50 comments/ 95373 views/ 40 favorites Bones By: petitemom Although I enjoyed writing the previous three stories for Literotica, I confess I don't have the imagination it takes to "invent" these kinds of stories. I do admit to having taken a little literary license to enhance the stories somewhat, but they are, in essence, all true. After what seemed like a rash of sexual adventure in my life, after our Las Vegas trip, things settled back into a comfortable routine for Ben and I and it was only recently that I had an encounter that is worthy of sharing. I was pissed. In fairness to Ben, he had no inkling of the surprise I had in store for him but nonetheless my romantic plans had been scuttled and I was not happy. When both of the kids had announced plans to have sleep-overs at friends' houses that night, I was thrilled that Ben and I would have a quiet evening to ourselves for the first time in a very long time. I had shaved my legs, trimmed down there, had my hair done and had prepared a luxurious and decadent romantic dinner for the two of us. About the time that I was expecting Ben to pull up in the driveway, the phone rang. He was calling to say he was stopping for a beer with an old college buddy and would be a little late. OK, no problem, I thought. I put our dinner in the oven to keep warm and curled up on the couch with a magazine to wait. Two hours later I was starving, so I ate without him, scraped what was left into a plastic container, threw it in the fridge and stomped upstairs to our bedroom. An hour after that, when Ben finally staggered in, I was firmly ensconced in bed, wearing my flannel pajamas with a mad-on that wasn't going away anytime soon. And the worst of it was, Ben brought his damn college friend home with him! Both of them were drunk. And loud. Ben kept calling out for me to come and meet his old buddy "Bones". Finally I became exasperated enough at his incessant hollering that I made my way downstairs to the kitchen where Ben was rummaging through the fridge for more beers. His buddy was damn near passed out already and one look at my face should have told Ben that I was in no mood for company. "Hey, babe", he said with that inebriated shit-eating grin he get when he's drunk. "I wanted you to meet old Bonesy here. You remember me talking about him. From college. Remember?" I remembered, but like I said, I was in no mood. "Anyways", Ben continued, "Bones is in town on business and I told him no way was he staying in a hotel. He had to come and stay with us! No question. Right?" "Where, Ben?" I said. "Where is he supposed to sleep? We have no spare room and he sure as hell is not sleeping in the kids' beds. So where the hell do you plan to put him?" I looked over at Bones who was now slumped in the chair and now clearly passed out. I looked back at Ben with venom in my stare. Still grinning like he figured nothing was wrong, Ben said, "He can sleep on the couch, sweetie, he doesn't mind." Fuck! Did I mention I was pissed? Twenty minutes later my drunk dickhead husband and I had managed to maneuver Bones onto the couch where I had thrown a blanket over him. Then I helped Ben upstairs, undressed him down to his underwear and he was snoring loudly in our bed. I tried sleeping beside him but the combination of my anger and his snoring made it impossible. I got out of bed and was making my way down the hallway to sleep in my daughter's room when I heard a god-awful crash downstairs. When I got to the living room I discovered a shirtless Bones lying on the living room floor beside the couch. He had obviously woken up, taken off his shirt and was in the process of taking off his pants when he passed out again, his pants around his ankles. With an exasperated sigh, I made way over to him and after considering the situation decided that for his own safety, the floor was probably the best place for him. I finished pulling off his pants and began pulling on the blanket which was partially caught underneath him. At his point, all he had on were his socks and boxer briefs, which showed a very sizable package hidden inside. And then it all came back to me. Ben had told me about Bones many years ago. Ed something was his real name, but he was tall and thin, without an ounce of fat, so he had acquired the nickname Bones. But what he was most famous for, was having the biggest cock in the dorm. Don't ask me how they determined that, but from what I was looking at through his underwear, it wasn't impossible to believe. Now, I don't know if it was the two glasses of wine I had drank while waiting for Ben to come home, or the fact that my romantic plans for the evening had been scuttled, but I suddenly had the most lascivious thought and was overcome with a temptation to check out the goods, if you know what I mean. Just a peek, mind you, nothing more. I knelt beside him and gave Bones a good shake and called his name. No response. I did it again, a little harder this time. Still nothing. Then, throwing caution to the wind, I slipped my fingers under the waistband of his shorts and lifted. What I saw was mostly a mass of dark, curly pubic hair so I lifted a bit higher until his penis came into view. I could only make out the top half of the shaft, but it was thick and gave ample indication of impressively more. Not satisfied with my view, I released the waistband and considered what other options I had. The outline of his cock was clear and I found myself reaching out and running my finger along its length. He was still soft and clearly longer than Ben is when he's hard, which got me wondering what this bad boy might be like when he reached his full potential. So I ran my whole hand along it, with a little more pressure this time. Bones' murmured in his sleep and I quickly removed my hand and looked at his face. I was pretty sure he was down for the count but I shook him again, really hard. Still no reaction. He was flat on his back, so I straddled his legs and rubbed his clothbound cock again. Then, keeping my eyes on his face to gauge his reaction, I grabbed the waistband of his underwear at each hip and slowly began to tug them downwards. Because he was so thin and the shorts were slightly baggy, they came down rather easily, slipping past his hips, buttocks and over his impressive manhood. His eyes didn't flutter. He continued to snore softly, clearly sound asleep, so I permitted myself a glance downward. "Oh my fucking God," I whispered out loud. I've seen enough naked men in my life to know what a huge variety of shapes and sizes there are. Penises, in my opinion, were designed for a utilitarian purpose and not for looks per se, but in the right circumstances can be undeniable sexy. And as attractive cocks go, this one was a definite winner. Long, thick and smooth. Not that I'm a cock snob, but the less veiny the better. Bones was uncircumsized and, quite frankly, perfect. I looked again at his face. Still out cold. I ran my hand down the length of his, now fully exposed, cock then slipped my fingers underneath to gauge its heft. I lifted it slightly upwards and with my other hand lightly stroked the underside. This time it gave me a reaction. I felt it thicken in my hand and the foreskin tightened and slightly slid back exposing the pink tip. I continued to run my fingers along the sensitive spot just below the head and it continued to lengthen and thicken. And the foreskin continued to slide back until it suddenly slipped completely past his red, engorged head. I gently laid his cock back down against his hard, hairless stomach and marvelled at it as it gently throbbed to rhythm of his heartbeat. That should have been all. I had satisfied my curiosity about how big Bones actually was and should have been content to go back upstairs and rub one out before I drifted off to sleep. But my predicament was how to cover him back up. If I were to pull his underwear back up it would only cover maybe half of his length as it lay there against his belly. In time it would get soft again, but chances were he would still wake up with it poking out the top. I was probably overthinking things but I was petrified that he would put two and two together and figure out that I had been involved and the possibility of that mortified me to no end. So I just knelt there, staring at that magnificent specimen while I tried to figure out my next move. The house creaked, as houses tend to do at night, but it shook me from my dazed state and I suddenly realized that as I knelt there taking in Bones' throbbing cock, I had reached under my nightgown (just an oversized t-shirt really) and was absent-mindedly stroking my very wet, freshly trimmed pussy. I stood, intending to head upstairs to bring myself some much-need sexual relief. I figured that by the time I was done his erection would have subsided and I could pull his underwear back up and tuck him back in. But I just couldn't seem to tear my eyes away and before I could give myself a reason not to, I stepped over so that I was straddling him above his hips, then gently knelt again until my moist pussy made contact with the searing heat of his hard on. It felt glorious. Instinctively I looked towards the stairway to make sure Ben wasn't standing there looking at me, but I could clearly hear him snoring loudly upstairs. Then I turned my gaze to Bones' face, continuing to gauge his reaction as I slowly began to slide along the length of him. I knew I wasn't going to fuck him, so on some level I was able to justify what I was doing as no more infidelity than the handjob I had given that guy in Las Vegas, with Ben's permission. Besides, I didn't need to fuck Bones. His abnormally thick cock had parted my pussy lips and his warm, smooth cock was sending the most incredible sensations right through me. As my hips slid forward and the ridge of the head passed over my clit, I moaned softly and lingered there moving back and forth over that delicious sweet spot. I was as aroused as I can ever remember being and my juices were slathering Bones' throbbing prick as I continued to slide back forward along the length of it. I'm a quick cummer at the best of times and the danger of this situation made me exponentially hornier. All too soon, I felt that wonderful, familiar feeling of impending orgasm begin to well up inside me and then hit suddenly like a wave crashing over me. I thrust my left hand into my mouth to keep from screaming out my pleasure as my pussy pulsated against Bones' own throbbing cock. As my orgasm subsided, I continued to sit there, my chest heaving, my nipples protruding from the thin cotton of my nightgown. I slowly opened my eyes and looked down at Bones' face, still asleep, snoring and oblivious of the immense pleasure he had just provided me. Slowly I lifted myself off him and kneeling beside him noticed how shiny his cock now looked, covered with a generous coating of my pussy juices. I quickly made my way to bathroom, wiped myself then brought some back to clean Bones. He had already started to lose his erection slightly, but his semi-hard cock still lay glistening against his stomach. I knelt again and began to dab at the sticky glaze that I had left there and my ministrations quickly returned him to his hard, throbbing state. Clean and dry, he was definitely not in any shape to be tucked back into his underwear. Now what. I looked around again, while my plan began to form in my head. I heard Ben's snoring go up by several decibels and it reminded me of how pissed off I still was at him. And in a convoluted way it justified what I had just done with Bones and what I was about to do right now. I reached out and wrapped my hand around his cock. I'm petite to begin with and my tiny hand just made it look absolutely massive. Holding it upright with my left hand firmly gripping it at the base, I began stroking it with my right, from base to tip, sliding his foreskin back and forth with each stroke. He never woke, but I noticed a subtle change in his breathing. His hips began to get into the act a little and I noticed his stomach muscles begin to tense like they do when a man is about to come. I had already cleaned him up once and had no intention of dealing with another sticky mess, so working on an instinct honed from years of pleasuring the men in my life, I gave him a few more long, luxurious strokes. And with perfect timing pulled downwards, yanking his foreskin completely clear of the head and jammed the huge head into my open mouth. I continued to pump as he absolutely exploded in my mouth. It was more than I could swallow in one go but I was afraid to take it out of my mouth for fear it would spew all over both of us. I tried to breathe through my nose as another huge spurt erupted and actually filled my nasal cavity and came out my nostrils. At that point I had no choice but to pull my mouth away. He was pretty much done by then except for a few small pulses of cum that flowed from the tip and down the underside of his cock like lava. I gently laid his cock down again on his belly and reached for the tissue. I had swallowed pretty much all of it by then. It tasted bitter and left my throat feeling a bit raw. I blew my nose and giggled to myself at the irony of this being a real blow job. Then I turned my attention back to Bones and gently lapped the cum from the underside of his cock and the bit that had already dripped down onto his belly. I got up and disposed of the tissues in the bathroom, blew my nose again then went back into the living room. Bones was sufficiently soft now that I was able to pull his shorts back up and tuck his beautiful prick back inside. Then I covered him with the blanket and headed upstairs. I considered brushing my teeth to rid myself of the bitter aftertaste of Bones' cum but then I thought better of it. I climbed back into bed, knelt over Ben and gave him a long, wet, salty kiss before I rolled him onto his side. Bastard. Bones Department Debauchery David and I spent the past nine months scrambling for stolen moments between our busy schedules. It wasn't just work—his wife generally had some function that required his presence on her arm. It amused me, as I knew this wasn't a happy marriage for either of them. I often wondered why they bothered. But I never asked David. It wasn't my business. Still, his busy schedule often made him a "no-show", something I hated tolerating. I knew I had no right to ask for more than he could give, but every now and then, a girl just needs a little fucking… But I did put up with the frustration—sexual and otherwise—as David had a knack for making me forget just how mad he could make me. The moment his hands touched my body, all was forgiven. As the weather slowly changed from Winter to Spring, I disappeared into the dark recesses of the "Bones Department". Basically all of the corporation's hard copy records were kept in this little-visited section. My position entailed researching various pieces of information that predated online record keeping, and transferring them to an updated storage system. Some days I could spend an entire afternoon working lost back in the "stacks". One afternoon in April, as I was nestled into a small cubby towards the far reaches of the department, I was startled by a tiny noise. I had grown accustomed to the various creaks and moans echoing from the shadows (most often the products of my overactive imagination), but I distinctly heard a "shuffling" sound. I poked my head up and over the partition that divided the table I was working at from the aisles of cabinets and shelves. I scanned the dimly-lighted area. David. He walked slowly, his big frame pausing every couple of steps as he glanced down each row. I smiled and frowned. What was he doing in here? Looking for me? I wondered hopefully. "Mr. Thomas," I called to him low, catching his attention. "There you are, Ms. Anderson," David answered as he spun around. He smiled as he walked towards me. "What are you doing down here?" I slid out from behind the partition and crossed the last couple steps into his arms. As he pulled me to him, I ran my hands firmly up his broad chest, flicking immediately at his nipples through his dress shirt with my fingernails. I looked up into his face, searching for a kiss. David dipped his head, knowing lips pressing firmly against mine. A moment later, I pulled back. "Why are you in here?" I asked again. "Why do you think?" "Me?" "Yes, you. I went looking for you earlier and they said you had been sentenced to research and recovery." David could barely rush out the words. His mouth sought mine again, his tongue pressing forcefully through my lips. It had been too long. As I mentioned, our time was often limited. He was never available when my time was free. Sometimes I wondered if he kept me wanting on purpose. In my opinion, if you really want something, you just go for it. Then again, that's just me. It had been at least five weeks since our last little tryst. I was hungry for him. David gave me the same needy look of desire. I knew our time, and the opportunity, was limited. And I had an idea… I molded myself into his body as he pressed my back to wall of the partition. Strong arms wrapped around me and his mouth crushed mine in another hard kiss. His thick tongue raped my mouth, forcing me to accept his oral assault. One hand cupped my ass as David ground against me, eager fingers kneading my behind. I shuddered, willingly surrendering for a moment before finally pressing my palms to his chest in effort to make him stop. I pushed him back, panting softly. "I want you inside me," I breathed into the quiet afternoon air, my gaze meeting his. "Do you want to be with me?" I knew the answer, but needed to hear him say it. "Yes…" David whispered, his stare piercing into my very being. "Where do you want to go?" The back of his hand caressed my cheek before his knuckles softly rubbed across my lips. "I have an idea," I began. "There's a small closet in the hallway off to the right as you first come down here, before you enter the department. The door has a lock. Let me go first, and wait a few minutes, then follow. Knock on the door. Ok?" "Ok." David reached for me again, his fist wrapping in my hair and pulling my head back, exposing my neck. Teeth bit into the soft vulnerable hollow of my neck, and I moaned low. The sudden wetness in my panties was warm. I wondered if he had any clue of the power he had over me—over my desire for him. Upon my release I turned and gathered my paperwork, quickly shoving them into my bag. He watched me in silence, his hand absently rubbing the growing bulge in his pants. I finished packing my belongings and reminded him to give me a of couple minutes, but not to wait too long. He nodded. Quickly I made my way from our secluded little cubby. I passed no one, which was a relief. I hurried through the stacks, and out into the hallway. Again I was fortunate. The area was empty. I glanced towards the glass doors leading into the offices and after assuring myself that no one was paying any attention, slipped through the doorway into the closet. Letting myself in, I placed my bag on the floor. I combed my fingers through my hair as I stared at the reflection in a little mirror on the wall. Grey-blue eyes stared back. My cheeks were flushed pink with excitement. I gathered my long chestnut-colored hair in my hands and tossed the locks over my shoulders. I smiled. David loves my hair, loves the streaks of auburn that burn bright in the tresses when we're wrapped around each other outside in the sun. Oh, he never admitted this to me, but he runs his hands through my hair when we're together, holding the strains up to the light before he rubs the softness against his cheek. I waited. I expected the time to pass slowly. I was almost worried that I would wait so long, that David would be caught on his way, and be forced to leave me stranded. But the time was short and I suddenly heard the knock on the door. I took a deep breath and pulled it open. Thankfully it was my lover. Swiftly he moved inside. I locked the door behind him. "We don't have much time," I said low. "I know," he answered before roughly grabbing my shoulders and pushing my back against the wall. I tilted my face up to his and we picked up where we had left off, our kiss stealing the very breath from my mouth, his fat tongue plunging deep. I kissed David just as furiously, matching his passion and biting at his tongue, at his lips. His hands were on my hips and I could feel his fingers grasping the fabric of my skirt, pulling it up, bunching the clothing around my hips. I scratched again at his nipples, feeling them harden under my attack. I dug at them with my fingernails while David's left hand thrust down inside the front of my plain black cotton panties. I felt them curl and two fingers parted my lower lips before sinking themselves into the wet folds of my pussy. The fingers were as merciless as his tongue, invading me roughly, forcing me to open to him. I groaned as he twisted them and rubbed... yes... yes... there... "Oh god..." I softly cried out as he touched that one spot inside me.. the place only he seemed to find, making such a pressure fill the inside of my pussy that I was helpless to do anything but tremble on his hand. David pleasured me for a short moment before withdrawing. I took the opportunity to struggle with his belt, undoing the pants before pulling David's solid cock from its confines. It was hot and hard as steel in my hand. I pumped it up and down, jerking him off in my eagerness. He enjoyed the attention for only a minute before grabbing my wrists and placing my hands above my head. I rubbed my thighs together in anticipation, squirming. He leaned in, staring into my eyes, his hot breath stroking my face. "Fuck me," I begged him softly. "Fuck me..." Strong hands let go of my wrists and he knelt before me, roughly pulling my panties with their soaked crotch to my ankles. I could smell myself, the musky scent of my want filling the small room. David lifted my right foot and pulled the panties over it. He didn't bother removing the delicate article from my other foot. Once again he stood, his massive frame leaning over mine, imposing, but reassuring in some ancient primal alpha-male fashion. Mouths met as he pressed against me. My light sweater was pulled upwards, then the fabric of each cup of my bra was yanked down, the underwire holding each firm globe in place, lifting them up to David in offering. His mouth descended on the right nipple, chewing on the tight nub while fingers tugged and twisted the left almost cruelly. Each action sent a shock jolting down my body to my swelling clit. I could feel my own heartbeat pounding in the tiny appendage. I bucked under his attentions, my hands grasping the sides of David's face as he brutally nursed at my breasts, sucking hard on one nipple, before switching to the other, his teeth dragging roughly over each before his tongue flicked teasingly at the bruised pebbles. It was almost a relief when he pulled his mouth away… almost. My clit continued to pulse… Without warning I felt each of his hands grasping my thighs, right where my ass met the top of my legs. He lifted me and I clung to him, my arms around his neck as he hoisted me up, slamming my back to the closet wall. Firmly holding my legs, he pulled them apart, the head of his glistening prick poised at the entrance to my pussy. For a moment he paused, glaring at me. I saw the raw lust and hunger there in his eyes, animalistic and intense. "Fuck me..." I said again evenly, my own eyes darkening with want. And he did. His cock slammed inside me so roughly that I bit my lip to keep from crying out. My legs wrapped around his hips and I attempted to lock my ankles behind his back as he pounded himself deep into my warm depths. I felt every solid inch of him, almost violently stretching my pussy as he drove hard inside me. I closed my eyes and held on, content to let David use me thusly, our bodies mashed together. My back ached as he used my cunt, viciously hammering me into the wall. He buried his face into my neck below my right ear, his breath ragged. My breaths were even shorter, gasping as I attempted to draw in air after he forced each lungful out of me. My right palm pressed the back of his neck, and I struggled to catch his earlobe between my teeth before plunging my tongue into his ear. He squirmed and whimpered before wrenching away. I felt his dick swell inside me and suddenly he thrust so hard, so deep, I swore the head of his cock collided with my cervix. I felt the sweet pain of being so filled rip through my stomach and across my chest. This time I cried out. David's hand covered my mouth so quickly it was almost a slap. I watched him, wide-eyed as he spasmed against me, his own eyes shut so tightly, his face a mask of concentrated pleasure. His hips thrust forward, again and again as he came inside me, his cum flooding my pussy with it's thick white goo. I felt it, hot and wet, spurting, painting the inside of my soft walls with a wild passionate stroke as David ground his pelvis into me, the friction rubbing my sensitive little clit. It was enough to set off my own orgasm, and my cunt gripped his length, squeezing the remaining sperm from his cock as I grimaced behind his hand. Held in this position, I could only helplessly shudder out each hot wave as my cum mixed with his, the fluids leaking around his girth, dripping down the bottom of my ass and against the front of his thighs. I shivered as the last tremor ran through me. Then the whole of David's body was pressed against mine, flattening me to the wall as his hands dropped, cupping the halves of my ass. His breath was labored in my ear, his fingers dug into my flesh. I was glad he was holding me... I was weak. Nature squeezed David's cock from my pussy and I felt so empty as the member slipped wetly from my body. He gently lowered my feet to the floor, where I remained leaning against the wall, not daring to move, still quietly trying to catch my breath. I pulled my sweater back down into place and before I could bend to retrieve my panties, David had knelt once more, and gently pulling my hips forward, his tongue snaked easily between my abused pussy lips. He licked me so tenderly, long soft strokes of the tongue, tasting the blending of our cum leaking from the depths of my sex. I sighed, melting under this last moment of intimacy before I reached for him. "Hey, we have to go," I said quietly, my fingers touching his cheek as he turned his face up to mine. David nodded silently before pulling my panties back up, and helped me readjust my skirt before tucking his spent cock back into his pants. I steadied myself before putting my finger to my lips, motioning for him to be quiet. I slowly opened the closet door and peeked out. The hallway was empty. I stepped aside allowing David to pass. He winked at me and took his leave, pausing only briefly to touch his lips quietly to mine before detouring down the hall to the men's room. I closed the door behind him, leaning heavily against it and took a deep, deep breath. My thighs were sticky. I smiled. The things that man "makes" me do... Boneshaker Yes, yes. This one took a while. I apologize. Forgive me. I've been a bit side-tracked for a bit. But it's finished now, so feel free to dance. I have had a few people get confused on the series since I forgot to number the chapters, so I'll do that now. So far, we have: Dealmaker (1), Helldancer (2), Firekeeper (3), Soulseeker (4), Secretkeeper (5), Havencaller (6), Shadowrunner (6), Demonbreaker (8) and Boneshaker (9). The title of the last chapter of the series (yes, we're almost there) will be listed at the bottom of this chapter. Boneshaker Another hard slap and another delicious twist of his fingers made her writhe beneath his touch. She was panting softly now, her body silently begging for more. "Like this, do you?" Another slap and tease made her squirm. Swallowing, Claire nodded, her fingers clawing at the cold stone floor for support. "Will you ever do that again?" She shook her head. "No." "Do you promise?" Another round drew a soft moan from her throat. "I promise," she whispered. "Good girl." His fingers slid deep inside her, twisting and rubbing the warm, slick walls of her pussy. This time Darrow didn't pull away to spank her. Instead, he continued his delicious massaging, twisting his fingers and coaxing a litany of soft moans and whimpers from her throat. He laughed again. "You love this, don't you?" "Yes," she gasped. His fingers stopped abruptly. He pulled out of her body and toyed with her entrance. She moaned, begging him for more, her body burning for his touch. "I don't know, Claire. You upset me with the damn trick of yours." His drummed the fingers of his free hand on the small of her back. "I'm debating even letting you come. I'm not sure if you deserve it." She groaned, exhausted, and tried to arch her hips against his hand to force him in. He laughed and pulled his hand back. She whimpered again. Damn him. Her body was on fire now, anticipation and need coiling tight in her belly. "Please," she begged. "Hmm? I'm sorry. I didn't quite catch that." She exhaled sharply, on the verge of losing her mind. "Darrow, please." "I'm still not convinced you've earned this, Claire." "That's not fair!" "When did I ever say I played fair?" She could hear the smile in his voice. "Darrow!" Her body ached for his touch, her sex clenching so hard it almost hurt. His laughter echoed through the hall. "Very well." His fingers sank deep once again, relieving her body of her hollow emptiness. She moaned his name, her body arching in response. A shiver ran up her spine as he teased her again. God, he could make her squirm. Silthos had amazing techniques and Thaltos had more than enough control, but Darrow could make her scream like no one could. "You look so lovely here, Claire. I rather like this position for you." His free hand stroked her back. "Perhaps we should introduce Silthos and Thaltos to this. They may enjoy it, too." She dropped her head and closed her eyes, savoring the feel of every thrust and pull of his wonderful fingers. Another shiver rocked her body. Her fingers trembled and her blood pounded in her ears. She moaned his name again, begging him to continue. Her body finally surrendered, tensing and shivering as she closed her eyes and screamed his name. Her pussy convulsed around his fingers, holding him tight and never letting go. Beads of sweat shimmered on her back, her breasts now full and aching. Slowly, very slowly, she drifted back down to earth, her famished body now fully stated. She relaxed into his lap, panting out exhausted. She closed her eyes and nuzzled his thigh with her cheek. His hand stroked the curve of her ass, easing her descent back into reality. "I must say, Claire. That was one of the best views I've ever had of you." His voice was light again, playful as always. "Hmmm." It was all she could manage. "Are you alright?" She nodded, then frowned. "Yes, I'm fine. But you made me too tired to do I had planned for you." "Oh, I'm sorry, Claire." His hand stroked the length of her back. "I'm sure it was something heartfelt and very special." "It was a striptease," she whispered. "Damn." He growled quietly to himself. "Well, I...do you suppose you could perform it later?" His voice was soft, pleading. "Of course. But you've exhausted me and I don't perform well when I'm tired." "Thank you," he purred. She smiled and settled into him, reveling in the aftershock of her climax mixing with his wonderful caress. She wondered how Thaltos and Silthos were. Probably still asleep, she guessed. Maybe she could show them all her little dance when they'd woken up. She'd have to practice first. Dancing was never her strong suit. The last time she'd tried, she nearly knocked over her grandmother's ceramic vase. Dancing was banned from the house after that. The wind whistled softly through the hallway, its soft breeze cooling the sweat on her back. She glanced up to watch a handful of intricately patterned strands of webbing float by, twirling and twisting in the air. The thought remaindered her of the small spider in her room, of Kerion, of the apology she had to make. "Oh." She placed her hands against the floor, pushed herself up and slid off his lap. "What? What is it?" Darrow stared at her with wounded eyes. "Did I actually-" Claire shook her head. "No. I have to see Kerion. His family saved me and I need to thank them." "Oh, I see." Darrow stood and offered his hand. She smiled up at him and gripped his wrist, letting him haul her to her feet. "I don't know where they are." She chewed her lip anxiously as she peered down the hall. "Would you like me to walk with you?" "No. I'll be fine." His expression turned worried for an instant. He managed to swallow his fear and stretched out one thick arm to point down the hallway. "They live in the shadowed corridors off the main hall." He stretched out one long arm and pointed down the hall. "If you walk all the way down, you'll reach a dead end with two halls branching off to either side. Take the right hall and go until the end. You'll see his web covering the whole wall." She stood on her toes and kissed him, cupping his face in her hands when she pulled back. "I'll be fine, I promise. Go back to bed. I'll give you your prize when I get back." His eyes lit up as his face split with his grin. "Yes ma'am." He stepped back, slowly making his way towards their room. "Are you sure you don't want me to come?" She shook her head and smiled. He shrugged and stepped into the shadows. "Don't take too long, Claire." His grin was devilish. She smiled back, and spun on her heels, looking over her shoulder to blow him a kiss. He grinned back and bowed his head, slipping into the shadows and out of sight. She smiled one last time before making her way down the vast hallway. It was still deserted despite the fact that the lockdown was long over. Still, not a soul accompanied her down the vast corridor, and she walked in silence, lost in her own musings of her dance. Minutes – or hours, she couldn't tell which – passed as she walked. Her eyes slid to the swamp, and she stopped in her tracks. Curiously devoid of any trace of silver or cold, she could clearly see the shadows of souls as they made their way across the marsh. Among the shadow, the wizened form of the old woman could be seen, hobbling along as she walked in endless circles. A flash of memory erupted into her mind - scenes of the woman's face, horrified, bruised and covered in blood, staring up at her as she rained blows onto her cheeks. Gasping, Claire stumbled back and shook her head, tears pricking her eyes. "Oh, no. No, no, no!" She watched the old woman as she circled back around, anger and disgust crushing her heart. How could she? That poor woman. To be attacked so viciously by her friend. Guilt nearly suffocated her. Losing any regard for her safety or fear of the marsh, Claire rushed forward and hauled herself over the wall. She raced across the soft peat of the bog, tears streaming from her eyes. How could she do such a thing, even while under that evil spell? She should be here, not the old woman. She deserved it more. The woman noticed her as she made her next round. Before she could react, Claire plowed into her and knocked her to the ground. Burying her face in the warm fabric of the grandmother's dress, Claire cried out her sorrow and anger, screaming unintelligible apologies through her tears. The old woman's fingers twisted into her hair, stroking her as she whispered soft words of comfort. Claire continued to cry, still babbling broken pieces of apologies. Other souls turned to watch the spectacle. Those who had witnessed her uncontrolled attack knelt down and stroked her skin, wanting to help the girl who had offered them comfort. They stroked her back, offering calming sentiments to soothe her damaged heart. The old woman continued to stroke her fingers through her hair, whispering into her ear. Claire's tears slowly started to dry, her breathing becoming more stable. Gently she pulled away, sitting back so the woman could push herself up. They stared at each other for a moment, neither making a sound. A small smile cracking her winkled face, the woman stretched out one withered hand to stroke her face. Claire flinched away, turning her head to hide the last remains of tears. The woman hesitated for a moment, then smiled and cupped her cheek, stroking her skin with her thumb. "Claire," she whispered. Her voice was raspy but warm, like her grandfather's before he passed away, mixed with a heavy English accent. Claire turned to face her, wiping away the last of her tears from her face. The woman smiled wider. "'Twas my name once, long ago. Before I passed and fell into this miserable place." She swallowed. "Your name was Claire?" The woman nodded. "Claire Harden. Born in London, England in the summer of 1794. My parents were Christian and Victoria." "Claire Harding. I was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1994. My mom is Christina and my dad is Victor." She paused. Harden and Harding. 1794 and 1994. Victor, Victoria. Christian, Christina. Impossible. The similarity was hard to ignore. Their eyes were the same soft grey, their skins the same porcelain color. The two of them shared high cheekbones, full lips and straight noses. One had short chestnut hair; the other's had turned grey long ago. A feeling of shock settled into her gut as she stared open-mouthed at this mystery woman. Though, she wasn't so mysterious anymore... Holy shit. I'm her. "I knew you the instant I saw you drop the grape into my hands, dear girl." Her thumb continued to stroke her skin. "I saw myself in you. That same warm smile, that same fighting spirit. I knew you before we'd even met." "Holy fuck," she whispered. Claire's head began to spin. "I am you?" "Not quite, my dear. A new idea of me. I never feel in love with demons or had to fight that damned cloud. But I did have parents who sold me off and a grandmother that despised me." Holy double fuck. Warm hands cupped her face. "You listen to me. I have never faulted you for the attack you made. I have never doubted you for anything you've ever done. Your love for those demons, your encounter with Tarrin, your sacrifice to save them. I've never judged you for anything because I know I would have done the same. But you're beginning to doubt yourself. I can see it." Claire chewed her lip and looked away. "You mustn't do that. You must keep your eyes up," she snapped her fingers to regain Claire's attention, "and your heart strong. Once you doubt yourself, once you give into that self-loathing and sorrow, you'll never come out. I watched my own son fall into that same trap. I watched him kill himself. You must never, never do that, Claire. No matter the pain or exhaustion you feel. You mustn't." She nodded, fear and anxiety pooling in her gut. This woman, the woman that shared so much with her, knew something was going to happen as clearly as she did. "Promise me you'll never leave them." The old woman stared into her eyes. She nodded again. "I swear." "Good." The old woman smiled. "Now, hold your chin up, keep your eyes open and your heart steady." Claire smiled back. "Yes, ma'am." "Now go. I believe you have someone to thank?" Her eyes sparkled with mischief. God, that's uncanny. Nodding, Claire hauled herself up from the ground, extending an arm out to her predecessor. The old woman smiled and grapes her hand, carefully hauling herself from the soft earth. They grinned at each other, a shared spark in their grey eyes. She had the strength now, the self-confidence and resilience she needed to handle whatever threat came her way. She would see Kerion first and handle her apology, then go home to her lovers and. She could handle herself here. Still, she would have to leave her new friend – indeed, her old self – behind. Claire's smile faltered an inch. "I don't want to leave you behind." The old woman shook her head. "Don't you worry about me. I can handle myself." "You're sure?" She chewed her lip worriedly. "My dear girl! I am as much you as you are me. You should know I'll be alright." Her grey eyes shined. Claire nodded, still chewing her lip. The old woman grabbed her shoulders and spun her around, giving her a gentle shove towards the wall. "Go, child. And hurry. The mist is gone from here, no doubt seeking you out. The quicker you see Kerion, the safer you'll be." "What?" Claire spun around. "What do you mean it's gone?" The woman shrugged her bony shoulders. "No one has seen it for hours. It must have moved past the barrier and into your part of this world." "But it can't move past the wall!" she cried. Fear started to boil in her gut. "Not in its vaporous form, it can't. But the mist is tricky. You've seen the magic and the power that swirl around inside. I'm sure it can change its form to hide itself from the guards." Oh no. Darrow! It knows where they are! Her stomach dropped to her feet. "Shit. It knows where we live!" The old woman's eyes widened. She spun Claire around again and began shoving her towards the wall. "Then go to Kerion and warn him. Tell him the mist has used its magic and gotten loose it's hunting you now, and it won't top until it breaks you completely. We'll send a guard to warn your lovers. Go, Claire!" With one last shove, Claire took off running towards the wall. Panic and anger fueled her run, pushing her faster than usual. She flew across the bog, barely feeling the ground beneath her feet. Reaching the wall, her fingers dug into the cracks in the stones, all the strength in her slender arms combining to haul her up. She tumbled over the edge, landing on shaky feet as she straightened herself. Taking one quick breath to find her center and reset her motives, Claire turned and raced down the hallway to find Kerion. The hall remained empty through her run. In the back of her mind, she wondered vaguely if the absence of life had more to do with the mist's escape than a miscommunication about the lockdown. Reaching the end of the main hall, she veered right and continued down the cavernous branch of corridor. Her lungs ached, her legs burned. But she'd be damned if she stopped. She had to find Kerion, had to warn him about the mist, had to save her lovers. She followed the endless curves of the hall, sliding on the tiled floor every time she made a turn. She ran on, never slowing her pace and never looking away from her darkness before her. She noticed the floors and wall of this corridor were chipped and broken from years of neglect. Clearly, Kerion's home wasn't used much. "Claire!" She turned to spy the old woman, her ancestor, standing in the middle of the bog, waving to her. "We've sent the guards! Your lovers have been warned." She nodded and picked up her pace, returning her gaze to the darkness ahead. Good. They'd be safe for now. All she had to do was find Kerion and warn him about the mist and she'd be home free. Still running at full speed, she took the final corner too fast. Without watching her footing, she slammed into a wall of muscle and skin. Strangely, the barrier was cloaked in ink-black feathers. She bounced back from the collision, landing hard on the floor with her head spinning. What the fuck was that? Se shook her head to clear it, still unsure of what she had run into. "Ah! Claire!" Kerion's warm voice drew her back to her senses. She looked up to see him carefully making his way over to her, his eight legs treading cautiously over the broken stones of the floor. He stopped only inched from her, numerous eyes alight with joy and concern. "My dear, are you alright?" One slender leg stretched out towards her, offering a handhold to pull her up. She nodded and griped his leg, pulling herself to her feet. She rubbed her bottom, wincing in pain. "I was trying to find you when I ran into something-" "Oh, yes, of course!" Kerion cried joyfully. "I meant to introduce you eventually. Claire, this is Lucifer, the ruler of our lovely realm." Her stomach did a back flip and landed on its head. Lucifer! She was fucked now. Trembling, she looked over to stare at the creature she had unfortunately crashed into. The fallen angel stood silent, leaning against the nearest wall, arms folded over his chest and regarding her silently. He was bigger than she'd expected, at least a foot taller than she was, with muscular arms, a powerful chest and a strongly defined abdomen. Gold-toned flesh glowed in the soft light of the sconces. Enormous ink-black wings were folded against his back, the tips flaring out on the stone floor behind him. The lines of his face were so sharp, so severely cut, she wondered if he could be touched without drawing blood. Eyes made of liquid gold burned into her, making her squirm in her own skin. Oh no. Those eyes narrowed at her for an instant before sliding to Kerion. "This is the girl?" His voice was beyond beautiful. Dark, rich and deep, it promised delicious secrets and sinful desires. The enormous spider nodded. "Yes. This is the one." Lucifer's gaze found her again. "Interesting. She doesn't seem like much." "Yes, I know. But from what Tarrin's told me, she possesses the gift of reading the mist before it makes a move." Gold eyes widened a millimeter. "She can read it?" "Yes, sir." A slow, sinister smile spread onto Lucifer's perfectly sculpted lips. She shivered inside herself. Of all the religious bullcrap her grandmother had shoved into her head, this fallen angel was the one story she never doubted. Hell's master terrified her more than the mist ever could. "Very interesting, Indeed," he whispered. His eyes burned into her, making her head swim and her limbs go numb. Fear mixed with arousal deep in her gut. Her grandmother had warned her that he was a dangerous lure, fatal even. She had to keep her distance from him, or else she'd be pulled into his wicked traps. But her body burned suddenly, and she found herself wishing to feel his beautiful wings. Oh, if she could just touch those lips... "Claire, what on earth are you doing back here?" Kerion's voice mercifully caught her attention. She noticed Lucifer's faded instantly, annoyed her attention was now directed elsewhere. She shook her head again, turning to face the old spider. "I came to warn you." Kerion cocked his head. "Warn me about what?" "The mist." Kerion laughed. "My dear, the mist has been handled. It's been contained far stricter than ever before. There's no need to worry now, you'll be safe here." She shook her head. "No, you don't understand one of the souls in the marsh, she told me-" "You went into the marsh? Claire! The mist is in there! That's suicide!" Kerion's eyes narrowed at her in frustration. "No, Kerion. Listen, I-" "My children went into the cursed bog to save you once, and now you go back?! Why?" "I needed to see someone. Now, please, Kerion." "Of all the foolish, idiotic things you could do, Claire!" Kerion's front legs rose up in anger. "Even Tarrin helped, and you go back into that damned marsh. I cannot believe that you would so something so arrogant and dangerous. My, God, Claire! We-" Boneshaker Frustration broke her patience. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and let loose. "I wend down into that marsh to apologize to the woman I attacked and when I got there, there was no mist!" Kerion froze. "What do you mean there was no mist?" Finally. She swallowed. "The marsh was empty. There was nothing but bog and dead trees and human souls." Kerion pulled back, his eyes wide and fearful. "Oh. Oh, no." "Kerion?" Lucifer's melodic voice slid seductively into her mind. "It's become a doppelganger." "WHAT?!" Lucifer's roar knocked her off guard and shook loose stones from the ceiling. "A doppelganger? What does that have to do with the mist?" She managed to keep her gaze off Lucifer, despite her body's craving to stare at him again. "Claire, do you know what a doppelganger is?" Kerion turned to her. She nodded. "It's a mimic, isn't it? It's a spectral copy of a person that's mischievous." "Exactly. Usually, doppelgangers are no more harmful than poltergeists. Simple, playful spirits that scare and shock, but don't so any damage. However, the mist isn't so carefree and gentle. It's much more vicious, as I'm sure you've seen." She nodded, suddenly cold from the memory of being under its spell. "The doppelganger from it has is the only way is can cross the barriers we've placed around it. We're not sure why, but we think it's because our barriers only sense one type of magic. Taking on the form of another creature, its signature changes and renders the barriers useless." She nodded shakily. "So, it's taken another form. Why can't catch it?" "The issue remains in the fact that the mist can take on whatever form it chooses," Lucifer chimed in. "Unlike true doppelgangers, the mist has no set image it must abide to. It can choose any form it wants. We're not as gifted as you are, miss Harding, so we have no idea what body it's chosen. At this point, we're at a severe disadvantage." She chewed her lip for a moment, the flood of information slowly sinking in. the mist, with its new form, was wandering the halls searching for her. But without knowing what body it had chosen, they had no idea where to start. "Well, I am linked to it in a way. Maybe I can find it." A spark of hope began to blossom in her chest. Kerion's shook his massive head. "I don't know, Claire. With its power having been changed into something different, even you may not be able to recognize it." The bubble of hope burst immediately, sending her scowling at the floor. "Perhaps she could find it, Kerion." Lucifer's voice once again caught her attention. "The mist seems unusually, shall we say, attracted to her. She might be able to lure it out." Kerion shook his head again. "It might work, but I'm not willing to risk that. If Claire does manage to bait it out to where we can reach it, it might lash out and capture her again. We can't take that gamble." Lucifer's expression darkened a bit. Claire's stomach twisted around itself. His annoyance at Kerion's refusal to throw her out into the wild made her feel beyond uncomfortable. Her grandmother's warnings about his ruthlessness and sadism seemed true enough here. "Kerion, it would be the easiest way to capture it. If we used the girl-" "But that would put her own life at risk. She's not a wandering soul, she's still alive. Sending her out there would make her a perfect target." "Yes, but what other choice do we have? Without her, we have no idea where it's going or who it's after. We need her to lure it out or we're fighting blind." "I can't let her go out there again. It's already broken her once. Who's to say she'll survive a second round?" Their argument made her head spin. Her frustration reared its head again, demanding she return to her lovers. At least there she could find both safety and a universal consensus on something. Sighing, she turned and approached Kerion, throwing her arms around his head and kissing his soft fur. "I have to go. I need to go back and make sure Thaltos and the others are safe." Kerion stared at her. "Claire! You can't go out there! The mist will find you for certain, and there's no guarantee we can save you a second time." She rolled her eyes. "And what else am I supposed to do? Stay here listening to you two bicker like schoolgirls while the rest of Hell is being stalked by an unknown evil cloud of shit?" Kerion stayed silent, rendered speechless by her argument. She nodded. "Good. Now, I'm going. You can stay here and sort this out yourselves, but I need to go and make sure my boys are safe." She crossed her arms and planted her feet, signaling that the argument had ended. Defeated, Kerion nodded. "Very well. But please don't go by yourself. I wouldn't stand myself if anything happened to you on your way back." He turned to Lucifer. "Sire, could you perhaps..." Oh no. Lucifer's smile was ecstatic. "Of course. I'd be happy to accompany the girl on her journey back. We may even be able to bond a bit on our walk." His eyes glowed with mischief. Shit. Claire had finally decided she no longer like Lucifer, despite his hypnotic gaze. His enthusiasm and constant stare made her want to shift into one of Kerion's small children and hide in the cracks of the walls. Hesitantly, she nodded and hugged Kerion again. "Thank you so much. I owe you my life," she whispered. Kerion's front legs wrapped around her and pulled her close. "Ah, Claire. You owe us nothing. We were saving someone all of us honestly cared about. Don't you worry about that." She smiled and squeezed him tight before pulling away. "Still, I feel I owe you something. Please give my thanks to your children as well. Will you be okay here?" Kerion waved a slender leg at her, an attempt to brush aside her worry. "My children and I will be safe. We'll regroup the guards and explain the situation. You go with Lucifer and stay with your keepers." She nodded, hesitantly turning to look at Lucifer. "Ready to go?" The old demon wore a soft smile. "Of course." He stepped forward, stopping just inches from her body. Icy coldness radiated from his skin, chilling her flesh and temporarily rendering her mind blank. One strong arm looped around her shoulders. "I'll watch over her, Kerion. Miss Harding and I will be just fine." He looked down at her and gave an impious grin. "Won't we?" She swallowed loudly and nodded, forcing a tight smile to her lips. "Sire, I don't mean to give orders, but we truly don't have time for games," Kerion warned. "Claire must be returned to her keepers as quickly as possible if we're going to have a chance at fighting this thing. Please, sire, I beg you. Don't take any more time than is necessary." Lucifer's eyes never left her. "Stop worrying, Kerion. Miss Harding and I will be completely fine. She'll get back. I swear it." His grin widened an inch. Shoving her fear and discomfort down into her gut, she squirmed out from under Lucifer's hold and side-stepped away from the old demon. "Come on. We have to go. I'm starting to get paranoid about them." Lucifer bowed, gracefully motioning to her to lead the way. She nodded and began to walk down the twisting hallway with Lucifer close behind. Suddenly self-conscious, Claire wrapped her arms around herself and stared at the ground. Out of curiosity, she peered over her shoulder to see Kerion scurrying up the stone wall towards the ceiling. An endless line of tiny spiders trailed behind him. She smiled to herself and resumed glaring at the ground. She could feel Lucifer's presence beside her, but she refused to look at him. His gaze was far too hypnotic, his body far too enticing, for her to risk another peek at him. "So. You're Thaltos' girl?" She jumped an inch. She'd been hoping for a silent walk that avoided any type of communication with him. "Yes." "You enjoy your time with him?" "I enjoy my time with all of them?" "Oh?" His curiosity made him far more intrusive. "And who else owns you?" "Silthos and Darrow." She tried to keep her answers short, hoping to bore him out of his inquisition. "Ah, yes. A quiet one and a spitfire. What a curious combination you have there." She sighed and hugged herself tighter. "Well, they're what I've got and I wouldn't trade them for anything?" "Anything?" His voice was beyond inquisitive, becoming almost challenging. Shit. She knew where this was going and she intended to stop it now. "No. I love who I have now. I wouldn't want anyone else, no matter how amazing they are." "Quite stubborn, aren't you?" His voice had turned humorous. "I suppose it takes one to know one," she snapped. "Don't." Lucifer's tone had taken on another sudden change. This time it was menacing. "Don't what?" "Chastise me like that. I've already had one bitch crush my balls. I don't need you doing it as well." He spoke through gritted teeth, his fury almost palpable. Her annoyance at him finally burst forth. "Well, maybe that was a good thing. Hopefully she managed to deflate your ego a bit and put you in your place." Claire continued walking, scowling at the ground as she mulled his ego-fueled inquiries over in her head. God, that creature was beyond annoying! Selfish, irritating, and anything but humble. It was a wonder he didn't drive the other demons here insane. She noticed from the corner of her eye that Lucifer no longer walked beside her. She slowed her pace, confusion starting to sink in. Taking a risk, she peeked over her shoulder. Lucifer stood about thirty feet back, his eyes blazing and his mouth twisted into a tight scowl. His night-black wings twitched restlessly. He crooked a finger at her. "Come here," he growled. She froze, barely able to breath. He looked so outraged, so menacing, she wondered why he hadn't just killed her now. "I said come here." His eyes narrowed to gold slits. She shook her head, fear now coursing thick through her veins. She took a tentative step backwards, trying to put some distance between them. A low growl escaped his throat. "Miss Harding, you have ten seconds to haul your skinny mortal ass over here before I come get you myself." Panic ensnared her, forcing her to turn and take off down the hall. She didn't get far. Cold fingers looped around her wrist, jerking her backwards and forcing her off balance. She stumbled backwards into Lucifer's immovable form, wincing when his grip on her wrist tightened. He stepped forward, forcing her against the cold stone of the wall. Her cheek and breasts were crushed against the unforgiving stone, her body pinned in place by Lucifer's impossibly strong body. His chest pressed against her back, holding her in place against the cold stone of the hallway. He leaned close, nuzzling his cheek against her neck and growling into her ear, she shivered and whimpered, closing her eyes so she wouldn't have to see him. "You've seen our world, you know how it works. The good go up into paradise, the bad go down into the fire, and the rest of them stay here in this cold, desolate pit. You know this, yes?" She nodded, keeping her eyes closed. "The Fire Pits are where my demon lords live, the ones who control the realms of hell that deal with the sins of man. I watched over one of their daughters while she chose a husband. She was beautiful, like you. Intelligent, like you. Strong, like you. But she was by far more ferocious and much more outspoken. She was the one who put my balls in a vice to get her way. The bitch even slapped me across the face!" He pressed harder against her, forcing her to wince as her body was crushed against the wall. "And now I have you being a smart-ass to me and trying to force your hand. I don't need that." He gripped her shoulders, spinning her around to face him. His golden eyes speared through her, glaring at her with a ferocity she'd never seen before. She bit her lip instinctively, squeezing her eyes shut and wishing him away. A strong hand gripped her chin, forcing her head up. "Kara's already fucked me over. I don't need your snappy little comments added to the misery she gives me already. Now stay still and be quiet." She clamped her jaw closed and stared up at him, her heart pounding in her ears. She was terrified of him, even fearing for her life now. But he still had that strange appeal to him. That distinct, unearthly allure that nearly made her forget his ferocity and the power he held. He smiled at her wickedly. "Good girl. At least you listen." He leaned close, inhaling her scent and grinning to himself. "And you smell delicious." Her gut twisted. As bad as it was being chased down by a vengeful mist that's taken on an unknown form, but having Lucifer inhaling her scent and looking ready to devour her was far more frightening. He purred in her ear. "And you look just as appetizing. I wonder..." His free hand slid behind her head, fingers twisting in her hair and holding her completely still. He pounced, crushing her lips against his in a scorching but n=unwanted kiss. She squealed, horrified, and tried to squirm away, but his body pinned her tightly against the stone walls and kept her immobile. A thick tongue, slick and warm, gently pressed against her lips trying to work its way into her mouth. She tried to keep her mouth closed, but his persistence paid off. His tongue slipped into her mouth, twisting and teasing, trying to coax a more acceptable response from her body. It worked slightly. Her body followed its own course, her back arching to force her breasts against his icy skin. Her belly stirred with heat, and an ache started between her legs. Her body burned for him suddenly, wanting nothing more than to hold this darkly beautiful creature and to feel him ravaging her. Her mind and heart, however, started gathering ammo for their rebellion. She couldn't want Lucifer! That monster had every quality and feature she hated in men. She had Darrow, Silthos and Thaltos who loved her and risked their lives for her. Lucifer simply trapped her in a hallway and forced himself on her. No, she would not fall to him. She had people who truly cared for her. People she loved far too much to risk sleeping with the darkest of fallen angels. Her heart set, Claire did her best to fight back, clawing at his back and squirming against his rigid frame. Her struggles were useless, though, only doing enough damage to draw out a muffled laugh from his throat. His chiding laughter finally broke her control. Glaring at him, she bit down hard on his invading tongue, hoping the pain would send him running. Luckily, it worked. Golden eyes shot open as he groaned in pain. Lucifer pulled away, cupping a hand to his mouth as he stumbled back. She stood against the wall watching him, her body aching to run but her fear welding her to the floor. His eyes flicked to her, full of outrage and disbelief. "Damn bitch," he hissed. "You'll pay for that." Her flight response kicked in, sending her racing down the hall. She never once looked back, staring straight ahead as she wound her way through the twisting corridor. Her heart wanted to give out, her lungs wanted to burst, her legs wanted to crumble beneath her. But her mind forced her body on, promising it the pleasures of her lovers if it kept moving. She picked up her pace, taking a sharp turn as she exited the corridor and burst into the main hall. Tears streamed from her eyes, the guilt, anger and humiliation twisting in her gut. She knew Lucifer's kiss was forced, making her faultless, but still! A shiver of disgust stalled her body for an instant. It would take days of eating her favorite beef and rice dish to scrape his taste from her mouth. She shook her head, clearing her mind of any residual thoughts of that hateful kiss or Lucifer's unnerving allure. She had better things to do. Better people to be with, really. She straightened herself and began to make her way down the enormous hallway, taking care to peer over her shoulder every few minutes in case Lucifer' had decided to chase her down. Again, the hall remained curiously empty. Even the bog was sparsely inhabited, with only a few shadowy spirits darting in and out from the shadows. Now armed with the knowledge that the mist had gotten free, the emptiness seemed more chilling and unsettling than before. Instead or reveling in the few precious moments of silence, she saw the hollowness and absence of life as a warning, an omen of tragedy. She continued down the hall, lost in her thoughts. She hoped the guards had warned Thaltos and the others soon enough. She hoped they were safe, barricaded by the thick stone walls of their room. Once back, she hoped her own fears and anxieties would be gone as well. After all, where could she be safer than in her room, surrounded by the three demons ho loved her? A sudden chill snapped her out of her musings. It wasn't the winter winds that whipped through the hall. Nor was it palpable like Lucifer's frozen touch. It was a cold that made her soul shiver and her heart ache. A deep, restless iciness that clogged her thoughts and rendered her soul motionless. Suddenly, whispers invaded her mind. Cold, dark, menacing thoughts from a mind that was not her own. Thoughts that twisted her gut and squeezed her heart. The girl...hungry...find her lovers...old wretch...kill...girl is weak, won't fight long... Oh no. Claire took off down the hall, her once-frozen body now bursting to life. She could hear the mist, even feel it now. Its new form had done nothing to disguise the connection they shared. If anything, their link had become enhanced. She could read its thoughts clearer, know its intentions sooner than before. It was heading for her home, hunting her lovers with frightening precision. Anger boiled in her blood. No, it would not take her lovers. It would not harm her predecessor. It would not have her. She would fight it this time, and she'd give it everything she had. Her brow furrowed in anger. Damn that creature. Weak, am I? With her fury fueling her strength, Claire took off down the main hall again, using her heart to follow the icy trail of darkness. She'd find it before any damage could be done, and she'd kill it this time. Her lovers would be safe again, and she could finally find peace in this world of restlessness and pain. We'll see how weak I am. She raced down the hall, her heart burning and her soul hard as stone. Yes, they'd all see exactly how weak she was. Boneshaker Kerion sighed. "Well, as long as she's on her way. Has she sensed anything?" "Yes. As did I, though miss Harding was considerably faster at tracking it down. It's moving, most likely toward her keepers. She took off down the hall just a moment ago." "Oh no. She's going to get herself killed!" "Yes, the poor thing. She should have known better." He turned to leave. "You're not going to do anything, sir?" Kerions's voice was tinged with confusion and bewilderment. Lucifer sighed. "Why should I. It's not like she'd thank me for saving her." "Sire, you can't let old worries and frustrations hinder your duty. We must save Claire or we're all doomed from that damn cloud...Besides, Kara has forgiven you. Why you're holding such a grudge, I don't know." He rolled his eyes and seethed to himself. If there was one thing about Kerion he disliked, it was that the old spider was too wise for his own good. Time after time, he brought up valid arguments that rendered Lucifer's rantings pointless, leaving the demon king frustrated and feeling supremely ignorant. His mentioning of Kara didn't help. That damned half-breed with her bright eyes and dark hair and that you're-an-asshole attitude. He hated and desired her eternally. The sound of her name was enough to drive him mad. His wings twitched, the memory of her drawing out a need to crush the solid rock he stood on. Still, this girl was just as intriguing. Superbly loyal and strong for her size, she would make for an excellent lover if given the chance. Her only issue was how she treated her lovers. She was terrified of hurting them, even going as far as biting his tongue to push him off for fear of having an affair on them. Damn human and their useless morals. He'd have to find a way to convince her that sharing his bead wasn't against the rules, though he doubted she'd listen. Of course, since I rule this realm, she wouldn't technically be betraying anyone if she and I did... "Fine, then," he snapped. "We'll help the girl." Spinning on his toes, Lucifer started on his way down. Kerion followed closely at his side, watching him cautiously. "Do you think we'll actually have a chance to save the girl?" Lucifer shrugged. "Don't know. I suppose we'll have to wait and see." "I just hope she'll be able to handle herself until we get there. Claire's strong, but her heart is far too tender to do anything if one of her lovers is put in danger." "Yes, soft hearts have a habit of failing in times of distress. Though, I doubt she'll crumble so easily. If she was able to push me off, I think she can stand her ground for a while." Kerion nodded, a smile in his eyes. "Yes, I suppose that's true." Lucifer smiled down at the old spider, reaching down to place a warm hand of his furry back. "Come, my friend. Let's watch the fireworks."