1 comments/ 11367 views/ 0 favorites Ember Burn: Seductive Interlude By: Harold Masters First : Chains Angie turned off the lights in the livingroom after a final look around. Everything was in place... like always. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she walked up the stairs to the two empty bedrooms... and her own private sanctuary from the madhouse that was every day. The bedroom looked as it always did... neat and ordered. The large wooden posts that cornered her bed showed little sign of its true age. The bed itself rested between two large, currently shade-drawn windows. The deep blue comforter, crisp as if it had never known a human body, lay over the queen-sized bed with near-perfect military corners. Two nightstands flanked the head of the bed, each supporting a simple light and alarm clock. To the extreme right, tucked into the corner, sat her computer desk. Left... and slightly offset... was the open door to the spacious bathroom. * * * * Asleep. The Dream again. She doesn't recognize the room. Bone-white walls. The scene outside the Window changes... but the overall theme does not... Dangerous. City streets... nighttime images of small towns with deep and foreboding woods... stretching as far as she dared look. She knows he's there. Somewhere. She can feel him. The bed looks rather plane. The smoke-gray comforter lounges on the bed, crumpled and lazy. Like he Looked... to others. Fingers drift gently through her hair. She closes her eyes... and Saw. Saw her body in his arms again. Felt the power ripple the flesh and muscle... the strength deep and ever-lasting rumbling through his bones. Angie tried to hold the image... tried to cling to the powerful form she knew was there... Then... The Pain. It came slowly this time. So slowly she was able to see herself turn to watch its approach. Slow enough that she Felt her humiliation creep into her... banishing even the Feel of his touch. The Pain came. First... a burning line across her back. And in that instant... the Chains gripped her. Her arms flung wide... Angie tried to scream. She tried to call his name... but could not. For she did not know it. She Knew only what would come next. Again the Pain. This time... the sting of the whip graced her breasts... Speak His Name. ^ ^ ^ ^ It was different. It was the voice of her grandfather. Old. Odd. But someone she always though of... as wise beyond his years. His Eyes... She Remembered. Remembered those eyes. The way they looked at her... through her. And a Memory... ^ ^ ^ ^ The bar was typical. She... was not. It was an impulse... one she still struggled to Understand. She seldom drank. And never hard liquor. This night... she ordered a rum and Coke. She wore a white blouse and a black skirt. Conservative. The stockings matched the image... but were only part of the Whole. She'd worn garters... a change. Only that one time. It was the time she'd seen Him. The Pain... but she dismissed it. Easily. She forced herself to Remember. To see his face. Boyish... but only just so. It... moved... through Time. Pain... she ignored it. She remembered how he stared at her. How those eyes slid over her body... looking through her. Somehow... she knew he Knew she wore garters. His eyes caressed her flesh. Her form. Then... they Looked into hers. Pain... Speak His Name. It was Fantasy. Just a flight of fancy. But... he'd Seen something in her. She Knew it. Her heart pounded in her chest. She could Feel the heat from his body as he stepped up to the barstool beside her. Even through the heavy black duster... dripping wet and breathing cold from the temperature change inside-out. He Looked Inside of her. That's why he spoke. She Knew. She knew her size did not matter... only enhanced his ardor. The Pain... only this time... it faded. She remembered watching his right hand roll onto its back. The fingers twitched... then... Flowed. She watched him for some time... Watched the hand... and the imaginary smoke that Formed and Flowed with his movements. It... and his fingers... were One. Then... she saw the Chains... those on her wrists. The followed them. She knew where they would lead. Hoped she was wrong... Memory betrayed her... for the Chains lay at his feet. Speak His Name. * * * * Morning. Sweat covered her form. Her breathing came in deep gasps. Angie tried to focus... tried to remain calm. Her eyes darted about the darkened room. She rolled over... or tried. Shame slapped her... She closed her eyes... The Dream. The Memory. Corrupted... but all too true. For it was as a child that her grandfather punished her for wetting the bed. She ran. He chased her. Caught her. Held her as his belt rose and fell time and again on her bottom. She remembers the pain... and the other. She'd only told one other... and he was no longer a part of her life. Angie sighed heavily as she set about cleaning up the mess. Again. * * * * Angry skies covered the city. The streets smelled of pre-storm hurry. A cold clung to everything... making even those willing to risk the trek move with rude purpose. Angie let the cold freeze away the memory of the Dream... of the Abomination. She glanced down the street... and saw Him. The Duster. The gray hooded sweatshirt. The baggy tan cargo pants that sported poofy pockets. As always... his eyes held her first. He recognized her... and she watched as an easy smile pulled at his lips. Her hands, clasped in her lap, began to tingle. Then the flesh crawled... the Feeling moved... until it was around her wrists. Angie paused in her breathing... captivated. Blink... and he is there. His words do not shatter the spell... only flow into it... until Reality is There. She enjoys the conversation... even as the odd sensation crawls along her back. One that is familiar... They walk and talk. She finds it easy to let the words flow with him. His eyes inhale everything... See and Notice the small signs that would normally spell trouble... but to him... are only things of note. As the day fades into night... she finds it natural to move closer to him. As drops of vapor condense on the windshields and her breath comes in gray wisps... she finds warmth in his company. She intended to spend a lazy day... not one of comfort. Angie spoke to him the entire day... and far into the evening. Her stomach grumbled, pulling a soft chuckle from his chest. He suggested a place... too upscale for his dress. Then she remembered... he was a cook. The restaurant was definitely out of her pay scale. It was also some place he was known and respected. The Maitre'D smiled warmly... and honestly... when he approached. The table was in the main dining room... where the real money in the city ate their daily meals. Yet it was those same bodies... and the fact that they never seemed to notice two strangely dressed customers... that Angie found most disturbing. They ate quietly. She watched him... he simply ate. Yet his eyes... Angie felt them everywhere... even behind her. She enjoyed herself. And this... amazed her. * * * * He escorted her to her home. She cast a gaze at the lone security guard... who seemed overly curious about her companion. Her back stiffened... yet the guard simply sauntered towards them... tipped his hat... then continued on. She watched the figure's eyes... as they slid over the duster-clad form of... Speak His Name. Angie turned suddenly, her eyes locking onto the front door of her home. The Dream lay in wait for her. She could Feel the sting of the whip... Pain flooded her Senses... and Fear. Then... she Felt it. Like the Cold burning of dry ice in the hand... it flowed from behind her. Warmed her. Angie backed up... Into his arms. * * * * Confession. The Words simply came. She watched his face... as it simply inhaled her words. He offered her true comfort. He sat there... and listened. He did not judge... he did not laugh as she cried over what now seemed so foolish and childish. "You must think I'm stupid." "No. Not at all." Words. Words... that had Meaning. Words... Honest Words. Angie smiled... he smiled... and lay one hand over a wrist. The Chains... were gone. Just... gone. She searched for their weight... only to feel his warm skin against her flesh. She escorted him to the door. He didn't expect to stay... or to leave. She had need... he was there. She watched as the fog claimed him. The black form melted into the gray... reclaiming its kin. * * * * Night. A Memory. She was a child. Playing a child's game. With a young boy. She knew it was naughty. Dirty. Her parents would not approve. She did not expect her grandfather. The boy barely escaped. Panties still around her ankles, bent over, is how she was discovered. A Memory. The beating was intense... so intense she urinated on herself. Where there should have been Pain... there was also Pleasure. The lingering flutters of Playing Doctor. A young impressionable mind... And a man's maybe secret desires. He flew into a rage when he felt her urine soak through his pants. "SPEAK HIS NAME!!!" Loyalty did not silence her tongue... the Pain did. She wanted more. Sleep claimed her... There were no Chains. Only the memory. The arms that held her... without asking for anything more than the pleasure of the Honor of doing just that. And when the Pain came... the Arms were there. She Felt... and was not ashamed. Second : Insanity Now normally... this is the part of the tale where I bump uglies with Morgana again. Unfortunately... she took my advice. Nero... is dead. She let him stay that way. Raymond Burns... Ember? She's had enough of the Shadows. I don't really blame her. Especially not now... and she doesn't even know half of the tip. Think she Understands that... which explains why she never left a note. Just packed up and faded... on her own terms. True... I can track her down. Easier now than when I was Nero. But... she made the choice. Not something I've seen people do these days. I respect it. Besides... it's kinda cheesy to break the tension with a good-bye boink. That... and I Know... our Paths will cross again * * * * I was sitting at my favorite bar the day after... I think... Morgana vanished when my Thoughts strayed to Kandra. She was making quite a stir in the local school community. Seems they like having someone with a natural affinity for teaching, something she always had yet never developed. The rest were making good progress with the Virgin Vault, though I doubt Nameless truly Understands what is happening to him. It's interesting to watch the relationship between Razorburn and Kandra develop. She still hates me for being her Master, and does not Understand. Then again... she's never liked... or needed Pain. She pops into view, a picture perfect corp slitch wanna be. Wannabe... only because of her size. While not orkish... you can tell from the guarded look on her features that she's more than accustomed to getting them. Too bad; I liked what I saw. So... I let it show. At first, she glared lasers at me. Instead of getting offended... I simply nodded politely, letting my eyes slide until she was no longer in total focus. As she passed, I let my head turn slowly. Not quite tracking her... but it let her know that I was still interested in what I saw. She slowed down. Most women do... when they know they're being ogled. Big women do it better, though. There's an honest air about it. Must come from being insulted by ditbrains. Then... she ordered a rum and Coke. * * * * It came without warning. Without thought. Her entire life sprang in front of Eyes that Never Sleep. I Knew... and could not stop until I Understood. * * * * We talked. Just... talked. I forced myself to keep my Power at bay, but I could Scent the Lust in her. A stray thought... and I Knew she was wearing garters. She is Sensitive. As is Kandra. It helps to Know a Threat is there ahead of time. So... I talked with her. Walked with her... and eventually... she told me. Control. I listened... and Felt. I Felt as she Felt... the Humiliation. The Confusion... everything. And the Hunger roared in my ears. I Listened... but did not act. * * * * Three weeks. You'd think I'd be over Morgana by now. You'd think that the dates with Angie would help things. Not a chance. I still go to ground solo at nights. But I don't let being single get me down. Can't; not with the Vault still a fraggin' timebomb waiting to blow. I find myself sitting on the Throne of Bone more often than not. Every now and again, I actually remember to check these words... which seem to come whenever they choose... not when I decide. It's hard to confine my Thoughts when in this Form, but it is necessary. It will also drive me insane. But... right now... having a body is a good sensation. Sure I can make myself look however I like... but I was given one form. Ember is as close to the original as I'm allowed by sensibilities... and even that grates. Fraggin' cost me the woman I love. Put me in this whole dating thing... right when I should be concentrating on the Vault. Which I am, though I'd bet solid creds that none of the others would believe it. I Feel my cell ring... and Know who is on the other end. Angie. And... for some reason... I Know it's raining. * * * * We both needed it. The gray skies never seemed to do much more than exist all day long. And they cam equipped with their own constant mist. Blah day all around... and Angie wanted to get out of her apartment. I didn't have any real plans... so I headed out with her. Rain' mist hit my face... and I Felt the Memories fade. Felt the Thoughts drift into the chill air with each exhaled breath. She's dressed for the weather, the thick coat best suited for brief forays into the elements. My duster... never even noticed. But I Noticed. Her face. It was devoid of makeup... and shone the brighter for it. Beauty Burned through the fog and mist and vain attempts at rain... I basked in the Power that vibrated from her... and let it wash over me. Around me. Through me. Past me. I opened my eyes... amazed that I'd forgotten that I'd closed them. She smiled at me. Innocent. Questioning. Timid. It was her... when she didn't have to be Corp. When she wasn't just what everyone saw. We walked. I did not touch her. Wanted to... but found that resisting... was easier than Thought. She wanted company... not affection. Same as I needed someone. Maybe not someone I Trusted... but... an ear. We talked about ourselves without mentioning names or details. Stupid really, but it helped. Neither of us wanted anything more... than someone to Listen. I'd learned that lesson from Morgana. I chuckled at something Angie said, the Memory bolstering my confidence. I don't remember how I asked... only that Angie smiled warmly as she accepted. * * * * I let my eyes wander around my apartment... looking for what I Knew would not be there. A flick of the switch, and the near empty livingroom was bathed in a dim yellow light. I chuckled, watching the frown play across her ghostly lit features. "I live in my room," I said, making my way, still clad in my duster, to the bedroom. That's when I saw the look. Apparently she'd pictured my room... and had come fairly close. I offered her a chair, which she took with a movement that was anything but Corp. She was totally relaxed as she flung her coat onto the archaic coat stand next to the door. I smiled as she crossed her legs casually... then checked her motion. Too late, but I let the slight impropriety slide. We watched a movie. I was impressed when she took the offered joint. "Rare pleasure," she sighed as the smoke from her first hit slid expertly over her upper lip... and into her nostrils. "Damn that's sexy," I chuckled. It made her laugh... then lapse into a coughing fit. Somewhen, during our Session, I found myself holding her. Horny... but I wasn't all that into the Horizontal Shuffle. At that Moment... I was holding a Woman in my arms. A rare pleasure indeed. * * * * That's how we fell asleep. No... I do not Love her. But I Love being able to hold a Woman in my arms at night. There is something... mystical... about that One Moment. Maybe it's me. Maybe that's why I find my Awareness so bothersome. In that Moment... when I hold a Woman in my arms. Someone I care for... Everything else... is Nothing. I don't Notice anything but the Moment. I don't Feel anything but that Moment. Some would call this passion. Not me... for there is no heat. Warmth and Cool. A Warm Soul... a Cool Moment. No worries. Nothing to inflame the Senses... That's why I let my hands wander over her body. Aside from the feel of her flesh... there is something soothing to the way her body responds. The way I can feel her pulse through the breaths she takes. The faint changes in her scent as she drifts through dreams and nightmares and worse. That's why the Beast growls... and I feel its power in my chest. It Scents her Comfort... in arms that have crushed the life from all manner of creatures... and a few humans as well. That is why I find it easy to dismiss it. The Moment... I pull her close... and Feel the Ache. That empty place... where Morgana still Burns within me. I smile... and let it pass. For I Have the Foundation. And... that's enough. * * * * Epilogue: I don't know who she is... but I can tell he Loves her truly. Only now... he's finally beginning to let go. Truly let go. I know how it feels. Part of me wants him to stop touching me. Stop pleasing me so completely. It struggles... but there is no fire to it. I let my body enjoy the feel of knowing, caring hands. I can feel my nostrils flare every time his fingers glide over my thighs. I want him to turn me over and... take me. Not fuck or frag or rape... take me. The sex... the actual licking and sucking... they don't matter. I Know I will Know True Pleasure at his hands... But not now. She is still too close to him. He would not tarnish her... or me. I Know this. Believe it. The words were his... but they had this... power... to them. Honesty I guess. Which explains why I didn't resist sleep when it claimed me. Nor his tender caresses. And why I shed a single tear. He may never Understand... but I do have a clue about how hard it is to let go. And start again. Third : Catalyst It's annoying how he moves so quietly. He doesn't mean to; it's Natural to him. Sometimes the only way I know he's there is when he mumbles something. His voice... carries. No matter where I am I can feel the bass in his tone, though his voice is not overly deep. Commanding. THAT'S the word. * * * * It had been one of THOSE days. Too many stupid mistakes... being tended to by clueless ditbrains with their own idiot agendas. Too many temptations... too much anger. All of it misplaced... naturally. Worse... it lasted for four fraggin' days. Doubles. The day I got done, I went out and got trashed. Puerto Rican Gingerales... and a LIIT tossed into the mix for good measure. True... I could banish the haze in an instant... but I wanted to be Human again. Just for a second. As I'm walking to my apartment door I Sense Angie inside... and immediately the Beast makes its presence Known. The Hunger fills me. And for the life of me... I simply stood back and watched. Watched as I opened the door, my form draped in Shadow. She never heard the maglock disengage. The door sweep across the carpet... and click shut with a deafening silence. Instead... she went about washing the dishes. Oblivious to the Form that stood in the livingroom, quietly sniffing the air. Each piece of information I took away as soon as it graced my Mind. Why? Instinct. Duty. The words are countless... and useless. The form moved with purpose, shedding the fabric... but not the Shadows. It placed the clothes in a pile on the bed. The head turned slightly. Angie was moving... I was thinking. Planning. The Shadows grew as this happened. Ember Burn: Seductive Interlude Yet... Angie was oblivious. Calmly the form moved to the kitchen. Stalked is perhaps better, for the footfalls were careful and methodical. Even the slight shift in balance was planned. Speed and Stealth... I was truly impressed. The Beast Knows the form well. I saw a small globe spinning to my right... and smiled. The Beast would not like what I would do... but the Hunt would be worth it... I knew. Anger from the day. Misplaced. It filled the form rapidly... only to be crushed by the Machine. Control. Always Control. The Beast welcomed it... and a barely audible utterance rumbled from his chest. She froze. I saw the fires of lust spark to life within her, spreading rapidly. Unchecked. A small flicker of fear shone briefly, but the Lust simply would not be denied. She did not question it... simply accept and yield. * * * * Watching myself... was something new. Watching my hands slide up Angie's back... I took Notice of how I moved. It wasn't the passion filled sim-drek. My movements... were calm. Practiced... but not show time. I watched as Angie lowered her head, giving in to the subtle caress. The simple nightshirt she wore wasn't something I regarded as unusual. She was welcome in my doss. Given her own passcode... that allowed me to track her movements somewhat. No... the pink garment was of no concern... up until that Moment. Because it kept me from feeling her flesh beneath my wandering fingers. It wasn't until I saw my head tilt forward, feeling my nostrils fill with her scent, that I made Notice... of the Scent of Surrender. * * * * Sweet. Not the sweetness of tea with too much sugar. Not the Sweet of a pure Spring morning. Sweet... like the untouched passion of Life itself. I nuzzled her neck, thrilling as she moaned softly. I let my hands slide around her waist... * * * * There is something truly inspiring about... big women. I find myself chuckling... all of this power, and I still find difficulty in putting into words... Angie's body was plump. Ask any health official and I'll wager they'd say she could stand to lose about fifty pounds. Probably more... if they think they can sucker her into one of their programs. To me... she's well built. Some women of size... are shaped funny. Happens to all body types and both sexes... so I'm not cruel when I say this... unless being Truthful is being cruel. Or you're a Local. Angie has an hourglass figure. True... a well-rounded hourglass... but 3-D. And symmetrical. VERY symmetrical. I noticed this as my hands made their way down the front of her thighs. She placed her hands on the counter's edge, bending over slightly as I pulled my head away from her neck. I was firing on all cylinders. The Machine was running the show... but only so far as to get a few Thoughts straight. Tactical data Flowed... was scanned and placed in files here and there. All efficient... and annoying to the Beast. Angie was there... waiting to be taken. Right then... I heard her breath catch for an instant. My Senses flared... and I chuckled softly. As is often the case... Lust is not the only Natural thing to Flow through the human form. The body has needs. And right then... she needed to go to the bathroom. So... with a final wiggle of her ass, she informed my Form of her condition... and the words tickled the ears of the Master. * * * * "I will watch." I wanted to complain. He knew... Yes... he does Know. Walking to the bathroom... I remembered. Remembered the excitement... and humiliation. Only this time... I was wide-awake. Raymond is right of course. As a couple, you'd think something as simple as watching your mate piss wouldn't phase your average adult. It does phase me. Excites me. Frightens me. It... is personal. And... he wants to watch. My first time willingly doing so. I have had many firsts with Raymond. * * * * I pulled the nightshirt off, flinging it into the hamper with ease... never once letting Angie fade from my Sight. As she moved into position, I watched carefully. Waited... for the Humiliation. It came when I expected... the Moment her hands touched her lower abdomen... in preparation to lift the slight abundance of flesh. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Nature has given you a Form. I find this Form... pleasing. I checked the Beast's urge to make those words Physical... for now. But she Sensed it. Her eyes darted to the Form... and remained there. Transfixed. Fear added to the humiliation as I gazed at her, taking in everything. Even her Scent shifted. I moved behind her. Naked... and hard. Slowly. I could Feel her hold back... waiting instinctively. Submissive. I dragged one hand over a shoulder. Then the other. Her breathing came in controlled steps. "Piss." * * * * It was as if I'd actually used my Power, so immediate was her reaction. The stream of urine quickly splayed as she braced herself against the wall. I could hear her sobbing. Joy. Shame. It washed over her. Washed... and left her Pure. I entered her, briefly interrupting the flow. Angie gasped, her back aching back before her mind could counsel otherwise. My hands remained on her shoulders... as I slid deep into her sex. Deep. Deep enough to press against the deepest of entrances. * * * * This... I Knew he was not fully inside of me. I needed him fully inside of me. It was humiliating... and I knew it. I could simply scream and walk away. He'd let me. I shuddered... cumming... it wasn't enough. It didn't even feel... like an orgasm. Just a shudder. I fucked him. I fucked him... until he was fucking me. I didn't care about splashing his bathroom with urine. The steady pounding at my womb... that I cared about. Cared... because he refused to fill me totally. He teased me... and I rode the high. I felt him play with my clit. I heard myself scream as another orgasm ripped through me... another one that was nothing. I knew. It was just over There. * * * * I pulled away. She was done urinating... I watched her as she went about cleaning up. Standing there quietly, I let her think her thoughts. She did not look at me, but I could tell she wanted to. Her head... was too fixed. The Master... smiled. On all fours. I let the smile pull at my lips. Finished, she lifted her gaze... I did not move. Blocking the door. I waited. I watched the thoughts play across her face. She could stand... and the session would simply end. She could... open her mouth. Suck on the penis that had just pounded her pissing cunt. Rude words... but the Blunt Truth. Sadly... it's not something she's unfamiliar. It's the choice that troubles her. Because to stand... means to Trust in me to honor my word. Which she knows I will. Then... there is the small matter. Of just how horny she really is. * * * * Walk Away. He'd let me. Walk Away. There would be no mention of any shame of being disappointed. But... I can't deny it. Raymond has me bound in some way. Bound... because he's the most honest person I Know. Walk Away. I crawl towards him. The smell on his member excites me. Once before... it was repulsive. That was when the chains were more physical. The stench of sweat and sex filled my senses... not this passion-bloated thing that claimed me now. Down. I let myself remember the training. Down... it was different somehow. Something inside of me... hated acting like a slut. It was dim... but there. I ignored it... savoring the peculiar flavor. My hands slid around his ass as I settled down. Not for a snack... but to give him pleasure. * * * * Even I had to admit... it was a truly erotic sight. Didn't have an orgasm... and for good Reason. It was taking everything I had... to not turn her into another Kandra. Angie... was simply so willing. The fight for control was internal... never showing on my face. THOSE features were contorted in bliss. Almost as an aside did I notice my hands in her hair. Her moans... the way her tongue slid over my member. I dismissed the sensation while experiencing it... because to do one or the other... would mean a loss of control. So... I did both. Hissing, I stopped Angie. Her eyes questioned. I smiled... she smiled. Though... she did not See the Shadows cloaking my eyes. I moved into the bedroom. The water began running. I smiled, waiting patiently. Erotic... and sensible. Tempting. Standing at the foot of my bed, I Felt her approach from the rear. I knew her intent... and forced myself to be surprised. I failed... the Master Knew Angie was near. Still deep in the thrall of her Lust. The experience must have been deeply emotional for her to open herself as she did... I sat back, a gentle smile playing across my lips. * * * * Her breath. I could smell the chemicals and freshness. With the Senses of the Beast... I caught her essence. It is... peculiar. Large women... if you take the time and Know where to look... have a strength. The Beast Knows this... it is within her as well. I find it... pleasing. As pleasing... as the faint hint that drifts between Here and Maybe. It's there... and Not. She slides her hands around my waist. I smile... feeling the growing power swell within me. Her scent shifts slightly... obliterating the freshness. Strangely... there is still quite a bit of that pungent twinge urine leaves on the flesh. Then... I catch it fully. She presses her face against my back... and I hear her sniff... then pause. Prey Know the Scent of a Predator. And... she surrenders. I turn slowly, knowing she will remain still. The smile that plays at my lips... is not cruel. Is not... the cocky overconfidence of a Master. No... it is the smile of a true predator. I understand this... with a clarity that excites me as never before. I touch her chin. Her eyes drift to mine... then fall gently in obedience to the silent command. I do so enjoy the sight of a Woman giving head willingly... knowingly... and with a care that borders on Love. Borders... but never crosses. That Line... has yet to reveal itself from the Nothing of the Shadows. * * * * Funny. I would have thought the Master would have more... flair. This... was crude. It lacked the... I checked myself... mainly because it would do no good. The Form and Essence would Grow... as the Mind grew. Still... I find it frustrating to watch the Form experience what I already Know. Sitting back, I watched with new Eyes as she swallowed my member whole. I experienced the sensations... one and all. But... there was something missing. I Know/Knew what it is... and stare. I stare at this Nothingness as my fingers snake through her hair. I can hear her mewling... feel the drool pool at the corners of her mouth. I thrill at the sensation of her hands... clutching at my rear... my things. And it all means less than Nothing... because of what is Missing. The Hunger fuels my Form... and I watch idly... focused on what is Missing. Angie obeys. Part of me is pleased... and I still stare. I sense a tendril snake towards her. It takes less to pull it back than it took to scribe these words... and still I stared. It has a Name. A simple Name. Even worse, I think, it has a Face. It is... was Real. I... Remember... And Stare at what is Missing... willing Shadow to be there... to fill what dare not know any substance... not even the blessed cold of Shadow. * * * * I... was... used. I allowed it. It... was... glorious. He took me. Just... I have never been tossed about like a feather. It was not magic or technology that fueled his strength... it was me. He wanted me. And I gave myself to him. Suddenly... being fucked while pissing... didn't seem to bother me. Not when I was being rudely shoved onto all fours... not when he plastered his mouth against my cunt and slurped like it was the fountain of life... or just a pond where water would see him witness another sunset. Not when he entered me... just... filling me totally. I remember screaming... I remember when he touched... then pounded... at that dark, inner door. Now... there was only a gaping maw. And pain. And... FULLNESS. I remember clawing at the bedsheets. I remember seeing with pain-clarity... only to have this blotted out... as he fucked me. Deep. Hard. Relentless. I remember the orgasms... only as after images. Awestruck, I simply let him do what he wanted. What I needed. So it did not surprise me when one finger forced its way into my asshole, though the yelp said otherwise. It was nothing for me to accept a second... then third digit. I Knew what he wanted. Knew the humiliation of having a cock in my asshole. But never... by my own choice. Out in one stroke. Free... and it left me wanting. I held on to that Moment. I waited... and watched my Past. The chains. The smell of leather... and my desperation. The fear. I remember... and remember asking myself... why. Then... it happened. Now. I needed it. I reached for him. * * * * Now this... was interesting. I knew she was Reaching. By this... I mean... There is a Place deep within us all... someplace where the truly dark emotions seem to cloister. Here is where Angie stretched forth one hand. Though... there was none of the Fear I expected to see. I slid back and forth in her hand. She responded with ease. A familiariaty that I find... disquieting. Watching... I found it... odd. Experiencing it... was nothing less than pleasure. I chose to watch. Watch as she pressed the tip of my member to her rear entrance. I watched as my hands spread her cheeks slowly. Watched as they... * * * * It wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Data. I turned my attention away from my anal assault. Somewhere within my Mind I Noticed the screams and other utterances. I... was more interested... in the glowing network that connected the minds. The Matrix. I sifted through the sea of data... looking for anything that caught my attention. Secrets? No. Just... something. Data. Like the feel of my cock inside Angie's asshole. Stock exchange prices. A sex simulation. It felt wrong... so I adjusted it. It dumped the participants. Elf. Norm. Death would have been kinder for the elf. The Norm? I file away her life. I return to my Form. Return to Angie's near-exhausted body. She struggles to remain conscious as I pleasure her without mercy. I feel Control... and it tests the limits of the Flesh. Thought... and I ease her into the sweetness of slumber. The orgasm carries her into Sleep's arms... and a wave of Good Emotions washes over me. She claws at the bedsheets... then her grasp slips. Gently. Her eyes roll slightly in their sockets. Her smile twitches... aftershocks from the orgasm. I toyed with the Sensation of my spent member shrinking from her still clutching rear orifice. The flesh smiled... as I let it slide into Oblivion. The Machine set about its tasks. The Master... turned over Ideas and bits of the Data. Mostly emotional. Some... cold bits of ones and zeroes. The Beast... snarled. It knew. Satiated... it Knew. * * * * She never saw my form rise. Never stirred as it crept silently into the darkest corner of the livingroom. Never noticed the sudden chill that followed as the form... slid into the Shadows. As I was once again Whole. The Throne of Bones hummed with the Thoughts of countless Minds. I turned my eyes to the Shadows... willing different vistas to drift through the haze of Nothing. I Noticed Morgana. Her face was darkened. I Knew what that meant... there was Sadness in her life once more. Catalyst. This... is the Name I have Chosen. I hear the Beast Howl. The Machine... logs away this. Those within the Machine... cast their eyes to some imaginary sky. The Captain... sighs. A smile plays across his lips. One mirrored by the Master. He nods in acceptance. I see the Ideas. Great wings unfurl from my back... which is larger by far than anyone save myself can truly Imagine. I rise from the Throne of Bones. It groans... a solitary greeting to it's Master. A tail of darkest ebon slithers from my Form. The Ideas and Thoughts and Emotions come. I let them. One Thought... comes from the Master. Dragon? Yet where is the Treasure Horde? Indeed. * * * * I didn't expect him to be there when I struggled back to consciousness. He was. Sitting in a black chair. He watched me closely. I slithered on the bed, groaning as my still sensitive skin burned with sexual afterglow. I blinked. One hand slowly lowered, the fingers twitching in the direction of my leg. I smiled. The small heart tattoo was the only thing I took pride in from my past. It was stupid... and my only trip into the darker areas of the Seattle Sprawl. I learned my lesson then and there. I took my time getting up. "Have someplace in mind?" "I can do it myself. No magic. Something... different." I raised an eyebrow. * * * * Kandra... was willing. Angie... knew nothing. There was something... perverse... in this action. Nothing necessary. I did it... because I chose to do so. She closed her eyes... And I Burned her. fin