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Ioana Musca Ch. 01

By: 4u2_nv



(Authors Note: This is inspired by an unusually long and detailed dream I had, that I had unfortunately woken up too early from. It reads best if you start at the first chapter even though it starts slow. But to stay true to the story line and the characters I felt it best to wait for the action instead of rushing things. It's worth the wait, and unlike my subconscious, I won't keep you hanging for long.)

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION, A REASON TO BE PARANOID

"How many?" She asked.

"Two. I have an appointment with the Manager." He said. She smiled to herself.

"Very well, follow me please." She seated him in an area of the restaurant where they could have some privacy when she had a chance to join him. "She'll be with you in a moment." She pondered his look of surprise when she would later return. Most people didn't know her, or if they did there was always speculation about her and her boss. Anytime she happened to be recognized for her efforts by the media, it inevitably turned to gossip. As if that held any importance. She found it funny that they would twist facts to become fiction, truth to seem like secrets. If they ever founds hers she wouldn't survive the fall out.

The fear was always there, eating at her, driving her paranoia. First it would unravel on magazines, a freak of nature, less than human, a mutant. No one would believe it, but once the seed was planted, truth would sprout and she would never be free again, hunted down for her unnatural gifts. So she never used them, hid them, hid herself, hid her family. She planned everything she did, had escape routes for everywhere she went, it involved every aspect of her life, including what was left of her family.

She was grateful her boss understood. He was the only one who knew the truth, and he was the one the public saw as a monster. She almost smiled. Miquel was an exacting man. He was a business shark, but he was also resourceful, and considered valuable employees a treasured resource. He valued and cared for such treasured resources, but the public never saw the good in him. In the business circuit he was feared and speculated on. Being the manager of the Algonquin, his most famous restaurant put her in the public eye, and in the midst of speculation as well. But she never cared because no matter what they would say it would never be close to the truth. A secret that only Miquel knew, and only by accident. She literally trusted him with her life, and was thankful he never held it over her.

"Your dinner sir, I apologize for the wait." She put his plate down then sat across from the handsome stranger, smoothing the long skirt of her silk oriental style dress as she sat down. She had been born in Russia, immigrating to the United States with her parents when their work was bought by the government. She was taller than most women even without heels. She kept her honey blonde hair artfully coiffed in a half up-do of curls that framed her pale face and lovely caramel colored eyes. Her grace and confidence showed in every movement, every turn of her head, every subtle, sexy, swing of her hips. She had always been every inch a lady, a head-turner, if not a heart stopper. It wasn't that she was model beautiful, but she carried herself with a certain poise that coupled with her looks made people take notice. She was always warm, congenial. The restaurant was her home and these were her guests. But the few that pressed for more were met with polite but icy rejection.

"I would have ordered you something but I expect you know better than I do what you would like." He said politely. She merely waited, noting his lack of surprise at her identity as manager and not hostess. But nowadays most locals knew who she was to some capacity. "I'm Kyle Sutherland." He introduced himself, smiling warmly revealing a dimple tucked in the corner of his tanned face and the soft glow of pale green eyes. He was the epitome of tall dark and handsome, comfortable with his large lean frame in a crisp charcoal suit with a plain back tie. While he looked polished something about him was rugged, from his short naturally spiked and curly hair to the broad shoulders that filled out the suit. She was sure there wasn't much but muscle under the suit but she still didn't quite trust his smile.

"Ioana Musca. How can I help you." She jumped straight to the point, skipping niceties with a polite tone.

"I have a strange offer for you. We desperately need your help."

"All charities are screened by legal first-" She started but he shook his head.

"No, your help."

"Me? Why?"

"We've discovered you have an innate ability to blend in with your surroundings at will."

"Who is we?" Her voice got colder as her face got paler but her gaze reflected no weakness, sharpening to sparkling steel.

He chewed slowly, "I work for the NSA, now we don't-" He started in a reassuring tone but she already moved to get up. His hand gently covered hers, halting her retreat. "Just a moment."

"There's only one reason why the NSA would be interested in me. And that's the reason I have no interest in dealing with them." She said politely. "I would suggest a dessert, but under the conditions I would feel more comfortable if your skipped it. Have a good evening sir, consider your meal on the house." She said coldly and pulled her hand away. She walked straight to her office and sat down for a moment, shuffling papers around, mindlessly neatening up. Somehow they knew. How long had they known her secret, and what lengths would they go through to exploit it? On impulse she called Miquel. He was busy but she got his answering machine.

"Miquel, the government knows. I'm not sure how much or how they know, but I knew this day would come. I need your advice, your reassurance that you're not somehow involved in this. Please call me back." She hung up, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice. She couldn't run away. She had to get through the night. Just because she was different they couldn't force her hand. She hadn't done anything wrong. She always paid or contested any tickets she received, she paid her taxes, donated to charities.

Her thoughts went to her two aunts, both with Alzheimer's. Neither would remember her as even in the same hospice they periodically didn't remember each other. But they were her responsibility. Even Miquel didn't know about them. They were probably safe. She had taken every precaution to alienate herself from their lives and care while making sure they were well cared for. She had always been so paranoid about that, down to every last detail hoping she would never have a reason to be so paranoid. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. With one final check in the mirror she stept out of her office and back onto the floor. The show must go on.

-

Once everything was closed and locked up, and everyone had gone home she sat in a vacant booth and called Miquel back. She hadn't wanted to talk to him when others were around.

"Are you alright? What's happened?" Was his first response. No emotion. Just facts.

"I was approached by an agent for the NSA for assistance. He said his name, that we works for the NSA and that they know."

"What did he want?"

"I didn't let him tell me, he just said they needed my help. I told him I'd cover his dinner but not to stay for dessert. They know! Oh Miquel!" She wrung her hands.

"I swear to you I never breathed a word to anyone, not even my own mother. Never wrote it down anywhere, nothing." He said. He could feel the relieved sigh that rippled through her.

"I just don't know what to do."

"Don't do anything you're not comfortable with. Because you'll have to live with the consequences. You have nothing to lose, they can't make you do anything, they can't hurt you. You're a citizen, they can't deport you. You want to be left alone, that's what they'll have to do. You know I'll vouch for you in a heart beat."

"Everybody can be hurt Miquel, even you." She said softly. He laughed dryly but she was calm at this point. He didn't know about her family.

"It's the NSA, whatever they want to do is not going to be up your alley. Don't get me wrong, you're brilliant and dedicated and athletic, but they don't need you to be an analyst, or to write reports, or fix a hard drive, or a stove that's on the fritz, and you're not a spy. You're a civilian. What they think they'll find in you isn't like you. I'm not saying you're not capable of defending yourself if you had to."

"I know."

"They can't turn you into a scientific experiment either. Not just physically can't, but legally."

"Miquel-" She warned.

"I'm sorry, I'm just trying to let you know they do have limits."

"It's just red tape, and they're notorious for breaking it." she said but there wasn't heat in the comment. She was tired, she just wanted to go home and soak.

"Want me to walk you home?"

"It's midnight. If I'm lucky you're in New York. I'm a big girl I can get myself home. But I appreciate the gesture."

"If you need help. Legitimate help. Come to me first. I won't offer any strings with it. You know that."

"I do. Thanks Miquel."

"And I know you like to keep things to yourself, but if you need to talk, you can call me. Just remember they've got millions of trinkets for monitoring actions and conversations, so don't share any more secrets with me just in case."

"Like I could have another secret after that one!" She scoffed.

"Not funny." He teased. "You'll be okay?"

"I'll keep you updated."

"That's my girl. Now get some rest."

"Thanks again, Bye." She hung up and tossed her stuff in her bag, hefting her keys in between her fingers in a defensive maneuver. She locked up behind her and walked to her car. She paused as she realized the guy sipping coffee on the bench was Kyle, then straightened and moved to walk past him. He stood up slowly, realizing her defenses were on high. He raised his hands, showing no weapons, just the coffee. Then leaving the coffee he put his hands in his pants pockets and fell into step beside her.

"Thanks for lunch." He said.

"You're welcome."

"I took your advice on dessert, but I've been regretting it since."

"Oh?"

"Because the dessert menu was absolutely tantalizing."

"I'm sorry for your loss." She measured how many more steps it would be to her car. Four blocks to the garage entrance. One flight to her car. Then maybe 14 car lengths to hers. To freedom.

"I'm not going to hurt you."

"Too late." She replied.

"Anyone ever tell you that you should develop thicker skin?" He said. She turned to him.

"I'm not one of you. I'm not whatever you think I am. I'm a restaurant manager. That's the only skills I've got."

"We've got skills. We're looking for inborn ability." He stated. She looked pained.

"I want nothing to do with you."

"Why?" He asked.

"Because you want something from me."

"But you don't know what it is. You automatically assume-"

"Assume what? That you don't want to use me for whatever end you please? I'm not stupid. We may not know what specifically you guys are doing but it sure isn't planting rose gardens."

"There is a level of danger," He admitted, "But with you being a civilian and not a spy naturally we wouldn't submit you to the same rigors as an agent-"

"It's not just that I'm worried about." She cut him off as she rounded the third block, moving faster. He waited for her to continue. She stopped in mid stride. He turned to face her but didn't crowd her, and didn't remove his hands from his pockets, just regarded her casually.

She sighed. "The governments so willing to send its citizens to die for half-cocked political reasons, where right and wrong is a matter of opinion. Who's opinion? Certainly not mine. And what are you asking of me? To be a player in some political game? Save a life and what cost the lives of others? I can't be the one to judge that and live with myself. No I want no part of the game. I was once told with ability comes the choice. To be used for good or for evil. It's not that simple. There's a lot of gray. What seems good could have bad consequences. And good for whom? I choose to not be used at all." She pushed past him.

"What if it's saving hundreds of lives?" he asked.

"What if even inadvertently I'm responsible for the loss of one?" She retorted.

"We're not asking you to kill some one."

"How many have you killed in self-defense?" She didn't expect an answer as she entered the garage and even in stiletto heels hopped down the stairs two at a time. He easily kept up.

"I'm an agent. We wouldn't ask that of any civilian." She shook her head.

"All the planning in the world doesn't minimize the rigors of actually doing the job. Yours much more so than mine. I'm telling you I'm not mentally capable of dealing with that world. It doesn't matter how I was born I wasn't built to deal with that."

"With your skills you can easily listen. Information can be very valuable and with your skills you wouldn't be putting anyone's life at risk." He said.

She reached her car and put the key in the lock. Gently he placed his hand on hers again, stopping her from turning it. "We need your help not to kill anyone, not to save anyone. But just to get information that we will use to save many people, and not just Americans."

"I just want to be left alone. That's all I've ever wanted."

"Is that why you keep your family so far removed from you?" He asked quietly. She gasped. It was a pointed barb. And it went straight to her heart. "No one else knows you have any family. Not your close friends, co-workers, or confidants. Why?"

"So no one could ever hurt them because of me." She was falling apart right in front of him.

"Don't you think you've hurt them more by ignoring them?"

"They don't even remember me. It was for their protection." She sputtered, blinking back tears. Goodness, was that actually her crying?

"Who are you to judge what's best for them?"

"I couldn't live with myself if I cost them their lives."

"There's more to life than just living."

"It's a start."

"It's paranoia."

"And you're the proof I've had reason to live a paranoid life!" She cried and ripped the door open then jumping inside and relocking it. He made no move to force her. She turned the car on and ripped it into reverse. He merely quirked a small smile and waved goodbye. She was shaking. She debated calling Miquel. She thanked herself for having been so paranoid, for her planning and care. They might already be watching her family. Might. She had no choice. She had a safe house already planned for them with a family that would take care of them for what little was left of their lives. She had secret international accounts set up to pay for their care.

And since she couldn't be the one to make the call she had a lawyers firm set up to set into motion the chain of calls that would release her two elderly ailing aunts from the hospice and into that family's care. Even under questioning the firm didn't have nearly enough details to gain a complete picture of what they were setting into motion. It was so complex and yet so simple. She heaved another sigh and picked up her cell phone and punched in the number. After a few rings a sleepy males voice picked up the other line. She remembered that the NSA was probably listening to every word she was stating. And if given the opportunity they would love to use them against her.

-

She was already so tired and it was barely 5pm. It had been a long day of fighting her nerves, of trying to figure how long everything would take, would the NSA figure it out, would they step in? She had just received the email she had been waiting for. It said nothing in particular, looking for all intents and purposes like an advertisement, but what it meant was that her Aunts were safe. Everything was just as planned. She flagged it was well as a few other emails as junk and signed off her account. Then she left the local library as it was closing time.

For once she wished she had the guts to freely use her abilities and just blend into the walls. Forever just be a lump on a wall that couldn't be plastered over. She sighed again, wiping away tears and got into her car. She started it and turned on the heat to bring life back into her fingers. She jumped when her cell phone rang staring at it like it was an alien for a moment. She vaguely recognized the area code.

"Hello?" She questioned, some of her inherent confidence returning.

"Hi I'm Max Larson. I would like a chance to speak with you."

"I'm sorry I don't know you-"

"But we have a mutual friend. A Mr. Kyle Sutherland."

"Then you know I don't want to talk to you." She said firmly, locking her doors and starting her car. Max chucked softly.

"Kyle said you were an adamant little thing. Are you so afraid of a chat?"

"You're not known for your eloquent way with words."

"True, but we mean you no harm. You didn't have to spirit your aunts away like that. I'm sure they were quite happy where they were." He said. She slammed the brakes a little too hard at the red light. The car behind her honked. "I see I'm upsetting you. Not everything is a threat my dear."

"Try living in my shoes." She hit the gas again.

"I may have been a spy for years but running down stairs in heels is a little beyond my capabilities." He quipped. "We're not exactly what movies portray us as."

"It's simple logic. If it was an easy task, without a level of danger or bodily risk you wouldn't need me at all. If it wasn't something you consider of vital importance you wouldn't consider bringing in a civilian. And most of what the NSA deals with I assume is international threats or political risks, all of which I want no part of." Her pitch raised with each word.

"Dear, it would be much less stressful on your part of you would simply pause and let us explain the mission then deny it than have us chase you just to get an informed denial."

"I don't want anything to do with anything you have anything to do with! Please let me be." She swerved onto a hidden street off the main drag of coastal road she was on.

"I can't do that until you at least listen. How can I explain to my bosses I got turned down before I even explained myself."

"You're a big boy, you can figure it out." She said angrily, skidding to a stop at one of her favorite spots. It was a lovely cliff overlooking the city on one side and the ocean on the other. She turned the car off but left the keys inside, jumping out of the car without bothering to close the car door behind her.

"Can you blame me for being unwilling to accept a denial on an uninformed assumption?"

"Yes. I can. And goodbye." She said as she ran towards the cliff edge and threw her phone as hard as she could, watching it sail over the edge and down the long fall into the crashing waves below. What she didn't see was Kyle peel himself out off the floor of her backseat. Heart pounding she watched the waves. It didn't matter what she did. Her aunts would always be in danger. And so would she. It was just beginning.

First they would want her to save someone, someone important, a minister in a foreign country perhaps, but they'd trap her into something else, or threaten her family again. As long as she was alive she was nothing more than a resource to them. Where would she draw the line then? At what cost to her soul? She was so lost in thought she didn't hear Kyle carefully come up behind her, looking over the view, watching the determined line of her jaw but not crowding her. She shivered but took a step forward, to the edge of the cliff. And she looked straight down.

Kyle gulped behind her. "Things aren't that bad, are they?" He asked softly. 

She let out a soft sound of surprise and spun around, losing her footing. He caught her before she tumbled over the cliffs. For an instant she was half over the cliff, dangling as she gripped a hold of him with one arm, the next she had merged with him, inside of him. Her instinctual fear is what propelled her forward into the one solid thing she touched. Him.


Ioana Musca Ch. 01



Startled he froze for a minute, on his knees one arm extended over the cliff and just felt her within him. Felt her fears. Watched highlights of her life where she would carefully note the political play for power around her. The lies and abuse. The winners and the losers and the pain and death in between. So she hid, knowing if given an opportunity those who would know her secret would only see her as a means to an end, and nothing more. Each experience she witnessed heightened that belief, that fear.

Her compassionate heart couldn't take it. He saw her weakness, but he also saw her strength. Strength she didn't even know she possessed. The strength to abandon her needs for emotion love and devotion to protect those she cared for by alienating herself. The sacrifices she made for others. The few times she used her powers to save someone. And the pain that came with her abilities. How intense everything felt. And the debilitating weakness afterwards of the merging taking up all the energy she possessed. He stood up and turning moved back towards the car, unsteadily as he wasn't used to sharing his body as well as his mind with another being.

She in turn she felt him. Felt his strength and confidence. His determination, and also his kindness. His concern for others seated over the fear that he himself was somehow worthless if he couldn't make himself useful, needed. The abandoned child who craved a family, but never felt worthy of one. Who had found a family in his work. Who knew what he fought for and against and at what personal sacrifices, possibly someday the ultimate one. But she also saw what specifically they had planned for her. She gasped as she saw the faces. Hundreds of women's pictures taped to walls. Women with a few scattered men and children. All kidnapped and used as sex slaves. Of the few that were found, bloody broken piles, or only pieces remained. Most were foreigners, a lot of them Russians just like the men who ran the organization. A lot of them were poor nobodies with little family to miss them, most some were rich elitists, but they were all people. And so few clues as to the depth of the organization. It's interconnections. Just a clue that the leader was in the Manhattan area. The desperate need for information to put a stop to the circle of black market human sex slaves. The few undercover spies who disappeared without a trace, never found alive or dead since. The guilt involved with losing a teammate without a trace. The knowledge that with her ability to merge into any material, living or not, and take on the characteristics of that material made her nearly invulnerable, and would allow her to assist them in gaining information with minimal risk to herself. She also saw his initial confusion as to her paranoia. And that confusion dissipate and turn to empathy as in reading her he understood why she was so afraid.

Just like that she separated, and they both fell backwards to the ground, her skirt sliding high up her legs. He turned and sat up, facing her. She lay on her side, half propped up on an elbow, breathing heavily, her brow beaded with sweat and her face lined with exhaustion.

He bent and picked her up. She curled against him, only slightly stiff. "Shh. I won't let anyone hurt you. I'm just going to take you someplace safe to rest. Then we can talk, and only talk." He said. She nodded against his neck. He moved around the car to the passenger seat. By the time he wrestled the door open she was already asleep in his arms.

(Let me know what you think, and stay tuned for chapter 2, thanks.)



Ioana Musca Ch. 02



CHAPTER 2 

TRAINING AND PREPARATIONS FOR A DANGEROUS MISSION

She awoke to varying degrees. She was overly warm and in unfamiliar bedding material. Ioana blinked to bring the world into focus to find she was wrapped in a cocoon of blankets on a couch somewhere. Ioana wrestled against her own weight to unpin herself.

"Morning sunshine." Kyle stept into view as she got an arm free and sat up. The arm with her watch was still under blankets. "You look a lot better now. Want some coffee?" He asked. She nodded. "Max is going to talk to you before you leave. But that's all he'll do. The decision is ultimately yours, and while this case is important to us we're not in the habit of murdering elderly aunts or scaring the life out of innocent managers to get what we want. No matter how the TV portrays us." He quirked a grin revealing that gorgeous dimple again.

"I know-now." She admitted, relieved now that she had shared his mind, now that she knew his intentions and concerns. And how desperate they were for help. The NSA had been trying to disband a dark international ring of human sexual slavery within the black market, and gotten nowhere. They've lost both leads and agents, and found hope within the elegant Russian immigrant with unusual, unnatural gifts. Gifts she had lived her life in fear to use.

"When your ready there's a shower through that door, with no cameras or listening devices, and Sarah was kind enough to lend a change of clothes. She's a little shorter so I hope what she picked fits." He handed her a mug then moved to leave.

"Kyle?" She asked sipping slowly. He paused, watching her tongue flick out over her lips. "Do you think I can do this?"

"Yes. I do."

"I'm not so sure."

"You have an easy confidence when you work that comes from inner strength, and whether you believe me or not it doesn't matter. You're stronger than you know. And I think you should have more faith in yourself. You have more reasons to be confident than just at work." He smiled casually, carrying his muscular frame with an inner confidence she could only envy. He knew who he was, what he was capable of, and was comfortable within his own skin. She wasn't.

"And more reasons to worry." She fluffed her hair, grimacing at the dirty texture.

"I'd like to think humanity has come a long way from its barbaric human experimentation. But at least your safe with us."

-

"Feeling better Ioana?" Max asked.

"A bit." She said, walking out of the office with the mug in hand to take a seat on the long table with lots of plans and information spread out across it. Kyle was right, Sarah's clothes didn't quite fit well. She had rolled the jeans up to capri length as they were too short for full length pants. They were a little too snug about her waist, but naturally her hips would be wider than the petite agents. The shirt fit pretty well, as t-shirts generally fit everyone, draping casually over her curves. She had washed out her clothes as best as possible, then wrung them out and hung them to dry for when she would leave. Her hair was still damp so she had tied it into a bun, but a few wet wisps had fallen down so she tucked those behind her ears. She had no idea how cute a picture she made, still moving with that inherent artful grace despite wearing hand-me-down attire.

Once everyone had arrive Max introduced the other agents, and explained most of what she had already learned from merging with Kyle and sharing his mind. She didn't interrupt. Max reiterated how difficult it had been to infiltrate the organization and how they had already lost a few agents who had simply disappeared. The organization had been taking a variety of Americans with little familial ties as well as some more elite of it's citizens and a lot of immigrants who weren't as familiar with how to help themselves in America. Especially Russians. Another reason she would fit in so well, as long as she brushed up on her Russian.

In terms of her safety as long as she was conscious she could not be bound against her will, since she could simply merge with the material, using its characteristics against itself and break the bond. They would also teach her how to handle the mental challenges of going undercover as well as how to fight so that she could defend herself without giving away her abilities until she had to. They had to investigate their Manhattan lead further, searching for an entrance into the organization, looking for a method of operation, something they could exploit as an entry point. Max went over all the complexities of the case in detail before he turned to her.

"Any questions?"

"How did you find out about me?" She asked without hesitation.

"I could tell ya, but then I'd have to kill ya." He teased. She merely frowned.

"How many others know?"

"Currently me, the director, a handful of high clearance personnel, and the team in front of you has a vague idea that you have abilities, but not in detail." He stated. "Excluding the team, maybe ten people tops."

"If I help you with this, prior to any agreement I want to meet with each one of those people and have them sign non-disclosure waivers as to my abilities, as well as a release form from any further non-willful involvement."

"Getting a hold of some of them-" Max started. The Big Brother brush off. She wasn't having any of it.

"For you it's a clearance matter. Some head big wigs. For me, this is my life. I've lived in fear of being taken advantage of for my abilities, shunned by society, misused by those in power. I understand the mission clearly and am willing to help but only if I'm given the freedom from my fears for the rest of my life. No one else is to know, and no one is to approach me with another mission again. Ever. If they aren't willing to meet me in person and sign, than they never should have told you about me to begin with. I'm sure they'll have me sign similar non-disclosure forms. Fair's fair."

"I'll see what I can do."

"And my non-disclosure is contingent upon meeting each one of those individuals and their non-disclosure. If they keep my secret I will forever keep all of yours. Breech of contract on their side will immediately nullify any contract on my part."

"I'll have it written up that way. We'll protect your interests." Max agreed. "Any questions about the mission?"

"You don't have one planned out yet."

"We're working on that. Once we have more details we'll sit down again and go through each bit step by step."

"So until then, I don't have any questions you can answer."

"You're willing to help?"

"For my freedom as well as all those other women, and only as long as I get my stipulations first, yes."

"Then we'll begin your training tomorrow morning. You'll be given some space to live here and you'll stay here until the assignments over. You can go pick up some stuff tonight. Agreed?"

"Agreed."

"And I'm assuming you wont sign a non-disclosure form about what you've just learned before you head out that door."

"Nope. Not until I get mine, but my lips are sealed. I'll make excuses as I need to. If I could have a ride home?"

"Kyle." Max nodded towards him. "He'll be your shadow until this is over." Ioana nodded. 

-

"So this is where you live?" Kyle asked as he pulled up to a large brownstone. She handed him the keys as she unfolded herself from the front seat and directed him to the loft apartment. It was quite spacious by New York's standards but that's because it was barely livable when she had bought it, and spent years renovating it.

"I've made it home." He noted the tone in her voice as she said it. It was quite comfortable, reflecting a lady with contemporary tastes mixed with a lot of eclectic variety. Overall it had a homey charm as each piece had been carefully selected according to her tastes and personality, bringing out different sides of the leggy blonde. She pulled out a duffel bag from the closet and loaded in sneakers, jeans, various t-shirts, a couple of sweaters, and a jacket.

Most of her clothing was for business, professional attire which wouldn't be appropriate for the mission. She grabbed assorted bathroom accessories then watered the plants. She grabbed her cell phone charger, routed her house calls to her cell, then called the landlord to tell him she was going on an extended vacation and to hold her mail until she contacted him again.

"That's it?"

"That's all I'll need isn't it? I'll call Miquel on the ride back."

"Is your boss really like the rumors say?"

"If you don't work for him or gain his respect yes. Otherwise he's completely professional."

"And you?"

"If he really was like the rumors say, do you think I would work for him?"

"If the money's right people will put up with anything."

"I didn't say people. I said me."

"No I don't. I don't think you would put up with much that doesn't suit you." He said. She didn't know quite how to take that comment so she simply picked up her phone as she tossed her bag into the backseat.

-

"What's so funny?" She asked.

"I'm sorry. Nothing." But he was still grinning ear to ear.

"Nothing is funny?" She frowned at him but continued the exercise. He failed again to 

control his laughter. So she stopped, dropping the boxing gloves to her waist in an exasperated pose. She looked adorable. "Explain." She demanded.

"You swing like a girl." He chuckled.

"And how does a girl swing?" She raised an eyebrow.

"With grace as opposed to power."

"If you'll excuse me I'm not rippling muscle like you." She blew hair out of her face and move forward to continue to punch at his mitted hands again, frowning as she regarded his handsome face, the pale green eyes, the dark spiked hair, the charming smile. The smile she didn't appreciate at the moment.

"Thank you, but that's not quite what I meant. Every movement you make you make with unconscious grace. I didn't think it could translate to fighting, but apparently it does."

"Are you trying to tick me off?'

"Maybe."

"Looks like someone else broke your nose a long time ago, by chance a woman too?" She asked sweetly.

He grunted, turning serious once more. "No, an old friend. I used to roughhouse as a kid too much."

"I can imagine."

"After this we're moving to weights, get some muscle in those arms."

"Sure why not." She said nonchalantly, continuing to focus on the punches.

Little by little she got stronger and faster over the course of the next few days. She was relentless, never complaining, stopping periodically for some water, then continuing in whatever exercise they planned. She was particularly good at martial arts as she easily mastered the flexibility and dexterity so key to martial arts training. More than once Kyle accused her of merging with her hair elastic. But as she didn't tire out quickly he knew that wasn't true as her gifts drained her. Sometimes she would get lazier, but he would tease her until she got angrier and picked up the pace.

In between fighting they gave her regular boot camp classes, teaching her to be mentally prepared for what rigors might be in store during the mission, and how to handle them with a clear head. Slowly she got more comfortable with the situation and herself. She had a mission and she could not fail, no matter what the personal cost. Hundreds if not thousands of lives were at stake. Her determination grew, she could do this.

-

"Well?" She asked, repeating the punching exercise, this time advancing on him.

"Well what?"

"How's a gal hit now?"

"Pretty damn hard. How's it feel to be such a good student?"

"Pretty damn good." She said cheekily. But he had seen her confidence grow as well as her energy levels and her skill. He had taken more than pride in her growth, but carefully schooled his emotions from her as well as the rest of the team. For her survival he couldn't afford to lose his objectivity.

"Do you need to train your abilities, or do they simply come to you?" He had questioned her abilities and she had responded but never shown him.

"I just think about it and I can do it."

"How did you get your abilities?"

"I was born with them. My father was a botanical research scientist. In a freak radiation accident he mutated, impregnating my mom with mutated sperm. Both of them died but as a result I have an unusual ability to merge with my surroundings at will. Anything will do, from stone and wood and air to people. I can take on the characteristics of that item and it won't harm me. It only takes a half second to merge and while you can still barely make out my outline, I'm nearly invisible. All I have to do is touch it."

"How do you know what you can do?"

"I feel it subconsciously. I know what I'm touching automatically, what it's made of, it's properties, and I can just kind of become it or a part of it, suck it into me, or me into it depending on size, or use it against itself. We kind of merge."

"So for example your watch right now could be-"

"Leather, plastic, glue, metal, glass."

"You can merge into cows leather?"

"Why not if I could merge into you?"

"Good point. Frankly I find it amazing you were born with such a gift and haven't taken advantage of it."

"Every time I use my gift I'm taking a chance on being discovered for it. That's how Miquel found out. I used the glue off my purse to heal a nasty cut and didn't notice him watching. He nearly swallowed his own tongue. I kind of had to explain that one."

"Which is why you still don't use it now with us, even though you've gotten your forms and met your big shots, and briefed the team." 

"Me stating I can merge with living and non-living objects counts as me briefing the team?"

"They're kind of puzzled about the details but yeah." He grunted when she swung particularly hard, her breasts swaying in the loose shirt as she countered for another hit. She didn't notice as she was focused on the exercise.

"I've never been in the habit of using my gift unless I needed to. It's not easily passable. And I get so tired."

"Maybe with training you could better control how much energy you use."

"I doubt it."

"Why?"

"Because nothing seems to lesson the pain, nothing seems to minimize how draining it is. I don't see how training it would help." She met his eyes then, noting his eyes were a deeper shade of green. But nothing in his actions or words indicated what was making him emotional.

"Does it hurt every time you merge?"

"It's like a dull pain, the shock right after you get hit real hard. Then everything else is varying sizes of needles or nails."

"When you were within me I felt that you had pain, but personally I felt none." He stated. She just shrugged. "Can you really get out of any bond or lock?"

"If I want to I can merge with fire. What really do you think could stop me?"

"I'm not quite getting it. If you're wearing metal handcuffs, how can merging with metal allow you to break them?"

"Watch." She held out her gloved hands. He ran over to his pack and pulled out a pair of handcuffs then returned and removed her gloves to place them on her wrists.

She twisted them in front of his face so he could see her skin right under the handcuffs. Her skin turned into metal just under the handcuffs. Then she just pulled her wrists apart and the handcuffs shattered.

"But if you're made of the same material you're using how can you be stronger?" He asked, fascinated as he gently rubbed circles on her wrists, noting the change from warm skin to cool metal.

"I don't use the imperfections in the metal itself. If it's pretty refined my wrists are just thicker, therefore stronger. Or I could transform the handcuffs into more of one of its more brittle elements in the compound, weakening it and my wrists into a stronger version. Or I can simply merge with air and slip out like a ghostly breeze. I have options."

"So you could technically turn into any food your eating."

"Well. Yeah. But why the hell would I?" She picked her boxing gloves out of his hands while he tried to piece together an understanding.

"So if you were eating a snickers bar, and were still hungry, you could turn yourself into a chocolate bar and eat yourself, then since chocolate is melty mushy, re-distribute the chocolate to make up for whatever organ you ate and end up normal in the end?"

"Well no."

"Why not?"

"Because if I did something like that I wouldn't be normal to begin with." She said, quirking a smile. He grinned. For the rest of that week she got used to using her gift more and more in tune with her fighting and other actions, adjusting for the weakness and pain, getting used to the other agents reactions in seeing her, or not seeing her. Realizing how adept she was at hiding herself, but that she wasn't completely invisible Kyle also taught her stealth techniques that would be less tiresome than maneuvering across the ceiling. He didn't find it particularly funny when she suggested a game of hide and seek.

Over the week as she grew stronger physically she also grew emotionally. He watched her bloom as she should have long ago, from the inside out instead of as an actress slash manager and only skin deep. He felt proud of her when she was able to fight off other agents without using her powers, and chat with them about her abilities, even if she still somehow fought with a lady-like grace. He found himself getting attached despite his mind telling him not to, so he hid it and didn't tell her anything . He was just glad the lily that wore stilettos running down stairs would not so easily fade away again, he was sure what she was learning she would continue to use for her lifetime, even if it was without him around to see it. Or so he kept telling himself.

-

She was the last to join the table, having just finished a sparring match against another agent named Peter, while Kyle had a meeting with Max. She sat down as Max began.

"They've been a few kidnapping complaints brought in from the lower Manhattan area last night so it's just beginning. We have to act quickly before tonight, when they flood in."

"Flood in?" Ioana interrupted.

"The big strike. They've testing the waters yesterday. Once they've gotten a taste for what police response is, they flood the city the next night with agents looking for potential victims, picking their marks, and kidnap almost a hundred at once from a really wide area. By the time the police are getting the first calls, they've disappeared." Kyle explained. Ioana's jaw dropped.

"We haven't advertised any of the kidnapping to the public yet. According to the street there's one guy and two girls missing. The guy's a bartender at a dive and the girls are hookers. This was in one night off one block. We're going to focus on this alley here as it has the least visibility from the street and is behind both that bar and the Endicott Restaurant. Now the Endicott's a pretty fancy joint, but there's no security in the back, it's cramped and dark with a lot of good hiding places while still being easily accessible to the street. Since you're not much of an actress we're going for more of an escort, or a courtesan. I think you can pull that off more easily than street hooker." Max stated. Ioana blushed.

"Kyle will take you wherever you need to go to get appropriate attire for the part and he will be with you at point of entry as your date. He'll lead you to the back alleyway. You need to attract enough attention within the restaurant so that people notice you through dinner and especially when you guys head out for 'dessert'. We have the best chance of them striking there again tonight. These are the layouts for the restaurant. Getting through the side door to the alleyway is fairly easy. Here's where we think they'll take you for preliminary screening with any other kidnappees."

"Preliminary screening?"




Ioana Musca Ch. 02



"They'll sort everyone and ship them out from one main site. They have already setup a cover in the building beforehand, and generally have some lackeys who know nothing useful kick back and maintain cover for a few days after, monitoring our investigation. We're hoping to get what we need before you get sorted and shipped out. If not-we'll watch the building from a distance, but not interfere without a sign-any kind of sign. If this is the right place, these are the blueprints, and you need to memorize these as once you're shipped out of here we will probably lose you." Max warned.

"Right now the buildings set up into various offices and storage space, with a few scattered management apartments within. If all else fails memorize your exits. We need intel, computer information, the names of who's running these operations, major players, any locations, something--anything that will help us shut them down-permanently. Any questions?" Max asked, looking right at Ioana.

"I get the what, the how, the who, the when. I'm working on the where."

"Well this is the building's blueprints-" He started again.

"No. You might be able to look at that jumble of blue lines and remember what's where. I won't. So do you mind if I keep that map?"

"Well how long do you think you'll need to memorize it?" Max asked.

"No I mean keep it."

"Like, what?" Max asked confused. In response she reached out and touched the map. She just sort of sucked the map into her palm, right off the table. The supporting agents gasped. "Wait, you can store things inside you?"

"Well, small things."

"Like how small?"

"Like whatever would fit in my stomach."

"But wouldn't your stomach acid eat it?" Sarah asked.

"I said that for size reference. I could technically store it anywhere without it affecting my organs. Where your body would attack cells not of its own, mine accepts it. Viruses and colds to me are just particles. Small things I can hold fine, larger things hurt and I have to concentrate on then. And if I fall asleep big stuff will fall out."

"So you could store computer disks or chips or some files?" Max asked sitting back in his chair.

"If I needed to." She released the map into her hands again. "Certain things are more tiresome than others, these are little things, like running up a flight of stairs quickly kind of tiring. Having it inside I can actually feel the difference chemically in the ink levels, being able to read it without seeing it." Their jaws nearly dropped. "I guess I wasn't that clear on my gifts after all."

" 'I can merge with anything living or non-living' kind of covers it." Max said, rubbing his hand through his hair. "I just didn't think of that. So you can wear an ear bud or mic inside you and be completely undetected."

"Yep. But to be useful I would have to bring it to the surface of my body, and I'm pretty sure if they check for signals I can't block it.

"Well that clears up tracking if not communications." Max responded.

"One question." Kyle asked. Max looked over at him somewhat surprised.

"If I want to talk to the team, do I talk to your chest?" He ducked the balled up blueprint that came sailing at him as the table roared with laughter, but she was giggling too.

-

"Ready to go shopping?" Kyle asked.

"Huh?"

"Honey, tempting as you are, you can't use jeans and a t-shirt as a costume."

"I might have some options in my closet."

"Do I get to watch you try them on." He waggled his eyebrows in suggestion.

"Nope." She said but she smiled at him.

"Do I get hints?"

"If you're good." She took the helmet he offered her as she hopped on the bike behind him, feeling a medley of emotions. Excitement, fear, anxiety, hope. She preferred to let him take the lead on the mission until she would be captured. Over the course of her stay there she had grown to like him. He was patient and gentle with her. He teased her getting her to smile, or teased her getting her angry. But he made her feel alive. And he hadn't made any move suggesting she was more than a student, a co-worker. Now she had to pretend to be his date-for-hire. She was nervous, mostly because it wasn't all a charade. She thought about it on the way to her apartment, deciding to pick out something from her closet guaranteed to attract his eye as well as the other males in the room. Show the dutiful Kyle Sutherland that the good girl could be bad too. Now she hoped she'd get an idea going through her closet.

As soon as she let them into the apartment she started towards her bedroom. He stopped her as he kicked closed the door and with a gentle hand on her shoulder, spun her around, pulling her slowly into his arms, testing her reaction. She was confused, but excited, unsure of what to expect, but she was watching his lips instead of his eyes. He leaned forward, spanning the short distance to taste her lips. It was a gentle kiss, a welcoming, a sweet exploration. She sighed into his mouth and his tongue entered hers, tasting her, tempting her to taste him. And she did. A shiver ran down her back as she angled her head. He broke off for air, still holding her.

"I've been thinking about nothing but that for days." He admitted rubbing one hand down the length of her spine.

"I've been dreaming about that for days." She whispered against his skin.

"It's not good to get emotionally involved. Or so Max would warn you."

"He asked us to do a lot more, in public too."

"Good thing we got natural chemistry then." He leaned forward to kiss her again, but she pulled back.

"You were worried I wouldn't be able to act intimate in public." She realized.

"A little." He admitted. "A little worried you wouldn't want to kiss me, and that it would show."

"And now you know?" She asked, even more confused. Did he kiss her to test her, or to taste her for himself. Because she cared about the difference, the difference was much more drastic. She bit her lip, waiting, hoping he would understand what she didn't and couldn't explain.

"Now-I just want more. But I don't want to scare you off either." He reluctantly let her go. "And I'm looking forward to giving you my undivided attention over dinner." It wasn't what she wanted to hear, but she was sure going to make it a dinner he wouldn't forget. She headed into her bedroom, closing the door and rummaging through her closet.

She had some dresses that were both elegant and sexy, but not with quite the shocking effect she was aiming for. She wanted something that would make him drool or pant, or both. She closed the closet doors and opened her lingerie drawer. It was something she treated herself to once in a while. She liked wearing beautiful things that were also comfortable, and her lingerie was as carefully chosen as her dresses for being unusual, elegant, and beautiful. Only the lingerie was also downright sinfully sexy. She pulled out a long opaque strappy black silk gown. It could pass as a dress-barely. It covered more skin than it exposed-barely, and hinted at the rest. She rolled it up and placed it in a bag with a pair of matching high heeled shoes then left her bedroom.

"Got what you need?"

"For clothes. Ah-ah-ah! She warned when he moved to inspect the bag. "No peeking." She grabbed a thin coat and tossed it on top of the bag, watching him carefully as she packed a make-up and hair product bag. She put everything in a duffel bag and slung it over her shoulder for the ride back to headquarters, where she would finish getting ready.

-

Sara was holding a mirror while Ioana finished curling her hair into loose ringlets to later tie into a loose updo when Kyle walked around the corner, dressed in a suit, his hair gelled. "Meet you there." He dipped Ioana, soliciting giggles out of her as her tummy turned into a champagne factory. He kissed her hard and deep, forcing her to accept his presence and thoroughly enjoy it before righting her again.

"Don't make me wait too long."

"Don't worry. I'll make up for it when I meet up with you." She teased. He left but she was still smirking. Sara said nothing, but she was watching Ioana with her eyebrows raised. Ioana quickly applied her makeup, then went to the bathroom to slip into her dress, which didn't allow room for undergarments, stept into her shoes, then threw on her coat hiding most of the dress before rejoining the group.

"A little more modest than I would have picked out." Sara said when Ioana opened the coat revealing the front. "But the shoes are killer, and the silk's pretty thin. You have the body to work with it." Ioana smiled slightly as none of them knew about the true shape of the dress as its secrets were hidden by the coat. They outfitted her with a tiny earpiece that she wouldn't be keeping, a necklace hiding a mic, and a tracking monitor which she sucked into herself and loaded her into the cab.

(Be patient, more to come...Stay tuned for Chapter 3...As always Comments Suggestions and Votes are appreciated.)



Ioana Musca Ch. 03



"Where is she?" Kyle asked quietly into his mouthpiece.

"Flirting with the Host." Ioana stated. She was as nervous as she had been on her first date. Of course it was her first mission. The dress was too thin for a brooch, so her mic was hidden in a garnet pendant necklace just above the draping sweetheart cowled neckline. She had handed the coat off to the attendant, receiving a bit of attention before she took off the coat, and quite a bit more after. The host nearly tripped as he left his stand to open the secondary glass doors for her.

"Good evening Miss. How may I be of service to you this evening?" His gaze devoured her curves.

"I'm looking for my date." Ioana emphasized her Russian accent. "He's tall, dark, and handsome."

"I'm afraid I'll need a little more information before I can ascertain specifically which man has the pleasure of your company this evening." The tall stocky man shifted, emphasizing his broad shoulders, trying to suck in his gut as he captured her attention.

"His names Kyle, and he's probably ticked that I took so long to get ready." She tapped her fingernails against her hip. His smile grew.

"Ah my dear, I'm sure he will forgive you in light of the efforts you have put forth on his behalf, and let me be the first to say you look absolutely stunning. Follow me please." She did, sauntering past each table with a slightly exaggerated sway to her hips in long strides. The silk molded to her curves as she walked, thin as a breath, teasing with the shape but not the view-well not enough of the view.

Kyle looked up, seeing the broad-shouldered host meander through the tables. And as the host progressed each table behind him turned to watch the slip of a girl following him. Woman grew jealous as their dates followed her progression with outright lust in their eyes. Kyle stood up in wait. He was curious as all he could see were brief glimpses of black silk periodically behind the host. The host finally turned to the side and she stept around him. Kyle's jaw dropped right before she stept into his arms, kissing him hello, her arms steeling around his neck as his wrapped around her back. After a startled moment from the patrons, conversations continued again. She broke the kiss, but stood in the circle of his arms, her body tight against his. The host walked back to his stand, fanning himself with the menu he had forgotten to give to her.

"Wow." Was all Kyle could get out.

"Be forewarned if you're going to talk to my chest during dinner I will hit you." She teased softly, her eyes sparkling and her lips grinning in a delicate smile that hinted at secrets.

"If you didn't want me looking you shouldn't have picked out that dress."

"You said something that would catch their attention." She said innocently, the curve of her lips hinting at mischief.

"That's more negligee than a dress even if its long and opaque, it's damn hot."

"Thank you, and it is."

"Is what?"

"Negligee." She admitted. He froze for a second and stept back so he could look her up and down once more. He raised her hand, spinning her in a circle for him, which she did gracefully. The dress was two long black silk panels, pooling low over her breasts then cascading smoothly down her body, held together with silk strings on the sides tying the two panels together. But not tightly enough so that four inches of bare skin showed clearly through the ties on both sides of her body. The entire length of both sides of her body. She was wearing strappy stilettos to make her legs seem even longer than the bare skin did. He pulled her back against him for one more quick but hard kiss.

"Honey if I had shades on, you'd have fogged them up." He sat her down before taking his seat.

"Not a bad start to dinner then after all." She raised an eyebrow in suggestion. He gulped, feeling out of his league as he wondered about her playful mood. He hadn't thought she could act. She was acting-wasn't she?

All through dinner they made conversation, teasing each other. Males would hazard their date's wrath to peek at her, watch the light play across her shoulders, down the bare skin of her sides, her hips, and the long legs emphasized by the high slits as she crossed her legs. She had scooted her chair closer to his so they sat more side by side than across from each other. The entire meal seemed like foreplay, and he had to keep reminding himself they were on a mission. He couldn't take her back to his place and ravish her as he pleased. But the alleyway would do. They didn't make it to dessert.

He pointed to her lip as if she had food on it. Her tongue slid slowly across the top of her lip before retreating back inside. He shook his head, cupping her cheek and bringing her face to his he kissed her thoroughly, bordering crass. He called for the check, paid and escorted her to the front. He helped her into her coat and gently led her outside. She waved for a cab but he pulled her back against him. The cabbie honked that he was ready but Kyle waved him away as then returned his hand to her hair as he tilted her back, opening her for him.

"Did I mention how sexy you look?"

"Mmm-hmm." She confirmed against his lips. The doorman coughed. Ioana laughed but didn't look over and didn't blush. Kyle grinned and pulled her giggling into the alleyway. For a few minutes he forgot about the Russian males in the restaurant, how keen their interest had been in her, as well as a few other girls in the restaurant, but their eyes always trailed back to her. So had everyone else's.

Kyle pushed her against the brick wall of the bar next door and opened her coat before using the two ends to pull her against himself, pinning her to the wall with his body. She raised a leg against the wall, her foot flat against it, giving him access to stroke the bare skin that had been tormenting him all evening. He was kissing her like he was a starving man and she was his first meal and she was loving every minute of it. One hand reached up to gently knead her breast through the thin fabric. She murmured approval and rewarded him by rubbing herself against him, her nipples pearling beneath his hands.

Despite the weather being slightly cool the coat was more for a surprise effect than warmth, and she radiated warmth. He ran his fingers across her thigh, up towards her belly, her kisses becoming more consuming as his fingers teased her, going lower. He had known she wasn't wearing underclothes, every man in the restaurant had known, but it gave him great satisfaction to feel for himself.

"Oh." She groaned when he cupped her nether curls, just holding her as if she belonged to him, then started to tease her gently with his fingers. She moved to nibble down his neck, softly at first, then licked up to his ear and began to gently suck on his lobe. He moaned against her shoulder, holding himself up with one arm against the wall, the other arm holding her leg up against his waist. He ground his lower body against hers through the thin skirt and his pants. She melted, holding onto him. It took him a moment to realize they were no longer alone in the alley. He pretended not to have noticed, kissing her again and under the guise of running his fingers through her hair he pulled out her pins, letting the curls fall loose then he popped out her earpiece. She didn't even notice she was so focused on the feelings he was creating.

"What have we here?" A guy said menacingly. Ioana froze against Kyle, blinking a few times to regain her perspective. Kyle looked up, still holding her but not moving.

"The girl's taken, so if you don't mind-" Kyle said pointedly.

"Oh we do." Another said as they circled the couple. Ioana gave a small cry. This is what they had been waiting for, but now that it was here she was a little scared. Kyle squeezed her hand in comfort, but it made her all the more afraid. The men pulled out guns and trained them on the two of them. "Face the wall with your hands up." Ioana did so slowly. Kyle paused a long moment before doing the same.

"Check them." Ioana didn't know Kyle had already crushed and tossed both his and her earpiece, so all that remained were the two mics; her necklace and his tie clip. And her internal tracking monitor. Ioana knew she had to be careful not to use her unusual gifts just yet so that she could be captured, so that she could complete the mission. Once she was inside, she could use them to defend herself as she chose to.

One of the henchmen came up and picking on Kyle first, started to check them for weapons. Ioana felt the butt of a gun press against her back while she watched Kyle. When the guy went to tie his wrists up Kyle pushed off the wall, trying to knock the guy off balance. The guy moved, expecting it and spun Kyle to the ground. Kyle jumped up to hit the guy, and the guy ducked, slamming the butt of his gun down across Kyle's temple knocking him out cold. Ioana had cried out but the henchman holding the gun to her back had pulled her off the wall and into his arms, one hand blocking her mouth. She writhed, trying to twist away, crying as Kyle lay so still.

"Take them both." One of the guys said.

"You sure?"

"He's a prime specimen, and her-she's the catch of the day. Hurry up we have a lot more packages to pick up" Ioana struggled more, he wasn't supposed to be captured, only she was. But the hand closed over her nose too, and pushed her against the wall, pinning her arms and legs between the wall and himself. She twisted trying to breathe, struggling until she finally passed out too.

-

Ioana felt pain first, a soreness from being in a cramped position too long. But she had been resting in blackness and felt no desire for light. The numbing tingle persisted and she opened her eyes, blinking as all she saw was concrete. She was hauled to her feet and slapped across the cheek, waking her up fully. Her arms ached from being pinned under her, and her legs stung but she stood up. Her coat was missing as well as her necklace. She looked around, apparently they had collected jewelry and watches off everyone else too because she was sure in this group of women she couldn't have been the only one wearing jewelry.

"Welcome to the party, little one." A heavy set man said in a cold thick Russian accent before turning to the rest of the group. Ioana looked around. She was in a long line of women on one side of the room and across from her was another line. Kyle was by the far end of the line across from her. His jacket and tie had been removed, his shirt ripped open halfway down his chest. She caught his gaze for a moment before looking away, not wanting to draw attention to him. The man turned to his line as he spoke.

"You are now property. You will speak only when allowed, eat when told, sleep when told, and sleep with who you are told. You have no rights. You're nothing more than a slave, failing that a carcass. We are going to sort you, decide your worth, and your future. Many of you will be shipped out to wherever we dictate. Wherever you go the rules are the same. The only difference is the customer paying. If you plan on having a future you will submit without hesitation. None of you are to move until you are told. None of you are to respond unless you are asked a question."

As he spoke more henchmen filed into the room, some with guns, most with big bags. As they laid them out on the tables Ioana noticed lots of vials of narcotics. She wasn't sure what they were for, but it couldn't have been good. There were various needles, some gags, tons of rags, some unusual measuring equipment, a bag full of zip ties, some black markers and some other contraptions.

There were guards with large guns standing in various places on the floor. The warehouse size room had no windows, and a few doors. The tables were in between the two lines. Ioana noticed Kyle was the only male in this group. The male bartender that had been kidnapped the previous night must have already been shipped out. The extra henchmen that had come in moved in groups, and began to assess their prizes. They moved to the first girl in line, closest to Kyle and cut her shirt open.

"Nice rack, great legs, no butt." The first man said. "How many men have you slept with?"

"F-Four." She stuttered as two henchmen felt her up.

"How many dicks have you sucked?"

"Same." She gasped when one shoved his fingers under her skirt and presumably into her. She cried out 'No' and got slapped hard enough to knock her down. They dragged her up again and continued.

"Do not speak unless you are spoken to, slave." The man growled. She was shaking, blood trickled from a cut on her lip. Kyle looked angry.

"How many times up the ass?"

"Once."

"How many girls have you had?"

"None." She answered, tears leaving trails down her cheeks as one breast popped out of her bra due to the rough grabbing and pinching she received.

"She's a little loose, but has a good grip." The man between her legs said, pulling back his fingers.

"Send her to Chicago." The first man said, writing something on her wrist with marker before turning her to other henchmen. She was yanked almost off her feet and spun around to one of the doors behind her. She struggled to stand up and they used plastic zip ties to bind her wrists behind her before shoving her through the door, closing it again.

They used the various measuring tools on some of the women, depending on what questions were asked, measuring their depth or width internally. Questions were asked as to whether they had anal or oral sex. Two claimed to be virgins, their hymens tested, and sent into the last door. Most were partially stripped and all were roughly handled. Those that broke down in hysterical tears were drugged before being shoved off. Then he got to Kyle whose hands were already bound behind him.

The guy landed a sucker punch right in Kyle's stomach and he doubled over. Then the man grabbed Kyle's hair and pulled back roughly. Kyle cried out for a moment then clamped the cry down, gritting his teeth and glaring. The Russian laughed cruelly.

"Cage him. He stays here for now for further review. Don't worry, we'll get you some company soon enough." The Russian moved on as Kyle was yanked out of the room, through the open doorway the henchman had originally come in. When they got to Ioana the guy went to rip the front of her dress but she pushed him back, speaking in her exaggerated Russian accent.

"I slave for no man, let alone a dog like you." She said full of disgust as she looked him up and down.

"You bitch! You will learn to heel and love it." He moved to slap her and she ducked easily.

"I'll heel when I'm dead and not a moment sooner."

"So be it." A man spoke up who had been sitting on a table with a gun in hand, watching the proceedings without interjecting, but his air showed that here-he was in charge. He raised his gun and shot her, the silencer making a strange sound in the room. The girls gasped and a few ducked but most froze. Ioana fell back a few paces, looking down at the hole in her dress. It wasn't meant to be a fatal wound unless it went untreated. But little did they know what she was capable of. She covertly sucked the bullet, liquefying it and her body around it, spread the liquid around until she healed herself, then moved the bullet to her mouth.

She chewed thoughtfully, then spat the bullet out at his feet. "I will be no man's toy, especially as I see no real men before me." She looked directly at the man who shot her. "And you'll have to aim much better than that to stop me." She challenged. He smiled, but didn't shoot again. He hopped off the table.

"Everybody down on the floor!" He ordered, his voice booming off the cinderblock walls. The remaining women scrambled down, but they watched as Ioana stayed standing. She actually stept forward towards him. "Your name?" He asked calmly.

"Ioana Musca. Yours?"

"Gregory Voscherro. You don't believe I will kill you?" He asked calmly, stepping right up to her, tracing her neckline with the cold tip of the silencer barrel.

"I would rather die quick than suffer for you."

"There are those that find pleasure in being a slave."

"There are some who may be desperate enough, yes."

"You do not think I could pleasure you?" He asked. "How many men have you had?"

"Not many." She admitted. "Only those that I choose."

"You will find every act of defiance brings a consequence, some worse than others, and sometimes pain can turn into pleasure." He stept back a bit, his gaze traveling down her length as if she was wearing nothing at all, "And your body was made for pleasure." He turned to his men. "I like her spirit. I'll break her myself. Hold her for me." He sat back down on the table to watch his men handle her. She put her fists up, taking a defensive stance as they circled her, some having knives, some just their fists, and one had a short whip.

"I'll never give up!" She warned as they moved to attack. She fluidly dodged their attacks, twisting and twirling in flexible grace and incredible speed. But she wasn't quite quick enough and there were too many. A few slashes appeared in her dress, revealing even more skin and a few thin bloody lines. Her eyes darkened and she stared at Gregory angrily before they charged her again.

She dove headfirst into the man ahead of her, ducking below his fist, and knocking him backwards onto the floor. She landed on his stomach and broke his nose before trying to get up. He spun around grabbing her across the waist and held tight while the others grabbed her limbs. She cried out, screaming threats until a hand closed over her mouth only to be replaced with a balled rag they stuffed into her mouth and tied around her head muffling all sounds from her. A zip tie was used to bind her wrists behind her back, thrusting her breasts forward and she was hauled up in front of Gregory for his inspection.

"Continue with the others." He said to his men, not taking his eyes off her. Two men held her in place against the table, their legs blocking hers, holding them apart and behind theirs so she couldn't kick out at Greg. "Let's see just how many men you've had, shall we?" He stuck a tool to measure width up under her dress, just inside her puss entrance. "Relax or this will hurt." She glared at him and after a moment did so he could get a reading. "Now tighten-as hard as you can. She did, imagining she could rip him off with her inner muscles if he was inside her.

"Very tight, and very strong. Quite an unusual prize indeed." He felt her breasts through her thin dress, despite her attempt to use her body weight to buck him off, which only bounced her breasts in his face. He chuckled pulling her hair back he kissed her on top of the gag as he pinched a nipple-hard. She cried out into the gag and he grinned. "She'll do nicely. A bonus to the man who caught her." He ripped off the gag as she glared at him.

He ran his hands up her thighs, testing the resilience of her flesh, watching the disgust run across her face, but she said nothing. The other girls were standing again and the guards continued. There were too many people for her to use her gifts to escape. But she could try and weaken his mind enough to gain entrance. It was tricky to force someone's subconscious to submit so that she could probe his mind without his notice while keeping her thoughts protected. It wasn't something she had tried before, but she was sure she would break into him one way or the other. She had too, too many lives depended on it.

She stood there, trembling as he had bunched part of her dress out of the way, revealing her nether curls to the two hungry guards that held her tightly between them. Since he had claimed her as his, he allowed her to keep the dress on so that only he would know the full fruits of her body.

He leaned forward, capturing her mouth beneath his. Startled out of her concentration she jerked but his hands kept her from turning to the side as his lips caught hers trembling beneath them. His manner gentled, she was a rare prize, he could take his time training her to please him. First he would win her with pleasure, until she craved more, begged for it, then he would make her work for it, pleasing him as he had pleased her.




Ioana Musca Ch. 03



At first she stood stiffly under him as his lips plied hers, nerves and emotions stopping her. But she had a mission to accomplish. To do that she had to stay on his good side long enough for her to access his mind, and whatever area held his personal items. She had to keep him interested long enough to get what she needed. Pushing Kyle out of her mind she accepted the kiss tentatively, allowing him to slowly coax her to respond in kind.

"My fragile butterfly, a kiss will not break you. Relax." He said softly into her ear as his lips trailed up her jaw to her ear. He was pressed fully against her, her lower body left bare and wedged in between the hardness under his slacks and the solid table behind her. He nibbled on her bare earlobe gently pulling it into his mouth so he could suck lightly on it. Despite her wishes a chill rippled through her, tightening her nipples against the delicate silk of her slinky dress. His hands slid down her sides, feeling the bare skin covered only by the laces holding the two black silk panels together down the length of her body. He stopped at her hip, slipping his fingers through the criss cross pattern to massage her hip as his lips nestled at the tender skin under her jaw.

Her head tipped back allowing him access. His other hand slid through the slit on the other side of the dress and roamed her back, holding her tightly to him.

She was fighting the tingling sensations of his fingertips and the cold air that had tightened her nipples to little nubs as she tried to concentrate on his subconscious barriers. She found it increasingly difficult, partly because of her nerves, and more increasingly because of his distraction.

Despite his gentle touch his fingers and lips didn't stay still. He roamed her skin, heating it with his movements. His hands slid up her front from the slits, cupping her breasts as his lips sought hers again. For a moment he stayed a heartbeat apart from her, feeling the shaky warmth of her breath trace his lips as his palms settled over her breasts, the nipples pressing against the center of his palms as the heat from his hands softened her. She looked up when she realized he wasn't moving to find him watching her eyes. There was no hiding the anxious fear in her eyes, or the calm force of his gray gaze.

"My sweet, I am no monster, merely a businessman. One with an appreciation for fine things. I will have you, but I will give you the time needed to crave my touch. Relax."

"I can't." She said shakily.

"Then let me take your breath from you." With that his lips claimed hers. For a moment he pressed control, letting her know she had no choice but to submit. When her lips opened to his, his touch gentled, and his hands softly kneaded her breasts, the fingers coming close to but not touching her nipples. She gasped as sensation shot through her. She hadn't allowed people to get close to her, and certainly not men. And here she was shaking like a leaf in the arms of a criminal. She cleared her mind, not having the option of thinking selfishly. She had a mission. One she would not fail.

His fingers flicked over her nipples and she sucked in air hard. He grinned against her lips before doing it again, slower, and again, stopping right on top of the nubs with his thumbs.

He captured her lips in a hard demanding hungry kiss as his thumbs rubbed her nipples in tight circles, massaging them as warmth flooded them from inside, heat pooling low in her belly. Her head swam between the persistent attentions of his tongue against hers, exploring her mouth hungrily, and his hands bringing her breasts to an aching life she had never felt before and suddenly craved. Her tongue tentatively slipped into his mouth, encouraged by his gentle plucking at her nipples. She cried out softly into his mouth as he lightly tugged at them, ever so gently. He chuckled at her reaction, feeling the heat coming from her lower region through his slacks. She tore her lips from his as he continued to softly rub and pluck at her sensitive nipples.

"You don't want to want me, but no one will know your body as well as I will. No one will make you crave sweetness and darkness together. In time my butterfly. In time. For now just sweetness." He captured her lips again, gently again, coaxing her to kiss him back as his fingers traced her curves, up her sides, down her back, across her quivering belly. She blinked, breathing heavily as she noted there weren't many women left in the room, but there were still a lot of guards.

One girl was down on her knees between a guards legs. He was fully clothed, his back to Ioana as he held the poor girl tightly against his crotch. Soft slurping sounds filtered to her ears and she stiffened slightly, renewing her resolve not to let the woman down. The two guards holding Ioana tight were watching her reactions carefully, but were unable to do more than hold her still for fear of angering their boss, her master.

Her attention snapped back as Greg had pulled the cowl of the neckline down and his lips closed over a nipple. She gave a small cry as he flicked his tongue over the taught bud, circling it with maddening slowness. Her entire concentration was focused on the delicate movements of that wet warm tongue on her sensitive breast. She didn't realize his hand had trailed down to her legs, gently rubbing her stomach and thighs before teasing her outer lips with gentle fingers.

Her head dipped forward and she let out a moan as she saw his dark blonde head against her chest, her pale skin against his stubble covered cheek. She gasped as his fingers sought the delicate bud of her clit through her soft honey blonde curls, gently rubbing around it. Sensation shot through her like silver needles, weakening her knees until finally his fingers rubbed the nub. She cried out wriggling against the guards and his hands. He had tucked the breast back into her dress and uncovered the other, protecting his prize from his guards.

The cool soft fabric stuck to her wet breast, the hard nipple rubbing against the silk fabric in a soft caress while his tongue bathed her other nipple to delicate tautness then drew it into his mouth, sucking and tenderly nibbling at it while she muttered incoherently, trapped in the sensuous web he had wound around her, forcing her to respond, to submit, to enjoy her own rape. His fingers probed her entrance, finding it slick and wet with her arousal.

"What are you doing to me?" She gasped.

"Forcing your body to accept mine. You cannot deny the sensations coursing through you any more than you can deny my power over your body." He inserted one finger into her and she gasped, her head rolling as he bit the fabric of her dress, bringing the neckline back into place to kiss her collarbones, licking and suckling his way back up her neck to her ear. His finger delicately explored her inner tunnel, probing the entrance coaxing more slick heat to spill into his palm. "You cannot resist, your mind, your body. You want me to continue."

He chuckled when she shook her head dazed. "I am your master, and you will find you can not resist my attentions, your body already craves my touch. It tells me so sweetly. His finger was replaced with his hot shaft. She had not really noticed how he had uncovered himself, not noticed the guards in the room or the other women who were being forced to attend to the guards. Everything melted away as his soft touch forced her body to respond, heating and transforming under his masterful hand against her will.

He probed her, stretching her as he pushed slowly within her, his fingers circling her clit with maddening attention until the very tip was swallowed by her inner lips. He growled lightly into her ear, his stubble rubbing against her cheek. He sought her mouth out, kissing her with the urgent hunger that pulsed through his body at her response as he drove fully into her. She screamed into his lips as he pushed through her hymen. He froze within her, pressed almost to the hilt. She trembled beneath him, both of them panting hard with restraint and sensation.

"How many exactly is a few men?" He asked, his voice gruff with need as his fingers slowly began the tempo between their bodies again, rubbing her inner lips surrounding him. She shuddered around him.

"N-None." Her admittance were a murmur against his lips. He groaned, his head falling onto her shoulders as he concentrated on his fingers, feeling her body tremble beneath him as she warmed once more. Her breath becoming uneven pants until he began to smoothly rock ever so slightly within her. Her breath broke, then air rushed in in large panting gasps as he pushed and pulled himself carefully inside her tight wet tunnel. He grunted, holding onto his control by willpower until she unconsciously started shifting her hips in time with his. He slowly sped up the rhythm and her moans grew louder in his ears. Her kisses grew hungry, matching his hunger as he took her. His fingers plucked at her clit and she gasped.

"Oh please."

"Please what?" He asked but she had no words. He didn't mind, it was too soon, and the virgin butterfly had so much passion for him to plumb the depths of. His patience with her would be well rewarded when her hunger matched his own.

Without warning her body convulsed into shudders around his shaft. She threw her head back crying out as he licked and nibbled at her neck, speeding up his motion. Her voice keened higher as his thrusts grew more forceful against her, his hips slamming into hers, his soft grunts buried under the sound of his meat sliding into her. His hands held her hips tightly to him, curving over her cheeks as with each powerful thrust he slammed into her all the way to the base, his balls thumping against her with each swing.

She shuddered in his arms as he heightened her orgasm, elongating it with each grind against her, until he cried out, his head widened and rippled within her. He held her still over him biting her shoulder and breathing hard as emptied himself inside of her. She was limp against him, only held up by the guards on either side of her. He grinned, the sounds of other women finally intruding upon the little world he had created of just the two of them.

She was dazed, consumed by his lovemaking. His fiery virgin. Not anymore. Now she was simply his, and his alone. His grin turned predatory. The guards let go and she slid easily into his arms. He turned sitting down on the table, cupping her against his frame, releasing the twist in the dress to hide her fully from everyone's view.

A guard handed him a wet washcloth which he used to carefully clean her and himself. She leaned back against his chest, sweetly accepting his presence while her mind slowly un-spun. He loved those moments. The moments of conquest. Where he forced not only her body to submit, but her mind. Eventually he would gain her trust, and lead her into the darkness of his passion, teaching her about both pain and pleasure, until her passion matched his own.

She blinked, the world sharpening once again to find she was pinned against a warm body behind her. Greg. He was gently licking her neck. In front of her were four remaining guards with three remaining women. One tall thin redhead with nether curls proving she was actually a brunette was held by her neck, large black fingers wrapped around it. Her small breasts pointed straight out as she stood facing Ioana. She was bent slightly forward, naked but for her stappy sandals. A large man black man pumped her from behind and she was grunting softly, her small breasts bouncing with every thrust, her eyes unfocussed, a white line trailed down her bottom lip. A petite blonde with serious curves was sprawled on the floor as a heavy set man had her pinned, one leg up over his shoulder as his hands held hers above her head and he grunted on top of her. She was groaning in pleasure despite the tell-tail trails of tears down her cheeks, one cheek red from a stinging slap she had received earlier.

Ioana tensed, despite the soft fingers under her dress kneading her breasts to her navel and back again, each time venturing lower. The third woman was a Barbie doll, dyed platinum blonde hair fell in long luxurious waves as she was held in midair on her back by two guards. Her head was tossed as far back as it could go, her eyes squeezed shut as the tall dark-skinned man pounded her mouth. Ioana could see the outline of his penis as it slid down her throat as she bucked and gagged around it, driven by the medium build bald Russian man with a mustache who was pounding her pussy, forcing her over the tall man's meat. Her hands hung loosely, her fake breasts pointing up in fat unnatural globes. There were visible bite marks on the sides of them from the attentions of the men.

"Don't look away." Greg said in a threatening tone. "Unless you care to join them." Shaking Ioana stood there, shocked to the core at the mistreatment of the women. "They will learn to accept and enjoy such treatment sooner or later. Sooner if they prefer to survive."

Ioana trembled with renewed fear, making a small sound in her throat. Greg's fingers trailed lower, dipping inside her lingering warmth. She tried to press her legs together to keep him out but he only chuckled. "My sweet butterfly. I will not ravish you as such yet. Not until you learn to enjoy it first. I have some patience for rare treasures, and you are such a treasure. But be warned, my patience only lasts so long. So watch what they do. Watch the women enjoy it against their will."

But Ioana only saw their tears, the red marks on their skin, their breasts flying madly as they were pounded hard again and again. The natural blonde on the floor came with such strength her back arched forcing the heavy set man to lean up over her. He grinned and pounded harder, grinding against her for all he was worth. Her arms were trapped by his and all she could do was writhe and cry out beneath him, her breasts squished under his weight.

"That's it." The guy grunted, "Milk me, tighten around me." He came, pulling out and rubbing himself to cover her stomach with strands of sticky cum. She lay limp and panting beneath him. He rubbed the cum down against her ass, lubing her with her juices and his own before he turned her over to begin playing with her large ass, one hand holding her back down against the floor while she struggled to push herself up. He laughed at her attempts to slide away, pulling her legs down and ramming her against himself until finally he found entrance in her wide hips. She screamed while he laughed, pulling her hair to hold her head up, her breasts bulging against the concrete, her skin dripping with sweat.

The redhead on her tip toes facing Ioana had come twice in a row, two short intense bursts of heat that flooded her cheeks with embarrassment. She had been forced to watch Gregory pound into Ioana as Ioana now watched the large black guard pound her. At first she clutched at the thick fingers holding her neck, or behind her at his hips for purchase. After the second orgasm her fingers found her own breasts and played with them, rubbing them harshly and pulling at them while he slammed her from behind in steady rhythm like a machine.

The woman in midair on her back was choking as the tall man in her mouth held himself tightly within her, pulling her hair and grunting, his whole body tense as he came. Forced to swallow so that she didn't drown she alternately gagged and choked him down her throat until he pulled out so she could breathe. The older Russian with the gray mustache pounding her pussy pulled her weight up against him, changing the angle. The tall lean man helped hold her weight as he lubed her behind despite her grunting cries against him and entered her in alternating rhythm. She screamed out, crying and sagged against the two men who easily hefted her weight and held her legs out of the way.

"Does this excite you my dear?" Greg mumbled cheerily in Ioana's ear.

"It horrifies me." Her tone was quiet, overwhelmed by the sounds of the guards sliding into the women, their cries, squeals, and moans filling the room. Ioana was so distracted by both Gregory's touch and the activities she was witnessing she could hardly concentrate to breathe let alone remember her mission. The girl with two men sliding within her came like a tornado, one orgasm after another after another as they kept a hard steady rhythm. In and out in and out. "Phut Phut Phut Phut." The hard momentum of each thrust caused her hips to buck, angling for the thrust of the other man and she writhed between them. They gave her no time to calm down before driving her to yet another orgasm.

"Fear not for their safety, as long as they follow the instructions given they will find much pleasure in their skilled hands. You on the other hand have much to learn before then. You have yet to learn the full fruits of your own body before you can learn the depths of your own passion." He watched the skilled women as while they didn't enjoy the fact they were raped, they had no choice but to submit to his henchmen, their bodies betraying their pleasure.

Those women each had their share of men before, if not women as well, and knew what gratification was in store for them if they cooperated. They knew that pain could become pleasure, heighten it. Greg smiled as the thought of how fun it would be to teach his own prize such lessons. In time, he reiterated to himself. In time.

The two men pounding Barbie came in unison. They stopped thrusting, and slid her up and down themselves, so that they pressed together within her. She screamed again as they pushed at the thin barrier between both holes, filling her at once in such tight quarters, their balls pressed together heavily as they started to wind down. They held her tightly against them, buried within her and ground their hips against her in alternating rhythm which allowed them just enough room to do so. She screamed again in pleasure as they widened her from within, hitting different areas within her, grinding against her clit and the sensitive walls within her.

The redhead was still trapped by the large man's hand which had moved from her throat to her shoulder. One of her own hands had traveled down her body in between her legs to play with herself as he filled her. She was bucking and moaning, half collapsed against him as he struggled to keep her up. They slowly slid in unison to their knees and he pulled her backwards over him so her weight was leaning on top him and he bucked up allowing gravity to pull her back down. Her fingers were a blur within her until his fingers replaced hers. Her hand went back up to join its mate at her small pale breasts.

He grunted heavily while he ruthlessly massaged her clit as he was about to come. She came first her cheeks glowing red as she cried out. He leaned forward until she fell onto her hands, wrapped his arms around her and held onto her breasts like reins as he pounded ruthlessly in her until he began to come. Then he pulled her upright against him by her breasts, squirting the last final drops deep within her, her juices dripping off his balls.

The petite blonde was crying as the man came, ruthlessly taking her back tunnel before she was properly prepared for him. He didn't bother with her pleasure as he sought her own, slapping her ass as he rode her fiercely, laughing and crying out his pleasure against her back until he collapsed, pinning her beneath him. Ioana felt her own tears down her cheeks as she stood there, held immobile by Gregory and his skillful soft fingers probing the curves and points of her body.

She didn't notice as Greg pulled out a syringe and filled it with a sedative. "Goodnight my dear. I'll be there when you awaken." He stuck the needle in the side of her neck and deployed the plunger. Her face pinched as the needle went in and she watched him as he removed it. "When I'm through with you-you will beg me for my attentions. And if your good enough, I just might keep you for myself-for a while anyways." His voice seemed to fade in tune with his face until she fell limply in front of him and was dragged out the same doorway as Kyle was earlier. It never occurred to her that she had already failed the first test in a mission where failure was not an option.



Ioana Musca Ch. 04



Chapter 4: The Sex Slave Market's Master

Waking up this time was far more painful. The pain in her wrists was far worse than before, mostly because she was upright with her wrists bound above her head and her full weight pulling against them. She was on her knees on a bed, her legs bound apart towards either side of the bed.

"Awake? The fogginess will drift away in a few moments." He was playing with a knife as he lay on the bed between her legs looking up at her. "You look so lovely spread open for me. I will first teach you what real pleasure is and how to pleasure me. Every time you fight me you will receive a punishment. Some pain will heighten your senses, opening you for more of my touch, others can be quite damaging. You will find more enjoyment for yourself if you submit to my touch." He had sat up against her, touching her intimately as he slid his hands up under the dress.

"I'm not afraid of you." She said confidently, picking up where she had left off in breaching his subconscious. As long as he was touching her she could use her abilities against him. As long as she could concentrate she could learn all his secrets.

"No-not yet. But I have only just had you, and you have not yet learned to crave my touch." His hands kneaded her breasts, warming them as he got up on his knees in front of her, the knife lying on the side of the bed within easy reach for him. He was partially gentle but mostly determined, coaxing her body into a response as he kneaded her breasts with a little more force this time around. Heat shot through her, tightening her nipples, which he currently ignored as he watched the silk shift in time with his hands, her cleavage moving within the dress as he rubbed her. She scowled down at him, trying to concentrate now that they were alone in his quarters.

He pulled the loose concave pool of silk around her neckline down and twisted one breast up, revealing it. "I must say I quite like your attire." He said his lips teasing the nipple, his breath heating it as he spoke to her against it. His tongue flashed out, dabbing at it. "Don't fret, I'll cut the dress off you in a few moments, I'll let you see that it's my touch that will bring you to an orgasm." One hand dipped down to her crotch, rubbing against her slit, testing her wetness. He chuckled when she tried to buck her off, only succeeding to rub herself more firmly against him. She fought to hold herself out of her merge so that she could infiltrate his subconscious without revealing her presence within his mind, without leaving her vulnerabilities within his head.

"Let me go and I won't hold this against you." She warned, 

"But I'm not hurting you-yet anyways." He said, "You're not quite heating up as I had hoped. Still fighting me, hmm?" He sucked on her nipple as he pushed a long finger inside her. "But I am the only man that has sampled the sweet nectar of your body, felt you blossom under my hands."

With a deft movement he sliced the hem of the gown, shortening the silk to upper thigh length. He easily sliced the back panel, enjoying the view of draping black silk panels held together by slips of silk on either side of her, revealing a good deal of bare skin. From his position he could see the entrance to her sweet kitty as the skirt covered her vision of herself, but not his. She didn't know that he had already had another slave shave her in preparation for him. She would find out soon enough. He smiled as her eyes narrowed in anger. "But you enjoyed my touch so much earlier."

"Rapist." She spat, "Murderer. Criminal." Her eyes challenged fire as he stroked her thighs. His own eyes narrowed in anger and he smacked her on the hood covering her clit. She bucked, pulling at the shackles holding her arms.

She was already using his touch against him, concentrating subconsciously to work on reading his mind while denying him access to hers-it was a very slow process but it would protect her and he would have no idea she was in his head. She needed information and fast, the names of the biggest players in the market, locations, and where he stored information that would lead to his downfall and the eventual downfall of the entire operation. Anything and everything she could get.

"Watch your tongue, slave." He threatened as his hands continued their gentle caress, from her bare feet up to her upper thighs, just teasing the bottom of her outer lips with the backs of his fingers before sliding back down. "If you please me well enough I will be the only man you need touch."

"No man." She said softly, focusing within on her goal, not that she found any comfort in the memories she sorted through.

"What?"

"No real man has touched me. And that includes you-even if you take me ag-" She cried out when he pinched her clit, twisting it. His look was angry and he didn't release the pressure as he suckled at her breast again. He had to hold her still against him as she was trying to writhe in her bonds. The difference between the pain in her clit and the pleasure on her breast confused her body and angered her. Then he bit down on her nipple, somewhat hard. She cried out again, cringing and bucking, completely unable to focus on the mental task at hand. He laughed and let go.

"Keep telling me I'm not a man and I'll prove the point before your ready-and I'll enjoy every scream of pain you make." He threatened. She breathed hard in anger but she was silent, refocusing again. She had a mission and she would not fail. There were too many people who would continue to suffer if she didn't get enough information. She had to begin the bond with him all over again, a slow forceful probing until his subconscious allowed her entrance.

"I thought so. Now maybe we can have a more civil conversation, and get back to your first lesson. Which was supposed to be pleasure without pain. For now anyways." He continued his smooth strokes on her long legs, ever so softly brushing against her outer lips and the hood covering her clit. His subconscious was almost ready to allow her access in again when he suddenly sat up pressing his face under her skirt. She gasped, forgetting her purpose as his fingers opened her outer lips and his lips kissed her inner lips. She felt him smile against her most intimate area as his tongue darted out to trace the edges of her outer lips, his fingers holding her outer lips apart as he massaged the inner crease where her legs joined the outer lips. It was a good thing she was on her knees, she wouldn't have been able to stay standing.

"You are so sensitive." He whispered, warm breathe against even warmer skin. She shivered. "So primed for my every touch. So much passion within you. I will teach you how to embrace it." He licked at the skin just below her clit. She tensed, holding her reaction from her. He only chucked, circling the nub as the hood receded, readying her for him. She tried to concentrate on her mission but found herself unable as his skillful tongue explored her little kitty, eliciting low moans from her as she shifted her hips against him. Blood flowed and with it heat and enhanced sensation. Her outer lips stayed open on their own, allowing his hands to cup her perky butt cheeks, holding her pressed against his mouth.

He flicked his tongue at her clit once, twice, holding her as she bucked against him, waiting in between so she would be attune to the smallest movements of his tongue. His lips closed around the tender bud in a sweet kiss as he began to circle her clit again, building anticipation. He leaned back just far enough to blow cool air against her warmth, feeling the shiver of pleasure that traveled along her body, tensing her cheeks for a moment before continuing the motion with his tongue.

She gasped as he rubbed the flat of his tongue against the clit, lapping at it heavily. His teeth closed on it softly before his lips closed and he began to suckle. She bucked heartily, held immobile by his hands. She looked down, all she could see was his hairline peeking out from under her cropped skirt. She cooed soft cries turning into muttered moans as the pressure increased and she felt herself becoming wet for him. He released her with a final lick and leaned back, his hands holding her knees gently, his lips wet and glistening in the morning light.

"Lovely. Like the petals of a flower, tender and full of life." He grinned, grabbing the knife. She sucked in a fearful breath as he sat up once more, trailing the back of the cold blade up her thigh, under her dress until his arm snaked up between her breasts, the blade tip coming up under her chin. But his eyes were calm. She shivered as he shifted the blade. In one smooth swoop he pulled his hand back, shredding the dress down the middle, leaving her bare to his inspection. He quickly cut the straps holding the dress on her and smooth silk floated around her bare legs before he gently retraced her skin with the back edge of the knife until he lay flat watching her, the knife hovering at the top of her thigh.

He breathed deep, the air scented with the arousal he had solicited out of her with his masterful tongue. He watched her eyes as he licked his lips. "Ready for round two?" He wasn't touching her so she couldn't work on forcing his mind to reveal his secrets to her. But he would be soon. She just needed to get what she could before he distracted her, before he could break the mental bond. She said nothing in answer.

"Your nipples harden under my stare."

"It's cold." Was her quiet response but he shook his head.

"Anticipation swells within you. But not fear." His eyes traveled to meet hers. "You think I won't cut you?"

"Not unless I force your hand."

"Very good slave."

"My name is Ioana."

"Ioana." He purred her name, grinning between her legs. "Please me and I will call out your name when I'm buried within you. I want to hear mine from your lips. Try it." He traced a delicate circle against her thigh, bringing the tip of the blade closer to the center of her.

"Greg." She said. He shook his head. "Gregory Voscherro." She whispered.

He flipped the knife in a smooth motion so that he held the blade carefully and the hilt was against her thigh. He trailed it up across her belly and on her legs as he slowly sat up, watching her eyes as his tongue darted in between her legs. The handle continued caressing her, her rear, the backs of her thighs, her calves, in long slow winding trails.

His tongue had more purposeful direction, flicking repeatedly at her clit as his fingers had earlier until she trembled above him, gripping the ropes than held her wrists. His tongue trailed down to taste her juices, lapping at the entrance, circling once more. She growled, feeling him smile against her again as his gentle caresses won over her mind as well as her body. She struggled against her body, against him, trying to focus. Finally gaining shaky entrance into his subconscious without his notice. She shuddered as his tongue pressed into her, darting against the inside entrance of the secret of her femininity.

He flicked his tongue against the base of the entrance of her sweet tunnel and was rewarded with a heady moan and a wet rush of juice. "You like that huh?" He did it again. She jerked within her bonds, not yet willing to show him her abilities even to release herself. A few more times had her practically melting in his arms, fraying any concentration she may have had to threads as easily as he had torn her dress from her. He buried his face against her, shoving his tongue within her and bathing the inner walls of her tunnel with the pressure of his tongue darting in and out of her. She bucked against him as he wrapped one arm around her, holding the knife still.

He pinched her butt cheek and she looked down meeting his eyes as he pressed against her, rubbing his face so that his nose hit her clit. Her mouth framed a perfect 'O' and high pitched whines came out of her throat. He masterfully seduced her kitty as well as he gently seduced her mind before drawing back enough to speak, running the handle of the blade up and down along her inner lips.

"Beg for more." He commanded in quiet tones.

"I-" She shook her head. His gaze sharpened.

"I'll put one end of this knife in you, your next words dictate which end."

"Please." She pleased, the handle rubbing hard against her clit, flicking the tender nub in a quick rhythm. "More. Please." She gasped.

"Who?"

"Gregory. Please, give me more." He rubbed the handle against the opening of her hole as she tensed.

"Relax." He hissed as he inserted the handle an inch, pulling it out only to insert it two inches, out again, then three. She held her breath as tremors shook her. He knew he had built her to the edge, and he was slowly driving her insane. But she was so sensitive, so needy. She was quite the rare prize indeed. And she was all his. He pushed the knife handle in all the way, careful with the blade he rotated the handle inside her. She gasped then gave a small cry, her insides weeping around the ergonomically shaped handle. He massaged her fluids around her, down to her crack.

"No please." She begged.

"Relax. It will only hurt if you don't relax." He rubbed the small star with a finger, pressing against her. "Push out, slightly. Like that." He kept the knife handle moving slowly inside her as he worked a digit into her rear entry, his thumb rubbing the lower edge of her kitty hole, driving her crazy. When his finger was fully inside her, he began working it in and out of her, stretching her around him. Whenever she tightened he would whisper to her to relax. Then he worked two fingers inside her tight rear, pivoting them to stretch her open.

The motion of this thumb was steady, building tension in tune with the movements of the knife handle, making her gasp and moan in pleasure, but it wasn't strong enough to allow her release. Her mind whirled in her head, her heart pounding, her skin slick. His own erection was throbbing in his pants. He could feel his own heartbeat reflected there. Her head had fallen back. Carefully he slid out from between her legs until he was behind her, the rhythm of the handle steady within her. He rubbed his penis against her collecting her juices.

"Push again." He said from behind her, his head curling over her shoulder. He pressed himself into her as she cried out softly, her breath coming in stuttered as he slowly pushed inch by inch until finally the head of his cock was buried within her. "Good girl." He cooed, rewarding her with his fingers around the handle, tracing her wetness from around the handle up to her clit and back. She almost sobbed her need, her mind entirely focused on the movements of his fingers. He rocked softly against her rear, gaining a little more entrance each time as she dripped onto him, his fingers working slow magic on her, always coming close but not touching her clit.

He started to build a rhythm rocking against her rear until finally he was thrusting into her rear in time with the knife handle. She was bucking, never having felt so full, the knife making sloppy sounds as it moved within her, but he was still careful of the wide blade now wet with her slickness. He licked at her shoulder, leaving kisses along her skin as he picked up speed. "Don't you dare come without me." She fought down the waves of pleasure, holding tightly as he grunted behind her. "You're so tight, I can't stand it." He grunted. He left the knife in slow tortuous tempo as he sped his cock up even more, his hips causing her butt cheeks to jiggle as he slammed into them. He was getting close, excited by her sensitivity in a way he hadn't been with anyone else before, flaying at his control until it lay in ribbons around her calves with the remains of her dress.

"Now!" He called as the handle suddenly matched his rhythm in a quick tempo and his other hand rubbed her clit heartily. She screamed out, her cry growing more high pitched as his the force of his thrusts increased in tune with the handle and he came to hear her crying his name. Her body shuttered around him and the knife handle as he joined her, bursting within her rear. He dropped the knife and leaned forward, shoving his fingers deep inside her and rubbing the heal of his hand against her clit, bringing her to a second orgasm as she milked his hand and cock within her.

"Flutter for me my sweet Ioana." He whispered into her ear, holding her until the shudders calmed around him and he slipped free of her to clean both of them up with a towel that lay handy. Then he moved so he was kneeling in front of her, his hands still gently caressing her skin, tracing her collarbones, her jaw. She was watching him with a tired curiosity, pleasure still curled within her. But they weren't done yet. She hadn't yet learned to pleasure him. He watched as reality came back into her mind. 

"Why are you doing this to me?" She asked. He chuckled at the idiocy of the question.

"Because your attitude excites me. Your beauty tempts me, and I will have a lot of fun with you before I decide what to do with you."

"Then you'll sell me with the others? Or turn me over to your boss? See if you can gain his favor at my expense? As if I'm interchangeable with anyone else?" She already knew he was the target from being in his mind, the head boss, but he didn't know that she knew.

"Interchangeable, that would depend on your performance over the next few weeks, or maybe months. As for my boss, there is none. You see I run this operation. All of it. And I am the only one that knows the depth and breadth of it. So if you keep my interest, the only bed you'll share will be my own, and any other girl I choose to join us-periodically. If you displease me, I'll send you to the deepest darkest hovel where you will be raped until you lie a broken bloody mess, and then raped some more, until you finally die overridden with disease and filth." He said it so casually she was shocked, icy shivers sliding down her spine. "Now I have some questions for you."

"What more do you want to know of me--its not as if you care about me." She said but there was no heat to her words, just calm. She had gotten all the main names and locations, as well as the fact that he stored all his files through series of encrypted codes on his personal laptop. She might not have found where he put the laptop or what the passwords were but she was running out of time and energy and patience. At least she had something. His hands were slowly moving from her breasts down her torso, ever so slowly. They stopped over what had been the bullet wound. Uh-oh.

"I'm curious how you managed to heal yourself. I had thought maybe it was a trick on your part, spitting the bullet back at me, but once I found the hole in your dress, dried blood on your skin but no bullet wound, I realized that you spat my bullet. Then I thought maybe you had an unusual ability to heal. Which would be impossible. So I must be crazy, but there the evidence seems to mock me. And the cuts you have from the fight earlier have not miraculously healed. So I am more puzzled than before at how you managed that little trick." He nibbled against her neck, inhaling the scent of her as he did so.

"Do you really want to know?" There was a smirk evident in her tone. He smiled at that. Her shy elegance and sweet courage had captivated him from the beginning.

"Whether you're a trick or a treat? And what method you used? Of course." He pulled back to watch her. She closed her eyes and sighed, pausing for a moment. Then she seemed to melt into the sheets. He blinked a few times but there was a blotchy outline of her body in the sheets, and then it faded away. Shocked he stared and shook his head as the rope bindings hung loosely, having nothing to hold any longer. The outline of her body moved across the floor, a slightly raised shape with facial features in wood grain. He grew angry and took the knife and threw it at her, and the tip caught into the raised wood surface, where her heart would have been. She paused for a moment, absorbing the knife inside her, and then while being inside the wood she kept moving and the damage to the floor remained where it was as she sunk a level below.




Ioana Musca Ch. 04



Ioana reappeared in human form on the floor below, naked and tired. Very tired, but far more determined. She needed to find Kyle, the NSA agent that got her into this mess, the one she truly wanted. She used the map hidden within her to figure out where the cells where and raced down the stairs. When she could use stealth to avoid detection she would, when she couldn't she used her gifts melding around camera views, and merging into walls.

She was growing more and more exhausted but she would not give in. Using her gifts was draining and quite painful but recapture would be worse. Not that Greg was had actually harmed her yet, but his mind games were wearing her down, toying with her control and her will. It would not be long before his more violent side would emerge. She wanted to complete the mission far before then.

Finally she merged into the cold concrete walls and into Kyle's cell practically collapsing in his arms. He was chained up. She held the chains merging with them to weaken them and rip them apart.

"Are you alright?" He asked angry at the slight scabbed cuts that crossed her body, and the lingering whiff of sex from her.

"I will be, now that I've found you." Those words diffused some of his anger. She kissed him quickly, partially because she needed to have him on her lips and not Greg, and partially because it soothed her. Kyle was alright, and with her, and they would escape. She rattled off quietly the names of some of the major players and locations, as well as Greg's name his description and his claim to be the owner. He rapidly memorized the information. She had merged with the door weakening it and Kyle kicked it open. She unmerged, nearly collapsing but catching herself on the far wall.

"You're growing too tired." Kyle said concerned.

"That's the way out." She pulled the knife out of herself and handed it to him. "If I can't make it-keep going. I can always fight later."

"No. Now they know your abilities. Don't give up on me, not now." He commanded, pulling her with him as they raced back up the stairs. They encountered several guards and Kyle fought them quickly and cleanly. Ioana was barely able to deliver a punch. She was panting hard, fighting to maintain her balance, and she knew she was slowing him down.

He hauled her up when she would have tripped. "Let go. Run for yourself." She panted, weakly trying to pull free. "Promise me you won't-"

"No." He silenced her with his tone, not wanting to know the rest of the sentence. "If I said I didn't care about you I would be lying. I won't leave you behind, abilities or not. Now move!" More guards flooded the area. He hauled her into a doorway, holding the knife ahead of him. The door on the other side of the room was locked. He turned on the guards advancing, pulling Ioana behind him. She spun, nearly falling again. But as the door that had been locked opened and more guards entered she turned so her back was to Kyle, determined not to give him up without a fight.

"Oh Kyle. I'm so sorry." She said before they started to fight. She did the best she could in her exhausted state. Her face was flush, her skin heated as if from a fever, and her breaths where short and shallow. She was able to knock aside one long knife up and into another guard an her side, give another guard an uppercut, another broken nose and a black eye while barely dodging two punches before her eyes rolled back and she passed out from sheer exhaustion.

Kyle heard her drop behind him and it was very shortly after that he too was pinned down on his stomach, a knife deep in his shoulder as a man sat on his back, twisting it when he tried to move. Kyle cried out and his head was pulled back hard. It felt like the man was trying to pull his head off. Then Greg came in. Kyle recognized him from Ioana's description, as well as the authority he wielded before he even spoke.

"Take them both to my suite. Tie her up as before, and give him a front row view. When she wakes up we'll all have a nice chat. Get to know each other better."

*

(Thanks for all those who have left comments, good and bad, and those who've voted. I got one note that chapter 2 needs to be reworked, if people want it, I'll do the work but I need to know... I plan to have one more chapter, if theres interest maybe two. I hadn't planned on turning this into anything longer than 6 chapters as I wanted to keep it as close to the story line in my dream as I could. And for those who haven't, please vote and comment, I'd love to hear your ideas, suggestions, anything. VOTE, COMMENT, COMMENT, VOTE!! Thanks!!) 



Ioana Musca Ch. 05



THE MASTER WANTS ANSWERS

Ioana jerked before she fully awoke. She was still a little tired, but not too much. She was bound again, this time in chains and as she woke up she stood up, relieving her weight off the chains. Greg ignored her, whipping at Kyle's back again. Ioana cried out for Greg to stop but he didn't listen, whipping him one more time before stepping around him. Kyle didn't make a sound, just glared at Greg angrily.

Then Greg turned to Ioana. "Now that was a neat trick my dear. However if you disappear again I will kill him in front of you, and you..." He turned to Kyle, "If you have anything up your sleeve, I'll kill her." He turned back to Ioana and laid the whip around her neck. He was still as naked as she. His face was angry, no trace of the gentility he had bestowed upon her earlier, before she had betrayed his trust proving herself a federal agent, albeit one with unnatural abilities the likes of which he couldn't comprehend. Gregory had the knife she had given Kyle back, the knife he had pleasured her with, in his hand as he advanced upon her.

She recognized they were in a room off the bedroom, as the windows were in front of her, behind Kyle, and she had seen the light from through the glass French doors which had to be behind her. Those doors led to his bedroom, where she had been earlier. And according to the map hidden within her body the door to her side led to the rest of the suite, and eventually to some various exit points. The prize was the desk on the other side of the room, with a closed laptop on it that she would just bet was his-and it would only take a few minutes within his mind to find out for sure.

"Between the two of you, and a good deal of torture, we'll get down to the bottom of this I'm sure. First off, who do you work for?" He asked Ioana. She just glared at him. He reached forward to grab her nipple and twist. She winced, clenching her teeth and glaring at him but still she said nothing. 

"Such a shame." He stabbed the knife into her side roughly, pulling it out quickly. She grimaced, but choked back her cry as blood oozed out of the fresh wound. She needed more physical contact to get the passwords, and this time she was going to get them. Her gaze narrowed in determination.

"I work for a restaurant as a manager."

"Ha! You still take me for a fool- how would you like to watch me castrate you in front of your boyfriend, or castrate him in front of you.

"It's obvious you have no heart." She said, "You try anything, and you'll be the one without any equipment." She threatened. He chuckled, one hand holding her side as the other slide the knife down her skin, threatening her but not cutting her. The stab wound bled at her lower left side. She grabbed at the opportunity to crack into his mind, her first goal to confirm that the laptop on his desk was indeed his, then to start to find and memorize his passwords.

"Do you think he'll still like you after I ravage you? Tell me what I want to know and I'll let you live, I'll let him die quickly, instead of suffer."

"Why do you assume she'll cave in to your threats when I didn't?" Kyle asked, trying to divert Greg's attention away from her not realizing what she was up to, but only thinking about protecting her. Kyle could feel his face swelling already from the punches he had received. He was in nothing but his slacks, and large red bands marred his chest and back from where the harsh whipping had torn his skin. His stab wound had mostly stopped bleeding but he was pretty sure that shoulder had been dislocated and popped back into place as he was beaten and dragged into this room.

"Now where did we leave off? Oh yes, I remember." He stepped behind her, his fingers trailing along her skin as he moved. He pulled her legs apart and with a swift thrust dove into her ass. She cried out, biting down on the sound, tears formed in her eyes. She would not let him distract her. Kyle screamed threats at Greg struggling against his bonds, trying to get the criminal mastermind's attention. Gregory ignored him knowing this would be the best revenge.

Ioana on the other hand had accessed Greg's subconscious as he pounded into her from behind, not caring for her welfare. He had a point to make, and that was power. They were at his mercy, and he had damn little left. "What's wrong my dear? Not having as much fun as before? This time you will submit to me against your will, and there will be no pleasure for you unless you give me what's mine first. Now squeeze!" One arm held the knife up along her hip, holding her tightly to him, the other smacked at her ass. Kyle growled in fury, seeing red. Greg laughed, pulling the whip off from behind her neck in a smooth motion and whipping at Kyle from where he stood.

"NO!" Ioana cried out, but she was determined not to let anything distract her from her goal. She had already taken too much time to do so, not that she had much choice, but this time she would get what she needed to bury this man. She would dismantle his entire organization for what he had done to her and Kyle. She would see him condemned to death for the murders of so many innocent people. And she would not let him stop her with any distraction. Her eyes were dark, angry, focused. She wasn't afraid anymore. Pain dissipated, scars healed. Justice was forever. And he had earned death.

Greg laid the whip back down across her shoulders, never stopping his rhythm. Her body rocked beneath his every thrust, her breasts swaying on her chest in gorgeous cadence. The pain receded as her body adjusted and as her mind was focused elsewhere but tears still stood out in her eyes. "Like that sweetie?" His free hand grabbed at her breasts, cupping one roughly and plucking at the nipple. He laughed at the look on Kyle's face.

Kyle was growing weak from pain, it swam in his head, the adrenaline having faded leaving him tired and furious. Greg's fingers traveled lower, stroking her intimately. Kyle growled softly. "Not slippery this time. That's fine, you don't deserve pleasure from my hands. Tell me, how do you like your boyfriend looking on, knowing it was me who took your virginity?" Kyle whirled in shock at that statement. "Knowing that you enjoyed it thoroughly, at the hands of a what? What had you called me? Remember?"

"Rapist. Murderer. Criminal." Her voice was as dark as her eyes. Greg laughed, and smacked her clit, causing her to jump.

"You'll never escape the power I have over you. Until your last breath, the only pleasure you will ever have received will be from my hand. All anyone else will give you is pain. Watch him!" Greg shoved two fingers inside her roughly. She was only half-aware, her entire being focused on memorizing what she needed from his mind. "Watch him watch you, wishing he was in my position, humping you like a randy old goat. Tell him what we did next? Where was my mouth?" He held back his release in his anger, prolonging her torture and therefore Kyle's.

She said nothing. He smacked her breasts. She grunted, wincing as he pulled at the nipples roughly. "WHERE?"

"Inside me." She said quietly, her jaw clenching.

"And you loved it. You covered me like a sweet rain. Then what? Remember? Huh?" He demanded, his fingers separating her lips again. "What did I put inside you? Remember?" He whispered against her ear before his gaze turned to Kyle. "Curious?" Kyle's eyes were dark with hatred, his lip curled like a predator ready to pounce. But he couldn't. He couldn't save the courageous woman he had trained, the woman with the wondrous but exhausting gifts whom he thought he could protect. The woman he had come to care for as she stood there, her mind removed from the room, separated in the only way she could protect herself. For that he was grateful.

He didn't know her mind wasn't detached, it was focused. So much so she didn't feel exactly what Greg was doing. She felt pain or pleasure in a detached frame of mind. She was in his memories and saw what acts he had committed, the innocent faces, the dirty cops, the various locations, the missing agents, their murders. She was after so much more. Everything was in that laptop, his mind confirmed it. And she was getting it and all the passwords for it. She was almost done, and then she could ensure their escape.

"I'll give you a hint. I gave her the handle." The knife moved, tracing a fine line towards the stab wound that bled slightly at her side.

"How's the wound healing this time around?" Greg growled ignoring Kyle. "How would you like the blade up your cunt? See how well that heals, and how much pain it will be when I ravage you with that type of wound?" What he didn't know was she was also absorbing some of the metal in her chains into her body, shaping it into a blade. Before he could thrust the blade up her cunt she spoke, snapping Kyle out of his anger.

"Frustrated that I didn't turn into honey in your hands? I told you that you weren't enough of a man for me. You're a greedy coward, hiding behind weapons and guards and your own money. But as you said to me before, when you don't listen you'll suffer the consequences. And you will. You'll suffer for all those people you made suffer to fatten your pockets."

"At whose hand?" Greg laughed grunting as he pumped away. "You two will be shreds of human flesh before that happens."

Ioana calmly stepped out of the chains, having absorbed all the metal. The whip fell to the floor behind her as she stood there in all her naked glory in front of him. Greg turned and flung her backwards behind him against the glass doors, away from Kyle before rushing her. She merged with the glass but he brought the knife up to where her neck would be, one of his hands where her waist was, the other scratching the blade into the glass bulge that was she. Both Kyle and Greg saw her wince at the cut.

"So you can be killed after all." He chuckled. "Who are you, how did you get these abilities and who do you work for? Answer Me!" He said, pushing harder against the glass. She gasped, the sound muffled against the blade as it cut a thin gouge into the glass, but as thin as the gauge was--in proportion to the glass the cut would have been deep into her neck if she was in normal form.

"I told you before I will die before I submit to you in any way." She said, her voice hoarse, but her smile was menacing, she had all his passwords, every last one.

"Then die!" He stabbed the knife through the glass, where her heart would have been and the glass shattered into thousands of shards all over the floor on both sides of the door. She had screamed when the glass first shattered, but the sound only lasted as long as the sound of the glass itself breaking. Kyle cried out when Greg lunged with the knife. Greg then turned back to Kyle, furious and entirely unsatisfied, in more ways than one.

"So she's as stubborn as you-and now you'll answer or you'll join her-and end up just like her-in pieces." Greg yanked Kyle forward, knocking him to the floor and proceeded to beat him again, demanding answers that Kyle would never give. He just stared at the unmoving shards of glass, what was left of the woman he had grown to respect, then like, and started to love. He hadn't been able to protect himself, let alone her. And now it was too late. Too late to find out how she felt about him, too late to tell her how he felt about her. Too late to see how far that something could grow. Greg had given up beating on him and had started ranting, pacing the floor angrily, his erection preceding him like a flag pole heralding his arrival. He left Kyle in a bloody pool on the floor and minutes passed, elongated, grouped together, until Kyle lost all track of time.

Then Kyle felt her. She entered him from the floor. She had used the liquid properties of the glass to piece herself back together, then snuck up onto his desk and absorbed his laptop. She held it inside her. He could feel the pain in her at holding such a large object but she would not let it go. Inside him she started to heal him, not fully, she was growing weak, but enough to let him fight. He could tell she hadn't fully healed herself either. She told him that he could use her abilities up until she had no more energy left. She released the knife she had made from her shackles into his palm. He broke apart his bindings, and surprising Greg he jumped up. With a few well placed kicks and punches he rendered the surprised criminal mastermind unconscious. He moved into the adjacent bedroom and pulled a shirt on, then some shoes and jumped out the window.

Alarms sounded but he knew his team would be watching the building due to her tracking device, and would be shocked to find that he was still with her. He raced down the side of the building, periodically fighting with guards and taking their weapons. He raced into the garage. He jumped into a car and hot-wiring it roared out of the garage. Nearly mowing down two guards he raced straight through the gate and out into the streets.

He could feel her fading. She couldn't let go because passing out from exhaustion within him would definitely kill him if not her too, but she can't stay within him for much longer. He swung the car around a corner, looking for somewhere private, as now they were in public and away from the guards. The team should already be moving in. He pulled behind a shopping center, in the empty loading area and got out of the car. As soon as he stood up he felt her energy flutter and she passed out right as she separated from him. He caught her before she could fall to the ground in front of him, nearly dropping the laptop that was in her hands, but he managed to catch them both.

She hadn't had time to heal all her wounds, and she was still naked. He pulled off his shirt and buttoned it on her before carrying her to the passenger seat. Then he climbed back into the car and headed straight for headquarters.

------

When she woke up she was in a bed, hooked up to all kinds of monitors and electronic equipment. At first she was confused and panicked. Where was she? Her first instinct was that she was being studied in a lab, but that didn't make any sense, she wasn't tied down. She pulled off the sensors and the heart monitor registered flat line. Monitors screamed and people came rushing in, pausing from their state of panic when they realized she was sitting up.

"You feeling alright?" An agent asked, shutting the machine off so that there was no steady heart rate, but also no horrific screeching. They tested her, removing tubes and wires.

"Sore, hungry but alright. How long have I been out?"

"A few days. No-Don't get up." The doctor said but Ioana ignored her. "You've just started to heal; the knife wound was pretty deep but thankfully a clean cut. Your body needs rest."

"You don't have a clue what I need." Ioana said, grabbing onto a plastic bottle off the rolling cart against the wall. She absorbed it into herself and used it to heal her wound, stumbling forward a little from the strain. The doctor had been briefed about her abilities but as usual they didn't realize the extent of her abilities. "How about we start with a shower and some clothes, oh and a good meal."

"Alright, if you'll follow me." The doctor led the way out of the room. Ioana held the back of her hospital gown closed around her rear as they stepped out of the closed room and down the hall.

"I won't calm down until you tell me what's going on!" Kyle cried out from behind the next door. "I heard the machines, now just go over there and make sure she's alright!"

"Sir, I'm sure everything is under control, now if you'd just hold still for a moment-"

"I'm fine! Back off me, will you?" He stopped when Ioana opened the door a crack while her doctor waited outside the door behind her, appreciating the view.

"Would you give us a moment?" Ioana turned to the nurse.

"I'll be right back-and you will hold still this time." She wagged her finger at Kyle before turning to leave.

"He'll behave. I promise." Ioana teased, a slight smirk on her face as she closed the door behind the nurse. The swelling on his face had gone down but there was a ragged cut along the side of his face where it had split open. A few butterfly stitches held it closed. The sheet had slid down a bit as he struggled revealing the long red bloody scabs that had started to heal. She could only imagine what his back looked like.

"You alright?" He asked.

"I will be, now that I've found you." She said, her eyes alight with mischief. It was the same line she had said when they were in the cell together. She moved to stand next to the bed but he scooted over, patting a spot for her, so she sat down twisting so she could face him. He grinned, then grimaced when it pulled at the stitches.

"I must be a bad sight." He said.

"Not at all. A little rough for wear, but it could have been a lot worse." She gently traced one of the lines on his chest. He sucked air in and she stopped afraid she was hurting him.

"You're right. I thought he had killed you, and it hurt when I was in that cell just wondering what was happening with you. Whether you were alright or not. And what he did to you-" He stopped when she put a finger to his lips.

"I'm fine, you're fine. It's all over."

"Well most of it, I told them what you told me and they moved into those locations, captured a lot of the major leaders in the operations, released a lot of girls, but there are those that got away, buried into safe houses, and we don't have that information. We're still working on cracking the laptop codes-" He started. She had leaned back away from him when he started to talk business but he captured her hand with his own to keep her from going too far. "I'm glad you're okay." He finished.

"Me too." She smiled leaning forward to give him a quick kiss on the cheek before she stood up but he turned, his hand coming up towards her face but he didn't touch her-not yet. He just gently kissed her lips, a sweet savoring. She smiled against his lips, then partially merged with him. Surprised he gasped, and felt her inside him, healing him in any way she could. When she broke the contact he grabbed her arm before she could go, partially steadying her, mostly because he didn't want to let go.

"That isn't why I kissed you." He said. He knew she hadn't finished the job of healing him, but she had taken care of the deep tissue, and the painful cut down his face.

"I know. Rest and I'll see you later." She squeezed his hand before turning away, treating him to a gorgeous view of her back, even as she held the bottom part of the cloth dress together.

Once she showered, changed, and grabbed a sandwich she went in search of Max, ignoring the guards who tried to stop her.

"Ioana! It's good to see you up and about." He greeted her, standing behind one of the agents back while she nibbled on the sandwich. "We've made a lot of progress on the information you've retrieved. Great work, a lot of girls are truly grateful for the freedom you've given them back-"

"May I try?" She stood next to Max but looked at the agent working on the computer. "I may have what you're looking for."

"Why not? You're the one that rescued it." Max said. She sat down and typed in the passwords as she remembered them, unlocking screen after screen. As she did so she wrote down what the passwords were in the order that she used them on a sheet of paper next to her.

"And these are for his email accounts." She finished up the paper.

"Hot damn!" The agent who gave up his seat shouted, grabbing her in a hug from behind. She gave him back his chair and they started pulling off all the rest of the information they needed. She turned before leaving the room, watching them hard at work. She left the room running straight into Kyle who caught her easily against him.

"Funny how we keep running into each other." He quipped, but he didn't let her go. He looked a lot better already, what was left was just facial healing, and now he could move without grimacing in pain. "Into--it was a bad joke."




Ioana Musca Ch. 05



"I cracked the laptop."

"I figured you could."

"Read my mind?"

"No. Once you knew what was at stake you were so determined. I'm proud of you. You would have made an excellent agent." Her eyes dropped at that. She didn't want to be an agent, and this sounded like goodbye.

"Don't think you can call me in a pinch again. I'm free this time; free from my fears and from others manipulations."

"I know. So what do you plan on doing? Heading back to the restaurant?"

"I don't know. I think first I want to spend some time with my Aunt's before they pass away. I've missed so much time with my family out of fear." She shook her head.

"Lying in bed for a few days unable to move had me thinking more about what it must have been like for you. Most people would have done things differently, taken advantage of the situation, their abilities. But all you ever wanted was for things to be fair. That takes guts. Like going through school and getting teased, or getting mugged. And you used your abilities as little as possible, at sacrifice to yourself. I'm sure I would have made a lot of choices I would've regretted. I made enough of them as it is."

"I have some regrets of my own, but you're right, they could be a lot worse. And I'm grateful to you. For teaching me to appreciate what I really am. To have confidence in myself. And to throw a pretty mean right hook."

"I'd love to have you hang around a bit more, but I gave your statement for you-all but the part I didn't know. I have a feeling you don't want to tell me about it."

"How did you know?"

"There was a hint of desperation in that kiss in that cell. It's what had me worried the most. Did he hurt you?"

"He raped me."

"There's more to hurt than rape and bruises and cuts."

"And whip burn." She rubbed her hand on his chest for a moment. "I know. When I was digging for information in his mind-" She shook her head. "No he didn't do to me what I saw him do to others. People like him are the reason I've hidden my whole life. And I'm not afraid anymore. I've learned I don't have to be anymore. Thank you for that."

"That wasn't me-that was all you honey. But if you ever want to talk about it, I'll be a good listener."

"It wasn't that bad." She said but he frowned, not believing her. They watched each other for a few moments, unsure of what else to say, but neither wanting to say goodbye.

"Kyle?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you take me home?"

"If that's what you want."

"At this point I'm now only in the way here."

"Then grab your things and I'll give you a lift." His voice had lost some of the light in it as he watched her turn away from him to grab her stuff and shove it into her bag.

"Kyle?" She turned back to him.

"Yeah?" He rubbed the back of his neck for a moment.

"You owe me a dress." He grinned as she turned away remembering her in that black slip of nothing. He wondered what else she had in that closet of hers.

--------

"You'll be alright?" Kyle asked as he carried her bag up the stairs for her, past her into her living room.

"I'm good. I'll just-" She stopped, unsure of how to continue past the knot in her throat.

"What?" He asked when she stopped and stood there, playing with the hem of her shirt.

"I'll miss you."

"Me too." He smiled.

"No-I'll really miss you." Her eyes were intense as she watched him, afraid to voice how she felt in case all he felt was about a mission. He hadn't kissed her until just before it was part of the mission. When he had it had all felt real, but he hadn't said anything afterwards. And if he didn't feel the same way she wanted to know, to cry, and to try to move on.

"Then I don't have to leave, so you don't have to miss me." He came back up to her, having dropped her bag.

"Don't play with me. I'm being serious."

"So am I. I was serious when I said I had been worried about what happened to you. When I though he had killed you when he shattered the glass. Then when the heart alarms went off. You know how to keep a man on his toes." He paused before he leaned in to give her a kiss, watching her reaction. He leaned in a second time, longer, her lips parting under the sweet pressure of his own, allowing him passage to taste her.

"And I can cook too." She teased.

"Well that does it. I'll have to keep you now."

"Have to?"

"Well, we could start with a couple of dates before I get to handcuffs."

"Handcuffs?" She raised an eyebrow.

"I'll be gentle. Or better yet, you could handcuff me." He waggled his eyebrows. She punched him in the shoulder before he pulled her into his embrace so she couldn't swing at him again.

"Do you know how to be serious?"

"Around you? No. My brain turns to mush and my stomach drops out and I don't know what to say. I want to spend more time with you, I'm not ready to let you go and frankly I don't know if I'll ever be." His tone was serious but his eyes shone with the honesty of his emotions. "And if you kick me out I don't know what I'll do."

"I think I'm falling in love with you too." She said softly.

"Oh thank god! I was afraid I was alone-especially when you wanted me to take you home." He watched her bite her lip, "Or was that just an excuse to have me all to your self?" His fingers ran down her arms, gently brushing her skin. She grinned, a mix of minx and innocence. He was enthralled.

"That's it. Now I'm really going to keep you." He swung her up into his arms, pulling her into the bedroom. "No objections?"

"Why would I object when you're telling me what I want to hear?" She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Kyle?"

"Yes-"

"No handcuffs." She said, and then looked back down to his lips, "Not yet anyways." He just grinned.