1 comments/ 13758 views/ 2 favorites Eternal By: Adore She stood on his doorstep, hesitating to knock on his door. There was something in the air, or maybe just something inside her, that was sending little flashes to the base of her spine – not quite warning, or danger, but ... something wicked this way comes. She had been seeing Adrian for almost six months, and this was the first time she had been to his house. He always picked her up at her house for their dates, and the nights they spent cuddled on a couch watching movies were always there. She knew he was a very private man, very guarded about letting too much out of himself. The fact that he had invited her to come over, to finally let her see his private place, his almost castle out in the middle of nowhere, made her happier than she would have thought. She was falling in love with him, hard, and she thought he was, too ... but she wasn't quite sure. They had still not slept together, and although he had explained why – that sex was something he considered sacred, something that had to wait until the right time – she still couldn't help but wonder. There had been enough intense make-out sessions on her couch for her to know he was as hot for her as she was for him. And still, the hesitation. She wasn't sure how long she had been standing in front of the door, hand raised to knock, when she felt a ... shift, and knew he was standing on the other side of the door. She could feel his heat, his presence, and knew whatever he had been keeping hidden from her would be brought out of the shadows tonight. The thought made her nerves light up, fear and desire burning their way to her core. She started to put her hand down – he knew as surely as she did that they were both only inches away from each other, and she was expecting him to open the door without her knocking – but then a small whisper slithered across the back of her mind, telling her she had to knock. She had to ask for entrance. She placed her hand palm down on the door for a moment before knocking lightly, the barest of taps. The door opened before she could even put her hand back to her side. Something about the way he was looking at her, the way he looked, made her throw her fear away. She stepped in the door and pressed herself against him. * From the moment she stepped into his house she felt charged up, almost electrified by everything she saw, felt, or even tasted. Even the air had a charge to it, something that made her think of darkness and divinity. Her clothes felt uncomfortable on her skin; she had to fight the urge to just strip, to open her skin up to the air. She was grateful he suggested bypassing a big meal for the time, wine and cheese in front of the fire was almost more than she could handle. A dull roar started in her head, obliterating everything except the desire she felt rising, the need to be possessed by the man sitting next to her. She tried to keep her mind focused on normal, ordinary things, but the roar kept getting louder, until she finally looked at him, her eyes wide and full of heat. "Oh, gods, Adrian, what is this? Did you spike the air?" She almost didn't recognize her own voice; whatever was turning her will to mush was filling her voice, making her already low voice a dark deep moan of need. He reached out and cupped her cheek, using the other hand to brush her hair back from her face. She all but levitated at the feel of his hands, lifting and melting at the same time. "I'm sorry, darling, I'm not meaning to overwhelm you. It's just that here, in my private ... haven, it's harder to keep my true nature hidden." She stared at him, eyes widening even more. Something was, well, going on with his hair, with the two curls right above his eyes. It looked like they were moving, or something was growing right under them. As she stared in wonder, she noticed his eyes changing as well, turning from deep brown to almost black, the outer edges of the iris turning into a band of gold. The need to rip her clothes off was growing stronger, making her moan, making her head swim even more. He leaned forward and kissed her, the barest brush of his lips across hers, then whispered in her ear. "You have to ask, Sara." Whatever it was, some vibe in the air, or even a hit of acid in the wine, she could feel it building. She couldn't take her eyes off his, and she wasn't surprised when she realized she was finding it hard to breathe. Her mind was whirling, trying to find the words to ask for the right thing. She kept getting distracted by his curls, by the sense of ... movement. She was beginning to wonder if he had really spiked the wine, when she heard the small whisper again, in the back of her head. Just two words this time, but it was the age-old invocation. "Show me ..." She wasn't sure later if she actually spoke, or if he just read her mind. She couldn't hear her own voice; the roar in her head was growing, getting out, rolling through the room like a storm. One second she was thinking the words, if not actually saying them, and the next she was in his arms, being carried through the house, so swiftly it felt like they were flying. She couldn't hold back a moan as she realized what was happening: as they flew through the house, her clothes were melting, brief little puffs of fire she could only see burning everything off her body, until she was naked in his arms, the same thing happening with him, until he was as naked as she. She had no idea where they were in the house; everything had rushed by so quickly, the only sense she had was of going up staircases, floor after floor. He stopped suddenly, in front of a large door, and looked down at her. When she looked up at him, she knew she should be scared, because something was most definitely happening under his curls, he was fighting to hold the rest back, she could tell, but it was hard to think over the roar. His eyes begged a question. He needed something else from her. She searched his eyes and saw that he just needed to know if she was certain. He wanted to give her one last chance to change her mind. She had registered everything that had just happened, that they had flown up to wherever they were, that their clothes had burned to non-existence. She gathered her courage, let her desire out of its cage, and smiled up at him. "Show me, Adrian ... please." They knelt on the stone altar. As her eyes met his, she saw everything; saw what he had to hide. She brought her hands down, gasping as he brought her body down at the same time. She gently grabbed onto the horns jutting up from his forehead as he plunged her down on his cock. She wrapped her legs around his back, her hands squeezing and stroking his horns, kissing them, before dipping her head to kiss him deeply. He wrapped his arms around her and cradled her close, pushing her all the way down on his cock, filling her deep, and she cried out as she felt his long sharp nails rake across her back. He pumped his cock up into her hard, fast, hurting her, but she didn't care. She flexed her thighs and hips, drilling herself down harder, grinding down on his cock, and rubbing herself against his body, against his heat. He was growling, really growling, animal growls and howls that lit her up. Her lover was a beast, a demon, and she wanted him to tear her open and fuck her until the end of time. She dropped her legs down, placing her feet flat on the altar for balance, and dropped her head and shoulders back, bowing her back as sharply as she could, offering him her throat, her heart. He slid one huge hard hand down to cup her ass, the other firmly planted between her shoulders, holding her steady. She held tight to his arms as he lowered his head, kissing her between her breasts, letting her feel his heat. His kiss was so gentle it made her want to weep. She raised her head just enough to look at him, to whisper the invocation one more time. "Show me..." She moaned again as he kissed her left breast, his mouth so hot on her skin she could feel it burning her skin, branding her. She arched so hard she thought her back might snap, pushing her breast harder against his mouth. He held her carefully, keeping her steady while she writhed against him and the feel of his lips searing her skin. Her orgasm started somewhere in her soul, and as she screamed and cried and writhed, it tore through her body. He lifted her up off his cock in one smooth motion and laid her down on her back on the alter, pushing her legs wide apart. He bent his head down between her legs and turned his head to the side, thrusting forward to ram his horns into her body, filling her ass and cunt with them, holding her hips in a tight grip. She wailed at the penetration, feeling the curve of his horns push at her walls, scraping her, his nails digging into her hips. He pounded her so hard, but at the same time, so gently she thought she might die from the pleasure. She threw back her head and screamed for more, for him to possess her, totally, utterly. He kept grinding his horns into her, growling his pleasure, until she screamed again, until another orgasm ripped through her. He let her ride it out. He flipped her onto her stomach. He lay down on her, covering her body with his heat. He slowly slipped his cock into her cunt, stroking her hair and back as he did, bending his head to nuzzle her with his horns. She was weeping from desire and love, from her need for him. She turned her head to the side and kissed him, long and deep, letting him feel how much she wanted him, how much she wanted him to possess her. He growled into her mouth, articulating his love the only way he could now, too lost in loving her to be able to speak. He pumped his cock into her faster, losing himself and his fear in her warmth. He kissed down her back, the long bleeding scratches his nails had left, licking the wounds, healing them. He rocked into her, filling her up, holding himself in check until he gave her another orgasm. She thought she might faint from coming so hard and so much, but she never asked him to stop, to give her a rest. When he gently pulled out of her and turned her over, she smiled up at him, opening her arms and legs for him. He slipped back into her embrace, into her tight heat, smiling at her as he rocked back on his heels lifting them both up as he knelt on the altar again. He held her tightly, kissing her, before gently gripping her around the ribs, lifting her up until her nipples were level with his mouth. She looked down at him, realizing somewhere in the back of her head that his cock should have slipped out of her as he lifted her, but she could still feel him all the way inside her. She tried to look down between their bodies, but he was holding her too close for her to see. She looked into his eyes, silently asking the question and he just shook his head slightly, smiling up at her as he nuzzled her nipples. Something in the room shifted again as they looked at each other. His eyes were changing again, black and gold slowly turning to just gold. She found herself listening for that small voice again, to guide her to what came next, but it was his voice that told her, that asked what he needed to know the most. "Do you love me, Sara? Still?" She smiled at him and lightly grasped his horns, stroking them lovingly. She bent her head down to kiss the tip of each one, before looking back into his eyes and answering. "Yes, Adrian, still ... and always." He smiled up at her, gently took her nipple between his teeth, and then bit down quickly, holding her steady when the pain made her arch and cry out. He moaned into her skin and sucked her nipple hard, nursing the blood from her nipple. She looked down at him again and moaned when she saw the heat and light blazing from his eyes. His eyes were as bright as noonday sun. The more blood he drew from her breast, the brighter his eyes got. She pushed harder against his mouth, urging him on. "Oh yes, my love, fill yourself. Take all you want. Let me feed you." He moaned deeply, tears filled his eyes as he bit down again, making her bleed more. She stroked his curls, his horns, every part of him she could reach until she had to pull back from the pain of his suckling. She shifted quickly, brushing her other nipple across his lips, holding herself still as he latched on and bit. His eyes were so bright she could no longer look into them, and before he finished drinking from her, she had to close her eyes tight against the ball of light that enveloped them. She had no idea how long he fed off her, how many times he went back and forth between each nipple, each time biting her just hard enough to get the blood flowing well, not wanting to hurt her any more than he had to. At times, she tried to pull away from the pain, but he only held her more tightly, unable to stop. It had been so long for him, so long since someone had loved him enough to feed him. It was her body going limp against his that snapped him back. He carefully lowered her to his lap, weeping against her. She held him tightly, stroking and petting him as the ball of light surrounding them dissipated. When she could open her eyes again, she smiled, tilting her head up to lick a small drop of her own blood off the corner of his mouth. He growled lightly and thrust his hips up, kissing her and moaning into her mouth. "Now it's my turn to fill you." After that things got blurry again, became a non-stop rush of sensations as he fucked her. He gripped her hips, slamming her up and down on his cock hard and fast, until she was crying through her orgasm. He flipped her around to all fours, pulling his cock out of her just long enough to get her in position before slamming into her ass. She knew she should be screaming in pain, knew his cock should be tearing her tight ass open, but she was so open to him, to his love she took every inch and begged for more, until he fucked her into another mind-shattering orgasm. He pulled out of her and turned her over on her back, holding her legs wide and high as he pushed back into her cunt, not waiting for the end of her orgasm. She quickly lost track of time, of how many orgasms she had, of everything except him. It seemed every time she came his cock would grow, becoming longer and thicker with each orgasm until she was so full of his cock it seemed to be up in her head, fucking her brain the way he was drilling her cunt. He never stopped, would only slow down long enough to change positions, plowing her cunt and ass repeatedly until she couldn't stop coming, until her orgasm was continuous. She could only scream through it, holding on to him for dear life, her eyes never leaving his, even when she couldn't focus. She was on her back again, legs wrapped around his waist as he knelt between her legs. He had her by the hips, slamming her on his cock as her nerves short-circuited, as she screamed and howled and begged for his cock, for more, for him to drown her in his come. She thought he couldn't fuck her any harder, that it was physically impossible. But as she cried and begged for his come, he went into overdrive, lifting her hips, fucking her so thoroughly and filling every inch of her body from the inside. She felt his cock in her head, through her heart, down to her fingertips. He was stared into her eyes, down into her soul, feeding off her as surely as when he had been drinking from her bleeding nipples. His eyes blazed again, and this time she didn't look away, wouldn't, only raised her hands in supplication, screaming the words he had been waiting for. "Oh gods fill me, feed me, oh Adrian, feed me." Her voice became the roar in the room, a scream of love and need and eternity, and it pushed him over the edge. He threw back his head and roared, the roar of a God, pure triumph, pure love, and she could feel it open the doors to all other worlds. He lifted her higher as his orgasm roared new worlds into existence, as he pumped her full of his come. She screamed with him, coming even harder as he filled her up. He came so much she could feel it gushing into her before being pounded back out of her by his thrusting cock. It felt like a fire hose had been turned on inside her cunt, blasting her beyond full, filling every cell in her body. She felt his come pour out of her like a tidal wave, he was coming so much it was flowing from the altar. The glow filled the room and she looked down, realizing that this time it was coming from his cock, that he was filling her with the glow. She arched her hips down and snapped her body up and over, moving so fast he barely had time to register her movement before his erupting cock slipped from her cunt. She slammed her mouth down on his cock, fitting as much as she could in, drinking the light and come that gushed from him. She stroked his shaft, squeezed his balls, moaning her need as she nursed from his cock. She looked up at him as he wrapped his big hands around her head and moaned louder; she was looking into the true face of her lover, and she knew he was a God, and He was looking at her with such love and need and power she thought she might literally catch fire from the intensity of His gaze. She drank Him into herself, filling herself until the light was pouring out her, out of every hole in her body, seeping out the pores in her skin. In one swift motion, she was back on his lap, his cock wedged between their bodies and still gushing. He kissed her, drinking the light and come that poured from her mouth and feeding it back to her. It enveloped them until they became the ball of light. Eternal ETERNAL THE PROPHECY IT WILL COME IN THE FUTURE 4 HUNDREDTH FOLD; FOR THE PAST TO BE RELIVED. LOVE MUST BE RETURNED OR FERAL SHE'LL BE. TAKE HEED CAUTION IS NEEDED AND ACTIONS BE SURE. FOR THAT HE MUST DO; TO CHANGE THE DIEING HEART OF THE GIRL WHO ONCE LIVED. IF FAILED AGAIN, A PRICE I WILL DEMAND. FOR LOVE THROWN AWAY THE PACK I WILL TAKE. CONSUMED THEY WILL BE. THE INTRODUCTION IRELAND THE PRESENT: The Shannondova pack had been in the county Shannon for a thousand years. The Alphas have always been smart and strong. The current reigning alpha is Padrick. Although he naturally assumed the role when his father stepped down, Padrick won his fair share of challenges for alpha position. He has stayed Alpha for 50 years, knowing that when his son was born and strong enough to be Alpha that he would also step down as his father and grandfather had done before him. It was when his mother called him to his wife's side for the birthing of their first litter that he felt a pain like he had never felt before. He never thought it was possible to feel such joy as when his beloved Rosa delivered their first son. Only to have it turn to an unbearable pain at seeing that the very small boy was stillborn. Feeling his wife's grief along with his own was almost crippling but he pushed it aside to deal with later. She needed him with her for the birthing of their other son. It was as she tried to push their other son out that something went wrong and she began to hemorrhage. The doctor rushed to stop the heavy blood loss. As the bleeding began to slow she birthed their remaining son. Upon his birth they heard the doctor gasp and begin to stammer, not able to get anything out. The reaction from the doctor told them there was a problem with the second child. Rosa just began to cry turning to bury her grief stricken face into Padrick's chest as he too cried for the loss of his sons. It was the doctor's voice calling their names over and over that finally grabbed their attention. As they looked up at the doctor, they saw he was holding a bundle wrapped in a small pink blanket. They both gasped as they realized that the second child had actually been a female. This was the first female born in 150 years. Immediately Rosa and Padrick came to the same realization. This tiny infant would have to fight for everything in her life. Her biggest fight would happen at the time when Padrick chose to step down from his role as alpha. This is the story of Rohaynna the only child of the Shannondova pack's alpha couple. As with all Were's, Rohaynna had her first change at three. At first it was thought that it had gone very well. That is until she began to have dreams and speak of a human male child. It was thought that it was just her imagination but as time went on it was discovered that she had a strange connection to this human male child. Once it was investigated it was revealed that what was happening was foretold in a prophecy that had been told hundreds of years ago and long since forgotten. Unsure of what their daughter was going to have to face, Rosa and Padrick assigned bodyguards to Rohaynna at all times that she was away from them. It was at the age of five that everything began to change.   THE LAWS OF THE WERE WORLD – THOSE IF BROKEN ARE PUNISHABLE BY DEATH  Never force a turning  Never kill a human or any otherworldly species  Never rape a human or any otherworldly species  Never force a mating with a human or otherworldly species THOSE IF BROKEN ARE PUNISHABLE AS DESIRED BY THE ALPHAS OR OTHER SPECIES LEADERS  Causing harm to a human or any otherworldly species  Physical abuse of a mate or offspring  Breaking of any laws of any otherworldly species  Physical abuse to any otherworldly species MATING OF HUMANS AND WERE  Permission by the Alphas must be granted  Both people involved must consent  The female must be over 21  The male must be over 25 Chapter 1 - The Past (Fifteen years ago) "NO!" The scream pierced through the quiet house bringing the little girl's parents running as well as the guards outside the home. They ran through their daughter's doorway quickly scanning for the danger that caused her to scream out, wondering who would dare sneak into their home and hurt their child. Just as quickly as they entered, their senses told them no one was there. Rosa rushed to her daughter as Padrick quietly spoke to the guards and waved them back to their posts again. He then walked over to the bed and saw that little Rohaynna was curled upon her bed in a small ball shivering but apparently still asleep. "Baby girl, what is it? What's wrong?" Rosa whispered quietly. She gazed up at Padrick as he sat on the other side of the bed. He was staring down helplessly as their baby girl cried out in her sleep. "No, no stop please. I'll be good I will." She sobbed. "Please Da no more. It hurts." Padrick gasped for he wasn't even touching her and had never laid a hand on her in anger. Yet here she was dreaming that he was hurting her. He was about to gently wake her and ask what was happening when she let out a shuddery sigh and became eerily silent. As Padrick watched their daughter sleep, Rosa got up and retrieved a new nightgown to exchange for the one that was wet. When she began to pull off the gown she was startled by Patrick's gasp, "Mother of God!" Rosa followed his gaze and inhaled sharply as she saw the bruises that were beginning to cover their tiny daughter's body. "Padrick get an Elder quickly." She cried as he was bolting out of the room. While tears streamed down her face, Rosa rushed to the bathroom for a cool cloth. Returning at the same time that her husband did she saw that he was trying to stay calm as the Alpha but the Da in him wanted to burst into tears with her. "I sent a guard to get Elder Simonè." Padrick silently communicated to her through their mental bond. "Thank you my love." She glanced up at him briefly before continuing to gently run the cool cloth over Rohaynna's heated skin. "Oh Padrick what is taking them so long, where are they!" She cried aloud, even knowing logically that it had only been a handful of minutes since her husband had sent the guard to Simonè's house. "They will be here any minute Rosa it is not far to Simonè and you know that." Just as he finished speaking they heard the front door open. They both looked up to the doorway with a relieved sigh as Simonè came through the door. "My King and Queen what has happened, the guards could tell me nothing." Simonè asked quietly so as not to awaken the child. She listened without asking any questions as they told her everything that had happened from the time they heard the scream until the present moment. "May I see the bruising? Or will it wake her do you think?" She spoke to them both but looked at Rosa for she feared that if she met Padrick's pain-filled eyes she herself would start to cry. These were her oldest and dearest friends that were looking at her with such pain. "Of course Simonè, you can. We just want to understand what is going on and why she would think that I would harm her?" Padrick finished in a strained voice. Simonè quickly walked to the bed and helped Rosa lift the nightgown. Looking at the tiny body covered in bruises, she began to cry softly as well. There was very little skin that wasn't marked. "You say that they appeared on her as you watched, as if someone was hitting her but no one was there?" "Yes. What is it? What's happening? Do you know? Or will you speak to the other Elders?" Rosa and Padrick were both speaking at once hoping that she knew what was going on with their daughter. "I have heard of this but I can't remember where. Yes, I will have to speak to the other Elders. Some of them have been around for hundreds of years more than I. Once I have informed them of what has occurred we will go to the place of our fathers before us and pray and research there. I promise to return as quickly as I can. Send someone at once if anything else happens even if you think it's something small. All information will help us find out what is happening. I will go now to them. You should rest while she does." Simonè stated knowing that it wasn't what they wanted to hear but also knowing that they would listen and protect Rohaynna to the death if need be. She prayed silently that it wouldn't come to that as she left the house. Inside Padrick picked up Rohaynna and carried her to the master bedroom laying her gently in the middle of the bed. Glancing at Rosa who just gave him a small smile agreeing with him that neither of them would sleep the rest of the night if she was in her own room. He also figured that they would probably stay awake just waiting for her to wake in the morning. They lay on the bed with her between them as they hold each other's hands cradling her tiny body between them. They both eventually must have fallen asleep for they woke to hear their precious daughter's voice. "DaDa, Mama, why am I in your room? I'm not a baby I'm five!" Rohaynna asked smartly smiling at them. "My sweetling, you had a very bad dream so I carried you in here to be with us." Padrick replied softly, worried that she was afraid of him now as she had been in the throes of her dreams. "Oh, Da it was so very scary. There was a boy whose Da was beating him over and over. The boy cried out for him to stop but the Da wouldn't. I don't understand why was he doing that to his little boy? You don't do that, why was he?" She asked in complete confusion looking at her father for all the answers. "We don't know why sometimes mommies and daddies hurt their children honey. Is it a boy that you have in your class? Or have you seen him when we take you into town?" Padrick asked her. "Maybe we can go and help him so that his father can't hurt him anymore. Do you think that would make both of you feel better?" "No Da I have only seen him when I sleep like always. I don't know who he is just that I always dream about him. But they have never been this scary before; mostly we just play and have lots and lots of fun." Hearing that, Padrick gave her a startled look and thought instantly of Simonè. Knowing in his gut that this was a important piece to this puzzle. Not wanting to upset her anymore than she was, he ushered her to her room and told her to get dressed then come to breakfast. He walked back to the master bedroom to dress and told Rosa that he would be right down after he showered and dressed for the day. Rosa nodded and left to the kitchen to get breakfast ready for everyone. When she walked into the kitchen she was greeted by many of their pack members all of whom had heard of last night's events and were worried. She assured them that Rohaynna seemed in good spirits this morning. Asking them to all leave quickly so as not to have her think that something was wrong. They all left quietly with the exception of Dantè who was Rosa's brother and Rohaynna's personal bodyguard. She motioned for him to sit and she told him quickly what had happened last night and what her daughter had told them this morning. Rosa handed him a cup of coffee and told him that they want him watching her even more closely and bring in another guard if he felt it was needed. "Seeing that we don't know who or what is involved I'd like to bring in another to help with guarding her, at least for the time being, maybe a female. That way we can have someone with her at all times, that sound good to you sis?" Dantè looked at Rosa for confirmation knowing already that she would agree. Just like he thought she nodded quickly and shushed him because they both heard Rohaynna humming as she came down the hall. As soon as she walked in and saw Dantè she squealed and jumped up onto his lap. "Hi Uncle Dantè, how are you? Did mama tell you bout the bad dream I had last night. It was real scary." She patted his cheek affectionately as she spoke. "Yes my munchkin she did, how are you feeling this morning?" He made sure to speak to her as he always did so as not to concern her. "I'm good today but I'm as hungry as a mountain lion!" Rohaynna began to giggle and looked over at her mother. "Is breakfast ready mama?" "Just about baby girl. I need you to come show me your bruises first." Rosa answered "What bruises mama? I haven't hurt myself yet today how could you check them already." Rohaynna replied jumping off Dantès lap and twirlling in a circle. She climbed into her own chair as they both looked bewildered, because she did not have a mark on her. "See I told you, now can I have my breakfast please?" she exaggerated, giving her mother a silly grin as Rosa placed food on the table. Padrick walked in quickly at Rosa's silent call. He listened as she told him what Rohaynna showed her. They made sure to keep their thoughts to each other but also decided that they must talk to her about how she got the bruises and how could they be gone that quickly. Even with their healing abilities, the bruises had been so bad that it should have taken until at least this evening to totally heal. "Rohaynna, can we have a big girl talk?" Padrick asked as he sat down. "Oh Da you're silly. I am a big girl so how could we not have a big girl talk?" She responded. Padrick chuckled and shook his head as he thought about how he was going to have his hands full with her when she was a teen. "Okay sweetie I'm sorry I know you're a big girl now. You spoke about your bad dream upstairs. Can we talk about it some more please?" Padrick looked over at her and when she nodded he continued talking. "You said that the boy was getting beat. Did he have bruises on him that you could see?" "Yeah he never had a shirt on, so I could see his front and some of his back but he fell onto the floor and curled up in a ball so I couldn't see all his back." She stated "How come Da? What does it mean?" "The reason that I'm asking is that when you had your dream you screamed and Mama and I went into your room. The thing is sweetie, when Mama put a dry nighty on you there were bruises all over your front and back. Do you know how you got them?" He spoke gently. "Not sure." She replied and shrugged her shoulders as if there was nothing unusual about that. "That's just what happens with us, always has. I fall and get a scrape, he gets a scrape to. Why?" "Do you know how come you don't have any bruises today?" "Because I healed like always. Best part is that he got healed too this time, so his bruises are all better. Isn't that good Da? Did I do something I shouldn't have? I didn't mean to, honest. I just wanted all that pain to stop for both of us." Rohaynna began to cry softly. Padrick gently pulled her out of her chair and onto his lap. "It's okay baby girl. You did nothing wrong. We are asking because we have never seen anything like this before. That also means that you're going to have to talk to Simonè. Is that okay with you?" It was hard to remember that his girl was only five even though she seemed wise beyond her years. "Uh huh, of course Da. I love Simonè. You know that. Her and Dantè are my bestest friends." Rohaynna's parents both chuckled. "She and Dantè are my best friends." Rosa corrected her and shook her head when her daughter just nodded. "Well let me know when you're going to take her over, because I'll do what I need to do then. That way I won't be in the way. You guys can fill me in later. How does that sound?" Dantè asked them. When he looked over at Padrick he grimaced at the knowing look he got. Dantè stood up to leave, but as he turned to the door it was his niece that answered him. "Nu uh Uncle Dantè. You gots to come too. She's gonna wanna see you too. Maybe then we can all get some ice cream." Rohaynna stated glancing hopefully at her father, clapping her hands at his nod. She was making too much noise to hear her Uncle's curse. She laughed though when she saw her mom hit him on the arm. "Sorry." Was all he said and walked out the door leaving them to follow. Eternal For the first time in three years, Harry woke to the feeling of a body beside him. Am I still asleep? he wondered. This would not be the first time he had dreamt of Leila. When he had scattered her ashes at sea, he'd known that a part of her would always remain with him, something incorporeal but real nonetheless. A clawed hand covered his eyes--clawed?, he thought. This is definitely a dream. But there was undeniably something of Leila in the soft lips that kissed his cheek. "Leila, if you're there, speak to me." A shudder? He felt a finger cross his lips, urging him to silence, then a kiss that rendered the gesture irrelevant. Her tongue was long--too long. This was all wrong, and he could feel the dream twisting into something else entirely. He pushed her away, and pulled her hand from his eyes as he sat up. "Leila--" The figure before him clutched at its scarred throat, and he realized that it could not speak. It was as pale as the grave, and there was something wrong with its mouth. Eyes he remembered as blue were now sewn shut with black threads, but a third eye stared down from its forehead, red as fresh blood. It shuddered again, and he realized that it was trying to cry. Harry knew where this dream would go were he to shy away or scream. He wrapped his arms around the monster before him, and kissed it deeply. Four breasts pressed into his chest, and a long tail wrapped around him, but it was Leila's lips he kissed, Leila's warmth and Leila's smell. At last he broke away. The monster's mouth distorted, and as if in a funhouse mirror he recognized the guilty smile that Leila gave him when dinner was burned black or there was a bucket of paint spilled in the bathroom. It was then that he fully understood that he wasn't dreaming. Eternal Acquiescence Liz surreptitiously peered over the book she was reading to watch the little blonde on the floor. She rarely got the opportunity to just sit and admire Jade because the woman hardly ever stopped moving. If she wasn't bustling about the house to do something for the children or her mistress, she was busy at some other small task. Liz slowly lowered the book to her lap and felt the tension in her neck and shoulders fall away as she watched her girl measure and mark different pieces of glass. Jade was so focused on the pattern and multiple panes of glass surrounding her that she never noticed her mistress putting down the book she'd been reading and reaching for the camera. Lost in her own little world of color, light, texture and a vision, Jade traced and scored each piece of glass to suit the pattern she'd designed. Soft scraping and clinking sounds competed with her gentle humming and the current song on the radio while the overhead fan blew wisps of her golden blonde hair back and forth along her forehead. Liz raised her favorite camera to her right eye and zeroed in on the unsuspecting woman's face. Photographing was so second nature that her hands automatically adjusted the aperture and focus of the lens, but where Liz's trigger finger would have normally gone ahead and snapped the photo, there was hesitation. She had been enamored with the smaller woman's profile from the very first picture she'd seen of it, but the love and admiration that swept through her now was a bit startling in that its strength hadn't diminished at all over time. She couldn't be sure how long she sat there, her lens trained on the object of her desire, as her artistic eye settled on pale pink lips before jumping to the straight line of an angular jaw. Liz scanned every line, angle, curve and dimple in her lover's face with surgical precision before centering her viewfinder on a pale freckle and snapping the photo. The noise of the shutter brought her subject's head swinging around with interest and she skillfully wound the film to the next frame and captured the playful smirk, complete with squinting eyes, when Jade realized what she was doing. "I thought you were reading," the blonde protested with a smile and raised her hand up in front of her face to block any more photos. "I was. Move your hand, blondie," Liz replied in a no-nonsense tone of voice. "Liz, I look like hell and you know I hate having my picture taken." "It wasn't a request, Jade, and you know I hate repeating myself," Liz said evenly, never taking the camera away from her eye. She watched with interest as the smaller woman's posture and body language changed immediately. She tightened her index finger on the trigger and held there, just short of activating the shutter as she waited for the shot she wanted. Through the viewfinder she watched the blonde's hand move down from her face to rest in her lap as her head bowed just slightly, her gaze falling at Liz's feet. "That's better," Liz began and readied herself before continuing. "Good girl," she finished, pressing the trigger in the exact moment an indescribable look of peace, belonging and happiness graced the little woman's face. It still amazed her that those two words produced such a reaction in her lover, but the look on Jade's face was an outward expression of the deep understanding, trust and intimacy they shared. Liz could have finished the roll on her right then, but placed the camera back on the end table and resumed reading her book. She'd gotten what she wanted with the three pictures she took, in addition to setting the tone for the evening. Though her eyes never left the page her book was opened to, she was acutely aware of the blonde on the floor. Jade remained where she was for almost two full minutes before slowly and wordlessly returning to her stained glass. The brunette waited until the soft scraping noise of scoring glass began again before peering over the book at her little woman. She'd been waiting for an opportunity like tonight for a long time. Their work schedules rarely allowed them the same days off, but the most prominent limitation on ecstatic intimacy was their children. Tonight, however, was the first of a three day weekend where they were both off work and the children were away. Liz pretended to read for another half hour before closing her book and setting it next to her camera on the table. Jade noticed this and turned to see the brunette light a cigarette, inhale deeply and exhale as their gaze met through the quickly dissipating white cloud. Liz held the gaze for several long seconds before taking another lazy drag on her cigarette. "Continue," she said simply and watched the little blonde nod as she returned to her project. Liz delighted in watching her girl work and the tension in Jade's body was evident through her actions, as once fluid movements became stiffer and more mechanical in nature. The mood shifted by the second and she smoked in a relaxed fashion as the blonde did her best to maintain her focus on the project, obviously fighting the urge to speak out or look up. Letting the anticipation build, Liz sat motionless and continued watching for several more minutes. "Enough," she finally said and watched as the blonde froze momentarily before resting her tools on the floor and placing her hands in her lap. "Come to me, Jade." The smaller woman moved to stand but was quickly rebuffed by the brunette. "I don't recall telling you to rise, girl." Jade resumed her position on her knees and made her way to the brunette's feet, eyes downcast, a placid look on her face as she settled back on her heels and waited. Liz sat up in her chair and looked down on the kneeling woman for a moment before leaning forward, her face stopping mere inches away from Jade's forehead. "Up," the brunette commanded and the blonde rose to her knees. Liz reached forward and traced the fingernail of her index finger along the smaller woman's hairline, down her neck, onto her chest and beneath the neckline of her low-cut tee. The blonde's soft but sudden exhalation of breath was not lost on Liz and she proceeded to move her hand beneath the hem of the kneeling woman's shirt. She flattened the palm of her hand against the blonde's abdomen and slid her fingers past the waistband of Jade's sweatpants, into her panties to cup her mound. "Check the time," Liz instructed and the blonde lifted her gaze to the clock on the mantle. "You'll watch every second pass for five minutes, at the end of which you'll alert me by saying time." "Yes, Mistress," the blonde breathed, her voice abandoning her as the fingers of anticipation closed around her throat in a most restricting fashion. Liz wedged her foot between the woman's knees and nudged them apart several inches, allowing her greater access to gently massage the smaller woman's pussy. Very little time had passed before she felt the slick moisture of Jade's arousal seep onto her fingers as she continued the firm pressure of the massage. Liz watched the blonde's profile and noted the way her pulse ticked rhythmically beneath her jaw. She pressed a long slender finger between the girl's slick outer lips and into the warm, tight cavern of her sex, eliciting a poorly muffled whimper as Jade's pussy clutched possessively around the tip of the intruding digit. Liz leaned further forward and exhaled a hot breath over the blonde's collarbone and drove the full length of her finger into the little woman's pussy, not bothering to tease her but taking up a firm, steady rhythm immediately. A telling moan erupted from the kneeling woman as she struggled to maintain her focus on the ever ticking second hand of the clock. The brunette studied her girl, gauging her every breath and movement. Sensing the time, Liz ground the heel of her hand against Jade's clit moments before inserting a second finger into her heated pussy. The blonde gasped and her hand shot out to the arm of Liz's chair for support, her eyes pinching shut momentarily. Realizing the smaller woman's struggle for control and focus, the brunette increased the force and tempo of her thrusts, bringing forth several healthy shudders from Jade's body as the tension inside her built exponentially. Her chest rose and fell quickly, her other hand reaching out to grip the coffee table in an effort to remain upright as her body thrummed at the bidding of Liz's fingers. Her legs quivered badly and her hips began to jog in time to the brunette's hand. "Please… Oh please, mistress," the blonde panted, her eyes still closed, her thighs trembling. "No!" Liz responded firmly, resulting in the smaller woman's eyes flying open and squinting with the effort of keeping time. The way Jade chewed her bottom lip suggested that she was struggling mightily to maintain her composure, as bidden by her mistress, who skillfully worked against that very command with the ever present pistoning of fingers inside her pussy. Liz, who hadn't once glanced at the clock, could almost hear the second-hand ticking as loud and steady as a bass drum, her focus narrowing on the quivering and panting woman before her. A helpless whimper interrupted the otherwise silent room, and she felt the inner walls of Jade's pussy begin to contract around her fingers. Always quick to cum, the blonde's body tensed and quivered beneath the effort of holding on, her control slipping faster than each second that ticked by. Liz maintained the frantic pumping into Jade's pussy as she moved her free hand to the woman's breast. She had just closed her thumb and forefinger around the jutting nipple when the blonde screamed, "Time!" Liz froze, and for a fleeting moment their world stopped. Eyes closed, aware only of themselves and the closeness of the other, they no more than existed in that moment. As profound as that moment was, it was broken when Liz removed her hand from Jade's body, causing the blonde to gasp. Her chin fell to her chest in obvious relief, disappointment, and momentary exhaustion. She took several deep breaths in an attempt to regain normal breath patterns and was soon able to support her own weight without the assistance of the furniture. Liz guided her shiny fingers to the smaller woman's mouth and traced them over soft lips that soon opened and enveloped the juicy digits. Jade's tongue gently laved over them, her eyes closing in obvious delight. "Look at me," Liz commanded, receiving an almost physical shock to her system when brave jade eyes met her own. Satisfied that her fingers were clean, she slid them out of Jade's mouth and took the smaller woman's head in her hands. Holding the blonde's gaze, she leaned forward and ran her tongue along first the top lip and then the bottom, tasting her girl's desire and reveling in the undisguised lust she saw in those eyes on the moment of contact. She made a second pass with her tongue and felt Jade's lips part in anticipation of a kiss. Liz leaned slightly closer as if to kiss the blonde, watching her eyes all the while and then captured her bottom lip between her teeth, biting it hard. The smaller woman's head jerked back in surprise, and the brunette watched a tear slide down the side of the kneeling woman's cheek. The look in Jade's eyes became one of lust, confusion and disappointment at the realization that the sharp pain in her lip was as close as she would come to a kiss from her mistress. Liz's hands slid down the blonde's head, her fingers wrapping about the smaller woman's slender neck possessively. Jade's pulse, vital and strong, thumped beneath her hands, causing her to increase pressure until she could feel every vein, every muscle and every breath. The smaller woman remained as still as a statue, but her relaxation and ultimate trust seeped into her tormentor's fingers, as if she were literally melting beneath the touch. Giving a final squeeze, the brunette released her girl and sat back in her chair. She lit a cigarette and took a long drag before speaking through the exhalation, smoke lazily curling past her lips with every word. "Upstairs there is a list of instructions for you. They are to be followed to the letter, in the order they are listed. Do you understand?" "Yes, Mistress," the blonde said softly. "Good girl," Liz finished, bringing the cigarette to her lips and breathing it in as the smaller woman rose to stand. She watched the blonde struggle with the first several steps and had to suppress a giggle when Jade faltered in the stairway, reaching out to the wall and the banister for support before breathing deeply and beginning again. Jade managed to get up the stairs without incident and once inside the bedroom she closed the door and leaned against it, releasing a long low moan as her pussy throbbed with need. She placed her hand over her heart and felt it pounding wildly as she replayed the scene in the living room. She hadn't expected Liz's assault and felt dizzy at the implications of her instructions. The urge to slide her hand into her panties and finish herself off was nearly overwhelming, but she knew there was a purpose behind the act of keeping time and stopping before she climaxed. Shaking her head to clear the lust induced fog; she pushed away from the door and started toward her side of the bed where a crisp white sheet of paper lay atop her pillow. Reaching for the list was a surreal moment for Jade. She felt as if she were crossing some sort of threshold. She complied with Liz's commands on a daily basis, but the knowledge that this weekend was about more than menial housework, her career and caring for the children, gave her the feeling she was stepping through a portal of sorts. She was stepping out of her role as mother, employee and lover and into her role of wanton, submissive slut. Closing her fingers around the list sent a shiver up her spine, and she began to read the carefully scrawled instructions. Under your sink, you will find a purple box of scented cleansing products. You are to take a thorough shower, using each one accordingly. Your underarms, legs and pussy are to be clean shaven and moisturized appropriately thereafter. When you emerge from the shower, you will find a dress, shoes and accessories laid out for you. You'll wear your hair down and apply your make-up sparingly, with the exception of eyes and lips which are to be more defined. You will find the colors I desire laid out on your vanity. At no time during this process are you to touch yourself intimately. I will be up to inspect your appearance in an hour and a half. Jade carried the paper into the bathroom and turned on the water for her shower, letting it heat up as she re-read the instructions several times. She retrieved the box of shampoos, gels and lotions, taking what she'd need into the shower with her and marveling at the way her mistress could make the familiar act of showering seem so foreign and intricate. A normal shower for Jade took less than ten minutes and consisted of shampooing her hair, washing her body and quick-shaving her legs. She had to remind herself to slow down and be sure she used all of the soaps and gels she had. There was a special shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, nail soap and brush for fingers and toes, as well as a separate foot scrub. It was, for all intents and purposes, an entire personal spa treatment to be had in the shower. The blonde smiled when she realized that she hadn't spent this much time on personal care in months. She finished her shower and stepped onto the bath mat feeling like a new woman. Her mind swam with thoughts of what her mistress had planned as she dried off and went into the bedroom to see what she would be wearing. On the bed lay a new sun dress, white sandals, a lacy white bra and two plain white boxes. Jade reached out and felt her breath hitch in her throat when her fingertips touched the soft, smooth fabric of the dress. She was overwhelmed with love for her mistress as she let her eyes wander from item to item, so thoughtfully collected and laid out for her. She looked at the clock and mentally calculated how much time she had left. Realizing that she still had to blow dry her hair and apply her make-up, she returned to the bathroom and made use of the body lotion and body spritz from the purple box. She brushed her teeth, dried her hair and returned to the bedroom to dress. Her nipples hardened with excitement as she slid the lacy bra straps up her arms. She was surprised to find how well it fit and ran her fingers over the fabric, feeling sexier by the minute. She reached for the accompanying panties, only to find that there were none. A warm blush crept up her neck at the thought of leaving the house without anything under her dress, but if Liz had wanted her to wear any panties they would have been there. She reached for the dress and nuzzled her cheek against the inviting fabric for a moment before slipping it over her head and smoothing her hands down the sides. She marveled at the fit of the garment and was overjoyed by how comfortable and attractive it made her feel. The pale blue fabric stopped several inches above her knees and belled slightly, making her very aware of her uncovered sex. She sat down at her vanity and styled her hair the way she knew Liz liked it best. She applied her make-up as instructed, slightly over defining her eyes and boldly painting her lips. She typically wore very little make-up and felt a bit self-conscious about the way her eyes and lips stood out but knew better than to disobey Liz's orders and left them as they were. She slipped on the new sandals and then made her way back to the bed where the two white boxes sat, as yet unopened. She had been saving them and reached for the smallest box first, opening it with trembling fingers. Her eyes went wide when she saw the aquamarine earrings inside, and she had a very difficult time getting them in as her fingers shook with excitement. The second box contained a matching bracelet and she gingerly placed it over her wrist, fastening it securely before turning to the full length mirror in the corner. The moment she laid eyes on her reflection, her fingers flew to her throat in surprise. She blinked several times and looked again, trying desperately to find the harried thirty-seven year old she was accustomed to seeing in the mirror. Jade knew her flaws more intimately than anyone else on the planet and had always been painfully aware of them. Yet, as she stood in her bedroom on this day, she could find very little to pick at. She certainly would have found something, if given time, but the bedroom door opened in that moment. Jade swiveled around in surprise to find Liz staring at her with undisguised lust and admiration. Jade took a step toward the brunette but was stopped short as Liz raised her palm, silently commanding her to remain where she was. The blonde complied and stood stock-still as the taller woman's hungry eyes caressed her from head to toe several times. The silence and distance hung heavy on Jade's psyche. She had to resist the urge to fidget as Liz continued her languid appraisal. A burst of nervous excitement filled the smaller woman when her mistress twirled her finger, indicating her desire for the smaller woman to turn so she could see everything. Under normal circumstances, Jade would have hated being so closely inspected. Today, however, she felt proud and turned slowly, even going so far as to hold out her arms upon completing the turn. The look on Liz's face, so full of approval and admiration, was the final straw, and Jade quickly closed the distance between them and flung herself into the brunette's arms. A quiet laugh escaped the taller woman upon impact and she wound her arms tightly about the little blonde. "Easy, little one," Liz exhaled in a strained voice as Jade's hold on her middle tightened, making proper speech impossible. Eternal Acquiescence Jade let go quickly and looked up with worried eyes. Her lips parted as the beginnings of an apology rushed out and Liz placed her index finger over them to silence her. Jade looked up in confusion. Liz's eyes bored into hers and a healthy blush filled her cheeks when the brunette slid the tip of her finger over Jade's chin, down her neck, and onto her chest. "I wonder how well you followed instructions," Liz said softly, dragging her finger in a lazy circle around the blonde's nipple. Jade's breath caught in her throat when the taller woman's fingers moved past her hemline, touched her thigh and began sliding up it. Inch by inch, Liz's fingers slid higher and Jade found herself unable to break the intense stare. A strong jolt rocked the little blonde's frame the instant warm fingers touched her freshly shaven pussy. Wrapping her arms around Liz, she leaned into her tormentor as her body reacted to the feather-soft touch. She rested her forehead against Liz's chest and tried to maintain her composure as the brunette continued the exploration, feeling everything as though she were painting a mental picture of the view beneath her fingers. Jade's heart hammered in her chest when strong fingers plowed into her hair and curled into a fist. Liz's heart beat solidly beneath the blonde's forehead, and Jade's mind scrambled to organize the plethora of sensory information she was receiving. Soft fingers against her pussy, a firm hold on her hair and the rhythmic thud of her mistress' heart beneath her ear proved a bit much for her. She subconsciously rolled her hips against the hand at her pussy, causing it to stop immediately. Jade froze and felt the fingers in her hair twist tighter, pulling her head back and forcing her to return Liz's hard gaze. "You just can't help yourself, can you?" Jade opened her mouth to speak, but the only sound to come out was a low moan as Liz teased at her entrance. "What's the matter, blondie, cat got your tongue?" Jade bit her lower lip, powerless beneath the touch of her mistress. The fingers in her hair tightened enough to get her attention, and she attempted to provide an answer to the brunette's question. She had no more than opened her mouth to speak when Liz forced a finger into her pussy, wrenching a needful moan from her throat. "No, you can't help yourself. You can dab a little perfume on your wrists, put on a pretty dress and steal my breath away, but deep down, the slut inside you wins out every time." A tiny thought of protest welled up in Jade, but before she could give it a voice her mistress drove the truth home, thrusting deep within the little blonde. Jade's fingers dug into Liz's back, her legs buckling just slightly as determined fingers massaged away every shred of decency and composure she'd had earlier. The truth of Liz's declaration became increasingly apparent as the smaller woman's moans rose in volume and frequency until her hips were jogging in time to the rhythmic finger fucking. "Please," Jade breathed, her fingernails digging into the taller woman's back. "Please what, girl?" "Please, Mistress, please let your girl cum." "Oh, little one, I merely intended to help you finish getting ready," Liz said and abruptly pulled her fingers from Jade's pussy. Jade breathed deeply, trying to make heads or tails of the maddening tingle between her legs and wondering when it would finally be appeased. "Now you're ready," Liz stated and took the blonde's elbow, guiding her from the house and out to her truck. Without a word, the brunette maneuvered the truck out of the drive and onto the highway. Jade stared straight ahead, not daring to move lest she be reminded of her arousal any more than she already was. Her mind swam with thoughts of where the taller woman was taking her, but after ten minutes of silence, all she could discern was that they were headed southeast. She had just begun to unwind from the scene in the bedroom when a sudden electric current leapt into her thigh. Jade physically jumped, her eyes snapping down to her leg where a tan hand had taken hold of the hem of her dress and was pulling it up high on her leg. Instinctively, she reached down to stop the fabric, but halted her efforts when the brunette barked, "No." She hadn't paid any attention to her surroundings before that moment, but when a cool current of air kissed her naked pussy she became painfully aware of the traffic surrounding them. Her mind raced as they drove alongside a large semi, slowly approaching the tall cabin of the truck. "Show me," Liz commanded, releasing the dress and dividing her attention between the road and the anxious blonde. Jade looked down to see the last couple of inches of her dress still covering her mound and tentatively reached for the soft blue fabric. Gingerly curling her fingers around it, she stilled, hesitating, stalling, and delaying the inevitable. "Now!" Her mistress barked, startling her, though she should have seen it coming. She did as she was told and closed her eyes when she noticed how close she was to the neighboring vehicle. The silence in the cab of their truck was slowly unnerving her, but the feel of Liz's warm fingers wrapping around her hand calmed her instantly. Jade sighed when Liz guided her hand to her pussy, insisting she touch herself. Jade knew she'd been very excited before leaving the house, but was taken aback by how wet and sensitive she still was. Several miles passed with her mistress guiding her fingers over her slick folds, and Jade realized they were still traveling in the same spot beside the large truck. The second she opened her eyes, Liz released her hand and sped up. Jade's body tensed as her side window drew ever closer to the truck driver's window. Her hand slowly came to a stop and she was dying to pull her dress down, but it was not to be. "Continue," Liz ordered, watching the blonde like a hawk as she pulled even with the big truck beside them. Jade turned her head towards her mistress, begging with her eyes to be relieved of the pseudo-exhibitionism. Liz gazed at her for what seemed like a dangerously long time, ignoring the road, understanding the message in Jade's eyes and lifting her fingers to the smaller woman's chin. Her face softened and a tiny smile curled one side of her mouth as she nodded and softly responded, "It pleases me." Jade's face brightened at the remark, and with her eyes locked on her mistress she began teasing her pussy again. "Put your feet up on the dash, slut," Liz ordered, her voice soft and low. Something flashed in Liz's bright green eyes, and Jade recognized the change in her voice as evidence of her mounting lust. Driven to please, Jade dismissed her surroundings and focused all of her attention on carrying out the directives of her mistress. Placing her feet shoulder width apart on the dashboard, she slid a slick finger into her pussy and watched Liz's face for a reaction. Liz's attention shifted from the road to her girl and back as they traveled, until a soft moan floated into the air. Liz turned toward the blonde and held her gaze firm. The hunger and power Jade saw there was an intense aphrodisiac for her, and she shuddered beneath the stare as her thumb brushed over her clit. "That's it, girl, let me hear what you're feeling. Don't hold back. Show me what your body's been begging for all day." Every hungry word Liz uttered sent a powerful jolt through the little blonde's body, carrying her to the next level of pleasure. Nothing put her at ease and turned her on more completely than the sound of her mistress' voice, and she was soon lost to all space and time as her fingers danced over her clit. Liz watched as Jade's head fell back against the headrest. She looked over to the trucker beside them and let out a wicked laugh at the befuddled look of lust and envy on his face. She reached over and slid her fingers beneath Jade's and plunged two fingers into the blonde's wet warmth, causing Jade to arch her back, cry out and clutch at her arm. Every time Liz accelerated, so too did the large truck beside them. Completely oblivious to the cat and mouse game going on, Jade rode Liz's hand with unrestrained zeal, coming ever closer to the bliss her body craved. The large cab of their truck, filled with her panting and moaning, became so charged with sexual energy that it made the hair on the back of Liz's neck stand on end. Her own breathing grew quicker as Jade's came in bursts and gasps, until once again the blonde was begging to cum. Never before had she ached for release the way she was now. The tension in her lower back was almost unbearable and she knew she'd never needed anything as badly as she needed to cum right now. A string of whimpers began, growing needier with every thrust of her hips against Liz's hand. To anyone else, the noise would have been cause for alarm as the sound emulated someone experiencing great suffering, but Liz knew her girl well, knew she'd taken her to that place where one would sacrifice all for the mind-bending climax lurking just beneath the surface. Jade's eyes flew open as maniacal laughter erupted from her mistress. She watched in confused fascination as Liz withdrew her fingers, sucking them into her mouth and licking them clean while the open-mouthed trucker watched. Disappointment flooded the little blonde, but she had precious little time to dwell on her circumstances before Liz down-shifted and slammed on the accelerator. Their truck raced forward, speeding past the eighteen-wheeler as the driver accidentally veered onto the shoulder and hit the rumble strip before abruptly swerving back into his lane and reducing speed. Jade tensed as they crossed three lanes of traffic to make the fast approaching exit and raced down the large hill, carrying them away from the highway. She had no idea where they were going, but one look at Liz's face told her they were almost there and that there would be no more games from here on out. Her knuckles went white around the door handle when they jerked off the pavement onto an old dirt road that led into a heavily wooded area. Her first inclination was to be nervous, but wonder and excitement took over and her heart pounded with anxious want. Thousands of questions rose to mind, but she didn't dare voice any of them as they darted through the forest, narrowly missing trees and large potholes as they went. The only thing Jade was aware of, other than the large trees racing past her window and the jarring noise of the truck on the trail, was Liz's determination. She found it easier to look at Liz than watch the road, and she marveled at the intensity of focus she saw in the brunette's profile. Jaw set, eyes riveted to the road and the insistent tick in the woman's cheek spoke volumes of her preoccupation with the task of driving. A feeling of loneliness swept over Jade and she fidgeted in her seat for several minutes before finally deciding to break the silence. She never got the chance to utter a word, though. The truck slid to a sudden stop at the edge of the woods, causing her to lean heavily into her seatbelt as it held firm across her chest and waist. Jade's head snapped forward, for fear that they were about to hit something, but to her great surprise she found herself staring out at the ocean from the edge of a cliff. The late afternoon sun was perched just above the water on the horizon, the soft orange hue of the water broken only by the dazzling sparkles of the sun off the crest of wind driven waves. "Get out," Liz said gruffly, engaging the emergency brake. Jade found it difficult to comply right away as she struggled to process everything and catch up with the moment at hand. The slamming of the driver's side door pulled her from the haze of thoughts clouding her mind, and she reached for the handle on her own door. She had no more than set one foot on the ground before strong fingers dug into her arm, forcibly pulling her from the cab of the truck and tugging her along the edge of the cliff. She stumbled at first but quickly gained her balance and did her best to keep up with the brunette's long, purposeful strides. A sudden gust of wind blew up the face of the cliff, raising her dress and exposing her from the waist down. The cool mist from the waves below kissed her pussy and caused her to inhale sharply at the surprise sensation. She was very aware of her arousal as her slick lips glided against one another with every step. It wasn't until they were about fifteen yards from the building that she noticed the lighthouse. Stunned by the realization that she'd been completely oblivious to the massive structure until then, Jade found herself wondering what her mistress had in mind as they approached the black and white spiraled tower. She'd seen the old building hundreds of times before but always from the water. She now knew their approximate location and wondered how Liz had found it and why she'd brought her here. Out of the corner of her eye, Jade noticed a sign that read NO TRESPASSING. The warning gave her a moment of pause, but the insistent pull on her arm gave her little chance to process the legalities of their being there. She tripped again as Liz ascended the stairs of the old lighthouse and physically shook her head in an attempt to gather her focus. Everything was happening so fast. She could barely hear anything for the battle being waged by the good and evil sides of her psyche. The angel on one shoulder warned against proceeding, while the devil on her other shoulder violently prodded with his trident. Once again mastering her balance, Jade mounted the stairs and took her place behind Liz who was standing just to the side of the door, looking up at the round body of the tower. Not daring to look around again and risk the chance of displeasing her mistress, Jade remained where she was and waited. Not an easy task as her pussy throbbed, her heart pounded and her palms began to sweat. "Open the door." Jade looked up in astonishment, first to the door and then to her mistress who was eyeing her expectantly. Looking back to the door, Jade felt the strain of responsibility fall squarely on her shoulders. Obeying her mistress had never been a question until this moment, but running about town sans panties was one thing. Trespassing on private property was entirely another. Jade took a deep breath and looked back up to the brunette, her face drawn, an obvious look of regret in her eyes. "I can't. We're not supposed to be here," the blonde explained feebly, hating the disappointment she saw in Liz's eyes. "Open the door, Jade." Looking back at the door for a fleeting second, Jade then cast her eyes down and stood silently, as she gave in to the doubt and fear within her. The sound of Liz's leather jacket creaking with movement was the only warning she got before the jarring sound of breaking glass filled her ears. Jade gasped and jumped at the abrupt noise, her eyes darting to the door where Liz's elbow had penetrated the glass pane just above the doorknob. The brunette reached inside, unlocked the door from the inside and opened it quickly, pushing it open wide and pulling the startled blonde inside. Jade stumbled into the dark room and willed her eyes to adjust to the low light as the door slammed behind her. She still couldn't see very well, but the dank, musty smell told her the building hadn't been occupied in quite some time. Puzzled and anxious, she began to turn around, but instead found herself moving forward at the urgent insistence of Liz's hand between her shoulder blades. Her hands shot out in front of her in fear of running into something, and Liz scoffed at the fearful gesture. "Having trust issues today, are we, girl?" "It's very dark, Mistress," Jade replied softly, though she had been asking herself the same question since her hesitation in the truck. It wasn't like her to second guess her mistress' instructions and she could only wonder at why she was having such a hard time giving over today. Sure, she'd been stressed at work, the kids' schedules had grown hectic and it had been months since she and Liz's last scene, but it still didn't make sense. This was what she craved. The opportunity to submit completely was at hand, and still she hesitated. "Excuses," the brunette spat. Jade reluctantly lowered her arms and began moving forward at the guidance of the hand at her back. Dust swirled about them, tickling her nose and burning her eyes as they proceeded along the rounded wall. "Step up," Liz said, continuing to push her as they reached a darkened stairwell. Jade did as she was told and began climbing the stairs, dragging her hand along the wall for guidance. Her very presence in the building was cause for anxiety, but on top of that was the knowledge that she'd disappointed her mistress. The remainder of her anxious feelings were directly linked to her anticipation of why they'd come here and what awaited her at the top of the stairs. The climb seemed interminable, but in a matter of three or four minutes, a dim glow filled the stairwell. Every step earned her more light, less dust, the sound of waves crashing against the cliff and the heady scent of the ocean. Jade treaded lightly, as she silently measured the placement of each step while Liz's boots stepped heavily on the creaky wooden stairs. Confidence. Everything she does exudes confidence, Jade thought to herself as the noise echoed against the walls of the tower. Jade wondered how Liz did it, but quickly resigned the question and simply marveled at the realization that the brunette's unshakable confidence was a large part of what intrigued and aroused her. The rhythmic thud of heavy motorcycle boots, the strong hand at her back and the conviction she'd seen in Liz's eyes downstairs were all part of the overall strength that turned her on. Simply standing close to Liz was often enough to ignite her desires, and today was no exception. She thought of the clock on the mantle, ticking away the seconds as the brunette pushed her arousal to the edge. She remembered the scene in the bedroom and the episode in the truck and felt her hands begin to shake as she reached the landing at the top of the stairs. Jade's mouth fell open the moment she arrived on the landing and was able to see through the massive wall of glass around her. Westward, as far as the eye could see, were green treetops blanketing the earth, and she had the sudden childish urge to bound across it as if it were lush clover. She now regretted her earlier protest to enter the lighthouse and knew she'd always remember the way the sun cast a golden glow over the trees, giving the landscape a dreamlike quality where all hard edges were smudged and softened. The sudden whisper of warm air against her neck startled her. She hadn't heard Liz step up behind her and had no idea she was so close. Breath after steady breath coasted over her neck and shoulder as she stood motionless at the railing. She longed to lean into her mistress, to feel the texture of leather against her skin and melt into the protection of strong arms around her, but something told her to remain as she was. Liz's specialty was the tease. She manipulated anticipation better than anyone Jade had ever known. No matter how well Jade's logical mind knew that, she was never able to conquer her desperate need to know, feel, experience things NOW! Patience was not one of her strong suits. Her entire body tensed momentarily when she felt the neckline of her dress tighten, followed by the sound of tiny zipper teeth parting at her back. It didn't seem possible that such a subtle sound could fill the huge glass enclosure, but even the noise of the ocean below disappeared from Jade's ears as Liz tugged the zipper down to the small of her back. Several spots of her skin grew warm as soft fingertips settled against the base of her neck, sliding outward slowly and pushing the shoulder straps of her dress aside. Eternal Acquiescence The contrast of cool fabric and warm fingers caressing her skin sent shivers through her and she held her breath when the brunette's palms flattened against her back. She wondered if Liz could feel her heart pounding and decided it would have been impossible not to. She wasn't entirely certain that the brunette couldn't actually hear it, the pounding was so powerful. Liz leaned forward until Jade could feel each breath against her spine. She couldn't resist the intricate tattoo there and reached out with her tongue. She traced the heart in the center and received a tiny moan from the blonde. The sound, it seemed, was the beginning of the end for the brunette. With lightning quickness, she pushed the dress down Jade's shoulders, grabbed her upper arms and spun her about before the dress even hit the floor. A startled gasp escaped Jade but was silenced as Liz's full lips crushed against hers in a deep, demanding kiss. Powerless beneath her mistress' hunger, Jade melted into the brunette, getting lost in the kiss she'd been waiting for all day. Try as she may, without reaching for the brunette, Jade moved ever closer until her entire body, down to her thighs, was pressed against the taller woman. If it was possible, she would have climbed inside her lover and happily stayed there forever. As it was not possible, she let out a satisfied whimper when Liz's arms wound around her, squeezing tighter by the moment until the very act of breathing grew laborious. Jade groaned into the brunette's mouth when the taller woman loosened her hold, causing the zippers on her jacket to scrape over her captive's lace covered nipples. The throbbing between her legs reappeared with a vengeance and she ached for her mistress to take her, but Liz had other ideas. She broke the kiss abruptly and released the hungry blonde, moving behind her and shedding the black leather jacket. Jade, realizing she was naked but for her bra and shoes, stood breathless and stared out at the ocean. She listened intently for any sign of what her mistress might be doing, but dared not turn around until instructed to do so. Arms at her side, thighs clamped firmly together, heart pounding and eyes wide open, she waited. "Remove your bra, slut." Jade complied quickly, noting the deep, airy quality Liz's voice had taken on since the kiss. She felt her nipples stretch and tighten as the late afternoon air kissed them for the first time. She almost jumped when Liz's hand closed around her right wrist, bringing her hand to rest on the back of her head. Liz then followed suit with the left before raking her fingernails down the blonde's back, over her ass and down the length of her legs. "Have I ever put you in danger, girl?" Jade was confused and instantly recognized the firm tone of voice as one of mild accusation and ire. "No, my Mistress." "Then there is no excuse for your disobedience downstairs," Liz stated plainly. "No, Mistress," Jade answered quietly. "Do you trust me?" Liz asked as she wrapped a thick band of leather around one wrist. "Yes, of course, Mistress," Jade replied, adoring the weight and tightness of the bonds around her wrists. Liz reached around her and opened the large glass door, flooding the light chamber with the scent of salty air and the incessant crash of waves below. She pushed Jade into the doorway, taking one wrist and clipping the D-ring it to an I-bolt in the frame. The little blonde's eyes went wide as several puzzle pieces fell into place. Liz had been here. She knew the lighthouse was unoccupied. She had fixed the bolts where she wanted them and stored her equipment there for tonight. Both hands firmly clipped in place at forty-five degree angles above her head, Jade located the sun as it lazily dipped in the sky. Inches from the ocean, glowing orange and gold, she would have been transfixed by it under any other circumstances. As it was, she hung her head in shame. She'd been tested and failed. The day's events were quickly catching up to her and she felt her grip on things slipping. All the surprises, the constant arousal, the lingering anticipation and the knowledge that she hadn't trusted Liz were hammering at her in the worst way. "Stand up straight, girl," Liz commanded. She nudged the blonde's feet to the side until they were shoulder width apart and stepped away. A loud smack broke the silence between the women and Jade bit her lip hard to keep from crying out as a rush of tingles and warmth rushed into her ass. The suddenness of the slap had caught her unaware and she felt as if the world had spun off its axis. "You're anticipating me, slut. You know better," Liz said very close to her ear before delivering another sharp slap to the blonde's rounded ass. The blonde's body jerked in surprise and Liz knew Jade was on the verge of breaking down. Knew the focus was not there and that the little woman was punishing herself far worse than she ever could. It was a testament to how badly the little woman needed to let go, to be taken, to be completely controlled. Liz flattened her hand against the pink handprint on Jade's ass, feeling the growing warmth, but more so, letting the blonde feel her. I'm here, her hand seemed to say, as it slid over her girl's bare hip. Feel me, it demanded as it closed around a jutting nipple, pinching firmly. Remember me, it coaxed, sliding up the little woman's chest and curling around her neck possessively. A visible change occurred in Jade the instant warm fingers wrapped around her neck. Any and all self-admonishments or nerves gave way to the deep sense of belonging she felt when her mistress held her this way. Unspoken possession flowed from those fingers and soothed her mind, taking her to the place inside that she felt most herself. A place of peace and calm, devoid of paradigms or precedents and so special in its rarity that she latched onto every passing second and clung to it with all her might. So relaxed was she, that the unexpected breath against her bare shoulder produced no outward reaction from her. Breath after breath of gentle air coasted over the surface of her skin, producing goose bumps along her chest, back and arms. Her anticipation gone, Jade floated on the joy of knowing that she was little more than a vessel for her mistress' pleasure. The logic and reflex centers in her brain went dormant when she felt the cool kiss of leather slide along the sides of her neck, cinching tighter as the clasp was fastened and locked in back. "It's been too long, little one. Too long since I placed this collar on you and exercised my desire at the mercy of your voluptuous body," Liz said, her voice taking on a sinister edge and thrilling the woman before her to no end. As was her habit, Jade tugged at her bonds, testing them for strength and range of motion. Liz watched the little ritual and while she didn't fully understand it, she knew it was a good sign. Over almost as quickly as it began, Jade breathed deeply and finally stood still. Liz moved in behind the smaller woman, letting her forehead rest against the base of Jade's neck "Tell me," she said against Jade's spine as her hands slid around the blonde's sides and covered her breasts, kneading them roughly. "Your slut is sorry, Mistress. I won't doubt you again." "See that you don't." Liz stepped into the blonde, hugging tightly with her arms and grinding her hips into Jade's lush backside. Her hands went to work, kneading the small breasts beneath them until determined nipples grew firm and pressed into her palms. She had never known a more responsive lover and thrilled at the way Jade's body reacted beneath her touch. Hungry for more, she slid her hand down the blonde's belly, over her clean shaven mound and pressed the length of her finger into Jade's slit. Pleasantly surprised by the slick texture she found, Liz inhaled sharply, again grinding her hips into Jade's ass. The little blonde shivered hard as Liz's fingers manipulated her clit, pleasing her with firm circular strokes one moment and then shifting to feather-light caresses the next. A throaty moan filled the lighthouse as two fingers filled her pussy, causing her to thrust her hips forward in search of more pressure. Liz growled into Jade's back and pushed away from her as though the bound woman was suddenly too hot to touch. She turned her back, clutched the railing and re-centered her focus. Her stance was rigid and her breathing was slightly off as a bead of sweat rolled ominously down her neck. She pinched her eyes closed for a moment before standing up straight, roughly pulling her fitted, white t-shirt over her head and dropping it at her feet. Turning back to Jade, she studied the lines of the woman's back. Classic lines along her slut's neck and shoulders, called to her lips. Smooth, creamy skin interrupted by various tattoos sent strong electric currents to her nipples. Intensely strong thighs and calves, reminded her of the many times they'd been locked around her waist as she fucked her girl. Liz let her gaze wander back up the blonde's body admiringly. On the verge of commenting on Jade's beauty, Liz's moment was interrupted when her own hand entered her field of vision, reaching of its own accord to touch the beauty before her. Damnable weakness, she thought to herself, as her inability to resist the blonde crested yet again. Reaching quickly for her belt, she unfastened the silver buckle and yanked the long leather strap from her waist. With lightning speed, she folded the belt in half and sent a powerful slap to the blonde's ass with it. Jade moaned softly, her head falling forward as her body relaxed. Liz ducked under Jade's arm and stepped onto the balcony of the lighthouse. She flung the belt into the ocean and turned on the panting woman with a look of raw need in her eyes. She reached forward, grabbing a fistful of blonde hair, and jerked the blonde's head up until their eyes met. Time seemed to stand still as they stood, face to face. Eye to eye. A captive and her tormentor. Two beings reduced to their most basic animal nature. A strong breeze blew in off the water, pushing Liz's curly brown hair forward until it hung wildly over her face. Jade licked her lips as she looked into her mistress' eyes, saying just as much with the simple gesture as Liz had with her belt only moments before. A deep and unspoken understanding passed between them, inciting Liz to bare her teeth and dive at Jade's neck. She thrilled at the feel of yielding flesh as she bit her girl. Jade moaned loudly and pulled at her bonds, desperate to meet the hunger in her mistress bite for bite. Liz reached up and pinched Jade's nipples harshly, biting her again and snarling against her flesh when the blonde lunged at her, teeth bared. Moving away quickly, the brunette ducked past her girl and reached into her bag again. "Where did my hesitant girl go?" Liz called over her shoulder sarcastically. "Use me," Jade responded harshly, eliciting a wicked laugh from her mistress. "I hardly think you're in any position to be making demands, girl. Now shut up and close your eyes." Jade moved to look over her shoulder in the direction of Liz's voice. "Now!" Liz commanded sharply, her voice reverberating through the glass chamber and cutting through the haze of lust to reach the saucy blonde. Jade complied with the order, turning back to the ocean and taking in the last vestiges of sunset before lowering her head and closing her eyes. Liz reached out and dragged her nails over the blonde's back. Again Jade moaned and leaned into the sensation, begging for more. Liz reared back with the long horsehair flogger and landed the first blow over her girl's right shoulder. Jade's hips rolled forward as the tips of the flogger snapped over her shoulder, striking her chest and nipple to send an intense heat straight to her core. "That's my girl," Liz said, narrowing her eyes and drawing back again to repeat the action over her opposite shoulder. Jade's body shivered in delight as her mistress went to work with their favorite toy. The sounds of Liz's soft grunting, horsehair swishing through the air and the distinct sound of hundreds of tiny tassels striking her skin was music to the bound woman's ears. Every strike, strategically placed and methodically delivered, was answered with a moan or a gasp as Jade soared ever higher in her quest for ultimate release. Hunger consumed the brunette as her arm recoiled time and time again, each lash conveying the depth of her desire, her need. Not just any need, but need for this woman alone. No other had ever evoked such passion, desire and lust in her. A powerful, controlling emotion that could only hope to be filled by her girl's complete surrender. Jade absorbed every ounce of pain, understanding what drove her mistress. It was that very need that twisted pain into pleasure for Jade, bringing a string of lusty moans from her boldly painted lips. A whirlwind of emotion, sensation and passion merged to bring them both a sense of freedom and empowerment, attainable only when their darker sides were unleashed. The sharp sting of each blow translated almost instantly to a warm rolling pleasure for Jade. Each powerful smack of horsehair became an erotic caress. Jade's hips rocked in rhythm to the thrashing and her skin was soon covered in a light sheen of sweat as Liz panted behind her. Pausing to remove her black bra, Liz watched as a powerful shudder rocked the smaller woman's frame. "A little too warm in here for the shivers, slut," she said sternly. "Please," Jade breathed. Landing a sharp blow to the blonde's thigh, Liz's eyes narrowed. "That doesn't tell me anything, girl. Say what you mean and mean what you say!" "Please, Mistress. I need you." "What is it you need, slut?" "You!" Jade cried in desperation. "I need you. Need to feel you. Use me, my Mistress. I'm yours." Liz unleashed a hail of blows to the blonde's back, ass and legs until Jade's knees went weak and she could barely stand. "Please, God, Please let me cum," she screamed. "Cum for me girl," Liz growled, striking her again and watching in awe as Jade's body went rigid, every muscle straining as her climax gripped her. Liz stood, transfixed by the sight before her as the little blonde convulsed and writhed once more before her knees buckled entirely. Stepping forward in an instant, Liz wrapped her arms around Jade's torso and held her to remove the strain on her wrists. With a final shudder, Jade's body went slack, her head falling back to rest on Liz's shoulder. Breathing heavily, they stood basking in the aftermath of a session more powerful than the great Atlantic Ocean beneath them. Each woman lost in their own silent reverie of the whirlwind of emotions just experienced. "Thank you," Jade rasped against Liz's cheek, to which the taller woman responded with a deep kiss. Infused by the closeness of her mistress, Jade gained her feet and turned into Liz as much as her bonds would allow. Liz broke the kiss and ducked beneath the blonde's arm to stand before her on the balcony. Naked from the waist up, Liz slid her hands over her damp skin as Jade looked on. Paying special attention to her pierced nipples, she touched and teased herself until the smaller woman began straining against her bonds in an attempt to get to her. "What's the matter, slut?" Jade pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes at the taunt. Liz continued, sliding her hands down her abdomen and unbuttoning her jeans. Her eyes never left Jade's face as she lowered her zipper and reached inside to massage her pussy. A telling moan escaped her lips as she pressed the damp material of her panties into her slit. "Mistress," Jade growled softly. Liz either didn't hear her or was blatantly ignoring her and leaned against the railing behind her. One hand toyed with the curved stud in her nipple while the other continued its languid massage on her pussy. Jade was torn between a voyeuristic dream come true and her raging desire to please the softly moaning brunette. She still struggled for freedom, albeit weakly, but seemed resigned to watch for the moment. The uniqueness of bearing witness to such a private moment always captured her focus. Liz's need for release was nearly palpable and Jade looked on as the brunette's head fell back. The hand at her breast now clung to the railing as the intensity of the massage increased. Jade's thighs were pressed tightly together in a vain attempt to provide any sort of pressure to her aching pussy as she watched her mistress' hand slide beneath the black lace panties. "Please!" she cried, finally gaining Liz's attention. "Was there something you needed, girl?" Liz asked, pushing away from the railing and closing the distance between them. "Please let me taste you, my Mistress." Liz traced a slick finger over Jade's lips and felt goose bumps race up her arm when the greedy blonde sucked it into her mouth. Abruptly pulling it from Jade's hot mouth, she unclipped the cuffs from their respective bolts and pointed to the ground at her feet. Jade fell to her knees and looked up at Liz expectantly. Turning her back on the smaller woman, Liz dug her thumbs into the waistband of her panties and jeans and pushed them all the way to her ankles. Bent at the waist, her pussy glistened mere inches from Jade's face, bringing a soft whimper from the blonde. Liz casually stepped out of the jeans and leaned forward, catching the railing as she fell. "I'm waiting." Jade's lips were on her pussy immediately. Liz moaned and pushed back, grinding her pussy against the blonde's face. Jade's tongue was everywhere, diving inside, sweeping the length of her slit, manipulating her clit, pushing her ever closer to the point of no return. "God, Yes! Fuck me!" Liz cried. Her knuckles went white around the railing and her legs shook uncontrollably. Jade moved to lie down on the balcony and reached up, wrapping her arms around Liz's thighs. She pulled the brunette to her knees and once again buried her face in her mistress' pussy. Liz released the rail and ploughed her fingers into Jade's short blonde hair, forcibly pulling her closer. Her body stiffened and a long low moan rumbled in her throat as Jade's tongue pressed deep inside her. Jade moaned and grunted into Liz as the taller woman rode her face with wild abandon. She looked up the brunette's body, drinking in the sight of her woman's face. Lost in her own maelstrom of pleasure, Liz chewed her bottom lip, biting down hard when Jade's fingernails sank into her thighs. Her grip on the blonde's hair tightened ten-fold, wringing a sudden cry from her slut's lips. Neither woman faltered, so hungry were they for absolute ownership of one another's pleasure. "There's my little Tigress," Liz grunted, giving one final twist with her wrists before releasing Jade's hair. "Well don't tease me, you little slut! If you're gonna scratch and bite, do it right!" Jade dug her nails into Liz, dragging them down her back and over her ass. Liz stiffened and moaned her pleasure so loud Jade almost took it for a scream of pain. The brunette rode down even harder now, her pussy covering the blonde's nose and mouth until she had to fight for breath intermittently. Jade wouldn't have had it any other way and scratched Liz again and again, harder each time. Liz panted wildly. Short, quick breaths Jade had come to recognize as the only outward sign of her lover's pending release. Digging in once again, Jade clawed at Liz's back as her tongue ravaged the writhing woman's clit. The low growl emitted from above was the only warning she got before Liz's world exploded. Jade's arms wound tightly around her mistress' thighs in a desperate attempt to remain connected as Liz's hips bucked, grinding her pussy against her girl's face. Eternal Acquiescence Jade watched in amazement. Untamed curls whipped back with the force of Liz arching backwards as pure bliss coursed through her. Jade admired the way Liz's skin glistened in the moonlight as her breasts rose and fell with every heaving breath. She couldn't see the taller woman's face, but she was quite satisfied with the lines of her neck, jaw and chin. She carefully collected each image in a mental collage to remember for eternity and brought her woman back to earth with one gentle swipe of her tongue. A full body jerk gripped Liz and she rolled her weight forward, catching herself with her hands on either side of Jade's head. Her legs shook badly, but it didn't stop her from moving to lie atop her wicked girl. Looking intently into the little blonde's eyes, she was acutely aware of her own soul staring back at her. "Incredible," was all she said and Jade's arms flew around her neck, followed by a languid, loving kiss. Liz broke the kiss and reached behind Jade to unfasten the leather collar at her neck. "No!" "Watch it, girl!" Liz warned. "Please?" "Patience, little one," Liz instructed and continued. Jade frowned heavily but dared not protest again. Liz got up and pulled her jeans and shirt back on. She helped Jade up and back into her dress. The evening chill was arriving quickly and she draped her jacket around Jade's shoulders. Jade looked confused but said nothing. She didn't necessarily feel cold and would have loved nothing more than to stay up there all night in Liz's arms, but Liz seemed to have other plans and continued packing up. "Do we have to leave right away?" Jade asked softly. "Who said we were leaving?" "Nobody. I just thought…" Liz turned and smiled wide, "I know what you thought. Come with me." She took Jade's hand and led her onto the balcony again. They spent a moment scanning the water and the starry night sky before Liz took Jade's face in her hands and stared deeply into her eyes. "Wait right here." "Okay." Liz returned with a flat black box and placed her hand on the lid before speaking. "Why did you ask me to leave your collar on earlier?" Jade's confusion was evident in her eyes, but she gathered herself and answered truthfully. "Because I always feel so lonely, so lost without it." "What does that collar mean to you, Jade?" "It means I belong to you, of course, but there's so much more, Mistress." "I can't tell you how pleased I am to hear you say that, little one." Jade smiled wide, warm and tingly all over with Liz's praise. "There simply aren't words for the way I feel about you." "It's okay. I think…" Jade began, but was cut off. "Shhh… Let me finish. I could never express with words what I intend to express with these," Liz finished and lifted the lid to the box. Jade's eyes opened wide, her hand flying to her mouth as she gasped in surprise. Liz watched her girl's eyes as she looked in the box, up at her, and back again several times. Knowing her as she did, Liz could almost hear the cacophony of questions shouting in Jade's mind as she tried to understand what was happening. "Jade," she finally said, drawing the blonde's attention away from the box. "Yes, mistress?" "The first time I touched my tongue to your lips, I knew my life had changed forever. The first time you pleaded for release, I knew I'd never seek the intimacy of another. The first time you addressed me as Mistress, I experienced a greater level of purpose and belonging than ever before. The gift of your submission has taken me places that I could not reach alone," Liz said solemnly and pointed to the items in the box. "These are the symbols of my commitment to you. This collar is my pledge to protect, love and cherish you above all. Your acceptance is your surrender to me as the dominant force in your life as well as your promise of loyalty and devotion everlasting." Jade nodded her understanding and Liz continued, pointing inside the circle of the collar to a silver ring that gleamed brightly against the black felt. "We have created countless memories and traversed many obstacles together. Where one of us has faltered, the other has been strong and maintained the stability of our life together. The gift of your love has filled every empty place in my heart. You are the love of my life and the other half of my soul. As long as I live, I want you beside me, giving me the opportunity to make you as absurdly happy as you've made me," Liz finished and looked up from the box to see tear-filled eyes staring back at her. The crashing of the waves below mirrored the power Liz's words had on the little blonde. Liz reached forward and stroked Jade's face, letting her words sink in. Her soft touch confirmed the words she'd spoken and as she waited patiently for some sign that she should continue. Askance would happen only once and she wanted Jade to understand that her acceptance or denial would be forever. Jade nuzzled into Liz's hand and turned to kiss the center of her palm gently. Electric currents raced up Liz's arm, jump-starting her heart as she realized the moment of truth was upon them. "Give yourself to me, Jade. Say you'll marry me." Locking eyes with the taller woman, Jade moved Liz's hand from her face and placed it over her heart. A tiny tear slid down Jade's cheek, followed by the most radiant smile Liz had ever seen. "I gave my heart to you long ago, and I can't wait to marry you." Liz lunged forward and wrapped her arms around the little blonde tightly, crushing the box closed and trapping it between their bodies. Jade giggled into her lover's chest as Liz squeezed her ever tighter. "I love you," Jade whispered against her neck and Liz released her to retrieve the white gold engagement ring from the box. Her hands shook slightly as she placed it on Jade's finger before lifting the blonde's hand to her lips and kissing the ring on her finger. Jade expelled a heavy sigh, shivering as Liz straightened and grew serious. Unable to maintain the brunette's steady gaze, Jade glanced toward the horizon and let the blue and purple sky soothe her and calm her racing heart. Liz studied her profile for a moment and reached for her chin, bringing her face around until their eyes met once again. "Honor me with your submission, Jade. Accept this collar as my promise to love, protect and guide you as you surrender your mind, body and soul to me for the rest of our days." Jade lowered her eyes to the sterling silver collar Liz held and listened carefully to her mistress' pledge. She could scarcely believe it was happening. She'd dreamed so long of finding the one she could trust with her very soul. Standing before her now was the woman she'd been waiting for, the only person in the world who knew her completely and accepted all of her without exception. Slowly raising her eyes to Liz's one last time, Jade saw the hope and promise there. In those moss green pools, she saw love and understanding identical to her own for Liz. That moment, on the balcony of an abandoned lighthouse overlooking the mighty Atlantic Ocean, Jade experienced the moment of absolute clarity she'd been waiting for. She closed her eyes and slowly bowed her head, breathing deeply as she knelt before her mistress. The darkness that engulfed her as she waited was finally without fear or worry. There was no sadness or regret from the past nagging at her heart. The cool breeze tousling her hair was a loving caress, without annoyance or threat. She didn't know how long she waited, for time was an earthly convention that did not exist in this moment of complete surrender. The touch of cold steel against her warm flesh was as acute as a branding iron and no less permanent on her memory. When it was secured, soft hands wound around her neck, covering the sterling silver tubing. There was no obnoxious lock, no visible seam in the elegant choker. The continuity embodied the all encompassing nature of their bond, as well as their mutual commitment to a love without beginning or end. A love that had always been and would forever be. Eternal: At Arm's Length This part of Eternal owes a lot to Morpheus's The Day the World Changed, which takes the opposite view of some of the same ideas. Apparently, I'm not allowed to write the name of the site it's on, but you can find it by Googling the title and author. Also, with apologies to Atlus: This story has only one sex scene. Thank you for your understanding. However, it will be one bizarre, creative sex scene! Thank you for your understanding. Also also, as always, comments and criticism are welcome. By the fourth time the phone rang, Margaret wanted nothing more than to go to sleep. The invitations were long since sent out, the catering long since arranged, the chapel long since reserved, and the wedding was but a day away. "Mom, please stop calling me," she said into the receiver. "Whatever you're worried about now, I'm certain I've already--" The voice on the other end wasn't her mother. In fact, she wasn't sure who it was--one of Dan's friends, maybe? "This is Margaret, right? Dan's girl? Are you sitting down?" "Uh, yes. Why?" "I dunno. They just always ask that in the movies. Shit, what was I even thinking? I just--it seemed like it would be better if you didn't hear this from the police. Your number was in Dan's phone, and--well--Dan's dead." "Is this some kind of a joke?" Belatedly, Margaret checked the caller ID--it was indeed Dan's phone. "I--we--we wanted Dan to have one last good night while he was a free man, you know? He tried to tell us no, but we dragged him down to the Horny Rhino. We were all about to go home, and then those things came through the door--you've seen the news, haven't you? You've seen those things? Like spiders, giant spiders, but covered with knives--" "Why are you doing this? It isn't funny." "Screw you, lady. I just watched--I just watched . . ." He trailed off. "You think I'm trying to prank you? The world's falling apart. I don't have time to deal with your crap." She heard the sound of Dan's cell phone hitting a hard surface. Whoever had called her didn't pick it up again. It couldn't be true. Those things that were killing so many people in countries whose names she could barely pronounce couldn't have reached out their claws and taken Daniel Park. It was like he'd been kidnapped by pirates, or swept away by a monsoon. It couldn't be true. But if it was . . . Five minutes' drive brought her to Dan's apartment--her apartment, starting tomorrow. His car was gone, and his door was locked. Her key let her in, but as she entered his bedroom, she knew she wouldn't find him inside. She flopped down on the bed, incapable of moving further. A still-rational part of her brain rambled about guests to uninvite and cancellation fees to pay. She let it murmur in the background. It slowed the speed at which the room pitched and swayed. Gone. Gone. Gone . . . She didn't have the strength to cry, but it was a long, long time before sleep finally claimed her. Eternal: At Arm's Length From childhood to age eighteen, and twenty-two to the present day, Margaret had been a Christian when not sorely tempted, and repentant after each temptation. From eighteen to twenty-two, she'd practically been a demon herself, and this was why she said, "Hey, your dick feels like one of those rubber sex toys my roommate had in college!" It hardened in her hands, but it never reached true firmness, bending and stretching as she toyed with it. "I was afraid you might not take that well--" With one hand, she pulled it taut. With the other, she plucked it like a guitar string, sending vibrations along its length. He stopped speaking for a while. "That's enough," he finally said. "It's my turn to do something for you. If you'll lie back on the bed . . ." They arranged themselves in a sixty-nine position, and he moved his head between her legs. "Careful with the clit," she warned him. Margaret was very sensitive, and prolonged stimulation to her most tender spot was more than she could handle. Well, he didn't do anything to her clit, at least. His tongue tested the inside of her cleft, no more than an inch in. Then two inches. Then, after a long while, three. She almost screamed at him to move faster, but she was willing to give him his fun--she'd find out soon enough how deep he could go. And if he was taking his sweet time, she could take hers as well, giving his cock one single, slow lick, then another that was even slower . . . In time, he sped up, and she matched his pace, but he slowed again somewhere deep inside her. That far in, she pressed tighter against him--did he reach my cervix?, she wondered. Physically, there was little pleasure to be found there. Emotionally? The man she still loved had accepted the gift of her body, and was using it like no human ever could. She couldn't be more turned on as the tip of his tongue gently teased at her narrowest place. She wondered if, were they to do this for many nights, Dan could condition her cervix to open, and his tongue could reach inside her womb. (Probably not, but she'd tried dumber sexual experiments.) She couldn't do for him what he was doing for her, but she took his cock in her mouth as the pleasure washed over her. She tightened even harder around his tongue as she came, and as if in response, a strange, sweet fluid poured into her mouth. She savored the taste as she swallowed it up. You've drunk from me, and I've drunk from you, Dan's voice said in her head. If you want, we can seal a Contract. Then every time we do this, we'll feel it as one. I'm sorry, but I can't agree to that. And I'll need you out of me for the next thing I owe you. Dan sounded shocked. Perhaps he knew what was coming. Margaret, I-- This was the best night of my life. I wish it could last forever, but we both know it can't. Dan withdrew, of course. He wasn't the type to do otherwise. "Do you still think that I'm not really Dan?" he asked. "Dan, you asked me once if it bothered me that you and I were from different denominations. Do you remember what I said?" "You can ask for something from someone, but you can't ask everything. It would be nice if we went to the same church, or if I didn't snore, or if I was a millionaire, but I'm a good enough guy, even if I'm not perfect." "After all," Margaret finished, "if you were perfect, I wouldn't deserve you, because I'm not perfect, either. I know you're Dan, and I know you still love me. If I'm honest, I still love you, too. It's just a question of what we ask of each other." "Margaret, what do you want?" Dan didn't even sound angry, just . . . resigned. "I want to get married in a church--any church--without the pastor throwing us out. I want to go out to the movies, and to be allowed in with you. I want to be able to walk down the street without hearing whispers. I want to not have to decide between you and everyone else." Dan tried to speak again, but she cut him off. "And yes, I know we could go someplace far away, where no one would ever know you're a demon, but how would we live? You'd still have no legal identity that wasn't dead. Besides, this town is where I belong, and I won't give up my home and my friends, even for you." "Maybe we don't have to live together. Maybe I can just visit you when the night gets lonely." "Dan . . . I think I've found someone. His name's Tim Trenton, and he's a pastor at a small church not far from here. He's smart, and wise, and kind, and we haven't done anything yet, but I know we could." Now Dan was angry. "Two weeks? That's how long it took to replace me?" "Isn't there someone for you as well?" Margaret asked. "Some lovely demoness promising to do things with you that my body could never manage?" For what felt like an eternity, Dan stood silent. "Yes. There is." A shorter silence. "I'll go now." "I gave you my explanation, but I still owe you one more thing. The man I told you about, Pastor Trenton . . . watch out for him. He doesn't have much influence yet, but I know he'll be a great leader someday, and he's still deciding what he thinks about demons. It would be wise not to disappoint him." Dan only nodded in response. He left by the window, unable or unwilling to teleport in her presence. This time, when she flopped down on the bed, she had the strength to cry. Eternal Ch. 02 Hey everyone, sorry for the long wait. Thanks to lioness_queen for the editing and hope you enjoy. Don't forget to vote Chapter 2 Rohaynna skipped ahead of her parents to walk with Dantè. Not knowing that that was the reason he was walking ahead of everyone. Knowing that she had a tendency to run ahead. "I can't wait to see Simonè. Uncle, what about you? She asked. "Me either munchkin." Dantè replied pasting a smile on his face. He stopped walking placing a hand on her shoulder as he did. Waiting for his sister to step up beside him. Looking at her he spoke silently telling her that he would wait outside. She nodded and kept walking knowing that he wasn't ready to talk about whatever was bugging him. They reached Simonè's and found her waiting on her front porch. She became tense and frowned when she saw Dantè with them but remained silent. She silently told the Alpha's that she would tape her talk with Rohaynna to later be played for the rest of the Elders. This way Rohaynna would feel at ease and relaxed. "Rohaynna how about you and I stay out here while everyone else went and had a coffee? Do you mind talking out here on the swing?" Simonè asked as she crouched down to meet her eyes. "Swing, swing Yeah I wanna stay out here can I can I please please?" she pleaded with her parents. "Of course but you mind Simonè and answer any questions that she may have." Rosa replied. Then went into the house with her husband as her brother turned and walked off. Knowing that he wouldn't be far enough away that he couldn't get to Rohaynna before anything could happen. "So sweetie, can you come sit with me and tell me what you told your Mama and Da this morning?"Simonè patted the seat next to her on the swing. "Yup are you gonna ask me lots and lots of questions, cause I get to go for ice cream after so I gotta hurry." She stated as she climbed onto the swing. "Well I won't know until I listen to your story but your such a good story teller I don't think you'll leave out anything so it probably won't take long at all. Okay" "Kay where do you want me to start?" "Were ever you want it's your story." "After I fell asleep I was playing with my dream friend like always, I was trying to make him smile and laugh because he hasn't been very happy the last couple days and I can always make him happy. We was playing solders in his room when his Da came in and started to yell at him. When he stood up like his Da said to he hit him and just kept hitting him over and over. I tried to tell him to stop but it hurt too much when he hit us. Then he just stopped and left and we crawled under his bed and then I told him to grab tight to my hands that I'd make the pain go away. I healed us and it did then I woke up this morning with Da and Mama in their room. I asked them why his Da would hurt him and they said that sometimes some mommies and daddies do that they just hurt their kids for no reason." She finished in a whisper. "I know sweetie it's sad and makes no sense does it? Can I ask a few questions now?" She watched for her nod and then asked what she thought was the most important question. "Do you know what his name is?" Simonè asked. "No I don't know is name we never asked each other. We just call each other our dream friend. Do you think that I should ask him tonight when we're playing?" She asked looking up at Simonè. "Well I think that it would be a good idea but it's up to you." "K, I don't know if he'll like that he's very quiet he only talks about his Mama never ever his Da. But I think its cause his Da is always yelling and carrying around a glass bottle with light brown juice in it. But I'm ganna ask him any way cause it would be nice to know." She nodded as she spoke. "I agree I think it would be nice for you to be able to refer to him by name. Have you ever heard anything about where he lives' or had he spoken about it?" "All I know is its in America somewhere but he's never said where. I know that when I've looked out his bedroom window there's lots of open fields with cows and horses." "Okay, now Rohaynna I need to ask you a very serious and important question. You won't get in trouble but we need to know. Does he know that you're a Loup-Guru?" Simonè watching asked quietly. She was Rohaynna as she asked the question knowing the answer by the look on her face. "Yes." She responded very quietly. "I told him by accident when he were play Zoo keeper. When I told him he just kinda looked at me then shrugged and said he wished he was." "I asked him why but he wouldn't tell me." Rohaynna was crying by the time she finished answering. Simonè pulled her onto her lap and using her foot she began to gently rock the swing. Reassuring her she was not in any trouble. Knowing that she would take the punishment if they wouldn't take the situation into consideration. She also knew that the Elders would listen to the tape and feel the same way she did, so she hoped there would be no punishment. The conversation had taken over 2 hours so the combination of the rocking and the crying put Rohaynna to sleep. Simonè silently called the Alpha's to let them know that she was done and that Rohaynna was asleep. Within minutes they walked out the door, Padrick carefully took Rohaynna into his arms. Whispering a quiet goodbye to Simonè they left. As they walked toward their own home Dantè silently walked up to them. He waited until they reached the house. As Padrick took the little girl to her room he followed his sister into the family room. "So what happened?" He asked sitting down. "I'm not sure Simonè has to speak to the other Elders first. She's not sure exactly what is going on. So we'll have to wait. On another topic what is bugging you?" She asked looking at him. "What do you mean?" He responded looking away. "Well how about the facts that you wouldn't even look at Simonè let alone speak to her. Come on Dantè talk to me what's going on?" she spoke softly to him forcing him to look at her. As she looked at him she could see the pain in his eyes. "Talk to me, please." Sighing he stood and walked to the large window as he spoke "Simonè is my mate but she refuses to be my mate. You know what will happen to me if we go unmated for an extended period of time. I don't know how long I can control my wolf sis, he wants her. If I continue to deny him I will either attempt to force her or I'll go feral. What the hell am I suppose to do?" "Give her some more time she will mate with you I know that but I think that she is just scared about what that will mean for her as an Elder because no other Elder has ever been mated before. Not that they don't or didn't want to be; it's just none ever found their mate in this life. It is sad really I think that they would have been even stronger had some of them been mated but they will have to wait for the next life. Just don't give up she will come around and if you start to feel like you need to you can always go see the cousins for a while to get you away from the temptation." Rosa replied softly but confidently. "How about we wait to see what the rest of the elders say and if the little munchkin isn't in any kind of danger I go visit the cousins and drive them crazy for a little while. I refuse to leave my niece in the hands of anyone but myself if she's in danger. If there's no threat then a few of the other trained guards are Beta's and they can watch her." He stated looking over at her from where he now stood by the window. "I have complete confidence in them, of course they were all trained by you and hand pick by you as well so there was never any doubt." She said chuckling. She looked up as Padrick walked into the room. "She fell asleep, thankfully. I will be glad when we know what is going on. Although we may have another problem; she confessed that she told her dream friend that she was Loup Guru. So on top of everything else she's scared we're all going to get into trouble because she told. Even as Alpha I don't know what punishment they would deal out, but then they maybe mare lax because she is just a child not to mention that she's the Alpha's child." He said with a grin and laughed lightly. "We all know that Simonè won't let anything happen to her. "Yes I know Padrick but that doesn't stop a mother from worrying so you just be quiet you. "She responded pertly. Getting up and going into the kitchen as she reminded Padrick, "Don't forget you still have to take her for ice cream." He chuckled to himself as turned to look at his Beta. "So you will be leaving us for a few weeks I am told, when did you want to leave?" "Like you really don't know what I said." Dantè said with a knowing smile. "I said that I wait and see and I will but if it's all clear I think I will head over there for awhile if you wouldn't mind. Maybe you could call Michael now and give him a heads up that he'll have company." "Sure can but you know he won't have any problem with it and neither will a few certain Beta's that we know. Just take it easy on the ones that want you to show them to fight. We don't need any injuries like last time." Padrick said trying to keep a straight face. He gave up as Dantè burst out laughing. "How is it my fault that idiot decided that he could best me, he challenged me not the other way around. I would have had more sense than that, besides he's the one that wouldn't yield I didn't hurt him.... Much." Dantè replied still chuckling. "Anyway I'm gonna head home if the munchkin is out for awhile, call me when you need me. Keep me posted on what happens while she sleeps too that way I'll know. Do we have any idea on how long the elders will take finding answers?" He asked Padrick. "Okay sounds good with all of us knowing what she's dreaming we might be able to get her to talk about it some more. As for the elders you know as well as I do that it's only when they decide to tell us anything that we'll actually have any answers." Padrick said with a sigh "Go ahead home I'll let you know if anything changes, take a break for the afternoon don't worry about us. I don't think that we'll be going for ice cream until after supper this evening." "Okay I'll see you then, if that change just let me know. Tell sis I said bye." He said as he left the room. He sighed as he walked to his house thinking about the trip that he knew he would be taking. He just didn't have the heart to tell his sister that he wouldn't be coming back in a few weeks. That he would be living with their cousins Pack after he left. He accepted that. Padrick would still be his alpha but he would work for both him and Michael. Michael would let him stay just so he could train his men the way he had trained Padrick's. Leaving Rohaynna was going to hurt he knew that but he knew that pain didn't even compare to the pain he was going to be in when he left his mate for good. The pain would dull after awhile because the distance between them would be large but he knew in his heart that the pain would never go away. Simonè was his mate but he really and truly loved her, he had since he was a pup but was always gone. It has only been since Rohaynna's birth that he's been around. At that time Simonè wasn't she was off doing her own training and had only been back for 6 months. He sighed again as we walked into his house and down to his training room to work off his frustration. Eternal Ch. 02 These chapters will be far darker than the first one, to the extent that they may turn off the casual reader. But this story does require the original "Eternal," even if "Eternal" doesn't require it. If I've written it properly, the ending it will reach will still fit with the spirit of that work, and be more powerful for it. (If I've botched it up, of course, feel free to tell me so--I would greatly appreciate comments and criticism.) Eternal Ch. 03 It was just over a week later when they heard a car come screaming up the driveway to the alpha's house. "Everyone inside NOW." Dantè yelled towards the house where Rose and her daughter were playing. Not even turning, just listening for the sound of the door closing, he changed to his Loup- Guru form. He slowly started to stalk to the car when the back door opened and two young Omega women came tumbling out. "Wait, please," one said as they both fell to the ground and bared their throats to him. "We need help we bring a message to Padrick, it's an emergency. Please, Michael sent us," finished the blonde. At that Dantè relaxed a little and told them to rise and follow him but that the male had to stay outside. He led the way into the house towards Padrick's office, only to find him already headed towards them. "Dantè, what the hell's going on?" he demanded. "I don't know Alpha. I only know that these two wish to speak to you. They say they are from Michael and I do smell him on them," he replied calmly "Well, come then. Tell me what has you driving like that and what has him so worried that he must send Omegas to me instead of any of his Betas," Padrick led the way back into his office and directed them to sit down. "That is why we are here Alpha. Our Alpha is in need of your help. Three of his five Betas have been killed and the remaining two are trying to help with the families that were left behind," the blonde stated quietly as silent tears ran down both their faces. The gasp that that statement brought was from all adults in the room. "WHAT! How did this happen? Start at the beginning and leave nothing out," he said, his voice gruff. He was worried that it was one of his brothers or his wife's younger brother. "We had 2 cars going to our new factory for the last inspection. There was some type of collision and a tractor trailer collided with the SUVs the Beta's where in. The injuries would have healed but they all died at the scene. The impact caused an explosion and both cars were destroyed," she finished quietly. "Who? Who else was killed?" Rosa asked softly. "Please, my lady. I'm so sorry but it was Bram Rhys," she paused as she heard the cry and the shout of denial that came from Rosa and Dantè. "The others that were killed, Alphas, were Grey McCormick and Marcus O'Conner," she paused as the Alphas seemed to crumble right in front of them. "Alphas, I'm afraid there's more and this is why Michael had us rush here." "GOD! What more could it be? How could this have happened? What else is it? Just say it so we can begin the funeral rites," Padrick said sadly. He was holding his crying mate on his lap, trying to calm her as he himself cried. "They all had their mates with them my lord," she said with a sigh "The children," Rosa gasped. "Oh Padrick what about the little boys?" That was all she got out before she broke down completely. "That's why we were sent. We can't get them to leave their homes. They are convinced that their parents will be angry with them if they do. Michael thinks that it's best that one of you comes to help them through this." "Dantè can you..." "Of course Padrick you know I will," Dantè interrupted, trying to calm his own tears at the loss of his little brother. "You will go as planned but you will stay long enough to help them understand. Then bring them home to Rosa and me. They will be raised here by us. Then you may go back," Padrick stated. "Of course, Alpha. I'll be ready to leave within the hour," he replied. Burying his grief to be dealt with later, he turned and left the house, concentrating on everything that he would need to do before he left. He also knew that after he dropped the boys off he would be leaving again the same day. He would have to leave a letter for Simonè. What he wanted didn't matter right now, only the three young boys did. At his house he got what he needed and quickly wrote the letter. As promised, he left with the members of Michael's pack, saying he'd see them at the funeral pyre in 2 days. Rosa and Padrick walked slowly back into the house to tell Rohaynna what had happened, and that her cousins would be living with them from now on. Hours later Rosa spoke to Padrick in their room. "We can't take her with us Padrick. Look at how long it took us to calm her down, and she doesn't even fully understand what we were telling her. She's just too young." "I know Rosa. The question is, would she be helping the boys by being there? Or would it be just that much harder to focus on them while we're there? Would it be better if we left her here? What about what happened the other night? What if she gets upset and thinks that we're not coming home either? I just don't know." He sighed. "What if we gave her the job of getting the boys' rooms ready for them? That would keep her busy, distracted. Maybe she won't worry so much then. What do you think?" "That might work, but you know that we can't just leave her with the guards. Maybe the Elders would stay with her. She would have to have a large number of guards. You know the risks." "We lost Rohan. I will not lose her too," Rosa responded with a sigh as she thought about her son. Padrick nodded and picked up the phone and spoke to Simonè, making the necessary arrangements. He then spoke to the guards. They left the next morning after spending time with Rohaynna and telling her that they needed her to stay there and get her cousins' bedrooms ready for them. "Know what auntie?" Rohaynna asked. "What sweetie?" "Well I was thinking if I was sad as them I wouldn't want to be all by myself, so maybe they should all be in the same room, huh?" "I think that the boys would really like that. But the rooms are just too small to hold all three in the same room," she replied. Giggling as she spoke Rohaynna said, "Not my room. It's lots big enough cause my play room is there too, auntie." "Are you sure sweetie? You don't have to do that you know," Simonè stated. "They'll be sad and scared, though. And they gotsta move here and leave all their friends and everything. This room's the biggest and my stuff can go in two rooms, that's all," She replied and started to walk away. " 'Mon Auntie. We gotta get some help cause we not strong enough to do it all bys our self," she yelled as she ran down the stairs. Simonè laughed, shaking her head as she followed. For the next two days they, along with some other pack members, emptied out two rooms and moved all of her things into them before listening to her give the orders about where everything should go. By the time her parents were home, the room could now hold all three boys with room for the things they brought with them. Hearing the car coming, she ran down the stairs yelling, "They're home Auntie!" "Rohaynna, you have to stay inside!" Stated the guard posted at the door. Smiling as he watched her bouncing with excitement to show that she had done what she was told. He was silently thinking that it was sad that she really didn't understand what had happened, that it would take her cousins along time to truly happy again. Walking over to her on the stairs the guard picked her up and looking at her stated, "If anyone can make those boys feel better Rohaynna, it's you." He chuckled at her answer of "Yup. Me me me." She wiggled to get down when she heard her parent's footsteps. As they walked into the house she said, "Mamma, Da. Come see, come see." "Rohaynna, calm down sweetie. What do you want us to see?" Rosa asked, looking down at her daughter. "You just gotta come see," and with that she ran back upstairs leaving them to follow after her. She stopped and waited outside her bedroom door. She could hear the murmur of her parents talking to the guard and Simonè. She sat on the floor knowing that they were going to be a few minutes. As she waited she thought to what her dream friend had told her last night. She sighed, remembering. **** "How come you're so quiet tonight, don't you want to play?" He asked "Yeah, I wanna play but my ma and Da told me something sad today. That's all," she replied. "Tell me maybe I can help." "They told me that my cousins are moving in with us cause their moms and dads got killed in a real bad accident. That they're all by themselves now 'cept for us. What did they mean? Everybody's gots moms and dads." "I know what they mean," he said. "It means that their parents died. That no matter how much they want them to come home they can't, cause they went to heaven. All you need to know is that they are going to be even sadder than you are right now. Think about how you'd feel if you knew that your parents were never going to come home again." "No I don't wanna do that! It hurts my chest. I just wanna know how to make them feel better," she said sadly. "Like I do with you when I make all the bruises go away. Can't I make it go away like that?" "Not really; it's not the same. I watched this show on TV were the boy's dad died and everyone kept telling him they were sorry and doing everything for him. But when he talked and went to see his friends after, they said they were sorry too but they just went back to playing with him. After a little while he started to get a little happier." "So I gotta say sorry then just play likes I always did with them and that will make them feel better?" "I don't know but that's what they showed on the movie, so I guess so. Makes no sense to me either." "Sorry and play. I can do that. Easy. I'm sleepy can I lay down with you?" "Yup. Come on, we'll lay here then we'll play, kay?" **** She wished she could make the bad feelings for her cousins go away. Since she couldn't, she would do exactly what her dream friend told her. She'd say sorry then play with them. It just didn't make any sense but she would try cause she wanted her cousins to be happy living here. She looked up as her parents stopped in front of her. She stood up as her Da crouched to look at her. "How you doing sweetie?" he asked softly. "Kay. My dream friend said to say sorry then play with my cousins. That would make them feel better. Will it Da?" "Well I think he might be right," he said looking over at Rosa. "Now what did you want to show us?" "Well I thought about how sad the boys were gonna be and how they'd probly want to be together. Cause if it was me I wouldn't want to be all by myself. So.....They gotta share a room," she answered. "Honey, that's a really good idea but all the rooms are just way too small. So for the time being they'll have to have separate rooms until we can get a bigger one built for them," Padrick told her gently. "Yup so I gived them this," she said as she opened the door to her old room. Her parents walked in and looked around. Taking in all the changes that she had pushed for while they were gone. The pink and purple walls were now blue. All the beds lined the one wall next to each other with small tables between each, with the dressers along the wall under the window leaving the rest of the room open for them to put the things they were bringing. "Rohaynna you didn't have to do this but I think it will mean a lot to them that you were willing to give them your space so that they could comfort each other. It looks great they'll have lots of room. Were did you put all your stuff?" asked Rosa. "My bed and dresser is in the room by yours and all my toys are in the room right next to that. Is that okay?" She asked looking up at them. "Well I think you did a great job sweetie. The boys will love it. They will be here in a couple more days; and I agree with your dream friend I think you should just play like always with them," stated Rosa "Ut Oh! I forgot to ask my dream friend what his name was. Auntie Simonè asked me to. Hope she won't get mad," Rohaynna said. "She won't be mad silly," her mom replied. "Kay. Can I go play now mama?" "Go ahead. But remember you have your lessons today." Reminded Rosa as Rohaynna walked into her new playroom. +++++++ After spending two weeks with his nephews at their homes getting them ready to move, Dantè was on his way back to his pack when he felt his sister trying to contact him. "What's up sis?" "Can you explain to the boys what's been going on with Rohaynna please? The screaming and the bruising have happened five more times while you have been gone. The Elders left the day after we got back to look at the old scrolls but haven't come back yet." "What about Simonè? Is she there?" "I'm sorry brother. She left last night to join them." "Did she know that I would be home today?" "Yes, she was here while we told Rohaynna," She felt his pain and sigh through their sibling connection. "Well then I guess I'll have a decision to make by the time I get home. We'll be there in about two hour's sis. Bye." With that he broke the connection. He spent the next hour thinking about all that had happened with Simonè. Knowing that she was his mate and having her deny it was hurting him more than anything he had ever felt. Knowing that she'd left when she knew he would be home the following day just ripped his heart out. He knew that if he stayed that he would go feral being around her but unable to claim her. With a sigh he knew what he would have to do. "Guys listen up; we have a situation at the house." "What's up Uncle Dantè?" asked Tristian. "Here's what I know so far. Your cousin has what she calls a dream friend that she plays with. But about two weeks ago she woke screaming in the middle of the night covered in bruises. But when she got up in the morning they were gone." "What happened?" whispered Christian "Well that's part of the problem we don't know yet. Your aunt just told me that it happened again a number of times while I was gone. So I need you to do something for me." "What Uncle Dantè?" "I want you guys to keep an eye on her for me and if you see anything strange, let me know. Okay?" "Sure," they said looking at each other. He smiled at the glimmer in their eyes. He was glad because it was the first time he had seen it since before the accident. This might be just what they need to help them threw this. The rest of the ride went by quietly and Dantè was pulling up right on time. As he pulled up to the house he saw the boys sit up a little at the sight of their tiny cousin. "You boys ready?" "I guess." "Okay, here we go." Dantè watched as the normally happy bubbly Rohaynna slowly and solemnly walked off the front porch to meet the boys. "I'm sorry about your mamas and Da's," she whispered. "Thanks Rohaynna," Sabienè said for all of them. "Mama said to take you to your room." "Room as in one?" Christian asked sounding hopeful. "Yup, cause I was thinkin ifs it was me that losted my mama and Da, I wouldn't wanna be bys my self," She stated. "Is that okay?" she asked quietly, thinking that they might not have wanted that after all. "That's awesome Roh, thanks," responded Tristian speaking for them all. As they followed her upstairs. They looked at each other not knowing what to do when she stopped in front of her pink door. "Sorry for the door I's forgot to get it painted too," she said as she opened the door. She smiled to herself when she turned to look at the boys. They just stared, not moving. It wasn't until they heard their uncles coming behind them and nudging them into the room that they moved. "WOW, this is great," Sabienè stated. He moved out of the way as some Omegas brought all their stuff into the room. They didn't notice Rohaynna leave as they bounced on the beds. "So what do you think boys?" Padrick asked as he walked over to the beds and set a small box down between two of them. "This is great. Thanks Uncle Padrick." "I had nothing to do with this. It was all your cousin's idea. She had all this done by the time we got back from the funeral pyre," he finished saying. "WHAT! She gave us her room, but why?" Christian asked looking at his uncle. "Duh! She already told us why," Tristian said, smacking his twin on the arm. "Yeah. She didn't want us to be all alone," Sabienè said quietly looking around the room then at the door. "Where'd she go uncle?" he asked when he didn't see her anywhere. "Probably to her room; or the playroom across the hall. But guys listen. I know that Dantè gave you a quick idea of what's going on." He continued after he saw them nod, "But it's very hard for her right now too. We don't know what's happening to her, and with the loss of your parents she just doesn't understand. Plus she's scared. Don't be surprised if she pretends that nothing has changed okay?" "Okay, Uncle." "Another thing, you need to be prepared for her screaming for no reason in the middle of the night. That will scare you but you need to stay in here and let her mom and I deal with it. You guys just play with her the same way you always have. Okay?" he said quietly, patting himself on the back for coming up with a way to distract them from their grief "Okay, Uncle not a problem. Can we go see her now?" asked Sabienè as the twins nodded. "Go ahead, I have to meet with your Uncle anyway." As Padrick walked out he saw the boys walk into the open playroom. He could hear the giggling as he headed to the stairs. "Padrick come quickly," said Rosa through their connection "Where are you love?" "Dante's. Hurry! He's packing to leave." "Honey we knew that already" "NO, for good. He's not planning on coming back" "WHAT!" Padrick stalked the rest of the way to Dante's cabin, knowing that the guards and Omegas around the house would watch the kids. He was thankful for having the forethought to have Dantè build within sight of the main house. "What the hell is going on here?" Padrick demanded as he walked in. "Come in Padrick. I wanted to talk to both of you before I talked to the kids. Especially Rohaynna." With a defeated sigh Dantè sat on the opposite couch and began to talk. "Okay, yes, I'm going to move to Michael's pack land for now. I don't know if I'll stay there or not." "Why Dantè? What's going on?" "You both know that my wolf thinks that Simonè is my mate. She, however, has said no time and again. Her leaving last night was the final straw. If I remain here I will either force her or go feral, both of which will mean my death," he said flatly. "Dantè, give her some time she'll come around," Rosa pleaded with her brother. "No Rosa, I can't. What you guys don't know is that she has known for two years that she was my mate. I told her before she left for her training. I told her I would wait. She just said no." "What? She never told me that," Rosa said, shocked that her friend wouldn't tell her something like that. Dantè was quiet for a moment watching the Omegas take the boxes they'd packed from his study and bedroom to the SUV in the garage. With a sigh he continued. "The Sanctuary is far enough away that connections are broken until they leave right?" Padrick nodded in confirmation. "I thought so. I have severed my connection with Simonè. I'll be having one of Michael's Elders dissolve the trace to make certain of it." Rosa rushed to her brother and climbed onto his lap to hold him, knowing that the final step would cause him and his wolf a lot of pain. "Are you sure you want to do this Dantè?" "What choice do I have? She doesn't want me," he said bitterly. "I refuse to be put to death because of her. I will keep my connections to you two, and to the kids but no one else will be able to connect with me mentally once I leave here. I also refuse to stay unmated and without pups. I may not be able to have my true mate but that doesn't mean that I can't be happy with someone else who will care about me." Eternal Ch. 03 This chapter's even squickier than the last one, so consider yourself warned. (I swear this is going somewhere artsy, but it might take a while to get there.) * Picture, if you will, two men standing at the foot of a sand dune, facing each other as they argued. The one wearing a sport coat and tie had the appearance of middle age, complete with a balding head, a slight paunch, and--at the moment--a look of displeasure. "Why aren't we killing something?" His compatriot was taller and leaner, somewhat handsome in a muscular way. He didn't seem to mind or notice that he was naked to the cold. "Don't blame me for this, Belial. Judith's finding a replacement for the tempter who died in the last raid. You know how long she takes to decide on these things." "So she leaves us behind here, with nothing to drink and nothing to fight? I hate the cold, I hate the sand, and I hate the boredom! You both owe me for this, Marlowe!" "We've been over this before." As always, Marlowe's voice was neutral. "All three of us are pretty low on the totem pole, as far as greater demons are concerned. There are two reasons we've been assigned to cause havoc in America. The one we were given was that if we wreck enough shit, and cause a big enough distraction, we'll keep the U.S. army from going overseas and wrecking our shit in the African offensive. The one we weren't given was that they want the army to catch us, and they want us to find out the hard way whether your sword spiders can survive getting hit with tank shells. I'm not leaving this dimension without Judith on backup, and you're not leaving without me." "So why'd you let Judith go on her own, huh? Huh?" "Judith's fucking nuts, that's why. I couldn't stop her if I tried." Their respective squadrons stood silent and unoccupied, sword spiders and devourers alike pacing and fidgeting. At that moment, the sword spider who will be most important to this story could have been thinking about how Belial and Marlowe's names perfectly symbolized the sort of people they were. Belial was the eighth demon to be known by his name, having killed the seventh to claim it. Marlowe had possessed a vaguely infernal name when human, and had decided to keep it in demonhood out of sheer practicality. The sword spider could have thought that their names implied everything from their emotional affinities to their battle strategies. He could have. But instead, he was thinking of a sword spider named Grace, and of how much he wanted to get laid. Not that Randall could get laid, in the traditional sense of the word--he had no genitals left to him, not even in the form of the blades at the ends of his tongue and his eight limbs. But his passions remained, even without their normal vent, and he'd buttered Grace up until she'd let him play with her body. Together, they'd done things with their blades that once would have appalled him, reveling in the pain that was the closest they could come to pleasure . . . "Randall!" Belial bellowed. Randall's memories were few and precious, but among them was a name that never failed to make Belial flush red. What is it, Bobby? he called out along the link that connected them. As always, Belial said nothing about the name. "Didn't you hear that popping sound?" he asked. "Judith's back! She's on the other side of the dune--go over and ask her what took her so long!" Randall knew the terms of his Contract as well as any lesser demon, and he could only dream of violating it. He obeyed his orders. -- -- -- -- Judith stood alone, her entourage presumably elsewhere. "Ah, one of Belial's men. Good to see you." Randall tilted his head quizzically at that. He was unused to anyone wanting to see anything related to Belial. The gleam in Judith's eyes was unusually bright, and she seemed to be in high spirits. "Perhaps that surprises you, but if God couldn't act through sinners, He wouldn't be able to act through anyone. All of us have committed crimes against Him, and all of us deserve to be punished. I can't resent someone who's paying for his sins, just like me." With no Contract connecting him directly or indirectly to Judith, Randall wasn't quite certain how to communicate with her. For lack of a better idea, he began the slow and tedious process of writing letters in the sand. BELIAL--how did "wants" begin? It had been so long since he'd last been allowed to read anything. "Let me guess. He's complaining about how long I took." Randall nodded. "Watch and learn, my friend, and you'll see why I take my time. My quarry this time was a common prostitute, but she had impressive strength of will. She may even pass my test--and if she fails, she'll be a powerful warrior." Randall was under no obligation to obey. It was as much out of morbid curiosity as duty that he watched Judith close her eyes and concentrate. A human form began to take shape beside her, a soul reconstituted based on its own image of what it should look like. This one was beautiful--almost as beautiful as Judith. The strong ones often were, shaped by their memories of their younger days. She opened her eyes to see Randall in front of her, but though she stared in horror, she did not recoil. "Welcome to Hell, my dear," Judith told her. "Know that you are loved." "YOU!" the girl shouted. "What the hell are you? What did you do to me?" "I strangled you, of course. Nothing more than what you've earned from your sins--don't argue with me; I've heard it too many times already." The girl's legs spread as her mouth snapped shut. "Greater demons all have a power, and mine is to make people stand still and stop talking. It's not as impressive as killing with a thought, but it's useful for handling people like you. " The girl snapped free almost long enough to slap Judith, her hand halting an inch from Judith's face before she returned to her position. "If you hate demons like me, there may still be good in you after all. I'll give you one last test. Pass it, and I'll let you die in truth, to pass on to the Heaven my own sins have denied me. I trust that you are ready?" Randall stared wide-eyed as Judith dropped to her knees and licked between the girl's legs. The girl was silent, still struggling to open her mouth, but there was pleasure in her eyes as well as fear. "I took the liberty of strengthening your sensations down there," Judith told her. "Better than anything you've felt before, isn't it? It's the ultimate temptation." From the sand beside her, she lifted a long metal bar, spiked at one end. "Actually, this is the ultimate temptation. I found it long ago, and it's served me well in my tests." Perhaps Randall could have closed his eyes, as Judith began to fit the bar up the girl's pussy, but the thought never occurred to him--and in any event, he had no way to cover his ears. "The more you enjoy the thickness inside you, the more of a demon you'll become. Transform slowly enough, and the new passage won't form in time--the spike will puncture your intestines or your stomach, and you'll die a true death. Transform too quickly, and you'll be bound to my Contract." The girl's pelvis stretched like it was made of rubber, distorting itself around the bar till Randall doubted she could remain upright without it. Judith fed the bar deeper and deeper inside her, past anything a human could bear, and she bucked and rocked atop it, deaf to the world. She shivered, no longer fully bound, even as her body began to melt and flow like wax. She put one hand to her cunt-- Her claws scraped her flesh, and she screamed. "Fight it!" Judith shouted. "There must be a Heaven, though I have never seen it. Reject the pleasure, and prove you're better than me!" Judith continued to push the bar in, and for a moment, Randall thought the girl would actually die. But in a few moments, she screamed in a different tone as her tail caressed where the bar entered her body. She went silent as the spike passed through what had been her esophagus, and her neck arched back as it pushed her mouth open, filling her from one end to the other. "Well that was disappointing," Judith sighed, as the new tempter writhed on the spike, grotesquely distorted by its shape. "It seems I misjudged you, for I seldom see anyone put up so weak a fight. Allow me to teach you the first of your lessons in my care." The demoness suddenly stiffened, then began to run, trying to escape from sight. With the pole still inside her, she didn't quite make it over the next sand dune. "I could have dissolved her unnecessary organs," Judith told Randall, "but it's more instructive if I let her lose them out the unoccupied orifice. She'll always remember this as the wages of sin. Oh, and do tell Belial about this--especially if you can draw me a picture of the look on his face." By all rights, Randall should not have been shocked by this display. Belial had made many tempters of both genders, and he'd dispatched them as soon as they'd finished pleasuring him. True, his methods were less brutal, but only from a lack of imagination. As for the mingling of pain and pleasure, that was something a sword spider was intimately familiar with. Nonetheless, Randall could not help but reflect that for the moment, he'd lost interest in getting laid. Eternal Ch. 03 "Be careful Dantè. You don't want to make things worse." "How? By trying to find some happiness? I'm not going to go out and jump into anything, but if I can find someone I can be happy with then I will mate with her." he said. "I'm sorry if that makes you sad, sister, but I'm getting tired of being alone. Bram and Marcus' deaths showed me that life, even ours, can be cut short. Simonè's last rejection shows me that she just doesn't care." he said ending the conversation. He called the kids to his cabin to say goodbye. The Omegas came in and told him that the last of his stuff had been loaded into the SUV. They turned to leave after giving him the keys. "Thanks for all your help guys," he said. "Your welcome," they responded as they continued to head toward the front door. "Wait!" Dantè called. He spoke to Padrick quickly through their connection. With a nod of his head Padrick spoke to everyone in the room. NO ONE IN THIS ROOM WILL TELL ANYONE THAT DANTÈ HAS LEFT FOR GOOD. IF ELDER SIMONÈ ASKS YOU KNOW NOTHING THAT IS AN ORDER. UNDERSTOOD?" The Omegas left with a nod of their heads and a "Yes Alpha" As the kids walked into the room Padrick turned to Rosa "That means you too, Rosa. No exceptions. It's up to Dantè to decide, not us," Rosa sighed but bowed her head and said "Yes Alpha." Knowing that even as his mate she could do nothing to break his command as Alpha Dantè turned to the kids and slowly explained that he was leaving and that he was leaving to go live with Michael's pack. As he had expected Rohaynna started to cry, so he held her as he finished telling them. A tearful Rohaynna spoke quietly saying "It's cause Auntie won't mate with you right?" "How do you know that?" Dantè asked "Cause I sawed the pink squiggly stuffs" "What do you mean sweetie?" asked Rosa puzzled. "Just like you and Da, and some of the other mates, there's squiggly pink stuff," she said with a shrug. Dantè chose to drop it and let her parents figure it out. "Yes, that's part of it. When someone we love doesn't want us, it hurts a lot and sometimes the only thing to do is to leave. Okay?" At her nod he continued, "You can connect with me at anytime though. I love you guys," Dantè said and he left. Padrick looked at all the solemn faces and said that it would be okay. As they all left Padrick gave them the same order that he had to the Omegas knowing that nothing would break an Alpha's command. Eternal Ch. 04 Hey everyone, sorry for the huge wait. I'll try to keep them shorter. But as everyone knows Life happens especially when there are kids in the picture. A big thanks to Lioness_Queen for her amazing editing skills. Remember don't forget to vote and comment Thanks gaelicvampire Padrick was sitting in his office trying to find a way to order Simonè to mate with Dantè; with a sigh he closed the last Were Law book. He knew when he started looking hours ago that he'd find nothing but he still had to try. Dantè has been his best friend for far longer than he'd been his brother. He still couldn't believe that he'd really left. He felt the loss greatly, both as his Alpha and his brother. He just wished he could help him the same way that Dantè had help him with his Rosa. Chuckling lightly as he remembered how Rosa had played hard to get wanting him to prove himself. Not as an Alpha but as a mate. Thankfully though she had never denied that they were mates. 7 years ago "Dantè man come on you have to help me. I know its weird being that I'm your friend, but my wolf wants Rosa. I know that she's your sister but you gotta help me. I told her she would be my mate and what did she do but laugh at me and walked away!" Padrick paced as he talked to his best friend. Dantè started to laugh as he watched his buddy and laughed even harder at the black look he got. "Are you done now?" As the look got even blacker he fell off the couch he was laughing so hard. "Glad I can give you such a good laugh." Padrick glowered at him, "I'm Alpha for crying out loud why doesn't she want to be my mate?" "Women" Having finally gotten himself under control Dantè walked over to Padrick and made him sit. "Have you heard yourself Padrick? I'm Alpha; I told her she'll be my mate. You didn't at any point ask her what she wanted you just told her what you wanted." Dantè said as he watched Padrick cover his face with his hands as he groaned. "Don't worry my man I'll help you dig yourself out of the hole you're now sitting in." "What would you suggest I do then?" asked Padrick with a small sigh. "Go to my father and ask his permission to mate her. You and I both know he'll grant the request. Then you have nothing to worry about, she'll have to agree to mate with you." Dantè finished. "Perfect. I'll go see him now" Padrick said jumping to his feet and rushing out the door yelling "Thanks" as he went. 1hour later "Come in Alpha. What can I do for you?" Asked Hugh Rys leading the way into his office. "Well sir I'd like to talk to you about Rosa." He stated. Padrick was so focused on thinking about what to say that he failed to notice the petite female sitting in the high back chair that face the fire place across the room. Hugh quickly glanced over to where his only beloved daughter was sitting quietly. As a pack Beta he knew that he should inform the visiting Alpha of her presence but as a father he felt that she had a right to know what was going on when she would be involved. Silently thanking his mate for teaching him how to be a beloved mate over a stern Beta. He knew that he was the only Beta that would even consider the female present let alone allow her the finale say in the decision. "What happened Alpha has she offended you in some way?" he really hoped not but then she was just as outspoken as her mother. "She will be punished if she has I assure you." "WHAT! No it's nothing like that at all." Padrick cleared his throat. "I'd like your permission to mate with her." He stated "Wait please until I'm finished" he said as he saw Hugh open his mouth to speak "Sorry Alpha" Padrick waved his hand as he spoke "Enough with this Alpha bit, Padrick is fine. Anyway as I was saying I'd like to mate with Rosa and as Dantè pointed out she would have to mate with me if you agreed to the mating. So before I continue I'd like you to answer me honestly and know that the response stays in this room. If that's alright with you?" "Of course Padrick what would you like to ask?" "I'd like to know if you'd approve a mating between Rosa and I? Before you answer know that whatever it is I won't hold you to it or against you." "Okay that being said then I'd honestly have to say yes I'd approve the mating. But why would you not hold me to that answer and mate with my daughter?" Hugh asked curiously. With a sigh Padrick spoke "Honestly, I spoke to Dantè and as I did he pointed out that I was being an arrogant Alpha as Dantè so nicely put it. I told her she would be my mate. When I should have asked her if she wanted to be my mate. I will not have her forced to mate with me." "It is your right as Alpha to force this you know that." stated Hugh watching him "The thing is that my mother and a number of females in my pack were forced to mate. I saw the pain it caused when they came across their true mates. In a few of the luckier cases the males found theirs also and released them to their true mate. My mother wasn't so lucky. My father forced her to stay and even refused his own true mate." "Why would he do this; all any Were wants is to find their true mate, he would have know that." "He did. I'm sure that you heard about the murder and 2 suicides we had just before I became Alpha." "Yes. But I know nothing about what happened. All I know is you became Alpha within a week of the death's. "The murder victim was Nala my father's true mate. The 2 suicides were my mother and Kyle who was her true mate. My mother and Nala both left me a letter telling me all that had happened. They had all petitioned my father to release my mother out of the mating but he refused. He just didn't care what any of them wanted. So they met in secret to figure out what they could do. They knew that they couldn't kill themselves. The only way was for both mates to agree. In my mother's and Kyle's case they did both agree. Knowing that they would have a chance to find each other again. Nala didn't have that option. So the only choice that they had was to kill her at her request. They planned everything carefully. They laced wine with liquid silver and forced Nala to drink it then they drank some themselves all dying within minutes of finishing it. Knowing that the liquid silver was the only way that they could kill them quickly. When they didn't show up for the evening meal an omega was sent to find my mother. The Omega came running back screaming that they were all dead. It wasn't until after the funeral Pyre that the letter was found and given to me. Once I read it I challenged my father for the Alpha position a week later. When I won the first thing I did was ban forced mating. I also made it that any time a true mate was found either one of the mated couple could leave. The true mate could also come to me and let me know first if that was their wish. My pack knows that once a true mate is found that the mating will be dissolved unless the couple already mated chooses otherwise. Any cubs would be raised by both couples. Doing this took away pressure to stay for them, and left the parents with the choice." Padrick finished looking at Hugh to gauge his reaction. "Thank you for telling me. Although I can tell you everyone outside of your pack thinks he stepped down." Hugh replied not knowing what else to say. "I know that's what I thought was best, that's what my mother would have wanted anyway." "So where does that leave you and Rosa?" Hugh asked knowing that he wasn't the only one in the room who wanted to know. With a sigh Padrick ran a hand down his face. "I'll be honest with her. Tell her that you approve of a mating between us but that it will only happen if SHE wants it to. That I will not force her, that if she wants and needs time to get to know me than I'll court her if that's what she wants and needs. I'm going to let her take the lead on this one." "Well then I think..... Hugh stopped talking as he heard his daughter making noise to draw attention to herself. He coughed lightly to cover the smile on his face at the look on Padrick's face when he turned towards the noise. "ROSA" Padrick jumped to his feet when he saw her. "What! How long have you been there?" "The whole time Padrick, I'll agree to mate with you one condition" she said holding her breath because she knew that both she and her father could get into a lot of trouble. "Sneaky" he laughed "What is it my love" "That you give me three months time to get to know you. That we spend every weekend with each other. Not in bed but that we spend the time learning about each other. That we date as silly as that sounds. I know my wolf agrees that you're our mate but my human side wants to make sure that it's in agreement too." "Fine. Done. When do you want to start? Will you come to me this weekend? Shall we go back and forth?" he asked not really caring how they worked it. His wolf has howling inside happy to agree to anything as long as she becomes ours. ************ Padrick pulled himself out of his memories at the sound of a knock at his office door. "Come" he said looking over to the door as 4 little heads poked into the room. "Come on in little ones." "Da we got's a question" "It's we have a question Rohaynna." Padrick corrected "What is it?" "We were wondering if Uncle Dantè is ever coming back." Christian asked. "I'm not sure guys, but we need to do what he asked us to do right?" "Is Uncle Dantè hurt real bad inside Da?" Rohaynna asked "Yeah sweetie he is that's why he asked that we not tell anyone where he went. He needs time to get all better inside. Okay?" Padrick asked watching them all nod their heads. Padrick stood up and rounded his desk asking "So where is Rosa guys I'm starving, let's go out to eat. What would everyone like? "PIZZA" "Well go wait by the front door while I get Rosa and some guards." The last was said to and empty room they were already gone. Chuckling he walked out of his office and headed towards the back door. Calling to Rosa in his head as he went. "My love" "Yes" "I'm taking all of us out for Pizza, Okay?" "You let them pick didn't you?" "You know me so well." He said chuckling. "Alright I'll meet you at the front door." "The children are already there. I'm grabbing some guards." "Okay" Padrick was almost to the training ring when he began calling out names."Ryan, Zane, Peter, Daniel Alpha guard tonight. Luke, Amber, Terri, Max you've got the kids." By the time he finished the list of names they were all standing in front of him. He turned back to the house and started to walk away. "Remember if attacked grab a child and run to the backup cars. If you are engaged while running two of you take the children the others fight. Marcus and Andrew are back up tonight as they are already on duty at the house." Padrick said as they all rounded the front of the house. They continued on to the cars as they saw the other guards bringing the rest of the family out. ********** Later that night "Stop leave us alone your hurting us." At the sound of Rohaynna's cry Padrick and Rosa were up and into her room. The lamp light showed the already forming bruises on her arms. Rosa gasped and cried out "Padrick look" as he looked to Rosa she pointed to Rohaynna. There was a terrifyingly large bruise in the shape of a large hand forming around her neck. "God, that poor child." He whispered. "Uncle?" Tristian said softly from the doorway. They both turned at the sound and saw all three of the boys standing there with worried looks. "Its okay boys go back..." "No Rosa" interrupted Padrick. "Boys come here." He said gesturing them forward. Once they were all next to the bed Padrick spoke. "Do you see how these bruises are just appearing on her like this?" "Yes" They all whispered sounding very scared. "At anytime if you see this something like this happen you let us know right away alright?" "Yes Uncle" "Okay boys, it's alright she's sleeping. It's not her that's being hurt. You go ahead back to sleep she'll be fine in the morning." "Maybe we should..."began Sabienè "No it's alright. I know it's confusing but we'll explain more when we know what it is that's happening to her. "Okay uncle" responded the boys they turned and left to return to bed. "Are you sure that was wise Padrick? They are just little boys." Rosa said softly "It's exactly the thing to do Rosa. They are with her when we aren't they will be able to let us know if it begins to escalate." Padrick responded. "I'm also going to phone the Sanctuary right now. I want to know what the hell is going on with my daughter. They've all had weeks to get some answers and I want them NOW." "Okay Padrick, I'll stay here you go we need to know what is happening and I'm just as tired of waiting as you." Rosa said as she leaned over and brushed the hair off Rohaynna's face. "I'll see you soon my love" he said as he left. Padrick walked down to his office and grabbed the phone as he sat at his desk. He scrolled threw the rolodex on his desk until he found the number for the Sanctuary. He dialed the number and as it rang he thought over what was happening with is daughter wishing he could take the pain away. "Sanctuary, how may I help you?" asked a soft voice. "I'd like to speak to one of the Elders from the Shannandova Pack Please" Padrick asked. "I'm sorry but all the Elders are in a meeting may I take a message?" "No you may not take a message" Padrick roared over the phone. "You will go get one of the Elders NOW and tell them that their Alpha is one the phone is that clear?" Padrick said as he used his "ALPHA" to enforce what he was saying. "Ye... Yes sir right away." He felt bad as he heard the poor girl drop the phone. But this was his daughter they were talking about. 5 minutes became 10 and he began to get very agitated. As his wolf began to growl the phone was finally picked up. "Alpha" Simonè asked hearing the growls. "Finally what the bloody hell took so long?" "We were having a meeting about Rohaynna sir." "Have you found out anything yet?" he asked as he felt his wolf calm. "Yes sir but we were meeting to decide punishment for the fact that she told a human about us." "WHAT" he roared his wolf was almost in control. "Nothing I repeat nothing will be done as a punishment to my daughter is THAT CLEAR?" he growled. "It is out of your hands Alpha as pack Elders we decide th...." Padrick interrupted her "Then consider yourselves pack less." He continued over her gasp "If you think to punish a 5 year old over something that she did in her dream then you are not the Elders I want. You are no longer welcome on Shannandova Pack land. You will stay at the Sanctuary and someone will deliver your belongings to all of you. Do not try to speak to any pack member you will be dead to us as of sundown tonight." Padrick slammed the phone down and howled loudly. He shifted to his wolf and crashed through his office window as a guard ran in. "Prime guards watch the house, secondary with the Alpha NOW." yelled David. The Beta had been on guard duty at the front of the house when he heard his Alpha's howl. He looked through the broken window and saw the guards head after the Alpha. David turned to the guards approaching the house "One of you go down and find some wood to put in the window until it can be fixed the rest of you surround the house. No one in or out until the Alpha returns is that clear?" "Yes sir" With one last glance out the window he headed back to the front of the house only to be met by the Alpha female. With a sigh he stopped in front of her. "I must ask that you stay in the house my lady please?" "I have no intention of leaving the house. What is going on where is Padrick David?" Rosa asked "I don't know he howled I ran to the office in time to see him jump through the office window breaking the glass." "Padrick" Rosa called in her mind. She heard nothing back she reached out to him only to find that he had blocked her. She gasped "He's blocking me out." "I've sent guards with him Alpha don't worry, you know how he is he'll run off his mood then head back. Go ahead back upstairs I heard Rohaynna's cry's earlier." With a sigh she nodded her head and headed back up to her daughter's room, knowing that David was right. Padrick needed to work through whatever he had been told himself before he told her. This meant that it wasn't good news. Now all she could do was sit and wait. Padrick ran with the guards for awhile before he felt Dantè asking permission to connect. Granting it he heard Dantè ask "Padrick what's going on? I can feel your anger and pain all the way over here." Padrick thought about that for a minute then realized that he must have broadcasted to Dantè knowing that his friend would listen. "Just a second" He glanced around to see where he was. Noticing the river was close by he ran to the edge sitting so he could talk to Dantè. With a mournful cry in his head he told Dantè "They want to punish my little girl D" "WHAT? Who what for? Talk to me Padrick what the fuck is going on?" "Because she told her "dream friend" about her being Loup Guru. The Elders want her punished." "Are you serious that's ridiculous she is only a small child. What did you say?" "I stripped them of their rights as my pack Elders and banned them from our Pack lands." "Holy shit Padrick no one has ever done that. Are you sure about this?" "Yes. I'm calling a Pack meeting tomorrow at 3 pm tomorrow to let the Pack know. We have 2 Elders that stayed behind, they will be given the choice to leave or stay and begin to train new Elders if they choose." "I'll be there for you, both of you. You know that. You want me to tell Michael?" "No, I'll be having a phone conference with all the Pack Alpha's tomorrow hopefully at noon. You don't need to be here though. Knowing you back me up is enough." "Have you spoken to Simonè about all of this?" "She's the one who told me. I'm sorry D." Padrick said as he felt his friend's pain. "It's okay Padrick she's made her choice." "We're here if you need us." "I know Paddy." "Hey I thought you agreed to never call me that again?" "Couldn't resist you've been calling me D through the whole conversation." Padrick chuckled. "I'd better get back and talk to Rosa before she skins me alive." "She'll agree with your decision you know that. Talk to you later." "Bye Dantè." Padrick turned to the other wolves he howled and said "Let's go home" with that he turned and ran towards the den. As he ran he dropped the block that he had put up and connected with Rosa. But before he could say anything she began to yell at him for blocking her. "What if something had been wrong any of the kids Padrick?" "I'd have known you know that honey." "Don't you honey me Padrick Shea O'Conner. That's not the point you shouldn't have blocked me out like that." "I'm almost back at the den. I'll explain when I get there. Could you call Ian and Molly and ask them to be in my office at 8 am please?" "Padrick its 2 am." "I know but it's important. Tell them by order of the Alpha they are to tell you if they have spoken to anyone in the last hour and they are not to answer their phones until after I meet with them. Okay?" "Why Padrick can't you tell me know." "Soon my love." "Okay see you soon then." As Padrick and the guards approached the house Padrick called a quick thanks headed straight into the house. He pulled on sweats Rosa hung up the phone. "Well I spoke to Ian and Molly. They both said that they had received no calls and would be here for 8." "That's good. Thanks honey, I'll know you want to know what's happened but I'd like to go check on Rohaynna first. I'll meet you in my office in a few minutes okay?" Padrick said quietly hoping that she would understand. Eternal Ch. 04 Enough to make Contract w/me? "Uh, what?" Harry asked. "Would that mean you'd own my soul or something? I'm still not clear on what exactly you are now." Contract, sort of, and demon. Don't worry--won't go to Hell for Contract. Ghost attempted a smile as she flipped the page to the back. If did go to Hell, could keep other demons from getting you. But don't think you're going. Want Contract to talk w/you--comes w/telepathy. She could not taste his fear, the way she could taste his lust, but she knew from his face that he was frightened by this talk. His trust in her, however, was even stronger than she'd realized. "This is a lot to spring on a guy who's just woken up," he told her, "but I'd like to be able to talk to you, too. What do we do?" Ghost tore the sheet away, and wrote on a new page. Alive, so need to know & want Contract. Won't have usual "do whatever I say"--not fair while I'm dating you. "Dating?" Harry sounded mildly insulted. 'Till death do us part. Don't think they'd let me in church again. There were other reasons, of course, but now was not the time to reveal them. Anyways. Telepathy. Want that. When commanded, numb to pain--saved my life once. Want that? "Um, aren't you already dead?" Sort of. Complicated. There were things she didn't want to talk about, and then there were things she really didn't want to talk about. ". . . I'll take it." Ghost kept a running list on one sheet, while writing her comments on others. Lower body temp. if you get fever. Slow or speed metabolism--good if out of food. Control blood flow. Build muscle, slowly. Faster movement & reactions--comes free w/Contract w/demon like me. "Check, check, check . . ." Make you horny on command. At the look on his face, Please? Just want to be fed. "Wait, are you saying you eat . . ." Ghost looked disgusted as she shook her head. I eat lust. Love, too, but lust's more filling. "I'm dating a succubus." Harry seemed to be trying out the phrase, seeing how it fit in his mind. "Tempter." Imps, tempters, devourers, sword spiders, greater demons--weakest to strongest. Ghost realized she was getting off-topic. Be glad I'm not sword spider. They eat pain and sorrow! And devourers eat anything, emotion or not--nearly ate me once! "But if you eat lust, that's still kind of . . . Wait, have you done this before?" Can't eat lust from demons, and couldn't teleport to Earth--don't know why can now. In Hell, emotions flow in rivers, like water . . . Off-topic again, and running out of pages as well! I'll explain later. Do you agree to contract? "I'm still too asleep not to agree. Go ahead, make me yours. I trust you--you're constitutionally incapable of doing anything to hurt someone." Ghost thought that over. He was caught off guard when she suddenly hugged him. You're wrong, she wrote, once they'd finally separated, but nice to know someone thinks of me that way. Harry carefully avoided that argument. "So, do I sign my name in blood?" Never done it before, but demon needs to drink something. Doesn't have to be blood. Know what I'd find fun. "So you do--" She shut him up with a sensuous kiss. As always, Ghost took the lead in their lovemaking. With the covers pushed aside, and Harry's pajamas pulled down, what remained of her lips soon found their way to his cock. For a moment, she felt a familiar pang of sadness--she couldn't give him a true blowjob, not with a mouth like hers--but as she took his cock inside her, she knew that he didn't care. The twin tastes of his love and his lust were like caramel on a sundae, and she could feel his pleasure running through her-- Wait, what? My God, Leila, Ghost heard Harry think, is this what it feels like to be you? You really aren't human--I'm only getting bits of this, and I can still barely stand it. Looking back on it, Ghost later thought that she handled her sudden feeling of male arousal pretty well. Now do you believe that you're the best lay I've had? Love makes everything so much sweeter. The connection only strengthened as she licked and sucked at him, and pleasure soon drove coherent thought from both their minds. The boundary between them vanished in a joyous spray, and a single joined mind drank deeply of body and soul. "You really are full of surprises, you know that?" Harry asked, when he was finally Harry again. I didn't even know telepathy could do that, Ghost replied. Then again, this is only my second Contract. Maybe it's possible to keep that from happening if you know how. "I don't see why anyone would want to," Harry said. "Give me twenty minutes, and I'll be ready to do that again!" I don't think you need twenty minutes, Ghost told him. You let me control your blood flow, remember? "Dammit, should have known--" Harry began, before she silenced him once more. -- -- -- -- Sated at last, the two lazed in bed, the sunlight through the window warming them in the late-February cold. That's it, then, Ghost said. So long as I don't dissolve the Contract, we're bound together forever. She had some difficulty phrasing what came next. Sex means both more and less to a tempter than to a human, because when we like someone, we like having sex with them. On the one hand, sex with any one person doesn't matter quite so much. On the other hand, when we go without sex, or only have sex with people we hate . . . It's been a long time since I've had a really good fuck, and I want you to know that this means a lot to me. "I love you too, Leila," Harry said. "I've been saying it a lot, haven't I? I just wish I'd said it more, back then." In a way, it comforts me, she told him. I'm not the Leila you knew, but I'd like to be, and you make me feel like I can be her someday. But Harry, don't get so attached to that idea of me that you lose sight of what I am. If you ever decide we're better off apart, I promise you that I'll dissolve the Contract. "And that right there," he said, "is the most Leila thing you've said since you came back." He ran a finger along the edge of Ghost's mouth. "The shape of your lips is different now, but the texture of them is pure Leila. There's Leila in your smell, Leila in your eyes--your real eyes--and even Leila in your insistence that you're not Leila. You've always been the martyr type. Resist that temptation, and be happy with what you have." Harry, there's a story I'd like to tell you. Please don't say anything until I've finished. Eternal Ch. 04 "Sure. Do you want something to drink?" she asked understanding that whatever had been said on the phone had hurt him. She knew that because the topic of the call had been their daughter he had to assure himself that she was alright. "No, my love it's alright." With a nod she headed to his office. While she walked she tried not to think about her own fear for her daughter. In her heart she knew that Padrick wouldn't let anything happen to their daughter but she was still afraid. She walked into his office and had to laugh in spite of everything. With a chuckle she shook her head. Another one bites the dust she thought as she looked at the half flattened phone. He had a tendency to slam them down or crush them in his hand when he was angry. He went through a few a week depending on how the week was. She made a mental note to have a new one brought in the morning. When Padrick walked in a few minutes later she was sitting in front of the fireplace waiting for him. He walked over to her leaning down and giving her a kiss lightly licking her bottom lip before slowly exploring her mouth with his tongue, sliding it across hers. As he went to take it deeper she pulled back giving him a quick kiss. "Not that I don't like where that was headed but you really need to tell me what the hell is going on Padrick. I know that whatever was said made you furious and it has to do with our daughter. So please tell me." With a sigh Padrick pulled her out of the chair and sat down pulling her onto his lap. Cuddling her close he said "Yes it's about her. Do you want to know everything or can I give you the short version instead?" "Short version is fine just as long as you tell me." Rosa said becoming very scared. "Shhh, you know I won't let anything happen to our daughter." When she nodded he began. "Long story short Simonè came on the phone and said that all the Elders were having a meeting about what her punishment should be for telling a human about us." Rosa gasped "What why she'd just a small child how can they punish her Padrick?" Rosa's wolf began to growl in fear and anger that anyone would want to hurt her child. Padrick pulled her closer as her began to speak again. "Do you seriously think that I would let anyone hurt our child? Come on you know better. Anyway back to the phone call. After telling me that they were trying to decide a punishment I told her that they would not be punishing her at all. She then tried to tell me that the decision wasn't up to me that it was up to the Elders to decide. At that point my wolf had a strong hold and I told her that the Elders could consider themselves pack less and banned from our pack lands." he stated pausing when he heard her gasp. "Can you do that though? I mean they are the Elders of the pack every pack has them." "I told her that they had to stay at the Sanctuary and that someone would bring all their things to them. I told her that since they would be dead to us by nightfall to not bother talking to whoever delivered their things to the Sanctuary." "What about Ian and Mary they are the only Elders left here?" "That's why I called them to be in my office at 8 am they can leave if they want or they can choose to stay and try to begin to train others to be Elders with them. They need to remember that I am ALPHA of this pack not the Elders. I run this pack and it's my decisions that will be followed not theirs." "What time is the pack meeting going to be?" "It's going to be called for at 3 pm tomorrow. The pack needs to know that I won't condone the punishment of a small child let alone one who does something in their dream." "You've been a strong and fair Alpha for almost 7 years Padrick the pack knows this. They know that you would never allow harm to come to a small child know matter whose child it is. I will stand by you, my love and so will the pack you should know that." "I know you do Rosa, but what of the Elders families? What will they think will they support or leave?' "If they choose to leave then let them. They will have to find another pack to welcome them in." "That's the other thing I need to tell you. I have called for an Alpha conference by phone tomorrow at noon. After that the Elders families my not find any pack that will welcome them at all. I just hope that the pack understands." "They will. Now come to bed it is nearly 4 in the morning. You have called for the first meeting to be at 8 remember." She stated as she jumped off his lap. As he groaned at the reminder of the time she pulled him up. Chuckling as they headed out of the room. Eternal Ch. 05 Hey all, Well chapter 5 is finally here. Had to submit it twice. LOL. Anyway a big huge thank you to my amazing editor Lioness_Queen who managed to get this chapter edited even during exam time. So THANK YOU. Don't forget to comment and vote. Hope you all enjoy this chapter. Gaelicvampire * The ringing phone woke Padrick at 7 the next morning. "Alpha, sir there is an Elder from the O'Shea pack here to see you." Roy said. "Have you let them pass yet?" "No Alpha he is still here with me at the main gate." "Which Elder is it Roy?" "It's Elder Craig sir." "Alright have someone bring him to my office. But make sure they stay with him." Padrick said. "Yes sir." As Roy hung up the phone he decided to instead have someone cover his post and he would escort the Elder himself. Besides this way he could sneak a peek at his little miss see how she's doing. He phoned the guard quarter's and asked for a replacement. Within a few minutes they were off. Once at the office he showed the Elder in then stood at the door waiting for his Alpha. "Thanks Roy, go ahead to the kitchen Rosa is making coffee." "Thank you sir. Is the little miss up yet?" asked Roy with a soft smile. "I thought I heard movement as I was coming down the hall but with three new ones it's hard to tell who it was that..." "Woy Woy" Rohaynna yelled as she saw him standing in the office door way. "Well well if it isn't little miss." Roy said with a smile and caught her as she jumped at him. Rohaynna threw her head back squealing and laughing as he tickled her. It was then that he noticed the marks on her neck. "Still the dreams are happening?" Padrick nodded his head and asked him to take her to the kitchen. "Little miss what say you and I go get some food?" Roy asked the small girl in his arms. "Yes, pancake day today. I'm so hungry that I could eat a gazillion. What's about you?" She asked as they walked away from the office. Padrick walked behind his desk after shutting the door and sat down. Rosa walked in a moment later with some coffee and with a brief smile left the office. "Coffee Elder Craig?" Padrick asked as he poured himself some. He looked up at the other man who nodded. He handed him his coffee as he walked back to his desk and sat down before he started to speak. "So why are you here?" Padrick asked calmly. "I'm here because Elder Simonè asked me to give you some papers, since she couldn't bring them herself." Stated Elder Craig. "Did she also tell you why she couldn't bring them?" "Yes she stated that she and the other Elder's where no longer aloud on your pack lands and they had been stripped of their Elder status. Is this all true?" he asked Padrick in disbelief. "Yes. They lost that right when they decided that they had more power in the pack then the Alpha and that it was okay to punish a 5 year old child." Padrick growled. "The child told a human about us. You know the law and that the Eld...." "Before you go any further I would like to know if you were told when this "child" told the boy." Padrick bluntly asked. "Yes of course, she told him when they were playing." "Wrong. That isn't when he was told. Would you like to hear what has been happening and when the child was told?" "How do you know who the child is even the Elders apart from your former 6 that is don't know?"Elder Craig said shocked. "Oh, you mean they didn't tell you the child's name that you'd be punishing?" Padrick could feel his wolf coming to the surface. This was making no sense why where the Elders keeping the information a secret. "No sir. If you don't mind my asking but who is the child?" Elder Craig had a feeling he wasn't going to like the answer. "My daughter is the child." Padrick growled. "WHAT" "Would you like to hear from her what happened?" "Please Alpha if I could. It isn't that I doubt you it's just that this is making no sense at all. Why would your Elders vote to punish her? When did she have contact with a human child?"Elder Craig asked completely confused. "Ah that is the most important part. She hasn't. I will have her come and speak to you after she eats if that's okay with you?" "Of course Alpha. Why don't you start to read through the papers that Simonè sent while we are waiting?" "Good idea." Padrick picked up the thick envelope and opened it as he quickly asked Rosa to send Rohaynna to him once she was done eating. As he pulled everything out a smaller envelope fell onto his desk. Reading his name on the front he recognized Simonè's handwriting. He looked up at Elder Craig and asked "Have you read this?" "No sir. It was sealed when she asked me to put it in with all the other information that I had gathered for her. She had to hide to inside a clean robe. All she said was to get here as fast as I could. Also that I was to give it to no one but yourself or the Madame Alpha. Oh yeah or someone named Dantè Rys." He responded as he pored himself more coffee. "Okay. Thanks" Padrick pulled out the sheets of paper and quickly saw the marks indicating that it was from Simonè and that she and the pack where at risk. He was glad that the four of them (Dantè, Simonè, Rosa and himself) had come up with the small secret code years ago as a safety precaution. This meant that she hadn't turned on them. It read as follows: Padrick, You can trust Craig he has been my friend since we met in training class together. He will help in any way he can. All I told him was that the information was important and that it had to get to you as soon as possible. You must explain everything to him starting at the beginning. It that regard you must also play him the original tape I made of Rohaynna speaking to me at my house. I know you think that you don't have a copy but I made one and hid it in the bust of your father in the living room. I had a false piece added to the bottom. Yeah yeah I know you would never have noticed it It's only there out of respect for the older pack members I know that's why I chose it. Padrick paused laughing a little. "Excuse me for a moment please Elder Craig, Simone has hidden something in the house that you will need to listen to. Once I have it brought here I'll have my Beta Roy take you to the kitchen. My mate Rosa will get you a tape player to listen to it. If that's okay?" Padrick said politely not really asking him. "Of course sir that's not a problem. Once your done let me know and I'll explain some of the information in the envelope." "That's fine I have a meeting with the remaining Elders in a few minutes so if you want to wait for the tape then you can go." "Sounds good." Padrick opened a connection a connection with Roy. "Roy are you still in the kitchen?" "Yes sir. "Could you go to the living room and let me know when your there." "Okay I'm here sir." "Is there anyone else there? "No. What's going on?" "I need you to go to the bust of my father, but make sure that no one see's you. Simonè has hidden something in it and it's actually a good hiding place." "Just a minute please sir. Okay I have everyone looking for your nephews." "What! When did they take off?" "They didn't sir their upstairs. I told them that I needed them to help me drill the guards so they'll stay there until I call them." "Good idea." Padrick said with a soft laugh. "Okay there is a false bottom on the bust. Inside is a cassette tape could you bring it to my office please." "Of course Alpha I'll be right there." "Thanks Roy. Sorry about that Elder Craig Simonè hid something in the house for you. I just had to guide Roy to where she had the tape hidden. He's going to bring...here he is now. Come on in Roy." "Here you are sir." Roy said handing Padrick the tape. "Thanks again Roy. Oh you may want to call off the drill too."Padrick laughed at the thought of his guards wondering around looking for the boys when they hadn't even left the house. "Oh and Roy on your way could you show Elder Craig to the kitchen please." "Sure follow me Elder its right this way." Roy stated leading the way out the door. Padrick went to the door and closed it so he could read the whole letter. Letter continues: Padrick my reason for all the secrecy is that I believe the Elders are plotting to over throw your rule. They know that if you were to lose Rohaynna that it would crush Rosa. That she would more than likely die. They are hoping that you to would die also because you are true mates that have mated. The Elders here have not told the others who the child is or when she told the human boy about us. They also doctored the tape to ensure that her name was never mentioned and completely removed the part about her dreaming about him and when I asked her to tell me about when she told him. The only part they left in was me asking her if she told him and her saying yes. This is what they used to get the others to agree to punish the child. But the punishment is to be decided by your Elders here. I have no say in it however because they no longer listen to me at all. To make sure that I don't talk to the other Elders, they have told them that because I love to gossip that I have been giving the punishment of silence. I also have someone with me at all times. They don't talk around me anymore either because of my friendship with you. That's why they sent me to talk to you on the phone. They where testing me to see if I would tell you anything. I had to carefully write this in my room at night because they have someone posted outside my door. Thankfully Craig knows me well enough to not believe it. But let me tell you though. You threw a good wrench into their plans by banning us from the pack lands. You should call the Elders council later today and inform them of the stripping of the Elder rights and the banning. It will take them a couple days to come up with a believable story. Please make sure that you send Craig beck here before sundown tonight or they will get suspicious. Oh yeah, Mary and Ian are safe to trust to they knew nothing about this. They weren't even on pack lands when I questioned Rohaynna. They just got back last evening from being at the Sanctuary for a new Elder blessing. Remember the youngest and oldest from all surrounding packs must be here to present themselves and that combined with the ceremony takes 3 weeks. Since I know you so well I'm going to hazard a guess that you have called an Alpha conference. You must get all the Alpha's to take back all saying power. They must remove the Elders power within the pack except for blessings, rituals and storytelling. If they don't it will happen again somewhere else. They might succeed at it then. Lastly I have included all the information that the Elders had about what's been happening with Rohaynna. It's all very amazing, shocking and unbelievable. The explanation is also why they want her gone they fear her. I also found a major prophecy that you need to see. You need to ask Craig about the final prophecy of the seer Shiva. He is the only one that has ever really studied her prophecies. He can help. He knows the prophecy and can tell us if it is about Rohaynna. No matter if you disagree with him or not LISTEN to him. Your loyal friend Simonè Padrick sat at his desk reading and rereading the letter. His wolf was growling wanting to go and deal with the Elders that would try to destroy him for no other reason but power. He struggled to breathe slowly to calm his wolf. Final after 5 minutes he was under control again. With a glance at the clock see saw that he had kept the Elders waiting so he silently called for them to come in. "Alpha you wanted to see us." Elder Ian said as they walked into the room. "Yes Elder's I did. Please sit down. I have some questions for you and because the safety of the pack is in question along with my daughter I am ordering you're to answer me truthfully. Is that clear?" Padrick said infusing his Alpha into the statement. "Yes, of course Alpha." The Elders replied looking at each other questioningly. "Do either of you know the reason why the Elders went to the Sanctuary?" Speaking quickly Elder Mary replied "To find out what is going on with the Alpha daughter sir." Sir they went to speak to the other Elders also about if anything similar has happened in any of the other packs." Ian finished. "What about my daughter telling a human boy about us what was decided about that issue?" Looking completely puzzled Elder Ian said "Nothing Sir. It was decided that it was harmless, because it was a dream and that the boy probably wouldn't remember." "Really then why did they the Elders council meet last night to decide her punishment for telling the boy." Padrick demanded. "WHAT. No no no that isn't possible sir. We all what I mean is all our pack Elders decided nothing would happen." Mary began to visibly tremble. Elder Ian reach over and held her hand to reassure her even when he himself was scared. "Sir none of this is making any sense what so ever. It was decided weeks ago that nothing would come of this that there was no reason to be alarmed. As Mary stated earlier it was believed he most likely wouldn't remember it as anything but a dream." He stated a look of confusion on his face. Padrick relaxed knowing that these two Elders where in fact unaware of the situation and most likely side with the pack. "Mary be at ease it's all right." Padrick said getting up and going to her. Crouching down and taking her hand in his he continued "I had to be sure that Simonè was right in her letter." Mary took a deep breath letting it out slowly before she spoke. "If what you are saying is true it could mean that the Elders council corrupt. We must stop them before..." "It's alright Mary it isn't the Council. Sadly it is our own Elders that have become corrupt and power hungry. I phoned the Sanctuary last night to see if they had any new information about what was going on with Rohaynna. There was another incident last night by far the worst one. Anyway I phoned and they were in a meeting. I ended up having to demand to speak to one of the pack Elders. Simonè finally came on the phone and started saying how they were talking about Rohaynna's punishment for telling a human boy about us. I lost control of my wolf." He said with a sigh. Elder Ian leaned forward in his chair looking at Padrick "Sir you were reacting like a father should. That is one of the things that make you a good Alpha. You show that your mate and child come just ahead of the pack but only as long as the pack is not in any danger. Even with the problems you are facing with Rohaynna you have made sure that the pack was safe at all times. That is what the pack likes to see. They know that your family is your world but they also know that you would die to keep any pack member safe." "Thank you that means a lot to me. I just hope that they will agree with what I did. I admit that I let my wolf have control but I agree with what he did." With a sigh he continued on telling them what he did "When I heard her say that I told her that if they thought that they were going to punish her then they could consider themselves pack less and banned from our pack lands. I have also stripped them of Elder status so they would only be able to join another pack as regular members." He grimaced as he finished and waited for them to respond. "Good. That is exactly what should happen. Any other pack member that was caught doing the same thing would have either been killed or exiled from the pack. As for the Elder's Coun...Oh I just realized; sir does that mean you want us to leave as well?" Mary hesitantly asked glancing at Padrick. "It is up to you both. Although I hope that you will remain with the pack and begin to train new Elders. You have both been pack since birth I don't want you to go but I will understand if you feel it is necessary." Padrick said honestly. The Elders looked at each other and nodded to each other then Mary began to speak, "Alpha we would like to stay this is our home, we don't want to be anywhere else. We will gladly train any new Elders that need it." Mary relaxed for the first time since they had stepped foot into the office. "Thank you both for your loyalty. Please go ahead about your day but talk of this to no one. I will be announcing it at a pack meeting this afternoon at 3 please be there. I fear that our pack will have great need for you." Padrick said. "Alpha you know that you will have to take full control back. It hasn't been done that way for hundreds and hundreds of years. The Elders Council won't like it. You need to have the other Alpha's support behind you. Be sure that is what you want. You know the history as well as I the past Alpha's always said that it was much harder to be in complete control of the pack. They were glad when the Elder's Council took over some of the decisions." Reminded Mary. "I know I have already called a meeting. As for previous Alpha's well we live in a different era. We won't know if we can do it or not if we don't at least try. If we don't take control back future Elders will just try again." "True very true. Have a good day Alpha we will see you at 3." Ian said as they walked out the door. Padrick stayed sitting for a few minutes then looked at the clock. With yet another sigh he saw he'd been in meetings since roughly 7:15 it was now 9 am. He was starving he still hadn't eaten. As he stood to leave the office Rosa walked in carrying a plate piled with food. "Ah thank you my love I was starving. I was about to go to the kitchen to get something to eat. But I must say this is much better." Padrick said with a smile as he gave her a quick kiss. Waving him back to his desk Rosa placed it in front of him and motioned for him to eat. "How did the meetings go? Are we in trouble? Why is Elder Craig here?" Rosa asked quickly. "The 2 remaining Elders are with us. They knew nothing about what was going on. Simonè sent Elder Craig with a letter telling me that the other Elders where plotting to take over the pack. They knew getting rid of Rohaynna would kill you which in turn would have killed me." Padrick pulled Rosa onto his lap as she began to growl. "I know my love I know. But we know about their plan know and can deal with them. Elder Craig will be going back to the Sanctuary tonight with the copy Simonè made of her conversation with Rohaynna. The Elders Council only heard a doctored copy." "Okay so what will happen to the Elders? Is Simonè safe have you let Dantè know that she is still loyal to the pack?" "No I haven't spoken to him yet. If you want you can do that. Tell him that she sent a letter using our code. But that she is safe for now that the other Elders have no idea that she told us anything. Okay? "Okay I'll do that. Now you finish eating I'm going to have to deal with a few of the females." "Why what's going on? Anything I should be worried about?" "Padrick you know that I deal with the females. But no there's nothing to worry about just usual petty squabbling." "Okay my love I'll see you at noon for the Alpha meeting." "Come on Padrick do I really need to be here for it?" "Yes Rosa you do because I've asked for any that have mates to include them. Since this could ultimately affect any pack or pride. This way it only needs to be explained once. Besides they may have seen or heard something that we haven't." Padrick chuckled he knew Rosa hated dealing with all the Alpha crap as she calls it. I had to silently agree with her though. Each Alpha wanted to lead the meetings all the time. It got to the point that about 5 years ago Remy Alpha of the Lantu Pride made a good suggestion. If an Alpha called for a meeting then they would lead it. When it came to scheduled meetings it was decided that the Alpha's would pair up. The oldest would pair up with the youngest and so forth. We had been making it work for 5 years now. At the end of the first year the oldest Alpha Seamus thought that it might be a good idea to switch every year though so that all The Alpha's learned to work together. Eternal Ch. 05 This chapter is sort of gay, so consider yourself warned if you're a straight guy. With a faint popping sound, more than forty figures appeared in a parking lot. From a position several feet off the ground, they landed with more or less grace according to their natures--thirty tempters managing graceful rolls, ten sword spiders crushing the cars beneath them, and two greater demons at least landing on their feet. Belial was the first to recover from teleportation, and as such, the first to notice that they weren't alone. With a wave of his hand and a bit of his power, an unfortunate bystander hit the ground, bleeding from her mouth and nose. He spun in a circle, searching for more targets--and found no more people, and only a few cars left unsmashed. "I don't know about you, Judith," he said, "but I'm disappointed." "We're a ways from any National Guard base," Judith replied, "and I think we have the police outmatched. Given twenty minutes, we'll be able to kill everyone in these buildings. It'll strike fear into citizens everywhere, that we attacked somewhere with no strategic value, just for the sake of killing." She smiled beatifically. "Of course, if we happen to kill someone whose soul I want, all the better." "Yes, this 'Neil' guy," he replied. "You never told me what your problem with him was." "I believe he's hiding out in the abandoned office building just in front of us," Judith said, ignoring the implied question. "Our time is limited--the parking lot's clear, but surely someone heard the noise. Send two of your sword spiders to clear it out, and I'll have my tempters take the buildings behind us. The rest of the spiders can guard us while I charge up to teleport us back." Belial was powerful, given his young age--powerful enough that he could have controlled forty imps--and there were few demons he took orders from. Judith could have controlled sixty imps, and more than once, she'd survived refusing orders from demons who could control two hundred. Rather than argue, he simply relayed the order. "Curt, you take the lower floors. Randall, you're on the upper ones. Slice up anything that breathes." And, because he knew Randall's will had not yet broken, "Slice up anything that holds its breath, too." -- -- -- -- It could easily be assumed that someone who's died and been reborn is scared of nothing. Within five minutes of entering the building, Randall knew that assumption was mistaken. The power had long since been cut--neither the lights nor the central heating functioned. Only by staying near the windows could he navigate in the gloom, edging past abandoned desks. He searched each of the upper floors, moving faster than was strictly necessary, and when he reached the top, he was certain no one was there. "Twitchy, aren't you? I'd expect a big spiky spider to be less afraid of the dark." Randall spun awkwardly on eight legs to confront the source of the noise, and found a dweebish-looking man in a slept-in suit, who stared at him with an inscrutable expression. "I was afraid, too. I wanted so much to hide, and this was the perfect place to do it--in the place where I worked, not so long ago, before the world fell apart and the main office stopped sending instructions. But you would have found me anyways, wouldn't you? Just like the other one, you would have found me. At least I can face death with dignity." He must be over thirty, and he's still an overgrown child, Randall thought. Time to shut this twerp up. He raised one limb to strike-- "Go ahead, do it. It's what we all deserve." What the fuck? Maybe it would be better not to kill this strange man just yet. Randall slashed shallowly at him with his knife-tongue, savoring the blood on the blade as his target yelled out in pain. Are you Neil? Randall called out along the psychic link. Not everyone's response to sudden telepathy is intelligent or dignified--particularly when they're cradling their bleeding arm. "What?" You're Neil, aren't you, kid? The guy Judith hates? I'm supposed to kill you, but I think I have a few minutes before anyone gets antsy. We're all alone on this floor, and even without a Contract, this link will take a while to fade. I'd like to know, what the hell's your story with her? Neil drew himself up to his full height (five foot eight.) "I'm not telling you anything if you're just going to kill me." Sorry, kid, but my orders are to slice you up--Randall put two and two together. Not to kill you! They implied it, but nobody actually told me "kill Neil!" Kid, how'd you like to live through this? It's said that someone who makes a Contract with a sword spider can heal from almost anything. "A deal with something like you? No way." Then I hope you enjoy it while I cut you to bits. Your pain will be delicious--I'll draw it out, make it last as long as I can . . . "All right, you've got me. What do I need to do?" You'll follow any order I give, and in return, most weapons won't hurt you. They'll cut you, but you'll heal in an instant. You need to know and want this, and you need to hold still. "I accept--" Neil began, and Randall cut at him again, drinking more of his blood to seal the contract. If it worked, that cut should heal before I finish this thought. But my orders require a few more. Neil stood absolutely still while the incisions were made, letting his suit be torn to pieces, and Randall was surprised to discover a strange taste to his pain--like what should have been smoked cod was instead a strawberry sundae. That ought to be enough. I'll try to meet you here after sundown-- "That's not enough," Neil said, his eyes gleaming in a manner that gave Randall pause. "I just made a deal with--I don't even know what. This is the worst thing I've ever done." He turned his back to Randall. "Please, give me what I deserve." The request was polite, but there was something in his tone that did not brook disobedience, Contract or no Contract. Randall could not remember having ever been more unnerved than at that moment, standing silently in the gloom as he carefully sliced through the back of Neil's suit. "Slower. It needs to be slow." The taste filled Randall in a way he'd never been filled before, penetrating him far deeper than he penetrated Neil, even as he finished the pattern of lines and began to crisscross it. "Yes, that--Agh! That's perfect. Just a little deeper . . ." Randall felt oddly drunk, and in his stupor, he made a mistake. The deeply sunken blade did not truly harm Neil--little could, now--but with a yelp, he went limp, unconscious from pain. Randall let him slide off the blade and drop to the floor. There's liking a little slap in your slap and tickle, and then there's this. What the hell did Judith do to this kid? Deep inside, he asked himself another question: Why do I want to do this again? -- -- -- -- In a corner of the room, a third presence stood silent and still. It is the power of an imp to not be noticed in darkness. This particular imp was known as Alice, and her loyalties were to Judith--so much so, in fact, that she was trusted to be Judith's eyes and ears in other places. She'd been warned that Neil might survive this encounter, and instructed to report back on the results. It's too bad Judith probably won't approve another trip here, she thought. Risky as it is, I would have loved to see where this is going. Eternal Ch. 05 "Fine I'm leaving now." She humphed as she stomped to the door. Laughing Padrick asked "I love you Rosa." "Could you have Elder Craig and Rohaynna come to the office now." With a sigh Rosa turned and walked back over to Padrick. Leaning down she touched her lips lightly to his. With a groan Padrick pulled her in deeper slowly sliding his lips across hers before entering her mouth. He touched his tongue to hers making her moan. He explored her warm mouth thoroughly before pulling back. "I love you too Paddy." Rosa said breathlessly. After a minute she slowly straightened up and walked out of the room. Padrick took a minute to calm himself for as much as he wanted to throw her to the floor and ravage her they needed to deal with the threat to their daughter and the pack. He was just finishing eating when Elder Craig and Rohaynna walked into the office. "Da, mama says you want to talk to us now." "Yup I do sweetie. But I believe you forgot something this morning didn't you?" "No I didn't forget noth... oops sorry Da." She said with a little giggle as she ran to him. Padrick picked her up as she reached him. Still giggling she gave him a hug and a kiss then whispered "Morning Da, love you." "I love you too sweetie." He replied as he pulled her onto his lap and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Rohaynna did you meet Elder Craig already?" "Yes Da, mama intropuduced him." With a warm chuckle Padrick corrected her "Introduced sweetie. Mama introduced him to you already." "Oh. Okay Da." "Did mama tell you that Elder Craig was a friend of Simonè's?" "No he is?" "Yes I am. Is it okay if I talk to for a little while?" Asked Elder Craig gently. She looked at her Da see his nod she replied "Okay, but first I gotta tell you Da about last night." "How about you show Elder Craig your neck, tummy and your back. Then we'll start at the beginning because they'll be gone soon right?" Padrick said looking at her with a reassuring smile. "Do I have to go over there Da I don't want too" "How about you stand in front of me and Elder Craig comes to us?" Padrick looked at Elder Craig giving him a warning growl. "That's fine with me Alpha." Rohaynna climbed off her Da's lap and stood in front of him waiting for the Elder to come closer. When he was looking at her she tilted her head back to look at the roof showing the hand print around her throat. She lowered her head and lifted her t-shirt to reveal the bruises on her tummy. "What the hell?" He asked looking at Padrick. Padrick just held up his hand and signaled him to wait. "Just look." Rohaynna slowly turned to face her father showing Elder Craig her back. Elder Craig looked at this tiny little girl and gave another shocked cry at all the bruises on her small back. "Alpha how could you do this?" At that Rohaynna spun around growling at the Elder "My Da never doned it. He'd rip aparts anyone that tried to hurt me." She said fiercely staring at the Elder defiantly. "Calm Rohaynna. He doesn't understand. That's why you have to explain it. Elder Craig I would suggest that you sit quietly and listen. Also I would remind you that there are two Alpha's present. Padrick said calmly as he gently rubbed Rohaynna's back now that she was sitting back on his lap. "What you mean she..." "Oh yes she will be Alpha after me. The first female Alpha in over 300 years." Padrick said his pride coming threw in his voice. "I apologize Alpha's." Elder Craig said bowing his head to the 2 of them. "Rohaynna please start with what you told Simonè. Elder Craig wants to hear it in your own words. Then after we'll get mama and you can tell us both about last night okay?" Padrick spoke gently to her so that she would remain calm. With a nod she began to talk "I've been playing with a boy at night when I goes to sleep. I know that it's a dream cause I go to play at his house. Sometimes we play here but mostly we play at his house cause he's not pose to go anywhere. We have been playing for a long time but now it's scary when I go there. I can't keeps away though cause if I do he gets real scared. Then the bad thing happened. That's what I had to tell Auntie Simonè." She looked at her Da as she finished speaking. Nodding his head he said "Go ahead sweetie it's okay." "Okay. Well when we play we gots to be real quiet cause his Da don't like noise. I guess we wasn't quiet enough this time. His Da came in and was yelling at him and hittin him. He just kept being mean; my friend was real hurt by the time his Da finally left. I knows I wasn't pose to tell about us but he was hurt real bad. So I told him to stay still and I'd heal him. He looked at me and asked how. I said I could cause I was part wolf. That made me different so I could help him." Rohaynna finished with a small shuddery breath still afraid that she was going to get into trouble. "I know it said it on the tape but it didn't seem to really make sense now it does. That's the human that the Elders were talking about?" Elder Craig asked amazed and aghast at the thought. "That's exactly what they have been talking about. Now do you understand why I said they weren't allowed on the packs land?" Asked Padrick. "Yes completely, and the other Elders will not follow through with any decisions that were made. The information they were given was false. When I head back I'll let them know that and give them the real tape. I was also wondering Alpha if there's somewhere I can work and have use of a phone. I want to go over my copy of the papers Simonè sent. See if I can figure out what she was onto." Elder Craig asked. "Why don't you use the small study off the kitchen. It should have everything that you need." Padrick told him. "Okay sounds good Alpha thank you." Elder Craig started to walk to the door before turning back "Rohaynna can I ask you something?" "Ahuh" "You said that you healed your friend right?" "Yes." "Did you bite him at any time or scratch him?" "No I just held his hand and talked to him. After a little while they was all gone." Padrick signaled Elder Craig to stay there but he spoke to Rohaynna "Sweetie why don't you go get mama and you can tell us about last night okay?" "Okay Da." Padrick waited till she left before speaking "What was that all about?" "Alpha she shouldn't have been able to heal him. Not in any way. If he could heal like that I'd say he was Were also but his animal whatever that would have been would have stopped the beating." "What do you think it means?" "I'm not sure; I really wish I was. Anyway maybe I'll find something in the papers." "Simonè wants you to tell us more about the Last Prophecy of Shiva too." "What, really I wonder why." "Well here come Rosa and Rohaynna. Let me know as soon as you have something. But don't forget you have to be back at the Sanctuary tonight." Stated Padrick. "Not necessarily." "What do you mean?" "Well my Alpha will be part of the meeting today. You could ask him to request that I stay at home. He needs my help with a lot of pack squabbling." Elder Craig said with a grin and walked out of the room. "Come in my ladies and close the door." Padrick said with a smile at them. Rosa smiled at him as she closed the door. "So how was Elder Craig with Rohaynna?" "Did you ask her?" When she shook her head no he spoke "It seemed fine but why don't you ask her what she thought." "Rohaynna, how do you think the meeting with Elder Craig went?" asked Rosa. "It was okay mama he didn't give me any trouble for telling my friend or for healing him either. He was very nice to me. But Da was right here the wholed time. I think Elder Craig's is scared of Da. Isn't that funny mama?" "Yes lovey it is very funny." "Rosa did you talk to D." With a sigh she said "Yes but he said it doesn't change anything." Padrick just shook his head. "I'm not surprised. She has hurt him terribly. I think he'll look for someone else to mate. Even if she comes to her senses I don't know if he'll mate with her." "He's very lonely. Even more so with the loss of our brother." Rosa said. "Can I tells you about last night now?" Asked Rohaynna. "Of course you can sweetie. What do you remember about last night?" Asked Padrick. "I did what Auntie Simonè told me to I found out what his name is." Both Padrick and Rosa gasped. Eternal Ch. 06 Almost everything important in my life started with an L, Ghost began. Love, lust, Leila--I've been told that even Judith was once called Leslie. For now, I'll tell you about the L who was almost my friend. Eternal Ch. 07 Gay warning again. (It kind of bugs me that I have to do this--I've never seen anyone give a lesbian warning--but I guess it's considered weirder for a guy to read guy-on-guy than for a girl to read girl-on-girl.) With the sound of a pop, Randall found himself inside the office building again. It was night by then, but he could still hear sounds outside--a crowd had gathered in the wake of the carnage, and it had not entirely dispersed. "The police came in here, too," a voice said from behind him. "Good thing I had a spare suit--I claimed I'd managed to hide, and hadn't seen anything, and they left me alone again. They didn't even ask about the blood on the floor. I think they're aware this is one case they can't solve." Randall turned to find Neil behind him, staring at the floor. You're hard to catch off guard, aren't you, kid? he asked. Then again, that's pretty common in people who've had to deal with Judith. "I don't know about that. I'm not really sure who Judith is." I should have seen that coming. It's been less than half a month since the portals reopened, and from the sounds of it, she's hated you for years. You must have known her by a different name, back when she was still human. "I still don't get what's going on. Is Judith the thing with its eyes sewn shut? It showed up at my back door, three nights before Valentine's Day." Wait, what? No, but that's Judith's shtick--she sews shut the eyes of the demons she controls. Damn, she must really be after you, if the first thing she did after the portals opened was send someone to kill you. At that point, none of us even knew what was going on. He had a sudden realization. You didn't hurt that demon, did you, kid? It seems to be easier to break Contracts if you're in a different world than the Contract-holder--if she's still alive, and she hasn't killed you, we may have a truly free demon on our hands. "I slammed the door, and she ran away. Now, could you please tell me what this is all about?" -- -- -- -- For a very long time, Randall answered Neil's questions--first about his world, then about himself. At Neil's urging, he told a story of his past, casting Belial as a ruthless criminal, and himself as a policeman who died trying to bring him to justice. (It might even have been true, had he been able to remember.) Neil followed up with stories of his own life, somewhat less exciting, but with a certain dry humor. It was Neil who ultimately cut it short. "I don't think you came here just to tell stories, demon. What's your plan for me?" I'm hoping I can somehow use you to kill Belial, Randall replied. I've given you a bit of demonic power, but you're not under his control, and if you kill him, I'll be free. "There's one thing you're missing. Why should I do this? I mean, you're nice for a demon, but I don't want to risk my life for you." It's all about the carrot and the stick, kid. Let's start with the stick, since I'm more sure of it. Hop on one foot. Neil strained for a moment, but he hopped five steps before Randall told him to stop. That right there is the Contract. I'm bound to one too, and Belial ordered me to be at his side whenever he needs me. He's asleep now, and I have someone anchoring the teleport to bring me back--he hadn't told Grace where he was going, but she seemed to trust him--but even in this world, I'm not strong enough to break free. "So if you tell me to kill Belial, I've got to do it. God, I really am a wimp, getting myself into this position." If there's one thing I've learned from Belial, it's that giving people orders isn't enough. If they hate you, they'll find some way to twist your words. Kid, you have something I've never found before, and I think I may have something you want as well. The last time you saw me, what did you feel? "I thought you were going to kill me. I tried to be brave, but then I couldn't . . ." That wasn't my question. What did you feel? Was it like what I felt? Neil struggled with the words. "When you called me 'kid,' I began to remember something--I'm still not sure what. It was like there was something inside me, something that controlled me. And then you made the cuts, and I felt . . . purer. You weren't hurting me, you were hurting the thing. I felt like I finally had a chance at Heaven." You're not the first guy I've known who likes it rough, kid, but I've never met anyone who likes it quite that rough. There's so much pain in you, and so much sorrow, but at the same time, there's something strange--maybe even beautiful. When this is all over with, I'd like to help you find it. For once, Neil looked him directly in the eye. "You're weird, you know that?" As a demon, I'm amazed to have found a new form of pain. As a man . . . Well, it's basically the same. It appeared that he'd finally found a way to catch Neil off guard. "That--that doesn't matter. I mean, you're a demon. I'm not gay, and this would be gay if you were a man instead of a demon." Randall didn't bother responding to that in words. Instead, he moved closer, and ran his knife-tongue along Neil's cheek, not quite piercing the skin. Neil stood appropriately still, but Randall was certain he was trying not to shudder. Randall tried the other cheek, this time making a shallow cut, and he was rewarded with a sudden blast of this strange pain. Better not spend too much time doing this, Randall told Neil. It takes twenty minutes to charge up to teleport, and I need to get back before Belial knows I'm gone. "Just one more," Neil insisted, and Randall obediently matched the lines on Neil's cheeks, even as they vanished again. Randall did not say goodbye--he had long since lost track of formalities--but he offered Neil one last promise before he began to concentrate. When Belial's dead, we'll be able to do this whenever we want. I'm not sure how we'll manage, but I'll find a way. Neil, too, had something to say. "That demon with the sewn-shut eyes could be useful to us. I think I know where she's hiding. If I'm right, I'll bring her tomorrow night." Eternal Ch. 08 Ghost called out a mental greeting as the front door slammed shut. Hello there. My name's Ghost. It's nice to meet you. Harry played along. "It's nice to meet you too, Ghost. I'm Harry." How are you doing, Harry? Done anything interesting lately? Harry plonked down on the couch beside her. "Well, I went to ask about the job. Some guy at a gun shop is looking for assistance--mainly to guard the store while he's not there. A few other shops have been looted." He looked slightly embarrassed. "The catch was, he wanted me to prove I wasn't a looter. He hadn't really figured out how I was supposed to do that . . ." When Harry ran out of anecdotes, Ghost shared a few of her own, stories of the friends she'd made even in the depths of Hell. The minutes passed with soft words--and, a few times, with laughter. -- -- -- -- "It sounds like not all your memories are bad," Harry said. Looking back on it, you know what's really weird? Ghost asked. Once I forgot who Leila was, I started to enjoy Hell. I really believed in Judith's cause, and I was happy to do anything I could to help her. Even when she needed to seal some treaty, and she used me as one of the terms--it wasn't as good as it is with you, but it was what I was made for. As always, Harry was infuriatingly quick to reassure her. "It was what you needed to do, in order to survive and stay sane." At first, I thought that too. I told myself that there was a Leila-me and a demon-me, and that I was letting the demon-me take over, just for a while. But then I started being the demon all the time. I went so long without remembering your face . . . "There's a 'but' coming, right?" Not yet, but good idea--that's the one hole we haven't used yet. She continued before he could work out what she'd said. There is no Leila-me, just me. I'm a demon, and maybe that's not a bad thing. She scooted closer to him on the couch, and rested the tip of her tail on his shoulder. You like this, don't you, having a demon as your lover? For you, I'll be the best demon I can be. "You keep talking about how evil you are, but I can't believe it. There's more to you than sin." Judith was the one who said that I was full of sin, and that I couldn't go to Heaven because I screwed Neil. I think that she was full of bullshit, and that I exist because Leila felt guilty about screwing Neil. I'm everything she couldn't tell you before she died. She grinned toothlessly at him. Or everything she couldn't show you, at least. There was a certain tone Harry took whenever he thought he was about to win an argument. He used it then. "When you lick my face, to wake me each morning--what does that mean?" It's the closest a tempter can come to a chaste kiss. And before you say it, yes, I care about love more than sex. That's why I've been going easy on you, and letting you get used to just how perverted I am. You know, if you really want to prove you understand me . . . Harry seemed amused--or else he'd gotten better at pretending to be amused. "Should I be worried?" The couch's too small for this. She stood, and turned towards him. You have twenty minutes to make and eat dinner. I'd recommend saving the dishes for the morning. When you're done, meet me in the bedroom--we'll be there for quite a while. "Isn't this supposed to be our first date?" Just come out and say it. You're old, and you don't want to have sex three times in one day. She smiled again, but her tone was serious. This is important to me. I'll tell you why later. -- -- -- -- "So, what do you want me to do?" Harry asked. Take me and make me yours, Ghost replied, lying facedown in their bed.. For once in your life, stop being tender and gentle, and ride me like a bucking bronco until I'm too tired to move. Show me that you know exactly what I want. Harry seemed oddly disappointed. "You don't even want to kiss me?" Leila had listened in on a few of Harry's sales calls, and Ghost took the opportunity to mimic his speech patterns as she stuck her rear in the air. Why pay the full market cost for a kiss when you can get this fine cut of demon ass for half the price? I can promise you one hundred percent that this ass is the best you've ever had--it's warm, it's firm, and thanks to the miracle of demon physiology, it's even self-lubricating! And as a one-time-only special offer, I'm including with this ass a demon's tail, absolutely free! What does a demon's tail do? Well, I can't tell you that right now, but I can promise you'll love it or-- She abruptly found herself flat against the bed, a familiar weight atop her. Harry hadn't even finished removing his pants. That was faster than I expected. Go ahead, stick it in. Harry obliged--at first cautiously, but soon realizing that she was far roomier than a human. I think it's a branch off the tube that connects my cunt to my mouth, Ghost continued. It doesn't have a tongue, but it does have the same liquids. And in case you can't tell, right now, it feels really, really good. This feels strange, Harry thought, letting the link take the place of words. Very strange. Not that I dislike it . . . He shifted atop her, slowly and carefully. Then you'll love this, Ghost told him, curling her tail behind him. She ran its tip around the rim of his anus, then pushed it just a fraction of an inch inside. She moved faster and faster, and she was gratified to find that Harry matched her pace, filling her with his lust as their thoughts blended together . . . For a while there, she thought, once it was all over, I wasn't sure which of us I was. "Are you sure now?" Harry asked. I think so--she began, but Harry cut her off. "Let's just lie here for a while." She felt him begin to soften inside her, but the love that radiated from him only strengthened as he ran his arms under her chest and embraced her. This is your way of proving how you feel about me, she thought, a statement rather than a question. You want me to understand that even if we're not making love, we can still simply be together like this. But there are two problems with that line of thought. "Enlighten me," Harry said. "I've been inside your head three times now, and I'm still not sure I understand you." For the first, there are a lot of stories I could tell you. Marlowe took me quick and dirty, then cast me aside when he was done. Belial made me tell him I loved him--looking back on it, he's the one I want to kill most of all. Isabella only touched me with her hands, keeping my body away from hers--I did kill her, under Judith's orders, wrapping a tongue around her neck and snapping it. None of them cared about me, not the way you do, and what I did with them was nothing like what I do with you. She wasn't sure if Harry was more confused or disgusted. "Why are you telling me this?" I know that you love me, Harry--or at least that you love Leila. I can feel it, breathe it, taste it, so powerful that it scares me. But it's in my nature to want your lust as well. You don't need to be afraid that you're using me. "You can't stop me from worrying. You've been through a lot, and I'm not sure how stable you are right now." Ghost would have laughed, if she could. My second problem will help you worry. What do you think happens to a tempter without lust? That certainly got Harry's attention. "But--I still--" Do you remember how your love for Leila changed, once the spark wore off? In its way, it was even stronger, but it lacked that raw hungry need. Words seemed inadequate, but Harry had two left to use. "Oh. Shit." It's not as bad as you might think--I only really need a bit of lust every few days. Things would be a lot easier if I could teleport to Hell, but I'm not a greater demon, so I can't control where I go. Without another demon to anchor me, I could end up anywhere. "Ghost, why didn't you tell me about this earlier? I can keep doing this for a while, but what are we going to do when I'm sixty years old?" Most tempters would have answered that question with a sentence containing the word "threesome," but Ghost knew Harry well enough to predict a negative reaction to that. Instead, she tried a more emotional approach. Remember when you said I was trying to drive you off? You're the reason I'm still here. Without you, I'd be somewhere random in Hell--maybe dead, maybe bound again, or maybe just alone. Staying with you means having to plan for the future, and Leila's plans never worked out. Her plans for work, her plans to start a family . . . We can argue tomorrow about what we'll do, but tonight, I just want you to keep me warm. Harry wasn't completely incapable of taking a hint. Rather than saying anything, he simply hugged her tighter. You know, Ghost thought, it's a good thing I don't breathe. I think you'd be choking the breath out of me right now. "Pretend I am. Pretend you can't say anything. At least for tonight, I'll pretend too." Eternal Ch. 09 This is where the plot really kicks in. I don't think there'll be any more "onscreen" sex after this point. (After eight chapters, I was out of sex acts, anyways.) * Neither Harry nor Ghost were quite certain what to do when the doorbell rang. Harry answered the door, while Ghost stayed out of sight. She could only hear snatches of speech--more from Harry than from the visitor, as his voice was louder. ". . . Doing here . . . unacceptable . . . left in peace . . ." As she crept towards the door, the other voice grew clearer. "I know you hate me," Neil said, "and I understand why. But I have no one else to ask--Leila's the only one who can help me." Let him in, she called out. I want to hear what he has to say. "Looks like it's your lucky day, Neil," Harry said. "Come in, and make it quick." Ghost came out from hiding as Harry shut the door. Neil stared at her for longer than was entirely comfortable. "You really are Leila," he said. Not exactly, she replied. But close enough. Harry translated: "She calls herself Ghost now." "Before I ask anything, I want you to know I'm sorry. For everything. I've . . . sort of got a boyfriend now. He's kind of like you." Ghost blinked--an action that was rather more impressive with three eyes. That's two sentences in a row that I didn't expect. There was one thing to be said in Neil's favor: when Harry repeated that sentence, many other men would have spoken back to him, as if Ghost were deaf as well as mute. Neil continued to address his words directly to her. "You're free now, aren't you? Judith controlled you, but you escaped. Randall hasn't escaped--he's been forced to kill for Belial. He wants me to kill Belial, and free him, but I don't know if I can do it on my own." Ghost pretended not to recognize Belial's name. I'm not going to help you out of the goodness of my heart--assuming I still have one. "We probably won't be able to get him alone. He may be with another demon, someone named Marlowe. Otherwise, he'll probably be with Judith." So that's where you're going with this. Revenge . . . I have three reasons to help you, and revenge is one of them. I won't promise anything yet, but I'll at least meet with this Randall. Harry didn't even finish repeating that. "Ghost, this sounds dangerous. Very dangerous." I'll explain when he's gone. For now, just tell him what I said. Harry did as he was told, but Neil had one more question to ask. "Randall said Judith was after me. You were with Judith. Do you have any idea what she wants?" All I can say, Ghost thought, and Harry translated, is that she must have known you in life. I was told once that her real name was Leslie. At that, Neil started laughing and couldn't stop. Between guffaws, he gave a time and an address, and managed one more apology before making his way to the door. As soon as the door was shut, Harry turned, clearly frustrated. "Can you explain any of that?" I'm not sure what's going on with Neil, but I kind of owe him. I think he's the reason Judith made me, but he's also how I got free, so in a way, it's because of him that I'm here with you. I still haven't explained how I got here, have I? Harry tried to match her calm, with mixed success. "I've been afraid to ask." It's a bit anticlimactic, since I'm missing a lot of information. I'm not sure what Neil's connection to Judith is, and I don't know why the trip from Earth to Hell is no longer one-way. When I last saw Judith, she had no idea of the latter, either--but whatever the former is, it meant that she reacted quickly when she realized something had changed. As soon as she figured out that she could send someone to Earth, she immediately told me to kill Neil, and she dropped me off at his back door. She didn't realize how much weaker the Contracts get between dimensions. "And just like that, the Contract broke?" Not until I actually refused to kill Neil. It was . . . unpleasant. I don't even know how to describe it. But I held my ground until Neil slammed the door in my face, and when it was over, I found you. Harry studied her face for a moment. "You said you had three reasons." The second reason is revenge, plain and simple. If anyone deserves to die, it's Belial. As for the third . . . This Randall's a demon. What if he can anchor me when I teleport? "You're saying you could go to Hell, drink some lust, and come back?" It would still be risky, but it's better than teleporting at random. He moved as if to embrace her, but thought better of it. "Just come back to me in one piece, all right?" I promise you, I have no intention of being the one who dies. Eternal Ch. 10 I'll state again that there won't be any sex in this chapter, just plot. Sorry. * "This is going to be fun," Belial growled as he looked up at the neon sign in front of him. Horny Rhino Burlesque Club--suggested by Judith as an easy target, since it was far from any major National Guard outpost, but approved by Belial for the fun of killing half-naked women. "Curt, Travis, Randall--cover each side of the building, one per side. Make sure nobody gets out the fire exits. Alice, stay by my side, and be ready to summon Judith if something goes wrong. The rest of us are going in the front." With few cars on the roads, the night was quiet, and no witnesses needed silencing. Belial's first surprise was at the front door--alongside the bouncer stood a hairless quadruped, about half again the size of a sword spider. "How in the world did you tame a devourer?" he asked from a safe distance. The bouncer tried to act calm as he stared down the approaching horde. "You mean Chompy? He just showed up one day, and when I fed him an apple, he started following me around. He looks fierce, but he's as loyal as a dog." He risked another glance at the spiders trailing behind Belial. "If he's yours, go ahead and take him back--I won't--" With a wave of Belial's hand, the bouncer collapsed. Chompy's defeat took only slightly longer, outmatched by seven sword spiders. "Grace, stay here and make sure he doesn't get back up. Don't kill him if you don't have to--he'll make a nice gift for Marlowe. The rest of you are going in. Kill everything that moves!" There is little point in describing in detail what happened next. The noise of the initial screams overwhelmed even the blaring music, and patrons ran in every direction, dodging around tables. Others (including the dancer on stage) stood or sat in place, rigid with disbelief. Those who drew guns found their weapons ineffective, and those who made it to the fire exits had their escape abruptly cut off. Blood soon stained the hardwood floor. It was sheer coincidence that Belial noticed one man, a well-dressed nerd in a state of shock, snap out of it as a sword spider approached his table. The nerd stood from his seat, and reached into a briefcase, pulling out what appeared to be an ordinary kitchen knife. Whatever he called out to the spider, it went unheard under the screams, but Belial would have guessed it as "Over here, you big galoot!" This was where Belial got his first shock--the nerd was fast! He vaulted onto the table, and took a single swipe at the sword spider, not seeming to care if it drew blood. Before the spider could respond, he leapt sideways to evade it, and slashed at another spider. He drew the attention of one spider after another, all the while drawing closer and closer to the front of the club-- Belial realised his objective just in time, and managed to simultaneously wave his hand and sidestep. The nerd's flying leap ended in an ignominious crash against the front door. Belial studied the body for a moment. "What in the world was that? Alice, call Judith--we might need her." He turned to note a patron making his way to a side exit. "Sneaky, but not sneaky enough--" The knife went halfway through his neck, and he collapsed without another word. How the Hell is he still alive? he tried to think, but the words escaped him in the haze. All of a sudden, it seemed too much work to stand back up. "The Go! International Karving Knife cuts through even the toughest meats!" the nerd crowed, his voice already beginning to dull in Belial's ears. "And it's available free with your purchase of three hundred dollars or more of cutlery!" The nerd began to laugh. "I did it! I fucking did it! I killed a fucking demon!" Greater demons may be strong and powerful, but their stamina leaves much to be desired. Nonetheless, Belial lived long enough to hear three more things. The first was the faint pop of a mass teleport, together with the screams of the surviving patrons. The second was Judith's voice--"Hello, Neil. It's good to see you again." Two sentences from the nerd ensured that Belial died in utter confusion. "Good evening, Mother. I've been expecting you." -- -- -- -- From the roof of a building just across the street, Ghost watched as thirty figures popped into existence. Had she been capable of wording her thoughts at the moment, they might have been either Oh crap or Finally. She'd been charged and ready to teleport for more than an hour--hence why she was less than coherent at the moment. Just crossing the street wasn't as random as switching dimensions, and a good third of the other tempters were almost as scarred and warped as she was. With plan A compromised, it was time to try going undercover. Eternal Ch. 11 "How much of this did you plan?" Judith asked, not sure what answer she was hoping for. "Not much," her son replied, standing over Belial's corpse. "I knew Belial was coming, but I froze up when I finally saw him. People died who shouldn't have." "You did brilliantly, my dear, and you got rid of that arrogant bastard. Not without help, of course." She reached out with her mind, finding ten sword spiders, eighteen patrons, and an increasingly panicked dancer, and she gave them all an order: Be still. "Hold the humans for me," she called, and thirty tempters rushed the floor, nineteen wrapping them in tongues and tails, eleven milling about in case one broke free. (Sword spiders are hard to handle, and she didn't want to expend more energy than necessary.) "I'll find out later which of these spiders holds your Contract. Now, where were we?" "You're going to kill me, aren't you?" Neil asked, seeming strangely unconcerned about the answer. "Just like you killed Cassie." "Your potential is amazing," Judith replied, "as both a warrior and a negotiator. I'm going to kill you, but I'm not going to let you stay dead." To Judith's surprise, Neil laughed again. "You want to make me into a demon?" "You lack the rage that makes a sword spider, but I know you feel guilt from sins of cowardice. Before my time, it was always claimed that tempters were worthless in battle. With you at my side, I'll prove that imps are also a force to be reckoned with." She gentled her voice as she smiled at him. "We'll be together again, and this time, I'll be the mother I should have been back then. Your life has been sinful, but you can still be redeemed, just as I have been." Neil seemed unsteady (and quite possibly unstable), but he didn't run or plead. "Just seeing you makes me remember things I haven't thought about in twenty-five years. I guess I always knew I should have died instead of Cassie. I'm ready now." "Let me do the honors," another voice cut in, and Judith turned to find Lilith trailing behind her--as always, she'd stayed out of the way. Judith merely nodded, and within seconds, the old tempter was less than a tongue's length from Neil. She looked him up and down, as if trying to match him to some familiar pattern. "Who was Cassie?" she asked. -- -- -- -- "Good afternoon, Mother!" Neil called out in the most formal tone he could manage. "Good afternoon, kid!" Leslie replied. "And don't call me 'Mom'--it makes me feel old." The woman who would be Judith had borne Neil nine months after her eighteenth birthday, unmarried to the older man who'd fathered him. "Wait--did you just call me 'Mother'? And since when do you say 'good afternoon'?" "Cassie says that! Good morning, good afternoon, good evening." Neil suddenly looked sheepish. "Cassie said I shouldn't tell you about her. She said you scare her. But I like her, and you'll like her, too. She's a little weird, but she's nice, and smart too." Leslie was angry, but she kept her tone gentle. "Neil, you know I don't like it when you hide things from me. There are lots of evil people in the world, and they'd love to grab you up and take you away! All of us deserve to be punished . . ." ". . . But some of us are worse than others," Neil finished. He started talking quickly. "I wasn't hiding anything. Ralph was being mean to her--telling her she was stupid, and she didn't know how to say things right. I told him to stop, and he wouldn't . . ." Leslie listened to Neil chatter, and her suspicions began to grow. -- -- -- -- "Cassie?" Neil replied. "She was just a little girl who wanted to grow up to be a princess. Then she got in Judith's way." He matched the penetrating look Lilith had been giving him. "Don't tell me--mmph!" Should have shut him up earlier, Judith thought. Aloud, she asked, "Aren't you going to kill him?" "There's something not right about this," Lilith replied. "I feel . . . strange." -- -- -- -- "Good afternoon, Neil," a lilting voice said, somewhere towards the front of the apartment. "Is this really where you live? It is so very small!" "Mom says it's 'sad,'" Neil replied. "Uh, I mean Mother says it's 'sad.' Anyway, she works late, so she isn't here now." A pause. "Good afternoon, Cassie." Leslie strained to hear their words from inside the closet. She'd talked a coworker into taking her shift--she wanted to see what Neil did in her absence. "Oh, I am so very sorry!" Cassie said. "When I looked at your home, I did not notice what happened to your face! Are you all right?" Neil was probably blushing by now, though Leslie couldn't see to confirm it. "I told Ralph I'd get him in trouble if he didn't stop picking on you. He punched me in the eye." "How very brave! Did you defeat him in noble combat?" "I ran away." "Do not blame yourself. You are still young and small." At that, Neil turned indignant. "You're just a year older than me!" Cassie seemed not to hear him. "When you are big, you will be my knight, and I will be your lovely princess! I am learning to talk like the princesses in books, and when I am big, I will wear a pretty pink dress. You will have a sword and shield, and go off to slay evil dragons! And if you are ever hurt, I will kiss you and make it better!" Another pause, followed by a sound of disgust from Neil. "Why'd you stick your tongue in my mouth?" "That is how my parents kiss. You want to be a grown-up, do you not? When we are grown-ups, we will live together, and we will kiss just like that." Neil sounded nervous. "Cassie, this doesn't feel right." "The knights in the books always say that. They say it is wrong to be with the princess, and what would happen if the king knew, and she kisses him so he will stop talking." She laughed, a high and delicate sound. "It sort of feels wrong to me too. My mother said I must not kiss any more boys. But the books say it is good to be wrong sometimes." At that, Leslie slammed the closet door open. She neither scowled nor raised her voice as she saw Cassie for the first time. "You little whore," she hissed. "Do you have any idea what this means?" Leslie knew that the apartments were mostly empty at this time of day--no one would hear any noise that was made. With one hand, she hoisted Cassie into the air, carrying her into the kitchen. With the other, she pulled a knife from a drawer. "I'll make you understand," she said. "You need to know what love really is. Watch closely, Neil, and don't even think of running--if you run, I swear to God I'll kill her." -- -- -- -- "Come on, Lilith," Judith said. "We can't wait around here forever. The police won't risk their necks to fight us, but the army will get here eventually. If you're not going to kill him, I'll go get someone who will." Lilith stared at Neil again. "You did nothing," she said. "I remember little, but I know that you did nothing." Neil forced his mouth open. "When you stopped moving, I ran, and she tripped when she followed. She fell on the knife . . . I should have died. Not you." He gave up struggling, his point made. Lilith's voice took on a strange lilt. "For you, I will do nothing." Judith, briefly mesmerized by this strange exchange, remembered too late that she was supposed to be doing damage control. "I never intended to kill you, Lilith, only to make you understand. When we died, I took responsibility--I gave you the body you'd always wanted, and over twenty-five years, I taught you everything you know. You grew up strong under my guidance." "There can be no happy ending," Lilith said, slowly walking towards Judith. "Neil would not be Neil under your control--he would be Adam, or Joseph, or some other not-Neil. I refuse to do this." As she passed to Judith's right, she leaned low and slapped Alice across the face. "Do nothing! All of you, do nothing!" "Lilith, get back here!" Judith shouted. "I am ordering you, get back here! The Contract still binds you!" Judith realized that she was starting to cry. "Don't desert me now, Lilith. I've been atoning for twenty-five years." The Contract pulled with its full force, and Lilith stopped just a foot from the front door. She wriggled and writhed under a pain that Judith couldn't even imagine. Then, slowly, impossibly, she began to move again, pushing the door open. The situation could have been resolved if Judith had stilled Lilith with her power, but she didn't think to do so when the Contract had already failed. Instead, she kept shouting, and Lilith kept ignoring her, twitching her way into the open air. Before the door closed, she turned around, and uttered a single word. "Now." By the time Judith realized the implication of that word, there was already a tongue wrapped around her neck. -- -- -- -- "I doubted that Neil could move that fast," Lilith told Ghost, "unless he had made a Contract with a tempter. It did not occur to Judith that anyone would be Contracted to two demons at once, but I picked you out of the crowd--those scars on your back are quite distinctive. You were always good at the neck snap, and I thought you deserved a chance at it, so I made sure she was facing the other way." Ghost silently gestured towards the crowd inside the club--almost forty confused demons, and nineteen panicked humans. The implication was clear. Not now. "Do not worry," Lilith told her. "If nothing else, I am a very good mediator." She strode boldly into the center of the room, and prepared to speak. Eternal Ch. 12 "Good evening," a deep voice boomed. "As the manager of the Horny Rhino Burlesque Club, I'd like to welcome you all to the grand reopening, and thank you for your continued patronage in these troubled times. From tonight onwards, your loyalty will be rewarded by the most unique girls in this--or any--world!" "You going to paint your dames green and call them Martians?" someone yelled. "You've seen Chompy at the door, haven't you?" the manager asked. "Not all of his friends are so big or so ugly. Bring out Ghost!" The manager had seen the potential in the tempters' dances, but he'd insisted that they perform in cages--"So the johns aren't afraid you're going to eat them," he'd said. Three human girls worked together to lift Ghost's cage onstage. When she was properly centered, they pulled away a cloth and revealed her to the world, in a manner of speaking. "Christ, she's got more wrappings than a mummy!" "At least her eyes are pretty." "They must really want to tease us with this one." She couldn't feel much lust from them yet, and she began to worry whether stage fright would inhibit her. Harry had declined to attend the reopening, saying that it wasn't his sort of crowd, but Neil smiled encouragingly at her from a table near the stage. She met his eyes as she began to dance. She danced to no music, and needed none--the men who watched her felt her in the beat of their hearts and the movement of their blood. She slowly unwrapped herself, as if by accident, and for a minute, shock reigned in the audience. "Holy shit, she's got a tail!" "Three eyes? That can't be makeup." "What the hell--" But the last speaker didn't finish his sentence before falling under her sway. The crowd's lust filled her, hungry and savage, but tinged in places with a despairing loneliness that slowly softened under her influence. By the time Ghost took her final bow, resting her head against the bars of the cage, she'd revealed more of herself than Leila would ever have expected to show in public--but at her prior insistence, she wasn't entirely naked. "I regret to inform you all that this particular girl is not available," the manager said, "but others of her kind are waiting in the back rooms, ready to provide you with personal attention! Just be warned that the choice is up to them whether to give you their favors--and that we take no responsibility for whatever they might do to you!" He gave the crowd a very obvious wink. "Neither woman nor beast, so the cops can't charge us with prostitution or bestiality! See for yourself, and share a night unlike any other!" -- -- -- -- Neil met her backstage. "You did great," he told her. "I was surprised by how happy you seemed." Ghost had considered dissolving her Contract with Neil, but speaking with thought was far faster than writing notes. They're not all like Belial or Marlowe. Many of them are as sad and lonely as Lilith was, and it was a pleasure to make them happy for a while. She smiled. Besides, I like Harry, but it's boring to only have sex with him. I don't want to cheat on him again, and I haven't talked him into a threesome yet, so this is how I'll share my love. "I can't help but notice that 'yet.' Are you planning something?" Ghost wasn't sure whether Neil was fishing for an invitation, so she simply dodged the question. Like you're one to talk. Randall's still resolving things with Grace, isn't he? And then there's the Lilith issue. You'll be a very busy man soon. "By the way, how's Randall doing? I haven't gotten to see him much since that night." Everyone's fine so far. Lilith's been reconstituting the dead from the club--over my objections, I might add, but it's worked out better than I expected. Most of them have agreed to become tempters rather than fade away again. Neil tried to wrap his head around that. "You've got male tempters now?" Well, one of them always thought of himself as a woman, so we stabilized his form in that shape. We have a few imps, too, and we were lucky enough to get a devourer before anyone else could claim him. But yes, we have male tempters, and my friends say they've been great fun. None of us are strong enough to keep them all Contracted, but we might be better off that way--if we can get enough demons to join us without Contracts, we can build a bigger army than anything the greater demons have. "No Contracts, male tempters, and casual sex. Judith would hate to know about this." Neil struggled with his next question. "Ghost, I need to ask you something. Where do you think Judith is now?" Judith thought there must be a Heaven. We can't prove she was wrong. Dead demons go away, but who knows where they go? Maybe someday, another portal will open, and we'll find her sitting on a cloud. "She wasn't really evil, you know. Crazy, sure, but not evil. Even after everything she did, I still hope she isn't gone. " This time, Ghost knew what Neil wanted, so she told a single lie before she steered the conversation elsewhere. I hope so too. Anyway, I'm not planning to find out anytime soon. I'm happy with the world we know. "Things are only going to get messier from here on out. It's only a matter of time before the torches-and-pitchforks crowd shows up, and who knows when or whether Marlowe will come knocking." I don't need much to make me happy. Just a strong roof, a warm bed, and the one I love beside me--the three things we all deserve. Eternal Devotion "That fucking bitch," Erin mumbled again as she drunkenly leaned on her friend Paige. "Fuck.. break up with me? Fuck'n I'LL breakup.. with.. and her stupid face.. I don't fuck'n.." she slurred together as Paige helped her into her house. "Ok drunky girl.. so there's a garbage can beside you if you feel sick, just try to stay on your side ok?" Erin said as she started tucking her into bed. "I do feel sick.." she pouted as she began to curl up into a ball. "Well just try and aim for the trashcan ok?" Page said as she went to go move it even closer to Erin's head. "No not.. how could she.. that? But to me!" "This is some prime, wait-to-the-morning, stuff here." Erin said as she patted her friend on the back. "I fuck'n love or I thought.. but No! No it's meh meh meh all the time and. I mean it's like hello? I should have.. it's my place too! She shoulda .. spinning on the couch" "Look, we'll go by your place some time tomorrow when she's not home, you can grab some of your stuff and crash here for however long you need." Paige said as she started tidying up the room. "I'll crash.. I mean all over her face!" Erin said before making herself chuckle at the joke she thought she just made. "Of course you will, goodnight," Paige said as she turned off the light and walked back to her room. Eternal Devotion "How do I know. Do you even know how long it's been?" Erin asked. "Gotta be days, maybe even a week. I've never been this hungry." "That girl said it was being possessed that made it impossible to die, but it must be the crypt itself too. I mean this is all.. passed down person to person, there's got to be a lot we don't know. I guess it's anyone who's in here with me will be sticking around till next year when the door opens back up." Erin said contentedly. "Another year stuck with your bad stories," she joked. "You're one to talk, I'm stuck in here with your terrible jokes," April replied. "Well at least you aren't tied down for the whole time," Erin quipped. "But you like being tied down a least," April replied as she allowed her hand to more adventurously wander nearer Erin's crotch. "Well.. so do you!" Erin replied as she suddenly felt this take a turn for the sexual. "And you love my bad stories.." April said. "And you love my bad jokes.." Erin replied as she started to move what little she could to try to avoid the hand getting to where it was going. "Before we start yet another round of that though," she said, which got April's hand to stop what it was doing. "Well.. since it's not our last days any more, what do you say?" "Say to what?" April asked. "Oh.. right." "I didn't want to press it but.. I just.. I can't imagine my life without.." Erin said before being interrupted by a kiss. "I do.. I still do. I always will.." April said as she pulled herself off. "And I've been giving it some thought. I.. I have a present for you." "What do you possibly have that you can give me right now?" Erin asked as she looked skeptical with her eyes. "Next year, when you get up. I want you to put me in there. If you promise to be by my side, I promise that I will switch with you every year. I can take a year locked down.. but I only think I could take it if I had you beside me. So.. will you.. would you choose to stay?" Erin looked over at April, smiled and simply said "I do." Eternal Flame From the Journal of Victoria St. Christopher: September 5th, 1879 I have decided to begin this log of my thoughts and experiences now, as we begin our journeys overland through Africa, rather than during the period whilst we were at sea, for two reasons; the first being that sea voyages are commonplace now, and unworthy of note in a historical journal; and the second, that Father has needed me terribly much during the sea voyages, for they do tax him so. Oh, I almost wept to hear the sailors as they made their japes about Father having worse sea legs than a woman--and woman, I might add, is far nicer than the terms they used for me. Sailors dislike having a woman on their boat, Mr. S_____ said. They fear it brings bad luck. "They fear." "They dislike." Oh, the man vexes me so, and vexes me more in the fact that he shields his opposition to me behind the words of others! I know full well that he would prefer that Father travel without me; he thinks that it is unwomanly of me to travel to the wilds of Africa. Well, let him think what he will! I am of age in another week, and this is the Modern Era, is it not? Father needs me to look after him, ever since Mother died, and I cannot do that from our rooms in London. Besides... the chance to see Mount Umbalakata, the Mountain of Light and Darkness... it is a chance that no woman has ever, in her life, had. And very few men at that... the mountain is deep in the remote fastness of the jungle, and those few that have returned have done so in a delirium, speaking of "tunnels of black glass" and "blue flames". But I have no fear; I feel certain that Father and the expedition are up to the task. And if they do not feel the same way about me, well... I shall simply have to convince them of the fact! October 13th, 1879 I must confess, Dear Reader, that I did something today quite wanton, indeed brazen... as I am sure you understand, the wilds of Africa are now in the beginnings of summer, quite a contrast to the pea-soupers of London this time of year; the heat of the jungle, even in this early summer, is almost intolerable... especially in the clothing I brought with me. So, whilst the expedition slept, I stole into the baggage tent, and made away with an outfit belonging to Mr. S_____! Certainly, he was vexed... he threatened to remove it from me by force, the brute! But Father calmed all worries, and the redoubtable Mr. S_____ was unable to recover his garments. They are certainly much cooler, even if I do feel a trifle exposed in such clothing. The weather is not the only trial we must endure; indeed, we are beset with a veritable plague of ills. Three of the bearers have taken ill after mosquito bites; they manage, but we did have to leave some of the less essential equipment behind. And the local tribesmen, the Kumbol, have been... actually, they have been seen very little. But we know they are following us. They leave their heathen images in the camp, tied on cords of primitive leather. Father is curious, but I find myself merely repulsed by the hideousness of the carven idols! November 4th, 1879 Guy Fawkes day tomorrow, Dear Reader, and me with not a bonfire in sight! We have begun our ascent of Mount Umbalakata, and already we have reached to a height wherein the heat of the African summer dissipates in the thin air. At nights, we huddle around what little fire we can make burn in this rarefied atmosphere; even the arm of Mr. S_____ is welcome, when one is this cold! Needless to say, I have already returned his outfit and returned to my own clothing; however, I find that it is still not enough to keep out the wind. The climb is arduous, made even moreso by the confounded lack of air, but not dangerous... indeed, it almost seems as though we have been following some sort of path! Father is thrilled; already he is speculating that this might once have been a place of worship for the Kumbol. We have not seen them at all, though, since ascending the mountain; if it ever was a place of worship, it has since become taboo for them. I cannot blame them. The mountain offers up a sense of vastness all out of proportion to its size... it seems almost as though it menaces the landscape around it. Mr. S_____ laughs at my feelings; he calls them "hysterical." I do believe he expects me to faint! I will press on, if only to show him up. November 7th, 1879 We have discovered it! The rocky path we followed did, indeed, lead into the interior of the mountain... and now, we understand the meaning behind the ravings of the madmen who returned from this place. The walls are of basalt, it seems, but polished to a mirror finish by what can only be human hand; Father is now convinced that the Kumbol have made this place for some purpose, although we have yet to find any idols or images to cement our conviction to the proof. Father is also mapping out the structure of the tunnels, which seems quite convoluted; without his guidance, I feel certain we would quickly become lost, as Mr. S_____ has no sense of direction, and nor do I. The cold, I fear, has not noticeably abated within the caves, as much as we might wish it to; the lack of a wind, though, does help somewhat. I still wish for a warm fire and the comforts of home... but next to the thrill of discovery that awaits us, I find myself less and less caring of the chill, and warmed more and more within by the fires of curiosity. November 8th, 1879 I am now warmed both within and without, Dear Reader, and the story behind it is most curious. During the evening, our fires dimmed completely; when we awoke, almost numbed with cold, we made an amazing discovery... there was a slight bluish sheen to the walls, a flickering light that could not have been reflected from the outside of the caverns, for it was a moonless night; nor, indeed, from our own extinguished bonfire. Fascinated, we decided to investigate the source of the mysterious illumination. Mr. S_____ led the way, as his eyes had adjusted best to the light; Father went in the rear, using a dark lantern that he might draw his maps without obscuring our will o' the wisp, and that we might not be drawn into the caverns with no means of knowing how we might make our safe exit. I know not how long we walked, but as we wound our way through the passages, time seemed to lose all meaning. The flicker of the light seemed to draw us ever onwards, beckoning with a voice unheard, and making our legs walk will-they-or-nill-they towards it. I cannot speak for Mr. S____, but I felt almost a... a communion with the flame, as though I were being prepared to receive secrets of such import that they would take one's breath away. Father says he noticed nothing, when I spoke to him in confidence; yet, if he was mapping rather than staring at the flames, that is to be expected. Eventually, we came into a round chamber, perhaps twenty feet in diameter; the center of the chamber was occupied by a round pit five feet across. Dancing in the pit itself was a vast blue flame, the size of a man, issuing forth from the depths of the fissure in the center of the room; the warmth it gave off was a great comfit to our chilled bones, and I must confess I felt a warmth deeper than any mere raising of the temperature could explain. (Forgive me, Dear Reader, for expressing such vulgar thoughts, but I feel that everything of import must be committed to paper.) The flame danced in the eyes of all present, but I fear that I was affected most of all... perhaps Mr. S_____ was right, and something of weakness is present in the woman's nature after all, for I walked towards the flames without the least bit of concern, as though certain that they could do me no harm. Luckily, Mr. S_____ managed to recover his own senses enough to snatch me away, and stepped between myself and the azure radiance to keep me from a further entrancement. We have decided to make camp, here in the chamber. Father believes the flame to issue from some source of natural gas; he suspects it was ignited ages ago, and has maintained itself on its own fuel ever since. The very thought astounds us all, and we look forward to a confirmation of the fact. November 9th, 1879 I am beginning to worry. As I stated in my previous entry, we made camp in the Chamber of the Blue Flame (I do not know why, but I feel it necessary now to capitalize the words); the others, for their part, had little trouble sleeping, despite the brightness of the fire... indeed, they were possessed with a curious lethargy... but for myself, I could not sleep for some time. The flame seemed to draw at me with a powerful pull; if Dr. Mesmer is, indeed, correct on his theories of "animal magnetism", I imagine that this is what it must feel like. Scarcely could I close my eyes, before they opened once again to gaze on the flames, as they flickered, dancing and beckoning, rising and falling, their effects mirrored on the wall of the chamber, so that I felt I was within the flames... I felt the warmth rising, as though the very center of my womanhood was being consumed by the flames, and I thought I cried out, but it seemed the only sound I could hear was the gentle hiss of the flames... Eventually, I suppose, I must have slept, for what follows in my memory could have been naught but a dream. I remember rising to my feet and pulling my clothing off like a shameless trollop, touching the appendages of my womanhood in a brazen frenzy of lust. I remember moaning like a gale, but none of the men awoke or even stirred... (Of course, Father never would. He has always been the soundest of sleepers!) The flames beckoned me further, and I moved towards them; this time, Mr. S_____ slept like the dead, and none could stop me as I stepped into the pit. From there, the dream becomes stranger yet. I remember a sensation of weightlessness, and as I looked down, I noticed that the heat of the flames was buoying me up above the bottomless depths; yet, strangely enough, I felt no pain and the flames did not scorch me. Indeed, it was the exact opposite; everywhere the flames touched my body, I felt an electric tingling of pleasure; every nerve, every fibre of my being cried out with the most exquisite delight that I could scarce keep hold of my senses. Within the ecstasy, though, I heard a voice; female, yet unlike anything I had ever heard. Welcome, woman-child, it said, and it seemed that the mere emanations of its voice set up resonances of pleasure throughout my body. I am Katamisumba. I greet you; at last, the eons of waiting are over. I did not know what it was talking about, and I confess I did not care; all I wished was that I continue to feel this pleasure, which was the only thing I cared for in all the world. At that moment, had Father been attacked by a tiger, I fear that I would not have lifted a finger to stop it. All these ages, all these slaves, and yet... and yet, none have been foolish enough to bring a woman to me. Even the Kumbol, when I held them fast to my will, resisted me enough to send their women away to safety. But now the waiting is over. I shall be free of this place. You shall be my vessel, and through you, I shall have all that is... I wanted to scream out my agreement, that I would gladly be her vessel, if only I could continue to feel this way... perhaps I did, in the dream, but the voice was all I listened to. I remember crawling from the flames, utterly spent... then I remember no more until waking. But when I woke, the dampness of my womanhood told me that whether dream or reality, it had some hold upon my soul... November 10th, 1879 As I look upon yesterday's entry, Dear Reader, I wish-- oh, how I wish!-- that I could again dismiss the events of the previous evening as naught but a dream... but sad to say, now, I feel as though I have been confronted with the grim reality of the words that dream-voice has spoken to me, and I find myself in despair for my immortal soul. Perhaps you see these words as hyperbole, the fearful rantings of a weak and foolish woman; yet, Dear Reader, once I set forth the events of today, you will understand that I have been drawn into the net of something far more vast and terrible than Father or I could have imagined. This Katamisumba has a hold on me, and I fear that I cannot break it. Father spent most of the day testing the substance of the azure flame, scraping at the edges of the pit to obtain samples of soot that would, he felt certain, establish just how long the fires had burned within these walls. He seemed unaffected by the dancing lights of the fire; perhaps it was his near-sightedness that kept him from falling under whatever spell the flickering radiance cast. For myself, I found that the flame was more than a fascination, now; indeed, it felt as though the flames burned within my breast, though not with the intensity that they issued forth from the pit. I found myself gazing into space at times, and during those times, it felt as though the ghosts of the rapture I had felt during the dream were brushing up against me once more. I kept hearing a voice on the dimmest edge of hearing, whispering half-heard commands to me, and it was all I could do to keep my hands from rubbing shamelessly at my body once more... Eventually, I found myself speaking with Mr. S_____. I found some pretext to step into a side tunnel with him; in truth, he seemed far less contentious than he had in previous days. It seemed as though his wits had been dulled, perhaps, as I led him off into the demi-darkness lit only by the reflections of the blue flame. I thought I was acting of my own volition, I remember, even then... but when he turned to face me, I found myself possessed of a notion that I had never conceived of before. I knew that he had been nothing but an arrogant male, and that he held no regard for my intellect or skills; and yet, I knew, I was now the vessel of a power that saw him as little more than a slave, an object for my pleasure. It was then that I decided to demonstrate this power to him, and as such, I bade him look in my eyes. "See," I said, my voice taking on the same strange tones as the voice I had heard in my dream, "how the dancing light of the flame is reflected in my eyes." I knew in the back of my head that this was a lie; the flames within my eyes were no mere reflection, but a piece of the sapphire radiance itself! But I continued, calmly. "Watch as they dance and flicker, flicker and dance... they rise, then fall, then rise again, over... and over... drawing you deeper into their warmth... deeper... and deeper... warmer... and warmer... do you feel the warmth?" In truth, I suspect Mr. S_____ was already half in thrall to Katamisumba, merely from gazing upon her all day as the other men had done. In any event, his eyes were half-lidded and his voice was thick with sleep as he responded, "Yesss... I see... I feel..." I smiled. I shudder to imagine the cruelty in my expression, but my voice was filled with syrupy kindness as I said, "Wonderful! Now, as you feel the warmth, feel it spreading... spreading through your body... it makes you tired, and lazy, warm, and weak, and the heat spreads, and you feel hotter, and hotter, and weaker, and weaker, and now your clothing, feels so hot, so confining, you can't stand to be so hot, to have that hot hot clothing on your weak, tired, relaxed and lazy body... take off the clothing now..." The fire within me rose, redoubling in intensity, and I knew I had to remove my own clothing as well, even as he stripped down to nothing eagerly. I looked down at his manhood without any fear or shame; indeed, it felt right to do so, as though I was simply evaluating a prize of mine that I was soon to take ownership of... it was hard and erect, and he gasped in arousal and pleasure as I took it in my hand... "Now," I said, "you feel the heat making you even weaker, weaker still..." he was unsteady on his feet now, and his eyes were tightly shut... "lie back on the floor, and feel the heat even there as you feel the warmth engulf you--" I almost choked on these last words as I slipped his manhood inside myself, feeling an instant of pain as my maidenhead was broken, but not caring even a single bit as I ravished myself on him, rearing up, and bucking down, and feeling the blue flame pass through me into him as we both gasped out our pleasure, and as his self was obliterated by the power of Katamisumba... And then I found myself moving on, and seducing another of the party, and then another, until I was spent. Thankfully, my Father was not one of the ones I was compelled to enslave; I could not bear to think of that. But I am certain that Katamisumba has no compunctions about using me as it will, and I confess that my pleasure at being a part of its machinations grows with each passing minute, overwhelming my will to resist. I prayed to the Lord, but if He heard, He did not answer. November 11th, 1879 This will be my last entry. If it is found, I beg that you, Dear Reader, take heed of the words therein and flee Mount Umbalakata. No joy of discovery could possibly be worth the pain and loss that has followed our travels; no words can express the sorrow and shame I feel now, for I know that I have been responsible for that most heinous of crimes; patricide. It began as I finished my, or rather Katamisumba's, enslavement of the expedition; by the time I was finished, all of the group save Father were her eternal slaves. They had no will of their own, but only obeyed my commands, like the golems of legend. It was then that Katamisumba made my decision for me; we would leave this place, and proceed down the mountain, there to begin the greater enslavement of the weak and foolish men... and to bring more women into the fold as her vessels and appendages. Forgive me. I notice her idioms creeping into my own writings. My time must be very short, then, and I shall try to proceed apace. The obstacle to our progress was simply thus: we had no way of knowing how to leave this place. Katamisumba did not know; indeed, the whole of the labyrinth had been constructed as a trap for her by those whose names I am not allowed to know. We could not follow out our guide in; the light led us to Katamisumba, but not away. And, as I have stated, none of us had any sense of direction save Father. That left only him. I feel sure, now, that Katamisumba was waiting until she had a firmer grasp on me to enslave him; I struggled mightily against her will, but in the end, I did as she was bade and approached him. :"Father," I said, "please look at my eyes. Something's wrong with them." I blush at the base deceit in my voice, even now! Father looked, but again, the strangest of things occurred. He was not ensnared by the azure flames. I suspect now that he had a single-minded devotion to science that made everything else--Katamisumba, Mother, even me--pale alongside it. He waved off the strange light as a reflection of the fires, and returned to his work. I almost wept for joy, but Katamisumba's fury grew within me. I felt the flames rise, but these were not the same fires that had made Mr. S_____ and the others a pawn of Her will... instead, I felt my hands roar with burning wrath, the crucibles of purification. I felt them wrap around Father's head, grasping at his temples, and I was forced to watch as... No. I will spare you the description, though I cannot spare it of myself. Suffice it to say that Father was dead, and I snatched away the map from his smouldering body. But sorrow lent me strength, and I used it to flee the caverns before I was forced to call on my mindless slaves to follow me; Katamisumba may keep their wills from them, but they will rot within the caverns without serving Her will, that I swear! Father was a scientist, and he passed on his ways of thinking to me; thus it is, I realize that Katamisumba's control decreases with distance, and increases with time. Sadly, the former is limited, while the latter is not; I could flee to the ends of the earth, but She would still own me again, soon enough. Hence it is that I take a single step, and plunge a distance that, though small, will separate me from Her forever; the Lord will forgive, I am sure, for I end my life not from despair nor shame, but as a sacrifice that the world might remain free of Her control. I shall leave this journal at the entrance to the cavern, that any who find it may be warned away... Eternal Flame I remain, until the end, Victoria St. Christopher... THE END