Giordano's Mask -- Chapter 2 of 6

"Can we trust her? Are you sure?" Lauren asked.

We were in Fiorella's van, her driving, me in the passenger seat, and Lauren just behind me. I glanced at Fiorella. Her shoulders were tense. She stared straight ahead.

"Well," I replied, "I think her sister really is missing. So yeah, I believe we can."

We turned off the main boulevard into a maze of twisty streets. We drove in front of an old residence with pale brick walls and square windows climbing up five stories. Fiorella jerked the van around and pulled through a narrow alleyway into a courtyard. It was paved with deep red flagstones. She parked. We got out and followed her toward the building.

"I've never assisted with a Augury before," Lauren went on, "Plus, I'm still not sure this isn't a trap."

"I'm willing to chance it."

We had tried everything else. We had cast locator spells, which showed nothing. We had projected our spirits, searching the ethereal world, to no avail. Fiorella had suggested the augury.

Lauren was right. It was a risk. If this were a trap, the augury could leave me too weak to fight. Plus, Lauren had never assisted in a ritual so complex. A lot could go wrong.

"Is your wellspring having second thoughts?" Fiorella asked.

"She's nervous. She's never done an augury."

"Shouldn't all wellsprings be trained in that?"

"Well, yeah I guess. She's pretty new."

"Hmmm."

"She gets real far on talent."

Fiorella said nothing. The wellsprings in her coven had refused to help, she claimed. They believed that Katia and Ines had betrayed them by running of with Jessica.

I wasn't sure what to think.

The building was divided into large apartments, one per floor. Hers was the third. We climbed creaky old stairs. She unlocked a heavy wooden door, and we entered.

"I'll get the candles," she said, but stopped short. Katia was there, sitting on the couch, waiting.

"She's kidnapped Ines and Jessica," she blurted out when we entered. Fiorella rushed to her, and hugged her.

"Who's kidnapped them?" I asked.

"What did she say?" Lauren asked. Katia was speaking Italian.

"That someone has kidnapped them. Hold on, let me ask."

Katia caught her breath. "A genius loci," she replied, "Well—I guess—the genius loci of Milan."

"Huh?" Fiorella said.

"Fuck!" I said, in English.

"What?" Lauren asked.

"Everyone calm down!" I shouted, "Lauren—please give me a minute. Maybe—get us some wine or something."

Lauren took a deep breath, then said, "Fine! Where is the kitchen?"

I asked Fiorella. She pointed to an old swinging door. Lauren passed through.

"Now," I said, "What was that again? A 'genius loci' is the ancient spirit of a place, correct?"

"Yes," Katia said.

"So, the spirit of Milan has kidnapped Jess and Ines?"

"Yes. We got together last night. We weren't happy how things left off, so Jess called me and took the train into town and we met. Then she came and took us."

"She took all of you?"

"Yeah, but she let me go."

Fiorella and I looked at each other. I heard Lauren fumbling beyond the door.

"OK, please go on."

"She—uh—well"—she switched to English—"I know about how Jess can share the recharge. She showed me, with Ines. That"—she gulped—"That is what the spirit is doing."

"She's making Jess share the recharge with her?"

"Yeah. That's why she let me go. She said she didn't need me."

"Oh."

Fiorella looked at both of us suspiciously. I decided to tell her.

"If Jess kisses a witch while she is recharging, both girls get some of the power."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. The genius loci is, evidently, making Jess do that with her."

"Why?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Maybe she can't recharge normally."

"Genius's are divinities," Fiorella said, "They don't need to recharge. Even if she could, surely Ines's power would mean nothing to her."

"Well," I said, "It feels really good, if nothing else."

Lauren returned with a bottle of wine and some glasses. We passed it around and poured. We drank.

"So what's up?" Lauren asked.

I summarized.

"So what's a genius loci?" she asked, when I finished.

"The guardian spirit of a place, from the old religion."

"Are they powerful."

"They're immortal. Basically, they're gods."

"Really? Like real gods? Like Jupiter and Diana?"

"No, not quite like those, but still, beyond the power of humans. Milan is a rich city; its spirit is surely great."

"So—What are we going to do?"

"I don't know."

I looked at Fiorella.

"We're going after them, right?"

She turned pale. She sat down and looked at her sister, reaching out.

"It's Ines," Katia said, grasping her hand, "And Jess too. Maybe you don't care about her, but I do."

"It's a goddess," Fiorella replied.

Katia looked at me, pleading. "You're super powerful, right? You can do something!"

I shrugged my shoulders. I had no idea if I could match against the goddess of a city.

"Perhaps she can be reasoned with?" I said.

"Stupid Americans!" Fiorella exclaimed, "This isn't like your dumb TV shows! This is a goddess of the old world. She cannot be reasoned with."

"Perhaps. I'll try anyway. And maybe, if she won't listen, I can beat her. Katia will come, I'm sure. You can stay behind. It's up to you."

She looked at the floor, then at her sister. "I'll go."

"Do you think you can find her again?" I asked Katia.

"Yes. I know exactly where to go."

Then both sisters looked at me.

"This will take all our power," Fiorella said, "We'll need to recharge. Is this wellspring of yours"—she motioned to Lauren—"really so great?"

I smiled. I beckoned to Lauren. She came to me.

"Sweetie, would you recharge us? All of us? We'll need the power."

"Yes. Of course. Anything to save Jess."

I smiled. I took the hands of the sisters and gave each a kiss. Katia returned the kiss warmly. Fiorella's face was unyielding, her lips taut.

Katia and I plopped down on the couch, laying back. She yanked her shorts down. I pulled up my skirt. We both rubbed ourselves through our panties. Fiorella sat down next to me, upright. She held her hands on her knees, then slowly lifted her skirt. She bit her lip and stared at Lauren. I leaned and kissed her again, on the cheek. She ignored me.

Lauren gazed at us. "Who would like to be first?"

"Do Fiorella first," I said. I wanted to watch her melt.

She melted. Lauren started with kisses, leaning into her, caressing her. Her eyes got real big. She gasped as Lauren kissed her neck.

Then down. Lauren undid a button on Fi's blouse. Then another, slowly, looking into her eyes. Soon all the buttons were undone, and Lauren went to work on her nipples.

"Oh my god!" Fioralla exclaimed.

I felt Katia's hands on me. I turned and kissed her, then back to her sister. I leaned and kissed Fiorella. This time, she opened her mouth.

Lauren dropped further, between her legs. Fiorella's panties came down. Lauren went in and licked.

I yanked down my own panties. I tossed them aside and stood on the couch. I straddled Fiorella's face.

"Eat me," I said.

She did. She wrapped her arms around my thighs. She wrapped her lips around my pussy. Her sister scooted close and rubbed my ass. I twisted a bit and touched both their heads. Katia's I stroked gently. Fiorella's I grabbed, yanking her hair and holding her tight to my cunt.

Soon Fiorella was sucking less and panting more. I wasn't surprised. Lauren's power was overwhelming. No witch could hold out long, when Lauren ate her. I kept her face pressed close, though. I wanted my pussy against her mouth when she came.

It happened. Her body went rigid. She jerked. I held her to me, her eyes closed, her mouth opened. Even coming, writhing, and twisting about, she pressed her tongue into my hole.

"Oh fuck!" I groaned. It felt so good.

Fiorella seized up again, one last time. Then she collapsed. She pushed me away from her face.

I plopped down next to her. Lauren came up and they kissed. They kept kissing.

I turned to Katia.

"Wanna go next, sweetie?" I asked.

She grinned. She reached and pulled her panties down. I kissed her and squeezed her nipples. She giggled and kissed me back. Then Lauren came and ate her. She lay back moaning, lost in a world of bliss.

I felt her sister reach around me, from behind. She rubbed my chest. She kissed my neck.

"So—You like me now?" I asked.

"I like your pussy," she replied.

I smiled. I liked that she liked my pussy.

I sat back and spread my legs. Fiorella dropped down on the floor next to Lauren. She kissed my thighs, licking up my legs. She ran her tongue around the edge of my slit. Then she went in. Her mouth wrapped around my clit. Her tongue pressed in. It probed my hole. She ran it slowly up and down. Then up again. Then around my clit. Sucking, again. I quivered and moaned.

I took Katia's hand. We looked at each other, both hovering on the edge of ecstasy. We were each sitting, leaning back, our legs spread, my skirt pulled up, with such lovely creatures on their knees, eating our cunts.

Katia came. It hit her hard, suddenly. She jerked. Her legs kicked out. She yelped and groaned. She gasped and exhaled. Then she relaxed. Lauren came up, kissing her. They both embraced and laughed.

Fiorella was still eating me.

"Are you ready, my dear?" Lauren asked me.

"Yeah," I said, stroking Fiorella's head, ready to shift to give Lauren access.

Fiorella grabbed me. She looked up at me, with her dark eyes, her mouth pressed to my clit.

"Your wellspring can have you when I'm done," she grunted.

I looked at Lauren. I shrugged my shoulders.

"I guess she's not done."

Fi kept eating my pussy, and Lauren helped me pull off my top. She took a nipple into her mouth. Magic flowed from her lips, through my nipple, and down to my pussy. Waves of pleasure passed back up. I squirmed. I held her head steady against my chest. I rocked my hips, fucking Fiorella's tongue.

The pleasure matched. I felt a weird balance, teetering between Lauren's magic, and Fi's amazing mouth. I hit a plateau, halfway to climax. My body twitched. It lingered. So delicate. I saw Katia watching me, her eyes wide. So lovely. I moaned. My toes curled. I could spend forever this way, just on the edge.

Then it hit me, and the world went away.

I felt my eyes blink, but saw nothing. Then a tingle from down there, my pussy. I felt a mouth on mine. A kiss. A blurry shape resolved into Lauren. Her green eyes! She was smiling.

"Good one?" she asked.

I nodded my head. I wasn't ready for words yet.

"How wonderful," I heard a voice say, Fiorella's. I felt her mouth again. Sensations shot up me.

"Oh! Stop please!" I whimpered. I pulled my knees to my belly.

She stopped. She came up and joined Lauren, kissing me. Then her sister too. Three sets of lips on my face. Three mouths caressing me.

"Shall we pleasure your wellspring?" Fiorella asked.

"Just a second."

I heard wet sounds. I glanced over and saw Katia embrace Lauren, kissing her deeply.

I caught my breath. I relaxed. Then I twitched and curled up. I giggled. I relaxed again.

"Holy crap!" I said.

"What?" Lauren asked, turning to me while rubbing Katia's ass.

"That was good."

Lauren grinned. "Yeah. Looks like!"

I breathed again. Finally, I felt it pass from me, slowly, with little delightful tremors.

I looked at Fi. "Yes, we should indeed pleasure my wellspring."

She smiled. She went and joined her sister, kissing Lauren, who lay back, waiting. I joined them, three girls on one, kissing and sucking every bit of her. She came quickly. She cried out. She laughed and kissed us all.

It was just shy of midday, and the four of us walked north through a grassy piazza. We took a shortcut under an arched passageway, passing into a museum. Crowds of tourists milled about, their faint murmur echoing from the stone walls.

Then out of the museum and into another piazza. We turned a corner, and the Duomo was in front of us.

"Good god!" Lauren exclaimed.

The Italian girls said nothing. They saw it everyday, no doubt.

"Is the genius loci in there?" Lauren asked.

"No," Katia replied, "She wouldn't dwell in a Christian structure."

"Oh."

We walked beside the cathedral. I looked up. I felt oppressed, as if its mass weighed on me. We turned the corner and walked beneath its facade. We were in a large plaza with more tourists. Katia walked straight across toward a large arched opening far on the other side.

Lauren smiled. "I know where we're going."

"Oh?"

"Yes. The Galleria!"

"What on earth is that?"

Fiorella snorted.

"You have such little culture," she said to me. Evidently she understood the word "Galleria," even when said in English.

"How so?"

"The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele is the oldest shopping mall in the world."

"Oh." I said. That.

We entered the Galleria. Its glass ceiling vaulted high over us. The crowds poured through, their feet shuffling, their voices echoing down from above. In the very center of the mall beneath its glass dome there was a design on the floor, a circle around a shield.

Katia walked to it. When she arrived, she uttered a magic phrase, one that all witches knew, that opened gateways. She disappeared.

I looked around. No one seemed to notice, not even the French couple standing a few yards away. It shouldn't have surprised me. We were in the heart of the city, the center of the goddess's power. Clouding the minds of tourists would be trivial for her.

I reached for Lauren's hand. She was staring at one of the shops.

"Later. We can think of shopping when we have Jess back."

"Of course."

I walked to the center, her hand in mine. I uttered the phrase. We shifted.

I hoped that Fiorella would follow.

We were in a garden on a terrace cut into a tall hill. Beneath us stretched a green valley with a curling, wine-hued river. On the opposite slope, several tiny villages were perched, strung together by a perilous looking path. Their roofs were orange.

"It isn't real, of course," I heard a voice say, in Italian.

I turned and looked at her. She was tall.

"I love my city, but all the cars and buses make such a clamor, so I've created this this little place for myself. It helps me relax. It's lovely, yes? Would you like some wine?"

"Yes. Yes to both. It's lovely, and I'd like some wine."

She walked gracefully to a small table set with a crystal decanter. She poured and brought two glasses to Lauren and me.

"Where's Katia?"

"In a different part of the illusion. She's with her wellspring and your friend. It will be good to let them relax."

"And Fiorella?"

"Still in the mall. I closed the gate to her. She's hot tempered, as are you. I will deal with you each separately."

I sipped my wine. It was good.

"You can't keep them," I said.

"Oh? I think that I can."

"Why? I mean—why do you want them?"

Her face turned dark. I felt a chill breeze and heard the tinkle of bells. Something moved in the corner of my eye. I turned. The valley had changed. Its lovely green slope was now a rocky crag. The villages were ruins. The river was gone, the valley floor dry and dead.

"This suits my mood," she said.

I was still holding Lauren's hand. It felt cold in my grasp. Her face was pale. I squeezed. I continued.

"Jessica is a free witch, a member of my coven. I am a priestess. I have performed the rites. I honor the old gods. I have given tribute. You cannot just take my friend."

"You're very beautiful," she said. She walked toward me.

Even with her head bending forward, I had to stand on tiptoes to kiss her. I reached behind her neck, pulling our mouths together, lips locked, with tongues, breathing deep. We released the kiss, and I gasped. I felt my knees quiver. Lauren held me up, and the goddess kissed her too.

She was wearing a red dress. A wide black belt circled her waist. I began to unclasp it, while Lauren went behind her and reached up, rubbing her chest. The belt came off. There was a row of black buttons down her front. I began to undo them. Her flesh was a soft brown, perfectly smooth. Her neck was shapely, her shoulders deep cut. Her muscles were fine and supple. She moved with such poise, as she reached and stroked my face.

I got the all the buttons undone. Lauren and I pulled the dress off her shoulders and let it fall to the ground. Her chest was flat. She had no nipples.

I dropped to my knees and pulled down her little rose colored panties.

Another shock. There was nothing like a pussy there. Everything was smooth. I stuck my face in. I found a small hole where she must pee from. I looked further back. She had a tiny pink anus.

I looked back at her face. She gazed at me. Such dark eyes. I felt something boring into my soul.

"You can't come," I said, "That is why you want her. She shares her recharge with you, and makes you come."

She didn't answer, but I knew I was right.

I went back in. I licked her little pee hole. I heard her moan. I kissed and licked more.

"Mmmm," she cooed, "It's nice, but it's never enough."

I turned her about and licked her anus. I pressed in my tongue.

"That's very nice," she said, "Don't stop. It won't finish me, but I like it. Get me close, then I'll go see Jessica."

Lauren squatted next to me.

"Let me try," she said.

I moved aside. She went in.

The goddess shivered. I stood, lifting her arm, and licked her armpit.

She moaned and quivered. I heard Lauren give a wet, sucking kiss.

She started to pant. She twitched. I stretched up again and kissed her mouth.

Suddenly her eyes got huge. Her body went rigid. She pulled me to her, locking on the kiss. Then her body shook in one tremendous motion. She cried out, groaning deep. Her knees gave out, and Lauren and I grabbed her, lowering her gently to the ground.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, "How amazing!". She turned, kissing Lauren deeply. I went between her legs and licked her little pee hole again.

We sat, the three of us, sipping wine. She was dressed again, sitting with Lauren, her arm draped over the girl, on a small couch. I sat opposite on a wicker chair. I gazed at her. My hand was on my pussy. The valley was green.

"So, what now?" I asked.

She leaned and kissed Lauren.

"You must stay, all of you," she said.

"That can't happen."

"Do you know how long I've been alive?"

"No."

She pondered.

"I don't either. I dimly recall the world being made, the demiurge forming the spheres. I was put here. It wasn't a city yet. Humans came. I drew them, proud men, who built with wicker. Their women were beautiful. Then the Romans grew in power. I made them welcome."

She took another sip. Lauren shifted and kissed her body.

"The Huns overran Rome, then the Goths. All came to the city. My power was their power. The city was strong because I was strong.

"Then there was another Rome, this one calling itself Holy. It was not, but still, I welcomed them. Then the modern world: art, science, industry. I was fortunate. My city was in the north. When Italy was great, I looked south. When it became too bucolic, I looked to the north. I chose to make this a cosmopolitan city. And look at Milan now. A world treasure. The center of fashion, of the arts.

"All that time, all those years, I reigned. And yet, I could not love. Not physically."

Lauren gazed into her eyes. They kissed.

"For five thousand years, I have lived here among you, immortal, sovereign, divine, and every single moment, every agonizing bit of time, wanting to taste, just once, that mystery of love."

She nodded her head. I heard the tinkle of bells. Then Jessica was there with Katia and Ines. Jess rushed to me. Katia and Ines stood apart from us, holding each other's hands.

I held Jess. We kissed.

"Give me one more," the goddess said, "From Jessica and this wellspring. Let me feel something perfect. Then—"

She paused. Lauren beckoned to Jessica.

"—Then I will let you go."

Fiorella gasped in relief when we emerged. She ran to her sister, hugging and kissing her. Then Ines. A deep kiss. A hand on her ass.

People noticed. I heard rude voices.

Then me. Fiorella took me and kissed me. I felt a shiver as her mouth locked to mine.

"I didn't know you cared," I muttered when she released her lips.

She gave me a hard look and backed away.

Then she looked over at Jess and Lauren, as it to confirm they were there. They were. They stood together, hand in hand, with the biggest pair of grins.

"What's up with them?" Fiorella asked.

"They just fucked a goddess," I replied.

"Oh."

Lauren broke away from Jess. She went up to Fiorella and took her hand. She looked at me.

"Jess is safe. Time for Prada!" She exclaimed.

She dragged Fiorella toward a fancy looking shop. Jess came up and took my hand. We watched the pair disappear into the store.

"They don't even speak the same language," Jessica said.

"Heh. They both speak the language of shoes. Speaking of which, how did you understand the goddess? I heard her speaking Italian, but you and Lauren seemed to understand her."

"I don't know. I mean—She was speaking Italian. I could tell, but I could understand anyway."

"Hmmm. Neat trick. I'll see if I can figure out how to do it."

"So, what now?"

"Well, tomorrow we're off to Lake Garda, I guess."

"I wanted to talk to you about that. I think I'm going to stay in Milan for the rest of the trip with Katia, then meet you guys for the flight home."

"Oh?"

"Yeah."

Katia and Ines came up to us.

"I was hoping to have you with us."

"Yeah. Well—look—I really like Katia"—she smiled at the girl—"and Ines too—so—well—I'm not going to stay in Italy, right. But as long as I'm here, I wanna be with them."

"OK," I said.

"You're really fine with it?"

"Yes. Of course."

I gave her a wry smile. I had hoped to have her support when we reached Padua.

We stood and waited. Soon, Lauren rushed out of the store.

"I found a pair of shoes. Will you buy them for me?"

"Sure, how much?"

"Three-hundred-and-fifty euros."

She sort of stood back, eyeing me, waiting. That was a lot. If I spent it here, I might wish I had it later.

"Let me see them."

We went into the store, and Lauren showed me the shoes. She tried them on. They were black leather, with a lovely curved heel. They looked nice. They made her legs look even nicer.

"How happy will they make you?"

She just smiled.

I knew how happy she made me. I bought the shoes.

"I want to come with you. I mean—just while you're in Italy. Like how Jess is staying with Kat."

It was Fiorella speaking. We were walking back to her apartment and had separated a bit from the other girls.

"Oh?"

"Yeah."

"I'll think about it."

We walked. I eyed her. She kept steady, her gaze fixed ahead. I got a little half grin.

"OK," I said, "Tell me how much you like me."

"I like you very much."

I smiled. She kept looking ahead. She kept walking. I took her hand, stopping us, turning her to me.

She waited. She let me keep her hand. She fidgeted. I gazed at her, steady. Finally, she gazed back. I took her other hand. We stood face to face, eyes locked. I smiled.

"Kiss me," I said.

We kissed. The other girls caught up.

"So look who's such good friends now!" Jessica said.

Fi and I just smiled. We fell in, and walked with the others.

"So, one thing," I said to her, "Are you OK going to Padua? It's sort of a big deal for me."

"I guess. Signora Borghi is an old bag, but she wasn't kidding about that. The Hermeticists are dangerous."

"I know. I'm going there to see them."

"Really? Why?"

"I'm going to see the Curator. I'm going to take Giordano Bruno's mask from him. He has it. He's hidden it, and I think I know where."

Her eyes got big. She turned pale.

"Oh," she said.