12 comments/ 91495 views/ 61 favorites It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 01 By: Evil Alpaca This story is a bit wordy and fairly long, so if you are looking for immediate gratification, you might want to look elsewhere. ------------- ----------------------- The following story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between actual persons, living or dead (or just confused) is entirely coincidental. Please do not copy/redistribute the story, in part or in total, without the author’s permission. This story takes place in the fictional city of Springfield, California several hundred years in the future, so don’t go looking for it on a map. And in my little fictional world, there are no unwanted pregnancies or STD’s, except as plot driving devices. The author encourages the practice of safe-sex. This story also consists entirely of f/f sexual intercourse. --------------- --------------------------- “It’s a Dead Man’s World” Part 1 --------------- --------------------------- Eliza was bored. Bored . . . bored . . . bored. She hated gigs like this, where it was ninety-nice percent waiting and only one-percent actual action. At that moment, she was hiding in an alcove about thirty feet from a diamond the size of a volleyball that had been uncovered in South America a few years earlier. The diamond was in a bulletproof glass case with all sorts of alarms and electronic wizardry that one her partners had personally approved. Rumor had it that some well-funded religious militia with delusions of spiritual connectedness to the jewel was going to make a major play for the Heaven’s Eye (as the diamond was called) sometime that weekend. The United State government had personally come to Eliza and her team and asked for them to provide additional security for the Eye while it was in the world renowned Springfield Museum. She had smiled at that. She didn’t really like working for this or any government, so she had upped her fee, but her contact had agreed to the price. The U.S. didn’t want to look bad by being the country that lost the priceless artifact. In a couple of days, the Eye would be finishing its worldwide tour in Paris. ‘Funny,’ she thought. ‘You couldn’t have picked a stranger team to hang out in a museum.’ She concentrated for a moment, causing her incisor teeth to extend for a moment. She thought that she might still have a bit of food stuck there and it was driving her nuts. The benefit of being a vampire was that you had some control over your teeth, making things like cleaning and flossing easier. A few centuries earlier, this whole scenario would have been a little odd. But somehow, inexplicably, things had changed. In this world, as well as the one where Eliza and her kind came from, their were legends of monsters. In this world, the monsters were things like vampires, werewolves and dragons. These were the things that went bump in the night and hid under the bed of little kids. In Eliza’s world, those “monsters” were humans. Scientists, theologians and philosophers had argued for decades about what it all meant. One thing that they agreed on was that there were more than one dimensions that made up reality. The best guess was that over the course of evolution for both dimensions, cracks had formed in the intervening dimensional wall. Occasionally, someone or something would slip through. Then a much larger, very visible crack had formed on this planet, allowing people from sister “Earths” to pass through. While panic and mayhem had ensued when the two worlds first encountered each other, it became quickly obvious that the two sides had a mutual problem: what if the crack in reality got bigger. So desperation had brought about peace faster than anything else could. The two worlds were actually identical in geographic makeup, which surprised everyone. But there were certain things that had been quite different. Humans had all but lost the capacity for magic, and had subsequently made up for it through technological innovations. Some of the races that inhabited Terra (as Eliza’s world was called in this world) used magic as a commonplace tool, but this had caused them not to make the technological strides that humans had. Eliza herself had been living in what humans considered a medieval castle when she had crossed into this world over thirty years earlier. Humans and vampires were incredibly similar biologically. Vampires were stronger, faster and lived much longer than humans. Some vampires could live several centuries without batting an eye, and a powerful vampire sorcerer or sorceress could live for a millennium. But pregnancies amongst vampires were incredibly long as well, averaging about three human years, and only a small amount of coupling ever resulted in pregnancy. So the long lives of vampires were balanced with difficulty in creating new life. And despite human legend, vampires could NOT create new members of their kind by feeding off the lifeblood of other species and being fed off themselves. Human blood was incredibly nourishing to vampires, so humans that agreed to donate their blood or let themselves be “nibbled on” were welcome in vampire society. But humans found themselves the recipient of an unexpected benefit of their interaction with the undead. Blood siphoned through a vampire’s body was cleaned of impurities, so many vampires lent themselves to hospitals and medical organizations to aid in the study and curing of a number of diseases. By the time Eliza had made her first journey to this world, the two dimensions had actually begun to coexist quite happily, much to everyone’s surprise. Between human understanding of physics and Terra’s understanding of magic and dimensional portals, the crack between the alternate dimensions had been stabilized. The two worlds interacted, did business and explored one another. Eliza herself was a reasonably powerful sorceress. She came from a line of nobility that stretched back thousands of years. She had been groomed to be a socialite and debutante, and her parents had hoped she would become the chief spell-caster of the local governor. All her teachers and friends and family had recognized the power she held. But then the inevitable had happened. Eliza had become, in human terms, a teenager. Eliza had grown restless as her parents planned her life for her. She wanted to go out and live a little. And her parent’s attempts to find her a suitable mate had driven her over the edge. It wasn’t that finding attention for her was particularly difficult. She was five feet, nine inches tall with delicate but well-defined muscles. She had full red lips, high cheekbones, short white hair, a small chin and brilliant yellow eyes. She turned heads of both human and vampire suitors. She had a full bosom and a heart-shaped posterior, making her a radiant specimen, no matter what race you were. When she had been growing up, she heard stories about the technological marvels of Earth and some of the sights, and she had wanted to visit. She had gotten a human tutor to teach her the English, French, German, Spanish and Russian languages. When she graduated from her academic academy, her parents had promised to send her on an excursion to Earth as a gift. She had traveled all over this world and had fallen in love with it. Her own people were . . . very stuffy. They were what Americans would call “very Euro-trash.” Humans were much more blunt and less inclined towards ceremony, and her restless nature found that appealing. Then she had come to the bright lights and big cities of the United States. She knew then that she wanted to stay. Her parents had objected, her peers had acted shocked, but she had made up her mind. While visiting between worlds was common, living in the other world full time was a little more rare and required a lot of paperwork and persuasion. Her parents were fairly influential and finally managed to get it arranged, but they had made Eliza agree to bring over some “insurance,” just to make sure she was safe. That “insurance” was her friend Thug. Thug was a troll. Trolls were scary animals to most people and vampires. Actually, they were scary to everything that had the sense to BE scared. Trolls were natives of Terra, and they had life spans twice that of humans but the pregnancy rate of vampires. You might think this would make them an endangered species. But very little endangered a troll. They averaged about eight feet in height, had shoulders as wide as some cars, huge noses that could smell quarry a mile away and tusks emerging from their mouths. The tended to be hunched over and covered with powerful muscles (Thug’s forearms were as wide around as Eliza’s shoulders). Trolls were all both male and female, capable of impregnating one another easily. Like vampires, they were nocturnal creatures who could see in the dark and could even see heat signatures given off by other creatures. They were incredibly fast over short sprints, had skin that was as tough as stone and had incredible regenerative properties. Unless you went after them with something really hot and/or fiery, very little could actually kill them. Trolls tended to be somewhat magic resistant as well. But if all that wasn’t scary enough, they also had the chameleon-like ability to sort of merge with their background and change their skin color (which was normally a yellowish-green). They had been ambush predators in the early years of their evolution, and some of their more useful traits had survived. Trolls and vampires had existed somewhat harmoniously, though interaction between the two groups had been limited. Thug’s parent had actually worked for Eliza’s father, and the two had been unlikely friends for four decades. Trolls were just as smart as any other race, but people assumed they were stupid due to their appearance. When Eliza had decided to open up her security business, she had already planned on bringing Thug on board, so her parent’s request was no inconvenience whatsoever. As she had been trained to act as a protector, so she decided to continue along those lines in her new home. So she had started putting together an oddball team. She herself provided hand-to-hand combat ability as well as magical aptitude. Magic didn’t work quite as well in this world, but she was still formidable. Thug was definitely the muscle of the outfit but was very good at stakeouts (due to his chameleon ability and patience). Then there was Wyrm, a human hacker, programmer, and all around electronics guru. Wyrm was the cockiest son of a bitch that Eliza had ever met, but he was also charming and somewhat handsome. Eliza realized that having attractive employees helped make the business itself more attractive to its clients. Wyrm could have been an underwear model, but he was a bit too much of a techno-geek. After Wyrm, a man named Dennis Murgo and his wife Allyson had contacted her. The couple had met while severing in the military, and both were experts in surveillance and tactics. Dennis had been with special ops while Allyson was an explosives expert. While in their late thirties, both of them were in phenomenal shape, and were perfect additions to the team. Despite the occasional boredom, Eliza loved her job. It was dangerous and exciting, and it was the sort of job her parents hated. Within four or five years, they had earned themselves a reputation as some of the best in the world at what they did, which meant Eliza and her team took the jobs they wanted and named their own price. She glanced over towards a shadowy area in front of some curtains where she knew Thug was sitting. Once you spotted a camouflaged troll, you could usually keep track of them. She thought she could make out where his eyes were, particularly when he rolled them. She was willing to bet he was bored too. Luckily, she had a telepathic link established with all the team-members so they could talk completely silently while they waited. Mentally linking multiple people was tricky for most magic wielders, but it was old hat to Eliza. {{Leave it to humans to show up late for their own robbery,}} Thug mumbled mentally. Hearing Thug think was interesting. Trolls couldn’t reproduce human or vampire sounds, but they understood them clearly enough. Troll language was guttural and hard to comprehend by some standards, but their minds were clear. {{Hey!}} came thoughts from the backroom where Wyrm was hiding and monitoring the security system. {{Don’t pay any attention to him,}} thought Dennis who was up on the roof with a sniper rifle. {{He showed up a week late for dinner that one time.}} Eliza smiled. Thug was dependable on the job, but occasionally got distracted. He had been having lunch next the creek next to the group’s Springfield offices when he realized he didn’t really know where that creek came from. Rather than asking or looking at a map, he had simply decided to follow it. On foot. For about three days. {{Sure,}} Thug thought, {{ . . . just keep throwing THAT back in my face.}} {{Leave him alone,}} came Allyson’s thoughts. {{I’d kind of wondered where that creek went myself.}} {{That’s why they invented maps dear.}} Dennis sent his wife an image of a big smiley face with its tongue sticking out. They all got an image of Allyson rolling her eyes. {{Heads up everyone,}} thought Dennis with a sudden air of seriousness. {{Got three unmarked hovercraft with heavily tinted windows trying to park inconspicuously.}} {{How does someone ‘park inconspicuously’?}} Wyrm asked. {{I’ll explain later. They’re on the north side of the building. They’re getting out now . . . I count fifteen getting out, but the drivers are staying in. Wyrm, can you get me outside surveillance on the other side of the building? I don’t want to take my eyes off these guys.}} {{Got it. Nope, I don’t see . . . wait, we’ve got another two craft in the alley. I think I understand the ‘parking inconspicuously’ comment now. They’re trying to hard to look like they’re not being sneaky. Another ten getting out. South side. They’re all heavily armed.}} {{Shit,}} thought Eliza. {{I wasn’t expecting this much of a firefight. If they start blasting . . .}} She didn’t even need to finish the thought. They were surrounded by several billion dollars worth of irreplaceable artwork. {{Wyrm, call the cops. What kind of response time can we expect?}} After a few moments, she got an unnerving response. {{Shit. It looks like the cops have their hands full. A bunch of fires and an explosion downtown have them all tied up. According to police broadcasts, unmarked black hovercrafts were seen nearby in a couple of cases. I think these guys set up some distractions. Traffic alone means we won’t get any official help for fifteen minutes.}} Eliza hated it when the other guys did something smart. Fifteen minutes might not sound that long to most people, but it was an eternity when people were shooting at you. {{ Okay, }} she thought, {{we need to avoid damaging anything. I don’t want our entire fee to go towards paying to replace a Picasso, particularly since I HATE Cubist art. }} She sensed Wyrm snicker. {{ And tell regular museum security to get somewhere safe and stay there. They aren’t equipped to deal with something like this. }} Then Wyrm had some good news. {{Allyson, you got those knockout grenades with you?}} {{What kind of question is that?}} she responded. Allyson never went on a mission without her non-lethal capture devices. {{Good. The south-side group is making for a door used by maintenance people. Long hallway, poorly lighted and ventilated . . .}} {{I see where you’re going with this,}} Allyson thought. {{Can you clear me a path?}} {{Already done,}} came the response. {{Once they’re inside, I’ll let you know when they get close to the door that leads into the storage area. Drop a couple grenades close, toss one down the hall, and you should get them all.}} Eliza had a concern. {{How strong is the door?}} {{Exterior is steel. Interior is wood. Shit!}} Eliza knew it. The intruders might be able to bust down the interior door before the knockout gas kicked in, which would potentially leave Allyson in a one-on-ten situation. {{Thug, go help keep them there until the gas has finished them off. Wyrm, relock the outer door once they’re in and keep it locked until they’re finished. Dennis, disable the hovercraft so they can’t escape and then get your ass down here. Wyrm, where’s the safest place for a fight?}} {{Outer lobby area. Currently, the front desk staff is hiding and they don’t have anything valuable there. Are you sure about this though? You’ll be on your own until Dennis gets down there!}} {{It’s okay. I’ve got a plan.}} Then the crew sprung into action. Wyrm cleared the motion detectors, laser tripwires and heat sensors out of the way so Allyson and Thug could get to the south side of the building. Dennis took aim and used his silenced sniper rifle to disable hovercraft engines as soon as the foot soldiers had entered the building. Eliza made her way to the front lobby, where she prepared her mind for the used of magic. Magic, despite human beliefs, wasn’t about components or chants. It was about pure will and understanding of how the universe worked. And Eliza was a good student. She mentally willed the sound around her to be dampened, allowing her to move quietly and quickly. When she got to the lobby, she had a couple other tricks up her sleeve. She didn’t want to overdue it, since using magic was physically exertion, same as using her regular muscles. Things like keeping it quiet were easy. Her other magics were a whole lot harder. Eliza’s superior night vision helped her pick out the invaders easily. And just as she expected, they all had night-vision goggles. She grinned. {{This is going to be too easy,}} she thought. {{Don’t get cocky,}} Wyrm returned. The problem with telepathy is that EVERYTHING got shared, which also made for very few secrets within the group. Eliza mentally prepared, concentrating on everything in the area that gave off light, from the dim red buttons of the emergency lights to the flickering of the security monitors. The intruders were weary when they didn’t find any security in the lobby. Eliza wasn’t going to give them a chance. {{Wyrm, get ready to hit all the lights in the lobby for two seconds, then shut them off again.}} {{Got it.}} When it was all said and done, it was almost too easy. Wyrm hit the lights and Eliza closed her eyes while amplifying all the lights in the room tenfold. With the night-vision goggles on, the fifteen people in the lobby were completely blinded. With the noise around her still dampened, Eliza moved quickly into the room with a steel baton. She had knocked out half of them before any of them could even begin to see again. Most of them had thrown their goggles off when the light hit them, and by that point it had gone dark again. They didn’t stand a chance. She was like a whirling dervish, knocking heads and grabbing guns as she went. The last four started shooting blindly around them. Eliza almost felt bad for them at that point. Shooting in a blind panic generally led to one thing, and two of the invaders dropped to their own comrades’ gunfire. Eliza concentrated again, causing the air to become denser between her and them, then she sent a couple of telekinetic punches, dropping the two remaining attackers. That last spell had actually caused her to sweat a bit. That kind of telekinesis was hard work. {{Got the ones in the lobby,}} she thought. {{Allyson? Thug?}} {{The ones back here are sleeping like babies,}} came the response. Wyrm was scanning with the security cameras. {{That’s it,}} he said confidently. {{No other points of penetration.}} It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 01 {{The drivers of the vehicles ran like hell,}} thought Dennis who was still up on the roof. {{I couldn’t think of a justification for shooting them.}} {{That’s good,}} though Eliza uneasily. {{These guys have some top-notch gear, but . . .}} Dennis piped in again. {{But their tactics were amateurish. A scary combination.}} {{Means someone financed this little operation and used unproven people. Whoever did that is probably new to . . . whatever it is he or she is doing, but if they have the money . . .}} thought Allyson. {{. . . then they might try again. But for a bunch of religious zealots to do something like this . . .}} added Wyrm. {{. . . doesn’t make sense,}} finished Eliza. A few minutes later, the cops started to arrive. They were appreciative that the damage done had been minimal and that the most of the criminals had been taken alive, though a few of the more close minded were still wary of dealing with non-humans, and Thug made most of them nervous. Museum officials showed up and made arrangements to have the Heaven’s Eye moved immediately. They would loved to display it another day, but they wouldn’t be able to even open the museum again until after the scheduled time. That meant that Eliza’s security team had the rest of the night off. After talking with a bunch of detectives, museum personnel and the press, Eliza turned off the telepathy spell and sent the team home. About that time, a female cop wandered up to her. “Ma’am, I’m afraid I’m going to have to take you downtown to get an official statement.” “Whatever you say . . .” she looked at the nametag over the woman’s left breast, “. . . Officer Ryder. Whatever you say.” --------------------- ----------------------- About twenty minutes later . . . --------------------- ----------------------- “Harder! Harder!,” Officer Pamela Ryder of the Springfield Police screamed at the top of her voice. The attractive thirty-year-old woman was attached to the cheap bed frame with her own handcuffs while Eliza, who was wearing Pamela’s police hat, was drilling her with a seven-inch strap-on dildo. “Whatever you say,” Eliza said with a smile. She took a moment to look over the human woman’s muscular body. ‘This is a woman who knows how to take care of herself.’ Pamela had short black hair, smallish breasts and a well-muscled body. She took her police duties very seriously and kept in shape. She wasn’t particularly beautiful, but she was certainly cute and that body . . . oh that body. Eliza’s yellow eyes met Pamela’s blue ones, and both pairs were filled with lust. The two had met at a gun show at the civic center and had hit it off. Pamela had demonstrated a desire to be dominated during sex, possibly because she had to be in control the rest of the time. When Eliza took charge, Pamela became a sexual dynamo. Of course, Pamela had hid certain things at the time; such as the fact she was married to a man and had a daughter. Eliza knew that she should call things off . . . that she shouldn’t be reduced to being ‘the other woman.’ But she never did. Pamela’s husband was a businessman who was away a lot, so there were too many opportunities. And Eliza had needs. Homosexuality was incredibly taboo in vampire culture, much like it had been in human culture several hundred years before. And that was the other reason that Eliza’s parents had never found a mate that satisfied Eliza. They had been looking at the wrong gender. Pamela would keep Eliza’s secret, much like Eliza’s crew had been doing for many years. If word got out, it could cause problems for her parents back home. Eliza started plunging the dildo into Pamela’s warm pussy with greater speed and power. She had to be careful, because she didn’t actually want to hurt her lover. With her incisors recessed, she leaned over and started sucking on her lover’s rock hard nipples while Pamela’s legs were wrapped around Eliza’s trim waist. Then she moved to the other breast, fondling and licking them at the same time. About that time, the police hat fell off. She removed herself from between Pamela’s legs and straddled the woman’s chest, shoving the dildo into the woman’s mouth. “Suck on it,” she ordered harshly. “Suck your own juices off it you little slut,” Eliza growled. Pamela liked it like this; rough and dirty. Hence, the handcuffs. Pamela sucked noisily on the plastic cock until Eliza was satisfied, then the vampire moved back between Pamela’s legs and started fucking away again. Eliza loved the ingenuity that humans had shown in their creation of sexual toys. She had developed quite a collection over the years. “I think we need to try to something different,” she said. Eliza uncuffed Pamela and flipped her over onto her stomach and ordered her to grab the edge of the bed. Eliza looped the high-strength plastic cuffs that police used those days through the bars of the bed frame and secured them again. “Get that ass up,” she commanded, and Pamela got her knees under her and thrust her nice, round posterior up into the air. Eliza leaned in for a minute and started licking that delectable pussy. It was so sweet that it was almost addictive. She buried her tongue deep into her lover’s body and wiggled it around. That got Pamela moaning. “You’re too noisy,” Eliza said haughtily. She grabbed Pamela’s cotton panties and shoved them into the woman’s mouth, then positioned herself behind the officer again, sinking the sex toy into the woman’s tight little cunt without any further fanfare. She took one of her thumbs and pressed it into Pamela’s asshole, causing the woman to grunt into her makeshift gag. She used her other hand to slap the cop hard on the ass. “I shouldn’t be having to do all the work here,” she said. That got Pamela slamming her hips back against Eliza, and the sound of flesh on flesh filled the cheap hotel room. Pamela kept humping backwards, and Eliza kept fucking forward, diddling with Pamela’s ass and spanking her relentlessly. After a few more minutes, Pamela began to cum. She was moaning like a bitch in heat into hear panty-gag as her pussy tightened and her skin shivered. Eliza withdrew the toy and took of the harness. She lay on her back and edged her way along the bed until her head was underneath Pamela’s crotch. It was glistening wet from Pamela’s orgasm and smelled wonderful. It was so pink and smooth and perfect. She flattened her tongue and rubbed it all over the surface loving the feel of the fleshy parts move under the skin. Then a finger found its way back into Pamela’s asshole and Eliza tongue went deep. She used her nose to tease the surface and sometime the clit. Pamela was grinding her hips and forcing her crotch harder and harder against Eliza’s face. The vampire knew her human lover’s tastes (so to speak) and had her cumming on Eliza’s face rather quickly. The white-haired vampire drank in Pamela’s juices with great relish. To her, this was both figuratively and literally nourishment. It made her feel full . . . almost complete. She crawled out from under Pamela and removed the handcuffs. As Eliza lay back on the bed, Pamela crawled seductively until her head was between her lover’s thighs, finally removing the panties from her mouth. It was the human’s turn to delve out the pleasure, and Pamela knew what she was doing. She knew what Eliza wanted and what Eliza needed. She started with her tongue, then took the vampire’s inner labia into her mouth and pressed them together with her own lips. “Get your tongue inside me you little harlot,” Eliza hissed. “Whatever you say ma’am,” Pamela returned evilly. She pressed her mouth into Eliza’s box as far as it would go and started licking. She used her thumbs to massage the outer labia and sometimes the clitoral hood. She had Eliza moaning quickly. “Oh yeah,” the vampire cooed. “I knew how the police ‘protect,’ but so this is how they ‘serve’?” “Come rain or snow,” Pamela muttered. “I thought that was the post office,” Eliza said. “But rain and snow be damned, because I’m cumming now!” Eliza delivered on that threat, giving Pamela a face full of girl juice. Eliza was a squirter too, and Pamela consumed almost all of it. Just then, a timer on Pamela’s communicator went off. “Shit,” the officer said as she started wiping the cum from her face before giving Eliza a brief but heated kiss. “My break is almost over.” “I know. You have to get back to work,” Eliza said. Pamela looked at her lover. “Don’t be like that. I was just glad we were able to get together. I’ve missed you,” she said. Eliza even believed she was sincere. “When can I see you again?” “When’s the next time your husband will be away?” came a response that sounded more bitter than Eliza had intended. Silence filled the room for a moment. “Please don’t,” said Pamela quietly. “Don’t do this. We’ve been over this all before, and this is the way it has to be.” Eliza sighed and turned her face away from the officer. Pamela was a good person who loved her husband and her child. But there were certain needs she had that weren’t getting met within her marriage. There were certain wants that only another woman could provide. And it wasn’t as if Eliza was exactly an unwilling participant in their little rendezvous. “I know,” she said. “I’m sorry.” She was almost eighty years this woman’s senior, but she felt like a little child for a moment. Pamela had finished getting dressed. “Listen, John is going to be going to Austin in a few days sometime soon, and my folks would love to have Samantha stay with them for a weekend.” She stood by the bed, leaned over and gave Eliza another kiss. “I’ll even wear some of that lingerie that you like,” she whispered. Eliza moaned and smiled. She LOVED a woman in lingerie, and Pamela had stuff that only Eliza had seen. Even her husband didn’t get to see the really sexy gear. “We’ll see,” she said. “I’m not being coy, but you know how things come up at the last second in my line of work.” “I’ve got your communicator number. I’ll call, and at the worst, you won’t be available.” She kissed Eliza one more time, then went back to work. -------------------- --------- The next evening . . . -------------------- --------- Eliza woke up in her own bed, just as the sun was going down. Despite what human legends claimed, vampires didn’t burst into flame in sunlight. They just slept during the day. The entire group had houses in the same area in a fenced in compound on the outskirts of town. They ate, trained and hung out together. The humans had taken to sleeping during the day as well. And thankfully, none of them gave her grief about where she had been after the job was over. And when she awoke, there was some interesting news waiting for her as the entire crew was sitting in the conference room of her house. “Hey bright eyes,” said Wyrm. Eliza looked around. The group looked concerned. “What’s going on?” she asked. “The Heaven’s Eye got snagged at the airport this afternoon,” said Dennis. “I was tapped into the police info stream, and it sounds like a professional job,” said Wyrm. “A hell of a lot better than the clowns we dealt with yesterday.” Eliza brow furrowed a bit. “You think the whole thing at the museum last night was just a set up? Trying to get them to move the diamond before they were ready?” “If that’s the case,” contributed Allyson, “then the person or persons behind this are a hell of a lot smarter than we thought. If the first group gets lucky and pulls it off, then fine. Otherwise, they knew just how the diamond would get moved out of the country and were waiting for it. And the plane they left in crossed into Mexico shortly after takeoff and was ditched. The perps are long gone.” “Crap!” This troubled Eliza. The entire escapade had just evolved into something a little more sinister. “Well, it isn’t our problem anymore,” she said. “They shouldn’t have been so careless.” But no one was going to be mentally willing to drop it, and Eliza realized that. “Wyrm, would you do me a favor? Hook into the web and access the Arcanum.” The “Arcanum” was, for all intents and purposes, every piece of magical knowledge that humans had learned or been given about magic from the known history of Terra. “Rumor has it that a religious group was after this rock. Sects and cults tend to have some pretty odd beliefs, and they might have one about the Eye. See if you can find anything about powers or prophecies associated with big diamonds or jewels in general. It may not be our concern anymore, but it could be somebody’s.” “Got it. What are you going to be doing?” “I’m going to make sure the money for this job got transferred to the right account, then I’m going to orb my parents and see if they know anything that might not have made it into the Arcanum.” Eliza went back to her bedroom and accessed the groups account. Sure enough, the money was sitting there, as was a message from the museum staff thanking them for the job they did. With the finances in order, she went over to her orb. Orbs were the magical equivalent of telephones, capable of projecting the voices of the users across seemingly infinite distances, and they were the only way for the two worlds to communicate besides direct travel. She talked to her father for a while, telling him about the job and her concerns regarding the diamond. He was obviously upset at her choice of vocation and the fact that she had been in danger, but he promised to look into any information the Prime Minster of his land might have regarding prophecies and diamonds. He wished her well, told her to be more careful, and they disconnected the transmission. “Oh well,” thought Eliza. “It’ll probably turn out to be nothing.” --------------- ---------------- A few days later . . . --------------- ---------------- Eliza was going insane. Wyrm had been scanning the police data stream for days, but no one had any idea of where the Heaven’s Eye had gone. Eliza knew that such a jewel would be impossible to sell or display anywhere, so whoever took it must have some kind of designs for it. That was when her orb started to glow and she received a communication from her father. “Hello dear,” her father said. “Hello father.” “I looked into this object that you were described. I couldn’t find any doomsday spells or dark prophecies that involved a large . . . What was it you called it?” “A diamond. It is a fairly valuable object over here.” “Yes. Anyway, nothing outright diabolical about such an object or anything really similar to it. But there was one very bizarre spell that used a . . . wait, I’ve got it here. Here it is, ‘A large crystalline orb with a thousand faces that shine like the stars of the night sky.’ But that is from a mending spell from millennia ago. The sorcerer who wrote the spell had gone mad a century earlier and no one had any idea what he was talking about. But he was powerful, so the scribes held on to it. They thought someone might make sense of it someday.” “But mend what? Why would anyone go through this much trouble for a spell like that, especially one that’s never been tested?” “We aren’t even sure that’s what it is for. Maybe they are just insane. They are human after all.” “Father, your aristocracy is showing. I know a lot of perfectly nice humans. Several work for me.” “You aren’t . . . cavorting with any of them, are you? Please tell me you’ve had the common sense to avoid . . . mingling with human males.” If it weren’t for the tinge of bigotry, Eliza would have laughed at that statement. “No father, I haven’t been sleeping with any human males. I can’t believe that you still hold on to those old prejudices.” “They are a different species, no matter how similar. Our alliances should remain political, not social. And I wish you would get this foolish idea being a glorified guard out of your head and come back home.” Eliza was irked. “This is my decision. I like it here. I like these people and I like what I do. Just because I won’t be your political puppet . . .” “Why must everything be so dramatic with you? There is nothing wrong with showing respect to your elders and respecting their wishes,” he said, somewhat angrily. Eliza’s father usually kept his composure, so he must be really ticked off. But Eliza didn’t care. “Yet you’ve shown a blatant disregard for mine. I know you think this is just a phase. Have you actually considered the possibility that maybe I don’t want the life you planned for me? That I might actually know more of what’s better for me than you do? You can be so obstinate!” Her father was almost growling. “Young lady, we will continue this conversation when you have recovered a modicum of composure and can show proper respect.” “My stance won’t have changed,” Eliza returned as her father effectively “hung up” on her. She stormed angrily out of the room and onto her balcony, letting the cool night air and evening fog chill her boiling blood. “I am so tired of him,” she said to the enveloping darkness. ----------------- ------ The next day . . . ----------------- ------ Eliza was woken after having gone to bed only a few hours earlier. It was eleven in the morning, and that dreadful sun was blasting into the room. As she gained coherence, someone started closing the shades. Allyson was shaking her by the shoulders and Dennis was the one making it tolerably dark. Allyson looked . . . terrified. “What?” asked Eliza, suddenly wide-awake. “Wyrm got an emergency message from the police stream that woke him up. God . . . Eliza . . . the portal between dimensions . . . it’s closed!” Eliza felt suddenly hollow and the air seemed thicker. Allyson pulled her into the main room where everyone else was waiting. Someone had fired up her holograph projector and tuned it into the national news station. The cameras and reporters were all at the Point, the place in France where the dimensional crack had formed. There was normally a large, jagged, glowing area about one hundred feet long and seventy feet high there. Now, there was nothing. The reporters claimed that by all accounts, a large group of armed men had broken into the facility build to house the portal, placed the stolen Heaven’s Eye diamond in the crevice, and then a robed figure had performed an incantation. The crack had shimmered even more brightly for a moment, then had slowly closed. Before it had completely closed, the figure had teleported himself or herself and the armed group away. After the crack had closed, magic wielding people all over the world reported having lost the ability to manipulate magic. Eliza was stunned. She felt something missing, something that she had always felt deep inside herself. She turned and tried to levitate a pillow that was sitting on her couch. It should have been simple. It was something she had learned to do in her first year of schooling. Nothing happened. The pillow just sat there. Then, a breaking announcement came over the news stream. Apparently, a holo-tape had been sent to every major world leader and major news organization. A figured cloaked in a dark robe appeared in the viewing field. “Greetings, fellow rightful denizens of Earth,” the figure said. “We are the Purity! For centuries, the human world has been under siege by monsters from realm of hell itself. These creatures of the night came to this world to corrupt and conquer it. But the governments of this world, and even some decent but deceived human beings, embraced them. Well, no more! We have sealed the gates to hell forever! We used their own ‘magics’ against them. Now, we of the Purity will begin our crusade to rid the world of its inhuman impurities, making it safe once again for the human race!” Then the holo-video ended. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 01 “Jesus, Mary and . . .” Dennis started. But he stopped. Eliza had gotten up and run headlong back into her bedroom. She went to the orb. Normally it was glowing, blue when being used and red when not. It had gone black. Eliza started to scream at it. “Father! Father, answer me! Mother? Anyone? Is anyone there?” She felt a huge hand on her shoulder. It was Thug. She looked the huge troll in the face. “Thug . . . they’re gone. I can’t get a hold of anyone. We’re trapped here!” She collapsed onto the floor. The she felt herself being picked up by her powerful friend and placed on the bed. “I’m sorry Father,” she whispered. She wished she hadn’t been so harsh with him. She wished they had parted on better terms. “Parted,” she whispered. It was then that she realized that unless someone found a way of breaching the dimensions again, she would never see her father, her family or her homeland again. Eliza began to weep like she had never done before. She felt scared and alone. Thug picked her up as gently as a person might hold a young child and placed her on the bed, and he stayed with her until she cried herself to sleep. ------------------ ------------- That evening . . . ------------------ ------------- Eliza awoke again with a splitting headache. Her head and thoughts still felt as thick as proverbial pea soup. Dennis was sitting in the chair next to her bed, and noticed she was awake. “Eliza, I’m sorry.” “Has anyone had any luck . . . contacting Terra?” Eliza tried to compose herself. “No, not yet. Patrols have been sent out with other vampires that are trapped on this side. They’re trying to maybe find some of the smaller cracks that people have slipped through in ages gone by.” Eliza looked around. “Where’s Thug? How is he doing?” She felt more than a little selfish. Thug was trapped here, the same as her, but she had only been thinking of herself. “He’s fine. He’s sleeping now. He watched over you for hours before we convinced him to go take a nap. My understanding of the troll language is a bit poor, but he seemed to be under the impression he was never leaving the plane of existence anyway. He assumed you wouldn’t want to leave, and he promised your parents he’d look after you.” The mention of her parents almost started her crying again, but she walled up the tears. Dennis tried to find something comforting to say. “Listen, if this ‘Purity’ was expected a public uprising in their favor, they failed. There are humans trapped on the other side as well, and the interaction between the two worlds had been really beneficial. So you don’t have to worry about an angry mob coming to the door with torches and pitchforks.” He had meant that as a joke, but Eliza wasn’t laughing. “Speaking of coming to the door, you’ve got a visitor in the living room. We would have turned her away, but she seems to know you.” Eliza wandered out into the next room. Pamela Ryder was sitting there in her civilian clothes. The police officer jumped up and held Eliza tightly. The rest of the crew quickly found somewhere else to be. “What are you doing here?” Eliza asked quietly. “I thought . . . you weren’t supposed to be seen here,” she added. “To hell with appearances,” Pamela said vehemently. “I needed to see you. I needed to make sure you’re okay. I’m so sorry about this!” “Why? It’s not your fault and it’s not your problem. I’ve got to find a way home. Those bastards in the Purity figured out how to close the dimensional crack, so they might know how to open it again. All I have to do is find them!” “Don’t do that,” Pamela said with concern. “These people are religious nuts and well funded ones at that! All Terrans are being told to keep a low profile until the World Council figures out how to deal with these guys.” “I can’t do that,” Eliza returned. “I can’t just wait.” “You have to,” Pamela said, holding the sides of Eliza’s face and ‘forcing’ the vampire to look at her. “I know perfectly well you’ve got a guy spying on all the official channels, so you know that no one has any information about their whereabouts right now. So . . . please, just let the officials handle this for now. You guys do protection, not acquisition. Please? Promise me?” Pamela looked at Eliza’s face. In all the time their affair had been going on, she had learned to read the vampire’s eyes well. She knew that Eliza would never make that promise. Pamela gave up. “Do you . . . want me to stay tonight?” Eliza stepped back and let Pamela’s hands fall from her face. Eliza turned away from her lover. “Go home,” she said hoarsely. “Go home to your husband and daughter.” “But why . . .?” “Because you still can,” Eliza finished. For a moment, there was no noise. She heard Pamela breathing heavily, and Eliza hoped the human woman would just leave. She didn’t know if she had the strength of will to say ‘no’ again. She heard footsteps moving toward the door and then the door opened. “I’m not giving up on you,” Pamela said from the door before closing it behind her. In a corner of the room, Eliza saw the air shimmer, and Thug was standing there. Apparently his camouflage still worked, probably because it was a natural ability rather than being magical. || I’M SORRY, || came that thick, guttural voice. She was glad that even though no one could speak the troll’s language that everyone in the crew understood it. “I wish people would stop saying that. I feel like such a baby. I haven’t cried like that since . . .” Eliza couldn’t actually remember the last time she’d cried. || SINCE YOU WERE FORTY YEARS OLD. IT WAS YOUR FIRST YEAR AT THE ACADEMY, AND YOU WERE STRESSED ABOUT YOUR EXAMS. || Eliza looked Thug over. “You seem to be handling this better than I am.” || WE ARE BY NATURE A SOLITARY AND PATIENT RACE, || he said. || I’M WASN’T SAYING ‘I’M SORRY’ BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF THE PURITY. I’M SORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOUR LADY FRIEND. I WISH YOU COULD FIND SOMEONE TO CALL YOUR OWN. || “I should have known better than to become involved with a married woman, however attracted I was to her. I don’t even WANT her to break things off with her husband, so why did . . . Never mind. I don’t have time for romance right now anyway.” Eliza was flustered. || FIND TIME. IF NOT WITH THIS POLICE OFFICER, THEN FIND IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE. YOU ARE A PASSIONATE YOUNG LADY, ELIZA. WITHOUT AN OUTLET FOR THAT PASSION, YOU WILL MOST ASSUREDLY GO MAD. || Eliza was mulling that over as she went looking for Wyrm. She wanted to know if the World Council or any local governments had found anything. -------------- -------------------- Several weeks later . . . -------------- -------------------- “How can there still be nothing?” Eliza shouted. Her entire security team was sitting in their conference room, and the news hadn’t been good. No one had been able to locate the Purity, which meant that they were hiding somewhere in unexplored jungles somewhere or that they had more resources than anyone had anticipated. “I don’t . . .” Dennis was cut off by a really loud, annoying buzz. It was the ringer down at the front gate. “Who the hell is that?” Wyrm flipped down his headset’s viewing screen and used his VR gloves to navigate his computer menu and access the compounds security camera footage. “It looks official,” he said. “U.S. flags on the transport and a full police escort.” “If they’re that important, why didn’t they phone ahead?” Eliza asked. No one had an answer. “Okay, this seems fishy. Dennis, Allyson . . . get your night vision goggles and do a quick scout of the perimeter. We’ve got good security, but we all know that even the best security can be breached. Wyrm, give me two minutes and kill the lights and active the temperature dampers. If these people have infrared capability, I want to limit its effectiveness. Thug, back me up. I’m going down to the gate.” “Isn’t this a bit overkill?” Wyrm asked. “It could be a legitimate U.S. envoy.” “If it is, they won’t mind the precautions. If they DO mind the precautions, I don’t want to be caught with my pants down. Everybody, go!” Eliza and Thug armed themselves with KFS’s (Kinetic Force Shields) and their weapons of choice, which for Eliza was a fully automatic shotgun and a diamond-edged broadsword, while Thug grabbed his six-foot scimitar and his “boom stick.” Thug had a single-shot rail-cannon that no human could even lift unaided, but the troll could wield it in one hand. As the two of them approached the gate, Eliza saw a familiar face looking between the bars. It was Pamela, but this was obviously not a social call. “Officer Ryder. What can I do for you at this hour?” “Official government business,” Pamela said shortly. “Might I ask the reason for the precautions?” “Usually when we receive official visitors, we get some advanced notice.” “There are reasons for the secrecy, I assure you,” the officer said. Eliza listened as she got a report from Dennis through her headset. They weren’t seeing anyone else on the property. “Very well,” Eliza said. Pull your vehicles up to the main house. We’ll . . .” “We will have to meet outside,” Pamela said. “We need to remain clear of any electronic listening devices, even yours. We will have to insist that this entire conversation not be recorded, so please try and reel in your hacker for the time being.” “Very well,” Eliza said. This was becoming more intriguing by the minute. Then she noticed that Pamela’s face briefly shifted from its official sternness to one that displayed longing. Eliza almost gave in to that look, but she knew things had to end. And Pamela knew it too. She wanted Eliza, but knew she had to give her up. Eliza turned and walked up drive. The envoy pulled into the drive, with Thug bringing up the rear. There was a small grove of trees and a man-made pond that Dennis personally stocked with fish. There weren’t even any power lines nearby. She told Wyrm to keeping monitoring the data streams and not to try and eavesdrop, but she wanted everyone else at the meetings. Wyrm seemed to realize that she was serious, and that he shouldn’t goof around. The envoy consisted of a single woman, apparently in her early thirties. Eliza knew this had to be a crafty woman, as it was difficult for anyone this young to have as prestigious a position without being good at what she did. She was actually beautiful in a severe sort of way. She had blonde hair that was pulled back in a severe bun and deep blue eyes, and her well-pressed dress-suit did little do hide her hourglass figure. The only part of the woman’s body that Eliza could see were her calves, but those seemed strong and well toned. Eliza was willing to bet that the rest of the woman was in as good of shape. Everyone else in the convoy was either a police officer or a security person. “Hello,” the woman said in a crisp, clear voice. “My name is Veronica Adams, and I am an official envoy for the president of the United States, here under the authority of the president of the of World Council. We have come to employ the services of your company, Miss . . .” “Just call me Eliza. I don’t think you could pronounce my last name. And we’re a security group,” Eliza said. “What would the Council and the U.S. Government actually need help protecting?” “I am only authorized to tell you that if you agree to work for us. You would be paid twenty million world dollars for your services, plus expenses, to assist us in this venture.” Eliza maintained her cool, but Dennis and Allyson’s jaws dropped to their chest. They could buy their own island with that! It was more money than any of them had heard of anyone making in one job before. None of them would ever have to work again. But Veronica had one more selling point, and it was this last that would get Eliza’s attention. “And for what it’s worth to you, what we are asking you to do might someday help us find a way back to your dimension.” Eliza was almost caught flatfooted by that. If there was something like that floating around, why hadn’t she heard about it? “Why us?” she asked cautiously. Veronica Adams looked her straight in the eye. “Because you are the best at what you do, and you’re the only company of your kind with both humans and Terrans, which might provide an advantage. And because I realized that the Purity didn’t truly make a play for the Heaven’s Eye until after it had left your care, indicating that the Purity would rather take on a large team of armed U.S. security than you.” Eliza looked her over, then looked at Dennis. “Go get Wyrm, and tell him to leave all his gizmos at the house.” She looked back at Veronica. “I’ll have to discuss it with my entire team before saying anything.” “I understand.” “So why are we meeting out here anyway? Let me guess . . . you won’t tell me . . .” “Unless you take the job,” the woman finished, almost cracking a smile. Eliza bet she would have a pretty smile. Dennis and Wyrm returned, and the group huddled apart from the envoy. “I want to do this,” Eliza said. “I don’t give a shit about the money, though that would be nice. I wanted to be a part of finding a way home, and this may be the only chance I get.” “I’m for it,” said Dennis. “This is big news, and I’d rather be in the know than left on the sideline.” “I’m a little confused why they only sent one person,” Allyson said. Her husband responded, “The fewer people they send, then the fewer people that need to know. The fewer people that know . . .” “The less chance of the secret getting out,” Allyson finished. “I’m in. I want to help you out,” she said to Eliza. “Twenty million? Yes, I’m in!” was Wyrm’s contribution. Thug just nodded his head. Eliza turned to Veronica. “Fine. We’re in.” “Excellent,” the woman said, almost breathing a sigh of relief. “First, you should know the reason why I insisted we me out here. It seems the members of the Purity have employed some of the best hackers and info-stream riders in the world, and they had been spying on every move that authorities made. They’ve cracked every system on Earth it seems, so catching them is going to be tricky. While catching them is our problem, this also affects your job. We didn’t want them knowing what we have or where it is, so everything is being done by word of mouth. There is no official record of this mission on any computer anywhere.” “So, how do we know we’ll get paid?” Eliza asked. “I’m afraid you will just have to trust us on this. Believe me, we have no reason to deceive you, but these precautions must be taken.” “So what exactly will we be guarding?” Veronica took a deep breath. “You’ll be guarding another jewel. It is an opal we have called the Dead Man’s World that is the exact size and shape as the Heaven’s Eye was. One dark as night, the other bright as the sun. We hardly think this to be a coincidence. We have people going through our hard copies of all the data in the Arcanum. It will take some time, but we can’t risk accessing the database directly.” “But you’re assuming that since one was used to close the crack . . .” Eliza started. “. . . that the other might be used to open it again. It is only a hypothesis based on the principles of symmetry and equal reaction, but we don’t feel it to be a frivolous guess.” “Nor do I,” Eliza said. “You will be taken to a secure location where the Dead Man’s World is being kept. It is a completely self-contained facility. It will have it’s own recycled water source, electricity, security and a food supply, including blood, that can last for years for you and a U.S. Military Special Operations Team that will be completely at your command. Each member of that team was screened and their backgrounds thoroughly checked. And yes, you have to allow the team to stay. The United State government insists on keeping their hand in this. I will also be accompanying you. And I’m afraid we must leave immediately. You may make arrangements if you wish to have your estate cared for and let people know you will be out of touch, but all calls will be monitored to make sure no sensitive information is passed along. You may take any equipment, barring computers, that you deem necessary. I suggest you get started.” Eliza looked at her team. Wyrm was obviously ticked off that he wouldn’t be able to take some of his gadgets with him, but the price was still right. They gathered up weapons, clothes and other essentials. Luckily, the team was generally ready to go at a moment’s notice. As Eliza was throwing her clothes into a bag, she heard footsteps behind her. She smelled a familiar perfume. “Hello Pamela.” “Hello,” came the officer’s response as Eliza turned to face her. She still looked beautiful to Eliza. “I just wanted to say good luck. I refuse to say goodbye though. I may not be able to have your body anymore, but I can’t give you up completely.” She lowered her head. “I told my husband about us.” “Why?” Eliza said, somewhat startled. “Why did . . .” “Because he didn’t deserved to be lied to. I didn’t tell him your name or anything, only that I had been having an affair with a woman.” Pamela laughed. “He wasn’t even surprised. Apparently, I wasn’t alone in having an affair. It felt good to get it out in the open, for both of us. He’s going to try and find a job that doesn’t have to travel as much, and I’m going to try and get off the beat and find a desk job that lets me stay at home more. We’re even going to go to a marriage counselor.” Pamela grabbed Eliza and held her. “I love him, but I’ll always love you too. He’ll never be able to give me some of what you did, but I guess you don’t always get to have it all.” Eliza held her friend and former lover. She felt Pamela’s heart beating beneath her chest, and heard the woman’s lungs drawing air. “I’ll always love you too. But you belong with him, and I can’t be ‘the other woman’ forever.” “And you shouldn’t have to be,” Pamela whispered. “There’s too much passion in you for you to be kept hidden. But can I still see you sometimes? Even if we’re just friends?” Eliza smiled and kissed Pamela on the cheek. “I think I’d like that,” she said. “We’ll talk about it when I get back, okay?” “Okay,” the officer said. The two of them grabbed Eliza’s belongings and carried them out to the transport. -------------------- -------------- Twelve hours later . . . -------------------- -------------- Eliza, her crew and Ms. Veronica Adams took so many turns and switched vehicles so many times that they were completely disoriented by the time they got to the docks. They were then taken by boat to Last Mile Island. The island was the home of the Last Mile Prison. Much like Alcatraz, the prison had been designed to be a fortress that held the most dangerous criminals of the twenty-first century, until operations costs caused the facility to close down. It was miles from shore and, as Veronica had promised, was completely self-contained. Someone had tried to turn it into a tourist attraction, but it was too remote. On the voyage, Veronica explained that the government had acquired the Dead Man’s World from some smugglers that had originally intended to try and sell it themselves after bypassing customs. But when they learned about the Heaven’s Eye and how it had been used, they had grown afraid that the Purity would come looking for them, and exchanged the jewel for asylum. Ms. Adams’s superiors knew they had to keep the existence of the new jewel as secret as possible until they discovered its true purpose or discredited the idea that it was anything but a big rock. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 01 Eliza tried to sleep, but the ride was rough. So she spend as much time watching Ms. Adams as listening to her. She was no ordinary pencil pusher, that was for sure. She had what Eliza would guess was a RGP (Rail Gun Pistol) strapped to her ride side under the jacket, thought it was almost disguised by the bulge in her jacket caused by her breasts. Eliza was staring straight at the woman’s chest when she heard Veronica’s voice. “Impressive, hunh?” “What?” was Eliza’s brilliant response. “My weapon,” Veronica said. She opened up her jacket, made sure the pistol was powered down, then handed it to Eliza. “Yes,” said Eliza, trying not to let on that it wasn’t the weapon that she found impressive. “I didn’t even know the new M5 model was out yet.” The two of them chatted about firearms for a while, and Veronica proved she knew her stuff. Eliza asked about her background, under the guise of wanting to know the resources at her disposal. Actually, she just wanted to talk to someone. Veronica had actually trained to be a police officer in New York, then had briefly worked with a S.W.A.T. team there. Then the government had approached her about doing envoy duty. “They felt that I looked non-threatening but could take care of myself in a pinch. It turns out my superiors had recommended me for a transfer. They said it was because they thought I would be good. I think it was because I shot them all down when they hit on me.” Then Veronica quickly changed the topic. Eliza found herself wondering about Veronica’s last statement. It seemed like sort of an odd thing to mention. Finally, they arrived at the island. They were deposited, their gear was unloaded, then the boat left. They were stranded. Veronica led them to a central courtyard. There was a group of about one hundred people waiting there, all of whom quickly stood at attention. Apparently, radio silence also entailed not being able to tell the home fort when people would be arriving. There were soldiers, cooks, medics and technicians in the mix. A couple of soldiers had dogs on leashes. All of them looked at the party as they approached, and a number of them almost took a step back when the eight-foot troll came into view. “Eliza, this is Captain Donald Corbin. All military personnel will report to him, and he will report to you.” “Captain,” Eliza said formally. “Ms. Eliza,” he responded. He was a veteran of combat for sure. He had a no-nonsense air about him. He appeared to be in his early forties and build like a brick shithouse. Eliza, with her vampire strength, might have been able to overpower him, but she got the distinct impression that it would be better that she not ever try to. “Did you want to address the troops?” “What all do they know at this time?” “Everything,” the Captain responded. “Then I’ll just introduce myself.” The Captain cleared his voice loudly. “Okay everyone, this is . . . Eliza.” Her not having a pronounceable last name or title temporarily baffled the man. “She is the one in charge now. She’s the one who actually GUARDED the Heaven’s Eye, not the one who let it slip away,” he added, trying to give her a bit of a boost in the eyes of the troops. “Thank you Captain,” she said, then turned to address the throng. “As Captain Corbin just mentioned, my name is Eliza. This is Thug, Wyrm, and Dennis and Allyson Murgo. We are security specialists. Now, I’m not going to waste your time telling you how to do your jobs. I’ve got a feeling none of you would be here if you weren’t very good at what you did. If you trust me to do my job, I’ll trust you to do yours. If you have any suggestions, please take them to the Captain first if at all possible, but I promise that I will take such suggestions seriously. I don’t pretend to know everything, and we will need all of our wits and our experience to keep our responsibility safe. Now I’m sure the Captain has assignments for everyone, so I’ll turn the floor back over to him.” Before the Captain wandered off to dispense assignments, Eliza told him she wanted to meet with him and Ms. Adams as soon as he was done. When the Captain wandered back over, Eliza had gotten a gadget from Wyrm. “What’s that?” Veronica asked. “I’ll explain in a moment. Captain, where is the Dead Man’s World now?” He led them to what had once been the prison’s main office. There were six armed guards present. Eliza asked that the guards be dismissed from that post and sent to patrol the perimeter. The Captain looked confused, but complied. Eliza had also grabbed a copy of the blueprints for the prison and had looked them over. She grabbed the jewel and led Veronica and Captain Corbin into the heart of the prison. There were several small cellblocks in the prison, and one huge one running right down the center. There were a few guards patrolling in there, but she got the Captain to order them out. “What’s going on?” Veronica asked. Eliza held up the gadget she had brought. “This is a Tri-Lock. It can only be opened by the simultaneous transmission of three transmitter keys emanating from within five feet of the lock. We are going to place the Dead Man’s World in one of these cells and place this within the lock for cell with the jewel. It will automatically expand to fill the lock, preventing it from being opened until the transmissions are received. Each of us will hold onto one transmitter key. We three will be the only ones who know where the prize is being kept. Just like your superiors said,” Eliza said while looking at Veronica, “the fewer people who know, the better. The cells will then remain locked at all time. These cellblocks will be patrolled no more or less than anywhere else.” “Shouldn’t we have someone keeping an eye on it at all times?” Veronica asked. The Captain was looking at Eliza with a measure of respect. “If we looks like we’re guarding something, then the enemy will know where it’s hidden.” Eliza looked at the envoy. “One thing I learned is that you never hide your valuables in a safe, because that’s where everyone is going to look. Actually, we are going to post guards in another location. This will be a distraction. If the Purity shows up here and wants to go room by room and cell by cell through the entire prison, it will mean they’ve already killed us all. And I’d at least like to really inconvenience them if that’s the case.” That got a hearty chuckle out of the Captain and a nervous laugh out of Veronica. Eliza looked around and randomly picked a cell. They unlocked the steel door, wrapped the World in a plastic bag wrapped it in a towel and placed it in the toilet. The way the shadows were cast, it was completely invisible from outside the cell. The three of them walked outside, closed the door, and Eliza pushed the Tri-Lock into the keyhole. It was actually a putty-like substance that reacted to the transmissions given up by the keys. Each pressed one of the two buttons on the key cylinder, and they heard a “swooshing” sound as the putty expanded. Now the door wouldn’t open by conventional means. “That’s a neat device,” Veronica said. “One of these days, you’ll have to tell me where you got it. Particularly since they haven’t been officially released to the private sector,” she added with a grin. Eliza looked back at her innocently. “As soon as you tell me where you got your gun.” ---------------- ----------------- The next evening . . . ---------------- ----------------- Eliza had met with all the members of her security team and given out assignments. Dennis and Allyson were set up in guard towers with some of the best sniper rifles in existence. Wyrm was actually making modifications to the closed-circuit surveillance system on the island, and Thug was skulking around, being unobtrusive and trying not to scare anyone. Eliza had checked in with the Captain, then grabbed a warm cup of blood from the kitchen and headed up to an observation tower on the roof. It was dark up there, and she had a beautiful view of the night sky and all the stars. She stirred her blood with a stick of cinnamon. She had grossed Allyson out the first time she had done that, but the Eliza loved the taste of cinnamon. She raised the cup to her lips and drank. “Captain Corbin told me I might find you here,” came a voice from the stairwell as Veronica came into view. “Mind if I join you?” “As long as you brought your own drink,” Eliza said. “Mine probably isn’t to your taste.” “I’ll be fine with coffee,” the other woman said with a smile. “I didn’t mean to disturb you. Are you hiding up here or just thinking?” “I usually have to do the former before I can do the latter,” Eliza said. She took another sip, glad that Veronica didn’t look at all repulsed by the vampire’s drink. “I’m just trying to figure some things out.” “Like what?” Eliza frowned. “Who’s idea was all this? This location, hiring us . . .” Veronica looked confused. “Well, the location was handed down by a member of the Chief of Homeland Security, and the troops were picked by the Pentagon. I was assigned due to my personal interest . . .” “Personal interest?” Veronica flushed red and looked away. “I have a sister trapped on Terra right now.” Eliza’s heart went out to the woman. “I’m sorry. I know how you feel.” Veronica took a deep breath, then continued. “Hiring you was my idea. I was given a budget and told to get professional help. That funding also came from the Pentagon. I meant it when I said that I don’t think whoever these guys want anything to do with you.” “I suspect that these guys are relatively new at the whole secret society thing. I doubt they’re more than a century old. They misjudged how people would react to their lunacy, which tells me they hadn’t put as much thought into it or haven’t been planning it for very long. And any organization, however secret they may think they are, can’t stay completely hidden for very long. It’s the nature of sentient creatures to gab about ‘secret’ things. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think we should take them lightly, but even their successes so far seem a bit amateurish.” Veronica mulled that over in her head. “I’m glad I hired you,” she said. “You seem to be really good . . . at your job, I mean,” she added. “Do you think they’ll find us before our people get all the way through the Arcanum?” “Oh yeah. They already know the Dead Man’s World is here. I suspect they’ll mount an offensive in a couple of days.” Veronica looked like she’d just been smacked upside the head. “What?!? How . . .” “Think about it. These guys waited until they Heaven’s Eye was in a more open, remote location with accessible escape routes before they made a play for it, probably because they weren’t good at walking into traps and surviving. They needed to flush it into a more accessible area. If the World had stayed anywhere on the continent, we could have easily set up a controlled area. It still would have been a bit isolated, but nothing like this. The Purity probably realized that they would be in for a fight trying to get this one. Out here, we can’t call for help and have nowhere to run with the jewel if things go south. They, on the other hand, will show up in aircraft or boats and be able to vanish into the night, just like last time. By trying to keep this operation ‘secret,’ we have a very small fighting force in a somewhat defensible but isolated location with no way of getting help quickly. And I know they’ll move in the next few days, just in case someone actually finds a spell that can do what we want that uses this thing. They need to get it out of here fairly quickly, but a full-blown assault takes a while to plan. They’ve undoubtedly got a mole or two within the rank and file around here who will try and find out the World’s location and communicate it to his or her superiors. When they can’t find it, well . . . that’s when the attack will come. Someone was pushing your superiors’ buttons and pulling strings to get the jewel out here in the first place.” Veronica was still sitting there with her mouth open. “Why didn’t you say this earlier? We have to tell the Captain and . . .” “He already knows. I talked to him about it this morning before I went to bed.” Eliza noticed that Veronica was starting to look angry. “Listen,” she said, “I knew the Captain was okay. If he had been in on it with the Purity, the World would’ve been gone before we showed up. I wasn’t as sure about you.” “What? If I were in on it, why would I hire extra security?” “So that when the raid came down and the World disappeared, you could say to those honest members of the government that you tried. But I agree that the Purity probably didn’t want to deal with non-humans since we’re unknowns. And if you wanted, you probably could have hired a security team that was actually sympathetic to the ‘anti-monster’ movement. That, and you have an illegal gun.” “Why is THAT a mark in my favor?” “When the raid came at the museum, these guys were trying to approach the building too inconspicuously. A common mistake that new and/or bad criminals make is to look too hard like they’re NOT conspicuous. As I said, these guys are kind of amateurish. If you were working for them, you’d have been doing everything by the book, including carrying a side-arm from the acceptable list.” Veronica was really confused. “Wait, if you know they’re coming, why did you agree to this?” “Because I don’t trust enough people in the government to leave this in their hands,” Eliza told her. “And because I’m tired of sitting around and waiting for other people to decide whether or not I’ll ever get to see my family again.” Veronica looked down. “I guess you do know how I feel,” she whispered. “I’ve never gone this long without talking to my sister Vicky.” Eliza noticed that the woman was sitting very close now. “I know this is none of my business,” she continued, “but are you and Officer Ryder . . . involved?” It was Eliza’s turn to be surprised. “No,” she said. “We were, but we had to end it.” “Did you love her? I’m sorry,” Veronica said. “I shouldn’t be . . .” “Yes, I did,” said Eliza. “And she loved me. But she loved her husband too.” She paused for a moment. “What made you think that?” Veronica pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. She was wearing a snug black jumpsuit like Eliza’s security team and the soldiers were wearing, but it didn’t look as good on most of them. “When you went off to get your things, I noticed her staring at you. I think a bomb could have gone off behind her and she wouldn’t have noticed. I was under the distinct impression that she didn’t like seeing you walking away from her.” “I thought that I was supposed to be the problem-solver here,” Eliza said. ‘That jumpsuit seems to be zipped down a bit more than in needs to be,’ the vampire thought. Her eyes lingered in the shadows where the two sides of the “v” formed by the two halves of the jumpsuit joined for a moment. A Pacific breeze wafted through the tower, carrying the light scent of an organic-based body-wash towards Eliza. The mixture of that scent with the salty aroma of the ocean lit up Eliza’s senses. “What really sucks is that we could be doing all this and it might turn out that the Dead Man’s World can’t do a damn thing about reopening the portal between worlds,” Veronica said. Her hair was actually not up in the bun she had been wearing the previous twenty-four hours. ‘When did she take it down?’ Eliza wondered. Those golden-blonde locks poured down her back and over her shoulders, and that hair was a little bit curly and a little bit wavy. She tilted her head, exposing a beautiful, slender neck. Eliza took a deep breath and looked away. One part of human legends about vampires that WAS true was that they like to bite on the neck. Now, there were other places they could bite and draw blood if all they wanted was nourishment. To bite someone on the neck was an erotic act for most of her kind, but Eliza had never found the right person to want to do it with. Veronica’s neck looked delectable. Suddenly, the previously airy watchtower seemed far too small for comfort. She stood up and walked over to the edge, breathing in the cool air and trying to clear her head. “I agree,” she said at last. “And within a couple of days, some people will probably be showing up and trying to kill us just because of the possibility that we might disrupt their ideology.” “We have emergency beacons, don’t we? Why not call and have it moved?” “Forget about the airport fiasco already? They didn’t grab the World on the trip out here because they work working on the defensive. If we put it out on the water again, we’ve left the only advantage we have, namely a defensible position, behind. They might be able to send out a battleship, but it would take too long to get it to sea and anything smaller would be vulnerable. These are hit and run guys and . . .” Eliza heard Veronica standing up and heard soft footsteps behind her. She knew that Veronica was very . . . very close. “Eliza?” “Yes?” the vampire responded, almost afraid to look behind her. “Have you ever begun to feel like you’re in over your head? I always thought I was good at my job. I’ve walked into war zones and held talks with enemy leaders. I’ve charged into buildings against heavily armed and drugged up goons. Why does this scare me?” “Because it’s easier to attack. When you’re attacking . . .” She paused when she felt a gentle hand placed on one of her hips. “When you’re attacking, you get to call the shots. It’s comforting.” She felt a hand on her other hip, and could almost feel the envoy’s breath. “Defending is about waiting. It’s about trying to prepare for almost infinite possibilities . . .” Eliza felt warm breath on her neck, causing the small hairs there to stand up. “ . . . with finite resources. You never know when . . .” Veronica’s arms circled Eliza’s waist. “. . . someone might be sneaking up behind you.” Then she felt Veronica’s lips brush along her neck up to her ear. She could feel the wetness of those lips on her skin. “Veronica . . . what are you doing?” “I thought it was obvious,” the woman said. “I’m going on the attack,” she whispered. “I wish this could be under different circumstances. I wish I could have more time to woo you. I’ve wanted to make a move on you since I laid eyes on you, but I usually like to take my time. I came up here so you could see I wasn’t just another government suit. But if you’re right, then we’ve got a fight coming soon. A fight could mean someone getting killed.” Holding Eliza’s waist, Veronica slowly spun her around. Veronica’s jumpsuit was unzipped all the way to her bellybutton. She had a nicely tanned four-pack of abs, and her full breasts were gently constrained by a silky white bra. “And there’s something I’d very much like to do before my time is up.” Eliza knew this was a woman who was used to getting what she wanted. The vampire had been walking one earth or another for a century. Her training and her job were supposed to make her prepared for any contingency. She could, and had, broken people almost in half with her bare hands. But her own words were beginning to haunt her. Someone had snuck up behind her, and she found herself without the resources to deal with this . . . threat. A curvaceous and gorgeous blonde threat whose lips began kissing Eliza’s own. Veronica was beginning to get nervous. Eliza was beautiful, even for a vampire. The yellow eyes and white hair simply made her MORE exotic to the federal envoy. After seeing the way she and that police officer had looked at each other, she had realized that Eliza probably had a great capacity for passion from the pain the separation had caused. She had guessed that Eliza was single from the vibes she and Officer Ryder had given off after their brief interlude, but she had wanted to make sure. Now, Veronica had thrown herself at this stunning creature and she was afraid that she was getting shot down. Eliza’s only response so far had been to move away. But then Eliza’s lips began to part a little more and kiss Veronica back. Veronica felt the other woman’s tongue slip ever so gently between her lips to dance in Veronica’s mouth. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 01 ‘What the hell am I doing?’ Eliza thought as she started kissing the beautiful woman before her. ‘I’m on a mission! Men’s lives and the only hope I have of ever seeing my family again are at stake, and I’m making out in a prison observation tower with someone I barely know! Someone with incredibly soft, wonderful lips . . .’ Her objections trailed off into oblivion as Veronica unzipped Eliza’s jumpsuit without ever breaking that lip-lock. While Eliza did enjoy lingerie, she was wearing a sports bra at that moment. Of course, she hadn’t gone up there with the intention to seduce someone. Veronica had. She slid her hands into the opening of Veronica’s bodysuit and cupped her heavy breasts, basking in the heat they gave off and enjoying the feeling of their silky prison beneath her palms. ‘Okay,’ Veronica thought. ‘Now we’re getting somewhere.’ While Eliza was fondling her, Eliza pulled on the shoulders of her outfit and let the jumpsuit slide off. Then she broke the kiss at last and stepped back, pushing the garment all the way to the floor. She stood in the cool night air wearing only that bra and a pair of the skimpiest white panties she owned. The silk fabric barely covered her private parts and it tapered into a thong around back, exposing her tan-line-free tush. She stepped forward again and stuck her hands into Eliza’s jumpsuit, around her body and downward, grabbing two handfuls of that wonderful tight vampire behind. Then she kissed Eliza again. Despite her age and appearance, Eliza hadn’t had many lovers in her life. Her need for secrecy and her hectic life had prohibited it. But here was a radiant, sexual entity offering herself up to Eliza’s appetite. How could she say no? Her body had already made its decision. Finally, Eliza’s rational mind made a decision as well. She wanted this woman, and she wanted her badly! She spun Veronica around and wrapped an arm tightly around the woman’s torso, just below the breasts. Her other arm snaked downward until her hand completely encompassed Veronica’s silk-clad crotch. Starting from the bottom, she traced one finger up the slot all the way to clit, pressing against Veronica’s panties and leaving a dark stain on the white satin. ‘Oh, this girl is ready to go,’ she thought as she sucked on the envoy’s earlobe. She moved her finger back down to the middle of the slot and wiggled it back and forth, pushing on the girl’s underwear until it almost sank into Veronica’s box. The human woman actually used her own hands to press down on Eliza’s in an attempt to push those fingers inside her. But Eliza was too strong. She just kept stroking and rubbing the wet, fleshy outer labia, sometimes stopping to pet the kitty. By that point, Veronica was holding on for dear life. She had been the aggressor in getting things started, but Eliza was in charge now. The human woman was actually being held an inch off the ground while Eliza was rubbing her pussy unmercifully. And Veronica couldn’t get enough. She wanted to feel every part of her lover’s body. She wanted to taste the banquet that lay between those thighs. But first, she wanted to cum, and that was something Eliza was about to help her do. Eliza was rubbing in short, tight circles with great speed, and Veronica began let out short gasp-like grunts as she arched her back as much as she could in the vampire’s iron embrace. It was one of those perfect orgasms that started from the top of one’s head and the tips of one’s toes and built up steam as they pushed through the body, colliding in that paradise that lay between the thighs. Veronica’s tiny panties were soaked through and through. Eliza rubbed her a few more times down there as her sexual earthquake dissipated, then raised that hand to Veronica’s mouth and inserted two fingers into the woman’s mouth. Veronica sucked vigorously on those digits. She didn’t want to get a big ego, but she felt that she had never tasted better. Eliza let Veronica’s feet hit the ground, grabbed the sides of her underwear and tore them from her body. Then she unhooked the woman’s bra and let it fall to ground. Finally, she turned Veronica back around. Veronica had seen lustful expressions before, but this vampire looked downright hungry. But the human woman had an appetite to match. She pushed Eliza’s jumpsuit off her toned shoulders, then leaned in and started kissing her on the neck. She knew this was an erotic zone for vampires, and wanted to make the best of it. Eliza quickly began to moan, and Veronica smiled briefly. ‘Score one for the Earth woman,’ she thought. When her lover pulled her arms out of the suit, Veronica helped her pull that sports bra off over her head. Then she began pushing the suit down, but she did so very slowly. She lightly kissed each square inch of skin as it came into view. She lingered a little longer on Eliza’s breasts though. They weren’t quite as large as Veronica’s, but they filled out her hands nicely, with soft pink nipples and aureoles that felt perfect beneath her lips and tongue. Then she kissed the taut skin of Eliza’s abdomen. Then she traced the woman’s navel with her tongue. Finally, the jumpsuit was pushed all the way down to Eliza’s hips. Veronica looked up and saw passion looking back. Veronica pushed the garment all the way down to her lover’s ankles, letting the vampire slowly step out, leaving her in only a small pair of stretchy, short-style panties. Eliza’s pussy was swollen with excitement and was straining against the material. Veronica could make out the distinct “camel toe” that was being form in Eliza’s underwear. Veronica placed a strong kiss on the damp material, then stroked her tongue between those swollen lips, making Eliza shudder. But she didn’t want anything between her and her prize. She pulled that underwear down, relishing the sight and smell of the most perfect pussy she had ever laid eyes on. She had never seen any fruit that looked so juicy and tempting as the pretty pink box in front of her. She looked up again and locked eyes with Eliza. She placed her hand under her lover’s crotch and slid two fingers inside Eliza’s entrance while slowing rubbing around the outside with her thumb. She began thrusting her fingers in and out, occasionally stretching them outward and eliciting more gasps from the vampire. Her thumb massaged the outer labia, then teased the clitoral region ever so briefly before moving on again. Then Veronica started kissing her way up back up Eliza’s body, but never stopped fingering that wonderful pussy. When she had reached Eliza’s breasts again, she decided to spend more time there. With her free hand, she cupped one breast and pushed it upward, then squeezed it until the nipple poked forth visibly from between her thumb and pointing finger. Veronica took that nipple in her mouth and applied as much suction as she could muster on it. Then she took the nub in her teeth and squeezed it gently. Eliza was actually beginning to see stars. The pleasure she was feeling was just that exquisite. This human had some of the most nimble fingers she had ever felt, and her mouth and tongue were truly blessed. She held Veronica’s head as the woman almost nursed at her breast, though a nursing child probably wouldn’t be nipping at the nipple quite so much. Just when one breast had been ravished to the point of obscurity, Veronica moved onto the other one. But then the blonde woman started kissing her way up Eliza’s chest until those lips finally reached the vampire’s neck. Just as Eliza had never bit another vampire or human on the neck, none of her few lovers had ever really spent time on Eliza’s neck. The white-haired vampire’s neck was incredibly sensitive, and Veronica’s kisses and gentle licking were driving her wild. The human woman had barely spent a minute stimulating that part of Eliza’s body before Eliza climaxed like she had never climaxed before. She pressed herself against Veronica, trapping the latter woman’s hand in place as Eliza came. And Veronica kept kissing Eliza’s neck, causing the vampire to actually experience orgasm aftershocks. She had to hold onto the beautiful creature before her to keep from falling over. “Oh goodness,” she mumbled. Her lips sought out those of Veronica, and they were well met. The two kissed for just a moment, but it felt like an eternity. “I’ve . . . never . . . That was incredible,” she said. Veronica mirrored those sentiments. Bringing a woman pleasure was something she enjoyed doing and enjoyed watching. But what Eliza had apparently just experienced had been beyond Veronica’s definition of pleasure. “I’m glad I could help,” Veronica said, kissing the nape of Eliza’s neck again. ‘Oh yeah,’ she thought. ‘This is a good spot on her.’ The two sank onto the floor and into a sixty-nine position. Both of them were wet and willing, and neither waited more than a second before diving into each other’s muff. Both women were going for the teasing approach, gently licking at the really sensitive parts while being a little rougher with the rest. Eliza liked sucking on her lover’s inner labia while Veronica like going deep into Eliza’s sex with her tongue spread wide. The sound of the two women lapping away, as well as their gasps, grunts and moans, echoed hollowly throughout the observation deck, but neither woman heard a thing. They were lost in a world of flesh and pungent aromas and sexual longing. It was Veronica who first started using her fingers as miniature penises in an attempt to bring “the little death” to the “walking dead.” She scrunched three fingers together and drove them deep, then proceeded to look around them. Eliza responded by using the thumbs from both hand to pull the entrance to Veronica’s paradise open, giving her deeper access than she had ever had before. Both women’s techniques were quite effective. Then Veronica stopped. “Do . . . do you want to taste me?” she asked. Eliza was incredibly confused. “Isn’t that what I’m doing?” “Not like that . . . or maybe not JUST like that.” The human woman crawled out from under her vampire counterpart, flipped Eliza over and pushed her into a seated position. Veronica straddled her lover’s lap. She tilted her head to the side, exposing the length of her neck again. Eliza was running out of ways she could be stunned by this woman. “I’m . . . not . . . hungry,” she stammered. Maybe Veronica didn’t understand what that meant to one of her kind. “I’m not offering it as sustenance,” the blonde woman responded. “I want to know how it feels. Yes, I understand what this means to you. And I’m offering it, just the same.” Eliza could actually see the blood moving beneath that perfect skin. It beckoned to her. She barely noticed that Veronica was leaning in, offering the vampire that neck even as she slid a hand down between Veronica’s thighs and began to fondle her once more. ‘Do I dare?’ Eliza thought. She desired the woman before her, of that there was no doubt. But to share such an intimate embrace . . . ‘Am I ready for this? Is she?’ Like Veronica, she slipped a hand between her lover’s legs and continued to pleasure her. She curled her fingers inward, seeking the g-spot while her thumb ever so lightly caressed the clitoral hood. But then Veronica had leaned forward far enough that the skin of her neck met Eliza’s lips. Eliza couldn’t hold back anymore. Her incisors began to extend just a little bit. Soon, those razor-sharp teeth stood out, fully pronounced. They touched Veronica’s delicate skin. Then Eliza bit down. The reaction for both women was instantaneous and intense. Eliza felt all of her pleasure centers go into overdrive. Not only did she feel the ecstasy that Veronica’s fingers were bringing her, but she could feel the pleasure that Veronica was feeling by Eliza’s own hand. She felt the sweat on Veronica’s skin and heat in her heart. The world in her field of vision sped up to a blur. It was like watching a holo-video and having someone hit the fast forward. But it still made sense somehow. ‘Is this how a human goes through the world?’ she thought. ‘Their lives are so short that they charge headfirst and headstrong into any obstacle, because they have no time to waste.’ Veronica’s fingers also seemed to be moving faster than humanly possible. They were like pistons in an old-fashioned six-cylinder engine that humans used centuries earlier. And they were bringing her to the brink. In Veronica’s mind, everything had slowed to a crawl. It was almost as if she could see each individual movement of an insect’s wings at it slowly drifted through the air of the observation tower. She felt like she could see for miles around through the gaps in the railing, and she could see in the dark better than she could in the day. The night brought colors that no human could ever see, like taking the known spectrum and turning it on its side. And she felt herself inside of Eliza. Her fingers were inside this beautiful creature, as was her blood. But it was more than physically being inside. She was spiritually inside of Eliza as well. Her very being was being hungered for, and Veronica wanted to be devoured. Eliza’s fingers seemed to be moving at an excruciatingly slow pace, almost as if to torture her. But the torment was sweet as strawberry wine, and it soon brought her to the brink. At the exact same moment, both women climaxed. Their respective bodies tightened up and tried to trap one another’s fingers inside. Veronica’s full chest jiggled and swayed, while every muscle in Eliza’s body was clearly visible under her pale skin. Eliza was forced to withdraw her fangs. Suddenly, Eliza’s world slowed down and Veronica’s world sped up again. Both women were drenched in perspiration and their hands were coated with the other woman’s juices. Though neither would have believed it, but their final embrace had lasted only a minute or so. The puncture wounds on Veronica’s neck were small, and the amount of blood that Eliza had actually consumed was miniscule. As Veronica had said, it hadn’t been an offer of nourishment. Eliza collapsed backward onto the deck, and Veronica lay down next to her with an arm and leg draped over the top of the vampire’s body. Neither could speak, but that was just as well. Neither could think of a single thing to say. ------------ -------------- An hour later . . . ------------ -------------- Eliza was laying in her bunk in what had been a solitary confinement cell once upon a time. The sun would be coming up soon, and she would need to sleep for a few hours at that point. She and Veronica had dressed after their impromptu rendezvous in complete silence. Veronica had flipped the collar on her jumpsuit up to hide the bite marks, but those would heal quickly. What they had shared was too intense to vocalize right then and there. They descended the circular stairwell and parted ways at the bottom, but not before their hands touched and held each other one more time. At different times, each had looked back. But both needed some space for a bit. Eliza had been lying on her bed ever since, staring at a steel ceiling. She thought she was as prepared as she could be, but Veronica had presented herself as an intangible . . . a lovely, delicious intangible. Eliza licked her lips, and found that she could still taste the blonde woman. She rolled over onto her stomach and pushed her face into her pillow and screamed. She felt like a schoolgirl with a crush, and it was annoying the hell out of her. Then she heard knocking on the door. “Eliza?” came Wyrm’s voice. “Come in,” she said with an irritated voice. “Don’t shoot,” he joked, making Eliza smiled. She had never been able to intimidate Wyrm because he didn’t take her temper very seriously. He walked in holding a small shiny disc. “I thought you might want this,” he said smugly. Eliza didn’t much care for the tone in his voice or the gleam in his eye. “What is it?” “Let’s just say that you might want to try and remember where all the new surveillance equipment was set up. There was a camera on the roof not far away from a certain observation tower with the nicest view on the island.” Eliza’s face flushed almost red with embarrassment. She hadn’t been thinking about that. She hadn’t gone up there thinking about sex, so . . . “Don’t worry,” Wyrm said a little more warmly and less gleefully. “I rerouted the video feed to my station. This is the only copy of what happened. I thought you should have it . . . just in case you wanted to take notes for next time . . .” Eliza nailed him in the face with a pillow. But she couldn’t stay mad at him. He was just too . . . cocky. “I can’t say that I’m not just a little bit jealous though. Best looking woman that comes our way in a while since the last woman you were sleeping with, and you get to sleep with her too. You’re just lucky that you’re gorgeous and you pay well, otherwise I’d quit.” Wyrm had propositioned her so many times and she had shot him down that it had turned into a game with them. He probably had no idea what he would do if she had ever actually said “yes.” But he knew she never would. He sat down on the edge of the bed. “What’s up?” he asked. “I thought you’d be high as a kite after that.” “I wish I could explain it to you,” she mumbled. “That would mean it made sense to me.” She looked down at Wyrm. “It was more intense than anything I’ve ever experienced. I just wasn’t ready for it.” “Even you can’t be ready for everything boss,” Wyrm told her. “Sometimes you just have to put yourself out there and let the world take its best shot.” Eliza mulled over his simple logic. Then her eyes shot open. “Wyrm, you’re brilliant!” She jumped out of her bed and went looking for Captain Corbin. Her technology expert was left sitting on her bed. “I am?” he pondered to an empty room. ----------------- --------------------- About nine hours later . . . ----------------- --------------------- “I hope you’re sure about this,” Captain Corbin said as the hydrofoils used by the U.S. Coastguard were being loaded up. Earlier in the day, they had activated an emergency beacon, broken radio silence and contacted the mainland. They announced that they knew the enemy was coming and that they were going to get the Dead Man’s World off the island. They had placed identical looking boxes in each of the craft. “Let the bastards figure it out,” Eliza said. About then, Veronica wandered up. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” she said. Her collar was still turned up. Despite the awkwardness, Eliza badly wanted to talk to her about what had happened. But that would have to wait. “Did you tell the men to get ready to ship out?” she asked of the Captain. “They’re stowing their gear on the personnel transports now.” Along with the fast moving hydrofoils, several small but quick ships had arrived to move the troops off the island. The first wave of troops started loading their stuff up, all under Captain Corbin’s watchful eye. Eliza glanced up at one of the guard towers, blinked, then glanced away. Her eyes met Veronica’s. The blonde woman’s mouth turned upward in just the hint of a smile. ‘Is that a blush I see?’ Eliza thought. She watched as the woman slowly cocked her head to one side, much like she had done earlier, and absently played with a stray strand of hair that was cascading down her neck. Eliza gulped. She REALLY wanted to talk to that woman again. Just then, all hell broke loose. The sound of choppers filled the skies and fast moving sea vessels could be heard off in the distance. “Shit!” Eliza screamed. “Get those boats moving!” The hydrofoils with the boxes on them started churning up surf and then accelerated across the open water. Eliza’s superior night vision showed her that the Purity had brought hydrofoils of their own, and they diverted from their course to try and intercept the fleeing boats of the Coastguard. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 02 This story is a bit wordy and fairly long, so if you are looking for immediate gratification, you might want to look elsewhere. ------------- ----------------------- The following story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between actual persons, living or dead (or just confused) is entirely coincidental. Please do not copy/redistribute the story, in part or in total, without the author's permission. This story takes place in the fictional city of Springfield, California several hundred years in the future, so don't go looking for it on a map. And in my little fictional world, there are no unwanted pregnancies or STD's, except as plot driving devices. The author encourages the practice of safe-sex. This story also consists entirely of f/f sexual intercourse. --------------- ---------------------------- Eliza decided she didn't like the look of the jewel. She didn't like it at all. The hundred-year-old vampire with the body of a twenty-year-old woman was standing in the heavily fortified and guarded military hanger where the United States was keeping the Dead Man's World. The World was an opal the size of a volleyball, making it the rarest and most valuable one of its kind. But the market price of the gem wasn't its true value. Less than two months ago, there had been rift in the dimensional wall that divided Earth, the world of the humans, and Terra, the world of the vampires and other "monsters." For centuries, the rift had been open and the miscellaneous species had lived in relative peace. Then a group of racist religious zealots used another jewel, a diamond called the Heaven's Eye, to close the rift and separate the two worlds. In their hopes, the separation would be forever. Eliza had been trapped on Earth. The Purity had used a spell devised centuries before the rift open that had been written by a mad sorcerer from Terra who had been influenced by dimensional energy from the thin dimensional wall. When the Dead Man's World had been found, some thought it might be the key to opening the portal to Terra again. The Purity had made an unsuccessful raid to try and acquire it, but it turned out that their fears had been misplaced. Using data from the Arcanum, a collection of prophecies, histories and spells about the world of Terra that had been granted to the World Government of Earth, scholars and scientists had discovered that the World was likely the principal component for a spell of lasting darkness (whatever that meant). But a number of other spells had been discovered, written by the insane in the vicinity of the dimensional rift, which also referenced huge stones that didn't exist on Terra. One of the, which was believed to be a large ruby, sounded promising. Eliza and her security team, consisting of herself, three humans and a troll, had been placed in charge of the defense of the Dead Man's World, as well as any future gems the governments of the world might come across. When she had first seen the jewel, she hadn't paid too much attention to it, as she had been concentrating on a defense plan against the Purity. When it had been placed in this hanger, surrounded by a physical cage as well as kinetic force shields, she had finally stopped to stare at. "It's too damn black," she muttered. "There should be light in everything, but there isn't any in you," she said to the gem. The Dead Man's World didn't respond. "So what is this 'lasting darkness' you are supposed to bring about?" "You're talking to yourself again," came Allyson's voice behind her. Allyson Murgo was former military and an explosive expert. She and her husband Dennis had met in the military and had hooked up with when the vampire had decided to go into business. Allyson had become a closer friend in the last few months. She was the only other woman in the security team, and had helped Eliza work through some stupid problems she had experienced with her companion. Eliza had been dating a United States envoy named Veronica since this entire mess had begun. Their relationship had been beyond passionate, at least as Eliza understood the concept. Eliza realized she had never really "dated" before, and occasionally needed help in avoiding tripping over herself, and Allyson was the only one she could ask things of. "What's on your mind?" "I don't like this thing. It may not be what the Purity was after, but I've got a bad feeling about it nonetheless. I hope Veronica comes back with news soon." Veronica had been called back to Washington, D.C. for some reason. Electronic communications weren't to be trusted due to the Purity's ability to hack just about every computer system or data stream on Earth. "I'm sure all you're interested in is her 'news,'" was Allyson's reply. Eliza glared at her. "Believe it or not, I CAN concentrate on business." "I believe you CAN, but it doesn't mean you always DO! I'm just teasing you. How many times to I get to mock someone sixty-five years older than me?" Eliza stopped glaring and grinned. "Am I that obvious?" "Clear as crystal, boss. Every time she leaves for any reason, you get moody and introspective. You miss her. Believe it or not, it's natural. And I'll bet she's just as anxious to get back. This isn't Pamela or any of your other flings. I think she's serious about you." "And I'm serious about her. I never thought I could be. I've never felt this way about anyone before. I guess I'm so used to the idea of doomed relationships that I almost let this slip away." She stood there as Allyson hugged her. "But you didn't. And soon, she'll be coming back to you." Eliza sighed. Sometimes, she just needed to say things out loud. "Well, I'm also serious about not liking this thing. And we can only guess at what they do in the first place. Even that blasted ruby they're looking for may not do what we want." Eliza heard the door open and turned, hoping it was Veronica. She was sadly . . . VERY sadly disappointed. It was Valar and company. Valar was a vampire and a scholar. He was also an arrogant prick. He was old-school conservative in regards to the values of her race. He was very big on ceremony and tradition. When Eliza and Veronica began their "intimate relations," she knew that she would have problems with her own people. After the kiss they shared at the docks, she knew that the word would get out. Every vampire nation on Terra was highly discriminatory in regards to same-sex coupling, and Valar's region was the worst. What made matters more uncomfortable was that her parents had once actually encouraged Valar to court Eliza back in the Old World. Even if she hadn't been gay, the man just gave off the impression of being slimy. When he found out that Eliza was a homosexual, he seemed to have taken it quite personally. Like Eliza, Valar had been trapped on this side. Like him or not, Eliza had to acknowledge that he was probably one of the most magically adept and learned vampires on Earth at the moment, so he had been called in to study the gems and try and translate the ancient spells. Eliza wasn't sure why he needed to do the former or why he had to be at Fort Crass for the latter. But he and his pack of cronies had been butting heads with Eliza since they arrived, and Eliza was powerless to actually get rid of them. [[ Is this another one of your 'friends'? ]] he asked in their native tongue, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he approached. "Actually, this is Allyson Murgo, a member of my security team. And yes, she is a friend, though not in the way you're insinuating," Eliza responded with a bit of an edge. She spoke English, simply because she wanted Allyson to have some idea of what was going on. [[ I don't know what you mean,"]] he said with a venomous grin. He would love to humiliate Eliza somehow. "Yes you do," she returned. "Don't insult my intelligence by playing coy. I don't insult your intelligence," she said. "I'll insult everything else about you, but not your intelligence." [[ How crass. Maybe being a 'castle guard' suits you, ]] he said. "At least I have a job that my 'daddy' didn't hand feed me. And unlike you, I'm in a position where I'm not an impotent observer of important events. The next time we get into a fight, I'll make sure you have something to hide behind." Valar almost growled. He was actually a very respected diplomat, socialite and sorcerer. But on this side of the great divide, he had only his schooling. [[ I'm not so impotent that I couldn't take you over my knee and punish you like the insolent child you appear to be. These humans may have embraced you, but your own people know you for what you are . . . a harlot. ]] Eliza was incensed. Just because Valar was a glorified pencil pusher in her eyes didn't mean she didn't take his physical prowess seriously. But while he might be physically stronger, she had much more combat experience than he did. Without his magic and his cronies, Eliza was sure she could kick his . . . There was a deep noise as another creature materialized on the other side of the cage and made his way around. It was Thug, coming out of his natural camouflage. Eliza reveled in the quick retreat that was made by Valar's smug expression. Even if he was living under the delusion he stood a chance against Eliza in a non-magical fight, he knew that the eight-foot, three-inch troll could rip his arms off and beat him like a piñata. || I THINK THINGS ARE GETTING JUST A LITTLE TOO HEATED HERE, || Thug said. Eliza could detect the weariness in her friend's voice. || THOUGH I'M SURPRISED THAT THE HONORABLE VALAR WOULD BE SO DISRESPECTFUL OF THE WOMAN WHO IS ACTUALLY IN CHARGE AROUND HERE. AND, || he added, looking straight at Valar, || I FEEL AN APOLOGY IS IN ORDER. || Valar seemed to be weighing his options. Try and one-up Eliza and get beaten like a drum by Thug or try and weasel his way out with his tail between his legs. Valar went for option B. [[ Of course, ]] he said. [[ I apologize, ]] he added with a complete and obvious lack of sincerity. [[ This dreadful heat has simply sapped my patience. My associates and I have actually been checking on the possibility that the protective shield surrounding the device might 'interact' with it somehow. When the Heaven's Eye closed the gate, it was attached to a mechanical device, which means that there might be components involved in utilizing the power of the jewel that are non-magical in nature. ]] "That's alright. I was just leaving," Eliza said. Thug had been right. Things were getting a little testy and whether she or Valar wanted to admit it, they would probably need each other if they were to ever find a way home. [[ Sleep well, ]] Valar said in passing. 'Get bent,' she thought to herself. The sun wasn't quite ready to rise, but she decided she wanted to go to bed. "Thug, keep on eye on them," she said when she, Allyson and the troll were out of range. "Even if they only thing you do is make them uncomfortable." || OLD FRIEND, ARE YOU REALLY THAT PETTY? LEAVE THAT BEHAVIOR TO VALAR. LIKE HIM OR NOT, HE HAS EVEN MORE REASON THAN THE REST OF US TO GET THAT PORTAL OPEN, SO LET HIM WORK. || Thug was making sense, but Eliza didn't have to be happy about it. She headed back to the house that she and her friends shared. --------------- ----------------- About six hours later . . . --------------- ----------------- Eliza was lying in bed, but was having difficulty sleeping. She was beginning to wish that she had found a room with no windows, since the light seemed to creep in no matter how many sheets or strips of foil she put over them. But that wasn't the real reason she couldn't sleep. Valar had gotten under her skin, and she hated herself for letting him. Then she heard the doorknob turning and as it opened, she caught a whiff of organic body-wash. That caused her to smile. "You're back," she said in the general direction of the door. "And YOU'RE supposed to be asleep." Eliza flipped over and her superior night vision was able to make out Veronica's shapely form easily. The human woman dropped off her suitcase and started to undress. Then she grinned and turned the lights on. As long as Eliza was awake . . . Eliza smiled and threw the covers back, receiving an appreciative look from her lover. Veronica liked her women in lingerie as much as Eliza did, so Eliza had dressed for the occasion just in case the other woman returned that afternoon. Eliza was wearing a satin and lace bra with a black-and-white zebra pattern and a matching pair of silk bikini panties. She also had on some zebra-striped nylon stockings as well; the kind that came up to the midway points on her thighs. "God, I missed you," Veronica whispered as she drank in Eliza's appealing outfit. She kept unbuttoning her white blouse until her own generous cleavage came into view. She had on a black satin bra with a rose pattern. As the shirt came off and her skirt went down, Eliza got to see the teeny, tiny black thong. It was the type of thong that the human woman loved so much and that excited the vampire so greatly. "Feel like showing me how much you missed me?" Eliza said, letting her legs part just a bit. Veronica got on the bed and crawled slowly towards her lover. Her nicely rounded behind was sticking up in the air and her breasts were straining against their containment underneath. She stopped to suck on one of Eliza's toes, making the vampire giggle. Then she kissed her way up one of Eliza's well-toned legs. Eliza had forgotten all about her argument with Valar and her apprehension about the Dead Man's World. A beautiful woman was touching her, and that was all that mattered to her at the moment. When Veronica had worked her way up to Eliza's crotch and placed that first kiss on the vampire's satin panties, pushing them down against Eliza's wet pussy, she almost came right then and there. Veronica had that much of an effect on her. Veronica kissed her lover on the panties again, then pressed her tongue against the moist fabric and started rubbing it in circles. She drank in the aroma as she did so. When she had been gone, she had been thinking of this woman the entire time. She had news, but it could wait until the evening. She pushed the panties out of the way so that she could lick that perfect little vampire pussy directly. Eliza groaned, gripped her own breasts and arched her back as that beautiful blonde woman did all sorts of wonderful things with her tongue. It had already slipped so deep into her box that she wanted to scream to the heavens. Veronica stuck her hands underneath Eliza's ass palms up and gripped those tight little cheeks ferociously. She pushed the vampire's nether region harder against her face, licking for all she was worth. Normally she liked to play around a bit, but she was almost desperately thirsty; craving a drink that only Eliza could provide. "Do it for me," she pleaded as she concentrated her attack on Eliza's clit. "Please cum for me." Eliza was more than happy to oblige. She actually didn't have much choice. Veronica was just THAT good. As her pussy began to leak, Veronica drank it up. She stopped licking long enough to watch her lover's body tremble, pleased that she herself was responsible. She kissed Eliza's swollen outer lips again. Then she continued on her journey up the vampire's body until they were face to face. Once they started kissing, both knew it would be a while before the sex progressed. They had missed each other. But then Eliza got impatient. "It's my turn," she whispered into her lover's ear. "I want to taste you. I NEED to taste you." Veronica was reluctant to leave her current position. It wasn't that she wasn't looking forward to what she knew Eliza could do. She had become captivated by Eliza's neck. She had discovered early in their relationship that the neck was an erotic zone on vampires. She could almost make this vampire climax just by licking and sucking on her neck. But there would be time for that later. She mounted Eliza's face and leaned back, looking down the length of her own body as Eliza began to return Veronica's oral favor. Eliza pushed the human's thong aside at the beginning, not wanting to wait before getting her treat. But while her thumb was sliding between those wonderful nether lips, her fingers sought out Veronica's ass. The human gasped as a single digit penetrated her backside. Eliza had never gone there before. But her finger was probing that asshole now, just as that tongue was probing Veronica's insides. The human was on almost as much of a hair-trigger as Eliza was. She wouldn't have lasted long under normal circumstances, but the inclusion of anal play was going to make this first orgasm a quick one. Not that she minded. She began rubbing her own clit in small circles while Eliza concentrated on the deep portions of Veronica's being and on the human woman's sensitive inner lips. Eliza took those lips into her mouth and pulled outward. That was enough. When Veronica came, she almost drowned her lover. Her body was quivering and her pussy expelled a copious quantity of girl-juice. Even Veronica didn't realize how excited she was to see her woman until that moment. Eliza kept fingering the other woman's ass as Veronica came down from her sexual high. "Sweetie, I missed you so much," Veronica reiterated. "I missed you too," Eliza said as her lover lay down next to her again. "I had a long night." "I know. I talked to Dennis before I came up here. Allyson told him everything. Everything she understood at any rate. I'm sorry you have to deal with that asshole, but the World Council thinks he can be of great help." "And I agree with them," Eliza muttered grumpily. "I just don't like it." Eliza reached upward under one of her pillows and grabbed the toy she had hidden there. It was a double-ended dildo that was a foot in length. "Let's not let that overdressed fop ruin our day," she said with a smile. "As you wish," Veronica said, grabbing the dildo from her lover. She slowly pushed one end of it into Eliza's warm sex. When half the toy was buried in the vampire's box, Eliza turned sideways and raised one of her legs. Veronica spread her legs and scooted in until the two women's sets of thighs were perpendicular to one another. In this scissored position, Veronica scooted down a little more with Eliza holding the free end of the dildo at the entrance to the human woman's slot. Veronica felt the toy pushing its way into her body. Finally, she felt the entrance to her pussy bump up against Eliza's. Both women smiled at one another. With pussies full of plastic toy, they rubbed their openings against each other, savoring the shifting of the dildo in each of their bodies as they did so. They rubbed against each other and then bounced up and down on their half of the toy. Eliza would then grip her end with her powerful vaginal muscles, thrusting Veronica's end in and out of the human woman's wet slot. Veronica had a beautiful, animalistic expression on her face. "Harder! Harder!" she demanded, and Eliza obliged. Veronica started slamming back into the vampire as she thrust. Then they began grinding their crotches together again. Eliza loved how Veronica's sweat was making her nipples stand out against her bra. Each girl began rubbing their own clits as the humped against each other and that dildo. Veronica was the first to cum, but Eliza wasn't far behind. Both of them gripped the other's leg and held on for dear life as pleasure racked their bodies. It was sweet . . . it was exquisite . . . and for both women, it was far too short. They lay like that for a while, cross-legged and panting like racehorses. But neither were ready to call it quits. They disengaged pulled the two-ended dildo out from between them. Eliza grabbed it and tossed it over to the laundry pile. She'd clean the toy in the morning. Veronica lay down on her stomach next to her vampire friend. There was something she wanted, but had been afraid to ask for. 'Well,' she thought, 'two things actually.' "Hon?" It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 02 "Yes," Eliza responded tiredly. "You want to get that other toy? The one that makes you my man?" Eliza smiled and dug through a drawer in the nightstand. She pulled out a strap-on harness and dildo. She slide the contraption down her legs, lifting her hips so it could slide the rest of the way. When she looked over at her lover, Veronica had gotten up on all fours. "Ruff!" the blonde woman said, then wiggled her ass. Eliza got up on her knees and positioned the toy at the head of Veronica's vaginal opening. But Veronica had a surprise for her. "Not there," she said. Veronica placed her head on the bed, reached back and spread her own ass cheeks. "There." Eliza took a deep breath. This was new. She had liked the response she had gotten just sticking a finger in that wonderful tushie. She tried to imagine what kind of reaction this seven-inch toy would have. "Don't move," she instructed, then rushed into the bathroom and grabbed some cream. She smeared a generous amount on the toy and rushed back to Veronica's upturned ass. "Have . . . have you ever done this before?" "Nope," Veronica returned contentedly. "I wanted you to be the first." "Let me know if it gets to be too much." "Hush," the blonde woman whispered. "Just go slow." Eliza leaned in and licked the other woman's pink little rosebud for a minute, trying to get it to relax. She and Pamela had watched some lesbian porn where one girl did this to the other, and Eliza hoped it would work for Veronica. As the human woman began moaning like a bitch in heat, Eliza was pretty sure it was working. Then she pushed both her thumbs in and began stretch her lover's virgin backside. "Do it," Veronica moaned. "Do it now!" Eliza found that her earlier attentions had helped, as the toy slid in with less discomfort on Veronica's part than she anticipated. She inched the device in until it was buried all the way up to the rubber balls. Then she waited. Veronica's expression was one of pleasant surprise. She had wanted to try something new with Eliza when she got back, and this had seemed like a good idea. Now, it was a GREAT idea. Just Eliza's build-up to the actual anal penetration had been worth it. This was icing on the cake. She felt the ridges of the toy rubbing against the walls of her sphincter as Eliza began to move again, humping against the human woman and making her gasp with pleasure. Eliza wrapped her arms around Veronica, fondling her breasts through the silky brassiere. She was humping with her hips, holding breasts and kissing her lover's back. Then, Veronica flipped her hair over the side, and Eliza got a good look at that perfect neck. Like that first night in the observation tower, she could almost see the woman's lifeblood moving just under the surface of the skin. Every tiny little hair seemed to stand out in her mind, and the muscles of the neck were deliciously stretched. And Veronica was flaunting it! She knew what that did to Eliza, who began humping like mad, burying the seven-inch strap-on balls-deep into Veronica's ass every time. Her grip on the human woman's bosoms intensified. Then Veronica dipped her head just a little bit, making her neck muscles move again. "I . . . I want it again," Veronica said with longing in her eyes. "I want you to sink those fangs in and taste me!" Eliza froze for a moment. "We can't . . . I mean, we still don't know what it meant that one time! I'm afraid . . ." "I'm NOT afraid," Veronica returned with certainty. "It may not have been normal, but it felt so right! And it's you doing it, which makes it perfect. I need to feel what it's like to be part of you again!" She pushed up with her arms and arched her back, making her neck completely available to the vampire. Eliza couldn't deny the rush she had felt that first time. Her lips instinctively homed in on the same spot she had bitten last time. The skin had healed, but her soul knew where to guide her teeth. 'Maybe all the magic isn't gone from this world,' she thought. She willed her incisors to grow and felt them sink into warm, willing flesh. "Oh . . ." started Eliza. " . . . my . . . " continued Veronica. " . . . God!" they said together. Once again, the perceptions of both women altered. Veronica's world slowed down while Eliza's sped up. This time, Eliza felt what Veronica was experiencing. She felt the anal penetration of the toy and the feel of her own teeth as if they were being driven into Eliza's own body. She felt both sides of Veronica's sweat, and felt Eliza's own weight on her back. Then she saw glimpses of things her lover had seen on her recent trip, but couldn't make out the sounds. And she felt something else . . . something even less tangible. It was . . . love. Somehow, in the last two months, the angelic blonde woman beneath her fangs had fallen in love with the vampire. As Eliza tried to wrap her thoughts around that concept, she felt Veronica's orgasm building as if it were her own, and she heard her lover's heart begin to sing. Veronica's senses were almost literally on fire. Not only had the world once again seemingly stopped moving around her, but all of her senses were operating at double-time. The pleasure that Eliza was giving to her, the feel of those lips and teeth at her neck and the delicate touch of the two women's skin meeting on her back . . . all of these felt extraordinary. And there were things she hadn't felt the first time that they had coupled like this. Not only did she as the vampire saw, but she felt herself become as strong as Eliza . . . as fast as Eliza. For a moment, she thought she could fight a dragon with one hand tied behind her back and still win. For a moment, she thought she could fly. Then her vision seemed to blur, but she heard things. She actually started "hearing" some of Eliza's recent memories. She heard Eliza talking to Allyson that morning, including how Eliza grew restless when Veronica wasn't around, and she heard Eliza's confession of how she felt about the human woman. She even heard bits and pieces of Eliza's conversation with Valar. And she understood it! Even the parts that were spoken in the vampire's native dialect! Then she heard the beautiful vampire goddess mumbling to herself as she tried to pick out a sexy outfit to wear just in case Veronica came home. That made Veronica smile. She thought back to how Eliza said that she had never felt about anyone the way she felt about Veronica, and the blonde woman's heart began to sing. Once again, the two women climaxed simultaneously. Every muscle in both women's bodies was tight as piano wire, and both women had incredibly wet orgasms. They felt the bed shake and almost collapse beneath them. Ripples of ecstasy swept through both their bodies. Finally, both women collapsed. Veronica was exhausted. She remembered the first time that she and Eliza had done this. It had felt like an eternity but had lasted only a minute. She looked at the clock. 'Half an hour?' she thought, scarcely believing her own eyes. But she couldn't deny it. Based on the last time she had check, she and Eliza had been attached for almost half an hour, though it had felt like only a few minutes. Then she felt her lover cleaning the little bit of blood up from around the bite-marks. 'How much did she take?' Eliza felt physically and psychologically satiated. It was true that she was exhausted, but it was a wonderful exhaustion. She withdrew her fangs and pulled the sex toy out of her lover's bum, pulled it off and tossed it aside. She went to hold her lover again, but noticed that Veronica was unusually pale. She turned the woman over onto her back. "What have I done?" she asked and went to listen to the woman's heartbeat. She heard it, strong and steady. She chastised herself. If she had tried to consume enough of the woman's lifeblood to kill her, the sheets would have been stained red. "You've made me feel more alive than I ever imagined possible," came a contented whisper from Veronica. "I thought I'd killed you," Eliza muttered, almost desperately. "I don't think you could kill me if you wanted to," Veronica said, pulling Eliza's head close and kissing her strong and deep. "I heard what you said," she muttered into her lover's ear. "I know how you feel." Eliza's heart almost exploded. She felt cheated somehow, because it was something she had wanted to try and say on her own. But in the end, it didn't matter. "I know how you feel to. I don't know how or why, but I know that you love me. And I think I love you too." "Though you never thought you could," Veronica said, tears in her eyes. "I know you loved Pamela, but you knew you couldn't have her. But you love me, and I promise that I'm yours to keep. If you'll have me." The only answer Veronica received was a kiss, and it was the only answer she needed. --------------- ----------------- A few days later . . . --------------- ----------------- "Where the hell are they?" Eliza asked irritably. "They should have been here by now. Are we sure they haven't been waylaid?" "I'm sure," Veronica said absently. She was too busy staring at her lover's face to pay much attention to what she was saying. The two had talked at great length about what had happened that night. While their relationship was solid, Eliza was still nervous about how long she had been biting Veronica, and swore she wouldn't do it again until she had a chance to figure out what was going on. Despite the closeness she felt with the vampire during their two "nibbling" sessions, Veronica realized they actually had to stick to their guns this time. But it didn't mean that deep down inside that she didn't desire to feel that close to Eliza again. "What?" Eliza said when she noticed she was being watched. She actually even blushed a little. "What are you staring at? Do I have something in my teeth?" Veronica took a small amount of pleasure in making her woman squirm in other places in than the bedroom. The vampire was still unused to being in a one-on-one relationship, much less a public relationship. They had agreed to keep in reasonably professional form while in public, but at the same time, they weren't going to hide their relationship. "Are you still surprised that I like to look at you?" Veronica asked. Allyson and Dennis were nearby, trying hard not to snicker as their leader blushed some more. Eliza had wanted something like this, but she didn't know how to handle it now that she had it. || INCOMING! || Thug shouted from the hangar door. Suddenly, the entire crew was all business. Even Veronica checked to make sure the safety on her weapon was off. Eliza smiled at that. Her companion was beautiful, but she still knew her business. Outside, a substantial convoy of heavily armed and armored hover-vehicles and military jeeps pulled up. Eliza had already put the base's anti-aircraft batteries on alert, and every available man and woman on the ground had been scrambled. A transport craft pulled up and set down, and about twenty armed men got out of the cargo area in the back. Then two additional men got out, carrying a wooden crate. "Put that over on the pedestal," she said to the men. Once they had done as she commanded, she ordered all personnel not normally stationed at the base out of the hangar. She only wanted people around she were sure weren't Purity spies. "I guess we'd better get that thing open. Captain, would you do the honors?" Captain Corbin grabbed a crowbar and pried the top off the box. They looked inside. Sitting in the shadows of the box was a huge sapphire. The gem had been called the Ocean's Heart by the team of deep-sea explorers that had uncovered it in a sunken vessel in the Caribbean. Eliza stared into the depths of the Ocean's Heart. She had never been on a cruise or even so far out to see on a boat that she couldn't see land, but suddenly she knew what it must be like. She felt herself somewhat surrounded by a sense of tranquility. A quick look around showed that she wasn't alone in the feeling. "Wow," said the Captain. "'Wow' is right," Eliza responded. "Well, we'd better get this thing into its cage." She and the Captain reached in and grabbed the jewel on either side and began hoisting it out of its container. As soon as the Heart came over the lip of the box, two things happened. First, both the Ocean's Heart and the Dead Man's World began to glow. Secondly, both gems began to scream. At least, 'scream' was the best word Eliza could think of to describe it. It was high pitched, varied periodically in pitch and was very sharp. She and Captain Corbin quickly place the Ocean's Heart back in its box. Although the noise stopped, Eliza got the almost overwhelming feeling that the sapphire was . . . grumbling. It knew the Dead Man's World was there. It couldn't "see" the other gem any more, but it knew it was there. Eliza took another look around. Everyone in the room had looks of incredulity of some form or another clearly displayed on their faces. "Someone get Valar!" Eliza said between gritted teeth. ------------------- -------------- A few minutes later . . . ------------------- -------------- "Incredible," Valar said, actually using English. With Veronica there, he had to be on his best behavior. He may have been contemptuous of the woman and her relationship with Eliza, but the U.S. envoy was still the one truly in charge. Even Eliza had to answer to Veronica to some degree. "Living gems? I've never heard of such a thing! The ramifications of this are enormous!" Eliza wasn't happy about this development. "I do NOT like this at all," she said. Valar smiled contemptuously. "Maybe you don't see the big picture. We have been so concerned with trying to find a source of magic so that we could utilize the powers of the gems, but now it seems the gems themselves may have their OWN power. I find it likely that these jewels are self-contained magical systems." "And they don't seem to like each other!" Eliza pointed out. "The reaction we got when they 'saw' each other seemed distinctly negative!" "But it seems to be based on 'line of sight,' so to speak," countered Valar. "It is true that there might me some additional precautions to be taken, but the knowledge that we don't need an exterior magic source . . ." "Is a two-edged sword," Eliza interrupted. "Think about it. If word gets out about this, we have more problems. First, the Purity will step up their attacks and plans to acquire the jewels, either the ones we have or the ones we're still looking for. They won't have time to sit back and wait anymore, which will make them desperate. And desperate people are dangerous. Secondly, if the enemy gets a hold of one of the gems before we do, that means they might be able to actually use it against us. What's bad for the goose is bad for the gander. In other words, we just took an incredibly complex conflict and made it worse!" Even Valar was sobered by some of what Eliza had said. The members of the female vampire's security team were all glancing at one another with some concern, and Captain Corbin seemed deep in thought. Finally, Veronica spoke. "Then we need to make sure this information doesn't get out," she said quietly. But that didn't comfort anyone. Sooner or later, the Purity would find this information out. "I'll head back to Washington right away and consult my superiors. By the time I get back, I want a detailed list of all the jewels we're looking for and," she added, looking at Valar, "your best estimate or estimates of what they do. If Eliza's right, we might have more than subterfuge and gunships to defend against." --------------- ------------------- Back at the house . . . --------------- ------------------- Veronica was throwing her toiletries together in anticipation of her upcoming departure. She heard the door open behind her and glanced over her shoulder to see Eliza walk in. "Still nervous?" the envoy asked. Eliza was almost growling. "This situation sucks. Just when I think I've got everything figure out . . ." "Something happens to throw everything off track," Veronica said with a smile. "Or someone," Eliza corrected, wrapping her arms around the human woman. "I wish you didn't have to go." Veronica ran her hands up her lover's back. Then she kissed the white-haired vampire. "I don't want to go. It's funny, you know? Troubled times keep us apart, but if it weren't for these troubled times, we wouldn't be together." She sighed, then the two women kissed again. "I'll probably be gone longer this time too. This is a big development." The two separated so Veronica could finish packing. "Listen, I don't know if this is something you could do, but I've got a favor to ask," Eliza said nervously. "What?" "There's a Terran ambassador named Kelik Vonahme. He's sort of an old friend of the family. I haven't heard from him since the dimensional crack closed, and most Terrans have gone into hiding. I'd really like to talk him, and he might even be of some help with understanding the spells associated with the jewels." "I'll see if I can locate him and bring him on board," Veronica said, grabbing her luggage and heading for the door. Eliza escorted her to her transport and kissed her one more time. Then the human woman was gone. Eliza felt a little guilty. She hadn't told her lover the main reason she wanted to talk to Kelik. Along with being an ambassador and a liberal, particularly by vampire standards, he was also something of an expert on vampire psychology. And being an old friend of the family gave Eliza hope that he might help her understand what was happening between Eliza and Veronica. As she watched Veronica's transport disappear past the gate, she blew the woman one more kiss, then went to meet with team. -------------- ---------- A week later . . . -------------- ---------- As soon as Veronica got back off the truck, Eliza knew something was wrong. The blonde woman's beautiful face was flushed with anger, and she could barely meet Eliza's gaze. She told Captain Corbin and Valar to meet her in the hangar in fifteen minutes. Eliza was wondering why she and her team weren't being told to report there. Then Veronica pulled Eliza aside and explained. The envoy almost had tears in her eyes when she started to speak. Eliza hadn't seen her lover so angry before. "Before I even start, I want you to know I completely disagree with what the government and the World Council decided to do." Eliza felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, and Veronica was about to make it worse. "The word is already out about what happened at the hangar last week. We don't know how, but someone leaked the information. My bosses are pissed off about it, and their pulling in the reigns on runaway information. That means fewer people having access to the jewels." Eliza furrowed her eyebrows. "This had better not be going where I think it's going." Veronica looked at her shoes. "Except for Valar, this has just become exclusively a military operation." Veronica met Eliza's gaze. "Which means that the United States Government and the World Council, while appreciative of your efforts thus far, will no longer be requiring the services of you or your team." Veronica's voice started to break. "The agreed on price for your services has already been transferred to your bank account, and . . ." Eliza's ears turned off as she tried wrapping her brain around what had just happened. She and her team had protected the Heaven's Eye, then the government had lost it. She and her team had protected the Dead Man's World, as well as the Ocean's Heart. Now, they were being fired. She turned and started walking back to the house before Veronica got in front of her. "Eliza . . . sweetie, look at me!" Veronica grabbed both sides of Eliza's head and forced the vampire to meet her eyes. "This is stupid. You've done a better job at staying a step ahead of the Purity than anyone else could, and now you're getting shafted. My superiors are idiots! Maybe they're being influenced by the Purity somehow, but there's nothing I could do!" She wrapped her arms around the vampire's muscular frame, but Eliza didn't hug her back. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 02 "Let me go," Eliza said so softly that Veronica almost couldn't hear it. "I've got to go talk to my team." "No," Veronica said, gripping the vampire as tightly as she could. "Not until you let me finish. I'm going to try and convince my bosses to change their mind. Cutting you out of the loop is the dumbest thing they could do. But regardless, don't let this come between us. Please?!? I still love you!" She felt Eliza's muscles relax a little and the vampire raised her arms, giving Veronica a light embrace. "I know," Eliza said at last. "And I love you too. But you need to let me go now. You have a job to do, and I have to gather up my team and leave." Veronica hated this. She knew that getting involved this deep with someone in the middle of that kind of conflict would lead to problems, but she could have never imagined that she would be feeling that helpless. "Look me in the eyes," Veronica requested. Eliza finally lifted her chin up. The vampire's eyes were filled with smoldering rage. She hadn't wanted her lover to see them. This wasn't Veronica's fault. "Tell me again that you still love me," she pleaded. The vampire sighed. "I still love you," she said. "I just think I need to go before I say something I'll regret." As Eliza started to walk away, Veronica thought of something else she needed to say. "I couldn't get Kelik assigned to Fort Crass, but I did get word to him that you wanted to talk to him. I didn't get a chance to wait for a reply, but . . ." Eliza looked over her shoulder. "Thanks," was all she could think to say before wandering off to find her team. Veronica watched the vampire walk away. She couldn't believe the bad turn of luck her life had just taken. Not only was a valuable weapon in the battle against the Purity being cast aside by bureaucrats with no field experience, but she also was about to lose access to the most fascinating woman she had ever been with for an indefinite period of time. "What else could go wrong?" she asked herself. --------------- ------------ A week later . . . --------------- ------------ BAM! BAM! BAM! Allyson Murgo wandered into the conference room and had a seat beside her husband. Wyrm was hooked into about a dozen data streams trying to find some information that Eliza had asked for, and Thug was over next to the door looking out into the courtyard. "How long has she been at it?" Allyson asked of Thug. || ABOUT AN HOUR. SHE ALREADY BROKE HER FIRST HEAVY BAG, NOW SHE'S BEATING THE HELL OUT OF THE SECOND ONE, || the troll responded. He had been watching Eliza go to town on her punching bags for a while. Ever since the group had their services terminated by the government, Eliza had been living in a state of constant irritation. She had accepted the job of protecting the Dead Man's World in the first place so she would be part of the crusade to reopen the gate to Terra, she had done her job, but she had been fired anyway. Technically, the entire group could've retired right there on the spot, but none of them were willing to do that yet. The mission wasn't about money anymore. Eliza had Wyrm researching humans that had been denied acceptance into Terran academies of magic after some humans had begun to show magical aptitude. The sorcerer who had closed the gateway had used some kind of incantation along with a mechanical contraption to activate the magic of the Heaven's Eye. Anyone who actually had trained for any length of time at a real school of magic would know that incantations were just window dressing; magic was controlled by will, not words. The spoken word could give the caster the illusion of control, though he or she probably didn't truly understand what was happening. It was likely that the sorcerer was a human, since most vampires grew up knowing these things, whether they were sorcerers or not. Besides that, Eliza had distracted herself in any way she could. She knew Thug was watching her, but she didn't care. The people she had worked for had hamstrung her, and she was struggling for a way to stand on her own. On top of everything else, she hadn't been sleeping much. A few days earlier, the dreams had started. Like most sentient beings she knew, Eliza occasionally had some fairly realistic dreams. Sometimes she had erotic dreams. But for the last two days, she had had the most incredible dreams of her life. Both times the dreams had revolved around Eliza and Veronica. Neither woman spoke in the dreams, but they weren't dreams about conversation. The first day, the dream had consisted of the two of them making love on the beach. The second day, they had been getting it on at the top of a rock formation out in the deserts of Arizona. Both times, Eliza had woken in a warm sweat and cum-stained sheets. Each time, she had woken up after she had climaxed in her dream, and her orgasm followed her into the waking world. She had so much wanted to hit her biological snooze alarm and go back to sleep, but she was never able to do it. Her frustration was compounded by the fact that she hadn't been in contact with Veronica since Eliza had been canned. So as weird as those dreams were, they were all that the vampire had of the blonde-haired envoy. Finally, Allyson braved the chill night air and went out to talk to the boss. "Hey." "Has Wyrm figured anything out yet?" Eliza said, snapping a jab off at the bag. "Not much for small talk these days, are you?" Eliza grimaced. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to take things out on you." "Thank God," Allyson said with a smile. "I don't think I could take the pounding you're giving that bag. And no, Wyrm hasn't found anything. I think he's taking a break and reading porn stories on the web." Eliza smiled. It was the first time she had done that in a while, except when recovering from her dreams. But as quickly as it had arrived, the smile was gone. She sat down on the bench and Allyson sat down next to her. "Is there anything I can do?" the human woman asked. "No," Eliza sighed. "I wish . . . I can't even explain what's going in my head. I used to feel I could be prepared for anything, now I feel like everything's spiraling out of control." "You'll land on your feet boss. You always do. By the way . . ." Allyson was cut off by the sound of the front gate buzzer being rung an annoyingly large number of times. Everyone dropped what they were doing and went out to check the security monitors. There was a singly heavily armored and unmarked transport craft parked out front. "Who the fuck . . ." started Dennis. He pressed the intercom button. "State your name and business." They watched as the window to the vehicle rolled down. An arm reached out and pressed the button at the gate end of the intercom. "I'm looking for an incredibly strange young woman from Terra. White hair . . . stubborn . . . one hell of a temper. Have you seen her?" came a voice from the vehicle. "Kelik!" Eliza almost shouted, bounding out the front door and down the driveway. The gate was opening by the time she got there. Apparently, Wyrm had decided this was an acceptable visitor. Eliza jogged along side the vehicle until it came to a stop, and an aged vampire got out the side. Kelik was wearing his ambassador's robes, which gave him a very regal look. But unlike Valar, Kelik was completely lacking in pretense. When she was a child and Kelik attended a dinner or function at her parent's estate, Kelik had always preferred the company of the non-aristocrats. He would talk with everyone else though. From the children to the servants, Kelik would discuss anything with anyone. He valued the opinions of the farmers as much as those of kings and other royalty. And he always had made time to talk with Eliza. She briefly smiled as she remembered a time that this vampire, who had been walking the ground of Terra for six hundred years before Eliza was ever born, had once sat in her room next to her dolls and participated in the vampire equivalent of a childhood tea party. Once outside of the vehicle, he quickly gave Eliza a hug. [[ So, how's my favorite little girl? ]] He glanced her over. [[ Though not quite as 'little' as I remember. You grew up well, ]] he added. [[ And you look venerable as always, ]] Eliza returned. She knew he hated being teased about his age, which is why she always did it. [[ Why didn't you call me and tell me you were coming? ]] Kelik sighed and rolled his eyes. [[ Damn bureaucrats and politicians have got everyone jumping at their own shadow. Of course, they have their reasons. There have been a number of attacks against our kind since the dimensional gate closed. And these humans seem to be under the delusion that I'm important somehow, so they wouldn't let me send any kind of electronic communication. I had to almost literally throw a tantrum before they'd even let me come out here. You have NO idea how annoying it's been being cooped up with a bunch of 'intellectuals' trying to pick my brain about recent proceedings. ]] Eliza found herself smiling again. [[ Won't they at least let you talk to engineers or scientists? ]] Human science and technology had fascinated Kelik since the gate had opened. That, combined with his patience in dealing with different types of people, had made him the perfect candidate for Terran Ambassador to Earth. [[ You thought it was bad for you? I had to deal with Valar for months. ]] [[Ouch. Okay, you win. ]] About that time, Thug showed up. [[ Damn, I forgot how big you were. How are things going Thug? ]] Kelik and Thug had known each other since the troll and Eliza had become friends, and Thug's loyalty to the vampire had given him points in Kelik's eyes. || FINE, I SUPPOSE. NEED ANY HELP WITH YOUR BAGS? || [[ Yes please. ]] He turned to Eliza. [[ Be a dear and warm me a cup of blood. It's been a long trip. ]] Eliza hugged him and then ran back into the house. Thug unloaded Kelik's luggage, then the aged statesman dismissed his escort, telling them he'd call them in a few days to retrieve him. Then the vehicle left, and Kelik turned back to the troll. [[ So, how is she? I understand she's . . . changed a bit recently. ]] Thug grabbed all of Kelik's bags as he responded. || SHE'S SURVIVING. THAT'S WHAT SHE DOES. BUT I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE. SHE NEEDS YOUR WISDOM. || Kelik chuckled. [[ I doubt she needs me that much. She was always a strong-willed child. I can't imagine she's any less strong as a woman. ]] || EVEN THE STRONGEST MOUNTAIN CAN BE BEATEN DOWN IF THE WIND IS FIERCE ENOUGH. || [[ Enough! You're quoting me, and I hate that! ]] Kelik chuckled again though. Unlike most, he had never underestimated the troll's intelligence or sophistication. Up at the house, Kelik was introduced to the entire team. They sat and talked all throughout the evening. They avoided talking about any classified information they had been privy to when working at Fort Crass for the time being, preferring to blow off steam by discussing lighter subjects. Kelik even spun a few tales about some of the 'stranger' things Eliza did as a child, much to that woman's chagrin. A few hours before sunset, Eliza offered to show Kelik to his room. [[ Now that we're alone,]] the older vampire said when they were alone, [[ maybe you'd like to explain why you wanted to talk to me. I know it isn't about those jewels everyone is looking for. You and that pompous ass Valar were better suited to that sort of assignment than I ever could be. Is this about your . . . how to the humans put it . . . sexual orientation? ]] Eliza blushed and Kelik smiled. [[ Yes, I've heard about that. You know that we official types love to gossip, and the story of your kiss on the docks has already spread to most of the Terrans remaining on Earth. I can't say I'm too surprised. You always followed your own path, and you never showed much interest in being courted. ]] [[ It's not just that, ]] Eliza replied. [[ I know what my preference for women will mean for me and my family, assuming we can ever find our way back to Terra. I'm not ashamed of who I am. ]] [[ Nor should you be. Our people need to open their eyes and scrutinize some of our more antiquated traditions. ]] [[ But it isn't about that. ]] Eliza blushed. [[ I met someone. She and I have . . . been together. And something very strange happened when . . . ]] [[ I'm sure it did, ]] Kelik said with a dirty grin. [[ But unless my memory is failing, isn't that the good part? ]] [[ Stop that! ]] Eliza said, blushing furiously. [[ Something strange happened when . . . when I bit her. ]] Kelik's face grew serious suddenly. [[ You bit her? Can I assume this wasn't a 'feeding' type of bite? ]] [[ No sir. It wasn't. ]] Eliza pointed to a spot on her neck that corresponded with where she had bit Veronica. [[ Oh dear, ]] Eliza's mentor said, sitting down in a recliner while he formulated what he wanted to tell her in his mind. [[ I always heard that it was a bit of a rush, ]] said the embarrassed young woman. [[ It is, ]] Kelik responded. [[ It causes an adrenaline rush followed by a state of euphoria. I've actually talked with some human scientists about possible causes for it, but it hasn't been widely studied. Vampires have never questioned it. ]] He looked Eliza over carefully. [[ You care about this woman, don't you? Don't even bother to answer. I can see it on your face. But if you already knew what to expect, then why . . .]] [[ Because it wasn't what I expected, ]] Eliza said nervously. [[ It . . . it was unlike anything I could ever imagine! ]] She went on to tell him about the unexpected side-effects of her and Veronica coupling, including the distortions of perception and time, as well as the sounds and memories the two women had shared. By the time she was done, Kelik's eyes were as wide open as they could be. [[ Oh . . . kay! That's new. ]] [[ So you've never heard of anything like this? ]] Eliza asked. [[ I've heard of something LIKE this, yes, but nothing that extreme. Sometimes, couples that are very close link when they bite one another. ]] This wasn't a new concept for Eliza. When two vampires were together for some amount of time and participated in more intimate embraces, they sometimes began to get a particularly well-honed sense of what the other was feeling. [[ But I always thought linking was much more general? ]] [[ It is. What you are describing seems to be a hyper-developed version of the linking process. ]] [[ But I hardly knew her when we first coupled. How . . . ]] Kelik interrupted. [[ Sometimes, the blood knows. ]] Kelik saw a confused look on his young friend's face. [[ Humans and vampires, while similar, are different species. Humans are very analytical in a lot of ways. For them, the blood is simply the building block of life; a blueprint for their beings. Vampires are magical creatures. And like humans, our blood contains the essence of who we are. If you drank of this woman and her blood mixed with yours, it is possible that it 'recognized' it somehow, identifying it as belonging to a kindred spirit. This isn't necessarily the same as love, mind you. It simply means that your blood realized that her blood belonged to someone with a soul that is compatible with your own. Love still has to be worked at, but the potential for love is much greater for two people with a strong link. ]] [[ I . . . I do love her, ]] Eliza admitted. [[ And I believe she loves me. That's why it is so hard for me when she's away. And now I'm having these dreams . . . these dreams that are always about her. And the dreams are so real. ]] [[ I wish I could be of more help. Strong links are rare. Links between members of the same gender are almost unheard of, and linking between different species is completely unprecedented. Eliza, ]] he said with a grin, [[ you finally got to do something no one else has done. Congratulations! ]] Eliza put her head in her hands. [[ But how . . . I mean, the magic is gone from this world again. ]] [[ Remember, we have some magic in our blood. Not enough to cast spells mind you, but linking doesn't count as a spell. It's a natural reaction, albeit rare, in our people. ]] He sighed. [[ Maybe we could continue this in the evening? I'm very tired and it's almost time for the sun to rise. And I'd like to discuss some other 'recent happenings' if you don't mind. As fascinating as your love life is . . .]] [[ Oh hush, ]] she said, feeling like a child again around this sage of a man. [[ Would you like something else to drink? ]] [[ I don't think so, but thank you. ]] Eliza stood up and left the guest bedroom, closing the door behind her. She dropped by Wyrm's station and told him to activate all the alarms and defenses the compound possessed. She didn't expect any problems since no one knew that Kelik was there, but she didn't want to take any chances. Then she went back to her own room, locked the door and crawled into her own bed. If she was hoping for undisturbed rest, then she was out of luck. As soon as her head hit her pillow and her eyes closed, the dreaming began again. ---------------------- -------------------- In her dream, she found herself at the base of a set of stairs. But they weren't the stairs of a building. She was outside somewhere, in what appeared to be ruins of some variety. They looked like something out of a fantasy movie. The stairs were made of white marble, and they led up through a hanging garden of lush green foliage to a white stone platform. Eliza looked at herself. She was wearing a black leather corset with a long trail of black satin fabric emanating from the area at the small of her back, but that was all. Her busts were available for all the world to see. There was warm breeze blowing which felt so real. And although the sun was out, it didn't bother her eyes like she knew it should. It felt so warm on her pale skin. She found herself walking up the stairs. When she reached the platform, she saw that it was surrounded by marble columns that were engulfed in grape-bearing vines. And in the center of the platform was a waist-high altar made of some smooth, black stone. Lying on the altar was Veronica. The blonde beauty was lying on her back with her arms and legs outstretched, and each of her limbs was chained to one corner of the slab. She was wearing a white blindfold and gauzy white robe that was tied with a single thread at her ample breasts. She, quite obviously, was wearing nothing underneath. Eliza approached the altar, staring in awe at the human woman's beauty. Her soft blonde hair cascaded in a fan shape on the stone beneath her, and her slightly parted lips were painted ruby-red. Eliza placed one fingernail on the woman's skin and slowly traced it up the leg, abdomen and then one breast of this lovely creature. And her touch seemed to light a fire under Veronica's skin, and the human woman gasped with each new body part Eliza's hand touched. She didn't see who was touching her, but she knew just the same. She knew that touch quite well. She strained against the chains that bound her, but they held fast. Eliza's hands reached out and untied Veronica's robe and pushed it aside, revealing a heaving bosom. She slid onto the table and lay next to her captive lover. She cupped one glorious mound with her hand, then dipped her head so she could suckle at the nipple. In her dream, Eliza heard Veronica moan. It was a sweet sound, as if the woman's pleasure had fermented and turned into a fine wine, and that pleasure came trickling out of Veronica's mouth. Eliza sucked on one breast, then the other. She found herself straddling her lover, allowing her to move between those heavy globes more rapidly. Then she sat up and looked down at her lover. 'No,' Eliza's dream-self thought. 'She's more than my lover. She has made herself an offering to me . . to my hunger . . . to my lust.' She grabbed Veronica's erect nipples and pulled on them, and Veronica's mouth spread in an exquisite smile. 'So you like that?' Eliza thought again, tugging on the nipples again. 'Yes, you most certainly do.' Eliza continued to torment Veronica's chest with one hand. The other hand found itself embedded between her lover's thighs. Veronica seemed especially wet, and the vampire's fingers slid in the human's warm sex with relative ease. She had three fingers in the box, all of which curled forward and started to slide in and out. Veronica strained to capture more of those fingers inside her, but Eliza's body and those chains held her still. She would only be able to take what Eliza decided to give her. The vampire was in complete control. For Eliza, this was paradise. She was bringing pleasure to someone who wouldn't leave her, even in her dreams. And shortly after her thumb started rubbing against Veronica's clit, the human woman began to cum. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 02 It was beautiful to behold. Veronica could barely move, but she was straining every muscle she could. Her body was trying to capture Eliza's fingers. Her body shook as her nectar flowed from between her thighs and her breath flowed from between her lips. Eliza leaned in, captured Veronica's breath in her own mouth and returned it with a kiss. Then she brought her moistening fingers up from her lover's crotch and placed them in Veronica's mouth and let the human woman suck them clean. Then the human woman's lips seemed to be seeking something else, and Eliza kissed her again. That was what Veronica had wanted. Eliza slowly undid her captive's blindfold and slid it off her face. Those blue eyes seemed to sparkle in the sunlight, and they shone even brighter when Veronica smiled. Eliza placed the tip of her tongue at the bottom of Veronica's chin and traced her way up the woman's face. The blonde woman tried to capture that tongue as it passed over her lips, but to no avail. Eliza kept going until she had licked her lover from chin to forehead. Then she stood up and placed on foot on either side of Veronica's head, taking care to push those soft blonde locks aside. Then she ever-so-slowly squatted down, presenting her own personal paradise to her lover's anxious lips. Veronica began to lick . . . and lick . . . and lick. Eliza wondered if it was her imagination, but her friend's tongue seemed longer in her dream. It was all the way up inside her, gently touching her hidden places. She grabbed the sides of her captive's head and held it tight against her body, encouraging that tongue to go deeper . . . and deeper. She rubbed her crotch against Veronica's face, smearing her juice over that perfect face, then let the blonde woman get back to licking. She felt her inner labia sucked into a warm mouth where they were teased outrageously. When Eliza finally climaxed, it was as if all the liquid in her body had begun to boil and pour onto Veronica's face. But she kept her footing as Veronica continued to eat. And even after her first orgasm subsided, she didn't let go. She held the human's head in place until she had satisfied Eliza a second time. And the second time took a while, as Veronica was taking her time. But her tongue was just as long and her lips just as sweet as they had been for the first round. She was sweating by the time Veronica had done her job the second time. She had never 'sweated' in a dream before she started dreaming of Veronica. The human was almost glowing with contentment. She had satisfied Eliza, and that pleased her. But Eliza wasn't done. Eliza crawled backwards down the altar until her shoulders were directly over Veronica's thighs. Eliza had something she wanted to do to this woman, and what better place to try than in a dream. She started by giving her lover's wet opening a few quick kisses and a few long licks. Then she inserted one finger into that tight box and began to wiggle it. After pumping it a few times, she inserted a second finger. She started stretching those puffy inner lips, pushing them against the swollen outer labia. Then she pushed a third finger in, followed by a fourth. She cupped her hand slightly, plunging all four digits into her lover's canal in quick, scooping motions. Her thumb rubbed lightly against Veronica's clitoral hood. She wanted to make this woman cum. Eliza thought of her history lessons . . . of the cultures that would tie someone to an altar just like this and spill their blood. It wasn't Veronica's blood that Eliza was interested in spilling. Veronica, Eliza's 'sacrifice,' would be spilling her honey-like cum as an offering to her vampire goddess. Then Veronica's body seized up again, and Eliza began to get her wish. Her fingers and hand were coated in sticky girl-stuff and a small pool was forming on the slab below. It wasn't enough for Eliza. The vampire smiled as Veronica's pussy had its final spasm of the moment. She was looser now . . . more . . . accessible. Eliza tucked her thumb into her cupped fingers and pushed her hand in again. But this time, she didn't pull it back. Instead, she kept pressing inward . . . slowly. Veronica's eyes opened wide as she felt her inner walls being stretched. She was panting . . . desperately gasping for breath. She was being filled by the woman she adored . . . by her black-clad vampire mistress. Veronica's eyes remaining locked on the small portion of Eliza's hand that was still visible. Centimeter by centimeter, that portion shrank until finally, at long last, the entire hand was inside her. As her nether opening closed around Eliza's wrist, Veronica almost passed out. It was too big. It was too much. It was . . . too perfect. She belonged to Eliza. Maybe it was just a moment and it was just a dream, but she had been claimed by her perfect lover. Eliza slowly pressed her fingers outward, feeling every nuance of Veronica's insides. Every touch caused the human woman to shiver. The vampire pushed her hand in a little further, then pulled back to the base of the thumb. Then she pushed forward one more time, extending her fingers again. She could almost see every muscle in Veronica's body dancing just underneath her lightly tanned skin as she tried to capture the motion of Eliza's hand. But it was no use . . . Eliza was too strong. And she started to pump her entire hand inside her lover's body. Veronica was writhing on the stone slab, but was completely unable to escape the delicious pressure Eliza's hand was causing in her moist femininity. And she couldn't stop herself from cumming over and over again. Once the first orgasm hit her, Eliza kept Veronica at a sexual high, prodding her insides with every digit of her hand. Veronica found herself experiencing multiple orgasms for the first time in her life. She lost track of the number of times that she spilled her female essence onto the altar. The pool under her thighs was growing to the point that some of her juices were actually dripping off the side of the slab. Veronica seemed to feel it was a more suitable offering to her mistress. And Eliza was showing no signs of stopping. Then Veronica's body began to glow . . . literally. The human woman's body was radiating a rich, yellow light. She arched her back and strained against her chains. With a crack like thunder, the chains snapped. And suddenly, Veronica was gone. Eliza looked around, but her lover was nowhere to bee seen. She lay down in the pool of Veronica's nectar and wished with all her might that the dream could continue. ------------------ ------------------- Somewhere at Fort Crass . . . ------------------ ------------------- Veronica Adams awoke with a start. As it had been for the last several nights, her body was covered in sweat and her sheets were stained with cum. "Fuck!" she uttered. She had been having another fantastic dream. She rolled over and felt a soreness in the area of her crotch. Her eyes opened wide. She slid a hand down under her wet panties and instantly noticed how sensitive and stretched the opening to her pussy felt. Then she realized how exhausted she was. "It's not possible!" she thought. But her own body told her a different story. ------------------ ---------------------- Across town at the compound . . . ------------------ ---------------------- Eliza slowly opened her eyes. "Damn," she muttered. "That was a good one." She glanced down. "Looks like I soiled my sheets again." She dipped a finger into her cunt. She had definitely had at least one orgasm. She lifted her hand to her lips. But when she sniffed her hand, it smelled like more than her own juice. There was another scent there. It was . . . like an organic-based body-wash. It was familiar to her. It smelled like . . . like the one Veronica used. But Veronica had never even been IN the buildings of the compound, much less showered there. How could . . .? "It's not possible!" Eliza thought. -------------------- ------------------- About six hours later . . . -------------------- ------------------- Eliza was sitting at the conference team with Kelik and the rest of her team. They had been going over everything that the team had learned working for the government, trying to pick up on some hidden clue that they or the government or even the Purity had missed. But Eliza's head wasn't in it. She could barely stay awake. For the third day in a row, she had slept but not rested. And her few coherent thoughts were miles away. Her friends were worried about their leader. Her mental distance from activities was apparent, and she seemed paler than usual. The rings under her eyes showed that she hadn't been sleeping, but none of them knew why. Only Kelik knew what was going on, but he was helpless to do anything about it. They were reviewing the data in the Arcanum, and Kelik had found references to an additional two accounts of sorcerers who had gone insane near the dimensional gate AFTER it had opened that mentioned large stones of some variety. That brought the total up to eight magical gems. Wyrm was updating their personal, closed-circuit database when the gate buzzer went off. "Who is it?" Dennis asked. "Dunno," Wyrm replied as he accessed the video feed. "Hovercycle rider. Wearing all black, including a tinted helmet. Sweet ride." "Patch it through to the projector," Eliza said tiredly. The image of the rider appeared as a three-dimensional projection in the center of the room. The individual lifted their faceplate and looked into the camera. Eliza saw a pair of blue eyes that seemed to be staring straight at her. Eliza was out of her chair like a flash, bounding towards the door with amazing speed. Wyrm opened the door by remote to prevent her from breaking it down as she bolted down the driveway. Even as the gates began slowly opening, the driver started to remove her helmet and let her blonde hair tumble down around her shoulders. "Veronica!" Eliza shouted. "Eliza! Oh sweetie," she said as she dismounted her bike and let herself be swept up in Eliza's arms. "I'm sorry I . . ." "Don't apologize. You had a job to do. I'm just glad I . . . I . . ." Eliza was babbling like a little girl. Veronica helped calm the woman's nerves by planting a warm, lingering kiss on those wonderful lips. Suddenly, both women felt a surge of relief. It was like they had both been underwater for a long time, emerging finally to take that first precious breath of air. Neither of them had noticed the emotional and psychological weight they had been carrying until it was lifted. They remained in one another's embrace for several minutes and remaining attached at the lips the entire time. Then a familiar voice came over the intercom. || WOULD YOU TWO PLEASE GET A ROOM?!? DON'T MAKE ME ASK YOU AGAIN! || Thug said loudly. And once again, Veronica had no idea why Eliza was snickering, but she didn't care. The two women climbed onto Veronica's hovercycle with Eliza riding behind, her arms still wrapped snugly around Veronica's waist. "What are you doing here?" the vampire asked as her lover parked. "I told my superiors I needed to take the weekend off for personal reasons. They didn't have anything else for me to do, so they gave me some leave time." She held Eliza's head still and kissed the vampire again. "And I needed to see you. God, it's only been a week, but it feels . . ." ". . . like forever," Eliza finished. "I felt it too. Ambassador Kelik is here and . . ." "I know. My bosses told me, and I used that as another excuse to drop by." "Yeah, but I've been talking to him about . . ." Eliza blushed. "About what's been happening between us. You know, what we've been feeling. What I've been . . ." The door opened and Kelik was standing there. "Well young lady, aren't you going to introduce me to your . . . ahem . . . friend?" "Oh . . .uhm . . . this is Veronica Adams, official envoy of the United States government and . . ." "Is it common practice in this area to ram your tongue down the throat of official envoys?" "Don't start with me," Eliza joked, then turned to her companion. "Veronica, this is Ambassador Kelik, an old, old . . . old friend of the family." "I think you missed an 'old' in there somewhere," he said, then shook Veronica's hand. The three wandered into the conference room where Veronica received a warm welcome from the team. They talked a while about what the group had been researched. The researchers back at Washington had discovered the references to the two additional gems as well. And like Eliza's crew, the governments of the world were trying to track down the sorcerer, though their search was a little broader than the one Wyrm was conducting. Veronica probably could have raised a ruckus about the group using classified information for their own purposes, but she chose not to. The government might no longer need this strange crew, but she knew they might before it was all said and done. When Kelik wasn't speaking, he was watching the lovers very carefully. They never left each other's side and were almost always holding hands. He doubted they even realized they were doing it. It didn't take a sorcerer to see that the two women had become incredibly close. They were a unique couple, and he wondered what the future held for them. After a few more hours, the group broke for the evening. Dennis and Allyson went off to spend some husband/wife time, and Wyrm, Kelik and Thug broke out the most time-honored of brain-dead ways to pass time; a game of Monopoly. Eliza and Veronica went for a walk outside. "So . . ." Veronica started. "So," was Eliza's brilliant response. "What . . . does Kelik . . . I mean . . ." Eliza sighed. The two of them had made their way over to the grove of trees where they had fist met. "He doesn't understand completely. It appears we are something of . . . an oddity." She lay down on a grassy slope while Veronica lay down with her head on the vampire's chest. Eliza explained everything she could, from the concept of "linking" to Kelik's theories of magic of the blood. Veronica was disturbed by the idea that their might be some "other force" at work in their relationship, but Eliza assured her that both of them very much had a choice in the matter. "I guess it doesn't matter," Veronica said. "It doesn't change how I feel. It makes me so mad that I don't get to see you every night. I wish I could get away more often, but . . ." "Don't worry that gorgeous head of yours. We'll find a way of getting together. It's only been a week since we've been gone," Eliza said, looking back towards the house. "I know. At first I just missed you. Then . . ." "Then what?" "Then it got harder. I . . . promise you won't laugh at me?" "I can't make that promise, particularly if it's funny!" Eliza smiled down, and Veronica smiled back. "Go ahead." "I haven't been sleeping well for the last few days. I've been . . . I've been having dreams about you and about us . . . well, you know." Eliza was a bit more alert all of a sudden. "Veronica . . . I've been having dreams too, and they've been so . . ." "Real!" Veronica said with eyes wide open. Then she blushed. "What were we doing in your dreams?" It was Eliza's turn to blush. "Making love. The first time, we were on the beach." "The second time," Veronica whispered, "we were in the desert. And the third time . . ." "We . . . we dreamed the same thing? Is that possible? I mean . . ." Eliza was horribly confused. "You were in my dreams?" "And you were in mine. Lord, this 'linking' thing must be more powerful than you thought." "Powerful enough to . . . well, let's just say I've had to clean my sheets a lot," Eliza said shyly. Veronica laughed. "Me too." "The strange thing is," Eliza said, "is that I've always wanted to make love on a beach, or even on the rocks in the desert. I always thought it would be so romantic. And it meant that I wasn't hiding who I was anymore." "Maybe somewhere down the road, those things will happen," Veronica replied, snuggling up against the other woman. She buried her face in Eliza's neck, but not in an erotic sort of way. She just wanted to smell her lover and feel her warmth. "Uhm . . ." "Yes?" "You know the last one? That dream last night . . ." "That was kind of hot, wasn't it?" Eliza stopped, lifted Veronica's blushing face and smiled. "That was yours, wasn't it? Your fantasy!" Veronica was incredibly embarrassed. "Kind of. I mean . . . yes. God, that's one of those things no one was ever supposed to know about." She placed an arm over her lover's abdomen and held her tight. "When I was a teenager, I was in this high school play. I don't remember the name of it now. But there was a damsel in distress, an evil witch and a knight in shining armor." "Which one were you?" Eliza asked. "The damsel. The knight was a total ham, but he was kind of cute. For a guy. But the witch," Veronica added with a notable shiver, ". . . she was a hottie. Her name was Molly Jennings. She was one of those girls that blossomed at the right time and in all the right ways. For the play, she was wearing this tight black robe that was split open right down . . ." "Hey! Getting jealous here!" "Nothing to be jealous of. She was as straight as they came. But there was this one scene where the knight was supposed to kiss me to wake me from the witch's spell. And all I could think of was that I wanted the knight to fuck off and for Molly Jennings to . . . well . . . have her way with me. And I guarantee you, being 'rescued' from her was the furthest thing from my mind." "My kinky little . . . are you my girlfriend?" "Sounds kind of childish, doesn't it?" Veronica leaned her head and kissed Eliza. Eliza grinned. "Would you mind? It might be childish, but I've never had one . . . a girlfriend before." "You can call me anything you want, as long as you hold me," Veronica murmured as she settled her head back onto Eliza's chest. "Even 'My little ho'?" "Maybe. If there's a spanking involved." Eliza kissed the top of her girlfriend's head. "My kinky little . . ." She as interrupted by the sound of snoring. As soon as Veronica's head had come to rest on Eliza's body, the human woman had fallen asleep. 'I guess I can let her snooze for a bit,' Eliza thought. But as soon as her own head lay back against the soft grass of the hillside, she fell asleep as well. And they both slept a contented and almost dreamless sleep. -------------- ------------------- Twelve hours later . . . -------------- ------------------- "What the . . ." Eliza mumbled. The light was shining in her eyes. Sunlight. More specifically, light from the setting sun was falling on her face. She had slept through the rest of the night and the entire day. Someone had apparently found her and Veronica and had lain a blanket over them. Despite the irritating brightness, Eliza felt wonderful and totally refreshed. A lump under the blanket moved and Veronica poked her head about the edge. "Evening," the human woman muttered as she squinted her eyes against the offending final light of day. "Is that thing going up or going down?" she asked of the sun. "Down," Eliza said, holding Veronica closer against her. "You sleep okay?" "Like the dead," the blonde woman replied. "I don't think I realized how tired I was, but now I do. I needed that. I wonder why I didn't dream." Eliza thought about it a moment. "Maybe our blood knows we're together in the flesh, so it doesn't need to bring us together in our dreams." "You're awfully philosophical way too early in the evening. Who brought the blanket?" Eliza saw some fairly large footprints in the grass nearby. "Thug, I'd guess. I suppose we should go inside and . . ." Veronica kissed Eliza. "Let's at least wait until the sun is all the way down. I haven't taken the time to watch one (a sunset?) in a while." It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 02 "If you insist," Eliza muttered. The light was irritating her eyes, so she closed them and was at least able to enjoy the warmth on her face. When the sun was all the way down, she threw the blanket off them and stood up. She noticed Veronica taking her time getting up. "Are you okay?" The human blushed. "Yeah. I just had problems standing when I woke up yesterday. Apparently, getting fisted by a naughty vampire goddess in my dreams had certain repercussions." Eliza wrapped her arms around her lover and grabbed a double handful of ass. "Next time, in won't just be in your dreams." "Promises, promises," Veronica replied and kissed her girlfriend. The two of them wandered inside. Dennis was the only person awake by that point, and he gave the lovers a friendly smile. "We were tempted to bring you inside," he said, "but it seemed warm enough and you two looked so downright peaceful." "We appreciate letting us be," Eliza said. "That was the best I've slept in while." "Me too," Veronica said. Then she sniffed the air. "Do I smell eggs?" Sure enough, Dennis was actually cooking omelets. As they sat down to eat, Wyrm came in with a dour expression on his face. "What's up?" he boss asked. "Bad news ladies. Looks like another jewel got found last night, but the Purity jumped on in during transport." "Shit!" Veronica said. "Those fanatical bastards have already been advertising their 'victory' all over the web," the hacker told them as Dennis started up another omelet. Veronica kissed Eliza on the cheek. "If it's already out there, then I'm going to call my bosses and see what they want me to do. I hope this doesn't mean I have to cut my visit short." "Do what you have to do," Eliza said, gripping her lover's hand before she vanished into the next room. "Where did they find it? What do we know?" Wyrm punched up to the world map on the holo-projector. "This one was found in East Africa. A big purple gem they think was tanzanite. A couple safari guides apparently reported finding it in a tiny village shrine. Somehow, the Purity got wind of it and managed to get a strike team there before the local governments could. A small group of guards and both guides were killed. I looked through that list of spells again. There's one which Valar labeled 'The Alchemist's Dream' that seems to meet the description. Apparently it has something to do with . . . let's see here . . . 'unity and metamorphosis.' Something about combining two imperfect things into something else." Eliza thought it over. "I'll be the Purity think that the 'unity' line means recombining the dimensions. Otherwise, why risk the attack? Wyrm, put the location of the Dream up on the world map." Something was bothering her. With electronic communications so closely controlled, how did these guys get there so quick? "Got an idea?" "I think the Purity may have some sort of presence in Africa. There's no way they could have flown in from Europe without being detected. Same goes for the Middle East. These guys found out about the new discovery and jumped on it way to quickly. So they had to have come from nearby. Radar and tracking capabilities of most African nations are almost carbon dated. There are still large pockets run by local warlords. That means a lot of places to hide a fighting force." Veronica had wandered back in by that point. "Mind if I pass that guess onto the World Council on my next trip? It could narrow the search area." Eliza was still stung by her sudden termination, but she accepted that the time for petty complaints was over. "Might be a good idea." She was slightly nervous. "So this means you'll be leaving again?" "Actually, no. I convinced them that my mental and physical health was in jeopardy, and they decided it would be better to just give me a couple of days off now than to try and replace me after having a total breakdown." She was looking up at the map. "I keep thinking that there should be some sort of pattern there. It seems like things are moving forward towards . . . something. And that probably won't happen until all these things are found. Like they said in 'Lord of the Rings' centuries ago, these gems 'want to be found.' So how can we find the rest?" Eliza couldn't disagree with her girlfriend's logic. They sat down and started going over their information as a group. Eventually, Thug and Allyson showed up, followed shortly by Kelik. The elder vampire was pleased to see his young friend and her companion in much better physical condition than the prior evening. "Maybe something about the order," Eliza said. "Are the gems being found in the order the spells were written?" "No," Veronica said. "We checked that. The Heaven's Eye spell was written after the Dead Man's World spell and before the Ocean's Heart spell. Nothing there." The lot of them spent hours turning every piece of data on its ear. All of them had come to believe that there was a secret hiding just beneath the surface of the evidence, and it was driving them nuts that they couldn't find it. Then, an hour before dawn, something happened. A breakthrough. And it came from the most unlikely source. They were staring at the map of Earth again, trying vainly to create some sort of pattern or geometric formation that incorporated the four locations where the gems had been found. "I just wish we could go back in time," Kelik muttered, "and talk to those sorcerers. Get them to tell us what they were thinking." "Or what they saw," Eliza said. "They had to have seen images of the jewels in their minds' eye. Some of the physical descriptions were astounding. || MAYBE THEY DID SEE THEM, || Thug mumbled. || WYRM, PUT UP A MAP . . . SAME ORIENTATION AS THE EARTH MAP . . . OF THE LOCATIONS ON TERRA WHERE THE SORCERERS THAT WENT MAD WERE KEPT. || "What are you thinking big guy?" asked Dennis. Everyone was wondering where the troll was going with this. || WE KNOW THE JEWELS HAVE SOME 'LINE OF SIGHT' RULES. THE DEAD MAN'S WORLD AND THE OCEAN'S HEART ONLY REACTED WITH ONE ANOTHER WHEN THEY COULD SEE EACH OTHER. WYRM, DRAW A LINE FROM THE LOCATION OF THE SORCERER WHO WROTE THE HEAVEN'S EYE SPELL STRAIGHT THROUGH THE POINT WHERE THE DIMENSIONAL BREACH WAS LOCATED. || Wyrm did as Thug asked. A line slowly emanated from a point on the Terra map and extended onto the Earth map. After a few moments, it came into contact with a glowing point in South America. || THE RIFT IS LIKE THE LENSE OF A TELESCOPE. THE PATTERN IS SMALLER LOOKING FROM ONE SIDE AND LARGER FROM THE OTHER BUT . . . || Eliza gasped. "That's where the Heaven's Eye was found!" she interrupted. Suddenly, everyone was very excited. "Wyrm . . ." "Way ahead of you boss," the hacker said, frantically typing at his keyboard while simultaneously shouting into his voice-activated headset. A series of lines began to appear from the Terra map, all from sorcerers who had written spells involving gems that had already been found. Each line connected up with the appropriate jewel. "Good God!" Veronica uttered. "Is there a relationship between the distance from the whole to both the gems and the locations of the sorcerers . . ." "Computer isn't coming up with anything, but it isn't great at problem solving." "Maybe we are thinking a little TOO linearly," Eliza muttered. "Wyrm, calculate a ratio based on the distance of each gem from the rift over how long ago each spell was written." Wyrm made some calculations. "Nope. Sorry boss." "Nice idea though," Kelik said. "But you need to remember that sorcerers live a long time. The power of the gems and the dimensional rift could have been affecting them years or even centuries before they wrote the spells." "Maybe," said an almost giddy Veronica. "But we just limited the search area by an ungodly amount! We'll be way ahead of the Purity!" The group began shaking hands and congratulating each other. Veronica gave Thug a great big hug, almost disappearing in his massive arms. "Wyrm, save all this data to CD, make a couple copies, then delete everything from the hard drives. I don't want the enemy hacking the system somehow and figuring this out." "Done and done," Wyrm said, handing her a CD. Eliza took one copy to hide in a floor panel. 'Never put your valuables in a vault,' she thought smugly. Veronica was offered one, but declined. She said she knew enough to be able to tell her superiors how to look for the gems, and didn't want to carry around something she might lose or let fall into the wrong hands. Eliza decided to deliver a copy of the CD to Valar. She hated the idea of dealing with him again, but he might have some insight that they could use. As she was finishing secreting away her prize, she heard her door close and footsteps coming up behind her. Then she felt something bump against her ass. "I could get used to this view," Veronica said smoothly, gripping Eliza's hips and making a fucking motion, smacking her crotch against those tight buns. As Eliza stood up, the human woman reached around and snaked a hand down the front of the vampire's pants while encircling her waist with the other arm. "I'm in a VERY good mood right now," the blonde woman said huskily. "Wanna celebrate? A quickie before we get back to work?" Eliza felt her underwear being pushed aside and her out labia being rubbed. The dreams where she and Veronica had made love had been awfully life-like, but she still preferred having sex in the warm and willing flesh. And weather it was a good idea or not, her own flesh was very much willing. "But we should . . . oh! . . . get back and . . . and . . ." She completely forgot what she was saying as Veronica started nibbling on her ear. Sensing Eliza's ragtag reservations dissolving, the human started unbuttoning her lovers pants, then slid her hand back in the much more manageable opening. "Push 'em down past your hips," Veronica told the other woman. "But . . . but we should . . . analyze some more . . ." Eliza's last round of objections was brought to a halt as Veronica's lips found the vampire's neck. Eliza's knees almost turned to jelly in that very instant, and Veronica knew she was in complete control. The vampire's neck was one of the most highly erogenous areas she had ever seen on a lover, and she was going to take full advantage of it. Eliza pushed her pants down past her hips with some difficulty, as her girlfriend's lips were causing all sorts of distractions. "Now the panties," Veronica crooned. "Good girl," she added, then went back to sucking on Eliza's neck. The vampire felt her lover's hands shift. One was wrapped around the front and was rubbing Eliza's clit, while the other slid underneath Eliza's ass. This latter hand allowed the human woman to stick a thumb in her girlfriend's butt while sinking a couple of fingers into that sweet pussy. Eliza's head was swimming! She was standing in the middle of her bedroom with her pants around her thighs while her girlfriend fingered both her lower openings. And with Veronica's lips and tongue caressing her neck and shoulder, Eliza could only stand there. Not that she minded. "I . . . I thought you wanted . . . wanted me to be in charge," Eliza moaned. "I have a few 'domination' fantasies, but that doesn't mean I don't want to take charge and just fuck your brains out from time to time. But since we don't have much time . . ." With that, Veronica latched her lips like a leech to the back of Eliza's neck and started moving her fingers at a frenzied pace. Eliza's box, clit and asshole were being stimulated simultaneously. Eliza knew she was going to cum soon. And when she did, it shook her from her head to her toes. She felt her sticky warmth seeping out of her sex and down her legs and into her pants. Veronica's lips gave Eliza's shoulder one more quick kiss before releasing the vampire from her clutches. But if she was expecting for Eliza to be too tired to continue, she was in for a big surprise. The vampire whirled around, grabbed her startled girlfriend by the shoulders and tossed her back-first onto the bed, watching all the right fleshy bits jiggle. Then she went to her dresser and grabbed the biggest toy she had, a ten-inch dildo she called "Mr. Right." She placed the balls-end of the realistic dong against her crotch, then buttoned up her pants around it, giving it a tug to make sure it was securely in place. When she turned around, Veronica let out a gasp. "And what do you think you'll be doing with that?" she asked coyly, slowly unzipping her own pants. "Turn over, get on all fours and then I'll show you," Eliza said with a grin. As Veronica smiled back and turned over, she pushed her pants down to her knees. But when she was facing the other direction and patiently waiting for Eliza to do whatever it was the vampire had in mind, Eliza grabbed a smooth and sleek vibrator and a bottle of lube out of the same drawer. 'This should get her attention,' she thought, grinning evilly. She hurriedly stuck the vibrator and lube in her back pockets, then approached her lover. She knelt on the bed and placed the sizeable head of her dong at the entrance to Veronica's paradise. "Now tell me you want it," she growled, giving her lover a hard spank on the ass. "Ouch! You KNOW I want it!" Veronica groaned. "Stick it in! Hurry!" Eliza didn't have to be asked twice, and she slowly pushed the massive device into Veronica's inviting hole. She loved how her girlfriend's outer labia swelled up and stretch almost grotesquely as they were split right down the middle. She had never used this toy with Veronica before, so she was being careful. She had enjoyed using larger toys with some previous lovers, and was happy that Veronica hadn't shied away from this one. Eliza loved 'filling' the woman she was with. And Veronica's arousal by their dream-fisting episode was giving the vampire all sorts of very naughty ideas. But those ideas would have to wait. Veronica's face was turned sideways and she was pressing her cheek into the cool bedding. She had never had anything that big inside her, excluding the dream she and her naughty vampire goddess had recently shared. 'I wonder if this means I'm a size queen?' she wondered dreamily as Eliza began to pick up some momentum, sliding more and more of the huge dong into Veronica's body at a increasingly rapid pace. She was being stuffed to her limits, and all she could think was that she wanted more! As Veronica's groans and gasped grew in intensity and volume, Eliza decided it was time for her surprise. She pulled the vibrator and lube out of her back pockets, and generously applied the latter to the former. She tossed the bottle aside and pressed the narrow end of the new sex toy at the entrance to Veronica's backside. "What the . . ." Veronica started. But like Eliza's objections had been overridden by the human's lips, Veronica's objection was quickly overruled by the penetration of her backside by Eliza's toy. She felt her sphincter stretching as the well-lubed and aerodynamic device was buried deep in her ass. "Oh you sweet, nasty . . . oh!" Eliza began thrusting away with both the dong and the vibrator, violating both of Veronica's openings with no small amount of glee. Veronica's mouth was producing a long string of "oh" and "unh" sounds, in no particular order. The dildo had been enough to satisfy her, but being double-penetrated was driving her wild. And then, Eliza pushed her over the edge. The vampire pushed the vibrator in until only the knob at the end was still visible beyond the human's stretched rosebud, then she turned on the vibration mode . . . all the way to high. Veronica lost it. She actually had to started chewing animalistically on Eliza's comforter to avoid screaming. She even started to growl a little. Eliza was now holding onto Veronica's hips and plunging the ten-inch dong even faster into her lover's body. Veronica had never felt anything like that! Her ass was almost on fire, and she just wanted to let it burn. Her pussy was being filled only to be (reluctantly) emptied again. She felt her orgasm approaching, and she knew it was going to be a doozy. Sure enough, she actually began to squirt, her pussy juices erupting around the massive tool buried in her cunt. Her pussy clenched, trying to stop the onslaught. Eliza waited until her lover's box started to relax. But rather than pulling out, she started up again. "No . . . not . . . not fair," Veronica grunted, realizing what Eliza was going to do. "I only . . . I only . . . (grunt) . . . (growl) . . . got to do you once!" "Then you'll just have to find an excuse to come back and visit soon," Eliza said matter-of-factly. "So you can get back at me." She continued to pound away for ten minutes, when Veronica came again. And her second orgasm wasn't any weaker than the first. While Eliza's pants might have been a bit damp, the amount of cum that had traveled into Veronica' pants had soaked that particular garment. Her pussy, which had been slightly tender after their dream-fuck, was now completely spent. Eliza pulled the big dong out, then slowly pulled out the still humming vibrator. Veronica was left with her wonderful ass sticking up in the air while her face was resting on the bed. It was a beautiful sight for Eliza to behold, so she gave it another quick spank. "Can . . . can I borrow a skirt or something?" Veronica asked, tired but happy. "I think these jeans need to be cleaned." Eliza smiled and tossed the woman a clean and comfortable pair of sweat pants. "They're not as fancy as you're used to, but they'll do." Veronica wrinkled her nose. "Next, you'll want me barefoot and pregnant and living in a trailer park somewhere. Oh well," she said, shirking her soiled pants and donning her new attire. "At least they're dry." She sat on the edge of the bed and waited for Eliza to finish getting changed. When they were both presentable after their quickie, Veronica pulled her lover close, hugging the standing woman around her hips and placing the side of Veronica's face against Eliza's abdomen. "I wish I could stay longer," she whispered. "I wish we could do THAT longer," she continued, "but I'm going to have to make another trip out to D.C. tomorrow. The President and Pentagon are going to want to know about this." "The government is going to want to know about our sex life?" Eliza joked. "Don't be an ass," Veronica said with a chuckle. Eliza wanted to say something else but decided to bite her tongue. She wanted to ask Veronica to quit her job, or get reassigned so she didn't have to leave all the time. Eliza had enough money that they could retire, and go live the rest of Veronica's life in a splendor worthy of kings and queens. But she knew it was too early. Veronica was a proud, independent woman in a position of global importance. She couldn't walk away, at least not yet. So Eliza tried getting used to the idea of this beautiful woman getting on her bike, then getting on a plane and leaving for another week. Eliza knew the dreams would come again. She knew that even the great expanse of the United States couldn't keep their spirits separate, but she would anticipate each moment until they could share each other once more in the flesh. Veronica saw her lover deep in thought. She stood and held Eliza's perfect face gently in her hands. "I'll always come back," she said. Veronica grabbed her vampire lover by the hand and led her back out the main room. ---------------- ---------------- The next afternoon . . . ---------------- ---------------- Veronica was getting back on her hovercycle, and Eliza was watching. She hated being up during the day, but she wanted to see her lover off. 'She's a beauty,' the vampire thought. Veronica's blonde hair was caught in a slight breeze and was swirling around her head. Those big blue eyes danced mischievously as Veronica reached for her helmet. And as the woman sat on her bike with helmet in hand, Eliza drank in the vision that was her girlfriend. It was one of those moments that she knew would be emblazoned in her mind for the rest of her life. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 03 This story is a bit wordy and fairly long, so if you are looking for immediate gratification, you might want to look elsewhere. ------------- ----------------------- The following story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between actual persons, living or dead (or just confused) is entirely coincidental. Please do not copy/redistribute the story, in part or in total, without the author’s permission. This story takes place in the fictional city of Springfield, California several hundred years in the future, so don’t go looking for it on a map. And in my little fictional world, there are no unwanted pregnancies or STD’s, except as plot driving devices. The author encourages the practice of safe-sex. This story also consists entirely of f/f sexual intercourse. --------------- --------------------------- Allyson Murgo was scared. Hell, the whole team was on edge. Things had been bad enough before their friend and boss had stopped speaking. Allyson just kept her eyes fixed on Eliza’s rigid face. The vampire was normally so beautiful. But now, she had the look normally reserved for ancient legends of her race; she looked like the walking dead. Allyson wished she could say something, but all the words that came into her mind seemed trite and insufficient. What must it be like? When the dimensional rift between the world of vampires (Terra) and the world of humans (Earth) had closed, Eliza had felt the pain of separation. She was unable to contact her family, but she had proven to be resilient. Eliza had been part of the campaign to find and protect a number of Living Jewels, one of which could be the ticket for reopening the portal. Then, someone else leaking some valuable information had caused the government to crack down on who had access to the gems that were in captivity. Eliza and her team had been unceremoniously booted off the project, much to the objections of official U.S. Envoy Veronica Adams. That had hurt Eliza’s pride. But her sense of isolation and her wounded ego were nothing compared to what happened when Veronica had been kidnapped. Veronica and Eliza had become somewhat close over the last several months. The two had fallen into a storybook kind of love. Even after Eliza and friends had been kicked off the military base where the gems were stored, Veronica and Eliza had visited each other in their dreams. They had apparently undergone a process called “linking,” which happens when one vampire drinks the blood of a person whose soul was compatible with that of the vampire. Such couples usually fell in love. And the link between Eliza and Veronica was hyper-developed, well beyond the scope of anything even the most learned of vampire scholars had heard of before. Normally, linked couples just had a good idea of what the other was thinking. What the human and vampire women shared went light years beyond that. When Veronica had come to visit, the group had a major breakthrough and had found a way of narrowing the search for the remaining jewels. Veronica had flown back the next day to report the news to her superiors. Then, late one night, Eliza had collapsed in puddle of fear and pain. She knew something had gone wrong. The next day, they had received word from a furious Captain Corbin at Fort Crass that Veronica had been attacked and kidnapped on her way to the airport before she could come back to California. Eliza had felt the pain of her lover’s distress. And for the next few days, she had sensed nothing. The vampire didn’t know if the woman she loved was alive or dead. When she had heard the news of Veronica’s capture, she had said something that still echoed in Allyson’s brain. “If she dies, so do they. I’ll hunt them all down and rip their hearts out through their throats.” Allyson believed Eliza would do just that, and it scared her. Things hadn’t gotten any easier when her initial attempts to get a hold of Veronica’s bosses had met with some resistance. Then she had been told something that had enraged her so much that the vampire had stopped talking. The government would not negotiate with the Purity, which was the group of religious zealots that was trying to stop the dimensional rift from being reopened, and they would stop at nothing to succeed in their mission. Eliza’s heart had turned to ice at that moment. The government Veronica had served wasn’t going to do a damn thing to save her. And once again, Eliza had been left feeling helpless. Eliza had been trying to spend as much time asleep as she could, hoping that her lover might use their link to contact her in their dreams and give her some clue as to where Veronica was being held. So far, her dreams had consisted only of darkness and longing. And that darkness seemed to follow her, even when she was awake. The group was sitting in silence in their conference room. Wyrm, their computer guru, was looking over satellite maps of Africa, where Eliza had once claimed the Purity had some kind of base of operations. But it was a huge continent, and the Purity had become very good at hiding. Dennis Murgo, Allyson’s husband, was staring over Wyrm’s shoulder, wishing he could be of more help. He was a soldier at heart, but that wasn’t helping him at that moment. Ambassador Kelik of Terra, an old and wizened vampire who had was an old family friend of Eliza’s as well as her childhood mentor, sat next to the silent woman on a sofa. Thug, the eight-foot-plus troll, was patrolling the outer compound. Allyson glanced over and saw that Eliza had fallen asleep again. She had been taking numerous sedatives over the last couple of days, trying to induce slumber. ‘Where has mind your mind gone my friend?’ Allyson wondered silently. ‘And will it be able to find its way home again? Does it even want to?’ At that moment, Thug opened the front door, and he wasn’t alone. Captain Corbin was with him. Everyone was surprised to see him, as the government had shown little interest in reestablishing ties with Eliza’s group. He looked ready to say something, then noticed that Eliza was asleep. || I’LL LOOK AFTER HER, || Thug said to the assembled group, and then turned to the Captain. || TELL THEM. || The Captain’s hard face softened as looked upon the almost pained, slumbering countenance of Eliza. He had great respect for that particular vampire. She had had proven her cunning time and time again, and had been rewarded with disdain and heartache. The assorted members of Eliza’s security team quickly moved outside while Thug stayed behind with the almost comatose Eliza. “Captain,” Allyson started, bypassing formality and giving the man a hug. “I’m glad to see you but why . . .” She looked down the drive and saw a number of military vehicles sitting in the driveway. “I’m sorry things had to go like this. First, I thought you should know that we found out why Ms. Adams was abducted. It appears that one of the new and “more trustworthy” officials that were sent to Fort Crass after you were fired was working for the enemy. It seems that your departure was something that the Purity had been hoping for. We discovered his identity, but not until after he had informed HIS superiors that Veronica was in Washington with some sort of information as to how the remaining jewels could be located. That’s why they made their play.” “Damn it! If she hadn’t been there that day . . .” Dennis started. “She’s a part of this,” his wife pointed out. “She’s part of what’s going on in the world, this group and, more importantly, she’s part of Eliza.” “How’s she holding up?” the Captain asked. “Barely,” Allyson whispered. “She had so much fury at first. But recently . . .” She glanced over at Kelik, who just nodded. “You know that she and Veronica had become close?” The Captain nodded. “Apparently it’s deeper than that. It’s something vampires call ‘linking.’” “It’s rare at best. It’s rarer between same sex couples, and a link between different species is unprecedented,” Kelik said. “They share memories . . . dreams . . . and, unfortunately, they apparently can share pain. I believe Ms. Adams is being tortured, and Eliza is feeling it.” The Captain blanched. “Then we don’t have much time to waste.” “Time for what?” Dennis asked. “To rescue Ms. Adams.” “What?!?” Allyson was caught between outrage and surprise. “You said . . .” “Open channels, Mrs. Murgo. The government ‘officially’ will not deal with terrorists and the like. Unofficially, Veronica is far too important to leave in their hands. And I couldn’t tell you about the plan last time because we were using unsecured channels of communication. If I had known about Eliza’s condition, I would have come sooner. I’ve been put in charge of the rescue operation, and I want you all with me. You’ve shown yourself too far to resourceful to be left out.” “The last time we proved ourselves indispensable, we got canned,” Wyrm pointed out bitterly. “Yes. And I can’t guarantee it won’t happen again. But with the kind of firepower we have back at Fort Crass, the gems we have there are safe. And as I said, I’m in charge of this operation and that includes personnel. We were told of Ms. Eliza’s theory about the Purity being based in Africa and we were heading there straight away. Are you with me?” Allyson looked thoughtfully at him. “Eliza will have to decide. She’s still . . .” Allyson Murgo’s sentence was interrupted by a scream that would make a banshee cringe, and it was coming from inside the house. ----------- ---------------- In Eliza’s dream . . . ----------- ---------------- Eliza was lost in the consuming blackness of her dream. There was no land to stand on, water to swim in or air to fly through. It was a forsaken place that contained her. Then, without warning, she ‘felt’ ground beneath her feet. From nothing appeared gold-colored tall grass, and a rich blue sky seeped into the space overhead. It looked like Africa to the vampire, or at least how she had always pictured it. She looked down and found herself wearing metal armor, like that worn by the mythical knights of Camelot. In one hand was a flaming sword, while a shield was strapped to her other arm. Off in the distance was a huge tree; the only one visible in the plains. She started walking toward it. As she walked she saw images flash by the center of her vision. She saw a river . . . then a herd of elephants . . . then another, smaller river . . . then a small patch of beautiful purple flowers. And as that tree in the distance got closer, she saw a castle underneath its branches. As the castle grew larger in her vision, something happened to its stone walls. Their outer texture shifted and shimmered until they appeared to be made of cloth. All except one tower. Eliza looked up at the tower and saw a window. Standing in the window was a figure with flowing blonde hair. Even at that distance, Eliza knew it was a woman with deep blue eyes. She knew it was Veronica. The human woman wore a white dress, and Eliza thought she saw a ribbon of some kind in her friend’s hair. ‘So beautiful,’ Eliza thought. But then a shadow was cast over the plain. Eliza looked up and saw something that human mythology called a dragon. It was as black as the nothingness that Eliza had walked through earlier. It didn’t see Eliza. Rather, it pointed its head at the tower, opened its mouth and let loose a stream of fire. The flames hit the open window, and Eliza heard Veronica let loose and soul piercing wail. Eliza felt her own flesh boiling within her armor, and she woke up screaming. ------------- --------------- In the real world . . . ------------- --------------- Allyson rushed into the house and saw that Eliza was awake again. Her face was deathly pale and her yellow eyes were opened wide. She was sweating profusely, and her beautiful face was distorted by pain. Kelik and Allyson rushed to her side. “What happened?” Allyson asked frantically. “What did you see?” It took a moment for Eliza to stop shaking. She glanced around, but didn’t actually seem to see any of them. She may have been awake, but she was still in a world all her own. Then her eyes stopped on Captain Corbin. “What . . . what are you doing here?” she asked, somewhat angry but still very disoriented. “I’m here to ask for your help,” the Captain said slowly. “We’re going looking for Veronica.” That snapped Eliza out of her confused state. “Don’t fuck with me,” she said coldly. “You told me . . .” Captain Corbin quickly launched into his explanation of why the government had reacted, publicly, the way they had. Eliza’s gaze softened a bit. The Captain was a friend and a good man. “I’m sorry this happened,” he said at last. “We will find her.” Eliza put her head in her hands, and Kelik wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He had never seen her this weakened before. “Did . . . were you able to contact her? Was she . . .” “She’s in so much pain,” Eliza whispered with tears welling up in her eyes. “She’s holding on, waiting for me to rescue her,” the vampire sobbed. She related the things she had seemed in her dream. As she talked Wyrm was frantically typing things into his computer. “What are you doing?” Dennis asked of the hacker. “She saw two different rivers. It’s the dry season down there right now, so there aren’t a lot of existing water sources like that. I’m cross-referencing the locations of permanent water channels with migratory patterns of elephants. I’m combining that with a search of ‘purple flowers, concentrating on the plains areas.” He stopped as his search began revealing results. A holographic map of Africa popped up on the projector and a few small areas were flashing red. “These are the most likely regions,” he said. Captain Corbin looked at the map, a little excited in spite of himself. He pointed at two of the areas. “We can eliminate these. Both countries are very friendly to the United States and the World Council.” He stared at one reasonably large splotch in the center of the continent. “This place had been in a state of civil war for fifty years. Right now, a warlord of the worst sort runs it. All he cares about is the total genocide of all the other traditional tribes.” Wyrm was checking on information on the area. “Sounds like something Eliza said to look out for,” he mentioned. Then his eyes lit up. “Eliza?!? Does this look familiar?” He pressed a button and another image popped up from the projector. It was a huge tree in the middle of the plains. Eliza reached out her hand to touch the image. Though her hand passed right through it, she could almost feel the bark. She looked at the caption, which read, “The Devil’s Tooth.” “It used to be a major attraction for safari guides back before the violence broke out. That thing’s root system is supposed to be huge, and it sucks up so much moisture that nothing else can grow around it,” Wyrm explained. “That’s it,” Eliza mumbled. She looked at Captain Corbin. “When do we leave?” ----------------- --------------------------------- Just under twenty-four hours later . . . ----------------- --------------------------------- It was strange, even to experienced military personnel like Dennis and Allyson Murgo, how a group that large could move that quietly. Captain Corbin had brought a hundred and fifty men with him, not including Eliza and her team. Ambassador Kelik had come along to look after an ailing Eliza. The vampire woman’s physical condition was deteriorating. Despite not being touched herself, small bruises had appeared all over Eliza’s body. On one occasion, she had coughed up a small amount of blood. But she wouldn’t be left behind. Her friends were worried about her, and even Valar expressed a bit of concern. The arrogant sorcerer and scholar, who had been a thorn in Eliza side for months, had insisted on coming along to assist in taking control of any Living Gems that might be in the Purity’s possession. Eliza was so out of it half the time that she couldn’t even object to his presence. The narcotics she had taken to induce sleep over the previous few days had wreaked havoc on her normal sleep cycle, and she drifted between almost acute awareness and total oblivion. The entire force had landed at an airfield in the nearest country that was trustworthy and friendly towards the United States and the World Council. They had made tremendous time throughout the night by using the latest in stealth helicopters from the U.S. Airforce and were closing in on their target, flying low to keep off the enemy’s radar. En route, Eliza had drifted off again. Kelik was sitting next Allyson, whose fear was apparent on her face. “Ambassador . . .” she started. “Yes?” “She’s not going to make it, is she?” The elder vampire sighed. “I don’t know. I’m afraid that if Ms. Adams dies, then there is a chance that the shock will kill Eliza, or it might leave her comatose.” Valar was in the same transport, and he had been watching his normally robust adversary degenerate right before his eyes. He was thinking of the time that Eliza’s parents had asked him to formally court her, hoping for a union between their two houses. Eliza had rebuffed him, and it had stung his pride to no end. He had generally held Eliza in the utmost contempt ever since. But like Kelik, he had never seen a link like the one apparently shared by Eliza and Veronica. In his culture, a link was almost as celebrated as the birth of child, and was seen as a wonderful and blessed event. To see something normally viewed in such reverence be the cause of so much pain, albeit unknowingly, by simpletons such as the Purity brought out a kind of outrage in Valar. He wouldn’t have minded seeing Eliza humbled, but even someone like Valar had his limits. ‘It would seem that Ms. Adams is made of sterner stuff than her captors anticipated,’ he thought to himself. He found that thought oddly comforting. Then out loud, “It is quite possible that this link, while damaging to Eliza, is actually helping Ms. Adams.” Allyson looked skeptical, but Kelik looked interested. “What do you mean?” the elder Terran asked. “Symmetry,” responded Valar. “Ms. Adams is sharing her pain, but Eliza may very well be sharing her resiliency. The two together might be able to withstand what neither could alone, and that may give us the time we need to save them both,” he added. “An interesting observation,” Kelik acknowledged. “Under more pleasant circumstances, I would like to examine this phenomenon in greater depth. Let us pray the opportunity comes.” ----------- -------------------- Several hours later . . . ----------- -------------------- Eliza stifled a cough and wiped a bit of her own blood from the corner of her mouth as she crouched and observed the strange encampment. Wyrm and Captain Corbin had narrowed down the search area, and then some locals had told them about being “relocated” for no apparent reason by the local warlord. Captain Corbin’s force had approached what appeared to be a small city of tents, but it wasn’t all it appeared to be. One of their scouts used a night-vision scope and found that just inside the openings of the tents were reinforced steel doors. Someone had camouflaged a military bunker with canvas tents. And there seemed to be some sort of electronic array that disguised the base’s heat and electronic signatures. The Purity had apparently assumed that their hideout would never be found, as their outer perimeter was lightly guarded. A few patrols and guards had already been eliminated by silenced sniper fire, but they knew they were going to have to make some noise getting in. They all wished they had more time to pull off this stunt, but time was something Ms. Veronica Adams was running out of. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 03 “How are we going in?” Allyson asked of the Captain. He looked over at Eliza. “I don’t suppose she was able to pass on where she was?” Eliza coughed again. “No. In the dream, she was in a tower. Not exactly (cough) applicable here.” Allyson wished Eliza would stay behind, but the vampire maiden would go through the fires of hell to rescue Veronica, and she wasn’t going to be dissuaded. “Wait. Didn’t you say that she was burned . . . at the end of the dream?” Allyson hated reminding her friend of that. “Yeah.” “Maybe the tower wasn’t a message. Maybe the fire was.” “Are you thinking the furnace?” Allyson rubbed her jaw. “Could be. It tends to be a favorite venue for torture for the unimaginative. The heat saps your will almost as much as . . .” Allyson stopped when she saw Eliza lift her head up and sniff the air. Then she took off running silently through the tall grass, her energy apparently having returned. “Or,” Allyson continued, “we could just follow her.” The strike-force had to put everything they had into keeping up with the suddenly lively vampire. They found themselves staring at a large dark opening. “This is where they took her in. And I hear the hum of engines.” Eliza was staring at that opening. It was a hundred yards across open ground, but she felt she could cross it quickly. “Boss, how were you planning on getting in the door? It’s probably fortified and . . .” Allyson was stopped again. Eliza turned, looked at Thug and smiled. ----------------- ------------- 60 seconds later . . . ----------------- ------------- You could almost feel bad for the few guards and personnel who were occupying the vehicle hangar when Thug made an entrance. Almost. One blast from his cannon left a gaping, fiery hole in what had once been a fairly respectable door. And before the fire and smoke had subsided enough for any survivors to see through, Eliza had jumped through the hole. She was followed shortly by her friends, Captain Corbin and his strike team. As soon as the initial explosion was heard, the Captain broadcast the coordinates of the base back to the U.S. military. Even if their mission failed, American forces would assault the base within hours. Eliza realized that there was little time to waste. Once the breach had been made, the entire compound had been enveloped in the noise of base sirens. She needed to find Veronica before someone decided to “cut their losses” and kill the hostage. As her supporting cast began the systematic elimination of the occupants of the garage, Eliza located two guards attempting to make their escape. She pulled out the somewhat illegal rail-gun pistol that Veronica had obtained for her and blasted them both in the knee. She pounced on them and disarmed them at a terrifying speed. She grabbed both by the throat. With her eyes firmly locked on one of her captives, she started smashing the head of the other against the concrete floor. And she kept smashing until the pool of red under that unfortunate victim’s head started spilling into a nearby drain. Then she finally spoke. “You fuckers took a hostage . . . a woman. Tell me where she is and I’ll let you deal with them,” she said, indicating the advancing team, “instead of me.” Eliza’s eyes were as cold as ice and her voice was dead flat. Then the captured guard, who was on the verge of wetting himself, saw the fangs of the creature in front of him start to grow. He started to stammer and stutter and finally gave her the directions she was asking for. Then she knocked him cold and took off down the hall. She fired up her kinetic-force riot shield, letting a small wall of energy crackle and shimmer in front of her. She bowled her way down one hallway, running over and smashing anyone in her way. Guards and local militia were pouring out all over the place. She sensed someone was following her, but she didn’t have time to look back. She burst into a large room, and her blood ran cold with what she saw. Against the far wall were two cages that were similar to the ones back at Fort Crass, and both seemed to be occupied by Living Gems. Eliza hadn’t been aware that the Purity had more than one, but she was apparently mistaken. Standing in front of the cages were two men. One was dressed in the most stereotypical wizard’s robes that anyone could steal from a b-grade movie dressing room. He was a gaunt fellow, but his narrow face and eyes held instant hatred for Eliza, and she couldn’t help but wonder if this was the same human that had closed the portal between dimensions. The other man was in full military regalia, and Eliza figured him to be either the local warlord or some high-up yahoo in the Purity military. But neither of them caught her attention for long. Veronica Adams was chained to a metal ring embedded in the middle of the concrete floor. Her hair was mangled, her face bruised almost beyond recognition, and both eyes were swollen shut. There were cuts and odd burn marks all over her naked body, and it was obvious that a number of fingers were bent at unnatural angles. She was kneeling in her own filth, and she was horribly gaunt. Someone had taken their time working Veronica over, and they had been good at what they did. The human wizard ran to the side of one of the cages and began punching at a control panel while the military man started to pull his weapon. Eliza reached down into her own battered and weary body, summoning her strength once more and charged the man. She knocked the gun from his hand as soon as he drew it, but he landed a massive blow with his fist on the side of her head that almost knocked her senseless. The two struggled for what seemed like forever. Finally, Eliza used the last of her strength to punch her adversary in the throat, crushing his windpipe. She looked up, trying to locate the wizard. And then she was struck by lightning. It was agony as bolts of electricity rocked her frame. She briefly saw the wizard holding a Gem, which appeared to be the source of the blasts. It was a black, smooth orb with streaks of off-white color marring its surface. It was the Spear of God, a Tiger’s Eye gem that was supposed to be used for a spell of “heavenly fire.” Eliza was thrown clear across the room and smashed into a wall with such force that the metal buckled under the impact. Her lungs and skin were almost literally on fire. This is what Veronica’s pain-riddled mind had been trying to convey in the dream. “You pathetic, inhuman whore!” the wizard cackled. “You would challenge me?!? You have no place here! You should have gone back to your own stinking hell dimension when you had the chance!” The man seemed to be teetering on the other side of insanity, but that didn’t stop him from wielding the orb effectively as another series of short blasts left Eliza’s almost helpless body smoldering on the floor. The man raised the orb melodramatically over his head. “I’ll show you! I’ll show you all . . .” Suddenly, he fell to the floor with a sick thud. Valar stood behind him wielding a monkey wrench. [[ Oh shut up! ]] he said in his native tongue. He had to admit that the act of physical violence had made him feel a little more . . . masculine. Eliza’s blood was still boiling from the attack. Her skin was blistering where she had been struck and she had lost muscle control. She lay on the ground, no more than a few feet from Veronica’s bound body. Had she arrived too late? And even if Veronica survived, Eliza knew in her heart that she herself was dying. Suddenly Allyson, Dennis and a number of invading forces burst into the room. Allyson was shouting. “We’ve got to get her out of . . .” It was then that the woman saw her boss and friend lying almost completely motionless on the floor, wisps of smoke rising from her jumpsuit. Then she saw Veronica. “Good God,” she muttered and hurried to the two women. It became clear that even if the U.S. had been willing to negotiate that these people were never planning on letting Veronica go. Her chains weren’t locked to metal ring in the floor; they were wielded to it. “We’ve got to get these off!” she shouted. Dennis started looking around for some tools to break the chains. “Where . . .” came a dim voice from Veronica’s mouth. “Where’s Eliza? I know she’s here,” she said, her voice trailing off. “She’s here,” Allyson said, choking back a tear. “She just can’t talk right now.” “Not . . . not fair,” Veronica mumbled. “Too close . . . too much . . .” The doors smashed inward as Thug made his way in, followed by Kelik and a couple of soldiers. He was riddled with holes, but it didn’t seem to bother him. Dennis grabbed the wrench from Valar, who had turned his attention to deactivating the other force cage. Dennis took the wrench and was looking for something like a wedge or a spike, but Thug came up with a simpler solution. The troll grabbed the excess chain, pulling it and the metal ring out of the concrete floor with brute force. “Or we could do that,” Dennis muttered. With her movement less restricted, Veronica fell forward on landed on Eliza. She couldn’t have stood up even if she had the strength, as both of her ankles were broken. “Eliza,” she groaned. “Talk to me. Please?!?” Eliza heard the words, but they were so dim, as if being uttered from the other end of a long hallway. ‘She’s so strong,’ Eliza thought. Eliza would have smiled if she could. She had picked a winner when she decided to make things work with Veronica. She knew she could die having been in love at least once. Kelik had appeared out nowhere and was looking down on the two lovers with obvious fear. Even in their last moments of life, the two looked good together. They looked like they belonged together. “Together,” he said, almost absently. But Valar heard him, and the two vampires’ eyes locked. Valar finally got the force shields down around the second cage. [[ Thug, break those bars! ]] Thug grabbed the bars and bent them as wide as he could. Kelik rushed over and grabbed the Alchemist’s Dream from its resting-place. This gem was about unification; taking two imperfect things and making them into something more. He held the purple gem in both hands, and he felt a surge of power. The will of the Living Jewel fought against the will of the user. He needed a few moments to master it. “Ms. Adams!” he shouted. “Talk to Eliza! Keep her here with us!” Veronica felt so helpless. She couldn’t see and she could barely move. Her strength was gone. They hadn’t fed her in days and . . . fed her. Feeding. She placed her head against Eliza’s body, using her face to feel her way around her lover’s body. She used her own head to turn Eliza over onto her back, though she got a little help from Allyson. Then she located the vampire’s head, and placed her bruised and battered neck at Eliza’s lips. “Drink of me,” she whispered hoarsely. “Whatever I have left to give, I give to you.” Normally, Eliza wouldn’t even consider taking blood from Veronica in such a state. But Eliza’s conscious mind had left the building by that point. Her lips could feel the flesh and she could almost smell the blood. Without any conscious control, her fangs began expanding and sunk into Veronica’s flesh. And for a moment, all was calm. For a moment, neither woman felt any pain . . . any remorse . . . any regrets. Even though they both felt the mission had failed, they would die together. And that was oddly comforting. As their spirits began slipping away, they only wished they had the strength to hold each other one more time. Kelik had been locked in a battle of wills with the Alchemist’s Dream for a while, trying to manipulate the gem’s natural inclinations to do what he wanted it to do. He saw Eliza biting Veronica, and knew that the human woman had bought him some time. The two wouldn’t die yet. Not until they made their peace with one another. Finally, he felt a sense of completeness as his intent and the gem’s will came to some sort of magical agreement. A purple burst of light shot out and hit Eliza, then a second one shot out and engulfed Veronica. The peace that Veronica and Eliza had been sharing was rudely shattered by a brief moment of excruciating pain on both women’s parts. Both felt that the very fabric of their beings was in the process of being ripped asunder. Then, darkness engulfed the pain . . . then the women . . . then . . . all was gone. -------------- ------------------------ Beyond the waking world . . . -------------- ------------------------ Eliza found herself in a familiar, dream-like state. She was standing before a huge wooden door. It looked like it belonged to a cathedral. And the vampire was wearing what appeared to be a black wedding dress, and she was carrying a bouquet of red roses. For no reason, she decided to open the door. As it swung open, she found herself in a great hall with pews on either side of the central walkway. At the end of the aisle was a floating, purple . . . thing. And standing before the purple entity was another woman, dressed in a white wedding dress. She turned her head, and Eliza saw that it was Veronica. The blonde woman smiled from ear to ear. {{ What kept you? }} came a beautiful . . . thought. Veronica’s lips hadn’t moved, but Eliza heard that voice as clear as crystal. Apparently their ‘link’ came with telepathy now. {{ I don’t know why I’m here, }} Eliza thought truthfully. Was this heaven? She saw the beautiful woman at the altar smile again, and this time Eliza smiled back. If it isn’t heaven, then it was close enough for the vampire’s taste. {{ Me neither, }} Veronica replied. {{ But . . . but I knew you would be here. I can’t imagine who else I would be wearing this for. }} Eliza blushed. She had never seen herself as the marrying kind of vampire, but here she was. Wherever ‘here’ actually was. She slowly made her way down the aisle, dropping the roses as she went. It was strange to her, since this wasn’t like any vampire wedding she had ever seen, but she knew the basic drill. {{ I hope I don’t make a fool of myself, }} she thought, forgetting Veronica could hear her. {{ You can’t do that here, }} the bride-to-be thought. {{ I think we make the rules here, and I won’t let you fall on your face. I won’t let you fall at all. }} {{ A romantic to the end, }} came Eliza’s silent response. {{ I suppose I am. Are you ready? }} Eliza raised her chin with confidence and pride. {{ Yes. }} The two were standing side by side at the altar, and they turned to face where the preacher would have stood. But instead of a preacher was that glowing ball of purple light. The two women were suddenly engulfed in its light. Both seemed to be hearing questions that the other didn’t, but the sentiment was the same. Eliza turned to Veronica and vice versa. Both women thought the same thing at the same time. {{ I do. }} The cathedral around them turned into mist and faded into black. They found themselves on a huge, round, canopied bed with purple satin sheets that was floating in the endless void of space. {{ I told you that normal rules don’t apply here, }} Veronica thought. The human woman was now wearing nothing but a white veil, white stockings and a smile. Eliza looked down and saw herself wearing the same outfit, only in black. But Eliza had a little addition, namely a ten-inch dildo in a strap-on harness. Eliza looking slyly at her lover. {{ Another one of your ideas? }} {{ What can I say? I want you to make me yours. }} The vampire decided to test the “we make the rules” theory. She concentrated for a moment, and her strap-on became more heavily ridged and pre-lubricated. Veronica looked on with hungry approval. Eliza placed herself between Veronica’s spread legs and pushed the head of the massive toy into Veronica’s tight opening. {{ Are you ready? }} Eliza thought. For some reason, the question seemed important. {{ Take me, }} Veronica returned. {{ Complete me. }} Eliza eased inside, with Veronica’s mouth opening slightly as her pussy adjusted to the invader. She felt something give way. She knew it wasn’t her hymen, as that had been taken care of a long time ago. So what was it? She didn’t have much time to dwell on it as she felt the leather of Eliza’s harness make contact with her mound as the dildo became completely buried in the human woman’s body. Eliza withdrew and the shoved the entire shaft back in, driving all the air from Veronica’s quivering form. Veronica wrapped her arms around Eliza and dug her fingernails into the vampire’s back, urging Eliza to plunge into the human’s sexual depths as had and fast as she could. Eliza was humping madly with her hips and Veronica opened her mouth as if to groan, though no sound came out. Eliza concentrated again, and suddenly she was standing on the bed with Veronica impaled on her toy. The human looked confused, but confusion turned to pleasure as the vampire used her powerful arms to grab Veronica by the waist and slide her up and down the ten-inch dildo, using Veronica’s body like a hand in male-masturbation. That position suited the human well apparently, as Veronica began to cum within minutes. Dream or no, her girl-juice felt real enough as it dripped down Eliza’s legs. The vampire kept fucking her lover, enjoying the way those sizeable breasts bounced. Veronica finally got Eliza to slow down by kissing her. Eliza lowered herself to her knees and gently placed Veronica back onto the bed, their lips never parting. Eliza finally pulled the device out and straddled her lover’s chest, the head of the dildo dangling in front of Veronica’s mouth. Veronica took the head in her mouth and sucked her juices from it. Eliza didn’t care that it wasn’t a real cock; the sight of Veronica sucking on it was pleasurable unto itself. The human’s hands grasped her lover’s ass cheeks as she slurped noisily on the plastic cock. Then the pointing fingers from each hand slid further toward the center and pierced Eliza’s rectum. Eliza would have gasped in surprise were she able. This was an avenue she had never thought to explore. Normally, it was Veronica who enjoyed the backdoor action, but it seemed perfectly natural to Eliza at that moment. Those fingers kept penetrating until they reached the final knuckle. Eliza looked back over her shoulder and saw that a strap-on harness had appeared around Veronica’s waist, and a slim white dildo stuck out from the woman’s crotch. Eliza then noticed that her own harness had disappeared. {{ Make’s clean-up simpler, }} she thought idly. {{ Don’t get too comfortable with the idea of ‘clean’, }} Veronica thought back. {{ Because you’re about to get dirty again. }} Eliza felt herself being slowly pushed back by unseen hands towards the waiting dong. Soon, she felt the cool and slippery head nestled between her ass cheeks and pushing against her sphincter. {{ Don’t be nervous, }} Veronica reassured her lover. {{ I just want to share something that gives me pleasure with you. }} Eliza had no response except to bite her bottom lip and wait expectantly. She knew from her first time doing this to Veronica that it was painful, at least for a time. And even in the surreal world they were occupying, the discomfort was quite noticeable as the slick head pushed inside her, spreading her asshole to new limits for the first time. As Eliza’s pink rosebud tried to adjust to the new sensation, Veronica passed the time by playing with Eliza’s firm breasts. She cupped them and squeezed them and kneaded them like dough. She had never played with her lover’s breasts before, and she couldn’t imagine why. They might have been smaller than Veronica’s own proud chest, but they were a lot of fun. Eliza was reacting positively to the human’s manipulations. Eliza responded by grabbing Veronica’s melons and holding on as the head of her lover’s sex toy finally found its way inside Eliza’s ass and she was able to relax a bit. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 03 {{ Okay, }} Eliza panted mentally. {{ I think the worst is over, }} she thought, a little more pleasantly. The pressure that had once been uncomfortable had slowly become somewhat exciting. So the two women mauled and sucked on each other’s tits as Veronica started pumping her slim toy in and out of Eliza’s butt. {{ Does it feel good? }} Veronica thought naughtily. {{ Is my naughty vampire goddess enjoying having her ass fucked? }} Eliza had been sucking on one of Veronica’s nipples when that last thought came through. {{ Feel for yourself, }} she replied, and she projected her pleasure back at Veronica. The human woman began to feel every stroke in Eliza’s ass as if it were happening to Veronica herself. {{ Oh that’s sweet, }} Veronica thought as she felt her own sphincter opening and closing. She projected the feeling of Eliza’s lips on the human’s breasts back at the vampire, and Eliza began to mentally moan. Eliza finally sat up straight, began rubbing her upper mound as well as her clit, projecting THOSE feelings on to Veronica. The human lover felt her private area being stimulated, and it was fantastic. The two women were caught in a loop of sexual ecstasy and satisfaction. Whatever one felt, the other felt as well. The pleasure began building in intensity almost exponentially. Veronica slammed the dildo all the way into Eliza’s ass, and they both achieved climax together. And it was an pair of orgasms of epic proportions, with bodies shivering, breasts jiggling and pussies experiencing spasm after spasm in total unison. Eliza felt like she dumped a gallon of sweet, sticky girl-cum onto Veronica’s lap, but her lover didn’t seem to care. Veronica had a sort of glassy stare, indicating she wasn’t quite over their shared orgasm quite yet. Eliza lay down on top of her companion. The dildo that had recently been filling her ass slipped out with a “plop,” then disappeared back into the nothingness from which it had come. It was just the two of them again. Then, they both felt something tugging on them, pulling them into the void. {{ No! }} Eliza gave a mental shout. {{ Not yet! }} Veronica seemed oddly at peace with the separation, and she blew Eliza a kiss. {{ If this was our last moment, then I could die happy. But I don’t think it is . . . }} {{ But I was too late! }} returned Eliza. {{ Says who? }} ------------------ ---------------- Back in the real world . . . ------------------ ---------------- Eliza sat up with a start. She didn’t recognize her surroundings at all, though it didn’t take long before realizing she was in a hospital. How the hell did she get there? She heard a groan next to her and she looked over. On the next gurney, no more than five feet away, lay Veronica. Eliza’s heart skipped a beat. Her lover looked bruised and battered, but nearly as badly as the vampire remembered. Both of Veronica’s ankles, one of her hands and a couple of fingers on the other hand were all in casts. But the bruising and burns on her face and arms was greatly diminished. Eliza normally might have wondered how long she had been out, but there wasn’t time for that. Joy overtook her as she tried to get off the hospital bed and go to her lover. She had to remove some pesky IV’s and assorted tape, but she was able to move over and stare down at Veronica’s face. The human woman’s eyes, which had been swollen shut the last time Eliza had seen them, opened. “Huh. . . hey beautiful,” Veronica finally got out. “Did . . . did wuh. . . did we get married?” Eliza almost started to cry as she kissed Veronica on an unblemished part of her cheek and just about anywhere else that she could. “I’m not sure,” she gasped. The door behind her opened and several nurses, a doctor, and Eliza’s entire security team (along with Captain Corbin and Kelik) burst into the room. “And they woke up at the same time!” one doctor said with amazement. “Incredible! Now, back in bed.” It was a silly command that Eliza would have ignored completely were it not for the incredible head-rush she received from her sudden return to the world of the vertical. So she sat down in the visitor’s chair next to Veronica’s bed and lay her head on the human woman’s hand. “Not so amazing considering what happened to them,” Kelik said with a bemused grin. He looked incredibly tired, and Eliza wondered how long he had been awake. “Considering what happened?” Eliza asked irritably. Then she noticed the sunlight streaming into the room. It wasn’t bothering her eyes the way sunlight usually did. Kelik looked a little sheepish. “Since . . . well, it might be easier if you saw for yourself.” He looked around and grabbed a mirror from the bathroom, holding it up to her face. Eliza was dumfounded by what she saw. First of all, she looked . . . healthy. There was little trace of the fight she had been in. Secondly, her eyes had changed. They had been completely yellow, but now they were yellow with blue streaks running through them. She looked over at Veronica again. Even through the bruising, Eliza saw that her lover’s eyes now looked identical to Eliza’s own. “What the fuck . . .” “I did the only thing I could think of,” Kelik said. “Neither one of you were strong enough to survive what was happening to you. So I used the Alchemist’s Dream to combine you.” Eliza moved to grab Kelik’s shoulders and shake him. But when she moved towards him, everything seemed to speed up for her. It was like she was seeing things through Veronica’s eyes again, like the first time she had bitten the human. Her friends only saw a blur as Eliza moved. “Holy shit!” she said, her intention of shaking an answer out of Kelik now forgotten. “She’s FASTER?” Allyson said with wide eyes. “That’s not fair!” Eliza’s head was swimming. “What the hell happened to me?” “I’m kind of curious about that myself,” Veronica muttered tiredly. “And what is that smell?” She started looking around. “It’s like . . . coppery. I didn’t even know what that smelled like before, but that’s definitely what I’m smelling now.” “That’s what blood smells like,” Eliza whispered. “Why am I smelling blood?” Veronica asked. Then she gave a slight yawn, and Eliza saw the hint of fangs. Which Veronica promptly bit her lip with. “What the . . .” She ran her tongue across her teeth. “Uhm . . . what are these?” “You . . . you’re a vampire!” Eliza exclaimed, almost fainting. “No she isn’t,” Kelik assured a panicking Veronica. He then turned to Eliza. “And neither are you.” Eliza sat down. “What are you . . . that’s not . . . I can’t handle this.” “When you were combined,” Kelik started by way of an explanation, “you became something new. More than either human or vampire.” The doctor piped in excitedly. “You have developed the most efficient physiology anyone has ever seen! All of your primary organs and functions have back-up systems! You’ve both been healing at an incredibly accelerated rate, and apparently you’re both faster as well. I suspect you’re probably stronger and . . . What I mean to say . . . and what Ambassador Kelik here is indicating is that you two are now the only two members of an entirely new life form!” Eliza’s brain was almost overloading. So was Veronica’s, but she was too exhausted to do anything about it. “See,” the “human” woman said by way of a joke, “you said we never do anything together.” Then she passed out again. Eliza sat on her bed and curled up in as tight of a ball as she could. It was too much to handle. She wasn’t even a vampire anymore. She was a lesbian . . . hybrid. “I think we may have been a little hasty in our dispensing of information,” Kelik said. “Maybe, but . . .” Allyson started. Then she noticed how exhausted the Ambassador was. He had slept very little in the last several days, and being awake during the daytime was obviously taxing to him. “Get some sleep. I’ll stay with her.” Kelik glanced once more at Eliza’s prone form, then wandered off. His excitement had gotten the better of him. Allyson sat down at Eliza’s side. “How long?” Eliza asked. “How long have I been like this?” “Six days,” Allyson responded quietly. “The doctor was right about your healing time.” “What the hell am I? What the hell are we?” she added, looking again at the slumbering Veronica. “You are Eliza, my friend and employer. That hasn’t changed. And I’m willing to bet Veronica is the same person in a new-and-improved body. It was strange. You’ve been healing well, but once when they tried to move you to separate rooms, both of your heart monitors went haywire. The doctors have been afraid to separate you two ever since.” The vampire . . . or the not-quite-a-vampire . . . wasn’t able to take her eyes off the not-quite-a-human lying next to her. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Allyson smiled, and the rest of the team, all of whom had remained quiet the whole time, filed out of the room. “Yes she is,” Allyson whispered. “She’s going to be okay?” “Yes. You’ll BOTH be okay,” the human said, stroking her friend’s face and hair. Eliza drifted off. The pain medication she was on, combined with psychological exhaustion and whatever biological changes she was undergoing, had her sleeping again, albeit fitfully at first. Then she calmed down a bit. Then she started to moan, and her heart monitor stepped up a beat. So did Veronica’s. The U.S. envoy was smiling with her eyes closed. “Are they dreaming?” Allyson wondered. Both patients flushed a little, and Veronica started to pant as her hands unconsciously drifted to her crotch. Allyson blushed. ‘They’re dreaming all right,’ she thought. ‘And I’m willing to bet I know what they’re dreaming about.’ --------------- ------------------ Many months later . . . --------------- ------------------ Veronica and Eliza were standing on top of a mountain only a few miles from Eliza’s compound. A lot can happen in a short amount of time. The doctors and Kelik had been right about improved healing times. Wounds and broken bones that should have as long as six months to a year to heal had healed in just under three months. Just a few days earlier, Veronica had gotten the last of her casts removed. Eliza and Veronica had spent a lot of time together. Doctors and scientists around the country had wanted to come poke and prod the couple, but they had retreated to Eliza’s team-compound, and nobody got in to see them without going through Eliza’s personal assistant . . . Thug. As a result, the two spent a lot of time alone. They were having difficulty enough dealing with the fact that they were unlike any other living things without having to deal with being gawked at like animals at the zoo. Both of them, Veronica especially, were trying to build their strength back up. It almost seemed as if Veronica had something to prove, but Eliza wasn’t sure who she was trying to prove it to. She had been temporarily relieved of duty as official U.S. envoy while the government tried to wrap their pencil-necked heads around the concept of her being unable to keep information secret from a civilian, as well as her no longer being human. Physically, they were both in phenomenal shape, especially considering what they had gone through. Eliza had clocked a top land-speed of forty miles-per-hour and was able to lift twice as much as she had been able to before. Her more efficient biology gave her more endurance and required less rest to replenish her energy stores. And as Veronica’s health returned, she seemed to be becoming Eliza’s equal in every way. They had just jogged up the side of a mountain just to get away. “Can you believe this?” Veronica asked, staring off into space. They were looking out over the mountainside, and they could see the ocean off in the distance. “Nice view,” Eliza said. Of course, she was staring at Veronica’s backside when she said that. The two of them hadn’t been intimate except in their dreams since before Veronica had been abducted. While Veronica hadn’t been raped, she had been tortured in just about every other way imaginable, and she was still a little gun-shy regarding physical contact. And Eliza was still blaming herself. They tried to respect each other’s thoughts, but sometimes their respective insecurities leaked out and made the other uncomfortable. Veronica dipped her head. “It’s okay you know. You can still be attracted to me.” Eliza blushed. Their psychic link had grown even stronger since their transformation, and as already mentioned, some things just couldn’t be hidden. “Sorry.” “Don’t be. Just . . .” Veronica was nervous. The two women had been tiptoeing around each other for a while, and she wanted it to end. “I’m sorry I’ve been a bit distant . . . physically.” “You don’t need to apologize for that. I can’t imagine what it was like . . .” “But you can!” Veronica almost shouted, exasperated with the guilt and self-doubt that she was sensing from her partner. “You were there in my head the whole time. Allyson told me what happened to you every time they did something to me. Knowing you were there . . . that you were out there trying to find me is the only reason I was able to hold on as long as I did.” Veronica wiped some moisture from her eyes. “If it weren’t for you, I’d be dead. And I want to touch you . . . to feel you the way I used to. I feel the same way ABOUT you that I did, but . . . I’m not even comfortable in this skin anymore.” “I know what you mean. I’m staring at daylight, which used to hurt. I move through the world, but can’t tell if I’ve sped up or it’s slowed down. And . . . and I don’t know if I even want to go home anymore. I don’t know if I can.” Veronica turned around, confused. As she did so, she finally saw something that she had completely missed. Even if the dimensional portal reopened, Eliza was going to finally have to tell her parents about her sexuality, which was no small matter in vampire society. Now, she wasn’t even a vampire anymore. How could a reserved culture and tradition-oriented family accept someone whose sexual appetites were socially offensive to them and who wasn’t even from the same species anymore. “I’m sorry. I hadn’t even thought about that.” “I think you being tortured takes emotional precedence over my homesickness.” “Don’t do that,” Veronica said heatedly, facing Eliza. “Don’t act like you did something wrong. Without you, Captain Corbin never would have found me.” “Without me, the Purity never would have taken you.” “Bullshit! They would have come after me for something else. I was stupid for letting my guard down and I paid for it. We’ve suffered. We’re scared. We’re the only two of our kind in the world. Guess what?!? We’ll always have suffered. We’ll always have been scared, and we may very well be the only two things like us that will ever exist. So how long do we keep this up?” Veronica sat down on a rock. “How long do we keep running up the mountain to get away from the rest of the world?” “So you want to go back down the mountain?” “It was a METAPHOR!” Veronica screamed, scaring several nearby birds. Then she saw Eliza snickering behind her hand. “Okay,” she muttered, smiling a little at the former vampire, “point to you.” Eliza sat down next to her friend. “What a pair we are.” She felt Veronica’s hand creep into her own and grip it tightly. She sniffed the air. “Great. We have an intruder,” she said. “No one I recognize.” Veronica tested the air also. “It’s going to take a while to get used to this whole ‘recognizing by smell’ thing. Paparazzi maybe? We had a bunch of them hanging out in front of the compound earlier. One of them could have seen us come up here.” “Vultures with cameras,” Eliza muttered. “Whoever it was would have had to be up on the slope already. There’s no way someone could have kept up with us. Probably hoping to get a shot of the bedroom,” she said, then blanched a bit. There hadn’t been anything going on in that room recently worth taking a picture of. “I’ll be ready soon,” Veronica said. “I promise.” That coaxed a smile from Eliza. “Now, wanna go scare the hell out of this guy?” ----------- --------------- A while later . . . ----------- --------------- Allyson walked into the living room to find that Eliza and Veronica had returned and were rolling around on the floor laughing. The rest of the crew, including Kelik, were just staring at them. “What the . . .” “You should have seen it!” Veronica said between gasps. “We smelled this sleazy photographer guy following us around the mountain . . .” It was Eliza’s turn. “And so we started following him instead! We kept breaking twigs and making noise on purpose just to fuck with him!” “Then we’d disappear. Finally we pounced on him and teased him endlessly. We had him thinking he was going to get lucky, then . . .” “ . . . we had him thinking he was going to get eaten. It was funny. He went from having a hard on . . .” “ . . . to wetting himself within a couple of minutes! It was precious!” “We stole his camera and left him outside the main gate. The other paparazzi were actually laughing at him when they saw him!” Eliza finally got herself under control. “God I needed that!” Veronica was still laughing, but lay her head in her lover’s lap, and Eliza started braiding that blonde hair. “I hate to interrupt,” Allyson said with a smile, “but we got a call from Captain Corbin. He politely requests both of your company tomorrow at Fort Crass. He sounded happy about something.” “You up for doing some business?” Eliza asked of her girlfriend. “I guess so,” Veronica said with a sigh. “I just . . . I was just beginning to feel better. It’d be nice to have some real time off before everything started up again.” “Then let’s go out tonight,” Eliza replied, her eyes lighting up. “God, we all could use a night on the town!” she added, looking around at her crew. They all looked like they had been ridden hard and put away wet. In the last few months, they had endured more than any of them should have had to, and it was showing. “What do you guys think?” --------------- ------------ Many hours later . . . --------------- ------------ “See you gals later,” Allyson slurred. She had consumed quite a bit of alcohol at the restaurant, then again at the bar and later at the club, and Dennis was getting ready to take her home. Kelik, Thug and Wyrm had bowed out after dinner, and the remaining four had been painting the town red. But Eliza and Veronica weren’t even vaguely tired. There was a full moon, and the two of them still felt like howling. Both had drunk quite a bit, but their paranormal metabolisms had already begun sobering them up. After splitting with their friends, the two found themselves wandering the dark streets and alleys of Springfield. Eliza was teaching her lover what being a creature of the night really meant. They practiced stalking and sneaking. They found themselves leaping from rooftop to rooftop as quietly as alley cats. Veronica was growing accustomed to being able to see in the dark. She could smell every scent wafting up from all-night cafes and she could smell the cheap perfume from the hookers on the street corners. Just as Eliza had become accustomed to being awake during the day, Veronica found herself feeling alive in the shadows. They found themselves overlooking a series of apartments near the college. There was a block party going on, and there were people everywhere. The sound of music, the sight of pulsating lights and the smell of alcohol and sex were everywhere. The jumped down from the building they were on and made there way through the crowds. Everyone stared at them, but Eliza doubted any of the onlookers knew who the two were. They weren’t getting stared at because they were some hybrid life forms. They were being stared at because they were too stunningly beautiful “women” in skin-tight black bodysuits that had a look of hunger in their eyes. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 03 The two of them drank a little more, but preferred to spend there time dancing. Eliza had never really been into dancing before, but it seemed like the thing to do, particularly when Veronica’s body was pressed up close to her own. Sometimes they teased the boys and sometimes they found a pretty young girl and caught her between them, bumping and swaying until the newcomer went weak at the knees. Then they moved on. They snuck into an alley, then jumped onto a dumpster before making their way to the roof. They were alone in the middle of hundreds of people as they collapsed, side by side. Then Veronica quickly got up and straddled Eliza’s lap. “I think I’m ready,” she said. Eliza looked up at her lover. “Are you sure? Now?” Veronica reached down and ripped Eliza’s jumpsuit open. “Okay,” Eliza continued, “stupid question.” The blonde haired former-human was like a woman possessed. She was tearing Eliza’s clothes to shreds like a child trying to get the wrapper off a candy bar. Eliza was a little nervous that this might be some sort of reaction or compensation for Veronica’s emotional seclusion leading up to that day, but a kiss from the woman told her otherwise. Veronica was back in control of her mind, and Eliza was what was on that mind. “We came back from the edge of death,” Veronica whispered. “What would be the point of that if we didn’t actually live again?” She grabbed a handful of Eliza’s breast and started kissing her way down Eliza’s neck. The former vampire was already beginning to tremble. She had forgotten how good it all felt. She tried unzipping Veronica’s suit, but those lips on her neck were interfering with her fine motor skills. ‘Ripping it is,’ she thought, then tore half of Veronica’s jumpsuit off. Veronica stood up and let her lover finish the job, and they were soon both completely nude in the moonlight. Before Veronica could do anything else, Eliza knelt in front of her kissed those flowery lower lips. Veronica groaned. Eliza smiled and started to lick, faster and harder. Even her tongue was faster than it had ever been before. The two women heard some hooting and hollering from the street below, but they didn’t care if anyone saw them anymore. Veronica took a step to either side of Eliza’s hips, causing the other woman to have to lean backward. Then she started humping Eliza’s face. Eliza wasn’t in the mood to be on the defensive. She took two fingers and promptly shoved them into Veronica’s backdoor and started to spread them. Veronica gasped, then sighed. “I missed this,” she crooned. “I missed you.” Veronica could feel every little bump on Eliza’s tongue as it slid into her inviting pussy. And those fingers . . . they were powerful enough to stretch her sphincter, unlike normal human fingers. It was like Eliza was actually trying to touch her tongue, and Veronica’s body was in the way. She held her lover’s face tightly against her sex as she began to experience her first orgasm in far too long. And it was a wet one, leaving Eliza with a face that shone under the light of the moon. “That was quick,” Eliza said as she nuzzled Veronica’s mound with her face. “That was a beginning,” the other woman said huskily. She reached down and grabbed Eliza by the waist, picking the woman up with ease. She held Eliza tightly against her body with just one arm, enjoying her newfound strength. With Eliza’s breasts within easy reach of her mouth, she began mercilessly sucking on one of those tiny pink nipples. Her other arm reached around and her hand snaked its way between Eliza’s butt cheeks to where her fingers could access Eliza’s pussy. Eliza wrapped her legs around her lover’s waist as she was ravished. It was an odd sensation to be in a relationship where she could be manhandled like that, but she didn’t care. Veronica even returned the favor from earlier by inserting a thumb into her lover’s rectum. Eliza started to buck, almost like she was hanging onto one of those mechanical bulls at the local bar. “Fuck me,” she growled. “Give me everything you’ve got!” Veronica responded by increasing her finger speed. The she turned and slammed Eliza’s back into the side of the chimney. This did two things. First, it caused a number of bricks to be knocked loose in a cloud of dust. Secondly, it gave the former human a little bit more leverage. Her fingers were moving so fast that they were almost smoking. She could easily smell her lover’s sexual aroma as her juices began to drip down her legs. She wondered if it had always been like this for Eliza; the ability to sense seemingly everything. If it was, then she envied her lover. She pulled her fingers away from Eliza’s cunt and shoved them into the woman’s mouth. Eliza sucked and licked them clean with an almost obscene passion, then Veronica pushed them back into that warm and inviting sexual paradise. It was like that, with Eliza’s back pressed against the crumbling brick fireplace and her legs wrapped around Veronica that the former vampire came like thunder. “Fuck yeah! Oh, fuck yeah!” she shouted as her pussy muscles captured the invading fingers, and Veronica’s thumb was held prisoner by Eliza’s asshole. As soon as they were able to move, Veronica started fingering Eliza again. But Eliza had a request. “Do you love me?” she asked with intensity in her eyes. “More than anything,” Veronica responded. Eliza tilted her neck over, and Veronica saw it. She saw the warm blood pumping through her lover’s veins. “I don’t know how . . .” “Yes you do,” Eliza said, pushing Veronica’s lips down to her neck once more. “I want you to know what I felt each time you offered this to me. And I want to know what it feels like. I need to know.” Veronica’s fangs started to extend. She had drunk blood before, but this was strange. But there was a hunger inside her that she had never known, and it demanded to be satisfied. She tasted the blood in her mouth. Something had changed from the last time they had coupled. The radical shifts in perception were gone. In their place was a feeling of absolute fulfillment unlike anything they had experienced before. Eliza likened it to a religious experience; passion made flesh. All things pleasurable were being experienced at tenfold their normal intensity. So when Eliza came again, it almost knocked her out. She left Veronica’s hand wet and shiny. And she felt Veronica moaning into her neck as the former-human reached climax. She wasn’t even being touched, but she had reached orgasm just the same, just from the sensation of tasting Eliza’s lifeblood. Finally, her teeth retracted. “I . . . I think I had too much to drink,” Veronica said, leaning against Eliza’s body. “If I had a dime for every time I heard that one,” Eliza joked. She started kissing her way around Veronica’s face until their lips met again. Then she whispered, “I missed you so much. I missed this so much. I’m sorry . . .” “You didn’t rush me,” Veronica said. “I’ve . . . I’ve been trying to think of a way of doing this . . . of being with you again that didn’t make either of us feel awkward. Then when we decided to go on . . . we were able to lose ourselves in this sea of living humanity,” she added, looking down into the streets that were still crowded with revelers. “They don’t have a care in the world,” she said. She gasped as Eliza slowly bent her over the edge of the chimney and slipped three fingers into her wet hole. “Get ready,” Eliza growled. “I saw this in a dream once.” The white-haired woman started using her hand like a piston, pushing those three fingers in all the way up to the knuckle. Veronica grabbed the edge of the chimney so hard that she started to crack the mortar. As Eliza took her from behind, she looked down at the street and could see the youth and the life and the heat given off by the throng. Then she felt a fourth finger find it’s way inside her. She felt the knuckles of Eliza’s hand brushing against her vaginal lips as her lover pushed and turned her hand deeper into Veronica’s body. She knew what was coming next. For five minutes, she remained bent over that chimney, staring down at the crowd. Then Eliza tucked her thumb in and pushed her hand through Veronica’s stretched opening and into the depths of her being. Veronica almost felt like a cannon; braced against the bricks on the rooftop and being aimed at the young people in the street. She could feel every knuckle and fingertip as Eliza’s hand moved inside her vaginal cavity. Her pussy was trying without success to clamp down on Eliza’s wrist. A single finger pressed against Veronica’s g-spot, almost causing her to cum right then and there. She tried to stifle the groan, but it seeped out between her lips, and Eliza knew what she had found. Then Veronica’s girlfriend started pushing that spot, as well as using a finger from her other hand to violate Veronica’s defenseless asshole. “No . . . you can’t . . . sweet Jesus . . .” Veronica didn’t even know what she was saying anymore. She just knew she didn’t want the pleasure to ever end. As it was, Eliza intended to make the pleasure go on for a while. With her fist firmly in Veronica’s body, she brought her lover to orgasm after orgasm. Each time, she gave Veronica just enough time to recover, then she had her dripping on the bricks again. “More . . . more!” Veronica shouted. “Fuck me with your hand!” Eliza kept at it. Veronica was like a flesh puppet to the former vampire, and Eliza was going to keep playing the role of puppet master. Her wrist was glistening with Veronica’s cum, as were the bricks and some of the shingles on the roof. The moonlight also reflected off the sweat on Veronica’s back. Eliza kept ramming her fist home and stimulating everything she could touch. When Veronica came for the seventh time that evening, her pussy seemed to run out of juice. But Eliza left her hand inside of Veronica for several minutes, letting that woman catch her breath. When she finally pulled her hand slowly out, she left Veronica feeling satisfied like never before. But even after all she had experienced, Veronica wasn’t done. She looked back at her lover, then leaned her head forward and flipped her hair away from her neck. “Your turn,” she said. She was still leaning over the chimney when Eliza lay along her back and sank her fangs into Veronica’s neck. But rather than feeling the unquenchable lust she had felt earlier, both women just felt . . . comforted. ‘Is that what that means?’ she thought to herself. ‘Does the bite simply provide what we NEED to feel?’ She didn’t care. For her, it was the most exquisite form of “cuddling” she had ever experienced. The remained joined like that for quite a while. And when they parted, it was with some regret; like having to get out of a warm bed on a cold morning. “I love you, you know?” Eliza said. “Yeah, I do,” Veronica replied a bit coyly, then kissed her lover again. The two of them realized that their clothes were beyond repair and that they had a long way to walk to get home. They started running and jumping from rooftop to rooftop before they found a quieter area where they could descend to street level. They were peeking out of an alley, trying to plan their next move when a police car pulled up. Eliza was more than a bit surprised when Officer Pamela Ryder of the Springfield PD got out. Pamela had been one of Eliza’s lovers in the past, but it seemed like such a long time ago. Both Eliza and Veronica were blushing when Pamela wandered over, smiling from ear to ear. “I got the strangest call a little while ago. Apparently, two incredibly attractive women put on quite a display on a rooftop a while ago, then started scaring the hell out of home owners as they went gallivanting naked across the rooftops. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?” Pamela asked. “I recognized one of the descriptions pretty quickly, so I thought I might try and find you before the photographers did.” Eliza and Veronica felt goofy, like they had been caught kissing by their parents for the first time. “I don’t suppose . . .” Eliza started. “Get in,” Pamela laughed opening the door while the two naked women jumped inside. On the car ride home, Eliza and Veronica held hands while Eliza and Pamela caught up. Pamela’s marriage was actually doing quite well, considering Pamela had been cheating on her husband with Eliza. Marriage counseling seemed to be working, and Pamela was actually up for a promotion. This last was particularly appealing, since it would get Pamela off the streets. And Pamela was pregnant. Eliza almost flipped out when she heard the news. As Pamela dropped them off at the gate of the compound, Eliza hugged her former lover and wished her genuine luck. The two women then jumped the ten-foot security fence and headed up the driveway. Eliza had to help Veronica a bit, as the former human was still walking a little funny. ----------------- ---------------- The next morning . . . ----------------- ---------------- Eliza and company had been picked up early in the morning by official government transport and taken out to Fort Crass where Captain Corbin was waiting for them. The seasoned military officer seemed exasperated. “Well,” he started, “I’m not sure if this is good news or bad news. The powers that be want you back,” he said, looking at Eliza. “They ‘regret the hasty decision’ of getting rid of you in the first place. But you,” he said, turning to Veronica, “seem to be perplexing them. Your former bosses don’t think having someone with a telepathic link they can’t control should be acting as envoy at this time.” “Wait. ‘Former bosses’? They’re firing me?!?” Veronica said as she stood up angrily. Eliza put her hand on Veronica’s shoulder. {{ Calm down sweetie, }} she sent telepathically. {{ You don’t know your own strength, so don’t go shaking the Captain. }} Veronica shot her lover a dirty look. {{ Bite me! }} Eliza smiled. {{ Maybe later. }} The two of them blushed while everyone else waited to let them in on their private conversation. “Sorry,” she said. “We’re done now.” Captain Corbin wasn’t finished. “But the government also doesn’t want you out of the loop. You know too much to leave unprotected again.” “So I’m a cheerleader?!? I just stand around waving my pom-poms and . . .” She looked at Eliza. {{ Get that mental image out of your head. I’m not dressing up like that for you. }} {{ Can’t blame me for hoping. }} “Actually, I’m officially in charge of this mission now and that means I’m also in charge of personnel. I could use your experience and new . . . skills. So I’d like you to work with Ms. Eliza and her team for the duration.” “Oh, that’ll be hard,” Allyson muttered, her hands clutching her aching head. Telling Veronica to work with Eliza was like telling a fish to live in the water . . . it was a tad unnecessary. “Anyway,” the Captain continued, “I’d like for the group of you to be responsible for safely bringing back any future gems that are found. You’ll be given all the military’s transportation resources that you need.” The group discussed the offer amongst themselves for a while. While they were all a little gun shy about trusting the government again, they all wanted back in the game full time. Eliza noticed Valar standing over next to the cage for the Alchemist’s Dream and walked over. The two stood side-by-side staring at the strange purple orb that had helped save Eliza’s life. [[ I never got to thank you for saving my life, ]] Eliza started, reverting to her native tongue. [[ Though I am curious as to why you did it. ]] [[ Because, ]] her nemesis began, [[ as distasteful as I find your sexual preferences, I find myself even more disgusted by torture. Besides, that ‘wizard’ offended my sense of style. What a buffoon. ]] [[ Did we ever find out who he was? ]] [[ His name is Irwin Meyers. Just as you suspected, he was rejected from several Terran magic academies. While he had some skill, he had no sense of responsibility. Apparently his family is quite wealthy, and he was pampered his whole life. The rejection apparently hit him hard. He was retrieved from the Purity’s base before U.S. forces turned it into a sinkhole. You probably won’t be surprised to hear that he wasn’t in charge. He was brought on board because he had the ability and the motive to close the dimensional gap. ]] [[ No one that unstable could organize a group like that, no matter how much money he has access to. And that warlord was all muscle but no style. The real threat is still out there somewhere. ]] [[ Indeed. So I take it you are rejoining the quest? ]] [[ I’m sure you’ll be disappointed to hear it but yes, I am. Of course, I was never really out of it, but now they’re giving me a badge. ]] [[ How droll. ]] Valar was looking at the Dream intently. [[ We’ve tried to combine other things you know. Nothing’s worked. Apparently, there has to be some sort of pre-existing connection for the Alchemist’s Dream’s power to kick in. I tried getting Kelik to help analyze the orb, but once he discovered that chocolate and peanut butter had already been combined somehow, he stopped caring. ]] About that time, Kelik wandered up, stuffing his mouth with some kind of candy. Both Valar and Eliza snickered at him. [[ What? ]] Kelik asked. ------------------ ------------- A few months later . . . ------------------ ------------- {{ Mmmh, }} Veronica thought towards Eliza. {{ That feels wonderful. But I don’t think that’s helping my shoulders at all. }} She was lying facedown and naked on the bed she and Eliza shared at the compound. While they were working for the government again, they had chosen to remain at the team compound. They had been going through their daily workout when Veronica complained about having stiff muscles. Of course, she had said that in hopes of getting a full-nude massage, which had worked. But Eliza had barely spent any time on Veronica’s shoulders. As soon as the blonde Hybrid was naked, Eliza had started kissing her way down the woman’s spine until she got to more pleasant territory. ‘Hybrid’ was the name the two women had chosen for the new species of which they were the exclusive members. It wasn’t imaginative, but it was less corny sounding than some of the other options that had been put forward. Eliza pulled Veronica’s hips up off the mattress to give her easier access to that sweet slice of pie and she let her tongue get to work. {{ I’m just hoping to make you forget about your shoulders, }} Eliza thought back. She buried her lips into that fragrant crotch and licked between the lips. She loved the perfume that Veronica wore, particularly when she dashed some “down there,” letting it mingle with her natural aroma. She pulled out long enough to rim Veronica’s asshole, but then back down the slot she went. Sweet and juicy as always. With her chest pressed flat against the bed, Veronica reached a hand back and grabbed her lover’s hair, holding Eliza’s head in place. She often wondered if Eliza’s tongue had grown longer when they had been transformed, or if they had just become so accustomed to one another’s bodies that the tongue just SEEMED longer. Eliza had just sent her tongue to the heart of the Promised Land when Veronica’s communicator started beeping. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” she growled. {{ Don’t answer it, }} Eliza sent, gripping Veronica’s hips as she tried to crawl towards the communicator. {{ I . . . have . . . to . . . answer it! }} Veronica mentally grunted as she dragged her lover along the bed in attempt to reach the device. {{ It could be important! We do have . . .have work to do! }} She finally reached the communicator. “Hello?” she gasped. “Captain . . . Corbin,” she managed to get out. {{ Cut that out, }} she thought back to Eliza, {{ It’s business. }} Her protestations fell on deaf ears, or a deaf mind as it were, so Veronica tried to muster onward. “No, now’s a good time. Sorry, Eliza’s very . . . very busy right now. I’m sure I can . . . Yes, we can . . . come over there.” Veronica’s breathing was becoming increasingly labored as Eliza’s tongue worked its magic. “How soon do you . . . want us?” She bit her bottom lip for a moment. “Right now?” she practically whispered as her back arched and skin tightened. “You want us to . . . come . . . right now?” Her body shivered as her climax raced through her midsection and her juices leaked onto Eliza’s face and onto her tongue. “Talk to you soon Captain.” She disconnected the signal. {{ You insatiable little bitch! }} she thought, pleasantly basking in the afterglow. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 03 {{ Hey, if you can negotiate with enemy leaders in the middle of a firefight, you should be able to talk and cum at the same time, }} was Eliza’s response. {{ Well, we’d better get dressed, }} Veronica replied, standing up before she could get sucked into another sexual encounter. “No fun,” Eliza grumbled, looking for her pants. ------------ --------------- At Fort Crass . . . ------------ --------------- Eliza’s team pulled into the hangar where all the Living Jewels were being kept. The United States government and the World Council had four of the eight that the scribes and scientists had been able to identify from information in the Arcanum. They had The Dead Man’s World, The Ocean’s Heart, The Alchemist’s Dream, and The Spear of God. After some hit and run struggles, the Purity had gotten their hands on The Child of the Sun, which apparently involved some kind of containment magic. The Heaven’s Eye had been lost when the dimensional rift had been closed, and could possible be on the Terran side. That left two gems; The Serpent’s Kiss and The Dragon’s Breath unaccounted for, and that made Eliza nervous. Did the Purity have them or were they still out there somewhere? If their enemies indeed had The Dragon’s Breath, then all hope of reuniting Earth and Terra were lost. But Eliza didn’t think that was the case. There were still too many rumors of Purity movements. If they had The Dragon’s Breath, the Purity might well go underground and disappear. Captain Corbin was obviously eagerly awaiting their presence. No sooner than the team had gotten out of the car than he was gesturing for them to join him. He was standing near a table with a map of the world laid out. “So glad you’re here,” he said. He looked Eliza dead in the eyes. “I think we’ve got a lead on The Dragon’s Breath.” The team went silent but jittery. This was the news they had all been waiting for. “How? Where?” “Here,” he said, pointing at a remote section of mountains on the Argentine-Chilean border. “One of our scouts came across a small village that had a legend of a ‘magical fire stone’ that sounds an awful lot like what we’re looking for. It’s supposedly located somewhere around this volcano!” “That figgin’ thing is active, isn’t it?” “Yes, but our scientists have sworn that there isn’t any real activity at the moment. We want you guys to get down there right now. We’ve got a full tactical team ready to go, and we can get another ten teams down there by the time you’ve made camp.” “Camp?” complained Wyrm. “It’s friggin’ cold in those mountains!” “Don’t worry,” Eliza said, “you don’t need to go on this one. You’re not a combatant and you have all the outdoor skills of a toy poodle.” “Hey! I resemble that remark!” “Besides, I want you to work with Kelik and Valar on going through the other scouting reports and trying to pinpoint the locations of both remaining gems if this turns out to be a wild goose chase. Try every algorithm you can think of, then think of some new ones.” “You got it boss.” Eliza looked excitedly at her team. “Suit up! We’re going hunting!” ---------------- ------------------------------------ In the mountains of South America . . . ---------------- ------------------------------------ “This is the most boring ‘hunt’ I could ever imagine,” Allyson Murgo said as she crunched through the snow. “Can I PLEASE shoot something? My feet hurt! I’m hungry!” Eliza stopped in her tracks and grabbed her friend by the shoulders. “One more complaint and I’m throwing you off the mountain. When did you become such a whiner?” “I’m used to jungle ops. I HATE the snow! Why do you think Dennis and I moved to California?” “Because you like earthquakes?” “I’d say bite me, but I don’t know if you’d actually take me up on it!” Allyson was trying to get a rise out of her friend. “Don’t worry,” Eliza said with a grin. “I’ve only got fangs for one neck.” {{ How sweet! }} came a thought from the other side of the mountain. {{ You are SUCH a romantic, }} finished Veronica. Their link had become strong enough that they seemed able to communicate telepathically at any distance, a feat that had previously been reserved for when they were dreaming. It also allowed the two of them to lead different teams and stay in constant contact without cluttering up the airwaves with something the Purity might be able to pick up on. So Veronica and Dennis were working one side of the mountain with a couple of tactical teams while Eliza and Allyson led the rest of the force. Veronica wasn’t done mentally grumbling. {{ By the way, I have a complaint of my own. Why can’t ancient legends be written down somewhere in PLAIN ENGLISH! }} {{ Those pesky native tribes and their non-English-speaking ways, }} Eliza teased. “Actually,” started Allyson, interrupting the mental sparring, “I’m REALLY worried that we haven’t heard or seen anything from the Purity. You’d think they would have had SOMEONE watching the base and trying to track our movements. But we’ve been her for more than a day and nothing!” Eliza was sobered by that. She had been hoping that maybe the lack of Purity involvement might mean a decrease in resources, but she also realized that it was wishful thinking. In the last few months, the World Council had figured out that the Purity was probably being sponsored and supported by a number of theocratic governments in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where people were so desperate for something to believe in that a few venom-spewing racist leaders with charisma had started wooing them almost a century earlier. And the seeds of dissent had quietly grown until they had become a far more dangerous opponent than anyone in the World Council had initially imagined. And they had backing from some secrete and powerful elements within the United States and Europe who supported their pro-human stance. “We’ll see them,” Eliza said. “They wouldn’t dare let The Dragon’s Breath slip through their fingers. And . . .” Eliza looked around. “Has anyone seen Thug?” Her team all looked around before shaking their heads. “How can we keep losing a half-ton troll?!?” ---------- ---------------- A mile away . . . ---------- ---------------- Thug had been quietly sitting in the snow, staring at a particular rock formation. ‘Humans are too impatient,’ he thought. ‘They keep looking for things as if they hadn’t changed. Everything changes.’ Thug was looking at the rocks, imagining them before wind, rain, snow and time had done their will upon the stone. After someone had finally gotten it through to him what a “llama” was and what a “llama god” might look like, he had begun wandering the mountainside looked for the rocks that resembled one, following in the footsteps of the village legend. An hour or so ago, Eliza and her troop had wandered near this spot but had paid no attention to it. So he had simply stopped, fading into the background. After a while, a couple of small furry animals came and sat on his shoulders, unaware that their perch was a potentially dangerous predator. Luckily, he had already eaten that morning. After a while, he decided that this fit the description he had been given. He walked up under what had once probably been the head of the beast. He looked to either side and saw boulders, admitting that they could well be the soft hooves he had been told that these llamas possessed. So he cleared the snow and began to dig with his massive hands. ------------ --------------- An hour later . . . ------------ --------------- It had taken a while for Eliza to backtrack to where her troll friend had vanished, using her keen sense of smell as well as her own fading footprints to arrive at where he had been sitting. She looked up the mountain and saw a HUGE mound of displaced earth between a couple of boulders. She signaled for her team to hold their position, and started walking toward the pile of dirt. “Thug?!? Is that you?” || EITHER THAT OR THE WORLD’S BIGGEST GOPHER! || came the response from the hole. || THAT’S RIGHT, ISN’T IT? GOPHERS ARE THOSE SILLY LITTLE MAMMALS THAT LIVE IN THE GROUND? || Eliza shook her head. Thug was a good friend, but he could be awfully flighty from time to time. “Yes, gophers live underground. What the hell . . .” A greenish-gray hand appeared over the mound of dirt. In those powerful fingers was a clod of dirt, but one with shiny red facets peaking through in a number of places. || IS THIS WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR, OR SHOULD I PUT IT BACK? || Eliza’s eyes almost popped out like they would in a cartoon. She broadcast the image to Veronica as she flew into the hole and hugged the incredibly filthy troll with tremendous strength. “You brilliant, wonderful, smelly animal! That’s it! You found our way home!” -------------- ------------------ Back at base camp . . . -------------- ------------------ “All right ma’am, we’ve almost got everything set and ready to go,” the tactical commander whispered. “We sent six teams back up the mountain, and a couple of our best infiltration specialists went to get the birds set for launch. We should be able to move the prize in about an hour.” Eliza nodded happily. She had been half tempted to try and open the gateway right then and there all by herself, but she realized that doing so without Valar and Kelik could prove disastrous. Even though she knew she would never be accepted back in her own world anymore, it was a small victory against a truly despised opponent. Besides, she kind of wanted to meet Veronica’s sister. Allyson and Dennis had gone with Thug to a nearby stream so he could get cleaned up after his excavating adventure. He didn’t really need help; the two humans were just there to make sure he didn’t get distracted and try and follow the stream back to its source or something else odd. Eliza felt a familiar presence approaching and could smell the familiar scent of organic body-wash as it drew close. Then Veronica’s hands slid around Eliza’s waist and pulled their bodies tightly together. “It’s all coming together, isn’t it?” “It would seem so,” Eliza replied, placing her own hands over Veronica’s. “But it almost seems too easy. Why didn’t the Purity make a play, or at least send out feelers?” “Don’t go looking for trouble,” Veronica said, ever so gently kissing Eliza on the neck and making the former vampire see stars. “Trouble is good enough at finding us. Hey, come with me. I want you to have a look at something.” “What?” “Something I found,” Veronica answered. They wandered off into the foliage a good distance from the encampment. “Here we are,” Veronica said. “Where’s ‘here’?” Eliza wondered. “Here,” Veronica began as she unzipped her jumpsuit and let it fall to the cold, snow-covered ground, “is where I found a naked woman in need of some attention!” She spun around, smiling sexily. Eliza grinned. As she approached, she unzipped her own suit down past her navel and pressed her body against that of her lover, kissing her lengthily. Veronica pushed the jumpsuit off Eliza’s shoulders, her lips making a beeline for the side of her lover’s neck. “Oh . . .oh no fair,” Eliza moaned. She let the jumpsuit fall, grabbing Veronica’s hips and pulling them towards her until her lover wrapped her lips around Eliza’s waist. She ripped the panties right off of Veronica’s body and slid a finger into the woman’s box, testing the waters to see if they were warm enough. The suction on her neck was an indication that she was most definitely ready. And she wasn’t even using her fangs yet! “God, I wish we’d brought some toys,” Veronica said, releasing her lip-lock on that patch of sensitive skin. Eliza thrust two more fingers into her girlfriend’s pussy and pushed her thumb into Veronica’s ass. “It would have been hard to rationalize bringing a dildo when we had weight limits,” she brought up. “This is no time for logic,” Veronica said, bucking against Eliza’s fingers as if she was riding a horse. Eliza leaned in and took one of those well-rounded, golden globes on Veronica’s chest and sucked lovingly on every square inch of it. Then she moved onto the other one. “Let’s do it in the snow,” she whispered. Eliza knelt and lay Veronica down back first in the white powder and they lay on top of her, fingers still buried in Veronica’s sex. It was her turn to lightly kiss her lover’s neck, working her way up from the shoulder. For Veronica, things couldn’t be more perfect. The coldness against her back was insignificant compared to the heat that Eliza was giving off and the fire that was burning down below. Eliza’s fingers could read Veronica’s pussy like a book, and she was in the process of speed-reading. She badly wanted to feel her lover’s teeth sink into her neck, but she knew that wouldn’t be a good idea. They both got a little “punch drunk” when they started drinking each other’s blood. Then she felt a pleasant pressure building inside and knew she was going to cum. She locked her lips on Eliza’s neck again and held on as her warmth trickled out onto the snow. She was going to leave a hickey the size of a Buick, but she didn’t care anymore. It’s not like people didn’t know what they did together. Eliza rubbed Veronica’s mound a few more times for good measure, then patted it a few times as well. She backed up, turned her body sideways and the sidled forward again until the two women’s legs were crossed and their mounds touched. “If we don’t have toys, we’ll just have to make do,” she added with a smirk as she rubbed her desperately swollen mound against her lover’s sex. “I love a woman who can improvise,” Veronica said, returning the smile. She rubbed back, and also started kissed the inside of Eliza’s knee. ‘Is there any part of this body that isn’t perfect?’ she thought. Then she noticed Eliza blushing. Veronica had forgotten to mask her thoughts, so Eliza had picked up her mental comment. {{ Don’t let it go to your head, }} she thought more directly. She started giggling when her lover kissed the back of Veronica’s knee. Eliza knew she was ticklish there. {{ A girl does what she can. }} Eliza started rubbing harder, grasping the leg in front of her for support. As Veronica threw her head back, her flowing blond hair caught the last light of the setting sun just perfectly. {{ You are so beautiful, }} came Eliza’s version of a mental whisper. {{ Stop thinking and just fuck me, }} Veronica replied, not-so-secretly beaming at the compliment. She sank a finger into her own pink asshole, encouraging her hips to rub a little harder. Both women’s hips were growing cold in the snow, but neither really gave a damn. Labia were rubbing against labia fast enough that they actually could have set a less-wet forest ablaze. Eliza grabbed a handful of snow and sprinkled it onto the point at which they were joined, rubbing it into their skin. The contrast of sensations was decadent, and Veronica wasn’t sure if she was shivering from the temperature or the pleasure. {{ You little . . . }} She tried tossing a snowball at Eliza, but the other woman already knew the missile was on its way and dodge, then humped her hips to ward off thoughts of future assaults. A groan informed her she had succeeded. Within minutes, both women were experiencing orgasms, their fluids lubricating their connection point beyond all reason. {{ You know, I think I owe you one, }} Veronica thought, disentangling herself from Eliza’s legs. She tossed her already frozen jumpsuit on the ground and lay on it, pushing her lover’s legs apart and took a long slow draw of her tongue straight up that pink slit. Then she breathed lightly on it, watching her own breath creep around that private area like mist. She saw it traveling up her lover’s perfect body as if to merge with Eliza’s breath, but becoming distracting by those rippling abdominal muscles. Veronica had been distracted by those many times, and she started tracing them with her fingers as her tongue slipped deep into Eliza’s happy place. {{ So warm and velvety, }} she thought. Eliza’s brain had switched off for the time being. She had her legs spread in as wide a v-shape as she could go, toying with her own nipples while her lover took care of most of the rest of her sensitive parts. Before Veronica, she hadn’t been in a real relationship. She had been the other woman in an affair, and had a smattering of secret rendezvous with women who couldn’t be seen with her, or she couldn’t be seen with them. Having a woman get to know her like Veronica had . . . someone who actually loved her . . . it made her long for things she had never thought herself capable of. At the moment though, all she longed for was for Veronica to keep doing exactly what she was doing. Veronica pulled back her hands, pushed them under Eliza’s buttocks and lifted the woman’s hips off the ground, then began a revitalized oral assault on Eliza’s sexual defenses. She wanted to leave her tongue buried in that warm, moist slot for all eternity. She was lapping frantically, then slowed to a crawl, pushing the sides of her tongue out and making some long slow passes up the middle. Eliza was what Veronica had always wanted; a hard body with a soft candy center. After pressing her gums together on those juicy inner labia and sucking on her clit, Eliza’s sexual defenses crumbled and a torrent of pleasure cascaded out from the woman’s crotch. Veronica nuzzled her girlfriend’s mound until Eliza’s body came to rest on the frozen ground. But it didn’t stay there for long. Veronica thrust three fingers into Eliza’s pussy and quickly began pumping them. {{ And this is for making me cum while I was on the phone! }} Her hand was moving almost faster than the human eye could see. Her tongue went back to work, teasing its way under Eliza’s clitoral hood and softly caressing that hypersensitive little nub. {{ I’m . . . good gracious . . . I’ll never do it again, }} Eliza mentally groaned. {{ I’m SO sure, }} was the reply. Veronica took her time, watching Eliza’s body toss and turn on the ground, making what was quite possibly the most obscene snow angel that anyone had ever seen. She stretched her fingers out, taking Eliza’s vaginal opening with them. She thought back to the time of the rooftop when this very woman had inserted her entire fist into Veronica’s body. {{ Don’t EVEN think about it, }} Eliza warned. {{ We can figure out a payback for that another time!}} Eliza actually looked both shocked and scared at the idea of being fisted. {{ Okay, we can wait on that, }} Veronica thought back. {{ That’s the only thing you’ll have to wait on, }} Eliza returned, pressing her shoulders to the ground and stretching her torso as she began to climax again. Veronica’s fingers were quickly replaced with her tongue as she savored the flavor of her lover’s cum. The two lay together, their sweat freezing on their skin and their breath finally mingling in a kiss. {{ Veronica . . . }} {{ Yes? }} the former human responded, kissing Eliza again. Being able to lock lips and still communicate was something of a blessing in her eyes. {{ Could you let me up? I think my ass is freezing to this rock. }} Veronica just stared at her lover, then started to laugh. {{ You hopeless romantic! }} she finally got out. She helped peel Eliza, butt and all, off the ground. Then they slipped back into their cold and damp jumpsuits and headed back to camp. Their heads seemed clear and their hearts were light. They had, in their minds, won a victory and enjoyed the spoils. They were soon to discover that things weren’t always as simple as they seemed. -------------- ---------------- It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 04 This story is a bit wordy and fairly long, so if you are looking for immediate gratification, you might want to look elsewhere. ------------- ----------------------- The following story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between actual persons, living or dead (or just confused) is entirely coincidental. Please do not copy/redistribute the story, in part or in total, without the author's permission. This story takes place in the fictional city of Springfield, California several hundred years in the future, so don't go looking for it on a map. And in my little fictional world, there are no unwanted pregnancies or STD's, except as plot driving devices. The author encourages the practice of safe-sex. This story also consists entirely of f/f sexual intercourse. --------------- ---------------------------- Veronica sat on a ledge on the mountain that she and Eliza often climbed together, but at the moment she was alone. Things had gotten scary for her . . . scarier than they had ever been. And she had been in some bad situations, the most recent of which was being captured and tortured to within an inch of her life, only to be saved at the last moment by her half-dead lover and a Living Jewel. Kelik had used The Alchemist's Dream to mystically combine the two women, allowing them to share each other's strengths and minimizing their weaknesses until both women "evolved" into new life-forms entirely. They called themselves Hybrids, and they were faster, stronger and more efficient than either humans or vampires. Veronica had been human once. Eliza had been a vampire. Now, both women had only one other person like them in the world, and that had been enough. But while her body had changed, she found that her loyalties had remained stubbornly consistent. A month earlier, they had recovered The Dragon's Breath, a Living Gem that was supposed to allow them to open a dimensional bridge back to Terra and reunite the two worlds that had been separated by the radical pro-human group known as the Purity. But the Purity had launched a fevered and almost desperate attack on the U. S. military base known as Fort Crass to steal some of the Living Gems, particularly The Dead Man's World, which was supposed to be able to be used in the casting of doomsday magic. And in the process, they had killed the venerated and respected Ambassador Kelik. The same vampire who had saved the lives of Veronica and Eliza . . . Veronica's friend and Eliza's mentor. Eliza and her normal nemesis Valar had sent out messages to all the Terrans remaining on Earth, letting them know what happened and calling them to arms. Eliza was bound and determined to declare a Radotanida, or a Blood War, on the Purity. It was a feud that required the total annihilation of your enemies . . . until every last drop of blood they had was spilled on the ground. Veronica knew her lover had almost completely snapped. She had been attacked, her lover tortured with Eliza sharing the pain, her friend and comrade Wyrm had been disfigured and was missing an arm, and one of her truest friends had been killed by the Purity just because he was Terran. Her heart was coated in hatred, and Veronica could feel the vileness beating within the chest of the woman she loved. But the World Council and United States government, once they learned of what Eliza was planning, refused to condone it and were in the process of making sure it didn't happen. They refused to help contact or move Terrans who wished to participate in the war. They warned Eliza against taking any type of independent military action. They refused to allow Eliza or Valar back into Fort Crass until they called everything off. They warned and screamed and threatened until their faces turned blue. Eliza didn't care. But Veronica did. She felt her lover's anger and even understood it, but she had lived her life by a set of rules. What Eliza was proposing was effectively genocide, even if the Purity tried to surrender. And Veronica couldn't condone that, however justified Eliza felt. She had tried to reason with her lover, but Eliza would have none of it. And as a direct result of her conflict with the government, she had refused to yield possession of The Dragon's Breath. Due to government interference, the number of people who had made their way to Eliza's compound numbered only about a hundred, but they were a scary hundred or so. Everyone who had arrived had military training or combat experience. There were sixty vampires, twelve lycanthropes (In earth legend, these were known as werewolves, werebears, etc.), fifteen gargoyles, ten succubae, and six trolls, not including Thug. It was this last group that scared even their own allies. Veronica had gotten to know Thug reasonably well in the last year, and had grown to respect his power and his mind. She had seen that particular troll beat up a state-of-the-art attack helicopter by himself. But trolls were normally solitary, and the only time you saw more than one at a time was when they met to mate (trolls had the capacity to be both male and female, so it was not uncommon for both creatures to be pregnant after such an encounter). Neither the information contained in the Arcanum or the history in Valar's brain had ANY recollection of this many trolls coming together to make war. Actually, there was no precedent for trolls going to war at all, and Veronica was somewhat terrified of what the seven-to-ten-foot, half-ton-plus regenerating trolls would be able to do as a single fighting unit. She smelled the air and could tell that someone familiar was approached. "Hello Allyson," she said, trying to take comfort in the warmth of the setting sun. "I thought I'd find you here," the human woman said. Allyson and Dennis Murgo were members of Eliza's security team. They had all worked together for years before the recent unpleasantness, and they also felt their loyalties being tugged in opposite directions. They had liked Kelik, and they were boiling under the skin at the thought of what had been done to their friend Wyrm, who was still breathing through a tube while being outfitted with a state-of-the-art prosthetic arm. They wanted revenge, but they weren't sure if they were ready for the total annihilation of a group, particularly if it involved violating as many international treaties and conventions as Eliza intended. "So, is this as awkward for you as it is for me?" Allyson sat down next the former-human and wrapped her arms around her knees, looking thoughtfully towards the sunset. "I'm sorry Veronica. I'm sorry you have to go through this. But Dennis and I made our decision. We're staying with Eliza." "I couldn't imagine you not at her side," Veronica said. "I could say the same for you. Maybe she'll come to her senses . . ." Veronica let out a nervous laugh. "Sense has got nothing to do with this anymore. An army barely more than a hundred strong may very well be the scariest force I've ever seen. They're certainly strong enough to take the Purity in a straight fight, but they'll polarize the planet if they commit the type of violence that they're threatening, and they don't stand a chance against the World Council. Eliza may be able to create the social divide that the Purity have been hoping for, but she's so . . . God, and I want to fight with her!" Veronica said exasperatedly. "I feel her rage every second I'm awake! I understand exactly why she feels the way she does, but somehow I'm supposed to stop her!" "Right now, the only thing that's stopping her from moving is that over half the group down there doesn't feel they should follow a lesbian half-breed. No offense. Valar is actually trying to get them to unite behind Eliza, but the rest of the vampires want to follow him instead. The lycanthropes don't care as long as they get to bite someone, the succubae are torn between Valar and Eliza, and the trolls . . . well, no one is sure. I think they prefer Eliza. That's her big trump card . . . those fuckin' trolls." "But regardless of who they follow, they're planning on a massacre of biblical proportions," Veronica stated. "And the World Council won't allow that! She has every reason to hate them! You all do! So how do I justify telling her not to go through with this?" "I know it's wrong. But Eliza and Wyrm . . . they're our teammates. They're our friends and they're the closest things to family that Dennis or I have. One is barely hanging on and the other has been hurt by these fuckers so many times . . ." Allyson stopped. The woman she was talking to knew all to well what kind of damage the enemy was capable of inflicting. "I'm sorry . . . I didn't mean . . ." "Don't worry," Veronica said. "I survived it. Now I have to survive this. Sometimes, surviving sucks." Veronica raised her head, almost as if she was listening to the wind. "She's coming," Veronica said, her voice subdued. "She wants to talk to me." Most of the time, Allyson thought the telepathic connection the two women shared was cool. But sometimes, it was just creepy. "Should I leave?" "That's probably a good idea. Thanks for the talk though," Veronica said. She watched Allyson disappear back down the mountain. As soon as the woman was out of sight, Veronica sensed someone standing just behind her and could feel hot breath on her neck. "How much did you hear?" she asked. "All of it. You aren't talking to me, so I find eavesdropping to somewhat effective." Eliza sat down in the spot Allyson had recently vacated. "And you stayed downwind so I couldn't smell you. You're still better at this than I am." Veronica sighed. "It's not too late to stop this, you know." "Yes it is," Eliza responded stiffly. "Veronica, we didn't start this war. But we've been isolated from our world, attacked without cause and murdered in the streets. We've abided by human rules, and we're losing our lives. It's us that the Purity is after. Not the United States and not the World Council . . . just us. And we can't even open the portal to go home because if we do, the Purity will have enough power to use The Dead Man's World. You think THEY will stop short of genocide if they have the option?" "No . . . no I don't. But that's what's supposed to make us different. We WON'T do the things that they do. It's why we get to wear the white hats." She reached over and took Eliza's hand. "If you get The Dead Man's World back, you would be able to open the portal safely and the Terrans would be able to help track the rest of the Purity down. They HAVE to be short on resources now, otherwise they would have gone after us while we were in the mountains as well rather than just assaulting Fort Crass. And you heard Captain Corbin . . . they were desperate. Capturing The Dead Man's World was a desperate act. We don't NEED this! We can win without a massacre, either yours or theirs!" Eliza sighed. "I wish that were true," she said. "But the World Council is so concerned with not violating anyone's boundaries without concrete evidence of Purity activity that no one can actually FIND that evidence. And you know better than anyone how bogged down the U.S. is with their own bureaucracy. By the time anyone gets around to making an executive decision, there may not be enough of us left to fight. Veronica, I want you at my side for this. You're in just as much danger from them now as any of us; maybe even more so. You and I show a possible connection between the human and vampire races that the Purity will do ANYTHING to destroy! Give me a reason . . . show me another way, and I'll bring it to Valar, but right now we are fighting for our lives!" "Love, you're on Earth now, not Terra. The rules are different. You HAVE to play by the local rules, otherwise you've got total chaos and anarchy!" She stopped and stared at the now dark horizon. "You think I've forgotten what those fucks did to me? What they did to you? Do you think my soul doesn't go cold when I go to visit Wyrm or when I put flowers on Kelik's stasis cube? I want to see those sons-of-bitches all dragged through the streets to be spit on by the people the claimed they were trying to save!" "That's my girl," Eliza said, actually breaking into a small grin. Veronica returned the half-hearted smile. "Do you know what happens next week?" When Eliza looked puzzled, Veronica smiled. "I guess that means you're the guy of the couple. Next week will be one year that we've been together. One year since that night in the tower . . ." "Since you 'went on the attack,' if I recall correctly," Eliza said. It felt like she had known Veronica much longer than a year. "A year since the sweetest drink that's ever pass my lips." Eliza stopped and blushed. Her mouth had run away with her for a moment. Veronica turned and placed a hand on the side of her lover's face. {{ I love you, }} she thought, opening up her mind to Eliza once more. {{ I just don't know if I can follow you where you're going. }} {{ I wouldn't force you to, even if I could. But the blood has been called for and the blood must be spilled. I can't stop that now. }} Veronica felt genuine remorse and confusion, still tinged with anger, emanating from her lover's mind. But she also sensed resolve. She stood up and pulled her lover up by the hand. {{ Then you know this might be our last night together. }} Eliza looked at her feet. {{ I know. It kills me, but I know. }} She felt Veronica leading her by the hand to a smooth boulder they often lay on, soaking in the residual heat of the California sun. {{ Then we should make this night special, }} Veronica thought quietly. She stood behind Eliza and wrapped her arms around that lithe, powerful body. She began kissing her lover's neck, eliciting instinctive gasps as she stimulated one of the former-vampire's most sensitive areas. Then her hands ran up under Eliza's shirt, thanking the Lord that her girlfriend's tits were firm enough that she didn't need a bra. She had the cutest, most sensitive nipples Veronica had ever played with, so she cupped those breasts in her hands and pinched those nipples between her fingers. Eliza thrust her hips back into Veronica's crotch as the blonde-haired former human fondled her sensitive bits. She felt her lover's tongue drag slowly up her neck on its way to Eliza's ear, causing the white-haired Hybrid to shudder. Eliza unzipped her pants and grabbed one of Veronica's hands, pushing it down into the front of her jeans. She was rewarded be a series of slow, circular rubs over her moistening mound. She reached back and gripped the front pockets of Veronica's pants, holding her lover close. Veronica slid two fingers into Eliza's box and curled them, pumping her miniature dick into the woman's body as she nibbled on Eliza's ear. She couldn't help but realize how close the veins in Eliza's neck were and how good it would be to taste that blood, but she held off. She concentrated on fingering her girlfriend and playing with her tits. Eliza pulled away for a moment and turned around. Her hands found the edge of Veronica's shirt and lifted it over her head, then unfastened the woman's bra. Those glorious, round breasts came into view, and Eliza couldn't help but pressing her lips against one nipple as Veronica cradled her head. She began to fumble with Veronica's shorts, pushing them down to find that the woman had forsaken underwear for the day. With her lips still tantalizing Veronica's breast, Eliza traced the woman's wet slot with a finger, running just over the surface but not penetrating at first. She did that several times to help smooth the way, then pressed her palm against the clitoral area while sinking two fingers inside, curling them much as Veronica had done. Veronica pulled Eliza's head away from the blonde-woman's chest so that they were staring eye to eye. It was still strange to see her girlfriend's eyes; yellow with blue veins running through them. They were identical to Veronica's eyes. She just wished they could still see things the same way. She slid fingers into Eliza's box, and the two women stood there and fingered each other heatedly. They pressed their bodies together, trapping their hands in each other's body respectively. Eliza lifted one leg and wrapped it around Veronica's body, clinging to her with an almost desperate sense of urgency. She felt the pressure growing, and a thought from Veronica indicated that the other woman was feeling it too. That was when Veronica kissed her lover. She had been wondering if that were appropriate considering they possibility that this might be their last hurrah, but she could resist. Even if she and Eliza separated, she would love her fellow Hybrid until the end of days. She felt her pussy tightening, and Eliza's did as well. Both women's fingers were trapped in the other's body as they came onto each other's hands and down their own legs. Eliza gasped, Veronica groaned, and they held each other for a moment more. Eliza broke the embrace, but only so she could pick Veronica up and lay her on the still-warm boulder. She got on top of her girlfriend, kissing her while on all fours. Then she crawled back a step and spent a few minutes licking the swell of Veronica's breasts. She loved breasts, and Veronica's were a delightful canvas for her artistic tongue. She always thought that these particular tits gave off more heat than those of other women, but she hadn't had much of a chance to do a comparison. She crawled back a few more feet and sucked her girlfriend's clit into her mouth. But she only teased it for a moment before pushing her thumbs into Veronica's vaginal opening and pulling those inner labia apart, making all sorts of places more accessible for Eliza's tongue. It was a pussy that Eliza knew like the back of her hand, and she used that knowledge (as well as her powerful tongue) to make Veronica's naked torso squirm on the rock. Veronica began teasing her own clit with her fingers while Eliza licked everything south of that point. She inserted her tongue and pushed the fatty outer labia together around it. Finally, she was rewarded by a long groan and a bodily shudder as Eliza's perfect form was wracked by her second climax. Eliza cupped her tongue and let her lover's cum flow into it, and she relished the taste. Eliza started to crawl back up Veronica's recovering body, kissing random bits of flesh as she went. When her wits were recovered, the blonde-haired Hybrid placed one hand over her own crotch, bunching her fingers together and pointing the skyward. She placed her other hand on Eliza's shoulder and pushed until the white-haired woman sat back and allowed the makeshift cock to slide into her sex. Eliza placed her hands on Veronica's breasts and massaged them as she began to hump her hips against the other woman's fingers, riding them as if she they were a man's organ. But Veronica's fingers were much more nimble, and they prodded at Eliza's innermost recesses as the former vampire rode them. As Eliza humped her lover's hand, thoughts of war and vengeance seemed distant. As those fingers curled and poked at her front vaginal wall as they tried to feel out the g-spot, she wanted to tell Veronica how much she loved her. But there was a time for words and a time for action, so the words would have to wait. She leaned in again to lash her tongue upon her lover's breasts, but never stopped riding Veronica's fingers. She felt Veronica's free hand stroking her hair lovingly. Then Eliza raised her torso up and started bouncing harder on Veronica's hand. She loved having Veronica inside her, wondering if she could ever summon the courage to take her lover's whole hand like Veronica had taken Eliza's. She hoped they would have the opportunity, but that would come another day. She stopped, Veronica's digits trapped in Eliza's dripping pussy, and began to cum. She let out a short, high-pitched gasp and arched her back while sucking her tight abdominal muscles inward and let loose her sexual spendings onto Victoria's lap. Then she collapsed onto Victoria's chest, resting her head on her lover's shoulder. And once again, the former-human stroked Eliza's hair as if to comfort her. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 04 But comforting wasn't the order of the evening. Eliza started kissing Veronica on the shoulder, working her way up to Veronica's neck. She smiled when her girlfriend's breathing became deeper. When Veronica had become a Hybrid and adopted certain vampire strengths, she also adopted certain characteristics. These included, but were not limited to, a taste for blood and a certain sensitivity around the neck, and it was the latter that was driving Veronica bonkers. She had a death grip on Eliza's head, keeping it in place while the former vampire ravaged her neck with sweet soft lips. Her gasps got stronger when Eliza's tongue starting tracing figure eights on that sensitive skin. Then Eliza pressed her thigh between Veronica's legs and against her mound, pushing it gently against the entrance to the former human's sex. And almost against her will, Veronica humped her hips against that leg, willing to do anything to achieve the release that the tantalization of her neck was demanding. She grasped her lover's firm ass with a powerful grip, just to give her hands something to do. Finally, she pulled Eliza's head away and flipped the white-haired woman onto her back. Veronica spun around with incredible speed until she had her lover in her favored sixty-nine, and she buried her mouth in Eliza's warm, beautiful pussy and began to lick it for all she was worth. Eliza returned the favor, sending her tongue deep into Veronica's box. She wrapped her arms around the woman's waist, using one hand to pull one of Veronica's butt cheeks aside so she could insert two fingers into the blonde woman's little pink asshole. Then she let go of Veronica's cheek and sunk two fingers from the other hand into that suddenly crowded sphincter, stretching it every which way but loose. Veronica's eyes had lit up like a pinball game as Eliza stimulated both her lower openings. She started flicking her lover's clitoris lightly with her tongue while scrunching up four fingers from one hand and shoving them as a single bulky unit into Eliza's vaginal opening. She was pumping away, sinking all the way up to her knuckles at lightning speed. That was when something occurred to her: it was a fantasy that she and Eliza had shared when they started having their sexual dreams. Eliza had always wanted to make love on sun-warmed rock in the mountains or in the desert. It was such a simple dream that Veronica was surprised they hadn't gotten around to it earlier. There were so many fantasies she wanted to experience with this woman. She just hoped she would have the opportunity. Eliza struck gold first, feeling a slight contraction of muscle around her tongue and a death grip around her fingers as those orifices closed down on their respective invaders. She only had a minute to lap up her victory, because Veronica's forceful fingering pushed Eliza over the edge. The two women kissed and nuzzled one another's pussies until their muscles relaxed enough to move again. Veronica turned around and was lying half on Eliza's body and half on the rock as her lips sought out those of her lover. Their own juices mixed in an intoxicating cocktail as tongues drifted between lips into each other's mouth. "ELIZA! VERONICA!" came a shout from below. It sounded like Dennis. "You might want to get down here! There's a message by the Purity that's about to be broadcast on all the data streams!" "Those sons of . . ." Eliza and Veronica hurriedly got dressed and sped down the mountain at an almost reckless pace. All the while, Veronica was cursing those infernal bastards who seemed to screw up her life every time things were going well. ------------ ---------------------- Inside the compound . . . ------------ ---------------------- Everyone was gathered around the holo-projector when Eliza and Veronica arrived. The news anchor was droning on about the conflict thus far between the World Council and the Purity. After talking about some of the altercations between forces and going over the conflict at Fort Crass, they were switched to a recorded video-feed. There were five figures, robed and hooded in black, standing behind a series of white-marble podiums. The first began to speak as he was spotlighted. "Greetings to the pure-blooded humans of Earth. We stand here tonight to appeal to your sense of righteousness and decency, asking you to stand with us against the remaining monsters of Terra! We have been fighting the good fight and we are winning! We struck a blow for decency in the very heart of the Terran terrorists and their sympathizers at Fort Crass in the United States. But now, these vile beings are trying to gather an army. They seek not just to attack us in the Purity, but to declare war on the human way of life!" The next speaker was illuminated. "Right now, their forces are pitiful compared to ours, but if allowed to grow they could pose a danger to decent human beings everywhere. Their leader, a monstrous and depraved half-breed, has already made it clear that she will be satisfied with nothing except for the bloody annihilation of our species!" A number of people in the audience were grumbling obscenities at the projection and the speakers obvious misinterpretation of what a Blood War was. Eliza gripped the back of her couch so hard that part of it broke off in her hands. The third speaker was illuminated. "How much clearer can we make it that these things are threats to us?!? They have already shown that they can corrupt us, turning human beings into creatures more like them! Our very identities as humans are at risk in front of their scourge!" It was the fourth speakers turn. "We encourage all our pure human brethren to fight back against this army of evil! Call your lawmakers and demand that these animals be caged! They must not be allowed to corrupt as any further! Soon, we can have an Earth free of their tainted ways that is safe for your children to grow up in. Thank you for your time, and long live the Purity; pure in heart and pure in soul!" Then the transmission ended. Eliza looked over at her team and across the faces of the assembled group. She noticed that Valar was looking confused. [[ Something troubling you? ]] she asked, slipping into her native tongue. [[ Possibly, ]] he replied. "Mr. Murgo, could we replay that? Would it be possible to get a better look at the fifth person? The one who DIDN'T speak?" Dennis started fumbling with the recorder controls. He was okay with electronic things, but Wyrm was infinitely better. He found himself wishing once again that his friend were there with them. "Wait, I think I got it!" Everyone went silent as the video-stream replayed and Dennis zoomed in on the fifth robed figure. "Can you capture his face?" Valar said, his voice growing dim. Now he even had Eliza worried. A close-up picture of the person's hood appeared. "Stop!" he said. "That's weird," Veronica muttered. "His eyes are different colors. And is that a scar?" she asked, peering through the hole in the hood. "It can't be . . ." Valar muttered. "What?" asked one of the succubae with a slight hiss. "Kertosis Ithslerorvana!" Suddenly, most of the Terrans were shouting everything from outrage to disbelief. Allyson, Dennis and Veronica just looked confused. "What the hell is a 'Kertosis Ithslerorvana'?" Allyson asked. "It's not a 'what'," Eliza growled. "It's a 'who'," continued Valar. "A sociopathic, egomaniacal and highly dangerous 'who'." He almost growled. None of the humans had seen him look so angry, not even when the Blood War had been proposed. "I was one of those who helped bring him down. In your world, he would be called a . . . 'serial killer' . . . I believe that's the correct phrase. He was . . . is . . . an incredibly powerful sorcerer and was a member of one of the most ancient families of my district. But he was corrupted by power and felt that all other Terrans were weak . . . that their blood had become diluted over the centuries. He murdered members the 'less animalistic' races such as vampires, succubae and gargoyles. He thought the lycanthropes had always been vermin and were beneath his notice. He was arrogant beyond mortal comprehension of the term. He got careless and we finally discerned his identity, but it took a large security contingent and several powerful sorcerers to bring him down." Valar looked very focused all of a sudden. "I was one of them. But he expended so much magic that the veins in one of his eyes actually burst under the strain. The scar he's had since birth. He was supposed to be in prison right now awaiting mind-wipe." A mind wipe was a Terran punishment for the most heinous of crimes. The perpetrator's mind was erased and his body provided useful physical labor for the community he or she had wronged. "Then why is he here?" Veronica asked. "The Purity probably broke him out. It makes sense. His guards probably were prepared for any typical Terran escape methods, but humans have technology we never even dreamed of, including certain types of explosives. Then they would have access to someone who hated the Terrans as much as they did, had intimate knowledge of magic and the capabilities of its users. He may have even had some insight into the Living Jewels. There seems to be some connection between those things and insanity. And Kertosis gets to escape with his mind to a place where he was truly the 'purist' of his breed." "And if he has access to the Dead Man's World and we open the portal, I have no doubt he has the power and ability to wipe out entire continents," Valar said. "The Purity would have had to lose a number of people to release him. We had two troll guards with him at all times. He was scared to death of trolls." "Who isn't?" Eliza said, patting Thug on the shoulder. Eliza had a thought rolling through her head. "They're getting desperate," she said. "Calling for volunteers . . . trying to have us arrested . . . they might be running low on resources," Veronica said. Veronica suddenly looked up and her eyes met Eliza's. She fought very hard for several minutes not to smile. "But don't you all get it?" she said loudly and the room quieted. "If they're desperate, there's no need for this Blood War! We can wait them out!" "You've got to be kidding!" Eliza growled. "All they need to do is actually get people believing that we're a threat. Now, they can point at you and me as proof that humans can be 'corrupted.' You know what will happen if the paranoia is allowed to build and you know what a mob mentality can be like." One of the lycanthropes stood up. "Eliza is right! We've got to take the fight to them before they can spread any more of their lies!" "Can't you see that you're doing exactly what they want?" Veronica screamed. "If you continue to act like a threat, then people will start to believe that you are. You'll swing public opinion against you!" "So we should just sit around and wait for them to rebuild?" asked the leader of the succubae. "We should just wait for our chance to be assassinated because of 'public opinion'?" "You all are being so fucking obstinate!" Veronica said. "You don't NEED to spill their blood! You just WANT to!" "You'll never understand our ways," Eliza said, staring at the blonde Hybrid. "Maybe you weren't meant to." "I guess not," Veronica replied, tears in her eyes. She turned and stormed out of the building. The remaining guests turned and talked amongst themselves. It became apparent that Eliza's stock had just gone up and that it was likely that she would be the leader of the Blood War. [[ I'm sorry that had to happen, ]] Valar said sincerely, watching as Dennis and Allyson went out to try and catch Veronica and hopefully calm her down. [[ I'm not, ]] Eliza replied. [[ We can't wait any longer. Let's get Thug over here. It's time to come up with a plan . . . ]] -------- -------------------- Two days later . . . -------- -------------------- Eliza was impatiently wandering the grounds of her compound. With some of the considerable wealth she had accrued in her early work for the government, she had placed an order for several military-style transports. She had been ASSURED that they would arrive that day, and she had ASSURED her people that they would be moving out. But her plans were about to change. [[ Eliza! ]] screamed one of the succubae. This particular woman's name was Terillia. Terillia was young for her race (which lived only about seventy years), but she was smart and had been training to be a police officer in her home province (or aerie) before vacationing on Earth and getting trapped. The succubae were light-boned and not particular heavily muscled, using their wings and dexterity rather than trying to match their Terran counterparts for strength or magical aptitude. Like vampires, they were incredibly human-like, separated from the other humanoid races by their wings, eternally svelte figures and large, almond-shaped eyes. And they tended to be annoyingly attractive, though Eliza had never had the opportunity to pursue one. Terillia was particularly appealing for her species. Had they been in another place and time . . . [[ Yes? ]] the Hybrid replied, breaking through her reverie. [[ We have a problem! Unwanted guests at the gate! ]] Terillia flitted down to the gate. 'Nice ass,' Eliza thought absently as she sprinted after the young woman. As she approached the front gate, a crowd had gathered on both sides of the fence. On the inside were her people and they looked angry. The six new trolls were flanking Thug, and they were physically holding the gate closed. On the other side was Captain Corbin and several hundred soldiers as well as tanks, helicopters and the entire Springfield Police Department. Eliza instantly scanned the crowd, hoping her old friend Pamela wasn't mixed up in this. It was a bad place for a pregnant woman to be. And standing next to Captain Corbin was Ms. Veronica Adams. "You fucking bitch!" she snarled through the bars. "You'd better fucking explain . . ." The Captain stood between Eliza's outstretched hand and Veronica. He looked horribly solemn. "I'm sorry Ms. Eliza. The President of the United States and the President of the World Council will not allow a rogue militia to commit the kind of war you are proposing, or any kind of war for that matter. As long as you were just talking about it, we were fine. But we have recently obtained information that you are planning the wholesale slaughter of members of the Purity regardless of their actual involvement in criminal activity." Eliza shot Veronica a venom-filled glance. She knew whom provided that "recently obtained information." She looked the woman up and down. "Didn't take long did it? How does if feel with their perch up your ass again, you fucking pigeon." Veronica blanched. "I thought vampires being blood-thirsty monsters was just a Hollywood legend. I'm sorry you think so little of me, but I couldn't allow you to go through with it." Captain Corbin interrupted. "And apparently, you illegally purchased military transports and weapons through the black market in the last few days. I'm sorry Eliza, but I don't have a choice anymore. I have to place you and your people under arrest. You will all be relocated to a safe house in Nevada. All your people will simply be detained there until the World Council has dealt with the Purity. You will be put up on charges of weapons trafficking and conspiracy to wage illegal military action, a violation of World Council charter. Unfortunately, Valar's diplomatic status grants him immunity for his part. We know you still have The Dragon's Breath in your possession. You will surrender it to me for safekeeping." "Like you kept The Dead Man's World safe?" Eliza snarled. "Like you kept The Alchemist's Dream safe? Like you kept Wyrm and Kelik safe?" The crowd behind her started mumbling angrily. "I would strongly advise that you get your people under control and come quietly," the Captain said. "We have you surrounded and outnumbered, and we've been authorized to use whatever force is necessary to prevent you from starting this Blood War of yours." He leaned close to the gate. "We're not that far from discovering the location of their remaining bases. Give us a chance . . ." "You're out of chances," Eliza said. "It's our turn now." "I'm sorry, but you don't get a turn," the Captain said, then straightened his posture. "If you resist arrest, keep in mind that we have flame-throwers capable of taking out your trolls, and more than enough bullets for everyone else." Valar walked forward, his natural diplomatic skills taking over. "Eliza, this is neither the time nor the place for this kind of fight. I want vengeance too, but . . ." Valar's speech was cut short as Eliza vaulted over the wall with the obvious intent of landing on Veronica's head, but she was peppered with tranquilizer darts by waiting snipers. She landed somewhat ungracefully in a heap outside the gate, and Veronica instinctively went to check on the woman. "She's alive, though she's going to be out for a while." Captain Corbin ordered some men to haul her into a waiting transport. "It'll be easier that way. I don't want her doing any rabble rousing on the way." He turned and looked at Valar. "So, how many tranquilizers do YOU want?" Valar sneered. "We'll come quietly," he said. "For now. Thug, stand down." The trolls looked at the approaching flame units, then over at Valar who just nodded his head. The seven of them backed away from the gate, and transports and armed men entered the compound, forcing its residents onto vehicles. ---------------- -------- That evening . . . ---------------- -------- Jonathan Coachman, a Knight of the First Order of the Purity, was as excited as he had ever been. He was in command of the Purity's remaining fleet of attack choppers, all of which were poised behind a ridgeline and were waiting for the Terran prisoner convoy to come through. They had the intercom at the front gate of the vampire's . . . or was it "Hybrid's"? . . . compound, so they had heard everything, and their sources in the United State military confirmed everything. The Terran scum had been taken to Fort Crass and loaded onto two prisoner transports. All except those disgusting trolls, which had been loaded into a heavily reinforced, old-fashioned semi-trailer. But all of the armor in the world wouldn't stop his helicopters' Hellfire missiles from reducing all of them to ash. And the rest would be sitting ducks. True, a number of innocent guards just doing their jobs would die, but it would be a small price to pay for ridding Earth of these parasites. He and his people would wipe out the trolls before turning on the prison transports. A fleet of armored personnel transports would ambush the caravan's guard transports and gun down anyone who escaped the initial onslaught. It had cost the Purity a pretty penny to get all this equipment into the United States, as their contacts in the Border Patrol and Customs had driven hard bargains, but they had managed it. And just to be sure, their vampire "associate" was there with that infernal dark Living Gem called The Dead Man's World. He seemed certain that simply using the power of the jewel, he could help Valar meet a very grisly end. There was apparently some history there, but Jonathan Coachman couldn't worry about it. He had his own job to do. ------------ --------------------- Down in the caravan . . . ------------ --------------------- Allyson had been talking in a hushed voice with Terillia and her husband, all of whom were in the same compartment. They were on a series of long benches in the back of an armored prison bus, their wrists tied with a particularly tough chain, which was also attached to a steel bar running the length of the bus. Eliza was leaning up against a corner of the bus, her eyes shut. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 04 "Whatever they hit her with hit her hard," Dennis said. I can't believe Veronica would do that!" he said for the twentieth time that day. "She knew exactly what Eliza would do . . ." The door between the driver's compartment and the prisoner's compartment opened, and a familiar looking blonde woman stepped through, and the almost fifty people crammed into the prison transport expressed their outrage. "Of course I knew exactly what she would do," Veronica said smugly. "Veronica?!?" Allyson said. "What the fuck are you . . ." If Allyson had been confused by the blonde Hybrid's presence, she was even more confused by what Veronica did next. She lifted Eliza's head up, and Allyson saw that her friend and team leader was quite awake. Not only was Eliza awake, she was smiling from ear to ear. Then Veronica kissed her, and the entire captive crew was stunned into silence. "What kept you?" Eliza asked when Veronica reluctantly pulled her lips away from Eliza's. "Had to wait for the sun to go down. Gives your guys the advantage." Veronica hit a button on the driver's side of the door, and the bar running down the middle of the bus released all the prisoners chains. Veronica handed a set of keys to a still-stunned Allyson. "This is for the cuffs on your wrists. Take yours off and pass 'em down." Then she looked down the length of the bus. "All right everyone, once your hands are free, check under your seats. All the way back and under the seats, you'll find some . . . gifts." Allyson finally got it. She looked at Eliza, her eyes growing wide. "You bitch! You set ANOTHER trap! Why didn't you . . ." ". . . Tell you?" Eliza finished as Veronica uncuffed her lover and kissed her again. "The fewer people that knew, the less chance someone could blow it. As soon as Veronica said how desperate they must be, I realized that she was right. And what better bait than a chance to wipe out all their enemies while they are unarmed, chained up and in the middle of nowhere, particularly if they are running out of options." Terillia had reached under her seat and pulled off a couple of rail-gun pistols and a bandoleer containing a number of strange looking grenades. "But we're not unarmed . . ." she started, smiling a very pretty smile. One of the vampires further back had pulled out a kinetic riot shield and a high-powered rail-gun rifle. "And we're not chained up . . ." "And that," said Dennis, "is why it's called a trap. Who else . . ." "Valar knows," Eliza interrupted. "I needed someone on the other bus to help organize things. And I'm hoping that Kertosis hates Valar enough to put in an appearance to make sure he's dead. But Valar has a few nasty surprises up his sleeve, just in case. And Thug and the trolls all know. The Purity won't make the same mistake they did back on the island. They'll go for the trolls first, but they'll be in for ANOTHER surprise." "Wait," Allyson said. "How did you arrange all this? And what did they shoot you with?" she added, looking at Eliza. "Telepathy, sweetie," Veronica said. "At least in answer to the first part. We've been in contact since the Purity's message. We had to have the argument to give me an excuse to leave and set things up with Captain Corbin. As for the second part of your question, the only thing in those darts was a harmless saline solution." "Harmless, my ass! Those little things hit like a mother!" Eliza was rubbing one of the spots where she had been tagged. "So the Captain's in on this too?" Dennis said. "Good. I've always liked him." "And we needed the trolls in on it to keep our people in check." "Goodness!" Terillia said. "The trolls weren't there to keep the . . . Captain . . . from getting in. They were to keep us from going out!" "Precisely. I REALLY didn't want a fight to break out and ruin the war," Eliza said. "And we made sure that the Border Patrol and Customs let them into the country . . . for a price of course. Didn't want things to look too easy." She grasped Veronica's hand. "Now, we all get what we want . . ." ---------------- ------------------ Outside the caravan . . . ---------------- ------------------ Jonathan Coachmen had just received the signal to launch his attack. He gave a thumbs-up signal to his pilots. "This will be a memorable day!" he shouted before firing up his bird. The fifteen heavily armed helicopters rose steadily into the night sky with a thunderous roar. "From darkness they came," he said, "so to darkness they return." Through his night vision goggles, he saw his comrades on the ground barreling out of dusty side roads and up from the ravines in their all-terrain armored transports. Kertosis was in the most heavily armored of the vehicles. He had proved himself a useful ally, and the Inner Circle wanted to keep him safe. They would hit the convoy all at once, leaving nothing behind but the echoes of the screams of the wicked. Then he thought he saw something resembling a large bird flitting up in front of the lead gun-ship. But it didn't look like any bird he had ever seen before. "It looks almost . . ." It was then that Jonathan Coachman, Knight of the First Order of the Purity, experienced a moment of clarity. That wasn't a bird, it was a succubus. Actually, there were several succubae flying up towards the choppers with incredible speed and agility. They had come from the bus. He saw one of them juggled a round object in its hand a couple of times. Then the creature threw the object. "Oh, sh. . ." -------------- --------------- Out in the sky . . . -------------- --------------- Terillia knew she was taking a risk by getting in front of the chopper. She was prepared to make evasive maneuvers, but she wanted this scum to know . . . she wanted him to see who had beaten him. She tossed her EMP grenade up once in the air, activated it and threw it into the helicopter's propeller. There was a blinding flash of light, then the target helicopter's power systems simply turned off. And a helicopter without power didn't fly very well, unless you counted bouncing. Terillia didn't thinking that bouncing should count. Then the remaining choppers let loose with a barrage of automatic weapon fire, but Terillia was long gone, diving towards the planet's surface like a deep-rolling pigeon. Her fellow succubae swooped in from the side and let loose with a number of EMP grenades, and helicopters were dropping like flies. A few of the winged Terrans were hit by stray gunfire and one was sucked into a helicopter's updraft and was shredded to pieces. The war was on. --------------- --------------- On the ground . . . --------------- --------------- "I think we have a problem," said Jerry Snow, Knight of the Second Order of the Purity and leader of one of the three squads of land vehicles involved in the assault. His second in command looked into the sky and saw explosions and gunfire that wasn't directed at the caravan in any way. But he didn't have much time to analyze things as his vehicle approached one of the guard transports. "Prepare to strafe the sides," he ordered of his gunman. But at that moment, the canvas-covered rear of the vehicle was eject from the back. And there weren't any soldiers in the back . . . just a single, hulking mass. "That's a troll!" the second in command screamed. "Aren't those supposed to be in the semi in the back?!?" Jerry Snow's eyes were wide as the creature raised what appeared to be a hand-held cannon and pointed it directly at his vehicle. Just before his transport erupted in flames and exploded, the Knight of the Second Order screamed into his communicator, "It's a trap! It's a . . ." ------------ ----------------------------------- On the other end of the cannon . . . ------------ ----------------------------------- Lorazok was actually a fairly mellow creature most of the time, even for a troll. He had been working with rescue teams on Earth, helping moved debris from people who had become trapped in explosions or cave ins when more traditional machinery was too bulky or too slow to get to the scene. He had been given the nickname of "Tiny" by the company he had worked for, and the sarcasm hadn't been lost on him. Tiny stood nine-and-a-half feet tall and weighed close to fifteen hundred pounds. Like most trolls, Tiny had held great reverence for the Vampire known as Kelik due to the respect that particular man had always shown to the troll race. So when Thug had informed the troll of their plan and had handed one of these H&K Displacer Cannons that Thug enjoyed so much, Tiny had been imagining a moment just like this one. Tiny was smiling as the front of one of the vehicles moved directly into the troll's sights, and was outright grinning as one shot from the cannon reduced the target to smoldering wreckage. Tiny strapped the cannon to his back and jumped from the speeding vehicle directly into the front of another enemy transport, which reacting as most vehicles would when it collided with something the size of Tiny. It sent the troll flying, but the transport looked like it had hit a tree and most of the passengers were dead or dying. The caravan's tires began to squeal as the "prison" transports ground to a halt. Soon, heavily armed vampires came pouring out the sides of the buses and took positions behind the rocks and boulders lining the road. The lumbering gargoyles took to the sky to aid the succubae in the air war. They were much slower than their Terran comrades but were tough as stone. The other trolls, all of whom had been hiding on the guard transports, had all blown their covers and were firing their cannons into the largest conglomerations of the enemy vehicles. Soon, the Purity was abandoning their vehicles to do battle in the broken terrain. They still had the numbers advantage, but they were in a state of panic. ------------- ---------------- A little while later . . . ------------- ---------------- Kertosis Ithslerorvana may have been insane, but he was no fool. As soon as the Purity vehicles stopped and the firefight was engaged on the ground, he grabbed the Dead Man's World and made a run for it. He thought his "allies" to be fools for continuing the fight even though they realized they had been duped. As badly as he wanted to see Valar die for aiding in his imprisonment, Kertosis wasn't about to challenge the Hybrid known as Eliza. She was an unknown commodity and while deserving of destruction simply due to her heavily diluted bloodline, he would choose his own time and place to finish her. He noticed a slow moving gargoyle swinging over head, and he was sure he had been spotted. He raised the Dead Man's World over his head and concentrated. He had been allowed to practice controlling the Living Jewel on several Terran or Terran-sympathizer prisoners, and he had learned to impose his will upon the stone. A stream of darkness enveloped the creature and for a moment, even the wielder of the World couldn't see it. Then, the darkness evaporated, but not before it had extinguished the light burning in the gargoyle's soul and sent the thing dropping to the earth . . . dead. He took a moment to sneer at the corpse before moving on. Unfortunately for Kertosis, he didn't get much further before hearing a dreadful howl behind him. It sounded like a lycanthrope, and it sounded close. [[ Damn dogs! ]] he muttered. [[ I may have been too quick to spare them back on Terra. I won't make the same mistake again! ]] After another several minutes had passed, he heard the swooshing of wings nearby. He assumed it was another gargoyle that had come to discern the cause of death for its fallen comrade. But even with his advanced night vision, he couldn't see it. This one was flying lower to the ground. [[ No matter, ]] he told himself. [[ Should it cross me, it will . . . ]] Kertosis had just come into a clearing when he felt rage boil up inside him. On one boulder sat a gargoyle, and on another sat a lycanthrope . . . probably the one he had heard howling. But standing in the trail opposite him was an old, old enemy. [[ Valar! ]] he snarled. [[ I'm glad you remember me, ]] the other vampire said. He was holding both hands behind his back, waiting for Kertosis to make his move. [[ I'm not particularly surprised to see you running away, ]] he added, utilizing his innate power to piss people off. [[ You were always good at that part. ]] [[ You were always so much braver when you had backup, ]] Kertosis replied. Valar looked first at the gargoyle and then the lycanthrope, making a motion with his head. [[ Leave us, ]] he ordered, then the two other Terrans vanished. Kertosis was nervous. Valar was FAR too confident. [[ You think you can take me! ]] he screamed. He needed to make his play before the others came back. [[ This time, I'll destroy you! ]] He pulled the Dead Man's World from his robes and wielded it, concentrating hard. [[ For a brilliant psychopath, you're quite predictable, ]] Valar returned. From behind his back, he produced two Living Gems. In one hand, he held The Dragon's Breath and in the other, he held The Ocean's Heart. After a moment's concentration, he accessed the power of The Dragon's Breath and created a tiny, tiny bridge to Terra. It was just enough to give him a super charge of mystical energy from his home planet. His eyes glowed red and he concentrated on the air between him and Kertosis, making it thicker. Then he used a telekinetic punch using that air to knock The Dead Man's World from Kertosis's grasp and sent it flying down into a ditch. Then Valar closed his small bridge before his enemy could use it to access his own magical power. Kertosis found himself unarmed and facing off with a crafty opponent. Without magic, he decided to rush Valar, hoping to take control of that cursed ruby. He only got a few steps before a stream of water erupted from The Ocean's Heart, encasing him completely in a shimmering blue liquid and stopping him in his tracks. Valar almost looked solemn all of a sudden. [[ Kertosis Ithslerorvana, you were found guilty on Terra of multiple counts of murder. Now, you have committed treason against your people and your world. I determine it to be my duty to enact your punishment now . . . in this place. Kertosis, the power of The Ocean's Heart is one of cleansing. By my will, I hereby cleanse your body of YOUR will and your magical abilities. I assert my will upon the stone, and my will shall be done. ]] Kertosis screamed at first, but he felt himself . . . relaxing. His anger . . . his fears . . . his worries . . . they all slowly slid from his thoughts like so much water down an open drain. For a moment, he understood what peace was. Then, he understood nothing. Valar withdrew his will from the Living Jewel. It wasn't quite the same as a mind-wipe, but it was close enough. Kertosis would never harm another creature. [[ You can come back now! ]] he shouted to the gargoyle and lycanthrope, both of whom had been waiting nearby. Once they arrived, the gargoyle landed near the now zombie-like form of Kertosis. [[ And so justice is done, ]] it said in it's raspy voice. [[ Justice is done, ]] agreed the lycanthrope. Valar just stared at his former adversary. He realized that he owed Eliza an apology. There were things in both worlds much more deserving of contempt than someone who preferred the sexual company of their own gender. But at least now, there was one fewer. He directed the gargoyle to retrieve The Dead Man's World from ditch. He understood now why Eliza hated the thing so much. He had seen, for just a moment, the dark heart of The Dead Man's World, and he hadn't liked the look of it at all. -------------- ------------------ Back at the battle . . . -------------- ------------------ By the time Valar returned, the fight was almost over. The vampires had swarmed out of the buses and, with their vastly superior night-fighting ability, they had run roughshod over their opponents in the broken terrain. The gargoyles had taken to dropping large rocks on the Purity soldiers from the heights, and the remaining succubae led by Terillia were essentially toying with the one remaining attack chopper. The machine had run out of ammo and its navigation systems were fried. Eliza was screaming at them to "stop playing with your food" and finish it. A few well-thrown EMP grenades and the last of the Purity's air power was sent crashing to the ground. Some of the enemy had tried returning to their vehicles in hopes of making an escape, but the trolls had taken to rolling over anything that moved. Several soldiers surrendered while hanging upside down by their safety belts. One soldier had been trying to sneak up on Eliza, but Veronica had spotted him. She had grabbed him by leg and beat him against a boulder until he stopped twitching. She may not have been looking for a massacre, but no one fucked with her girlfriend. Eliza was suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg, but she knew she would live. Being an enemy commander, she had drawn a lot of fire. It might have been worse except Thug and Tiny had both shown up to block incoming fire. Tiny was still grumbling as he forced the bullets out of his body. Thug was casually discussing when he had taken on the chopper that one time, just to put things in perspective. Tiny told Thug to shut up. When the smoke finally settled, the Terrans had captured close to one hundred and fifty people. They estimated that several hundred more lay amongst the rocks. But they had suffered their own losses. About ten vampires, three lycanthropes, three gargoyles and five succubae had lost their lives. These winged Terrans had born the brunt of the attack helicopters' fury, and Eliza realized the debt that was owed them. To no one's surprise, all the trolls had survived, though one of them would probably spend a few weeks or so regenerating an arm and a leg after a disabled helicopter landed on him. Luckily, he had been pulled clear before it exploded. Eliza saw that Valar had returned with Kertosis draped over the lycanthrope's shoulder. "Is it done?" she asked. He nodded. "It's done." She looked around. "Round up the prisoners!" she shouted. She turned to Veronica. How long until the Captain arrives?" "Captain Corbin is only about an hour away. He had to keep his distance so no one would suspect anything. Besides, he wanted to let us handle this. The question is, what happens now?" Veronica was staring pointedly at her lover. Eliza looked at her assembling troops. "Friends and Terrans, victory is ours." She had to wait for the cheers to subside. "But we have a choice to make. When I asked you to come to California, I said it would be for a Blood War. The question is, will we continue the spilling of blood? These men are helpless now. We have taken their power away. As a wise person recently told me," she started, glancing at Veronica, "our ways are NOT the ways of Earth. If humans went to Terran and tried to tell us how to fight our wars, what would we do?" [[ Laugh at them and tell them to go home! ]] one of the vampires shouted, getting a low chuckle from the crowd. "You're absolutely right. So do we have the right to wage a Terran-style war on Earth, though it is violation of their ways and their laws!" Valar stepped forward. [[ I realize as much as any of you how easy it would be spill their life-force on the soil, ]] he said, pushing the empty husk of Kertosis forward. [[ But that would be too easy. I also agreed to a Radotanida, but these creatures are not worth it. ]] It was Veronica's turn. "I know that none of you owe me anything, but I would like to speak anyway. The way I understand it, a Blood War is done to wipe your enemies out for good. Is this correct?" There was a murmur of agreement. "Well slaughtering these men will not destroy our enemies. Rather, it will ensure their survival. You will be seen as the monsters the Purity believes you to be, and the ranks and resources will be replenished. People will become afraid of you, and that fear will draw them to the enemy. The Purity is crippled and dying. Let them die as befitting them . . . whining and crying in their holes in the ground, with no one left to listen to them." It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 04 {{ Beautifully said, }} Eliza thought. {{ I'm sorry it came to this. }} Veronica looked over. {{ I knew you would think of something. You always have, and you always will. It's part of the attraction, }} she added. [[ We are not monsters, ]] Terillia said, stepping forward. She realized what was at stake, and her own sense of law and order coincided more with that of humans than Terrans. [[ We are not evil. Let us parade these animals through the streets of their own cities, showing them for what they are . . . failures. ]] The Terran force slowly found themselves agreeing en masse. They had done enough killing already. And humiliation was just what their adversaries deserved. As the trolls and vampires loaded their prisoners onto the buses that the Terrans had recently occupied, Eliza approached Terillia. "Thank you, " she said. "For helping calm everyone down. "You and yours fought well. I'm sorry for your losses." [[ Our elders will sing their praises when we are once again united with our home world. We owe that to you, ]] Terillia said, capturing Eliza in a frighteningly ferocious hug. The hug continued for much longer than Eliza had expected, but Terillia had another surprise. She looked at Eliza dead in the eyes, then kissed her. Eliza realized two things in that moment. One, succubae had VERY long tongues. She had heard that they could extend them up to six inches out of their mouths, but she had never really tested that theory before. The second thing she realized was that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't predict everything. {{ AHEM! }} came a thought from beside her. Eliza pushed Terillia away, and the young succubus suddenly looked very embarrassed. "I . . . I'm so sorry! I don't know what came over me! I . . . It will never happen again!" she added before flying away. Eliza was so stunned she forgot the pain in her leg. She saw Veronica grinning at her. {{ What?!? I didn't do anything! }} {{ You're just so damn sexy! }} Veronica replied, though she still felt a small twinge of jealousy. She'd have to have words with Terillia later about territorial violations. {{ Now why don't we see about getting that bullet out of your leg! }} ----------- ------------------ The next morning . . . ----------- ------------------ Eliza had never felt so sore in her life. When she had been hospitalized after rescuing Veronica, she had slept through most of the healing process. Captain Corbin had arrived the previous evening and his medical team had pulled the bullet out of her leg and bandaged her up. That bullet was now sitting in a jar next to the bed. IN her bed was a beautiful blonde woman who had a number of large and interesting bruises from their fight. They had been taken back to their compound while their fellow Terrans were housed at Fort Crass. The Dead Man's World was back in American hands, and The Dragon's Breath would be sent back east to reopen the portal between world within a few weeks. Captain Corbin assured Eliza that the Living Jewel would be receiving EXTRA special attention on this trip. Veronica's arm was lying across Eliza's chest as the blonde beauty snored contentedly. Eliza slipped out from under it and hobbled to the bathroom to take a look at her injury and to start up a bath. The last few days had taken their toll on her and she needed to relax. She cleaned the area around her leg and wrapped it again, somewhat snugly. As she leaned over the bath to pour some organic salts in, she felt arms encircling her waist. "Morning," Veronica whispered. "Or is it afternoon? Do you realize that's probably been the first time we've slept more than three hours in a long time? I didn't even think we were capable of it anymore." "It's afternoon," Eliza said. "About three-ish." "You should have woken me up," Veronica said, chastising her lover. "A bath seems like SUCH a good idea." "You looked so peaceful. I couldn't bring myself to wake you," Eliza responded, sitting on the edge of the tub and kissing her girlfriend. "I'm still trying to run some stuff through my head." She touched Veronica's cheek. "I love you. I'm glad you didn't let me go through with . . ." "Shh," Veronica hushed, kissing Eliza on the corner of her mouth. "I never blamed you for how you felt. And quite frankly, I doubt I would've been able to make good on my threat to leave you. But you're a good . . . Hybrid, and you did the right thing. And as badly as you want to go check the video-stream and find out what the fallout is from our little war yesterday, I invoke my girlfriend privilege and forbid it! Not until we've had a little bath and a little fun," she added kissing Eliza on the neck. {{ Oh sweet . . . }} Eliza started to think, but her brain ran away for a moment. {{ That feels SO good! }} {{ Finish getting the bath ready, }} Veronica sent. {{ I'll be right back. }} Veronica hurried out to the bedroom and gathered up several toys, then hurried back to the bathroom. Eliza had already sunk into the warm soothing water. Veronica dropped the toys on the mat and slid into the tub with her lover. {{ We need to get a bigger tub for this place, }} Veronica thought, pressing her body against Eliza's and kissing her deeply. {{ 'We?' }} Eliza thought as she kissed Veronica back. Her lover's tongue wasn't as long as Terillia's had been, but it was quite skilled as it danced in Eliza's mouth. {{ Sorry, }} Veronica thought back. {{ I forgot . . . It's still your place and . . .}} {{ I was teasing, }} Eliza replied. {{ I just . . . }} She was momentarily distracted as Veronica's fingers slid down her body and into Eliza's warm sex. {{ I know we need to talk about what we're going to do after this . . . professionally . . . but I would really like . . . for you to keep doing that . . . and for you to consider moving in with me. }} {{ Done and done, }} Veronica said. She sensed that her girlfriend was surprised. {{ What? It's not like I have a job anymore, and besides . . . you're hot and rich. And this means I get to make some changes around here that . . . oh God! }} Eliza had cut the blonde woman off by returning the fingering action, with one hand stimulating Veronica's pussy while fingers from the other hand were penetrating her lover's asshole. Veronica pressed her body harder against Eliza and her fingers further into her lover's box. There was something cathartic about making love while surrounded by water, floating comfortably while clinging to each other. And Eliza's opening was so slick that Veronica felt she could move her fingers faster and faster, feeling her velvet tunnel try and grip those digits as the stirred up a whirlpool of pleasure. Even with both of Veronica's lower orifices being tantalized, she knew that the blonde woman was winning their little contest. She was intimately aware of every nook and cranny on Eliza's body, and she knew exactly what buttons to push. While keeping her fingers moving, her lips latched onto the portion of Eliza's neck right before it reached the shoulder. Eliza's pleasure centers flipped and she stopped fingering Veronica's ass so she could just grip one of those round butt cheeks and hold on for dear life. She felt like Veronica's fingers were so far up inside her that she might as well be . . . {{ Love, }} she thought. {{ Yes? }} Veronica mentally murmured. {{ You know that . . . thing . . . you've been wanting to try? }} Veronica's eyes opened wide. {{ Are you sure? Are you ready? }} {{ As ready as I'll ever be, }} Eliza replied. She put her feet up on the sides of the tub and spread her knees as wide as they would go. Veronica pushed all her fingers together on her right hand, scrunching them into as small a space as possible and slowly pushing them into Eliza's entrance. The former vampire gasped as her opening began to stretch around Veronica's hand. {{ Let me know if it gets to be too much, }} she sent. She watched as Eliza grabbed the bath's spout as she prepared herself for her ultimate penetration. Veronica pushed until her second row of knuckles met Eliza's inner labia. She held for a moment, withdrew, then pushed in again. She did that several more times, moving a few centimeters further each time. Then she withdrew again and just stretched her fingers. The warm water was helping Eliza relax, but Veronica could tell her lover was nervous. {{ Are you sure? }} she asked again. All the response she got was an almost overwhelming feeling of love. She stopped long enough to lean forward and captured another sweet drink at Eliza's lips. Veronica quickly returned to work. She did take a few moments to gently rub her lover's clitoral hood and get her further into the mood. Then she pressed her finger in again, sinking all the way to the knuckles and continuing to push . . . in . . . in . . . in . . . "Oh shit . . . Oh God . . . oh . . . oh . . ." Eliza was squirming like a snake on a hot tin roof. She could barely wrap her mind around the experience, but her cunt was certainly wrapped around Veronica's hand. And without much more warning, her labia were wrapped around Veronica's wrist. At that point, Eliza stopped speaking. The lights were on, but nobody was home. Veronica actually thought her girlfriend's vaginal walls were going to start crushing her hand, they were so tight. {{ Eliza? }} Veronica thought. {{ Honey? Anyone there? }} She sensed a bit of pain, a lot of discomfort, but also a slowly increasing amount of pleasure. She pumped her fist, and the "pleasure" part spiked. "Very . . . (gasp) . . . very full," Eliza mumbled before slipping under the water. "Shit!" Veronica said, reached her free hand to release the drain, then grabbed her girlfriend's head to keep her from drowning. {{ I can hold my breath for two minutes and . . . oh God, and you know it! }} thought Eliza. Veronica pumped her hand again. {{ And you also tend to lose track of time, }} she replied. She watched as Eliza's muscles rippled as the pleasure spread outward. 'God she had nice abs!' Veronica thought to herself. She didn't have much range of motion, so she just kept pumping her hand while teasing the girl's clit with the thumb from her other hand. She had Eliza cumming in a matter of moments, and it was a beauty! Her mouth was opening in gasps, but no sound was coming out. Her eyes were open, but they were glazed over at the same time. Eliza's hands were roaming all over her own body, seemingly incapable of finding a single comfortable place to stop. Even when the initial sexual earthquake stilled, the aftershocks began and rumbled through for what seemed like an eternity. Her pussy had Veronica's hand and wasn't about to let it go, making the blonde woman think she would probably sprain her wrist if she tried to withdraw it. When Eliza's body was through, she just lay in the bottom of the tub, water from the faucet cascading over her forehead and Veronica was finally able to retrieve her hand. Both women felt strangely disappointed that the experience was over. "Still alive?" Veronica asked. "Very, very much so," was the reply. "I . . . I'll be ready to return the . . . pleasure . . . in a second," she added blissfully. She'd be sore after a while, but she was in a warm, comfortable place for the time being." "Why wait?" Veronica reached over the side of the tub and grabbed a strap-on harness and a nice, seven-inch dildo. She maneuvered the straps and snapped them into place around Eliza's hips, then slid the dildo into position. "Turn on the shower," Eliza groaned. "I want to see it rain on you," she added. Veronica smiled, and raised herself up, pushing the button that switched from bath to shower. When she lowered herself back, she sank onto the dildo, feeling good as if filled her up. Eliza was looking up as the water came pouring down. There was a light near the top of the shower that caused the droplets of water to sparkle and shine. As they impacted Veronica's head and wetted down her hair, Eliza thought that her lover looked like an angel. Then she saw the woman blush furiously. {{ Let that one slip, didn't I? }} she thought. She grabbed her lover's hips and began to thrust upward to meet Veronica as she came down. Then those hands found their way up to those breasts Eliza liked so much, and she raised her torso up so her mouth could taste those succulent melons. She fumbled with one arm, reaching blindly for the pile of goodies that Veronica had brought in with her. She came up with a dildo that had a short handle, a long, smooth thin shaft and a bulbous ball on the end. 'Perfect,' she congratulated herself. She let the water run over, then placed the ball end at the entrance to Veronica's backdoor. {{ You always know what I like, }} Veronica said as the round part pushed passed her sphincter into that dark tunnel. Eliza was able to pump the new toy rapidly, filling both her girlfriend's holes. Veronica was biting her bottom lip and her eyes were closed. Her breasts jiggled gently except when locked in place by Eliza's greedy lips. Veronica was riding and bucking on Eliza's lap, holding her head as her lover stimulated her ass with that dildo. She bounced on the strap-on toy and was beginning to wish she'd picked a bigger one. She loved the pressure having something in both orifices, and she knew from experience that Eliza could keep them filled all day and all night if she chose. But Eliza had other ideas. She could tell that Veronica was in a daze, so she started kissing her way up from Veronica's breasts to her shoulder and then to her neck. Veronica groaned loud enough that it almost shook the bathroom tiles loose. But if she thought that her lover's lips on her neck was heavenly, she almost lost her mind when Eliza's fangs sank into the flesh. It had been a long time since one of them had bitten the other. Eliza had once hypothesized that this particular type of union provided them both with what they needed most. Apparently, Veronica needed to have the orgasm of a lifetime, and Eliza needed to provide her one. Veronica felt that she was moving in slow motion, but the rest of the world was moving at ten times its normal speed. Both sex toys, which had simply been moving quickly before, suddenly felt like bullet trains speeding through her body. She half expected the friction to actual cause smoke to rise. Her moans seemed to be drawn through a low, deep filter until they almost sounded like whale songs. The droplets of rain had become a monsoon against her scalp and were causing thunder in her ears. After what could have been moments or hours, she felt a pressure like water backing up after the hose has been turned on. And in one perfect moment, the dam burst and Veronica would have sworn that enough juice was flowing out of her to fill the tub. Her knees pressed together against her lover's legs and she clung to Eliza's head out of fear of being carried away by the undertow of pleasure. All Eliza experienced besides the heat of her girlfriend's body and the water dripping down on to her was a few moments of perfects silence and a blast of joy that filled her up from her toes to the top of her head. It was like lying in the warm sunshine after swimming in the ocean for hours. But like all moments, however perfect, that one had to end, and she slowly withdrew her fangs. Veronica's world returned to a pleasant normalcy, as her body and her environment seemed to be on the same page. Her eyes were finally able to open and they shone brightly. Her mouth was open and gasping, but she still managed a smile. She let her body and Eliza's come to rest on the floor of the tub. She wondered if she should tell her girlfriend how much she loved her, but a smile and a kiss from Eliza assured the blonde woman that Eliza already knew. --------- ------------------- That evening . . . --------- ------------------- The whole security crew was sitting out in the living room, watching the now-constant news coverage of the "government organized" trap (with Terran assistance, of course). Eliza had been expecting this of course. She and her fellow Terrans had agreed to forgo the credit to restore the civility between them and the general population. Then from the door . . . "Hey honeys! I'm home!" "WYRM!" they screamed (except for Thug, who looked up, waved, and then changed the channel to Animal Planet). "What the hell . . ." "You weren't supposed to be back until . . ." "Fancy arm! Is that metal or plastic?" "Calm down!" he shouted. "If I'd known it'd make me this popular, I would have lost the arm a long time ago." Suddenly, Eliza didn't feel quite so energetic. She had visited Wyrm in the hospital a number of times, but no matter how many times he told her not to, she couldn't help but blame herself. The doctors had done a great job on his face, so he only had some minor but permanent scars on that handsome palate. His knee was still a little swollen, but he was able to get around on crutches. It was the arm that she found herself staring at. He had been hiding behind a column, but his arm had been sticking out just enough to catch a huge quantity of shrapnel, and he had a fancy new prosthetic limb starting about six inches below the shoulder. It actually sensed the electronic impulses sent to the arm from the brain and was able to perform most basic movements. He wouldn't be using that arm to practice his knife throwing, but he wasn't exactly an invalid. Eliza took a step back while her friends swarmed around their returning hero. 'How can he not hate me?' Eliza thought. 'If I hadn't asked him to stay behind . . .' Wyrm broke through the crowd and wrapped his arms around Eliza and picked his boss off the ground. "No pouting," he whispered. "If you had asked me to stay behind on another mission, I could have just as easily have been hit by a truck hauling cucumbers while I was on my way to the convenience store to by Twinkies and V8. No one could have predicted what happened." "It's my job to predict . . ." Eliza started. "It's your job to put the odds in our favor. But a ninety-nine percent chance of success still means a one-percent chance of failure. Sometimes, fate rolls the dice and it comes up snake-eyes. You've pulled so many peoples asses out of the fire in the last year that it boggles the mind." Eliza was actually tearing up. "But you . . . and Kelik . . ." She realized that she had been so busy planning her vengeance and celebrating its completion that she really had never stopped to take in what had happened. "Kelik was smart enough to know what he was getting into. And again, no one thought they would go after Fort Crass, much less in a suicide attack. Kelik . . . he fought well for someone whose age was measured in dynasties. And to give credit where its do, Valar whooped some ass with The Spear of God. I'd hate to see what he could do on his own world. You're one . . . incredible woman, Eliza, but even you can't save everyone all the time." {{ Listen to him love, }} Veronica thought. The rest of the crew was giving the two friends some physical space while they talked. Wyrm noticed that the two women were staring at each other. "Okay, stop the friggin' telepathy! God, that's creepy!" His voice mellowed. "This last battle . . . the fight at Last Mile Prison . . . rescuing Veronica . . . You keep pulling off shit most people wouldn't even try." Eliza wrapped her arms around Wyrm's neck and kissed him on the cheek. Then she felt something odd and she smiled. "Wyrm?" "Yes boss?" "Real or not, get that hand off my ass or I'll take it off and beat you with it." ------------- -------------- A week later . . . ------------- -------------- Eliza and her crew were standing in a hangar in the facility known as Terra Point Terminal, just outside of Raleigh, North Carolina where the crack had first formed. It had been built around the area of the dimensional crack before the Purity had sealed it. There was an almost identical facility (barring some "creative license") on the Terran side. They had been brought in to oversee civil security while Valar made the final preparations to reopen the dimensional portal. He was the logical choice, having already shown an ability to assert his will upon The Dragon's Breath. Eliza felt her own role was strictly ceremonial. The remaining Purity forces had been on the run since their disastrous defeat in what was being almost jokingly referred to as the "Terran Horse War," apparently making reference to some ancient Earth legend. Also, there was a healthy representation of every branch of the United States military present to guard the building. There wasn't going to be a repeat of what happened with The Heaven's Eye. But the World Council had FINALLY gotten it through their heads that things went better for them when Eliza was around and had brought her in. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 04 The Dragon's Breath was mounted on a pedestal at the top of the ramp where the portal was going to be opened. The World Council and American government had decided to keep the initial reopening somewhat guarded until the stability of the new portal could be properly assessed. The general public had been informed that the bridge would likely be reestablished "soon," but only official personnel would be allowed through on the first couple of days. Valar had been meditating for almost an hour, trying to get a clear picture in his mind of what he was going to try and do and how he could convince The Dragon's Breath to do it. So Eliza and her troops wandered the floor, trying not to look too bored. Finally, Valar seemed to be satisfied with his mental state. [[ Eliza, could you come here for a moment? ]] Eliza rolled her eyes, then turned around and wandered up the ramp. Valar was back in a position of power, and Eliza could only expect him to rub her face in it. [[ I think I'm ready. I would appreciate it if you would stand by in case the influx of magical energies becomes overwhelming for me. ]] Eliza was a bit confused. There were a number of other Terrans he could have called on to help manage the power flow if necessary. [[ Why me? ]] Valar shook his head. [[ Because you are more familiar with the magic of the Living Jewels than anyone else, though you yourself have never wielded one. ]] Surprisingly, his voice softened. [[ Though I acknowledge that you have felt their power in a less . . . controlled fashion. ]] He looked down the ramp and saw assorted diplomats and officials gathering, waiting for the "grand opening." [[ Eliza, I believe I owe you an apology. ]] Eliza was more than a bit distrustful of that statement. Valar had never sincerely apologized for anything in his life, at least not as far as she knew. [[ For what? Have a sudden change in heart about lesbians? ]] [[ Not at all, ]] he replied, averting his gaze for a moment. [[ I don't agree with your lifestyle or your adaptation of human customs. I didn't like your decision to 'mingle' with a human partner back when you were pure vampire. I certainly don't approve of your physical attraction to members of your own gender. ]] Eliza started to speak, but he silenced her with a wave of his hand. [[ But you don't need my approval, ]] he said, looking like he actually meant it. [[ I didn't get that until our recent conflict. The vampire race, as a general rule, believes in its traditions and cultures. You believe in breaking rules. You don't think like any vampire I know, and you don't so much walk your own path as you do blaze your own highway. And our two worlds are about to be recombined because of it. You don't need me to like you or accept you. You don't need that from anyone. You do what needs to be done in whatever way you can, generally in ways no one else would think of. And even if that doesn't earn you friendship, it most certainly warrants you respect. I have never shown you respect, Ms. Eliza Msabdteelfinclor, and for that I apologize. ]] Valar returned to concentrating on the Living Jewel before him, leaving Eliza to be . . . stunned. So stunned in fact that she was almost caught flatfooted when Valar grabbed The Dragon's Breath and uttered the words, [[ Let my will be done. ]] It started as The Dragon's Breath projecting a bright red pinpoint of light at a particular point on the wall. Then the point expanded until it was about the size of the manhole cover, and then kept growing until it was about ten feet in diameter. Valar was beginning to sweat. This was considerably more difficult than simply accessing his home dimension as he had done in his fight with Kertosis Ithslerorvana. It might best be equated to the difference between trying to push a needle through cloth versus trying to slowly push a coffee can through while creating a smooth hole. Then, Eliza could almost see the "bridge" being built, almost as if it were vanishing into a television screen. Its structure was clear in her mind's eye, but she could tell the three-dimensionality of it was purely illusionary. She saw the other end of the bridge approaching what she assumed was the "wall" for the world of Terra . . . a wall lined with . . . splotches. [[ Valar, wait! ]] Eliza exclaimed. [[ This . . . is not . . . a . . . good time! ]] he returned tiredly. [[ Look at the walls! Aren't those t-port mines? ]] [[ Impossible, what would . . . wait, you're right!?! What are those doing there? ]] he asked, ceasing his push. [[ Someone . . . trying to prevent the portal from being reopened, maybe? But it couldn't have been someone from this side of the breach. Kertosis would have been the only one with enough knowledge of teleportation, and he wasn't there when the Purity used The Heaven's Eye. They would have had to had been put there right before it was closed, or someone would have noticed them. But why? ]] Valar was struggling to think while he maintained the tunnel he had already constructed. [[ We may have overlooked a very annoying possibility. We've been assuming that the 'Purity' movement only existed on the Earth side. ]] [[ So maybe there's a similar group on Terra that, as much as it pained them, conspired with a bunch of humans to separate the worlds and keep them separated? It makes some sense. They set up the traps at the appointed time to keep Terrans from using magic to find a way back to Earth, but they didn't worry about hiding them from viewers on this side . . . ]] Valar caught where she was going. [[ Because they didn't know about the Living Jewels. They assumed there would be no way of anyone on THIS side being able to find a way of crossing the barriers. ]] Valar actually felt quite proud of himself. [[ Do you think you can disarm them? ]] he asked. Eliza looked them over. [[ There's too many. And if one goes, they might all go. I don't know how the caster or casters set it up. But we might be able to use that to our advantage. I know this has been a bitch, but do you think you could open the portal again? ]] [[ After a lot of rest, yes? Why? ]] She smiled, laying one hand on The Dragon's Breath and feeling it's power and feeling the ambient magic from her homeworld of Terra. [[ Because I'm going to toss a stick into a room full of mouse straps and see what goes off. ]] [[ Why must everything with you end in explosions? ]] he asked. Actually, he was impressed with the idea. He felt her drawing power through the Living Jewel much like he had done the week before, then she sent of a series of telekinetic pulses into the breach. The use of magic near the t-port mines caused many of them to explode at once. [[ Close the breach! ]] she screamed, and Valar let go of his hold with an almost audible "snap." The breach closed just as the explosion was trying to escape out the portal. "What the hell was that?" Veronica yelled as she ran up the ramp. "T-port mines," Eliza replied. "Nasty little spells that some succubae sorceresses devised during a Blood War with a vampire nation a number of centuries back. Vampires had been teleporting behind enemy lines for millennia, so these succubae came up with a way of setting up pockets of unstable magic within dimensional fabric. Whenever a vampire tried to teleport through an area with t-port mines, the magic would quickly and explosively try and flow into the 'dimensional bubble' created when someone tries to teleport." She went on to explain to Veronica and a number of other bystanders about the conspiracy theory that she and Valar had proposed. The two of them were fairly confident that they could still safely open the portal, but they needed to clear a path first. "Crap!" said Veronica at last. "I thought the fighting was over!" Eliza hung her head a bit. "It is, at least for us. We have no authority on the Terran side, so we'll have to let them deal with it." She turned to Valar. [[ You really should rest before trying again. If we didn't get them all, you're likely to trigger them again or . . . ]] [[ Or possible mess up the very fabric of space, ]] he added drolly. [[ I agree. We've waited a year. Our people can wait one day more. ]] Valar and a number of officials began clammering and chattering as they set up a time to try again the next day. Eliza and Veronica made their way down the ramp. "So," Veronica began, "up for a little dinner? We haven't had much besides blood recently, and I'd kind of like some real food. And . . ." As they got to the bottom of the ramp, they found a couple of familiar faces. It was the succubus Terillia and the troll Tiny. "What's up?" Eliza asked. "I didn't think they were going to let you guys cross for a couple days at least?" Terillia was gently biting her bottom lip, making the attractive young creature look even cuter. Veronica involuntarily took a step forward, positioning herself between Terillia and Eliza. "No kissing," she flat out stated. Terillia blushed blue. "I apologize again for my behavior. I was simply so . . . swept away in the moment . . . I didn't mean . . ." "It's okay," Eliza said, enjoying her girlfriend's jealousy. "It's just . . . while this fine troll and I are both going to go home for a while and visiting, we were talking about it and . . . well, we'd both like to return to Earth and work . . . here . . . for you." "Excuse me?" Eliza said. "We weren't sure if you were even interested in expanding your organization, but it would not help us NOT to ask. We both admire you and your group . . ." {{ I'll bet she does, }} Veronica mentally grumbled, causing her lover to chuckle. "Terillia, the group hasn't even decided if we are going to continue working after this. We don't really need the money anymore, but a number of my people acknowledged that they couldn't imagine actually RETIRING. It would be so . . . dull." "I understand," the dejected young succubus replied. Eliza felt bad. She hadn't meant to crush the young woman's spirits. "Listen, why don't you get in touch with me once you've had a chance to visit. I'll probably have a team meeting in the next couple of weeks anyway, just to discuss what we're going to do next. I'll bring up your request then, okay?" "That would be a most joyous opportunity," Terillia squealed, then made as if to hug the Hybrid warrior. But Veronica stood firmly in her way. "No hugging or kissing," she warned. "My apologies," she said, blushing and smiling. Then she turned away. Tiny had already wandered off to talk to Thug, and it was amusing to watch the twenty-foot circle that cleared out around the two trolls when they were conversing. Trolls made people nervous. Eliza looked after the retreated job candidate. {{ She IS kind of cute, }} she thought, trying to raise Veronica's ire. {{ I don't care how cute she is, }} the blonde woman replied, {{ as long as she keeps her tongue out of your mouth. }} Eliza actually managed a full-throated laugh. "Weren't you saying something about dinner?" she asked grabbing Veronica's hand. ------------- --------------------- Several hours later . . . ------------- --------------------- Eliza had talked to their employers and arranged for her team to get some rest. Most of the group had gone back to the hotel while Eliza and Veronica had a belated anniversary dinner. After dinner, they had gone to a pool hall and Veronica had tried to explain the intricacies of nine-ball to her girlfriend. After several drinks, a lot of lost games and enduring having both her and Veronica get hit on almost endlessly, Eliza decided it was time to head back to the hotel. Even as they got out of the cab, Veronica started to get clingy. The driver got an eyeful as Veronica waited for her lover to pay for the ride, then kissed her deep and grabbed a double handful of muscular ass and gripped it tightly. {{ What's got into you? }} Eliza mentally moaned as Veronica drew her inside the building, kissing her on the lips, cheek and neck. {{ Do I really NEED a reason to want to make out with you? }} Veronica responded, pulling her girlfriend into the elevator. {{ Not that I'm aware of, }} came the response, {{ but isn't this a bit public? }} Veronica held her girlfriend's head and kissed her again. {{ No one can see us, }} she said, {{ and even if they could, I don't care. I've got a hot woman who keeps saving the day no matter what the problem is. }} Veronica turned around and hit the "Stop" button on the elevator. {{ And I love a woman who can improvise. }} At that point Veronica pounced on Eliza, pushing her to the mirrored-side of the elevator and latching her lips onto Eliza's neck. It was still a bit odd for Eliza, being so open in a relationship. True, they had made love in some fairly open places, but never somewhere like this where Eliza almost expected to get caught. For almost a century, she had hidden her sexuality, and now she found herself with a woman that made her want to put it on display. She pushed her hands under Veronica's stretch pants and pulled on her ass cheeks, then slid one hand down between the woman's legs so she could stroke her lover's cleft through her silky g-string. Veronica responded by intensifying her kisses and pulling up on Eliza's shirt so her own hands could reach those small but firm breasts. Eliza had actually word a black-lace bra, which she only wore when she was hoping to get lucky. The former vampire knew that Veronica liked to unwrap her presents before she played with them. As badly as she wanted Eliza to keep doing what she was doing, Veronica wanted to get her girlfriend naked. She stepped back, causing Eliza to break her attentions, then grabbed the white-haired goddess's hands and pinned them above Eliza's head against the wall of the elevator. {{ Keep those hands right there, }} she ordered. Then she got on her knees and pulled down Eliza's pants, revealing a tight pair of short-style panties. Once Eliza had stepped out of her pants, Veronica pushed the girl's legs apart and kissed her right on the crotch, nuzzling her mound through the fabric. Then she licked a long swathe right up Eliza's slot, pushing the material of her panties into her crotch with that skilled tongue. Eliza was still holding her arms over her head, but was pushing her crotch against Veronica's lips. She wanted that powerful little muscle inside her, and the waiting was killing her. And apparently, Veronica was getting just as impatient. She pulled Eliza's panties down to the floor. She just stayed on her knees for a while, licking her lover's pussy with increasing speed. Eliza was so wet that she was already beginning to drip down her thighs. Veronica slowly rose to her feet, kissing her way up Veronica's abdomen while her fingers went to work in that moist cunt. She licked and nipped Eliza's nipples through the lace of the bra as she worked the clasp with her free hands. She had it off in a matter of seconds, marveling at the reports of teenage boys' ineptitude at completing such a simple task. That left Veronica with free access to tantalize those warm tits with her tongue. But she never stopped moving her fingers, pumping them in her girlfriend's box with a vengeance. 'Has her pussy actually gotten tighter?' she wondered. She wished she could push her fist up there again, but this wasn't the place for something like that. This was just about satisfying lust as quickly as possible. Eliza started to whimper as she felt her innermost recesses tighten up and prepare for a sexual earthquake. Veronica sensed the imminent approach of a climax and aided it along by teasing the clitoral hood with her thumb. Just as Eliza's pussy began to spasm, Veronica turned her lover around and pushed her hard against the mirrored wall of the elevator. Eliza was confused but it was too late to stop (even if she wanted to). As the dam broke and her cum erupted from her body, it began to flow down the formerly pristine reflective surface. {{ Just marking our territory, }} Veronica thought wickedly, holding a shaking Eliza until that woman's head cleared and she was a little more capable of remaining upright on her own. Then Veronica stepped back and pulled her own shirt off as Eliza watched hungrily. Then she turned around and placed her hands on the far wall. Eliza took her cue and approached, pulling Veronica's pants down to her ankles and exposing that well-rounded, g-string clad ass. Before Veronica could step out of her pants, Eliza gave one cheek a swift spank, then kissed the pink spot that appeared. She repeated this with the other cheek, then ripped the fragile underwear off her lover's body. {{ Just marking my territory, }} Eliza said, gripping the now sensitive skin of Veronica's butt. She cut off her lover's objections by burying her tongue between the lover's butt cheeks and rimming her asshole. She buried her hand between Veronica's legs and started thrusting with two fingers, using them like a miniature dildo. She pushed the tip of her tongue into Veronica's back door, then withdrew, causing Veronica to groan loudly. Eliza lay back on the floor of the elevator. {{ Why don't you have a seat? }} she thought, half-closing her eyes. Veronica grinned in response, kicked her pants away and slowly knelt with her knees on either side of Eliza's head while facing down Eliza's body. Eliza's tongue was already busy at work, spreading those inner labia out as far as they would go and delving into Veronica's depths. Veronica just grabbed Eliza's nipples and tugged, holding on for dear life as her lover's oral attack went into overdrive. She felt her inner labia being sucked into Eliza's mouth and pressed between her gums. Then she felt fingers prodding at her asshole as Eliza stuck two fingers from each hand at the entrance to Veronica's sphincter and proceeded to shove them inward. Once in, Eliza began pumping those fingers, periodically stopped to stretch that opening a bit. And her tongue seemed to be in Veronica as far as it could go, {{ Faster, }} Veronica thought, her mind in a state of pure bliss. {{ Please hurry! }} While Eliza DID want to get her girlfriend off, she didn't want to make it go too fast. For a few minutes, she toyed with her food, bringing Veronica close to the edge without allowing her the sweet release of going over. But as was the case when both her pussy and ass were being stimulated at the same time, Veronica finally achieved orgasm. Her body shook violently as she came on Eliza's face, holding her opening fast against her lover's head until every last drop had fallen. {{ Since I'm here anyway, }} she thought, then collapsed forward into the sixty-nine position and began to eat. Eliza was still recovering from the mouthful of girl-cum she had just ingested, so she fell behind in their new little race. Veronica just sank her tongue in until her lips were resting on Eliza's mound, then began licking like child with an ice cream cone. But Eliza quickly re-entered the competition, sucking on Veronica's clit while stimulating the woman's asshole with one hand and pussy with the other. The race only lasted for a few more minutes, as both women were feeling a sense of urgency. The sound of slurping and licking filled the small area as they tried feverishly to get one another off. {{ I'm so close, }} Veronica sent, feeling a familiar sensation building up inside. {{ After this, I'm going to take you to our room and drink of you until your brain explodes! }} {{ Then I guess I'd better finish you off, }} Eliza replied eagerly. She'd been hoping for a good bite on the neck for a week. She was wiggling her tongue inside Veronica's opening with reckless abandon, and she managed to bring her girlfriend to climax just as she herself was feeling its familiar stirrings. Simultaneous orgasms were relatively common for the two women, due probably to their strikingly powerful mental and magical connection. When the both started to come, they actually rolled over several times, letting each woman drip their fluids onto the other's face while being on top. Finally they stopped, panting and sweating like racehorses after crossing the finish line. Then unexpectedly, the elevator began to move again. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 05 This is a LONG story. If you don't like long stories or stories driven by plot and characters rather than just sex, you might want to skip this one. -------- ---------------- Disclaimer: The following story is a work of (hopefully) erotic fiction. If you are offended by graphic descriptions of sexual activities, please stop reading now. Any resemblance between the characters (living or dead) is entirely coincidental. Please do not copy or redistribute this story without the author's permission. This story originates in the fictional city of Springfield, California several hundred years in the future. You might want to check out Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this series for background and character introduction. --------------- ---------------------------- "It's a Dead Man's World" Part 5 --------------- ---------------------------- Eliza had never been the center of so much . . . silence . . . in her entire life. She and her father had been standing and staring at each other for almost a full minute, but it had seemed like an eternity. The surrounding crowd was acting as if they were watching competitive chess, wondering who was going to use which particular opening gambit. Eliza started to say something but the words died on her lips. Her father started to raise his hand as if to wave, but his strength failed him. It had been over a year since they had last spoke, and those words had been angry in nature. Evlidone had been angry at his daughter for her refusal to take a more traditional and noble role in vampire society and for being disrespectful of her elders. Eliza had been angry with her father for trying to control her life and showing no regard for what she wanted to be. Then the gate between worlds had shut and both had wished for the ability to take back some of those words. But on top of that, Eliza had endured some . . . life changes. Besides making her homosexuality public knowledge while on Earth (homosexuals tended to be shunned on her homeworld of Terra), she had been transformed by the Living Jewel known as The Alchemist's Dream into a Hybrid; a super-charged combination of human and vampire. She and her lover Veronica were the only two Hybrids in existence. In a world of vampires, trolls, succubae, lycanthropes, gargoyles, and other creatures of the night, Eliza was the one who had become a monster. She and Veronica may have looked like vampires with strange eye color, but Eliza's former species could sense their own. Alyidana (Eliza's mother) was at a loss for what to do herself. She often felt she had remained too silent when her husband and her daughter had feuded, and past tensions were probably what were contributing to the current uncertainty. She glanced past Eliza at the woman she assumed was her daughter's . . . partner. The woman seemed almost as confused as Alyidana was. Finally, the mother in her had waited long enough. [[ For goodness sakes! ]] she almost cried, moving past her husband and closing the gap between her and Eliza, wrapping her elegant arms around Eliza's body like pythons and squeezing the breath from her daughter. [[ Mother, ]] Eliza said, actually on the verge of tears. Eliza's father looked pointedly to either side, and the crowd parted even further. He summoned a local official and had a quick word with him. Then he turned back to his wife and daughter. [[ Perhaps we could adjourn to another room? ]] he said formally. 'That's my father,' Eliza thought. 'A politician to the last.' As the local customs agent moved towards a side room generally reserved for official use, Eliza's mother finally and reluctantly let her daughter go and moved back to her husband's side, while Veronica took her girlfriend's hand. [[ Perhaps we could have a moment alone, ]] he said, looking at the interloper. Eliza clenched her other fist. [[ Where I go, she goes. ]] Veronica's own knowledge of the vampire language was broken at best, but even she realized that she had just been involved in the conversation. {{ Love, what's . . . }} Veronica started to think. She was a little disconcerted by a buzzing sound in the back of her head. 'Probably some aftereffect of dimension-hopping,' she thought. {{ Just follow me. }} Then Eliza tried to get her thoughts calm again. {{ Please? Just back me up. I'll try and fill you in as we go. }} Evlidone gritted teeth and fangs together. 'Why does she always have to make things so difficult?' he thought. What was worse, he could tell that Eliza and this other woman were communicating telepathically, and he thought it rude for them to be engaged in a sidebar. [[ Very well, ]] he said, forcing the words out. [[ This way, ]] he said. He led the three women into a small side room usually used for interviews with people of "suspicious origins." Evlidone had a seat at the desk in the room while his wife stood behind him. Eliza and Veronica sat on a long bench that wasn't exactly designed for comfort. [[ You look well, ]] Eliza's father said at last. [[ As do you. ]] As Eliza spoke, she began relating the conversation to Veronica mentally. [[ Valar informed me of some of your . . . adventures . . . when he came through with his prisoner. You seemed to have impressed him, which is no small feat considering your prior treatment of him. ]] Eliza cracked her knuckles. She didn't notice her mother rolling her eyes. This is how conversations always went with her father. [[ Valar and I . . . came to an understanding, ]] she said, determined not to be the first to break their fragile truce. [[ He was a valuable ally. ]] [[ Yes. In that war you started. Trouble just seems to find you wherever you go. ]] Veronica didn't need Eliza to communicate telepathically at that point. Eliza's mind was open to her, and it was an angry place. She had always assumed that Eliza had been exaggerating about her relationship with her father. Now, Veronica was just waiting for somebody to actually throw something. [[ I would say that trouble found me this time, ]] Eliza replied. [[ Despite rumors to the contrary, not EVERYTHING is my fault. ]] [[ That's not what I was . . . ]] Evlidone started. Then he took a deep breath. [[ I just meant to say that you've always managed to get mixed up in things you should probably avoid. ]] Without actually meaning to, his eyes had drifted over to Veronica, a fact NOT lost of Eliza. [[ I was wondering how long that would take, ]] Eliza said. [[ How long what 'would take'? ]] He put his hands together and started in a placating manner, [[ Listen, I know things have been a strain on you this last year, but everything is back under control now. You could come back home and apply for that court sorceress position. And now that you and Valar are back on speaking terms . . . ]] [[ Stop it! ]] Eliza said, standing up quickly. [[ I don't WANT to be a court sorceress, and there is no chance in the six levels of the underworld that I would EVER accept being courted by Valar again! I am with her, ]] she added, pointing wildly at Veronica who was wishing very much that she was somewhere else. [[ Watch your tone young lady, ]] Evlidone said, his eyes narrowing. [[ Whatever transformation you underwent has clearly altered your perceptions and . . . ]] [[ 'Transformation'? I can't BELIEVE this! The transformation I underwent when I was dying trying to save the woman I had been IN LOVE WITH for months? I was attracted to females long before I ever stepped foot on Earth. ]] [[ Nonsense, ]] her father said. [[ You were too young to know what you wanted! Now that you've got all this foolishness out of your system . . .]] Alyidana's eyes shot open and she stared at her husband. 'He did NOT just say that?' she thought to herself. But the expression of anger on her daughter's face told the story. She hurried out the door, grabbing a stunned looked Veronica by the arm and dragging her along. Even before the door closed, items in the room had begun to levitate and the furniture began to shatter as the two powerful spell casters lost some control of their wills and began to scream at each other. [[ Foolishness?!? ]] Eliza bellowed as the door closed behind her mother and girlfriend. [[ I knew exactly what I wanted, you overbearing . . . ]] [[ Watch your tone with me young lady! ]] her father responded, crushing the wooden bench in front of him with an angry clench of his hand. [[ Even if you're determined to show me no respect . . . as usual . . . at LEAST try to maintain a semi-professional demeanor for once in your life! ]] [[ I've BEEN professional for years! You just never approved of my profession! You never approved of the way I CHOSE to live my life, and I don't know why I was hoping for you to approve of the things I CAN'T choose! You're such a self-absorbed . . . ]] It was Eliza's father's turn to interrupt. [[ Self-absorbed?!? How many times have I bailed you out of messes? When you got in trouble at your academies . . . many times? When you were picking fights? When Earth police picked you up when you were visiting France and HAD to go insulting that silly tower of theirs? You are so bound and determined to do everything YOUR way without ever considering the consequences! Now I find that you've been gallivanting around Earth with another female, without showing even the slightest bit of discretion! ]] [[ I'm a homosexual, you sanctimonious . . . ]] Eliza stopped and flung her hand to one side, smashing a lamp that was twenty feet away. [[ I'm not going to hide who I am for the sake of your convenience! I LOVE that woman, ]] she shouted, pointing her finger at the door and making it creak at the hinges under the weight of her will. [[ I wanted to introduce her to you. By the Gods, I wanted your approval, even though your approval is something you've NEVER given me! I almost died for her, and the only thing you give a DAMN about is that I might have made you look bad while doing it! ]] [[ Eliza . . . ]] Evlidone started, but his daughter had spun on her heel and headed for the door. ---------- ----------- Outside . . . ---------- ----------- The crowd that had been waiting outside attempted to look like they hadn't been eavesdropping when the two women had come out the door. Alyidana had turned to Veronica and started to say something. Then she had remembered that the other woman probably didn't speak the language, so she pointed first at her head and then at Veronica's. Veronica nodded. {{ It's . . . nice . . . to meet you, }} she sent after establishing a telepathic link. Once the link was up, she found Veronica's mind to be very clear. She had apparently become quite adept at communicating with her mind. {{ Likewise, I'm . . . }} Veronica had started to respond when they heard the sounds of furniture being roughly relocated in the room behind them. Even with the door closed, there were some pretty distinct and very unflattering words coming from inside. Within a minute or so, Eliza had come storming out and made a beeline for the portal. Veronica hurried after her lover as the crowd parted to let the two women through. She noticed the looks on the onlookers' faces, ranging from pity to disgust. She was beginning to wish that she hadn't encouraged Eliza to come back here. The guards at the top of the ramp looked nervous as they stepped aside. Eliza just plunged through the barrier and onto the other side, where people didn't seem to pay her any mind at all. They were all too busy with their own lives to pay attention to one crying woman and her lover. As soon as they hit the night air outside Point Terminal, Veronica moved to get in front of Eliza. "Sweetheart, what . . ." "Get out of my way," the white-haired Hybrid said. "I think I listened to you too much already," she added, pushing her way past. "I didn't mean . . ." Veronica started, but there was no one there to listen. Eliza quickly vanished into darkness. Veronica felt the tears welling up as she headed for her hotel. She wanted to chase after her girlfriend, but she knew Eliza was in no mood to listen. As soon as Veronica got up to her room and flopped down on the bed, she heard a knock on the door from the adjoining room. "Go away!" she said. Then she heard the door opening. "What part of 'go away' did you have a problem with?" "It's hard to understand you when you're crying," Vicky said as she sat down on the bed and stroked her sister's hair. "I was just waiting to see how things went with your lady-friend's folks. Not well I take it?" "I'm not sure if she's madder at me or her father." Veronica rolled over and laid her head in Vicky's lap. How many times had they consoled one another just like that after a job or relationship had gone south? "I always thought she was making it up, you know? How things were between her and her dad. But she wasn't. He was just so . . . and I almost forced her into this stupid confrontation when I should've just let well enough alone." "You thought that things between them should've been more like us. And you were right to do it. Whatever happened was inevitable, and at least now they've gotten it out of their systems. And don't be too hard on her father. He may actually not KNOW how to deal with this." "From the sounds of things, he's NEVER known how to deal with her. Hell, I'm still having problems figuring her out, and I've been sleeping with her for over a year. I live in her mind half the time, so how come I didn't just believe her?" "You wanted a happy ending," Vicky crooned. "And it's never too late for happy endings." "I just want to go to sleep and wake up when everything's better." "So why DON'T you get some sleep?" Veronica sighed. "Damned Hybrid physiology. I don't sleep more than a couple hours a day unless I've expended a hell of a lot of energy." She looked up at her sister. "I'm glad you're back. Sorry I had to go and have a scene on you." "It's okay. You've always been the one to want to see the best in people, but this time it kind of bit you on the ass." Vicky stopped and kissed her sister on the forehead. "By the way, are you comin' home with us? I think Mom and Dad want to smother me with love and brownies, and I don't think I can handle that much of either on my own." "Yeah, I guess so. I'm going to stick around for Kelik's funeral services. I owe him that. Then . . . I just hope Eliza has calmed down by then." She stifled a yawn. "You should have seen her . . . I never realized just how powerful she was until she and her father started breaking things. Her mother seemed nice enough . . ." She rested her head on her sister's leg. Talking with Vicky usually helped calm her down. "Veronica?" "Yes?" "After we visit with the folks, mind if I come stay with you for a bit?" "I GUESS so," Veronica said with exaggerated exasperation before managing a chuckle. "I'll have to warn you though, we have some WEIRD roommates." -------------- ----------------- The next evening . . . -------------- ----------------- Veronica stood next to Eliza, slightly separated from the rest of the crowd of mourners at the funeral services for Ambassador Kelik. The blonde woman had found her lover sitting on the steps of the hotel the next morning, her eyes having turned an indefinable shade after crying all night. Veronica had just sat down next to her lover, but Eliza took Veronica's hand and held it. There was no blame to be allotted or apologies to be made between the two women. Eliza knew that Veronica had only meant well, and Veronica finally understood her lover's frustration. They had gone back up to the hotel room, gotten cleaned and dressed, then headed back across to Terra with the rest of Eliza's team in tow. Both women made it a policy not to meet anyone's gaze. They had gone to a teleportation station and almost instantly arrived in the small town that Kelik had lived in his younger days. They found that Thug and Tiny were already there. The trolls had been visiting some old acquaintances before the ceremony. Things had been tense at first, when Eliza and her father saw each other, but they sat apart, didn't speak and let the procession go on without interruption. With two trolls directly behind her, no one was about to give Eliza any trouble. Kelik's body had been put in stasis until it could be returned to his homeworld, allowing for an open viewing and a traditional Whispering. The Whispering was a vampire tradition where mourners leaned in and told a secret to the dead so that the departing spirit could take a piece of that friend, acquaintance or loved one with him or her as they crossed to the other side. Eliza took her turn, then Veronica. Neither asked what the other had said, and neither would intrude on each other's thoughts to find out. As soon as the service was over, the two Hybrids headed down the small hill where Kelik had been laid to rest, vanishing into the darkness to their carriage. But there was someone waiting at the base of the hill. Eliza's mother had whispered early so she could intercept her daughter. [[ No matter what, I want you to know I love you, ]] the woman said. [[ And though you don't want to hear it and probably won't believe me, so does your father. ]] Eliza hugged her mother, trying not to avoid crying again. [[ Would it kill him to say it? ]] she asked. [[ Just once? ]] Her mother gripped her hand for a moment then kissed her on the cheek before Eliza climbed into the carriage and signaled the driver to go. "So you'll be going to your parents then?" Eliza asked, desperate to ward off her sorrow with conversation. She had buried a friend in enemy territory, and she wanted so badly to escape to the safety of her compound on Earth. "If you like, I could . . ." "No, go," Eliza said. "I'll be okay. I just need to see what the gang wants to do now that we don't have to save the world for a while." Veronica stared for a moment, then kissed her girlfriend slowly and softly. "In case you had any questions as to whether or not I loved you," she said with an emphasis on "I." "By the way, Vicky wants to come stay with us for a while afterwards. I told her that'd be alright, since I didn't think we'd be taking any jobs anytime soon." "That's fine, as long as you trust me around another lesbian that looks JUST like you," Eliza joked feebly. "Don't EVEN go there," Veronica said. "Always check the eyes before sex," she said, pulling down on the skin just below her eyes. "And stay away from Terillia! If you start having any 'needs,' fall asleep between one and three o'clock in the morning." "See you in my dreams?" Eliza asked. "You can count on it." --------------- ------------------- A few nights later . . . --------------- ------------------- Eliza was pissed off at her mental error. She had planned on a dream meeting with her lover the previous night, but had completely forgotten the difference in time zones. She knew Veronica would never let her live that down. She felt a little foolish, having dressed for sex that would only happen in her head. Ever since the two women had established their mental link over a year earlier, their minds had gotten closer to the point where they shared very . . . explicit . . . dreams. This connection had allowed Eliza to help rescue Veronica from her kidnappers, though at a terrible price to her own health. But even while unconscious and recovering, the two women had managed to provide comfort for each other. So while dressed in a tiny thong, a silk bra and with a faint waft of perfume floating around her bedroom, she lay underneath her covers and tried to get some shuteye. "I just hope you're online," she said to the ceiling before closing her eyes. ---------------- -------------------------------- Somewhere in the dreamscape . . . ---------------- -------------------------------- It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 05 Veronica was a little late arriving in the land beyond the waking world. Her sister had been talking her head off until she politely excused herself. But Eliza had apparently been unavailable the prior night, so Veronica felt she had earned some leeway. But it was worth the wait! She found herself walking up a stone path through some unusual looking trees next to an enormous river. She heard the roaring of waterfalls up ahead and smiled. Her lover was imagining a place from her youth that she and Vicky had been talking about. As Veronica made her way up the path, clad in a flowing white gown made of silk, a pair of white bikini-style panties that she knew Eliza liked and thigh-high stockings. When the waterfalls came into view, they were as magnificent as she had been told. But the water wasn't what caught her attention. Sticking out from the riverbank was an enormous rock, which was constantly being pummeled by the water and the wind and the spray. Lying on top of the rock right next to the edge was Eliza, dressed in some of the skimpy lingerie that made Veronica's mouth water. The soft fabric of the bra was soaking wet, causing the white-haired Hybrid's nipples to visibly stand out. And Eliza's face held the promise of passion and a sense of anticipation. {{ You're late, }} came Eliza's voice. {{ I was busy, }} Veronica replied. {{ I hope it was worth the wait, }} she added, letting the wind blow the front of her gown open and expose that wonderfully curvaceous body. {{ Always, }} Eliza murmured. Veronica sniffed the air. {{ You're wearing perfume? }} {{ I thought you might like it, }} Eliza said, blushing a bit. {{ I do, }} Veronica thought, keeling with her legs straddling Eliza's hips and leaning in, inhaling deeply as her nose was close to her lover's neck. She felt a spray of water cascade over her as the current hit the rock and as her robe clung to her body, she lay directly on Eliza's body to "help keep warm." Her lips found their way to Eliza's mouth, and her tongue drifted between Eliza's lips for a quick but passionate visit. She felt her lover's hands creeping up under the robe and latching on to Veronica's nicely rounded ass cheeks. And while Veronica had intended for the kiss to be a tease, Eliza was apparently in no mood to be teased as she shoved her own tongue into her girlfriend's mouth and kissed her until they both ran out of breath. {{ What, no foreplay? }} Veronica thought, obviously amused. {{ You can have all the foreplay you want when you get home, }} Eliza almost growled. {{ I need it, and I need it bad! }} {{ So impatient, }} Veronica responded demurely. She straightened her back, stuck out her arms and her robe magically ripped itself in half, leaving the blonde woman in just her panties and stockings. While she preferred making love in the real world, these sex dreams had some definite benefits, including the ability to make up the rules as they went. Then she moved forward and squatted over Eliza's face. She had something clever she wanted to say, but the thought died in her mind as Eliza's tongue entered Veronica's crotch. Veronica leaned back, bracing herself with her arms as Eliza set about her work. Eliza loved the view: her lover leaning backwards with her breasts thrusting boldly outward, the spray of the water trickling down her smooth abdomen. She sensed the plumpness of Veronica's outer labia and the warmth of her box. She could barely wait until she could get the real thing in her bed again, but this dream-version of her dream woman would have to do. She wrapped an arm around one of her lover's legs so she could massage Veronica's clitoral area and upper mound in small, slow circles while her tongue darted around inside the cleft. Then she pulled her tongue out and traced around Veronica's opening with the tip, flicking that powerful muscle at the tender area between vaginal and anal openings. But she couldn't stay out of her lover's pussy for long. She went back to lapping like a thirsty dog, badly wanting to make Veronica howl. Veronica was gently gyrating her hips and enjoying giving Eliza's face a ride. She wasn't sure why her girlfriend seemed to succumbing to this sense of desperation, but whatever it was had turned the woman's oral game up a notch. Then she felt Eliza's tongue tickling her backdoor and she moaned in her mind. Her lover was making all of Veronica's lower private parts tingle with delight. Then Eliza's tongue returned to the depths of Veronica's cunt and she continued her licking, but its place in her asshole was replaced with one of Eliza's fingers. Veronica was actually seeing stars as the pressure began to build. {{ Sweet Jesus, I'm . . . I'm cumming! }} she thought. Just as Veronica's body succumbed to the incredible pleasure, she was hit with another jet of water from the river below that "miraculously" managed to sweep the remaining clothes from the bodies of both women. But the cold spray couldn't abate the heat of Veronica's body, and she let loose a torrent of her own, all over Eliza's face. Eliza kept nuzzling even after Veronica's orgasm was over. There was something particularly intimate in the act for her . . . more so than usual. {{ That was some of your better work, }} Veronica thought, scooting back, bending over and giving Eliza's now-sticky mouth a kiss. {{ I'm looking forward to getting the real thing. }} {{ You'll be home soon? }} Eliza thought, trying not to let on the need she felt to be with Veronica again. {{ A few more days, }} came the reply as Veronica reached around behind her and curled her fingers into Eliza's moist sex. As those magic fingers began to dance and Eliza pushed her hips against them, Veronica continued. {{ Things might get a bit crowded considering, }} she thought as she spread those tight pussy lips with her fingers and flicking the clit with her thumb. {{ Are you sure that . . . }} Her stream of thought was cut off when Eliza raised her back off the rock and latched her lips to one of Veronica's nipples and nursed gently. Eliza didn't want to think for a bit. Thinking just made her head hurt those days. She just wanted to feel good, and that's what Veronica did for her. So she lathered attention on those warm mounds on her lover's chest that were dripping with spray from the river. And Veronica just kept her fingers moving, quickly and steadily bringing Eliza closer to paradise. She stretched her fingers as much as she could, trying to reach the sweet spot. If she hit it, she could make Eliza do almost anything she wanted. And when Eliza's eyes shot open and she looked like she was gasping into the air of the dream, Veronica knew she had found it. {{ Now, you're MINE! }} she thought wickedly. {{ I'm always yours, }} Eliza thought back as ecstasy coursed through her veins. Veronica's fingers felt longer than usual, or maybe she had just gotten better at using them. Either way, Eliza's brain was on sexual overload. She began switching her own oral attentions from one of Veronica's breasts to the other. She took the nubs between her teeth and lightly pressed down, making Veronica shudder and clutch her lover's head. Veronica sensed that Eliza wanted this to last. She was wondering if there was something going on in that beautiful head, but she thought it best to wait until they were together in the real-world flesh before bringing it up. In the meantime, all she could do was make Eliza's dreams come true. Whenever her lover seemed to be getting too close to release, Veronica eased off the clit and the g-spot until Eliza's body had reluctantly settled. It wasn't easy, as Eliza's infernally soft lips and talented tongue on Veronica's tits were making her want to scream. Finally, Eliza pressed her legs together and captured Veronica's hand, and the white-haired Hybrid had a look of absolute lust on her face. So Veronica smiled, prodding the sensitive areas inside Eliza's box and tickling the clitoral hood with her thumb. Then she felt those vaginal muscles squeeze and lock down on her fingers, and she felt the warmth of girl-cum flowing onto her hand. Eliza had reluctantly released Veronica's melons from her mouth as she began to cum, but her body couldn't afford to divert any energy away from that perfect moment of pleasure. {{ Don't stop! }} she thought as Veronica's fingers temporarily slowed as if to await the cessation of the climax. {{ Please don't stop! }} Veronica was more than happy to oblige, though it wasn't exactly easy going as her lover's pulsating pussy had tightened to the point that movement was labored. But she kept her fingers pumping until Eliza's body finally came to rest back on the rock. As Eliza lay there helpless as a baby, Veronica lay down on top of her, pressing their bodies together. More water splashed over their bodies as they embraced and kissed, but they didn't feel the cold anymore. {{ Do you want some more? }} Veronica thought. {{ I . . . I want you to be here, }} Eliza thought. {{ I love doing this, but . . . }} {{ But it just isn't as satisfying as the real thing, }} Veronica thought while cracking a smile. {{ I want it to. Just a couple more days. }} She arched her neck and silently laughed into the dreamscape. {{ What a pair we are, }} she added in response to Eliza's quizzical look. {{ We can fight wars without blinking but get nervous about crossing the street without holding each other's hands! }} {{ It's not THAT bad, }} Eliza grumbled. {{ Is it? }} Veronica smiled and kissed Eliza. Then she began to fade from view, and she looked more than slightly irritated at the fact. She blew her lover a kiss, then disappeared back into . . . ---------- -------------------- . . . the Real World . . . ---------- -------------------- Veronica awoke with a start as she felt someone shaking her shoulders. She opened her eyes to see Vicky sitting next to her. "Wake up!" her sister was whispering vehemently. "I heard you moaning," she added when she saw her sister was awake. "Are you okay? You're covered in sweat and . . ." Vicky was a bit alarmed when Veronica started chuckling. "What?!? What's so funny? Jesus mother of . . . you had me scared to death! I thought someone was attacking you in your head or something and . . . Would you stop laughing?!?" Veronica couldn't help herself. She was clutching her damp midsection and trying to stop laughing long enough to breathe. Finally, she was able to speak again. "Oh God, I needed that! I guess I'd better explain some things to you. Promise you won't tell Mom and Dad though. This would freak them out!" Veronica sat up, still in her lingerie, and started to explain the mental link that she and Eliza shared and some of its "fringe benefits." Finally, Vicky went back to her room, mumbling about how she hadn't gotten much action in over a year, but her sister was getting laid in her sleep! ------------ -------------------- A few days later . . . ------------ -------------------- Eliza was sitting dejectedly in her living area, staring at the video-stream. Allyson was getting a shoulder-rub from her husband Dennis, Wyrm was "researching," (which was his term for downloading anime porn), and Thug was out by the pond staring at ducks. The day before, the group had decided to continue their work as a security force, due to the sheer boredom that would ensue if they tried to retire, so they had hired on the succubus known as Terillia as well as the troll Tiny. These two new members were sitting over by the bar filling out paperwork and tax forms. Actually, Terillia was doing the writing for both of them since Tiny's fingers weren't exactly built for that sort of work. Eliza had sacrificed several ballpoint pens figuring THAT one out. Eliza was sitting around watching the national videostreams. The reopening of the dimensional portal was still the top news story, and there were increasing reports of unrest on Terra regarding a renewed policy of aggression by the Swords of Cleansing, who were apparently pretty pissed that the gateway was open again. But that was on Terra. Eliza sighed. She was a vampire by birth, but she knew she would never be asked to aid in the defense of her own homeland. So she tried to bury herself in her remodeling plans. Her five-structure compound was going to be expanded to accommodate the growth of her team, including new housing for the new members, an official guest residence and a villa-style home for Veronica and Eliza. She had already ordered the groundwork to begin, but she couldn't decide on a floor plan. "I'm just no good at this," she muttered. "Give me something I can shoot. Master bathrooms are beyond me." Just then, the front door swung open and Veronica and Vicky strode in. Veronica was carrying all of their luggage, much to her sister's amazement. "She's like a pack mule," Vicky muttered in amazement. Eliza stood up, trying to look as casual as possible. "Hey," she started. "What kept you?" Veronica dumped the baggage on the floor and strode over to her lover. "Traffic," she muttered, wrapping her arms around Eliza's neck and kissed her. While Eliza may have been trying to play it cool and composed, Veronica had no such compulsion. "What'cha working on?" "Plans for the new compound and . . . and the new house . . . which we were going to live in . . . together." Eliza had no idea why she was so nervous. Veronica had pretty much been living with her for a long time anyway. Veronica smiled. She actually understood. Her lover was a century old, but it hadn't been until the last year that Eliza realized that she might have a chance at something permanent. Building a house together was definitely a permanent thing. She picked up the plans off the table. "Uhm, sweetie?" "Yes?" "This says villa-style home. I'm not sure what you meant by 'villa,' but this looks like a military bunker. Without all that annoying 'homey' feeling." Eliza sighed and sat down. "Not good?" Veronica kissed her on the top of the head. "It's perfect. If you're planning on going to war again. Which you're not, are you?" she asked nervously. Then she and Eliza looked at each other and began to laugh. Veronica handed the plans to Vicky. "Spanish style villa," she said to her sister. "Think you can handle it?" Vicky looked over the plans and made an "icky" face. "Uhm, this just won't do. And you're putting in three other buildings?" "Yeah," Eliza said. "Two new employee residences and . . ." "Ahem," Veronica said, finally noticing that Terillia was sitting in the room, trying to avoid direct eye contact with the blonde Hybrid. {{ WHAT . . . is SHE doing here? }} {{ The group voted to stay in business and we figured we could use the support. Veronica, there is NOTHING that's going to happen! She got carried away and . . . }} {{ Stuck her tongue down your throat, }} Veronica thought. Then she waved off Eliza's upcoming objection. {{ Yeah, yeah, I know. Spur of the moment thing. Just don't let it happen again, }} she thought, the smile returning to her lips. {{ I love you, ya know. }} Eliza blushed. Veronica smiled. Vicky kept looking over the plans that looked more like military fortifications than housing. "How much money do you have to spend?" Vicky asked of Eliza. "I need to know how much . . ." Eliza had turned to Wyrm. "Hey, how much do we have allocated for rebuilding?" Wyrm sent his computer clicking and whirring. Finally, "About twenty million World Dollars," he said. Unless you want something extravagant." Vicky's jaw hit her chest. "Twenty . . . twenty million?!? Holy shit! How . . . never mind. Four new buildings including one deluxe Spanish style villa, coming up!" Veronica noticed that her sister was already beginning to drool. Vicky had always had more fashion sense, so letting her oversee the new facilities made sense. And Vicky LOVED to spend money! ---------- --------------------- That evening . . . ---------- --------------------- Veronica and Eliza were sitting at one end of the dining room table, looking over the new plans for their domicile. Vicky was glad she was going to be in charge of decoration, since the two Hybrids were primarily concerned with where they were going to put their gun safe. Both women might have been effeminate in some ways, but they were both soldiers at heart. Allyson and Dennis had retired to their house to perform "marital obligations" while Thug and Tiny were both out staring at ducks on the pond. Wyrm had just started a twelve-hour Diablo 20 marathon with some friends on-line, leaving Vicky to go exploring the new compound on her own. She was happy with the plans she had devised for the new buildings. She was no architect, but she was pretty good at developing a coherent feel in design. It was one of the many possible careers she had started on and then abandoned when something else caught her fancy. Her most recent endeavor in cultural exchange had been the most rewarding for her and she hoped to pursue it again . . . at least as soon as she found funding for it. That was one reason she had spent so much time working on the layout for the new guesthouse. She was hoping to stay there for a while as she was getting back on her feet. Besides, she missed getting to spend time with her sister. Veronica might not be a human anymore, but she was still closer to Vicky than anyone else in the world. Vicky couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy over Eliza's usurping of Vicky's place in Veronica's priority hierarchy, but she couldn't hold on to that feeling. Eliza and Veronica were perfect together. Vicky wandered around the compound for a while, just taking in the immensity of it all. Eliza and her crew had done well for themselves. The property was fairly vast, sprawling and well guarded. She avoided poking around the private domiciles, though she was tempted to have a look through Eliza's place. She admired her sister's taste . . . Eliza was a hottie. Vicky found herself walking up a trail that led up into the mountains behind the main compound. She remembered back when she had been the "wild child" in the family, always looking for fame and glory. Then her sister joined a swat team, worked as a United States envoy, had gotten herself involved in military actions, been kidnapped and formed her own species. Vicky was feeling a bit like an underachiever all of a sudden. "What the hell happened?" she asked of the sunset. "When?" Vicky jumped almost out of her skin when a strange voice crept out of the dimming light. She turned and saw the succubus that she had seen in the meeting room earlier. "Good grief, you scared the shit out of me!" she said, holding her hand over her heart. Terillia just looked at her for a moment, trying to sense if "scared the shit out" was one of those English phrases that was just a phrase or should be taken literally. Finally, she accepted it was just a saying. "I apologize," she said, ruffling her feathers a bit and stretching her wings. She had been sitting up on that rock for about an hour, and it was beginning to wear on her. "I thought you were talking to me." "I didn't even see you. I think I'm the only one around here who can't see very well in the dark." Terillia sat back down on the rock and wrapped her wings around herself like a cocoon. She was a bit sensitive to the cold, and even the mild late Falls of California made her a bit nippy. "I'm sorry, but I don't know if I caught your name?" Vicky said. "Terillia," the succubus said, somewhat forlornly. "Something bothering you?" Vicky asked, leaning against the boulder that the succubus was perched on. "I was so happy that Ms. Eliza agreed to hire me and that I didn't half to go back to Terra . . . then . . . that woman that looks just like you but isn't . . ." "My sister?" Vicky said. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 05 "Yes. She doesn't like me very much," Terillia said. Vicky grinned. "So you ARE the one who kissed Eliza!" Terillia flushed blue and almost made Vicky chortle. She had spent some time in a succubae aerie and she was a little more accustomed than most to their peculiarities. They were a very . . . forward . . . race, prone to saying or doing whatever was on their minds. "Don't worry, she doesn't hate you. She's just really serious about Eliza. If it makes you feel any better, I actually STOLE one of her girlfriends when we were younger, and she eventually forgave me. Especially after the bitch turned out to be a total psycho," Vicky grumbled. She and Veronica had been arguing a lot at the time and Vicky had done what she had done out of spite, and it had turned around to bite her in the ass. "Trust me, you'll be fine." Terillia smiled. "You . . . do you truly believe that?" Vicky climbed up onto the rock and had a seat. She knew from experience that even though they were the least physically powerful race on Terra, their warring ancestry and cunning made succubae drawn to people of power. Most existing aeries were formed by succubae warlords and warrior maidens during Terra's dark ages, and these aeries were very much like city-states on Earth. Unlike many other races, succubae were raised by communities rather than families. There were about three succubae females for every male, so monogamous relationships were almost unheard of. Succubae were egg-layers; the males were kept busy during mating cycles trying to keep the almost berserk females satisfied. If their eggs weren't fertilized, they never really began developing and were absorbed back into the body. If the egg was fertilized, it grew, was laid and then raised by succubae in the aerie whose sole job was to look over the offspring. Most succubae young had no idea who their biological parents were. For that reason, the concept of a "sibling" as humans understood it was completely foreign to them, and the concept of a "twin" generally boggled their minds. For a succubus to want to semi-permanently distance herself from his or her community showed the amount of respect that Terillia must have for Eliza. The fact that Terillia appeared to be gay probably didn't encourage her to go home either. "That is good," Terillia said after a moment. "I wish for your sister to like me. I wish to fit in here." "They hired you, so I guess they think you have some talent. Just be yourself, and I'm sure you'll be fine." Vicky actually shivered a bit herself as a cool wind crept down from the mountain. "Are you really that afraid of going home?" she asked. "Why would I be afraid?" Terillia asked, extending a wing and encompassing Vicky's body with it. The human woman found it surprisingly warm as she scooted closer to the succubus. She knew that if Terillia saw her as part of the succubae's new "community" that she would begin to act protective of Vicky as well. "I don't know if I'm reading too much into you kissing Eliza, but . . ." Terillia blushed again. "No, that is not the reason I stay. At least, it is not the only reason. While frowned upon, my people are not nearly as strict about same-sex coupling. When you have three females for every male, it is not entirely uncommon for females to . . . how do you say . . . take matters into their own hands to . . . satisfy certain carnal cravings." Terillia stared up at the stars. "I . . . I want an adventure!" she gasped forcefully at the night sky. "I don't wish to live my whole life no more than a few . . . miles . . . from where I was raised. As horrible as it sounds, I was excited when the dimensional gap closed, and I was excited when Ms. Eliza declared her war! Because it meant that I was going to be part of something . . . to be part of a legend!" Vicky smiled. "My sister was always such a stickler when we were young. She came home early, did her homework, never broker curfew . . . you name it. If it was something 'good girls' did, then Veronica did it. I . . . I tended to break more rules. I was kind of like you. I wanted to go to new places and see new things. Turns out that my sister wound up surviving the great adventure, and I had to abide by rules on another world that I didn't even understand." "Have you . . . have you gone places and seen things? Tell me," Terillia requested with a glimmer in her eyes. "Tell of the places you have seen!" "Okay," Vicky said, taken aback by this woman's enthusiasm. She had traveled two globes in her thirty-three years of life. Vicky soon found herself caught up in the fond recollections of her travels. It was nice having someone so eager to listen, and the two talked long into the night. ---------------- ------------- The next day . . . ---------------- ------------- The entire crew was still asleep when Eliza sat down on the couch and turned on the holo-projector and switched to one of the news streams. She poured herself a cup of coffee as she watched for news of her homeworld. When she had been transformed into a Hybrid, she had gained an appreciation for certain foods and beverages that she had never been able to intake before, and coffee had become one of her favorites, preferably with LOTS of sugar and chocolate creamer. A report came on about insurgency actions by the Swords of Cleansing. There was a recorded "press conference" where Eliza's father discussed how the security crackdown was going. Eliza couldn't even describe how it felt when she watched her father. She wanted to shout at him, but she wanted to help him. She didn't want to talk to him, but wanted for him to at least ask for her help. She had helped suppress the revolutionaries here on Earth. Why couldn't he acknowledge that? Why did he have to be so . . . {{ Stubborn? }} came Veronica's thought. {{ I thought you were still asleep, }} Eliza said, kissing her lover's hand as Veronica approached from behind and hugged Eliza's head. {{ You should've woken me. It doesn't do you any good to come out her and mope by yourself. }} Veronica sat down next to Eliza and stole a sip of coffee. "I hate this," Eliza said out loud. "We were right in the thick of it for so long . . . Isn't it weird that we're just spectators now?" "I don't think that's what's bothering you. We've done our job and then some." Eliza sighed and rested her head on Veronica's shoulder. "What else can I do, pet? I'm about a century old, so why do I STILL want his approval?" "I've come to the conclusion that we'll never understand our parents any better than they understand us. And since the last time I made a suggestion on how to deal with your father turned out to be disastrous," she added, kissing Eliza on the lips, "I think I'll refrain. Just remember that there ARE people who care for you and respect you and you don't have to travel to another world to find them." "I love you, you know that?" Just as Eliza's lips met, they heard an "Awwwh, how cute," coming from the entryway. "Hey Vicky!" Veronica said. Vicky came in dressed in a sleeping shirt that came down halfway past her thighs, and Eliza got a light punch in the arm for staring just a little too long at those shapely legs. {{ What? }} Eliza sent telepathically. {{ It's not like I haven't seen them before! }} she added, glancing at Veronica's legs. {{ Behave yourself, }} came the amused reply. "Stop talking with your brains," Vicky mumbled, pouring herself a glass of juice and then joining them on the sofa. "It's creepy and it's too damn early for me to handle." "Then go back to bed," Veronica said, getting up to get herself some coffee. "Can't. Could I just crash in here tonight? Dennis and Allyson are great, but they both snore like you wouldn't believe! And they have noisy sex! I couldn't get to sleep until they were finished!" Eliza laughed. "You should've been around when I first had the compound built. They accidentally left the intercom on once, so Thug, Wyrm and I all got earfuls." Vicky looked at the video-stream. "By the way, anyone know what happened to the Living Jewels?" she asked as the anchorman started discussing the bridge created by The Dragon's Breath. "Four of them are going to be kept on Terra and the other four on Earth. They're keeping it hushed as to which one is going where, so I had Wyrm hack the government's system. What?" she asked when Veronica shot her a dirty look. "Hey, remember that these are the clowns that fired you." She turned back to Vicky. "Anyway, The Dragon's Breath, The Ocean's Heart, The Serpent's Kiss and The Dead Man's World are staying here. They don't want to expose The Dead Man's World to the magic of Terra. If someone got a hold of it over there who had evil intentions, they could do a hell of a lot more damage than they probably could do here. I've heard that the Council of Sorcerers is trying to research them and find out where they came from. Wherever that might be or whatever they are, they show a definite link between the two worlds, and that makes them important." "Kind of like you two," Vicky said almost absently. When Veronica looked quizzical, Vicky continued. "You said it yourself once. The fact that you two were combined when nothing else could be and this . . . link? This link that you share proves a relationship between races of different worlds." "The Common Stock Theory," Eliza said. "Somehow, Terrans and Earthlings come from some common background or stock, but no one is quite sure how. It was just a wild theory until recently, and now Terran scholars have gone nuts with it." "And guys like the Purity and the Swords of Cleansing probably aren't keen on the idea," Veronica said. "Well, that's all a bunch of philosophical mumbo-jumbo, and it's not our problem. We just need to get our mind back on business and let the rest of this stuff sort itself out." "Speaking of business," Vicky said, looking a little guilty, "I was wondering what I could do to help out around here? I'm not much of a security person, but I don't want to be a burden." "Don't worry about it," Eliza said, squeezing her girlfriend's hand. "You're practically family. You weren't planning on staying that long . . ." She stopped when she saw Vicky blush. "How long were you planning on staying?" Veronica asked, suddenly suspicious. "Uhm," Vicky started, glancing nervously between the other two women. "I'm actually kind of broke. Dead broke." "You bitch!" Veronica said. "You spent ALL that grant money?" "I was trapped over there for a year," Vicky started defensively. "We kind of got our funding cut off. I mean, the host agency helped us with food and housing and everything but . . ." "But what?" Veronica asked. "Well, you know how a lot of places, especially the vampire provinces, feel about same-sex encounters, so finding . . . companionship . . . wasn't always easy." Veronica flopped back in the comfort of the sofa and covered her face. "PLEASE don't tell me you spent money allocated to you by the government on prostitutes!" "Absolutely not!" Vicky said. "I spent the government's money on my troupe. I spent my OWN money on prostitutes. That's why I'm broke. I was impressed to find they even had prostitutes over there, and oh my GOD are they expensive!" Veronica was going to respond, but Eliza had fallen off the couch and was laughing her head off. "You're not helping," Veronica said to her guffawing girlfriend. ------------- --------------- That evening . . . ------------- --------------- "I can't believe they're making me do their shopping," Vicky mumbled as she wandered through the grocery store with Terillia in tow. "I feel like a maid!" Terillia was absolutely fascinated by her surroundings and was barely listening to what her compatriot had been saying. She had traveled around Earth for a month before the dimensional portal closed but had been restricted in her movements until being called up by Eliza and Valar to make war. She had taken in a lot of "tourist" sights, but hadn't really experienced much of "normal" Earth culture. And she was amazed at the random variety of things that humans tended to ingest. Succubae had fairly basic diets of meat and assorted vegetables that could be grown at higher altitudes. Anything else was considered a delicacy. Vicky had to literally drag the young succubus out of the candy section before something bad happened. Vicky was actually a bit amused by Terillia's antics. It was a lot like shopping with a very shapely five-year old at times. Some people stopped and stared at the succubus, but most had seen stranger sights than a winged woman with pale, bluish skin wandering through a grocery store. Vicky was just happy that Eliza owned a transport big enough to carry a couple of trolls if necessary, so transporting the Mistress of the Enormous Wingspan wasn't so tough. Eliza had thought it might be nice for the youngest member of the team to start to develop a feel for her surroundings, so she had been sent along with Vicky. Vicky thought Veronica's desire to keep the "emotional" winged creature as far away from Eliza as possible MIGHT have had something to do with it. "I'm honored to be allowed to help," Terillia said as she examined a large bag of marshmallows. "You might want to put those back," Vicky said. "They'll go straight to your hips." Terillia looked confused and placed the bag next to her slender hips. "So they're a garment then?" Vicky started to speak but noticed a shy smile on Terillia's face. "So you CAN make jokes?" she said. Terillia let out a short, high-pitched noise which was the succubae equivalent of laughter. "I'm . . . still not very confident in my English," she said, looking around. "Here," Vicky said, handing the girl a bag of beef-jerky. "This is mostly protein and almost no fat." "Thank you," Terillia said, looking at the bag hungrily. "No problem. We'll pick you up a diet soda on the way out." "What is it like?" Terillia asked suddenly. "Having a sister?" "Kind of difficult question. For me, I can't imagine what it would be like NOT to have one. It's like . . . imagine your closest friend sharing the same blood as you. You miss your friends? You're aerie?" "Yes . . . and no. I . . . I did not have many friends. At an early age, they all . . . lost themselves in the community. I never did. I always felt like . . . like an outsider." Terillia stopped and blushed. "I am sorry. I barely know you . . ." "It's okay. Listening is something I CAN do." Terillia smiled. "So why do you see this outing as punishment? Don't you like to shop?" "Normally, I love to. Maybe I love shopping too much. But I'm broke, so I'm sort of relegated to running errands because my sister's too nice to kick me out on my ass." Vicky went on to explain her financial woes. Succubae were somewhat used to stream-of-consciousness expression, so Vicky didn't feel any obligation to hold anything back. "You . . . you paid for . . . physical relations?" Terillia asked at last. There was no hint of the amusement or disgust often associated with such an admission. "You know how homosexuals are seen on Terra in most places. It was the fastest, easiest way to . . . well, get off." Vicky noticed that Terillia was looking very nervous. "You . . . you are very attractive. I find it hard to believe that you would need to resort to such a thing as payment." Vicky wasn't sure if she was being criticized or complimented. "I normally don't, at least here on Earth. Hell, I can usually get plenty!" Vicky realized that she had just basically admitted to being a whore. "Not that I sleep around . . ." She stopped and realized she should probably quit while she wasn't too far behind. "How . . . how do you know if someone is interested in . . . becoming physical?" Terillia asked. "It depends on . . ." Vicky stopped. "Terillia are you . . . I mean, have you ever . . ." She didn't actually need a response. Terillia's sudden flush told the whole story. "You're a virgin?" Vicky wasn't sure why she was surprised. Terillia was barely of legal age for her own people, which was about the same as for humans. "Is that why you came to Earth? Because . . ." "While such relations are more . . . more acceptable where I come from . . . I understood that it is more common here and . . . and I was afraid to ask anyone . . ." Terillia appeared to be on the verge of panic. "Please don't tell anyone. I do not wish for Eliza to know that I am so weak." "You're not weak," Vicky said, stroking the girl's hair feathers and trying to comfort her. "You're just young. Hell, I think you're attractive!" she said before realizing how it might be taken. "Really?" Terillia said, suddenly focused again. "You are attracted to me?" Vicky found herself in a quandary. "Uhm, yes. But I'm not coming on to you or anything. I'm just saying that I would . . . Hey, could you grab those pretzels?" she asked, desperate to change the conversation and buy herself some breathing room. ----------- --------------- An hour later . . . ----------- --------------- Vicky almost bolted from the transport with the first bag of groceries into the main house. "Food out front! Help required!" she shouted. Dennis and Wyrm both got up to help bring stuff in and she felt a sense of relief. Terillia had been STARING at her every since their conversation earlier and Vicky was feeling very nervous. It wasn't like she hadn't been attracted to the young succubus. She had been telling the truth about that. She just wasn't sure it would be appropriate. And despite wanting sex like an alley cat in heat, she did have SOME morals. Veronica wandered in, dressed in her running clothes and sweating slightly. Eliza followed right behind her. Apparently they had been running around the mountains again. "Hey Sis! Get everything on the list?" After making sure Terillia wasn't around, Vicky grabbed her sister's arm and drug her back outside and quickly relayed the conversation she had endured with Terillia. By the end of it, Veronica was grinning from ear to ear. "Man, you work quick don't ya?" "C'mon Veronica, this is serious! What do I do?" "Do you WANT to sleep with her?" Veronica was usually the one who needed advice. Vicky usually was the carefree one. To have the roles reversed was a thing of beauty. "Yes! I mean no! I mean . . . God, I don't know! She's so young . . ." "She's old enough to know what she wants," Veronica said smugly, "and she's old enough to carry through with it. And when did you have a problem with age. When you were younger than her, you were sleeping with our math teacher!" "Hmm, Ms. Lewinski," Vicky remembered fondly. "She gave me an 'A'." "And it was the only one you got in high school. Listen, I think it's cool that you don't want to take advantage of her, so I'm going to leave it up to you. Just don't go stringing the girl along. That would probably do more damage than rejection." Veronica wandered back inside. At least this was going to give the succubus something to think about besides shoving her tongue down Eliza's throat. --------------- -------------- A few hours later . . . --------------- -------------- Everyone had gone to bed except for Eliza and Veronica, who had taken off for another run. The two of them had a disgusting amount of energy, so they were constantly coming up with new races and contests to push their Hybrid bodies to the limit. Vicky was curled up on the couch in the main house, reading a book and sipping on some hot tea. Then she looked up and saw Terillia perched on the back of the sofa. Vicky spit her tea out in surprise and fell onto the floor. "Don't sneak up on me like that!" she exclaimed. Vicky couldn't help but notice how . . . little . . . Terillia was wearing. It looked like a piece of cloth attached only by strings around the neck and waist so as to not to interfere with those wings. She was also wearing a fairly miniscule thong. Her dark blue head feathers (which closely resembled short, slightly spiked hair unless you took a closer look) were flattened against her skull and those deep, dark amber eyes, which were larger than any human eyes, were staring directly at Vicky's eyes. She had the look of a runner preparing for a big race, and Vicky got the feeling that she was the one being chased. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 05 "I am sorry," Terillia said, suddenly looking a bit bashful. "I didn't want to disturb you. You are especially pretty when you are reading," she added somewhat abruptly. 'Good God, she's . . . is she coming on to me?' Vicky thought. "Thank you. Aren't you a bit . . . cold?" Terillia looked at her flimsy garments. She had been under the impression that these particular bits of clothing were seen as enticing in the human world. "I was wondering . . . what you said earlier . . . Do you really find me attractive?" the girl asked. Vicky sensed a lump in her throat the size of an elephant. "Yeah, I do. Listen, I think you're beautiful, but . . ." "Would you like to have sex with me?" Terillia asked. "I mean . . . if you're not spoken for." "No! What I mean is I'm not spoken for. Are you . . . why me?" she asked, almost at a whimper. She couldn't remember the last time she had been this nervous about being intimate with a beautiful girl. "Because you are very pretty and unattached in the general traditions of your people. Because you were very honest and forthright with me, making me feel safe with you," she continued, her eyes locked again on Vicky's and filled with unmistakable hunger. "And because you seem . . . experienced . . . someone I could learn from." Vicky rolled the thought around in her mind. It wasn't as if the thought was repugnant to her: Terillia had DEFINITE sex appeal and seemed quite sure of what she wanted. She was also VERY close and VERY scantily clothed, and it had been a VERY long time for Vicky. "I would absolute LOVE to teach you everything I know," she said, finally putting her book down, "but you have to keep in mind that right now, it's JUST sex. I don't know if I'm quite ready for anything more." Terillia spent a moment processing that. "But we will . . . be friends?" "Absolutely," Vicky reassured her. "Acceptable," Terillia said, reached for the strings that kept her top in place. "Whoa there," Vicky said. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," she said. Terillia was obviously confused. "There's a little thing we humans have called 'foreplay.' Women usually are more interested in it than men." "How does it work?" "Well, first thing is getting to know your partner's body. One of the ways I like to do that is to help them get undressed." Vicky knelt on the sofa in front of Terillia, tracing the line of her neck muscles down to her shoulders and around the back to where the strings of Terillia's top connected. As she slowly untied the knot, Vicky kissed Terillia on the cheek, then slowly trailed her lips around until they were directly over the succubus's mouth. Then she gave her a proper kiss. Kissing was something that Terillia actually knew how to do. She had practiced with a several of her nest-mates when she was a fledgling and a couple of human girls, but nothing as sweet as what this woman was doing. There was no clumsy fumbling or overly aggressive tongue action. Instead, there was softness and tenderness, and the woman's tongue penetrated Terillia's mouth and drew her deeper into the kiss. Terillia slowly responded, trying not to thrust her entire tongue down Vicky's throat like she had done with Eliza. Apparently, not everyone was used to long tongues possessed by succubae. As her tongue stretched to its full six inches, Vicky slowly broke the kiss, but gently pressed her lips around Terillia's tongue as the succubus withdrew. It was a bizarre but wholly pleasant sensation. That was when Terillia realized that her top had been deftly removed. "I . . . think I like foreplay," she said, breathing hard and letting her head feathers bristle for a moment. "I was hoping you would," Vicky said smiling. She knew about succubae tongues, and she was suddenly very interested in making good use of it. But she had to play it cool for now. "Why don't you try?" Terillia looked over Vicky's wonderfully curved body. Succubae were almost all small-breasted, so being with someone as voluptuous as this was somewhat intimidating. She placed her hands under the bottom of Vicky's nightshirt and slowly slid it up the woman's body. She wasn't quite as ripped as her sister was, but there was certainly some muscle there and everything looked delightfully smooth and firm. She had seen a woman kiss another on the abdomen on a late night soft-core porn holo-vid that she had been watching, and she wanted to try it. She traced her tongue around Vicky's bellybutton, getting a favorable reaction. Then she pushed the shirt upwards and dragged her tongue along with it until it reached the bottom of Vicky's breasts. She kept her eyes firmly glued on those generous mounds and she lifted her lover-to-be's single piece of clothing over her head. Without even waiting, she snaked her tongue out, wrapping it around one of Vicky's soft nipples and squeezing. Vicky moaned. She liked having her breasts played with, and Terillia was obviously captivated by them. So she lay back on the sofa and let the succubus satisfy her curiosity. Terillia caressed those warm mounds of flesh, tasting them with her lips and tongues and feeling their weight with those long fingers. The succubus almost whimpered when Vicky pulled away. "It's my turn," the human woman said, pulling on Terillia's neck and had the girl sit on the sofa while Vicky kneeled on the floor. She put her hands between the girl's legs and pushed them apart, inching her way between them as she lowered her head to Terillia's chest. She took one slightly pointed nipple into her mouth, sucking her lips inward until they were almost clamped down on the nub, pressing down on the sensitive object. Terillia . . . fluttered. Her entire body shivered for a moment and she sighed. 'So you like it as much as I do, don't you?' she thought, moving to the other breast. After a little lip-and-tongue action, she got a similar result. 'I am going to have SO much fun with you, little bird,' she thought. But Vicky decided she had had enough foreplay. "Want to feel something REALLY special?" she purred. Terillia nodded her head eagerly. Vicky's attention to her breasts had begun to build up certain feelings inside her, and she could only imagine what the human woman had in mind for what would be next. Vicky slid her hands down Terillia's body and hooked her thumbs under the succubus's thong, slowly pulling it downward before spreading the girl's legs again. Succubae, like vampires, and to a slightly lesser degree lycanthropes, had almost identical sexual physiology to humans (except for being egg-layers rather than being equipped to give birth to live young). Terillia's vaginal opening was a bit longer than for most women Vicky had been with, but certainly not unattractively so. The surrounding mound wasn't quite as full and there was a small patch of very tiny feathers just above the clitoral area in a small v-shape. Vicky looked Terillia right in the eyes when she ran a finger slowly up the cleft, barely touching the surface. Terillia's breathing noticeably increased as her opening moistened. Vicky ran her finger up the opening again, but pressed that digit inward a little. She could almost swear that her young protégé was going to cream herself from just this little bit of attention. She crouched down, leaned forward and moved her mouth slowly towards Terillia's nether opening. She kissed either side of the woman's mound, then wiggled the tip of her tongue just inside the opening to Terillia's pussy. Then she pushed her tongue in a little deeper. Terillia had seen fireworks go off on Earth before, but never before had they been going off in her head. She had dreamed so many times of what her first time would be like, but she was almost unprepared now that it was happening. But Vicky was prepared. By all accounts, the woman was quite skilled. Her tongue was penetrating Terillia's sex while her fingers massaged the area around the succubus's vaginal opening. The human woman was going maddeningly . . . deliciously slowly. Then Terillia felt something that she had only achieved rarely through personal stimulation. "Ms. Vicky," she gasped. "I believe that . . ." Her train of thought was derailed as Vicky grinned and sent her tongue into overdrive. Terillia grabbed the woman's head and held on for dear life as her first orgasm at another woman's touch stampeded through her with the force of an earthquake. Vicky found herself with a face full of an almost tangy vaginal secretion as the succubus came. Terillia had gone almost as stiff as a statue after arching her back and flaring her wings. But the look of almost surprised pleasure on her face was unmistakable. This was one of those moments the young succubus would probably remember for the rest of her life. Vicky withdrew her face and pushed two fingers into the girl's box after it had succumbed to its final spasm and began to finger fuck the recovering girl, sitting on the couch next to her while kissing her on her panting lips. Terillia was already grinding her hips against Vicky's hand. She had experienced the pleasure this human woman could provide, and she longed for more. "So, was it fun?" Vicky asked, breaking her kiss. "It was amazing!" Terillia responded, pushing her own hand between Vicky's legs and tentatively exploring Vicky's honeypot with her own long fingers. She was amazed at how hot her human lover was down there as she explored Vicky's inner workings. The two of them continued to make out while fingering each other, and Vicky's more experiences hands brought the younger woman to orgasm a second time fairly quickly. It was a sight to behold . . . the young creature's body frozen in a moment of pure bliss as she came onto Vicky's fingers. She lost track of her own fingerings in the joy that Vicky had brought her. Vicky was having WAY too much fun. This girl had a hair-trigger, and the blonde woman was wondering how many times she could make Terillia fire. "Stand up," she said. "But . . ." "This is all part of the learning process," Vicky assured her. "You DO want to learn, don't you?" Terillia got the feeling that she was being had, but she wasn't exactly going to argue with receiving more pleasure. She stood up in front of Vicky who was still sitting on the couch. Vicky reached her hands around and grabbed the young succubus's amazingly tight ass cheeks and drew the girl closer, sending her tongue back into the girl's inviting pussy. It was so juicy that Vicky thought she could just spend all night in there. She sucked on Terillia's soft inner labia in between bouts of deep-tongue action. "That feels so wonderful," said a glossy-eyed Terillia. "When . . . when do I get to do you?" "Soon enough," Vicky said. She was pistoning a couple of fingers into the lower portion of Terillia's box while ravishing the girl's clit with her tongue. She had to admit that her own desire for release was quickly becoming maddening, but she had a feeling it would be worth the wait. And within fifteen minutes of beginning their tryst, she had the succubus cumming for a third time. 'God, does this girl ever run out of juice?' she asked as her tongue and fingers were once again coated in the succubus's goo. She let Terillia rest for a moment as she crawled onto the couch and sat on the back of the sofa, slowly and erotically spreading her legs. The sight definitely caught the succubus's attention. Terillia slunk between Vicky's legs, looking like a cat for a moment rather than a bird. Her mouth shyly encircled the human's pussy and sucked inward. Then Vicky felt that tongue stretching and filling her cunt. "Sweet Jesus!" she said, a bit louder than intended. The succubus's tongue had to be buried at least six inches into Vicky's body, and it was so very, very nimble! It seemed to be poking around everywhere like a snake searching a burrow for something to eat. But it was still obvious that Terillia wasn't quite sure how to progress from there. "Do . . . do you remember when you were learning to speak English?" she asked. Terillia nodded, leaving her tongue buried in Vicky's box. "Well, make the shape of English letters with your tongue. Just trust me," she said. Terillia shrugged and made a capital "A" with her tongue, enjoying the feeling of Vicky's flesh yielding to that powerful muscle. She also noticed that Vicky bit her bottom lip in a definite sign of approval. So Terillia continued on down the line. By the time she reached her capital "S", Vicky was groaning like a bitch in heat, bucking her hips and letting loose a torrent of girl-cum onto Terillia's face. The young succubus withdrew her tongue and massaged Vicky's thick outer labia, watching them with awe as Vicky began to leak her precious fluid. "See how easy that was?" Vicky said with a grin. "I was . . . acceptable?" Terillia asked. "Perfect." The succubus smiled, then stuck her tongue back in. She still had the rest of the alphabet to go. She finished up her capital letters, then started on the lower case. Her tongue was diving and sidestepping with incredible speed, and Vicky was writhing like a worm on a hook. She was arching her back and thrusting her breasts outward, and on more than one occasion she found her tits encircled by Terillia's greedy hands. The succubus withdrew one of those hands so she could finger fuck Vicky's pussy while finishing the lower case alphabet. Then all on her own, Terillia began tracing numbers inside her lover's box. With her finger in the action, she had Vicky cumming again by the time she reached "12." "Fucking fantastic," Vicky hummed, collapsing onto the sofa. "That was the most . . . wonderful thing I've ever experienced," Terillia said. She gently lay on top of Vicky's sweating body, covering both women's bodies with her wings. "I would very much like to do this some more with you . . . if you would like." "Don't worry your head about that," Vicky replied, holding Terillia's head and kissing the young woman again. "I've got a feeling you and I are going to have a lot of fun together. Question though. Are you going to want other lovers as well? I was under the impression that succubae weren't exactly . . . monogamous." "I . . . I hadn't thought of that," Terillia said. "I do not wish to offend you by seeking other companionship when your own is so . . . pleasurable." "I'm not offended," Vicky said with a grin. "I've never been a one-woman kind of girl myself. Actually, I think you and I are going to have A LOT of fun together. Just follow my lead, and I'll introduce you to things you never even imagined." Terillia actually giggled, then cuddled closer. Vicky was surprise out how warm she was, covered by the succubus's body and wings. It was . . . comfortable. Vicky liked how it felt, and she stroked her young lover's head feathers while waiting for sleep to come. ---------- ------------------- The next morning . . . ---------- ------------------- Vicky opened her eyes and saw Veronica standing next to the sofa, grinning her head off. Vicky blushed like it was going out of style. Veronica put a change of clothes for both women on the coffee table, then motioned towards the outside with her head. Then Veronica went out the door. "Are they STILL sleeping?" Allyson asked. The entire crew was gathered out in the garden, waiting for their two remaining members to rise and shine. "They probably exerted themselves a bit last night," Dennis said, trying not to laugh. He pulled his wife against his chest and held her. "I should think you'd understand that." Allyson blushed. It wasn't like she was particularly averse to getting a little randy herself. She looked across at Eliza and Veronica on the other bench. Eliza was actually brushing her lover's hair. Allyson Murgo wasn't sure she would EVER get used to the idea of Eliza actually acting . . . feminine. She was so used to Eliza being a warrior all the time. Finally, Vicky and Terillia joined the rest of the team. The young succubus was trying to hide behind the human woman so no one could see how badly she was blushing. While everyone in the group was smiling from ear to ear (except the trolls), no one gave the two women any grief. For the time being. "Got a communication for the President of the World Council. There's going to be a trade meeting down in Los Angeles next month and he personally requested us to do personal security for a number of the delegates. It's going to be a high profile, big money job." "Just our style," said Wyrm, who was fucking around on his wireless laptop. "True," replied the boss. "But a few things have occurred to me. One, we really need to make this outfit a little more professional since we've decided to stay in business." "So are you actually going to come up with a name for your group?" Veronica asked. "Actually, I was going to leave that up to the whole crew to think of. We should probably also get some actual uniforms. Lastly, I was thinking that since we've just started remodeling, we might want add a few more buildings, particularly since I think we should hire on some more personnel. Having Tiny and Terillia around kind of made me realize how short-staffed we were when it was just five of us trying to do everything. Even though it was never formalized," she added, looking into Veronica's eyes, "I'd like you to be an OFFICIAL part of the team, unless there are any objections." "Like you could get rid of me if you tried," Veronica said. "I think I speak for the rest of the team when I say there are NO objections," Dennis said. "Excellent. Tiny . . . Terillia . . . give Vicky there a list of any special supplies or weapons you might want. Vicky . . . you're not a soldier, but that doesn't mean there isn't a place for you here. And I'm not talking charity work." "What could I do?" Vicky said, intrigued by the idea of being part of this team. "Well," her sister piped in, "you have more experience with other races and other cultures than anyone else here, including myself." "And that could be VERY useful when dealing with new clients," Eliza finished. "We're high profile now, which means we're going to need someone to organize things. And since we don't currently have a front office . . ." "Let me guess. That's where I come in." Eliza smiled. "Well, the pay is good, and I'm sure we could put a benefit package together that you'd like," she added glancing knowingly at Terillia who was completely oblivious to the reference. She was just happy that her lover might be sticking around for a while. "Count me in!" Vicky said. "Yay!" Veronica said, giving her sister a hug. She loved spending time with Vicky. "Cool. I think we'll need to bring a few more people too. A couple more humans and I was thinking of finding a lycanthrope. They've got even better senses of smell than Veronica and I do," Eliza said. "I think I know some people who might be interested," Dennis said. "A few friends from my military days who are tired of merc work." "The Triad?" Allyson asked. "That would be so cool! I haven't seen those three in FOREVER!" "They were kind of hoping to return stateside and find some less political and more profitable work. Don't worry boss, they're solid," Dennis finished. "Then call 'em up and get here so I can talk to them. Vicky, your first set of jobs are to reallocate some of the building funds for new housing and a front office, and then you'll start shifting through potential applicants . . ." Terillia phased out for a moment. Things were so wonderful! She had experienced sex for the first time with a very talented teacher, she was part of a very elite unit, and she was about to be part of her first job. Things couldn't get more exciting! ------------ --------------- A month later . . . ------------ --------------- {{ I'm so BORED! }} Terillia thought as she looked down from her vantage point atop a building next to the Convention Center. She had been flying around for several minutes looking at traffic patterns and conglomerations of people that might be considered suspicious, and relaying everything she saw through the telepathic link that Eliza had established. She wished she hadn't thought that. She wasn't use to guarding her thoughts, which could be a bit embarrassing when minds were connected. Luckily, Eliza just seemed amused. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 05 {{ Were you expecting EVERY mission to be a gunfight? }} the leader of Hybrid Security thought. {{ Ask Dennis and Allyson or Wyrm. Sitting around is most of what we do. In our business, 'interesting' tends to be synonymous with 'messy.' }} Terillia sighed. She glanced around, spotting the three members of the Triad inconspicuously guarding the back entrance. The three of them had been more than willing to hook up with as profitable a group as Hybrid Security. Bear was their spokesman. Terillia wasn't sure if that was his real name or not, but it certainly fit. He was six feet, six inches tall and as broad across the chest as the animal whose name he bore. Then there was Boomer, an explosives expert. He and Wyrm got along famously, which made everyone nervous. Finally there was Snake, a small arms and martial arts guru. He was slender but muscular, with long blonde hair that almost gave him an effeminate look. If he hadn't been male, Terillia probably would have found him attractive. Eliza hadn't been able to find a lycanthrope that suited her purposes, but they were still pretty well set for this mission. Thug and Tiny were inside somewhere, while Allyson and Dennis were undercover somewhere. Eliza and Veronica were being very high profile in the lobby. But Terillia remained convinced that things were going to get really hairy at any moment. ------- ---------------------- Two days later . . . ------- ---------------------- "I can't believe it," Terillia said, still stunned. "Nothing happened!" "Is she still stuck on that?" Dennis asked, his hat pulled down over his eyes. "Honey, a day where we get paid rather than shot it is a GOOD day!" said Allyson. "Last time things got exciting, we got stuck in a year-long war." "I would not have killed us to have at least one fight," Terillia muttered, mostly to herself. "You almost had a fight," Eliza chortled. "When you ambushed that delivery guy." Terillia buried her head in her hands. That had been a horribly embarrassing incident. She had seen a man approaching a group of delegates who were standing out front, and he had some form of rod in his hand. He was also carrying a mysterious package. Terillia, announcing her findings to the group AS she flew into action, soon discovered that the "rod" was just a ballpoint pen and the package had been official documents for the convention. "It looked like a wand," Terillia grumbled. Dennis chuckled. "Calm down," he told the young woman. "We all make mistakes, and at least you had the good sense not to use lethal force or anything. Just remember, we have procedures for a reason. Any one of us is an imperfect machine, and that's why we always wait for confirmation unless the threat is imminent and/or obvious. You'll get the hang of it. You're smart enough to ask questions, so keep doing that." "If it makes you feel any better," Eliza said, "on my first job with this crew, I shot an elevator." Eliza waited for the laughter to subside. "I'm serious, the damn thing made a 'ding' noise right behind me, and I was already on edge." Dennis smiled. He remembered that mission. "Hell, my wife almost got banned from Germany for life after some 'inopportune' comments about our employer and his family. His family happened to hold several offices in the government." "Hey," Allyson replied, "let's not forget you and your little 'drag-queen' episode in Barcelona!" Terillia began to feel better as all the members of the team started sharing their "worst case scenario" stories. By the time they were approaching the compound, she felt more like a member of the team than ever. She had her own story to tell when the next members joined. "We're here!" came a deep voice from the front. Bear, amongst his other talents, apparently could drive just about any land-based military vehicle that had ever been built, including the military transports Eliza had bought. He and Snake were crashing with the Murgos for the time being while Boomer was sleeping on Wyrm's couch. Vicky had taken to crashing in the small spare room of Eliza and Veronica's house, and wherever Vicky went those days, Terillia went too. The two had been steadfast and energetic lovers for a month, and the one positive thing about having an uneventful mission was getting home and getting back to her sexual education. But Terillia was soon to discover that "excitement" didn't have a set tee-time. As soon as the crew piled out of the vehicles into the compound, Terillia saw Vicky standing on the front porch, looking very nervous. "Eliza," she said as soon as the white-haired Hybrid came into view, "you better come inside. A news story just broke from Terra. The Swords of Cleansing just made an attempt on your father's life." Eliza felt . . . empty . . . for a moment. It was a cold kind of hollowness that was apparent even to those around you. Faster than most of the crew could even watch, she sprinted inside with Veronica hot on her heels. The holo-projector was up and running, with Wyrm ensuring the most reliable data-stream feed. The anchor was discussing the aftermath of what was apparently a Phoenix Trap, which was a clever kind of trap where one spell dispelled any protective magic in the area, including the wards surrounding a hidden fireball spell also laid by the attackers. Getting rid of such traps was difficult since most counter-trap spells instantly set them off. Somehow, an insurgent sorcerer or sorceress got into the Prime Minister's Palace while Evlidone Msabdteelfinclor was there, and the trap had definitely been laid for him. He was in charge of security for the entire continent, including Terminal Point, and he was an outspoken proponent of inter-world trade and relations. No word was given as to his condition. Eliza hurried into the bedroom and grabbed her communication orb from the closet. The orb had been dormant since the dimensional portal had been sealed over a year earlier. She hadn't bothered to reactivate it, since there wasn't anyone on the other side that she really wanted to talk to . . . or who might want to talk to her. She concentrated on it, following the magical thread through a web-like network back into the Terran dimension and straight to her parent's house. {{ ANYONE! }} she screamed mentally. Right behind her, Veronica actually felt pain from telepathic shout. {{ MOM?!? DAD?!? Someone fucking answer me! }} There was no response. Then she felt her communication being drawn in another direction. Finally, she felt a familiar mind. {{ Eliza? }} {{ Mom? Where . . . }} {{ I'm almost at the Palace Medical Center. I knew you would try and communicate, so I had your transmission forwarded to the coach. Don't worry, your father is okay, }} she added, heading off Eliza's next thought. {{ He wasn't caught in the blast. His bodyguards weren't so lucky. }} {{ Mom . . . Mom I'm sorry, }} Eliza started, tears in her eyes. {{ I should've been there . . . }} {{ Please, don't start that now, }} her mother said. {{ If you had been here, I would be worried about two people I love instead of one. But saying that . . . I know he'd never ask, so I will. Your father needs you, Eliza. Please come. }} {{ I will, }} Eliza said, clenching her fists. Then her mother's coach entered the palace grounds and the communication was cut off. Eliza turned and found that Veronica had already started packing two suitcases. "Before you even say anything, yes I AM going with you," Veronica told her lover. "So don't even try and talk me . . ." Veronica found herself silenced by a kiss from Eliza. "I'll never leave you behind," she whispered. "I just didn't want . . . I didn't want it to be like this." "'Like this'? Love, this is the way our lives work these days. Now lets go. Your father needs you." The two of them grabbed their bags and headed out to the transport. They didn't see any of the team out in the main room, so Eliza figured she would just call them from the road. When they got out to the transport, they were in for another surprise. The entire team was packed up, personnel and gear divided amongst two transports, with Bear driving one and Dennis driving the other. "What the hell . . ." Eliza started. Allyson was the first to speak. "Boss, I know this is personal business. But what's personal to you is personal to the team, even the new guys," she said, looking behind her at their most recent acquisitions. "If there's going to be a fight, we're going to be there with you. You can let us go with you or you can deal with us following you." Eliza hugged her dear friend. "Saddle up boys," she said, tossing her bags into the back of a transport. "We're going to pick a fight!" ----------- ------------------ Several days later . . . ----------- ------------------ A series of coaches pulled up to the Msabdteelfinclor palatial estate. Veronica's mouth was hanging open. If they had come under different circumstances, she'd probably be gushing all over the place. Eliza's parents lived in a castle in every sense of the word, and it was bigger than a couple of towns Veronica and Vicky had lived in as kids. And it was gorgeous. Even Vicky and Terillia were impressed, and they had spent a lot more time on Terra than most. Tiny and Thug just grunted, then started grabbing bags. "Thug, you remember where the guest rooms are? And you have that list of passwords for the security spells?" || YES AND GOT 'EM, || Thug said, hauling their equipment up to the front door. "Mom ordered the servants to give us free access," Eliza said to Veronica as everyone else headed inside, with the exception of Vicky and Terillia. "She 'ordered' them. Crap, even the people who fertilize the gardens look down on me," she said. "I'm sure that's not what your mom meant," Veronica returned, rubbing her head. That annoying buzzing "sound" she had felt when she crossed over the last time had returned with a vengeance. She was beginning to wonder if dimension hopping had side effects. "She's going to be staying with my father at the Palace. They're both under high security until the person who cast that trap spell is caught. Shit, I came all this way and I don't even know what to do next," Eliza said, sitting on the low concrete wall surrounding the parking area. "It's not like I'm going to be able to work incognito around here. Everyone knows me and not many of them are exactly willing to help a 'half-breed lesbian' anyway." "So you're going to quit and go home then?" Vicky asked, interrupting the conversation and earning her a dirty look from her sister and Eliza. "Hey, I'm just sayin' . . . We all know that it ain't gonna happen, so let's see some of that original thinking I've been hearing so much about." "If all your conventional avenues have been lost to you . . ." started Terillia. "Then use some unconventional ones," finished Veronica. "Some people have friends," Eliza said, smiling in spite of herself. "I have a booster club. All right, all right. I'll think of something." Veronica smiled back. "So . . ." she started with a drawl. "Where's YOUR room?" ------------ ----------------------- In Eliza's old bedroom . . . ------------ ----------------------- Veronica couldn't stop laughing. Eliza's parents had apparently left her room just the way it was from when Eliza had gone off for her "extended vacation" on Earth. Veronica had never imagined Eliza as a "teenager" before, but she apparently had been. There were posters of popular musicians and theatre performers, as well as an all-girl team for some sport called "Grenslonvaas," which was like a magical combination of rugby and field hockey without all the niceties. And the stuff animals! Tons and tons of stuffed animals! Apparently, small collectible stuffed animals weren't just a human tradition. While blushing, Eliza admitted that she actually had one of the most extensive collections in the southern provinces. "Stop it," Eliza said to her chortling girlfriend. "I can't help it," Veronica said, trying to compose herself. "It's just . . . they're so cute!" she added, waving her hand at the shelves of plush toys. "I just never imagined you like this . . . Not that I was any different, mind you." "I never thought I'd be back here," Eliza said, picking up what had been one of her favorite toys as a kid; a stuffed griffin named "Kachecki." "I don't even know if he'll let me try to help him," she added, not needing to mention who "he" was. "Since when did you ever need permission from someone to get involved?" Veronica mentioned. "This is different. You didn't hear some of the things that he said . . . that I said." "I know," Veronica said, looking towards the door. "You feeling okay? Or better at least?" "A bit," Eliza replied, sitting down on her bed. "My father's okay, but apparently pissed. He's safe now, and so is my mom. All the security spells are back in place, and everyone has their shift assignments for tonight." "So, when's our shift?" Veronica asked, leisurely leaning back on the bed, pulling at the strings that kept her vest tied together. "Veronica!" Eliza said. "What? Don't tell me you're the only girl who didn't want to do it when her parents were out of the house!" Secretly, Veronica wanted to do something that would take her mind off the annoying buzzing in her head. Eliza had to admit that the thought had crossed her mind. Of course, she had always pictured one of those grenslonvaas players in her bed, but Veronica was a pretty good substitute. "All the time," Eliza replied. "I just never thought there was a chance in hell it would happen." Veronica pulled the last string of her vest apart and the garment sprung open, letting those luscious tits pop free. "Well hell just froze over," she said, lying back and pinching her nipples so they stood out proudly. "It must be cold in here." "I could start a fire," Eliza said, straddling the blonde woman's hips and placing Veronica's hands on Eliza's ass. "I think you already did," Veronica said, squeezing her lover's ass and watching as Eliza unzipped the top of her jumpsuit. Eliza let her top fall to her waist, then lay on the bed next to Veronica so she could finish getting the jumpsuit off. Veronica stood up and made a big production of sliding her jeans off. She had on a pair of bikini panties, tied at the side. Two quick tugs and the underwear was a thing of the past. Then she pounced on Eliza, pinning her to the bed and kissing her heavily. The two of them had done many things together, but this felt . . . delightfully naughty to Eliza. It was one of those time-honored rites of adolescence, regardless of what race you were from . . . making out in a teenage girl's bedroom. Of course, there had been twenty-three U. S. presidents since Eliza was a teenager, but that fact was lost on the two grown-up women rolling around on Eliza's old bed. Something occurred to Veronica . . . something that was supposed to be said in situations like this. "C'mon," she murmured. "If you REALLY love me, you'll do it," she added with a giggle. Eliza grabbed Veronica by the shoulders and pushed them against the bed, riding the woman's hips like a saddle. She gripped her lover's breasts, lowering her head to them and sucking eagerly on her nipples. "Do what?" she asked. "This?" Eliza sucked lovingly on both breasts again. "Or this?" she asked, kissing her lover's bellybutton. "Or maybe this?" Eliza asked, planting a kiss on Veronica's clitoral hood. Veronica shuddered. "Or maybe . . ." {{ Oh shut up and eat me! }} Veronica thought, her patience reaching its limit. She hooked her legs over Eliza's shoulders and pressed her thighs together on either side of Eliza's face. {{ So insistent, }} Eliza thought, burying her tongue in her girlfriend's sweet box and reveling in its wet warmth. She took a long lick, prepping that pussy for an evening of debauchery. Then she took another. She pushed her lips into the opening and wiggled her tongue around. She sunk one thumb into Veronica's asshole as she began to eat that pretty cunt like a woman possessed. Whatever buzzing sensation was going on in Veronica's head was quickly being overshadowed by pure pleasure. Every time with Eliza was like the first time . . . namely, magnificent. She grasped her own hair as Eliza's tongue explored her like Magellan going around the world, stopping every now and then to wreak some havoc. But unlike Magellan, Eliza's tongue made it the entire trip around Veronica's insides, then made a return trip. And with a thumb prodding the inside of her backside, she let herself go. After a few minutes of oral attention, she was cumming on Eliza's face. {{ Consider yourself eaten, }} Eliza thought as she licked her lips. Veronica pulled Eliza onto the bed and kissed her girlfriend again, licking the remnants of her own orgasm from her lover's lips. Then she leaned back on one elbow and spread her legs in a v-shape. Not missing a beat, Eliza did the same thing with her own legs, turning them until they formed a right angle from her lover's limbs. She scooted forward until her mound came into contact with Veronica's. Each woman grabbed one of the other's legs for leverage, then their eyes locked. {{ Ready? }} Veronica asked. Eliza humped her hips, pressing her pussy against her lover's. {{ For you, I'm always ready. }} Veronica grinned. {{ You're so romantic when you're horny! }} She ground her hips against Eliza. Both women's nether region was fairly slick, so they were able to rub together quickly and easily. {{ Hurry up! Before your parents come home! }} Eliza stopped and looked pained. {{ Please don't mention my parents during sex. That is phenomenally gross! }} Veronica smiled and gyrated her hips again. {{ Okay, okay! }} she said, giggling. {{ So I guess asking 'Whose you're daddy?' is right out? }} Eliza couldn't help but smile back as she humped against Veronica's mound. {{ Only if you never want to do this again! }} She moaned and started kissing her lover's calf as she held onto her leg. Veronica fell back onto the bed, moving her hips while she inserted her index finger into her own asshole. The two of them ground their slick openings together harder and harder. Their constant humping was positively delightful for both women. Veronica was watching every muscle in Eliza's body strain, while Eliza was watching her lover's breast jiggle. When Eliza finally climaxed, she grabbed on to Veronica's leg and just held on for dear life as the two women's junction became even slicker. And Veronica wasn't far behind. She was sure that sometimes . . . just sometimes . . . that thought of Eliza's orgasm was enough to push Veronica over the top. The two fell back onto the bed, their legs still intertwined. "God, I wish I'd brought the toys," Veronica said. Eliza laughed. Her girlfriend has such an affinity for sex toys that . . . "Wait a minute," she muttered as she disentangled herself and got off the bed. Veronica must have thought her lover had gone insane as Eliza stood, naked and sweaty, in the middle of the room, kicking at the floor with her heel. Finally, she heard a slightly muffled thump, and she got on her knees so she could pry a particular stone out of the floor. Underneath was a treasure trove of all the things she had kept hidden from her parents when she was younger. She pulled out a bag of stuff and shifted through it, finally emerging with what appeared to Veronica to be a glass dildo. "Old reliable," Eliza said. Then she noticed Veronica was staring at her. "What?" "Are there any OTHER things I should know about?" Eliza shrugged, then looked in another small bag. She opened it, sniffed inside, then made a face of disgust. "Looks like the preservation spell wore off a couple decades ago," she said. "No way I'll be able to smoke that shit," she said as she wiped the dust of the sex toy. Then she climbed onto the bed. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 06 This is a LONG story. If you don't like long stories or stories driven by plot and characters rather than just sex, you might want to skip this one. -------- ---------------- Disclaimer: The following story is a work of (hopefully) erotic fiction. If you are offended by graphic descriptions of sexual activities, please stop reading now. Any resemblance between the characters (living or dead) and any existing people is entirely coincidental. Please do not copy or redistribute this story without the author's permission. This story originates in the fictional city of Springfield, California several hundred years in the future. You might want to check out Parts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this series for background and character introduction. --------------- ---------------------------- {{ How the fuck can this be happening?!? }} Eliza shouted through the telepathic link. {{ I've only been on Terra for four hours! How can I have pissed someone off already?!? }} {{ It's your natural charm, }} Thug thought. The troll's mind always sounded so clear compared to his normal guttural language. {{ I've got the back door covered, }} he sent as he engaged his natural cloaking mechanism. {{ Terillia, do you see anything? }} Eliza thought, looking out the front window. She had come all the way home to Terra from Earth to see if she could help her father, who she wasn't even able to speak to civilly, and she and her band had been attacked before they had even settled in at her parent's palatial estate. She thought back to when her life was simple. She had been a vampire working as a high-priced security agent on Earth. But then the dimensional portal between worlds had been closed by a radical group of humans known as the Purity who wanted to keep the Terran and human races separated. Eliza and her crew had fought for a year, but had finally managed to help get the portal open again using one of eight "Living Jewels" known as The Dragon's Breath, but it had come at a price. She had lost a friend, her tech-guy Wyrm had lost an arm, her girlfriend had been tortured and then both she and Veronica had been transformed into an entirely new species called Hybrids by another Living Jewel called the Alchemist's dream. And after finding her way back home, she discovered that Terra had been dealing with its own separatist group called the Swords of Cleansing. But that hadn't been Eliza's primary concern. Instead, it was the somewhat cold response she got from her own father, the Security Director for the Southern Continent. But despite their differences, she had brought her entire crew of seven humans, two trolls, two Hybrids and a succubus back to Terra so she could help someone who could barely tolerate Eliza's presence. 'Maybe things were never simple,' Eliza thought to herself. Terillia had jumped out of a tower window and taken to the sky. Succubae had incredible vision, easily better than any of the other sentient species and they could see just as well at night as during the daylight. She scanned the grounds of the estate. {{ You have got four on the street. Looks like they're keeping watch. Looks like another half-dozen moving through the yard. And there are two going in the back door. }} As she was looking down, the two intruders going in the back came flying back out the door and landed in crumpled heaps on the turf. {{ No, they're not, }} Thug thought. The rest of the invaders didn't fare much better. Eliza drew fire from the main group with a series of lightning strikes while Tiny moved into ambush position. A few more poorly placed steps and two more attackers got slammed against the cobblestone walkway in the front yard. {{ Terillia, what are the guys on the street doing? }} {{ Nothing, }} the succubus returned. {{ They're just . . . standing there. They've got shield spells up. }} Eliza didn't like this at all. Not that she normally liked getting attacked, but this was weird. {{ Just keep your eyes on them, }} she thought. {{ But I want to . . . }} {{Terillia, reconnaissance is one of the reasons I hired you, so do it! }} Eliza didn't like being harsh with the girl, but she didn't have time to play nice. {{ Got one, }} said Snake. He and Bear had caught one climbing in a window and broke its neck. Dennis and Allyson also got a double-team in after sneaking out front via another window and pummeling it into submission with garden implements. 'What the hell . . .' Eliza thought. It was all too easy. 'Where's the magic these guys were using earlier? Why are they so easy to take . . .' Eliza's train of thought was cut off as one of the two remaining individuals who had made it onto the grounds saw her behind a hedge wall and started towards her. The person was moving fairly quickly but seemed to be approaching with a lumbering gate. Eliza was a bit baffled, which may have been the reason that she didn't see the last intruder approaching by using the same hedge she was hiding behind as cover. But Veronica saw, and she bolted out of the front door. Eliza concentrated and absorbed heat from the air around her target then used that heat in a single powerful blast that knocked the thing off its feet. It lay smoldering on the ground, twitching oddly. Then she saw Veronica charging, staring at something that Eliza couldn't make out. She took a sniff of the air. 'That's odd,' she thought to herself. 'Nothing. The only thing I smell around her is us. I don't even smell the bodies . . .' She took a step back. {{ Veronica what . . . }} Veronica wasn't thinking. Suddenly, the buzzing in her head that she had been experiencing from the moment she walked into the Terran dimension had reached a fever pitch. She extended her hands with the firm intention of bludgeoning this threat to her lover with her fists. Veronica normally was a little calmer than she was at the moment, even in a firefight. Part of being an envoy meant keeping her cool. She couldn't explain why, but she needed to let loose on something. Then something odd happened. The air between Veronica and her target began to shimmer and ripple, almost as if it were made of water. Then the intruder was blown off his feet, flying fifty feet through the air and becoming embedded in the wall of the coach house. Despite not being completely out of danger, Eliza just stared at the body. Then she stared at Veronica. The blonde Hybrid appeared a bit glassy eyed but strangely enough, she was smiling. Veronica felt . . . relief. The buzzing in her head was gone and she felt . . . pure. "God, I needed that!" she muttered to the empty air in front of her. Then she collapsed face first on the ground. -------------- ------------------ A little while later . . . -------------- ------------------ Veronica felt well rested when she finally awoke. She was lying on a large sofa in one of the estate's social chambers. Everyone from the team was standing around looking at her. Most of them looked confused, Eliza looked relieved when she saw Veronica awake, and Vicky just looked miffed. {{ Hey . . . hey guys, }} she group-thought. {{ Did we win? And thank goodness that fucking buzzing sound went away, }} she mumbled. {{ What buzzing sound? }} Eliza started. {{ When did you learn to do magic? }} Vicky thought. Suddenly, the telepathic teleconference was a mass of chitter chatter that was almost overwhelming. The excess mental noise made Veronica realize that her brain was . . . sensitive. {{ QUIET! }} she shouted. {{ What the hell happened? }} Eliza sat down next to her and offered her some hot tea-like beverage. {{ You don't remember? You let loose a magic surge that pretty much obliterated one of those things. Sweetie, Vicky is right. Apparently, you're a bit of a sorceress now. }} Veronica just stared. Eliza smiled slightly. {{ I guess when we got combined, you became my equal in EVERY way. }} {{ That's not possible, is it? }} Veronica was almost at a loss for what to think. {{ I thought you had to train for years . . . are you sure it was . . . Can I have something stronger to drink? }} {{ Not a good idea. You're power is very raw right now, so you'll need to keep your wits about you to control it. As for training, we go to the academies to learn to channel our energy and understand the rules of the world. No one knows why some people have magical power or why some have more than others. But you've got it and you've got it in spades. }} Veronica tried to let that sink in. Eliza assured her that now that the more wizened spell caster knew what was going on, she could help stop Veronica from hurting herself. The buzzing that Veronica had been hearing was a build up of magical energy that was agitated by all the emotional and physical turmoil she had undergone. Most sorcerers and sorceresses vented such energy harmlessly, as easily as most humans breathed. It was the first thing anyone with the gift was taught. Veronica tried turning the conversation to something else: the fight. {{ Fucking automatons, }} Eliza thought, glancing at Terillia. The succubus looked concerned. {{ Automatons are golems . . . magical constructs made of whatever material the caster has available. They are fairly mindless, only able to perform very basic commands or 'programs.' They can be dangerous since they have no concept of self-preservation, but they do not respond well to anything outside their programs. But they do require a great deal of skill to animate. It was a tool developed by the gargoyles to use against the succubus in the Great War for Heaven a millennium ago. }} {{ That doesn't sound like a particularly potent weapon against a group like this, }} Vicky thought. {{ It wasn't a weapon, }} Boomer interjected. {{ It was a straw-man. }} When Vicky looked confused, he continued. {{ It's kind of like a straw-man argument . . . something weak that is thrown out there just to see how strong the response is. That wasn't an attack, it was an intelligence gathering operation, and maybe a warning. }} Terillia nodded. {{ The men on the street were simply there to cast the fireballs and observe our responses. They vanished after you obliterated their last drone. }} {{ Any chance they'll be back? }} Veronica asked. {{ I doubt it, }} Eliza said. {{ We have the local constable and her men patrolling the street. They may not like me, but they HATE the Swords of Cleansing and they're still a bit afraid of my father. Besides, these guys are smarter than the Purity was. They're not going to make as many mistakes. }} Veronica was feeling wiped out. {{ Listen, can I go back to the room? I'm feeling a little woozy. }} Eliza helped her lover to her feet. She made sure everyone knew when they were to be on watch, then she escorted Veronica out of the room. The last thing Veronica remembered was hearing her sister Vicky's thoughts. {{ She graduates from college first. She forms her own species first. Now she's the first one in the family to have magical powers. This SO isn't fair . . . }} ---------------- ----------------- The next evening . . . ---------------- ----------------- Veronica was sitting in a dimly lit room with a cool cloth on her forehead, waiting for the pain to go away. While the buzzing in her brain was a thing of the past, it had been replaced with a throbbing ache, much like you feel the day after you exercise a muscle that you haven't used in a while. She noticed Wyrm poking his head around the corner. "C'mon in," she said weakly. "Just don't say anything loud." Wyrm grinned and flopped down on a strange, round chair that was across from her. "Did I ever mention you're the coolest chick ever?" Veronica raised her eyebrow. "Hunh?" "I mean, you just keep getting tougher and tougher. Pretty soon, they'll need kryptonite to stop you!" "Hardly. Right now, all they'd need is a really loud noise." She glanced at Wyrm's high-tech prosthetic arm. "How are you holding up?" "Good. I brought a couple portable power sources and some solar panel hook-ups, and I've got 'em running a pretty sweet video surveillance set up. These Swords of Cleansing guys may have some tricks up their sleeves, but so do I." Veronica leaned back. "That's not what I meant," she said. Wyrm shook his head and rolled his eyes. "You know, I wish that at least ONE of you girls wasn't gay. Besides Allyson I mean. I could have at least gotten a sympathy lay with all the worrying you do." Veronica chuckled, then stopped when her head began aching even worse. "Where's Eliza?" she asked. 'Isn't it a girlfriend's job to dote on the sick?' she thought. "She's out front. Apparently she got word that there is an official envoy on its way." "Her father?" "I'm not sure. Eliza didn't think so because the Prime Minister wouldn't let him go to an unprotected area. Hasn't the rest of the universe realized that Eliza's indestructible and the safest place to be is right behind her? I'm sure I sent a memo about that." Veronica stifled another chuckle. Wyrm had a way of making people feel better. "She's kind of amazing all right." "And so are you," Wyrm said. He looked up and saw Vicky in the doorway. "Hey guys," Vicky said. "Looks like the envoy is pulling up. There are A LOT of coaches in this procession, so this is something important. Eliza was wondering if you might be up for a meet and greet?" Veronica smiled. Eliza had removed her from the telepathic link she had with the rest of her team to give her brain a chance to rest, and it had helped a little. "I've endured worse," she said, standing up and walking towards the front, flanked by her sister and Wyrm. They found Eliza pacing by the front door. "I've only been here for twenty-four hours, and the Prime Minister is sending people to see me. I didn't do anything wrong," she muttered. Then she saw Veronica and approached the blonde woman, stroking some hair from her eyes and holding her palm against Veronica's cheek. "Any better?" she whispered. "A bit," came the reply. "You know, if you kissed where it hurt, it might make her feel better," Wyrm suggested. "Actually, if wanted to go ahead and make out . . ." "Can it, you friggin' pervert," Eliza said, grinning in spite of herself. They heard trumpets sounding at the front door. Eliza rolled her eyes, Veronica winced and the rest of the team stood at attention behind their boss. The doors open and a herald walked in. "You might want to cover your ears," Eliza told Veronica. "These clowns LOVE the sound of their own voices." The herald heard muttering and shot a poisonous glance at the speaker. Then he turned back to his scroll. [[ With the blessings of the Prime Minister of the Seven Provinces of Devlia, I announce the arrival of Chancellor Valar of Narebican.]] Eliza couldn't help but feel surprised as she began relaying the herald's words over her mental link for the benefit of the squad members that didn't speak any of the vampire dialects. 'What the hell is Valar doing here, and since when did he become a Chancellor?' A Chancellor was, for all intents and purposes, a mayor for any city of more than a million residents, and Narebican was Valar's hometown in the province of Muipantaikoff. Valar strode in, looking as dignified and regal as Eliza had ever seen him. He was escorted by two bodyguards that fell away once inside the building. [[ With the blessings of the Prime Minister of the Seven Provinces of Devlia, I announce the arrival of Kalinicia Vonahme of Gralta. ]] A young vampire woman walked in and a number of people's hearts caught in their chests. Some women were attractive while others were considered beautiful. Kalinicia went one step further and could best be described as STUNNINGLY beautiful. Her eyes locked on Eliza the moment she crossed the threshold, her face unreadable. Eliza found herself staring at the floor, eyes wide. {{ What's the matter? }} Veronica thought, in spite of the discomfort of using telepathy. {{ That's . . . that's Kelik's granddaughter. }} Veronica looked again at the beautiful young vampire maiden. Her high cheekbones, yellow eyes and full red lips were enough to capture most peoples' attention, and the long and shiny, raven-black hair that was braided and reached all the way to her firm behind could capture the rest. She was wearing a form-fitting but elegant black gown that was delightfully adorned and hugged her perfect set of curves. {{ What is she doing here? }} she sent, but Eliza didn't respond. {{ Can I have one? }} Wyrm thought absently, not privy to Eliza and Veronica's private conversation and completely unaware at who the girl was. {{ Wyrm, that's Kelik's granddaughter, }} Veronica sent, rejoining the group link. Wyrm blanched. He and Valar had been there when Kelik was gunned down by Purity forces. No one else in the group knew it, but that image still haunted him in the moments before sleep came for him. And he carried the feeling of helplessness that he had felt at that moment every day since. He looked over the girl, and didn't remember seeing her at the funeral. Then he remembered that some family members went early so they could return to the home of the deceased so he or she could greet guests and well-wishers. [[ With the blessings of the Prime Minister of the Seven Provinces of Devlia, I announce the arrival of Lord Evlidone Msabdteelfinclor, Devlian Security Director and his wife, Lady Alyidana. ]] If Eliza had been surprised before, she was shocked now. Why would her father be there? Who the hell in the government allowed the Security Director for the Seven Provinces of the Devlian Continent to leave the security of the palace during a time of (effectively) war to go to a place that had recently been attacked? 'Who the hell is running this government?' she wondered. She looked out the door and saw that several platoons of the elite Palace Guard had accompanied this entourage. That made her feel a little better. The Palace Guards were amongst the elite of vampires in both combat training and magic, though none of them could compare in magical ability to an actual sorcerer such as Valar, Evlidone or even Eliza herself. The door slammed shut and Eliza heard the Palace Guards taking up position around the property and the building. Then her father stepped forward. Evlidone looked . . . tired. But he also looked like he had a purpose. [[ Eliza, I am . . . surprised to see you again so soon, ]] he said. Eliza already felt her blood beginning to boil. [[ I heard that you had been attacked. I wanted to see if we could help. ]] [[ You could have communicated via your orb first. I assure you that we have things well in hand. Your presence gives our enemy another target and spreads our defenses . . . ]] [[ My team and I can take care of ourselves, ]] Eliza growled. [[ I'm sorry if my desire to help is 'inconvenient' . . . ]] Evlidone clenched his fists. [[ Would you PLEASE try and remain calm just this once?!? I'm at least trying to be civil here. ]] It didn't take a sorcerer to feel the power that was beginning to build. Alyidana went to her husband to try and calm him down while Valar slowly moved towards the center to he could intercede if the proverbial shit hit the fan. Veronica's head was suddenly buzzing again. She had begun to get frightened and angry at the same time . . . frightened that there might be a fight and angry at the father and daughter who refused to even TRY and get along . . . then the buzzing in her head had returned with a vengeance, stronger than before. She gasped, grabbing her head and sinking to her knees. "Oh God sweetie, I'm sorry," Eliza said, her father forgotten for the moment as she knelt in front of her lover, kissing her on the forehead and wishing to the powers that be that she could be a little more sensitive. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 06 [[ Is she . . . all right? ]] Evlidone said, taking a few steps forward. [[ She . . . last night . . . during the fight, she manifested magical power. She doesn't know how to vent very well yet, and she's particularly sensitive to emotional fluctuations. ]] [[ Good grief, ]] Alyidana said, moving to the girl's side. While not being nearly as powerful as her husband or daughter in regards to magic, she had a very specialized strength in regards to healing magic. She had actually been the vampire equivalent of a doctor (called Shamans), once upon a time. She put her hands on the sides of Veronica's head and looked into the woman's eyes. She was not in any real danger, but the headache she must be experiencing would be massive. Eliza's mother concentrated and cast a Weeping Wall spell around the girl's mind, which allowed Veronica's magical energy to siphon a little more naturally while numbing it to emotional influences. Veronica wouldn't be able to cast anything while it was up, but it would provide her relief until she started learning to control her power. Vicky and Eliza helped Veronica to her feet. Valar approached to see if he could assist in some way, then found himself looking from one sister to the other. [[ Remarkable, ]] he said. He looked at Eliza. [[ Is this some aftereffect of her transformation? ]] Eliza looked confused for a moment, then clued in. [[ No. This is Vicky, Veronica's sister. They're twins. ]] [[ I've heard of 'twins' before, but I've never actually seen them before. None the less, ]] Valar said, then switched to English. "I have some experience in teaching. If you would allow it, I'll try and help give Ms. Adams . . . I mean Veronica," he added, glancing at Vicky, "learn the basics of magic use. She won't be casting any particularly potent spells, but she won't be likely to explode anymore." "Explode?!?" Veronica exclaimed. "No one said anything about exploding!" [[ What did you say to the poor girl? ]] Alyidana asked. [[ Just . . . just take her to the atrium. It will be a good place for her to rest, away from these two . . . ]] She was so mad at her husband and daughter that she couldn't speak. Evlidone stared at his feet, but Eliza kept looking at Veronica as her mother and Valar helped the girl away from the entrance hall. "Uhm . . . guys," Vicky started, looking from Eliza to Evlidone, "I think we might want to . . . go away," she finished. At that moment, Kalinicia stepped forward. [[ Which of you is 'Wyrm'? ]] she asked suddenly. Everyone just stared at her for a moment. Eliza turned to Wyrm. "I think she wants to talk to you." "Me? Why me?" The techno-geek was suddenly even more nervous. "I don't even speak the language!" Kalinicia was staring at him, realizing that he was the one she needed to talk to. Not even bothering to ask permission, she got right in his face. "Would you . . . walk with me? I have . . . questions for you," she added. Her English skills seemed well developed but untried. Wyrm realized that this was probably about Kelik, and simply nodded. The two of them wandered off down a hallway. The rest of Hybrid Security found somewhere else to be, leaving Eliza and Evlidone alone. Eliza was still staring towards the hall where her lover had disappeared. She was clenching her fists and breathing heavily. Evlidone looked at his daughter and assumed she was posturing because of him. [[ What?!? ]] he started. [[ I haven't even said anything yet! ]] Eliza looked confused, then shook her head. [[ I'm mad at me . . . this time. I knew she was having problems controlling the magic. She needs to stay calm, so I need to calm down. ]] Evlidone looked at his daughter. Then he started to laugh. His daughter was caught completely off guard. She couldn't remember the last time she had heard her father laughing, and had no idea what was going on. Finally, he composed himself enough to speak. [[ You need to 'calm down'? I've been telling you that for eighty years, and NOW you get it?!? ]] He finally managed to get his chuckling under control. [[ Eliza, would you mind accompanying me to the study? It's more comfortable there, and I think we need to talk. ]] ---------------------- ---------------------- In the makeshift control room . . . ---------------------- ---------------------- "How does this work?" Vicky said, trying to maneuver one of the hidden remote cameras that Wyrm had said up. There was supposed to be some way of changing cameras, while a very strange looking joystick was supposedly used to move the cameras' fields of view. But she couldn't quite get the hang of it, and she couldn't ask Wyrm. That was one of the people she and Terillia wanted to spy on. Okay, mostly he was one of the people that VICKY wanted to spy on, but Terillia didn't tend to object to very much. There was too much going on to be left out, and Veronica HATED not being in the know. "How about that button?" Terillia said, pointing at the keyboard. "Which button? There's about a hundred of them!" "The one that says 'Shift.' Maybe that means to shift cameras." Vicky chuckled. "Actually, it means to shift between upper and lower case letters. People have been using pretty much the same pattern for keyboards for three centuries now." "Oh," Terillia thought. She felt kind of stupid. Vicky noticed that her friend was pouting. "It's okay. It took me a long time to figure stuff out when I was traveling Terra. There are all sorts of little cultural nuances that you sort of take for granted." Terillia smiled and rested her head on Vicky's shoulder as the human woman messed with the controls a bit. "Damn it," Vicky said. "I'm never going to get this thing to work," she mumbled. She noticed how nice it felt having Terillia's head so close and how soft the succubus's cheek felt when their faces touched. And the girl even smelled nice . . . Terillia saw that Vicky wasn't messing with the controls any more. Actually, the older woman was staring at the succubus. Terillia blushed. "Why do you look at me like that?" she asked quietly. She found herself hoping for a kiss. Her hope was soon realized as Vicky's lips sought out Terillia's, and the two remained locked at the mouth for a couple of minutes. Terillia's tongue went six inches down her lover's throat, causing Vicky to give that muscle a little blowjob. Terillia found the entire experience to be quite arousing. "Shouldn't we be . . . spying . . .?" the succubus said at last. "Why don't we do something other people would like to spy on?" Vicky said, spinning her chair and pulling Terillia onto her lap. The two women began kissing again, which was the only thing that kept the succubus from just throwing her clothes off. Once Terillia got it into her head that sex was upcoming, she sometimes wanted to get to the main event right away. Vicky often found herself trying to slow things down and enjoy the ENTIRE act. Vicky traced circles on the loose slacks that covered Terillia's ass as the succubus continued to send her tongue into the human's throat. "But . . . we might . . . might get caught," Terillia said, cupping Vicky's tits through her blouse. "That is part of the fun," Vicky responded, kissing Terillia on the lips, face and then neck. She pulled her lover's shirt down as she kissed her way lower, and those cute bluish nipples came into range of Vicky's lips and tongue. She heard Terillia begin to coo as her warm lips sucked on the succubus's breast flesh. She grabbed Terillia's warm, tight little butt cheeks and held her close as both women began to heat up. Terillia started pulling on Vicky's shirt, finally getting it up until it was draped across her shoulders. The succubus slid down her human lover's body until her face was in front of those succulent round breasts, and her agile and talented tongue began encircling and teasing Vicky's pink nipples while Terillia struggled to pull the woman's pants down. Vicky was biting her bottom lip as her young lover's tongue lavished affection on Vicky's tits. It was like a little bluish snake that was everywhere at once. And when Terillia moved her head south, Vicky flushed with excitement. The succubus's tongue danced around the human's bellybutton for a while, which was slightly ticklish to Vicky and highly arousing. "This is also part of the fun," Terillia said, staring up Vicky's body as her talented tongue invaded Vicky's hot, moist pussy. When Vicky had first taught Terillia how to go down on a woman, she had gotten the younger woman to draw out her English letters with her tongue, and that had been one of her favorite cunnilingual tools. Since then, she had done the same activity using her own alphabet. This time, she decided to write out her favorite sonnet, one letter at a time. And succubae poets and songwriters did NOT write short sonnets. Vicky's bare ass was squirming on the edge of her seat as her lover's tongue was going everywhere. She had no idea what the hot young woman between her thighs was doing, but Vicky was pretty sure she liked it. And when Terillia's fingers started penetrating her box as well, Vicky's pleasure centers started going through the roof. She was really thinking she needed to revisit the succubae lands because if Terillia was any indication, those people were BORN for lesbian sex. "Lick me you horny little chick," she moaned. "Get that tongue inside me!" Terillia blushed and made a few more rounds with her tongue. Then she stiffened that muscled and used it like a piston, pounding it in and out of her lover's cunt and tagging her g-spot. Vicky arched her back, resting more of her weight on her lover's shoulders and lifted herself off the seat. Her pussy twitched happily and she began to cum like nobody's business. "Sweet-tongued devil, lick it all up! Lick up the mess you made!" Terillia didn't need to be asked twice. Actually, she didn't even need to be asked once. She loved bringing such pleasure to this beautiful woman, and this was her reward . . . the consumption of girl-candy. And she devoured it all. "My turn," Vicky said, sweat dripping from her forehead. 'This girl just wears me out,' she thought. "Bend over," she ordered, getting Terillia to bend at the waist and grab the arms of the chair. Vicky wrapped one arm around Terillia's wings and waist and stuck the other through her legs, letting both of the human woman's hands meet near the succubus's vaginal opening. She sunk two fingers from one hand into the top of Terillia's slot, using her thumb to tease the girl's clit. She used two fingers from the other hand to penetrate the lower end of Terillia's pussy. She stood behind the girl while doing this, and began humping against her as she fingered the succubus into a frenzy. "You are so skilled . . . I am . . . very aroused," Terillia half-said / half-chirped. Vicky grinned, then began sucking on the succubus's soft earlobe after she got Terillia to reposition her wings a bit. Terillia's English was good, but apparently the phrases used to talk dirty during sex had been skimmed in her language classes. But like everything else she did, she seemed to be adjusting quickly. "Such a naughty little bird," Vicky said, penetrating her lover's warm box with four fingers and rubbing her little clit. While Vicky's tongue wasn't as long or agile as Terillia's, her fingers were still more experienced. She had the young woman cumming in record time. Terillia even had to bite the top of Wyrm's computer chair to keep from chirping loudly or making that hiccup noise she often made during her climaxes. 'She has the most beautiful orgasms,' Vicky thought, watching the delicate but firm muscles of Terillia's body strain ever-so-lightly as she came, her wings fully extended (almost knocking over a monitor) and fluttering. Vicky continued fingering her for several minutes as the girl's lithe body finally relaxed. "That was most wonderful," Terillia cooed, her eyes shining with contentment as she turned to kiss her lover and teacher. "You weren't bad yourself," Vicky said. 'God, even her EYES are beautiful,' she thought. "You know, we don't HAVE to take turns," she murmured. "A sixty-nine?!?" Terillia said excitedly, then calmed her voice. When Vicky had shown her how that particular movement worked, she had been VERY pleased. She didn't even wait for a response, pushing Vicky onto the floor and then pounced on her like a prey item, burying her feathered head between the human's thighs and sending that magical tongue back to work. Vicky had created a monster. Or perhaps the monster had just been there all along, waiting for someone to let it out of its cage. But Vicky would be damned if she didn't reap some of the rewards of the succubus's sexual awakening, and she sent her tongue and fingers once more into the breach. Terillia's wings were fluttering wildly, knocking over the chair and scattering some papers. Her tongue was moving like an eel through water, penetrating and exploring Vicky's tight pussy without pause or mercy. She was doing everything she could think of to keep up with the more experienced woman's tongue and fingers. Vicky had flattened her tongue, made several long, slow passes, then darted her tongue against the clit while spreading the succubus's box with her fingers. If they were in their bedroom, she would be fisting this young creature already. Their prior experience with that particular sexual deviation had given Vicky a sense of power that she had never experienced before, and she wanted to feel it again. But in the meantime, she was quite satisfied with a piece of Terillia's pussy using slightly smaller invaders. So she licked and sucked to her hearts content, and Terillia appreciated her efforts. Terillia finally remembered that she could use fingers too, so she curled one of her long digits deep into Vicky's cunt, curling that finger until she found a spot in her lover's body she knew to be sensitive. Vicky gasped. "Oh no you don't," Vicky giggled, then tongued the tender area between pussy and asshole. "You are NOT going to get me first," she added, then spread her lover's opening as wide as she could get it and almost literally buried her mouth and tongue inside. "I . . . I . . . I did not mean to . . . (chirp) . . . offend," Terillia responded, pleasure coursing through her body. Whenever she thought she was gaining ground to her sexual mentor, Vicky took it to the next level. She had already promised to introduce Terillia to a "strap-on" when they got back to Earth, and she could hardly wait. "Oh . . . I am . . . ooh," she moaned. Vicky's infernal superior cunnilingual skills had done their damage, and Terillia experienced another delightful orgasm. This was not as wet as her first one, but she still had some of her vaginal nectar to expunge onto her lover's face. She was moving her tongue like a weed-whacker in long but rapid circles. "Oh, that's good . . ." Vicky moaned directly into Terillia's box. She felt the familiar stirrings of the "little death" deep within her. He stomach tensed and she pushed up on the floor with her feet, forcing her pussy against Terillia's face. She wanted to see the succubus's face glistening with her cum when she was through. A minute later, the two women were lying on the floor, panting, sweating and enjoying the feel of each other's body. As was their custom, Terillia had cocooned the lovers in her wings as they recuperated. --------------- ----------------- In Evlidone's study . . . --------------- ----------------- Eliza and Evlidone had been sitting in silence for a few minutes after leaving the others, each trying vainly to relax in large comfortable chairs. Eliza was perplexed as to her father's sudden outburst earlier, and Evlidone was trying to carefully arrange his thoughts. [[ Eliza, ]] he said at last, [[ do you remember when you were just thirteen or so and we took a boat ride down the Devlian River? ]] This wasn't what she had expected, but Eliza nodded. That was back when things had been . . . simpler. They had taken a family vacation, and her father knew how much Eliza liked the water so he planned a weeklong voyage down that mighty river. [[ The moment we stepped foot on the ferry, ]] he continued, [[ and while everyone else was looking down the river, I lost track of you. I saw you at the back of the vessel, looking up in the direction of the white-water. Do you remember what you said? ]] When Eliza shook her head, Evlidone went, [[ You asked if we could 'go that way.' I told you we couldn't . . . that the boat wasn't strong enough to go up the rapids. You just looked at me and asked me why. I told you because that wasn't the way the boat worked. You just asked why. I told you that going down river was just the way things worked. You asked why. And ever after ship started one way, you kept looking the other. It's funny. What was cute when you were young became INCREDIBLY aggravating when you got older. You never went the same way anyone else was going, probably because no one could explain to why you should. At least not to your satisfaction. ]] [[ Maybe I wanted to go somewhere else . . . I just know everyone kept trying to force me . . . well, down the river I guess. ]] Eliza still wasn't sure where this was going. Her father looked at her, a little sadness in his eyes. [[ It wasn't easy, always watching you walking away . . . always going in a different direction than everyone else. ]] [[ What did you expect me to do? I didn't want to be what you kept driving me to be! ]] [[ It wasn't just about me and you know it! When you went to the academy, you instigated the very first fist fight in history of the Graltan Academy. With one of your instructors, no less! I had to transfer you to that Military Sorcery Academy just because they were the only ones not scared enough to take you! Yes, I realized you probably orchestrated the whole thing just so you could learn more combat magic, but I didn't press the issue because you seemed happy there. But even there, you caused more explosions than anyone else had in over a century! You seemed so bound and determined to rebel ALL THE TIME . . . sometimes I wondered if you even knew what you were rebelling against! ]] Eliza shook her head. Once again, her father was painting her as the troublemaker. The fact that everything he had said was true was irrelevant to her at the moment. She HAD started a fight with an instructor, but only because he had made some very off color remarks about trolls, and Thug had recently become her friend. And she HAD wanted to go the Military Academy because she was tired of perfecting pansy-ass magic and wanted something more exciting. [[ From the moment I started going to school, you made it clear that you had a plan for me. You already had your eye on Valar as a potential suitor, and that was when he was a hundred and twenty while I was only eighteen! You already had a job and a house and everything picked out for me, but you never ONCE asked me if I wanted any of it! I wasn't even two decades old, and you already had my entire life written in the Great Book! ]] [[ What was wrong with me wanting the best for you? ]] her father asked. [[ Because it scared the hell out of me! Good grief, you're my father! I thought fathers were supposed to be supportive, but you tried smothering me every time I did something that didn't fit in with your plan! ]] Evlidone felt the veins in his head trying to explode, but he forced himself to remain calm. [[ As a father, one of my MANY duties is also trying to KEEP YOU SAFE! I thought that even if your own magic couldn't protect you that Valar's could. I thought that getting you a job as a court sorceress for a family that no one cared enough about to insult much less plot against would keep you safe! Your home was supposed to be somewhere safe! You KNOW we live in a world of intrigue and danger! I didn't want you getting caught up in it. ]] He settled down in his chair and put his head in his hands. [[ But everything I did failed. I tried to keep you safe, and you seemed to seek out danger. Most fathers only have to worry about their daughters having spats about not getting to take the carriage out until late in the morning. I was often worried about you accidentally causing an apocalypse. You weren't my little girl anymore. You were an earthquake with a purpose and a grudge! ]] It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 06 [[ I was NOT that bad! ]] Eliza muttered. 'Was I?' she thought. [[Now . . . please try and stay calm for this. I was the one who had to explain all this. I had to explain to the family friends, to your instructors, to our society . . . ]] [[ You were guarding your own . . . ]] [[ I asked you to let me finish! Good grief, are you really that blind?!? Look around at the world you came from, Eliza! Things work a certain way here, and they've been working that way for thousands of years! Vampires and other Terrans evolved into their current forms long before humans did, but things have moved slowly for us ever since. You can see it in our culture, our lives and our politics. But things work. We take our time, we have our ceremonies and things get done just like they have since the Age of Beginning. But you think that everything should change . . . just like that . . . just for your benefit! ]] Eliza was also struggling to maintain a calm demeanor. [[ I was NEVER going to be like them, ]] she said, motioning towards the door. [[ I tried . . . You may not believe it, but I DID try! Every day, I pretended to be something I wasn't. When you asked Valar to court me . . . when you talked about the perfect wedding and the perfect grandchildren . . . I knew I would never be what you wanted, but I didn't want to embarrass you. I know what it would have meant if it had come out that I preferred the company of women. I knew what it would mean for you trying to become Security Director. And so I left. ]] [[ You took off for Earth on a 'vacation,' and never came back. You started up a business where people would shoot at you with those 'guns' the humans like so much on a regular basis. You hide out in some compound like a crazed militant. Was this all supposed to make things better? ]] [[ Yes! I got to be who I wanted to be, or at least be closer to that than I could ever be here. And if I'm over there with the 'barbarians,' no one is going to care if I get a little destructive. Don't tell me that anyone on this side even cared what I was doing anymore. ]] [[ Of course someone cared! I cared! And your mother cared! Every day, I had to worry about whether or not you were going to get yourself killed! ]] [[ Oh, and YOU'RE job is so safe?!? Father, I know how much you love what you do and how good you are at it. Well guess what? I found something that I was good at! I found friends! I found a place for myself that no one hand fed me or forced me into! Something that I enjoyed! ]] Eliza grew quiet for a moment. [[ And I found someone who made me feel . . . whole. And despite everything that has happened between you and me . . . I just wanted you to be happy for me. I wanted you to be proud of me. After I fought so hard to get back here, you wrote off everything I felt and everything I had accomplished as 'foolishness.' ]] [[ You never gave me a chance! I heard the gate had reopened and so your mother and I hurried down there. I didn't like the idea that our last words might have been so spiteful! We get there, and everyone who comes across is talking about you and your female lover! They're talking about how you were engaged in not one . . . not two . . . but three large-scale military conflicts, and that was just the ones they KNEW about! You almost started a Blood War! You're openly flaunting . . . you are quite obviously not interested in males of our or ANY species! And you're not even a vampire anymore! And then Valar tells me how it happened and . . . and how my only child almost died due to some vile little wizard-reject and some powerful 'Living Jewel,' . . . ]] Eliza realized that her father was furious, but for one of the few times she could remember, he wasn't mad at her. Evlidone finally regained his composure. [[ How was I SUPPOSED to handle all of that? Remember what I said about things moving slowly and taking time on Terra? I had a week to adjust to my world being turned upside down! I know that it was harder for you, but you also had more time! And then you walked through the gate and confronted me, right in front of everyone. And as much as you hate it, I HAVE to play the game of politics! I wish I hadn't said some of the things I did, but as usual you HAD to have things happen YOUR way and on YOUR terms! ]] [[ You think that I was ready? The only reason I was able to walk across the gate was because Veronica actually made me believe that things would turn out all right. ]] Her father stared at her for a moment. [[ You really love her, don't you? ]] He sighed, then moved over to sit beside her. Eliza was speechless. Was her father actually . . . being fatherly? [[ More than anything. I never understood what a 'link' really was until I shared one with her. We live in each other's minds half the time . . . we even share dreams. And I almost walked away from her once because I didn't want you to be embarrassed. ]] She hung her head. [[ I never wanted to hurt you or embarrass you. I'm sorry I made life so difficult for you, but whenever I was here . . .]] she started, taking a look around, [[ I wasn't even comfortable in my own skin. Out there, I got to feel . . . good. Then Veronica made me feel perfect. I just wish you could be happy for me. ]] She sniffed. [[ Eliza . . . ]] Her father thought things over, then continued. [[ I know what you want me to say, but I'm not sure I can . . . at least not completely, ]] he added when he saw Eliza tensing up again. This was the first real father-daughter conversation the two of them had had in over half-a-century that hadn't degenerated into name-calling, and he didn't want to blow it. [[ I don't know if I'll ever approve of your new . . . sexuality. But that doesn't mean that you and your 'friend' don't have a place here. I may never approve of the way you live your life, but that doesn't mean . . . it doesn't mean I don't love you. ]] Eliza's eyes were beginning to water and she was trembling to the bone. It hadn't been the overwhelming acceptance she had hoped for, but her father had just told her something that she hadn't heard from him in over sixty years. Evlidone put his hand on his daughter's shoulder. He was a little unsure of how to proceed. He wasn't usually prone to this type of display or emotion, but he was damned if he was going to screw it up. His sometimes pig-headed devotion to the old ways of doing things had almost cost him his daughter, and that was something he would never allow again. [[ I do love you Eliza. You're my only child, and I'll never stop wanting to take care of you and keep you safe. But I see now that you can take care of yourself. And believe it or not, I AM proud of you. I'm proud of you for the work you've done, the business you've built, and I'm even more proud that you did it all on your own. I'm proud that the little girl in a pink dress that used to sit on my knee has become one of the most potent and famous warrior-sorceresses of our time. True, not all of your fame is . . . flattering, but that is your lot in life. ]] Eliza started to cry. It was like she had just won some great prize but didn't know what to do with it. She wrapped her arms around her father's neck and just cried on his shoulder. He patted her back and felt a guilty flush of relief . . . this was something a father was supposed to be able to do . . . to be there for his little girl. As he continued to comfort her. [[ Sometimes I envy you, ]] he said. [[ When our names are written in the Book of Blood and our deeds in the Great Book, your name will be underlined and your deeds will glow on the pages. But rarely does history remember the good politician. More often than not, they remember the warriors and the crusaders . . . and those who kept going up and challenging the rapids while others were content to glide down the river. But that doesn't bother me, for when I look down from the afterlife on all those Terrans and humans that are not yet born, I will be able to say with pride that it is MY daughter whose tales they still tell! ]] And with that, there was nothing more either of them needed to say. -------------- --------------- A little while later . . . -------------- --------------- Eliza and her father found the rest of the gang hanging out in the main dining area. The house servants had returned en masse when they heard the master and mistress of the house were in residence, and the chefs had been waiting for Evlidone to return before starting lunch (which was served at midnight in Vampire households). Eliza's eyes immediately met Veronica's, and the two lovers smiled. In an instant, they shared all that had happened between Eliza and he father, and Veronica's heart swelled in her chest with the news of the reconciliation, even if it came with certain . . . reservations. Alyidana sought out her husband, and they also shared a silent communication. Etiquette be damned, she gave her husband a brief but warm kiss. Her daughter's stubbornness was matched only by her husband's, and she was overjoyed that they had finally reached some common ground. If things had gone on much longer, she would've had to start hurting people. Eliza noticed that Wyrm was being unusually quiet, but he also appeared strangely at peace. Kelik's granddaughter sat next to him at the table, and occasionally appeared to exchange personal telepathic messages with him. Kalinicia noticed that Eliza was watching, then turned her head to the table and seemed to blush. Eliza was wondering if the girl was angry with her, but Wyrm caught her eye and shook his head. He mouthed the word "later," then went back to his meal. So Eliza let the subject go. Veronica also seemed more comfortable. She explained that Alyidana had helped stabilize her mind and Valar had been provided her with instructions on how to shield and how to vent. It would be a long time before she was ready to try and wield real magic, but they were certain she was in control enough to avoid accidentally destroying anything. Over dinner, the conversation took a business-like turn. Eliza explained what had happened during the attack, and her father took mental notes. He acknowledged that sending a straw-man attack was something the Swords of Cleansing had done before. He filled the team in on some of what he knew, but reluctantly couldn't tell them everything due to security issues. Eliza chose not to make a stink about that, since it was part of the games she finally had accepted that her father needed to play. Then he informed his daughter that Valar had been chosen to be Evlidone's successor when he chose to retire. Eliza had to acknowledge that it was a good fit. It was strange . . . she was actually glad it was Valar. That particular vampire had shown that he could rise above petty disputes when needed and get the job done. {{ So, }} Evlidone started over the group link, {{ I'm afraid I will ask you to refrain from taking any overt actions at this time. This is not an insult to your intentions or abilities. Just keep in mind that we DO have some things going on that are delicate in nature. You are all welcome to stay, and we may very well call upon you for information or, sometime down the road, for your assistance. Just let us play our next hand first. }} Eliza nodded her agreement. They were on her father's court, so they would play by his rules . . . for the most part . . . for now. -------------- ----------------- A little while later . . . -------------- ----------------- When the official dinner had ended, most of the crew headed off to bed. Evlidone, Alyidana and Valar had all started questioning Veronica about her "Hybrid abilities," so Eliza took a breather. She found Thug and Tiny both staring at a single sapling in the courtyard, apparently trying to figure out how many leaves it had. Eliza didn't bother to ask why, because they probably didn't know. They were trolls . . . they didn't always understand things . . . they just did them. She walked down a hall and wound up in the control room, and found Wyrm rearranging things. "What the fuck happened in here?" he asked when he saw his boss standing in the doorway. "Nothing's where I left it and it looks like someone's been chewing on my chair!" "You know as well as I that you can't predict what's going on around here." Eliza tested the air and smiled. The scent of sex was strong in the room, and she knew exactly who had been in there. "So," she added, changing gears, "what's going on with Kalinicia? Does she blame me for . . ." "Sorry boss, but I'm gonna let her cover that herself." Wyrm sat down in his partially chewed chair. "You okay?" Eliza asked. Her friend was normally a bit more chipper. "No, not really. Kalinicia apparently was already being groomed to take Kelik's place as Terran Ambassador to Earth, so she was in the Palace talking with your father when they got the news that we had come through. She . . . Kalinicia wanted to know how it all went down . . . how her grandfather died. It brought up some memories I'd just as soon leave behind." Wyrm put his face in his good hand. "How do you handle it?" he asked. "How do you handle the . . . the responsibility?" "What do you mean?" "I mean . . . I know you still blame yourself for what happened to me and to Kelik, even though you shouldn't. But talking with her . . . I felt responsible, like there was something I should've done to save her grandfather. I still can't think of what I COULD have done, but it doesn't make this sinking feeling in my stomach go away." Eliza sat down on the floor in front of Wyrm and rested her head on one of his knees. "I wish I could make things easier on you, bud. I don't know how I do it. I FEEL sick to my stomach and I NEVER completely forget what happened. I know that I helped save Veronica, but I'll always have that sick thought in the back of my head about what my life would have been like if we had been even a little bit slower. Sometimes that's what keeps me going . . . the desire to make sure that it doesn't happen again. Sometimes I just think of the people who still depend on me, and the ones I still depend on. Sometimes . . . sometimes I just keep moving. And a lot of the time, I rely on a wisecracking geek I know to cheer me up," she added. She started to stand and gave Wyrm a kiss on the forehead. "And usually, that's enough." ---------------- ------------------ Back in her own room . . . ---------------- ------------------ "So, you wanna . . . wander around the house again?" Veronica asked as she and Eliza sat on the bed. The sun was now up in the Terran sky, so all the natives were going to bed. They had been "politely" informed that they shouldn't leave the house by a Captain of the Palace Guard, so they couldn't even wander the city. The newcomers of Snake, Bear and Boomer were playing chess in the dining room, as their human sleep cycles hadn't adjusted very well to life on Terra. And Eliza and Veronica . . . well, they just didn't sleep that much. "I thought you saw everything already," Eliza said. "Nah, we only got around the front of the house, the north wing and part of the south wing. Then we had that pesky Swords of Cleansing invasion thing." "We could go bug the trolls and make them lose count of how many leaves that thing has." Eliza sighed. "The last time I was THIS bored at my parent's house, I reenacted the Great Battle of the Alynis Plains with . . ." Eliza stopped and waved her hand at the toys in the room. Veronica just sat there, staring at the wall of plush toys. Then she started to snicker. Finally, she began to guffaw. Eliza rolled her eyes and smiled. "I am NEVER sharing anything from my childhood with you EVER again." Then she joined in with Veronica's laughter. After a few minutes, she felt her lover's lips on her ear. "Maybe we could take a bath?" Eliza grinned. Veronica had fallen in love with the bathtubs in her parent's house. They were easily the size of spas back on Earth, with plenty of room for . . . activities. Eliza jumped up from the bed and raced to get to the bathroom first. One advantage of coming from wealth was that even as a kid, Eliza had enjoyed having her own bathroom. Veronica began to undress as Eliza started a water-drawing spell as well as a heating spell. Then the white-haired Hybrid felt Veronica's hands sliding her clothes off, then those hands reached around and cupped Eliza's breasts, pinching her nipples between those talented fingers. "Why my lady, I think you're planning on seducing me," Eliza said, moaning slightly as they both slid into the water. "Actually, you're pretty much a sure thing," Veronica said. "Remember, I can read your mind." Eliza stuck her tongue out in a childish display, then thought of a much more mature thought came to her mind. "Time me," she said, then dove her head under the surface of the water. Veronica watched as her girlfriend's head found its way between Veronica's thighs under the smooth surface of the water. Both Hybrids could hold their breath for several minutes, and she wanted to see what kind of "damage" Eliza could do in that time frame. She felt the warm water part as Eliza's tongue slipped into her pussy and started to wiggle. " . . . four . . . five . . . six," Veronica muttered. One of Eliza's fingers had already found its way into Veronica's asshole and was exploring her backdoor as Eliza's tongue continued to rake across the sensitive skin of her outer labia. " . . . seven . . . eight . . . nine . . ." 'Eating pussy underwater is hard!' Eliza thought. The warm water was helping Veronica relax her sphincter, so Eliza's finger had free reign, but trying to eat that perfect cunt without accidentally swallowing bath water was a bit tricky. She used her free hand to pinch the fleshy area around the clit, stimulating that sensitive nub with Veronica's own flesh. She licked her way along the surface of her girlfriend's opening. " . . . ninety-seven . . . ninety-eight . . . " The number of digits in Veronica's ass had just increased to three, and Eliza was using them like a jackhammer. Her normally-snug sphincter was being stretched every which way but loose, and Eliza's skill at the oral arts was undeniable. As her count reached one hundred and fifty (longer than Eliza's previous record), both women began to experience a sense of urgency. Veronica realized (a little late), that she was firmly holding Eliza's head in place, but her lover had gotten the job done. Veronica's released Eliza's head as her climax hit her like a truck and she came into the water while gripping the side of the tub like a lifejacket. Eliza erupted from the water with a sputter and a cough, but she started to smile shortly thereafter. She was feeling a little light-headed from running short on oxygen, but it had been worth the effort, especially after Veronica pulled her in and kissed her. "You are an AMAZING lover," the blonde woman said, gripping Eliza's slippery ass cheeks under the water. "I don't suppose you have any toys in here, do you?" "Sorry," Eliza responded, "but you're going to HAVE to use your imagination." Veronica bit her bottom lip. "Well, I may just have to do something we tried the LAST time we fucked in the tub." She wiggled her eyebrows. "Only if I get to do you too," Eliza responded, raising the bar a little higher. Veronica found the idea quite acceptable. She sat on the floor of the tub right next to Eliza, but facing in the opposite direction. Both women spread their legs and braced themselves on the floor of the tub with their right hand while sending their left hand between the other woman's thighs. "Last one inside is a rotten . . ." Veronica started, but was cut off as Eliza inserted three fingers, pressed tightly together, into Veronica's love-nest. "You cheater," she snarled happily, moving to fit four of her finger's into her lover's opening. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 06 The water ebbed and ripples around them as they pumped their respective digits into each other's warm pussies. Eliza was the first to sink her hand in all the way up to the second row of knuckles, so she tucked her thumb into the indention in her palm and pushed a little harder. Veronica realized she had to move quickly, so she followed suit. Both women were pumping their hands in slow but steady movements. Veronica was beginning to sweat a bit as her vaginal entrance was slowly being stretched to try and accommodate the invading hand. Eliza was concentrating very hard as her own honey-pot was about to be pillaged. Veronica was hoping that Eliza's natural resiliency would forgive her, but she wasn't about to lose this race! With one last excruciatingly slow push on her hand, her fist slipped into her girlfriend's pussy completely and was enveloped by that velvet prison. Eliza's opening was throbbing in a mixture of a little pain and A LOT of pleasure. She found herself gasping for breath as the entrance to her paradise clamped down on Veronica's wrist. Her own quest to fist her girlfriend was temporarily forgotten as her body tried to accustom itself to the intruder. "I win," Veronica said with a smile. Eliza shot her a dirty (but horny) look, grinning, then pushed her own hand that extra inch. "Oh God!" Veronica shouted as she succumbed to the violation. The two women sat in the water, staring at each other with open mouths and open eyes. They were both breathing heavily as their fingers began to twitch and probe, slowly coming back to life. Eliza preferred to pump her clenched fist while Veronica attacked all of her lover's insides by stretching out her hand as much as she could. {{ Fuck me, }} Eliza thought, no longer able to make her mouth obey her commands. She turned her hand a little and pumped again, causing Veronica's pleasure centers to erupt. Still biting her bottom lip, Veronica retaliated by directly stimulating Eliza's g-spot, rubbing one of her knuckles against it until her lover began whimpering with pleasure. But Eliza wasn't done. She brought the hand that she had been bracing herself with forward so she could gently run circles around Veronica's clit with her thumb. {{ Point . . . me, }} she thought cockily. Veronica's brain was swooning. 'I can't . . . I can't let her make me cum first . . . again,' she thought, a bit confused. Then the thought came to her. She pulled her free hand up and leaned forward as much as she could. She grabbed Eliza by the shoulder and pulled that girl forward. With hands inside each other's cunts, she kissed her lover. Eliza looked surprised (and tired) but please. But she was even more surprised when Veronica's fangs came out and sank into Eliza's neck. {{ Oh . . . you . . . bitch! }} Eliza thought as their powerful mental link kicked into action. It was like one of those moments like when you were a kid, hanging onto the bars of the playground's merry-go-round. Things get to spinning so fast that you think you're going to go flying off, but you can't stop laughing. For Veronica and Eliza, each spin was like a gentle wave of pleasure that, after a few moments, grew into a tidal wave. And when they let go of the merry-go-round, the orgasms that followed spun wildly out of control. And just like those times on the ride as a child, both women's heads were spinning even after the ride was over. Luckily, as Veronica's fangs withdrew, they were leaning against each other, otherwise there might have been some drowning. Eliza came to her senses first and pulled her hand out of Veronica's body. Then she grabbed Veronica's wrist and helped that woman return the favor. "Can't . . . see . . . anything," Veronica moaned as she felt an unfortunate absence from her body. Eliza laughed, leaned forward and wiped the hair from in front of her lover's face. "Oh . . . there everything is," Veronica chuckled. Even though Veronica's vision was unobstructed, Eliza continued to stroke her lover's face. ---------- ------------------ The next evening . . . ---------- ------------------ {{ It is actually quite infuriating, }} Evlidone thought, looking at the assembled force around him. All the occupants and guests in the house, as well as the local Captain of the Palace Guard (a man named Aruthis), were gathered in the central dining hall, which was acting as an impromptu war-room. The Security Director had been explaining what he knew about the Swords of Cleansing. Unlike the Purity back on Earth, the Swords of Cleansing had actually been around for a long time. In actuality, the fanatical group consisted entirely of vampires, even though they weren't above stealing magical ideas from other races. In fact, they despised ALL other races. The modern Swords of Cleansing had been formed by merging together a number of older and smaller secret vampire societies that had been proponents of vampire separatism, even on Terra. Succubae, trolls, gargoyles, lycanthropes and even octovians (half-humanoid, half-octopus-like creatures that lived deep below the surface of Terra's oceans) were targets of their hatred and ridicule. When the dimensional crack had opened and free travel had begun between Terran and Earth, these smaller groups had somehow organized and consolidated their resources. {{ And they are paranoid, }} Valar interjected. {{ The attack on this house a few nights ago was not part of their usual strategy. Unlike the Purity, the Swords of Cleansing do not generally rush into anything. As a result, there are fewer attacks, but they tend to be more damaging. }} {{ We . . . }} Evlidone started. Then he stopped, looked at his daughter and smiled. {{ We originally tried seeking out their hiding places, but they are elusive. When word came of how the Purity had been stopped . . . repeatedly . . . we tried luring our foes into a trap but they have been maddeningly uncooperative. }} Eliza blushed a little. It appears that her father HAD been paying attention to her work on Earth, and imitation was the sincerest form of flattery. {{ We have tried all the conventional methods of locating them, but nothing is working, }} Aruthis said. He was more than a little confused as to why these . . . outsiders . . . were being consulted, but he would never disobey a direct order from the Security Director. {{ They tend to be based out of more backwater, conservative communities who won't speak to our investigators. And they know how to counter our intelligence gathering spells. }} Terillia was afraid to speak. Like many young succubae, she had dreams of glory and being part of the great adventure, but she was discovering the bane of young adventurers everywhere: taking that first step. She was surrounded by powerful spell casters, potent warriors and knowledgeable men. Terillia had an idea, but she thought it had to be stupid or have already been tried, seeing as no one had yet mentioned it. Her mouth was partially open in the fashion of a student who wanted to question his or her teacher but was afraid of appearing the fool. The she felt a hand on her thigh, and noticed Vicky was staring at her. The human woman smiled. 'How does she know . . .' Terillia started to think. Vicky wasn't a telepath, but she knew her lover well enough that she wanted to say something, held back only by the insecurity of youth surrounded by experience. Vicky just nodded, still smiling. {{ Uhm . . . Instead of luring them out . . . why don't you . . . drive them out? }} {{ Because we don't know where they are, }} Aruthis said in a slightly patronizing tone. {{ You said they are paranoid, correct? Do they KNOW that we don't know where they are or how to find them? }} Terillia responded, the feathers on the back of her neck ruffling. She HATED being talked down to. That was something Eliza never did to her, which is one reason she had grown so loyal to the Hybrid. {{ Go ahead, }} Eliza said, glaring at the Captain. {{ I'm afraid I don't understand the difference, }} Evlidone said. If his daughter wanted to hear what this young woman had to say, he would extend her the benefit of the doubt. Suddenly Terillia was the focus of everyone's attention, and it was a tad disconcerting. {{ Well . . . let me put it this way, }} she started, glancing around nervously, {{ whenever the King or Queen of Ziticens (the home continent of the succubae) decrees a Royal Hunt, they always hunt from the air. But most of their quarry is adept at hiding, so the hunters either send someone on the ground to beat the bushes or they use force-pulse spells to drive the prey out into the open. Instead of waiting for your prey to come looking for you, why not drive them out? }} Aruthis tried not to roll his eyes. {{ But we don't know where to start . . . }} {{ We do not need to, }} Evlidone said, his eyes narrowed in thought. {{ It is basic nature. I had the opportunity to watch such a hunt a few centuries ago. When a creature is frightened, it is likely to bolt even if it is not in any actual danger. }} {{ These Swords of Cleansing clowns just need to THINK that they're in danger, }} Eliza thought. {{ You mean you want to bluff them out into the open? }} Valar asked. {{ But how? They know how we look for people and they know how good their security is. }} {{ Correction, }} interjected Eliza, {{ They know how YOU look for people and how good their security is against YOUR intelligence gathering. They don't know anything about us, }} she added, glancing at her team. Evlidone wasn't thrilled about the idea of his daughter getting involved in something potentially dangerous. But since he seemed unable to control the young woman, he might as well use her talents and those of her team. {{ So what EXACTLY do you have in mind? }} ------------ -------------------- A week or so later . . . ------------ -------------------- {{ Okay. Wyrm, can you highlight the areas we've 'investigated'? }} Eliza asked, getting a laugh out of her crew. Her father was staring intently at the portable holographic projector that they had brought with them. He marveled at human technology, particularly when someone figured out how to get it to work on Terra. Wyrm had brought solar panels and a small windmill that was hooked up to the top of one of the towers, all of which powered his small array of technology. It was Terran bafflement in the face of such technology that they had been counting on. For the last week, Eliza and her crew had been teleporting to a random set of locations around Devlia, concentrating their energies in the types of areas where the Swords of Cleansing might be able to hide. Everywhere they went, they took a number of fancy-looking gadgets and several members of the Palace Guard, just to make the entire expedition to look authentic. With two trolls, two Hybrids (an unknown commodity all by themselves), a succubus, four guards and number of humans, no one seemed willing to pick a fight with them. They talked to everyone they could find, making the locals feel as uncomfortable as possible. Wyrm wandered around, taking miscellaneous readings and then whispering conspiratorially with Eliza. The trolls looked menacing, and Terillia would fly around and stare at things from the air. Then they would gather up their troops and equipment, return to the teleport station and move on to their next target. {{ Here we go, }} said Wyrm, as a number of brightly colored red blips appeared on the map. {{ And what do we know about these areas? }} Eliza asked, curious as to exactly what readings her tech-guy had been taking. {{ Well here, }} he said, pointing at their first hit of the day, {{ the temperature was about eighty-four degrees with fifty-percent humidity and winds from the north at about ten miles per hour. And here . . . }} Wyrm continued to give all sorts of useless data about the places they had visited, including weather conditions, population . . . even the types of insects people had been complaining about. Eliza's crew wasn't actually concerned with finding anything. They just wanted to make some noise and give their enemies something to think about. And with the nervousness they had been causing and the fear the locals had about these "foreign contraptions" that Wyrm had devised. At one point, Wyrm had been staring intently at a couple of teenagers, holding a device that was making some kind of noise the youths found "eerie." In actuality, it had just been his PDA playing an old, old rock song by some group called Lost in Texas that he had found on a classic rock download site. Suddenly, a messenger arrived at the door and handed a scroll to one of the guards, who then passed it on to Evlidone. Eliza's father smiled. {{ It seems that you're methods seem to be working. We have reports of small groups we believe to be associated with the Swords of Cleansing moving away from the area's you've been checking. }} {{ Are they moving in a particular direction? Are you picking them up? }} Eliza asked, wrapping her arm around Terillia's shoulders and giving her young protégé a squeeze. "You did good," she whispered, and the succubus flushed with pride. {{ We don't have enough information, }} Evlidone replied. {{ We need some more data. So no, we're not picking anyone up yet. We don't want them to hole up where they are. We need them to move, and they won't if they realize they're being driven. }} His gaze went back to the holographic projection. {{ Mr. Wyrm, could you put up province boundaries and geographical landmarks? }} {{ Coming up, }} the tech-wizard said, amused at being called "Mr. Wyrm." It sounded so formal! Eliza took a break from Wyrm's display of his technical expertise and headed down to the kitchen to get a cup of blood. The kitchen was deserted when she arrived. But when she had grabbed her nourishment and turned around, Kalinicia was standing in the hallway, staring at Eliza with a purpose. "I would have words with you now," Kalinicia said in her unsure English. "Very well," Eliza said. This was another conversation that was a long time overdue. But Eliza had settled things in her head, so she was ready for it. But Kalinicia sat down on a stool and actually looked a little forlorn. This wasn't a girl looking for a fight. "I . . . I was not sure how to feel when I saw you," the beautiful young vampire maiden said. "I had heard that my grandfather had come to . . . to assist you. And I was told by other trapped . . . refugees that he had died under your command. I wanted to hate you. I tried to hate you." "So what happened?" Eliza asked, sitting back and taking a sip of blood. "I . . . before you came over, I was talking with Chancellor Valar. I knew that he was one of the two Terrans who had been there when . . . when it happened. He said how you had asked him to stay behind where it was safe. Like you did with Wyrm. He told me how no one had expected an attack on . . . the fort." Kalinicia shook her head. "Why did you not avenge him?" she asked suddenly. "You had his killers in . . . in the palm of your hand." "I wondered that myself for a while," Eliza replied. "But I couldn't beat them by being the monster they thought I was. You can't always fight fire with fire. Kelik understood that." She sighed. "I need you to understand something, Kalinicia. I loved that old man. He was like family when . . . well, when I didn't have my own to rely on. And if I had thought there was ANY possibility that the Purity would've attacked Fort Crass, I would've moved him out. And to this day, I'd be willing to take his place. But that isn't a choice I get to make, but I do have to live with it. Kelik was a leader, just like you're going to have to be. That means making choices that other people may have to pay for. Every day, I have people who put their lives in my hands. I've accepted that responsibility. That also means I'll accept the heartache when I lose one, whether it was in my power to stop or not. Are you sure you're ready for that?" "I am not sure," Kalinicia said, trying to be as honest as she could. She believed Eliza when the woman said she loved Kelik. Kalinicia knew that her grandfather had had great respect for the daughter of the Security Director. There were times when she had been jealous of that. "But I wish to find out. I am supposed to begin living on Earth soon so that I might become more acquainted with its people. I wanted to see what kind of person you were before . . ." "Before what?" Eliza asked. "Before I asked if I could come stay with you. Valar suggested that you have opportunities to travel all over the world and . . . and that my grandfather would want me to be under your care." A tear appeared in the young vampire's eye. "He wants me to put my faith in you. Just like my grandfather did. And no matter how unfair it is, I'm not sure I can trust you." "Well, I can't make you trust me, and I wish Valar had checked with me before suggesting you come back with us. I'm sure you've had some very good . . . training, but I really don't have time to baby sit . . ." Kalinicia's eyes shot open and her nostrils flared. She might have been a little unsure of speaking English, but she sure as hell understood it. [[ I am no child that needs looking after! I may not be a warrior, but . . . ]] She stopped, unsure why Eliza was smiling. [[ You need to learn to control that temper, ]] Eliza told the younger woman. [[ But at least now, you're acting like his granddaughter, ]] she added, patting Kalinicia on the shoulder and then heading back down the hall. Kalinicia sat there for a moment. 'You're acting like his granddaughter,' she thought. It was a thought that finally let her smile. ---------------- ---------------- Several weeks later . . . ---------------- ---------------- Eliza was sitting in her father's study again, a small fire in the fireplace and her father sitting in the chair next to her with Eliza's mother in his lap. The three of them were enjoying a fine bourbon, which her father had developed a taste for and often had imported from Earth. Evlidone had been "pressured" into a family moment by his wife, who had been far too patient in waiting for her family to reconcile, so she was going to push for these little moments as often as she could. They were also celebrating what appeared to be the end of the campaign against Swords of Cleansing. After a mass exodus from their individual hidey-holes, the Devlian Intelligence Services were able to triangulate their movements and descended on the main encampment. And they had stolen another idea from Eliza's tactics on Earth . . . they enlisted A LOT of trolls. Eliza had been willing to go to war with six. When Evlidone gave the word to attack the camp, he sent about thirty trolls, and the amount of destruction they wreaked would be the stuff of legends. Many people were justifiably concerned that if this trend of troll unity continued that they might demand their own land. And no one was willing to step up and tell them they couldn't have it. The fight at the encampment had gotten ugly, but it had ended fairly decisively, leaving only a few small pockets of fairly weak resistance. [[ When do you think you might visit again? ]] Alyidana asked pointedly. [[ It might be a while, ]] Eliza said, looking a little guilty. [[ I have to get back to oversee the new construction in the compound, take on a new job just to let people know we're still out there for business, and I'm going by Veronica's parent's house for Christmas this year. It's an odd religious holiday on Earth, but it seems important to her somehow that I go. ]] She noticed her father shift a little uncomfortably, but she didn't say anything. He was just going to have to accept that she was seriously involved with another woman, and that included trips to the parents. It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 06 [[ Will you be sticking around for the Festival of Stars? You and Veronica? ]] her mother asked, digging her elbow into her husband before he could attempt to object. [[ Of course, the rest of your team is welcome to stay as well. ]] [[ Mom . . . ]] Eliza started to whine. [[ It's only a few weeks away, ]] Evlidone said, [[ and you've missed the last fifty of them. It would mean the world to your mother . . . and me . . .if you would attend. ]] Eliza wondered what was up. The Festival of Stars was a ceremonial affair that signified the end of the Terran year. There was a feast that generally was open to family and friends, followed by a traditional dance and an exchange of secrets between loved ones. But when the Prime Minister threw a Festival of Stars ceremony, it tended to be an ostentatious and grand event. [[ Dad . . . if I go, it HAS to be with Veronica. ]] Evlidone sighed. He knew she would make that demand. [[ I would not ask that you be with someone you didn't care about. But . . . just for the sake of tradition, conduct yourself like a lady. ]] He sipped his drink and then muttered under his breath, [[ Assuming you still remember how. ]] [[ I heard that, ]] Eliza replied. Alyidana, however, had the final trump card. [[ And think about it . . . you would greatly upset a number of high society people, but they wouldn't be able to do a THING about it. ]] Eliza mulled it over. [[ I'll talk to Veronica . . . ]] --------------- ----------------- A few weeks later . . . --------------- ----------------- "I have GOT to see this!" Boomer said, sitting anxiously in the entryway for the house while waiting for the women to make their appearances. Every member of Hybrid Security had chosen to stick around for the Festival of Stars. Partially, they were nervous about splitting up while there were still pockets of the Swords of Cleansing about. Partially, they wanted to see Eliza, queen of jumpsuits and casual attire, sporting a dress. Wyrm grinned. He had to admit, the idea was enticing. He had never seen his boss in a dress, though he had OFTEN fantasized about her in lingerie. Of course he felt a little foolish himself. He had never worn formal robes before, but he and the rest of the men found themselves in just such a fashion predicament. Apparently, robes were ALL the rage on Terra. They looked like something ancient Japanese warriors might have worn. But they were silky and comfortable. "Woah!" said Dennis as the ladies finally came into view. They were all wearing similar gowns, namely off-the-shoulder and elegant with a slight flare at the bottom. His wife was wearing one in white, and her hair was in a partial bun with strands of hair cascading down over each shoulder. She was as beautiful as the day he married her. Kalinicia was wearing a similar dress in green, and she looked dazzling. She immediately attached herself to Wyrm's arm. Vicky wore a blue gown and came out with Terillia, who was dressed in a purple gown with a large section in back tastefully removed to accommodate her wings. But when Veronica and Eliza walked out, hand in hand, time stopped. Veronica was dressed in gold, cut a little low in front to give a tasteful display of cleavage, and her curled and blonde hair fell from her head like well-orchestrated chaos. And Eliza was dressed in black; the gorgeous gown hugging her trim waist and slim hips as it flowed elegantly to the floor. She was even wearing jewelry, namely a necklace of gold and diamonds and a matching set of bracelets. She looked for all the world like a fairy-tale princess. "Well," she said to her troops as they gawked awkwardly at her, "my parents and the Prime Minister are awaiting us. Let's go piss off some aristocrats!" ---------------- ------ At the party . . . ---------------- ------ Eliza was sitting at a long table with her father on one side and Veronica on the other. Boomer was still talking about how confused he was that vampires consumed something besides blood. Kalinicia was trying to reassure him that while blood was the most efficient way for her kind to obtain nourishment, it wasn't the only way. The Festival of Stars was an excuse for her people to "indulge" themselves. Eliza noticed that she seemed to stay close to Wyrm, no matter who they were talking to. {{ You enjoyed that, didn't you? }} her father sent telepathically with a hint of whimsy. Eliza grinned. When she had arrived, everyone in her troop had been introduced separately by the herald, except for Dennis and Allyson. Only married couples were ever introduced together. The arrival of Hybrid security and their "controversial" leaders had ruffled many feathers and raised many eyebrows, but no one would dare be outright rude. Instead, all eyes had been trained on each of them, waiting for the slightest impropriety on their part so they crowd could have something to talk about. Veronica and Eliza were the last two of their party that were introduced and although they came in separately, Veronica waited for Eliza to be called and then took her lover's hand, and the two walked straight through the room. The indignation subtly displayed was delicious! {{ I would just like to point out that I've been behaving myself, }} she replied. {{ The feast is delicious by the way. }} Evlidone shook his head, but he had to admit that he was enjoying himself. He had never thought he would share this celebration with his entire family. He glanced down and saw that his daughter was holding hands with Ms. Veronica Adams again. 'With my . . . extended . . . family?' he thought. He felt a kiss on his cheek, and turned to face his wife. While he had been watching Eliza, Alyidana had been watching him. [[ Sir, ]] said an approaching Aruthis, [[ the . . . entertainment . . . has arrived. ]] Suddenly, Evlidone was a bit more serious. [[ And the Prime Minister is safely away? ]] [[ Yes sir. And the crowd has been suitably . . . diluted. ]] [[ Dad, what's going on? ]] Eliza said, not caring if she interrupted. [[ I've been watching guards usher guests into the side rooms and . . . ]] Evlidone placed a finger to his lips. [[ Shh. ]] He turned to Alyidana. [[ Dear, would you mind following Aruthis to the antechamber? ]] He turned back to Eliza. [[ You might want to go too. This shouldn't take but a moment. ]] Eliza looked at him, leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. She wasn't going anywhere. Evlidone sighed. [[ Why can't you just . . . never mind. We have a small band of acrobats signed up to perform at the party. Our intelligence believes that at least three Swords of Cleansing assassins have joined the troupe, hoping to make an attempt on my life. ]] [[ Evlidone! ]] Alyidana exclaimed as she rose to leave. [[ Are you mad?!? How could you allow them into . . . ]] [[ Because they are desperate and the target is tempting, ]] Evlidone replied casually. [[ And because I have everything under control. I learned this trick from listening to my daughter's legends, ]] he added. He felt a sudden rush of pride. Eliza turned to Terillia. {{ Take Vicky, Wyrm, Kalinicia and . . . ]] Eliza watched as her ENTIRE team leaned back in THEIR chairs and shook their heads. Wyrm was the first to speak. "Nuh-uh boss. No one gets left behind anymore. We know the risks, and we're standing beside you." Eliza looked incredulous. "Vicky and Wyrm are non-combatants and the rest of the humans are non-magical. This isn't . . . Wyrm, at least take Kalinicia and . . ." "I will stay. My grandfather would not run, so neither will I," the young vampire said firmly. She turned exasperatedly to her father. [[ They refuse to leave. They're being impossibly stubborn! ]] Evlidone smiled. [[ Now you understand what I had to deal with being your father for the last century, ]] he said, then turned to his wife. [[ Please, just go with the Captain and . . . ]] [[ Are you sure our daughter and her companions are safe here? ]] Alyidana asked. [[ Yes, but . . . ]] [[ 'But' nothing. I will stay. This is our first night out as a family in over half a century, and I'm not going to have it broken up by an assassination attempt. ]] Eliza's mother sat back down, leaving Captain Aruthis looking very bewildered. Did anyone in that family actually listen to anyone else? A group of men and women in brightly colored costumes was let in the front gate. Eliza noticed that the remaining crowd seemed to be composed of very calm people . . . probably undercover guards. The acrobats started their performance, and Eliza watched them quite carefully. She looked for hesitation in their movements, as that might signify someone new to the group. She looked for someone who paid too much attention to the head table. She was confused as to why her father would let this charade go on, but she reminded herself that he didn't get where he was by accident. When the attack finally came, it was actually a bit anti-climactic. Three of the tumblers rushed forward, their eyes harboring a fanatical madness. Eliza raised her hands as if to cast a shield, but her father waved her off. The assassins seem to cast a burrowing spell that would eat its way through any shielding, followed by a couple of nasty spells that rearranged the targets internal organs. But the burrowing spell was "reflected" back, causing it to eat the other attack spells in its wake. During the attack, the remaining acrobats, who seemed horribly confused, were ushered back out the door they had come in through. Then, shimmering walls of haze seemed to appear around the attackers, surrounding them like a cage. They realized they were trapped and began casting frantically, trying to find a way out. One of them looked backward and saw Chancellor Valar standing by the entrance, maintaining the shield spell. But then they heard a single set of hands clapping, and they all turned their attention forward. Evlidone was smiling as he gave his would-be dispatchers a round of applause. [[ It was a . . . pretty . . . attempt. I was hoping for better, but I shall give you points for effort. ]] The venerable Security Director stood up and faced the assassins. [[ Do you have anything to say for yourselves? ]] [[ You piece of shit, ]] one of them started. [[ You think that you've won? The Swords of Cleansing will be reborn and we will kill you and that disgusting abomination sitting next to you! ]] he added, looking directly at Eliza. [[ You would lead the vampires, the greatest of all races, down the road of racial dilution. You . . . ]] [[ What I meant was, did you have anything USEFUL to say? ]] Evlidone interrupted. He strode down the stairs to where the captives were caged. The containment area was about ten feet wide by twenty feet in length, and stretched from the floor to the ceiling. [[ Valar, please open this wall and let me inside. ]] Valar looked stunned. The entire room had gone dead quiet. [[ Sir, what are you . . . ]] Captain Aruthis started. [[ Chancellor Valar, I ORDER you to let me inside, effective . . . ]] Evlidone stopped. His daughter had appeared at his side. [[ Dad, I don't know what you're up to, but I'm not letting you risk your life! You're too important! ]] [[ Eliza, I know what I'm doing. Please . . . just believe in me. ]] Eliza stopped. [[ If I even THINK you don't have control, I'm coming in after you. ]] [[ Agreed. ]] He looked up. [[ Valar? ]] Valar stared at him, then a smile crossed his lips. A door appeared in one side of the cage, and Security Director Evlidone Msabdteelfinclor stepped into the lions' den. Almost immediately, the confused assassins attacked. As the general guests came back into the room and Eliza's team (and her mother) looked on, an ass-whooping was taking place. But it was the assassins on the receiving end. Eliza had forgotten how adept of a sorcerer her father was, but he was putting on quite a display. One of the assassins was actually embedded about a foot into the ceiling, while another was attempting to extinguish the flames that had been ignited in his clothing. The third attacker had just had his fourth and fifth spells absorbed and negated respectively, then made a blind attempt to bum-rush Evlidone. Eliza snarled. [[ Valar! ]] she shouted. Another door in the cage opened and she sprung forward. She moved with such speed that the on-looking crowd gasped in surprise. Her father apparently had been planning on casting something against the man, but stopped after his daughter buried her shoulder into the assassin's midsection in a full-tilt charge. The man doubled-over as he flew back into the far wall, blood leaking from his mouth as he fell to the ground. [[ That was HARDLY ladylike, ]] Evlidone said. [[ If you ruin that dress, your mother will NEVER let you hear the end of it. ]] Eliza checked the dress and, except for a bit of dirt on the front, it was fine. She brushed herself off. Evlidone looked at the smoldering but still breathing attacker. The man realized that his comrades had been permanently removed from the field of battle, and he started to whimper. Evlidone shook his head. [[ The Swords of Cleansing are finished. I hereby place you under arrest for treason against the Prime Minister and the nation of Devlia, assault, illegal use of combat magic within the Palace Grounds, . . . ]] Eliza went back up to her seat while the remaining attacker was taken into custody, all the while being charged with a myriad of additional crimes. With his daughter distracted, Evlidone turned and kicked the prisoner in the crotch, then leaned over and whispered in the would-be-assassin's ear, [[ And that 'disgusting abomination' is my daughter, you son of a bitch, ]] he growled. He stood up and saw Valar nodding his approval. The two exchanged a smile. No one fucked with Evlidone's family. -------------- ------------------------------- Back at her parent's residence . . . -------------- ------------------------------- "I don't get it," Wyrm said as soon as they crossed the threshold. "Why put his ass on the line like that?" Eliza grinned. Her parents would probably be tied up at the palace for a while, so she alerted the house staff to take a break. Then she turned to her friends. "He was never in any danger," she said. "They used all their big mojo in their opening gambit. They were no match for him in a straight-up fight. I keep thinking of him as 'old,' but he's still young for a sorcerer of his power. This wasn't about catching a couple of rebels. It was about making a statement." "He made an impression," Dennis said, pulling up a seat and pulling his wife into his lap. "He left an impression in the ceiling, the floor . . ." "That's NOT what I meant," Eliza replied. Thug raised his head. {{ The main Swords of Cleansing force had been destroyed, leaving only fringe groups . . . isolated pockets of resistance. But those pockets could gain numbers and return to prominence if they felt they could still win, }} the troll thought. Eliza nodded. Her friend was much more observant than many people gave him credit for. "This was a very public and very thorough beating. With no single leader to unite them, they NEEDED this attack to work. But if was a dismal failure." "It's going to be hard or impossible for them to convince any new recruits that they can win after such a decisive failure," Terillia said. "This is . . . the straw that broke the camel's spine." Vicky grinned. Her lover was cute when she mis-translated. "My father knew that a single public display could save us against years of guerilla warfare," Eliza finished. "Well, I think I know where you got your 'sneakiness' from," Allyson said. "Maybe," Eliza replied. She looked over at Veronica. "You know, I never DID get to dance with you," she said, pulling the beautiful blonde woman into her arms. "Wyrm, could you hit the music?" Wyrm turned to his laptop and brought up a playlist. The first song was slow, which was perfect for Eliza. The members of Hybrid Security watched as their boss and her girlfriend giggled like young girls as the floated across the floor with uncanny grace. "And she can dance too," Allyson chuckled. She got to her feet and pulled her husband with her. Vicky and Terillia joined them on the dance floor, and Kalinicia gently took Wyrm by the hand. After the established couples had finished the first dance, they paired off with others, bringing Snake, Boomer and Bear onto the floor as well. Thug and Tiny rolled their eyes, then wandered off to find something to stare at. Trolls didn't "do" dancing. "That was a pretty good feast," Wyrm said, sitting down after several dances. Kalinicia sat with him. "Do all these 'Festival of Stars' end with a fight?" "No," Eliza replied. "Usually, it ends with an exchange of secrets. It's sort of like a 'whispering,' but instead of sharing something no one knows with the departed, you share a wish with a friend or loved one. It's sort of like our version of a New Year's Eve kiss on Earth." "I think that's a fine idea," Allyson said. Bear turned to Snake and Boomer. "Dudes, I so love you guys!" The three of them shared a laugh and then wandered off to find some alcohol. Allyson whispered into her husband's ear. "I want to have a family," she said. Dennis looked shocked, so she continued. "I don't want to quit yet and it doesn't have to be right away, but . . . " Dennis lifted his wife off her feet and held her close. "I love you," he told her. "Not much of a secret," she said, "but it'll do." She took him by the hand and led him back to their bedroom. Vicky and Terillia had removed themselves to a corner of the room. "I think I see you as more than a friend," Vicky said. "I think I kind of love you," she said. Terillia blushed dark blue and her heart raced. "I feel the same way. I hope that doesn't mean you are not interested in bringing in additional women, though. I was contacted by two friends from my homeland before we left for the Festival. They wish to visit us on Earth so that you might impart your sexual wisdom upon them." Vicky grinned. "Are they hot? I mean . . . attractive?" "Absolutely!" Terillia said. "I thought you might enjoy them, but I wish to remain with you for a great deal of time." Vicky kissed Terillia long and slow. "You are perfect for me." She grabbed her young lover's hand and led her towards the stairs that led up one of the towers. Kalinicia was looking incredibly nervous. "Wyrm . . . I . . ." "It's okay," he interrupted. "If you need to be mad at me or . . ." "No," she replied. "I do not blame anyone for what happened to my grandfather. He seems to have trusted you all, and I have come to understand why. What I wanted to say was . . . Wyrm, I have never known intimacy with a man. I . . . I was wondering if you might be with me today. If I am to experience your world, I wish to start by experiencing your touch." Wyrm took a deep breath. "Are you sure?" Kalinicia looked at him and lowered her silky-soft lips to his. After a few moments, she ended the kiss. "I am very sure." She took him by the arm and the two walked towards Wyrm's room. "Well, alone at last," Eliza said. She was a bit nervous herself. "Lover, I'm glad you and your father are talking again. I'm glad you let me be a part of this," Veronica added, looking around at the splendor that was Evlidone's house. "I don't know if Christmas at my parents will be able to live up to this," she added with a smile, "but it might." "Veronica . . ." "Yes?" "Will you marry me?" Veronica's eyes shot open and her lips trembled. Suddenly, there didn't seem to be enough oxygen in the room. "Muh . . . marry you?" "There is no chance I want to spend the rest of my life with anyone but you," Eliza said. "You are my equal, my love and my lover. And since we are neither human nor vampire, we can make up our own culture . . . our own rules, and . . ." It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 06 Eliza found her air supply completely cut off as Veronica grabbed both sides of her face and kissed her like she had never been kissed before. Considering their history, that was once heck of a kiss. "Yes," was the only thing that Veronica was able to say. ------------ ------------------------- In the Murgo's bedroom . . . ------------ ------------------------- "Harder! Is that all you've got?!?" Allyson shouted as her husband drilled her from behind. She was on all fours and he was buried deep in her box. She felt . . . liberated. There had always been this voice in the back of her mind warning her that in her line of business, there was no place for family. She had always worried about getting pregnant and bringing a child into a dangerous world. But she had begun to believe that she, her husband and her friends could keep any child safe. It was an exaggerated sense of safety and she knew it, but it made her happy. Dennis was happy as well. While nervous about being a father, he had always known that Allyson would be a terrific mother. And in the last year, they had grown even closer. There was something about putting your life in someone's hands and having them come through for you time and time again that brought couples closer together. And for a woman in her late thirties, Allyson was still hot! Her breasts may have developed a little big of sag after all of their years together, but the rest of her was firm and powerful. Her back was already glistening with a fine sheen of sweat from her exertion. He was pumping his seven inches of manhood into her warm pussy and she was screaming for more. Allyson began to growl. There was something about getting fucked doggy-style that brought out her "baser" instincts. Her hot sex was gripping her husband's cock like a clamp, and she was squeezing as hard as she could. 'God that feels good!' she thought as he hammered her. In all their years together, Dennis had NEVER ceased being attentive to her physical OR emotional needs. Whenever she was with him, she still felt . . . young. She giggled at the thought, considering she was well over half-a-century younger than her boss, and almost half a millennium younger than Eliza's father. She felt her husband's weight settle lightly on her back as he grabbed her smallish breasts and cupped them as he drove his meat into her cunt. She felt his lips on her shoulder as he kissed her, and she bit her bottom lip. Finally, the incessant pounding and the angle of penetration proved to be her undoing, and she came with the reckless enthusiasm of an eighteen-year-old. Her tight hole squeezed her husband's schlong, forcing him to stop as her body relieved itself of her girl-juice. She dropped her head to bed, gasping as if she had just run a marathon. But Dennis wasn't quite done (though he was awfully close). As soon as his wife had relaxed, he laid into her again. He always waited until she had come at least once before allowing himself to achieve release, and he knew that Allyson was going to want to "talk" afterward. He straightened his back, grabbed her hips and simply went to town. "C'mon stud, show me what you're made of," Allyson groaned. Dennis had twice the stamina of men half his age, and he never failed to satisfy her. She spread her legs a little more and began shoving her weight backward. The impacts were incredibly satisfying and quite loud as flesh rammed hard against flesh. "Here it comes," he moaned, blasting a load of baby-batter into his wife's box. The waves of cum seemed to be never-ending as he filled Allyson's hole all the way to the brink. When he pulled out with a sloppy plop, some of his seed began dripping down one of her thighs. The two lay on the bed, Dennis spooning his wife of fifteen years. They talked about the number of children they might want to have and possible baby-names. Allyson was excitedly discussing colors they might paint a nursery when she felt something hardening between her ass cheeks. She reached back and touched her husband's member, which had been restored to full erection. "You are such an animal," she said. 'Hell, making the babies is the fun part!' she added as her husband entered her again. -------------------- -------- In Wyrm's room . . . -------------------- -------- Wyrm hadn't breathed in a very long time, or at least that's how it seemed to him. Kalinicia had helped undress him before he lay down on the bed. His prosthetic arm was lying on the floor, as the stunningly beautiful creature standing at the edge of the bed didn't seem bothered by his handicap. The moon, whose light was creeping in through the window, illuminated the room. While Kalinicia was determined to go through with this, she was nervous. She slowly slid her dress down to the floor, leaving her standing only in her panties. Wyrm's breath returned in a single gasp. The woman standing at the end of the bed was perfect. She wasn't an athlete like Eliza was . . . rather, she had the beauty of a model combined with an unmistakable air of grace. Her breasts were small but perfectly formed. Her stomach was flat, her hips slightly curved . . . but it was her face that caught most of Wyrm's attention. He wasn't sure, but he thought she was blushing. "Am I . . . pleasing . . . then?" she asked shyly. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," he said, meaning every word. But there was something he needed to ask. "Kalinicia . . . why me? Why tonight?" A faint smile played across her lips. She crawled down the bed, tracing her hand along his leg, gently over his sizeable member (as far as she could tell) and up his abdomen. He was an impressive physical specimen, even without his arm. "I . . . I know I have told you this before, but I trust you," she started. "You have been honest with me, even when it was difficult for you. And because you are handsome," she added, biting her bottom lip for a moment before risking a kiss. She was unsure of her ability to kiss someone, but Wyrm seemed to be responding well. She reached down and tentatively took his nine-inch member in her hand. It was much hotter than she had imagined, and the heat was almost addictive. "And . . . please do not . . . become 'turned off' by this, but you are all I have left of my grandfather, and that makes you important to me." Wyrm was concentrating as hard as he could to prevent cumming right there on the spot. Her hand was so soft and so . . . child-like in its playfulness. She was exploring his cock, and he was afraid the excitement might overcome him. "I know that there are many ways of providing pleasure," she continued, "and I hope to explore them with you, but for tonight . . ." She stopped and straddled his lap, placing the head of his penis at the entrance to her virgin pussy. "Are you ready?" he asked. When she nodded, he placed his hand on one soft butt-cheek, and slowly pushed her downward. From the moment the head of his cock entered her, Wyrm's brain went into pleasure overload. It had been a while for him, and this girl was TIGHT! Then he felt resistance, and Kalinicia let out a "yip" sound. She looked scared. "Don't worry," Wyrm reassured her. "The way I understand it, this feels about the same for vampires as it does for humans. It will hurt the first time, but then . . ." Kalinicia wasn't going to wait for a long explanation. While she had never done this before, she was aware of the basic workings of it. She pushed her hips downward, feeling a tearing sensation inside her. She stopped when her ass hit Wyrm's thighs, waiting for the dull, throbbing pain to subside. She let her torso gently fall until it rested on Wyrm's chest, and she just lay there for a moment. Wyrm wrapped his arm around her and held her tightly. He could feel her nipples on his smooth chest as she took long, deep breaths. When she raised her head, he kissed her lips. Soon, she had forgotten the pain. "I think I am ready," she whispered when they both came up for air. She placed her delicate hands on his shoulders and lifted herself up. His hand crept up and gently fondled one of her breasts. Then she raised her hips up just an inch or so, then moved them down again. "I think you've got the basics down," Wyrm joked, making her smile. Of course, she was somewhat inclined to smile anyway, as she was beginning to understand the pleasure that nine-inches of hot dick could provide. While no stranger to masturbation, this was an entirely different level of pleasure. She felt her inner muscles squeeze and heard her lover moan. "I'm ready to advance past 'the basics,'" Kalinicia responded. She flipped her hair back over her shoulder as she slowly began riding her one-armed stallion. She liked having him inside her, his beautiful cock penetrating her pussy. 'Is that an appropriate term for a cock?' she asked herself. 'Beautiful?' She rocked back and forth on his lap, making even slower movements when he raised his torso and latched his mouth onto one of her nipples. It was a highly pleasing sensation for her, and the combination of pleasures she was experiencing was beyond enticing. Wyrm had never experienced such a sensual act with such a perfect woman. Her skin felt wonderful against his, and her velvet tunnel seemed to be specifically built for his helmeted invader. He was struggling to maintain his composure. He would never be able to forgive himself if he wasn't able to help her cum on her fist time in the saddle. But he felt the pressure building in his balls and he knew he couldn't hold on much longer. So he decided to take a chance and utilize some information he had obtained from watching (and listening to) Eliza and Veronica's relationship. He released her nipples from his lips, then proceeded to kiss her gently on the neck. Kalinicia froze like a deer in the headlights. It was . . . exquisite! Her neck was tingling beneath his lips, and she actually began to tremble when the tip of his tongue did a circle on her skin. Her eyes were open, her breath had escaped her and she felt incredibly warm all over her body. Wyrm had reached the end of the road. His sperm came shooting out like a shot from a gun, spurting repeatedly into her womb as his cock twitched wildly. He went from broke with his mouth, latching his lips firmly on a particularly sensitive area and sucking with a tremendous amount of pressure. As he gave her a hicky to end all hickies, he felt his incredibly tender but still semi-rigid rod tightly ensnared as Kalinicia's body squeezed down. Her arms were wrapped tightly around his neck as she experienced her first orgasm of the hands of a man. It seemed to go on forever, and his constant attention to her neck kept things going. Even after the initial quake rippled through, the aftershocks almost knocked her on her ass. She wasn't able to think coherently until he finally released his lips from her neck. "I . . . thought we were going to take it slow," she muttered, kissing those incredible lips. "I had to do something," Wyrm replied with a grin. "You're so hot that you were making me look bad." "I think you look wonderful," she said, holding herself close to him. "Do . . . do you think you might become aroused again? Soon?" Wyrm chuckled. With a woman like Kalinicia, THAT was a silly question. ----------------- ------------------- Up in one of the towers . . . ----------------- ------------------- Terillia was on all fours, her wings expanded and her eyes opened wide. A number of her primary feathers had gone flying all over the room. Vicky was kneeling behind her, and once again had her hand buried all the way into the young succubus's pussy. Every since the two women had arrived at the tower's observation room, they had been going at it like rabid dogs. Terillia had eaten her human lover to multiple orgasms before the teacher again took control, leading to that moment. Vicky was overjoyed that she had found a creature that was not only sexually active but was also capable of things that Vicky had never imagined. Terillia's vaginal cavity fit Vicky's hand like a glove. Vicky leaned in and kissed one of those taut little ass cheeks as her hand explored the depths of Terillia's sex. As she extended her fingers and then pumped her fist, she lightly bit that perfect ass-flesh. She heard Terillia give out a squeak, causing Vicky to smile. She was glad they had picked an isolated area for this, because Terillia got VERY noisy when the sex was good. Terillia placed her face against the cold stone floor, noticing the contrast between the coolness of her face and the heat in her groin. When her human mentor took Terillia in such a manner, she felt so full . . . so complete. She squeezed her opening around Vicky's wrist, which sent a tingling sensation throughout her body. And she felt Vicky's tongue teasing her anal opening. Terillia outright squawked at that point. It was a pleasurable experience that she had not encountered before. 'This is why I am glad she is my teacher,' Terillia thought as she began to coo. Vicky had never been with someone as easily or highly aroused as Terillia tended to be in sexual situations. She pumped her hand a few more times, and her lover started to chirp. Another pump and a light touch against the girl's asshole with a finger from her other hand, and Vicky had Terillia going off like a coo-coo clock. Terillia's slot was gripping Vicky's wrist tightly, and she shivered so hard that she actually lost a couple more feathers. But if the succubus thought that she was "getting off" easy, Vicky had other plans. Over the course of ten minutes, she made Terillia cum two more times. Her forearm was covered in Terillia's juices, and the poor succubus appeared exhausted. Terillia let out a little sigh when Vicky lay down next to her, taking refuge in the comfort of one of Terillia's wings. "You were wonderful to me . . . as always," Terillia hummed. Vicky smiled. Everything about her succubus lover seemed musical to the human teacher. "Back at ya," she said. Terillia processed that, then smiled. "We are not . . . done, are we?" Vicky laughed. "I think we are. You've tired me out little one." Terillia looked cross. "I am not tired," she said. "I want . . . I want more!" Her wings fluttered again, and a few more feathers hit the ground. "But sweetie, we need to get some sleep! We're heading home . . ." "I . . . want . . . MORE!" Terillia said, her eyes taking on a very predatory look. Vicky watched one of the feathers slowly floating towards the floor. Suddenly, she realized what was happening. Terillia was molting! 'Oh shit!' Vicky thought. Succubae molted their wing-feathers at least twice a year (or more, if a wing had been injured). During this process, succubae tended to become . . . a tad aggressive, particularly when confronted about even the littlest thing. "Okay," Vicky almost whimpered, "I guess we can . . ." The human woman was cut off as Terillia leaped on top of her, the succubus's face pointing at Vicky's ass as she pinned the human woman to the ground. "Much better," Terillia said, roughly grabbing her lover's ass cheeks and burying her face between Vicky's thighs. With her head hanging upside down, the succubus sent her tongue flying once again between Vicky's nether lips and made the human woman squirm. Vicky was feeling like a mouse with a cat on its back, but she couldn't help but respond to that persistent tongue action. Like a powerful snake, it slipped into Vicky's cunt and slithered around. She bucked her hips, pushing her ass against Terillia's greedy hands. She was sweating and moaning as that six-inch tongue acted as a sex toy, plunging in and curving to stimulate Vicky's g-spot with incredible speed and accuracy. Then, one finger from each of Terillia's hands penetrated Vicky's body, but it wasn't her pussy that they were exploring. Vicky had never been keen on the idea of anal play, unlike her sister who seemed to thrive on it. But it was much more pleasant than she had imagined, and her sphincter being stretched by those digits made her front opening particularly tingly. Then, an additional finger from each hand joined in, and Vicky's virgin asshole was being incredibly violated. She reached her arms out and started to crawl along the floor, almost in a panic. 'Too . . . many . . . things . . . inside me!' she thought desperately. She found herself overloading with sensation, and her brain. But she wasn't able to crawl very far with Terillia on her back. And the succubus didn't even seem to notices that her quarry was trying to escape! She just kept licking and poking and having a grand old time with Vicky's privates. "Oh God!" she cried as her climax hit, rampaging through her like the running of the bulls in Spain. Her arms were splayed out to the sides and she rested her head on the carpet. There was nothing left for her to do except cum on the floor . . . and then to let Terillia do it to her again. But she wasn't struggling anymore. She was smiling! --------------- ----------- In Eliza's room . . . --------------- ----------- Eliza was sitting Indian-style on her bed, her glass dildo firmly grasped in one had and placed in the center of her lap. The business end of the sex toy was buried in Veronica's backside as that blonde woman was bouncing up and down in Eliza's lap. Both women's skins were glistening with sweat as they continued making love. The two of them had entered into a sixty-nine as soon as they had gotten back, and they had stayed there for two orgasms apiece. Then, the nibbling had begun. Both girls had fresh puncture marks on their necks that were already in the process of healing. Between the biting and the finger action, both women had experienced multiple orgasms. That was when Eliza had broken out the toy and, after a few strokes in the traditional opening to get it nice and slick, had watched her girlfriend position the head of the dildo at her asshole and sank down onto it. Veronica's legs were wrapped around Eliza's waist as she bounced up and down. Eliza dipped her head and wrapped her mouth around one of Veronica's breasts, sucking her lips in until they were locked on the nipples. She was grasping her lover's ass with her free hand, driving that sweet ass down onto the dildo, and then helping lift her back up again. {{ That feels SO fucking good! }} Veronica mentally growled. {{ Deeper! Stick it deeper in my ass! }} Eliza pushed the dildo further in until she barely had any of the toy left to hold on to. {{ Your wish is my command. }} Veronica grabbed Eliza's hair and pulled her face away from Veronica's tits, kissing the white-haired Hybrid on the lips. {{ I am very much looking forward to our honeymoon, }} she thought, a little more gently. Eliza smiled, then pushed Veronica back onto the bed. She let go of the glass cock with it still buried deep in Veronica's ass, then lifted the blonde woman's hips up and placed the backs of her knees on Eliza's shoulders. She could see how stretched Veronica's anus was, and she hoped that would make her oral assault that much more pleasurable. She kissed Veronica's left outer labia, then moved to the right. She sucked on one inner labia, then the other. She sucked every so gently on Veronica's clitoral hood, flicking the sensitive spot with her tongue. Veronica shuddered and groaned. Then, Eliza took a long, deep lick from the bottom of her lover's slot all the way to the top. Then another one, except that the second lick was a little faster . . . then faster . . . then faster. Veronica was grasping her own breasts firmly and pressing her legs together tightly against the sides of Eliza's head. 'My fiancé's head,' she thought to herself. She liked the sound of that. And she LOVED the feel of Eliza's tongue in her box, compounded by the pressure exerted by the glass rod in her rectum. {{ Lick me baby, }} she thought. {{ God you're so sweet! }} It's a Dead Man's World Ch. 06 Eliza redoubled her efforts. {{ I'm looking forward to doing this while you're wearing a wedding dress, }} she teased. {{ That's just ONE of the fantasies I'll help you with, }} Veronica said. For her part, Veronica was looking forward to getting back to her "human sacrifice" fantasy that she and Eliza had shared in a dream once upon a time. Eliza grabbed the end of the dildo and wiggled it a bit, just to further stimulate the pleasure centers in Veronica's tortured behind. Veronica squirmed, so Eliza went back to work on cleaning Veronica's front door with her tongue. Then she slowed down a bit. She began patting Veronica's swollen opening lightly, then pinching the outer lips. Then she would drag her tongue along the surface, just enough to tease the clitoral hood but not enough to actually stimulate the nub. Veronica rotated her hips, trying to get some part of Eliza's mouth to make contact with the clit, but Eliza pulled back just enough. Then she did it again. Veronica wasn't about to put up with this torture. She grabbed the top of Eliza's hair and pulled her face forward, then clamped down with her legs. She heard an amused chuckle emanating from between her thighs, but she didn't care. She wanted release in the worst way. And with Eliza's tongue back in Veronica's cunt, the latter woman got her wish. "Oh God!" she shouted at the ceiling, her meager remaining resources spilling into Eliza's mouth. Then there was that happy warmth that signaled the end of a climax, instigated by the woman she loved. She felt herself being lowered back to the bed and the glass dildo being removed from her backside. And finally, Eliza was lying on top of her. "Is it always going to be this fabulous?" Veronica asked, licking her own cum from Eliza's lips. "Nah," Eliza joked. "Haven't you heard? I thought that on Earth, don't you stop giving head after marriage? I thought that was a rule." She started to laugh as Veronica's finger began tickling Eliza's flanks. "Take it back," Veronica said with mock seriousness. But then the tickle-fest got out of control, and there was no "serious" to be had. ------------ -------------- That evening . . . ------------ -------------- Most of the household staff was puttering around, beginning the preparations for the night to come. None of Eliza's comrades had apparently awoken yet except for Veronica, who didn't sleep much. But Veronica was quite comfortable in bed after a night of sex and brief nap, and wasn't going anywhere until she had to. So Eliza wandered down to the kitchen for a drink. She looked out the window into one of the gardens and noticed Thug sitting quietly and staring at the stars. She wandered into the garden and sat down next to him. [[ Penny for your thoughts? ]] she asked. || GOT CHANGE? || Thug replied. [[ Funny. So, where's Tiny? ]] Thug paused. || I REALLY DON'T KNOW. HE MAY HAVE GONE DOWN TO THE DEVLIAN RIVER TO WATCH FISH. || [[ Don't you mean to 'catch' fish? ]] || NO, HE JUST WATCHES THEM. FISH GIVE HIM INDIGESTION. || [[ You are weird creatures, ]] she said, leaning against one powerful arm and staring at the sky. Then she grinned. [[ Remember the last time we sat out here? ]] Thug grunted. It was his equivalent of a laugh. || WAS IT FORTY YEARS AGO? OR THIRTY? IT WAS BEFORE YOU LEFT ON YOUR 'vacation.' THE ONE THAT LASTED FOR . . . THIRTY YEARS. YOU WERE SO ANGRY WITH YOUR FATHER THAT I WAS WONDERING IF YOU WOULD EVER COME BACK. AND I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE. IT IS WHY YOUR FATHER ASKED ME TO GO WITH YOU. || [[ He was trying to look out for me, even then. After all the shit we went through and all the problems . . . }} || YOU NEEDED TO DO IT, || Thug said. The woman sitting next to him had been a friend to the troll even when most sentient species would rather walk the other way, and he had never forgotten that. || TERRA WASN'T THE PLACE FOR YOU. OLD WAYS DON'T MESH WITH A FREE SPIRIT. AND BESIDES, IT TURNED OUT THAT THERE WAS SOMEONE WAITING FOR YOU. || Eliza smiled. [[ Was Veronica even born when we crossed over? ]] she said, thinking idly. [[ I think she may have been two years old or so. That's an intimidating thought, isn't it? I was finished with school and sexually active before by fiancée was even born. ]] || FIANCEE? SO YOU FINALLY ASKED HER? || [[ What, are you on some kind of schedule? Yeah, I asked her this morning. Now all I have to do is break the news to Dad. Just when he thought he had everything settled . . . ]] || YOU ENJOY MESSING WITH HIM AND YOU KNOW IT. BUT IT'S GOOD THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING AGAIN. YOU COULD FOOL EVERYONE ELSE, BUT I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU MISSED YOUR PARENTS. EVEN YOUR FATHER. || Thug sighed. ||YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED. WYRM IS GETTING LAID. VICKY AND TERILLIA ARE PLANNING AN ORGY. DENNIS AND ALLYSON ARE PLANNING A FAMILY. I WILL BE SPAWNING IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS, AND . . . || [[ WHAT? ]] Eliza almost screamed. [[ You're going to have a trolling? ]] "Trolling" was the appropriate term for a young troll. It also meant that things were going to get . . . interesting . . . around the compound. Baby trollings were raised in pits until they had developed enough patience to stop destroying things. From the moment they came into the universe, trolls already had their regenerative capacity as well as their camouflage ability. Legend had it that the reason that adult trolls were so patient was because they had to raise their own children. [[ When did this happen? Why didn't you say something?!? ]] Eliza added, hugging her friends arm. || I DON'T KNOW. I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY SPAWNED BEFORE. IT HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER THE BIG WAR BACK ON EARTH. THERE WERE SIX OF US TOGETHER, SO WE FIGURED WE WOULD TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS. || [[ How romantic, ]] Eliza said with a smirk. [[ Still . . . you are coming back with us, aren't you? ]] || OF COURSE. TINY HAS ALREADY PROCREATED A COUPLE OF TIMES. ONE OF THE REASONS I WANTED HIM ON THE TEAM IS SO THAT YOU WILL HAVE SOME HEAVY BACKUP WHILE I AM OTHERWISE OCCUPIED. I FIGURED YOU WOULD NEED IT SINCE YOU CAN'T GO A FORTNIGHT WITHOUT PICKING A FIGHT WITH SOMEONE. || [[ Always my protector, aren't you? ]] Eliza asked. [[ But soon you'll have a trolling to look out for and I'll have Veronica. You know, I think things were simpler when we just shot at things all the time. ]] || BUT NOT NEARLY AS REWARDING, || Thug replied. || IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD THAN THE LAST TIME WE CROSSED OVER TO EARTH. WE'RE DIFFERENT CREATURES NOW. || [[ Not all that different, ]] Eliza responded. [[ We're starting out the same way. You and me, sitting around and wondering what the future holds. But this time, I'm not running away from anything. ]] || SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING THEN? || Eliza looked up at the stars and smiled again. [[ Going home. ]] ------------------------ ---------------------------- THE END . . . ------------------------ ---------------------------- P.S. I have received some wonderful feedback and incredible responses to this story from a number of happy readers. I am flattered beyond measure at the patience, enthusiasm and loyalty that many readers have demonstrated over the last eight months. While I am going to take a break from these characters and the world they live in, I intend to leave things open so I might return to them someday. Thank you all for the time you spent reading these stories, and I encourage you to check out some of my other works on down the road.