gasped as their wives and girlfriends were violated by the unearthly appendages. "Oh he is a fucking rock star," the D.A. said to his friends. "More cocks... more cocks..." the men began chanting. I smiled and nodded. Four tentacles descended from above and four more rose from the floor. The ones from the ceiling slid between the women's lips and began fucking their throats. Those from below began teasing their asses preparing them for the next step. Sindy just relaxed in the grip of her violator and gave herself up to the pleasure. Soon the other women followed her and surrendered. The tentacles from below sprouted little vines and pulled the women's ass cheeks apart so everyone had a clear view. The tendril-like heads eased into each woman very slowly and they groaned as the violation reached completion. Once they were accustomed to their plight I let the heads swell inside of them and made them move. It was like an erotic orchestra and each player had its part. The undulating cocks inside of them pulsed with life as they thrust in and out. The sturdy yet gentle tentacles that held the ladies aloft and the sprouts that held ass cheeks or caressed tit flesh and nipples. "I think they are ready for the climax," I said. I tied my senses into the cacophony of pleasure and it hit me full tilt. I took a step back but recovered quickly. I flipped the ladies ass up and head down and fucked them senseless. The men watched in awe as their female companions were completely and utterly violated before their eyes. I was so entranced with the spell I missed out on what else was going on. The ladies writhed in pleasure as one orgasm followed another and I fed on them lightly but fully. I had to recoup what I put into the spell. Their bodies were building for a mind melting orgasm. They were intricately linked via my enchantment and they were synced to the millisecond. As my climax neared so did theirs. We were one and as the moment closed in on us they shook and bucked. "Coming..." I cried out and the simultaneous orgasm that day became legend. I lowered them to the ground and cancelled the spell. The fog receded from the floor and ceiling, leaving only a pile of quivering female flesh. I blinked a few times and saw that the men had not been idle. They had made an offering of their own to my spell. The multiple puddles of seed shone on the floor evidence of the audience's appreciation. Victor had already recovered and was all tucked in and grinning. He gestured and the cat girl handed me my VIP membership card to The Cage. I had unlimited access to any and all delights it had to offer. "Hell of a show," the Governor added after a time. "I think Sindy has had enough stimulation for today." "Following that up is going to be damn hard," the D.A. said. "But I will do my damnedest." The ladies were taken away so that they could powder their noses. I turned to see a very aroused Akhkharu behind me. Leah had witnessed my performance and was chewing her lower lip. I had a feeling she wanted to be entertained and soon. I told her the back of the limo would have to do. I had enough of public displays of affection for the day. She agreed. So after a leisurely hour long drive through the park and other scenic parts of the city I was dropped off at the chapter house. In the back seat a wrecked vampire and a promise to drop by soon. I washed up and dressed for dinner. After the meal I could inspect my armor and see what had been done to it. I walked down to the dining room and at the foot of the front steps was Gabrielle. She looked tired and in need of some serious attention. I stopped and sat on the stairs looking her in the eye. "After dinner how about a nice long walk," I said. "Then I will rub out some of that stress." "That would be nice but," she said. "I have business I need to..." "Do I have to make that an order," I said cutting her off. "I will if I have to." "I love you," she mouthed too afraid to say it aloud. "You've been out playing haven't you?" "You're not the only one under stress," I said. "I can't just sit around doing nothing." "I understand," she said and the weight of guilt evaporated. "I can't be there for you as much as I want." We went to dinner and I took up my usual spot at the end of the table. The same fourth year sat next to me and seemed primed for conversation. I touched a finger to my lips as the Evening Prayer was recited. We ate in relative silence. The girl did in fact begin quite the philosophical discussion. "I saw the footage of you in the fighting ring," she said after a while. "You should be teaching." "That is one opinion," I said. "Did your instructor not give you permission, is that it," she asked. "I have heard of such things." "It is complicated," I said. "You say that a lot," she replied. "Is everything complicated with you?" "Not quite everything, but yes most things," I told her smiling. "Can I ask a personal question," she asked. "Eep, this could enter dangerous ground young lady," I said. "Are you sure?" "Oh yes, most assuredly." She giggled. "Okay, out with it," I said as she leaned close, pretending to reach for the salt and whispered. "Which do men prefer more, oral or vaginal sex?" She asked as her hand settled on my leg. "I would have to say the latter," I replied. "But in a pinch the former is quite nice too." "Do you have a preference," she asked as her hand moved up closer to its goal. "I do have a preference, but uh I am not sure her Ladyship would appreciate me seducing her acolytes." "Oh... hmm... I never looked at it like that," she said as her fingers traced my erection. "I haven't taken any vows of celibacy yet so..." "Ah... I understand completely," I said as she began to rub me through my jeans. "It is going to be one of 'those' days." "What do you mean," she said as she rubbed harder now. "I was kind of busy while I was out," I said and I could see the wheels turning. "Oh... OH..." she said and smiled. "You are pretty damn rigid about your stance. Maybe we can spar later?" Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 05 Her hand left and I let out a sigh of relief. My life was complicated, real complicated. I think I was going to have to look for accommodations away from the chapter house. I wasn't sure how Gabrielle would take to me fucking her students. Understanding only goes so far and I just didn't want her getting hurt. I finished my meal and thought about as many nerdy nonsexual things that I could. Once my erection had gone away I got up and went outside. I walked around to the back of the estate and sat in the gazebo looking out over one of the gardens. The Japanese rock garden was one of my favorites. It reminded me of good times and tragedy. A litany of names always went through my mind when I came out here. "I am so sorry guys," I said and then stopped when I heard the soft crunch of gravel as someone crept up behind me. "You need to let go of it," Gabrielle said. "You take on too much." "I am not the only one," I said and she shrugged. "So do I have a rival under my own roof," she asked and I shook my head. "Are you sure?" "I did not encourage her," I told Gabrielle. "You are more woman than I can handle." "Did you just call me fat?" She said and I threw up my hands in surrender. "Let's take a walk. I have been banished for the next hour from the house." "That's weird," I commented as I got to my feet. "I tell you this day just gets stranger as it goes." We didn't hold hands, even though we wanted to. I pondered on whether or not to tell her about my armor until I actually looked at it. I decided to wait. I was still a little sore and we stopped a few times along the way. I could tell there were things on her mind but it was Inquisition business and that had to remain private. I respected her strength and her ability to compartmentalize her responsibilities. I am not sure I could do that. I preferred a simple life. It never ended up that way but I preferred it. I shared with Gabrielle that Feng was backtracking what we believed were the kidnapper's previous victims. "He's been at this for twenty years," she said and I nodded. "If Feng is correct, he has been active for a long time. There is no guarantee she is on the right track but if she is, I don't want to think about it." "You are worried he will kill Lily." "Yeah and if that happens my dad will never get over it." "Why is he doing this," Gabrielle asked. "If we can figure that out we can fashion an attack plan." "He is going at me through family. It could be Tokyo. It could be the Heart of Ashurbanipal. Hell, it could be the succubus." "Have you received any hate mail or threats after Tokyo?" "No," I said. "If it were the Heart, I think I would be dead already. Could it be the succubus?" "Okay, for the moment let's say it is. Who would want to avenge a succubus?" Gabrielle asked. "Another demon," I said and then the words of the demon at The Cage came back. "He has a patron." "What, who has a patron?" "It was something that someone said about my sister's case. They said the kidnapper had a patron. I wonder if this patron pointed him at me." "Makes sense, a demonic patron is bad news. That means a named and numbered entity." "You are speaking Greek sweetie. What the hell is a named and numbered entity?" She mentioned scrolls handed down from the time of King Solomon, the demon binder. The scrolls list all the major players and their rank in the infernal host, thus named and numbered. The trick was trying to discover who the demon was pulling the strings. If it was a demon, it could just as easily be an angel. She was brainstorming now and I didn't like where this was leading. Was that the reason for the dream? Was there an oppositional force against the mastermind behind all of this? The pawn rarely sees who is moving the piece. "First the cease fire between Inquisition and Akhkharu and now this," I said aloud. "That can't be a coincidence," Gabrielle said. "Have you ever played Wei Chi? It is an Eastern strategy game." "I played it while I was in Japan. I wasn't very good." "We are being played," she said as if reading my thoughts. We finished our walk and as we neared the front of the chapter house and most of the students and staff were assembled outside. I looked at Gabrielle and she seemed as confused as I was. We stopped at the foot of the steps and the two chefs, now in full Inquisitor gear approached. One was carrying a scroll and the other a small wooden box. Gabrielle stood up to her full height and was ramrod straight. "We received an announcement from Rome two days ago. The Inquisition is undergoing a restructuring. A new Grand Inquisitor is, as we speak, being placed in office. Rome has decided that we need to be better structured for future threats. Thus under the order of the Holy Father this chapter house is no longer under the banner of the Ordo Malleus. It will from this moment forward be the first of Ordo Hereticus and fly under the banner of the Ebon Chalice. You are ordered to take up the mantle of Majestrix and focus your attention on cleansing the world of demonic forces. Will you take up this mantle?" "I will," Gabrielle said fighting back the tears of joy. She was handed the charter scroll and then the box was opened and her old pins were removed and the new added. Those assembled began clapping. "Strike the colors," the old men shouted and the banners that had been mounted were unfurled and there it was a black chalice on a gray background. "Congratulations," I told her as I shook her hand. I moved from her side and let the parade of students and instructors shake her hand on this historic moment. I left her with her peers and returned to my room. I had no place with her now. Her life had just taken a left hand turn. I closed the door to my room behind me and slid down the door. I couldn't breathe as the impact of this new promotion struck me. I had told her everything and now... now it was all changing. I pushed the tears away and got to my feet. Nothing lasts forever and I had to find my sister and Gabrielle had demons to hunt. I went to my closet and opened it. I took out the duffle bag holding my armor. I set it on the bed and opened it. I took out my armor and stared at it. I hardly recognized it. The dull gun metal gray color was replaced with a translucent crystalline material. I held it up to the light and could see the runic patterns that covered every square inch of the armor. I stripped down and slipped it on. The clasps were gone and a few seconds after putting it on I knew why. The armor closed on its own. It normally took five minutes or so for it to adjust but it fit snugly immediately. I put my clothes back on and pulled the hood up and placed the mask on. The HUD, heads up display, was replaced by a seven piece runic pattern in the left lower corner of my vision. I looked at one and it brought up defensive status. It was currently set to passive. I ran through the rest and found everything that was in the old display and a few new selections. They were obviously combat orientated and I left them be. I would have time to test them later. I removed the mask and tugged the hood back. It slipped neatly next to my neck and folded precisely until needed. I returned mask and gloves to my duffle bag. I sat on the bed for a few minutes and decided it was time. I began emptying the drawers of my clothing and folded them as I placed them in my bag. It took less time that I thought it would. I closed the drawers and the closet and opened the door. I had my duffle bag over my shoulder. I took a step out and there was Gabrielle. Her coloring went pale when she saw me. "You are leaving," she asked and I nodded. "Yeah, you have a brand new chapter house to lead. You are the Majestrix of the Ordo Hereticus. There is no place for me and you know it." "I... need you," she said as tears flooded her eyes and flowed down her cheeks. "I can't do this without you." "Gabrielle," I said and she did something I knew would have repercussions, she kissed me. "I told you they were doing it," one of the female students said from the end of the hall. "Typical... Majestrix and Linguist being an item..." "What," I asked and Gabrielle was smiling. "Gods you are so thick," she said. "It is my duty to help bring the next generation of Inquisitors into the world." "No shit," I asked and she kissed me again. "Our children will be amazing," she purred in my ear. "Acolyte, take the Linguist's bag to my room." "Yes Majestrix," she said all smiles. "Is there something I need to know," I asked. "I thought you took a vow of celibacy." "I did, but that vow is not for life. We are not nuns. Our most profound duty is to the Hegemony. It is a kind of breeding program. We select positive genetic traits for our progeny. It's been going on for centuries now." "Our children will be amazing," I repeated. "Can you get married?" "No silly, you are a kind of recognized breeding partner," she said. "So you can still feed in peace." "Ah, so we are like... sacred fuck buddies?" She shook her head and grabbed me by the wrist. I allowed her to drag me before the assembled members of the Ebon Chalice Chapter House. A cheer came up and there were many smiles in the crowd below. I did notice one fourth year who looked disappointed. Then I was being drug off to consummate the new charter. I slipped into the bathroom and slipped out of my clothes and armor. I placed the armor in the bathroom closet for now. Once we were done I would show Gabrielle and tell her what I knew so far. I paused, looked in the mirror and shifted into the short haired albino, we were celebrating after all. I wrapped a towel around my torso and walked into the bedroom. "Congratulations," I said and her eyes went wide with surprise. "I can change..." "Shut up and come here," she purred. "Be gentle with me," I said as I closed the distance between us. Her kiss was intense. It was the hungry embrace of a woman who was drowning in responsibility and in desperate need of physical release. She tore the towel from me and kissed her way down to my breasts. She flickered her tongue over my sensitive nipples and I gasped. I was still unacquainted with the sensations of the female form. She caught one nipple between her teeth and lightly bit it. Her eyes watched my every reaction. Gabrielle's attention was all consuming. She alternated between soft and rough perfectly. I was shaking by the time we hit the mattress. I reciprocated as the sexual tension ratcheted up a few notches. But the entire time Gabrielle was definitely in charge and loving it. "Hold on it's about to get real intense," she growled as her head went between my legs. "Oh shit," I cried out as my ass left the sheets. Her tongue was doing things and her fingers were like and my mind went blank. I managed to scream into a pillow when I came. I lifted the pillow from my face and there was a hungry eyed Inquisitor sitting next to me. "Ready for round two," she asked raising an eyebrow. "Are you ready," I asked and she nodded. "You know what I want," Gabrielle purred. "Oh I know," I said as I partially shifted and pale skinned erection rose from between my legs. "I need this so damn bad," she moaned as I pushed her onto her back. "Beg for it," I growled as I teased her pussy with the tip of my cock. "Please Louis, fuck me," she whimpered. "Slide that big fat dick into my soaked pussy!" How can I say no to that? She was making those faces, those cute needy expressions of make me scream and I did. I buried my cock inside of her in one smooth motion. Gabrielle arched her back and ground against me. I began moving nice and slow savoring the feel of her wrapped around me. As I thrust inside of her my breasts swayed with the same rhythm as my hips. I was still getting used to that. I rolled Gabrielle onto her side and lifted her top leg so that her foot was pointing skyward. I thrust harder now penetrating deeper than ever. She grabbed the pillow and held onto it just in case. I watched as my snow white flesh slid in and out of her. It was in such a contrast to Gabrielle's tanned skin. "I am getting close," she said between moans. I thrust harder now and she cried out each time I was buried inside of her. The cries got louder and more intense as she got closer to climaxing. Here comes the pillow I thought as she clenched it to her mouth and she screamed into it as she came. I stopped and ground a little as she recovered. She let go of the pillow as I rolled her onto her belly. With some careful maneuvering I managed to stand next to the bed with Gabrielle kneeling on the edge without having pulled out. The swat on her ass cheek was loud in that quiet room. She looked over her shoulder and smiled at me. I dug my nails into her cheeks and began thrusting. I went slowly at first but soon I was hammering her as fast as I could. She buried her face in the sheets and stuck her ass as high in the air as she could. I slowed down but thrust harder now and her body began to shake as her second orgasm creeped up on her. I didn't want to feed from her if she wanted to have a child. So I decided on another strategy. I eased out of her and she let out a cry of dismay. The spell hit her and I eased back inside of her. The cry of surprise was delightful to hear as I moved slowly so she could get used to her increased sensitivity. "Oh that is just... mean... amazing," Gabrielle moaned. "You are going to break me aren't you?" "That was the plan," I said as I thrust harder. "Getting close... " "Inside please... "She pleaded as she cut me off. I laughed as I thrust faster now. I saw her bite down on the pillow as she fought off her climax. She wanted us to come at the same time. My cock swelled stretching her pussy and seconds later I was shooting inside of her. Her body shook violently as she came. I held her so that she didn't topple over. I eased out of her slowly and reverted back to myself. Gabrielle spun around and licked me clean just before she tugged me back onto the bed. That was the first of many nights we spent together in that bed. We made love twice more before I left her sleeping to wander outside. I couldn't sleep and something was bothering me. I took a quick shower, dried off and put on my new armor. That should have been my first clue something was wrong. I slipped on sweat pants, a hoodie and tennis shoes. I slipped silently outside via the rear of the house. I sat staring at the moonlit Japanese garden. When everything here was resolved I would return to Tokyo and make amends. I knew that Gabrielle was right and I was taking on more than I could handle now but I couldn't help it. Suddenly the air grew still and all sounds slowly ceased. There were no insects or anything now, something was wrong terribly wrong. I looked around and extended my vision to the Astral and that's when I saw it. The aura was blazing bright and incandescent as it approached me. I turned my vision back to the material world just as she stepped out from the tree line. I knew her instantly and wondered what she was doing out at this hour. "You are out late," I said and she smiled. "I couldn't sleep," she said as she walked towards me. "It looks like you couldn't either." "Nope, got too much on my mind," I said leading the conversation. "You are worried about your sister," she said. "Yeah, she is an innocent in all of this," I said and watched her face change. "There are no innocents," she snarled her face a mask of unbridled rage. "You are going to hurt her," I said as the girl's eyes began to glow. "No, that is what my servant is for," the entity said through the girl. "I am not talking about my sister. I am worried about the puppet you are using. If you keep this up she will burn out. She IS an innocent." "She is willing to die for me," the thing said. "She is dedicated to the light." "You make me sick," I said turning on it. "You are so easy to kill for what, vengeance?" "You killed her," the girl roared her eyes blazing with scintillating rays of holy fire. "She fed me her fucking blood," I shot back and the girl stepped back as if slapped. "Oh... you didn't know about that. How do you think I ended up like this? Does your creator know you are waging this little war down here?" She stood there silent and the radiance dimmed greatly. I let my words sink in as I brought my armor's capabilities online. I accessed the HUD via my neural link. I switched on both the defensive and offensive systems and waited to see what they would do. The girl looked at me and that rage was back. "I will order him to kill your sister. Then I will hunt down your parents and burn them to ash. I will come for you only after you are alone." "Whatever," I said and smiled. "I think you underestimate people." "How can you smile? Your sister is going to die tonight!" "Nope," I said and the rage intensified. "You don't understand people at all." "You feel confident a serial killer will not kill? That makes no sense." "It makes perfect sense. You want to order him to finish his work prematurely. He won't do it. I have seen all of his work and he is meticulous to a fault." "He will obey me! He will kill your filthy whore of a sister tonight!" "So much anger," I said desperately fighting the urge to throttle the girl. "Why are you defending the first? She betrayed you and your creator. Why so much rage at me? I think you are taking your anger for her out on me." The strike was a blur and thank god I had switched on the armor. The defensive screen was composed of hexagonal bricks of hard light. It withstood the first impact but not what followed. The entity shattered the wall with its second strike and sent me flying. I called on the armor and tucked into a ball before reentry. The ancient oak lay broken and I was sprawled amidst the ruins of the limbs and trunk. Goddamn that hurt! I managed to stand and the girl closed the distance again. I couldn't hurt her but I sure as hell could bitch slap her carry-on luggage. I began the spell and held onto the last syllable until she was in point blank range. Her hand came up and I dropped the hammer. "TSUK!" I shouted and the blast of astral energy lashed out at the thing inside of her. The girl grabbed her head and screamed as the entity was forced out of her. It wasn't permanent but it sure would sting. I switched my vision to the astral and wished I hadn't. The winged shaped could only be one thing, an angel. In its left fist a shape like a flaming sword and man it looked pissed. Our little song and dance hadn't gone unnoticed. Most of the lights in the chapter house were on and people were filing out now. 'This isn't over mortal! I will have my vengeance!' The thing soared heavenward at ballistic speeds and vanished from my sight. I dropped to my knees and hurled. I was hurt and bad but I would survive. The girl was crumpled on the ground but was otherwise unhurt. The two chefs arrived first and they were scanning the area for demonic influences. "I sense a huge astral signature," the Irishman said passing his hand over the area. "I agree brother, a very powerful entity was here," the Scotsman agreed. "The girl was possessed," I said. "You should look after her." "I think you are our immediate concern Linguist," Peter said. "Did you do that?" He asked pointing at the tree. "Indirectly," I said. "She struck me and I kind of hit the tree." "He must have some Highland blood in his veins," the Scotsman said. "LOUIS," the scream came from Gabrielle even as I was helped back to the chapter house. "I am alive," I said thinking 'okay' was too strong a word. "Who is responsible for this," she growled and the pair of Celts told her all about the powerful astral entity. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 05 I managed to slip into the bathroom and remove my armor before I was examined. The last thing I needed was trying to explain that right now. I placed a spell of cloaking on it before crawling out of the rest room. I was lifted up and placed on a bed in the infirmary. The resident quack was one Eliza Darkthorn, she had a PhD in medicine and a minor in crazy. She was the touchy feely sort that weirded me out for reasons I am not sure I could explain. "Evening Eliza," I said and they stripped me. "Linguist," she replied as they rolled me onto my belly. "Sweet Jesus, will you look at that!" "Your bedside manner is as soothing as ever," I told her as she poked and prodded. "You say you struck the old oak and it fell over," she said grimacing. "No, the damn tree was snapped off at the base," Patrick said. "Must be rotten to the core, I am sure her Ladyship will want it hauled away." They ran a whole series of tests to see if anything was broken, burst and so on. I was reluctant letting them take a blood sample but I was outvoted. The tree wasn't rotted. The blood sample showed nothing. The scans and x-rays revealed a shit ton of bruising but no broken bones. I was given a towel, pain meds and sent off to bed. I managed to retrieve my armor on my way back to my room. I plopped the armor on the bed and Gabrielle looked at it and then at me. "You were wearing this when you got hit, right?" She asked and I nodded. "Oh thank God!" "Hey, I am going to be alright," I told her as she launched at me and clung tightly. "What the hell happened," she said her face buried in my chest. I told her I was unable to sleep and went to the Japanese garden. I shared the entire conversation with the thing inside her student. "And then she bitch slapped me into that lovely old oak tree, I don't know why." "What else," she said. "I can see it in your eyes Louis. What did you see?" "I cast a very dangerous spell. It is not recommended unless the situation is dire. I felt that it was a great time to try it out. It's classified as a major disjunction. It drove the entity out of her and I saw it unveiled in the astral." "Louis, what was it?" Gabrielle asked looking up at me. "It wasn't a demon Gabs," I said and left it at that. "Tell me about the armor, what happened to it?" I explained how it all went back to the night I dreamed and woke up bruised. The dream remained elusive but someone had hacked my neural implant and left a ton of data. Part of that data had reformatted my armor on every level. Instead of getting upset all she did was hug me tighter. She asked me about the data and I told her there was an executable file to be used when I was ready. "Are you ready now?" She asked. "I am afraid," I said. "Me too... but you can't live in fear," she said and that is why I loved her. "Okay, here we go," I said as I stepped back and put on the armor. I got the gloves and mask from the bathroom and put them on as well. I activated the HUD and found the hunter's rune flashing in the lower right hand corner of my vision. I took a deep breath and activated it. I had imagined all the things I might experience and none of them happened. To be more precise nothing happened at all. I blinked and took the mask off. "Anything," I asked and Gabrielle shook her head. "Feng, did it work," I asked and she manifested in her crimson Talon form projected from a small disc located on my chest. "The executable functioned properly and the data files are no longer located in your ring. I am unable to trace function or the current whereabouts of those files. I will continue tracking and alert you if and when there is a success." "Alright, keep me in the loop," I said and Feng faded from view. "So that's what she looks like now huh." Gabrielle said winking. "That was her idea actually. But that is so weird; there were hundreds of terabytes of data. What kind of program needs that amount of information?" "I don't know. I guess we will just have to wait and see. Let's go back to bed." "Best suggestion I've heard all night," I told her. Interlude 2: Irresistible vs. Immovable Lily felt the change in the atmosphere. At first she believed Louis had somehow found her but the chill in the air made her doubt that very much. It was almost time for the light show as she began calling it. The timed disruptions that involved blaring sounds and blazing lights had become a regular thing for her. She almost began to look forward to it. It was a sign that he was out there watching her. Her frustrated captor was her lifeline with the outside world. She hated being here but as long as she denied him her life expectancy was assured for another day. She shivered as the atmosphere continued to worsen. Lily looked up at one of the security cameras and frowned. He was watching her and she feared the balance of power was about to shift. "Kill her!" "Why," the man asked. "My canvas is still blank. I will not damage it now!" "Have you lost your mind," the stranger roared. "I am protecting you! You will do as I say! Kill her now or..." "Or nothing," the man snarled. "I am an artist! She will be my masterpiece and no one not you, not her and not my father... You will not ruin her!" Lily felt the electricity in the air. It smelled like a storm was about to break. Was there a thunderstorm outside? The room shook and a cloud of dust drifted down. Had there been an explosion? Lily looked around and waited to see what would follow. She moved and placed her back in a corner. "Oh Louis where are you," she whispered as she placed her arms over her head. The security room was in ruins and the man looked at all his years of work now a smoldering ruin. The anger that had been boiling in him turned white hot and he turned on the stranger. "OUT... get out of my studio! You have ruined everything!" "Kill her or I will kill you," the stranger roared. "He can't be right about you! You are just a crazed killer... an animal..." "Wait, Louis told you I wouldn't kill his sister? He understands me?" "He called you meticulous. He said I didn't understand humans at all. I do understand insects like you! You will follow my orders. You will kill that whore you have below! Do you understand me... when I snap you jump. Now be a good little insect and do your fucking job!" "He does understand me..." the man said ignoring the roaring stranger. "Who would've thought it? I have a fan. I won't kill her. So you'd better be prepared to kill me and her. If not take the necklace and get off my property." "If I leave he will find you. He will take her from you. He will take your masterpiece before you make a single stroke. Do you want that?" "I know just what to do..." the man said giggling at first and then growing quiet and serious. "I knew this day would come and have prepared. It was inevitable. Leave me... get out!" The Bunker: I stared up the ceiling for what was left of the night. Gabrielle's ass was pressed against my hip sleeping content that I had survived my encounter with the vengeful Watcher. We both agreed not to use the A-word. I could close my eyes and replay the image of its astral self and that blazing sword. I was so fucked! But in the end I didn't matter, my family and those I loved were far more important than I was. I would eagerly sacrifice myself if I knew it would end this vendetta. I was tired and fighting sleep with everything I had. Doc had given me a pain med and it was making me sleepy. My eyes closed and as quick as that I was asleep. I was standing outside a small house. I looked around and had no idea where I was. The backyard was neatly trimmed and covered in a light dusting of snow. The French doors opened and light spilled out from the back room of the house. A very feminine silhouette beckoned me inside. "You must be freezing," she said. "Have a cup of coffee to warm up." "Mara," I said as I took up her invitation. "What is going on?" "Beats the hell out of me, last think I knew I was falling asleep on the couch," she said as she poured a cup from an antique silver coffee pot. "So do you want to know about your sperm donor father now?" "Ever since you showed up in my life you've had two things on your mind. My dad and sleeping with me so sure unburden yourself." "I fibbed," she said. "I met your biological father twice. Once, the night he seduced your mother. The second time was twenty years later." "You watched your sister having sex, was that a common thing between you two." "Yeah, we would pick up guys and take turns watching. But on that night things were different. You were conceived. She was so damn lonely and I feel responsible. I picked the guy out at the bar." "So you two went to the bar and you picked out my sperm donor. Well ain't that sweet, you two must be very close." "We were until she found out that she was pregnant. She knew who the father was. She blamed me for it. That's why I haven't been in your life. She hated me for what happened. She loves you, never doubt that but she feels guilty for what we did." "What is so damn important that you needed to tell me about my mom's one night of indiscretion?" I asked. "The second time I met your donor, it was nearly twenty years later and I know this is going to sound crazy but he hadn't aged a day. For a second there I thought I was seeing things and maybe he was the son of that man. But when I talked to him it was the same guy. He denied he had slept with your mom but I know it was him." "So did you get this name at least?" I asked and she nodded. "His name is Jon," she said proudly and I gestured with my hand and she shrugged. "Just Jon," I said and she frowned. "Anything else I should know?" "He has a house on the Point," she said. "He inherited it but he doesn't live there anymore. His job took him to England." "What kind of job?" "He works for that computer company. You know the one they advertise with the built in personalities." "Numenor... he works for Numenor Technology?" I asked feeling a chill. "Yeah, he is a manager for their London Branch." "That is something to work off of," I said. I stood there noticing for the first time the change in her appearance. She had been wearing jeans and a bright yellow top but now she was wearing an apron and a smile. I looked her over and she turned around showing me her bare backside. "Um, Mara, why are you wearing just an apron." "Oh you noticed," she said with a wicked grin. "I thought since this is a dream you'd do me like you've been doing your mom." "Mom told you about her dreams and she told you it was me." I said and she smiled. "How did she know it was me?" "The scar on your knee," Mara said. "You were always wearing a mask but the man had a scar where you had your knee surgery. She assumed it was you, well that and the size and shape of your thingy." "How the holy hell would mom know what my cock looked like?" I asked stunned. "She caught you in the shower a couple of times. We not only like to be watched but we also enjoy peeking. So are you gonna fuck me or not?" I shrugged and closed the distance. My clothes evaporated in dream-like fashion. I knelt behind her and grabbed her ass cheeks and pulled them apart. She was absolutely soaked and I tasted her pussy. Mara ground her sex against my face and began moaning. When my serpentine tongue invaded her cunt she about lost her fucking mind. I held onto her ass cheeks to keep her from falling over. When the tip of my tongue hit her core Mara climaxed and her pussy gripped my tongue. I swelled the thickness of my tongue and began undulating it inside of her. She was cursing nonstop now and calling me every name in the book. Her second climax was far stronger than the first. She was more than ready for my cock now. I withdrew tongue from her hot wet depths and stood up. I grabbed her by the hair and spun her around. "It's your turn slut," I growled. "You know what to do." She dropped down to her knees and began licking my erection. Mara was meticulous and drove me crazy by taking her sweet time before she even reached the tip. I was shaking by the time her tongue lapped away at the precum oozing from the head of my cock. She opened her mouth and it engulfed me. I hissed as her tongue swirled and her cheeks sunk in as she applied suction. "Goddamn girl," I moaned. "You know how to suck a dick." I tightened my grip on her hair and began moving my hips. We got a nice rhythm going and I eased a little more of my cock down her throat as we continued. I stopped when half of my length was between her lips. Since she had taken it so easily I decided that was a perfect amount for her. I fucked her throat now and she worked her tongue until I was panting and shaking. "I am close," I warned her. "Are you going to swallow?" "MMMMMMHHHHMMMMMMM," she moaned around my cock. I thrust faster now and cried out as my cum splashed against the back of her throat. I let go and Aunt Mara got to her feet and tore off the apron and pressed her tits against my chest. She was all purrs and touching as she asked me if we were going to continue. I watched her reaction when I hesitated. "Uh... I don't know Aunt Mara," I said and looked in her eyes. "If I fuck you... I don't know if I could live with that." "I'll let you do whatever you want," she replied. "You can do that special trick of yours. The one your mom told me about. I'll beg you to DP me nephew of mine. You want to feel my pussy and ass wrapped around you, don't you?" "I don't know..." I said hiding my smile. "Please DP me Louis," she begged. "I need to feel both my holes filled by you. Please!" "Well... alright," I said. "Grab your ankles and let me see what you got." Mara let go, spun around and bent over grabbing her ankles for me. Her cunt was drenched. I performed the dark miracle and moved behind her. I took some of her pussy juices and used it on her asshole and my cock. I lined my cocks up and slowly pushed. I watched as Mara's ass opened for me bit by bit. I was patient and eventually the head slipped inside of her. She let out a sigh of relief and when she was ready I filled both her holes to capacity. "Well, how do you like it," I asked as I snared her with the dark magic. "Tell me you cock hungry little whore, do you want me to move now?" "YES," she cried out. "I have never had a cock in my ass before! I am glad you're the first Louis." I began moving and my vocal aunt was once more all curses urging me on to fuck her harder and faster. She took her first ass pounding like a pro. I dug my nails into her ass flesh and hammered her hard and fast. The drum roll of orgasms fed me the energy I needed. My body had been badly bruised during my conflict with the Watcher and it required mending. I was careful how much I took but she was generous with her body and the pleasure she gave me. My last orgasm was building and I wanted to try something new before I blew my load. "I want to try something new," I said and she agreed without hesitation. I stopped my hips and focused my full attention on the new form my shift would take. Mara let out a squeal of pleasant surprise. Once the change was complete I began moving again. This new shape required a little more attention on my part for it to work the way I wanted. I thrust slowly and Mara howled louder than ever. She was grunting and her eighth orgasm was building fast. If I timed it right we would cum at the same time. "Close..." I said through gritted teeth. "Where... where do you want me to shoot it?" "Inside of me," she begged. "Please fill up my holes with your seed." I cried out and thrust my hips forward. I buried myself in both her holes as we climaxed together. I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her close. She stood up and kissed my cheek. "Can I see it," she purred. "I felt it but I want to see it, please." "Since you asked so nice," I said as I withdrew the hold the dark magic had on her. I pulled out slowly and Mara turned and dropped down to her knees again. She took both my cocks in hand and began licking them clean. The upper one was first before I got rid of it. The lower one she double stroked and licked completely clean. Her fingers on the two heads made me shiver. I had split the front half of my lower cock into two slithering members. The combined thickness was a little more than it had been normally. I was able to cause the ends to move independently with some concentration. The effect was apparent and most gratifying. Boy is Gabrielle in for a surprise! Mara's dream began to fade and I slipped free of it. But I didn't wake up. I was drawn into another one immediately. The three moons hung in the sky and I was next to the violet lake. I recognized the man sitting across from me. He was wearing thin translucent robes that reminded me of my new armor. "It is good that you have fed," he said. "I feared you would not survive your encounter." "If my armor hadn't been improved I don't think I would have," I said. "Thank you." "Do not thank me," he said coolly. "Your chances of a successful second encounter are unlikely. I want to help you while I can." "I will take any help you can offer," I said and the man shook his head. "My aid comes in the form of an introduction," he said. "I will leave you to it." The man stood up and walked into the woods disappearing from sight. I got to my feet and looked around. I heightened all of my senses and looked around. I couldn't see anything but I could hear soft measured breaths. There was a long deep inhalation and I dove away from the sound. The fallen log I had been sitting on splintered when something impacted it. "I am impressed," a female voice whispered. "Be at ease I mean you no harm. I am called Iyaden." "Tell that to the log," I said and she appeared out of thin air. She was tall, with a slim muscular build and wearing a full body suit decorated with runes. She holstered the wicked looking pistol she had in her left hand. She removed her helmet and I swallowed hard. The woman was gorgeous and had the same Fae-like facial structure as the man. Her expression was intensely amused as she looked me over. I looked down and sighed. I was still naked. I conjured sweat pants and a hoodie. She raised an eyebrow and giggled. "I am going to instruct you in the finer arts of stealth and sorcery. While your former instructor taught you how to move in the astral quietly I will show you how to disappear altogether in any environment. Do you have any questions?" "Is that your natural hair color," I asked and she laughed. "Why are you helping me?" "You have not been told," she said and I shook my head. "We owe your father a debt. I cannot guarantee your survival but I will make it much harder for your foe." "There are no guarantees in life," I said. "Let's get started." "I will teach you the three S's, stealth, silence and structure." I learned how my body could move in either male or female form. I pushed my body to its limits and was surprised at how far it could go. I learned how the body makes noise and how environment affected it. I learned the limitations of human and machine perceptions. It would be possible to walk openly and not be observed. I learned to use my armor to mask my astral signature. The last lesson was the most difficult. I relearned how to cast every spell in my repertoire. Instead of using the words and mental focus I was now using the alien runes to conjure and cast. I began by physically tracing the runes in the air to invoke but later I could simply visualize the runes to silent cast any spell I had. "Why are you deflecting my aid," she asked. "I am embarrassed," I told her. "Why... just cast the damn spell," she growled. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 05 "Okay, it's on you," I said. I invoked the runes and the spell manifested. Three seconds later she was in the air with her ass above her head and the tentacles holding her immobile. She looked at me and laughed. "Is this some kind of combat spell or perhaps something sensual," she purred. "It is for pleasing a female partner," I told her. "You may continue," she moaned. "I should know the full implications of your spells." "As you wish," I said and invoked the second half of the spell. The tentacles removed key parts of her body suit and went to work. Her cries echoed over the woods and I wondered if someone would come and investigate. I gave her something to keep her mouth busy. I should have cancelled the spell but I didn't. I invoked the last part and linked my senses to it. Damn her pussy was tight! She was using her internal muscles in ways that were amazing. I fucked her senseless and left her as I had so many before a quivering mass on the forest floor. "That was amazing," Iyaden whimpered. "I am conquered." "I want your friendship not your worship," I told her. "You have earned it this day," she said looking at me with a newly kindled respect. "Now show me the rest." "You are a sucker for punishment," I said and she smiled. I finished my last spell and Iyaden lay on her back panting and covered in a mix of sweat and patches of sperm. She rubbed my cum into her skin and shivered. She caught her breath and sat up slowly. Her skin had that freshly fucked glow to it. We slipped into the lake to wash off our love play. Her long mane of glass-like hair clung to her back as she slipped her arms around my neck and kissed me. She pressed her body against mine and our kiss deepened. "I have taught you all I can for now," she said after breaking our embrace. "I cannot directly intercede in this affair of yours. It is not that I don't want to, but... I am hindered. I am sorry." "No... no, thank you for everything," I told her. "I will put everything you have shown me to good use." "One more time," Iyaden asked as she snuggled close. I awoke to a fingertip tapping on my forehead. It was a decidedly unpleasant sensation so I opened my eyes. I looked up and a naked Gabrielle as straddling me and looking down. I smiled up at her. She grinned and then frowned. "Morning Sweetie," I said. "What's wrong?" "Oh not much... but uh Louis... sweetie... Why is there a naked girl next to you in our bed?!" "Huh," I said and turned my head to the right and then to the left. "Oh, that's just Iyaden. How the hell did she get here?" "That is what I want to know," Gabrielle said grabbing my nose between thumb and forefinger. "What the hell is going on Louis? I swear to God Almighty if you use the C word I will break your fucking nose, capiche?!" Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 06 All characters are 18 years old. A switch of perspective for this part of the story, I didn't want to switch first person narratives and maybe confuse you, the reader. I hope you enjoy as I tie Louis' story to that of another popular character in my universe, Jon Masters. It made sense and this way I can rekindle the Evil Bitch storyline. Feel free to throw suggestions my way or comment and tell me if you like the cross over or not. ***** Smoke and Mirrors: The explosions rocked the facility and Lily took cover beneath her sleeping cot. It wasn't much protection if the ceiling collapsed but it was better than nothing. The lights flickered and went out. Her world was plunged into darkness and silence. She wasn't sure how much time passed but sickly red lights came to life and illuminated the room. "Emergency lighting," she whispered. "Where the hell am I?" She waited but her captor never came for her. She crawled to the steel door and reached up for the handle. She hesitated a few times but finally took ahold and twisted. The door opened into a dimly lit hallway. Just like her room the hall was illuminated by the red emergency lights. Lily knelt in the doorway and it took everything she had to get to her feet. She looked around and saw the exit sign at the end of left side of the corridor. She moved as quickly and quietly as she could. The door opened to her touch and beyond that a stairwell. She went up until she saw natural lighting streaming from the window in a door above her. Heart pounding Lily raced upwards heedless of danger and threw her weight against the outer door. It opened and she was outside! Adrenalin pumping she looked around and raced for the fence line. The sun was low on the horizon as she reached the chain link fence. There was a large rusted sign barely hanging there, three of the four clips that held it had broken. She lifted one corner of the sign up and pulled it towards her, the last clip snapped and she caught the sign. Lily turned it over and read it, Ft. Wood Military Base. Another explosion caused her to turn and see that two buildings were fully engulfed and others were slowly being consumed. It was getting dark and it was bitter cold out. The fire would draw attention and she would be rescued. She just needed to hide until the police or fire fighters arrived. "I will survive damn it," she snarled and headed for the flames. The heat would keep her from freezing and it would be the first place rescuers would flock to. A few minutes later she was close enough to feel the heat of the major fire and her limbs began to thaw and her body quick shaking. She stayed in the shadows and kept her eyes and ears open. A van pulled up and she almost ran up to it but her gut instinct told her to wait and see. This could be her kidnapper returning to finish the job. She crept a little closer as the three men got out. The driver was tall and built like a football linebacker. He had short cropped blonde hair, was good looking and had an aluminum baseball bat in his right hand. The guy that had been in the passenger seat was average height but easily as heavily muscled as the driver and had a long knife strapped to his leg. He looked to be American Indian with an anxious expression on his face. The last guy to step out of the back was by far the most frightening. He was close to six feet with wide shoulders, long dark hair and eyes like a shark, cold and dead. He was the only one carrying a gun. It looked like a 9mm but she wasn't sure she didn't know much about guns. "We need to find her," the driver said. "Kill her on sight... we can't let her expose our operation." "I am not going back to jail," the passenger cursed. "Let's kill this bitch and toss her in the flames." "You do what you want. But I am going to throw her in the flames and then kill her." The man with the dead eyes purred. "Let's split up and remember we have maybe a half hour before the fire department gets here." The driver told them as they began searching. Lily sat there squatting in the shadows with both hands clamped over her mouth. She didn't dare make a sound or move until the trio were out of sight. She took deep measured breaths to calm her nerves. 'Think, I need to think this through,' Lily thought to herself. 'If I panic I will either be killed or freeze to death. I need to find a weapon and find a place to hide. It is only thirty minutes. This place is huge and time is on my side. They don't look that smart except maybe the guy with the gun. The other two were just thugs but he was scary. The fires were still spreading and she had to take that into account. Good, that is good thinking keeps you from screaming. I need to move. They will be searching and I need to keep an eye on them. I need higher ground. I need to find someplace warm and high up.' Fighting panic Lily moved towards a building near her current position that was mostly intact. It was three stories tall and looked out over the surrounding area. She moved from hiding spot to hiding spot. She kept low and did her best to keep her shadow from being cast by the fire light. The darkness and cold enveloped her as she entered what was once been an engineering building. Lily kept to the walls and headed for the stair well. If she could reach the third floor she could look down on her pursuers. She tried to avoid the broken glass as she slunk forward. It was so damn hard to hear, he heart was thundering in her chest and it seemed to drown out everything. She found the door to the stairwell propped open. Had someone been here before her or had it been this way for years? There was no real way of telling. She peered in and up and saw no one and no movement, so far so good. Lily was keeping an eye out for anything that she could use as a weapon but so far nothing. She reached the second floor and again the door was propped open. Ignoring it she went towards her goal and hopefully safety. The stairs were littered with debris of all kinds and she cursed when nothing that she could use as a weapon appeared. The door to the third floor was closed. She pressed her ear to the door and listened. The only sound was the ever present pounding of her heart. Lily opened the door as slowly as she could. The view was one of utter devastation. Debris had been hurled from the building next door had struck the wall facing the burning ruins. The windows had been blown inward and shards of glass glimmered in the pale fire light. She looked around for movement and seeing none crept towards the bank of windows to look out over the rest of the base. The van was still parked but there was no sign of life or rescue yet. Lily squatted down and took in her surroundings now. One door was labeled Lab and that gave her hope of finding some sort of make shift weapon. Her muscles ached as she continued low to the ground towards the engineering lab. The door to the lab was unlocked and she opened it slowly. She peeked in and it was empty. She slipped inside and closed the door behind her. She stood up and rubbed her legs as she examined her surroundings. Got to hand it to the military, when they abandoned a base they were thorough. There were a few lockers still bolted to the walls but their doors were open and empty. The teacher's workspace was still intact and on top of that was three samples of concrete with a single piece of rebar lodged into it. 'I bet it would hurt like a fucker to be hit in the knee or upside the head with that,' she thought as she worked one of the rebar free of its concrete prison. Footsteps outside alerted her that she wasn't alone. She dropped down placing the workspace between her and the door. She looked around and saw something sticking out behind one of the lockers and the wall. Lily took a deep breath and reached out and snatched it from behind the locker. She returned to her hiding place and looked into her hands at the object, it was a sheathed knife. The leather sheath appeared to be either snake or alligator skin. She rubbed the dirt and dust from the knife. The handle appeared to be dark animal horn that had been lovingly crafted. Lily pulled the knife free and stared at the gorgeous patterned metal blade. The shape of the blade was unusual, instead of being flat on one side and round on the other it was all sharp angles. She turned it over in her hand and it looked wicked sharp. As she returned it to its sheath something fell to the floor, it was a note. Lily picked up the note and opened it. Whoever had made it had written the note to his sister of all people. 'Dear Sis, I have been studying hard to make you proud. I know you told me to be good and keep my head down but I had to make this for you. I have been reading everything I could on metallurgy especially how the Japanese forge their swords. Did you know they use two types of steel? One steel is really hard and the other much softer. It is this ingenious combination that makes their blades for strong yet flexible. If you are reading this you are holding a 'Tanto' in your hands. I made this after hours in the metallurgy lab. It took days to make and I hope you like it. I had to hide it in a place no one would ever look to keep it safe. I am shipping out soon and when I get back I will give it to you. This will keep you safe when I can't. Your Loving Brother, Thomas.' Lily blinked away the tears and wiped her eyes. She tucked the knife into the small of her back and promised she would find who this Thomas had been and return the knife to his sister. I am going to survive and I will kill anyone that gets in my way. The fear fell away in a wave of rage that broke the chains her captor had placed on her. Her thoughts were cut short as the door opened and Lily listened as his footsteps crunched on the debris. She shifted as he moved into the room. She kept the workspace between her and her pursuer. "I am going to kill you little rabbit," the man said. "I know you are here somewhere I tracked you." It was the American Indian and he was following her footprints in the dirt. Lily drew the knife out and clenched it tight in her left fist. There was a metallic tapping on the surface of the workspace now. He had taken out his own knife and was trying to rattle her. It was working. She had never hurt anyone in her entire life. The man dashed to one corner outmaneuvering her. He glared down and licked his lips. "You can make this easy and I can kill you quick. Maybe you want it drawn out and painful... how do you want to die?" "Fuck you," Lily spat her knife hidden behind her back. "Slow and painful it is," he said closing the distance. "I was hoping you'd put up a fight." She waited until he was in range. His knife flashed down quicker than she expected and drew a livid line down her leg. The pain was intense but bearable for now. She watched as he licked her blood from his blade. He made the mistake of looking down at his knife and that's when she struck. The thrust was powered by her fear and rage, it hit its mark. The Tanto cleaved his heart piercing flesh and bone easily. The man fell dead almost yanking the knife from her grasp. She wiped her blade clean using the corpse's shirt. Wincing in pain she examined her own wound. The cut was precise and shallow. He had meant what he said about making her death slow and painful. The second rush of emotion crashed into her and she wept about what she had been forced to do. She was a killer. No, she was a survivor! 'Stop it! There are still two more of them and still no sound of sirens approaching. It is time to channel your internal Sigourney Weaver, it is time to unleash the Bitch!' Lily thought as she hardened her heart to her situation. She carefully sheathed her weapon and crept to the open door. She looked around and something reached the low end of the range of her hearing. Lily headed in that direction and by the time she reached the bank of windows again, the sound had become quite loud. What had begun as a metallic creaking was now a shriek of straining metal. "What the hell is that," she said as she looked down into the blazing inferno. "OH FUCK!" Lily raced away from the wall as the gas main, which had endured an explosion and furnace-like heat for so long, surrendered and erupted. Lily's world went white as the gas explosion rocked the entire area. She was hurled by the concussive wave that preceded the tower of flame. She was prone and her ears were ringing as she opened her eyes and looked around. In front of her the walls, ceiling and floor were cracked. Behind her that side of the floor was broken, burning and open to the sky. The lab she had been in was gone. The gas explosion had obliterated it along with much of the structural support for that side of the building. The roar of the fire was mingling with a deep guttural groan coming from all around her. Lily moved her jaw and rubbed her ears to try to get rid of the constant ringing. She shook her head as she got to her feet. She checked to make sure the knife was still there. Comforted by the weapon she made her way to the other side of the floor. The creaking and groaning grew worse as she looked for the other stairwell. She reached the stairs and sat down as a new sound filled the air, sirens. That didn't mean she wasn't in danger it just meant they would be more intent on finding her. She got up and fought the dizzy spell. Lily reached up and came away with blood from her ear. She snapped her fingers on both sides and was satisfied she could still hear. "Time to get the fuck out of Dodge," she moaned as she made her way down the stairs. She heard both police and fire truck sirens. Hope welled up in her as she reached the second floor. She was rounding the corner to the lobby when she saw two silhouettes. Lily drew her knife and held it out in front of her. "Stay the fuck away from me," she screamed. "Hey, it's okay we are police," the figure on the left said. "Put down the goddamn knife," the figure on the right ordered. "Pinkerton, stand down this is the girl that has been missing," the officer on the left cried out. "It's you," Lily said recognizing the officer on the right. "You were in the van with the others! You're a fucking cop?" "I told you bitch, put down the knife," the other cop repeated as he cocked his weapon. "Pinkerton, lower your fucking gun," the first cop said drawing on his partner. Lily let the knife fall from her fingers and the motion was the first domino to fall. The cop on the right fired, his bullet striking her in the chest. The second cop squeezed the trigger killing his partner instantly. The officer called out for paramedics and announced an officer down. The cop moved over to Lily and looked at her wound. He told her over and over again, it is going to be okay. We got you... hold on... but the darkness of pain and blood loss won out. Lily lost consciousness. The Other Side: There were flashes of consciousness but they made little sense. There were lights and voices and then darkness again. Lily's eyes fluttered open and flinched as she sat up and cried out. She was in the hospital. There were IV's and monitors and a lot of annoying beeping sounds. "It is okay," Louis said as his hand gripped hers. "How long," she asked. "Don't worry, you are safe, they got them. They are all dead." "I got one," Lily said her emotions rising to the surface. "Good for you," he said. "Mom and dad are outside. You are still in the ICU. But the bullet missed a lot of vital stuff. A collapsed lung and a little hearing loss from the explosion but we are all behind you." "Oh, is that all," Lily said smiling. "Ow... it hurts to smile." "Get some rest and we can talk later," Louis said as he got up to leave. "NO... stay with me, talk to me at least until I fall asleep." She said her fingers clinging to his hand. "Sure," he said. "So where did you get the knife?" "I found it," Lily said and told him all about hiding, spotting the knife behind the locker and the letter. "I want to find her. I want to give it to her." "If you need any help," Louis offered and she smiled. They talked until she drifted back to sleep and he watched her for a few minutes before leaving her room. Friends and family were gathered in the waiting room. His expression was grim and Gabrielle hugged him and promised him the full might of the Ordo Hereticus. Louis nodded and told everyone gathered that she needed rest right now. Louis and Gabrielle sat off by themselves and had a council of war. He watched his parents head over to Lily's room. Her mother was walking by her husband's side as he directed the wheel chair forward. "Have you read her statement," Louis asked. "That one word disturbs me, organization," Gabrielle said. "The one that shot her was a fifteen year veteran of the police force. That is very unsettling." "Have they identified the body in the lower level?" "Damien Vitale, age 37 and a career over the road trucker," she said frowning. "We are cross referencing his routes with murders. I believe we will find some connections." "How did he die," Louis asked. "Cyanide, self-induced in a gelatin capsule," she said. "He had time to make his way to an incinerator located near his body. It appears he miscalculated how long it would take for the capsule to dissolve. I am assuming he was going to burn his body beyond recognition to conceal his identity." "Why would he do that? If he was hell bent on suicide why not kill Lily and then set off the explosives. If he was at ground zero we never would have found the body. Something is not right here." "His family claimed the body last night. Ironically they are going to have him cremated." "Family, after all he's done his family came for him? You just never know." "What is really bothering you," she said taking his hand. "I feel, I feel like the other shoe hasn't dropped yet. This group isn't done yet." "We will be there waiting for them Louis. You and I will be there." They returned to the main group and sat and talked. The feeling of impending doom never left him. What was the watcher doing while this thing blew up in its face? Was it done? No, it would still seek out retribution for the death of the First. Had they been lovers or were they simply family? There was no telling and it hurt his head to think about it. The others were discussing food while Louis' thoughts wandered down dark avenues and morbid contemplations. Iyaden appeared, flanked by two Inquisitors and motioned for him. It was time to go. It was time to train. The next time the Watcher appeared he was likely to perish, but damn it he would put up one hell of a fight! The four of them went to another part of the hospital. They had made an agreement with Louis' physician in regards to his unorthodox training. He would be monitored while he trained. The sensors were quickly in place and he lay down. Iyaden would be seated next to him for the thirty minutes while the doctor monitored his vitals which included brain activity and heart rate. Louis and Iyaden closed their eyes and it began. He was standing outside the concrete bunker. The solid steel door opened automatically and he entered. The interior was bleak barren walls with electric lights spaced evenly. The training room was stockpiled with a variety of melee weapons as well as firearms. He began with a breathing exercise to oxygenate his blood and get his heart pumping. He took out the Bo Staff and warmed up with that. Iyaden watched from a corner of the chamber. She was sitting cross legged observing his speed, accuracy and technique. If he performed well she would remain motionless. However, if his form proved sloppy or inadequate she would 'intervene'. The first few sessions had been brutal and that inspired the observation of a physician. Even though the training and this entire environment was virtual via his neural implant the impact it had on his body was quite real. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 06 Louis flawlessly performed ten weapon katas and bowed in Iyaden's direction. He took a short breather and picked up matching gauss pistols and thumbed off their safeties as targets appeared down range. He held one gun behind his back and he fired with his right hand. Ten shots found their mark and he switched hands and nine struck true. Her reaction was fierce and without hesitation. The lash of psychic energy struck between his shoulder blades and registered on the monitors. Louis returned to his primary hand and once more fire ten precise shots. His second set with his off hand was better this time. He returned the gauss pistols and moved onto the next regiment. What was hours of work for Louis was mere minutes in meat time. He was just finishing up with his spell work and Iyaden was playing a very active roll now. She would conjure enemies and he would have to adapt to them and fire off the proper spell for a one shot kill. He never knew what was going to appear and she was highly unpredictable. One hundred creatures later and Louis was kneeling and panting from the unrelenting onslaught he had endured. "Impressive, you made it all the way through a full century," she said in her offhand praise. "I am so done," he wheezed. "Are you," she said as something stirred in the shadows. "Oh holy hell," he cursed and staggered to his feet. The thing was barely a silhouette and it was the stuff of nightmares. It was not in any of the books he had read and something Iyaden had never summoned it's like before. He had no idea of its strengths or weaknesses. It radiated hate and the air crackled around it. Louis called a Bo Staff to his grasp and wrapped it in Astral energy. The blast of raw energy lashed out towards him but he managed to deflect the worst of it and absorb some it for healing. The thing was testing him and he knew it. Louis fired off a spell of his own that sent the thing tumbling backward. While it had struck dead center the creature recovered almost instantly. "Are you fucking kidding me," Louis moaned still feeling the fatigue and drain tugging at his body and his mind. The next attack came without warning. The psychic assault was powerful and brutal. It was trying to take over but Louis had been trained to resist such attacks. He visualized an adamantine sphere around his mind and managed to shove the invader out. The thing balked and he could sense its surprise. It was the perfect time to strike. Louis raised his Bo Staff sword-like above his head and teleported to within striking range. The overhand strike at the creature's head should have crushed its skull but the thing imploded once the outer shell had been breached. "What the fuck was that?!" "That was a nightmare older than dreams and thankfully as rare." Iyaden replied. "You defeated it handsomely. That is enough for today." The neural link was disengaged and Louis opened his eyes. He sat up slowly and winced at the aches from his complaining muscles. The doctor moved next to him and handed him some medication for the pain. "Your mental activity was off the charts, again. There doesn't seem to be any long term adverse effects from your implant. While your heart rate was elevated it never reached a dangerous level. I don't know what you are experiencing while the implant is active but it is having some serious impact as far as muscle development and burning calories. I want you to rest for at least half an hour before you are back on your feet." Louis nodded and drank the three water bottles that were by his bedside. Iyaden sat silent watching him intently. He raised an eyebrow and shrugged. She smiled and let him rest. He just shook his head and closed his eyes. He let his mind relax and drifted. Perhaps it was the last beastie that Iyaden had conjured or maybe it was just random. The nightmare struck out of nowhere. He was in the first chamber of the Black Cathedral with Yig and his children. His friends were with him and Tatiana was asking him to follow her. "NO... I am not going to let you murder my friends," he snarled. "You can't save them, they are already dead," she said and he was suddenly in the room with the pool and waterfall. "You can never save them Louis." The sound of gunfire and screams filled the air. The sounds faded and he was elsewhere as quickly as he had entered the room with the pool. It was dark but he felt some kind of force pushing against his body. He was hovering and as he adjusted his eyesight he could make out currents of energy below him. "What the hell is going on," he shouted. "Just checking up on you Louis," Yog-Sothoth whispered. "You've been a busy boy." "Is that you demon god?" Louis asked. "I thought you lost interest in me." "Your encounter with the Watcher has sent ripples in all directions. I have been busy examining the permutations and I can tell they are quite interesting." "Where am I," he asked. "A memory," the entity replied chuckling. "This place holds a special place for me. I wanted to share it for reasons of my own." There was a flash of light in the darkness. A short time later there was a kind of breeze that washed over Louis. The light grew in intensity and the wind became a steady thing. As he stared out at the sphere of light there was movement in the surrounding blackness. There were things swimming in that dark ocean of space. It was impossible to guess their size until one of them crawled between Louis and the light. If this thing was in fact a biological entity it was in the scale of a small planetary body. Louis tried not to let the scale of the thing impact him but when it stopped and looked at him. The full weight of its gaze was upon him and Louis screamed. "LOUIS, it is okay Louis," Iyaden said. "It was just a dream." A nurse raced into the room and was soon followed by his doctor. They looked at his EEG printout and the doctor's expression was grave. The neural activity was dangerously high and in areas that had no reason to be active during a dream. Iyaden seemed unconcerned about the high activity and told the doctor so. "That is to be expected," she told him. "How long have you been having these nightmares?" The doctor asked ignoring her. "A few years now," Louis said placating the physician. "YEARS... dear god," the doctor said as he began ordering more tests for abnormal brain activity. Louis shrugged and took Iyaden's hand telling her it was okay. She smiled and yielded to his will on this point. She let go and told him she would inform his family and the others about the tests. It was hours later that Louis returned to his family. He was wearing hospital scrubs and being pushed along in a wheelchair. They had heard about the tests but his change of garb and the chair had thrown them. He told them the outcome of the tests and they relaxed. There would be ongoing scans over the next six months to monitor the impact of the neural implant. Gabrielle had sent out for food and Louis dug in greedily. He was always hungry after training as he tended to burn a ton of calories and the results were clearly showing. He was exchanging fat for muscle to an almost insane amount. Louis was six foot and had been around two hundred pounds but now was closing in on one seventy. He liked the new shape as did most of his lady friends. "So what are we going to do," Louis asked between mouthfuls of a greasy cheeseburger. "What can we do," Gabrielle asked. "I have Feng running phone calls at the moment. We have four members of this group and we have no idea how large or well-connected it its. I still feel we are missing something." "Like...?" Louis' mom asked. "Well there is something that you and one of these guys has in common," Inquisitor James added from the sidelines. "What is that," she asked as everyone looked at him. "This Damian Vitale, the guy dead in the underground, has an identical twin brother Simeon." "Wait a fucking second, why am I just now learning about this?" Louis asked. "I told you he had family, his brother was the one that collected his body for cremation." Gabrielle said. "Tell me about this Simeon Vitale," Louis asked. "He is the surviving partner in Vitale Trucking," the young Inquisitor said. "The trucking company was started by one Julius 'Shadow' Vitale. Julius has an extensive criminal record. According to police interviews Simeon has a solid alibi for the time Lily was kidnapped and held while Damian does not. They have written him off as a suspect." "So the brothers ran the company together?" Louis asked but James shook his head. "No, Simeon ran the office while Damien was still an over the road trucker. They could easily trade places fooling the office staff. The photos of them in the office show a striking resemblance between the twins." Louis pondered a few different scenarios and all of them ended with kicking down the door to Vitale Trucking and kneecapping the surviving brother before torturing him to death. Gabrielle saw his expression and recognized it instantly. Her course of action was clear. She leaned down and whispered naughty things in Louis' ear until he smiled. Then the scream came from Lily's room and everyone rushed in. She was sitting up clutching her chest and covered in sweat. Louis stared at her and clenched his teeth. He knew what she was going through and didn't envy the long road ahead of her. It was Iyaden of all people that intervened. Once the nurses had attended to Lily she took a place next to her bedside. Louis told everyone to give them some time alone and they left. Lily and Iyaden talked for a short while about what she had been through. "You will be alright. Your family is here and they will support you no matter what." "I know, I just feel like my life has been stolen from me. I will always be looking over my shoulder in fear." Lily said. "I fucking hate it! I don't want to live in fear." "I can help, if you let me," Iyaden offered. "Anything," she said. "I will do whatever it takes to get passed this." "All you need to do is relax and I will do the rest." Iyaden reached out and laid her hand against Lily's cheek. Lily's eyes closed as the connection was established. Her expression relaxed as Iyaden entered her thoughts. The last three days replayed over and over again as Iyaden witnessed the blaring siren, blinding lights and something else. There was something subtle at work. It was at the very edge of Lily's perception. Woven into the siren was a message repeated over and over again. Iyaden peeled away the layers of noise to retrieve the obfuscated virus. "Kill Louis," the voice said. "Kill him. When you see the sign you will kill him." There buried in the flashing lights an image. A design of intricate cunning that would trigger Lily to attack and kill her brother, this was truly insidious. Iyaden smiled and continued to explore Lily's memories and discovered her hidden feelings regarding Louis. The time they had spent together under the influence of the succubus and the lasting impression it had left. She would use that to manipulate what was already in place. While Lily drifted in a peaceful limbo Iyaden dug deep and rewired both emotions and bonds. Lily would no longer fear her captor and his allies. She would become a hidden weapon against her brother's enemies. Lily's eyes opened and her demeanor seemed improved. She was smiling and appeared at peace with what had happened. The pair talked for a long time and Iyaden was quite pleased with her handiwork. She told Lily to get some rest and she could talk to her family in the morning. Everyone was waiting patiently as Iyaden came out and pronounced Lily in a much better state of mind. The relief was clearly evident and Louis let out a sigh of relief even as his parents began talking and giggling. He watched as his parents left together and wondered what they had in mind. Everyone was in a better place once Lily's mental health seemed to have stabilized and that is all that anyone could ask. Louis watched his mom and dad head off together. They were smiling and mom actually giggled. What the hell was that all about? Were they just relieved to know that Lily was going to be okay? He knew he felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders. He might just take Gabrielle up on some of her suggestions that she had whispered into his ear earlier. One was particularly interesting and involved Iyaden but he was unsure if the other was into women. I guess there was only one way to find out. He walked up to her and he paused. She was his friend, mentor and lover but for some reason he felt uncomfortable about asking her. He hmmed and hawed as he tried to find the right words. Iyaden found his awkwardness amusing and a little cute. "Why not try just saying it," she said smiling. "I uh... have you..." he began and faltered as his cheeks burned. "Have I what," Iyaden asked as Gabrielle looked on grinning fiercely. "Ummm... I was just wondering," Louis stammered and stopped again. "This is going to take a while does anyone want a soda?" Gabrielle asked winking at Louis. Louis tried half a dozen times and was simply unable to ask Iyaden if she liked women. He growled and stomped off towards the elevator, Gabrielle and Iyaden followed him. The three of them took it down to the lobby listening to 'I kissed a girl and I liked it'. Louis threw up his hands and turned to face Iyaden. He opened his mouth and the elevator door opened on the lobby. Frustrated he stormed off again. The girls were giggling and laughing as they followed him. While Louis and Gabrielle bought soda Iyaden drank only water. She didn't like the taste of carbonated drinks and thought the toxic nature of the drink was ill advised. "You would be better placing this noxious substance on the edge of a blade to poison it." "Make mine water," Louis said changing his order. "Say what you will, I need my Mountain Dew," Gabrielle said defiantly. "Oh hey, Iyaden..." "Hmmm?" She replied as she unwrapped the plastic seal on her water bottle. "Have you ever slept with a woman," Gabrielle asked. "Do you mean sex," She asked pulling the nozzle up so she could drink. "I have had quite a few partners that were female. It is quite refreshing to be honest. Men can be so damn needy and awkward. Louis is a breath of fresh air on that front. Now he knows how to make a woman scream and rattle the windows as he pounds her relentlessly." She stopped and looked around as everyone was silently looking at her. "What?" "Let's go back up and see how Lily is doing," Gabrielle said and they headed for the elevator. "Louis, you were going to ask me something." "Never mind," he said biting back a few choice curse words. The trio returned to the waiting room while Lily slept recovering as much from the gun shot as from the emotional and mental manipulation. It would be months maybe years for a full recovery. She may be haunted by the psychic trauma for the rest of her life in one form or another. Louis stared out one of the windows as conversations went on around him. There were unanswered questions that irritated him. Why had he triggered the explosives? Was his brother involved in this? How many people were involved in this? Feng was still running phone records, email accounts and work histories. If there were any connections she would find it for him. "You are worlds away Louis," Iyaden said drawing him back to reality. "You are troubled?" "There are questions that demand answers," Louis growled. "I just..." "CODE BLUE... CODE BLUE..." came over the speakers and hospital staff rushed with a crash cart to one of the nearby rooms. Everyone got to their feet and stared as the nurses and doctor headed for one of the rooms. Louis made a face, wasn't that room empty. A robed figure appeared and it was his mom. What the hell was going on and why was she dressed differently. Louis walked over to his mom and she was crying. He peeked in and there was his half-dressed father being worked on. Louis turned to his mother and she blushed. "Whose idea was this," he asked. "Your father's," she replied. "He figured if something went wrong we were already at a hospital. It has been so long Louis." "I understand, I am not judging you," he said. "The dreams just aren't enough," she whispered in her son's ear. "Mara said you had been sharing," Louis said. "We are still sisters," mom said blushing. Louis took her hand and held it as they continued trying to revive her husband and his father. Six minutes, that's all it took for their lives to change so drastically. They tried so very hard but his heart was so weak and he passed with the sound of shouting, machines and curses. Louis wanted to scream, was it worth it, be he couldn't. She loved him still as she sat by the empty shell and wept. Lily had been snatched from terror and death only for his father to die in the arms of his loving wife. Louis looked at them and despite the pain and anguish his father's life had ended making love to her. "You lucky bastard," Louis whispered and found a smile buried beneath the agony. "She loved you to the end." "I am so sorry Louis," Gabrielle said so softly it almost hurt. "He died in her embrace," he said equally tender. "Is that so bad?" "You think he meant to die," she asked. "I don't think it was intentional," Louis replied. "But I think he measured the risks." Louis took it on his shoulders and told Lily. He held her as she cried but at some point she began giggling. They wiped away their tears and began sharing stories and memories of the man they had called father. Their mother joined them and they all sat there, the three of them and laughed and cried and did what family did at times like this, survived. It wasn't fair but life isn't fair it is just. Everyone born must perish and a simple man's time had come. "I am going to London," Louis said at the last. "I want to meet this impossible man that is responsible for me being here." "I can't go," his mother said. "I just can't." "I am in great hands," Lily said. "Iyaden wants to help me. I am safe thanks to you Louis. If it wasn't for you I'd be dead." "What makes you think that?" Louis asked. "We never found you." "It was something he said... before, well before the explosions began. He had switched on the speakers and I could hear him arguing with someone. It was a stark and terrible voice that demanded my death, a voice so dark and so cold screaming for my life. The man that called himself the Artist denied him and said that the day had been prepared for. A moment later the first detonation occurred and I climbed underneath the cot to hide." "How does that have anything to do with me?" Louis asked. "He mentioned your name. The man demanding for my death said you had talked to him about the Artist. He had said that the Artist was meticulous. He wouldn't kill me because he would not be rushed. The other went into a rage when the Artist said 'Louis understands me'. After that he refused to lay a hand on me. Louis, you saved my life!" "I don't know what to say?" "Promise me you will never stop until you get all the answers you seek. There is something inside of you that needs to see this through." Lily said smiling. "I promise." Wind, Sword and Time: Three months had passed since his father had died. Louis had mourned the man that had raised him but now it was time to get the first of many answers. The private jet landed at Heathrow Airport at four in the morning. The limo was waiting for Louis and took him to the flat he would be renting while staying in England. It had two bedrooms and looked out over the Wolf and Hound Pub across the street. The elderly landlady, the Widow Beatrice Hyde White, was thrilled to have a famous young man like Louis staying at her flat. While meals were not included in the lease she had given him an open invitation for tea. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 06 Two suitcases and one backpack later Louis had all of his things carried to the second floor. While he unpacked he heard the Widow moving down below. The last of his clothing was put away when a knock came at the door. Louis opened the door and the silver haired insomniac greeted him with a hot cup of tea. "You must be Louis," she said handing him the cup. "Thank you Mrs. Hyde White," he said taking the tea from her. "I was going to make a bite of breakfast if you are interested." "That would be lovely," Louis said following her downstairs. It was still dark out as they sat down to a light meal and a deep conversation. The Widow was very well versed in history as well as archaeology. They talked until the jet lag hit him between the eyes. He yawned and she just smiled and wished him pleasant dreams. He put Feng on watchdog mode and climbed into bed. He kicked off his shoes and plopped down onto the bed. He was too damn exhausted to get undressed. He closed his eyes and that was it. He dropped off and fell into the abyss. He was hungry since he hadn't fed in a week and he was feeling the repercussions. Was it withdrawal symptoms or something more serious? He decided it was a good idea to not push it since he had business in London. He camouflaged his astral signature and drifted upwards to seek out his prey. When he first began using astral projection he was clueless, clumsy and careless. He had Iyaden to thank for the level of skill he now possessed. He had gone from the Goodyear Blimp to a gnat on ye olde astral radar. Louis cast his net and found a very potential target in the greater London area. He shifted to her position and hovered above her bed. 'Goddamn, fucking jackpot first time out,' Louis thought as he reached down and touched her forehead. He was standing in the London underground, a tube station by the looks of it. She was standing with a small crowd and he could pick her out easily. She was the one with the straight black hair that fell to her shoulder blades and the round ass that made the short skirt look like a fucking dream. She had on a violet mesh top with a black bra underneath and six inch stiletto heels. Louis walked up behind her and brazenly cupped her tits. Instead of crying out she ground her ass against his groin. "I was hoping somebody had the balls to do that," she purred. "This is just the beginning," he growled in her ear. "I am going to fuck you until you can't stand up for a week." "Oh god I hope so," the woman moaned. Louis grabbed the mesh top and tore it in half. The two halves drifted down and one half fell onto the train tracks below. The girl reached up between those amazing tits of hers and unhooked the bra. Louis' hands cupped her naked flesh and they both moaned. He thought her ass had looked fine but her tits were perfection itself. They were at least a D cup, full round and topped with half dollar sized areoles. Her nipples were already hard as he began caressing them leisurely. He was in no hurry and apparently neither was she. "I am gonna lose the panties so whenever you feel the urge, slide that fine cock of yours inside of me." "Good to know," he replied as she wiggled out of said black panties. "You like to suck cock I hope." "MMMMMM, boy do I," she said with a giggle. The panties joined the one half of the mesh top on the ground. Louis growled in her ear as he spun her around to face him. He took ahold of her waist and lifted her up so that her pussy was eye level. The girl placed her legs over his shoulders and he began licking her tight little coin slot. Her squeals of delight were muffled by her thighs over his ears. When his tongue snaked deep inside her soaked cunt her voice went up a full octave. Her thighs clenched around his head as she got close to climaxing. "I am close lover," she growled as the tip of his tongue hit her womb. The rest was a bit incoherent as he held her there for a count of three body shaking orgasms. Instead of setting her down on her feet he simply inverted her so that her head was where it needed to be. His physical strength had grown quite noticeably since he began his training with Iyaden. The girl eagerly took half his cock between her lips with little hesitation. She was an enthusiastic little cocksucker and that was a very good sign for things to come. She seemed as adept inverted as she must be right side up. The crowd watched the pair as they played openly. A sudden rush of hunger roared through Louis and he urged her on by embracing her with the dark magic. The girl shoved her head forward taking him to the root in one smooth motion. He cried out as her tongue worked the head when she pulled her head back. He wanted to impale the little slut right then and there but found the fortitude to wait. He was close to his climax and she showed no signs of slowing down. Could she swallow inverted as she was? He was about to find out. Louis cried out as she drank his seed. "Ta da," she said quite pleased with herself. "Bet you didn't know I could do that." "I got one for ya," Louis said as he lifted her so that she was right side up, pressed her back against one of the stone pylons and slid his cock into her all in one smooth action. "Holy... SHIT..." she cried out as he began moving. He kissed her as he began hammering away. She kissed him back and as their tongues dueled his cock reached unplumbed depths. She was definitely not the girl next door. She was a fucking pro and that became apparent when she began squeezing him with her internal muscles. The dark magic gripped her serenely as Louis began to feed. It was just a trickle at first but the longer they fucked the more of her life that flowed into him. As the circuit grew stronger the more climaxes wracked her body. Louis dropped her to her feet. He spun her around and impaled her from behind. They both cried out as he jackhammered her tight little pussy. Louis took a fistful of her hair and pulled her head back. He used that hair for leverage as he slammed his hips into her. The girl's eyes rolled up in her head as a massive chunk of her life detached itself and she came hard enough to milk an orgasm from him. Louis yanked free of her and watched as her knees gave way and she fell to the ground. "Oh shit no," he said. "Please be okay, for the love of god, please be okay." She wasn't of course, he had taken far too much of her essence. Fuck, what a tragedy for his first day in London. He cursed as he slipped free of her coma. She might recover, heavy on the word might. Chances are she would never wake from the dream he had locked her in. Louis opened his eyes and tears streamed down his cheeks as he sat up. It was his fault for not feeding more regularly. He had maimed another one. He pulled his knees up to his chest and sat there for a very long time. Astral projection was a strange and ludicrous thing. The flow of time was as unpredictable within the confines of that strange dimension as the realm of dreams itself. Five hours had passed since he closed his eyes and it felt like mere minutes. It was the diametric opposite to the effects of the neural implant. Louis resigned himself to continuing on with his meeting at the Numenor manufacturing plant. He stripped down and kept Feng on watch over his body armor as he showered. He washed his hair, shaved and even considered a haircut. He glanced in his closet and chose the gray suit with the dark blue tie. Kat had given him the suit so they could go out to a particular restaurant. He dressed and called for a cab. As Louis walked outside a limo pulled up and a familiar woman opened the door for him. "Sora, it is good to see you," he said and she smiled. "Louis-san it is good to see you too," she replied. "How the hell did you know when to pick me up," he asked as slid next to Kat. "Feng told me you were in the shower," Kat purred in his ear. "I wanted to surprise you. Surprise!" "It is so good to see you," he said as Sora closed the door and the limo headed towards the plant. "I stayed away," she said. "I am sorry about your dad. I wanted to go to the funeral but I just wasn't sure." "The flowers were gorgeous," Louis said. "Orchids, but I don't know the type." "I picked out a rare variety. They are called Lucifer's Orchid by the gardener. I was told they only grow where ley lines cross, if you believe that sort of thing?" They chatted a bit and finally addressed the reason for Louis' visit to London. Kat knew the man that he had come to see and she doubted he could possibly be Louis' biological father. They pulled into the parking lot of the plant and were greeted by the senior staff and chief among them Jon Masters. He looked so damn young, hell he looked younger than Louis. He couldn't possibly be the man Mara had been talking about though Louis could see why she would think so. There were certain traits that he had seen in the mirror. The deep set eyes, the general skeletal build, the nose was pretty close and that chin was dead on. All that proved is that they could be related. "Finally," Jon said and shook Louis' hand. "We meet in the flesh. My staff and I are thrilled to finally meet you. The suggestions you have sent have been key to our success here. Come on in and we'll give you the nickel tour." Jon was all hands and gestures with tons of pointing and introductions as they passed through that place. Jon and Louis ended up alone in Jon's office. Jon seated in his comfy chair and Louis standing looking at all the little knick knacks. They talked about Gabrielle and her brain storms that redesigned a dozen popular products between London and Berlin. "She does like her grenades," Jon said. "I take it she likes blowing shit up." "Yep, like a kid with really big fire crackers. Whoa is that what I think it is?" Louis picked up the odd figurine crafted of some sort of gunmetal gray material. It had three tentacle-like limbs, each ending in three pseudo fingers, the thing had three eyes equally spaced around its pyramid shaped body. He turned the figure around to view it this way and that. There was something odd about the material, it felt cold and unyielding and yet. "What is this thing made of," Louis asked. "Meteor," Jon said. "So Kat said you wanted a quiet face to face, what's up?" "My dad passed away," Louis said as he set down the figure. "My crazy aunt Mara said... did I mention she was crazy... okay... she believed you were my biological father." "OH her," Jon said smiling. "I ran into her a few years back and yeah she is a little different. How about you come by the house for dinner and maybe we can compare family trees." "Perhaps a DNA test," Feng said appearing next to Louis. "I could sample each of you and then compare?" "Is that you Feng? You are looking good." Jon said smiling at her Talon avatar. "I suppose you could do that. Oh wait, did you get the latest upgrade?" "My last upgrade was received seventeen days ago." Feng replied. "Hold on a sec," Jon said and his fingers danced in the air as he accessed his own virtual network. "There you go and you should be getting it about..." "Downloading," Feng replied as her gold eyes went out of focus for a moment. "Reconfiguring holographic emitter... restructuring power matrix... rebooting..." Feng disappeared and reappeared ten seconds later. She was all smiles and touching her arms and legs. She was hopping in place as Jon and Louis watched the way her breasts bounced. Louis shrugged and didn't see any difference until Feng picked up the figurine that Louis had held just a few minutes earlier. "How the hell can you do that," Louis asked as Feng scanned the statuette. "It is something we just developed, she is now a hard light construct," Jon explained. "Oh here let me get you one." "One what," Louis asked as Jon went to the safe in the corner and opened it. "Here, keep this on you," Jon said as he tossed a small sphere to Louis. Louis looked at the metallic ball with a series of holes, vents and crystals in a series of geometric patterns. What the hell is this thing? Jon just smiled and walked over and touched the single blue crystal on the sphere. The thing made a kind of whirring sound as it took to the air. Its crystals flared to life and it flew straight for Feng and inside of her. She giggled and resumed her hopping in place. Jon and Louis watched for a bit as Jon explained the sphere. "It is a remote holographic projector. I wish I could take credit for it but this is one of Nick's beauties. If you want Feng can have a level of independence she has never known before. I leave that entirely up to you. She has all the specs in her memory now. She can tweak its performance to suit her needs, oh and yours too." "Feng, how do you feel?" Louis asked. "You have always been so concerned about my wellbeing. I feel more alive than ever before." "Whoa, look at you," Louis said as he walked over to her and she stopped hopping. "Your eyes and your skin... look at all the detail. I can see blood vessels in your eyes and veins beneath your skin." "Shall I sample the DNA now?" Feng asked smiling. She leaned close and kissed Jon. They both let out a moan as Feng's tongue slipped into his mouth. His hands went around her waist and pulled her close. Louis watched and smiled. If this was her way of gathering DNA it was going to be fun. Feng broke the kiss and her skin was flushed a deeper red than usual. She placed a hand to her lips and grinned. "Your turn," Feng said as she turned to face Louis. "Should I give you guys a room," Jon asked as Feng threw her arms around Louis' neck and kissed him. The door opened and two girls entered the office. They were dressed in identical dark blue suits with crisp white shirts beneath. The twins walked over to stand next to Jon and watched the DNA sampling with naughty expressions on their faces. "What is going on," Carol asked. "Isn't that Feng," Colleen asked. "Yeah, that is her Thorn avatar," Jon said. "I kind of like it. What do you think?" "I like the skirt," Colleen said. "That is not a skirt, it's a loincloth," Carol said correcting her. "But it is wicked looking, yeah." "Makes for easy access, that's for sure," Jon said. "Always thinking with your dick," the twins said in one voice. "Comparing DNA," Feng said breaking the kiss. "This won't take very long. Running side by side analysis... familial connection affirmative... shared mutation in gene m3111..." Feng went on for another ten minutes comparing the two men's genetic material. She finished at last and compiled the data and made her announcement. While the two men shared some interesting commonalities they were not in fact father and son. But they were distant cousins sharing a few rare mutations which explained their shared eye color and similar bone structure. Feng pulled Louis to the corner and spoke to him in hushed tones. They were both smiling and in a flash Feng's avatar changed. Her new appearance was a compilation of all the physical traits that he found attractive. Feng had somehow managed to blend them together in a way that was not only functional but very pleasing to the eye. She now had long black hair that fell down to her ass, she had a petite body type with a bubble butt and a nice rack. Her facial features were a blend of Asian, American Indian and Slavic. She had upswept almond shaped eyes the color of ice, high cheek bones and a cute little nose. Her mouth was small with full lips and a dazzling smile. Feng wore a dark gray skirt that hit about mid-thigh showing off plenty of leg. The matching jacket was cut to perfection and finished off the look quite nicely. "What do you think," Feng asked. "Dang," Louis said. "You are going to turn some serious heads." "I have to agree," Jon said. "So we are related, sort of." "About that... I am sorry." Louis said but Jon shook his head and smiled. "I would be just as curious if I was in your shoes. How about dinner tonight," Jon asked. "About that," Carol chimed in. "You have a business meeting in Berlin. You have to approve the new gauss designs." "How about when we get back we can all get together?" Colleen suggested. "Give us a holler when you get back," Louis said. "I am looking forward to it." Kat and Louis went out for lunch and some less serious catching up. The limo drove away from the heart of the city towards the outskirts. They were heading for someplace special and there was no worming the secret from her no matter how hard he tried. It was a quiet little neighborhood with a pleasant mix of homes and small businesses. It was the diner on the corner that was their destination. The wooden hanging above the door just said Al's. The building was over a century old with a green and white exterior but it was the interior that made the diner a success. The center of the dining area was an ancient stone hearth. The tables formed a semicircle around it and on the other side was the kitchen. The place was crowded but comfortable. There were three female servers and they meandered through the tables taking order, dropping them off and cleaning up in a kind of frenetic pace that only teenage girls could manage. Kat guided Louis to one of the empty tables and they sat down. He looked at the menu and laughed. It was an American burger joint. Al was in fact Allison Graves, a veteran of wars, conflict and economic disasters. She was a retired photo journalist from the previous century and retired in London to open her own little slice of heaven. Her dad had run a little mom and pops diner back in Detroit and was one of the best burger places in the city. The servers were local girls but Al did all the cooking. They placed their order and Louis did all the talking. He told her all about his dad and the memories of him from his childhood to the present. "So he died while..." Kat said leaving the last bit unsaid. "Yeah, he figured since they were already in a hospital, why not," he added smiling. "There are worse ways to go." "I guess if I had to choose," she said and giggled. "Sorry, I shouldn't laugh but..." "No, it is okay. Sure I miss him but I have to admire his exit strategy. How did you find this place?" "I was told about it from a business acquaintance. I share it with only my best friends and most stubborn clients." "Food must be amazing then," Louis said as she looked around. The interior walls were covered with photos of the famous, the infamous and others all posing with Al. He looked for it and there it was in a place of honor on the hearth itself. The picture of Kat and Al and right next to it was Nick and Al. How many diners have a multibillionaire walk into them? Their food arrived but the cute young server wasn't the one holding their plates. It was Al herself wearing an apron and chef's hat. She was younger than Louis expected. When he heard retired photo journalist he imagined a lady in her sixties with silver white hair and glasses. Allison was a tall blonde with those girl next door good looks and bright blue-green eyes that twinkled when she spoke. "I can't bloody believe my eyes," Al said as she set the plates down. "You are Louis, Louis..." "Everyone just calls me Louis," he said smiling up at her. "Join us?" "I wish I could but I have a full house right now. Tell you what, you take your time with this gorgeous creature here and when you're done come back and we can talk while I cook." "It's a deal," Kat said as Al went back to her kitchen. "Wow, she has never invited anyone back to her kitchen before." They ate and Louis had to admit it was the best damn burger he had ever had. They were silent as they enjoyed their meal. The French fries, or as the menu called them American Fries, were better than most of the fast food places across the pond. Kat and Louis finished their meal and walked back to the kitchen. Here the indefatigable Allison cooked like a fiend. She was laughing and cursing and singing as she wielded her spatula with warrior-like precision. There were assistant cooks but they only handled the secondary items. Al and only Al cooked the signature burgers. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 06 "Hey you made it," she said. "So, how was it?" "Amazing," Louis replied smiling. "Best burger ever..." "I love to hear that," Allison said. "I have to admit I am a bit of a fan. I have been following your exploits for years. Can we get a picture later on, for my wall of fame?" "I have never been on anyone's wall of fame before. I'd be honored." "I get off in an hour. The menu changes then so that I can get a break. If you want to check out the haunted house we can get together after work." "Haunted house," Kat said eyes wide with curiosity. "Ooh, that sounds interesting." "Do you think we could sneak in or..." Louis began but Allison cut him off. "The house is occupied and the owner is a friend of mine. The address is number 32 Hobs Lane. It is just around the corner. Bob Dorchester is the owner and a great guy. I will meet you down at the pub after I get off." Kat and Louis left the diner and walked down the street and then off to number 32 Hobs lane. The house looked amazingly normal. It wasn't dark and spooky but it did have the feel of age about it. It was a two story affair with plenty of windows and a fairly new coat of exterior paint, a dark blue. Louis looked around and there were three cars occupied on Hobs lane. He assumed it was Kat's security force and said nothing. Louis gestures and Kat moves forward and knocks on the door. There is mumbling from behind the door before it opens. Bob Dorchester opened the door and smiled when he saw Kat and then looked puzzled when he saw Louis. "Can I help you," he asked. "Allison sent us," Kat said rewarding him with her best smile. "Oh... OH... um...," Bob looked confused and turned and spoke to his house guest. "David do you mind... oh okay..." Bob turned back to Kat. "Please come in." Kat and Louis entered number 32 and looked around. It appeared to be more of a museum that home. There were glass cabinets everywhere and bookshelves filled with memorabilia. Bob introduced his house guest David to Kat and Louis and offered them tea. The four of them sat down and Louis kept looking at David and he looked familiar. Bob reappeared with a fresh pot of tea and set it down. As he poured he told them about the house's history. "This is the third house to sit on this property. The first was burned down by an angry mob killing the family that lived here to the last. There were no survivors. The second was destroyed by a freak tornado that touched down obliterating this house but never touching the neighboring properties." "Sounds like a great opening for a horror story," David said. "I know right," Louis said. "Are you a writer?" "No, I am an actor," he said smiling. "I have you seen you on the tellie. You are that archaeologist fella." "Oh my god," Louis said as he looked around at the memorabilia and made the connection. "You are..." "Looks like we both have fans," David said. "Can we get a picture together? That would be brilliant!" They took turns behind the camera though David seemed quite reluctant to let go of Kat's waist a few times. Bob was in seventh heaven having two celebrities in his home. David and Louis pumped him for more information about the haunting and Bob gushed as he shared his stories over the paranormal experiences. Louis extended his perception to the astral and saw streamers of dark energy drifting through the air like an angry miasma. He shifted his eyesight back and blinked. "What do you think Louis," Kat asked seeing his expression. "There is something here," he replied. "I take it that the three cars outside are David's security." "Three, no they only sent two cars," David said. "You noticed that, you are good. But uh, who is in the third car?" "Sora we have three cars outside, please check the car parked across the street and see who it is," Kat said into her necklace. "We'll find out in just a bit." The squeal of tires from outside alerted everyone and they rushed to the windows to see the back end of the car as it raced off. Louis called out its license plate number as Kat passed it on to Sora, her bodyguard. Feng and Sora stood outside as the police arrived and David's security team shared a description of the man with the authorities. "I think I need a pint," David said. "Drinks are on me!" "The Wolf and Stag is just down the street," Bob offered and it was decided. Sora, Feng and the lead security officer for David entered the pub first. They gave it a quick once over and waved the group in. Louis thought it was interesting that Feng was shadowing Sora. He watched the other patrons of the pub and no one seemed to think anyone was out of place. Feng was just another woman in the place. She was the attention of a lot of flattery and she blushed when it was appropriate and gentle about turning down offers of food and drink. David was popular among the locals and a few even recognized Louis from his short stint on the news. "You were in China," one of the regulars said to Louis. "Yep," he replied sipping his pint. "And no I can't talk about it." "You look good," a female patron said to him. "I guess digging all over the world agrees with you." "Most of the time," Louis replied. "You were in Japan when all of that happened," the lady continued and watched as the color drained from Louis' face. "You alright sweetie you look like death." Louis hit the outer door at a brisk pace. Feng, Kat and Sora were outside with him moments later. He was bent over and fighting the urge to retch. David and Bob came out a little while later and the group formed up around Louis in support. He returned to the pub but now it was shots of Irish whiskey on board as he tried to numb body and mind. David stayed for two shots before prior engagements required his attention. He shook hands and departed in a flurry of well wishes from staff and patrons alike. Louis moved to a table and switched back to beer just as Allison arrived. Three pictures of beer later they began discussing the haunting at Bob's house. It was his turn to be in the limelight. He told me that he had grown up in the house and inherited it when his mom died ten years prior. The manifestations began when he was a child. There were noises and things moved around in the house. He often got blamed for moving his mother's china or other things but he hadn't done it. There were spikes of activity especially during storms when there was a lot of lightning in the air. He even admitted that he never went down in the basement at night. "What do you think," Bob asked Louis. "I want to examine your basement," Louis said and Bob paled when he looked out at the darkening sky. "You can go but I am not setting foot down there," Bob said with fear ridden finality. "I don't expect you to," Louis said. They finished their drinks and they all walked back to number 32 Hobs Lane. Allison was actually excited about seeing Bob's basement. Sora stayed upstairs with Bob to give him some moral support. Feng was also curious about taking scans of the basement while they were down there. Louis was the first down followed by Feng, Kat and Allison. The walls were naked stone and there were boxes and crates in stacks and alone scattered all over. Louis extended his vision to the astral and looked around. The miasma that he had first seen on the first floor was here but far thicker and the sense of dread stronger. "Wow, this is bad very bad," Louis whispered. "I wish Gabrielle was here." He followed the flow of the tendrils of darkness. Just like a stream there was a flow and direction to the negativity. He reached the end of the basement and everyone there could see the change of brickwork where Louis was standing. It had a shape that was easy to recognize, a door. Feng read off the drop in temperature as Louis ran his fingers along the dark stone. A part of him wanted to call Gabrielle and tell her what he had found. They could wait and tell Bob to move out until it was dealt with. That is what he would have chosen, but that choice was taken away from him. "Warning, thirty degree temperature drop," Feng cried out. "Thermal imaging is picking up a distinct shape! Louis, watch out!" Louis leapt back and brought his hand up with a shield spell waiting to be released. The shape was roughly humanoid but its indistinct nature made it impossible to be sure. Allison cried out as she spied the thing that was darker than the surrounding shadows. Louis tried to discern its nature but it was definitely malevolent. Was it simply a trapped spirit or something more powerful? Feng continued counting down the temperature flux. "Who are you," Louis asked addressing the entity. The thing screamed but only Louis was able to hear her cry of anguish. He lowered his hand and snuffed out the spell. The entity raised its arms and moved forward but only Louis and Feng remained unmoved. Kat and Allison moved towards the stairs and watched from there. Louis repeated his question and the apparition cried out but this time it was sobbing. "I can feel your torment. Let me help you." "No one can help me," she said. "It has a hold of me." "What does," he asked closing the distance between them. "I will free you." "Don't touch me," she cried as Louis' hand reached out for her. He rushed forward and embraced her. She was icy cold to the touch and even as she tried to free herself Louis launched his idea. He thought if he could feed off of sex and adrenalin why not rage and fear. He never hesitated seeing this poor soul suffering like this. He snared her with the dark magic and stole her terror and fury. The jolt of energy was as intoxicating as any sex act. She quit fighting him as she felt the chains binding her weaken and snap. When the last of the darkness had been sapped from her he let go. Feng had maintained her vigilance and was citing the rising temperature in the basement. The darkness was brushed aside as the cleansed soul shone there. She was so young and innocent looking. Allison and Kat gasped when they saw the spirit of the girl. Wrapped in the garb from two centuries ago she stood there smiling. "Thank you," she said as she faded from view. "You saved me." Louis stood up and tears streamed down his cheeks as the girl claimed her final reward. She disappeared and Louis was rushed by Kat and Allison. They held him and told him how wonderful he was. He made them promise not to tell anyone about this. It was bad enough about being hounded about China. They both understood and agreed. They went up and told Bob all about the spirit of the little girl and that she was now at peace. Bob appeared relieved and extended an open invitation to Louis if he ever returned to London. Allison got her photo with Louis while Kat had him for the next three days and that should have been the end of it, but it wasn't. Louis walked around the figure on the floor. It rested on a carpet that had been in this same spot for six decades. It has cleaned methodically and with gentleness you would a new born. He could still make out the hunting scene stitched into it by a lady of the castle all those years ago. He paused and glanced at the four posted bed that was a full century older than the carpet. The posts were carved elegantly and with the same kind of love that had gone into the carpet. The figure on the floor moaned and he returned his full attention to her. She had leather restraints on her wrists and ankles and attached to the restraints were metal rods. The woman was also sporting a blindfold, nipple clamps, a cat tail slid up her tight and proper bum and finally a ring gag snugly fitted in that talented mouth of hers. The long scarlet mane was spread cloud-like around her head which clashed with the emerald carpet. "You asked for this," Louis remarked as he knelt down and slid two fingers along her labia. "Soaked to the bone... what a slut... are you ready to get your throat fucked?" "MMMMMMM..." Kat whimpered. "Feng raise the level to six," Louis ordered and the business end of the tail in her ass was audible now. Kat's back arched and she moaned as she climaxed. Louis lifted her up gently and placed her on the bed. He positioned her so that her head was hanging off the edge. He took his erection and teased her with the tip for a bit as he laughed when he saw the two little teddy bears hanging from the nipple clamps. One bear was armed with a wicked looking axe while the other hand a barbed bladed sword. He leaned forward to cup her tits which forced his cock halfway down Kat's throat. Louis moaned as her tongue worked furiously to pleasure him. "I have always loved that tongue of yours," He said as he slowly rocked his hips. Kat moaned as he fucked her throat properly now. He slid most of his length between her lips now and her moans were become more insistent now. Louis was panting now and his cock was bottoming out now as his climax got closer and closer. His teeth were tightly clenched as he fought his orgasm but Kat won out in the end. He ground against her face as he fired his load down her throat. He watched her muscles move as she swallowed. "I needed that," Louis moaned as he repositioned her. "Ready for a little magic, I am going to fucking wreck you." A single gesture and a fiery rune appeared in the air. Kat's restraints fell away and she rubbed her wrists and ankles. She removed the blindfold and the toy in her ass as she looked up and saw the hunger burning in his eyes. She smiled as he invoked another spell. The ceiling sprouted flesh colored tendrils that descended upon Kat. They moved slowly at first but then struck with lightning speed. She was up in the air and held fast as the second part of the spell took hold. The tentacles slunk down and took up their positions. "You ready," Louis asked as he linked his senses with the tentacles. "Do it..." Kat whispered. "UNNNNNN gods..." He flipped her so that her ass was up high and he could watch as the twin whip-like appendages invaded both her holes. They started out nice and thin so they could easily slither their way in. As they filled her up they swelled and her whimpers became cries of purest bliss. Then they began to move and Kat became down right profane. She was cursing and screaming as Louis violated her hard and fast now. "Don't be gentle," she begged now. "Come on and fuck me, fuck me like you mean it!" Louis just smiled and brought two more tentacles down. One he slid between Kat's firm young breasts and the other slid between her lips. The tentacle between her breasts sprouted smaller tendrils that pushed her tits together to maximize the experience. It looked like something out of a bad Japanese hentai but damn it felt amazing. Louis was reaching sensory overload and fast. Kat's back arched as she came and Louis was right behind her. Multiple orgasms struck him at once and he fell against the bed. He withdrew the tentacles inside of her and waited. Kat hung there for a long moment and then her head came and she looked at him. She was grinning like a fiend. "OH... I like that... do it again... do it again!" "You asked for it," Louis told her as a soft slippery sound filled the air. "Are you kidding me," Kat said as she watched the tips of two of the tentacles split in half and moved towards her. "OH YEAH...!!" Louis collapsed to the floor as the last of his mana was used up. Kat tumbled to the bed below with a childlike cackle of laughter. She lay on her back panting and gasping. Louis was kneeling next to the bed completely exhausted. After a few minutes he managed to climb onto the bed and pull her close to him. He could hear her heart beating in her chest and her body was covered in perspiration from her erotic ordeal. "Well," he asked. "You did it... you wrecked me completely and utterly," she purred. "I will keep my promise," Louis said as he passed his hand over her eyes. "Tokyo," she muttered just before he stole the memory from her. "It will be as a dream," he said. "As we agreed I will bear the burden of my secret." They snuggled in each other's arms and drifted off to sleep. It was mid-morning before either of them stirred from their slumber. Louis opened his eyes and there was Feng carrying a tray with freshly brewed coffee and orange juice. She set the tray down and handed him his coffee. "Well look at you," he said accepting the cup. "You are so enjoying this, aren't you?" "As a matter of fact, I kind of enjoyed watching last night," Feng replied with a wink. "Is she programmed to be a voyeur," Kat asked sticking her hand out for her cup of coffee. "She is now," Louis said smiling. "Here is your coffee Kat," Feng said as she handed over the second cup. "There is orange juice too." "Yeah... yeah," Kat replied smiling as she took in the intoxicating aroma of the coffee. "MMMMM coffee... unnnn my ass is a little tender this morning." "You gave me the all clear," Louis replied. Feng left and returned with a second tray with two full English breakfasts and a pot of coffee. Kat and Louis ate in bed while Feng set out their clothing. Louis watched her move from one closet to another to a chest of drawers and holding up options until a full outfit had been chosen for each of them. Feng really appeared to be enjoying her new freedom as a hard light construct. He would have to do something really nice for Jon, like get him laid. "So what's the plan for today," Louis asked as he forked his last piece of sausage. "I don't know," Kat said. "I just want to spend time with you." "I suggest window shopping," Feng offered. "Ooh, that could be fun," Kat said smiling. "It might take my mind off my tender ass." "I am so going to put you over my knee and spank you," Louis said reaching for her. "The hell you are," she squealed and dashed naked into the adjoining bathroom. "I will recharge... try not to use all the hot water," Feng said with a smile. "Cheeky little thing aren't you," Louis said as he followed Kat into the bathroom. "I suppose I am." It was a long and leisurely 'shower' for the two of them. Despite her protests Louis managed to bend her over and swat her ass cheeks. They finished their shower, dried off and dressed. Fed, fucked and clean they headed out for a day of window shopping in the greater London area. They alternated between driving and walking. Sora and Feng were never far behind as they hit a rather particular series of stores. There were shoes, clothes and jewelry and not all in that order. Louis glanced at the old book stores, knick knack shops and antiques but Kat seemed oblivious to them. Now he did enjoy the lingerie store and the several bits and pieces Kat tried on and eventually purchased. They stopped for lunch and while Kat was pumped with her adrenalin coursing through her veins Louis was more reserved and quiet. "You are not enjoying yourself," Kat said between sips of soda. "I love seeing you happy," Louis replied dodging her statement effectively. "That's not what I said or meant," she fired back. "Why don't you take the helm for the rest of the day?" "Really... I thought you really wanted to go to that one particular jewelry store," he said and she grimaced. "Tell you what, let's finish lunch, hit that store and then I will play navigator." She smiled and it was agreed. It was after all only the third jewelry store compared to six of the others. Louis looked around and returned his gaze to Kat. It was one of those pinch me to make sure I am actually awake moments. He was having lunch with one of the most attractive and sought after women on the planet. She was the sister of Nick Shaw, billionaire and philanthropist and he was the son of a very loving and kind parents. He had always known affection and support while she and her mother had been on the run from the Russian mob since Kat was an infant. Maybe they were both lucky. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 06 Sheffield's of London, it was the iconic place where the wealthy went for custom jewelry in Great Britain. It was said that the royal family came here over past generations for their finest pieces. One foot inside and Louis believed it. The showroom was sound proofed against the outside world and the carpeting was thick and luxurious underfoot. It had the feel of individuality the moment you entered. A young couple was at one of the three display cases when Kat and Louis arrived. There was no chime or bell but from behind a scarlet curtain an elderly man appeared and greeted them. He was tall, thin and dressed in a thousand dollar suit. Not a single one of his gray hairs was out of place and his moustache was trimmed to perfection. This was of course Andrew Thomas Sheffield the fifth, eight generations of jewelers to the crown and nobility to the whole of Europe. "Katrina," he said in greeting. "It is so good to see you again. This must be the young man we made that handsome ring for. It is a pleasure to meet such a dashing adventurer such as yourself." "No, the pleasure is all mine," Louis said taking his hand and shaking it. "Powerful grip you have Sir," Andrew replied. "Now what can we do for you?" "Actually, I have a request," Louis replied before Kat could answer. "I am looking for a very special setting for a very special stone." "We do enjoy a challenge," Andrew said his eyes widening in curiosity. "What can we do for you?" "You sneaky little..." Kat muttered under her breath. Louis reached into his jacket pocket and produced an old weathered box. It had been with him since he had left France and it held a long term project that had been idle for far too long. He handed the box to the older man who turned it to face him and opened it. The man's face lit up as if he had just seen the Holy Grail. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he smiled. "Who cut the stone," Andrew asked as he closed the box and dabbed the tears with his handkerchief. "I did," Louis said. "YOU did," the old man remarked. "I will hire you on the spot. If that were a resume young man I would be a fool to turn you away." "Thank you for your kind offer but here is what I require," Louis said handing the man an envelope. "It contains a hard copy as well as a digital one. Price is not an issue but time is, can you have it completed in a month?" Andrew handed Kat the box as he opened the envelope and unfolded the papers within. Once more his eyes went wide and one corner of his mouth turned up. He stroked his chin as he looked at the demanding details and qualities required of the piece. The old man thought long and hard and shook his head. "I would love to take this contract," he said folding the papers back up. "But I could not meet the deadline. Six weeks I might be able to accomplish it, and in eight I could guarantee it, but not in four. I am sorry Sir." "You have the job," Louis said. "But I don't understand," Andrew replied his composure shaken. "You are the tenth man I have asked and the first to stick by the quality of your work. You would rather refuse the contract on the basis of honesty and family pride. I respect that and I will send all my business your way." "Thank you Sir," Andrew said pulling himself up to his full height. "You are very kind." "Wait until Gabrielle gets word of this. She is going to flip." "Holy mother of..." Kat said as she finally opened the box. "It's gorgeous. You never mentioned that you were a gem cutter." "We all have our secrets," Louis said taking the box and handing it over to Andrew. Louis let go of the box and shivered where he stood. He had been so busy with the transaction that he missed it. He glanced over at the woman by the counter. She was absolutely stunning but it was the waves of negative energy she was putting out that had made him shudder. He locked eyes with those of a stone cold killer. She smiled and returned back to the man she was clinging to. "Oh please sweetie," she purred in his ear. "Surely I am worth a paltry little trinket like this." "Paltry, it is 35,000 pounds sterling," the man replied. "I love you and all but my father would lose his bloody mind if I paid that for just an engagement ring." "Remember that thing I said would have to wait until after the wedding," she counteroffered. "Really," the young man gasped. "Well... I uh..." Louis whispered in Kat's ear and she nodded. She and Andrew haggled over the price of the project while Louis looked around. He moved directly behind the couple and shifted his perception to the astral. He looked over his shoulder and nearly cried out when he saw her true nature unveiled. While the young lady wasn't a demon she was definitely candidate material. Her aura was so dark and so repulsive he had no doubt about his earlier impression of her. She was a serial killer and had to be stopped. He restored his vision to the earthly plane and alerted Feng who in turn would alert the local authorities. Louis had been studying with Iyaden and his workouts were not just physical and spell combat but also the honing of his perceptions. His will was strong enough to peel away surface thoughts with ease. But with a little effort he could pry a person's entire life history if he desired it and he did. He looked down at the display case but his real attention was to the abomination behind him. His awareness sliced through her thoughts with no resistance at all. He dove into the very core of her being and unraveled it skein by skein. Her given name was Pandora. She came from a long and proud Greek heritage. That would explain that flawless olive skin of hers. Her childhood was a loving one but there was wickedness in the girl from the beginning. She enjoyed being bad. It manifested as little things at first but as she became older she learned how to harness her beauty as a weapon. Her first kill was a young man in her hometown. She lured him with promises of dark delights and in the throes of his first climax she pushed him into the well he had been leaning against. The rest were a slow buildup of fast marriages followed by her becoming a widow over and over again. She had assumed so many identities over the last six years it was a testament to her consummate skills that she stayed in character long enough to bleed her husbands and their families dry before disappearing again. This poor bastard was Willem, landed gentry, with a proud family possessing both land and titles. It was her most audacious victim yet. Louis turned as he sent all the information, aliases and proof to Feng. She would contact the appropriate authorities while Louis performed his magic upon her. "Pandora," Louis said and watched the girl's head whip around in utter astonishment. "Is that you girl?" "You must have me mistaken for someone else," she said coolly. "No, it is you, gods I haven't seen you in what six years now," Louis continued as he closed the distance between them. Kat laid a hand on Andrew's arm and they shared a look that spoke of silence and patience. Let him do this and all will be well. "I just have one of those faces," Pandora replied fidgeting now. "Let's go, we can pick out a less expensive ring somewhere else." "What's wrong," Willem asked. "You are never like this." Pause while the truth sinks in. "You told me your name was Virginia." "I am, this bloody fool is an idiot that has me confused with someone else." She snarled as the mask began to fall away. "Does she still have that birthmark just above her left cheek," Louis asked watching her movements intently. "Good god woman," Willem said backing away from her. "You said I was your first." "Come with me," Kat said pulling Willem away from Pandora. "YOU... you ruined everything... who the hell are you anyway," Pandora growled. "FBI... Interpol... let me see your badge." "I don't have a badge," Louis said moving closer still and weaving the dark magic around her. "UNNNN... what is going on," Pandora snarled. "MMMMMM... why am I so wet all of a sudden?" "I have no idea," Louis said as he reached out and slipped his fingers around her wrist. "I am going to just hold you while the police arrive." "UNNNNNNN..." Pandora moaned as she climaxed from the simple contact of his flesh on hers. "I just... how did I... can't think straight." She collapsed to the floor and Louis gently cradled her from behind. Kat told Andrew the police would be discreet and it would be alright. Willem stared down at the woman he had fallen for and barely recognized her. Her skin was flushed with color and her eyes were half closed as she twitched on the floor of the store. "Call an ambulance," Louis cried out. "I think she's having a seizure!" It wasn't a seizure it was in fact Louis deliberately feeding on her life essence. Her shaking was the multitude of orgasms she was experiencing as he drained her dry. Everyone witnessed his gentle grip on her and watched as she passed away before their very eyes. Two minutes later the police and medics arrived but it was too late. She had apparently died from an undiagnosed epileptic condition. Statements were taken but it was pretty cut and dry. Willem thanked Louis and Kat and even invited them to the manor house when it was appropriate of course. Kat smoothed things over with Andrew and paid the down payment for the project right then and there. All was well and forgotten as far as the old man was concerned. Kat and Louis left the jewelry store and wandered around until he saw an old shop that looked quite inviting, Old Man Corvinus the sign said. "This looks promising," Louis said. "Who was she really," Kat asked as they walked towards the store. "A part of the group that had taken my sister," he lied. "She was a serial killer." "I was able to confirm at least ten men she had murdered Mistress," Feng chimed in from behind us. "Ten... then poor Willem would have become number eleven," Kat said and kissed Louis' cheek. "You are a hero." "It was just a healthy dose of paranoia and good luck on my part." "To die like that though," Kat made a face. "Epilepsy... I never knew it could be fatal." "It is uncommon, but a strong enough seizure can completely destabilize the brain and prove quite lethal." Feng added. "I had a friend that died that way," Sora said. "He got up one morning, fixed his first pot of coffee, turned on the television and died before he sat down." The group fell silent as they entered Corvinus' shop of wonders. Old Man Convinus fit his name quite well. He had to be at least eighty but was pretty spry and quite enthusiastic when they entered. "Back again Mr. Masters... oh no... I am sorry I thought you were someone else," Corvinus said. "My apologies but for a moment there I would have sworn. Anyway, how can I be of service?" "Just looking," Kat said but Louis felt like he had been bitch slapped. "Do you mean Mr. Jon Masters?" Louis asked. "Well I guess I should be more genial considering his home coming and all." The old man said smiling. "It's not every day a Duke returns from across the pond." "Duke," Kat and Louis said simultaneously. "Oh yes, it is all over the news," Corvinus said. "He inherited from his grandfather. Duke Jon Masters of Wind Sword Manor and blah blah blah... a bunch of lesser titles. He is a bit of a local hero and all. He and Prince William are working on starting a company together. What was it they called it?" "Eidolon," Feng supplied. "They are going to be manufacturing state of the art artificial limbs and organs for military veterans, free of charge. It is a non for profit organization." "That is wonderful," Kat said smiling. Louis took his time examining the amazingly diverse stock inside the shop. He was pointing and telling Kat about this object or that. There were objects from all over Europe and even Southeast Asia. The leather case caught Louis' attention and he picked it up. There was a faded design on top of the letter G and a winged creature worked together. "What is that," Kat asked. "It's a griffon," Louis replied as she opened the case. "This must be nineteenth century medical equipment." "Is that a syringe?" She asked pointing to the antiquated hypodermic needle and two empty vials. "Yeah," Louis said as he took up one of the vials. "There's a little left at the bottom of this one." "And this one too," Kat said. "It looks like dried blood." "That's what I tell customers," Convinus said as he approached them. "That once belonged to none other than the famed doctor and scientist Professor Griffin. You know the one that inspired H. G. Wells." "No way," Louis said. "I loved that story when I was a kid. How did you get a hold of it?" "I didn't. My great-grandfather accepted it when a strangely clad young man pawned it ages back. He never came back so we have held onto it ever since." "How much," Louis asked as Kat reached into her purse to take out her credit card. "Let me write you up a receipt," Corvinus said smiling. "Follow me to the front." Kat bought Louis the case and was all smiles. Convinus offered to gift wrap it but Louis just slipped it into his back pocket. As they began to walk out, the old man made a striking comment. "It is interesting," he said. "Jon Masters also purchased a case from the Victorian era." "I may have to ask him about it," Louis said as he left. The next couple of hours and a few small stores and Louis was all shopped out. He threw up his hands in surrender and they called it a day. To repair his frazzled nerves they returned to the pub near Al's. Louis bought a round for everyone and after two pints felt his stress reduce to a tolerable level. His thoughts had been circling around the demise of Pandora. He knew why he had done it. The real reason was payback for Lily and his deceased father. He was no saint and in truth the woman was a prolific killer. So why the hell did he feel bad about killing her. As if on cue he received an email from Gabrielle. She was interested in the situation at Bob's house and glad it was concluded without complications. Then there were three words in regards to what happened earlier that day... Let It Go. Louis knew that only one person would have contacted Gabrielle about the death of Pandora. He and Feng were going to have a little talk about boundaries. As if things couldn't get any worse a news article on the television covered the life and death of Pandora. All eyes were on the two televisions in the pub. Louis called a server over and ordered a bottle of tequila. Kat just sat back and asked for two glasses. "Make it three," Bob said sitting down next to Louis. "Hey guys... can we talk?" "Sure, bring bob here a pint too," Louis said. "How is the house?" "Well, I actually went down to the basement for the first time last night. I have never felt comfortable down there when it was dark. But it started this morning. The noises from downstairs were quiet at first but by lunchtime it was bad... real bad. I need your help." "What kind of noises are we talking about?" Louis asked as Kat's color ran pale. "It started off as creaks and settling. But now its voices, plural, and they sound like they are in pain." Louis held up his hand as the bottle of tequila arrived and he poured shots all around the table. One silent toast to lost souls later and Louis collected his thoughts. He was loath to even contact Gabrielle but he was quickly getting out of his depths on this one. "Fuck... I need to make a call," Louis cursed. "Feng connect me to Gabrielle now." "Nnnnnn... uh Louis? What is going on?" Gabrielle replied on the other end. "I need your help. Things have escalated and I am out of my comfort zone." Louis said while Bob watched on confused. "Who is he talking to? There is no phone or anything." "It's his watch," Kat explained. "How bad is bad," Gabrielle asked an ocean away. "Multiple voices and they sound like they are in pain. This is my fault..." "Shut up Louis, blame can be determined later. I will make a call. I have the address so someone will be in touch." Click. "Help is on the way." Louis told Bob as he poured a second round of shots. Bob looked relieved but he hadn't met an Inquisitor yet. Louis knew that they had a presence in most major cities. So it shouldn't take her long to send a request for aid. Louis wondered if they would be aiding him or simply doing it for her. It didn't really matter in the end, as long as Bob's house was cleansed once and for all. He was so lost in thoughts he didn't notice the two girls that walked into the pub. They went to the bar and the bartender pointed at the table in the corner. "It's really him," one girl said within ear shot of Louis. "He really is cute," the other said. "This is going to be fun!" "Can I help you," Louis asked checking out the pair. They were both dressed in tight jeans and dark t-shirts. The blonde was cute as a button but the brunette was straight up smoking hot. He didn't recall meeting them before though. Kat though managed to figure it out pretty quickly. She sat back and let him hang himself. It was a slow painful conversation but oh so entertaining. Bob couldn't help but stare at the two attractive new comers. One plopped down next to Kat and the other slithered onto Bob's lap. "Hello Bob," the brunette purred. "Hello Louis," the blonde giggled. "How the hell do you know my name," Louis asked. "He really is silly," the blonde replied. "He is rather cross," the brunette purred. "Maybe he needs a hand job." "Hey now," Kat intervened. "If anyone is giving him a hand job it is going to be me." "Ummm..." Bob said finding the conversation strange and yet exciting. "We haven't forgotten about you sweet cheeks. We are going to take care of you." They introduced themselves, the blonde was Inquisitor Jinx and the brunette was Inquisitor Rumor. Louis looked at the pair and tried to process the way they were dressed along with their names. Jinx and Rumor, what kind of Inquisitors were they? Was this some kind of joke on Gabrielle's part? He tried to process it and his brain sneezed. "Seriously," Louis said as he reached for the bottle of tequila. His hand never reached it. Jinx snatched it and tossed it tumbling end over end towards Rumor. The two of them kept the bottle in the air for a full minute before settling it back on the table without spilling a drop. Louis looked from the bottle to the girls and back a few times. Well that was impressive. "Okay, what's the plan," Louis asked. "We'll fill you in on the way," Jinx said. "Last call or better yet leave the bottle for Bob." "Me..." Bob said. "Yeah, you should stay here," Rumor added. "It's gonna get hairy. I think you and Kat should remain at the pub." "I am not leaving you..." Kat began but Louis shook his head. "No, you are going to stay here." Louis demanded. "Are you sure," Kat asked even as Jinx and Rumor got up to leave. "Positive," he said. "I will be back before you know it." The three of them left the pub together and Louis followed the Bobbsey twins to a parked black Range Rover. They opened the back and geared up right out in the open. The Inquisitors strapped on gun belts, slipped on armored long coats and offered him the same. Louis accepted the matching gauss pistols and long coat. They locked up the vehicle and walked down to number 32 Hobs Lane. Bob had left it unlocked and once the trio had stepped inside why he wasn't worried about the place being robbed. The temperature had dropped below freezing and their breath came in clouds of steam as they exhaled. "What the fuck," Jinx exclaimed. "I did this," Louis said. "When I freed her soul..." "You gave her a chance at heaven, this is something else." Rumor replied sharply. "Jinx move forward, Louis goes right and I will cover the basement door. Sweep and meet back there." Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 06 Louis was so used to Gabrielle calling out orders that he followed without hesitation. He didn't draw his weapon he peered into the astral and saw what should have been obvious; the energy source was below them in the basement. He finished his sweep and met up with the girls by the door. He pointed down and they nodded. Jinx yanked the door open while Rumor entered first with Louis close behind her. They nearly slipped down the frost covered stairs but caution kept them from a nasty spill. The temperature dropped to subzero conditions by the time they reached the bottom of the stairs. Everything was layered in frost and a light dusting of snow. Louis could see the pitch black aura around the stone door. "The lighter bricks, the power source is behind that," Louis said thru chattering teeth. "How are we getting through that," Jinx asked. "I left the battering ram in the Range Rover, any suggestions?" Rumor said drawing a runic dagger. "Yeah, stay here," Louis said as he approached the far wall. He shifted his body to compensate for the cold and with that distraction removed he strode over to the door. He didn't have this particular spell hanging so he traced the rune pattern on the stones and slowly invoked the spell as he backed away. He wove his hands in intricate patterns and focused the force of the spell on the stones. Once he was far enough back he spoke the last syllable and the bricks flew away from them as if struck by some invisible force. "Impressive," Rumor said. "What do you call that one?" "That ladies, is the Titan's Mattock," he said proudly. "...After you?" "Such the gentleman," Jinx said as tossed two glow sticks into the gap. The Inquisitors were armed identically with a gauss pistol in one hand and a knife in the other. Louis had combat spells at his fingertips. The Inquisitors led the way and Louis followed. The space beyond was a blasphemy of everything held sacred by life loving beings anywhere. It had been a massacre and the limit of the devastation was only left to the imagination of whatever entity performed these sacrifices. Most of the bodies were in parts while a scant few were mummified from the lack of oxygen and dry conditions. It was hard to make an accurate count but there were at least a hundred victims here. The altar was a twisted piece of dark organically carved stone that stood twelve feet in height. Upon its gnarled surface were foul runes that coursed with a dark energy and the source of the malevolence here. Too late Louis returned his sight to the astral. Three beings guarded the altar and struck at the same instant. The psychic assault was precise and diabolical. "Louis, wake up Louis," a voice said. "Huh, what the hell just happened," Louis said as his vision focused. "How many times did I warn you about that damn skateboard without a helmet?" "Mom, what are you doing here mom," Louis asked as he got to his feet and looked around. "Wait, I was just in London." "London, that's a good one," she laughed. "Come on in the water's great." He was standing in the backyard of the Old House. The house he had been born and raised in before, before it had burned down. He looked over at the sunken pool and there was his mom in a bikini of all things. She looked good, real good! He walked over to the edge and she was treading water in the deep end of the pool. As he watched she reached down and tugged the bow that held on her bikini bottoms. The scissor action of her legs was enough to dislodge them and send them floating away. "How clumsy of me," she purred. "It is just so damn hot out here today." The top followed the bottom to the depths of the pool. Louis stared at his mother's naked form and felt his throat go dry. He dove into the water and damn it felt good. He came up right in front of her and she beckoned him with a finger. He swam over and her arms slipped around her neck. She closed her eyes as she kissed him. The hunger blossomed all-consuming and he kissed her back. Suddenly in dream fashion they were in the shallows of the pool. Mom was seated on the edge of the pool with her legs open to him. "Come on and be mommy's big boy," she urged him. "Stick that massive cock of yours inside of me!" He thrust in one brutal movement of his hips and impaled her. She cried out as he began moving. He had forgotten how wet and tight her cunt was. Louis hammered her for all he was worth. That's when something went dreadfully wrong. He felt the dark magic rise up but it was directed at him. His mother was trying to drain his life essence! Louis looked into her eyes and saw the black sclera with blazing red irises. "DEMON," he roared. "Oh fucker you picked the wrong goddamn fight!" Louis' own power rose up and shattered the demon's hold on him. For the second time in one day he brought the full and unrelenting power to bear on a sentient. This time it was some inhuman entity. He had no remorse about snuffing out its spark. The thing tried to break free but failed. Louis took it by the throat and squeezed. How dare you impersonate my mother! The thing shifted and squirmed but his grip trapped it no matter its form. The dark magic pierced it to the core and he fed to its last. The illusion shattered and Louis stood where he had before. A quick glance showed the two Inquisitors still trapped in their own nightmares. Louis did the only thing he could. He turned his full might upon the altar. He called upon a spell to seek out the weakness in the construction. It took desperate seconds but in the end he found the shatter point. If he struck there with enough force he could destroy the altar utterly. As he brought the next spell into his mind the Inquisitors fell to the floor. They were still breathing so the other two demons had let go for a reason. "Strike the mage," a booming voice called out. "Kill him... DESTROY HIM!" The demons that had once only been on the astral plane drew on the power of the altar and physically manifested. To do this they possessed the bodies of the fallen. Darkling energy coursed into bones, sinew and flesh long dead. A legion of the undead rose up to stop Louis and the Inquisitors. As he shouted for them to get up he drew the gauss pistols. He targeted those bodies that were most intact. The impact of the rounds blew them to pieces and only then did he see the futility of his actions. The demons moved hands, legs, skulls and anything else that could attack. Jinx and Rumor slowly got their feet and cried out as they saw the moving mass of body limbs heading for them. Louis holstered his pistols and began slinging spells at the altar. But whatever force had commanded the demons were shielding it. Bolts of force either bounced and ricochet off the barrier and struck the ceiling or walls. He cursed and tried to figure out a new strategy before they were overrun and torn apart. Rumor saved them when she reached under her shirt and revealed the holy relic hanging there. It shone like a beacon in that stygian darkness. The foremost of the demonic limbs lost mobility and for now they were kept at bay. Louis peered into the astral and the two remaining demons were gathered near the altar. "This is bad," he said just as the bolt of hell fire lashed out and tossed him bodily against the wall. "Louis!" Jinx screamed as she raced to his side. "He's out cold... oh god Rumor he's hurt... he needs a doctor!" "Take out your relic and search him," Rumor ordered. "He might have a med kit on him or something. She is going to kill us if he dies! I will hold them off!" Jinx checked the armored coat but only found clips for the gauss pistol. It wasn't until she searched his person that she found the syringe and two empty vials. She cursed but she saw that the impact with the wall had revealed a concealed compartment in the case. There were two full vials within. They weren't labeled so she shrugged and injected him with both. "I found a syringe case and two vials," Jinx told Rumor. "I am injecting him with both. Oh shit he quit breathing! I am doing mouth to mouth." "Damn it Louis, you better pull through," Rumor growled. The Inquisitors and demons were at a standoff. The tension of the brewing conflict began to manifest in the atmosphere of the room. Dark and light began swirling around the other. A kind of mystic Yin-Yang formed in the center of the chamber. Jinx continued to give Louis mouth to mouth until he began breathing on his own. She watched as his head wound began closing on its own. What the hell was in those vials? Louis took a single deep breath and his eyes snapped open. His pupils were dilated and he slowly sat up. "Louis, are you alright," Jinx asked as he slowly got to his feet. "Yeah," he said. "I think I will be alright. That really fucking hurt!" He stared at the growing darkness and suddenly his mind was ablaze with understanding, comprehension and he knew what to do. He turned to Jinx and snatched the relic from her neck. He took out one of his gauss pistols. He popped the clip and handed it to her. "Hold this for a second," he said as he closed his fist over the relic. "What are you going to do," Jinx asked as he began to sing. The melody was soothing and drew power from itself and grew stronger. The light from the relic became sun bright but didn't hurt their eyes. Once the song was finished he opened his hand and the medallion was now an ornate metallic disk inscribed with prayers and infused with the power of Rome. He placed the relic into the clip and returned it to his pistol. "You aren't doing what I think you are going to do," she asked and he smiled. "Oh yes I am," he said as he took aim and invoked the shatter point spell once more. "Gotcha mother fucker!" Louis fired and this time the unrelenting power of saint and technology merged to destroy a primordial darkness. The altar shattered and the demons and their master were sent screaming back to hell. Louis smiled, handed Jinx his pistol and collapsed. The darkness this time was absolute and perfect. When he fell there was not a single ripple in the astral. Louis found himself on a familiar ocean. Above him storm clouds and the storm struck without hesitation and without mercy. He watched as the thirty foot wave crested and fell upon him like god's own hammer. His body was forced beneath the surface of the sea and he sank like a rock. 'I deserve this,' he thought as he fell. 'I defiled a sacred relic. I murdered that girl in the jewelry store. I have fucked my mother, my sister and my aunt. I deserve whatever follows.' 'You are such a fucking martyr,' Yog-Sothoth whispered in his mind. 'Are you sure you aren't really a masochist in disguise? I mean really Louis, you have been given so many gifts and you still cling to tiny things like morality. I don't know of any other being with your potential that would see things the way you do.' 'Fine, what do you think I should do oh great and mighty Gate? You, who are eternal, dwell in the ever present past, present and future, what the fuck should I do?' Silence. 'You know, I will put it in terms even you can understand Louis. Get the fuck over it! Let go of all the bullshit and just fucking live! Go meet with Jon and settle things there. Sleep with Kat while it lasts. Go home and tag team that little trio of mom, aunt and sister. Then, when the dust settles, help Gabrielle raise your child.' 'Wait, she's pregnant,' Louis asked and there was only demonic laughter. Louis opened his eyes and he was naked and in bed. He tried to move but his spine stung when he attempted it. He cursed and Feng was hovering over him. She had reverted to her Thorn aspect and was smiling from ear to ear. "You still function," she said. "Yeah, I am still alive," he replied. "It's good to see you too Feng." "What do you need and I will fetch it," she said eagerly. "Fresh coffee, a straw and a recap on what the hell happened." "The ladies Rumor and Jinx are still here," Feng said. "They wanted to debrief you and give you your commendation." "What fucking commendation," he asked once more trying to sit up and cursed again. "Fuck that hurts!" "You are lucky to be alive," Kat said and it was obvious she had been crying and recently. "I am fine, just a few bruises." Louis said. "She's right," Rumor said. "If it hadn't been for Jinx and your little syringe kit you would have died." "The syringe kit," Kat said. "Those vials were empty." "The ones on top were," Jinx said grinning. "But not the ones in the hidden compartment, the force from hitting the wall dislodged the mechanism. I used both vials and here you are living and breathing." Louis looked at Kat and she shrugged. The Inquisitors watched the silent exchange and waited for the explanation and it was amazing. Kat talked about their trip to Old Man Corvinus and their purchase of the kit on a whim. If it hadn't been for that Louis would have died from his injuries. What the hell had been in those vials? It was linked to Professor Griffon and his research. With the help of both Inquisitors, Louis was able to sit up. Feng returned with coffee and a straw. Louis had her add a search for a Professor Griffon at the end of the nineteenth century. He didn't feel any different besides the pain. When he asked Feng to display his x-rays she pointed out the damage to his spine. The doctors had done what they could but they were unsure about his long term prognosis. It was the nature of the beast. "Spinal injuries are tricky," Feng said as he sipped his coffee through a straw. "The swelling could go down and you could be perfectly fine or well... we shall think positive." "Yes we will," he said. "I will walk again." "You give it to him," Jinx whispered. "When he's ready," Rumor growled back. "Enough already," Louis said glaring at them. "What is this commendation Feng mentioned?" "Since I am the senior Inquisitor present it is my duty and honor to award you the Sicarius. It is the weapon of an Inquisitor. This one has been blessed by the Holy Father himself during the entire crafting process. He blessed the ore as it was melted down, the smith who forged the blade and a final blessing during the weapon's final cooling. May it serve you well." "I don't know what to say," Louis said as he opened the box. "Why does Rome feel I deserve a commendation?" "For your ingenuity in creating what is being called hallowed ammunition," Rumor replied. "Silver is all good but in situations such as what we faced something more is required. Your brilliance will save many lives. Now I have a question, what the hell was that thing in the basement?" "I guess you could call it an astral anchor," Louis said. "All those people murdered created a kind of tear that manifested in the altar. It allowed them to charge it with negative energy so that they could eventually open a physical gate between the physical universe and..." "Yikes," Jinx cried out. "I am glad you saved us Louis. I am in your debt." "That makes two of us," Rumor added. "If you ever need anything, just uh ask." There was a hungry look in Rumor's gaze and he was in too much pain to take her up on her splendid offer. So he turned his attention back to the Sicarius. The weapon was eighteen inches from tip to tang. The marbled pattern of the metal was gorgeous and the runes on the blade were a prayer against the forces of darkness. The silver and pearl grip was as lovely as it was functional. This was a soldier's blade built to kill. He felt a headache coming on and closed the box. The women left to let him rest. He closed his eyes and winced at the one two punch of back pain and growing migraine. "Feng close the drapes, the light is hurting my eyes." "Yes Master Louis," she replied. "Would you like anything before I leave?" "Please get me a couple of bottles of water. I am really thirsty all of a sudden." "They will be next to the bed when you need them," she said as he slipped into a troubled slumber. Louis' pattern of sleep and consciousness were sporadic and in that time he drank all seven of the bottles of water Feng had provided. The bedside table had been replaced with a mini-fridge and stocked with water. So now there was a steady supply of fluids and this had an unavoidable consequence. "Oh crap I need to piss," Louis said when next he awoke. "Shit... fuck... damn..." He clenched his teeth and sat up. The pain that had kept him down for nearly forty eight hours was gone. There was no hint of it but the urging of his bladder was another matter entirely. He was up and heading for the bathroom in a flash. He was standing in front of the toilet and of course the lid was down. He reached out and his hand passed through the lid. "What the holy hell is going on," he asked as he looked over his shoulder to see his prone form still in bed. "I am astral projected?" The urge to piss disappeared and he walked over to his body. He looked down at the pain wracked features and grimaced. Damn that looked painful. There was no getting around it. He returned to his body and the moment he woke he shifted his form. The waves of pain lessened and as he had before he continued to shift from one form and sex to the other. Back and forth he went until he ended as fate would have it in the female albino form. While the pain was severely reduced his energy was spent. Louis closed 'his' eyes and slept. "Master wake up," Feng whispered in his ear. "Hurry up Louis and wake your ass up!" "Huh," he said opening his eyes. "Hey Feng what's up?" "Change back... for the love of god change back! I can't keep the door closed much longer." "Sorry," he said as he reverted to his male shape just as the door was forced open. "Feng, are you malfunctioning?" Kat said as she glared at the A.I. "I told her to keep the door closed," Louis said intervening. "If you want to blame somebody blame me." Louis got up and finished what he had started earlier. The sound of him relieving his bladder and the resounding sigh of relief echoed from the bathroom. He sniffed his pits and wrinkled his nose. He started a shower and found three women in the bathroom glaring at him. "What the hell, I stink to high heaven," he said. "You gonna draw lots for who helps me in the shower?" "I will generate a random integer between one and ten the closest wins," Feng said. "Three," Kat said. "Nine," Jinx picked. "Six," Rumor said shrugging. "The number was seven," Feng announced. "Rumor has to decide if she wishes to... oh well... I will be outside." Rumor was stripping even as the others left. She climbed in behind Louis as he let the water wash away the funk. "Damn it Feng you could have helped me out," Kat growled. "He doesn't even know her." "I believe there is a high probability by the end of the shower he will." Rumor took the loofa and washed Louis from head to toe. She didn't miss a spot and he admired her attention to detail. He rinsed off and felt remotely human after his ordeal in Bob's basement. He started laughing and Rumor looked at him and raised a curios eyebrow. "What is so funny?" "Bob's basement... you know Bob's Basement... sounds like an underground sex club." "You are so bad," she replied. "Let me show you how bad I can be," Louis moaned in her ear. "What...?" "Is something wrong," Rumor asked watching as he turned his head as if listening for something. "She is out there," Louis said. "I can hear her heartbeat. Man is she pissed." "Wait, you can hear her heartbeat, over the water from in here?" "Yeah, I can also hear those sighs of hers. Have you ever been with a girl before?" Louis asked and Rumor just giggled. "Of course silly, I am an Inquisitor after all," she said smiling. "Go ahead, I don't mind." Louis kissed her fiercely and left her hungry and breathless. Naked, he stalked out of the bathroom into the bedroom. Kat looked up surprised as her grabbed her by the hair and she moaned as he brought her up to her feet. He looked her in the eye and nodded. His hands tore her clothes to shreds and led her by the wrist into the shower. Rumor pulled Kat into the shower and they kissed. They were both moaning as their hands explored each other's bodies. Louis watched enjoying the view quite a bit. While Kat was the classic red haired Russian beauty, Rumor was the tall leggy European brunette. Louis shivered and slipped behind them as they continued to get to know each other. He let out a sigh as the hot water struck his back. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 06 "We've decided," Kat said. "I didn't hear any talk," Louis replied inquisitive. "It's a girl thing," Rumor said. "Let's take this into the bedroom and we can clean up later." "I like the sounds of that," he agreed. The three of them dried off and walked into the bedroom. Louis stopped when he saw a naked Jinx posing on the mattress. She had her ass high up in the air and her face buried in the pillows. Louis smiled as he understood. They had planned this while he was recuperating. The pouting Kat, the eager Rumor and the shy Jinx, they had worked this entire thing out already. He had never been with three women at once this could be quite entertaining. Louis walked up to the bed and sat on the edge. He lightly caressed Jinx's ass and she whimpered. Her sex was slick from her arousal. He took an index finger and traced her labia and she yelped in surprise. "I think she likes it," Louis said smiling. "Let's see just how wet she is." He slid two fingers into her very snug pussy. Jinx's pussy muscles gripped his fingers and he was eager to feel her wrapped around his cock. He withdrew his fingers and placed them in his mouth tasting her most intimate place. Louis was about to ask how this was going to happen when he was pounced. Bodies tumbled, positioned and repositioned. He ended up on his back in the middle of the mattress. Jinx had her pussy over his face while Kat instructed Rumor in the most ancient and profound art of sucking dick. "Do what I do," Kat said. Louis felt her tongue trace the entire underside of his erection from base to tip. The next tongue he assumed belonged to Rumor. Not to leave poor Jinx out of things he began eating her out. Jinx went from quiet shy Inquisitor to an eager sexual participant. Louis lapped at her pussy lips and heard each of Jinx's moans. His own moans were building as he discovered what a quick learner Rumor was. Kat had her taking half of his cock between her lips. He stabbed his tongue between Jinx's pussy lips and treated her to the infamous snake tongue technique. Jinx ground her pussy against his face now and went from excited to a passionate cursing lover. He had lost track of who was doing what to his cock. Rumor was that good and that eager. Was she the one suckling his balls or was she the one going down on him? It didn't really matter. Jinx cried out as her pussy clenched around his tongue. "How are you doing that," she asked as she recovered from her orgasm. "Doing what," Rumor asked. "His tongue is so damn deep inside of me," Jinx purred. "It's doing this pulsing thing and unnnnn damn that feel good!" "It's time," Kat said and bodies were moving around now. "Like this," Rumor asked as Louis felt pussy lips brushing against the head of his cock. "Perfect now just drop down nice and slow, I'll hold it for you," Kat replied as her fingers wrapped around the base of Louis' cock. "UNNNNNN it's so damn thick," Rumor moaned as he slid inside of her. "Oh Shit... filling me up!" "His tongue is getting bigger," Jinx whimpered. "Can he do that?" "Yes, just enjoy it," Kat said soothingly. "Oh my goodness so thick... so long... it's stretching me," Rumor growled. "I never thought my first time would feel this good. Oh damn he just got harder!" "I think he likes being your first," Kat giggled. "I can't wait to see him pound the shit out of Jinx." "MMMMMMMMMMe neither," Jinx purred. "His tongue is driving me crazy. It feels like, well like a snake slithering in my insides but not in a bad way." Louis began to thrust his hips upward meeting Rumor's downward movements. This caused the Inquisitor to cry out as she experienced her first orgasm with a man. She ground hard against Louis as her body shuddered. Jinx and Rumored swapped places. Louis treated Rumor just as he had Jinx and she like it even more than Jinx had. Kat talked Jinx into a reverse cowgirl position. She held Louis' cock and guided it inside of the younger girl. Kat stared intently as the head of his cock opened Jinx up fully. It was a very tight fit indeed. Her narrow hips and tiny sex were quite the combination for what followed. "Holy shit... it's not gonna fit," Jinx squealed. "It's just too... UNNNNNN... dddamn it's in." "It was touch and go there for a bit," Kat purred. "Louis I wish you could see this. It is one hell of a sight. Your cock is literally stuffed inside of her. Whenever you're ready sweetie, you can start moving, yeah just like that. How does that feel?" "Unfuckingbelievable," Jinx purred. "Oh I want to do this a lot. Can we do this more? I LIKE cock!" "You are a hit lover," Kat said with that sexy lilt in her voice. "Oh... oh... Oh yeah..." Jinx was panting as she rode him. Rumor hadn't been idle she was riding his tongue as if it were a cock. She was rocking her hips driving it in and out of her cunt. He was looking forward to taking a more active role and he didn't have long to wait. Poor Jinx and Rumor were both building quickly towards, by the sounds they were making, pretty damn strong climaxes. Kat was cursing at them and encouraging them at the same time. Rumor went off a few second before Jinx. Louis retracted his tongue as both women rolled off of him panting and gasping. He sat up and there was Kat, standing by the side of the bed. She was bent forward and ankles in hand. "Now that's how you tell a guy you're interested," he said as he moved behind the redhead. "If you are gentle with me I'll wring your bloody neck," Kat growled. "It's your funeral," Louis said as he eased just the tip of his cock inside of her. He waited a full six count before slamming his entire length inside of her. Kat let out a sound that was hard to describe in words. It was part surprise, part hunger and an equal measure of plain old animal lust. He heard the two Inquisitors adjust their positions on the bed as he began pounding the hell out of Kat. Now that they had a better look it became a play by play commentary. "Look at her face," Jinx said. "She looks almost... angelic." "His balls are slapping her clit like crazy," Rumor moaned. "I want that..." the two said at the same time and then giggled. "So... what are you real names?" Louis asked as he continued to fuck Kat mercilessly just the way she loved it. "Cassie," Rumor said. "Jodi," Jinx replied. "I wondered what the odds were that someone would name their children like that and two of them show up for me." Then without missing a beat he said. "I am getting real close." "I... I can tell," Kat moaned. "On my ass... shoot it all over my ass!" Louis thrust several more times before sliding free of her and painting her backside. Cassie and Jodie looked at each other and it was Cassie that took her turn at bat. Kat went to take a shower and wash up. Cassie got off the bed and presented herself to Louis. He touched his finger to his lips and she nodded. He took her by the hand and walked her to the nearest unobstructed section of wall. Cassie placed her hands up against it, kicked her feet out as if she were being frisked or arrested. Louis grabbed her hips and got her ass in just the right position. He took his cock and eased half of it inside of her. "I was hoping you'd be up for another round," he said as he began moving. Cassie understood the game and while she whimpered and moaned she never spoke. It was Louis' task to make her cry out. He built up the force and speed of his thrust slowly. She was definitely enjoying her second go round a lot. Unlike Kat, she was thrusting backward against him. Cassie desired a more active role in this little game. So be it, he thought, as he pounded her harder than ever. Jodi watched her friend and mentor get pounded and good. The faces Cassie made as she was being hammered from behind were far more intense than those she was used to seeing. "You never make those faces when I go down on you," Jodi remarked and watched Cassie turn crimson. "That's because you don't have a cock," she replied her eyes squeezed shut tightly. "Close... damn I am close already!" The dark magic had risen unbidden and had entwined the young Inquisitor. Louis felt a small piece of her life flow into him and he stopped it instantly. The poor girl's knees buckled from the intensity of her orgasm. He eased out of her and helped her to the bed. "Damn, I see why she is so infatuated with you," Cassie mumbled. "She has talked about me," Louis asked as he made her comfortable. "Of course she did silly," she purred. "I am her sister after all." Louis stood there in shock. Gabrielle had never mentioned a younger sister. A sister she obviously confided in about her physical relationship with him. The thought was shoved aside when Jodi leapt into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. "MY TURN," she squealed. "How do you want me Louis?" "Like this," he said as he pinned her back to the nearest wall and slid inside of her. "UNNNNNNNN... gently or I will break," she begged. "I am so very tiny you know." "MMMMMMMM I know," he said through gritted teeth. "And so very tight... so very fucking tight." He moved slowly enjoying the way her pussy gripped his cock. Jodi placed her head against his chest as he fucked her. "I can see your thing going inside of me," Jodi purred. "It is filling me up." "I know," Louis grunted as his cock swelled inside of her. "Oh shit, you are getting bigger," she moaned. "Why are you getting bigger?" "I am close," he growled in her ear. "Where... where do you want me to...?" "Inside," Jodi begged. "I want to feel a man shoot inside of my pussy." Louis thrust harder and faster now. The sudden change of pace began pushing poor tiny Jodi headlong into her own climax. "Harder... harder... I want you to fuck me harder!" She pleaded with him and he gave her what she wanted. "Oh shit, that's it... I am so close now too!" The two of them cried out together as Louis fired his load deep inside the young Inquisitor. Her nails drew angry red marks down his back as she came. They held each other tightly as they caught their collective breaths. Jodi recovered quickly and begged for more but Kat would have none of it. Louis needed his rest and they needed to get some sleep before they left the next morning. Playtime was over and Louis belonged to her for the next few days. Except for the day of shopping she spent with Jon Master's family and staff from Wind Sword Manor. The girls were out in force and he was glad for a day to sit down with Feng and check up on the tons of research he had heaped upon her virtual shoulders. "Show me what you got," Louis asked. "It is quite frustrating," Feng replied as she displayed a map of the continental United States. "The more I discover the more I find there is to uncover. It is almost like geometric progression. However, it is reaching its end. The blue indicators are killings, the red are missing persons and the yellow are suspected serial killers." Louis stared at the map and the overlap was around eighty percent. The other twenty was still being processed. Then she displayed green circles that covered many of the empty quadrants of the map. Feng said that there were areas where occupations overlapped killings and missing persons. Then there was a series of neon pink lines that grew from a single point and ranged nationwide. That was the routes that Vitale drove over his time with the company. That was one of the final pieces to the puzzle. Those routes intersected many of the missing person reports that were left unaccounted for. It was monstrous! These bastards had been taking and killing people for decades. "How many of these fuckers are still alive," Louis asked. "Displaying suspects," Feng said. "Here are there most current photos, occupations and ages." "So many," Louis said. "Are any of them in jail?" "Highlighting inmates," she responded. "Twelve out of sixty seven and of those twelve incarcerated only three are for murder or kidnapping." "Show me those connected to law enforcement or people of privilege or power." He asked and he gasped. "Oh my god..." "Louis, what is wrong," Feng asked. "Your heart rate and blood pressure have both spiked." "I feel so damn helpless," he admitted. "How many other people are going to suffer with these people running around free?" "Let me finish my work and worry about it then," she said soothingly. "One thing at a time..." "You are right," he said. "Thank you F... what the holy hell was THAT?!" "Louis?" The surge of energy washed over Louis and left him giddy and light headed. His body seemed to absorb it the way a lightning rod did electricity. It coursed through and after a minute or so he felt normal. It had been so damn strong he could actually determine which direction it had come from. "Show me a map of London and any prominent structures along this line." "Yes Louis," Feng replied throwing up a satellite image of the greater London area and a line running from his location outward. "No fucking way," he said. "Is that Wind Sword Manor?" "Yes it is," Feng said. "Shall I call a cab?" "No, it might just be a coincidence and we are waiting for an invitation. I don't want to just drop by." "Understandable," she replied. "Would you like a run in the gym?" "Fire it up," Louis said as he closed his eyes. It was late in the afternoon before Kat returned. She found Louis soaking in an ice bath. The bruises were prominent but not as bad as when he first awoke. Kat made a distasteful face but then began giving Louis a fashion show. She began with business suits and ended with some steamy lingerie. She finished with a long sensual strip tease and climbing into the shower. "I'm right here," Kat purred. "I know," Louis groaned as he climbed out of the tub. "I'm almost... there... argh..." "Aw you poor thing," she moaned. "Come here I'll make you feel better." She was gentle and between the hot water and her eagerness he did feel better. Though he did have to explain the bruising and Kat found it interesting the neural implant had a direct physical impact. She would mention that to Nick and see how it all shook out in the end. They had just dried off when the phone call came in. It was Carol Masters, one of Jon's twin sisters and she was looking for Jon. The moment that Louis heard that Jon was missing his heart sank. He was positive that the energy surge that he had felt was directly tied to Jon. Kat and Louis agreed to come up to Wind Sword Manor and help look for him. There were a hundred plus acres to search. The closer they came to the manor house the jumpier Louis became. Kat didn't miss this and he told her about the surge he had felt earlier in the day. It was dark by the time the town car reached Wind Sword. The entire Masters clan was assembled and they huddled around the massive stone hearth tossing out ideas for locating Jon. Louis kept looking over at the twins and comparing them. They really were identical. Colleen caught him looking once and despite the situation she smiled at him. "Feng, I want you to run the entire spectrum. Let's get a satellite feed, infrared photography and try to trace his A.I.'s if you can." "I am on it," Feng said and shut down everything else to perform the search. They found nothing. There wasn't a single whisper of his A.I. since noon. It was as if they had fallen off the face of the planet. The manor had already been searched and again no sign of Jon. Louis wanted some fresh air and walked the grounds. There was a residual tingling in the air. He was at the source of whatever event had occurred and possibly spirited Jon away. He shifted his vision to the astral plane and gasped. Wherever he looked, within his line of sight, every living thing was bathed in a weird aura. He squatted down and dug his fingers into the rich soil and found that even the roots of the grass had been affected. "What the hell happened here," Louis said aloud. "I have never seen anything like this." 'You have, just not on this level,' Yog-Sothoth whispered in his mind. "I have," Louis said and looked at a small patch of grass. "No way, how is this even possible?" 'Now that is a good question,' the demon god agreed. "Thanks for the nudge," Louis said. "Don't hear from you much since I went to Japan." 'This is an unusual situation,' Yog-Sothoth laughed. 'This place reeks of another old one.' "Are you saying that Jon or one of his family is affiliated with a being like you?" 'This is exactly what I am saying,' the alien demon chuckled. 'Beware Nyarlathotep...' The aura was a clear sign of Temporal magic. Time magic on this level was unprecedented. Louis himself knew of only a handful of spells that utilized time as a component. Unless this was some sort of technology at work and if it was where the hell did it come from? Add the presence of another alien demon and things get real weird real fast. He had heard the name Nyarlathotep before and not in a good context. This entity was related to the Sultan and his court. He wondered if he needed to return to the Black Cathedral for some answers. It had been years since he had even pondered going back and now he was being drug back because Jon had gone missing. If Jon did have a connection to this old one it could mean really bad things. It was after midnight when Louis returned inside and found blankets and pillows placed on the couch near the hearth. The fire had been built up and plenty of fire wood next to it if he needed it. Kat was nowhere to be seen but he suspected she was sleeping upstairs with the girls. The girls being Jon's mom and sisters, so he just smiled at the visual and stripped down to his boxers and got comfy on the couch. He closed his eyes and drifted to sleep with a smile on his lips. It was pitch black but there was the sound of crashing waves echoing around him. He could smell salt in the air and knew he was close to the ocean. Was this a sea cave? He let the dream unfold and felt the psychic tug and followed it. It led him deeper into the cave system and a queer verdant radiation began to illuminate the tunnel. The tunnel led to a singular vast cavern. Louis stopped at the entrance to the cave and cringed. There was a dim glint of gold at the edge of his vision. Curious, ever curious, Louis walked forward to see what was causing it. It was a child of the Dreamer in the Depths and it had been rendered in an eerie lifelike quality. The statue was twenty feet tall and the man-fish hybrid held a massive trident in one hand. The gold blade of the trident was what was giving off the pale illumination. There was another glint of gold and Louis followed that and another twenty foot statue. This one depicted what books of lore called the First Ones with their barrel shaped bodies, membranous wings and five pseudo feet. The top of the thing was crowned with five cilia covered protrusions whose function could only be guessed at. They were the master geneticists that had been mentioned to Louis years ago. There were other statues and each of them belonged to nightmares and the category of monstrosity. Each of the two story carvings was set so that each was just inside the line of sight of the other. At the center of the satellite statues was the hundred foot effigy of the Dreamer in the Depths. The imagery of the Dreamer was identical to that of the statue in the Black Cathedral except this idol was wrought from green stone. Louis looked up but the ceiling of the cave was shrouded in darkness. He cast the light spell and sent the sphere of radiance skyward until it revealed the roof. He let out a sigh of relief when he saw that the vaulted ceiling was raw stone uneven and free of markings. "Look down," said a voice directly behind him. "Dear god," Louis said as he saw the star map etched into the floor of the cavern. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 07 All characters are 18 years old. Here it is, number 100, I can't believe I've written that much smut, LOL. I hope you enjoy this one. I have had questions since I finished Iron Rain and spread out to all the other story lines. Is Nick Shaw going to be in every story? Is there one continuous plot? When the hell are you going to finish what you started?! So to answer your burning questions here we go. Nick was the first real major character I created and I have a fondness for him and his story. The same is true with most of the major and minor players I have spat out over the last thirteen years. He is kind of the spine that supports my multiverse. Since Jon has done a little tampering here and there not all the stories sync up exactly for a very good reason. I look at each story as a kind of ripple from the main events of Iron Rain. Some are close while others are far different. I am going to go back after I finish Louis' story and cap off the others like possession and a brief moment. I think 'spell' may go as far as ten parts, but no less than nine I think. Once the others are done I am going to move forward with Evil Bitch and tie all the stories together in an epic climax of the entire thing. After that... I have no clue. So here for your reading pleasure is part seven. ***** Demogorgan: Wizard Class Hacker Nishi Oku: Japanese Akhkharu [spy/assassin] Surisa Mee Chang: The Elegant Egotist / Blue Eyed Thai Wizard Class Hacker: Elite programmer specializing in infiltration, data theft and sabotage [Note: There are perhaps a handful of freelance WCH left outside prison cells or working for a government agency. With the arrival of A.I., countermeasures and security is at an all-time high.] Time of the Sword Wind: I made a deal with a devil. I was willing to do whatever it took to protect my family. The entity I had been warned about had ensnared me and threatened those I loved most. It was an insidious thing and I blamed it for the disappearance of Jon Masters. I knew I was a piece on some grand chess board but the manipulations before this had been preparing me for something. But this, this was just a plain old slap in the face. Do what I demand or your loved ones will perish. It was plain and simple. How could I possibly say no? The dark pharaoh smiled when I nodded and agreed to its demands. "Good, I knew you'd see things my way," it purred. "Let's get things started." I had gotten Gabrielle pregnant and that had upset the powers that be. I was supposed to impregnate at least one other woman so that it would even things out. I was prepared to leave the cavern when the demon god shook its head. I was confused but not for long. Nyarlathotep produced something gleaming and glittering from a pocket. He snatched my right wrist and slapped the bracelet on me. "This will take you where you can spread your seed and balance out what you've thrown into chaos." "Does Yog-Sothoth know what you are doing," I asked and the demon nodded and smiled. "We both serve the sultan. Our duties are different but in the end its will shall become manifest." I held up my hand and stared at the device attached to my wrist. The metal gleamed like burnished silver but around the thinnest parts it appeared nearly transparent. It was adorned with sparkling gems of various size, cut and color. My time studying gem cutting I was able to recognize some of the stones but others defied logic and everything I knew of minerology. I heard the dark pharaoh mutter something and the stones blazed to life. I squeezed my eyes shut against the unrelenting brilliance. When it faded I felt a cool breeze on my face. I opened my eyes and recognized my surroundings instantly. I was standing on the back lawn of the Hyde-White Institute. I had spent almost a year here after my return from the Black Cathedral. I had been having non-stop nightmares and ended up here. It had also been my first encounters with the entity known as Yog-Sothoth. My mind was punishing me for the deaths of my companions and my inability to save them from Yig and his children. The virulence of the nightmares had driven me here. It was a safe place to seek treatment and retain some sense of privacy. It was a kind of celebrity hideaway and I remembered two particular drama queens that had been staying at the same time. "I wonder whatever happened to Megan and Milena? They both seemed in a pretty bad way when they were here." Megan's film career had taken a serious nose dive and poor Milena had been struggling with her adult modelling business. As I pondered other people's lives I walked to my favorite part of the institute, the hedge maze. The center of the maze held a secret garden. I walked the shadowed paths of the maze as I remembered the one time my mom had visited me here. I had taken her down these very same paths to show her the garden. The walls were still overgrown but the door remained accessible. I opened the door and peered inside. The checkerboard stonework held the very same arrangement of flowers, how strange. It was as if time had stood still since I had departed. I stepped in and walked towards the center of the garden. The white marble of the statue shone bright in the summer sun. I walked around it as I had so many times in the past. It was a variation of the St. George and the Dragon theme. Here stood St. Michael triumphant with long spear in hand pinning Lucifer to the ground. Brothers pitted against each other but few knew the story behind the second war in heaven. It came about because Lucifer had lost faith in his creator. How could god be all knowing and fail to be aware of the presence of the Nameless? It had eaten away at the highest angel until he snapped. That and the fact that some of their own went over to the side of the enemy. It had been the 'First' who had been sealed away within a tome of magic that was at the core of Lucifer's own fall. I looked at the expression on Lucifer's face and it struck me how placid and yielding it was. I looked up at Michael and was curious, as I always was, with his look of anguish. A gal in Cambodia had once explained to me the role of Master and slave in a sensual relationship. She had said... 'There can be no victory without surrender. The true power in a Master-slave relationship is in the hands of the slave. For without their submission there can be no conqueror.' Those words and the statue complimented each other perfectly. Lucifer had yielded to his brother so that his sibling could retain his power and status among the Watchers. Was my own decision to submit to Nyarlathotep any different? I wanted only to protect and if it meant accepting another's will, so be it. I heard the creak of the garden's door behind me. When I turned and saw who it was I wanted to scream. "Mom, what the hell are you doing here," I cried out. "I have no idea," she said. "I'm not dreaming am I?" "No, I don't think so," I said angry now. "Do you know why I am here? Louis, so many secrets, tell me what the hell is going on!" "It is a long story," I said. "I have kept secrets to protect you." "I know that, but there is a time when keeping things from me does more harm than good." She was right of course. I took her over to the concrete and wooden bench to sit down so I could tell her everything. I hadn't done this since I had shared with Gabrielle. I stared at my feet just as l had when I was a kid and broken a window or something like that. I took a deep breath and launched into everything that had happened since Lily and I found the extra book in the rare book section. I didn't stop until I reached what had occurred in Bob's basement. I held nothing back, especially the dreams I had shared with her, sis and Mara. "So you've been fucking me in my dreams," she replied. "That's your response to all of that," I asked. "Me fucking you in your dreams..." "Louis, I am your mother, it is bad enough you've been violating your sister but... all three of us?" "I thought of them as just dreams," I said. "I guess I was just lying to myself." "I should be upset," Mom told me. "I should be angry at the violation." "You keep saying should be," I said watching her closely. "Yeah, but damn every time I woke up feeling like I had been hammered to pieces I thought it was your dad at first. But he denied it and he had his bad heart and all. Now I know it really was you. I don't know where you learned to make love to a woman but goddamn Louis you are a fucking beast!" "I have played out this conversation in my head a thousand times and it never included you saying anything like that." "So why are we here, really?" She asked and I blushed. "Gabrielle is pregnant," I said and her face lit up. "Apparently that child will upset the balance of power. I need to father another child to set things straight." "So I am here to... oh wow, so you are going to fuck me until I get pregnant is that it?" "Well... it was either that or death to everyone I loved. I had to agree to it..." "Let's get started," mom said as she stood up and began undressing. "Just like that," I asked and she nodded. She straddled my lap and began tugging my shirt off. Was she just a little too eager for this? Then Gabrielle's words came back to haunt me. You've been using the dark magic on them for how long. Mom pressed her naked breasts against my chest as she kissed me. This would never be confused with a motherly peck on the cheek. Her tongue was invading my mouth just as her hands worked on freeing my cock. I grabbed her ass cheeks as we kissed. It was like throwing gasoline on a fire. She was moaning and I gasped when her hands wrapped around the shaft of my erection. "Yahtzee," she cried out as she began stroking me. "You really are that damn big!" "Yep," I said as she spat on the palms of her hands and double stroked me. "Oh damn you are eager!" "Are you kidding me, I have been dreaming about this moment for years now, thanks to you? Take my panties off, please." She said as she lifted her ass off of my lap. "Whatever you want," I said as I tugged them down her round ass to her knees. She sat back down and ground her naked sex against my cock even as she continued stroking me off. I lowered my head to her tits and began licking and biting her nipples. There was my sweet little Latin mother cursing like a sailor. Dreams were one thing but the reality was another matter altogether. She muttered something about being unable to wait any longer. Mom lifted up, aimed my cock towards her soaked slit and dropped down. She impaled herself in a single brutal action. Her cry echoed across the garden and beyond. Her pussy was so wet and warm and tight. She began riding me seconds later. "This is no dream," she growled. "Cock... so thick and long... it's all mine!" I grit my teeth as she slammed her body down against me as hard as she could. The lewd slapping sounds were nearly drowned out by my mother's cries of pleasure. I looked down and watch my cock disappear inside of her. "No pulling out this time kiddo," Mom moaned in my ear. "I want to feel your cock shoot inside of me!" "NNNNNN... so damn close," I whimpered. Mom cried out and ground her cunt against me as she climaxed. I got a breather as she clung to me. All she said was praise about my cock, how thick it was, how deep it hit her and how much pleasure it gave her. After a short stint she was moving again. She started off nice and slow but seeing how close I was she rode me hard and fast. My mom's grunts were loud in my ears as she thrust her hips in a kind of rocking motion. My fingers dug into her ass cheeks as I got closer and closer. She bit her lower lip as I swelled up even bigger inside of her. She knew how close I was. "Give it to me," mom demanded as she fucked me as hard as she could. "Shoot that sweet load into my pussy!" I could feel the heat in my cheeks as I was heartbeats away from blowing my load. I couldn't remain quiet any longer. I cried out as I fired my load into my mother's womb. She sat there and held me close as I gasped for breath. I felt her hands on my head as she ran her fingers through my hair. "I love you Louis," she whispered in my ear. "We can do this together. So can you go again?" "Yeah, I think I can," I said. "If you can bend over this here bench..." "Consider it done," she purred. I learned things about her that no son should ever learn about a parent's sexual appetite. Mara had hinted at how sex starved my mother was. It fell far short of the truth. She showed a side of her I never dreamt existed. I would forget she was my mom and see her as a very sensual creature in need of vigorous feedings. It was the setting of the sun and a growing chill in the air that halted our love play. It didn't feel like hours but it must have been. The jewels on the bracelet flared suddenly to life and I closed my eyes until the brilliance faded to nothing. I opened my eyes and I was on my back staring up at the ceiling of the living room in Wind Sword Manor. I sat up and there I was still on the couch. I looked at my right wrist and the bracelet was gone but in its place a series builder's runes forming an unbroken ring. "I've been marked," I said to myself. "Morning sleepy head," Carol said as she walked into the room, or was it Colleen? "Hey, hope Kat didn't keep you up," I said as I stood up. "Oh my," she said looking down at my morning wood. "I am so sorry," I said but she just smiled. "I'm not," she giggled. "Kat said you were gifted but we didn't believe her. I think she was fibbing, you are bigger than she let on." "Um... I guess I should get dressed and keep looking for Jon." "Yeah, but uh feel free to visit," she offered. "Once all this nasty business is behind us." "How could I possibly say no to that?" I got dressed as Colleen or was it Carol looked on. She licked her lips and led me to the dining room. The rest of the girls were there and Kat was flanked by the twins. "Louis' mom and aunt are twins," Kat was saying as I entered. "They are identical just like you guys." "So he likes twins," Carol said. "This is good to know." "You fibbed," Colleen growled as she sat down next to Kat. "I did," Kat said. "He is bigger than you described," she continued. "Are you being greedy or..." "I uh... well... maybe," Kat stammered. "I already had to share him with two other girls..." "We understand," the twins said in perfect precision. I sat alone and the girls eyed me suspiciously. I ate with my eyes downcast and tried to ignore them and failed. Every time I glanced up they were smiling and speaking in whispers. I could hear what they were saying of course and most of it was rather flattering. One of the maids came in and refilled my coffee and then went to the curtains and opened them. The bright morning light struck me and I squinted as a white hot piece of metal sunk into my brain. I placed my arm over my face until my eyes adjusted. My eyes were still watering but at least the migraine like pain had dropped to a bearable level. I wiped the tears from my face and the twins apologized profusely. "I sometimes get migraines," I said. "I need to get a pair of sunglasses." "No need Louis," Feng chimed in. "Let me just adjust... ah there, how is that?" "Oh, that is better," I sighed. "What did you do?" "The eye drops Kat gave you allow me to adjust the amount and wavelengths of light entering your eyes." "This is just so weird," I said. "I've never had issues with migraines before. Could it be the impact with the wall in Bob's basement?" "Um Louis," Feng said silently through the implant. "It could be the two compounds that Jodi injected into you. Shall I perform a bio scan to see if there are long term effects? Those vials were over a hundred years old. There is no telling how much the contents might have degraded over that time." "I completely forgot about that," I told her. "Do a complete work up and take your time. I don't want you rushing the results." What the hell had she given me? I looked at my hand and turned it over slowly. Professor Griffin had inspired the story of H.G. Well's the invisible man. In the story it had driven the protagonist insane. They had told me I would have died if she hadn't injected me with the contents of those hidden vials. What sort of research had he been working on? "Louis, are you okay," Kat asked seeing my expression. "Yeah, just pondering something," I said and smiled. "I am fine." I finished my third cup of coffee and stood up. I told Jon's family that I would continue looking for him. Feng followed me while Kat stayed behind and played emotional support for Jon's mother and sisters. I went outside and found a quiet place where I could attempt a few spells to try and trace the epicenter of the temporal explosion. This is fucking nuts, why the hell would Jon be messing around with that kind of force? It could all be an accident. That would explain a lot. He had no idea whatever he was doing would have such a huge impact. This of course was all speculation. I would have to locate the source to prove anything. I tailored a few simple spells to try and triangulate ground zero of the event I had felt just the day before. I cast the spell and once more felt the tug of temporal energy. It was coming from inside the manor house. I followed the pull until it led to an iron bound door. It was locked. I found one of the maid's and she balked at unlocking the door. It was Jon's mother that produced a set of keys and followed me downstairs as the spell directed me onward. "So you and Kat have an open relationship," she asked out of nowhere. "Yeah, she understands," I replied as we entered the torture chamber. "I have commitment issues." "This is Jon's playroom," she purred now. "He has interesting tastes, that is for sure," I replied as we continued forward. "Can I ask a personal question," she asked her lips next to my ear and her breasts pressing against my back. "I have a feeling you'd ask no matter what I said. But uh sure, ask away." "Have you ever had sex with an older woman before," she asked her arms slipping around my waist from behind. "We are looking for your missing son," I reminded her. "Yes I have had older partners. They are both eager and quite gifted lovers. What is down there?" "Oh that is just Charlie's lab," she replied pressing her tits harder against my back. "Who is Charlie? Has anyone seen him lately?" "He has a place on the property. He should be there now." We walked into the lab and there on the floor was the source for the temporal explosion. The alien runes that belonged to Iyaden's people were etched on the floor in an intricate circle. They were scorched and burned out from the accident. This was the proof I had been looking for. This was bad and there was no telling if Jon was even alive. The force of the blast could have killed him outright or if he had been displaced as Nyarlathotep had said. He could have been propelled forward or backward to any given millennium. The smell of ozone was strong in the air as well as the tingling of residual tachyons. I had dropped down to one knee to examine the runes. "What is that," Jon's mother asked. "It could be the reason why and how he disappeared," I said as I turned my head to look at her. "Um... you are shaved... I mean why are you flashing me your bald pussy?" "When I get like this I need something to take my mind off how bad things are." "If I do something I will regret it. Wouldn't you prefer it when I won't hate myself afterward?" "So you do find me attractive," she said and I shook my head. "You are very attractive Mrs. Masters," I said and she flinched. "Call me Heather," she begged. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 07 I agreed and she lowered her skirt. What the hell was in the water? Jon was missing and the twins and their mother were thinking about sex instead of how to find him. Were they that incapable of dealing with loss? I stopped and stood up. Who was I to judge? I had fucked my own mother to keep her from the mechanizations of a demonic god. "I am sorry Heather," I told her. "I know what you're going through. When my sister was kidnaped I lost my mind. Please forgive me." "I didn't know," she said as she pulled me into her arms. "Is she okay?" "She is recovering from her ordeal. But she should be alright in the long run. Let's go find Charlie and see what was going on down here." She clung to my arm and directed me up and out of the manors underground. We picked up the rest of Jon's family as well as Kat. Heather pointed the way but never let go of my arm. I had to admire Kat; she let it slide for now. The out building and Charlie's living space were quite a distance from the main house. There was a cobblestone path that we followed and ended near what appeared more like an industrial structure than what should have been living quarters for the help. It should have housed the male and female staff members. Instead was a building that had reinforced steel walls, thick glass brick windows and power lines that looked like they could carry some serious current. I reached out and knocked on the door. I could hear her heartbeat as she hesitated before opening the door. Her breathing was a little ragged but she opened the door anyway. What the hell? I normally had to consciously enhance my senses but they seemed to be on overdrive since... since the damn injections. The woman was of average height, long dark hair and a very impressive bosom. The translucent top she was wearing gave me quite the view of her hard nipples and dark areoles. I looked up from my checking out her rack to find her smiling. "Um... is Charlie here," I asked and she nodded. "Charlie, you have company put some damn clothes on," she called out. "I'm Becca by the way." "Louis, I am sure you know the rest," I said. "Come on in, Charlie doesn't usually get up this early," Becca said as she sashayed into the kitchen. "Coffee, I am going to fix a fresh pot." "Sure," I said and looked at the Masters clan and Kat but they all turned it down. "I guess it's just me then." "Excellent, that means more for me," she purred. "Charlie! Get your ass up Kat is here you lazy fuck!" Becca couldn't have been older than her late teens, early twenties tops and yet she reminded me of my mom when yelling at my dad. The pang of loss hit a lot harder than I expected. A figure appeared from around the corner and his eyes were half closed and mumbling something unintelligible. "Cccc..." he began and cleared his throat. "Coffee you old witch... oh hey what are all these... Kat, Heather, Carol, Colleen... who the hell are you?" "His name is Louis," Becca purred again. "He likes my tits." "Oh he does, does he? Great, they are all natural by the way. She was born with those beauties. So what brings you guys?" "Jon is missing," I said and the sound of a coffee cup hitting the floor could be heard. "Becca, are you alright?" "Yeah, you caught me off guard," she replied as she went to get a broom. "Missing, hey Tesla ping Umbra for me will ya?" Charlie said. "No response," a voice said over hidden speakers. "I am unable to detect Master Jon or any of his A.I.'s." "That's damn odd," Charlie said scratching his chin. "Speaking of odd," I said. "We looked for him in your lab. Who etched that circle on the floor? Was it Jon?" "No," Charlie said. "I did. You think a little floor decoration had something to do with him disappearing?" "Interesting characters," I said. "Feng give me a virtual screen. I wonder if you realize you made a mistake." I drew the proper configuration the runes should have been placed in. Charlie stared at the hologram and his jaw was wide open. Becca poured my cup of coffee and I fixed it with cream and sugar as Charlie walked around the hovering image three times. Becca lifted up her skirt and flashed me her trimmed pussy. She had shaped her pubic hair into a downward facing arrow. I giggled and she just smiled. The next sound was the familiar whine of a gauss pistol charging. I looked over at Charlie and he had it aimed at my head. "Who the FUCK, are you," he asked his eyes narrowed in a mix or fear and rage. "I am the guy sleeping with your boss," I said indicating Kat. "Put the weapon down Charlie," Kat said even as Becca grabbed my ass. "Did she just cop a feel," Charlie asked and I nodded. "Fuck man you scared the shit out of me!" He lowered the weapon and I heard the comforting sound of him thumbing the safety. How the hell did Charlie even know about the character's Iyaden's people used? He was looking at me with the same expression. Charlie looked back at my configuration and smiled. He called it fucking brilliant and we became fast friends. There was something odd about Charlie and Becca. Was it his mannerisms or the way he spoke? Becca was a stone cold nympho and I was okay with that. It seemed like all the women on this property were horny as hell and I wondered if Jon was keeping them all happy. If so I was damned impressed. "How long has he been missing," Charlie asked finally. "He disappeared noon yesterday," I said. "There was a surge of tachyons that originated here." "I fear we are in for a waiting game," Charlie said thoughtfully. "Coffee woman... um please?" "Here you are you art fart," Becca said and then caught herself. "I mean... oh just take it already." I glanced at Becca and she blushed as she sipped her own coffee. There was that weird feeling again. I pushed it to the side since finding Jon was top priority, but it remained on the back burner. Becca appeared to be in her late teens and yet she talked like she was in her sixties or so. She had an amazing body and was flirting for all she was worth and yet she seemed quite attached to Charlie. Maybe they had an open relationship? It was confusing as hell. Charlie was as odd as Becca so I guess they complimented each other just fine. "Scan complete," Feng silently chimed in. "So what have you found Feng," I said and Kat looked at me worried. "The effects of the injections are ongoing," she said. "I could list the hundred or so subtle changes if you wish or I could simply tell you the major impacts to your health." "For now let's just cover the important things I need to know." I said and found Becca holding my hand. "I am going to display to your optical interface unless you wish everyone to know. This was your last scan at the hospital showing your neural activity. This is the scan I just performed. As you can see your activity is thirty percent higher than the high point during your training. The areas of highest impact cover sensory input, cognitive functions and memory. I suspect that if you were to take an I.Q. test you would score drastically higher." "But that doesn't change does it," I asked and she shook her head. "So it has to be the injection. What else?" "Besides heightened synaptic function it also appears musculature and reflexes have been improved as well. The upper limit won't be known until I can monitor you during training or some form of exertion." "Alright, that's enough for now." I said and thanked her. "I will be fine it appears. No adverse reactions to what happened at Bob's." "Thank goodness," Kat said smiling. "I am happy for you," Becca said giving my hand a squeeze. Talk about a one eighty, Becca went from flirty teen to motherly worry is seconds flat. We still had to find Jon and Charlie needed to explain the runes. I kissed Becca's hand and let go. I looked Charlie in the eye and headed outside. He followed me while the women stayed with Becca. There were two rocking chairs on the side of the house that faced a nearby pond. We sat down and he grilled me and I couldn't help but smile. "How do you even know about the Heirorunes," he asked. "Is that what you call them," I asked and he nodded. "I guess it doesn't matter now. I have a gift for languages, all languages. I encountered them first in a dream and then by a woman whose people created your Heirorunes. I learned the spoken word very quickly and the written over time. It is a very complex written language." "Tell me about it," Charlie said. "Can I hear it? Will you say something in it?" "Say what," I asked. "How about I love you Becca," he suggested. "Um... Sa'lsa'lon ual Becca," I said after a moment. He smiled and burned those words into his memory. Then his story came spilling out in a series of jumbled narratives that talked about a life lived in shadow and haunted by dreams that he kept in a series of diaries that had his Heirorunes recorded in them. His life covered decades and I sat there staring at him until it finished with his story about a rogue A.I. named Sterling. It had been a woman under the influence of this Sterling that had laced drinks for both Charlie and Becca with some sort of crystalline nanites. These microscopic robots had literally turned back the clock for them both. That explained Becca's behavior as well as Charlie's. We spent the rest of the time talking about how to find Jon. If he had somehow been catapulted backward or forward in our timeline it was indeed a waiting game. If backward he could be long dead anywhere on earth. If forward we would have to catch up to him. We were praying for the latter. Charlie got up and went in for another cup of coffee. I leaned back in the chair and enjoyed the view. It was a western view and I imagined how many sunsets they had watched together. I closed my eyes and let my mind drift for a bit. When I had trouble with a problem this would usually, as Gabrielle called it, shake things loose. Normally I would dismiss the entire concept of time travel out of hand. But I knew that my, I stopped for a long moment when I tried to define my relationship with Yog-Sothoth. Was the demon god my patron, my friend or something else? He had tampered with my biology to remove what it viewed as human contaminants. Friends don't do that sort of thing so I could scratch him off that list. It had been a kind of mentor over the years. Did that make it my patron? I suppose it did. Now the question came to mind, was Nyarlathotep Jon's patron? It sure sounded like it from what little I had heard from the dark pharaoh himself... itself. Sure it could take on a human form but that didn't make it human or even a male or female. The pharaoh said that it and Yog-Sothoth both served the sultan. I had seen the image of the sultan on the apex of the dome of the dreamer. If these two demon gods were so far beyond me as I was above an insect how much more powerful was this sultan compared to them? It staggered the mind. "Shhhh..." a soft feminine voice whispered as a weight settled onto my lap. Her lips touched mine and I kissed her back. The surprise of the erotic contact stoked my hunger to a white hot flame. I slipped my arms around her waist and her tongue slipped into my mouth and the kiss deepened to a new level. I knew by this time that the woman wasn't Kat. Call it experience, I knew how she kissed and this wasn't her. It could've been Becca or Heather; all I had to do was open my eyes. But that would ruin the moment so I kept them closed. It was the mystery woman that broke the kiss. It was only then that I opened my eyes. "Um... who are you," I asked to the perfect stranger. "It's complicated," she said and smiled. "What did you just say?" "I said that it is complicated Louis," she replied as giggled. "I must be a fairly good kisser to get you in such a state." "Can't be helped," I said as I pondered which spell to cast. "Don't even think about it," she said her mood darkening. "I don't take that sort of thing lightly." "Gotcha," I said and she smiled again. "Clever creature," she replied as she reached down and unzipped me. "My, that is an impressive weapon you have there. Let's see how well it works, shall we." She rose up and impaled herself before I could react. Her pussy was unlike any woman I had ever been with before or since. She was tight, soaked and deliciously warm. I got a good look at her for the very first time. She was beyond the beauty of any mortal woman. She seemed surprised at what she was experiencing. "Your first time," I asked and she nodded. "So... what do you think?" "MMMMMMMMMM... I never knew copulation could be so pleasant," she purred. "What do I call you," I asked as she began moving her hips. "I would normally respond Goddess, but I suppose sweetie will do for now." "Most women using the G word are arrogant and narcissistic," I said as I grabbed her by the hips. "But you I firmly believe fall into that category, sweetie." I began lifting her up and thrusting up to meet her as I pulled her down. Sweetie's eyes widened in surprise but only let out a melodious moan as I took charge. The longer we fucked the louder she got and I half expected a rush of female bodies from the inside. That never happened, even when sweetie climaxed and she screamed no one came to investigate. I held her close as she collected herself. "So that was an orgasm," she moaned softly. "I like them, give me more..." I stood up with her still impaled and placed her back against the wall of the house. Her clothing seemed to evaporate and may never have really existed for all I knew. I thrust slowly at first and then built up speed and force. Sweetie wrapped those long ass legs of hers around me and dug her nails into my back. For a woman that had never had sex before she was learning quickly. Instinct kicked in and the dark magic wrapped around and penetrated her. If she felt it she did nothing to impede it. I dared to take a tiny portion of her life stuff. That, as they say in hindsight, was a bad idea, a really-really bad idea. She knew what I was doing and didn't bother stopping me. It wasn't like I could actually do her any harm. The jolt of power that struck me was like a bolt of lightning hitting a bug. The scream that escaped my lips echoed over the field and raced all the way to the manor house. No one came to my aid. I was still locked in the intimate embrace with this woman. "Ah, you are alive," she said as she rode my cock. "I didn't want to waste a perfectly good erection." "What are you," I whispered through dry cracked lips. "I told you before. Gaze downwards and see my mark and then you shall know me." While the rest of the world was hazy and out of focus, she was crystal clear. Oh gods, it hurt just to move my eyes, there just above her sex was a bright red hourglass. How the hell did I manage to miss that? Oh yeah she was dressed when she first sat on my lap. She was a black widow or maybe she was THE black widow. Was she going to kill me once she was done fucking me? No wait, she said she was a virgin. "You were a virgin right," I asked and she nodded as she thrust her hips downward on my hard spike of flesh. "I was, but now I am your whore Louis," she giggled. "Your cock is the first and only one that will ever pierce my flesh. You should feel honored." "I am very honored, hell I'd actually enjoy this if every nerve ending wasn't on fire." "All you had to do was ask," she said and the pain was gone. "Ooh that got you even harder. I like that." "So you are my divine whore huh," I said and shook my head. "You know, when I was a kid I never even believed in god. I thought people that went to church were idiots and fools. Then I went to the Black Cathedral and encountered Yig and the Dreamer in the Depths and saw the image of the sultan and his court. I have walked around the last few years with a demon god in my fucking head. It decided I was too puny to survive and changed me in ways that it saw fit. I have a deranged angel hunting my ass for killing the First. Nyarlathotep wants me to impregnate women to make up for getting my Inquisitor girlfriend pregnant. Then there's you, some spider goddess from who the fuck knows where and the one thing I don't know is why. Why the fuck, do all of these things keep happening to me! Do I have a goddamn target on my fucking back?! Can you tell me why?" "Because," she said as she climaxed. "It's your dad's fault." I came two more times and the Weaver, as she called herself, got off a whopping six more times. Then as suddenly as she appeared she was gone. But those words of hers burned in my mind. It's your dad's fault. I returned to the rocking chair and sat back down. I looked out over that pond and spewed out a litany of curses. Who or what the fuck was this guy that pissed off gods and demons? I must not have mattered since he never showed his ugly mug from day one. So I was just a one night stand. Great, just fucking great, if I ever meet this fucker I am gonna bust his jaw and then ask why. "Louis," Kat said snapping me out of my fugue. "Oh hey, I guessed you missed all the action," I said. "What are you talking about," she asked confused. "All the noise from out here," I said and she made another confused face. "Louis, there is an open window right above your head," she said pointing. "I came out to check up on you. You've been out here for hours." "Hours... I don't think she was here that long," I said. "Never fucking mind, I am hungry." "Let's go back to the manor house and get a bite." Kat suggested. "Does it smell like sex out here?" Sword of the Time Wind: We had all returned to the manor house for lunch. I was offered a spot on the couch with Carol and Colleen to watch the news. I was in the middle and as I munched some stew they took turns sniffing my hair. I put my bowl of stew down and looked at one of the twins and then the other. I paused and pondered how I was going to delicately ask my question. "Do I need to take a shower," I asked. "You keep sniffing me." "Man, he does smell good," Heather said from behind the couch. "Oh," I stammered. "Sorry I just... Carol why is your head in my lap?" "I'm colleen and I didn't think you'd mind," she purred. "Kat isn't going to..." I began as Kat appeared. "I'm not going to what," she said and then saw where Colleen's head was. "You're right... move it blondie!" Colleen made a noise like 'humph' and sat up. I picked up my bowl of stew and glanced at the television screen. They were interrupting the broadcast. What followed made me almost drop my bowl. There was a devastating series of explosions. Both government and private prisons were involved. Thousands of violent offenders had been killed but amazingly there were few if any guards injured in the incident. Apparently, according to what few records remained, alarms and claxons sounded signaling an evacuation. The guards didn't learn until it was too late what was happening. A single hacker was taking credit for the event, Demogorgon. "Who the hell is this Demogorgon?" I asked and Feng chimed in. "It will take time to crack the security around the DoD, but I will do what I can." She replied. "Wait, are you ordering your A.I. to hack the Department of Defense?" Heather asked. "No, she is offering to do it all on her own," I replied. "There is a difference." "What makes you any different from this Demogorgon character," Heather fired back. "I want to find and stop them and I didn't just blow up a bunch of maximum security prisons." "Hey did I miss much," Jon asked from the front door. The ensuing chaos left me with mixed feelings. The Masters family was reunited and he appeared unharmed. I had a lot of questions but they would have to wait for his homecoming. I gestured to Kat and she nodded. It was time for us to leave and let them have their moment. Jon had other ideas. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 07 "Where are you two going," he asked. "You've been missing for an entire day," I said. "Your family has been worried sick. They deserve time to celebrate your safe return." "It was a blink of an eye for me," he said and I could tell that he was lying. "Tempus Fugit," I said and he smiled. "Yes time does fly," he agreed. "Let's order out and celebrate. I want all of my friends here. It is obvious you were here for my family and I appreciate that." "I guess we have no choice, your Grace," Kat replied and I surrendered. I returned to my spot on the couch and Feng had hijacked the plasma screen for her own purposes. I caught her crossing off people from a very specific list. Everyone involved in Lily's disappearance had been killed. The multiple screens she was using were following a series of news reports about accidents, murders and of course the deaths due to the prison explosions. It appeared that over the last three weeks the deaths had begun culminating in the dramatic event today. I couldn't believe that Feng would go that far and I was right. "I can't believe he did this," she whispered. "Who," I sent directly to her via the neural implant. "If I tell you, you will be very cross with me." "If you don't I will shut you down for a week. You can sit in your virtual world that entire time." "It was Master Nick," she said after a long deliberation. "I asked for his help. He made resources available to me and he was eager to see those responsible for what happened to Lily pay. The death toll needed to be stopped." "You did good," I said. "So is Nick this Demogorgon character?" "Highly unlikely," Feng replied. "The first occurrence of the mention of the name Demogorgon dates back to the early seventies. He or she was an activist and was anti-big government as well as anti-corporation. They have been fairly active even up to the last decade when they fell off the grid." "Just about the time that Numenor Tech was founded a coincidence?" "Your logic is impeccable," Feng agreed. "Demogorgon has returned to their old habits or worse case has learned how to hack an A.I." It was entirely possible that Demogorgon was taking credit for Nick's handiwork. Or Nick was hiding behind the Demogorgon moniker. Feng returned the display to normal and a single news item dominated the airwaves. I had wanted revenge I won't deny it. But this, I never wanted this. I would never go this far. Then I remembered a conversation with Kat about her brother. It was the night I had met her for the very first time. Nick had used a backdoor in Feng's programming to steal copies of my rendering of the dome of the dreamer. He had sent Kat to negotiate my deciphering a certain artifact. I had told her how angry I had been but she explained how Nick thought. He is very linear, she had said, he sees a problem and attacks it head on. He often doesn't think of the consequences. Well, this is a grade A sample of not thinking things through. Unless of course this is just the first salvo in something much bigger, that was a frightening thought. That thought was derailed when the staff went to work and began preparing for one hell of a party. Jon was pulling out all the stops and even included raiding the manor house's wine cellar. He was giving orders and delegated the real details to Heather. He somehow managed to disentangle himself from the twins. I was beginning to wonder how deep a brother's love ran. Was incest that common in this generation? "Hey Louis, let's talk," he said as he stepped outside. I followed him out and we walked in silence for a few minutes. It appeared Jon was collecting his thoughts so I gave him all the time he required. The path we were taking headed for the cliffs that gave Wind Sword Manor its name. The breeze coming off these cliffs during the winter were said to be brutally cold and unrelenting. But to my surprise there were a series of dark metallic looking stones. If they had once been worked and smooth that had been centuries ago. They seemed to form a kind of stone circle but with much less order to them than Stonehenge. "I come here to think when things get overwhelming," Jon said in his rich tenor. "I have spent quite a bit of time here lately. I lied to my family to keep them from worrying about me." "I know the feeling. I've kept some pretty heavy secrets myself until lately." "I have a few things to give you before you head off to Japan." Jon said. "How the hell could you possibly know I was going there? I hadn't really decided until a few hours ago." "It is what I would do," he said and laughed. "You are so unlike your siblings and yet I can see certain qualities in you that I admire, hell, even respect." "So, this you is my father," I said understanding now. "You went backwards didn't you? Mara saw the older you with my mom. Wow, that makes a perverted sort of sense. How long...?" "Too long son," he said. "I may not have the right to call you that but you have my blood flowing through your veins. I wasn't there at the beginning of your life but I will do my best now." "I had a dad. He died three months ago. I could use a friend though." "That is more than I expected," he said as he smiled and offered me his hand. "Here is your first gift." "Huh, I don't..." I began when something dropped out of the sky and crushed me beneath its weight. That is how it felt. I imagined Thor throwing Mjolnir from the Bifrost Bridge and clobbering me with it. I could almost see the ground beneath me collapse and form a nice perfectly circular crater. I cried out as I felt every muscle and nerve contract and fire at the very same instant. I was prone when the sensation left me. Jon was there to help me to my feet. "I am impressed," he said grinning like a Cheshire Cat. "You truly are my son." "What... what the hell did you do to me," I gasped as I tried to talk. "It is a formidable gift for the Last Born. Traditionally the heirs to a legacy are the first born. I always thought that was rot. You are the last child I will sire and so I convey on you a simple yet effective ability. Think of it as instinctual adaptation. I won't go into great detail, I don't want to ruin the surprise, but your touch has grown by leaps and bounds." "I look forward to finding out, uh damn that smarts," I growled. "Thanks and all but I need to sit down..." "One more thing," he said handing me a smooth black rod. "What is this," I asked as I took it from him. "Do you remember the small figurine in my office that day? It was the one that looked like a Martian, the one that came from the meteorite. The rod is made from a highly refined form of that meteoric ore. That said the ore is, how do I explain it, a kind of psycho-sensitive material. Your thoughts alter and shape it with a whim." "So if I need a Bo Staff... whoa," I said as I was now holding a Bo Staff in my hand. "Remember that color, texture and size are limited by your imagination." I told him about everything that had happened since I had found the tome. He had just become my latest confidant. I finished and we walked around the strange metallic stones as he processed all that I had told him. His expression was utter confusion and then he smiled. "You fucked the Weaver and she let you live," he said. "Nobody fucks that crazy bitch and lives." "She said she was a virgin," I replied feeling lied to. "She was a virgin," Jon replied. "That was only her second time taking human form. The first time she only showed herself. I feel, well, cheated, I thought for sure she would bed me." "Are you jealous," I asked and he made a face. "Oh my god you are! You are jealous that she fucked me. What does that even mean? Is she going to have my kid?" "I have no idea," Jon said. "Her children are well highly advanced as far as species go. They are immortal and free of the confines of a single dimension or universe." I wasn't sure how to respond to that. Yeah, I felt like a bug. This Weaver was way up the evolutionary ladder compared to any human being. The single moment I touched her life force was like leaping into the heart of a sun. I am not sure there is really a comparison to it. Then that damnable thought crept in and cast doubt on it, you survived. I had brushed against a cosmic bug zapper and lived. Somehow beyond the odds I had touched god and lived to tell the tale. To take my mind off that thought I began playing with my new toy. I stepped away from Jon and went through a few weapon katas. I began with the Bo Staff and ended with a sword. I liked it. I changed his gift into a wrist watch and slipped it on to cover up the builder runes on my right wrist. We returned to the manor and drank ourselves stupid drunk. The girls were dancing and Jon, Charlie and I got to enjoy the entertainment. Jon seemed emotionally overwhelmed as he tried to reenter his life. He had confided in me how long he had been gone. It wasn't a measurement of distance but of time. It took the wind out of my sails. I had been complaining about a mere six or so years while he had been hurtled an unimaginable epoch of time. Could I have survived? Would I have wanted to? His soul must be tempered steel. "Oh hey," Jon said slurring his speech badly. "I almost forgot to give you this." "Uh thanks Jon," I said taking the polished black stone. "What is it?" "A detailed scan of the Weaver's body down to the nanometer," he giggled. "Enjoy." "How do I access it?" I asked. "Oops sorry," he giggled. "Here let me... Umbra, give him the thingy." "Do you mean a program to access the crystal?" Umbra asked manifesting like a genie from a bottle. "Yesssh," Jon said. "As you wish sir," Umbra replied and fired off an update to Feng. "Will there be anything else?" "Nah, I am going upstairs to get busy. See ya in the morning." If there was any doubt that Jon was intimate with his siblings it was removed when his sisters helped him upstairs and Heather made some sort of excuse and followed them a little while later. He is going to take on all three as drunk as he is. Jon was made of some seriously sturdy stuff. Charlie got up and smiled and headed for the front door. I guess Becca and he were heading off but to my surprise he was accompanied by the two maids. The same ones that had not just help set up the party but were also dancing earlier. That left Kat, Becca and me in the living room. "Wanna see a magic trick," Becca asked as she dropped down next to me. "Ooh I do... I do..." Kat said sitting on my other side. "I will need a volunteer from the audience. How about you young lad," Becca asked her hand on my thigh. "Sure, what do I need to do?" I said. "Just sit there," Becca said as she unzipped me and freed my cock. "Ooh..." Kat purred in my ear. "I love magic." "See this fine cock lady and gentleman. I am going to make it disappear." Becca moaned. "Now you see it..." She said as she deep-throated me in one smooth motion. "Now you don't," Kat growled. I moaned as Becca began making love to my erection with her tongue and mouth. Kat stripped down and helped the bent over Becca get naked as well. She was a small package of eager lust. Kat stood up on the couch and placed a foot on either side of me. That put her soaked pussy right in my face. I reached up and cupped her ass cheeks and buried my face between her legs. So while Becca sucked me off I drove my tongue deep inside Kat's pussy. As I tasted her deepest parts I could hear her heart speed up. I could hear the wet sloppy sounds of Becca as she licked, stroked and sucked my dick. I could also hear the soft whispers of Carol and Colleen on the steps behind us. "Boy Becca really does know how to suck a cock," Carol gasped. "She sure does,' Colleen added. "Ya think Jon will wear mom down before or after he passes out?" Carol asked. "Dunno, but she does have seniority. I just wish we could get some dick tonight." Colleen bemoaned. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Carol purred. "He already has two on top of him," Colleen said. "But there is always room for more. I'll take Becca you take Kat." "MMMMMM, you read my mind," Carol agreed. I could hear as they dropped pieces of clothing on the stairs as they approached. Colleen knelt behind Becca and began eating her out as Carol began tonguing Kat's unprotected ass. I began doing the math and knew of only one possible solution. I needed some privacy to pull it off though. I decided to bring it up once Kat had her first climax; it was only fair after all. I swelled my tongue inside of her and her cry of surprise echoed off the vaulted ceiling. "Oh shit Louis," Kat howled. "That tongue of yours is driving me crazy!" I could only listen to what was going on around me. But what I did hear was amazing and what I felt Becca doing was even better! If I had to rate oral skills Becca was at the top of my list. I was torn between her and Surisa as the most talented sucker of cocks. As if sensing something Becca's lips wrapped around the base of my dick and remained there. She was doing something and whatever the hell it was felt amazing. I swelled my tongue to a new thickness and that created the cascade. Kat came off around my tongue and a second later I was shooting my load down Becca's throat. The girls withdrew and huddled up for a full minute. "If we are to continue we need some privacy," I told them. "Is there a spare room?" "There are plenty of rooms," Carol said. "I know just the one," Colleen added. "Ooh yeah, that will be perfect," Carol continued in twin speak. The five of us went upstairs to what could have passed as the Master bedroom. I closed the door and locked it. I stripped down and positioned the girls evenly around the room. They appeared confused but I placed a finger to my lips. They nodded and waited patiently. "You wanna see a magic trick," I said and they all nodded. "Good now I want you all to relax and no matter what you see trust me, okay?" "Okay," they agreed. "Here... we... go..." I said as I invoked the spell. The fog appeared on the ceiling and the floor. The girls looked up and down and then squealed in delight when the whip-like appendages appeared and gripped their wrists and ankles. I lifted them up off the floor and held them spread legged for my viewing pleasure. Normally I would wait to tie my senses into the spell but I was eager tonight. As the phallic tentacles appeared I was already intimately tied to them. I used them to caress and tease the girls at first. But that isn't what they wanted so we moved on. We all gasped as the tentacles slid inside the girls. We began with a simple penetration but the girls were eager for more. I called on more tentacles and each girl was being pleasured by three of them. One between their legs, another between their tits and the last between their lips, the level of pleasure reached a new height quickly. The dark magic rose up and divided evenly between all of them. I could feed from them without harming any of the girls. The twins had a decidedly cute habit of climaxing at the exact same moment. The longer I fucked them the faster the girls synced up. Soon all of them were reaching climax simultaneously. "Shall we stop or raise the stakes," I asked and withdrew the tentacles from between their lips. "Raise it up... More... Give it to me..." They cried out in answer. "Okay here we go," I told them as four more tentacles dropped from the foggy ceiling. "Wait, where is that going," Becca asked just as the slick and slender tendril slid inside her ass. "Oh god... I've never... NNNNNNNN Booyah!" "I think she likes it," the twins giggled in one voice. I gestured and returned the tentacles to their mouths and the erotic orchestra really began. I was juggling pleasuring them all and driving them over and over again to one climax after the other. I fired off my loads between lips, into tight pussies and even tighter asses. They were filled and covered in cum before our time was over. When the begging began I cancelled the spell and sent them into a dream filled sleep. They would all remember that we had been intimate but the details would be foggy. I couldn't afford them to know the truth. Gabrielle held that singular honor. No wait, I had told mom everything. There were two women who knew everything. While the four of them cuddled in the massive king sized bed I was buzzing with sexual energy. I showered and dressed in clothes provided in the chest of drawers. I decided to do some snooping and wandered around the manor. There were plenty of bedrooms, each done in a particular theme, as well as bathrooms that matched the bedrooms. It sounded like Jon and Heather were still going at it. I let them be and found the one locked door on the second floor. Feng informed me that it was heavily secured and required a DNA scan to open. I found the hidden panel and pressed my hand to it. I never really expected anything other than a negative buzz. To my utter shock there was a solid click and the door opened. I went up the stairs and found the top floor unlike anything I would have ever expected. The green house was enclosed behind walls of glass. I could see the fading light of sunset streaming in from the roof. I found a second security panel but this one was out in the open. I place my hand upon it and once more the door slid open. It was like a tropical jungle inside. The air was thick with moisture and I thought I was entering a cloud forest. I didn't recognize any of the flowers but at least a few of them looked like orchids. I headed for the center of the garden and the round window in the ceiling above it. There, in the floor, was a metallic dome about six feet in diameter. It was lined with LED lights and was the centerpiece of his garden. I squatted down to examine the dome. I reached out to touch it and some sort of mechanism activated. The dome lifted up and the LED lights flickered to life. I watched in fascination as the dome hovered six feet in the air. It appeared that there was a hot tub of some sorts beneath. I recognized the mineral smell coming from the water instantly. It was the same as that of the water from the Black Cathedral. But there was no monolith or obelisk feeding the pool. As I knelt there a metallic ring rose up and took up a position three feet in the air. It too was lit with those LED lights. I decided to see what exactly this pool was. I stripped down and ducked under the lower ring and stood inside the rings and on top of the water. Something kept my feet from making contact with the pool. The lights changed color from white to green. I watched in fascination as the water rose up creating a column inside the metal rings. It crept up slowly but showed no signs of stopping. I knew that I could shift my lungs and breathe it in easily enough. I did this as the water rose above my head. The rings rose and I felt my feet leave the floor. I was floating in the pillar and felt the familiar tingling sensation of the regeneration taking effect. I closed my eyes and let the water work its magic upon me. I drifted and felt the dream take hold. It was a sinuous sensation as the tendrils of dark magic enfolded me. I was hovering in the center of a star field. Entire galaxies and clusters of trillions of stars moved and swirled around me. The colors unknown to humanity filled my vision. I knew I was seeing the entire band ranging from x-rays, gamma and full visual light spectrum. What the hell had inspired this? "I did," a sensuous voice whispered in my ear from behind me. "Weaver," I said feeling a pinch of fear enter me. "I never thought I'd ever see you again." "I have something to admit to you," she moaned as her breasts pressed against my naked back. "I miss your touch. You have infected me." Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 08 All characters are 18 years or older. Welcome to the eight installment of this series. I hope you enjoy. This will hopefully fill in some of the gaps I have been hinting at in previous stories. Please feel free to vote, comment or offer suggestions. This is a long one, it took a while to weave it all together. ***** HIPS: Hiding In Plain Sight [a franchise of clubs for nonhumans] There were work crews everywhere. The tsunami had done billions in damage to Tokyo bay and the surrounding areas. Today was the grand reopening of National Route 409 bridge and tunnel system. It connected the cities of Kawasaki and Kisarazu. The cities were on opposite sides of the bay and had both sustained horrific damage when the fifty foot wave struck the coast. Those that had been using the tunnel had been evacuated in time only to drown minutes later in the streets. The death toll was in the tens of thousands and if not for the early warning system it would have been much worse. Even with the twenty minute warning they were little they could do. The people were in the midst of an evacuation when the wave hit. People were packed in traffic and many drowned in their cars or swept out to sea. I had avoided seeing my handiwork for as long as I could but it was inevitable that I return and see what I had done. It didn't matter than anyone in our team could have been the harbinger of such destruction. It had been me that had entered and triggered the device. I could only imagine the families standing on this beach and wondering as the water receded a hundred feet or so. Did they even imagine what was happening? The sea side communities took the brunt of the wave but once it entered the bay there was no escaping the calamity. The houses are so tightly packed together they went down like dominos and left a hundred thousand homeless. But it wasn't just residences it was schools, businesses and places of worship. Was it unavoidable? We went there looking for answers and by god we found them. "Are you still beating yourself up over the tsunami," Surisa asked. "For heaven's sake it could just as easily have been me that went in there. It should have been me actually, but somebody took matters into his own hands, remember." "I remember, I was trying to save you from the responsibility." I told her. "New Guinea, the Philippines, Taiwan and of course Japan, over two hundred thousand lives lost." "I don't need anyone to rescue me Louis, not now and sure as hell not then." She growled. "We are friends but you are a fucking martyr. I have been my own person for a long time now. If you value our friendship there will never be a repeat of your fucking Don Quixote complex. You want to joust windmills do it the hell away from me. Let's get some lunch, a sushi place just opened down by the pier." I smiled despite the mental anguish. She was right of course. I had stolen that moment from her and she had been pissed, still was a little sore by the sound of it. I like sushi. She was wearing that ugly bright yellow sun dress that showed off her legs. Gods my brain was on random now. She did have nice legs! I laughed and Surisa looked over her shoulder and smiled. How would she have reacted to triggering the tsunami? She would have accepted it as an unforeseen tragedy and moved on. She was strong like that. We sat down and I saw something that I had missed on the shore. There was a kind of heartbeat all around me. Sure there were construction crews everywhere, but there were also tons of people rebuilding their lives as well. Was it any different than a wild fire? Sure the trees are gone but new trees are born out of the blaze. Certain seeds can only germinate after a forest fire. It was the same here. "A clean slate," I said. "Ah, you are seeing the other side of the coin," Surisa replied. "About god damn time... I love you Louis but you have this tendency to carry the entire world on your shoulders. Despite what you and others might believe, the world can survive without you. Now eat up we have shopping to do." "Shopping... I don't remember anything about..." I began and decided a piece of fish was calling my name from my plate. The blue eyed Thai just smiled and attacked her own food with great enthusiasm. We finished our meal and caught up with Feng and Yuki, our not so subtle bodyguards. We headed for the town car and I pondered what she really had in mind. If I had learned anything it was this, Surisa was always at least two steps ahead of most everyone. In this case it was the billboards announcing an entire neighborhood being built by none other than Me Chang and Psi4 Industries. I gawked at the signs and looked at her for an explanation. She smiled as she collected her thoughts. "I need a face man that people will like. The Japanese can be a little down on other Asians moving in on their territory. So there is you, the very likable and enigmatic archaeologist turned entrepreneur. So what do you say partner?" "When you say partner," I began and she winced. "Sixty-Forty... I mean I can put money on the table." "How much are we talking about," Surisa asked her eyebrow raised in curiosity. "How much do you need," I asked, that surprised Surisa and she told me. "When do you need it?" I asked and she stared at me as if she didn't know who I was. "A week will do," Surisa fired back and then smiled. "I will begin selling off product sir," Feng said. "We should have that amount in time." "Oh I knew I liked you Louis," Surisa purred. "So tell me what have you been holding onto?" "Rare coins, a lot of unique museum pieces I acquired a few years back." Feng displayed what she called the top twenty for the Blue Eyed Thai to drool over. Surisa cried out and excitedly pointed to one of the coins. Her eyes got huge and for a moment she couldn't speak. I looked at Feng and she shrugged. "Does that coin mean something to you," Feng asked before I could. "Where did you get THAT coin," Surisa asked finding her voice once more. "An unregistered site," I said and left it at that. "Why?" "Is that the only one of that coin you have," she asked. "Please tell me you have at least two of them!" "Feng?" "You have twenty of them," Feng replied. "Not all are the same year but all are in good condition and cover a ten year span." "TWENTY... that is all I need," she said. "With twenty of those I can cover costs and have money to spare. I can offload them in a few days." "Feng, which bank are they in?" I asked. "Zurich Switzerland," Feng replied. "I will make arrangements then." "Looks like we are in business," Surisa said with a smile. Surisa squirmed in her seat and she looked uncomfortable. I wonder if it was the fact that she was doing legitimate business that bothered her. She had always lived in the shadows and enjoyed the adrenalin rush of facing the authorities in a cat and mouse game of catch me if you can. We finished the tour of the building sites and returned to the estate. I liked her kind of shopping. It was quick and fairly painless. I didn't really care about the money. I was more into it for helping a friend in need. The compound was strangely quiet and I quickly learned why. The news of the destruction of the Archimedes had just hit. I had learned about it directly from Nick. He had been watching the entire thing via a live feed from the aircraft. He had seen the strange energy surge and then the plane fell off radar. What could do that kind of damage? I suspected but kept my mouth shut. Becca was out in the garden when I arrived and waved to me as the car passed. She looked like she had a lot on her mind. I wondered how long the separation between her and Charlie would take before she would leave. I was happy for them both. They were good people and deserved each other. Hell, I might just throw her a going away party and congratulate her on her reunion. We piled out and I told Surisa I was going to talk to Becca. The Thai smiled and walked off whistling. I stopped and glanced at the diminutive figure as she winked at me. What the hell was that all about? That little witch knew something and I was about to get ambushed. When she was happy she was in the know and I was left out in the dark, again. "Hello Louis," Becca said as she came up and kissed my cheek. "How was the beach?" "The rebuild is going well," I said. "The bridge across the bay just reopened today." "Fantastic," she said and blushed. "Okay, what is going one? First Surisa and now you, something is up and I am hanging in the breeze here." "I am staying," Becca said as she slipped her arms around my neck and kissed me. I closed my eyes and just enjoyed the moment. She pressed her body against mine and my arms went around her waist. Becca broke the kiss and I slowly opened my eyes. Her cheeks were flushed and my heart was pounding. She bit her lip and was staring over my shoulder. I turned my head and half the estate's staff was watching. "What," I asked and they just smiled and returned to their duties. "I guess it is over between you and Charlie." "For now," she said. "Things have just changed so much so fast. I still care about him, hell I still love the old fool. But he wants to bury himself in work while you seem to like to travel a lot. I like travelling." "Well, with all the trouble I land in having a doctor around could be handy." "Oh I see, you just want me for my scalpel... wait that didn't come out right. It sounded better in my head, you know." "I am the king of 'it sounded better in my head'," I told her and we laughed. "I need to find a room I guess," Becca said and I just shook my head. "...Or I could just keep sharing your futon." "I think that is a great idea," I told her. "Why change things now?" "Why indeed," she purred. "I am leaving for Switzerland in a day or two," I told her and her eyes went wide. "Ooh, I've never been there before," Becca cooed. "Can I come?" I just nodded and returned her kiss on the cheek. I told her I had a few things I needed to do but I would be around. She nodded and began humming a little tune as she went inside. She was up to something and I couldn't wait to see what Becca had planned. I went to the dojo that was on the eastern side of the property. I would change into a ghi and prepare for some real time training and then delve into the series of programs Feng had created for me. I had no idea if the interface would function properly or even safely but I had little choice. That damn Watcher was going to pick the third host to possess and this time I felt would be the last. I just needed to keep its attention on me, that way it would at least leave my family alone. I began working on my hand to hand combat first. It was a great warm up and it would help push out the doubt. I moved from one Kata to the next until I had performed them all. I was covered in sweat and ready for the next phase. I grabbed a shinai, a bamboo sword and began driving myself faster now. Speed might save me I thought as I pushed my limits. The world seemed to slow down as adrenalin coursed through my system. I dove into the movements as my mind went blank and yet my body continued on knowing the next move and the one after that. I was lost in the maelstrom that existed between breaths and beyond consciousness. Was this Enlightenment? Was this what monks sought after with so much devotion? Reality came to a crashing halt as brand new sensory input flooded my perception. There was a pulsing in my ears, like the beating of a heart. Behind all the static and distraction of everyday existence there was that heartbeat. I began to believe that it was the universe making itself manifest to me. I was so wrong. I was a mote in the eye of a god. I was standing in the heart of darkness. I stood on a hunk of black rock orbiting something so vile and so inhuman I feared to move or even blink. It was the size of a red giant. It was a million more times as massive as the star that warmed my world. I had seen the glyph above my head on numerous occasions but now I saw it with my own eyes. It was none other than Azathoth, the daemonic sultan and a power beyond comprehension. It was evil the way no other being could compare to. It put the Christian devil to shame. Why the hell was I even here? Had the sultan called me here? Oh god I hope not! I tore my gaze from the thing that dominated my horizon and stared at the star sized entities that orbited Azathoth. A dozen mad gods sang and piped and entertained their lord and master. "When the universe was dark and before the first star was kindled, it was already old." Nyarlathotep purred in my ear. "Why am I here dark pharaoh?" I asked. "You pose that question like I had an answer," it chuckled. "I am only the manifestation of the will of the dark gods, not their keepers. I am a flea in their perception of things as you are to me. I have a secret Louis... I love playing with insects." "I hope I have amused," I said holding up my wrist and he removed the bracelet. "You have sired more than your fair share of offspring. I am a being of my word." "What happens now," I asked. "For you, I cannot answer. I have entered into an accord to not interfere in your life path. For what it is worth, I hope you kick his ass. I have always found Watchers to be pompous ass pricks." I felt his hand on my shoulder and a heartbeat later I was back in the dojo. I raced outside and hurled. I was shaking and curled in a fetal position. My mind screamed at the overwhelming horror I had witnessed. I wept and tried to push the memory out of my thoughts. The grass was gone and I was kneeling on a large hexagonal platform. The floor was mirror bright steel and on each corner of the platform was a door. Each door was a color of the spectrum, red, yellow, orange, green, blue and violet. "Get up," Feng barked. "Get the fuck up!" I was so stunned by the words and her tone I was on my feet automatically. "Have you lost your fucking mind?" "No, have you," she growled. "You had me going into all this work and tie into the six stones. Now get off your ass and get to work." "You cunning bitch you," I said smiling. "Thank you." I suddenly realized what she was doing. It was an emotional shot to the head. Something I desperately needed at that moment. I looked at each door in turn and settled on the blue one. Feng followed me in and helped me interpret each interface. Six doors later and an amazing three hours for the outside world I emerged from my time with Jon's gift. I opened my eyes and there was Yuki standing watch over me. She smiled and I could see a look of relief on her lovely features. "I couldn't wake you," Yuki said as I sat up. "Becca-san asked that I keep an eye on you." "Where is she?" I asked as I tried to stand and failed. "Oh crap... dizzy..." "Sit while I have someone bring you some food," Yuki said and called for help. "Becca has been monitoring your vital signs. You have been tied to your neural implant a dangerously long time. She will want to run some tests to make sure there is no permanent damage." I looked at the watch on my left wrist and saw how much time had passed. Oh shit, the longest I had ever been 'gone' was ten minutes but three hours I can see why they were worried. The strain I had placed on my nervous system could prove permanent. The food arrived and I ate there sitting on the lawn. Becca arrived with her A.I. Nyx by her side. She looked worried but forced a smile. "I hope you don't mind," Becca said as she sat opposite of me. "I borrowed Feng's portable projector. It has a wider array of sensors available to it." "Borrow away," I said. "So how bad is it?" "We don't know that it is bad yet," she said maintaining her bedside manner. "I am going to have Nyx scan you as I ask you to repeat certain words. Then I am going to show you some images and you tell me what you see." "Sounds like a plan," I told her. So while Nyx observed my brain activity I repeated her words and then told her what I saw in the pictures. I could tell something was wrong by her expression. Becca had a puzzled look on her face and she consulted with Nyx and the vast medical data base she represented. So while she did her thing I fired up my play list and began listening to some music via my implant. Nyx alerted Becca and they stared at her display of my brain activity. Becca snatched up a fistful of grass and held it up for me to smell. I leaned forward and sniffed the grass. It reminded me of all the times I had cut grass at my parent's rental properties. Then I had a flash of shoveling snow and how cold it had been. I could see my breath and the falling snowflakes in my mind's eye. The smell of Christmas dinner and hearing carols playing on the stereo. "I don't understand these readings at all," Becca said. "They make no sense at all." "Show me," I ask and Nyx created a holographic display of my brain activity. "The activity is all over the place. Is it supposed to be like that?" "NO," Becca snapped. "When you read a certain part of your brain lights up. The same is true of other activities; the brain is a very specialized organ. There is a certain synergy with parts of the brain but your activity seems completely delocalized. Okay, let's go live and I'll show you what I mean." I watched as the image flickered for a moment and then I was looking at my mind at work. It was like a storm cloud and the lightning was everywhere. Suddenly I remembered a time when I was caught out in a spring shower. I could smell the rain, hear the thunder and actually feel the soaked clothes clinging to my skin. The display went wild with activity and it was my entire brain at work. I glanced at Becca and told her about the memory. She shrugged and I asked if this was a bad thing or not. There was no sign of damage per se but she wanted to have Feng monitor me and alert her if there were any abnormalities. What did it all mean? Was this an effect of my shape shifting? "Is this a symptom of my shifting ability?" I asked but she shook her head. "This change is very recent. The previous records of your activity look nothing like this. It has to be whatever you did very recently. Oh I know that expression, tell me." "My dad gave me something," I said. "He called it a kind of legacy. It took Feng a few days of nonstop work to be able to access them. They are a kind of crystalline archive. I opened their interface and went through a kind of training regimen with them. I guess I kind of lost track of time." "Three hours you were out," Becca said with a scowl. "Your longest access prior to that was nine and a half minutes. What is the conversion? I know it is all subjective but it is important." "I have recorded his time working with the neural implant. His digital experience varies depending on how long he is tied into the interface. I have noticed that the longer he is tied in the greater the difference between objective and subjective time." Feng explained. "How long was it for him Feng," Becca asked. "Feng, how much time passed for Louis?" "More than a year," Feng said softly. Becca looked at me and I smiled. I watched her lips as she repeated my own words, I kind of lost track of time. Her thoughts were suddenly in my head and I wasn't surprised at all. What had been so enticing that he was gone for an entire year? Then there were memories of an old musty library, sunlight falling in diagonal shafts as motes of dust hung in the air. There were row upon row of book shelves and it seemed to go on forever. Then she was imagining what the Library of Alexandria might look like. I felt her emotions rise at the desire to wander that ancient place. I smiled and she caught me looking at her and I actually blushed. It was as if she had found me in her closet while she was changing clothes. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 08 "Why are you blushing Louis," she asked and I hesitated but I remembered my promise to the Weaver. "Library at Alexandria," I said and her expression of shock made me feel even worse. "I didn't mean to." "You said there were multiple crystals," she said and I nodded. "Can you tell me about them?" "Yeah, but they are just libraries," I told her. "I can't do all the things I played at with the interface." I told her about the six doors and what was behind each of them. Becca sat in rapt attention as I described the A.I. watchdogs that I had to deal with. I credited my father with one hell of an imagination and a creative genius. I could see it in her eyes that she wished she could learn how to do the things the simulation allowed. She really was a daydreamer and I think I loved that part of her the most. I finished my meal and guzzled down the last of the soda. I successfully reached my feet this time and retrieved Feng's remote sphere for her. I took it with me and placed it on its cradle to recharge. Running all those scans had drained the battery in no time at all. Speaking of drained, I stripped down and crawled under the sheets and fell asleep. I dreamt of all the places and times I would love to visit if I could actually time travel. I imagined I was able to bend the fundamental forces of the world to my will and reshape reality as I saw fit. It was the most fun I had in a dream outside of fucking I could recall. It felt so damn real and intense. I was a kid again and there were no limitations because life hadn't taught me any yet. Every tree was an evil fortress and a pile of leaves was a feather mattress. It sucked growing up! I opened my eyes and found two naked bodies near my own. Becca was on my right side with an arm over my chest. Yuki was spooning my left side with her leg slung over my own. Yuki's face was buried between the pillow and my shoulder. Okay, so getting old didn't suck that much. Yuki began to moan in her sleep and her hips began to grind against my leg. I could feel her secret heat as it grew warmer and wetter. I wondered if she were dreaming about me. If there was any doubt she called out my name. I reached out and stroked her hair and she purred. I was taken by surprise when Becca's hand wrapped around my erection and began stroking it. "He's awake," Becca whispered. "I know," Yuki giggled. "You played me," I said as Becca's lips wrapped around the head of my cock. Becca reached up, grabbed my wrist and placed my hand on her head. Her meaning was clear. I grabbed her by the hair and began to push her head down. She was moaning now as I shoved her head further and further down. Yuki was watching intently as I fucked Becca's throat. She pinched her nipples and her pussy was soaked by now. I turned my head and Yuki fed me one of her snow white nipples. I suckled it and her cries grew louder and more insistent. I pushed Becca's head down now as I got close to climaxing. I was rough with her but I couldn't cross the line to brutal. I cried out as I came and the dutiful Becca eagerly swallowed it all or so I thought. "I thought you were going to share," Yuki said pouting. Becca leaned up and the pair kissed. I watched as the embrace deepened and then I realized what was going on. Both of them swallowed at the same time and I had to smile. They broke the kiss and licked their lips in satisfaction. I began to sit up and Becca shook her head. Yuki took her turn and straddled my lap. She ground her soaked slit against my semi hard cock while Becca planted her wet cunt over my face. I grabbed her ass cheeks and buried my face between her legs. My tongue slithered between her labia and Becca was cursing in no time. Yuki took advantage of this and slowly impaled her tight little pussy on my growing erection. "Is he bigger tonight," Yuki asked as her hips moved slowly downward. "He is going to split me in two!" "His tongue is invading my poor little pussy," Becca whimpered. "I need to study this... for medical reasons you understand." "Uh huh," Yuki replied in a dreamy little voice. My tongue swelled inside of Becca as my cock grew thicker and harder inside of Yuki. It was a win-win situation. The girl's did all the real work now as the rocked their hips and let me pleasure them. I flexed my dick and heard the muffled cry from Yuki as she squeezed me right back. Not to let Becca feel left out I began undulating my tongue and felt her body begin to shake. She was so damn sensitive and easy to push over the edge. Becca cried out and I tasted her juices as her pussy clamped down around my tongue. The dark magic rose up and I fed lightly from them both. The two took turns for a little while as one climax followed the other. I was able to take charge after twenty minutes or so. I placed Becca on bottom and the slightly more petite Yuki on top. I was sorely tempted to call on the dark miracle but I chose not to. I took turns thrusting into one woman and then the other. They liked sharing and it proved as satisfying in the end. Yuki was the lucky one that managed to spin around just in time and take my load down her talented throat. I tucked them in bed and filled with their healing energy I took a shower and decided to walk the grounds. I was always restless after sex now. It was like drinking a few cups of coffee too many. I called home and spoke with Gabrielle. She was beginning to show now and by the end of this year or the beginning of the next I would be a father. She had that glow about her that expectant mothers radiate. "I didn't think it was possible, but you are more beautiful now than ever," I said. "I forgot how charming you can be. When are you coming home?" "Soon, I am almost done here in Japan. Apparently I am going into business with Little Moriarty. I am going to get some coins in Switzerland and once those are sold I will be a partner in a construction company working here in Japan." "Do you need the money," she asked and I shook my head. "Then why... oh she sprung this on you didn't she?" "Yep, speaking of I wonder where the little minx slipped off to?" "I am glad you are putting the past behind you. I worry about you." Gabrielle said and her eyes glittered with tears. "Damn hormones, just take care of yourself and come back to me." "If it is within my power I will be there," I said and she nodded. "I would be at your side if Rome hadn't ordered me to stand down. They want to see this child born and raised in the Order. He will be a formidable Inquisitor!" "She will be, just like her mother," I added smiling. "I love you!" "I love you too," she said sniffling and cursing. I hung up since I knew she wouldn't. Gabrielle was an amazing woman. She understood my strengths and weaknesses like no other woman alive. She understood the danger I posed to her and still she loved me. Feeling caged I leapt to the top of the outer wall, a distance of over twenty feet. I hopped down and left the estate to prowl the streets of Tokyo. The restlessness had only been agitated by the situation back home. I paused and took my father's gift and willed it into a new shape, a torc. I slipped the crescent shaped necklace around my neck. The gleaming black metal was adorned on the 'horns' of the sickle shape with twin wolf heads. The traditional Celtic jewelry had been all the rage around the time of the Vikings. You might call it old fashioned, I called it a fashion statement. Besides I was paranoid about someone getting their hands on the damn thing. I stalked the streets and felt that psychic tug of a woman in heat. It grew stronger and I realized it was multiple women which could mean only one thing, a nightclub. I got within line of sight and saw what everyone was wearing and adjusted my attire appropriately. I strolled down and was intercepted by the man behind the red velvet rope. He was decidedly tall, thick of limb and easily a head taller than I was. He looked at me and his face scrunched up in confusion. "What are you," he asked in broken English. "I am a paying customer," I replied in flawless Sidhe. "Let him in Diego," a sultry voice called from the open door. "His money is as good as anyone's." "Thank you," I said as I approached the tall leggy fae. "Welcome to HIPS, let me show you around," she offered. "You are that archaeologist fellow. You do manage to get into the news. First China and then that terrible tsunami business, no one is blaming you dear. It was an act of god after all. Where are my manners? My name is Titania and this is my club." "You have quite the diverse clientele Titania," I told her seeing more nonhumans in one spot than I had ever experienced before. "We are here to serve and protect all of our customers. Everyone needs a place to unwind, even you... although I am stumped on what species you are." "Is there a classification for magical accident, if so please feel free to place a check next to that box." She laughed and it was as sensuous as the rest of her. Titania was utter perfection as was all of her race. They were tall, long limbed and formed flawlessly. It was said they were immortal and only died by violence or a broken heart. Breaking the heart of a fae was a herculean task and not the wisest course of action. The Sidhe, Titania's particular bloodline, were cold, aloof and lethal when angered. Of course make them happy and they were friends for life, a very long life. As we made the rounds and I was introduced to her court and supplicants I thought of an actress and her fawning fans. She was the rock star here and I was arm candy for now. We reached the main bar and I failed to hide my surprise when I saw Surisa sitting there chatting up a well hung satyr. "You really do know people everywhere," I said in greeting. "Louishhh," Surisa said slurring my name horribly. "You musht try the ambrosia, it is to die for!" "You know her," Titania asked equally surprised. "Of coursh he does," Surisa replied. "He is my kid brother after all. Oopsh... forget I said that." "You are one of HIS," Titania blurted out as her mask of indifference shattered. "That explains everything! He drinks for free, give him whatever he wants." Titania left me standing there and the ogre behind the bar smiled and I ordered ambrosia. I sat down next to Surisa and she leaned her head on my shoulder. She was shit faced and on the prowl. She propositioned the satyr about a three-way and for a moment there I thought he might take her up on that offer. A finely cut crystal goblet was set down in front of me and I was warned to sip it. I took that advice and took my first sip of the honey colored drink. It was sweet at first but then there was a slight burning sensation followed by an extreme feeling of wellbeing. I could see how this could be addictive. "Brother huh," I said after my second sip. "Nah," Surisa giggled. "I just wanted to see blondie lose her freaking mind." "So who is your dad," I asked. "Remember when we first met at the University? Everything I told you about me was true. My dad was a smuggler and a damn good one at that. I spent my childhood travelling the entire world. We went everywhere and met some amazing people, not all of them human. He had laid the groundwork for what I built upon." "I remember, okay so who is your mother," I asked and she smiled. "You are like a dog with a freaking bone," she replied giggling again. "My mother was as human as anyone outside these walls. I on the other hand am not. You might call it a recessive gene. The way I figure it, it was on both sides of my family tree. It skips generations and is very unpredictable. But I got the double whammy when my parents hooked up, both sides created a genetic cocktail and I was born." "What sort of recessive gene are we talking about," I inquired as I took a third sip of ambrosia. "Immortal," she said. "As far as I can tell I come from the same stock that brought about the Akhkharu, well before they became what they are now. The Christian bible calls them Nephilim or the children of angels and humans. The truth is much stranger than that. How about a hand job?" "When is the last time you got laid," I asked and she had to think about it. "Dear god what the hell is that around your neck," Surisa asked leaning close. "Is that a torc? Why on god's green earth would you be wearing one of those things? Got ya..." The little shit had masked her movements and had me unzipped, freed and in her hand. She winked as she stroked me. My mind went blank as I wondered what the other patrons would do or say if they saw what Surisa was doing. She continued the conversation as if nothing was wrong. Of course she had steered it away from mythical blood lines to our business venture. Damn her hand felt amazing as she prattled on about zoning and labor costs and whatever the hell else. I think the ambrosia was making things better. I took a healthy swig and yes it made her hand feel like velvet wrapped around the shaft of my dick. "Are you enjoying yourself," Surisa purred in my ear. "It's not every day I give someone a hand job in a place like this." "Yes I am enjoying it, damn you," I replied biting back a moan of pleasure. "You have a very delicate yet firm grip on the situation." "I get that a lot," she said as her hand picked up speed. "Don't worry about a thing, I have everything in hand." "I... I know," I whimpered. "Don't I know you," a scantily clad wood nymph asked. "Sure, you're the guy that bound that storm demon in China." She noticed the movement and smiled as she shifted closer. "How are you enjoying that?" I felt her hand take up position on the upper part of my cock while Surisa continued working the lower end. "Just go ahead and blow whenever you are ready." "I uh..." I began and I stopped as the dual action was overwhelming me. "He's close," Surisa murmured. "Yes, very close," the nymph agreed. I felt my cheeks burn and I lowered my head as I began to shake in my seat. I warned them and they both just smiled. A moment before I blew the wood nymph ducked her head down and wrapped her soft supple lips around the head of my cock. I grunted as I fired the first half of my load down her throat. Surisa tightened her grip on me stopping the flow. She and the nymph swapped positions and the Blue Eyed Thai drank the second half enthusiastically. The ogre saw my face and laughed. He poured me a proper pint of Guinness and set it in front of me. "It's on the house," the bartender said smiling. "I guess that answers my question," I said. "Yeah, it's that kind of place," the wood nymph replied her arm gripping my own. "There are rooms upstairs for rent if you'd like to slide that python into my cave." "Listen sister, if anyone's cave is getting violated here it's going to be mine." Surisa said staking her claim. "Ladies, I know this little trick and trust me you are going to love it," I said still feeling the full effects of the ambrosia. "So what do you say?" Surisa deftly tucked me in and zipped me up. The ogre handed me a room key and just smiled. Surisa clung to my right arm while Periwinkle Jasmine De Rose clung to my left. We reached room five and I unlocked it. Feng chirped in my ear that the place was wired for audio and video. With a wave of her talented digital hands she put a stop to that instantly. I closed the door and by the time I turned around Peri was naked, she didn't really have that much on and Surisa was stripped down to panties, stockings and a smile. I tugged off my shirt and I had it half off by the time my belt was unbuckled, pants unzipped and my shoes tugged off. My shirt hit the floor about the same time my boxers did. The girls weren't just eager but quite dexterous. "I wonder what a nymph tastes like," I asked as I bent her over and began licking her cunt from behind. Surisa knelt between the nymph's legs and began sucking me off. I was painfully hard by the time Peri was shaking and moaning. Her pussy tasted like honey and smelled like her name sake. I positioned Peri with her ass hanging off the edge of the bed. I slid into her while I directed Surisa to lay next to her. The Asian had a frown on her small pouty lips but not for long. I conjured a spectral cock to entertain her until I made the nymph climax a few times. After that I was going to punish both of them for their little stunt in the bar. The gleaming phantasm matched my movements exactly which created a nice little melody between Surisa and Peri. The Thai pulled her knees to her chest so I could see her pussy get ravaged. Peri on the other hand had her long legs wrapped around my waist and was squeezing her pussy muscles around me. "You are quite gifted for a mortal," the nymph moaned. "Your cock could put a few satyrs to shame." "I have never been with a wood nymph before," I admitted as I fondled her tits and pounded her pussy. "You know what they say... Once you've had Fae you'll never stray..." she giggled. I hammered her harder now and she climaxed so violently I thought she was having a seizure. Her back arched and she was cursing like a sailor. I paused and glanced over at Surisa. She was covered in sweat and looked like she had just had her own orgasm. I let them catch their breath while I pondered how I was going to take full advantage of this little duo. "I am ready for your little trick," Peri said. "Yeah, me too," Surisa added eagerly. I eased out of Periwinkle and canceled the spell on Surisa. I directed them to lie on the bed, on their sides and back to back. That put both their pussies in perfect position. I performed the dark miracle and eased a cock into each of them. Periwinkle was the most surprised of the pair. She gasped and then her eyes closed half way as I began to thrust. Surisa took it all in stride and ground against me as we fucked. The dark magic rose up and that's when Peri really reacted. I had no idea nymphs were so susceptible to it. She had a triple climax the moment the power enveloped her. I actually had to slow down to allow her to catch her breath. I took my time and moved very slowly but even this pace was overwhelming to Peri. "Coming... again," she cried out her eyes clenched shut now. "I've never been fucked like this!" "Faster... harder..." Surisa demanded. "Sorry Periwinkle," I apologized as I began ramming my hips forward again. I placed a hand on each of their hips and hammered away for all I was worth. I fed lightly from them both and that was a good thing. The life stuff of nymphs is very potent and addictive. I performed another shift and split the upper half of my cocks in two. I watched as Surisa's eyes widened in pleasant shock while Periwinkle held on like a kid on a roller coaster. When I was close I yanked my cocks free and pasted them both with cum. I withdrew the dark magic and shifted back to normal. Periwinkle rolled onto her back and just laid there. Surisa was sitting up and praising me and my little trick. "If I knew you could do that I would never let another woman touch you ever again," Surisa gasped. "I have never been fucked like that in all my long years." "Periwinkle, are you alright," I asked and she just smiled weakly. "I agree with her," the wood nymph moaned. "I have never had that many climaxes in a week of love play. I am wrecked. My poor pussy is devastated. I think I am in lust." I stood there enjoying the scene when I felt it. There was a change in the air and I spun around fearing the Watcher had chosen to strike now. The atmosphere was heavily charged and I threw up a hand instinctively in defense. The outer door left its mooring and flew towards me. To everyone's utter amazement, including me, the door appeared to hit an invisible wall and dropped to the floor. Titania bristled in the open doorway and man she looked pissed. Her entire demeanor screamed murder. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 08 "How dare you break one of my toys," she roared. "I can explain," I began and felt the air thicken with mana. If she struck now one or both of the girls could be hurt or worse. "NO!" I had only used the dark magic once before as a weapon. I kept it focused and my intent was to immobilize Titania. I lashed out first; she folded and dropped like a rock. Periwinkle raced to her mistress' side and checked her. The look of relief was clearly evident on the nymph's features. "I think she fainted," Peri said. "What did you do to her?" "Massive overload of the pleasure centers of her brain," I said. "Knock out by orgasm," Surisa giggled. "That is why I adore you." "She does look rather flushed," Peri observed. "Her legs are twitching... I fear she is correct. Titania passed out from a massive orgasm, lucky girl." "I think I should leave," I said as I called my clothing to me. It melted into a kind of crystalline ooze and slithered over my body and returned to its former appearance. "Body armor," Surisa asked and I nodded. "Why are you wearing body armor?" "I have an insane Watcher hunting me," I replied and headed for the doorway. "Wait, I will come with you," Surisa cried out. "I will meet you out front. I'll try and clear the air between Rhiannon and you." "Rhiannon, I thought her name was Titania?" "It is an honorific title," she explained. "The female Hold Leader carries the title of Titania while her partner earns that of Oberon." "I'll meet you outside," I said and left. It was well after midnight by the time Surisa left HIPS. She wasn't alone. Rhiannon was with her and she appeared shaken but intact. I took a step back and the Fae frowned like a scolded child. What the hell was going on? I was out of my depths concerning the customs of this culture. I was about to apologize when she beat me to it. She flung her arms around my neck and pressed her body close. She whispered apology after regret in my ear. Rhiannon ni Titania begged me for the opportunity to repair the damage she had created with her outburst. "I understand you want to make amends," I whispered back. "But how could I possibly trust you after that little show of power? I thought you were something else and I am not sure going back inside is my best course of action." "How can I earn your trust," she purred. "It is very important to me." "Well, there is one way you could prove it to me," I said smiling. "We need a private room." I told her what I needed from her and she willingly, hell eagerly agreed. It took an hour to make all the preparations. Surisa and I sat in the bar eating a light meal and switched to coffee. I have to say this. I have had the pleasure of tasting the fruit of the bean all over the planet but this was by far the very best coffee to pass my lips. By the time I had enjoyed my third cup Titania had reappeared. She had put on a different dress and her hair and makeup were done to perfection. It was a pity that was all going to be unrecognizable when I was done with her. There were whistles and cat calls as she made her entrance. She walked up to me and took me by the hand. We made a quick circle around the club and took the stairs to the second floor. "What do you think," she asked once we were at the top of the stairs. "It's a real shame," I told her. "When I am done you are going to be as wrecked as that poor wood nymph." "Promises... promises..." she purred. Titania led me to her personal play room. I looked at the dimensions and it would do. I told her to take off her shoes and she just smiled genially. I led her to one corner of the room and told her to wait. I walked to the far side opposite of her and placed a chair there. I sat down and cast a spell that the Weaver herself had taught me. The floor between us shimmered and glistened with what appeared to be some sort of pale liquid. Titania looked at the rectangle of fluid and then at me. "What am I expected to do," she asked raising an imperious eyebrow. "Walk over to me," I said smiling. "If you can that is." "It looks sticky," she said as she bent down and touched the substance. "That's the point," I told her. "Now you can either open the door or walk over to me." She stood upright and pushed back her shoulders. Titania smiled and set her stockinged foot into the liquid. It clung to the material of the stocking but not her skin. Her second step was less sure as she was stuck fast by her leggings. The next step tugged the stocking right off her leg. She nearly stumbled and fell but the thought of that kept her upright. Her fourth step robbed her of the other stocking. Freed of those she was more confident. The next step showed the insidiousness of the spell. Her foot dropped and the fluid splashed upwards leaving thin strong strands from the floor to the lower hem of her dress. She gasped when she witnessed this. "Oh no my dress," Titania cried out. Yet she continued and each step splashed more and more of the fluid onto her dress. The filaments formed webbing that tugged at the material of her garment. The further she went the slower she moved. Fae despite their thin build and willow like appearance are far stronger than humans. Titania looked up at me and she knew what my endgame was now. She smiled and took another step even as a ripping sound filled the air. A large chunk of her lovely gown was torn from her. She hadn't reached the midpoint yet when she lost her balance and fell. Titania cried out as a huge splash of the fluid covered her from head to foot. But the uncanny nature of the substance left skin and hair unmolested. Not so her finely crafted dress that was once her favorite. She had to crawl now and the sounds of tearing and ripping were only drowned out by her sobbing. The Fae ruler was naked by the time she forced her way out of her dress and undergarments. Tear stained and pride shattered she sat at my feet. "I hate you," she whimpered. "That was my favorite dress!" "You can always have a finer dress made. You can't always earn a man's trust however." "You trust me," she asked wiping tears from her eyes. "Almost," I said offering her my hand. I stood up and helped her to her feet. I looked her over and smiled. Her body was even lovelier than her face. She bore no outward scar, flaw or imperfection. I kissed her cheek and tasted her tears. I cancelled the first spell and then stripped off my clothes. She managed a smile now. "Do the Fae fear anything," I asked as I posed her arms over her head. "Yes, but they are few and I will not share that," she wisely replied. "I want to test a theory," I told her as I invoked the first part of my next spell. "My hands, what have you done to my hands?" "It is the next incantation I have chosen to test your trust. Do you trust me Titania?" I asked and she nodded slowly. "Good, I will reward that trust." The spell had created a field of solid force in the shape of manacles. I could direct their placement with a thought. My next thought brought her arms in front of her. I told her to bend over at the waist and we would begin. She hesitated for a moment and then complied. I invoked the second half of the spell. The force holding her hands was released. Now a larger force held her immobile around her waist. She cried out in surprise as she was stuck once more. "I see a theme in your spell craft," she moaned. "Are you going to rape me now?" "Yes, after you suck me off, I am going to fuck you senseless." I walked in front of her and let her use her hands, lips and tongue. She had me erect in no time at all. I grabbed her by her hair on either side of the head. Titania opened her mouth and prepared to have her throat fucked. I wondered if she had a gag reflex. I was about to find out. I began slowly letting her work over the first few inches. Then I fed her inch by inch until the base was brushing against her lips. I warned her and began thrusting in and out of her throat as if it were her cunt. She closed her eyes and I saw tears fall as I took my pleasure from her. I made tight fists with my fingers and felt her body stiffen. "Oh you filthy little liar," I said as I fucked her face harder now. "You naughty masochist you..." Her tongue began to work me now when I pulled backward. She had been playing me the entire time. Immortality must breed some serious boredom. I wonder how many of her lovers were this brazen. I thrust faster now and warned her that I was close to shooting my load. Her eyes snapped open and she looked up at me. I cried out and felt as she swallowed every drop. Panting I withdrew from her mouth. "That was a glorious beginning," she praised me. "I can't wait to feel you inside of me." "I don't plan on disappointing," I said as I moved behind her. "Damn, you are dripping honey back here precious. I must have a taste before I fuck you." I knelt down and used my tongue to trace every inch of the coin slot she called a pussy. I grabbed her ass cheeks and gently pulled them apart as I buried my tongue inside of her. It slithered deep and she squealed like a school girl when the tip touched her deepest recesses. Her pussy tasted like nectar. I swelled the thickness of my tongue and began moving it in and out of her. She tried to thrust her hips backward but the spell prevented that. The more I moved the better she tasted. It took less time than I would have thought to get her off. Her screams echoed off the walls and I half expected bodyguards to come rushing in. I withdrew my tongue and stood up. Titania was covered in a thin sheen of sweat and eager for more. The quiet gentile woman was gone and in her place a sex starved force of nature. I teased her with the tip of my cock for just a minute or so before I eased the entire length into her soaked slot. I began moving now and she cried, cursed and cajoled me to fuck her harder. I slammed my hips into her as hard as I could and feared to hear a bone crack but she was as sturdy as she was beautiful. I dug my nails into her ass flesh and pistoned in and out of her now. The dark magic ensnared us both and she didn't fight its affect. If anyone could have it would have been her. "Dirty pool," Titania cried out. "Oh fuck I'm coming!!" That was her first but hardly her last climax of the night. I fed from her and she gave willingly. Her life force was the strongest next to the Weaver I had ever experienced. I let her rest after my second orgasm. I released her from the binding spell and she collapsed to the floor. Fully in the grip of the dark power within me I took her again. I grabbed her by the hair and yanked her head back to kiss her. Even as our lips touched the dark miracle manifested and I violated her without mercy. She moaned into my mouth but never fought back or denied me in any way. I rolled her onto her back, raised her hips into the air and slammed into her holes again. She watched as my cocks pierced her to the core. I thought I would see fear or anger but all I witnessed was adoration and submission. It hit me between the eyes as I thrust downward and into her. I was Michael triumphant and she was Lucifer submissive. I smiled as I fed from her and rewarded her body with mind breaking passion and pleasure. Her voice was hoarse from crying out when I finally at long last was utterly and completely sated. My body screamed with her energy. I left her a broken woman on the floor as I stood up shaking and quivering. I had taken enough life to slay a hundred humans but she was still alive. "Louis... LOUIS..." Feng shouted through the interface. "You need to stop Louis." "I know, I don't want to hurt her," I replied. "No Louis, if you continue you could take too much," she warned. "Let me help you. Release control of the interface to me. Let me bleed off the excess power, please!" "Alright, I trust you," I said as I fell back into the padded chair behind me. I closed my eyes and brought up the interface's display. I willed it to allow Feng complete access. I felt her enter my mind and body. There was a moment of fear, it felt like I was falling but she would catch me I knew. My body tingled as she performed a series of shifts both subtle and obvious. Some of the shifts were temporary to simply get rid of the excess energy while others were more profound and permanent. I think I dreamed. I was floating on a current of light. For a moment I thought I was back at Wind Sword Manor and asleep on my father's bed. It was the one that had no mattress but used some form of repulsion to keep a body floating in the air. The light began to fade and drifted on a cloud above an ocean of dark water. I was at the demarcation point between heaven and earth. I fell but Feng was there to catch me. I opened my eyes and was once again myself and no other. I held up my hand and my skin was dark olive and I looked around to see the sleeping form of Rhiannon ni Titania on her bed. I stood up and felt surprisingly well for how close I had come to burning out. I did as I so often did, I hit the shower. I regarded my reflection in the mirror and stopped cold. I ran my hand over my face but it was a true and honest image I saw. Oh Feng what have you done? It was me and yet it was the face of a stranger. I liked the short spiky hair though. I felt that it suited the new me quite well. But the eyes were so alien to me. They were the color of ice with a vertical slit like a cat's. My features were familiar and yet it was as if I had undergone complete reconstructive surgery. I wiggled my fingers and my toes to make sure I wasn't dreaming still. "Do you like," Feng said as she slipped her arms around my waist from behind. "It feels like when you move into a new house or apartment. There are all of your things and yet..." "And yet it is a strange place," she finished. "I dumped a lot of that energy into enhancing some very fundamental aspects of your biology." "So this is the new me," I said and she nodded as she kissed my neck. "You've been talking to Sterling haven't you?" "Me speak with a rogue A.I.? I would never betray your trust that way. However, I did manage to get a good look at what she did to Jon. I didn't go that far but I did tweak a few things." "You can tell me all about it while I shower." As I washed off the funk and fluids from my romp with Titania, Feng told me what she had improved upon. She had been true to her word and kept it to some very basic things. Oh that clever girl of mine. When she was done I rinsed off and reached for a towel. Titania was there to hand it to me. As I dried off she took over the shower and I watched her wash up. I wrapped the towel around my waist to hide my member from her. She looked like she could go another round or three. I had never met a woman that could take me at my worst and survive. "You were a very naughty boy," she purred. "You did things no self-respecting man would do to an innocent like me." "Innocent," I repeated. "We have two different definitions of innocent... what do I call you now?" "Call... me..." she said as she shivered and turned to face me. "You can call me whatever makes you happy. I have a long list I have responded to in the past but I will let you decide." "I really broke you didn't I?" I asked and she nodded as new color came to her cheeks. "Oh hell..." "I am starved; I know a little place not far from here that serves great fish and chips." She fell silent and the loofa fell from her fingers. She looked over her shoulder and I could see it in her eyes. It was the fear I had been hiding so very carefully. Titania had somehow plucked it from my thoughts. She saw the blazing image of the Watcher and knew I was heading home and most likely to my death. She smiled when she saw why I was willing to sacrifice myself for family. She wept for me and threw herself into my arms and kissed me. It wasn't a kiss to inspire passion; it was a kiss to inspire hope. "I am going with you. I can't help you fight or defend you. But I will sing your song if you fall so that people know what happened. I will be your bard if you let me. Please don't cast me aside, not now, not so close to the end." "You can come; I never expected to win this fight. I have been lucky so far or this has all been leading up to something horrific. Either way, I have to face this head on and see how it all plays itself out." She kissed me one last time and finished up her shower. We dressed and the two of us went out for a very late meal. She had been right; it was a great fish and chips diner. I decided to walk back to the estate when a familiar town car pulled up. Yuki was driving and she looked worried to death. I opened the back door and Titania climbed in first and I followed. Yuki pulled away from the curb with a soft comment about another stray I had picked up. Apparently Surisa had returned to the estate and found the entire place up in arms over my sudden disappearance. Yuki was dispatched to collect me so that Becca could beat the crap out of me for worrying them. "We are leaving for Switzerland today and then whoever wants to come with me can come back to the states. I have something to finish." I said and watched their faces fall. "What's going on Louis," Becca asked. "It's a very long story," I said. Tokyo: Before the Tsunami I stared at the invitation for the tenth time and I had already read it three times all the way through. A surprisingly vague offer of a dig in Japan, I would accept of course. I would be a fool to decline the invitation from so prestigious a university. I had wanted to study paleo-archaeology after I graduated. I had even looked at the University of Tokyo, mainly because of one Professor Takakura. He was the leading expert in the field and had recently retired to teach the subject. I had heard it was poor health that had led to his leaving the back breaking labor to the young. I confirmed my flight and began packing. I had book first class on a commercial flight. I didn't want to raise any suspicions by taking a private flight into the country. I closed my luggage and sat on my bed. I glanced up and there in the doorway were Megan and Milena. Milena was smiling where the dour princess was all frowns. "Where are you off to," Megan asked. "Japan, there is a dig," I said and Milena smiled even more brilliantly. "It will be good to work again eh?" Milena said with a wink. "Call me you've got my number." "I can't promise anything, but yeah, I'll call," I told her smiling myself. "You'll be back," Megan scoffed. "But for what it's worth, I hope you make it." Milena's mouth dropped open and I think in the year I had been there, that was the first time something selfish hadn't come out of that woman's mouth. I smiled, grabbed my bags and headed downstairs. Milena offered to buy me a coffee before my ride arrived and I took her up on the offer. I was eager to be out of there but it had some fond memories attached to them. Milena, an adult model from the Ukraine, was definitely one of them. She was a good listener, a dear friend and my favorite fuck buddy in the place. Though she was pushing thirty she looked nineteen. I don't know if it was just great genetics or what. She promised to visit and we chatted, as we often did, about the trivial leaving the important things for group therapy or the dark hours between sleep and dawn. She kissed my cheek and headed back upstairs after things got quiet and a little awkward. I watched her go and then it hit me, damn that is one fine ass! I finished off my coffee and turned to look outside when Megan reappeared without any warning. We hadn't been intimate and I think that still irked the shit out of her. I was afraid I would feed off her and kill her. I think she believed I thought she wasn't worth my time. "You are going to regret not fucking me mister," she whispered in my ear. Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 08 "Probably," I replied. "Probably? Do you know how many guys I offered to let ass fuck me? Do you?" "I have no idea," I said feeling the awkward growing by the second. "A dozen?" "Fuck you Louis, there have only been eight," she snarled and I couldn't help but smile. "What the fuck are you smiling about?" "I would have been number nine," I said and smiled wider. "My lucky number is nine." "No shit," she said and actually cracked a grin. "I love a big fat cock up my ass, did you know that?" "Are you on your meds Megan," I asked seeing how dilated her pupils were. "That explains your open frankness about your anal fixation." She hissed and stalked off with a flourish of curses and rude gestures. I laughed and stood up as my ride arrived. I was smiling as I stepped out of the private psych ward. It had been home for a while but I missed the outside world way too much. The back door of the limo opened but I didn't recognize the leggy redhead inside. That is the moment I first laid eyes on Kat Shaw. Oh I had seen her on television with her famous brother Nick. Now here she was beckoning me into her limousine. The driver, a cute Asian gal, took my bags and put them into the trunk. I climbed in back with Kat and she smiled as the door closed behind me. "Hello Louis," she said in greeting. "I am Kat Shaw and I have a job offer for you." "Job offer," I said and she opened her left hand. There hovering in the air above the palm of her hand was a strange device. It took me a few seconds to recognize it. I was about to comment when she made as if to throw the hologram at me. Instinctively I put my hand up and there was the device that Richard Sterling had dug up in Egypt. Kat smiled as I held up the image and examined it more carefully. "What is going on?" I asked as I noticed the markings on the device. "Nick wants you to try and translate the markings on the device." Kat said choosing her words carefully. "Why me," I replied as I enlarged the hologram and recognized the markings now. I frowned when I looked back at the beautiful woman. "He wants you as his resident expert," she said holding up an image she shouldn't even know existed. "Stop the car, stop the FUCKING car," I roared seeing the image of the Black Cathedral I had created over the last year. The black dome in all its dark glory hung suspended in the air between us. "Calm down Louis," Kat flinched as I lost my temper. "Fuck you lady, stop the goddamn car or I will jump out." I growled as the vehicle came to a halt. I reached for the door handle when her hand gently touched mine. "I know you're angry and you have every right to be. What Nick did was wrong, I won't argue that. He needs your help Louis. I am here to make a very generous offer. If you can decipher the artifact you can earn a twenty percent cut in all technologies that arise from that discovery." "Twenty huh," I said sitting back and trying to let go of the sense of violation. "In writing..." "Of course, I have all documents for you to sign and a nice signing bonus." Kat said a tentative smile on her lips. "How the hell did your brother hack my A.I.?" I asked but it was Feng that replied. "There is a backdoor access in all of the artificial personalities," Feng replied. "I will have to decline," I said. "I can't have him waltzing in whenever it suits him." "Wait, I can seal the breach," Kat offered. "Give me a second and I will fix it." She called up her own A.I. and used it to close the hole in Feng's security. I had her run a diagnostic just to make sure. When I was assured that Feng couldn't be hacked I had her read over the documents Kat had sent to me for my signature. When they proved acceptable I signed them digitally and Kat forwarded them to her attorneys. The signing bonus ended up being eye drops that contained nanites allowing me to access Feng through an optical interface. It was the first of my improvements provided by Kat and Numenor Technology. Kat drove me to the airport but instead of flying commercial there was a private jet parked outside. She must have been pretty damn confident that I would sign on. The limo was retrieved as Kat, her bodyguard Sora and I boarded the jet. I was climbing on board when I saw one of the engines. I stopped and stared at it in alarm. "What's wrong Louis," Kat asked from within the jet. "There is no turbine in that engine. Hell, there is nothing inside it at all. Are you sure this thing can fly?" "Oh, that is Nick's latest addition to aviation," she said. "I don't know the details but it uses some form of induction to propel the plane forward. It removes the dangers of birds flying into moving parts." "Brilliant," I said as I climbed aboard. "Are you going to Tokyo as well?" "Of course, who do you think is funding this little dig of yours?" Kat replied with a genuine smile. "I am sorry about screaming at you," I said breaking eye contact. "I lost my temper." The door was closed once our luggage had been loaded aboard. A vibration could be felt as the engines fired up but there was little noise and that surprised me. After a short while I felt the force of acceleration as I was pushed back into my seat. The jet took the air without any difficulties and we were on our way to Japan. Kat, Sora and I chatted, napped and snacked during the long flight half way across the world. Conversations ran the gambit from the technology being used on the dig to brief snippets of life stories. While my life up until that fucking book had been discovered had been pretty damn mundane, Kat's had not. She had been on the run for as long as she could remember. That was until her mom met Nick's dad and a sense of security had descended. Nick had ensured that safety and they had at long last could quit looking over their shoulders. I on the other hand had seen the embodiment of nightmares and somehow managed to keep my sanity. Well as far as I could tell, I felt relatively sane. Sure I still had nocturnal horrors visit me when I dreamed. Sure I had the memories of men eaten alive by Serpent Demons. But I kept it all to myself. Kat had asked where I had come up with the design for the dome and its intricate architecture and I dodged the complete truth with a partial one. I was hired to acquire something and I had run into the dome during that particular adventure. Vague, yes, but it also wasn't a lie, not really. I told her the location was a matter of customer discretion and I doubted they would even want to discuss the matter ever again. That seemed to placate her for now. Seven hours later we landed on a private tarmac in Tokyo and I settled into a year of decryption and linguistics analysis. Five days a week I looked at images sent back by Numenor's deep sea drone, V.A.L.I.N. It was the world's only unmanned drone that had its own A.I. and was mostly autonomous. The reason for Valin and this dig was a small underwater earthquake that had struck the area a few months earlier. It hadn't done any real harm but when they sent down Valin it had found something. It was a structure that was built by some sort of intelligence and it was five miles down. Valin had only been on loan at that point. Now however, it was the work beast that dove every other day and bit by bit pieced together the series of structures surrounding the original discovered on that first day. After three months Valin had found and scanned over thirty massive buildings that could just as easily fit in the New York skyline. The shortest structure was over ten stories tall while the tallest and most impressive was ten times that in height. The central pyramid was massive on anyone's scale and was still intact after god knows how long it had been down there. The bas reliefs and inscriptions were epic in design and mystery. I knew them as the builder runes while the others, including Richard Sterling, were stunned by their appearance. There was argument that this city was of non-human manufacture and it would remain a secret until such time as the 'Powers that Be' decide otherwise. The pyramid was dedicated to a being known as Dagon. He was the eldest child of the Dreamer in the Depths, Great Cthulhu. It was by his will that the city had been constructed after the Great War with the First Ones. While his father had been imprisoned Dagon had been instructed to withdraw and create a citadel worthy of his father's eventual return. So at the northern edge of the Marianas Trench sat the sunken city of Dagon. In the crushing black depths sat an ever expanding series of buildings, tunnels and domes. All of which were not just intact but in near pristine condition. Valin was unable to detect anything other than marine life so far but I feared that sooner or later Dagon would show himself. When that happened everything would change. It was during this time that I met and made long lasting friendships. The one person that surprised me most was Surisa Mee Chang. She was an outside contractor for any and all supplies that the group might need. Surisa earned a few nicknames over that year. My favorite was Little Moriarty, but there was also the Blue Eyed Thai and the Elegant Egotist. The last one I never told her to her face for fear of angering her. While she was a gorgeous woman with an amazing personality she was also very self-assured and not a little narcissistic. What do I mean by that? She always managed to make any conversation, situation or sexual act about her. Even when she was sucking me off it was all about her needs. Normally that would put me off but because it was her I let it slide. Since we are talking about sex acts, Surisa is by far the most limber, bendable and flexible woman I have ever had the pleasure of fucking. She could fit under a desk, in the back seat of any car and lacked any hint of a gag reflex. Hell she put Chinese contortionists to shame. She was built like a gymnast, cursed like a sailor and fucked like the devil herself. I could also add that she could and did drink anyone under the table and if you were lucky she'd blow you while you were down there. I suspected that she wasn't entirely human after one of our all-nighters and she walked away unscathed. While the dark magic worked on her and I could feed from her. The next morning was as if she had only had a great time and was without hang over or impact from my diabolical hunger. She was a keeper. Kat on the other hand was as subtle as Surisa was a force of nature. She seduced me in increments that only scientists use. I didn't realize how passionately I had fallen for her until she wanted me to know. The first time we made love was while we were walking in one of the many parks in Tokyo. I suspected something was up when Sora and Yuki, our bodyguards, fell back to within line of sight range. Kat led me to a nice quiet spot free of close circuit cameras, grabbed me and kissed me. What followed was volcanic and burned both of us. The sexual tension had been so high and so intense that a single kiss ignited a frenzy of undressing, fondling and body pounding volatility that left bite marks, scratches and a few claw marks on my back. I marked her in other ways that were deeper and not so easily seen. We did leave enough biological evidence for a crime scene though and that always made us giggle. The third month was a turning point for me. I was putting in sixty hour work weeks and needed a break. I began taking my weekends and visiting monasteries and shrines all over the Tokyo area and those close enough to drive to. It was during one of my road trips that I met and made friends with Master Kenji. The mountain shrine that he maintained was small and out of the way but perfect for my needs. We struck up an understanding almost instantly. He was very accommodating about what he called my misfortune and I was equally accepting of the fact that he was a Tengu, a mountain spirit. There were tons of stories and myths describing the Tengu and most of them were dead wrong. While a few stories touch on the immortality and great power the Tengu possess they don't know why. Tengu are beings native to the earth that arose prior to the birth of multicellular life. They are entities tied to certain areas and Kenji was born when the Japanese archipelago rose from the ocean floor. He had been here long before any plant or animal life arrived here and likely he would be here long after it was gone. Of all the life forms that have migrated to the islands he found man the most interesting and most destructive. He had chosen me as one of his students simply for the fact that he felt I really wasn't human. When I argued about that he explained his stance on that particular subject. "Louis-san I don't want my words to hurt your feelings but I must explain myself. I have seen many gifted individuals over the years. Let us take your most remarkable talent, shape shifting, of all the beings I have seen that were gifted with that ability you are quite easily the most sublime master of that difficult art. I don't mean to cast a bad light on you in any way. You my friend are a very rare individual. While I have met a few souls more powerful in spell craft I firmly believe that you could overcome them in an all-out duel. You are a very resourceful mage and that is saying something." "How am I doing as a martial art student," I asked and he smiled. "Well, you have only been training for a short time. But you are showing a remarkable knack for picking up on the more difficult aspects of the art. I think in the end you will prove a formidable student." "Thank you sensei," I replied bowing. "I will work hard to make you proud." It was a few weeks later that I made my first big breakthrough in my translation work. I could read the characters easily enough thanks to my visit to the Dark Cathedral. But the runes on the relic made no sense and perhaps it had been because of the layout of the characters was different than what I had experienced before. It was Richard that had given me the clue I required. We had both been working on the runes from the underwater dig as well as the Egyptian artifact. The characters were obviously linked but the artifact was different. "Louis, have you noticed that the characters from the structures are all linear in their layout? While those on the artifact are more like a hexagonal chemistry format, do you think the layout designates meaning?" "So the linear layout is more mundane, everyday sort of use, while the artifact is more complex and requires a different design." I said and he nodded vigorously. "Exactly, it is the same way we do it. If you dedicate a city anyone can read the inscription, your basic citizen if you will. But a device that produces power is dedicated knowledge and requires more education like a chemist or engineer. Function dictates form I guess, what do you think?" "That is freaking brilliant," I said. "It makes sense. So we have to look at the characters as two different languages basically." "I just wish we could break the code on these simpler characters," he said frowning. "I think I might have one of them," I said. "It is a name. Now don't quote me on this but I think this character might translate as Dagon." I pointed to the most common and recurring symbol in the city. I watched his reaction and he stared at the character and his eyes went wide. He squealed like a little girl and clapped his hands together. He touched the rune to isolate it and dragged the hologram to its own display. He traced a part of the character and dragged it to the side. Richard traced a second part of the original rune and dragged that to the other side and we were left with three characters now. He reordered the characters and I could read them but didn't know their origin. Richard was ranting now and stopped and caught his breath and his thoughts. "This first character is Sumerian and is the sound Dah pronounced like the word day. The second is also Sumerian and is a hard G and the last is Etruscan and yes you guessed it, the 'on' sound. You were right. It is the name for the god Dagon. He shows up in a few different ancient cultures. Some he is tied to the earth while the older myths link him to fertility and the sea." He began talking to his A.I. and ordering a new look at the characters by scanning for simpler characters hidden within the runes. Richard got up and headed for the break room. I followed him as he started a new pot of coffee. He was bouncing off the walls. This got some attention mainly Surisa and Magnus. They were just coming out of one of the restrooms. Magnus looked fine but Surisa looked a little ruffled around the edges. I smiled and kept my silence. Richard was too excited to notice and I let it lie. "Richard," Magnus called out. "You look like you're in a good mood." "He did it," Richard replied hopping in place. "Louis did it. We have a name." "Well don't keep us in the dark," Surisa purred as she ran a hand through her long dark mane. "Dagon, the city has to be dedicated to the sea god Dagon." Richard blurted out. "But who built it I wonder," Magnus, the engineer, pondered as he stroked his beard. "How the hell did it end up here?" "Maybe it was built here," Surisa said speaking my own thoughts. "Nonsense, you are talking about a simplistic people constructing an entire city five miles down. It is not possible." Magnus grumbled. "How do you explain the spatial anomalies," Richard asked. "The photos show one thing and yet the scans show a completely different ... geometry." Magnus stalked off and I glanced at Surisa and she smiled. I wondered how difficult their love play must have been since she barely broke five feet and Magnus was a full head taller than I was. I was about to ask her about Magnus when her phone rang and she walked off as she answered it. Richard poured two cups of coffee and he went straight back to his desk to work on his new theory, correction our new theory. "LOUIS," Richard hollered from his desk as I took my first sip of coffee. I managed to keep from spilling my drink as I hurriedly walked over and looked at his display. The words were in the incorrect order but their meaning was perfectly clear. 'City... declaration... Da-g-on... Son... Dreamer... Kuh-Thool-Hu...' "See, you were right," he said bouncing in his chair. "No, you figured this out Richard. This is all yours and you deserve it." I told him. "What the hell is all the commotion," Tetsuo asked as he walked in and saw the display and Richard's smiling face. "You cracked it?" "We cracked it," Richard said as he began explaining the break through. Tetsuo smiled and raced upstairs to tell the higher ups. Soon computer resources were reallocated for the translation process. Before the hour was up we had five A.I.'s working full time on that exclusively. They began by scanning the text and inserting words they had already completed and then worked on the rest. When they deciphered a word it was added to the pool and the others would add it to the ever growing body of understanding. It would take a few hours so I decided to take a break and get some fresh air. They would have the full text and they would discover the truth. Whether they accepted it or not was another matter entirely. It was midafternoon and the sun was nearing the horizon. I had just sat down on the front steps of the university when I spotted a familiar face. She waved as she approached. There was another woman with her and it was either her sister or another female relative. The family resemblance was very strong between the two of them. "Hello Midori," I said in greeting. "Louis-san," she replied. "Oh, this is my sister Nao. I told her all about you." "Not everything I hope," I said and we all laughed. I shook hands with her sister and she blushed. Maybe she had told her everything. "Your husband is going to be late tonight. We made a major breakthrough." Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 08 "I am happy to hear that," Midori said. "I am glad you are making progress. Is that Surisa woman still working here?" "I never should have told you about that," I replied and she shook her head. "I needed to know," she replied. "Midori told me that you 'helped' her out when she discovered that cheating bastard of a husband was sleeping with that Mee Chang woman." Nao snarled. "I have to give Tetsuo his dinner, I will be back," Midori said as she went into the university. "I don't know why she hasn't divorced that pig," Nao said as she sat down next to me. "I hate arranged marriages. It is barbaric." "So Midori and Tetsuo aren't in love," I asked. "She tries her best but no," Nao replied grimacing. "His family owns quite a bit of property but is cash poor while our family is quite wealthy from business investments and the like. So a marriage seemed a good fit for both. If she divorces she will leave the marriage with what she entered into it with and of course the same is true of Tetsuo." "I wonder why he never told me he was married until I actually came to Tokyo." "I take it there was another woman?" Nao asked and I nodded. "He really deserves what he gets." "That's why I won't get married," I said and she smiled. "What?" "Midori told me all about how well you two fit together," Nao giggled. "You must be quite something, even for a round eye." "I will only say this, I have had few complaints." Nao raised an eyebrow and smiled brilliantly. She scooted closer and giggled even as Midori reappeared. Midori appeared quite upset and my heart went out to her. Midori plopped down on the other side and wiped tears from her eyes. Without any prompting, Midori began to puke out all the things that have been bothering her for years. Nao and I sat there and listened. She cursed, shouted and cried as the words tumbled out. Nao held her sister close and rocked her as her narrative ended. I wanted to help but I had to return to work. "This is out of my control," I said. "I have to return but I get off of work at nine." "Come by for dinner," Midori asked. "I could use some company." "Alright," I agreed and smiled. "If I am going to be late I'll call. This discovery could change things." "I understand. I am glad you took the time to explain. I appreciate that Louis-san." I left her with her sister on the steps and returned to work. Richard met me on the steps and he was more bouncy than ever. I didn't have to prompt him he was telling me about the translation. There were tons of things yet to work on but the main inscriptions had been completed. He practically dragged me over to the holographic display which half the team was staring at. The A.I.'s had color coded the inscriptions so that we could track their progress. The green icons were completed texts, the blue were ones that were partially finished and the red ones were untouched and possessing words uncommon with the rest. There were a surprising number of red icons. Hell, even the engineers were over staring at the writing with excitement. Normally, they are far too busy tweaking the instrument packages and software on the drone. The aggravating malfunctions with the scanners were driving them crazy. Richard walked over and began touching the display bringing up blocks of text and reading them off. Once he had shared his portion Magnus, the chief engineer, took over and he grumbled about the disparity between the visual data and the ultrasound scans. He did an overlay of the visual scan in blue and the ultrasound in yellow. They conflicted in every way possible where any angle was involved. I pointed that out and Magnus stared at the display with a fresh perspective. He was so surprised that he reverted to Norwegian. Magnus presented a close up of one of the walk ways and stared at the queer geometry involved. It wasn't simply an optical illusion there was something more profound going on. He ranted about what he was seeing and no one but me could understand what he was saying. Magnus shook his head and his eyes widened as the realization set in. "Gauss was right," he said at last in English. "Who or what is Gauss," I asked and fielded other questions from those gathered around the projector. "Carl Friedrich Gauss, he was a nineteenth century mathematician. He was brilliant and advanced not just math but astronomy and several other fields. He was one of the first to take steps in our understanding of Hyperbolic Geometry or better known as Non-Euclidean Geometry." "So are you telling me that these angles are Non-Euclidean?" I asked before anyone else could voice that thought. "That is exactly what I am saying. The work is mostly theoretical but here we have a concrete example of something that shouldn't exist. We need to proceed with great caution and keep this to ourselves for now at least." Magnus said his eyes never leaving the holographic display. He left us all standing there as he cried out in Norwegian and headed off to the engineering lab. That was the beginning of the end. Things began to accelerate from there. Magnus and his team began work on a new generation of sensor package for the drone. He tore Valin apart and rebuilt it from the bottom up. The crew from Numenor watched as the crazy Norwegian worked three days without sleep, little food and only left the lab to use the restroom. On day four Magnus fell asleep standing up and four of his people carried him to the lounge. He slept twelve hours straight and the on call physician warned him to pace himself for a man in his condition. It was only then that his heart murmur was mentioned to everyone involved in the project. It took them two full months to calibrate the new scanner. It was sheer genius and a lot of people didn't think they could do it. It was a hybrid technology that blended the principals of sonar and laser. It still had to be fine-tuned but it should be able to see these crazy angles, the key word was should. Magnus handed over rebuilding Valin to the Numenor team. A few days later, the drone was back up and running. It was running a series of diagnostics to integrate the new technology with the old. If you could call a cutting edge drone old. While Magnus had fallen back into more healthy habits he had a couch brought into the lab so he could nap while work was being done. I had to hand it to him. He was a beast when it came to getting the drone back in shape. "It's done," one of the techs cried out. "We have telemetry and all the hardware is talking to us. We are water tight and green for a launch." "Let's let this bitch run," Magnus said yawning and sitting up from his latest nap. We all went this time. It took me a day to get my sea legs back but others were not so lucky. Our science vessel, the Kobayashi Maru, was a converted coast guard cutter. It was a sturdy old girl if you were to listen to her captain, Horace Van Der Loot and a thirty year veteran of six campaigns, three wars and a dozen other hostile encounters. If you think of a man that has lived a majority of his life at sea Horace fits the image perfectly. He was of average height with dark skin that had been exposed to sun, wind and water for decades. If there was a louder crasser individual I had never met them. He had even more stories than Surisa. I never saw that coming. The first night out we learned he had sailed just about every body of water that was worth navigating. It was during our jaunt to the northern edge of the Marianas Trench that Magnus came up with the next step in our investigation of the ruins. He wanted to launch a manned expedition to the sunken city. I argued against it until we learned how safe it was. I suspected the city only slumbered and that something might still dwell in that stygian darkness and crushing depths. Let the probe do its work and see what we are facing. Tetsuo agreed to let Valin do its job and see what we came up with. That didn't stop Magnus from brain storming and sketching out a submersible. The ship's night crew came on and we celebrated what would, in a few days' time, could be a history making find. I didn't care about history I was concerned about surviving our encounter with what could easily be an inhabited city. How would they react if their territory was continually violated? I remembered what happened to my friends when we entered the Black Cathedral. Would history repeat itself? "You look a million miles away," Kat Shaw said as she joined me at the rail looking out over the ocean. "Just about, I have a bad feeling about this," I said. "Is it because this is like that site you visited," she asked and I nodded. "But that place was empty for centuries." "Where did you get that idea," I asked and she looked at me first puzzled and then alarmed. "It was empty right," she asked her voice shrilling in fear. I looked at her and she could see it in my eyes. "What really happened Louis?" "If I tell you, you will never have another good night's sleep ever again. It is better that we drop the subject." Kat gazed down at the water and shivered. She suddenly slipped her arms around my waist and clung to me. I held her close and prayed the drone would be able to perform its mission without incident. Kat kissed my cheek and went below decks. I fired off an email to her brother Nick. I asked him if he was aware of what was going on. I got a reply a few minutes later and he told me he was in the loop. I sent a second message telling him about my fears of what might be lurking in Dagon's city. He felt the pressure alone would limit the chance for anything living at that depth. Even if there was life down there it couldn't possibly survive the change of pressure. I told him I hoped he was right since his sister was on board this ship. I went to my cabin, okay it was our cabin. I shared it with Magnus, Richard and Jacob one of the junior engineers. Getting laid was going to be a challenge but if anyone could pull it off it would be Surisa. I stripped down to my boxers and plopped down in my bunk. The gentle rocking of the ship lulled me to sleep. It didn't last long though. There was a sound and it didn't belong. I opened my eyes and looked around but there was nothing out of sorts. I sat up and looked at the door. There was a light illuminating the bottom of the door but there was something else also. There was a puddle of water forming under the door. There was that sound again. "Leeeewwwwiiiisssss," it came again. I got up, pulled on my jeans and went to the door. I heard a soft wet slapping sound moving away as I opened the door. There on the deck were wet footprints. Was this some kind of joke? That's when I noticed the scratches on the side of the wall. Etched into the metal were builder runes. The message was clear, turn back or there will be repercussions. The light from the full moon illuminated the path the intruder took. It had climbed on board and walked to my room and then reversed its course and returned to the ocean from where it had come. I rushed to the edge and looked down. I could see marks where the things claws had penetrated the ships armored shell. It had climbed up with ease and delivered it message. I returned to my room and woke the others; they had to see the evidence for themselves. Soon most of the crew was awake and gawking at the runes carved into the wall as well as the holes in the ship's hull. It was Shauna, our resident marine biologist that raced away and returned with a cotton swab and a zip lock bag. She swabbed the runes for DNA and intended on debunking what she felt was a prank. It was Magnus that did the math and worked out how strong the thing had to be to be able to puncture the ship's armor. Feng displayed the ship's security footage to me and I went pale when I saw the invader. Feng took the footage and created a detailed holographic representation of our visitor. When she was done I got everyone's attention and held up my watch. There hovering in the air was the thing from the depths that had left such a dire warning. It was tall, possessing a bloated body perfect for surviving the crushing depths of the ocean. Its head was octopoid like the Dreamer in the Depths. We watched as the thing's facial tentacles moved and twitched. It reminded me of a cat's tail except there were eight of them. It was roughly humanoid with arms and legs but the dorsal fin, gills and clawed hands were distinctly inhuman. It was the watery unblinking blue eyes that were most disturbing. There was a malicious intelligence there and no one denied it. The city we had discovered was occupied. "Just because this thing showed up doesn't infer a large population," Magnus argued. "If there was, someone would have noticed them before now." "Just like the sunken city," Kat offered with a frown. "Who's to say that this is the only one?" The last part was said as she looked at me. "Louis-san is there something you'd like to add," Tetsuo asked. "We should turn around and leave now," I said and walked away. The others began to argue and I didn't want any part of it. In the end they would contact Nick and he would give the go ahead to continue. They would finish Valin's last mission and only then decide on whether a manned mission was advisable. My thought on the matter, they were insane. It was as if the warning meant nothing to them and the appearance of this... this Deep One was completely disregarded. I would continue my work on translating the artifact but I was done with the dig. I knew when to quit. I stood on the bow and watched our inexorable forward movement and fought down the urge to scream. This is why wars start because people have no respect for other individual's desires to be left the fuck alone. Oh god what more could go wrong? "Oh hey," Kat said as she slid her arms around my waist. "I got great news." "Fantastic, I could use some good news right about now," I told her. "My mother is going to visit, she wants to meet you," she said giggling. "Is that great or what?" "Doomed... I'm doomed," I said as I laughed. "I got a naughty idea," she purred in my ear. "Would you like to 'Titanic' me?" "Are you suggesting that we...?" I asked looking over my shoulder at her and she smiled. "Don't you need a little encouragement?" "Nope, I've been thinking about this since I climbed on board. I am fucking soaked. Now I am going to move in front of you. You are going to unzip, take that monster out and plunge it into my dripping pussy. Then we are going to let the ship do all the work, got it?" "How can I say no to something like that?" Kat was wearing a bright light blue blouse and a short skirt. I suspected she was going commando since she never mentioned anything about removing her panties. I watched as she ducked under my arms and gripped the V-shaped railing. I moved closer and had to one hand the rest. I followed her directions to the letter. I unzipped my jeans, took out the erection she had inspired, I flipped her skirt over that delicious ass of hers and eased inside of her. The wind off the ocean buffeted her skirt back into place while I buried my cock to her core. I grabbed the railing with my free hand and held on. She was right; the movement of the ship did all the work. "Oh shit, you are huge tonight," Kat gasped as the front of the ship dipped. "Oh fuck... you are going to break me, again!" "Damn, you are squeezing me like crazy," I howled but my words were lost beneath the crashing of the waves against the ship. It was maddening being at the mercy of the ocean but it didn't disappoint. The rolling motion of the ship drove me in and out of her with an unrelenting ferocity and I loved it. Kat's voice faded as she realized the futility of crying out any longer. The dark magic rose up in answer to the fury of the waves. It enveloped us and it dipped and crested as our pleasure did. I was still learning the mercurial nature of this power of mine. It grew as I did and it adapted as much as my shape shifting allowed me to change with any given situation. Kat's body bucked as she climaxed and my cock impaled her keeping her from falling. "Can they see us," she whimpered. "Do you think the crew on the bridge can see us?" "I am sure they can," I told her. "But I do not know if they suspect what is going on." "MMMMMMM I love your cock Louis," she growled. "And I love you too." "I will never hurt you Kat," I said as my own climax drew near. "I am close..." "I know... your prick is getting bigger inside of me. I want to feel you shoot into my womb." The bow rose now as a large wave lifted us up. We both cried out as the ship plunged downward and I was slammed against her. I screamed as my load poured inside of her. We stood there was a little longer before I withdrew the dark magic and I pulled out of her. I tucked it in and zipped up as Kat frowned. "I hate that part the most," she whimpered. "I love being filled up." We were both soaked to the bone from the sea spray. I led her back to the girl's cabin. Kat opened the door and Surisa, Sora and Shauna awaited her return. They had that look of expectation on their faces. Kat smiled and began to go into graphic detail about our little encounter at the front of the ship. I bid them a good night and left them giggling as the busty redhead continued her story. I returned to my own room, stripped down and toweled off. I sat on the edge of my bed wrapped in my towel and thought about alternate strategies. There were plenty of spells I could use to influence everyone on this ship. The problem with ordering the ship back is that I had no way of influencing Nick Shaw in any way, shape or form. I was powerless. No matter how I thought about it, we were going to launch Valin. Two sides of every coin that was the only viable option. I had to speak with Dagon. I shuddered at the thought of facing another of the Nameless. I had to appeal to that antediluvian race that was madness incarnate in order to avoid a disaster. I didn't much find this course of action very attractive but if I didn't try there would be a world of regret. I slipped under the sheets and closed my eyes. I drifted free of my body and sought out the sunken city and its demonic master. "Dagon," I called out in the language of the builders. "I request an audience." "You are Yog-Sothoth's pet," a voice called from the perfect darkness below me. "What do you want?" "A human ship is approaching your city," I said and chose my words very carefully. "They are curious and are planning on mapping your glorious handiwork." "I see. They wish to see and stand in awe of the Dreamer's city. How are they going to do this?" "They have built a metal device which can measure and send images to the surface." I told him. "They mean no disrespect. They do not understand as I do." "I sent them a warning and yet their burning curiosity drives them on." Dagon laughed. "I love humans, they never change. I will grant your boon pawn of Yog-Sothoth. If they only want to map the city I will stay my hand but impress upon them the dire consequences of attempting to set foot upon its sacred grounds. If they trespass I will lash out and many will perish. Do not test me on this!" He was gone and I was grateful that my interaction was limited to his voice only. Perhaps Dagon felt I was unworthy of a face to face. I was fine with that. I opened my eyes and made the decision to speak with Kat and tell her not to visit the city no matter what they found. I had to get her promise on that, I just had to. That was my last thought before I fell asleep. I awoke with the others the next morning. I got dressed and had breakfast with Kat, Sora and Surisa. Kat looked at me and made that face of hers, the one that screamed just say it already. "I need a promise from you," I said and she placed her hand on mine. Spell, Crook and Handle "So how was that," she asked. "Amazing," I whimpered still shaking after that mind blowing orgasm. "Really," she said smiling. "Good, I wasn't sure I would be able to channel enough hooker into that performance." "Oh my god you were trying out roleplaying, on me," I asked and she nodded. "Yeah, I've never done it before so I figured you were the safest person for my first attempt. I'm glad you liked it." I was speechless after that. If that was her first attempt at roleplaying she was going to leave a trail of bodies behind her before she was through. She asked me for tips on improving her performance but I just shook my head. Ladies and gentlemen the academy award goes to my sister for her role in morning hand job. A part of me wanted to dive down and eat her out as payback but I wasn't sure where that would lead. I looked over at the clock and it was four thirty in the morning. Oh hell why not! I waited until Lily was on her back before I pounced. It was only payback after all. I buried my face between her legs and found her pussy soaked. I wasn't really surprised after that 'performance' of hers. I lifted her legs over my shoulders and went to town. "Wait... what are you... oh my god..." Lily whimpered. "Are you roleplaying now? Is that your tongue on my... UNNNNNNN!" I focused on her pleasure and by the way her fingers dug into my hair was a clear sign she was enjoying herself. I couldn't fuck her but I could make her cum. I lapped up her juices and suckled her clit while she cursed like a sailor. She had to grab a pillow to keep from screaming and waking our parents. I didn't want them walking in on this, that would be very bad. Sis was grinding her hips against my face now and I forgot how much I enjoyed eating a girl out. I lapped at her pussy lips and sis was shaking now. "I am getting close," she said before burying her face beneath the pillow again. I managed to ease two fingers into her as I licked and sucked on her clit. When my fingers were as deep as they could go sis was growling into the pillow now. I thrust them slowly at first but she was pretty damn close so I picked up speed quickly. Sis was thrashing around now and I knew she was seconds from climaxing. The harder I rammed my fingers into her, the louder she wailed into that poor pillow of mine. Her shaking became nearly uncontrollable and a few seconds later I thrust my fingers one last time and she came like gang busters. Her hips and ass left the bed as she climaxed. Somehow I didn't injure my neck in the aftermath. I counted myself lucky. I sat up and crossed my legs as I looked down at her twitching form. "Fair is fair," I said and she nodded. "Now we are even." Sis moved the pillow as she took lungful of air. Her hair was a mess and her skin was covered in a light sheen of sweat. She gave me a thumbs up and I knew she would survive. I covered us up, rolled onto my side away from her and closed my eyes. She snuggled as close as she could even as I fell asleep. The alarm was loud and I was still tired from the glorious interruption an hour and a half ago. "Did I do something wrong," Lily whispered in my ear. "Oh hell no," I said as I rolled over to face her. "Then why didn't you... you know," she asked her eyes brimming with tears. "Sweetie, you are my sister," I said. "We aren't supposed to do those sorts of things." "But you made me feel so damn good," she pouted like a child. "I wanted to feel you inside of me." "Whoa," I said looking her in the eye. "I'm not sure that's a line we should cross." "Did you like my hand job," she asked using her best coy tone. "You know I did," I replied warily. "Did you like the way I swallowed... every... last... drop...?" "UH HUH," I said feeling the heat build between us again. "Then..." she said pressing her nipples against my chest. "...will you be a dear and fuck me rotten? I know you want to. I can see it in your eyes. You want me. You want to slide that amazing cock of yours as deep into my cunt as possible. Don't you?" "Yes," I said. "But it would be wrong. You are an amazing woman. There are tons of guys... unnnn... out there... stop that..." "Make me," Lily said as her fingers closed over my semi-hard dick again. "Mom and dad will hear us if we continue this," I said. "You want to explain that one?" "No..." she pouted. "I could suck you off." "You could, but then I'd have to fuck you after that. Trust me we would wake the entire neighborhood." "Yes We Would," she agreed happily. She let go and launched off the bed racing for the bathroom. There were shouts as she encountered our dad. I could barely make it out but it was something to the effect of 'where are your clothes young lady'. I giggled and grabbed my underwear before I ventured out. Talk about a near miss, if she had started on me any earlier things might have gone a lot further. I had no idea she had so much trouble socializing. I stalked off to the bathroom and waited in line to take a piss. Dad opened the bathroom door and glared at me. "What, I have clothes on," I said and he just shook his head. "Woman, you need to talk to that child of yours about running around naked at her age," dad said as he headed back to his bedroom. "MY child," mom giggled. "You're the one who used to walk around naked for how long. Don't blame me for that you old fart." Thus the Saturday morning wars began. Dad and mom would lovingly argue about whose turn it is to make coffee and I would blissfully slip in, take a piss and oh hell that's right I had to help Lily today. I slipped into the bathroom and there was Lily pressing her tits against the frosted glass of the shower. "Evil," I said as I lifted up the lid and did my business. "Wanna share a shower," she asked. "Not sure it's safe," I replied. "Don't trust me," she giggled. "No, I don't trust myself," I said. "Are you mad at me," she asked as she returned to washing up. "No, I'm just not sure what would happen if we, you know." "I understand, you don't want to hurt me," she said as she wet her hair. "I love you." "I love you too," I said and stood there weighing the options. My conscience won out and I left the bathroom. I kept telling myself it was the right thing to do. After the hundredth time I actually began to believe it. I took my shower only after I was sure it was safe to do so. While I cleaned up I wondered what the hell had gotten into my sister for her to do what she had done. Sure we were close in our own way but nothing like this. I cleared my head and got ready for another long day of work. It was going to be tedious and repetitive but we had to do some serious lifting today to make sure we got done on time. We should cross the midway point early today. I got dressed and headed downstairs to find not only my sister but my parents sitting down to breakfast. We ate in silence and I wondered if either mom or dad had overheard something. If they had they kept it to themselves. "I think it is nice that you are helping your sister on this project of hers," my dad said breaking the awkward silence. "Yes Lilith, you should thank your brother for all of his help," mom said. "Mom, you know I hate it when you call me that. It's just Lily and I have already thanked Miles for his help but that was just a sort of down payment." "There is more to come," I asked and sis just smiled and nodded. "Oh great... oh look at the time, we got to go tons to do today." Sis giggled herself silly and we drove to the library is relative silence. Sis was wearing a denim skirt that hit mid-thigh and a white cotton blouse. The day went with few hiccups and only the occasional sexual innuendo from sister dearest. On the positive side we made great progress and knocked out much of the work. By my estimate we should finish up early afternoon on Sunday. You'd think five thousand plus books would go quicker but the lack of identification on spine and cover is what seriously slowed things down. Thanks to sis' spreadsheet we were able to build a nice data base that could be referenced by author, language and subject. Once it was complete the rare book section would technically up to snuff. It still amazed me that this hadn't been done years ago. There were things that didn't actually belong in the vault per se. There was a framed list of head librarians that dated back a hundred years. "Hey sis, have you taken a look at this," I said holding up the frame. "No what is it?" "It's a list of the head librarians over the last century but that's not the weird part," I said. "Wait a second, they were all women," she said. "What are the odds of that?" "It's a conspiracy I tell you," I said jokingly. "I guess it's good that you're a woman." "Hey bro, have you take a look at this," she said lifting her skirt and flashing me her bare pussy. "Perv," I said even as I felt my cock swell in response. "Hey, did you shave?" "May-be," she said as she let go of her skirt. We decided to clean up the list and find a proper place to hang it up. So while sis catalogued a few of the books I took cleaner to frame and glass and set it just outside the vault. The rest of the night was fairly uneventful and we packed up just before midnight. I drove sis to her apartment and she asked me to come in. I hesitated but she pouted and I melted instantly. She always knew how to manipulate me. Once inside she offered me a beer from the fridge and disappeared into her bedroom. I sat down at her kitchen table and sipped the beer. I wondered if she would return dressed or half-naked. I didn't have long to wait. She returned before I had finished my beer carrying her overnight bag. "I take it you are staying the night again," I said and she nodded. "Before we leave I need to know something." She sat down and took a sip of my beer. "How long has this been going on? I mean your affection for me." "Since you were born silly," she said. She took another sip of my beer and then she realized what I meant. "OH, you mean how long have I wanted to jump your bones. Hmm, let me think, I guess it has only come to the surface the last couple of days or so. Why?" "Why, we are siblings and incest is kind of looked down upon," I said. "So you don't want to fuck me is that it," she asked and I flinched. "OH, you do want to fuck me and are feeling guilty, horny, help me out here." "I don't want to hurt you or mess you up," I blurted out. "I always thought the older sibling was supposed to be the protective one. I want this as much as you do but if you think it'll be weird afterwards we don't have to. But you will be missing out on quite the experience or so I am told. Did you know that I can put my feet behind my head?" "YES, I remember all those gymnastic classes you took. You are still that flexible?" "Uh huh," she said and took a healthy swig of beer. "...How about a helping hand?" There was something electric about that simple touch. The last of my resistance crumbled to ash. The apartment was small so the bedroom wasn't far away, thank god. The mad dash there involved undressing along the way. We left a trail of clothes that began with shoes and ended with skirt and boxers. She kissed me even as I pulled her into my arms. The only way I could describe it would be starvation. We were both dying for affection and we found it in each other. The feel of her skin against mine was magical and my cock was iron hard in no time at all. I picked her up and started to toss her onto her bed when it hit me. Now I know why she wanted to fool around in my bed, hers was tiny. So instead I turned and pressed her back against the wall. Lily moaned into my mouth as I began to fondle her ass cheeks from below. "Foreplay..." I groaned into her ear and she just shook her head. "Just fuck me already, we can play slap and tickle later on," she growled back. "Okay," I said as I lined up the head of my cock between her pussy lips. "Here goes..." She was so wet I slid into her with ease. I pushed upward as slow as I was able and felt her teeth sink into my shoulder. Once I was buried inside of her she wrapped her legs around my back and held on for dear life. I began to move my hips and sis cried out and begged me to make her cum. I had been with a few women but her pussy was the tightest I had ever had. After a few minutes she was cursing and urging me on. "Fuck me harder goddamnitalltohell," she swore. "Slam that fat cock into me! That's it... oh yeah... just like that!" I just focused on the pleasure and jackhammered my cock into her as fast and hard as I could. I looked into her eyes and saw them widen in shock just before her body shook and her nails dug into my back. I thought about stopping and letting her catch her breath but discarded that idea instantly. She begged me to stop but I continued hammering away at that tight little pussy of hers. "You are wrecking me," she said as a second orgasm built in her. "OH, I can feel you growing inside of me! Are you going to shoot all over my tits and face?" I could only nod. I was so focused on her body I couldn't speak. I hammered away until I was mere seconds away from climaxing. I lowered sis to her feet and eased out of her. She dropped to her knees and took a double fisted grip on my cock. She took over and began to stroke me for all she was worth. But the lying minx changed tactics at the last second and wrapped her lips around the head of my cock and swallowed my first load of the night. When I was finished she licked her lips and smiled up at me. "A lady has the right to change her mind," she said as she got to her feet slowly. "I may not walk right for a while after that." I took a few steps back and sat on her bed. Sis followed suit and straddled my lap. She snuggled and just sat there quite content with how things had gone. Lily was quiet for a long time before launching into her concept for commando cosplay. She could design and make anime costumes that allowed unrestricted access to a certain body part. "I've never fucked in a public place before," she mused. "I think it would be kind of exciting. Have you done it outdoors?" "Does the backseat of a car count," I asked and she nodded. "I don't suppose it's the same as up against a tree or bent over a park bench." "OOH," she purred. "I am getting drenched just thinking about it. What do you say?" "Wait... now?" "No, but maybe Sunday as a kind of celebration for all the 'hard' work we've done. Mmm speaking of hard... your cock is pressing against me. How about I show you how flexible I am?" We got a whopping two and half hours sleep that night. I don't know if it was the simple fact that it had been so damn long since I got laid or something else. That something else was my sister's touch. It seems like just when my energy level had bottomed out a single touch from her brought my cock back to life. I am not complaining mind you but it made for a long night. The alarm went off and normally I would have been dragging ass but I felt like the freaking energizer bunny. I was singing in the shower as Lily fixed coffee. We would have showered together but we were both pretty sore after all the love play from earlier. We didn't want to risk permanent injury. I was directed to a small trove of men's clothing in one of Lily's lower drawers. They fit well enough so that I didn't need to stop by and change at home. We got some drive through breakfast and headed to the library. We needed to finish up today no matter what. All I have to say is thank god for the coffee machine in the employee lounge. Sis and I started off with a full head of steam but the lack of sleep finally took its toll. By five in the afternoon we still weren't done, so much for sex in the park. It was closer to seven o'clock when we neared the finish line. There were a dozen books left and I had just finished off the latest pot of coffee. Sis tore through the small stack in no time at all but then it happened. We had one book left over. "NO, this can't be right," Lily wailed. "How can we have one left?" "Take a break and let me check the spreadsheet with the ledger," I said. "Want me to make another pot of coffee?" "No, but I could go for an energy drink or soda," I said as I scrolled to the top of the list and began the process of checking. Since I could filter the spreadsheet it didn't take as long as I feared. I finished and there was no mistake we had one extra book. Maybe it was never entered into the ledger? It was the only thing that made any sense. I picked up the book and took a closer look at the exterior. It was about eight inches across and a foot high. It was pretty damn thick, about four inches. The cover and spine were hand tooled leather and appeared in good condition and showed little signs of wear and tear. The interior was the real mystery. The entire book was in fact a hand written document and contained strange drawings and weird diagrams. The language was Latin but no hint of author or title for the book. I was a little rusty but after a few pages it began to come back. Lily stepped into the vault holding a six pack of energy drinks in one hand and a two liter of soda in the other. "I wasn't sure how much longer we were going to be here," she said. "So how bad is it?" "This tome is not in the ledger," I said closing the book and setting it down. "Oh, tome is it now," she said smiling. "Wait, if it isn't in the ledger what is it doing in here?" "Beats the hell out of me but I can tell you this. It is one man's life work to collect and combine quite a few arcane rituals." "Are you trying to tell me that we have a genuine grimoire sitting there," she said excited. "Yeah, an unlisted book of spells and incantations," I said. "Straight out of some fantasy novel but there is a definite order and clinical description of magic here." "I need to call Rhonda and tell her the good news," she said and then she stopped. "You want to decipher it don't you?" "Yeah, think about if we published it," I said. "Can you imagine the money we could rake in? We could return the original anytime or we could scan it if you don't feel comfortable taking the original out of the library." Lily stood there and stared at the book. I could see the wheels turning. She began pacing and making little hand gestures as she weighed the options. I picked up the book, stood up and walked out of the vault. I walked up to the fifth floor, parts of which are closed to the public. I went into the restoration lab and fired up one of the three stations. The library had this on premises to maintain and repair old books and manuscripts. One of the processes they used was for scanning documents that were too fragile and in danger of being lost. They sourced out these facilities to local libraries and collectors as well as customers nationwide. While not cutting edge they were top of the line technology. Sis had followed me up reached into one of the drawers, took out a blank memory stick and handed it to me. I had watched the process a dozen or so times when waiting for Lily to get off work. It would take a few hours but it would solve my sister's dilemma. "What do I do," she asked me as I placed the book in the scanner and set the guide plates into position. The process was automatic and we could just sit and let the machine do all the work. "You mean about whether or not to tell Rhonda about the book," I said and sis nodded. "That is a career ender if you don't and a go to jail card if you get caught smuggling it out of the library." "Pretty black and white then," she said. "Yeah, pretty much," I said as I watched the work station monitor. "What the hell is that?" I looked at the image of the page and threw it up on the big screen for a better look. I chewed my lip and translated the text next to the diagram in my head. I knew my jaw was hitting the floor when I deciphered the words. This book just kept getting better and better. Spell, Crook and Handle "What is that," Lily asked her lips close to my ear. "It is a phonetics chart," I said. "It shows how certain vowels and consonants are pronounced correctly. It is so that the spells used are done properly. This guy went all out I have to give him credit for that." "Are those hand gestures," sis asked as new pages came up depicting finger positions for use in spell craft. "Yep, apparently those are used with simple fast cast runes," I said scanning the text for key words. "You know spells like sleep, forget and enthrall." "Enthrall sounds kind of kinky," she said in her sultry voice. "Try it." "What?" "On me, try the enthrall spell on me," sis moaned in my ear. "Make me your sex slave." "You're serious aren't you," I asked and she nodded. "Okay you asked for it, now what is something you would never do sexually?" "Anal," she responded without hesitation. "Nothing goes up my butt for any reason." I pulled up the enthrall spell and read the description of its effects and limitations. I could make sis take a finger up her ass but I couldn't force her to kill herself. I was happy about that. The spell had a three part vocal component and I went back to the table and figured out the three sounds I would need to use. That was the easy part, the hand gesture was kind of tricky but with a little practice I was able to contort my digits into the proper alignment. I focused on sis lifting her skirt and sliding her index finger into her ass. I swung around in my chair to face her and while I pointed with fingers awkwardly bent spoke the three syllables. My lust powered the spell and the effect was immediate and a little frightening. Sis smiled down at me even as she turned around, pointing her ass at me, lifted up her skirt so that it rested on her ass cheeks. She gripped one of her ass cheeks with one hand and pulled so I could see better as she slid her finger up her ass. The side effect was that she was now finger fucking her ass while I watched. I scrabbled to find the counter spell and invoked that after enjoying the view for a minute or three. "Oh my god it worked," Lily moaned. "UNNNN... I never thought it would feel so good!" "You can stop now," I said but she continued for another minute. "That was amazing," she moaned as she stood up and then clapped her hands together. "Do something else!" "You are a glutton for punishment aren't you," I said and she smiled. "Okay here's one I think I will enjoy." I looked at the paralysis spell as well as its counter and put them to memory. I told sis to take a wide stance and put her arms out as far as they could go. A gesture and four syllables later and she was frozen in place. I got up and walked around her. Her eyes could move and she could speak but otherwise she was completely immobile. I could see the hint of fear but when I moved behind her and cupped her tits the fear was gone. She moaned while I unbuttoned her shirt and unhooked her bra. As I played with her breasts she urged me on and begged me to take her right there. "What happens when the crew comes in tomorrow morning and smells sex in here," I asked and she laughed. "You're right," she groaned as I teased her nipples. "I see why you chose this one, though it was a little scary at first." "I can't believe this actually works," I said and frowned. "No way that we can sell this, it's too damn dangerous." I cast the counter spell. It worked the third time around. I learned focus was the key and a clear mind critical to success. The scan finished and the data was automatically copied to the memory stick however a digital copy still existed on the mainframe. I didn't have authorization to delete it that is not good. I removed the book from the scanner and wondered what the hell to do. The scanning process had left a file name, time stamp and file size. How the hell could I erase it without authorization or setting off a dozen alarms trying to get to the server room? I took a page from Lily and began to pace. I didn't make those little hand gestures like she did I just muttered to myself over and over again. I held the memory stick in my hand and turned it over a few times when it hit me, memory. "No way would that work," I said and sis gave me a strange look. "But if it did..." "Out with it," she said at last. "I am going to try and use the Forget spell on the computer," I said as I pocketed the memory stick and picked up the spell book. I wrote down the file name so I could search for it after my attempt. I went over the spell until it was burned into my mind. I practiced the vocal part over and over again. I was surprised at how simple the hand gesture was. Now I was ready. I cleared my mind and then thought about the file name until I was sure of success. I gestured at the work station and spoke the syllables. I typed a search for the file and there it was still on the damn mainframe. What had gone wrong? Maybe I was being too specific. Maybe all I needed was to think about the spell book and let the rest just happen. I repeated the process but this time just kept an image of the book in my mind. I cast the spell and held my breath. I keyed in the search and was rewarded with 'item not found'. It actually worked! We left the lab and headed back to the vault. Sis was so excited about calling Rhonda and telling her all about the book. I thought about the implications of that sort of publicity. What would Rhonda do if she were told there was a real life grimoire in her vault? If I were her there would be a ton of academic press on the matter. They would hand it over to specialists in the field and Lily's name would be a small byline in someone else's doctoral thesis. Besides, the book was way too dangerous to let out of their hands. The idea came so simply to me. It was the perfect solution for a monstrous problem. "Let's pack up and get out of here," I said. "Yeah, I can tell Rhonda tomorrow when I get in," she said smiling. "We have some celebrating to do." We gathered up our stuff and sis gave me a queer look when she saw I was still holding the grimoire. The forget spell hit her right between the eyes. She blinked a few times and looked around confused. "You ever have that feeling like you walked into a room and forgot why you went there," she asked. "Yep, you all ready?" "Yeah, let me do a quick double check, ledger, laptop, cleaning supplies," she said looking at the new and orderly rare book section. "Looks good, let's lock this up and call it a night. What's that?" "This is that journal I told you about that I bought online," I said and she made a face. "You mean you were meaning to tell me," she said as she closed the vault. "I am not the only one that is forgetful." "Guilty as charged," I said as we walked to the elevator. We got to the front door and she began to turn on the alarm and lock up. I pointed at the security camera and cast the forget spell again. If it worked as planned any footage of the book would be erased from its memory. Sis gave me that 'you are so weird' look and then just smiled. We walked down the driveway to my car and she took my arm. "You ever consider doing anal," I asked. "NO WAY," she shot back giggling. "Oh come on," I pushed. "No... no... and NO," she said moving her butt away from me as far as she could. By Hook or by Crook: The snow was falling sideways and the meteorologists were calling it the worst snowfall on record. I was huddled up by the roaring fire in my parent's cabin in the middle of nowhere. The crackle of the fire and its aromatic scent filled my senses as I stared into the dancing flames. The cabin was located half an hour drive to the nearest bit that could be called civilization and a three hour romp back to the city. I was glad I had stocked up for just this sort of emergency. It had been four months since the premier of the new and improved rare book section at the public library. I had even been invited to the ribbon cutting ceremony. It was a twofold strike on the library's part. The second announcement was their unveiling of a rare copy of the Egyptian book of the dead. It was on display and man how it drew a crowd. Sis had gotten not only a raise out of the deal but when Rhonda announced she was retiring Lily was going to take over as the youngest head librarian in the institution's history. Mom and dad were so proud of her. So was I but I was distracted by the thing that I had stolen. This grimoire, this spell book that actually worked! As I stared into the flames one of the logs collapsed as it was consumed. The desire to share what I knew was maddening but who would believe me. I could do real magic! I had memorized nearly two dozen simple spells over the last four months but I had barely scratched the surface of the power in this grimoire. I had quit my job working for my parents and taken refuge out here in the wilderness living off my college savings. I think my family believes that I am upset over my sister's success and for now I am going to let them believe that. Once I have mastered what I can of this book I will return. But for now I have to push the limits and discover what I can do. The video camera is in position and aimed at the one piece of comfortable furniture in the cabin, an old high backed leather chair. I move from my spot by the fire and sit in the chair. I picked up the remote for the camera, collected my thoughts and clicked record. "This is my fifteenth experiment," I began. "This one is going to test the limits of the invisibility spell. I have three phases for this test. The first will see how well the spell works under normal lighting conditions. The second will check to see if I appear under ultraviolet light and lastly I will check and see if I show up under infrared photography. Well here goes." I performed the spell and held up my hand. Of all the spells this one is the most disconcerting. There is something wrong about holding up your hand and not seeing it. I moved my hand, wiggled my fingers and I couldn't see any sort of distortion. I hit another button on the remote that activated the full spectrum camera. I waved at the second camera and made a few faces. Finally I switched on the infrared camera and repeated the other movements. I switched off all the cameras and looked at the footage. The standard camera showed no hint of distortion, movement or anything. I was surprised to find similar footage from the other two cameras. I had just cast the counter spell when there came a pounding on the front door. I switched off the cameras and headed for the door. "Who is it," I called out. "Open the damn door," yelled Lily. I opened the door a little when the howling winds flung it the rest of the way open. Sis stepped in covered in a layer of snow attached to her parka. I shouldered the door closed and threw the bolt. The wind howled outside and by the time I had turned around sis was standing by the fire. She had taken off the parka and slithered out of the down leggings. She was wearing sweat pants that clung to that apple butt of hers like a second skin. The hoodie did a great job hiding those great tits of hers. Wow, six weeks on my own and my sex drive was seriously deprived. "Three cameras," she said as she turned around to warm her ass. "What are you doing?" "Why are you here," I asked ignoring her question. "You need to come back with me," she said. "Something is wrong with mom and dad needs help taking care of her." "Define wrong, is she sick," I asked. "No, she has been acting weird the last couple of weeks," she said making a face. "Weird, what is that supposed to mean," I asked and Lily just shrugged. "Great, just fucking great..." "There is supposed to be a break in the weather tomorrow morning," she said. "I'll start packing," I said. "I need to box up some of this stuff. It is way too valuable to be just left here." "You never answered my question," Lily said frowning now. "No I didn't. I am doing some research." She accepted the fact that I was unwilling to speak about my research. It was only a few minutes later when she opened up about how strange mom's behavior had become. In short mom's sex drive had shifted into overdrive. She's been flirting with male renters when she went around collecting the rent. Apparently dad had caught her and the new maintenance guy in a compromising situation. Mom hadn't cheated on dad but it was a close thing. They were desperate to have me back. What the hell was going on? In the back of my mind I wondered if the book and my studies might not have something to do with mom's problems. Sis saw my expression and told me not to blame myself. "I doubt empty nest syndrome is to blame for mom's hormones," she said in her most comforting tone. "What if it is something I did," I said "Like what," Lily asked and I just shrugged. "It's just that I've..." I began and stopped that thought mid-sentence. "Oh no you don't," Lily replied her eyes narrowing. "What were you going to say?" "Maybe she is acting out because," I said and stalled again. Lily glared at me which reminded me of our mother. "Okay... okay, maybe she is like this because of what a failure I turned out to be." "Have you lost your fucking mind," sis cried her face flushing with rage. "You are not a failure. You are out in the middle of nowhere for a reason." "Yes." "Are you out here escaping?" "No, I need time to figure this out and then maybe I can make my own mark," I said. "I envy you," she said and I looked at her like she was the crazy one. "I am the oldest. I have had the burden of not failing for so damn long." "And you haven't, you are amazing," I said and that seemed to clear that unspoken tension between us. I hugged her and felt the last of the bitterness evaporate. We just stood there holding each other while the wind howled outside. Then sis shifted her position and whispered in my ear. "There is another reason I came all the way up here." "Ah ha, you 'do' have an ulterior motive," I said feeling her proximity now. She smelled so damn good and it had been a long time up here all alone. "I uh have a favor to ask," she said her body molding to mine. "Last I heard you have a young man in your life and your bed," I said. "Yes that is true, but, he doesn't have something you do," she moaned in my ear as she cupped my groin. "His cock is not nearly the monster yours is." "Um, I don't want to get in the middle of..." I tried to be the good one and failed when she unzipped me and fished out my dick. "UNNNN... if you do that..." "What, you mean something like this," she said as she dropped down to her knees. I looked down just as her lips engulfed the tip of my cock. I groaned as her hands and lips worked me over. It didn't take her long to get me painfully hard. Even as her head moved up and down on my erection her hands tugged at her sweat pants. She was bottomless in no time and I moved my hips slowly fucking her face as she tossed her pants onto the bed. Lily got to her feet and reminded me of how flexible she was. She lifted her foot up and placed it on my shoulder and then my dear sweet sister took my cock in her hand and guided it between her pussy lips. I moaned as I sank deep inside of her and she just smiled as she took charge. "I've been practicing this just so I could impress you," she moaned as she began to move. "Oh I forgot how huge you are." "This is still so very wrong," I said so that I could deny my part in it later on. "But damn it feels amazing!" "Uh huh, now shut up and fuck me," Lily ordered. I did as I was told. She was the older sibling after all. I began to meet her thrusts but as loud as we were the storm outside was louder still. Sis' leg began to tremble and I grabbed her ass cheeks and as if we had rehearsed it a hundred times she hopped up and I supported her as her leg wrapped around my waist. It was way too awkward so I carried her over so I could lower her onto the bed. Once her back was on the mattress she put both of her knees to her chest and made a come hither gesture with a finger. "Come on lover and wreck me," she growled as I adjusted my grip on her body driving her knees to either side of her head. She was cursing and screaming as I used my entire body weight to pound the living hell out of her. I thought I might be hurting her but then I saw her expression. She was in bliss. I almost faltered when I saw her eyes. The once bright green eyes now edged with a golden halo around the edges. The mattress squeaked like hell but we didn't care. I just used the springs to my advantage and let them lift her so I could slam into her that much easier. I could feel her begin to stiffen beneath me and she was begging me to make her cum. Since she asked so nice how could I possibly refuse? I felt her nails run down the length of my back and was grateful I was wearing a shirt. She ground her pussy against me and then collapsed panting and gasping for breath. I stopped and began undressing while she caught her breath. I left my socks on considering how damn cold the floor of the cabin was. I helped sis out of her top and bra before we slipped beneath the covers. She rolled onto her side and I spooned her from behind. Sis reached down and guided me back inside of her nice and slow. "Take your time," she moaned. "I want to savor this." "You're in charge," I said as I moved as slow as I could. "For the moment," she whimpered. "If I know you, you'll take over when it suits you." I reached around and cupped her tits and leisurely played with them. We just fucked as if we had no cares in the world. For the most part that was entirely true. Though there was that nagging worry about my mom in the back of my mind. "How is work," I asked giggling in her ear. "Really, you want to talk about... UNNNN... god I hate you," she moaned. "No you don't," I said as I thrust a little faster now. "UNNN... no I don't, I love you and your cock," she groaned as she started thrusting backwards again. "I knew it, you just want my cock," I said as I rolled her onto her belly. She was right I had to be in charge. I knelt above her keeping her body flat on the bed. I thrust into her with more and more force. I could hear her muffled cries of pleasure and that just made me want her all the more. I grabbed her ass cheeks and mauled them as I thrust as hard as I could. "So close," I told her. "In me... shoot it in me," she begged. I felt my body losing control and so could she. Sis managed to lift her ass off the mattress giving me a better target. I pulled back and hammered her harder now even as I spat on her puckered asshole and teased it with a finger. "Oh no you don't," she growled even as my fingertip entered her. "Oh yes I do," I replied. "Almost there... almost..." I slammed both my cock and my finger as deep into her holes at the same time. Sis was bucking and hollering as we came together. I emptied my load deep in her pussy and slowly withdrew my finger from her ass. It took a few minutes for us to catch our collective breaths. I pulled out of her and sat there shivering. We looked at each other and made the quick dash to the bathroom. Sis beat me to the toilet so I used the sink to clean up. We swapped places even as she chastised me about what would be forever known as the 'finger incident'. "I can't believe you shoved a finger up my ass," she said as she washed up. "You are over reacting," I said. "It wasn't like I shoved my cock up there. It was just a finger for crying out loud." "It always starts with just a finger..." she said and stopped. "Never fucking mind..." "Oh shit," I said realizing someone hadn't stopped with just a finger. "I'm sorry I didn't know." "No one does, not even mom or dad so keep your mouth shut," she snarled her eyes taking on more of that golden color. Spell, Crook and Handle "You have my promise," I said. "I didn't mean to hurt you." "You didn't hurt me," she said looking over at me with a strange expression on her face. "You liked it didn't you," I said and she nodded. "I understand. You enjoyed something that has such bad memories attached to it. I will never touch that cute little hole of yours ever again. Unless you ask me to and then I'll be more than happy to... uh... you know." She giggled and then we made another mad dash back to the bed and dove under the covers. They were ice cold again and it took a little while to warm them up. She we cuddled until the shivering stopped. I lay on my back while sis snuggled close. It was nice to feel another body so close after being isolated for so long. I was ready to fall asleep when sis' hand settled onto my cock. I was surprised, no I was stunned when that simple gesture made me hard as a steel rod. What the hell was going on? That thought was drowned out as sis lowered her lips to the head and began blowing me. The next two hours were a fierce exchange of bodily fluids. Finally we both lay there panting and wheezing utterly exhausted. When sis reached out to snuggle I actually flinched. My heart was pounding in my chest as the wind shrieked outside and amazingly the sound helped me drift off. I slept like a baby and woke up before dawn to an eerie silence. The storm was over. I wondered how much snow had fallen and if we could even get out without having to dig ourselves out. Sis was still asleep and on her side facing away from me. That evil side of me wanted to mess with her but I pushed down the urge and let her sleep. I rolled out of bed and left her sleeping to check out our situation. I moved the curtains aside and looked outside. Damn, there must be a full foot of snow out there and the drifts against the trees and the side of the cabin were three feet at least. How the hell had Lilith gotten up here in the first place? I went to another window and spotted the Range Rover parked at the bottom of the driveway. She must have rented that to make sure she got here and back again. I got dressed and began packing things up. I was delaying the inevitable I didn't really want to shovel all that snow. I ate a small snack in the form of an energy bar and looked around for the next thing to pack when the covers moved. Sis let out a disappointed grunt as she lifted her head and looked around. I giggled when I saw her hair. It was a mass of wayward locks and she rewarded me with her middle finger. She raised an eyebrow and pointed at the device I was boxing up. "It's a 3D printer," I said. "It's part of my research. I borrowed it from a buddy of mine." "What were you printing," she asked as she sat up flashing me her tits. "Um... jewelry kind of," I stammered not expecting that question. "What sort of jewelry," she asked stretching her arms and yawning now. "Talismans," I said not wanting to lie to her. Sis made a puzzled face and got up. "Shit, its fucking freezing in here," she yelped as she dove for the bag she had brought in and stood by the embers of the fire and dressed. She had packed leggings, a wool skirt and a heavy cotton button up shirt. Once she was dressed she built up the fire and took some of the coals and started up the wood burning stove. While she fixed breakfast I finished packing and stacked it by the front door. As we ate sis asked me about the jewelry I had made. I kept the stolen book out of the conversation and only told her that they were my own designs. Before I had come up to the cabin I had read all about making talismans in a book. While certain metals were usually required I had learned the most important part was attention to detail. The closer the talisman was to the design the better it should function. So that is why I borrowed the printer. I scanned the designs into my laptop, cleaned up the designs in an art program and then printed a few of them off. I wasn't sure they would work but I had to try. I told sis to wait while I dug us out. The back door was passable but we couldn't possibly carry my stuff out that way without dropping it in one of the many mounds of snow. So I suited up and with shovel in hand made my way through the moon lit snow. I rounded the front of the cabin and balked when I saw the wall of snow. Fuck, this is going to take a long time! I let out a long sigh and then went to work. On the plus side I got to see the sun come up and set the clouds on fire. I had cleared the front porch and made the front door accessible. However, I still had quite a distance before we could access the Range Rover. I took a break and slipped inside. I stripped out of my parka and coveralls. I warmed my body by the fire as Lily slipped her arms around my waist. "I've got news, I wanted to tell you last night but it didn't seem appropriate," she whispered. "Rhonda is retiring at the end of the year. So as of January I will be the new head librarian." "Congratulations," I said happy for her. "That is fantastic news!" "It's weird though," she said as her lips nuzzled my neck. "You were right about their only being a female head librarian. I found out why." "Why do I feel a huge weight about to come crashing down?" "It's silly," she purred in my ear. "Rhonda took me out to dinner to tell me about her retirement. During the meal she shared something really strange with me. She told me about a book that was hidden in the rare book section. Her predecessor told her about it and so on for a hundred years. I was the only one who had the nerve to actually clean up and catalogue the vault." "Why," I asked as she pressed her tits to my back. "This book scared the hell out of each of them. It was supposedly a book of black magic and every man that ever owned it died horribly." "Every man, you talk like a woman has never owned it. "They haven't," she said. "Apparently the magic only works for men. So it has been kept safe by one woman after another, until now." "We didn't find a book," I said feeling the lie burn in my throat. "It is true that the ledger and the stock matched but uh there is a book missing. Rhonda described it to me..." "I stole it," I said and sis never flinched. "I wanted to see if it worked." "It did work," she said. "I know it did. It's the only thing that explains the lost security footage. You deleted it somehow but there were gaps left in the time stamps. What I don't get is the gaps in my memory. Did you do that to protect me?" "Yes..." I said feeling the bile rise in my throat. "Burn the book," she urged as she planted kisses from my neck to my throat. "Destroy it before it destroys you." "It may already be too late," I said as I took her into my arms and looked into her bright green eyes. "Mom..." We put our winter gear on, grabbed shovels and headed out. As luck would have it we had barely touched the snow when a full sized pick-up truck arrived. The driver waved at us and parked behind Lily's vehicle. Sis said something about the convenience store guy as we met the tall cowboy midway. He said he was here to help us get back to civilization. He remembered Lily's story about a sick mother and was here with a snow blower. I offered to pay for the fuel and he counteroffered with a date with Lily. Apparently she had made quite the impression of the young man. Sis gladly agreed to his offer and our rural savior manhandled the blower out of the bed of the truck singlehandedly. I was impressed hell I was stunned to see him lift that beast up like it was nothing. I bet sis was impressed too. That's probably why he did it. "I bet he fucks like a goddamn stallion," sis said in my ear so I could hear her over the noise of the engine. "I'd use spurs if I were you," I replied and she smiled. "I might just do that." Lily made a pot of coffee and brought our savior out a cup. He gulped it down before it threatened to freeze in its cup. It didn't take him long to clear a path from the cabin to the road. Sis planted a promissory note in the form of one hell of a kiss on the poor boy. I suspected she copped a feel of his junk to inspect the merchandise so to speak. She was all smiles as we loaded up the Range Rover. I offered sis one of the talisman bracelets as we waved goodbye to the country boy. She slipped it on as I turned the ignition and looked back so I could get us safely on the road. Her scream caused me to stomp on the breaks and then seconds later she cried out again. The explosion took us both by surprise. The entire cabin went up in one fiery conflagration. I looked on as the cabin burned. But that's not what held my attention. No, it was the thing moving around in the flames that held me enraptured. It wasn't exactly humanoid but it did appear to have a head, arms and a torso. It was the snake-like portion below the waist that was most disconcerting. The book spoke of elemental spirits that could be sent against ones enemies. Was this a salamander? If it was then someone with a whole lot of power wanted to see me dead. This changed everything and we needed to get home as soon as possible. I tore my gaze from the blaze and put the vehicle in reverse. We reached the main road in a few minutes but it took forever to get to the highway. Sis called ahead and told my parents we were on our way. They were told about the fire but dad just wanted us to take our time and get home in one piece. There was that awful silence while I drove and sis just stared out ashen from our experience. "What was that thing," she said her lips trembling. "You saw it too," I replied and she nodded. "I think it was some kind of fire spirit." "Fire spirit, do you know how crazy that sounds? But the cabin just went up in flames. I was too late. This is all my fault!" "No, I took the book," I said. "Whatever happens I am the one responsible." The rest of the drive was at the best awkwardly silent and at the worst we shared pained expressions over what we had both seen. Sis was still acclimating to the fact that something akin to magic existed. I on the other hand was approaching this from a clinical point of view. I didn't believe in magic. I believed this was some sort of manipulation of reality of a fundamental level. The rules that controlled this manipulation could be explained in scientific ways. "Technology advanced enough is indistinguishable from magic," I said voicing my thoughts to Lily. "So you are saying that this book is some sort of text book?" "Yep and I believe there are ways of measuring these forces," I said. "I think you are just saying that to keep from going bat shit crazy." "No comment," I said and saw the first smile on her face since the cabin burned. We got home around noon and were greeted with hot food and a cold beer. We all sat around the table to eat and it was like the hands had been turned back and normalcy had returned to my life. We talked about the fire at the cabin and I told my dad I suspected the generator had failed. He told me the place and its contents were insured so no harm done. Mom was up and down from the table to the stove, the fridge and the sink. She seemed preoccupied while the rest of us were chatting away. Sis hadn't exaggerated there was something wrong with mom. I would just have to wait for an opportunity to talk with her alone. "Of course you can sleep here," dad said and I was drawn back to reality. "Thanks dad," sis said smiling brilliantly. "I'm sure someone will be happy to share with me." "Oh, you can have my bed I'll sleep on the couch," I said and sis frowned. "I am sure by tomorrow they should have the streets plowed." "Yes... plowed," mom mumbled. "Ooh, I need to shave." With that mom went upstairs and disappeared from view. I looked over at dad and he just shrugged. This was worse than I thought and the more I saw the more I felt it was my fault. Sis steered the conversation away from mom and soon we were all talking about her upcoming promotion. It was good seeing dad smile I had a feeling he had done very little of it since I left. The three of us plopped down on the couch and watched television until dad began to yawn. Sis walked him upstairs and returned with a couple of pillows and the extra blankets from the hall closet. She gave me that look but I shook my head. She mouthed the words 'your loss' and headed upstairs. I laid out the blankets and pillows. I stripped out of my clothes and like the dutiful son carried my dirty laundry up to the bathroom and dropped them in the hamper. I went back down and slipped under the covers. I was exhausted after shoveling a small mountain of snow. I closed my eyes and let the warm and fuzzy have their way with me. I awoke and I knew something or someone was the reason. I sat up and looked around. The house was dark except for the street light spilling in from a crack in the curtains. Whatever had disturbed my sleep was still around. If this was Lily messing with me I would put her over my knee and spank her. Scratch that she would probably like that. "Did I disturb you?" I spun around and there was my mother standing near the head of the couch. She was backlit wearing a half-shirt, panties and a very naughty smile. She walked towards me and stood in front of the television. She turned to face the wall and I got a better look at her. "Um mom," I said my voice uncertain. "Are those panties new?" "You like them," she asked her voice like liquid sex. "Well, I... I can see...," I tried and failed to tell her I could see her puckered asshole that was just above the waistband of her tiny panties. "My little brown hole," she said. "Am I being indecent?" "A little," I replied as she turned and showed me her freshly shaved pussy. "Oh, that's what you meant by needing to shave." "Yep, there was something about your scent that drove me crazy. I need to know something." "Well, we've always been honest with each other." "What was it like fucking your sister," mom asked licking her lips. "Do you think her pussy is tighter than mine? Is she still uptight about touching her ass?" "Mom... I don't think..." I tried but she cut me off by letting her panties drop to the floor. "I want to see it, show it to me young man this very minute," she said in her best motherly voice. Instinct took over and I actually tugged down my boxers to show her my growing erection. I was only human after all. Mom's eyes lit up and she licked her lips again. She had mentioned earlier about shaving now I knew what she meant. Mom had shaved her pussy bald and was now gently tugging her pussy lips open. I reached down and began stroking my cock before I knew what I was doing. Mom put one of her feet on the coffee table and gave me a perfect view as she diddled herself. So there we were masturbating in front of each other. It could have been a whole lot worse I suppose. "You never answered me," mom moaned as she slid two fingers in and out of her snatch. "I have no idea," I growled. "Lily's pussy was pretty damn tight and yes she is still very sensitive about her ass." "I'm not... oh god I can't wait to feel that inside of me," mom said her body shaking. "I'm going to cum! I need you to watch me. Don't you dare take your eyes off of me or else!" One of my hands moved fast now as it drove those fingers deep inside her cunt. The other hand had a single finger extended and with this she teased her clit. She worked her pussy like a finely oiled machine. Had she and dad had a falling out? Why was she doing this? Mom bit her lower lip to keep from screaming as she climaxed. Wow, what a show! She walked around the table and sat down just opposite of me. My loving mother spread her legs so I could see her pussy and then pulled off a stunt I expected to see from Lily. She did the splits on the table with one foot on either corner of that table. Mom leaned back until her shoulders were touching the glass top. "Like the view," she moaned. "I bet you can think of something to do." "Yeah I can," I said and got to my feet. I walked around to the far side and mom let her head fall back and her mouth wide open. My knees were shaking as I let the tip brush her lips. Her tongue snaked out and snared the precum from the tip. I bent my knees and fed her the entire tip. I felt her tongue swirl around the head and I lost the last bit of control. I began to fuck her mouth as slow as I could. Mom licked and sucked for all she was worth. I reached down and tugged her shirt up so I could see her tits. Damn you Lily, this is all your fault! I fed mom another inch and another until my balls were touching her nose. She deep-throated me like it was nothing. I cupped her tits and began thrusting the entire length down her throat. It was only a few minutes but it felt like forever. My mom was a very talented cock sucker but my goal was that soaked slit between her legs. There was no use denying how this was going to end. When I could stand it no more I pulled my cock from her sweet lips. "Please tell me you are going to fuck me now," mom begged. I walked around and her eyes, those gold tinged eyes, tracked my every movement. I knelt down and took my cock in hand. Mom watched intently as I teased her with just the tip. She growled but didn't say a word. When the tip parted her pussy lips we both let out a hiss. I pushed my hips forward and her pussy gobbled me up just like her throat had. I knelt there with my cock as deep into her as it could go. When I moved it was slow and deliberate. Mom drove her fist into her mouth to keep from crying out. While she wasn't as tight as my sister she did things I had never felt before. It was as if her pussy was squeezing me like a fist. "Haven't felt that before have you," mom purred. "Boy are you in for a treat when you stick that monster up my ass." "Are you serious," I asked and she squeezed me even tighter. "I guess you are." "I want to feel you shoot your load deep inside of me. I need it, I need it bad." The more she talked the harder I thrust into her. I could feel the table wobble a bit as I drove my hips into her. I stopped and mom about lost her mind. I yanked her to feet, shoved her face first onto the couch and took her from behind. This time she did let out a squeal of surprise. I grabbed her by her hips and drove my hips as hard and fast as I could. Mom lowered her head and let me do all the work now. Her breasts swayed as I fucked that tight pussy of hers. It was almost hypnotic watching her tits move as I thrust my hips. I felt the first inklings of my orgasm and mom picked up on it too. "You are getting bigger inside of me, you must be close. Good, so am I, I want us to come together. You hear that come with me or else!" "Whatever you say," I growled as I fought the urge to shoot inside of her. "Just tell me when." It was a battle of wills and my body was going to win. I clenched my teeth even as my mother repeated those words over and over again, so close. Then her back arched and she whispered the word I longed to hear... now! I pulled back and slammed my hips into her one last time and let the torrent flow inside of her. Mom yelped as the cum gushed inside of her. I stood there joined with her in the most intimate embrace. I felt the impact of my lust and I almost cried. I pulled out of her and mom raced off to the bathroom. I didn't blame her. I plopped down on the couch and fought back the tears. Mom came back and sat on the floor next to me. She looked up and smiled. The distress was clearly etched on my face and she moved next to me and held me. "Shhh, it's okay I've got you," she whispered. "It's okay; everything's going to be okay..." "You ran off I thought," I said but she put a finger to my lips. "No, I just didn't want to make a mess on the couch is all," she said. "Now about my other hole... do you need some time to recoup or can you go again now?" Spell, Crook and Handle "Ummm... if you really..." I muttered even as she pushed me down onto my back. Mom began to lick our mixed juices from my cock and I couldn't help but respond. She really wanted me to do something sis wouldn't dream of. I grew hard in her mouth and she just forced me deeper in her throat. My hips left the couch as she gobbled me up. She lapped, licked and sucked like a woman possessed. All she could talk about was my long fat cock buried deep in her ass. My mother was a complete freak and she was ruining me by the moment. Without warning her mouth was gone and she was shifting her position and I felt as she lowered her body down now. I swallowed hard as she took me in hand and held me in place. She never paused as the tip touched her naughty hole. Gravity and body weight did all the work. Mom sunk down slowly as my cock opened her up. She was breathing deeply now as the tip suddenly slid inside of her. I almost cried out as her tightness enveloped me. When she was ready the shaft followed the head. "It's been so damn long! Your cock is buried in my ass! Tight isn't it?" "Oh fuck," I grunted. "I can't last long... just too damn tight!" "I know baby, but last as long as you can," she begged. "I'm going to move now." She lifted up her hips and I watched as the shaft appeared slowly. Then she was moving regularly driving my cock as deep as it could go over and over. I grabbed the covers and made two fists as she fucked me. She was in complete control and I relented as difficult as that was for me. "God I want to bend you over so bad," I told her and she nodded. "Just not tonight," she purred. "Now I am in control and you can't stand it." She knew me too well. I nodded and mom lifted her hips up and then just dropped. I almost came right then and there. Mom purred and felt me stiffen inside her naughty hole. She placed her hands on my chest and used that for leverage. No more slow deliberate movements now, she rode me hard and fast now. I had to clamp a hand over my mouth to keep from calling out. She urged me on with every thrust of her hips. She begged me to shoot my load in her ass. My hips betrayed me and thrust upwards as I lost control. Mom dropped down and impaled her ass on my cock. She shook as her own orgasm hit her full force. That's the exact moment sis appeared. Her face was a mask of shock and then she saw where my cock was buried and went ballistic. "Have you two lost your fucking mind," she hissed. "I brought you home to help mom, not fuck her!" "It turned out a little more complicated than I expected," I said even as mom rose up and made a second dash to the bathroom. "Do you understand what you've done," sis growled. "You fucked her in the... oh god I can't even say it." "I fucked you too," I said. "Don't you have any idea how bad I feel about it? The two women I love more than life and I violated them." Sis sat down hard and stared at me. Her expression said it all, I had hit the mark and it was deep. She broke eye contact and looked at her lap. I got up and began to walk out when she snared my wrist. I looked down at her and I could see the tears flowing down her cheeks. "I had no idea I had hurt you so much," she said. "I'm the one that hurt you, don't you see," I said but she shook her head. "It was mutual," sis explained. "I needed you and you gave me a great gift." "I am so confused. I need time to think." She let go and went back up to my bedroom without another word. I grabbed a beer from the fridge and returned to my spot on the couch. Mom returned and sat down next to me. It's that damn book to blame somehow. I had to figure it out before things got any worse. I leaned my head against mom's shoulder and she held me. She rocked me and just let the tears come like they had in the past. "It is your fault you know," she spoke but it wasn't my mom's voice. "I think you are upset since you never rammed that fat cock of yours up your sister's ass. Come on be honest with me, you want to fuck us both at the same time." I pulled away and saw the queer golden light glimmering near the heart of my mom's eyes. She smiled and there were elongated canines like some vampire. "What have you done with her," I asked and the thing laughed. "Your dear sweet mother is upstairs asleep," it giggled. "I just borrowed her form to see how weak you were. You didn't disappoint. You are pathetic. If it wasn't for dear sister I would have killed you where you lay. But my orders are very specific, no witnesses." "Who sent you," I asked as I moved away from the thing that had impersonated my mother. "It is of no use to you. The name would mean nothing and in a short time you will be dead." "I don't think so," I said bluffing. I had no idea what kind of being I was dealing with and it knew it. "Come here and die like a man," she crooned. "You can't fight me. Look down, already your body betrays you." I looked and there was another massive erection. How the hell did she do that? As I looked up its appearance had changed again. She was stunningly gorgeous, too beautiful to put into words. Her hair was like an ebony waterfall and her body was petite and yet well rounded in all the right places. Her features were a flawless mix of Latin, Asian and something undefined. She stood up and I was powerless to run away or fight her. The demon, for that is the only thing it could be, came to me and kissed me. It burned me that kiss did to my very soul. Her nipples touched my flesh and my erection grew stiffer still. She was a succubus and she was intent on killing me with pleasure. She would fuck me until my heart gave out and as she said I was incapable of resisting her. The demon dropped down to her knees and captured my cock between her tits and began to let it glide between those perfect mounds. If this is what her tits feel like I will surely die if I fuck her. A piece of me broke off as her tongue flickered over the sensitive head of my cock. She wasn't going to gobble up my soul. No, she was going to draw it out like any good predator would piece by piece. I couldn't help but watch as she used those glorious breasts of hers to their fullest effect. "There are much worse ways to die," she purred. "I will see how long it takes to drink your soul little mortal." "As long as it takes," I said. "Less talk and more sucking cock whore." "You have spirit I will grant you that," she said as she lowered her mouth to the head of my cock. It felt like every last nerve cell was lit up when her tongue wrapped around me. It had an almost serpentine feel to it and I suspected it was as long as she needed it to be. I watched intently as her head began to move a little. The shaft was still trapped between her tits but now the first couple of inches were being pleasured by that demonic tongue of hers. I was going to die. The thought barely registered. I was too young to die or so I believed. There had to be a way of getting out of this situation. I ran through the spells I knew but I wasn't sure I could focus long enough to get one off. My body betrayed me again as I shot a load down her throat and with it went another small chunk of my essence. But instead of shrinking my cock got harder still and was pointing directly away from my torso. What the hell? It must be how she kills her prey. They don't get a reprieve from a succubus' attention. She stood up, turned around and bent over grabbing her ankles for good measure. There was her soaked slit begging to be fucked. If I fucked her I would die. I had to fight the urge! I tried looking everywhere but at that sweet tight pussy of hers. I looked up but gravity seemed to pull it downward again. I looked to the side and again a tug of wills forced my head forward again. I looked down at the table and that's when I saw it. There half buried beneath panties and a shirt was one of the talismans I had made. I didn't remember taking it off but there it was. It was the straw I had been looking for. "If I am going to die, I am going out with full marks," I said as I knelt down behind her. I buried my face in her pussy and began licking for all I was worth. The demon squealed in delightful surprise. I lapped at her pussy lips as my fingers snaked towards the bracelet. It was just outside of my reach. But how do I go about getting it without alerting the demon? It didn't take a genius to figure that out. I slid two fingers into her cunt and began thrusting. She let out a wail of pleasure and ground her hips backward now. That's it you fucking slut get into it! When my fingers were soaked with her juices I pulled them out and eased those into her ass while the other two slid easily into her pussy. Now I had two of her holes occupied and she was oblivious to what I was doing. I shifted my position just enough to reach out and grab the talisman. "You know how to please the ladies," she moaned. "What's next?" "This," I said as I slipped the talisman onto her wrist. The effect was instant and more effective than I could have imagined. The succubus fell over and a rush of energy flowed into me. I had recovered the lost portions of my soul. She was in a fetal position now clawing at the offending limb. "Take it off of me," she shrieked. "Take it off and I won't kill you!" "Um...no," I said as I sat down next to her. "Who sent you?" "I can't tell you. Even if I wanted to, a contract is a contract. Please take it off!" "No," I said. "If I do you'll rip my throat out. I can't have you doing than now can I? It was you impersonating my sister, wasn't it?" "No," the demon growled. "I saw her eyes change. Her touch kept getting me rock hard. It must have been you!" "It was your sister, well her body. I was in possession of her," the demon said smiling. "Why does she still want to..." "Fuck you... I can rewire my victims and she is addicted to your cock," it said in a soft purr. "Let me go and I'll fix her and your mom." "I am sure there is something particularly nasty in that book about punishing demons. Why should I keep you around? What else can you do for me?" She shook her head and refused to speak. I looked down at the erection she had so kindly provided. It would be a sin to waste it. I rolled the demon onto her knees and eased into her pussy slowly. It was by far the most intense pleasure I had ever experienced. I told her how good it felt and she just growled until I began to move then she was lost in the same pleasure I was. With the talisman in place I was safe from the harmful effects of fucking a demon. I complimented her on how good she felt wrapped around me but she remained silent. She would moan and push back against me but not a single word would she speak. There must be a reason for that, so I switched to plan B. I eased slowly from her pussy and as expected she whimpered in disappointment. I slapped her on the ass even as I lined up the head of my dick with her asshole. "I asked you a question," I said as I slid into her in one smooth motion. "Fuck," she cried out and then looked over her shoulder at me with murder in her eyes. "I repeat, what else can you do for me," I said and watched her resolve disappear. "I can teach you spells, enchantments and summonings. I can be your safe companion now that you have bound me with your fucking talisman. I can fetch things of great value with ease." "How long can you serve me," I asked and she cursed. "One year only," she spat. "I can be your slave for a single solar cycle." "Can you teach me a safe way to free you?" "Yes," she said. I continued to thrust into her and her eyes rolled up in her head. Her orgasm was a little frightening because of its intensity but I think I could get used to it. I rewarded her with two more body shaking climaxes before I shot my load into her rectum. I connected the dots and realized that when Lily touched me and I got hard in an instant it was the power of the succubus at work. I learned from her that while she was bound to me my sexual stamina would be, as she put it, legendary. I liked the sound of that. I looked at the clock on the wall and did the math. "Looks like we have six hours to break in our new relationship and after that you are going to fix my mom and sister," I said as I began to pound her from behind even faster than before. "Are there any complaints?" "NO," she grunted. "I think I can handle it." Getting a Grip: I didn't think of it as enslaving a sex demon but more like gaining one hell of a personal assistant. I had learned more in the last few weeks than I had in the previous months. Once the succubus had become accustomed to her new living arrangements she was a treasure trove of information. I had given my sister the tome back as a gift and a show of trust. I didn't need it now. I wasn't sure how she had done it but I was able to not only learn new spells but retain them with great ease. The succubus had become my confidant, assistant, maid and cook. She could alter her form at will and each task she performed had a matching persona. I think that's what kept things fresh between us. She had been right about that legendary sexual vitality. I could pick out a girl from a club, take her home, fuck her until she begged me to stop and spend the rest of night with the succubus if I wanted. I was going to miss that when I dismissed the she devil in March. I figured another three months and I will have gleaned as much as I could from her. The night I had been anticipating had finally arrived, New Year's Eve. Not only was it going to herald a new year but my sister's promotion to head librarian. The big wigs at city hall were holding a party and sis had managed to snag me an invite. My tux arrived that morning and the succubus had conjured a LBD, little black dress. I told her to keep the jewelry down to a minimum since how could someone like me afford anything too expensive. So the limo arrived and sis, mom and dad were already inside. I offered the succubus my hand while she entered the vehicle and both mom and sis looked at her strangely. I had kept the demon a secret but they shared looks of familiarity between themselves. "Have we met somewhere," mom asked. "Yes, you do look familiar," sis added. "I just have one of those faces," the demon said smiling brilliantly. "Sweetie," my father said as I sat down next to the succubus. "...No one has a face like yours. You are stunning." "Aw, you are so sweet," the succubus replied blushing appropriately. That's when I felt it. There was some sort of weird energy coming off the demon. "You are in such a good mood tonight," I said and the demon smiled. "What's going on?" "Can't a girl have a good time," she asked and I knew something was wrong, but what? "You are up to something," I said and she giggled. "I have a surprise for you tonight," she said. "Here, open this at midnight." The demon pulled an envelope from her clutch purse. I took it and looked it over. There was a wax seal on the back and by the looks of it opening it before midnight would be dangerous. I checked her wrist and the talisman was still there. I was confused and I realized how far I was out of my league. Had I only delayed the inevitable? Had she been planning something all this time? It was an awkward ride to the party and I was doing my best in deflecting my family's questions. Mom and dad were easy but I think sis suspected part of the truth. She kept quiet but never took her eyes off my date. We arrived at the hotel and there standing in his tux and Stetson was the cowboy who had used the snow blower that day back in October. We exited the limo one by one and sis practically dove into his arms. The demon paused long enough to watch this reunion with great interest. I cupped her elbow and led her inside. "He is not for you," I said and she grumbled. "For now," she replied. "Oh, there is something you should know." "You have an agenda," I replied and she laughed. "I have been playing you from the beginning. When you placed that talisman on my wrist you changed a very precarious dynamic. I decided to reward your cunning by feeding you my blood for nearly two months now." "Why would you," I said and then a chapter in one of the books she fetched for me suddenly blossomed in my mind. "Oh you evil bitch you!" "You have been one of my best students. I will miss our talks." "I haven't released you yet demon," I whispered in her ear. "The key word is yet," she said just as the elevator arrived. We rode the elevator in silence up to the penthouse where the party was being held. There were some serious big wigs attending including the Governor as well as the Mayor. I had to tread carefully and I realized what kind of corner I had been painted into. I grabbed two glasses of champagne and handed one to the demon. She smiled as we mingled. Suddenly I was grabbed by Rhonda, sis' boss, and guided to the two men I had been avoided like the black plague. "Here he is," Rhonda said in introduction. "The quiet hero that made the rare book section an attraction and put the library back on the map." "Oh I think my sister deserves the credit for that," I said as the Governor and Mayor took turns shaking my hand. "You were right Rhonda, he is the modest type," Governor James Randall said smiling. "I hear that you want to study archaeology," Mayor William Styles added. "You've been talking to my sister," I said. "Guilty as charged," they said in unison. "I want to offer you a scholarship young man," the Governor said setting a hand on my shoulder. "We need more people like you as a shining example for others." "My thoughts exactly," the Mayor said nodding. "I am sure a few grants to supplement that scholarship would go a long way." "You are very generous," I said casually looking for the succubus in the crowd. "Excellent," the Governor said. "I will have my secretary work her magic and before you know it you'll be digging up a pharaoh." "Now that would be great for a true son of the city. I look forward to see what you accomplish." "I won't disappoint," I said. The meeting done, others were paraded in front of the men and thankfully I was left alone. I sought out the demon and found her coming out of one of the rest rooms. I caught her by the arm and guided her right back inside of it. I looked around and found it empty. She gave me a wicked smile knowing she had rattled my cage. I ordered her to stay by my side until we left the party. We returned to the party and mingled. There was plenty of food and drink to last well past midnight. My parents stuck close to me after their initial circuit of the party goers. They felt as much out of their depths as I did. I told them about the scholarship and grants that had been given to me. My parents were so happy for me and that felt like a long time coming. I had lived in my sister's shadow for so long I couldn't remember a time when anything I did wasn't under comparison to her. My parents planned on leaving a little while after the New Year's toast. I noticed the demon was watching the time very impatiently. "You have somewhere you have to be," I asked her and she smiled. "May-be," she said exactly the way sis did. "Tempus Fugit." "Time flies," I said and she nodded. "I plan on releasing you soon." "Sooner than you think," she said again. "What exactly does that mean," I asked. "Remember when we fucked in your parent's house," she asked and I nodded. "Think back to our conversations and you'll figure it out." I closed my eyes and replayed that night. The night she had impersonated by mother. The night she revealed her true nature and how she had possessed my sister. That part still made me angry and then she said she was bound for a solar year. I had until next fall until a year had passed. Wait, that's not what she said. She said a solar year. Tonight was New Year's Eve. The binding ended tonight at midnight! Oh you evil fucking bitch!