Storiesonline.net
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                          Master PC - Mind Magi
                            by TechnicDragon

Copyright© 2007 by TechnicDragon


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Description: Ral is in New York City to open a new store in the growing chain he is a part owner of and to learn more about the Mind Magi and how he fits within their society. Things won't be so easy though. Even with discovering how to improve his outlook of the relationship with his girls, not only does his talents advance to a new step in their ongoing evolution, but someone is out to do more than make his life difficult.

Codes: MF Mult cons rom reluc mc mag het fant superhero ESP harem oral preg size mod BBr violent
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Part 1: The Mind Magi Council

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Chapter 1: The Hall



I yawned again.

"I can't believe you're that tired," Michael said, shaking his head.

The yawn stifled, I replied, "I told you that I've gotten used to having my girls with me when I sleep."

"Who inevitably wake you some time in the night for a quickie!" Michael replied with a big grin.

"Be that as it may, I don't mind and actually feel more rested when they do."

"So when was the last time you went without a quickie in the middle of the night?" His knowing smile was in place.

I thought about that. And thought...

Michael chuckled and shook his head. "You honestly don't remember, do you?"

I shrugged. "Maybe when I went to visit my parents last Christmas?"

"That was four months ago."

"So?" I said defensively.

Michael shook his head again and looked back up at the double doors we were waiting next to.

It was Monday morning, the first day of my spring break from school and we were using that time to visit New York City. First, we had a meeting with the Mind Magi Council, and the next day I was to attend the grand opening of the fourth store in the chain that I was partial owner of. The opening wasn't as important as the meeting, but Charlotte — A fellow Master PC User, Part owner in the store chain, and one of my family members — had arranged for a small press conference and photo shoot with a few magazines. The photo shoot was really more to promote the store, so fortunately my face wouldn't be included.

Michael looked back at me as I stifled another yawn. "I thought you said you had dreams of them too, dreams that were very real."

I nodded. "The dreams are shared. I'm there, they're there, and you can feel, see, smell, taste and hear as if everything we did were actually happening."

"So why isn't that good enough?"

I shrugged. "I don't know." I thought about it again and said, "The only other time I slept without being coerced into sex in the middle of the night was when I spent that night in a hospital."

"And when you woke up, that's when you added Anna to your harem," Michael said with a touch of incredulity. "Oh wait. I'm sorry, your 'family'." There was still a touch of sarcasm to his correction, but I overlooked that. We had developed a bit of mildly picking on one another in the forms of wisecracks to relieve tension. Today seemed to be all set for that.

I had just looked at him when he said "harem." It was another term that I didn't care for. Not that I needed a reminder of my situation — as surreal as it was. My attempt at calling it different was my delusion, something I was happy to admit (that it was a delusion) because my girls and I were happy. Why spoil it with terms that might upset someone?

However, I nodded to his statement. I had added Anna to my family and it helped me to recover. I continued with the train of thought that she helped heal me. Michael believed that she only empowered my ability to heal and my talents took care of the rest. It was something, like many of my other talents, which was fully untested. It was also something everyone understood my reluctance to test. Who really wanted to knock themselves about the head or cause any other form of harm to themselves just to see if they would heal like some comic book character?

Besides, I knew he didn't understand. For that matter, I didn't fully understand it. He knew many Mind Magi and what they were all about, but I seemed to defy most of the "rules" regarding their society. Maybe "rules" was more functional in what I was experiencing versus all other Mind Magi. My having parents who were both Mind Magi seemed to have pushed me beyond the norm.

"You know me Michael. I wouldn't just take anyone to bed. I don't do that."

He nodded. He had witnessed on many occasions how women all but threw themselves at me and I would deflect them, most with a soft smile and soft words of comfort and some with harsh tones only because my kind rebuttals were not enough to dissuade them. "But why did you take Anna?" he asked.

I shrugged again. "I somehow knew she could help me heal."

Michael seemed to think about that. "And Savannah?"

"Savannah had been affected by me for months. Ever since I brought her sister, Alexandria, back to her. I don't think anyone could have taken what she did for so long and continue to fight their desires. Besides, Savannah already knew what to expect. She knew long before that day what it would mean to sleep with me and she still chose to do it anyway."

"You almost make it sound like you did it to help her rather than doing anything for yourself."

I looked at him again. "I know what you're thinking. All of my girls have said it before. Any other red-blooded man would take advantage of such situations. But I can't help but feel the connection as something more than just sex. You also know that I would never put anyone in this situation without a way out. I still have a standing offer for all of my girls to be free of me if they choose so."

Michael just grinned and shook his head. "Still, honestly, I cannot get over how much you get laid."

I thought about that. It wasn't how much or the frequency, but the number of women I had who wanted it. I was the only male living with sixteen females. I'm sure most men would have killed themselves in an attempt to keep up with it all and the girls would have felt unloved, maybe bitter. "All that eye candy running around my place and you can't say you've not fantasized."

Michael looked at me. At first he had a somber expression on his face. I knew those looks. Living with women taught me how to read such expressions. "You have haven't you?" I had half a smile on my face asking it.

He nodded, slowly.

"You haven't done anything about it. I would have known if you had. I would have felt it."

"Would you? What would be the difference between me being with one of your girls and two of them together, say sharing a strap-on?"

It was rather vulgar coming from Michael, but it was an honest question. He was testing my jealousy. Oddly, I didn't feel any. "The emotions; they would have felt guilty, and if they didn't ... Well, I would just break our bond and wish them well."

"Just like that, you'd let her go?"

I had been staring off in the distance in thought, but turned my focus on Michael again. "Yes. I meant what I said. If any of them found anyone else. I'd let them go. I want them to be happy, not feeling stuck."

Michael had been stoic looking but broke into a grin. "You would have. Still, it's a good thing I'm married."

"You just admitted to having had fantasies about one or more of my girls..."

"Yeah, but they were just that, fantasies. I'm still human, Ral."

I shook my head. "I wasn't accusing you. I guess I just never thought about it. The only marriage role-models I've ever had were my adoptive parents and you know what happened between them and me a few months ago."

"That was different Ral. They were in trouble with something they couldn't have fought off themselves. You were helping them the only way you knew how to."

"Yeah, but still ... I guess I'm feeling guilty about what happened to them."

Michael shook his head. "Don't. You know the difference. Just let it go and chalk it up to having helped them. I'm sure you would help them again if it came down to it."

I nodded. However, deep down I wondered if I would. Those moments I spent with Mom ... I could still remember them as if they happened only the day before. The details, the sensations; they haunted me. I had let her go, broke the bond I forged with her because I only forged it to break another's bond to her. I was freeing her of their control. So why did I still dwell on it? Something about the touch of her skin, the feel of her body under mine. I had my girls. Each of them was unique in what they gave, yet I still felt ... no, nearly craved my Mother's touch.

I felt different for Monique though and I wasn't sure why. She had been more aggressive when being forced to try to seduce me and I had resisted it. Even after I had broken the bond that forced her to do such, she still felt the desire for me and told me about it. I had thought that giving her what she seemed to need and send her on her way would solve it, but only a month later, I had received an email from her. She had broken up with her fiancé and declared her unending desire for me. I had fed that yearning through our continuing emails but fortunately she hadn't decided to just show up to get more of the real thing. I had mixed emotions about that.

Of course, having Mandy bound to me and nearby helped me both when I had my cravings for Mom's touch or just got done reading an especially naughty email from Monique. She didn't know what was going on but accepted my advances nonetheless. It was wrong to use her like that. I knew that and yet hadn't even begun to make amends. Maybe after I got home after the store opening the next day, I would sit her down and tell her everything. Maybe...

I needed to break out of my thoughts. They wouldn't help me at all once we were called in to talk to the council. Looking back at Michael I recalled his reasoning for not trying anything with any of my girls. "You said you were married?"

He looked up. I had been silent for a while. Apparently he too was lost in thought. "Yeah, been married for just over nineteen years."

"I had thought so, but you never said anything before."

"I'm trying to break that habit. I've been keeping my normal life with my family separate from my secret life so much; I hadn't told her or my daughter about my talents, just like I haven't told you or anyone else in our society about my marriage."

"You said you were trying to break that habit?"

"I'm taking a leaf out of your book. Your girls know all about your talents. Of course it would be difficult to constantly juggle so many women, especially living with all of them."

I nodded but watched him hoping he would open up more.

He looked around as if checking to make sure no one else could hear us. There was no one else, except the other Mind Magi in the room beyond the double doors. "I told Katherine about it all just a month ago."

"I'll bet that didn't go over well."

"Well, she didn't believe me at first, of course. However, I had the perfect opportunity to prove I could find anyone I had ever met."

"Who did you locate?"

"Our daughter."

I just grinned and raised an eyebrow.

"She's sixteen and wants to date. I, of course, think she shouldn't date until she's thirty, but she is a teenager and prone to doing what she wants."

"I take it she was at a boy's house?"

Michael nodded. "She had told us she would be hanging out at her friend's, Ashley's, house. That's when I took the opportunity to prove my ability to my wife."

I turned and got more comfortable. Now that we were discussing his family rather than mine, I was getting more comfortable.

"Well, we went to Ashley's house and looked around. We didn't actually go up to the house, but we did see Ashley alone sunbathing next to her pool. It was something Jenna did with her."

"After that I just drove. About two miles away I parked us in front of this other house behind a black mustang. I pointed to the house and told Katherine that Jenna was inside."

"And she didn't believe you?"

Michael shook his head. He was starting to act like a guy talking about some hot date rather than sharing such a big secret with his family. "Of course not. So, we sat there and waited. Then I told Katherine that Jenna was coming. Katherine was stunned to see our daughter come out of the front door, hand in hand with a boy we told her she wasn't allowed to date."

Michael grinned. "Katherine forgot all about how we got there and started to get out of the car. She was going to go lecture Jenna and ground her but I held her back. I told her to just sit tight and we'd see where she was going."

"So we sat there in our car and Jenna and her boyfriend got into the black mustang in front of us."

"I'll bet Katherine was wondering why Jenna hadn't noticed you two," I interjected.

"She sure was. Turns out my ability to not be noticed when I'm tracking stretches to include anyone involved too. It seemed to even include the car."

"Incredible."

"No kidding. Well, we followed the mustang. Her boyfriend took her back to Ashley's house. Both went out back. Katherine and I just sat across the street and watched them for a while. After Jenna's boyfriend left, but Jenna stayed, Katherine and I went back home."

I sat back. The meat of the story was over, but Michael was still shining with excitement. "When Katherine and I got home, we had a long discussion both about my abilities and how our daughter was sneaking around behind our backs."

"I take it you've not told Jenna about your talents?"

Michael's smile dropped to a perfect dead-pan look. "Are you kidding? Katherine thinks it's the best thing since beepers and cell-phones."

We both laughed.

"The only thing Katherine wishes I could do was see what Jenna's actually doing when she's with her boyfriend. Or at least have some kind of knowledge as to whether they're having sex or not."

It was my turn to drop my smile.

Michael shrugged. "I hate the whole idea. My little girl is growing up and doing things like that with boys." He shook his head and continued, "But she is sixteen. Two more years and she's legal to have sex with anyone she wants. Her boyfriend is seventeen but she will be too in June."

An idea struck me. "Do you guys have any plans for a birthday party?"

"Not at the moment."

"Why not bring her and your wife to Texas. It would cut down on you being away from them and Jenna can hang out with my girls. It'll be like a vacation for all of you."

Michael seemed to really be thinking about that.

"And if you really want to know if Jenna's been having sex..."

The look he gave me would have killed a charging rhino. I burst out in laughter. "No! No, it's not what you think. God, I wouldn't do that to you man!"

The knowing smile gone, Michael continued to stare at me.

"I mean, I can glean the info via memory sharing. A simple handshake and I'll know."

Michael visibly relaxed. I chuckled again. "It's not a bad idea the vacation at least. I'll talk to Katherine about the other. Right now I'm of a mind to say no. I think Jenna should tell us when she's ready."

I nodded. "It's cool. Besides, you don't have to have an excuse to bring your family around to visit or whatnot. Not unless there's some travel involved."

"Yeah there is, but that's not a problem."

"No?"

"No, I actually work for a company that helps regulate what goes on with the crew in flight. I'm like an unannounced inspector. I fly all the time, purely to score the flight and the crew. That's how I can afford to travel so much and my wife doesn't have issues with me being gone up to two days a week."

"Wow, we are a wide open book today. I didn't know that either."

"Like I said, I'm trying to break the wall I've built between my life and this society."

"Still, I'll bet your wife gives you grief about being around the flight attendants so much."

"Ral, we've already discussed that. I have fantasies, but I love my wife. Besides, she really likes hearing my fantasies. You might call it a fetish of hers."

"You lucky dog!"

Michael sat there, grinning ear to ear. In the few months we had known one another, I knew next to nothing about him or what he did outside of his efforts for the Mind Magi. Suddenly I'm flooded with information regarding his normal life. All the discussions we had had couldn't have strengthened our friendship more than his trust in me just then.

I trusted him like no other in return. Trying to help him understand what was happening to me only helped me to understand it too. And, unlike when discussing my abilities with my girls, Michael offered insight and experience in suggestions when something seemed awry.

The idea that one of my girls would be all revved up from hearing me confiding a fantasy grabbed my attention. My girls didn't need a reason to seek me out for sex. It seemed more and more that they did this even when I didn't think I was in the mood. However, each time, I found myself open to the idea and act. That thought started up my engines and I couldn't just sit still.

I got up and started pacing between the doors and the bench we had occupied.

"Try not to be so nervous," Michael offered.

"I'm not nervous, but I want something."

"You couldn't be hungry, not after that breakfast the girls ordered." Michael ended up joining Renée, Erin, Chloe and me for breakfast, simply because they had ordered so much we couldn't finish it.

I shook my head. I wasn't hungry, or thirsty, but there was a craving. I wasn't feeling in the mood for sex, but that was the last thought that crossed my mind before the feeling grabbed me. I tried to explain that to Michael.

"Are you saying you want sex? Now?"

I actually stopped and looked at him, hoping he was wrong. It wasn't like I was erect. My body wasn't giving any such signals, yet the craving was strong and growing.

"Even if one of your girls were here, the council could call on us at any time."

I started pacing again. It helped to be moving. It seemed to draw off on whatever it was I craved.

The minutes slipped by and still the doors remained closed and the craving grew. Michael tried to make chit-chat but I wasn't in the mood. Worse, I was starting to get grumpy.

No one else had appeared along that hallway. The elevator never opened even with someone who had punched the wrong button. The Mind Magi had "arranged" things so they wouldn't be discovered, or at least found out.

The lack of other people around didn't help my mood. I tried sitting and meditating as Michael had been teaching me to do to help control my abilities, but something about that craving had me too overexcited to just sit still, so I took to pacing again.

Both of us turned and looked when the bell for the elevator rang out. I wasn't certain if this was another Mind Magi who had come for a scheduled meeting or an accidental stop. Then I got my answer.

"Ral?"

I took a second look. A woman was standing in the doorway of the elevator. It was difficult to not recognize Renée.

Without thinking, I was walking in her direction. My stride urgent, almost running.

Renée saw me approaching and stepped away from the elevator. She held out her arms to me for a welcoming hug, but that wasn't what I wanted.

Again, I wasn't thinking, only responding to the near desperation coursing through my body. I had dropped my jacket and started pulling off my tie as I approached. I could feel my Charm reach out for her and I did nothing to stop it.

Renée was wrapped up lovingly by my need and responded to it willingly. She too was in a business suit and threw off her jacket.

I heard Michael calling out to me, but I ignored him.

Renée and I collided and fell to the floor in a barely controlled fall. I had never been so heated up and in need of female flesh. Renée felt the same for me.

Quickly, we were shucking clothes. Both our own and each others.

Then I felt hands on me, pulling me. I shrugged them off, but they returned and tried to pry me away from my ... my what? Slave? Woman? Lover? What?

Oddly, that thought, that question, made me stop. I let Michael pull me away from Renée. However, she was still deeply in lust and struggled to have some part of me pressed to all the most intimate parts of her. She sat up and wrapped her arms around my leg, like a child waiting for their father to try to walk while they clung to them.

I could have walked, but it would have been awkward. I felt Renée's lust course through me, but with the sudden clarity of thought I tried to understand what was happening.

Michael was saying, "You can't do this now. The council might call us at any time."

I looked at him and understood what he was talking about. Understood the importance of his words, but Renée brought my attention back to her as she unzipped my slacks and reached inside.

Everything felt so surreal. A fog had enveloped my ability to think coherently and nothing seemed to matter except feeling Renée's flesh pressed to mine.

Hands were on me again that did not belong to Renée. I thought about Chloe and Erin. As far as I knew they were back at the hotel, so when I looked at whom the hands belonged to, I was only mildly surprised it wasn't either of them.

Michael was saying something about the bathroom. "Ral, take this to the bathroom. You and Renée can do all you want in there. Go to the bathroom!"

I looked down at Renée, who stared up at me and stroked my hardness with a glee I never recalled seeing from her before.

Michael's words finally registered. Renée and I were still in front of the elevators not far from the doors that led to where the Mind Magi Council was having their meeting. It would be embarrassing to have to make them wait while going to the bathroom, but more so to have sex right in the middle of the hall.

I reached down for Renée and helped her up. The hand she had in my slacks remained, as if glued to my genitals. With the other, she pulled my face to hers for an ear popping, tonsil-lapping kiss. She was burning up with need and I felt like I wasn't far from it.

Michael tugged at my arms again and was pointing toward a door. I noticed the men's sign and began making my way there with Renée in my arms.

When I started walking, she jumped up, throwing her long, lean legs around me. I grabbed her rump and hauled her to the place where we could get the need out of our systems with (hopefully) no further distractions.



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Chapter 2: Copious Craving



I didn't know where I was, and I didn't care.

Renée was groping at me like she had missed my touch for years. Her jacket was off, as was mine, but our clothes still stood between our bodies. One of her hands had wormed its way between us and squeezed me through my slacks. I groaned with each squeeze and returned some of the same. One of my hands groped at her shapely ass, and the other pressed to the heat between her legs.

Our mouths didn't kiss so much as attempt to devour the other. She didn't hold back a single inch of her talented tongue and I was actually shaken from my need as she tried to drive her oral muscle into my throat. I choked, which is what brought me out of the fog I had been in, and coughed. As soon as she pulled back to a more comfortable depth for me, the fog rush forward again and I quickly forgot why I was in a bathroom in an office high rise.

I wanted to feel more of her pressed to me. Though she was already holding me to her tightly, it wasn't good enough. Clothes, our clothes had to go. Though knowing that wasn't the same as getting it done.

We continued to hold onto one another with one hand each, kissing as deeply as we ever had, and with our free hands we groped each other. Anyone who walked in would make no mistake as to what was going on, or what we were heading for.

I looked around the bathroom, only opening my eyes enough to survey a good place to lay the woman in my arms so we could get to the mind blowing bliss we both craved. Renée seemed unaware of anything except me. At the moment, that was fine with me.

Unfortunately there wasn't a bed, not a couch, not even a chair. There were the toilets in the two stalls but I wasn't sure if those would work or not. It was worth a try. The floor looked really clean. In fact the whole bathroom looked mostly unused. Cleaning crews probably came in and cleaned regularly, but who really knew?

I didn't bother Asking Renée. She was even more into the moment than I (only because I was consciously looking for a good place for our romp) and would have probably been happy even if we were still back in the hall.

My desire to feel more of her flesh pressed to mine must have been shared by Renée. She pulled back from our kiss with a feral look in her eyes. She smiled in a half-mischievous, half-drunken way and reached up with both hands. Buttons flew everywhere and bounced off the mirror over the sink as she pulled my shirt open and pushed it off me.

She didn't bother with another kiss, her lips, tongue and teeth were too busy trying to taste as much of me as possible. I felt a bit better as her face pressed to my chest. I felt her suck and nip my nipple and then the other. Normally, that didn't do anything for me, but I was apparently extremely sensitive and it only made me feel like I had become even harder than I was.

I ran my hands through her hair as she went down further. Her tongue lapped at my skin like I was a big Popsicle and she wanted to sample all of my flavors. When her chin hit the top of my pants, her hands immediately worked to get them open.

I couldn't just stand there and let her undress me. I had to have her. I needed her. I reached down and grabbed her upper arms. She looked up at me as I pulled her back up to standing. No words were exchanged between us. She knew I wanted her. She knew I would have her. We both knew what was coming

I ripped her shirt open just as she had done mine. However, she still had a bra on. Not for long though. I had learned how to get off women's undergarments faster than most women could and hers was tossed to the floor along with her shirt.

Renée ran her hands through my hair as I dipped down and started lapping at her skin like she had been doing to me just a moment before.

The room rang with our heavy breathing. My nostrils flared at the scent of her skin, covered with a touch of perfume and the faint smell of her makeup. She didn't need makeup. I had told her that many, many times, but she wore it for work and important meetings. Otherwise, she scrubbed it off because I preferred her without.

The feel of her warm skin was an aphrodisiac it seemed I had never experienced. I knew Renée in all kinds of intimate ways. She was my first, she had introduced me to many of my other girls, and she was also the most open about what she wanted. The bond between us, just like with the rest of my girls, kept our intimacy fresh. I never felt bored or like it was becoming a task to keep her needs taken care of. I wanted her just like she wanted me and it didn't look like that would change any time soon. However, at the moment, I seemed ultra-sensitive to her touch.

It had to be my abilities. Though Renée would change her appearance to represent what her lover most wanted, it wasn't a conscious effort on her part. Still, it wasn't her appearance that had me so turned on at the moment, it was her touch, her skin, her flesh and my knowledge of what she was willing to do to my body with hers. It was what she was willing to let me do to her.

I had spent several minutes just on her breasts. Big wouldn't even come close to describing her size. Massive was better. Full, round, with a slight point out to her areolas and nipples - which were standing at full attention at the moment. I could open my mouth wide and barely fit the entirety of one areola between my lips, and that was including holding much of it in my mouth to pull the rest in. Renée called it deep-throating her tit when I did that.

She held my head to her as I pulled at her nipple. I squeezed as much of her breast as my one hand could encompass as I tweaked and twisted her other nipple with my other hand. Normally I would lay back and she would use gravity to see just how much of her breast I could stuff into my mouth, but that was when we were normally just warming up. At the moment we were both red hot and ready to get to the main event.

Without a word, I pulled away from her magnificent treasures and stood up. She groaned at the loss of attention but then noticed me fumbling with my pants. She pushed my hands away, and with the same speed I had released her bountiful bosom, she had me clothes free from my waist down.

I had intended to strip off her suit skirt next and then bend her over the sink counter, but she knelt in front of me, dragging her partially wet breasts along my body. The move made my body shiver and throb with anticipation.

It felt like I was suddenly sheathed in her. Looking down, I found her lips wrapped around me. Renée had an oral fascination like no one else in our family and one of her favorite activities was having her throat fucked as is it was her intimate part of her anatomy.

This would have been approached carefully under normal circumstances, but today was not a normal day. She was bent over, her head up and her necked lined up with her open mouth. At the moment, she only had the tip of me in her mouth. I could feel how her tongue danced all around it. Then she opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue, her sign for what she wanted. She was opening up for me to just shove my way in.

Some part of my brain screamed to take it easy, however another part growled, ecstatic with the prospect of what she offered. I'm sure you can guess which part of me was in control. I wasn't.

I didn't pull her to me. I knew I had the strength to bend two inch thick bars, so pulling on Renée's head was a bad idea. Instead, I pressed forth. Renée was so practiced at allowing my girth to pass smoothly into her throat that the growling animalistic part of me was somewhat disappointed that she hadn't gagged. Still I pressed forward though, more and more until I had her lips pressed to the root of me. Her mouth was still wide open and her tongue hanging out. She moaned at the intrusion, a shiver running through her body, and her responses sent chills through me in turn. She was enjoying herself and I, in turn, was enjoying her.

I slid back until only my tip rested between her lips, and then pressed in again. Renée took it all as if repeatedly sword-swallowing. Occasionally she would moan as I pulled out and pressed back in and the sound made it sound even nastier. I didn't really get into the frenzy of the act, just sliding in and out of her. The feel of having her give in to anything I wanted that required so much direct skin-to-skin contact was calming my need. I wasn't finished, but I wasn't so far gone either.

I pulled back and she gently sucked on my tip. Then I pulled her upright so I could get another kiss before moving her to the position I really wanted. She relinquished to what I wanted, gave me the kiss, and then smiled as I had her bend over while holding the counter.

She looked at me via our reflection in the big mirror. Her smile was infectious. I returned it as I rubbed myself against her most intimate zones. She squirmed and shook. Her bottom high in the air, with her legs spread wide and her feet arched up so she stood on the balls of her feet. She was primed and very ready to accept me.

And I wasn't going to disappoint her.

The first words out of Renée since we had entered the bathroom were, "God, yes! Fuck me Ral!" And those weren't the last.

I had lined up and pressed into the woman who stood willingly before me. With my size I would normally have to take it easy and start off slow, but I had adjusted my girls to be able to accept every inch without pain or damage. I was long and thick enough to not only be intimidating, but in the cases of some women, not be possible to accept. I quietly thanked my ability to Mold Flesh and slammed into my golden goddess.

The feel of her hips in my hands and the way her ass cheeks slapped against my skin as I drilled into her was only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. There were all the sensations of how her incredible tunnel fit around my length. The way it groped me, and almost felt like it was sucking me further into her. And those were just the physical sensations.

Renée's words filled my ears, "Yes, Lover, fill me with your big, thick, yummy fuck stick. Fuck me like no woman has ever been fucked. Drill me like a whore, like a slut, like a wonton bitch because I am. I want you, all of you, every inch, every delicious drop!"

I didn't care if anyone heard her outside of the bathroom. I was too lost in the fog of lust.

The slapping of our bodies was accompanied by the sounds of her fluids, mingled with my pre-cum slathering along my length as I slid in and out of her with a mad rush of need. The smell of our fluids wasn't heavy, yet, but I was sure the one climax we were rushing to wasn't going to be the end of this encounter.

Then there was the sight of her lean shapely body before me. The way thick length repeatedly appeared, coated in our fluids, and then disappeared back into her quivering tunnel. The way her hips moved, pulling away and pressing back in tandem to my thrusts. The arch of her back, the pose of her arms and shoulders and finally the openly lustful look on her face in the mirror. Her hair had fallen from the way she had had it piled up into a loose bun when I had seen her at the elevator, but that made it look wild. I increased my pace.

All the foreplay had helped calm my need enough to have some idea of what was happening, and to that end, it was the bombardment to all my senses that finally sent me over the limit.

I leaned over Renée and kissed her shoulder blade ever so gently and then thrust one last time, burying myself into her as deep as my hips would allow. My grunts were loud and the sensation of pouring myself into the woman before me made me lose all sense of what being human meant, and what being a wild animal out in nature stood for.

When I was finished, I was holding myself up off Renée via the counter. Somehow, I had consciously kept from crushing her into the sink.

Renée squeezed me weakly and gave me a wan smile in the mirror. I leaned down again and kissed her shoulder. The taste of her skin, mingled with sweat. It was good. Very good.

She smiled wider and said, "Lover, I love that I excite you so much, but I need at least a couple of minutes before we continue."

I smiled in return and flexed inside of her. She groaned, "Can we move to a different position?"

I nodded and stepped away from her. I slipped out of her but was still hard. She turned but acted like she couldn't stand, holding onto the counter for support. Her eyes found my unfailing hard-on and she chuckled. "I knew you needed relief, but even you have to recover."

"I know," I said. "Are you okay?"

The look she gave me was beautiful. "Better than okay. I just can't use my legs at the moment ... they've gone to mush on me."

It was my turn to chuckle. "Here, let me help."

She took my hands and I helped her over to one of the toilets. They were the only things available to sit on comfortably in the bathroom.

She sat down, spread her legs and did a quick inspection. Then I heard a steady plop, plop in the water of the toilet. She looked up and said, "You really filled me up."

Then I understood. In the months we had lived together, it had never dawned on me that my girls didn't just absorb all the fluids I filled them with. It had to go somewhere. Funny how such details weren't included in those sex education classes back in high school.

Renée looked down at me. I was still mostly hard and covered in our mixed fluids. Her eyes flicked up to mine and her tongue darted out to lick her lips. "Mind if I clean you up?"

Another favorite activity of all my girls was to clean me. None of them shrank from it, and in fact I sometimes had to fight them off if I became too sensitive, but today I was hoping Renée would ask. She knew I wasn't finished, and I really hoped she wasn't either.

I stepped into the stall and stood right in front of her. Renée smiled up at me, running her hands over my thighs, around my soggy crotch and over my abs. I had learned that I could get any of my girls aroused touching seemingly the most innocent areas, but after a bit of research I found that I had been instinctively hitting their most common erogenous zones. Now, Renée was doing the same and as her fingers grazed the faintest peach fuzz covering my abs, I groaned and my muscles bunched. That made me thrust my crotch forward and my messy length slipped along the side of her face.

"My oh my, we are so very eager," she said teasing. "But you're so dirty. I'm not sure I could agree to have such a big, thick, deep-probing cock buried in my heated little pussy. I had better clean it first. You might not get it clean enough doing it yourself, I mean, you can't see the underside of this monster."

She dragged her nails down my abs again and made me thrust toward her face again. "Oh, you want me to clean your massive, cum-filled prick?"

I smiled back at her banter. She was perfectly happy to talk like that knowing it excited me.

She pulled her hair back out of the way and ran her cheek along the side of my length. Then her tongue snaked out and licked up gobs of our fluids here and there. Her hands slid down and between my legs, lightly cupping my sac and gently massaging my sperm factories.

I stood there, my arms up and holding onto the walls of the stall, watching her as she made her way down one side of me and back up the other. She had some difficulty licking up the mess along the top of my rigid rod, but she wouldn't let me arch my back to give her better access or anything. Any time I tried to help her, she would squeeze my sac. I could feel her nails dig into my sensitive flesh and I would go back to the way I had been standing, only then would she relent.

So I stood there, patiently waiting for her to get everything she was after. Finally, she pushed me up, pressing it to my belly and lapped at the underside. Her eyes never left mine. She might glance at where she was licking me, but her sky blue orbs would return to their intent stare into my eyes.

Renée enjoyed having me watch her, whether it was during our most rigorous acts or while she took a shower, even if I wasn't, or while she just went about doing some chore. I had taken to watching her even when she didn't know it and only just realized how much I admired her. Not only her beauty and sexual attraction, but just her.

Renée must have noticed that I wasn't paying attention that very moment because again I felt her nails in my sac.

"Hey!" I called out.

"Hey, yourself. Where were you just now?" She resumed dragging the flat of her tongue along the bottom of my cock.

"I was with you. Remembering all the times like this when you've watched how I watched you and even when I watched you while you didn't know."

Her eyebrows went up. "When I didn't know? When was this?"

"Usually while you're in the store helping customers. I remember admiring your looks, your smile, the way you just exude sexual confidence."

"Mmm ... those are pretty words." She licked me again. "How do I know you weren't thinking about what you want to do to me next?"

"Because if that were the case, I wouldn't just stand here all clean and continue to let you lick me like that," I retorted with a grin of my own.

The sudden heat in her breath sent a shiver running through me. I wasn't sure what else I wanted, but I knew I wasn't finished with Renée.

I could feel her continued excitement and that kept me hard. I knew she wasn't done, but that's when I heard the whoosh of the door opening. I couldn't have gotten the stall door closed before anyone saw me or Renée, but the sound of Michael's voice put me at ease. Renée never even seemed perturbed by the possibility of some stranger finding us. She would have found it more exciting and as a result, she pulled my cock down and plugged her mouth with it.

Michael finally asked, "Are we feeling better?" He glanced around the corner of the stall, apparently saw what Renée was doing and stepped back again. He knew why we were in the bathroom in the first place. For that matter, he knew what my favorite pass time with any of my girls was, but I had never seen him seemingly embarrassed before.

The feel of Renée's warm lips and excited tongue fogged me over a bit. I wanted to answer Michael's question but had difficulty finding the words. Renée finally uncorked her mouth and answered for us. "Actually, Michael, I think Ral needs a few more minutes. If you don't mind."

"No, no problem. I'll be right outside," came his reply shortly followed by the whooshing sound of the bathroom door.

Renée grinned up at me. "Mmm ... he didn't have to leave. I would have loved showing him how I stuff this big, tasty prick down my throat or up my tight, hot twat."

I shook my head while grinning. Then I adjusted my stance and lowered my crotch, pressing the head of my prick to the tops of her soft tanned mounds.

"What about showing him what you can do with these?" I asked.

"Mmm ... first we need to lube all of this up..." she said as she raised her breasts with an arm braced under them. The toilet was one of those that didn't have a back. It sat away from the wall as if it had had a tank at one time, but now there was an auto-flush sensor and a manual button built into the wall behind it. Below the controls, a water pipe led from the wall to where the tank had once rested. Renée had plenty of room to lean back and offer herself up.

I didn't move forward yet. Instead I leaned over her and - much like the technique she had used to clean me - I lathered her up with my tongue.

She played with me, rubbing her bounty into my face or against each other. When she was finally making wet, slippery sounds, she declared herself ready and was groping for my incessantly rigid cock.

"Come here baby, Mommy's got nice big boobies to make you feel all better," she said in a somewhat baby-talk voice.

I moved up her body and pressed my sac to her abs, then dragged it over her skin as I got closer to her cleavage. She smiled and laughed as I did this, but then only grabbed at my butt to hurry me up.

I reached down and held onto her sides instead of just holding her breasts together around me. Since we weren't either on a floor or some other piece of furniture for her to relax against, I thought she could use the help. She smiled up at me and got comfortable in my hands.

With my arms positioned as they were, her massive breasts bulged together and formed the most exquisite tunnel for me to slide along. And slide I did.

Renée didn't bother holding herself in place for me either. Her breasts were too big to fall away from the position they were forced into by my arms. I was happy holding her up and thrusting away at her soft, deep cleavage, so she entertained herself by feeling and groping me.

Considering the fact that I had already reached orgasm not that long ago, it was going to be a while before I was finished again. Unless Renée did something else to help me along.

"Talk to me..." I said.

"Talk to you?" she asked. "I wouldn't know what to say ... You're fucking my immeasurable cleavage with that massive cock of yours. What would you have me say?"

She was being coy on purpose, egging me into talking back.

That took me back. I had never been very good at talking dirty. Most of the time, if any conversations were held during sex, they were about whatever was going on at the time and something told me that wasn't what she wanted.

"Talk to me Lover. Tell me how much you love fucking my tits, because I sure love the feel of your hot and hard cock sliding along my skin, whether between these mountains of mine or not."

"Oh, Baby..."

She smiled. "Yes?"

"God, I cannot express just how much I love doing this with you..."

"Doing what?"

"Fucking your tits."

"Really? You really like it?"

"Jeeze, yes. I could do this all day, laying about having your big, soft, beautiful breasts engulfing my hard cock or sitting over your, pressing your massive mammaries together and ramming my rod into the incredible cleft you create."

"Mmm ... Is that all you think about? Fucking my massive tits?''

"Of course not. We can't forget that talented tongue of yours. Slipping my cock between your lips, pressing it to the back of your throat and the exquisite pressure as you swallow me."

"Oh, you naughty boy. You're just so full of dirty thoughts."

"And I'm not done, or am I? I could cream all over your mountains and still feel up to scooting back, hiking up your long, lean thighs and slipping my big dick between your other lips."

"Oh, but you've done that already, even though I could use another good dousing with your fire hose. Still, I haven't had a good drink yet this morning."

All the talk about what I could do to her had my engines pushing the odometer into the red zone. I pumped and slid between her succulent breasts with such vigor that the slapping noises we had been making earlier, between my hips and her ass, sounded out again. Only there was a distinct difference in the tone. The massive size and softness of her breasts were like loose drum heads versus the toned muscle of her bottom.

Regardless, I was enjoying it. Most especially the way she opened her mouth wide, with her tongue hanging out like a baby bird waiting for mama to drop something tasty in its mouth. The tasty something Renée waited for wasn't long for teasing either. Soon, rope after rope of cum shot from my tip. Some landed in her mouth and she immediately swallowed and opened up for more. Some landed on her cheeks and chin and the rest ended up squished between her mammoth breasts.

I backed up and helped her sit up, then stepped out of the stall and sat on the cool tiled floor.

Behind me Renée was lapping up what she could reach. "Oh, Lover, such tasty treats!"

I chuckled and rested.

There was a knock at the door. Michael cracked the door open and asked, "Are you two finished?"

Renée teased back, "No, just getting warmed up."

Michael seemed worried, "Ral, the council..."

I was laughing, "It's okay Michael. We're done. Or at least I am for now."

He poked his head in. I was still nude, but concealed my mess with a leg. Renée stepped out of the stall, still partially covered in my cum. She smiled and waved at him. "Come on it, we're done." I could tell she had fun teasing him, and I could imagine the stories he would share with his wife. Somehow that got me aroused again.

He came in watching Renée and said, "I've called Erin. She's on her way with clothes for both of you. When I heard the sounds of ripping cloth, I thought you might need it."

I nodded. "Good thinking. Thank you."

Renée was using the sink to wash off her face and chest. She hadn't even bothered with any of her suit, and seemed at perfect ease being completely nude and cum-soaked in front of Michael. "Yes, very good thinking. Maybe she'll want to join us when she gets here Ral?"

Michael shook his head and realized what she was doing. "I told her what was happening." He looked at me. "She seemed worried when I explained what you were feeling right before Renée showed up."

I nodded again. "Yeah, it was a good thing she did show up." All of us knew what could have happened if she hadn't.

"Well, I have a theory about what brought it on and even why Renée showed up," Michael said. Renée stopped wiping away water from her chest and I looked up. "You didn't get your regular fill of sex, so to speak," he said looking at me.

I thought back to our earlier conversation. "Did you intentionally keep me from having sex?"

"Yes, but not for those reasons. I didn't think you having sex in the middle of the night would have helped your clarity of thought this morning. That was all."

"You're saying I went berserk with lust just because I didn't sleep with my girls?"

Again he shrugged. "We talked about this earlier. However, I thought it just made you tired. It looks like it's more than that."

I looked back at Renée. She smiled over her shoulder at me and said, "I think he's right. Every since we all moved in together, you've not gone more than a few hours without sex."

"What about when I was put in the hospital? I slept that whole night without problems."

Renée shook her head, turned and leaned against the counter. "But as soon as you woke up, you bound the person nearest to you and had sex."

"Anna? But she helped me heal."

Renée's voice was teasing. "Did she? Or did you heal on your own? They said you might slip into a short coma with how badly you were hurt."

Michael said, "I think she's right. I think something about your abilities requires you to have sex every few hours."

I couldn't have that conversation any longer while sitting on the floor. I got up and went over to stand just next to Renée. Self consciously, I was hiding myself from Michael. I knew there was no reason for it, but then I wasn't going to flaunt myself either.

Michael seemed to take my movements as a queue. "I'll wait outside. You two get cleaned up and I'll send in Erin with your clothes as soon as she arrives," he said as he left.

I watched him go.

Renée turned on water in one of the sinks. "Well, that does explain something at least."

"What's that?"

After splashing her face with water and using a paper towel to dry off she said. "It would explain why you have so many attractive women bound to you in a way so you never run out of sex partners."

That was further food for thought.



-------

Chapter 3: Meeting The Council



Erin showed up about ten minutes later. When she did, I felt the overwhelming urge to take her clothes off and fill her to the brim as well, but I held onto the sink and just watched her as Renée explained what had happened.

Erin looked at me with concern. "Love, you look like you're in pain. Is there anything I can do to help?"

I didn't bother hiding my thoughts. "I really just want to strip you down and have my way with you, like I did Renée. Until this meeting is over, it will probably be best for you to go back to the hotel and wait there."

Renée looked at me too. "Ral..." she said as if warning me to stop before I did something I would regret.

I shook my head and closed my eyes.

I felt a cool hand on my cheek. I knew it wasn't Renée.

Opening my eyes confirmed it was Erin. She was standing close but not touching me otherwise. It was probably for the best. "If you need me, I'm here. If this craving is that strong maybe we should take care of it before the meeting." She closed the short distance between us and pressed herself to me.

I closed my eyes again. I could feel every hair, every inch of her body — in my mind. I knew Erin just as well as Renée and also knew she would be just as willing to receive me. However, I continued to hold onto the sink. "I ... I'm not sure that's a good idea."

Erin's voice dropped to almost a whisper. "Would it be worse than if this got out of control while you were in the meeting?"

Her question made me stop and think. If this craving of mine reoccurred while I was discussing House politics with the Mind Magi Council and I couldn't' get to any of my girls, then I might turn to one of the women in the meeting. Worse, I might draw all the women to me like I had way back when in that mall so many months ago. I opened my eyes and looked into Erin's.

She looked at me with concern and the beginnings of her own desire. It was so easy. I could have made the slightest nod or show the slightest movement to go with her idea and she would be on me. All I had to do was agree.

The bathroom door opened again. Michael said, "Ral, it's the Council. They're asking for you."

"Fuck!" I replied with frustration at the timing. I knew it could happen, but that didn't make me happy about it. "Okay, stall them or something. I'll be out in a couple of minutes. I still need to get dressed."

He nodded and left.

Erin looked back up at me, but I didn't hold anything back as I kissed her. I put all my desire and passion into that kiss. I wanted her to know that I wasn't holding out on her because of her in any way. I was afraid of what was happening to me.

She took it and returned the same. I had never felt so much emotion in a kiss. Then again, since I could feel what she felt, that probably made the difference.

She stepped back out of my embrace. Erin knew I had to go and didn't want to frustrate me further. "I'll be waiting back at the hotel. Chloe and I both will be."

I nodded and watched her leave. Renée, however, was only just dressing herself and seemed to not be in any hurry.

"You should wait at the hotel too," I said to her softly.

She shook her head and ran her hand down my arm. Somehow, it soothed my craving. As if just her physical touch made me feel so much better. I took her hand and held it.

"By the looks and feel of it, I'm needed here. If I can help you keep calm during the meeting, then things should go far more smoothly and allow you to get back to the hotel that much sooner."

I couldn't argue with that. However Michael tried to.

After Renée and I got dressed and mostly presentable, we went out to meet Michael and then the council. Michael saw us holding hands and approaching together. "Ral, they're not going to let Renée attend the meeting. She's not a Mind Magi."

"What? They've got some kind of Mind Magi detection alarm?" I said in half-jest. I really was feeling much better.

"You might say that. One of the mages stands by the doors and makes sure only Mind Magi can enter. Anyone who's not can't get the door open."

"Then I'll just hold the door open for her."

"It's not that simple. There will be a barrier that she won't be able to cross."

"With all that's going on, especially today, I need her with me. She's helping me stay calm just by holding my hand. Can't they make an exception for that?"

Michael shrugged. "I've known one or two others who have brought in non Mind Magi, but those were because the meetings involved those individuals."

"Well, they'll just have to accept this."

"Fine, but I want you to honestly expect her to not be able to get through the door. That way it's not a surprise."

"Then let's go."

The three of us stood in front of those very doors. Michael opened one up and stepped through. I held it open and waited for Renée to go first. She went through and nothing seemed to stop her, so I followed.

I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I went in. Renée stood there and held her hand out for me. I took it and we followed Michael. He looked shocked that Renée got in. I thought it was something that could wait for us to discuss later.

The room looked like a roomy office space, waiting for cubicle walls, desks and the like to break it up. However, there were three tables in the room. The head table had five people sitting at it. From the memories Michael had shared with me I recognized the heads of Houses there. Blake Morehouse, Lord of House Nickelson, sat in the middle. He was an older man, probably in his mid to late forties with graying hair. His clean face was only just beginning to show lines of age.

I thought he might speak first, but a man to our right spoke instead. He stood at the end of the table that stood perpendicular to the head table. "Ral Setton, with leading Follower, Michael." He announced us as if no one knew who we were. Maybe some of them did not.

Another man, sitting at the end closest to the door of the table to our left made notice of Renée. "And who is this young lady?"

I answered without pause. Michael had told me they would expect me to answer all questions unless they specifically asked him a question. I was pretty sure the same would apply to Renée. "Renée Hollander, Lord Constantine."

Knowing the Lords and Ladies made me feel better. At least knowing their names on sight did. Lord Constantine of House Xion looked like he was easily the oldest of all those gathered. I felt like I was looking at someone who could easily be my grandfather. Well, if I hadn't already known what my grandfather looked like.

"The docket did not mention you bringing anyone else other than Michael. Why is she here?" This was from Lord Mathews of House Vaughan, who sat on the right end of the head table.

"I do apologize for the sudden change, but her presence here is necessary to assist me."

"To assist you do what?" asked Lord Greenwood of House Solomon. He sat next to Mathews. I also noticed his black mark, which meant Dr. Livingston was a member of his house.

"She is assisting me to remain calm and collected during this meeting."

There was a sudden hush of whispers through the room. I had a feeling my statement wasn't going to be very helpful to my prospects of having my House recognized and made official.

Michael had also warned me to be short and to the point with my answers. If I tried to explain further why I needed Renée, then things might degrade to the point of ending the meeting without concluding anything. So, I stood there and waited for them to continue.

"You say she's here to keep you calm. Is speaking with the council, asking for our acceptance of your fledgling House that nerve-racking?" jeered Lord Thornburg of House Hawthorne. He sat and the head end of the table to our right.

"No. My emotional state regarding the proceedings is not the reason for her presence."

"Then please explain why she is here," ordered Lord Morehouse.

"My abilities continue to grow and evolve. Most especially my ability to seduce and employ sex. Not long ago, I felt the overwhelming desire for sex and she happened to show up at the same time. After taking care if the immediate need, she is staying to help stave off further bouts of need."

"So clinical. So detached. I understood you to be a more passionate person. I also understood that you had a harem of twenty or more women back in Texas to attend your every desire." This was from Lady Reynolds of House Treadwell. She sat at the left end of the Head table in a half slouch as if perfectly comfortable discussing my current issue. The rest of the council seemed irked or embarrassed by my bold statements.

"Would the council prefer a detailed recount of what happened or be satisfied with my current explanation?"

Lord Morehouse said, "No, further details will not be necessary." He looked down the table at Lady Reynolds as if warning her. She smiled back at him and he turned to face me again. "However, how is it that your Schiavi was able to enter our hall? None but Mind Magi should have been able to walk through those doors."

I looked over to the man who had announced Michael and me but not Renée. "I put the question to your doorman. When Renée entered, what did you find? A Mind Magi or a mundane human?"

The man looked to Lord Morehouse, who nodded. Then he turned back to me and said, "The young woman is a Mind Magi."

Michael had told me previously what Renée was and what she was not. I wasn't shocked by the doorman's answer, but it appeared a few others were. Renée wore my mark rather than one of her own, yet she had a talent all her own though no control over it. The term for such a Mind Magi was "newling". Her parents weren't Mind Magi but she was and her children would be. I explained this to the Council.

For a few minutes they discussed this among themselves. Finally everyone quieted down and though I thought they had had sour looks on some of them before, now they looked positively objectionable.

"In light of this new information, and with the standing of the First Law, this council has no choice but to request that you remove your bond from her, Mr. Setton," said Lord Morehouse.

I had expected many possibilities from the Mind Magi Council, but that was not even close to any of them.

I stood there stunned. I could not fathom going home and not having Renée beside me. I couldn't see a single day when she wasn't in my arms or in my bed. I could not bring myself to imagine not seeing her mischievous smile as she visually and mentally assaulted me with sexual innuendo. She was just too much a part of my life.

Fortunately, Michael was not too stunned to think. Again he leaned in to whisper to me. "Don't forget that we're here to petition the abolishment of the First Law."

That snapped me out of my stupor. "I cannot, in good emotional standing, do what you request. I mean the council neither ill respite nor disrespect. I only point out that this meeting also includes a petition to have the First Law abolished. As such, should that law not be in question then my being bound to Renée breaks no laws."

"However, that law is in place at this moment and your argument is circular. Should your petition for the law's abolishment be denied, then you would continue to break it."

"That law also regards the attempt of two Mind Magi to bear children. Renée and I have been together for almost a year already and, as this council seemed to already know, my talents are focused on sex. So, yes, we have had sex, but she has yet to become pregnant. As such the First Law has not been touched. Skirted maybe, but not broken."

Renée squeezed my hand just as I mentioned the possibility of her being pregnant. I couldn't help but to suppress the smile that gave me, because she had openly admitted to me that she wanted to have my children, and we had actually tried to get her pregnant. However, that was before we understood that she was a Mind Magi and were technically breaking the First Law.

"Again, a circular argument. It has been well advised for centuries for the Mind Magi to avoid the possibility completely by refraining from even having sex with one another."

"That may be, but that is not a law to my knowledge and thus we are not breaking any."

Lord Morehouse leaned forward onto his table. "Can you honestly admit what steps you are taking to avoid pregnancy then?"

That made me pause. I was too big for most normal condoms, however, as a partial owner to essentially a sex shop, I could have ordered custom made ones. Still, my girls and I didn't bother. If we wanted to make sure I didn't get anyone pregnant then I could change my sperm count to zero using Master PC. The only problem with that was I had done that before but my body overrode the command. So, really, on my end, there was nothing that could be done to stave off that possibility.

The girls, on the other hand, used their own methods. At least the ones who weren't ready to have a baby. Unfortunately for the immediate question, Renée was not one of them.

Michael had warned me against lying. With the collected abilities in the room, there was every possibility that one or several of these House Lords and Ladies could discern even half-truths.

Finally, I said, "No."

Lord Morehouse sat back. "Then until the First Law is abolished, you will have to remove your bond from Ms. Hollander."

"My bond has nothing to do with whether we have sex or not. It has nothing to do with the chance we risk of having a child together. My bond is not breaking the First Law."

"But the nature of your talents does. I understand that you could coerce any woman into having sex with you. You could even make it look like they were the aggressor and yourself a victim. No, Mr. Setton, your talent demands the chance of conceiving a child and thereby runs the risk of breaking the First Law. No, Mr. Setton, your bond on Ms. Hollander: break it."

Not only did Lord Morehouse have me cornered with logic, but he also seemed almost determined to have me break my bond with Renée. Why? Was it a test? Was he trying to determine something other than the immediate subject of our discussion? Michael had warned that the House Lords and Ladies were all about intrigue. Several reveled in the idea that they were a secret power in the country and the world and were known to always be working on several schemes at any given time. I wondered if that was what was happening.

Then a possibility opened its self up to me. I noticed how Lady Reynolds leaned forward once Lord Morehouse made his final demand. Most of the council and other House Leaders were dressed in business suits. She was dressed in what looked like a cocktail dress and as she leaned forward, what looked like a generous amount of tit flesh was displayed. I wasn't sure, but I had a feeling Lady Reynolds was brave enough to skirt the First Law herself.

I glanced at the other House Ladies. Lady Arneson of House Isaacs sat next to Lord Thornburg at the table to our right. To our left, Lady Brooker of House Yates and Lady Kroeger of House Quinn sat between Lord Rhoads of House Zamora and Lord Constantine. Opposite of the man who had announced our arrival, there stood another young woman. I imagined she was a go-fer. She would get water, snacks, whatever if it was needed.

I looked back at Lord Morehouse. "Very well, I'll remove the bond between Renée and myself." I paused to let that sink in. I heard and felt Renée's shock at my statement. Then I continued, "As long as you don't mind if the women here suddenly lose control and try to do with me what my companion is keeping me from causing."

It took a second for what I said to sink in. Lady Reynolds sat back in her seat, suddenly aware of how she was displaying herself. Ladies Arneson, Kroeger and Brooker all squirmed in their seats too. It made me wonder if they were having such thoughts already. The go-fer girl shifted from one foot to another but remained where she was.

Lord Morehouse asked, "Is that a threat?"

"No. Merely a statement of the possibilities. One of the aspects of the bond I have with Renée is that she can help keep my needs in check so long as we are touching. The same goes in reverse and those rules apply to the rest of my girls."

"You mean your Schiavi?"

I shook my head. "That may be the title you bestow those you are bound to, but I prefer not to degrade my girls. I may claim them as mine but the feeling is mutual. They feel like I belong to them too."

"I see. And this aspect of your bond ... Ms. Hollander is keeping you calm and under control?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"Fine. We shall move on to the subjects planned for this meeting then. Starting with your petition to abolish the First Law. And if your petition is not passed, then you will obey the orders of this council and break the bond with her."

"And the consequences of such an action?"

Lord Morehouse didn't even bother to look at any of the women in the room. "You stand before the Lords and Ladies of the Mind Magi. We are the powers of our society. Your ability to incite lust in others would fall short of causing any problems."

I stood there, not agreeing to what he said and also not disagreeing. I wanted to see how things played out. I was sure it would be interesting.



-------

Chapter 4: Law and Prophecy



"Make your presentation to abolish the First Law, Mr. Setton," directed Lord Morehouse.

I nodded. "My presentation is fairly straight forward. As you all know, the First Law was established to help prevent the first sign of a long ago prophecy. A prophecy that told of some unknown doom, disaster or change. The Mind Magi of the time took the steps they felt necessary to help, but they could have never foreseen that anyone would willingly or unwillingly go against such a law. It was simple, to the point and difficult to argue against."

"Until Now."

"Nineteen years ago, two Mind Magi broke that law. Whether willingly or under duress, no one will ever know. As a result, I was born. The prophecy stated that the birth of a child of two Mind Magi would be the first sign to this impending doom, disaster or change and that part of the prophecy has already happened. The efforts of our fore-fathers have lasted quite some time but ultimately it has been made moot."

"I stand before you, the Mind Magi Council, as living proof of what transpired and as a living embodiment of the, now, lack of effectiveness of the First Law. There is no longer a point to having it."

I nodded to Lord Morehouse and the other Head Lords and Ladies to indicate my conclusion. Michael again suggested a short speech rather than a drawn out explanation. He had also suggested leaving out my parent's names to help soften the blow, but more importantly I had to point out that my existence was all the proof I needed to have the law abolished.

The only bit of information we did not have that could have made my petition even more profound was the rest of the Prophecy. The Mind Magi had so long worried about that first part that the rest of it had been all but forgotten. We were hopeful that Lady Arneson might have been able to get us a copy of the prophecy, as she was sympathetic to my situation, but time ran out.

Lord Morehouse and the other head Lords and Ladies sat in silence for a few minutes. If they were having mental communications, I couldn't tell by their expressions.

"Mr. Setton. You're entire petition to have the First Law abolished is based on your birth," Lord Morehouse started. "I find it rather arrogant of you to believe that your birth was what the prophecy described."

I wanted to ask if there had been any other children born of two Mind Magi recently or even previously. Any way about it, such an event would make the point of the First Law moot. However, I held back my questions.

"It is known to this council that you are unique. And that goes without saying that our collective understanding of the prophecy and its deeper meaning go beyond a simple birth."

So they did have a copy of the Prophecy. I couldn't understand why they wouldn't share it with anyone else, especially me. It might answer some questions regarding the mystery of my birth. Then again, if I was being, as Lord Morehouse put it, arrogant, then there might be nothing that would support my birth being the first sign.

Before I could request a copy of the prophecy, however, Lord Greenwood asked, "You said that these two Mind Magi broke the law either willingly or under duress. Why would you suggest they were forced to do this? You were raised and seem quite healthy. I would speculate that an effort had been made by your parents, and in turn that would suggest they were willingly breaking the First Law."

I was certain the question was presented to distract me from making my request. The Council probably knew I wanted a copy, and either didn't want me to have it or had some rule against sharing it with anyone other than the top leaders.

"I was not raised by my biological parents. I was adopted when very young." This could lead to the chance to find out who might have been involved with my parents' deaths, if any one of these leaders continued bombarding me with questions about my past.

"Many of us knew your parents. Even during the time your mother was pregnant with you. We were told that the father was a normal human. She seemed happy regarding her pregnancy. Would that not suggest she was a willing participant?" asked Lady Brooker.

"That is information I was unaware of until this moment," I replied.

"Would it have not been more effective on your part to find out more about your parents before attempting to make them appear as victims while breaking the First Law?" asked Lord Flemming.

"Yes, however..."

I was cut off by another question from Lord Hendon of House Overton. He sat at the right table next to Lord Lasarge of House Wolfgang at the end of the table. "You say you were adopted. I understood that your parents died in the South Pacific. Where were you when that happened?"

"I don't know. The family that raised me, the Settons, lived in West Virginia. At least that is where we lived after I was adopted."

I could feel Renée's anxiety running up and down my arm like a nervous horse looking to run from an oncoming storm. I was getting anxious too. With the number of different Lords and Ladies asking questions it was looking like more were involved in what happened to my parents than just one or two.

"If you were adopted in West Virginia, why did your parents leave you behind for their trip to the South Pacific?" asked Lord Mathews.

I wanted to say they did it to protect me because they knew they were being pursued, but instead I told them what had been originally told me. "I was told they were going on vacation and left me with friends while they were gone."

Lord Flemming dropped his eyes and shook his head. The impression I got from him was that he thought me unprepared for this and nothing more than an irksome fly in his soup. I had doubts he was involved with my parents.

Most of the rest continued to stare at me while either adjusting their seats or completely motionless. It felt like Lord Greenwood stared the most intently. He had a stoic, poker face that I would never want to see on the other side of a card game. Not that I played cards.

"Why would your parents leave on vacation shortly after your birth? Most parents spend the next few months staying home with a new infant," said Lord Hendon.

I wasn't sure what he was getting at. I shrugged and said, "I don't know. That is something I would have liked to ask them, but seeing as they're dead, I doubt I'll get an answer."

"That is enough," said Lord Morehouse. He looked around at the other Lords and Ladies. "It is obvious that Mr. Setton does not know anything of the mind sets of his parents. Further questions about his parents will not gain us any more answers."

Then he looked at me. "Mr. Setton, it was known to this council at the time that your parents had willingly broken the First Law. Why they did it when everyone else was perfectly capable of refraining from taking the chance, none of us know. Some have speculated that it was merely love and the consequences of such. Others believed a more insidious reason. The steps your parents took to escape justice and hide the evidence of their crime suggested that they were not victims in some plot or that the pregnancy was an accident. As it has been attested here and at previous council meetings, it was known that your mother was happy with her pregnancy, suggesting that she was a willing participant. When we learned who the real father was, they had gone on the run. We tracked them down and instead of turning themselves over for justice, they fought. I am sure Michael has told you about the efficiency of our Dragons and the reasons we choose the particular Mind Magi who receive that title. Fighting them was a mistake on your parent's parts. Had they come quietly they would have been Banished and allowed to live out their lives together."

I stood there for a moment taking in what had been said. My parents had me either because of love or some insidious reason? Love I didn't have a problem believing, but what insidious reason? They couldn't have wanted to see the disaster that the prophecy described, could they?

Before I could offer a rebuttal though, Lord Morehouse continued. "Furthermore, I believe I have an entirely different reason for keeping the First Law. You describe your talents as continually growing and evolving even months after you first discovered them. It is true that some Mind Magi will have gradually evolving talents, but nothing like what you have described. Reports as to the nature of your abilities and your remarkable range of different talents also disturb me. Your parents were known to be able to seduce and control, but you, Mr. Setton, have also developed abilities beyond this. Taking into consideration that no other child has been born of two Mind Magi, we cannot confirm what we believe to be correct without further studies. However, if children of two Mind Magi are as wide-ranged and powerful as is reported of you, then it may be best to not allow other Mind Magi to conceive children with one another."

I didn't know what to say to that. If his theory was correct, there would be a lot more Mind Magi running around with abilities that could be far more dangerous or uncontrollable. I spent a lot of time coming to terms with what I would have to live with and how to control it. Not everyone would be so lucky.

"And finally, having pointed out the possibility that such children would be the norm for such conceptions, there is the Second Law that must be considered. Many disturbing reports have come to our attention that originated from your place of business and home. These reports deal directly with the Second Law and your blatant disregard for it."

I almost blurted out, "Blatant disregard?!?" but held myself in check. I wanted to know which situations they were referring to that were considered so heinous.

"What have you to say to this?" Lord Morehouse asked.

Great! Just what I didn't need. They wanted me to defend myself without knowing what they knew. Well, two could play that game. "I'm not sure what situation you're referring to." If he wanted to be vague, then so could I.

Lord Morehouse opened a file folder. I wasn't sure what all it contained, but it looked like it had a lot of information. "Let us start with a certain event at the Parks at Arlington Mall. You were seen walking through the corridors inducing sexual responses in just about every female around you." He looked up at me. "Do you care to explain this?"

I didn't roll my eyes. I didn't blush. I really didn't respond physically in any way. After staring back at Lord Morehouse for a moment I asked, "When your talents first manifested, how much control did you have over them? For that matter, did you really even know what was going on?"

Lord Morehouse's brow furrowed. "I knew what to expect and how to deal with my developing talents. My father was my Mind Magi teacher and he made sure I knew what to expect and how to deal with it."

"Oh!" I said in mock surprise. "Well, it would have been nice if my parents had been around to offer such assistance. For that matter if any Mind Magi had found me before my talents sprang up as they did, I'm sure I would have been better equipped to handle it. However, I did not have such an education or a guide. I had no one. So, as for your list of my blatant disregard for the Second Law, you might as well stop right there. There was no way for me to know such a law existed on top of the fact that I didn't know what was happening to me. I didn't gain really good control over my Charm until after I had already bound about nine women to me. And even then, my talents were developing at an alarming rate. So, you'll have to excuse my indiscretion regarding those situations."

Obviously, I was mad. Who were these people to believe that a kid could deal with what happened to me just like any veteran Mind Magi. It would have been impossible.

Again, another minute passed as the heads of Houses seemed to mentally deliberate. Then Lord Morehouse turned to the back of the folder and started moving through the pages from the end. Finally he stopped and read the report he was looking for.

"I have a report of your exploits in West Virginia. It says that you were in an accident that put you in the hospital overnight. The attending doctor was a Mind Magi and smoothed over your quick recovery with some cleaver paperwork, however, one of the nurses was reported to 'magically recover from life-long scars to her face'." He looked up at me again. "This report comes after you had already learned of our society and spoke to Michael in depth about our laws. What say you to this?"

"Anna was mine when I made that change. I bound her to me and made arrangements with the same doctor to have her transferred to a facility in Texas so she could live with me and not worry about how those she worked with took to the sudden changes. That same doctor, Doctor Jarvis Holzer — a member of my House, made sure the staff who knew Anna understood that she had been using a new therapeutic cream to help relieve the scar tissue. No one had a very good look at Anna after the change, the Doctor and I made sure of that."

Lord Morehouse stared at me. As stoic as his expression was, I wasn't sure if he was disapproving or what. There was no emotion to him at all it seemed. I wondered what his life was like away from the other Mind Magi.

He looked back down at the folder, flipped through a few pages and then stopped. He read the report and looked up. "Another report says that your adoptive family, including your sisters, is aware of your talents. There is some leeway in the Second Law that allows us to share who we are and what our talents are with those who are bound to us, but not anyone else. Not even close relatives. What say you to this?"

First, I'd like to know where the hell he was getting all of this information. It was like I had a Mind Magi sitting on my shoulder and telling them everything I did. I couldn't shake the feeling of that possibility and for the first time since meeting him, suspected that Michael may have been the one reporting so much to the Council. He and I would have to have a discussion about that. But it could wait until later.

"My adoptive family was in danger. A danger not just from some natural disaster or recklessness about the home or in a car. Not the kind of danger normal people face on a daily bases. They were threatened with mortal death by my Grandfather. A Mind Magi. They knew something strange and incomprehensible was going on because he was forcing them to do things they would have never consciously agreed to. The only person there to save them was me. If you think, even for a second, that I was going to just stand by and allow him to do harm to the people who had raised me, then you are so sadly mistaken. Not only did they figure out what was going on, I told them about me and what I could do. I didn't spill the beans on your precious society. They know they raised a very special boy and that's all they care to know."

My anger was barely contained. My speech a suppressed roar.

"I could go on about how none but House Isaacs attempt to assist during that crisis, but I'm sure, since you know so much about me, that you already have that information."

"Save the society, to hell with everyone else," I finished with my sarcastic understanding of what they really felt for how things were.

Finally I saw something emotional in Lord Morehouse's eyes: anger. "How dare you. How dare you!" Funny, but he didn't say anything more.

"Dare? I don't dare. I do what is needed. If I have to run down a highway to save someone I care about because driving isn't going to get me there fast enough, I will. If I can heal someone and keep them from dying while in the middle of a crowded street. I will. If there is anything I can do to help anyone who needs it, regardless of the danger to me or who finds out about it, I will!"

If Lord Morehouse had ever been more outraged, I would have like to have seen it. Looking around, I noted how many of the House Lords and Ladies either squirmed in their seats or looked about nervously. Except for Lady Arneson, who had been the one to offer some assistance as I had mentioned. She sat calmly and waited for things to cool down. Given how much I had been stirred up I thought it was a good idea and worked to calm myself.

"A very stirring speech, Mr. Setton," retorted Lady Reynolds. "I'm sure if any of us had been aware of what was happening we would have offered assistance as well."

I was sure some of them would have. I looked about again. It seemed that their nervous glances and anxious fidgeting might have been due to not assisting rather than knowing and doing nothing. My anger may have skewed my judgment. I had to remember whom I stood before. These were not just any panel of normal people but a collection of what were probably the most powerful people on the planet. And I didn't mean just politically.

"My apologies to the Council for any undue implications. My outrage at suggestions that helping my family should have been reconsidered in light of the Second Law got the better of me."

There was still an underlying implication to my apology, which should have made the apology moot, but it was true. The way they carried on, I should have just dug a hole and buried myself in it.

"Mr. Setton, we would never suggest that you not help your family," replied Lord Morehouse far more calmly than he had been a moment before. "We merely point out that your actions and decisions lead to the possibility of breaking the Second Law. Under the circumstances, I'm sure anyone here would have done the same."

"Then I beg the council's pardon, and ask if there is a more specific definition to what the Second Law prohibits and what it allows?"

Another moment's silence. This time I was sure it was just Lord Morehouse trying to clear any remaining emotions so he could deliver a concise definition. "The Second Law prohibits actions or statements that could lead to public knowledge of our society's existence. It would be impossible for any of us to keep this a total secret. No one could live with such stress nor have anything that could pass as a normal life. As such, we allow our Schiavi to know about us, though to what extent is decided upon by the individual."

"In the case of your family, I believe a further exception can be made. Such traumatic situations would call for extreme changes that would later look suspicious and lead to questions which we would prefer were not asked. As such, allowing enough information to pass to appease the immediate curiosity would save us from concerns of a deeper probing."

Finally Lord Morehouse looked around at the other Lords and Ladies. "Does anyone object to this?"

Not a single one of them made a motion or noted any dispute.

"Very well. As to your petition to the Abolishment of the First Law, I do not believe we have adequate proof that its importance has been diminished. Since it is not up to only me to decide this I ask the Council: All for the abolishment of the First Law?"

There were several "Ayes". I looked about as those same individuals held up their hands: Lord Constantine, Lady Kroeger, Lady Brooker, Lord Lasarge, Lord Barossa, Lady Arneson, Lord Greenwood and Lady Reynolds all held up their hands.

I knew there were only fourteen council members, and that was eight of them.

Lord Morehouse took in the count as well and then asked, "All those opposed to the abolishment of the First Law?"

Lord Rhoads, Lord Hendon, Lord Thornburg, Lord Mathews, Lord Flemming and Lord Morehouse all raised their hands.

"The count is eight for and six against. Let it be known that from this day forward, the First Law has been abolished. Procreation between Mind Magi is now allowed freely."

In my opinion, Lord Morehouse had a valid point regarding children of two Mind Magi. If other kids ended up with my kind of power then the Second Law might soon become moot.

Even still, I was excited that they had agreed to my request. Renée felt elated too and squeezed my hand. And in light of the vote, I wondered what exactly had made the difference. I thought about the Prophecy and wondered if their understanding of, as Lord Morehouse had put it earlier, "its meaning beyond just the birth of such a child" had anything to do with it.

There was one way to find out. "If the request is not out of order, I would like to obtain a copy of the Prophecy. I have been intrigued about it since Michael explained everything regarding the now former first law and why my birth may have been the one mentioned in the Prophecy."

Lady Reynolds was the first to respond. "I see no reason to deny such a request." She glanced at Morehouse and when he didn't refuse, she said, "I'll see to it you have a copy by tonight."

With the slight smile Lady Reynolds wore, I suspected she would be delivering that copy of the Prophecy in person.



-------

Chapter 5: House Nautikuus



Renée had noticed Lady Reynolds apparent interest in me as well. "If I didn't know better, I would say that Lady Reynolds may have done something to help make sure that the First Law was abolished."

"Just because she seems to want to climb inside my slacks doesn't mean she manipulated the vote. However, it looks like she's going to take full advantage of the outcome nonetheless." I thought back to her.

Renée's idea that Lady Reynolds had somehow manipulated the results just so she could jump my bones wasn't completely out of question though. What would she have offered the other House leaders? For that matter why did they agree to allow me to have a copy of the Prophecy after Lady Arneson made it clear that only House Lords and Ladies were privy to that information? Did that mean they had already gone over my petition to make my House official and made their decision before this meeting? Did that mean I was going to be soon called Lord Setton?

I would have shared my thoughts with Michael as well, but he didn't think it was necessary or prudent. I had realized that the Council was having mental discussions with one another throughout our meeting. I was certain they could tell that I was having telepathic communications with Renée too. It wasn't like I was trying to disrespect the council because I felt if they could use such methods to confer with each other then I should be allowed the same if I had the means.

Lord Morehouse, for his own reasons I was sure, moved on to the final topic of our meeting. "Mr. Setton, you have also entered a petition to have your House recognized as one of our official Houses. We have already deliberated on what you have written to be the benefits to our society by the addition of your house. This council has already deliberated on many of these points but we do have some questions."

It seemed like they had rehearsed what they were going to say and ask because Lord Greenwood started immediately with apparently no queue from Lord Morehouse. "Mr. Setton, you have stated that your House, though not official, has already recruited more than three hundred followers. I'm curious how this recruitment is being facilitated."

"I'm not sure I understand the question, Lord Greenwood. Do you mean, how am I finding Mind Magi to be my followers or how am I binding them to me?"

"Well, both," Lord Greenwood quipped.

"Our locating of followers has almost been non-existent. A full ninety percent or more have come to me asking to join my House. Most even know that it is not an official House but do not view that as a problem," I answered. "As for how I am binding these followers to myself, I merely share one of my talents with them and the connection is made."

"Mr. Setton, how is it you share your talents with other Mind Magi? Have you already participated in the Leadership Ritual?" asked Lord Hawthorne.

Fortunately, Michael had already told me how most House Leaders were able to function in recruitment and sharing of abilities. Why Lord Hawthorne asked me about the Leadership Ritual baffled me. Only the other House Lords and Ladies were the ones who performed the ritual to instill those talents to a new House Lord or Lady and I had never been among any of the Council members with the exception of Lady Arneson. "I've only ever met one of the House Leaders, Lady Arneson, before this meeting. So, no. I've never been involved in the Leadership Ritual."

"Then your ability to share your talents and bind other Mind Magi to you are a part of your own assortment of talents?" asked Lady Brooker.

"Yes."

There were a few whispers and then Lord Flemming said, "Michael, we understand that you are a member of Mr. Setton's House. Would you please show the Council your mark for confirmation?"

Michael was one of the few Mind Magi I knew who could consciously hide his mark. He merely nodded and his mark appeared. The first time I had seen it, it was gold, like Lady Arneson's mark, but now it was amber.

"And Michael, for the record, what talent did Mr. Setton share with you?" Lord Flemming continued.

"He has not shared a talent with me."

Lord Flemming smiled just a touch. I was sure he was feeling smug. "And why is that?"

"Because I have yet to decide which talent I want," Michael answered calmly.

My thoughts suddenly returned to our discussion in the hall. I even smiled a bit at the thought of what his wife would say if he could find out what their daughter was up to with no help on my part. I would offer that idea later.

"Considering Ms. Hollander is a Newling rather than a full Mind Magi, I am curious if you can share talents with her like any other follower," said Lord Hendon.

It was a good idea, but I wasn't sure if they wanted me to try just then. "Are you asking me to attempt this now?" I simply asked.

Lord Hendon nodded.

I turned to Renée, ignoring the rest of the Mind Magi. "What talent would you prefer, if it's possible?" I asked her.

I could feel her excitement at the idea. "I ... I don't know. I'd rather have better control over my own talent."

I smiled gently, "You don't like how you look?"

She blushed a bit. It was difficult to not notice how stunning Renée was. Her ability was to alter her shape, contours, and general skin tones to match what her current lover preferred. When I had first met her the only real difference between what she was like and the statuesque buxom blonde standing before me was the lack in size of her breasts. I thought she might want to reduce them but she surprised me. "I wish I could do more," she said that while pressing her incredible bust against my chest, "but I'm not sure how you would feel about it."

I understood her innuendo. It excited me that she wondered if her bust was big enough. I didn't think bigger would be better, at least not in her case. I still wanted her to be able to function. Then a thought occurred to me. If she could alter her shape consciously then she could make changes as necessary, both to function and to enjoy. I thought it was a good idea, the question was could I do that for her.

The Council and Michael remained silent. I took Renée's hands in my own and closed my eyes.

Was it possible to give her what she wanted? I didn't know. I had tried making changes to her before, but her own ability seemed to prevent it. Now though, I didn't want to change how she looked, but change how her ability worked. Since it was a physical ability rather than a mental one, there was a chance that my ability to alter others physically could work. I knew what she wanted, as did she, now all I had to do was allow my talent to do its work.

With that thought I felt my arms fill with what I had always associated with some kind of warm liquid. The sensation made me want to open my eyes and make sure someone hadn't doused my jacket and shirt sleeves in something, but I knew from countless previous uses of that ability that I was perfectly dry.

As my talent passed into Renée, she shivered. The sensation would cover her entire body, inside and out. If she was to have complete control over her ability to shape-shift, then her whole body would be affected.

Once the sensation passed, I opened my eyes and looked at Renée. She still looked like I had always known her to look but her expression was one of shock.

Then, all at once, her long golden hair shortened and took on a ting of red, making it more strawberry blonde. Her eyes changed to a deep brown then lightened to a soft tan that I had never seen on anyone ever before. Her breathing became labored and I felt her chest press into mine, however she wasn't pressing forward into me. Her breasts threatened to rip out of her blouse and jacket but just as I thought her clothes couldn't take any more, they began reducing down to something others might consider normal. Her skin tone changed too, becoming darker and darker until she looked like she had been washed in chocolate. Then it lightened to the point of looking as creamy as milk. Her nails changed, becoming longer, shorter and changing colors. Her nose and lips changed shape. Her eyes became bigger and more exotic, if that were possible, then reduced to mere slits with nothing more seductive to them than the near boredom of the meeting we were in.

So many changes occurred in such a short time I wasn't sure what I was seeing. I watched, and deep down I worried. Renée reveled in her new found freedom. She was a thousand different women and none of them all at once. She looked up at me and I smiled. However, her smile dropped a bit. "Lover, what's wrong? Aren't you happy for me?"

I had mixed emotions about her question. I tried to explain it the best I could. "Yes, I am. I never thought it would be possible for you to have control over your ability. Yet, I'm already missing you. I already long to see your sky blue eyes, your rosy lips and that mischievous smile."

She started changing again, reverting to what she had looked like before her control was established.

I responded immediately. " No! You don't have to change for me. This is your body. You should take on whatever look you want."

Her smile was gentle and consoling. " But I don't want to see that hurt look in your eyes, Lover. It's not worth having control over my abilities if it means you're not looking at me with hungry eyes every time."

"This isn't about what I want though. They wanted to know if I could share abilities with a Newling. We've answered that question, in spades I would say. It's yours now. And honestly, I don't know that I could turn it off short of breaking our bond, and I would not do that for all the powers in the world."

"Oh, Ral!" she thought as she lunged at me and locked her lips to mine.

I was so caught up in the moment that I was almost surprised when Michael tapped me on the shoulder and I looked around to find the Council still there watching us.

Renée giggled and even blushed. As bold as she was when it came to her body, it was a rare treat to see her as such. I turned back to the Council somehow even more confident about everything in general, especially since Renée chose to keep what her body had automatically chosen for me.

We turned to face the council. It appeared that they were just recovering from their reactions to what I had accomplished. Did I once again impress or scare?

Once again it was Lady Reynolds who spoke boldly. "Mr. Setton has the ability to share talents and bind other Mind Magi to himself, just like the rest of us. The only thing he lacks is an official status and I see no reason to deny him that."

Lord Flemming, sitting right next to her, looked at her with as much incredulity as he could muster. "Just because he can do these things does not make him a House Lord."

Lord Morehouse nodded. "I would agree with Lord Flemming," and Lord Flemming nodded, excited that Lord Morehouse so openly agreed with him. "However, there is also the fact that Mr. Setton already has a growing following. There has to be a reason why so many Mind Magi are approaching him for membership rather than any of us."

Lord Hawthorne asked, "Mr. Setton, could you explain to us why you believe this is happening?"

I had some ideas, mostly due to me asking those who had approached me that very question. "There seems to be no singular answer to your queston. Some simply like the fact that I am making no demands on their parts to become members. Others have been looking for a house that is open enough to discuss and help train them in the use of their abilities. And others seem to be ... well..."

Lord Hawthorne leaned forward. "Well? Well what?"

I took a deep breath and looked him square in the eyes. "They seem more intrigued by me than anything. Somehow it has become wide spread knowledge about my birth and they wait for something to happen as if I were something more than the normal Mind Magi."

Someone muttered, "So much for modesty."

"I assure the council that I am not strutting about like some kind of peacock. I have asked every Mind Magi that has approached me about membership to my House and I am only repeating what I have been told."

"Mr. Setton, you said that some of these recruits were interested because you made no demands on them to become members. Could you explain that?" asked Lady Brooker.

I was thankful for her change of question, taking the focus away from me being the reason members were joining. "I couldn't say I've made no demands. My House has a couple of systems in place to help out its members and no one has complained about that. What I believe they mean is that there is no initiation or ritual to join. No oath of loyalty or basic quest to prove that they deserve to be a member."

That seemed to cause a bit of a commotion. "You are not using an oath or initiation? Then how do you know if the members who are joining your house will work out?" Lord Mathews nearly demanded.

"We're not talking about a business here. This is more like a club. The only requirement is the members have some special ability, and all of them do. So, essentially, I see no reason to put further restrictions on individuals who are already struggling to deal with something that, in many cases, is completely new to them."

"A Club?!" barked Lord Flemming. "You call this a club? You insolent little..."

"That is enough," Lord Morehouse cut off Lord Flemming. "Mr. Setton has made a valid point. We are not a business." He looked back at me. "However, we are more than a club, Mr. Setton. We are a governing body over those who are more than normal humans. You say they turn to you seeking aide and guidance. We also offer that. What I find ironic is that you are still learning to deal with your own talents while trying to help others. How is a House Lord supposed to handle situations like that when he is in the same situation?"

"We learn and grow together, which is why I am not the only one helping those who have asked for it. Michael, Renée and I have setup a buddy system for my followers. Those who have already come fully into their abilities and have a good understanding of what is going on are paired with those who are new to this. That way they have someone they can turn to for advice."

"Surely, these members who are 'new to this' could turn to their parents?" asked Lady Kroeger.

I shrugged. "I've not asked them such questions. If they volunteer the information then it gives me and the rest of my house a better understanding of their needs, but otherwise I see no reason to pry into their lives."

"I would like to know why you have involved one of your Schiavi in how your House is run," Lord Hawthorne requested.

"Renée is the Manager for my store back in Texas. She has a good sense of organization and I asked for her help. I am merely utilizing the resources I have at hand."

"A sign of any good leader," quipped Lady Reynolds.

Lord Flemming shot her another scathing look.

"Oh, look at me that way if you want Flemming, but consider this: he naturally has the talents for a House Lord, he's resourceful, responsible and deals with situations as needed without having to plan his every word. If he doesn't fit the qualities of a House Lord, then point out anyone else in this room who does," Lady Reynolds shot back.

Lord Flemming just glared at her. Either he was too angry to retort with a solid answer or he could not honestly dispute what she said.

It was obvious he didn't want me to be declared an official House Lord. I would encroach on his territory and with his attitude here as well as the rumors his House had spread about me back in Texas, trying to talk to him sensibly was not going to work. So, I chose to stay silent and allow the Council to decide. Besides, what could I really do if the majority of the council felt the same way as Lord Flemming? I was happy even one of the Lords or Ladies was confident in me. As young as I was compared to the rest of them, that was saying something.

Of course, my age had to play a role in this. Lord Flemming looked at me again. I stood there, giving him as blank an expression as I could. "Look at him Reynolds. He's a kid! He's not even old enough to buy alcohol."

"So?" she returned. "Most of our armed forces are his age. If one of them took up leadership in the heat of battle and came home victorious, would you belittle him for his age?"

"This isn't war. This is a long term commitment to something he has no understanding of."

"Really? Not a war? Then ask him what his own grandfather did. I repeat my statement of his ability to think under pressure."

Lord Flemming was shaking his head. "I've read that report too. Just because he got lucky with his Grandfather doesn't mean he's capable of fulfilling the duties of a House Lord."

"Then what other duties are there? I felt we covered all of them quite well already."

Again, Lady Reynolds had Lord Flemming in a corner. He didn't answer her and everyone watched in quiet for more than a minute. Finally he turned and looked at me again. "Do you really think you're ready for the responsibilities of leading a House?"

"Whether I am ready for it or not, I am considered a House Lord by those who are bound to me. I can only hope to fulfill that role to the best of my ability and should my followers find someone else to replace me? So be it."

"And modest to boot," said Lady Reynolds. "Shall we vote then?"

Lord Morehouse made no comment on the exchange or my answer to Lord Flemming's question. "All of those in favor of recognizing Mr. Setton's House as an official House of the Mind Magi?"

Several ayes were announced and those hands were raised. Unlike the vote regarding the first law, this vote was very much in my favor. In fact the only hands not raised were those of Lords Flemming and Hawthorne. Of course, when Lord Morehouse asked for those who opposed, those two were more than eager to announce their decisions even though they knew it would do no good.

"Welcome, Lord Setton, to the Mind Magi Council. Please, announce your House," Lord Morehouse directed.

"House Nautikuus," I answered.

"So be it noted, that from this day forward, Lord Setton of House Nautikuus is hereby recognized by this council and all as the fifteenth House. You do understand that your status will change as you gain more followers?"

I nodded.

"Good, and seeing as the Leadership Ritual is not necessary I ask if there is any other business for this meeting?" No one motioned for the need so Lord Morehouse concluded, "Then that concludes this meeting."

There was a tangible feeling of everyone relaxing in the room. Chairs scooted, the House leaders rose from their seats. The meeting was truly over.

Renée squeezed my hand and I turned to receive her hug and kiss. Michael pulled me around and shook my hand, his knowing smile more akin to pride.

The girl who I had assumed to be a go-fer approached me and asked for contact information so I could be informed of the next meeting. After giving her what she asked for, I was then approached by some of the other House Lords and Ladies. Lady Reynolds ended up waiting out everyone else and gave me a very seductive smile as she shook my hand.



-------

Chapter 6: Teasing and Tears



Lady Reynolds offered, "Ral, I do hope you will join us for lunch. Some of us are getting together just to chat and eat."

I hadn't really looked at her during the meeting and I was glad of that. She had dark blonde hair that fell in heavy waves around her shoulders, deep chestnut brown eyes and a lustrous smile that I was sure won over anyone she pointed it at. I wasn't feeling especially lust filled so I was sure her looks were quite real and not some trick of the mind. She stood with an easy grace and moved as if she were living seduction. If she didn't have a power like my Charm, then she more than made up for it with her demeanor and expressions.

"Actually, I already have plans for lunch," I replied. I knew if I spent any time with this woman, we would probably end up in some dark and secluded place. Better to avoid her if possible.

Lady Reynolds openly looked at Renée, not just her face, but her entire figure. "I can see why."

Renée thought, " I've never had someone so openly check me out before, Lover. Even if she doesn't have something like your Charm, she is hot!"

"Bold and Confident, yes, but I'm holding the only truly hot woman in this room, " I thought back at her. I could feel her smile.

Reynolds seemed to think of Renée's smile as an invitation and smiled right back at her, putting her everything into it. I was surprised my pants hadn't ripped open. I could even feel Renée's body respond too. "If you need some time alone, we won't actually get to the restaurant for another hour." Reynolds glanced at me out of the corner of her eyes. "You'd be welcome to bring Ms. Hollander."

Since the sight of Renée seemed to only gear up Lady Reynolds, probably as competition, I thought I would up the ante. "Actually, two of my other girls are waiting for me. I promised them I would be back as soon as the meeting was over."

Reynolds looked at me fully, her smile not dropping in the slightest. "That's right, you have what? Twenty women at your beck and call?"

It had been a while, but I blushed. "Err, no. Not twenty, and they're not just there for my every want. I brought Renée, Erin and Chloe with me to keep me from doing anything that I might regret later."

That seemed to only intrigue Reynolds further. "Something you might regret? Like what?"

She probably knew exactly what I meant but either enjoyed my embarrassment or didn't think I could say anything to lessen whatever she thought of me.

"The women I live with share me already. It would be wrong of me to add more to my family and further divide what little attention each of them receives already."

Reynolds playfully pouted. "Oh..." She looked at Renée. "Do you feel like the attention you receive is divided up too much?"

For her to ask Renée such a personal question almost upset me. It was one thing to embarrass me, but I would not stand for Renée to have to put up with such.

However, Renée felt the sudden change in my mood and squeezed my hand. "Ral is quite modest when it comes to the attention he gives. I can attest that what I receive is better than anything I ever got when I was dating before we met."

There were so many different layers of meaning in that statement that I was reeling from it. Reynolds, however, took it in stride and seemed to have even caught some of the innuendo. "Really? Then what would be one more?"

That question made me stop. Well, stop breathing for a second at least. "With all the double-meaning, I would like to know what exactly you're asking for," I said as clearly as I could manage.

Renée was smiling at me just as Reynolds was. I felt like I was back in the café just after meeting Erin and the girls were enjoying my furiously blushing face.

It was Renée who said, "Ral, if you don't know what we're talking about, then what was that in the bathroom earlier?"

Reynolds looked at Renée with delight. Since most of the innuendo was actually turning out to mean what they suggested it meant, Reynolds had a good idea of what Renée was talking about. "In the bathroom? Before you were called in? Oh, you naughty, naughty boy!"

"Ral, think about this. She's a Mind Magi, not a normal human. Your ability to bind with Mind Magi is different than binding with everyone else. You could probably fuck her silly and not be bound to her at all."

"Just because I don't have to worry about binding her to me doesn't mean I want to fuck her!"

"I can feel your excitement, Lover. You find her just as hot as I do."

"I'm not denying that she's hot... "

"Then what's the problem? You need to have sex regularly. She's willing and will probably deliver that copy of the Prophecy later tonight personally. She'll probably be wearing something low-cut and sexy, trying to impress you."

Considering our thought conversation moved quickly, my eyes dropped to the bit of cleavage Reynolds was already displaying. I had been impressed when she had been bent over the table before and could easily imagine what low-cut and sexy would show off. " She doesn't have to do that to be impressive."

"Good! I'm glad you agree!" Renée thought at last and before I could respond she said to Reynolds, "How about if you came by the hotel room later tonight, to drop off a copy of the Prophecy Ral requested?"

I didn't think Reynolds' smile could get any better, but somehow it did. "Well, that would be perfect. What time? Say around eight o'clock?" she asked me.

I felt like a deer not only caught in headlights but being hit multiple times in the middle of a major highway. "Ei-eight o'clock... ?"

"Eight will be fine," Renée answered for me.

Reynolds grinned at Renée, then leaned in close and kissed my cheek. In my ear she whispered, "And my name is Cicely."

"Cicely," I repeated under my breath. The feel of her breath across my ear as well as the musky scent of her perfume was making me light headed. Either that or the fact that I was as hard as granite.

Cicely waved bye to Renée and walked away, heading to the open double doors. I looked at Renée with a mixture of confusion and lust. She just smiled back at me.

Someone bumped my shoulder. I looked around to find Michael standing next to me also watching Lady Reynolds walk away. "Some guys get all the luck," he said softly.

"I take it you heard our conversation?"

"I didn't hear a word of it, but no one could miss how heavily she was flirting. I wouldn't be surprised if she showed up tonight wearing nothing but a trench coat and a smile."

"Jeeze, you're almost as bad as Renée," I retorted.

"No, I'm not trying to help you climb into her panties. Just pointing out what you seem to be missing."

I looked at the doorway again. Cicely was gone. "No, I didn't miss it, but I did fight it."

Michael chuckled, "Not very well," then cleared his throat and turned serious. "There is another House Lord waiting to speak with you." He nodded his head off to the table the announcer had been standing next to.

I noticed that everyone else had already left. Only Lord Lasarge remained, and he watched me. What he was thinking, I didn't know, but something was definitely on his mind.

It was only a few months previous, literally days after my talents had first manifested, that I came to the attention of The Users. It was a group who used Master PC and their leader was called Vikkor. Her real name was Victoria Lasarge. Lord Lasarge's daughter.

Incidents that occurred the day after I first met Vikkor led to an invasion of her underground complex by the FBI. I helped Agents Davis and Marks to look for Vikkor but she had already fled. She hadn't gone far though.

Back at the apartment I had been living in, Vikkor and several of the women she had under her control via Master PC had taken some of my girls hostage. They waited there for me because Vikkor knew I wouldn't let anything happen to my girls.

I took Vikkor and her thralls down. The FBI showed up and carted them away. Later, the trial had testimony from me to help with her prosecution, but it wasn't needed because she had pleaded guilty. I had tried to help her heal and part of that was admitting her guilt and facing her punishment.

Unfortunately, I didn't know how much Lord Lasarge knew about what had happened. I did know that he had paid for the lawyers who had worked to defend Victoria, but her determination to make amends made their efforts moot. I could imagine he felt anger towards me for that.

I looked at Michael and he nodded. I took it as a sign that he would watch for any indicators of trouble. Looking back at the Lord, I wondered what I could say. I wondered if there was anything I could do to assuage the anger he probably felt towards me.

I no more than turned to the table, intent to go and take the seat next to Lasarge, but he stood up at the same time. He knew I was ready to talk to him.

"Lord Setton," he said. His French accent was pronounced. Just as much as Vikkor's had been. "I wish to congratulate you on your new title and House." He walked toward me as he said this and held out his hand. I shook it, almost expecting him to do something.

What happened wasn't his fault but mine.

A stream of memories flooded me. Jean Lasarge walking in and finding what his brother was doing to Victoria, the fight that ensued and the climatic court case that put Jean's brother in prison.

Immediately this was followed by the day Jean and Victoria had been at the store. He didn't see Victoria touch the man's briefcase, so the attack was unprovoked as far as he had known. Even so, the attack was not called for considering no more than what Victoria had done. Jean recognized the man and knew him as an extension of the company Jean owned. He took the man aside and discussed his lack of a future in the growing company as well as the charges that would be filed against him. Victoria had suffered a black eye as a result and nothing more than hurt feelings.

The scene changed in my mind and Jean was outside looking for Victoria. It was dinner time and she had left her cell phone at home. Something she was doing more and more because she considered it no more than an electronic leash. He heard someone crying at the park and went to look. Expecting to find a kid with a scraped knee, he was shocked to find his daughter mostly naked and weeping. She tried to cover herself, but he wasn't worried about that. They talked and he took her home. It looked like she had been raped but she wouldn't say what really happened.

That's when I found out what Jean could do. He could share memories like me, only better. He found out who had hurt his daughter and even the fact that it was more emotionally vicious than an outright brutal rape, because the boy led on the fact that Victoria liked him. The boys were arrested and Jean made sure they were carted off from the school so Victoria would witness the event.

I knew those events from Victoria's point of view, but the next one was all new.

Jean was in a room with several round tables, each with four or five chairs. Jean sat at one waiting when Victoria was escorted in. She was dressed in white clothes and looked drawn and tired. She stopped at the doorway when she saw who was there. She started to back out of the room but the men in white wouldn't let her. Finally, she walked over and sat down at the table opposite her father.

Jean had found out about the trial and her conviction. He pulled every string he had to find out what had happened but knew there were some parts of the story missing, such as my involvement and her use of Master PC.

Victoria refused to answer Jean's questions. She even refused to let him touch her. She seemed, to Jean, ashamed that he had found her there. In the end, she finally gave him my name and told him to find me. She would only talk to him after he talked to me.

I stepped back after the flash of memories. Jean let my hand go and stood there looking at me intently. I knew, because it was always the same; the exchange took no longer than the shaking of our hands.

"I'm sorry Jean. I don't know what to say," I offered immediately. "I now know what your ability is and you're free to see what I know. It would be the most efficient method to answer your questions and to get Victoria to talk to you."

Jean nodded and held out his hand again. I took it and poured everything I remembered into that handshake. First meeting Vikkor. The tests, the challenges and the insults. Later there was the discussion with my girls about her, the questioning I went through with Agent Joan Davis, and how I had put together all the clues that led to the conclusion that Vikkor had been behind the kidnappings in Texas.

I also shared the events surrounding Alexandria's programming to try to kill her daughters and how Vikkor had tried to frame me. Vikkor's attack at my apartment and what I did to correct the young woman's fragile mind were shared.

I let go of Jean's hand and stood back. He stood there for a moment, going over the memories I had given him. When he opened his eyes he looked somewhat distraught. He never knew about Victoria's mental issue and had not truly understood what it was that she had been charged for. Not until now.

I was surprised however by his immediate statement. "You never hurt her. She tried to kill your Schiavi but you maintained a level head and stopped her in the most merciful way. I'm not sure I could have been so kind had I been in your shoes."

I accepted his complement in the same subtle way. "We are all bound by the choices we make. No one is an exception to this. If I had done something to her in any form of revenge or my idea of justice then that would make me no better than ... than Vikkor."

Lord Lasarge nodded. "Vikkor. Such a disgusting distortion of my daughters beautiful name. I know where it came from, why it happened, but my only regret is not noticing sooner."

"She's on a path to recovery. If you continue to be there for her, there is no reason why she should fall back into that divided state."

"Merci, Lord Setton. With the sentence she had been given, she will never be allowed in the public. I do not know what I will do, but now, at least, I know what happened."

"Go to her. Go see her. Let her know you've talked to me. Let her know how you feel. Help her heal by being there for her, just as you were when I helped her. Because if it hadn't been for how she felt for you, she would probably still be split asunder."

Jean nodded. "I only hope she will talk to me..."

I looked around. We were in an office space and there was no paper or pens. "I need something to write a note on..." I said to anyone listening.

Lord Lasarge picked up a briefcase that had been sitting next to his chair. He pulled out a letter head and pen. I sat down and wrote to Victoria.

I folded the note and handed it to Jean. He took it and held it with what looked like reverence. I think he was just happy to finally have a way to get in touch with his daughter again. It could only help both of them.

I stood up and shook his hand again. "I really do wish Victoria well. Both of you, Lord Lasarge."

He nodded. "Merci, Lord Setton."

"And if she doesn't believe that the note is from me, have her call me. I put my cell number on the back."

He nodded, shaking my hand more. I noticed a single tear trailing down his cheek. "If there is anything I can do in return, please let me know." Then he let go, picked up his briefcase and walked away.

Michael, Renée and I watched him leave. Michael said, "Well, that went better than expected."

"He just wants to help his daughter. Revenge wouldn't have done that," I said.

With that, the three of us left the building too.



-------

Chapter 7: Relationship Revelation



Michael had an airplane to catch, so he took his own cab to the airport. Renée and I took another cab back to the hotel.

Still holding hands while riding, I looked over at Renée and watched her for a moment as she watched the buildings pass by. Then I reached around her and pulled her close. She looked at me, smiled and snuggled up against me.

"You know, it's probably not going to be a good idea for me to go up with you," she said softly.

"Why?" I asked, completely taken a back that she would say that.

"Well, Erin knows that you and I have already had our fun this morning."

"So?"

"Just ... trust me."

"If you're sure..." I said.

To some degree, I didn't know what to think. Renée now had complete control of her abilities. She might have wanted the chance to go out and test them.

"So, you're gonna go out and go shopping maybe?" I asked tentatively.

"I was thinking about it, yeah," she said grinning up at me.

"Maybe find some clothes that fit you when you aren't..." I kept the next part of my question to just a thought that she could hear because I didn't know what the acoustics of the cab were like and didn't want the driver overhearing something he shouldn't, " uh, aren't quite so big?"

Renée's smile softened a bit. It didn't fall but I could tell she was unsure. "Well ... yeah... "

"I take it they get annoying?" I asked still looking her in the eyes.

She sighed. She had put up with my lack of confidence for so long I was sure she was reaching the end of her tethered patience. Then she said, "Actually, they do."

I shook my head. I didn't want her to suffer for my desires, but before I could say anything she jumped ahead of me.

"No, no, they um ... I don't mind them. The size. I mean, I don't think anyone I dated before you ever wanted them this big. Guys just seem to like large breasts. Or, well, at least very shapely ones." She looked down at herself as if trying to admire them, but since they were attached to her chest, and right under her chin, it was difficult. She looked back up at me and added, "You, however, have made them very, very sensitive. I've had to tone that down a bit. I hope you don't mind."

I was shaking my head. "No, I don't. I mean, I want you to be comfortable. I don't want you to suffer just because I find you... "

My pause to find the right words was long enough she filled them in for me, "Sexually arousing?"

I nodded.

We sat there staring at each other for a moment. I didn't know what she was thinking and she wasn't listening to my thoughts either. Then she looked up hesitantly and thought, "Ral, it's okay to say you want more... "

"More?!? Like what?" She had implied earlier that she might want to be bigger for my benefit, but if I had desired that, her body would have already responded.

Renée sat up and looked me square in the eyes. I still held her close, so the look was intimate. "I'm not just talking physically because I realized that I was your idea of perfect a long time ago." She seemed to squirm in her seat and then asked, "What more would you want ... from me?"

I wasn't sure what she meant, though ideas were flitting through my head. "I don't know... "

Her look shifted from curious to distant. "I seem to recall ... a certain, dejected face... " she looked back at me. "When you were getting ready for your first date with Erin... "

My brow furrowed. I knew when she was talking about, but not sure about the relevance. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. You said that you'd be perfectly happy with just me and I told you it wasn't a good idea."

I remembered that moment. I had felt dejected too. However, I still didn't know why she was bringing it up. I nodded, hoping she would get to the point.

"You can't have just me. You can't have just Erin. You can't have just any one of us. So, get that idea out of your head."

We were back to the old debate about my qualms with how so many young women were enthralled by me. I didn't think it was right and all of them disagreed. The anticipation of finding out what Renée wanted to say was gone and so I deflated and settled back into the seat. "Fine."

"But that is not to say that you can't have more from each of us individually."

"But I don't know what I want."

"And therein lies the other side of the coin. You haven't really lived yet. You haven't gotten out there and explored things."

"What else is there to explore?"

"Well ... things ... other than just sex!" At the moment, sex seemed to be the only thing on our minds. Finally she latched onto something we both knew about. "You're grades! They've been mediocre at best." She looked away with a touch of guilt. "Of course we haven't been a lot of help and we really should be helping you."

"Renée, I'm already a business owner. I don't even need a college degree."

"But it's a good idea for you to have one anyway, " she snapped back quickly. "So don't even think about dropping out."

I nodded in defeat. "Okay, okay... "

"Hey, the rest of us have our dreams too!"

I looked at her again, feeling somewhat dejected by that statement. "Marriage?" I asked. I didn't think it was an issue because logically I could only marry one of my girls. The State of Texas frowned heavily upon one person marrying several others. So, I partially meant it as a joke, not thinking there would be anything about it to discuss.

The look on her face told me there was.

"You mean... ?"

She looked at me like she didn't want to talk but yearned to say something. "Well, some of the girls... " She looked at me again as if gauging my expression. Apparently whatever I looked like was enough. "Okay, more than half... " Again she glanced at me. "Okay, I've thought about it too."

"But ... we can't get married. You know that. The only way all of you could marry me would be if we went overseas, or moved to Utah. Yeah, there's a good idea. Let's all pack up and move to Utah! I'm sure that'll go over well." My words were sarcastic, my tone was dreary. I didn't think there was anything more to discuss.

Renée was nodding as if not really hearing me and I could tell what I had said didn't matter. The girls had apparently discussed this at length and she was going to go on telling me what they had decided. "Ral, it's not the legality of marriage. We don't need that. It's the ceremony. The flowers, the decorations, the dress, the rings. It's the little girl's dream of a wedding that they want."

She nudged me, "You! I pegged you as a guy who would settle down, get married, have the white picket fence, and the two point five children. I really thought you would be up for this."

That statement really hit home with me. "You mean... "

She nodded. "Yes, Lover. We don't need a license. I mean, you've play acted; you've done role-play with some of us. What would you think if one of us came in dressed in a big white gown and pretended it was our honeymoon?"

That got my heart pumping.

Renée noted the look on my face and her hand slid up my thigh. "Of course, you would still have to go through the ceremony... "

I was sure, by her teasing tone, that she was trying to douse my fires a bit, but what she said only filled up my sails more. For whatever reason, the idea of marrying not only one but all of my girls just did something for me. I couldn't put my finger on it though. It wasn't sexual or even pride.

"Wow," Renée said aloud but under her breath. "You really like that idea?"

I looked at her. Of course the thought "Yes!" was there, but then I punctuated it with a deep kiss. It was a rare event, but I actually caught her off guard.

When I pulled away, the driver had parked in front of our hotel. He was looking back at us expectantly. I pulled out my wallet and handed him a twenty. "Keep the change."

I slipped out of the cab with a giddy Renée following closely. She pressed up against me and somehow the cab door closed as she pressed her lips to mine.

I held her with a combination of desire and exaltation. The feeling of being on cloud nine was very real for me at that moment. And it was while with Renée. I had different feelings for all of my girls. No less sensational that with Renée though.

When I pulled back from the kiss, I noticed tears. "What's the matter?"

She wiped them away, sniffing. "Nothing," she said in a high pitched voice. Then she broke out in a huge grin and took my arm tightly. She steered us to the hotel entrance and I walked as a man with his woman on his arm. There was pride there, right along with a fire that I had come close to feeling once before, but I dismissed that thought as quickly as it appeared. I didn't want to spoil the moment with thoughts of my past.

Renée hugged my arm and pointed toward a coffee shop in the lobby of the hotel. "I doubt I'll be able to get any shopping done with only an hour available, so I'll look around the shops here and get a Latte. That way you can go up and enjoy some time with Erin and Chloe. Don't say anything to them about this yet, okay?"

"But why? I thought all of you had already talked it over."

"Yes, but none of us thought you would be up for the idea."

"Then you were taking a chance?"

She nodded. "That and I want to wait for us to get home so we can all talk about it together. I mean, we even talked over who would perform the ceremony and stuff. That and no one has actually gone shopping for this."

"So, you're gonna tell them that I like the idea and then all of you will start planning your own weddings?"

She nodded, but excitedly this time. "Yes, Lover. Each of us has different ideas on what we want."

Then another thought hit me. I didn't want to spoil the excitement we were both feeling but certain issues had to be dealt with. "What about families?"

Renée sighed. "I think some of the others aren't sure about that. I mean, I know my Mom and Dad would want to attend my first wedding, but..."

"But if we held each wedding on different days for each of you, then the family of the bride could attend."

Renée smiled softly at that idea. "But what about your family? Now that they're treating you like their real son, wouldn't they want to be there?"

I chuckled. "Which wedding? I doubt they'd be up for attending them all!"

She laughed at that thought too. "I see your point. Well, maybe Mandy's? They do know you two are together, right?"

"I never told them that specifically. I think they suspect it though since she left to come home with me."

"Then that'll be the one for them because I'm sure Mandy will want them there for her wedding."

My eyebrows went up. "And does she want to get married as a cat or a girl?"

"You will just have to wait and find out!" Renée kissed me quick to silence any protest and then said, "Now, up stairs with you and I'll be by in about an hour. Will you be taking all of us with you for lunch?"

"I wouldn't dream of leaving any of you behind." I really was feeling much better about many things. I didn't understand the difference. Living with the girls, having sex with them, and constantly being told that they wouldn't change what we had for anything seemed to leave me feeling distraught. Yet, the idea of marrying each of them, even if not legally, lifted my spirits. It was the most confusing part of my life, and that included the idea that anyone would have what amounted to super powers too.

Renée and I hugged and kissed one last time. I watched her walk off toward the coffee shop and then turn and wave at me as she made her order. Then I turned and headed for the elevators, a spring in my step and "The Wedding March" buzzing in my head.



-------

Chapter 8: Agents and An Aggressor



The lobby of the hotel seemed brighter than it had when I left that morning. It could have been the light heart I felt, the song in my head. It certainly wasn't because of the two men in suits approaching me.

"Mr. Setton, we would like a word with you."

I stopped, looking at them. "Who are you?

Both of them reached into their jackets and pulled out wallets. Holding them open, I saw the FBI logo on both IDs. "I am Special Agent Conway and this is Special Agent Ellison. If you would come with us, we have some questions we would like to ask you."

"I won't agree to anything until you tell me what this is about." I was worried that Agent Davis had maybe said something about me she shouldn't have or, worse, Agent Marks somehow remembered everything that I had changed in his memories.

"We cannot discuss this matter here. We have a private room reserved here in the hotel. Again, we only have some questions." They put away their wallets and I could see the hand grips of their weapons. I really didn't like it.

Renée was still at the coffee shop. I thought to her, "Hate to break the mood Lover, but two FBI agents want to talk to me."

"Have they told you why?"

"No."

"Can you tell if they're lying?"

"Not as far as I can tell now. I'll go with them and improvise. If you don't hear from me in the next few minutes, get to Erin and Chloe and get out of here."

"I don't like it, but okay." Renée knew that I could take care of myself. She also knew that I wasn't infallible.

Agent Conway continued to talk in a relaxed tone that suggested he was only doing what he was supposed to, but Agent Ellison was stone cold and silent. He wore the cliché sunglasses even inside the hotel. I looked back at Conway. His eyes looked hazel but could have passed for green. I wasn't sure if I could trust either of them because this may have been some toned down "good cop/bad cop" routine for public viewing.

Worst-case scenario, they had someone waiting in the room who would either drug me or worse once we went in. Otherwise it could be just as Agent Conway was saying, simply them wanting to ask me some private questions.

My adrenaline was beginning to pump. I was getting ready for a fight, but instead I steadied my nerves. The FBI wasn't any worse than normal police. They didn't do the whole 'bag-n-grab' bit seen in movies.

Hopefully.

I nodded to Agent Conway. "Lead the way," I said with a surprisingly steady tone.

He turned and started walking to where the private rooms were. Agent Ellison watched me as I started to follow. Apparently he was going to take up the rear. That made me nervous again. I glanced around, looking for signs of other agents who may have anticipated my reluctance. I didn't see anything but that didn't mean they didn't have something else planned. All the memories of tactics and training I had gotten from Agent Davis told me that there were more ways than force to get what they wanted. Again, it was my paranoia driving the ideas. Movies can be so misleading.

Agent Conway stopped and opened the door. I moved through it expecting to fight off whoever was waiting but was relieved to find no one else there.

The Agents came in but before Conway closed the door he asked, "Would you like anything to drink Mr. Setton?"

"No, thank you. I'm fine. Could you now tell me what this is about?"

Agent Ellison went to the corner of the room and stood there like some kind of proverbial badass. Agent Conway held out a hand, inviting me to sit down as he took a seat.

I took the seat he indicated. I was facing the door and both agents. I didn't see any way anyone could surprise me. I let Renée know where we were and that it looked like everything was going just as they had said it would.

"Mr. Setton, you do recall some months ago your participation in the capture and testimony of Victoria Lasarge?"

"Of course." I wasn't going to tell them that I had just spoken with her father about that very thing earlier.

"This morning at approximately nine A.M. Eastern time, she escaped from the maximum security facility she was detained in. We feel she might come after you or anyone close to you to exact revenge."

That made some sense and didn't. Victoria had actually felt remorse over what she had done. If anything, I was more concerned with her former Vikkor personality resurfacing and remembering the Master PC program. If that happened she could do more than exact revenge on just me and mine. "How did she escape?"

"We're not exactly sure. Normally I wouldn't be allowed to tell you, but from what Agent Davis told us, you could be very useful in her capture again. As far as we know, she just disappeared. Nothing was damaged, nothing was out of place. She simply wasn't in her room when they had morning roll call."

"Is it possible she might have slipped out through a pipe or some back room that had a bad lock or anything?" I was hoping for a mundane escape, something the FBI could handle.

Agent Conway shook his head. "The guards were very thorough about their checks. If either of those were the case, we would be on her trail now and not asking you for your help or to have you go into hiding."

"If I'm in hiding, how would I help find and capture her?"

Agent Conway just looked at me. "You may have come highly recommended by Agent Davis, but I cannot actually use you to find Ms. Lasarge. I've looked into your records and you've done nothing more significant than graduate high school. You have to understand my position. Ms. Lasarge is considered extremely dangerous and I cannot put you in that kind of risk."

"It's not just me that is in danger. It's everyone. Did they ever tell you what those dangerous chemicals were?"

"No. There was no need. I know what Anthrax can do..."

I cut him off. "It wasn't Anthrax."

Again he just looked at me. I could tell this was his blank stare, but I could still feel his doubt of what I knew.

"It was a virus, Agent Conway, a virus that could kill a man in minutes. A highly contagious virus specifically designed to kill all men, and I mean that literally. All Men! She has had a lot of trauma and had been seeking revenge, but the focus of that was the male gender, not just the specific men who had hurt her. If she has the opportunity to make that virus again, and she is intelligent enough to have memorized the components, then you, me, Agent Ellison over there and all other men are all in the very real danger of being dead even if nowhere near this woman."

I sat back hoping that something I said would sink in. Conway continued to give me a blank look, but I could tell by his eyes that he was worried.

"She was intelligent. We were told that. However, this still doesn't explain how she escaped or where she is. Nor does this increase my belief that you would be any real help to us."

"Then let me show you what my help involves," I said as I stood up.

Agent Conway stood up too, certain that I was going to do something stupid. It wasn't me he had to worry about.

So upset that he didn't have any faith in what Agent Davis had told him and the fact that Vikkor had escaped from prison, my adrenaline was pumping more than adequately for me to cross the room and put Agent Ellison to sleep before Agent Conway to get out any warning to stop me.

By the time Conway had said something, but was still looking at where I had been sitting, I was standing next to him with a hand on his arm.

"Agent Conway. You have to understand that my involvement is almost a must."

He was startled to find me next to him rather than still across the table. He looked past me and noticed Agent Ellison on the floor. "What did you do?" Conway asked as he pushed past me and went to check on Ellison.

"I put him to sleep, that's all. He'll wake up in a bit as if he had just had a nice nap."

Agent Conway looked back at me after confirming that his partner was merely sleeping. "How..."

"It doesn't matter. You've done your job. I know now. Thank you." I turned to leave.

"Wait!" Conway called. I stopped and turned back to him. "If you can do this..." he was still shocked at what happened, "then maybe I was wrong."

"Did Agent Davis tell you how I helped her?"

"No, and when I asked she refused to answer. Something about a promise to you."

"Exactly. And I am now going to hold you to the same Agent Conway. You and your partner."

He looked down at Ellison again. "You could have killed him. You could have killed me." The realization of what kind of danger they were in around me started to hit home. "If you had to help capture Victoria Lasarge before, I don't know how we'll do it again without your help."

I nodded. "I don't kill people Agent Conway. I don't feel the need to. Not even with someone who might come around seeking revenge, because there are worse things than death."

Conway swallowed audibly. He had been a cool and collected Special Agent when we met. Now I was the calm one and he was shaking like a leaf.

"I can help you but I need to make some arrangements first. Some people I live with could also be in danger. I need to contact them and have them go into hiding. We had arranged this already just in case something like this ever happened."

Conway nodded. "How do I contact you?"

I pulled out one of my business cards. "Got a pen?"

I had left my cell number with the agents and walked out.

"Ral, what did the agents want?" Renée asked.

"To ask for my help. It turns out that Vikkor has escaped from prison."

I got no response back from Renée for a minute. Finally, she asked, "Did they say how she escaped?"

"All they know is that she wasn't in her room for morning roll call this morning. There were no obvious signs of a break out or anything."

"How's that possible? She's not allowed a personal computer or laptop." She was thinking of Vikkor's use of Master PC. That woman had been extremely skilled with that software.

"There's also the fact that I had removed all memories of the program from her. If she remembered something or her Vikkor persona gained control again, she could very well be on her way back to Texas."

"I'll call the store and have everyone hide. Is it possible she would know you are here in New York?"

"I seriously doubt that. She might know her father is here and if he called the facility right after our conversation she might have put it together."

"When did they say she went missing?"

"Nine A.M. this morning."

"But that was before you talked to Lord Lasarge. He wouldn't have found out about her escape yet."

"Unless what we saw was a front and he somehow arranged to help her."

"Get to Erin and Chloe. They need to know what's happening."

I could get to them faster than riding the elevator, but during my mental discussion with Renée, I had already arrived. I focused on Erin. She had I had shared that same telepathic aspect to our bond longer than any of my other girls. The problem was, she wasn't responding. I didn't feel anything wrong from her, it was like she was asleep.

I knew Erin and Chloe would be wound up while waiting for me. Something was wrong. The alert of Vikkor's escape had me on my toes. I opened the door to my suite and moved across the room. To anyone else it would have been like the door just opened of its own accord. To me, it was like walking into the room while time was frozen. I was moving that fast.

Erin and Chloe were lying on the floor as if they had fallen wherever they stood. There was a young woman standing next to the door wearing what amounted to a cat suit. Her dark brown hair was pulled back tight. She looked no more than twenty and had a slight tan. Her face was pretty but not one I recognized. I couldn't see her eyes very clearly from across the room, but I had a feeling there would be opportunities for it in a moment. She could have passed for any college student but she was in my apartment.

What I found most strange was that her hands, feet and face were all bare. I couldn't understand why she hadn't completely concealed her body because she would easily leave prints on anything she touched, and I would recognize her too. She had a face I wouldn't forget. Not only because she was pretty, but also because she had attacked those I had sworn to protect.

I slowed down across from her, with enough distance between us that I would see her coming long before she took a step. "Who are you?"

She looked around and found me. "You! Now I'll show them ... I am worthy!" I had no more than noted the lack of any accent and she had stepped to launch herself at me.

Ready for her move, I simply stepped aside and watched her slow progress through the air. When she landed and turned, I was standing where she had started.

"Tell me who you are and I'll go easy on you," I warned.

Again she came at me, not jumping this time. She was faster than anyone I had met before, but my own speed still exceeded hers. She came at me with open hands, as if she were going to swipe at me with her nails.

Having moved around her already, I looked closer. There was nothing odd about her skin or nails, so I wasn't sure what she could do. Knowing some martial arts, I didn't recognize the attack so I had to assume she merely wanted to touch me. I could keep her from doing that, but the problem was I needed to touch her to command her to sleep.

She turned slowly, looking for me. I kept moving around the room and chose to come up behind her. Apparently she expected this and spun. I noticed the move happening and ducked under her wide spread arms. In the same motion, I grabbed one of her covered ankles and pulled the foot out from under her. Immediately I let go. She fell to the floor and was stunned.

I put a finger to her temple and commanded, "Sleep!"

Instantly she collapsed.

{t}Part Two — A Day Of Questions



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Part 2: A Day Of Questions

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Chapter 9: Passion In All Its Forms



I began to calm down. Then I realized that Erin and Chloe were still there and unconscious. I went to them. Both were breathing and had steady heartbeats. I started trying to wake Erin first.

Erin was a buxom red head. Originally she was a bottled red. Meaning she dyed her hair regularly. So much so that no one knew what her natural color was. Of course she had me change the color, so the red she preferred would be her natural color. I ran my fingers through those deep red locks, worried that something more than just sleeping could be wrong.

"Love, come on, wake up..." I said as I stood her up to get her moving. Feeling her in my arms was fantastic. In fact, the desires I had earlier were returning. I suddenly wanted to wake her up by doing more than just standing her up. Fortunately, I was too scared for her to follow through with the impulse.

She mumbled something and hugged me. My body responded to her warmth and touch. I was hopeful that she wasn't any worse off than I had left Agent Ellison earlier or the girls' attacker just a moment before.

Erin was standing on her own feet but still wobbly. I leaned back so I could see her face. "How are you feeling?"

Her emerald green eyes were hazy with sleep. "Mmm ... Not sure. What happened?" She put a hand to her temple and squeezed her eyes shut. "My head hurts."

I pulled her hand away and kissed her there. To some degree it was like I was trying to kiss the boo-boo away, but instead of just a kiss, I sought any damage Erin had suffered. I didn't find anything wrong and allowed my patent healing ability to flow through her.

"Oh, that's better. Thank you Love." She hugged me.

I held onto her for a minute, growing more excited by the feel of her naturally large breasts squeezing against my chest.

"Oh!" she moaned and pressed her belly to my rapidly hardening cock. She was wearing the same dress I had seen her in that morning. It was snug around her waist and just tight enough up top to show off her size, but it flowed freely from her hips down to her ankles. I hadn't been able to tell previously, but now I knew there wasn't a bra under it. With her pressed to me, I could feel her nipples distinctly. "Hello, Love," she whispered huskily.

I pulled back and made a point to show my reluctance. "I need to check on Chloe. Do you still have that shirt Renée had ripped off me earlier?"

Erin nodded, but the look on her face was confused.

"Good, go get it and rip it into strips. Then tie up our mystery guest, okay?"

"Mystery guest?" Erin asked as she looked around. It was difficult for her to miss the sleeping woman sprawled on the floor. I could feel her confusion grow. "Who is she?"

"Like I said, she's a mystery. When I got here you and Chloe were lying on the floor and she attacked me."

Erin looked back at me with startled eyes.

"She's asleep and won't wake up for a while. I need you to tie her up while I see to Chloe. Okay?"

Erin nodded and I felt her push her growing fear back into the back of her mind. When she was finished and all was clear, she'd let it roll back out and deal with it, but at the moment she was going to do what I needed her to do.

She left to get the shirt. I turned to Chloe.

Just like Erin, Chloe was asleep. She also woke up with a headache, which I eased. And just as I had carnal desires for Erin that seemed so out of place, I was just as happy to feel Chloe pressed to me.

"Mmm ... Master!" She hadn't even fully opened her eyes but she pressed her lips to mine. I welcomed the opportunity to give in even a bit to what I apparently needed. Chloe rubbed her body into mine, both pressing her lovely breasts into my chest and a thigh up against my crotch. I pulled her away from me somewhat forcefully.

"What's wrong?" she asked. She knew I didn't normally stop with her once we got started.

"We have a problem. Not you and me, but her." I nodded my head toward the mystery woman.

Chloe looked around blearily. She saw the woman on the floor. "Who is that?"

"You don't recognize her?"

Chloe shook her head.

"What was the last thing you remember?" I asked gently.

"Erin and I were kissing and decided to go to the bedroom. The next thing I know, you're waking me up," she said still staring at the girl.

"Do you recognize her?" I asked again.

"Wait ... She was here earlier. After Erin left to bring you and Renée extra clothes. She asked if there was anything we needed. She was dressed like the hotel staff, I but thought it odd that she came to the door rather than just call."

Chloe wasn't stupid or ditzy. If anything it was just the fact that we were in a luxury hotel and she didn't know the difference between it and a normal motel. Still, she had a point, if the staff wanted to check on us, they wouldn't have just shown up at the door.

"Did she do or say anything strange?"

Chloe shrugged. "Other than showing up like she did, no."

I nodded just as Erin returned with the remains of my shirt. She began binding the woman.

With Chloe still pressed to me, my urges were quickly gaining ground. I would soon have her stripped down and doing the dirty if I didn't get some control. I needed to think and that meant letting Chloe go. Something I was reluctant to do.

Finally I just walked away and went to the bathroom. I splashed some water on my face and let myself cool down. Chloe followed and watched from the doorway. When Erin was finished tying up the woman, she joined Chloe.

"Ral, are you okay?" Erin asked.

I nodded and then shook my head. "I'm relieved you two are okay." That was only part of the truth, and Erin called me on it.

"What about this morning? What happened between you and Renée? Michael had said you didn't seem to have any control."

I couldn't look at them. I knew if I did my urges would return and I had to deal with the mystery woman first. "I don't know what that was about, but I'm okay now."

I went over and sat on the closed toilet. Erin came in and started to reach for me. I pulled back and finally looked at her. I didn't understand why, but she looked so delectable. There was no difference between how she had looked before and now, but I knew that if we made contact I would lose it.

She dropped her hand and felt a touch dejected.

"Erin, I'm sorry. If she hadn't attacked," I waved toward the doorway indicating the woman in the other room, "I would be happy to take you and Chloe right here, right now."

She squatted down, putting her eyes level with mine. "I know, Love. You're having difficulty. Let me ease your body so your mind can work."

Chloe continued to stand in the doorway watching Erin and me. Apparently Erin had told her what had happened between Renée and me earlier because she said, "If you need us. We're here Master."

I looked at her, my eyes instantly drawn to how her breasts pressed to the fabric of her top. The pink material barely contained her breasts, stopping just below them. Her skirt was also short, showing off as much of her shapely legs as possible. Chloe was my one true nymphomaniac. She dressed to tease and would strip at the drop of a hat, or my pants.

The part of my brain that wanted them was screaming for the feel of their flesh. Another part still worried about the woman in the other room. I couldn't quell either one.

Renée broke through my conflicted mind. "Ral, I've called the store in Texas. Everyone is heading to their designated hiding places. How are Erin and Chloe?"

"They're fine..." I said mostly under my breath.

Erin looked at me, confused. "Who's fine?"

I looked at her. She was beautiful. Sexy. Stunning. Intelligent. All the things I preferred in women. I couldn't think. I couldn't concentrate. I was too far gone. "Renée is asking about you..." I finally got out.

Erin's eyes shifted. I knew my girls could communicate with each other too, thanks to me being the hub, but I didn't listen. Since I had lost her attention, I turned to Chloe. She stared back at me. I could feel her growing desire and my mind roared. "She's ready! She wants me! Take her! Take her now!"

I didn't remember doing it, but I stood up and crossed the bathroom. I didn't just hug or embrace Chloe, but picked her up by her waist and pulled her to me. She was a feather in my hands.

Chloe reciprocated, wrapping her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck as she pressed her hot lips to mine.

Instinctively, I walked us to the master bedroom. With Chloe still holding onto me I crawled up onto the bed. She let go enough to lie back on the blankets, but she kept her lips pressed to mine.

I was reaching up under her skirt, feeling for her. I pushed her panties aside and rubbed her, spreading her juices everywhere. She was a fire down below and I would douse it with my own fluids.

She reached down and began working to get my pants open. Once they were, I pulled my fingers away from her and she guided my raging boner into her.

Pressed completely into Chloe, my mind cleared enough for me to understand what was happening. I couldn't argue with the fact that I needed it. All I could do was finish.

Looking down at Chloe writhing below me, I remembered what Renée had told me. "We all want to marry you," and I could see Chloe wearing a veil, a white choker, her dressed bunched around her waist and her sexy thighs encased in white stockings. My heart soared. I leaned into Chloe, putting so much more than just animalistic need into our coupling. She, like the others, would be my wife. If not legally, then, at least, in our minds. I kissed her again, but with more passion, more love.

Chloe melted into me, around me. I could feel that she felt the difference. She knew it wasn't just me rutting around in her, but me giving her what was really me.

It had happened with only one other. Nadia and I had merged a few times as we made love. It was as if we were one body, one mind. Our union was as perfect as it could be. Now I felt the same with Chloe. Her mind, her thoughts, desires, emotions and dreams were mine, and all those same parts of me were hers. We were sharing on a much more intimate level. So much deeper than we had ever shared before.

There wasn't just physical joy, but the emotional exaltation of knowing with all your soul that nothing would ever come between the two of us. It had been the same with Nadia, though still different.

We moved in perfect concert. Our kisses, our thrusts couldn't have been better. Hands caressed the areas the other needed caressed. Chloe came many times. I knew she would and I reveled in the knowledge that it was me that brought her. When my climax hit, we both bowed our bodies, but still maintained as much contact as possible. We bent around one another, flowing with the phenomenal connection that we had.

Slowing to catch our collective breaths, I looked around knowing Erin probably wouldn't be far away.

I wasn't wrong. She sat on the edge of the bed. Her expression was a jumble of emotions. I could feel each one yet knew how they mingled and jostled each other. She was worried about the news she got from Renée, worried about the woman in the other room, worried about me and this new development I was going through. She was also a bit jealous that Chloe and I had found that perfect rhythm that all my girls sought but she was also delighted by the fact that I would soon be in her arms too.

Oddly, the mixture between all of the things she was worried about and the bit of jealousy all balanced her excitement. At the moment, I wasn't worried about anything. Not Vikkor, not the other woman, not about my talents demand for sex. Everything would work out. Even Erin's jealousy was unwarranted. I knew at that moment, even though I was still merged with Chloe, that Erin and I would find that sync too.

I held my hand out to her. Chloe mirrored my movement. Erin hesitated for only a heartbeat. Those concerns and her jealousy had held her back only that long, but when she crawled over to us, they were shoved back past the fear she had felt for what the woman could have done to her and Chloe.

Chloe and I accepted her, embraced her, and loved her. We shared our emotions not only with one another but with Erin as well. She glowed. Chloe and I kissed and touched Erin. She held onto both of us as if she were really only holding one person.

Chloe and I agreed, this was something I needed to share with Erin. The easiest, most exciting method was for me to be making love to Erin. We parted physically, but maintained our sync. We pulled Erin between us and undressed her. The dress was the only thing to remove and Erin giggled as our four hands pulled it from her body while we touched and caressed her.

The logistics of Chloe and I making love to Erin at the same time wasn't impossible. What made it, at the very least, amusing was that we were doing and thinking the same things. Erin understood what was happening and moved in between us, facing me. I leaned in and kissed her. Chloe leaned in and sucked on her neck. Erin groped at both of us. One hand was on my ass and the other on Chloe's. My girls had become naturally bi-sexual as a by-product of being bound to me. If I wasn't available to attend them, they turned to one another. Erin and Chloe had been kissing before they were attacked. They were even going to come into the bedroom to get more intimate.

That idea inspired me. Chloe knew it too and we turned Erin around to face Chloe instead. Together, Chloe and I whispered, "Finish what you/we started earlier."

Erin smiled and pulled Chloe to her. Their mouths locked in a hot embrace and I could feel their tongues moving around each other. I leaned in to kiss and lick on Erin's neck and ear.

Chloe and I began losing our sync. It wasn't the pop that Nadia and I experienced. Instead it was smooth, almost like slipping out of clothing for what we were doing.

I was pressed to Erin from behind. She reached between us and pushed my cock down so it stood between her spread legs. Chloe was pressed fully to her from the front. I could feel both of them slipping along my length.

Erin was getting heated up quickly with all the direct attention Chloe and I provided. Chloe, looking past Erin into my eyes, reached between the two of them and pressed me up against Erin. Erin shook and took a deep breath. We could feel the pleasures she felt as her orgasm ran through her. I knew that was a small one for Erin and wanted to feel a bigger one.

I nodded to Chloe and pulled my hips back a bit. She held me to Erin and pressed the tip of my cock up. Erin knew what was coming and arched her hips back, trying to help.

Among my girls, Erin was the tightest. Even the months of sex between the two of us hadn't changed that. I had changed her, like Renée and Chloe, so she could accept all of me without pain or discomfort, but I enjoyed her tightness and kept that. She was as relaxed as she was going to get but she was still like a tight fist around me as I pressed into her.

Erin looked over her shoulder at me, biting her lower lip while accepting my intrusion. As I penetrated deeper, her eyes rolled up and she shuddered. Chloe bent down and attacked Erin's nipples.

I continued driving my cock into Erin. She loved every inch and pressed right back until my hips were firmly against her butt.

"Fuck me, Love. Take me like you want me."

"I want you in so many ways. Today though, I believe will be more than you have ever felt before." My confidence poured into my effort. I truly loved Erin just as I did Chloe and all of my other girls.

Again thoughts of marrying Erin came to me. The ceremony. The sight of her in her dress. The brilliant smile she would have. It lifted my heart, made my spirit soar.

Erin felt my emotions. She looked back at me. I could feel her trying to turn around to face me. Chloe noticed too and backed away. I picked up Erin's leg, leaned back and turned her around without losing contact.

Erin knew I was strong, but to have been moved so effortlessly she was truly amazed. All that strength and yet I was still so gentle, so loving.

Chloe moved away and I laid Erin back. She held me and watched me as I gave over to not only the desire to take her, but also the love I felt for her. This had been what she had asked for on so many occasions and today, when it seemed like the world was falling apart outside the bedroom, I was there for her. All of me, my animal, my love, I was hers, and she was mine. There was nothing that would ever change that.

Erin had been lying there, awed by what I offered, but that only lasted for a moment. Once she was in full understanding of what was happening, she gave back the same to me.

The emotion, the physical sensations, the spiritual elevation, all of it was shared. All of it was accepted.

Chloe wasn't forgotten, but she chose to stand aside. She knew what she and I had shared and she wanted that for Erin too. Erin and I thanked her.

Erin arched up, pressing her breasts into my chest. At the same time she thrust her hips up to meet mine. The feel of her in my arms, her body writhing and accepting mine, was everything I ever wanted from her because it wasn't only her physical attraction to me, but her emotions, her everything, being put into our joining. And I knew, just as she did, this would always be between us. There would never be any holding back when it came to expressing how we felt for one another. Never any doubt about the other's mind set. Nothing to break the way our hearts beat together or how high we flew while holding one another.

The merging was even smoother than when Chloe and I had separated. One minute Erin and I were sharing ourselves with each other and the next we were one. Period.

Of course our bodies responded to what we were doing. She was soaked with excitement and I flooded her to overflowing.

When we were finished, Chloe was sitting beside us in tears. Erin and I reached for her just as Chloe and I had reached for Erin before. She accepted it just as readily and the three of us shared the incredible changes in our relationships. Erin and Chloe both felt closer to one another too. They both knew that I loved them as much as they each loved me. Only such profound understanding could bring them closer.

We heard the door to the suite open. Even though we were all basking in the afterglow of what we had shared, there was still the knowledge and fear that someone was after me. The girls' presence only heightened my senses making me aware of who was there before I saw her.

Renée walked in and stopped at the doorway. The look on her face was a mix of amazement and curiosity. "I see Ral is feeling better. How about you two?" It was like there wasn't a woman tied up in the other room at all.

Erin and Chloe could only smile. It was difficult for them to express the euphoria they were both still caught up in.

I got up to go get a washcloth from the bathroom to clean us up with. Chloe jumped up and ran out of the bedroom ahead of me calling, "I'll get it."

Renée watched her bounce past her. "Get what?"

"A washcloth to clean up with," I answered. "Erin, Chloe and I have reached a whole new understanding."

Renée looked back at me. "Yes?"

I got up and walked over to her but stopped short of touching. I wanted to hug her and share some of it with her, but I was feeling more in control and my concerns over what had happened in the time before were returning. Besides, Renée put her hand out to stop me. "I've already ruined one suit today." She was smiling because the smiles the rest of us had seemed to be contagious.

Chloe came back and knelt in front of me. She cleaned me up and dried me off. As she got up she said, "Now show her."

Somehow she and I were still hearing each other without actually using thought-talking. I just nodded and closed the distance between me and Renée.

Renée giggled at the sight but welcomed me anyway. "Does this require me being naked?" she asked looking past me to the girls as they were getting clean.

"Only if you really want it to. I had been feeling out of control when things started. I'm sure Erin told you that. Now though, I'm feeling..."

"Like I have a buzz," Erin finished for me.

I nodded. "Yeah. I've not felt this good in a long time."

Renée's eyebrows went up. "Really? Is it anything like you were acting like in the cab?"

"I think that has a lot to do with it."

Renée let me embrace her. I kissed her with the same passion I had shared with Erin and Chloe. She noticed the difference immediately and I had to hold her up as her knees buckled.

Renée and I had already shared the steamy side of passion. The conversation brought out our emotions and now I let her feel my spirit.

We broke the kiss and caught our breaths. Again, I could feel that connection. It was more than just the bond between us. Stronger than even what connected me and Jeri or even me and Tabitha. Jeri and Tabitha were both back in Texas. Jeri was huge, pregnant and expected to deliver at the end of May. Tabitha found out she was pregnant in December. The doctor said she would be due in September.

Even with the distance between me and everyone else, I still saw them in my dreams. All of us shared that time, no matter where we were. The trouble was the distance made a difference. The girls further away weren't as distinct as those who were by my side. However, Jeri and Tabitha were perfectly distinct even with the great distance between us.

Now, I wondered what our dreams would be like with this newfound state of togetherness. I had shared something very similar with Nadia when my abilities first manifested but it didn't make any change in our connection. I knew it wasn't the same. We were extremely physical with one another but neither of us had put as much of the emotional or spiritual aspects into it. I knew, just simply knew, that when I saw Nadia again we would. All of my girls would know this new euphoria. The contentedness we had been seeking was there all along. We just didn't understand it. Now I was certain of what had to be done.

It was just a matter of time.



-------

Chapter 10: When It Rains... 



Renée was smiling like a school girl. I couldn't help but mirror the sentiment. "That's one hell of a kiss you have there, mister," she said tauntingly.

I started to lean in to kiss her again but a sound from the other room caught my attention.

I looked past Renée and noticed the woman on the floor moaning and moving. Immediately I put myself between the woman and Renée. I wouldn't let her touch any of them.

Erin and Chloe knew immediately what got my attention. Renée looked over my shoulder. "Should she be awake already?" she asked.

I shook my head. "She should sleep for a few hours. I hit her that hard."

Erin and Chloe approached but they too stayed behind me. Erin said, "She looks like she's having a nightmare..."

I had to agree. The woman wasn't really struggling against her bonds but moved as if something were agitating her.

I walked toward her. Chloe immediately held out a pair of my shorts. I didn't even think, just grabbed them and slipped them on. It wasn't a matter of what could happen, I had just thought it would be nice to have something to wear and she had apparently felt the same.

The girls followed but kept close to the bedroom door. I went to the woman and pulled her over so I could see her face. Erin had even blindfolded her. It was a good idea.

Her breathing was labored. I checked the gag but it only cut across her mouth, nothing was in it. I felt her neck and found her pulse racing.

She began to hyperventilate. I took off the gag and found the top of the zipper for her suit. I pulled it down halfway since it was in the front. Still she couldn't seem to get enough air. I gripped her head, allowing my hands to come into full contact with her skin. Immediately I got the sensation that the air was leaving the room.

I let go of the woman instinctively, caught my breath and then grabbed her again, holding my breath as if diving under water.

My lungs burned and I could feel what she was going through. What I couldn't do was stop it. I poured my ability to change her body into her and just allowed it to do whatever it could but there was technically nothing wrong with her. She believed she wasn't getting enough air and her body was responding to that belief.

I drove into her mind, seeking the source of the problem but something shoved me back out. By the time I shook off the effect and caught my breath again, she lay still.

"No! No no no no no no no no!" I ripped the blindfold off and her eyes were wide open and blank. Oddly enough, I found her mark. It was a small star next to her right eye. And it was gray.

Everyone surged forward. Erin asked, "What's wrong?"

I held my hand out to her. "Take my hand, ground me here."

She took my hand and knelt next to me. Chloe and Renée took up positions around me, laying their hands on my back.

I again dove into the woman's mind. Immediately I was swallowed up in darkness.

Looking around, I saw nothing. Lots and lots of nothing. I tried seeking the woman like I had done with Renée, but I didn't have a bond with her. I moved in every conceivable direction, but there was only the infinite nothingness of the Void. There would be no way for me to find her, no way for me to bring her back.

I looked up and felt Erin, Chloe and Renée still there. I went to them and sat up on the floor.

Chloe looked scared. Erin knew that I was unsuccessful without me saying anything. Renée leaned into my back.

Gingerly, I pulled away from the woman's body on the floor. Things had just become much more complicated.

A phone began ringing. It was mine, back in the bedroom. Chloe just got up and got it.

Caller ID showed nothing. It didn't even say "No Name, No Number."

I flipped open the phone and put it to my ear. "You're a little late, Whisper."

"The first attacker has failed, but there will be more Ral."

"How do you know this?" I got up and began pacing.

"That is what I do. Unfortunately, it has also become my liability."

"That's rich. What kind of liability could it be to know how events turn out for other people?"

"The kind that would have the same people sending attackers to me."

That got my attention. I stopped and listened intently at the phone. "You've been attacked?"

The others looked at one another nervously and then back to me.

"Yes, but not as directly as yourself. As you already know, I have many safeguards in place to conceal my true identity. And as of right now the only person I can trust is you."

"You're not just calling to advise me then, are you?"

"No, I need to meet you."

I shook my head but knew he couldn't see it. "I'm in New York, not Texas."

"There are times you can be very frustrating in not accepting what others say, Ral. I'm in New York too. I'm standing in the alley right across the street from your hotel."

"I take it you want to meet now."

"Yes, please. Time is of great importance. You have to get your girls and self out of the hotel or there will be many others there looking for you."

"Got it. I'll put them in a cab and meet you in the alley." Erin gave me a part curious, part confused look at that.

"I didn't think you would leave."

"No, I want to make sure the fight stays here and doesn't follow them." I answered Whisper as much as Erin.

"Very good. New York will suit our purposes perfectly."

"What purposes?"

"I will tell you when you meet me," and with that he hung up.

"Ral, you can't stay. Whoever sent this woman will send more. They don't even care about those they send, killing them when they fail!" Erin was starting to lose it.

"And that's why I'm going to act as live bait. I want you, Chloe and Renée out of the city before night fall, and I want whoever this is to know that I'm staying. Hopefully they're too intent on getting to me to worry about you."

Chloe looked too stunned to speak. Renée seemed shocked but didn't look it.

"Whisper says more are on the way already. Please, do as I ask. As soon as I know you're safe then I can go in a different direction and hide too. Okay?"

Erin nodded and hugged me again. "God, I hope you're right Ral. I don't want anything to happen to you but we can't do anything to defend ourselves."

I pulled her back and looked her in the eyes. "Yes you can. Take my laptop with you. It has a copy of Master PC in it. Use it if you have to. Okay?"

She nodded. We had spent a great deal of time writing up defensive skills and such in plain text to copy and paste into the command window of anyone's profile. We had tested many of them to make sure they did exactly what we intended but there were a couple we were afraid to test. I only hoped they wouldn't have to use those commands.

"Ral, maybe I can help," offered Renée.

I knew what she was thinking. With her new control over her ability to change appearance she could blend in with crowds. "I appreciate the offer Renée. But if they catch you it won't matter what your appearance is. They will still have you."

Erin and Chloe had gotten up to go start packing but stopped for this. "What do you mean?" Chloe asked both me and Renée.

"I'm sorry for not getting to tell you too. Things have been moving too fast." I stepped up to Renée and took her hand. "Show them."

She smiled at me and then at Erin and Chloe. She made some changes to herself and then went back to the Renée we had all grown accustomed to. Erin and Chloe were shocked. It was a day of shocks, but things couldn't slow down now.

"Renée, go with them. Help them pack and tell them about the meeting. I've got to call Michael."

She nodded, knowing that I would still refuse her help. She turned and stopped while looking at the woman on the floor. "Ral, if someone was able to kill this girl without even having her in sight then wouldn't that mean..."

I don't think she wanted to think of me falling to similar circumstances. "I don't think so. There had to be some kind of connection between her and whoever killed her. Her reaction was completely in her mind. There was nothing physically wrong with her."

"Is it possible someone used Master PC on her?"

I looked down at the woman too. "If I knew her name I would try to find out."

"It doesn't look like she has anywhere too keep any ID," Renée quipped. She actually smirked.

I called for Chloe. She came in and looked down at the woman too, only because that's what Renée and I were doing. "You said she came up earlier to see if we needed anything, right?"

She nodded.

I took her hand and sought the memory. The woman was dressed in a hotel staff outfit. When Chloe had opened the door, the woman introduced herself. "Hi, I'm Laura with the "W"..." Chloe had even looked at the name on the woman's chest. It too said Laura.

"Thank you Chloe," I said to her and kissed her hand. She smiled and went back to packing. Erin came in carrying my laptop.

"I didn't ask for this," I said teasing.

"I know, but I heard what you and Renée said and knew you'd need it," she said as she handed it to me. I kissed her hand too and she left.

After booting up the computer, I pulled up the program.

Renée said, "You know how many Laura's there could be within a hundred miles of here?"

I had already started the search and had the answer. "Less than I was thinking. Only a little over a thousand."

Renée rolled her eyes. She sat down next to me and looked at the screen too. There were portraits of everyone who had a first name of Laura. "It's going to take hours to go through all of those faces to find her."

There was an advanced option and I clicked that. The screen shifted and the search criteria expanded to include other general information. "Go look and see what color her eyes are," I said.

Renée got up and found out. "Blue."

I typed that in as well as dark brown for hair. For overall build I put in athletic. Then I hit search again. "That's better: fifteen."

Renée returned to the couch with me. Immediately she pointed to one face. "There."

I double-click on the face. A body appeared on the screen. It was laying in the same position as the woman on the floor. However, the command box was empty except for the word some of the kind of code Renée and I each had.

"Looks like if anyone used the program on her wiped out any commands. Either that or the program deletes commands automatically when someone dies."

"I don't know. I read a report from New Mexico about this guy and girl who had died of exposure. The girl had exceptionally large breasts. The report said that they were natural but the coroner had made a note that he had known the girl before she died and she never had breasts that big."

"If Master PC had been involved in that instance and the software didn't wipe the commands, it would explain why she was still altered."

"That means that if someone used Master PC on this girl, they erased the commands just like you said."

"And that leaves us nothing but her name: Laura Stephens," I said.

"Call Michael, he may know her. He might know if she was a member of a house or trying to gain admittance to one."

I nodded and picked up my cell phone. Renée kissed my cheek and then got up to go help pack.

Michael picked up. "Hey Ral. What's up?"

"Nothing good. I've got a lot of bad news and very little time."

"I'm all ears."

I told him about the meeting with the agents and the intruder. I explained what had happened to the woman and what Renée and I had already deduced. Finally he asked for the woman's name and I told him that.

"Laura Stephens? She might be related to Joyce Stephens, who's a member of House Nickelson. I'll give her a call and see if she knows her."

"Don't say anything that's happened. The last thing I need is for the police to come looking for me."

"Actually Ral, you should call the police and let them take your statement. It will be easier if you did."

"Therein lays the other problem. You remember me telling you about Whisper?"

"Of course."

"He called again. Only this time, not only did he warn me that more people were on their way, but he wants to meet me face to face."

"Any idea why?"

"He says he's been attacked too but not as directly. He says he and I have a purpose to fulfill here in New York but wouldn't say more over the phone."

"Hmm ... Then maybe you should leave. At the very least get your girls out of there."

"That's already in progress."

"Good. I'll make arrangement to have their tickets changed since I'm still here at the terminal."

"Thank you."

"They're going back to Texas, right?"

"No, have that changed to Charleston, West Virginia."

"You're sending them to your parent's place?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. I'll take care of that and then see what I can track down on Laura."

"Thank you Michael."

"No problem on this end, you just get those girls into a cab, and be careful."

"I will."

Renée, Erin, and Chloe all filed out of the master bedroom with their suitcases. Each was dressed for travel and none were looking happy about me staying behind.

Before I could say anything or even get up to go get dressed, all three broke into reasons why I shouldn't stay. My death being the most important.

I got up and went to each one, silencing them with a soft kiss and hug. "I will be fine," I said after all three were quiet. "I want to make sure you will be safe first."

I went and got dressed. Keeping things simple, I changed into pants, pulled on socks and put on the patent leather boots Renée had bought me and a nice dress shirt. The rest of my belongings were already packed. I put my shorts in with them and then went back to the main room.

The girls were all still standing where I had left them. They were still reluctant to leave me behind. To be honest, I didn't want to be that far from them either. "Look, I'm having Michael change your tickets to Charleston. You'll be staying at my parent's place for a few days at most."

"And if something happens to you?" Erin asked, tears beginning to form along the edges of her eyes.

I could feel their pain. The thoughts of what their lives would be like without me and though I had argued for so long that they would probably be better off free of me, I found that they could not honestly imagine going home without me. They could not dream of what their lives would be like empty of my presence. Part of me was still shocked by this, but the rest of me understood. I couldn't imagine my life without them either. I had to make sure they were safe and waiting for me to return to them.

"Look for me in your dreams," I finally said. "Even the distance between us won't take that away."

Erin nodded and rushed me. She hugged me fiercely. Chloe and Renée weren't far behind.

A knock at the door broke our mood.

I put a finger to my lips and pointed to the master bedroom. The girls picked up all the suitcases, Renée carrying mine as well, and left the room. Once they closed the bedroom door, I went to the main door.

The peephole was black. Someone was covering it. My adrenaline picked up. I moved to the side, away from the door just as it was kicked in.

Two men came in. One large, several inches taller than me, and looking like Mr. Universe. His muscles flexed as he walked in, ready for a fight. The other man was just about my height, lean and wore glasses.

I tapped the big one on the shoulder and showed him what strength was. He doubled over from the punch to the gut and fell to the floor gasping for air. Then I moved around the room, getting a better look at the other man. He watched my every move, keeping up with me even though everything else looked like time had frozen.

"Who are you? What do you want?"

He said nothing but pulled out two knives and started walking toward me.

"Crap," I said under my breath.



-------

Chapter 11: Mind Magi Police



The man with the knives wasn't just fast, he was agile too. He moved with a grace that surpassed anything I had ever seen.

I was hard pressed to duck and dodge, but I knew he would eventually get me. I had to choose when he would. I had to make sure it was to my advantage.

I used the martial arts training I had gleaned from Mike, Erin's ex-boyfriend, so many months prior, the training from Agents Davis and Marks not many days after that, and anything I had seen in a movie that looked like it could really work. Still I didn't land a finger on the guy.

He kept his cool the entire time, looking for the perfect moment to strike. Taking swipes, thrusting his knives at me, and generally being in my face. I can honestly say that of all the people I had fought, this one scared me more than any of the others. Even his big friend on the floor wasn't as much of a threat. My normal tactic of being faster than my foe wasn't useful any more. I needed to strike with my other abilities. I needed to get those knives out of his hands.

What could I do though? Most of my abilities required touch. My Strength was useless unless I had like a bat or something. Even then, going for a weapon at this point would open me up for him to strike. I had limited telepathy, but that wouldn't disarm him. So many talents, so few truly useful ones.

There was one that I had that didn't require touch, my Charm, but I didn't want this guy getting sexy for me. I wanted him nice and unconscious. If he would be so kind as to just fall asleep, I would be happy. Oddly, I actually felt my Charm reach out to him.

My hesitation was enough that he slashed my left arm. That brought me back to reality and I let my Charm go. Almost instantly the guy slowed down and finally went over and lay down on the couch. He was asleep in seconds.

I stood there, staring at him in confusion while clutching my bleeding arm.

The big guy started to stir. I went over to him, pressed my hand to his forehead and almost screamed, "SLEEP!"

One thing was certain: Whisper had been right about more people coming.

I went to the bedroom door and knocked on it. "Renée, Erin, Chloe. It's Ral. Everything is okay."

"Is it really okay, or are they forcing you to say that?" I heard Renée ask.

"Brilliant. And yes, it's really clear, both of them are asleep."

The door opened and I went to the bathroom. The girls followed me. "What happened?" asked Erin.

"I got cut," I answered. I rolled up my shirt sleeve and started washing away the blood.

Erin got closer and looked. We both watched as the cut began healing, knitting its self shut before our eyes. When it was closed there wasn't even a scar left.

"Well, I'm not as worried as I was before," Erin said.

I nodded. I couldn't agree more that it was good to know I didn't need sex to heal.

"What are we going to do? The hotel will certainly take note of a broken door, two sleeping guys and a dead girl."

An idea struck me. It was perfect but oh so wrong. "We'll check out and leave. Then we'll call the hotel and report a fight in this suite. When they call the police, they will take the men into custody and cart away the woman. It even looks like they may have killed her except for her lacking a single mark."

Erin looked at me shocked. Chloe seemed to roll the idea around in her head as if weighing the consequences and Renée said, "No. Ral, whatever we do, we can't just leave like this."

"Fine, but I still want you three in a cab on the way to the airport. I'll talk to the police."

Erin calmed down and Chloe just shrugged. Renée was still on top of things. "Before you call them, you need to find out who they are and who sent them."

I nodded and walked past the girls. I went to the brute on the floor first. The other guy had really spooked me. I knelt down next to the big guy. He still had a pulse, which was good, and he seemed to be breathing nice and evenly. Whatever had befallen the woman wasn't happening to these two. I wondered about that difference.

I pressed my hand to the big guy's temple. Immediately I ran into a wall. Even asleep this guy had mental defenses. I sought an entrance. He had to have a door or window or something. "Show me..." I mumbled under my breath.

Somehow the wall disappeared. It was like my request was accepted. I didn't wait to find out how or why, I just looked for what I needed.

Roy Jordan had always been big and in high school, the star of the football team. Colleges fought over him and he attended Georgia Tech. Then a man approached him and informed him that he was a Mind Magi. The man's name was John Ramos, a recruiter for House Vaughan. Roy turned them down and continued with his education.

During one of the playoff games, Roy suffered a knee injury. It took three surgeries and two years of therapy to get it back to ninety percent functionality. Unfortunately that meant his football career was over.

During that two year period, Roy found out that his body was trying to compensate for the injury and he put on muscle mass. He realized that the Mind Magi recruiter had been after him because of that special gift. Roy called him up and decided to find out more.

That had been ten years prior. Now Roy was one of the Dragons of the Mind Magi. He was the heavy backup to whoever they sent into the field. He didn't know why, but he was instructed to bring me in. He had never failed to do anything the council had asked of him before. I wondered what would happen now that he had.

I looked for who gave him the order. It should have been simple, but it wasn't. Whoever gave the Dragons their assignments was smart. They were always contacted indirectly, usually by their cell phones.

I pulled back and picked Roy's pockets. I found his phone. I opened it and pulled up the recently called list but it was empty. They had probably been trained to erase all lists after receiving such calls. I closed the phone and put it in my pocket.

"Did you find anything?" Renée asked.

I shook my head. "They're contacted by cell phone. Their orders come from the Council. It could be any of them or all of them. You saw how Flemming took the news of me being made a House Lord. I'm sure he would have seen this as really funny."

"Why were they sent?" Erin asked.

"They don't even know that. Roy here was told to help him," I pointed to speedy, "bring me in."

"Bring you in?" Chloe asked.

I shrugged. "They're like the police of the Mind Magi."

"Check him anyway, Ral. He might have received different information. I mean, he came at you with a pair of knives!" Renée noticed the handles were they stuck out from under the man's jacket.

I nodded and approached him. He slept peacefully, just like Roy did. I wasn't sure how strong my command had been since it passed through my "charm blanket" but I made sure he continued to sleep as soon as I touched him.

He too had defenses up even though he slept. Maybe they were trained for that. Again, I passed through his defenses with the same ease as Roy. If they're being trained to defend themselves in their sleep, they needed better training. Then again, it may have been possible that since I induced their sleep this time their defenses were weakened. I would have to keep that in mind and test the theory. Some other time.

Russ Fairbanks was approached a few years ago by House Augustus. The recruiter, Jordan Litcom, had found Russ soon after Russ had been laid off. The firm Russ had worked for cut him and about a thousand other employees. He had been there for over seven years, working as a plant line worker. His natural dexterity was a benefit and burden. He was too good to give a promotion too, yet he wasn't high enough in the company's structure to escape the layoffs.

Russ was sure Jordan and this "House Augustus" was just some normal job recruiter and went through the whole process of "House Recruitment". What he had failed to understand until they showed him what they were really about was that his gifts of speed and agility were not normal. They even convinced him that he could use them "to do some good for the world". Then they started his training as a Dragon.

It seemed Russ never truly accepted what was going on. He may have played the part House Augustus wanted, but he kept everything in a very awkward state in his mind. He had seen some very strange stuff but took it all in stride and didn't let anything stand in his way for promotion this time. He moved up in the ranks simply by doing what he was told and not asking questions. His practicality also earned him recognition. The House trusted him to do what needed to be done, and he felt he really found something he could do well. Until he ran into me.

I looked around for his memories of this assignment. He, like Roy, had been contacted by cell phone and told to bring me in. However, Russ received the addendum that anything was allowed. Unlike Roy, who would have been happy to just clobber me and drag me in unconscious, Russ was far more practical. I wouldn't give them any trouble at all if I were dead. He wasn't set to kill me when he met Roy down in the lobby, but after he saw me take the big guy down so quick, he knew I would not give up easily.

I pulled away shaking my head. "You were right Renée. He was told to use any means necessary."

"What House are they from?" she asked. She was assuming they were from the same one. I had only wished.

"Roy is from House Vaughan, the same as my grandfather, and Russ here is from House Augustus."

"Damn," she said with emphasis.

Again, I rummaged through his pockets and found his cell phone. Just like Roy's, the call history had been erased. I pocketed it too.

I got up and went to the woman on the floor. The police would be called soon if they weren't already. I wanted her to look like she had just dropped dead so I removed the binds from her hands and feet. Next I took my suitcase and put it back in the master bedroom, opened it and left it. I wanted it to look like something had happened while I was gone.

Looking at my girls, I rolled my sleeve back down. "Hopefully I'll be meeting Whisper when the police show up. It may be best to let them think I wasn't here when they came in."

Renée was aghast. "Ral, you just said you would talk to the police about this!"

I nodded. "But if you think I'm going admit to fighting those two or watching the woman die in my arms, you're mistaken."

"I didn't mean that..." she said taken aback.

"If I was here, then they will ask all kinds of questions I won't be able to answer honestly. I could be charged with assault on the two men and murder for the woman. Even if it was self defense, I could be detained here for months waiting for my case to be heard. I cannot just sit in a cell waiting for more thugs to come looking for me. Worse, what if the person behind all of this comes for me personally. It would look like suicide if they can just suffocate me while I'm in a cell and no way out."

Renée looked shaken. I went to her and hugged her. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped." She knew, just like I did, that it was very possible the death of the woman may have been a setup to make that happen. I could feel the idea slip through her mind.

She hugged me back. "This is just too much Ral. We need to get out of here. All of us."

I pulled back and looked at her. A tear slid down her cheek. I wiped it away and she put her hand over mine. "Please, don't stay. Come with us."

I was sorely tempted. I would be the easiest thing to do, to just leave, to run, but it wouldn't do any of us much good for long. Eventually they would find us. It wouldn't be hard tracking a man traveling with a bunch of women. Well, unless you counted the bus drivers for like the Dallas Cheerleaders.

I knew I couldn't. I had to stay and keep the fight away from my girls. "I'm sorry. I can't. I have to make sure this is resolved here and now. I have to make sure you're safe." I looked to Erin and Chloe, held out my hand to them and finished, "All of you."

The four of us hugged for a moment. I broke it up before anything else could happen.

Down in the lobby, everything seemed fine. I checked my watch and noticed a maid with a service cart entering the service elevator behind a wall of plants near the back of the hotel. I was pretty sure they started at the top and worked their way down. I didn't have much time. Then again, to make my alibi work, something about me not being there when the fight broke out, I didn't have to return immediately, but that didn't make me any less nervous.

Outside, Renée hugged me fiercely. "What are you going to do?" She glanced up to indicate the room. I was sure she had seen the maid too.

"Relax. I'll get Whisper to give me an alibi. I'm going to meet him right after I see you three off." I tried to smile but couldn't. All of us were too shaken up and nervous.

She nodded, as did Erin and Chloe. I could feel all of them trying to remain relaxed, but like me, they were having difficulty with it.

There were several cabs already sitting at the curb, waiting for someone to hire them. I waved at the driver of one and as he put their suitcases in the trunk I gave each of them hugs and kisses. "I have my cell phone. Call me when you land. Now, no more arguments, no more discussions." I patted all three bottoms as they got in the cab.

I felt suddenly alone as I watched them ride away.



-------

Chapter 12: Whisper Revealed



The cab was out of sight and it took me a minute to pull myself together.

I crossed the street. I still couldn't think of any good excuses to give the police. My plan to make it look like I hadn't been in the room was all I had to go with. I needed an alibi, and if Whisper wanted my help, he would provide me one. I went into the alley and looked around.

The alley didn't go very far. There were three doors on one building and two on the other. Fire escapes climbed both, but otherwise there was nothing but trash bins. No one was waiting. "Great..." I said under my breath.

I turned and started toward the street. Then I saw someone enter the alley, blocking the exit. I stopped, wary of another potential attack. If my Charm had helped me to stop Mr. Speedy in the hotel, maybe it could help me with new aggressors.

"Ral?" came a female voice.

"Who's asking?" I returned, not answering their question.

They started to approach, walking cautiously. "I warned you more were coming. Why didn't you listen?"

It was early afternoon. The sun was high overhead but the two tall buildings I stood between blocked out any direct light. By the ambient light I had difficulty seeing her clearly. The voice was definitely female, but the question was one I would expect only from Whisper.

I let my eyes adjust to the dimness and watched as she continued to draw near. Thanks to Doctor Holzer, I could tell she wasn't lying to me about the warning. Still it was a shock to see a woman rather than a man. I was expecting some small wiry guy with glasses and a bad haircut. Instead, a young woman stood before me. She had shoulder length white-blonde hair, a fair complexion and startlingly light blue eyes. She reminded me of clear, bright mornings after the snow had fallen back at home.

The outfit she wore was closer to what I expected. A dark green t-shirt that only barely hid the bulge of her breasts. It was tucked into utility style khaki-colored pants. She even wore what looked like military boots. I knew the clothes weren't military. Anyone could find the same outfit in pretty much any outlet, even Wal-Mart. She was dressed down, in something accepted as every day. The only thing that stood out about her was her face.

If she used Master PC as much as I believed, her face and body could have been a disguise. I could accept that she was a woman, but maybe not so alluring in real life.

I guess I was staring too hard or the look on my face seemed sour because she said, "Ral, I'm sorry if me being a woman has upset you, but this is who I am and I would appreciate at it if you would stop looking at me like that."

That snapped me out of my thoughts. "I'm sorry. You caught me off guard. I guess with all the cloak and dagger stuff you pull, I just always thought of you as a guy."

"I've always been a woman. I just don't let on that I am. Most people mistake me for a man and that's fine with me." She adjusted the backpack she had slung over one shoulder as she spoke.

"Because it keeps you safe?"

She nodded.

"Fair enough. You asked for my help and I'm going to need yours in return. Tell me what you have because my room is wide open. I'm sure someone has called the hotel security by now and the police are on their way."

"No, your room is safe for the moment, but my calculations only give us five maybe six minutes before anyone finds something amiss."

"Your calculations?"

"Yes," she said, and then she turned back down the alley, walking away.

I followed. "Where are we going?"

"You're in need of an alibi. It will be best to not even be close to the hotel when the police show up." She turned the corner back the way she had come. I expected her to stop and wave down a cab, but she kept walking. We crossed the next street and then turned at the next one. She stopped next to a silver Toyota Camry, pulled out a keychain and I heard the telltale sound of the anti-theft alarm being disarmed. "Get in," she said as she climbed in the driver's seat.

I got in and buckled up. She looked at me. "Don't trust my driving?"

"Habit," I replied simply. "Where are we going?"

"First, we have to establish your alibi. Know a good restaurant?"

My stomach growled at the idea of food. I nodded. "But we'll need better attire."

"Why?"

"We're having a luncheon interview. I'm going to hire you for my store as my new clothing designer."

She gave me a coy look then said, "Fine. As long as you don't really expect me to model your clothes."

"If you know as much about me as I believe you do, then you'll know I have only one rule..."

She continued looking at me.

I shook my head. "No one has to do anything they don't want to."

"A good rule to follow. Too bad the rest of the Mind Magi don't follow it." She started up the car and pulled away. "You said we'd need better clothes. The rest of mine aren't much different than this."

"And the rest of mine are back in the hotel suite. We need to stop at a business suit shop. Somewhere we can each get clothes appropriate for the interview and have them tailored immediately."

Whisper nodded and turned a corner.

"How well do you know New York?" I asked, not sure where we were.

"I'd say pretty well. I not only memorized the map for the city and surrounding area but most of the business listings and their specialties."

"You use Master PC?"

She nodded.

"Are you a Mind Magi?"

Her brows furrowed and she glanced at me, "Me? No." She went back to watching the road.

I continued to watch her. I was puzzling over the way events were going and the fact that most of the people I tended to count on were women. Apparently I was too silent in contemplation too long because Whisper said, "Look, Ral, I'm sorry if my looks disturb you. I'm even sorrier that you're as handsome as ever, but we can't do anything about that. Please, put it out of your mind so we can focus on what we have to do." Again she looked at me from the corner of her eyes.

I nodded and looked away. She was right. I couldn't get distracted.

"I know you've got a ton of questions. Just ask me and I'll tell you what I can. You'll have to trust that anything I don't answer is because I haven't confirmed it yet."

"Confirmed? How? You know so much about me, but because of your nature of not trusting anyone, I don't know squat about you. How about relieving some of that? How about proving you trust me, just like you said on the phone, and telling me something about yourself first. That will give me a better understanding of who you are and what your motivations are."

She nodded. "Fair enough, but why don't we get our suits first. I'll tell you about me and answer your questions as we eat," she said as she pulled us into a parking garage.

We got out and I followed her to a Men's Warehouse. I chuckled quietly at the simplicity of her choice. It wasn't the most expensive or the most prestigious, but they made good suits and tailored them on the spot. I was impressed.

It didn't take long to find suits that fit close enough that the tailoring wouldn't take more than a few minutes each. I gave an extra big tip to the sales girl to help speed the process along. We were going to leave wearing the new suits. I was still wearing my dress boots from earlier and Whisper got new heels and stockings.

When I had first seen Whisper in her new suit, I was stunned. The street clothes did tone down her looks, but the sharp business suit brought out her confidence and beauty in a way I wouldn't have guessed at. When we were paying for the store's services she fidgeted and tugged at it. She looked uncomfortable.

"Leave it alone," I said softly.

She looked up. "I don't do suits Ral."

"I realize that, but you look good in it. It looks good on you. Leave it alone."

She rolled her eyes and started for the doors. I followed and had to grab her arm when she stumbled in the heels. They were only two-inch heels, but she was used to the wide support of her boots. "When we get done talking to the police I'm changing back into my normal clothes."

"That's fine, but we still have an 'interview' to have. Then we'll head back and talk to the police."

We got to her car. She got in and started to slip her new heels off to drive. I said, "I wouldn't. You could get a run up those stockings."

Again she rolled her eyes. "This is why I avoid all this crap."

I chuckled as she put her heels back on.

A few minutes later we were being seated at a fairly nice restaurant. We both ordered and I had to stop Whisper from fidgeting so much.

"Can I at least take the jacket off?"

I nodded and did the same. When I looked at Whisper again I was stunned. The darker clothes she had been wearing, even the dark color of the suit jacket had made her look so pale, like a ghost. Now, in the white blouse, she seemed almost translucent. I couldn't actually see her bones or blood or anything, but she looked like she could fade away.

Whisper noticed me staring at her. She sighed, "Ral. Snap out of it. This is why I wear dark colors. Lighter ones make me look worse."

"So this is what you really look like?" I asked gently.

She nodded. "I thought about changing my appearance for meeting you but then remembered what I had already said about trusting you. I can't show trust in you if I'm not at least a little bit honest with you."

"Thank you. And honestly, you look nice, even in the blouse."

"No I don't. I look like a ghost."

I chuckled. "Okay, I was thinking the same thing, but really, it suits you. Especially the whole 'don't notice me' theme of yours."

"Oh, please! Tell that to all the guys who passed by me while I was waiting for you earlier..."

"I would say you're afraid of personal attention, but that would be getting too personal. How about we work on this trust thing a bit more?" I stopped to wait for her to either nod or shake her head. She just watched me, apparently ready for me to continue. "Would it be too much to ask for your name?"

She crossed her arms and contemplated me for a moment. The move distracted me because she was accenting her chest. I doubted she realized it. I sat back to make it look like I was just trying to get comfortable for our meal.

I sat there patiently. Time was important to both of us and she finally relented. "Okay, but you have to swear to never pull me up. Got me?"

I nodded. "You have my word."

"My real name is Pamela Ericson. Pam to my friends."

I nodded and then leaned forward. Softer I asked, "Do you have another name to go by? Whisper just doesn't go over well in crowds."

She nodded. "Jennifer Dalton. I even have ID for her."

I leaned back. "Good. Now then..." 'Jennifer' suddenly looked up past me and smiled. It took me a second to tear my eyes away from her. She was getting better looking or something was really wrong with me. I suspected her use of Master PC, but wouldn't have the chance to confirm just yet.

I looked around and the waiter had just arrived with our drinks. I had tea and Jennifer had water.

Each of us thanked him and he left. I didn't bother with sweetener. I was already anxious enough regarding the issue with the Police and the idea that Vikkor was out there somewhere too. With the attacks, I had momentarily forgotten about her.

"I need to know as much as you can tell me ... Jennifer." It felt odd calling her that. She just didn't look like a 'Jennifer' to me. Pamela fit better, but not much.

"I'm not sure about some of my information. I'm still waiting on confirmation on certain details."

"Confirmation? I thought you said you didn't trust anyone else?"

"I don't. I have a few networks working on it. Programs I wrote to do what I need."

"Then what do you know?"

"I know that you still have to go to the store opening tomorrow. It's a big turning point in your life, and it affects many other things."

"What things? And what's this turning point?"

She shook her head. "I want to tell you Ral, I really do, but I can't. I've learned that lesson way too many times."

"You're not making any sense ... Jennifer."

She sighed and slouched back in her chair. She may have looked uncouth the way she was sitting, but it was still a stunning sight. I really hoped whatever it was that had happened with my girls this morning was over with for the time being, because if she was close to me and I started having cravings again...

Jennifer looked at me again. There was a resolution in her eyes she didn't have before. She straightened up and leaned forward onto the table. "I know you really well, Ral. I know what has happened to you, what your life is like and what is coming for you. I guess the best way to help you understand is to tell you how I came to be who I am now."

From her expression and words, I knew that she was about to do something profound. I leaned forward too, mimicking her and nodded.

"I used to be a hacker. There wasn't a program I couldn't crack, and it didn't matter what OS it was written for because I knew them all. I could break into systems that others wouldn't bother with because they simply knew they couldn't. It was a thrill, a game, and I was good at it."

"When the Internet hit it big and made its advances, I started meeting other hackers. We'd practice cracking each other's systems and leaving little notes. So-n-so was here and the date, or whatever. Again, it was all just for fun, just a game."

"Then this new guy hit the scene. He was good. I could keep others from getting into my system unless they had some new program that I hadn't learned about yet, but otherwise I was nearly untouchable. This guy comes along and breaks in like my computer was an open book. Nothing I did could keep him out and I couldn't figure out how he did it."

"Well, I sought something to help me master my computer, and you can guess what program I found."

I nodded.

"Obviously, I knew it wasn't a hacking program so I put it away. I don't delete programs because they may turn out to be worth something later. Well, later came around and I went back to it and found out what it could do." She paused there with wide eyes that I understood to mean, "Imagine my surprise!" and "It was so incredible!"

Again, I nodded. I had been there and the novelty had worn off.

She shook her head. "Obviously there was no point in continuing with my 'game'. I could give myself unequalled skills. I also did what I'm sure anyone else does with the program: made sure I was set financially, cleaned myself up and even helped out my family."

The word 'family' made my gut twist. It wasn't a disgust factor but a longing to have one of my girls with me. I hid the fact from Whisper and let her continue.

"For a while, everything was great. I didn't have to work, I could go out and do all the things I thought I ever wanted, but I'm sure you've had that feeling too. Like you could do so much more. The fact that you weren't the only one who could benefit."

She stopped. The look of child-like elation dropped. Her shoulders slumped and she looked out the window. "I thought that too, until my mom died in a car accident."

I knew that feeling too. Having nearly lost Renée was heart wrenching.

"I'm sure, to this day, that if I had been there with my laptop, I could have done something. I could have healed her wounds, improved her resilience; done something to help her chances of survival." She swallowed hard and a single tear started down her cheek.

I was tempted to reach over and wipe it away, but I restrained myself. Things tended to happen when I got involved in someone else's emotions. I couldn't get distracted.

She wiped away the tear, sniffed back the rest and looked back at me, that same resolution in her eyes again. "I made a new promise to myself that day. I wouldn't let anything happen to anyone I cared about."

"I set out learning everything there was to know about the program. Just like in my hacking days, I broke it down, inspected and learned all its secrets and then put my knowledge of it and programming to use. The problem was, I was trying to play god. I was trying to decide who would get to live and who wasn't worthy of that protection. I also realized that death, as much as everyone fears it, is just as natural as being born."

She stopped again with more sniffles. I was pretty sure she was close to her mother. That loss had really torn her up and she had yet to fully heal from it. It was possible that she never would. Not even with Master PC to help.

"I contented myself with watching people. It was simple enough. I'd go to the mall or a concert. I'd just sit and watch them. I'd watch events play out and it was like my own version of some kind of reality TV show."

"Some of the people I watched really caught my attention. Not because they were especially attractive but because they had personality. I figured out who they were and used the program to watch them when they weren't at the mall or some other public place." She shrugged. "Call me a peeping tom, whatever. I just found them interesting. The next thing I knew I called one up. I didn't know why, but I told the girl she was pregnant. She didn't even know."

"That set off a new chain of events and I lost track of them. I knew my call had triggered it and I wondered if I hadn't called her if things would have played out differently. That's when I decided to test the theory."

"I wrote up a program with a hefty algorithm that would help me to see what an outcome would be." She noted my raised eyebrows and said, "I know and yes, I cheated to accomplish that. The point was I did it and found that most of the time, if I said nothing, things would still work out. Sometimes I did have to call and tell someone some bit of info to help it along, but only if I was sure it would be more positive than if I did nothing. I even saved one relationship. Those two are happily married and have two kids now."

Whisper looked up again and smiled. The waiter had arrived with our food. For a few minutes neither of us said anything as we ate. I felt like I was starved and the food only partially took care of that hunger. I realized that my hunger wasn't just for food but the urge wasn't nearly out of control either. I would have to do something about it soon, but wasn't sure at the moment what it would be.

Both of us had eaten a good portion of our meals. Whisper looked at me and smiled. She wasn't flirting, it was just a genuine, happy-to-be-there smile.

I couldn't help but to smile back. "What?"

She shrugged. "I just ... I don't know. I've never told anyone all of this before. It feels good to get it out."

"I'm sure locking yourself away from others so you don't potentially mess up their lives is frustrating."

She nodded. "My family keeps asking to come around to visit. I keep making excuses not to."

"There is a way to solve that..."

"What?"

"Leave the program at home and just go for a visit. You have to remember, you chose to do this 'watching people' thing. You don't have to do it."

"I can't just ignore what I know..."

I shook my head, "Why not? You said you don't want to play god, fine, don't. It's that simple."

We ate for a bit more, neither of us saying anything. I didn't need more from her. I understood her to be a good person; someone who cared about others. She wasn't some cold, calculating, faceless person, but a living, breathing woman with dreams and desires.

Those thoughts made me wonder though. She had talked about what had brought her around to doing the things she did with computers, but what about her personal life? I somehow doubted she had married. I'm sure that would have made a difference in how things played out for her. I didn't think she had a steady boyfriend either. It was possible she had dated but nothing too serious.

I stopped myself. Why was I worried about whether she was married, had a steady boyfriend or even dated? I wasn't going to do anything with her, nothing more than trying to solve the issue of who had sent those Dragons after me. And the thought of that dead woman settled my other emotions. If someone were willing to kill their own people, what would they do to me?

I sat back from my plate. I was full from the meal but could tell I could use a good bed romp. I needed my girls and they hadn't been gone more than a couple of hours.

Just then my phone rang. The caller ID showed the hotel. I answered, "Hello?"

"Mr. Setton, this is Jacob Norton, Concierge of the "W". I hate to disturb you like this, but the police are requesting your presence."

"The police?" I asked. It told Whisper what the call was and I had to act surprised.

"Yes, it seems there was a disturbance in your room. When can I tell them to expect you?"

"I'm on my way now. You caught me just as I finished an interview."

"Thank you, Mr. Setton. I will let the detective know."

I hung up and looked at Whisper. "Well, looks like lunch is over."

She nodded and I waved over the waiter.



-------

Chapter 13: Conspiracy Theory



After paying for our food, Whisper got us back to the hotel within ten minutes.

Having parked in the parking garage, neither of us saw the mass of police cars out front. I wanted to bypass any spectacle going on. When we entered the lobby, the hotel staff had apparently put lookouts for my entrance. One young man immediately approached. He looked like he was a mix of curious, anxious and scared.

"Mr. Setton. The ... uh ... the detective is in here." He turned and led us to the rooms where I had talked to the FBI agents not very long ago.

There were two detectives and three uniformed police in the room. One of the detectives and two of the uniforms left after I was escorted in. Whisper waited outside the room.

The detective that remained was a couple of inches shorter than me. His hair and eyes were dark, and I could tell he was sharp. He didn't look more than thirty five, but I could have been wrong. He had on a suit but lacked the cliché trench coat. The officer was a woman. Why I was surprised, I didn't know. She looked sturdy in her uniform, with the wide, heavy utility belt and gun at her side. Her medium brown hair was pulled back in a severe bun that left her face completely open. She wore no makeup, which I didn't think it was allowed when she was in uniform anyway. There just wasn't anything attractive about her except her eyes. They were bright green and momentarily reminded me of Erin's.

The detective approached me. "Mr. Setton, I'm Detective Arneson and this is Officer Jones."

The detective's name caught me off guard, because it was the same as the Lady of House Isaacs. I was expecting to deal with completely normal humans for this. If he was a Mind Magi, my alibi could be shot full of holes.

The detective shook my hand and a gold mark appeared at the corner of his mouth. It was a small vertical line, just like what Dr. Holzer's looked like before I shared my ability to heal with him. The detective would know if I was lying.

I did my best to relax. "The hotel staff called. I understand something happened in my room?"

"Yes, we're not entirely sure what happened. All we know is one of the hotel staff went up to do her rounds of cleaning and found the door of your room not only wide open, but partially broken off of its hinges."

I listened patiently. As long as he didn't ask too many questions, I would be okay.

"The staff sent up their normal security people because the cleaning lady refused to go in. They, in turn, called us."

I nodded, remaining relatively calm. I started to ask what he had found but stopped myself. It would be better to let him ask me questions and go from there. The less I said, the less they would have to hold against me.

"When we arrived, we didn't find anything wrong, but we're going over the entire suite and looking for prints. Did you have anything of value in your room?"

I shook my head. "Just my laptop, but I sent that with an associate of mine when she left for the airport."

The detective stared at me. "I see. Okay then. Well, we're going to need to take your prints. For purposes of elimination only, of course."

"Of course," I mimicked smiling nervously.

Officer Jones set an ink pad and a sheet of paper on the table. I went over to her and let her take my prints. I knew no one else had them and I had never been in trouble with the law, so there was no problem cooperating.

She handed me a paper towel and I started wiping off the excess ink. The detective said, "The hotel has provided us with a copy of your cell phone number. As soon as we have gone through the room and collected all of the information we need from there, we will contact you to let you know where you can pick up your stuff."

I wasn't too surprised by that.

"Thank you Mr. Setton," said the detective as he and the officer left.

Whisper came in looking collected. I wasn't sure if she was masking her real emotions or not, but I wasn't going to stay around long enough for anyone else to notice. I led the way back out to the lobby and went straight for the parking garage. Whisper followed me in silence.

We got to her car and I stopped. Both of us were finally breathing again.

"That went better than expected, but he didn't mention the men or the woman," I said. Then I looked Whisper in the eyes. "Did you know they wouldn't find anything?"

She shook her head. "If I knew who it was that attacked you, I might have been able to figure it out."

"Yeah, but he made it sound like they were gone when he arrived."

Whisper nodded, somewhat enthusiastically. "Even better. It was a break in while you were out. Now there's nothing at all to worry about."

"Yes there is. Those guys are still out there. I was hoping the police would have them in custody. I'm also curious what was done with the woman's body..."

I looked up and was glad we were whispering because I saw the detective come out of the hotel. He looked around, spotted us and began walking our way.

Whisper noticed where he was looking and turned. She waited with me for the detective.

"I'm glad you haven't left yet Mr. Setton. I have one more question to ask, but uh ... can we talk privately?"

The detective glanced at Whisper. I wasn't sure what he wanted, but his glance told me it was a Mind Magi issue.

"I'll be right back," I said to Whisper and went with the Detective.

She went around and got into her car, giving us more privacy.

The detective did a slight bow of the head. "Lord Setton," he said even more quietly, "I have to apologize for what happened earlier."

"Apologize? For what?" I asked without acknowledging his bow.

"The fact that someone broke into your room."

I wanted to laugh in relief but I kept myself in check. I must have looked un-phased by his apology because he said quickly. "I know you have important things to be tending to but I thought you should know: there seems to be something happening. Something involving the other House Leaders."

He stood there staring at me. Finally I asked, "Why are you telling me this?"

"Normally the other House Leaders leave the city once the meeting is over. Some might stay for a meal, but otherwise they return to their own areas. Today though, none of them have left."

"That's no reason for a conspiracy."

"I know, it looks like just a coincidence, but I also know that my niece, Lady Arneson's daughter, went missing just last night. I feel there is a connection between that and this sudden need for the House Leaders to all stay in town."

That got my attention. "What about the other House Leaders? Have you had a chance to look into any such instances with their families?"

"No, unfortunately I don't have any contacts in all of the other houses. I can try to find out. I thought you might not be involved since you were only made a House Lord this morning. As such, you would be the only safe one for me to talk to."

I nodded, "I understand. Have you brought this up with Lady Arneson?"

"I've tried calling her, but she's not answering her phone."

"Somehow I doubt it would be any outside forces," I was going to take a chance with the detective and tell him the truth about my room. It might shed more light on what was going on. "To be honest, I was in my room when it was broken into. Even before that, I was attacked."

He looked at me, apparently weighing how to handle the news. Then he asked, "Do you know who attacked you?"

"Laura Stephens, a Mind Magi, but she wasn't bound to any House. Her mark was gray."

He nodded, "And the break in?"

"Two Dragons. One was Russ Fairbanks of House Augustus and the other was Roy Jordan of House Vaughan."

The detective looked puzzled. "Dragons aren't supposed to go after House Lords. At least not with force. One or Two might escort them somewhere, but that is usually at the request of that House Lord or Lady."

"Roy broke the door down. I never invited them in or asked them to escort me anywhere."

"Well, by the time we arrived, they were gone."

"All three?"

"Yes, why?"

"Because Laura was dead before the other two arrived." I noted the increase of his scrutiny and quickly added. "I don't know how. I put her to sleep but she started having problems breathing. Someone kept me from helping her by blocking me."

"If she wasn't bound to a House, how would another Mind Magi affect her like that?" he asked. I was sure the question was rhetorical.

"I'm only a few months into this stuff, but aren't there Mind Magi who can affect others at a great distance, even without being bound to them?"

"Not to my knowledge. We usually have to have line of sight or direct contact to affect others we're not bound to."

"But that's not to say it's not possible, right?"

"I guess it could be."

"What I don't get is if the same person sent her as well as the Dragons, why kill her after she failed but not the Dragons?" I asked.

"Killing the Dragons might have been noticeable compared to killing a Mind Magi who isn't bound to a House."

"But why send her? For that matter, how could anyone have known that she didn't accomplish whatever she was out to do?"

The Detective shrugged. "Chalk it up to one of the issues we have to resolve. It probably all goes hand in hand, so finding out one will solve the other."

"Do you think one or more of the other House Leaders may be behind this or someone completely outside of the Mind Magi?" Of course I was thinking of someone using Master PC, but didn't say that.

"If it isn't a House Leader, then the Leaders could handle it. It has to be one or more of the House Leaders."

"Then do your normal snooping. Find out everything you can about the other House Leaders. I'll do the same. Michael has contacts all over the place. He should be able to fill in any gaps; at least I hope he can."

"Good," said the detective holding out his hand to shake. I took it and he finished, "I'm glad we can work together on this. I am worried about my niece and sister."

I nodded. "I don't see any reason why the Houses shouldn't work together. We're all a part of the same society."

"That would be your young mind thinking ideal thoughts," he said smiling. "Still, it's good to hear."

I nodded again and we parted.

After getting in her car, I told Whisper everything the detective and I discussed. While I told her, she got her backpack and pulled out her laptop. She booted up, looking up at me to let me know she was still listening and then held up her hand. "According to this..." She looked up and then out into the garage. I looked around too not sure what she was looking for. She closed her laptop and pulled a small case out of her backpack.

"What? What did your computer say?"

"I can't say at the moment. You'll probably figure it out soon enough though." And with that she got out of the car. I got out too and followed her.

"What are you looking for?"

She held up her hand for silence but continued down the line of cars. She stopped behind one and started taking off the rear license plate. I looked at the car; it was another silver Toyota Camry. I understood what she was doing, but not why. She said I would probably figure it out, but I doubted she meant the changing of plates. When she was finished, we got back into her car and left the "W".

"Now what's this that I might figure out anyway?"

"Victoria Lasarge."

"What about her?"

"She's Lord Lasarge's daughter?"

"Yeah, but she broke out of prison."

"What if she didn't? What if she wasn't helped to escape, but taken hostage?"

"Oh crap!"

"Yeah."

"Where are we going?"

"Losing a tail, hang on."

"A tail?" I didn't look; I knew what she meant and didn't want to give away the fact that we knew we were being followed.

"Two corners, that's all I need..." she said more to herself than me.

She turned one corner after another. I glanced out of the passenger mirror a few times and was pretty sure the dark blue sedan behind us was our 'tail'.

She pulled into another parking garage and slowed down, crawling through the rows of cars. Finally, she pulled back out onto the street and began again.

About half an hour later she said, "I think I've lost them, but we need a different car."

She pulled into another parking garage and parked at the back of it. "Grab your stuff. We'll leave it hear and report it stolen." She pulled out a piece of cloth and handed it to me. "Here, wipe everything you've touched. If you have any doubts, wipe it anyway. Don't forget the seat controls."

I shrugged and followed her instructions.

Then we left the car and went to the hotel across the street. I wasn't sure I could have gotten back to the "W" even if I wanted too; she had made that many turns and cut through so many parking garages.

"We'll check in here and hope that whoever is after us doesn't know anything about Jennifer."



-------

Chapter 14: Surging Symptoms



Whisper went straight to check-in. I stood just behind her as if I were her assistant or such and let her do all the talking. She got a room with a large bed. She smiled up at me and I swooned. The breath-taking look had me wondering what she was doing. Before I knew it, she had the key card for the room and was dragging me to the elevator.

"Sorry about that, but I put you down as my husband, Larry Dalton. That way, even if whoever is after you looked for your name, they won't get that lucky."

I nodded and swallowed trying to push my emotions back down. "Warn me next time. I thought I was in trouble when you smiled at me back there."

Her eyebrows rose. "In trouble? You thought I was actually coming on to you?"

I nodded. "Why did you get a room with only one bed if you weren't coming on to me?" She wasn't making any sense.

She waved a hand. "I'll sleep on the floor. It's cool."

"No, that's not right..."

She looked at me with a half smile. "Are we taking advantage of our perfect cover?"

I shook my head. "No, nothing like that, but you shouldn't have to sleep on the floor just because I'm there too. The bed should be more than big enough for us to share without anything happening."

That's when I got 'the look'. You know the one. She knew something was up or highly suspected it.

"I'm serious. No hanky-panky, nothing beyond the need to make things look right for the staff." She continued to look at me but there was more of a smile. "Besides, we have a few hours before either of us will need sleep. I need to call Michael and you probably want to check your computers..."

She nodded and adjusted her backpack on her shoulder.

We got to the room and did just what I suggested.

Michael answered when I called, "How did things go with the police?"

"Better than expected. The Detective in charge was Lady Arneson's brother."

"Oh, lucky as ever."

"Yes and no. He had some news of his own." I told Michael everything Detective Arneson and I had discussed. "Can you help find out if any of the other House Leaders are running into similar problems?"

"I can. As for Erica Arneson, she's there in New York. I can't say where precisely, but I met her a few months before I found you. She a good girl Ral, and not a Mind Magi. She can't defend herself at all. I imagine Lady Arneson is beside herself with worry."

"Then we need to find her and then somehow let Lady Arneson know her daughter is okay."

"I'm arranging things so I can return to New York as soon as possible, but it looks like the soonest I'll get there is tomorrow at around noon."

"Okay. I only hope that we have that much time. Also, Vikkor, or Victoria Lasarge might also be a kidnap victim too rather than an escapee."

"That would make sense given the way Lord Lasarge was acting when you talked to him earlier. I've never met her so I can't say where she is."

"That's okay, I've got help with her already."

"Whisper?"

"Yes."

"So, he's actually helping you in all of this?"

"Yes. We're pretty sure, because of everything he knows, the same person who attacked me is also doing the kidnapping and tried to hack his computer. Somehow it's all tied together but we don't know enough to say who or why." I stuck with Michael's assumption that Whisper was a 'he' because I knew Whisper would appreciate it. More than likely the young woman would disappear again as soon as everything settled down.

"How much can you trust him? Is he a Mind Magi?"

"I don't have a choice on the trust issue. He knows too much about me for me not to at least listen to his advice even if I don't follow all of it. He's also very secretive. I've sworn not to give away anything about him. He'll probably disappear again after this is all over anyway."

Michael was silent for a moment, and then said, "You remember what we talked about this morning before the meeting?"

We had talked about many things, but he had something specific in mind. "What exactly?"

"Your suggestion of what to do for my daughter. It sounds like it would be a good idea for your situation."

"I'll consider it, especially if things get too weird."

"Too weird?"

"Yeah. Whisper can be really spooky with what he knows."

"I'll just have to take your word for that then. In the mean time, I'll reach my contacts and call back as soon as I find out as much as I can." With that, he hung up.

I turned to Whisper who was pouring over her screen. She was seated at the table in the room we got. I sat in the other chair opposite her. "Any luck?"

"I've got some more info but it doesn't make sense."

"I'd ask what it was but you probably wouldn't tell me anyway," I mused.

She looked up at me, worried. "If I'm right, and I am hoping I'm not, whatever this scheme is, it'll reach completion tomorrow night by midnight."

"Other than not knowing what the scheme is, why does it being complete at midnight not make sense?"

"Because no scheme I've ever tracked has ever had such a defined time of completion. It's like my system found a countdown."

I leaned forward asking, "If it did, that countdown would have to be on a computer then, right? Why not track it down, trace it back to its source?"

She blinked and looked back at her screen. "If I try that not knowing the source, I could be traced. My laptop would be useless then."

"Not useless, but you wouldn't be able to get back onto the net with it."

"Hence, useless."

I didn't want to argue with her. We still needed each other until this was over. The problem was I was getting bored just sitting. I was also started to feel hungry. I went over to the phone and pulled out the menu the hotel provided for room service.

"I heard what you said to Michael. That's not entirely true you know. I'm not forcing you to trust me."

I looked up to find Whisper watching me. "I know, but I also know how you feel about trusting others. If you wanted him to know who you are, I'm sure you would have found him and told him personally."

"Thank you," she said softly.

I looked at the menu again. None of the items hit my hunger and that worried me. There was also the fact that I had just eaten a healthy meal not more than hour ago. I put the menu back, got up and started pacing.

Whisper looked up again. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know and that bothers me."

"What do you mean?"

I stopped and looked at her. "You say you know a lot about me. You know why my girls are bound to me, right?"

I wasn't sure if that embarrassed her or if she was looking for a tactful way of answering. Finally she said, "You drew them to you. They're enthralled by you and give over to whatever you want."

Her statement was nice and clinical, but I could hear the tone of her voice. The very subtle hint that she was curious about it.

"I started feeling the same way this morning. I want something. I can't put my finger on it though. I'm not hungry, especially having just had lunch. I don't drink or smoke."

She started typing on her computer and reading. "You ... you um ... You..."

I went over behind her and looked at the screen over her shoulder. She had me pulled up in Master PC. She pointed to a scale, my sexual appetite, and it was steadily climbing.

"It changes when you're ... in the mood." She looked up and I met her eyes.

I could feel my Charm reaching for her. I grabbed it and stepped away from her. "You need to leave."

She watched me. "Ral ... where would I go?"

"Anywhere. Go shopping or something. You need to get away from me before I lose all control."

"What's happening Ral? I know what your abilities are. I know you're holding back what you call your Charm, but you've not lost control like this in months. What's happening?"

I pressed myself against a wall and scooted along it to the corner, trying to get as far from Whisper as possible. "I don't know entirely. It happened this morning. Fortunately, Renée showed up and ... we took care of the problem. When I got back to my hotel room, even after the fight with Laura Stephens and your call, it happened again. Erin and Chloe were there. We took care of it then."

"And you're having another, what? Attack?"

I nodded. "I don't know what to do about it. I sent those three to the Airport so they could fly to safety. I wasn't worried about this then, I just wanted them safe."

Whisper watched me. I closed my eyes, trying to block out the sight of her alluring eyes. It didn't help. I could still see them floating there in the darkness behind my eyelids.

Clutching my stomach, I slid to the floor and balled up. I had to get control. I couldn't let this happen now, not with all of my girls so far away.

"Pick someone..."

I cracked my eyes open, looking in Whisper's direction. "What?"

"Pick one of your girls." She was still sitting at the table, poised to type on her laptop.

Whisper's hair reminded me of Tanya's, but Whisper didn't look anything like her otherwise. I didn't know what she was going to do, but I told her, "Tanya."

Whisper nodded, "Close your eyes and think of her."

I did that, not only to follow her suggestion but also to close out as much stimulation as possible. I thought about Tanya and my focus was on her body. She was average height with a fairly athletic body. All of my girls exercised regularly and Tanya helped to schedule trips to the campus gym for all of them. I didn't go because my abilities seemed to keep me in shape.

Tanya's blonde hair fell in waves just past her shoulders. Her skin had a natural light tan which left her with no tan lines. Her legs were long and lean, muscular without overdoing it. Her bottom was fun to watch, especially if I happened to be going by the gym while she was working out. Her blue eyes always sparkled when she was near me and her smile was infectious. Like most of my girls, she also had naturally large breasts. She hid them from the rest of the world, but when alone, she would wear things to enhance her shape and size.

I was completely into the visions I was having, so when I felt hands touch me I jumped. I knew I was still in the hotel room with Whisper and thought maybe she was checking on me or something, so I instantly tried to cram myself deeper into the corner. My eyes opened and Tanya was standing there. She was already fully nude and reaching for me. The look on her face was of concern. "What's wrong Ral? You asked for me?"

I shook my head but couldn't tear my eyes away from the buxom blonde. "How did you get here?"

"It doesn't matter. I'm here. You asked and I'm here."

Her voice, it was soft and ready. She was exactly what I needed, just what I wanted. I pulled her to me and pressed my lips to hers. She opened up to me. Where she was gentle and easy, I was burning with desire and held onto her like she was a lifeline and I was drowning.

My Charm wrapped around her and she moaned deep into my mouth. She sank to the floor in front of me and tried to press against me. I ran my hands all over her, so very happy to be holding one of my girls. Relieved to not have to worry about Whisper being dragged into my mess.

Tanya pulled from my lips and began sucking on my neck. Her hands worked to get my suit off. I helped her, anxious for a tumble in bed.

While undressing, I started to look to where Whisper had been sitting, but Tanya drew my face back to hers. "Don't worry about her. She left us some privacy."

I just nodded, happy that Whisper was so considerate. Then again, she probably didn't want to watch us rutting around on the bed like a couple of animals.

Tanya was so excited; she was having trouble getting any of my clothes off me. Her hands were shaking, so I helped. Once I was bare, she wrapped her hands around my hardness and led me to the bed. She laid back and guided me up. I moved forward, passing the apex between her legs. She pulled me up until I was almost sitting on her chest. With some adjustments, she had her full soft breasts bunched up against my sac and she looked up and down my hard length in awe.

She ran her hands over me as if exploring me for the first time. I knew our bond kept the feeling fresh and I was thrilled by her touch. Then I felt her lips kiss and gently suck at the underside of my throbbing shaft. It felt like warm fire had run up from her kiss, through my rod, up my spine and exploded in my brain. I was so far gone there was no warning. I came.

I heard a squeal in the distance, felt hands and lips pressed to me, and I kept shooting, rope after rope of thick cream.

When I finished, it was all I could do to stay sitting up. Tanya's face and hair were splattered with what I gave her. She smiled at me, still stroking.

"That ... was a good start..." I mumbled. Tanya nodded. I rolled off her and she followed. The look of her, with my mess on her face, was cute. I smiled.

"What?" she asked. Her voice was still husky. My Charm was still affecting her.

I ran my finger through some of the cream on her cheek and then put it to her lips. She didn't look at my finger, just opened her mouth and sucked it clean with a purr.

Tanya scooted up, dragging her body along mine. Once our faces were level, she kissed me long and deep. I could feel some of the mess on her face rub off onto mine and was pretty sure what she was going to do next. She didn't do it though. Instead she rubbed her face against mine, making me almost as messy as her. Only then did she clean my face with long leisurely strokes of her soft tongue as I had been expecting.

All through the kissing and cleaning, her hand continuously caressed me. I didn't need it; I was still quite ready for more. I even returned the favor, running my fingers along the heated regions between her legs. She spread herself wide, throwing a leg over me, but not positioning for taking me into her yet.

She continued to lick and kiss my face, occasionally enjoying my lips and tongue too. Her hand slid along my shaft, holding and squeezing me in ways she never did before. I wondered if she was trying something she might have learned from the others and thought, "Have you and Renée been trading secret handshakes or something?" She grinned at me but didn't answer.

Tanya sat up and turned around. She laid over me, putting her face next to my throbbing organ and her wet and heated lips in my face. I was perfectly agreeable.

I moved my arms down and brought them up and around her thighs. She was only a few inches shorter than me overall, but a lot of her height was in her legs. I pulled out a pillow from under the covers, propped my head up and then I focused on the dribbling flower before my eyes. I spread her open with my fingertips and began lapping up her juices.

Tanya produces more fluid during sex than any of my other girls. I didn't mind, it gave me just as much reason to go down on her as 'cleaning' allowed her to go down on me.

I lapped at her and then went deeper, pressing into her with my tongue and enjoying the sounds she made as I did. She was sucking on my tip, stroking my length and having more difficulty focusing. She was getting close to orgasm, but I only just noticed.

Thinking that stopping would be a bad idea, I kept going. Tanya soon stopped doing anything more than lightly stroke me and breathe heavily across the base of my cock. She had her head on my thigh and her body squirmed as I drove her closer and closer. Finally, she broke.

Her whole body locked up, with her pussy grinding against my mouth and tongue. I held on, knowing it would pass. Knowing I would soon have answers.

Tanya settled down to heavy breathing but otherwise she was a limp noodle. None of my girls were so easily sated.

I rubbed her skin, along her thighs and bottom. I didn't touch her anywhere sensitive.

She finally rolled off me and turned back around. The instant she saw my eyes she stopped. "Ral?"

"Whisper," was all I said in return in a very matter-of-fact tone.

She tried to look puzzled, but I knew Tanya a lot better. That and I realized I couldn't feel the woman looking back at me. It wasn't Tanya. Somehow, Whisper had altered her own appearance and the sound of her voice with Master PC. I knew she was good, but this blew me away.

I reached up and stroked her cheek. She rubbed back and I felt her tremble. I pulled her too me and held her gently.

She started to say something but I hushed her and continued to just hold her.

With the excitement all through the day, a decent release, even if it was the only one since that morning, and someone to hold, I started to drift off to sleep.

Tanya looked up at me, her face shiny with tears. "I didn't mean to fool you Ral. I knew you would fight me if it was me, so I changed myself."

I nodded. "Logical deduction, Watson."

She smiled softly. "The only things I couldn't copy were the changes you made to Tanya."

I knew what that meant. If I had tried to get her to swallow me or even have vaginal sex, I could have hurt her.

"I thought if I got you off a couple of times, it would help," she said as she laid her head down on me again.

"It was perfect. I feel a lot better."

"I thought you went a lot more with your girls?" she asked softly.

"I normally do. I'd say I would still be going now if I hadn't figured out what you had done."

She sat up again looking puzzled. "How..."

"I couldn't feel you. I mean, your emotions, your sensations. My girls and I share a lot when we're together."

"I didn't know that, but that's also built into your bonds with them."

I nodded. "And that may not be an issue between the two of us anymore." I looked down at her cleavage. Sure enough my mark floated there, diving into the soft flesh of her breasts.

Whisper sat up more and looked at her own chest. "I don't see anything."

"It takes some time. Could be a few hours or a couple of days."

"You mean..." she started and then jumped up and went to her computer. She made a few key strokes and I watched as she changed back into her eerily erotic and pale self. She was still fully nude. I looked behind the table and noticed where she had dropped her suit. When she was herself again, she turned, thrusting out her chest to me and asked; "What about now?"

Sure enough, the most color on her was my mark. I just nodded.

"Crap!"

I sat up and continued to watch her. Her breasts had bounced in the most delightful way when she swore.

She looked at me again and realized how she had been displaying herself for me. A pale pink blush spread across her face and upper chest. I thought it was magnificent.

I looked back up to her eyes. Those startlingly light blue orbs looked back at me with a mixture of longing, shame and a touch of anger. I was already beginning to feel what she felt and said, "We have two choices and not much time."

"What?"

"I can either break this bond with you now or we keep it. I'm leaving it up to you."

"What?" she asked with more harrumph.

"I am already beginning to feel what you're feeling. I can tell you've got mixed emotions about this so either look at it with clinical detachment or you may find yourself agreeing to be one of my girls."

That seemed to stun her. It was not what I was intending.

"The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be for both of us."

She shook her head. It was like she was trying to clear it of a fog or the haze of some medicine that makes you light-headed. "I ... I don't know."

I went over and pulled the other chair around so I could sit next to her. I took her hand and her eyes cleared up instantly.

She looked at me, almost startled to find I had moved and she hadn't noticed. "Is this normal?"

I shook my head. "I'm not sure any more."

"Then how could you bind me to you without us having sex."

"What do you call what we were doing a few minutes ago?"

"But you weren't in me."

"I never said I had to be."

She looked at me, a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming bus.

Gently I stroked her hand and said, "I'm sorry. I should have explained it to you. I thought you knew what having sex with me, in any form, would do. I won't make that mistake again." I closed my eyes and concentrated on the bond between us. I could feel it, like a thread growing in strength with each of our heartbeats.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm breaking the bond. You're not handling this well and it's not fair to you to make you decide this. You're too conflicted."

She put her other hand on my face and kissed me. I opened my eyes as her lips and tongue danced along my lips. I pulled back and she looked at me. "What was that?"

"Some of us call it a kiss. And I'm not as conflicted now that you're holding my hand."

My heart was racing. Though the craving attack had made me worry about how I would deal with it, and the fun of the tussle in bed with Tanya excited me, I sat there, looking Whisper in the eyes, and knew the other issues were not as powerful as I had thought.

"Why the change of mind?" I asked softly.

"I never said no. I never said to break the bond."

"What about your issues with my lifestyle and the girls I live with?"

"I never said I had an issue with that. Remember me talking about how I watched people and it was like daily soap operas for me?"

I nodded.

She leaned forward again, her lips gently brushing mine, and said, "Who do you think my favorite was to watch?"



-------

Chapter 15: Distractions



Whisper didn't give me much of a chance to think on what she said while sitting still. She got up and tugged on my hand. "Come on. I need a shower."

"What happened to the woman not wanting any hanky-panky and who are you?" I asked as I got up and followed.

"Ral, please. Like I said, I didn't say it wasn't allowed, you did. And I'm a grown woman. I can make my own decisions about these things."

"Then what was with all the checks and changes and 'crap!'?" I had tried to imitate her shock when she learned she had my mark.

"I honestly didn't think it could happen that quickly. I knew that if I continued to be the only woman around you then it would happen. I just ... I don't know. Wasn't entirely ready for it."

"And now, all at once, you are?"

She nodded, smiling.

We were in the bathroom. She bent over and turned on the water, adjusting it to a temperature she liked. All the while, she held my hand. It was possible I was keeping her from completely losing it.

I, however, was not so sure I was ready for what was happening. With each of my previous women, with the exception of the very first ones, I knew what was going on. I knew that I was binding them to me for one reason or another. It was never simply because I needed sex. Suddenly Whisper, naked and almost giggly, is standing in front of me perfectly accepting of the reason for our being bound.

Was I just a pessimist? Did I really expect something to go wrong? Yes. If I kept her, I would grow to care for her, just like the others. I would worry about her, especially with us being involved in whatever this scheme was. Neither of us really knew what was happening, but I knew it was going to be dangerous. Why her being bound to me while facing it made it worse than when she hadn't been bound to me, I didn't know. I guess I felt responsible, but she came to me asking for help and offering to help at the same time. I offered her the help she requested and accepted the help she offered. We had agreed to face this together.

What bothered me more was that Renée had offered to stay and help in any way she could and I had turned her down. Talking about hypocritical. I was going back on what I had promised myself: that I wouldn't let any of my girls get involved. I wanted them safe, and now, through her manipulation of events, Whisper was right in the middle of the storm with me, and she was bound to me.

Yet, for whatever reason, I still didn't consider Whisper to be mine, like I did my other girls.

"Hey?" Whisper looked up at me. "You're doing a lot of thinking. What about?"

I sighed. What to tell her and what not to?

"And don't go trying to hold anything back. I may not have any of the nifty abilities you have, but I've learned what you do when something's bothering you. You hold back. You bottle up. None of that. Out with it."

I was mildly surprised by her forwardness. Again, there might have been nothing I could have hidden from her. "I'm worried."

She cocked her head to the side. "About... ?"

"A lot of things." I sighed again. "I sent Renée to the airport after she had offered to help me. I was more concerned with her safety than her ability to help." I then looked directly into Whisper's eyes. "And here I am, with another woman bound to me, willingly, and she's right in the middle of the storm helping just as Renée had offered."

"Don't do this to yourself, Ral. You have every right to worry about her and me and the others, but honestly you don't have the right to tell us what we can and cannot do."

I nodded. "You're right. I don't, but that doesn't help me worrying."

"There's something else too. What is it?"

I looked at her again. "Us. This new bond. Why?"

"Why what?"

"I knew why I was binding all my other girls to me, with the exception of the very first ones, But you. I could try to explain it away, but this was nothing more than my need for sex."

"Why does there have to be a reason?"

"Because there should be more to it than just ... sex."

"Has it ever occurred to you that sometimes people just need sex?"

"I'm never short on that!"

"Until today. Now stop this. I've seen your arguments with your girls about all of this. I thought you said you found a way to finally accept it all?"

"I did, or have. Renée told me about them all wanting to get married. I thought I couldn't do that because I could only legally marry one of them. I couldn't just pick one and have that special time with only them. It wouldn't be fair to the others. What I didn't think of was what it meant to them. Not the legality of it, but the ceremony, the decorations, the dress, the rings. Until Renée and I talked about it this morning, I didn't think it would happen. But they had already worked out the idea of still having all of that, only not worrying about the paperwork."

Whisper watched me as I talked. I could feel her emotions shift. There was some jealousy there, but it was quickly silenced by her other emotions. The bond between us was helping to shape her emotionally for her part in our family. It was so subtle I never thought I would notice, but I did. Part of me wanted to break the bond, to point out that she was being manipulated by my abilities. Another part of me refused, and it supported its reasoning with Whisper's prior knowledge of how my ties with my other girls made things work and she still chose to do what she did.

My abilities weren't through either. As I took in fine detail of Whisper's eyes, nose and lips from only inches away, I felt her press against me. A glance down told me that she hadn't moved closer but had grown. Her belly was distended with a baby. I could feel it kicking. Whisper smiled and rubbed the side of her belly, proud to be carrying my child. Her breasts were huge, full of milk that leaked from her nipples in steady drops.

I had seen my other girls in similar visions. They were so very real that it took some effort to understand that they were not yet pregnant. I had to shake myself to make the sight go away, but instead it was replaced with Whisper holding onto me, wearing what she had left of her wedding gown: gloves, stockings, a veil, and garter belt. She was, again, exalted to be with me, most especially right after the ceremony.

I shook my head more deliberately. Whisper was still there, but back to her pale, slender nude self. The back-to-back visions must have stopped me from speaking all together, because she was asking, "Ral? What's wrong?"

The concern on her face was eloquent. I didn't bother answering her questions, but simply leaned down and kissed her lips. It wasn't the insistent kiss I had earlier, but gentle and loving.

Whisper gripped my hand tightly in hers and our kiss became more passionate. When we pulled away, she still had her eyes closed and swooned.

"I think I will stop arguing about this with myself now," I said softly.

Her eyes fluttered open. Softly she asked, "What changed your mind?"

"I've had visions with my other girls. Images of them pregnant and or wearing wedding dresses. My abilities are evolving so much, I'm fighting just to keep up and I think it's making me lash out at those who don't deserve it."

I leaned in for another kiss saying, "my apologies." This time, Whisper came up on to tip-toes to meet me.

The bond between us was already strong enough that I could feel her emotions stronger and the tingling in her breasts as she pressed to me. She was getting more and more aroused the longer we were together. I felt her tension building up too and it wasn't from the issues that brought about our face-to-face meeting, but the last fifteen minutes. It turns out, I had been wrong about her being sated before she removed her 'Tanya' disguise.

She stepped back from me, her lips leaving mine last. Her breathing was heavier and the look in her eyes told me she was more than ready for something other than just a quick shower. Her hand was still holding mine. With a slight tug from her, I followed.

The water was very warm but not hot. There would be steam when we finished, and not just from the water.

Whisper pulled up a leg and hooked it on my hip as I pressed her to the wall. Our lips found each other's and we both wanted the use of both hands to feel the other's body.

Whisper was lean, a wisp of a woman. Her pale skin had already made me think of her as a ghost, but the feel of her tiny waist and slim hips made me afraid of hurting her.

I was apparently not being as aggressive with her as she liked. "Ral, don't you dare think I'll break." Her lips immediately resealed to mine.

"Can you hear me?" I thought. I waited but she didn't respond. Finally I pulled from the kissing. "I am strong enough to hurt you though I've learned very fine control over that. The issue though is your size versus mine." I pressed my hips and hardening prick against her to make my point.

She gasped and pushed against me so she could see. I turned and her hand went straight to the meat of the problem. Instantly she had a much better idea of what could happen. She hadn't really worried about my size before because she hadn't intended to do any inserting. At least, not enough to worry about. Now though, her body was primed for it. She wanted me in her, but her body could not possibly take what I had. Certainly not all of it.

"You've changed your girls so you don't have to worry about how gentle you are with them, do the same for me, please." That last word was mostly her breath as she shivered while feeling me up.

I nodded and slid my hand down, over her bottom and to the heated and wet areas she was most interested in having adjusted. I pulled her to me as if to pick her up and she grabbed my shoulders for support. Looking deep into her eyes, I watched as she groaned and shivered while my ability passed into her and made those adjustments she requested.

Once again, however, I found that I wasn't in full control of what happened. Normally, my ability to mold flesh followed my deeper desires for what should happen. Most of the time, my conscious desires were the same, but in moments like this it was embarrassing to know what I had really wanted.

Whisper opened her eyes again. If I was right, the feel of my power passing into her had made her orgasm. She looked at me as if it was a good start. However, her expression changed, both because of my expression and what she was feeling with her body.

Both of us looked down.

Whisper's breasts bulged where she was pressed against me. I could also feel that her hips had widened and filled out more. Before I had been able to grab nearly a full cheek, now it filled my hand generously.

I let her go and stepped back. She was still looking down at herself. Her breasts were much larger; not as big as some of my girls, but much bigger than they had been. Her tummy was still just as tight, her waist just as narrow but it flared out to wide hips and fuller thighs.

I swallowed and stepped out of the shower completely. Whisper looked up at me. She didn't say anything but she did follow me.

The mirror in the bathroom was a big panel mirror that covered most of the wall both over the toilet and sink. I continued watching Whisper as she turned and looked at her reflection.

She just stared.

I stammered, "I ... I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen ... I didn't realize..."

She looked up at me but she didn't look angry. She looked surprised. "I knew you could do this. I mean, I remember when you did this to Yvonne. Master PC showed the additional code you added and all the alterations to the measurements of her body." She looked at her reflection again, taking in more detail. She hefted one breast, dropped it and hefted the other. "I knew it was very real, but didn't realize how profound it would be..."

Ultimately, I was nervous and scared about what she would conclude. I shouldn't have cared what she thought but I did. For whatever reason, I was scared that she would turn on me and demand that I turn her back and then leave. Instead she looked back up at me and asked, "What's wrong now?"

I closed my eyes. Her eyes were still that light blue. She still had that eerie beauty only with more curves which made her eerily erotic to see. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen."

I felt her hand on my chest and instantly I calmed down. She was calm too. There was some concern to her but nothing overwhelming. "Ral, look at me."

I looked.

She stood closer, putting her face closer to mine. "I will only accept your apology if you can truthfully say you don't find me more attractive."

I just stared at her. My brain trying to engage. "More attractive? I already thought you were quite attractive. You didn't need..." I waved my hand up and down to indicate her body, "all ... the changes..."

"I would agree, but the evidence doesn't." With that, she ran a hand delicately along my solid steel cock.

I shivered all over.

Whisper leaned in closer, pressing her large, soft breasts into me. "Say it Ral."

"S-say what?"

"Say you want me."

I didn't feel a shred of anger in her. She wasn't outraged about what I had done, but seemed quite ... pleased that I had.

"You don't mind this?"

She glanced down at her abundance of cleavage and back up again. "It will take some getting used to. That new suit you bought me simply will not fit any more. For that matter, some of my clothes might have to be replaced." Then she rubbed against me. Apparently she was enjoying my reactions to her because she said, "But I wouldn't want my body back, not if this is how you prefer me."

I had closed my eyes. The sensations, her body against mine, her husky voice, the feel of her hand dancing along my shaft, were starting to become overwhelming. When she said her last statement I looked down to argue further but two things stopped me. One, the look of lust in her eyes and two, the fact that I promised to stop arguing with myself about what was going on.

If I really was going to learn to accept what my life had become, I had to start now. My other girls were too far away to help me with my new sexual cravings. Whisper was willing to fill that role and even seemed happy about the changes I had made to her.

"You're thinking too much again, Ral." Whisper said as she backed up and tugged on my hand. "This isn't rocket science. Right now it's just you and me sharing the shower and if something else happens, then just run with it. If I've had enough or don't like what you do, I'll tell you." She stepped back into the shower and I followed. "Now," she wrapped her arms around my neck, brought her leg up to where she had had it before and finished, "show me what else you can do." Her lips met mine and I saw stars!

Like Whisper had suggested, I stopped worrying about what she might think and just went with what I felt was right. I had to admit, it felt good to just let go.

Whisper fit in my arms like she belonged there. My ability had done a marvelous job filling her out and I could not argue against it. Using the strength I had warned Whisper about, I picked her up. She wrapped both legs around me and used them to pull me to her. I held back with a grin on my face. Still holding her with one hand, I reached around her thigh and aimed myself up at her. She felt me and took a deep breath like she was about to dive into water.

Dive wasn't a bad metaphor, but I was the one doing the diving. Deep into her I sank and she released her breath steadily as every inch of me pressed into her. Once our hips met she closed her mouth and gulped. "I am so glad you adjusted me!" she breathed at me. Then she started rolling her hips while I held her above me. The expressions that flashed across her face were just as invigorating as the feel of what she was doing along my shaft.

I couldn't just stand there and hold her up. I started moving too, my hips to be specific. This brought on more intensity to her expressions and the emotions I got from her were climbing new heights of intensity as well. She was a fire, cool on the outside, but a demonic inferno on the inside.

"Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, YES, YES!!" she called. She didn't just approach her orgasm, she was running full bore at it.

All at once the world was a swirl of colors and sparkles. She locked down and her body quivered and shook not only externally, but internally too. All along me, her inner walls squeezed, and pulled, as if she were trying to draw me further into her. It was all I could take.

I had her pressed to the wall, my knees locked to keep us upright. After the initial rush of our orgasms passed, I knelt slowly. Not only to put her back on her feet but to withdraw as well. She realized what I was doing, gripped my shoulders and said, "No, not yet."

I looked up at her. Her expression was eloquently happy. I could feel her thrill of having me repeatedly, much like the rest of my girls enjoyed. I smiled but wanted something different.

"Turn around," I said softly.

She smiled and turned. With us still attached, it took me helping her, but finally she was pressed to the wall, her back arched and accepting me from behind. A groan escaped her lips. I'm sure I filled her so much it wouldn't matter what the angle was. It didn't matter. At the moment, both of were enjoying everything.

I kept my knees bent, partially squatting due to the height difference, but that allowed me to press up against her as I began easing my way in and out of her again.

She looked at me over her shoulder. "Don't hold back. Give me everything. I want you. All of you."

Words spoken in a heated voice. It was music to my ears and the instrument of my desires. I did what she asked and more. Pressing my lips to her ear, I told her, "Keep your legs closed tight. Let me do the rest."

She nodded and I felt her legs snap together. With her back arched, her butt pressed back at me and her legs helping her inner muscles to tighten down on me more, I picked her up again and held her against the wall. I was still restraining from using full force with my legs, but I drove into her repeatedly with steady, deep thrusts. I doubted she cared if it was my full strength, but I couldn't bear to know what I could really do. Regardless, it felt fantastic.

"God! Yes, Ral! Fuck me! Fuck me with that big fucking cock of yours!!" she growled.

Her words egged me on and she figured it out quick.

"That's right Moby! Give me that dick! Fuck this tight little pussy! Fuck my pussy! Fill me with all that sweet cum!"

My pace buckled for a moment at her comments of "Moby" and "Dick". Granted the story had been about a... "sperm" whale. However, she was quite intent on getting what she was talking about and squeezed me again.

That was all I could take and I again pressed into her completely to empty the torrent of sperm I had already built up.

Whisper was almost like a life-sized vibrator, her trembling was so contained and yet so encompassing.

Once the peak of my orgasm had passed, I lowered us down into the tub. The warm water felt cool to me compared to the heated woman flesh laying on me like so much boneless flesh.

Both of us just enjoyed our relaxed state for a few minutes. The shared feelings were ruined when my cell phone started ringing.

I started to get up to go answer it. Whisper pressed back against me to stop me. "Let them leave a message."

She pulled my arms around her and I agreed. We continued to bask and cuddle.

The cell phone had stopped ringing, but it was followed by the hotel room phone ringing.

The timing made both of us sit up.

I slipped from behind Whisper and out of the tub. "Wash your hair. I'll get it and be right back." Her hair was already soaked, but I knew better than just a rinse.

She nodded and watched me wrap a towel around myself and leave the bathroom. We were both thinking the same thing: no one should have known where we were.

I picked up the receiver. "Hello?"

"Lord Setton, this is Detective Arneson. I do hope I am not disturbing you."

"Detective. How did you find me?"

"I wouldn't be a very good detective if I couldn't find someone."

"And how did you get the room number? I'm here under an assumed ID as a married man."

"I thought that was possible and simply asked the clerk about any couples that had checked in over the last hour. You were the only one."

"Fine. Talk. I want to get moving again."

"I have some information for you. I think you should see this in person. Can you come down to the lobby?"

"Give me a few minutes to get dressed. I was just in the shower."

"Okay. I'll be in the bar."

"Okay." I hung up and went back to the bathroom.

"Who was it?" Whisper asked from the shower.

"Detective Arneson. He says he has information for me that I need to see personally. I'm pretty sure it's about the other House Leaders. I'm going to head down real quick and be right back."

Whisper opened the end of the shower curtain opposite from the showerhead. Her pale, slick body gave me all the reason to not go down, but I knew the information was important. All she said was "Hurry back. I'll be waiting."

I nodded. The conflict of staying and enjoying the wet body in the shower and going down to talk to an aged detective might have been an issue if she and I hadn't already had some fun. However, I dried off, got dressed and left the room.

Down in the bar, I found Detective Arneson sitting on a stool. It was still late afternoon, so the bar was mostly empty. I sat next to the detective. "You have something for me to see?"

He had a manila file folder and pushed it to me. I opened it. Inside were photos. I didn't recognize any of the people in them. "Who are they?"

"Family members of some of the House Lords and Ladies."

I looked up and whispered, "Where they all kidnapped too?"

He nodded.

"Where'd you get this?"

"My sister. When she found out that you were not involved either way, she took the same chance I did. I understand that they weren't supposed to tell anyone that this was happening. Not even each other."

"Does she know who's behind it?"

He shook his head. "No. Whoever it is has done their homework. They know everything about them, including each of their considerable list of abilities."

"Have the kidnappers made any demands?"

"No. They're simply holding them," he nodded at the folder. "Everyone is too scared to do anything to risk their safety."

I looked at the pictures again, taking in the details, the faces, the victims. Then I looked up and called for the Bartender. "Do you have a paper shredder?"

He nodded.

"Here," I handed him the folder of photos. "destroy these, please."

"What are you doing?" The detective asked.

"Making sure if you or I are accosted by the Dragons, we don't have those on us. Now, you need to go do whatever you normally do and let me take things from here. If whoever is doing this knows you, they may have tailed you and have seen you talking to me. Being that I'm now a House Lord, they may change tactics on me and do something similar to try to get me to stay docile."

The detective nodded at my mention of the Dragons, but then looked up when I mentioned that he might have been tailed. "I would have seen anyone who could have tailed me."

"I already know one person you wouldn't have noticed. If Michael can track someone and not be seen by them, I'm sure others can too."

He started to look around then stopped himself. "You're trying to gear up my paranoia. I can't afford that."

I stood up. "No, I'm telling you the truth. You're Lady Arneson's brother. I'm surprised they haven't contacted you to make sure you're not doing anything to stop whatever is going on."

He shook his head. "I'm not a House Leader. They have no reason to stop me from doing anything."

"That wouldn't stop them. You would be easier to deal with. They could probably kill you and not draw as much society attention as killing a House leader would."

"You think they'd come after me?"

"They went after a non-Mind Magi for knowing too much. That person contacted me for help."

"How could a non-Mind Magi even know..." he started.

I cut him off. "The point is, if they'll do what they've done to the house leaders, and try to kill a normal human, what would they do to you?"

He sat there thinking about it. However, I never found out what he decided. I heard a scream.

Looking around the lobby, I didn't see anyone in distress.

The detective asked, "What's wrong?"

I looked back at him. "Didn't you hear it?"

He shook his head. "Hear what?"

"A woman scream," I answered. Then it dawned on me...

Whisper.

{t}Part Three — The Right and The Easy



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Part 3: The Right and The Easy

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Chapter 16: Lordship Validated



Just as with Erin so many months before, the nearly all-consuming need to rush to Whisper's rescue fed my adrenalin. The run up the emergency stairwell was nearly instantaneous. I didn't even feel the effort, almost like I flew rather than ran. The door leading to my floor burst open before I reached it. I was certain no one was waiting in the hall so I took it.

The door to our room was ajar. I didn't hear the shower or any movement inside, so I pushed it open and looked around.

A man sat at the table where Whisper's laptop was still open and presumably showing her profile in Master PC. He had been looking at it but my entrance captured his attention.

"Ah, Mr. Setton I presume," he said with a touch of jovial cheer. My anger and fear were threatening to override my reservations about what to do. He sat there watching me. His eyes were dark blue, sharp and anxious. He wore an expensive looking suit that brought out the color of his eyes. His hair, dark brown, was short and well groomed. There wasn't a lick of facial hair.

I walked past him to the bathroom. Whisper was gone.

I came back out and reached for the man but he said, "Stop!" and held up a small corked vial. He held it so close to my face that I had to back away to focus on it.

"Do you know what this is Mr. Setton?" he asked with a sneer.

In the vial was a black swirling substance. It wasn't really air or liquid. I stared at it, watched it and noticed to my shock and horror whisper's face appear and vanish within the constantly moving vapors.

"By the look on your face, I would say you do. Interesting..." the man commented.

I looked past the vial to the man. His look was contemplating.

"Who are you?" I asked.

He looked up, drawn out of his reverie. "Me? Oh, I'm not so important so long as you do what you're told."

I reached for the vial but he snatched it away.

"No, you can't have that. You wouldn't want anything to happen to your little girlfriend, now would you?"

"You didn't answer my question. Who are you?"

"Since you insist, my name is Leland Arrett, a Dragon of the Mind Magi."

"You should have taken the hint when the other Dragons failed to bring me in."

"Hint?" He raised his eyebrows and had a cocky smile. "You should have known better than to resist the Dragons. Even if one or two fail, the others will come for you. Some will be direct, while others use different tactics to make you do what is desired."

"Such as taking hostages?" I replied. Then I looked at the vial in his hand again. "And what else?"

"Yes, even more insurance." He held up the vial but kept it closer to himself. "This is your girlfriend's soul."

I took a step back. "You ... You killed her?"

"Oh no, no, no, no, no. Her body is with associates of mine. Essentially, she is in a coma. However, if anything happens to this," he waved the vial, "then she will die."

"How do I put her back?" I kept my eyes on the vial.

"Simply do what you're told and it will be taken care of for you." That brought my eyes back to Leland.

"Do what I'm told?"

He nodded.

"And what exactly is it that you want?"

"Not me. My Master. And all you have to do is stay in this hotel."

My anger burned. "Stay in this hotel," I repeated. Leland nodded. "In other words, stop doing anything to mess up whatever scheme your master's working on."

Leland's eyebrows rose. "Whatever scheme my Master is working on is none of your business. So essentially, yes, stay out of it."

With the speed of a striking rattle snake, I had Leland by the throat. "And what makes you think I can't save my girlfriend and take down your master?"

"Because without her body, she will wither and die. Now take your hand off of me!" His face was red and quickly heading for blue.

I started to let go and he relaxed believing that he had won the duel with words. It wasn't over. "Sleep!" I cried and he slumped onto the table. I snatched up the vial and held it reverently.

I picked up Leland and tossed him on the bed like a discarded coat. Sitting in the chair he had occupied, I looked closer at the vial. "Whisper ... Where are you?"

Her face appeared again. She looked sad. I could see her lips moving but no sound came from the small glass tube. I was tempted to pull out the cork but didn't because I wasn't sure what would happen if I didn't have her body with me too. Leland was probably right. I would probably need him to put her back.

I put the vial in my jacket pocket after making sure the cork was secured. Rage threatened to spill out of me. I was so tempted to do things to Leland; things doctors would never be able to undo.

Then I looked at Whisper's laptop. The screen saver had kicked in and required a password to get back to the OS. "Good girl!" I whispered.

After shutting down her computer and packing everything up, I went back to Leland. Searching his pockets, I found his cell phone. I pulled up his call list but it was empty. I checked voicemail and text messages but they too were empty.

"You know where she is. You will tell me," I mumbled as I laid a hand on his head. I sought his memories of the day, but he blocked me just as the other Dragons had done earlier. I pushed harder, determined to get what I was after. He fought me, backing away a bit and then standing to take the brunt of my assault. I was so frustrated, angry and scared I almost screamed. Suddenly there was no resistance.

I was in total blackness and it reminded me of the Void.

"You fool. Now I have you trapped. All you had to do was sit tight. Your girlfriend would have been just fine. Now you'll remain trapped here. I'll put her back together again, but you I will leave to rot!"

He sounded like he was standing next to me, but I couldn't see him. "Show yourself."

He appeared in front of me, floating in the darkness and still dressed in his fashionable suit. "The other Dragons told me what you did, what you were capable of. I knew if you forced your way in I would be able to lead you here. Now my friends will entertain your stupidity with pain unlike anything you could imagine." Other shapes moved in the darkness. I looked but never could see what was there. "I am Lord over this domain. I am what you might call a ... necromancer. A Mind Magi of the dead."

"I'd say I'm impressed, maybe even scared, but I've been here before." What I wasn't going to tell him was that without one of my girls grounding me to the real world I didn't know the way back. If this was the Void and not his twisted version of it I could be in deep trouble.

He floated away from me. "The only way you could have come here before is either with my help or if you died. I know I've never brought you here and you looked perfectly alive back in your room ... for now."

The shadows in the darkness moved closer. I allowed my anger and fear to show. My mark lit up. It had never shown light before but now it acted like a flashlight. The light spread out and I felt like I was glowing. The shadows stopped and backed away.

I heard whispers then, echoes of voices. Leland looked around as if the shadows were talking to him. Finally he looked back at me, his smile gone.

"You have been here before! They told me about you, the 'shining one'. You took a soul away."

He had to be talking about when I had saved Renée.

He looked at the shadows, pointed at me and whispered something. He repeated whatever he said but it seemed the shadows were not obeying his command. I moved toward him and the shadows moved away from me. "Lord over this domain? It looks like your lordship is over." I grabbed him. "Now you're going to tell me what I want to know."

Leland continued to look to the shadows for help. I pulled his face back around and held his jaw so he couldn't look away. "Tell me!"

"I can't tell you what I don't know, " he replied. "The other Dragons took her body after I removed her soul. When everything was over they were going to tell me where to meet them so I could put her back."

"When will they contact you?"

"Tomorrow, at midnight."

"Who sent you to do this?"

"I don't know. I received my orders by text message."

"Then you're no use to me. I should leave you here, leave you in a coma with no escape."

"You still need me to put your girlfriend's soul back into her body."

"You don't listen do you? I've already done that. Another friend of mine died in my arms. I chased her soul here, brought it back and put it back into her."

He grinned regardless of my threats. "Sounds like an amateur job. Any doctor can bring a patient back with normal medicine. But what do you do when the soul hasn't been in the body for hours?"

It was my turn to grin. I grabbed his head with both hands and sought the answer. He had allowed me to follow, not believing he would need defenses. Now I could get anything I wanted from him. Focusing, I sliced into his mind, his memories, seeking the knowledge I needed.

Leland Arrett used to be a gambler. He made his living playing horse and dog tracks. Later he worked casinos. His specialty was poker. His gift with the dead allowed him to cheat in ways that no modern security system could detect. After House Nickelson contacted him for recruitment, he didn't change his career much.

I didn't care for his personal history. What I was after was more defined; specifically, his skill and knowledge of his ability. Leland fought me, but after he had relaxed his defenses, he didn't have a hope of stopping me.

Once I was finished, I knew how to get back to my body. I knew how to not only correct what he had done to Whisper but how to repeat it. I didn't care to know but I accepted it as a package deal.

I pulled back from Leland. He looked completely horrified. He knew that I had taken his memories and realized that he had no value to me. I grabbed him and took us back to our bodies.

We were standing in the hotel room again. He shook in my grip. It wasn't an attempt to escape, it was simple fear. "What are you going to do to me?" He asked with a quivering voice.

"You're going to call your friends and tell them that I am looking for them. You've lost me and need help finding me."

He swallowed as I handed him his cell phone. "Hey, Russ? It's Leland. Yeah, I told him but he knocked me out and left. I need help finding him again. He might even know how to find you. Meet me in the lobby here at the hotel he was at and we'll go from there." He paused. "Right. I'll be waiting."

He hung up and I snatched the phone back from him. "Stay," I commanded and went to collect the pack Whisper normally carried. "Lead the way," I told him and he turned to do just that.

We got in the elevator and I hit the button for the lobby. "Now to correct your mistake of calling me 'Mr.'," I said as the elevator started down. "As of this morning, the Mind Magi Council voted and I am now Lord Setton of House Nautikuus."

Leland glanced at me. "So?"

I held him with a steady gaze. "What happened to the rule of no aggression towards the House Leaders?"

"Those so-called Leaders are nothing more than power-hungry louts too involved in their own schemes to care about the rest of the world," he spat. Obviously he had issues with the other House Leaders.

"Yet you and the other Dragons are accepting missions to kidnap and hold their families hostage while whoever this Master of yours is goes around doing who knows what? That doesn't sound like a solution to me. In fact it sounds like you're pulling some kind of desperate act to get their attention."

"What do you care? You're one of them even if you are new. What did you do? Pay them off? Fuck the Ladies?"

"No, I simply presented ways to improve how the Houses could be run. Obviously my ideas were good otherwise I'm sure they would have rejected my Lordship."

"Oh, don't go getting a big head. First, you're still a kid. You don't know half of what those damned leaders get involved in. Like this crap with the Prophecy. Like any Mind Magi would actually want to bring about Armageddon."

"Funny you mention that. I also petitioned and got passed the abolishment of the First Law."

He just looked at me. "Why would you go and do something like that?"

"Because my parents were that crazy," I said with a mixture of pride and skepticism.

Leland had looked at me with fear previously. Now he scrunched into the corner of the elevator trying to get as far away from me as possible.

"If you haven't noticed Leland, I'm not some harbinger of doom. I'm really no different than you or any other Mind Magi out there."

He didn't say anything else, just watched me for signs of his coming death. When the elevator stopped at the lobby and opened, he waited until I was out of the doors and then darted past me. I grabbed his arm and stopped him from running off. "Just because you think I might smite you down at any moment doesn't mean I'm going to let you go running off in fear for your life. You still have to help me find my girl. Once I have her, you will be free to leave."

He watched me from the corner of his eyes. Sweat trickled down his face.

I shook his arm. "Calm down now. Being terrified of me won't change the situation."

He nodded and swallowed. I tried to help him calm down some but ultimately it was his decision.

I led him over to the side of the lobby. There were couches arranged so groups could have relative peace while talking. I picked up a newspaper laying on one of the coffee tables and handed it to him. "Try to look like nothing's wrong. I'll be right over there." I nodded toward another couch. "Remember, you can't outrun me. Just do what I want and there won't be a problem. Betray me and ... Well you get the idea."

He nodded and took the paper. I went and sat down so I could see him and the main entrance. I also had a view of the entrance from the parking garage. As long as Russ wasn't already there and sitting behind me, I would see him coming.

Now I had to wait. I rubbed my hand over the pocket that held the vial. Part of me hated what was happening and another part knew this could have happened to any of my girls. Whisper had known she was in danger. The only thing going for her was the fact that they didn't know who she was. I was hoping that her memories were safe since I had her soul.

Twenty minutes later, Russ walked in the front entrance. He was the speed Dragon I had faced that morning.

Leland snapped his paper and folded it. The two approached each other and I sat watching. They talked. I was sure Leland would say something to give me away but they turned and headed for the entrance. I got up and followed.

Russ must have either arrived in a cab or ran. However, since Leland was with him, Russ waved down a cab. Lucky for me, two stopped. They got into the first one. Leland glanced back at me as they left. I went for the other cab.

In the cab I told the driver to follow the first one. I didn't know New York that well but then I didn't really care where we were going. I wouldn't be going back to the hotel.

About ten minutes later, the cab in front of mine stopped and the two men got out. I passed a twenty to the driver in my cab and got out too.

I watched from the distance. Russ and Leland knocked on a door to a warehouse. Someone big let them in. It must have been Roy, their heavy Dragon.

"Great," I said under my breath. "Right into a nest of vipers."



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Chapter 17: Den of Dragons



I approached the warehouse, not sure what the security of the place was like. There was little outside lighting so there might have been no cameras. Then again, they might have used infra-red equipment to put would-be intruders like me at ease. I wasn't at ease. I could feel my heart pounding, my muscles flexing and the surrounding area slowing down. I was ready for a fight.

I didn't bother with the door Russ and Leland had used. If they were expecting me, and I was certain they were, I wasn't going to go in that way. There weren't many windows on ground level. The few I did find were blocked by stacks of boxes.

It would have been easy to just tear into the siding to get in, but I wanted to sneak in. I wanted to take them by surprise, just like they had done to me twice.

Finally I gave up looking for another way in. The sides of the building were sheer walls. The upper windows were all closed. Nothing short of a miracle would get me inside by any means other than that damned door.

I went back to it. The doorknob was unlocked. I shook my head, not believing that I was about to do what I was going to. Maybe, if I was fast enough, I could slip past everyone. Of course, there was Russ. I would have to put him to sleep as quickly as possible. In fact, I would have to expect to do that to the whole lot.

Letting my fear out a bit, my adrenaline picked up. I shoved the door open and rushed in.

There was no one around.

I slowed down and looked around. There were stacks of boxes all over but no one waiting. I went back and closed the door shutting out the only light in the place. Knowing that I was quickly losing track of Russ and Leland, I began following the paths left among the boxes.

I realized quickly that they could have gone any of a dozen directions. I listened intently for footsteps and voices but detected none. I doubled back after another dead-end among the boxes and halfway to the intersection I heard someone. I stopped instantly.

" ... What do you mean?"

"He told me. His parents broke the first law. He's the kid from the prophecy."

"He was just pulling your chain Leland. No one's broken that law."

"He also said he had the First Law abolished."

It had to be Russ with Leland and they were heading toward me. I continued to listen to their conversation as they approached. As dark as it was among the stacks of boxes, I was sure they would have to pass a flashlight over me to see me. I just stood stock still and waited.

Their voices got closer and when I thought they would pass the intersection I was at, they went by and started getting farther from me, but I hadn't seen them.

I figured out that they were in a nearby aisle. I traced the wall back the way I had come until I found an opening and raced up that path trying to catch up to them. The problem was my boots clapped on the concrete floor soundly. I had to slow down and hope I caught up soon and without giving away my position.

Around a corner I came to an opening. There were several people gathered around a table. Food was strewn about and a few flashlights were standing up, acting like low-light candles.

I slipped back to wait and listen.

"Leland let Ral get away," said Russ.

"I didn't let him do anything," Leland retorted trying to retain some dignity.

"Don't feel bad, Leland, he even got the best of Russ and me." Said another gruff voice. That must have been Roy.

"I don't understand what is so difficult," said another voice. "He's just a kid. What? The rest of you let your guard down because he's so small or something?"

There was some grumbling. "He's strong, fast and can apparently command others."

"He can do more than that," said Leland. "He can see your memories and he's been to the Void."

The others were quiet. Then a voice asked, "Leland, did he get your memories?"

I was guessing he nodded because there were groans. "It's a good thing we didn't tell you where the hostages were then," said the same voice.

That told me what I needed. Some of them knew where the hostages were, including Whisper. What I didn't know was who the other Dragons were or what they could do.

I needed Russ out of the way first. His speed was the only thing that could keep me from taking them all down. I inched forward, staying low.

I spotted him on the other side of the table. My desire to do this quick and quiet filled my Charm and I let it go to Russ. It wrapped him up and he yawned.

"Not tired already, are you?" One of the others quipped.

Russ shook his head fighting my command. I reinforced it and he passed out.

The others looked at one another and I moved. One by one they passed out and the others knew something was happening. Leland, Roy, a woman I hadn't seen before and another man all slumped in their seats or fell to the floor.

I slowed down and touched each to make sure they were securely sleeping. Then I heard someone clapping.

I spun around and Laura Stephens was coming out of an office. "That is some work Ral. I've seen others fight off the Dragons when they were desperate but I have never seen such a calculated and well executed attack."

I stood up, ready for her. "Looks like I was wrong about you or at least wrong about your death."

She smiled. "Quite." She looked at the other sleeping Dragons. "What I don't understand is why you don't kill them. Eventually they will come after your head, especially with the number of humiliations you've brought on them."

"That's not my way." I didn't know why but I didn't like this little talk. "Where are the hostages?"

She looked up. "Hostages? What makes you think I know or would even tell you if I did?"

I started toward her, slow, one step at a time. "Because of what I can still do. Because I don't kill. You should worry about what I will do that won't result in your death."

"Oh please. You can't touch me and not hurt yourself. Anything you do will only be made worse on you and your little girlfriend."

"Worse on me how? What is your ability?"

She smirked. "My talent is neural manipulation. A single touch and I can do anything from give you a hefty rash to knocking you out to completely frying your brain." She looked about again. "And from the looks of it, frying your brain seems to be a good idea."

Since she didn't know I could heal, I wasn't going to let on that her ability would hurt but not kill me. I continued to approach. "That would explain how you knocked out my other girls earlier, but I had touched you just fine with no ill effects."

"Because I let you."

"Really? Let's test that..." She reached for me and I grabbed her wrist. Her other hand came around and I snatched that one too. I could feel her power but the black suit muffled it. The pain built and built. I knew it would hurt but she was doing something that made it unbearable. Finally I turned and threw her along the ground, sliding toward the others.

She got up grinning. "What's the matter? The new House Lord not able to take a little pain?"

"Just building up my immunity," I replied. I was bluffing because even the cut I got from Russ earlier had hurt. I was fine once it had healed, but the pain had still been there. Pain was something my healing couldn't protect me from. I needed her to go down. I reached out with my Charm...

She charged me and my Charm wrapped her up halfway to me. By the time she got to me, she was barely able to walk. She slapped my chest and slid down me to the floor. I bent down and brushed a hair out of her face. The graze of my skin to hers allowed me to ensure she slept.

I pressed into her mind, looking for her memories. She fought me, trying to use walls and other passive implements to keep me out. Finally, frustrated, angry and simply tired of games, I punched my way in. Her memories flooded me.

Laura had been a college student in Chicago. Her ability had manifested itself when she was with her fiancé. One intimate night that ended with him in a coma. She didn't mean to hurt him of course, but she hadn't known she could do what she did. At first it was added stimulation then it overpowered him and he simply shut down.

Laura left Chicago, not wanting to face everyone who knew them. She sought someone who could tell her what happened, maybe even tell her how to turn it off. Finally, she found members of House Nickelson. They accepted her and she became a full member. When she told them about her accident, it was brought up with Lord Morehouse. He immediately dispatched healers to tend to the boy then turned his attention to Laura.

She was initiated in the Dragon program and excelled at both using her ability with a wide range of effects, plus various martial arts that would allow her to get close enough to use her ability if needed.

Then something happened. She accidentally shocked a fellow student. It was so sudden and out of control, the boy had died. Laura was distraught with what happened. It made her realize just how dangerous she really was. She again ran away.

Lord Morehouse found her and talked her into returning to his facility. She did so, but only to face trial. She was found innocent. There had been no animosity between her and the dead boy, no reason at all for her to kill him. The accident was just that. However, Morehouse saw her as too dangerous to keep. He released her from his House and she had spent the remaining years trying to prove herself worthy of one House after another. Most turned her down flat while others would test her. She still didn't have a House only because she couldn't completely control her ability.

Finally, I found the memories of her recent activity. She had received a text message. It didn't have a name of who it was from, but the message was simple enough. Whoever sent it wanted her to find my Schiavi and knock them out. That was all. She had decided to go further, hoping that taking me down would prove she was worthy of whatever House had contacted her. Unfortunately, that hadn't worked.

From her training as a Dragon, she had enough forethought to put up her defenses and set up a booby-trap for me. When I started searching her for her mark or tried to penetrate her defenses, she would go into cardiac arrest. It was a trick she had learned. Her body would shut down for an hour or more and then just restart again. At least that's the way it looked. In reality her heart still beat, only so slowly it made her look dead. If she couldn't bring me down, maybe she could have me framed for her "death".

She woke up later when Russ and Roy had brought her back to the warehouse. They were relieved to find that she wasn't dead and thought her plan would have been good if only they had been informed of it. They told her of their failure to bag me as well and that they had barely gotten out of the hotel with her before the police arrived.

What they hadn't told her was what else was going on. "Damn it," I said under my breath.

I went to Russ. I made sure he was asleep and dove into his memories. He fought me like before but I was getting more and more adept at pushing past those defenses. He didn't know where the hostages were either. I checked Roy, and neither did he.

Finally there were the other two. I went to the man. I pulled out his wallet and cell phone. Like the others, I pocketed the cell phone, but in the wallet, I learned his name, Leo Cunningham. I wasn't sure what he could do, so I was careful as I examined his memories.

At first it seemed like he had the same normal defenses as the others, then he hit me with something that felt like a sledgehammer. I reeled back so much that I actually let him go and broke the connection.

I shook off the effects and looked around. No one else was there. Whatever happened, it was him that did it, purely with his mind. He could be just as dangerous as Russ, but instead of using speed he didn't need to overpower my strength or speed. The only thing that had saved me earlier was the fact that he didn't know when I had commanded him to sleep; only that someone was attacking them.

Now, he was asleep, but he used his subconscious defenses coupled with his mental weapons to keep me at bay.

I touched him and commanded, "Stop!" I wasn't sure it would help but I had to check. In I went and again, I was hammered. This time I couldn't get away fast enough. Repeatedly he hit me. The pain was unlike anything I had ever felt. Finally, I fell back, breathing hard and barely conscious. I knew if I passed out, they would probably wake up before I did. I couldn't let them find me. I couldn't fail Whisper.

I tried to get up but was hit again. I knew I wasn't touching Leo and turned to see who had hit me. All I got was a face full of rifle butt.



-------

Chapter 18: Mystery Lady



I woke up to music, incense and soft lights. My head throbbed for a moment but that passed quickly. I realized instantly that I was in a bed naked but didn't know where I was.

The room was decorated in warm colors, dozens of lit candles and paintings of bodies writhing in massive orgies. The paintings reminded me of the mural rug Vikkor had so many months before. Directly over the bed was a huge panel mirror built into the ceiling. The reflection told me that the bed was almost as big as the one I had back in Texas. I sat up and looked around. There was only one door but no windows. The bed I was on was near the middle of the room.

I got up and went to the door. It was locked. I was certain I could break it down and escape, but to what end?

From the other side of the door I heard footsteps coming.

I could either get back in bed and feign sleep or take down whoever came in and leave. I decided on feigning sleep. Since I didn't know where I was I would need help getting back to where I had seen the Dragons last. I still had to find Whisper.

I jumped back into the bed and covered up. Lying still with my eyes shut, I waited.

I heard the door open and the rustle of cloth. Someone was approaching barefooted.

The bed faced opposite the door. Even if I cracked my eyes open I wouldn't see who was there. Then I felt someone sit on the bed next to my head. A delicate hand caressed my cheek. "Ral ... Wake up, Ral. I have food for you. You must be hungry. Wake up..."

The voice was soft and coaxing. I shifted and opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was her eyes; an exotic soft brown outlined with mascara and shading to bring out her color. Part of me wanted to just lie there and stare. Besides the fact that it would be impolite, I had too many questions and the most obvious came out first. "Where am I? Who are you?"

She continued to caress my cheek, smiling benignly. "Shhh ... You need to eat first. You've had some adventure today and need to recover your strength." She looked up and waved someone in. I sat up, looking back at the door.

A butler came in pushing a cart with food on it. For a moment, I thought he was a joke. He was tall, with short blonde hair and was obviously well built under his tailored suit. He looked like he could have been a stripper women would hire for bachelorette parties or such. He parked the cart next to the head of the bed and hit a switch on the side. The top of the cart slid towards the bed and then lowered so it was nearly lying on the pillow. With the top of the cart out of the way, another shelf rose with an assortment of drinks and what looked like oils. The butler nodded to the woman and me and then left, closing the door behind him.

I looked up at the woman and asked again, "Who are you?"

She smiled at me again. If I hadn't already been used to living with beautiful women throwing themselves at me all the time, I would have assumed that smile meant more than pleasantries. "My name is Fiona Bennet."

I rolled over and sat up on my knees out of reach. Conscious of my state of undress, I pulled the sheet around to cover myself. I was feeling uncomfortable being so close to her, and it wasn't the bad kind of uncomfortable either. Instead I wanted to focus on the more important issues. "How did I get here?"

She smiled again. "Eat something and I'll answer your questions."

My paranoia was getting the better of me. "Why don't you answer some questions first and then maybe I'll eat something."

She continued to watch me as if I were amusing. "Ral if I wanted to poison you, I could have done it already. You were sleeping like a baby."

I watched as she leaned over and picked up a croissant. My girls and I sometimes had them for breakfast, which made me wonder how long I had been out. "What time is it?"

She tore the croissant in two and said, "Nearly ten o'clock. You've only been out a couple of hours," and then she began eating one of the pieces.

My belly rumbled, ignoring my choice to not eat. Fiona gave me a look that told me I was being stupid. "Eat something Ral. You'll feel better."

I moved over to the tray laden with food and sat cross-legged in front of it. There was fruit, breads, cheese, and deli cut meats. It was really finger food as I thought of it but there was more than enough to fill my belly. I started making a pseudo-sandwich and asked, "So, how did I get here again?"

"Michael called me. He told me where you could be found," she said.

"Michael," I said before stuffing my own mouth. He could track me down. Maybe he was closer to town since he had been able to tell Fiona where I was. When I had spoken to him about the kidnappings he had only a vague sense of where they were. Then again, with him bound to me it may have allowed him to have a better reading on my location.

I sat there eating for a bit, thinking about what had happened. One of the Dragons had pummeled me even though he had been unconscious and I was pretty sure someone else had shown up with the knockout blow. I had been so close to finding out where Whisper was that I was disappointed with myself, to say the least. Looking up I asked, "Among my clothes, did you find a small vial? It was about the size of your pinky."

She shook her lovely head. "No, nothing like that. When I took your clothes off to be cleaned the only thing I found was your wallet."

Part of me wanted to not trust her, but Dr. Holzer's gift for discerning the truth indicated that she wasn't lying.

I looked over at Fiona. She was finished with her croissant and continued watching me. Of all the people Michael could have called to find me, he chose her; a stunning woman who was obviously wealthy enough to afford a young and buff butler. I was confused but thankful for the help.

Sitting there watching me, Fiona looked ravishing. She had a light touch of makeup, which not only brought out the color of her soft brown eyes but also made her lips look full, soft and moist. Her dark auburn hair fell in heavy waves just past her shoulders. Otherwise she was completely concealed in a dark green silk robe. However, all that beauty didn't help the sinking feeling in my gut regarding Whisper's vial.

Having finished three of my small, makeshift sandwiches, I relaxed a bit. The food helped, I did feel better physically, but emotionally, I was a wreck in slow motion. I picked up a bottle of tea and drank down half of it before stopping for air.

"I take it you're feeling better?" Fiona asked.

I nodded, "Thank you."

She waved my words away. "It was the least I could do. Michael seemed to think you were trying to do something noble and was worried about you getting hurt in the process."

"Michael knows me pretty well," I replied with a slight grin. I looked down, remembering my state of undress. "Not that I don't appreciate what you've done for me, but where are my clothes?"

"Being washed. You were in a dreadful state. All mussed up like you had been crawling around that warehouse for hours."

"You sent my suit to the dry cleaners?"

She chuckled. "No, I have dry cleaning machines here. Almost everything I own is dry-clean-only."

I relaxed a bit, knowing I couldn't go anywhere without something to wear. Looking around the room again I asked, "Why aren't there any windows here?"

Fiona looked around too as she answered, "This is my private chamber. I have a regular bedroom with windows and all the normal niceties, but this is where I go when I want to be alone." She was looking at me when she finished. The look in her eyes told me that she didn't come here to be alone, maybe to not be interrupted, but certainly not to be alone.

"How long do you think it will be before my suit is ready? I have things I need to do."

She nodded. "It probably won't be much longer. However, considering whatever it is you're doing, don't you think you could use some help?"

"Help would be welcome. I just don't know who I can trust."

She cocked her head to the side, brow furrowed. "Why?"

I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I have to assume you're a Mind Magi, otherwise Michael probably would have called someone else to help me," I said staring into her eyes.

She stared back at me for a moment and then reached for the opening of her robe. She turned to show me her back, slipping the robe down and watching me over her shoulder. She had probably the most complex mark I had seen so far. It was gray, which meant she wasn't bound to any House.

She watched me, half hidden behind her shoulder and dark locks. Understanding her purpose for this room and the sight of her amazing eyes, I got the impression she was hoping for something more than conversation or to help me with whatever I had been doing when she found me.

That realization seemed to wake something up inside me. I felt my abs contract, my heart began to race and my cock began to rise. I kept myself covered and tried to remain calm. I really didn't have time for a roll in the sack no matter how bad my hunger got. It had been hours since I had been with Whisper, and those memories didn't help. In fact, they caused a conflict within me.

I had to find Whisper. I didn't have time for my hunger for sex to have its way now. I forced myself to calm down, kept my breathing steady and generally remained composed. I looked at Fiona again. She had turned back around to face me proper but only barely covered herself with her robe. It still hung off her shoulders. I tried to explain, "I've got to find ... Jennifer. I need to find her before the Dragons do something ... something really bad to her."

"What do you mean? Why would the Dragons do anything to her? Who's Jennifer?"

"She's one of my Schiavi."

"And why do the Dragons have her?"

"It seems they're kidnapping family members of all the House Leaders."

"Why are they doing that?"

"I ... I don't know. At least, I don't know the entire reason. The House Leaders aren't supposed to interfere in someone's plans and the hostages are insurance that they don't. Whatever is going on, it's all supposed to be over with by midnight tomorrow night." My guilt festered. "And I uh ... I thought I could help. I thought I could find the hostages, free them so the House Leaders could do what they do to stop whoever it is that's master-minded this."

"Ral, it sounds like something that's just too well planned."

I shook my head, not wanting to admit to that. To me it was so much simpler. "They've got too much help, whoever it is. I can't do it by myself."

Then Fiona brought up a good point. "If the House Leaders are helpless to do anything, how is anyone else supposed to help? No one can stand up to the Dragons."

I thought about that. Some of my own House members had talents that could be quite advantageous if used properly. "It's a matter of tactics. Besides, any Mind Magi that's willing to help, I'm willing to share my talents with."

"Your abilities?"

"Yeah. For example, as complex as your mark is, I'd say you have more than one ability, and they probably intermingle pretty well."

She nodded understanding. "Okay."

"My mark isn't a solid ribbon."

She glanced down at my chest. "I noticed that," she said with a slight smile.

I wasn't sure what her smile was about. Part of me tried to say it was because my statement had been obvious already. Another part believed she was smiling because I gave her the chance to openly look at my chest for more than just seeing my mark. I had to remain controlled. "I haven't even tapped all my abilities yet."

"Well, why do you think that is?" she asked looking back up.

"I don't know. I mean, I've ... tried, but I don't know how I'm accessing them. I don't know why they're appearing."

"Well, mine appeared as I bound, initially, to my first Schiavi. I've changed Schiavi since then. I mean, it's not like I've always had the same men bound to me."

"What? You're saying your abilities changed when you changed Schiavi?"

"Well, for the most part my abilities are still the same but they have different ... tones. You know? It's like you feel one way about someone and you feel the same kind of way about another and though the same word describes what you feel for those two, it's not exactly the same."

I knew what she meant. The love I felt for my girls was love but different for each. They held different places in my heart. I nodded. "Yeah, yeah. I understand that."

"Now, I've heard rumors. Isn't it something like twenty girls you're bound to?"

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help but grin even slightly. "Not quite twenty ... only seventeen."

"Seventeen?" she asked, pretty much confirming the truth of the rumor. Her face was open with astonishment but she recovered quickly, maybe noting my anxiety about the subject. Quickly she moved on with her point. "Well, what if it's your girls who are unlocking your abilities?"

I thought about that for a moment. "Well, Michael told me that they're the ones I get the energy from for me to use my abilities, but he never mentioned anything about me getting my abilities from them."

"No, don't think of it like you're getting your abilities from them. Think of them like complex keys, and the locks to your abilities are just as complex. They unlock certain talents with specific ... flavors."

I was nodding as she spoke. "Okay."

"So, who was the last one you bound to?"

"Jennifer ... Just um ... this morning."

Fiona didn't bat an eyelash at that. "And has anything new happened recently? Think about it. It could have been something very subtle."

I remembered something alright. "Yes, when I realized she was being attacked, I ran up the emergency stairwell of the hotel. When I got to my floor, the emergency door just flew open as if someone had been expecting me. No one was around and I was too caught up in what was happening to Jennifer to think about it." I was puzzled though. "Maybe it has something to do with doors?"

"No, it wouldn't be anything that specific. I'm thinking you can move things ... with your mind."

"What?"

"What's the sci-fi term for it? Telekinesis?"

I chuckled. "That's funny."

"Seriously, and I'll bet you've got other abilities you don't even use regularly."

I would have laughed harder about me having 'telekinesis but another pang hit. This time, I couldn't hide what was happening. The urge was so sharp it was almost like pain. Almost.

"What's the matter?

"I'm ... having problems..."

"What kind of problems? You're not in pain are you?"

"No, no. Pain, I could tell you about."

"I don't understand."

"This morning it started ... The hunger ... and ... it turned out that I needed..."

"Needed what?"

"Sex," I answered quietly, mostly under my breath as if the word was bad in some way. I looked up at Fiona. I wasn't after sympathy but that's how she was looking at me. I shook my head, both trying to shake off the feeling in my gut and to try to convey that I did not want the sympathy she offered. "This morning, when it hit the first time, one of my girls was there. We went to the bathroom and took care of it."

She nodded, listening to what I was saying rather than judging or continuing with her sympathy. "Okay..."

"When I got back to the apartment we were attacked. Laura Stephens had knocked my girls out and waited for me to show up. I took her down, forced her to sleep. Even after that, with all of us stressing because of it, this ... hunger hit again. And ... we took care of it."

"Not long after that I sent my girls to the airport so they could fly to safety. Someone I've known for a while happened to be in town and was with me in the hotel when the hunger hit again. She helped me with it ... and became my latest girl."

"So you bind them to you through sex?"

I nodded.

"And you're having another hunger pang?"

I closed my eyes fighting the urges coursing through me and nodded.

I felt the bed move. Opening my eyes I watched as Fiona crawled toward me on all fours. Her movement was as graceful, if not more so, as any big cat in the jungle. As she got closer she asked, "Does it have to be one of your girls?"

She moved up close to me, not quite touching, but definitely getting in my personal space. With a glance up and about the room she said, "This room isn't really so I'll be alone, but..."

"Not disturbed," I finished for her.

She nodded, smiling. "It's sound proofed, and sets the mood." Still on her hands and knees, she looked me over again. Her eyes seemed to linger on my crotch. The sheet didn't cover me as much as conform to my shape. I sat stock still both wanting her to stop staring and wishing she would just pull the sheet back and look at me properly.

She looked back up into my eyes and suggested, "We could test that theory."

I fought to keep my eyes on hers. So badly I wanted to see the body she kept covered up. It was possible my struggle was obvious, but I wasn't going to just give in. That meant keeping the conversation going. "Theory?"

She smiled just a bit. "To know if you have to have one of your girls to quiet your hunger."

I swallowed and fought to keep my breathing controlled. I had promised myself to make adjustments to what was happening, but that was coupled with the idea that Whisper or one of my other girls would be around to help quell my hunger. Now, not only was the hunger back, but none of my girls were nearby. I nodded and said, "Okay."

Fiona seemed to sense my internal struggle. "Relax," she said in a soft yet arousing voice. She put her hand on my chest to indicate I lay back. I followed her instruction. "Just relax," she encouraged.

I nodded again and lay down slowly. Still my internal struggle made one more bid for resistance. "I can't ask you to do this."

"You don't have to ask, Ral. I'm perfectly willing to help," she replied.

I remembered what Whisper had said earlier: "Wouldn't you rather have the ability to choose who you were with rather than just any random woman?" Fiona was willing to help and quite frankly I didn't think any other woman would have been a better choice. Of course that was excluding my own girls, but since my choices were limited...

I had fought the idea of just taking anyone who happened to be around even if I had to choose someone, but that was because I thought I would only be adding women to my family. Would sex with Fiona bind her to me? The bonds I had with the other Mind Magi were different. I could feel the difference. They didn't feel as intimate as the bonds with my girls. Yet she was both volunteering and curious about what would happen. Worst-case scenario? I could have sex with her for hours and still need the touch of one of my girls to quiet my hunger. It was worth a shot. I nodded. "Okay..."

Fiona's smile grew. "Just relax."

I finally gave in to the idea of relaxing and let my head fall to the bed.

"There is something you need to know about me though..."

I focused on her. My hunger was gaining ground and keeping me from focusing very well. "What?"

"I am to men what you are to women," she said.

I continued to just stare at her puzzled.

"Some would call you an incubus, a male demon of sex," she said with a grin that bordered on Renée's mischievous smile.

I considered the term. In all the months that I had dealt with my talents and how they focused on sex, I was surprised with myself for not thinking of the term before. I nodded. "I could agree to that."

"Quite readily I see..." she said smiling more broadly.

"Well, I'm not exactly proud of it. I'm still struggling with the whole idea. I've only been like this for a few months."

"A few months?" she asked with a touch of incredulity, "and you have so many girls bound to you?"

"Most of them were bound to me within a week after my abilities manifested."

Her eyes widened. "A week?" Her expression made it almost as bad as the number of girls who were bound to me.

I shook my head and looked away feel ashamed.

She shook her head in return, grinning. "No, no. I understand Ral." She stifled a small laugh. "I'm constantly changing Schiavi because I like the whole ... new car smell."

I filled in the words for her, looking up into her eyes, "The experience and thrill of a new lover."

She smiled back at me, filling me with excitement. "Yeah."

I looked away. "I couldn't let my girls go." I didn't understand it but I felt the need to explain myself. "I've tried, but I want to be with them ... and they argue against me letting them go."

"They argue against it?" she asked. "I had one man demand I let him go."

"It's something to do with the bonds..." I offered with a shrug.

"That's different," she pondered. "Maybe we're not so alike after all."

I reached up and stroked her cheek with the tip of my finger. When she looked up I said, "I don't know. With your looks you could have any man you wanted. With my Charm I can have any woman."

"Your Charm?" she asked with a half-disbelieving smile. "I'm sure your girls have told you this. I'm certain you've probably even heard the same from women who aren't bound to you, but you are a very handsome and sexy young man."

It was my turn to smile half-disbelieving.

Fiona moved closer still, but mostly to kneel next to me. "Believe it or not, women do think of men in the same ways men think of women. We may not become very vocal about it publicly, except maybe at a male strip club, but really and truly, we do size up men like men do women." Her expression was a soft mixture of amusement and, I would say, honesty. "So, when a woman compliments you and says you're handsome and sexy accept it for what she says, because Ral," her eyes traveled down my body and back up in a sweep to help punctuate what she meant, "you are damn sexy. It's not a trick. You're not charming me, but I cannot deny what I see before me."

Still struggling not just pull her to me and show her what I was feeling, I just nodded. "I'll take your word for it."

"Don't just take my word for it. I'm not asking you to live it, because I like your modesty."

I couldn't stop the sheepish grin that crossed my face.

"Besides, I know what it's like, from the other point of view. Men gush at me with compliments about my beauty all the time. And yes, I do use that to my advantage."

When she stopped, I looked over her face. It wasn't just beauty I saw, but a sexy, ravishing woman. "I'd say you're allowed that."

"And why aren't you allowed?"

"Because of the effects."

"What effects?"

"I usually end up bound to the girl I affect."

"Because you end up having sex with them?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"And do they cry 'rape' after this happens?"

"Well, no."

She chuckled, "Then what's the problem?"

"I've not let any of them go ... well, no, I let two of them go."

"Again, what's the problem?" I didn't answer immediately so she had a guess, "They wanted to be let go, right?"

I shook my head, "No, they didn't. I let them go because morally I couldn't keep them."

"Morally? Who were they?"

"My mom and my sister."

She laughed, "What? You had sex with your mom and your sister?"

I rolled my eyes, somewhat embarrassed, not only because of whom they were but the fact that I was still in contact with my sister and had continuing fantasies about my mom. I felt I had to justify myself. "Well, technically, I was adopted by that family."

"But still, you had sex with a mother and her daughter." Fiona was a mix of heat and amusement. "Was it at the same time?"

"No ... well, when I had sex with my Mom, my sister was there even though she didn't receive me."

"Holy Toledo, Ral! I've heard stories and even read fiction on the net about things like that, but that's ... that's hot!" Fiona was hugging herself, and for the first time I got a good idea of what she was like under the robe. Her breasts bulged against her robe, which still covered her, but it was obvious that the silky smooth cloth was destined to fall away completely.

I looked up and caught her watching me. The smile on her face made me believe she was happy to have caught my attention in that way. Not like she hadn't already, because I was still struggling to not demean, or disrespect her in any way.

Fiona adjusted her arms under her breasts, raising them a bit and causing the robe to fall away just that much more. She was teasing me and I knew it.

A soft groan escaped me.

Knowing what was ailing me and how she was affecting me as well, she leaned forward, still holding her robe close by keeping her arms under her breasts. That didn't stop the robe from falling open and exposing everything except her nipples. My eyes followed her cleavage, my biggest weakness. It was painfully obvious I wanted her and she said something that made me nearly jump for joy. "How about I lay down with you? We can touch and feel each other as openly as we both want, and if something more happens I'm perfectly willing to just go along for the ride."

I looked back up into her eyes and could not mistake the lust that filled them for anything else. Losing the will to fight my hunger, I nodded.



-------

Chapter 19: Multi-Course Meal



I had been pretty sure that Fiona would have an amazing body, but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw.

Curves.

From the swell, motion and size of her fantastic breasts to the elegant musculature of her taut tummy; from the dangerous transition of her slim waist to the generous and full grace of her hip, Fiona was the utter epitome of sexual desire given form.

There were other men out there who had seen the body I was seeing and they had probably shot off still fully dressed merely from the sight of her. I had a little more control and stamina than that. However, my hunger for sex roared through my body. It was a fire that burned out any reservations that remained in my mind. If Fiona wanted me, she would have me.

It's amusing how often the tone and texture of skin is often compared to various foods, such as cream, milk, chocolate and many others. With the soft lighting and the smooth flawless tone of Fiona's skin, I was reminded of melted caramel. She didn't have any real muscle definition. Even her taut belly seemed to flow into her waist smoother than some of my girls, yet at the same time I could discern the muscles as she breathed.

To say the least, I was in awe. I looked up and understood how well her exotic face fit her yummy body. "I have to say, I've never seen skin tone like yours before..." The urge to touch was there and my hands shook with a fine tremor as I fought it.

Fiona was kind enough to let me drink in more of the sight of her body.

I finally remembered that she had more than just phenomenal curves and extraordinary skin tone and looked back up into her dazzling eyes. She seemed too good to be true. It might have been wrong but I had to know and I asked, "Is that really you or can you alter your appearance, even in subtle ways?"

She didn't seem dejected or insulted by my question. Her smile widened a bit as she answered, "Oh, I can alter my appearance. I like the whole idea of having perfect skin." She ran her hands over her breasts, down her tummy and out over her hips. "What does my skin make you think of?"

My answer was nearly instantaneous, "Melted caramel..."

"Mmm ... Actually my favorite candy."

I grinned, a bad joke on the way. "You don't eat that much of it, do you?"

Again, she either understood my implication of 'you are what you eat' and knew how bad the joke was or simply didn't care. Either way, she smiled more and wiggled her hips as she answered, "Oh no no no. Gotta watch the figure."

For the first time that I could recall, I was biting my lip in anticipation of kissing and sucking on the skin in front of me.

Fiona shifted around and lay on her side next to me. I was on my back and rolled up to face her though I was still covered from the waist down by the bed sheet.

"And you," she said looking over the portion of me still exposed, "Not deeply tanned, but tanned just right. I can't really describe it. Let me guess, you can alter your appearance too?"

I shook my head, losing more and more will to concentrate on what she was saying. "No, but I did change when my abilities first manifested."

"Hmmm... ," she thought as she looked me over again. Her confession that women size up men just as men size up women resurfaced and I had a feeling that she was seeing me with almost the same desire I saw her.

I didn't know why I was still fighting my hunger. I could have just given in and had her. She had already admitted she was willing. Whatever the reason, I just started talking. "I didn't make myself look this way ... It just happened."

She looked up into my eyes and said, "Everyone has a subconscious idea of what they should look like." Then she reached out and touched my chest with just her fingertips. "You changed into this. I'm guessing you weren't quite so defined?"

I nodded, burning with desire from her simple touch.

Her fingers trailed down over my abs. "I'm guessing that I'm not seeing everything that changed," she said with a low contralto that made me shiver.

I just shook my head.

Her fingers push between me and the sheet. I closed my eyes just willing myself to remain still as she touched me. However, instead of just going for the gold, she pulled her hand away, pulling the sheet off me.

I opened my eyes and looked up at her face not sure what her expression would be. The air of the room washed over me and I flexed instinctively.

Fiona had a look of mixed awe and disbelief. "Oh my..."

She was staring at me openly, while biting her lip. I noticed how her breasts rose and fell with her more excited breathing. Her eyes traveled up my body as if tracing me to make sure what she found was actually attached to the same person she had been talking to. "Ral..."

Her hand hovered over me and I ached for her to touch me. Finally, I put my hand on hers and pressed her to me. She gently held me. I ran my hand up her arm, excited by the feel of her baby smooth skin. She began stroking me with a delicate touch as if I was having the same affect on her that she was on me.

However, slow and steady was not what I apparently needed. Another groan escaped me, and Fiona's doe expression shifted to concern. "Ral, if you need to cum, say so..."

I just gazed at her, caught up in the building sensations.

She looked down and watched as her hand slid over my sensitive organ. "I love to watch a man orgasm." Her hand started moving faster. "To see all of his white creamy sperm shoot from him over and over." She moved closer and her handling of my rock hard cock became even more vigorous.

Suddenly she sat up. "I hope you don't mind..." she said but didn't wait for me to respond as she pushed me onto my back and crawled over me. Still on her hands and knees, she stroked me.

I looked down and could barely see what she was doing past her dangling and fabulously round breasts. Looking up, I was presented with a perfect view of the glistening wetness between her legs.

Then I felt the heat of her breath and the soft, wet touch of her tongue and lips. I groaned and reached for her ass. She moved as I directed her, putting a leg on the other side of my head. I then pulled her down by her hips and met her lips with my own.

As fantastic as she looked, she tasted better. I enjoyed going down on all my girls and willingly drank up any fluids they offered during sex. Fiona however was like a drink of fresh water to a man who had just crossed a desert on foot. I simply couldn't get enough. Of course, that could have been my hunger making her seem more desirable but at the moment I didn't care.

If I had any disappointment in what we were doing, it was that she seemed unable to swallow me as completely as my girls could. Still, her excitement and effort more than made up for it.

I held her cheeks in my hands, enjoying the feel of her skin, the way her muscles moved and the pleasant roundness. With my face pressed between them, I inhaled her scent and ran my tongue all over her. Her clit caught my attention quickly, being bigger than what any of my girls had. I sucked on it and squeezed it with my lips. Fiona ground herself onto my face when I did that. It made me happy to know I could bring her as much pleasure as she did me.

I also found that she didn't have a single hair anywhere. Nothing. She was completely bald. That only seemed to encourage me as I lapped not only at her swollen lips, but pretty much anywhere I could reach. None of my girls had shaved themselves. I wondered what they would think of the idea. Again, the idea was a fun one and only drove me to kiss, lick and suck on Fiona more.

The more intense my attention became, the more vigorous she got. It was like our actions not only pleased but also encouraged the other. Soon the soft music was overridden by the sounds of moaning, slurping and wet bodies sliding along each other. It really didn't take that long before I was thrusting up into her hands and mouth, rushing to my own orgasm. Fiona reacted to my actions, as she rolled her hips and pressed herself to my attentive tongue and fingers.

Both of us soon moaned our mutual releases.

I felt Fiona accept some of my cum into her mouth, but then she pulled back and let the rest spray her face. In turn, I kept my face plastered to her crotch as she quivered and shook all over me.

She rolled off me and sat up on her elbows. I rolled over onto my side again, also coming up onto an elbow. Her face and hair were covered with my cum. The smile she had was both astonished and gleeful. After we had both calmed down a bit she said, "You put on one hell of a show..."

I raised an eyebrow, curious by what she meant.

"I've seen men in videos that spray down women with incredible amounts of cum, but I never thought I would actually be with one. I always thought those guys had taken some kind of pill to produce so much cum."

I smiled and shook my head, not sure I was ready to talk just yet.

She watched me for a minute and then asked, "So, how do you feel now?"

I nodded. "Better. There's still a slight twinge, but I'm feeling better."

"A slight twinge?" she asked. Sitting up, she spoke with the same teasing lilt, "Sounds like you've only had the appetizer. Time for the main course..."

I chuckled. "The main course?"

She nodded. "Mm-hmm ... I know I'm ready for more."

I felt somewhat giddy; happy to be with her as much as knowing her willingness to help me. "More?" We both know what more meant so I went on, "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure about a lot of things. Like wanting you, like knowing you're going to end up spraying me down at least two more times tonight, and like I'm going to enjoy every minute of it." She moved over me, pressing her body into mine. "The only thing I'm not sure about is fitting every hard, thick inch of your gorgeous cock into my wet little pussy, but I am sure that I'm damn well willing to try," she finished with a luscious smile.

I held her to me, but she reached up to the cart. I watched as she used some of the napkins to wipe my spend off her face.

She looked at the goop on the disposable napkin for a moment. "You taste so good, I hope you don't think me disgusting..." and she pressed the flat of her tongue to the napkin, lapping up the fluid with a single stroke.

I chuckled. "My girls would do the same. Only they usually clean it off each other whenever I shoot one of them like that."

Fiona looked me in the eyes. "And how many of your girls have you slept with all at once?" She continued to wipe cum from her face and lick it from the napkins.

I nodded at the napkin, "If you want to use your fingers, it won't bother me." Then to answer her question I said, "And in reality, I think the most I've pulled off was three. In our shared dreams though, I've taken turns with all of them."

"Your shared dreams?" she asked as she used two fingers to scoop a glob from her cheek and sucked it into her mouth.

I nodded, watching her continue to clean her own face. "Yeah. Part of me wants to sleep so I can see them and another part wants me to get up from this bed and search for Jennifer."

Fiona stopped wiping her face and looked at me thoughtfully. "If Jennifer is one of your girls, your Schiavi, then wouldn't she be included in your dreams?"

"Normally, I would say yes, but one of the Dragons, Leland, did something to her which is what makes me worry so much about her."

Her expression softened. Again, she was sympathetic but this time it wasn't just for me. "What did he do?"

I licked my lips wanting to choose the right words, but there was no other way of saying it. "He removed her soul and put it in that vial I had asked about."

Appropriately, Fiona's eyes widened with shock. "H-How can he do that?"

I knew how. I had gained his knowledge not only of how to remove a soul but how to put it back too. "It's part of his talent with the dead."

"So she's... ?"

I shook my head, not ready to believe what Fiona feared. "No. He says she's in a coma and will stay that way until her soul is returned to her. If he opens the vial and releases the soul though, she will die. I know he's telling at least partly the truth because I can feel her. It's like she's asleep."

Fiona calmed but still wore a shocked look. "Wait, if you share dreams with your girls and she's asleep, then when you sleep won't you see her too?"

I shrugged. "I don't know..." I considered that. If she was asleep because her soul wasn't in her body but not dead could she dream? If she could, would she show up in my dreams? I put it as simple as possible. "If she can dream, then maybe..."

Fiona rubbed her body against mine. "Then we need to get you taken care of so you can get a shower and sleep soundly. If you see her in your dreams then you'll know she's all right. It would take some of the edge off your worry for her. Wouldn't it?"

I held her tightly, not trying to stop her from rubbing against me but more as a hug. "It would help but I would still want to make sure she's put back together properly." I had seen enough of Leland's memories to know what would happen if a soul didn't go back into a person correctly. It would leave her not quite right in the head, as if there was a misalignment that no medicine could correct. Even people with Down Syndrome had better coordination and speech articulation. It was something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

I didn't say anything more. Fiona was right about me needing a good night's sleep so I could find out if Whisper was even partially okay. Knowing that my hunger could disturb my sleep, it had to be fed and fed well.

I rolled Fiona over, taking her by surprise. She yelped and laughed at my sudden aggressiveness. "Mmm ... now this is better," she purred as I kissed her neck and jaw-line. I moved up her body and kissed her lips. She opened up for me and our tongues writhed against each other as much as the rest of our bodies did.

Fiona spread her legs wide, welcoming the feel of my hardness pressed against her heated opening. I ground my hips into hers even though I hadn't entered her and she moaned deeply into my mouth. Her hands slid down my back and gripped my butt, helping me to press into her harder. I started humping against her, as if fucking her without being in her. I would have considered it dry-humping but she was too wet and my movement spread her fluid all over both of us.

Her hips moved in tandem to mine, making the motions more exaggerated and apparently driving her closer to the brink. Not entirely sure what exactly my hunger wanted, I was willing to forgo my climax both to watch her writhe in bliss and to find out if her orgasms helped me.

I kissed my way around to her ear, sucked on the lobe and whispered, "Cum for me. Grind against me and let it all out. Soak me down with your cries and fluids. Give in to the carnal gratification and cum..."

She held onto me so tightly I thought I would have to peal my body from hers when we finished. Her hips continued to move but became more and more focused, using shorter strokes. I was certain she was rubbing her clit along my shaft, racing to the raging orgasm I asked for. Then she locked up, her hips pressed up against me, her fingers curling into my butt so that I could feel her nails, and she didn't so much as scream as moan and groan really loudly. It was a guttural call and I could feel the pleasures coursing through her. It fed my hunger. It made me feel better.

Finally she relaxed. I didn't move because I wasn't sure if it would set her off again, potentially too soon. I also knew my girls liked the feel of me laying on them after such a fantastic climax. Something about my weight on their bodies made them feel warm and safe. At least that's what they told me.

Fiona looked me in the eyes. I wasn't completely surprised to find she wasn't quite sated. My girls could go more even if they were with me one-on-one, and something told me that Fiona wasn't a woman who was finished with sex after only one or two orgasms. No, she was more along the lines of a six-or-seven-orgasms-per-session girl.

I smiled at her and she smiled back. "Feeling better?" I asked.

She nodded eagerly. "I've had a few guys do that to me, but I've never come so hard from it."

I continued to smile, enjoying the physical rapture she glowed with. I hadn't thought it possible for her to get any sexier, but I had been wrong. "I want to try something..." I started.

She squeezed my butt with both hands and pressed her crotch to mine with a low groan. "Yes, please..."

"You don't even know what I want to try yet..."

"Anything," she said, her eyes glazing over at the prospect of what was to come.

I hugged up to her and whispered in her ear, "I want to fuck you. I want to stuff as much of my cock into your wet little pussy as you can take."

Again, she ground her pussy against me and groaned, "Yes..."

I sucked on her ear lobe and then kissed her neck. As I sat up, I planted kisses here and there on her. Her collarbone, the top of her chest, on the fleshy part of her breasts, her areolas, her nipples. Then I sat up. My cock still lay on her with the root still pressed to her sex and the shaft going up to her belly. My tip lay just below her belly button.

Her hands immediately grasped me and started stroking me. Fiona raised her legs up and rested her ankles against my shoulders, on each side of my head. She pressed her thighs together around me and along with her hands, stroked my entire length.

I smiled as I pulled back a bit and pressed back into her make-shift tunnel. Her soft skin and the manipulation of her fingers felt fantastic. I could have fucked her just like that and cum in no time but I really wanted to find out how much she could take. It might tone down my physical pleasure but I would still enjoy her reactions to what I gave her.

I pulled her legs apart and retracted my hips. She guided me down between her legs and opened herself for me. I pressed forward against her sex. She brought up her hips a bit and lined me up to her entrance. My tip pressed into her. I could feel the tightness of her just from that and I already worried that I wouldn't get far.

She moaned. "So big. So good..."

I kept the pressure up, pushing into her slowly. She ran her hands up her thighs and over her abs. I wasn't quite close enough to touch yet except where I was joined with her.

The exquisite pressure around my cock was constant, but it didn't stop me from going deeper and deeper. Surprisingly, I finally hit bottom and only had a couple of inches left. Fiona reached for me and I leaned over her. Her expression alone told me how good it felt to be so stuffed. I thought she would need a minute to adjust but once I was within reach she grabbed my butt and pulled me against her hard.

She groaned and I nearly came. The way her cervix gave way to my intrusion was incredible. I pulled back but she pulled me into her repeatedly. She wanted me to fuck her like that and not only could I see the joy in her face but through all the contact I could feel the way her pain and pleasure mixed together. To her, nothing felt better.

After a few slow and deep strokes like that she relaxed her grip on my butt. She met my eyes and said two simple words that made it clear what she wanted: "Fuck me."

I drew back my hips, her hands only touching me by fingertips and thrust back in, pressing as far as I could. She raised her hips to meet that thrust and I felt her body give again. She squeezed her eyes shut and shuddered. A small orgasm ran through her. Still buried completely in her, I could feel the way her inner muscles gripped and squeezed me. The muscles around her cervix were the strongest of all and actually pushed me back so that opening could close.

Fiona was breathy hard. "Fuck me Ral. Small orgasms like that are nice but I'm looking for the orgasm that'll knock my horny ass out. Fuck me. Long, hard, and deep!"

She brought her legs up, spreading them wide and planted her feet as close to her butt on the bed as possible. Then she pressed her hips up at me, showing me how serious she was.

I smiled. She said she could alter her appearance. Even if she couldn't heal, I could heal her. She wanted it hard and deep, so that's what I gave her.

I pulled back again and drove into her. However, I didn't stop to enjoy the aftershocks. I pulled back and rammed into her again, and again. With the long strokes, I couldn't exactly go very fast. Then again, she wasn't after fast, just deep and hard.

Fiona rose to meet each thrust.

I knew I probably wouldn't last long. The fantastic feel of her tight, wet pussy gripping me; the sensation of pushing through her final barrier; the punctuation of our hips slapping together; the look of lust, pain and pleasure all wrapped up in her face; the sounds of her heavy breathing and moaning; the sheer smell of sex and sight of her phenomenal body writhing under me all brought me closer and closer.

I was going to bottom out in her and release a massive load. I could feel it building up. The only thought that crossed my mind was her being pregnant when we were done. And for the same reasons that it aroused me with my own girls, the idea of Fiona being pregnant with my child didn't just push me closer to the edge, it picked me up and threw me over it.

My orgasm was so sudden, I groaned loud enough to consider it a shout or scream. Just as I knew would happen, I was buried to the hilt in Fiona's pussy and poured every drop of semen I had built up into her quaking and quivering body.

She too flew into orgasm; her scream rivaling my primal call for sheer volume.

This felt like the flow of our bodies truly merged. We didn't experience the mental or spiritual aspects of what I considered Merging, like what I did with my girls. It was more like I didn't know where my body ended and hers began.

Finally the sheer force of our orgasms subsided and I collapsed on top of her. I made sure to fall so I didn't cover her face, because, like me, she would be gulping down air.

Several minutes later she and I were looking into each other's eyes and started laughing. I didn't know what was so funny but it felt good just to laugh. When we stopped she was still smiling. I asked, "Were we laughing just to laugh or was there something that I missed?"

She licked her lips and ran her hands over me. "I thought that you felt just like my monster dildo. You hit all the same spots all at once just like it does."

I was somewhat surprised. "Why would a woman as deliciously sexy as you need a dildo?"

Her smile widened. "Even some of the men I sleep with like to see me play with toys."

"Ah ... So this monster dildo, where did you get it?"

She rolled her eyes and I think she blushed. It was difficult to tell at the moment, I was still in a haze from that last orgasm. "I got it online, from a store called Mr. Naughty's."

I grinned and chuckled. "Wow, what a coincidence. I modeled for a dildo for them."

She looked back at me. Her smile was gone but there was still delight in her eyes. "You're kidding, right?"

I shook my head. "My manager in Texas thought it would be a cute novelty item. Little did I or anyone else know how popular it would be."

"Wait, your manager?"

I nodded, my grin getting wider. "I'm one of the owners. Part of this trip to New York was for the grand opening of the store we've built here."

Her eyes were wide. She pushed at me and I let her roll me over. She followed, not allowing too much of me to escape her grip.

Before she could say what she wanted to, she groaned again. "I'm going to be walking funny in the morning."

I frowned at her playing up on her mixture of delight and understanding of how her body would complain once the endorphins slowed down. "Is that a bad thing?"

She focused on me and grinned. "No, but I am going to need to relax in a nice hot bath first."

I flexed myself inside her. She squealed but that didn't stop the sound I was listening for. "Yeah, a bath sounds like a good idea for both of us."

She nodded grinning, rolled onto her side and stopped. I was slipping out of her soppy pussy and she took her time pulling from me. Once I was out she reached down and stood up my erection. I had our fluids smeared all along me but there was no blood. Fiona looked at me. "You pressed into my cervix and it hurt, but as you kept going it felt better and better like you were supposed to be there." She slid her hand up and down me. "No blood. I can heal just enough to keep it from being a problem too."

Then, all at once, she let go of me, got up off the bed and headed for the door. I rolled over and watched her naked ass as she walked away. When she reached the door, she opened it and stopped. She turned and posed in the door way for a quick second and then curled her finger in a come-hither fashion. "Come on big boy. I have a huge fucking tub that should accommodate our lustful states. I have no real intention of hiding the fact that I've been thoroughly fucked tomorrow. Come with me. Come in me. Come on me and let me do the same to you."

I couldn't argue with her. My hunger seemed mostly happy, but I didn't want to be interrupted as I slept. What she suggested was a good idea.

She waited for me at the door, holding out her hand for me to take. I got up and took it. She then led me through her mansion. Yeah, mansion. There simply wasn't another word for the house she lived in. I was astonished at the size of the entryway, which could be seen from the balcony we were on just outside the room I had woken up in.

To the left of the balcony she led me to another room. This one was a massive bedroom. Another huge bed took up the corner among numerous floor-to-ceiling windows. A set of matching double doors led to an outdoor balcony. I could see the city lights through the windows. There were two bed-side tables with lamps, a telephone and an alarm clock. A table and two chairs were in another corner. More paintings were on the walls but nothing like what she had in the other room.

She led me through her bedroom and to an adjacent master bathroom. Just like her bedroom, it was huge. She had a Jacuzzi tub big enough for ten people in one corner with stair leading up to the edge of it. In the adjacent corner was what looked like a shower stall. A glass wall covered one side but it was open like the showers back at the "W". Fiona's also had several shower heads too. Three up at head height and two more at waist height. A long counter with two sinks took up the opposite wall and there was a stall where I assumed the toilet was hidden.

Fiona held out her hand as if displaying a prize on some game show. "Which do you prefer, shower or bath?"

"Considering what you have planned, it's a tossup. Either we'll have fun and collapse from pure pleasure, which would eliminate the tub because we'd drown, or we could end up going for a long while which would make standing for the duration uncomfortable."

She smiled. "I think I'll take a chance on drowning. I mean, drowning because I've passed out from so much pleasure? What better way is there to go?" Then she stepped over to the tub and climbed in.

I watched as she bent over at the waist and started up the water. She wiggled her incredible ass at me while adjusting the temperature of the water. I walked over and got in behind her. She pressed her butt back at me, wiggling it as we came into contact.

I held her hips and enjoyed both the feel of her under my hands and against my rising boner.

I grew hard quickly and was pressed up between her thighs. Fiona had stopped messing with the controls when I first touched her and water was filling the tub quickly. Such a large tub would have taken hours to fill with normal piping. From the looks of the way the water came in, they had a river pouring into the vast tub. My attention on the tub was short-lived though. Fiona was squeezing her thighs around me and moving back and forth, fucking me with her shapely legs.

I could have fucked her just like that and shot my load all over her legs, but I wanted to get a bit more intimate so I pulled back and pressed into her pussy. Fiona spread her legs and held herself open for me. I eased in and once started, I thrust forward enjoying the tight feel of her from the new angle.

Fiona and I both moaned. She tossed her hair aside to see me over her shoulder as she pressed back to make sure I was completely buried in her.

My eyes were locked on hers as I pulled back for another deep thrust. Holding her hips, I watched her expression as my cock disappeared into her over and over. She bit her lower lip and let it slip out full and wet. I wanted to kiss those lips, to feel her tongue slide around mine.

I pulled her up and bent my knees to adjust to the new angle. Fiona moaned as I moved her. I felt the difference in pressure too and understood her meaning. Pressing my chest to her back and my hips to her ass as tightly as possible, I pulled her face around to kiss her luscious lips. Her tongue darted out to meet mine and she reached up and around to hold my head as we kissed.

Our bodies continued to grind against each other as we enjoyed the kiss. I had one hand down along her hip, helping to guide me up into her as we continued fucking. My other hand groped and squeezed her tits, pinched her distended nipples and generally fondled her fantastic body.

Fiona continued to hold my head in place for our continued kiss. Her other hand went to my butt and moved between it and my thigh. We simply couldn't get enough of each other.

Our kiss ended only because we both needed to breathe. Still we held each other close and gazed deeply into the others eyes as both of us gyrated and thrust.

Fiona let go of my head and pulled my hand up to her big breast. She pressed my hand into her tit hard, forcing me to maul her tender flesh. Apparently she liked a bit of pain when having sex. I was agreeable only because of the situation. If we were both too exhausted to do anything but sleep afterwards, then my dreams wouldn't be interrupted.

I wanted to change positions so I could get my lips and teeth around her nipples while still enjoying the feel of her slippery and tight pussy throbbing around my rod. I let go of her breast and grabbed both of her thighs. Picking her up I felt her muscles grip me tighter. It felt good so I let her roll her hips around on me while I moved us to one of the built in seats I had seen when we got into the tub. They were submerged under the water now, but that wouldn't keep us from doing what we wanted.

I pulled her off me and started to sit, but she slipped out of my grip by twisting around and dropped down into the water. She came up quick with her hair pulled back tight and soaked. Before I could ask why she had done that she grabbed my cock and pressed her chest to it.

"Before you sit down, fuck my tits. The water isn't as good of a lubricant as our fluids."

She moved around me and sat on the seat I had been going for. Her chest floated in the water and held my gaze for a moment as they moved with the waves we were making in the tub. I reached down and cupped both of them. She raised herself up and let me play with her for a minute.

She was easily bigger than most of my girls, but nowhere near as large as Renée. The warmth, malleability and weight of her in my hands were fantastic. I could have played with her breasts for hours, but her suggestion tugged at my mind and finally took hold.

Fiona lay back on a shelf that held several bottles of shampoo, conditioner and other bathing products. They were shoved out of the way as she smiled up at me. I lowered my throbbing prick toward her breasts and she accepted it as if I were going to bathe her with everything it was covered in. To some degree, I thought it was funny and shared the irony with her.

"Yes, bathe me in your cum. Shoot all over me big boy. Fuck my tits and give me a good reason to need a bath."

She ran her hands everywhere on me she could reach while I held her breasts together around my cock. The feel of her silky smooth and now wet skin along my shaft, sac and between my legs was causing sparks in my brain. I didn't care how much she fondled me as long as I could fuck her tits. She even opened her mouth and accepted the head of my prick as I drove along her deep, soft and incredibly warm cleavage. I used my thumbs to rub and play with her hard nipples. She moaned and encouraged me with words until I warned her of my impending explosion.

"Yes, fuck my tits big boy. Fuck 'em. Give me a big, juicy load." Her hands squeezed my cheeks and felt me up between them and my sac. That sent me over the edge.

Considering I had already had two big orgasms, this one wasn't quite so impressive for power but the amount wasn't any less. As it shot from me, it covered her chest and neck. The first shot hit her chin but that was the furthest any got.

Fiona watched as I came on her. She pushed me back so she could direct me at her breasts. By the time I was done, I was standing over her enjoying the expression she had of glee.

She looked up with a heated, gleeful expression. Rubbing her fingertips through the mess on her chest she asked, "If you have it in you, could you do that again so I can record it?"



-------

Chapter 20: Puppet and Plans



Fiona and I played around a bit more. I was thoroughly worn out but she made me promise a repeat performance of my spray down of her chest so she could capture it on video later.

After actually cleaning and drying each other off, I started for the door to leave the bedroom. "Where are you going?" asked the buxom beauty.

I nodded at the doorway. "I was going to sleep in the other room."

She shook her head slowly with a grin, took off her robe and draped it over the footboard of her bed. "You don't have to do that. Sleep here with me." She then crawled up onto the bed and patted it.

I had mixed feelings. I really wanted to enjoy more time with Fiona but at the same time I knew I had to get to sleep so I could find out if Whisper was going to appear in my dreams.

Fiona added something that helped my decision. "I promise to be good and let you sleep. I know how much you want to find out about your girl." She sat on the bed waiting patiently.

I let out a sigh. It wasn't one of impatience or even sarcasm. It was more like a weight had been lifted. Nodding, I went to her bed. Fiona hit a light switch over the headboard and faint moonlight was the only thing I had to see by.

I still didn't have anything to wear. Like Fiona, I took off the terry-cloth robe she lent me and draped it over the foot of the bed. Then I crawled up onto it and we got under the covers together.

Fiona pressed up against me fully and pulled my face around for a kiss. I gave in to the kiss but kept her wandering hand away from my crotch. I had had enough fun, now it was time to find out about Whisper.

I pulled from the kiss. "You promised."

She nodded and relaxed against me. "You don't mind if I wake you up in the morning do you?"

"I don't mind that, but I really need to know about Jennifer."

She nodded and closed her eyes. I watched her for a moment, expecting more mischief, but she was true to her word. Finally, I closed my eyes and relaxed.

Sleep washed over me and shortly after the chaotic imagery of my dreams began I found my dream room.

I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. Whisper might have been there already. She might not. I might have to actually look for her and pull her into it. There might be nothing to find. When I was in the dim blackness, like that which you see when you close your eyes, I thought about her and just that quick I was standing next to her.

Still wet and nude - as if she had just gotten out of the shower - Whisper turned and looked up at me. Her eyes went wide and she covered up as best as she could.

"Whisper... " I thought as I approached her.

Shaking her head and shivering like she had been cold for some time, she started crying. I pulled a large fluffy towel out of thin air, wrapped it around her and hugged her close to help warm her up.

She pressed against me, crying openly.

I held her, stroking her hair and thinking, "It's okay Whisper. I've got you."

"I don't understand, " she thought and then pulled back enough to look up at me. "What's going on?"

I thought it was pretty evident what was happening, sharing a dream, but I understood that not everyone grasped that concept so readily. The tone of her question, though, seemed to suggest something more. "What do you mean?"

"I've had the weirdest dream, and now you're talking to me as if this were reality instead of a dream." She ran her hands over my chest and the towel. "I've never felt anything in my dreams before. It's like we're really together."

"My dreams are different. They're very realistic."

She continued to rub the corner of the towel between her fingers. "What about earlier? You and I were talking and doing stuff together and I couldn't stop any of it. It was like a dream and I couldn't wake up from it."

I shook my head in confusion. "I don't understand."

She seemed a bit panicked. "We were talking about all kinds of stuff. About you having to be at a store and about my life, which wasn't entirely correct. We went and bought suits and... "

"That's what we've been doing today. You and me." Her concerns, about the things we had done and talked about feeling like a dream, made me wonder if her condition was the cause or if something else was going on. "Damn it, I was worried about this."

"Worried about what?"

I held her to me and met her gaze with a steady look. "One of the Dragons removed your soul from your body."

Her eyes widened. "Removed my soul? A Dragon? What's a Dragon? How did he remove my soul?"

I knew that Whisper knew what a Dragon was. What I didn't understand was why she was acting like this now. I called up a couch and that set her off.

"Where did the couch come from?"

"The same place as the towel, " I answered as I nodded to the one wrapped around her. "This is my dream room. Anything you want or need can be found here."

"Like clothes?" she asked, looking up at me.

I smiled gently and nodded. "Anything you want to wear is possible. All you have to do is think about it and they'll just appear."

The towel was suddenly a soft, white terry cloth robe that covered her from her neck to her toes. She continued to huddle against me and I simply held her.

"What's going on?" she thought as I sat down and pulled her to me. "Are we really in a dream?"

I nodded.

"Then why can't I wake up? I haven't woken up since I went to bed last night."

Okay, now that threw me. "You haven't woken up since you went to bed? I've been running around with you all day. Awake."

"I'm beginning to think something's wrong with me. This whole missing soul and everything... " She seemed to be thinking more to herself than me.

"Whisper, you're soul's not... " I started.

She snapped up, eyes flashing angrily, asking, "Who's Whisper? I'm not Whisper!"

The anguish on her face was too much too bear. Gently I asked, "What's your name?"

Tears streaked down her cheeks as she said, "Pamela Greenwood."

"Greenwood?"

She nodded.

"Are you related to Salvatore Greenwood?"

Again she nodded. "He's my father."

I had been running around with someone I thought was Whisper. She had talked to me, given me the same cryptic suggestions and, as far as I was concerned, proven to be who she had claimed to be. Now, here in our shared dream, she was claiming to be someone else. There was only one way for me to know what was really going on. "Pamela I want to ask a favor. This will help me to understand what's happening to you better."

With tears running down her cheeks, she nodded. "Okay."

Even with all the confusion, the surprises and her obvious frustrations with me, she had continued to hold onto me. I reached up and placed my hand over hers. "I want to see your memories. It'll only take a second and I'll know what you know from the past few days." This was a two sided test. If it really was Whisper, she wouldn't agree. Her secrets were too important to her to allow me that kind of freedom in her head. If she did allow it, it further proved that she was telling me the truth now versus what I had been convinced of while awake. I would also see Pamela from before our meeting.

"Go ahead, " she said simply.

I grasped her hand and she let me. With a nod, I saw her last few days.

Pamela had been excited. Her Dad was going to be in town for business and they were going to have dinner together Sunday night. She got her dorm room cleaned up and finished the report she had been working on for her Economics class. Later that afternoon, she met with a couple of friends and hung out at the recreation center on the campus of The University of Manhattan.

One of her friends was very familiar to me. I was shocked at first. I knew she lived in New York and attended the same school as Pamela, but seeing her through Pamela caused my heart to race and my mind to flood with ideas. Sally Gilman, my ex-girlfriend from high school, was as breathtaking as ever. At least, she was to me. Sally, Pamela and their friend Maria had all dressed out in their gym clothes. Ever aware of the guys who also used the recreation center, all three were wearing what Pamela considered their sexiest workout and guy catching outfits. None of the three went simply to work out, but to see and be seen. Not to mention check out the guys there as well as be checked out by those same guys.

I sped past the memories of what had happened that night. I didn't want to see Sally flirting with the hunks that hung out at their recreation center. Pamela had returned to her dorm with a couple of phone numbers from two rather handsome and fairly intelligent guys, Paul and Eric. She took a shower, ate dinner and hit the sack not having a date that night. She fell asleep, excited to see her Dad the next day.

True to Pamela's word about being Lord Greenwood's daughter, she met him at a nice restaurant. Unlike the fairly grumpy man I had encountered at the Mind Magi Council meeting, Salvatore was relaxed and smiling. Pamela loved her father. To her, there were few men who could measure up to him. Of course that didn't stop her from trying to find one, as the phone numbers she had collected proved.

They talked but I didn't bother with the conversation. I knew it wouldn't mean anything to Pamela if he brought up Mind Magi issues. However, he did say something that caught my attention...

"I've got a meeting Monday morning. A new guy in the firm is begging for a promotion. He's young and brash."

"Sounds kinda like you!" Pamela replied with a smile.

Salvatore smiled back. "True, but I really don't think he's got what it takes. I'm worried he's going to get what he wants and bring the whole thing crashing down."

"Dad," Pamela said in a near consoling manner, "Give him a chance. You might be surprised. Us kids can come up with good ideas on the odd occasion and he might learn something if you take him under your wing."

Salvatore nodded. Personally, I didn't think he had taken his daughter's advice to heart but only acted as if he would. Of course I was jaded because I remembered what had actually happened at the meeting. However, his concern about me taking down the whole thing was odd. I had neither intention nor the ability to bring down our society. At least that's what I thought he was referring to.

Moving on through Pamela's memories, I got to Monday morning. She had been dreaming and, for no obvious reason, woke up. It was still an hour before her alarm was set to go off. She turned the clock off and got up. Immediately, she went to her laptop and booted it up. After connecting the network cable to it, she set it up to receive files. A window came up displaying text regarding the files uploading into her computer. It even included the IP address they were coming from. I didn't recognize the files that were copying onto her computer, but I had an idea of what they were for. I also noted how Pamela felt during this. She felt like she was still glazed over with sleep and watched only passively.

Again, with no real idea of what she was doing, Pamela got up and went to the bathroom. She took care of her normal morning routine but felt as if she was still almost asleep. I was worried when she pulled out food and started eating. It bothered me that something was going on that shouldn't have been. At that point, Pamela felt the same way. She was hungry and the food was good, but it hadn't been her idea to eat.

Finally, I noticed something I recognized. There was an insistent desire to do what she was doing. Pamela tried to ignore it, but her body did whatever that desire, that impulse wanted. It wasn't really a voice or anything distinct. She would suddenly just do something and she couldn't stop herself. And the more she fought it, the louder it became.

Okay, loud didn't really describe it. It wasn't a scream so much as just a stronger impulse. However, I had seen similar things in others who had been manipulated by Master PC.

It dawned on me that Pamela wasn't being controlled by just anyone with the program. Whisper must have been the one controlling her. I had always believed him or her to be somewhat passive and, to a certain extent, benevolent. It just didn't seem like something Whisper would do.

And of course, knowing that Pamela wasn't Whisper, I was back to calling the enigmatic source of vague and often ludicrous messages of what was happening or to come a 'he'.

If he was controlling Pamela, posing her as himself, there had to be a reason. The most obvious was the guarding of his true identity. Once again, I was left knowing little to nothing of the person who had offered bits of advice, both good and bad. I couldn't argue that the advice and messages weren't accurate. He had been right every time. What galled me was his use of Pamela. If he wanted to offer advice, he could have just called. Instead he had used her as a stalking horse to draw out the Dragons, and it had worked.

Something else came to mind. All the conversations I had with Whisper while Pamela was posing offered insights and a hint at things regarding what was happening to the Mind Magi House Leaders. Was it possible that he actually passed on a lot more info this time, allowing me to ask questions to help me as a way to make up for what he had done? If so, how much was true? I was betting a good deal of it was. His actions may have been deplorable, but his advice wouldn't be any less accurate.

I had held and rocked Pamela as I had gone through her memories and came to my conclusions. When I looked down she had a look of hope on her face that I didn't want to crush. "I believe you Pamela, and I believe I know why it's happening too."

"Can you help me? Can you wake me up?"

"I can, as soon as I find you. You have to understand, after the Dragons attacked, they took you away from me. One of them has your soul in a vial. I'm pretty sure I can find the vial because my bond connects my soul to yours rather than my body to yours. I'm also sure that if I find the other hostages, I'll find your body."

She relaxed against me, happy that the nightmares she had suffered would come to an end, even if it took only a bit more time.

I held her, feeling the storm of emotions in Pamela calming down. She had more questions but she was content that things would end. At least the odd dreams would even if it wasn't immediately. Then she looked up at me, resting her head on my shoulder. "What about this ... bond between us? What is that all about?"

I was going to answer her, but before I could think of where to start, the rest of my girls began showing up. Jeri was first.

I was a bit nervous at first because Jeri was eight months pregnant and she looked like she might have to rush to the hospital at any time. Night time clothes always consisted of a padded bra, panties and a very oversized shirt, usually one of mine. Of course, her massive belly made even my shirts seem not so big. Tonight, she wore one of my dress shirts. Only the two middle buttons were holding it closed, which left a tantalizing view of her cleavage above and her full belly exposed below.

Jeri approached out of the soft darkness. Without any hesitation, she leaned over me, her breasts and belly threatening to fall out of my shirt, and kissed my cheek. Pamela watched her, still holding onto me. Smiling and looking over at Pamela, Jeri asked, "Who is this Ral?" Her dirty blonde hair hung nearly to her waist. It had grown rapidly during her pregnancy. The smile she projected seemed to temper the glint in her gray-blue eyes, as if her smile didn't fully reflect how happy she was to see me. Of course that may have been because Pamela was there.

For a moment Jeri's question was lost on me because I fogged over with thoughts of what Jeri might want tonight. I had never turned her down, no matter how outrageous her request. We were in our dream room. Anything was possible.

I snapped to and looked back at Pamela. I was slightly uncomfortable because she had been pressed against me completely for some time and I had not reacted like I did when Jeri rubbed her belly against me. "Um ... Jeri, this is Pamela. Pamela, this is Jeri, one of my ... err... " again, I wanted to say it in a non-condemning way for me or Jeri.

Jeri smiled and actually waved at Pamela from less than three feet away, and then, hearing me stumble over my own words, she answered for me. "I'm his. His woman, his girlfriend, his lover. I'm the mother of one of his children and will hopefully be again soon." With that, she looked back up at me with smoldering eyes. I had heard of women enjoying being pregnant and Jeri seemed to be the very epitome of that concept. Originally, she hadn't wanted to have kids but when she ended up pregnant the first time we'd had sex, she had completely turned around her ideas about it.

Pamela smiled politely even through the remainder of her tears. Looking from Jeri to me, she pressed to me even more and I knew she could feel the results of my reaction to Jeri. My girls turned me on as much as I turned them on. It was a vicious cycle we all enjoyed any time we had the chance. Our dreams were the most fun.

Jeri considered Pamela for a minute. "Why are you crying? Did Ral say something wrong?"

I knew Jeri was kidding about me saying anything wrong. She knew I wouldn't, but Pamela didn't know that. She shook her head and thought, "No, he's actually been quite courageous and helpful. I'm just a mess because of some things going on... " Leaving her reasons for crying vague meant that I would have to fill in the blanks, but I wanted to wait for the rest to show up else I would be telling the story again and again.

Jeri looked at me and I nodded, confirming that I would tell her. She nodded in return and sat on the couch opposite of Pamela to hug me but not interfere with Pamela's needs.

Pamela seemed to understand what was happening. "I ... I don't mean to be in the way... " and she started to pull away from me.

Jeri looked at her. "No, you're not in the way." Her voice was gentle, just like I had heard her when she talked to a customer who was nervous about buying some product either at her store or in mine. Jeri was the manager for Victoria's Secret at the Parks in Arlington Mall back in Texas. She knew how to be sensual, understanding, and a good salesperson all at once.

Pamela looked down at Jeri's protruding belly and then back up to me. "You're really the father... " I could feel her confusion lift a bit. She was remembering some of what I had discussed with her when I thought she was Whisper. She remembered that I was bound to other women.

I nodded. Jeri smiled and hugged me as close as she could with her belly between us. She had tried side-ways hugs when she got so big but I wouldn't have it. I told her that hugs with the baby between us was perfectly fine. Of course she voiced concerns about the baby feeling what she wanted to feel for herself from me. I didn't. It wasn't the baby in her belly that aroused me, but the fact that she had a baby in her belly. Something about her pregnancy aroused me.

I leaned down and gave the blond a kiss. She moaned just from the small contact. I knew she was needy. She had been like that since not long after I found out about her pregnancy. She also knew that Pamela was new to the family. Jeri couldn't just have me there and then with her watching.

Pamela watched the two of us. I could feel a kind of happiness fill her. "You two look great together."

Jeri positively beamed at that. "Thank you!" And quite unexpectedly she pulled Pamela and me into a big hug. I wondered how such a small woman could do that, especially as big as her belly was, but she managed.

Pamela was taken aback at first but then relaxed into the hug and even smiled. I had some hope for her recovery.

Tabitha, Carrie and Tanya were all next. Tabitha was the most distinct among them. She wore a soft blue teddy that hugged her breasts and hung loose down to her hips. Matching panties could be seen below the teddy. Her chestnut brown hair hung in heavy waves past her shoulders and she had a sweet smile that I couldn't help returning.

Carrie wore her normal attire for bed: a pair of panties. She didn't care who looked, but we were only in our shared dreams. No one would see except those who she really wanted to see her. Pamela blushed at the sight of her but didn't turn away.

Tanya wore panties and a bra. Her dark blonde hair was pulled back in a pony tail and she seemed to have a spring in her step that made her abundant breasts bounce.

Pamela seemed to notice Tanya's bounce. I didn't watch her, but I could feel her looking from one woman to the next taking in the sight of so many not only pretty women, but seriously gorgeous women. Suddenly, the huge bathrobe didn't seem like enough cover for Pamela.

I turned to her after greeting the three newcomers. "Pamela, I know you're nervous. You're not sure what to expect here. There is one piece of advice I can offer and one rule you should know about. The advice: expect nothing. The rule: no one has to do anything they do not want to."

She nodded, but the feeling of anxiety and confusion remained. It made me wonder what was really wrong.

Carrie, Tabitha and Tanya all welcomed Pamela, not as directly as they had me, but it was still quite friendly. Of course they had questions regarding Pamela but I still wanted to wait for at least a majority to arrive before telling them what was going on.

The twins arrived next. Linda and Li both wore matching panties and tank tops but of different colors. It was truly the only way to tell them apart, until they got naked. The two Japanese descendants let their long black tresses sway freely and smiled in knowing ways when they spotted the rest of us.

Alexandria and Savannah arrived and were more distinct than some, both having found out about their mutual pregnancies at the same time. The sisters seemed to glow in mutual admiration for the others fortune and that admiration was focused on me for a moment as they greeted me. Alexandria had her dark brown hair pinned up, which displayed her long sensuous neck delightfully. She smiled and hugged me, rubbing her belly against me as Jeri had done. Savannah hugged me too but didn't do the belly rub. She was more curious about Pamela and introduced herself. I watched as the women chatted.

Charlotte was next. She was wearing a long see-through nightgown and nothing else. Her dark brown hair and deep brown eyes were only a bit more distinct than the others who weren't pregnant because she was still in Florida. Her reluctance to leave the store she had opened there had caused a sort of rift between her and us, but her inclusion in our shared dreams helped to keep the distance from truly taking her from us.

Yvonne and Mandy showed up next. Yvonne wore a long t-shirt, but I could tell by the way she moved there was nothing under it except her. Mandy was still her normal girl self. She had kept the kitty side for when she was feeling aroused. She wore a t-shirt and panties. Both of them greeted me together, kissing each side of my cheek as if they were twins, but they couldn't have looked more different. Yvonne had natural brown hair while Mandy's hair was nearly golden blonde. Both had blue eyes, but Yvonne's was much darker than Mandy's.

Yvonne smiled at me thinking, "Well, Darling, you can chalk up another one... " Her Russian accent coming across even in our dreams.

I looked at her for a moment, curious.

Like Jeri and Alexandria, Yvonne rubbed her belly against me and I knew instantly what that meant. "When did you find out?" I asked.

"Earlier today. But I've heard you've had quite a day yourself, " she thought more seriously.

I nodded. "I'll be sharing my adventures with everyone when the rest arrive."

She nodded and went to see what the commotion was. Several of the others were telling Pamela about how they had met me. I wasn't sure it was a good idea, but when Pamela looked over at me, she felt a mixture of amusement and lust. Apparently the others weren't holding back any details.

Nadia appeared next wearing a black tank top and shorts. The shorts were so short, they could have been considered panties, but I had seen the others wear them out in public. Nadia's black curly hair fell past her shoulders and all the black made her pale skin seem even more luminous. She greeted me thinking, "Anna won't be here tonight. She had to work graveyard at the hospital."

I nodded; saddened that even one of my girls couldn't be there even with all the others around to distract me. Those thoughts didn't last long though because Renée, Erin, and Chloe all appeared.

After their combined and relieving hugs, I called everyone around. "I know everyone has many questions. Here are some of the answers... " and holding out my arms, everyone knew to find a spot to hold on to.

Sharing the day's events took no time, and the girls all seemed to focus on the different events of the day. There were questions about my recurrent hunger, about Fiona, the investigation by the FBI concerning Vikkor and Detective Arneson. Finally, after everyone settled down, it was agreed that certain points from the day had to be focused on.

"You need help Ral. You can't do this alone especially after what happened to you in the warehouse." Renée thought.

I nodded. "I realize that. Any suggestions on who to ask? Michael won't get in until tomorrow at about noon."

"How about Lady Reynolds?" Erin offered. "She had invited you to lunch. If this had been going on since before this morning's meeting, then she might have wanted to ask your advice or help. Since you didn't make it to that luncheon or wait around for her to deliver that copy of the Prophecy, she hasn't had a chance to talk to you."

"What about the chance that she's not taking calls right now like Lady Arneson? She might have only taken the chance to meet me because we had arranged for the meetings publicly. She would have been covered." I offered.

"Are you still running with the idea that some of the House Leaders are involved?" asked Charlotte.

I nodded. "And I think Whisper is playing a game of his own concerning this because Pamela is Lord Greenwood's daughter."

"Lord?" Pamela asked.

I turned to her. "Yes. He's like me Pamela, only he has different abilities. He is a House Lord of the Mind Magi."

"Why hasn't he told me this?"

"Because there is a secrecy law. Telling you could have been considered a breech in that law since you weren't bound to him, but because of our bond, I can tell you with no repercussions." I held out my hand indicating the others. "And as you can see, I don't keep anything from my girls."

Pamela nodded. "I knew he was keeping something from me, something important, but I had no idea. So, do you suspect my Dad has something to do with these other kidnappings just because Whisper was using me?"

"Whisper wouldn't have chosen you without a very good reason. He may suspect your Dad. He may even have proof, but the only reason I'm not going to go straight after him is because Whisper didn't want me to know too soon."

"To Hell with that Ral, " Renée thought. "If Whisper has proof that Greenwood is involved then I think you should go after him."

"Whisper may have that proof, but I don't. I also don't know where Greenwood is staying." Which wasn't true. He had told Pamela which hotel he would be in. I could find out from her. "I want to discuss it further with Whisper, but I have to find her, " I indicated Pamela, "first."

"Do you think Fiona will continue helping you with your hunger?" Tanya asked.

I turned to face her. "I'm not sure. I need a backup plan in case she can't or won't."

"We could come back up... " Erin thought hesitantly.

I started to argue against that idea, but Renée and Charlotte backed it up with another idea. "What if we come up, stay at a couple of different hotels and back you up with Master PC?"

That got my attention. "Back me up how?"

"Well, " Charlotte thought, "it would be really easy to call you up and warn you or help you if someone clobbers you again. We'd have to be in the city so we're within range though."

"And, every few hours you could stop by one of the hotels or some other close-by pre-arranged location to help keep a cap on your hunger, " offered Renée.

I looked from one to the other. It was an excellent idea and I told them just that. "Do it. Get here as quickly and safely as possible."

"I'm not going to be left out of this... " Erin started to argue.

"No, you're not. You and Chloe are as close as Renée is. Come back with her. One of you stay with her and the other can meet up with Charlotte. That way none of you have to remain glued to a computer to help out. I also want all of you protected with every code we've discussed toward protection. Charlotte, if you've discovered anything new, then test it and use it if possible. I don't want something happening to one of you should the Dragons find you."

They broke up into pairs and started discussing arrangements. Tabitha asked, "Ral, what about this good thing and bad thing at the store Whisper told you about?"

The others listened closely. Unfortunately I didn't have a good answer. "I don't know. He... " I looked over a Pamela and continued, "she didn't say anything about it. Only that it would affect me greatly. To be honest I don't know what will happen when I get there and I certainly don't know what would happen if I don't go."

Some of the girls looked at Pamela as if expecting her to know. "Pamela was along for the ride, so to speak. She doesn't know anything that Whisper didn't tell her to say while we were awake."

"Then maybe you shouldn't go, " offered Carrie. "If Whisper's pulling this kind of stunt, maybe his advice is skewed or even designed for some ulterior motive."

"That's possible, but like you and the rest, I don't know what that might be. I'm going to the store because he's given me no reason to doubt the accuracy of his advice so far. I may not like what he's done to Pamela but that doesn't make him useless."

"No, just untrustworthy, " thought Savannah.

"Just because I go to the store meeting - as I had originally planned - doesn't mean I'll find these good or bad things. I'll be on my toes, but otherwise just get through the opening as planned."

I wanted to drop the subject of Whisper, so I asked, "Does anyone have any suggestions on whom else I might talk to for help?"

"Don't you have other House Members up there?" Asked Alexandria. "Wouldn't some of them be willing to help, even if it's just looking around town for the Dragons?"

"Good idea." Then I stopped. "Too bad the Dragons took my cell phone."

Linda thought, "Just get a replacement. Most services will replace your phone and upload your contacts list to the new phone either free or for a small charge. Just go to a local store."

Li also added, "It may be a good thing they took your cell phone. The store could activate the built in GPS in it. They could tell you where it is."

I nodded. "Thank you, both of you."

I couldn't think of anything else to discuss regarding the issues I would face when I woke up, but the girls had one topic that interested them greatly.

With wide eyes and many giggles Tabitha said the one word that set off a lot of discussions and extremely delighted moods: "Weddings!"



-------

Chapter 21: Calls and Car Rides



Seeing what each of the girls wanted to wear for their weddings was both fun and distracting. We ended up spending the rest of the night going over details better suited to later when I was home. Pamela was perfectly happy to discuss those details with the others too. She didn't seem to have any aspirations for getting married herself, and I thought it would have been rude to assume she would. I also refrained from letting things get too sexy, purely out of respect for Pamela, who was not there of her own decision.

When I woke up, I was alone in bed. Then I heard the toilet in the adjoining bathroom flush. Sitting up, I watched the doorway. Fiona came out, her hair still disheveled from sleep but a smile sparkling from under her ruffled locks. However, in a somewhat teasing mood, as she crawled up onto the bed, I slipped off the other side. She didn't say anything as I headed to the bathroom. I needed relief too.

When I returned to the bed, she had curled up under the covers again. I noticed her alarm clock, 7:15. "Come on sleepy head. I've got a long day ahead of me and most of it starts this morning," I said as I crawled up onto the bed next to the grinning and buxom bombshell.

"Did you see your girl in your dreams?" she asked softly.

I was at a loss of how much to tell her. On one hand she had pretty much saved me and even helped me with my hunger, but on the other hand I didn't know her any better than I had Michael before I had seen his memories. Maybe if she let me see her memories I could drop all barriers and tell her everything. For the moment though, I nodded and answered, "Yes, and she's thankful that we could see each other too."

Fiona ran her hand down my chest and made directly for my crotch. "How's your hunger feeling this morning? It's been a few hours..." and she started stroking me.

I didn't feel the hunger that had plagued me the day before, but that didn't mean it wasn't there. Again I looked at the alarm clock and felt a bit rushed because of everything I wanted to get done before the store opening yet not sure how I could.

Fiona noticed my glance. "Are you late for something?"

I tried to explain what all I needed to be done before the store opening as well as why I needed to get to the opening.

Fiona got up onto her knees with me. "Don't worry. I'll help. I may not be any good when it comes to dealing with the Dragons but I can at least drive you around town before I go to the meetings I have today."

I hadn't asked her for any favors. My girls would do things for me for no reason, but I always assumed that was from the bond between us. Fiona was a Mind Magi. As far as I knew she was free of my bond's influence. "Why the charity?"

She pressed against me. "Can't I just help for no reason?"

"Of course ... I'm just not used to people doing something for nothing."

Fiona smiled. "Okay then. If I help you, then you have to promise me more than just a video of you hosing down my tits."

I couldn't help but to return the smile. "Deal."

I had run into the typical issue of waiting for one of my girls to get dressed when we had somewhere to go. Fiona, however surprised me by being ready before I was. She wore a dark red dress that was tight enough across her chest there was no need for the spaghetti straps to hold it up. Around her midriff, the dress was bunched as if she had hiked it up from her hips. The length of the dress was dangerously short. It seemed to stop just below her crotch but around her hips and ass it was tight enough not to go anywhere easily. If she wore a bra or panties, I couldn't tell. The color and material of the dress on any other woman would have looked hot, but on Fiona it seemed to dampen her sexual appeal, blocking off and tampering the creamy caramel glow of her skin. Of course her curves were there for anyone to see. The dress couldn't hamper that at all. With a pair of red high heels and a clutch purse of the same material as the dress, she was ready to go.

I had my suit back on and was putting on my boots when she came out of her bathroom. I stopped wrestling with the boot for a moment to look Fiona over.

She smiled at me as my eyes roamed over her. "You had me naked and in your arms all last night. No real hesitation at anything with me. Yet now, as you try to get dressed and see me dressed, you stop. Why?"

I looked up and met her eyes. Shrugging I tried to answer, "I suppose it's the tease you give off when you're dressed."

"Oh," she said smiling. "And how much of a tease do you think I am?"

That was one of those loaded questions that had no correct answer. If I said she was too much of a tease, she would take something off. If I said she wasn't that much of a tease, she could be offended at the implication of her being a whore. As far as I was concerned neither was really true. "Let me just say that though I have seen you nude, had you in my arms already, that doesn't cease the impressions I continue to get when you're dressed."

"Good answer." She turned and went to the bedside table. Picking up the phone, she didn't dial anything but said, "Byron, bring my car around. Ral and I have some errands to run." Then she hung it up.

"Does he sit by a phone waiting for your every call?" I asked as I finished getting my boots on.

"No, it's a message system. He's notified as soon as I leave one and can access the messages from anywhere."

I nodded and we left the bedroom, Fiona leading me through her house.

"Where do we need to go to first?" Fiona asked as we left through the front doors and approached her car.

I told her about my need to replace my phone because of the calls I needed to make. She pulled her cell phone out of her clutch purse and handed it to me. "We'll go get your replacement, but you can use this to make your calls while we're in route."

I took the phone, gently caressing her hand as I did so. "Thank you." Then we got into her car and Byron drove us off.

I had memorized Renée's cell phone number while in my dreams. I called her first. She was already at the airport with Erin and Chloe. They informed me that Charlotte was already on a plane in route. I was surprised because they had still been in my dreams when I woke up. Not giving it any further thought I started calling hotels, looking for Lady Reynolds. Finally I found her and was patched through to her room.

"Hello?"

"May I speak to Lady Reynolds?"

"Who is this?"

"Lord Setton."

"Oh, Ral. Thank God. Where are you?"

"Currently heading back into the city first to get a replacement cell phone then to my store opening where I have a press conference scheduled."

"I've been hearing rumors about you fighting Dragons..."

"Probably mostly true. I have been, or more accurately I've been defending myself against them."

"I don't get it, they should have been notified of your Lordship as soon as the meeting was over."

"They don't care. I had a nice long chat with Leland. They've pretty much given up any hope that the Lords and Ladies will ever be any help to the rest of the Mind Magi society. So, they've thrown in with whoever is behind all of this."

"So, how much do you know then?"

I told her what I had found out about the kidnappings and the midnight deadline.

"How did you find out about the midnight deadline?"

"I have another source. She's not a Mind Magi but a highly accomplished Master PC user. She's given me advice and warnings before that have been extremely accurate so I have no doubt about this."

"Okay okay. Ral, I don't know what to say. I want to help, but my daughter was one of those kidnapped. If I do anything..."

"I understand the threat Cicely. One of my girls was taken yesterday but that's not stopping me from doing what needs to be done. We have no idea what's going on but if they're willing to kidnap and threaten those we love to accomplish it, it cannot be any better than the kidnappings themselves. Do you understand that?"

"What you're saying is we might all be in bigger trouble if we let this happen?"

"Yes."

A couple of minutes passed before Cicely asked, "What do I do?"

"We have to find our family members who were kidnapped. Remove that bit of control from the Dragons and more Lords and Ladies will be willing to help."

"But we still don't know who's behind this."

"That's what I'm going to be working on. One or more of the Dragons have to know who is in charge. They can't all be completely duped into just following orders without understanding the full picture. I'll find the Dragons and get that info out of them. Have your people look for the Dragons too but keep their distance. They should be more focused on learning the location of the kidnapped family members."

"Okay. Should I call any of the other Lords or Ladies about this?"

"Only those you're absolutely sure are not involved."

"What?"

"I suspect one or more of our fellow leaders are involved. They would have even had their own family members taken to keep suspicion off themselves. We really don't know who we can or cannot trust."

"Then why do you trust me on this?"

"Do you have any plans that would involve the requirement to keep the other House Leaders under lock and key of a fashion while you implemented your plans?"

"No..."

"That's good enough for me."

"Ral ... thank you."

"And thank you Cicely for trusting me too."

I hung up just as we pulled up in front of the cell phone store. Fiona and I went in. After getting my phone, activating it, and having my contacts list transferred to it, I asked the clerk about tracing the other phone. He tried pulling it up but there was no signal. The phone either had a dead battery, the battery had been removed or the phone was destroyed. I was betting on the latter.

Back in Fiona's car and moving again I called Renée back but she was in mid-flight and the airlines wouldn't let her take the call. I left her a message with my new number and asked her to call as soon as they landed. Then I started calling the House Members who lived nearby. Most were either at work or school, but three of them were free.

Jordan Kawowski lived in lower Manhattan. He was a college student with an extraordinary memory. He could recite an entire novel verbatim after reading it once. Sarah Johnson, a store clerk who had the ability to travel from one place to another via the shadows around the two locations, was also available. Her ability was one I hadn't thought to use but I was happy she was available because if anyone could escape the Dragons, she could. Finally there was Eric Lawson, a high school senior who could step back in time by fifteen seconds. It wasn't much, but he proved how useful it could be by saving one of Erin's treasured glasses from being broken. All of them had marks, proving them to be Mind Magi, and those marks were amber.

All three were willing to help out and they all knew the city very well. I told them what I wanted and why. None of them were exactly thrilled with their assignments but then they understood what was at stake.

By the time I got off the phone with Eric, we had arrived at my store. When I hung up and put away my phone I looked over at Fiona. She had watched me the entire time I had been on the phone.

"I have no doubt that you will prove to be a fantastic House Lord," she said.

I wondered what brought that on. She wasn't bound to a House. Even after all the sex we'd had, her mark was still gray. I asked, "Was there doubt about me?"

She nodded. "All the House Lords and Ladies have let the power go to their heads. It's why I've not joined a House."

"They probably started off idealistically. Wanted to improve things, hoping to stop the corruption or simple lack of concern for our society," I said hoping that I sounded as optimistic as I had felt when I petitioned to become an official House Lord.

"You're probably right, which means eventually you'll be just as passive in the interests of our society as they are."

"I can only hope that that doesn't happen," I said with a sigh.

Fiona leaned over to me, putting her face close to mine. "Don't worry about it right now. You have a lot on your plate and are trying to do things that other House Leaders don't want to. It's a lot for someone so young." Then she kissed me.

I kissed her back with growing passion. I could feel the hunger in me growing, the pangs of yearning causing my abs to bunch up. My lips moved away from Fiona's, down her neck and to her chest. She didn't say anything.

A knock on the window interrupted what was quickly becoming more than a make-out session. I looked up and saw a police officer.

"As if I didn't have enough worries..." I was looking back at Fiona.

"Are you sure you have to be here? We can drive away right now..." Fiona started but I was shaking my head no at the idea.

"Don't get me wrong, Fiona, I'd love to ditch and hang out with you all day," I looked back at the officer again who had a grave look about him. "But this is my responsibility. If I run from it, there's no point in me being a House Lord."

Fiona smiled softly. I wasn't sure why but it was reassuring and disappointing at the same time. I gave her one more kiss and the slipped out of the car.

The officer started immediately. "Sir, the car has to be moved..."

I nodded at the officer and heard the car shift gears. What I didn't understand was why the police were even present and that made me worry.

"Ral, will I see you tonight?" Fiona asked.

I turned around. She was looking out of the open window. "I don't know. I have your number. I'll call when I'm available."

She nodded and withdrew into the car. It pulled away and I watched it go.

"Sir, you cannot stay here..."

"I am the owner of this store, officer. I'm here for its grand opening," I replied.

"Mr. Setton?"

I nodded.

The officer nodded in turn but I couldn't let my curiosity go. "Why are you, the police, here?"

"We were called in to cordon off the street during your opening."

"What? There weren't going to be that many here..." I started as I headed around to the front of the store. There had only been a few magazines interested in our opening. What I found though were several newspapers and even a news van standing by in front of the store.

I walked up to one of the crew men setting up lights. "What's going on?"

He looked up, busy with the stand. "Some rich kid is opening what looks like a porn shop."

"Doesn't sound all that news worthy," I commented fishing for the real reason they were there.

"Well, someone thinks it is, otherwise we wouldn't be here," he said as he finished with the light. "Excuse me..."

Someone thought my store opening was newsworthy? Who? More questions but nothing I had to worry about. What was a little more publicity for the store? I had other things to worry about.



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Chapter 22: Ral Finds Sally



The store looked fantastic. All sorts of costumes, toys, aids and paraphernalia were there for customers to peruse and buy. Much like Victoria's Secret, the store catered to intimacies but with leather, rubber and other exotic materials to enjoy.

I had entered by the employee entrance and stood next to the office door, ready to speak with the new manager Renée and Erin had hired. Watching as some of the store's clerks walk by I thought about the store policy which required very open minded employees because they would have to not only dress up in the wide variety of attire offered, but in the discretion of our private booths, demonstrate the use of some of the toys and other implements customers may want to purchase.

Just as it always was for me, it was distracting to see the two brunettes walk by softly giggling about something while one wore a latex cat suit and the other wore a leather bodice, a thong and stockings. Both walked tall in their spiked high heel pumps.

I had to get a grip. As one of the owners, it would be considered sexual harassment to get too friendly with the clerks.

Again the doorknob; again distracted. Another brunette, but this one seemed vaguely familiar. How could that be? I had met many new people since I had arrived but she didn't make me think of Mind Magi. The only person I knew who had anything to do with the Big Apple and not that secret society was my ex-girlfriend, Sally, and she wouldn't work at a store like this. Would she?

I watched, mesmerized. She stopped and adjusted the cups of the latex bra she wore. I didn't remember Sally have breasts that size. Then again, I had never seen them revealed so dramatically. The brunette in question also wore a leather skirt that looked like nothing more than a belt with lots of straps hanging from it. An addition to the line that my Paramour, Chloe, had worn the first time I collared her. Different situation, different time. It seemed like ages ago, but it hadn't even been a year. However, this brunette, with her just-past-shoulder length locks and soft face looked so much like her. Not like Chloe, but like Sally. I looked at her hands as she adjusted the bra's only strap, around her torso, putting it in its proper place just under her breasts. Her hands were so delicate. Sally's were like that. She had seemed so slight back when we dated in high school. With my six foot one frame, I felt like I would break her if I did anything wrong.

I started to call out to the brunette, to simply find out, but I stopped myself. My lifestyle was so different from what we had shared. It was just the two of us, as a couple, in high school. Now I had many women bound to me, and it wasn't just ongoing friendships. Each of them was special in their own ways and none of them held back in the passion play we all enjoyed. I stopped myself because Sally wouldn't approve of what I'd become. She had broken up with me just for suggesting the possibility of us having sex. Not just to have sex, but to express how we both felt, in a physical way, for each other. I had been certain she had felt the same as I had, that we would share a tender evening and raise our relationship to the next level. But she left me that night. Left me to go off to college alone. Left to return to New York with her family.

I couldn't approach her now, not with the grand opening of the store ready. It was just bad timing. But was it Sally I watched or someone who just looked like her? I could ask Erin. She wasn't there but that didn't matter. We had established a semi-permanent connection of thought when an ex-boyfriend of hers whisked her away and I ran to the rescue. It took no effort on our parts to use it, just like talking. However, with the way my bond to her adjusted her way of thinking, she'd be all for it, whether the girl was Sally or not.

I shook my head. All my women had a habit of egging me into situations I normally would have backed away from, but this wasn't just any playfulness in the bedroom or even in a park. Sally was my first love, my first girlfriend, my first friend. She and I had gotten along when so many others would turn away. I wasn't repulsive to see, or a bad mouthed lout. It was just the typical cliques of high school, and I didn't fit in any of them. Sally had been new to the school. Her parents had moved to the small town in West Virginia for a year. She and I had initially just talked about school, homework, the usual stuff. But eventually, when those topics ran dry and we both seemed to look forward to the next conversation, we found other things to talk about, books, movies, games. It was our budding relationship that gave me something to look forward to in a life that didn't see much hope.

Hope. The one thing I still used more than my genetic gifts or Master PC. Hope. The power that helped me save my women from certain slavery at the hands of a woman bent on changing the world, literally. Hope. The striving force that helped me save my adopted family from themselves. Hope would help me now, not only in the crisis regarding the House Leaders and the Mind Magi but with the brunette too. Even if she wasn't Sally, maybe it was a sign that I should find her, to tell her how I still felt. I felt light on my feet and glided forward.

The young woman looked up as I stepped forward. She had the same soft brown eyes, the same slight curl in her hair. If she wasn't Sally, she could pass for her twin.

"Sally?" I plunged forward.

She looked back at me. I had changed when Renée had activated my dormant code the summer prior. If Sally and I had gone through with what I had suggested, then the transformation would have occurred sooner and she would still be with me. If I wasn't careful, it could still happen. The woman looked me over, her eyes going down, taking in my highly polished boots, the designer suit, my slimmed and toned stance, and my slightly altered face. I could see the recognition in her eyes. Anyone who knew me even before my changes would still recognize me. It was part of my power. "Ral?"

I smiled as did she and nodded, "Yeah ... um, it's been a while."

She nodded, the smile open and sharing space on her face with astonishment, "What are you doing here? We're not even open yet." She looked around like she expected someone to spot me and escort me out.

"I know. I'm the keynote speaker for the grand opening. I partially own Mr. Naughty's."

Sally's face went from surprised to outright astonished, "I didn't think you're parents would help you with anything, especially something so ... extravagant." She blushed, and the red spread down her neck and across the tops of her pale globes. Did I mention that large breasts were my greatest weakness? Especially when so wonderfully displayed.

I shook my head at her comment, "No, my parents didn't help me with this. I got a ... well help from unexpected sources. Plus all that money my parents flaunted was actually mine."

Sally was confused, "Yours? Wait, you're name is Setton. I was told the name of the keynote speaker was Nautikuus." She then stood with a hip thrust out and fists on both, "What's going on here?"

"I can explain everything," I said holding up my hands. "Over dinner."

She shook her head, "Tell me something now."

"I was adopted and it was arranged by my parents before they died. The couple that raised me was not exactly given a choice in the matter, but by adopting me, they gained control of my money. I was supposed to be informed of my inheritance when I turned eighteen, but it slipped their minds. Last Christmas, I went home and found out about enough to forgive them for what happened. Part of my inheritance went into having this store built. A sound investment, if I do say so myself." I cocked my head at her; let her see my eyes drift down to her soft cleavage and back up, "So what are you doing here?"

She blushed again, "I ... I ... My dad was downsized. He's had to take a reduced salary job until the market picks back up. I decided to get a job so it would be one less expense for him to worry about."

"Why here though? There must be hundreds of other jobs out there for college students. Why this store?"

She looked away. Did she really like the idea of wearing the outfits she would for however long she kept the job? What about the demonstrations she would have to give? Was she really that open minded about sex, even after leaving me like she had that night? I reached out and pulled her chin around. Upon contact, I could feel her conflicting emotions, the diffused passion she had felt for me so long ago, the frustrations of trying to find someone to play with, as she thought of it, the deep seated need to just be held, stroked, fondled, sucked on ... I let go.

She looked up at my wide eyes. I hadn't shared memories with her for fear of what she might think, but Jeeze, she would fit right into my family. Just like all the others, she had so many desires for a wide variety of bedroom fun it was ... well, confusing. "What's wrong, Ral? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Standing there, I didn't know what to say. A ghost? Yes and no. She was my ghost, but not the way I remembered, "Sally, why didn't you tell me?"

It was her turn to cock her head, "Tell you what?"

I closed my eyes and relaxed. It would take a lot of explaining for her to understand that I had just felt what she felt, completely, as if her emotions were mine. It would be easy to just share my memories, but there was so much to go with it, and there would be a million more questions to answer. Some hard, some impossible. Opening my eyes, I felt like we were back on my back porch, in that swing we sat together in. I was about to ask her to essentially go all the way with me, but I knew what the outcome of that night had been. What if I asked a different question? "Why didn't you tell me how you felt? I knew you wanted to be with me as much as I wanted you. Why the fight? Why the breakup?"

She looked away again. She knew precisely what I was asking about, "I was a different person then, Ral. I didn't understand the feelings running rampantly through me." She looked back at me, "I wanted you, yes. But we both were about to leave for colleges that would put us so far apart. If we had done that and then separated, I would have been so ... so..."

She looked away again. Other clerks and techs who were working to put out the store's wares continued in their busy mantras. Racks, shelves, displays and final touch-ups to the lighting and doors were being filled and finished, respectively. The store had been built and stocked in less than a month. It was really astonishing considering the local and mixed review we already had in a few New York publishings.

"Lonely?" I finally finished for her.

She looked back at me again, "That and more. I honestly hated myself for doing what I did that night. I wanted you, us. I wanted to go to that next level, to the one after that and beyond." A single tear started down her cheek. I reached out and caught it. Sally closed her eyes and ever-so-gently rubbed her cheek to my finger.

All in one move, as if everyone else had vanished, the store wasn't there, the city was gone, the world floated away, I moved to her and she reciprocated. Our mouths locked together in a vaguely familiar dance. I held her, pulling her body fully to mine. She wrapped her arms around my neck, a single leg sliding up my side and her foot hooking behind my butt.

I felt her and let her feel me. It wasn't just the physical touch, though that was achingly good too, but the regretful choices, the thoughts, the emotions, all of it flowed between us. She was my best friend, my companion, my Amour. My connection with Erin, Renée, Nadia, and so many others was but a shadow of how I felt for Sally. My heart sang, my body rejoiced. We were back on that porch again, and the answer was yes.

Something else happened too, something that had never happened. I felt Sally through our touch. That wasn't any different from anyone else I touched, but I could feel her deeper. I felt her through a link that I had attributed to binding. All my other women bore my mark when we had sex for the first time, and it allowed me to feel them even from a distance. I could understand their emotions and needs. Each was unique in their flavor, their distinction. Suddenly, Sally was added to that group. She was mine. I could feel her elation, her utter thrill of touching me, kissing me again. I also realized that like the others, she saw me as hers. She would want no other man. My touch would be worlds to her and the touch of my other women would help sooth her when I wasn't near. It was the rule that helped to make our family work. What was so miraculous about binding with Sally? She and I only kissed. We had never had sex. The outfit she wore was the most revealing bit of clothing I had ever seen her in and yet we were both still fully dressed. I had always assumed that it was my sperm that bound me to someone, but even after all I had been through, it wasn't true. I wanted Sally. Wanted her in all those same ways, discovering what fun little games we would enjoy together, but it was so much more. It was like our link had been established so long ago and we had only now discovered what neither saw.

I would make sure we would never be apart again.



-------

Chapter 23: Sally's Story



Sally took my hand, "Come on. We need to talk."

"I thought we didn't have time?" I asked as she pulled me through the store. Others watched but no one said anything. Either they didn't care or they knew who I was and figured I could handle myself.

She led me to one of the demonstration rooms. It was big and generally decorated as a bedroom. A large closet to one side held costumes, and, in the opposing corner, another contained many of the implements we sold. A king sized bed predominated the room. You couldn't properly show off the wares without actually being in a setting intended for those wares. This room and the others like it brought the store close to being considered a brothel. However, since customers weren't allowed to get involved in the demonstrations, it was more like a men's club. Well, not exactly. Some of the clerks were men. They too had to demonstrate some of the toys designed for a man's pleasure. We catered to both sexes.

There were two technicians cleaning up the remainder of the mess from the work they completed. "Hey guys? Can you give us a few minutes, please?" Sally asked them. They looked up and saw me. I hadn't been around during the completion of the store, but they saw me and once again either knew me or knew why we needed the privacy.

After they left, Sally closed the door and locked it.

I was surprised but not worried. We were just looking for somewhere to talk, right? Her eyes drifted down, devouring me visually and when they met mine, hers were smoldering.

I didn't know if it was just me being so happy to see Sally again, my lust for female flesh that required attention every few hours, or if she was that happy to see me, but I could have sworn the sashay in her hips was highly exaggerated and she was only about three steps away. Her outfit highlighted my greatest weakness in women. The skirt gave constant hints at those areas below the waist and she wore not stockings or boots, only black high heels.

"You don't know how much I've missed you," she said simply before pulling my lips to hers.

I was used to this kind of attention from my other women, especially after being away from each other for a few days. What I hadn't expected was the way she did her best to rub as much of her body against as much of mine as possible. Considering I was almost a head taller, it wasn't easy for her, but with the help of the heels, she accomplished certain goals. I was getting aroused.

Regardless of my shock in the way Sally was acting, the feel of her skin against mine was no less arousing than any of my girls. Instinctively, I pulled her to me. It felt so good to hold her again even after so much time had passed. To me it felt like ages, yet it hadn't been quite a year since we broke up. That thought caused me to pull from our kiss.

Sally seemed to understand my reluctance. "I'm sorry," she said with almost as much surprise on her face as I had before our kiss.

"Don't be sorry," I said, looking back into her eyes. Even with our reunion going so well, no fighting, no arguing, I wondered what the turnaround was. I shook my head. "I guess I don't understand. You broke up with me for wanting to have sex, yet here you are working in a store that caters to that very thing."

She continued to look into my eyes for a moment. I could feel her emotions plummet. She had been elated to see me, to hold and kiss me. Now I was dredging up the past, our break-up most especially. It wasn't because I wanted a fight — far from it. I wanted her, had already made her mine and knew that we would probably end up going at it on the bed just a breath away. I was pretty sure she knew that too. It was probably why she locked the door. She looked away, but hadn't pulled away. "I'm sorry Ral. I never meant to hurt you. You could never imagine how much it hurt to do what I did." She looked back up, tears causing her mascara to run. I reached up and wiped them away, but I didn't say anything. I just stood there and let her feel how confused I was.

"Let's sit down," I offered after a minute, and she let me guide her to the bed.

We sat side by side just like so many times during our dating in high school. Though the motions of what we did were familiar, the woman I was watching was somehow not. Something about her had changed, but what? I'd never seen her dressed as such, showing off so much skin, or with makeup applied so heavily. It was like she had become someone else entirely since her departure.

Sally looked up and saw how I looked at her. It was a mixture of lust and confusion. She smiled and a small hiccup of a laugh escaped her. It reminded me of other times I'd heard that laugh, times that I felt something similar for her, that lust/confusion mix, and wondered what the laugh was about.

"What was the laugh for?" It sounded wrong to me as it did her.

She shook her head slightly. "Not what you think." She let out a long sigh. "Oh, where to start?"

"How about the beginning?"

She nodded. "Yeah, but I'm going to have to go back a bit further." I tilted my head slightly to the side to show my curiosity but otherwise remained silent. "Before my family moved to your town I had dated a few boys here in New York. I had fun and even let things get heated on a couple of dates, but never let anyone go all the way. I was curious about sex, just like everyone else our age, but I wanted it to be with the right guy in the right setting for the right emotions."

She sighed again and took my hand. She held it as if holding something she hadn't seen before and studied my palm for a minute. I let her. I suddenly had all the patience in the world.

"When we moved to that little town and I thought my life was pretty much over. I had to leave my friends and everything I knew behind. It was an injustice especially because it was my senior year and I was looking forward to it."

"We weren't so far from New York that you couldn't keep in touch with your friends," I offered.

She looked up. "I know but it wasn't the same thing. I couldn't just go over to their places and hang out or go to our favorite mall and run into them."

I nodded understanding only a fraction of what she had left behind. I had nothing to look forward to at that time but another year before leaving that small town and so many bad memories behind. What I didn't expect was to meet someone who would grow to mean so much to me.

"The very first time I heard your voice, all of that changed. You simply answered a question for Mrs. Blackstone. I looked around and found you. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I honestly expected some kind of teen God, but you were just as shy as could be. I really didn't understand."

"Then you said 'hi' to me and something deep inside me woke up. I didn't know what it was at the time, but it felt good." She squeezed my hand in a very affectionate way. "Talking to you made me that feeling race all through me. It didn't matter what we talked about, Math or English or whatever, I just wanted to hear your voice."

I didn't recall any of my other girls ever saying anything about my voice being ultra-sexy. Was it possible I had been affecting Sally long before my powers woke up?

"I wish I could share that sensation with you," and I felt her flush with it. Just her memory alone caused a rush through her that I had only felt recently for my girls. I associated it with a very real love for them. For Sally, there was a very physical aspect to it. It actually excited her.

Looking deep into her eyes I said, "I can certainly imagine what you felt." Why couldn't I just tell her the truth? She was mine now. I wasn't going to let her go. I could tell her that I could feel what she felt. I could let her feel how it affected me. We could truly share those sensations and so many others.

She smiled at me, but somehow it seemed sad. I didn't understand. Then she said, "You couldn't imagine how happy I was when you asked me out to see that movie. It wasn't the movie that I wanted to see, it was you."

We had talked movies and a new one about to be released was interesting enough for both of us to go together to see it. It was the first time we held hands. "I couldn't keep from touching you," she said, still holding my hand between both of hers.

Then she did something bold. The outfit she wore was already outrageous compared to anything I had ever seen her in, but she pulled my hand to her chest, placing my palm over her cleavage and held it there with both of hers. If she hadn't been so plentiful up top, it might have just been a very serene act, but to me it was both heartfelt and erotic.

"For whatever reason, touching you in such a simple way added to that feeling I got when I heard your voice. You were so timid and nervous. I understood why with the way everyone else acted toward you, so I wasn't sure how you would respond if I held your hand. But you accepted and held mine too. Oh, Ral. I felt so good. It was like a warm silky something poured through me from the top of my head and reached out over me down to my toes."

The description of what she had felt along with the actual feel of her soft skin weren't helping me much. It wasn't that I was completely distracted, but I was beginning to want to feel more of her.

Sally's building enthusiasm backed off just a bit. "I also understood why you didn't hold my hand at school. Those kids were so mean and you didn't want them picking on me. You were so kind, so sweet, and such a gentleman." She looked away, a touch of blush painting her pale skin. "I liked the touch of your hand. Even though you only held mine so seldom, I must have turned down about a dozen offers for the homecoming dance." She began rubbing the back of my hand. I wanted to rub my hand over her too, especially with what she was saying about how my touch had affected her.

She looked back up into my eyes. "I knew you weren't brave enough to ask me to go, and I didn't know how you'd react if I asked you. So I just went and hoped to see you. At first, I felt kind of let down, because I couldn't find you." Suddenly, Sally hugged my entire lower arm to her chest. "When I did, it was like a light inside me shined, like the sun warmed me and me alone."

"I didn't mean to embarrass you that night, but with as low as the lights were, I knew no one would see. No one would know. When we danced that one dance and I felt you..." her eyes dropped for a moment and came right back up, "When I felt you holding me, moving with me, and pressing to me, I couldn't imagine feeling better ever."

The look in her eyes had slowly shifted as she talked. The only real give-away to what she had experienced was how she held my arm and hand to her. A small smile played across her lips and she whispered, "You got hard. I got wet. I knew what it meant, but you got embarrassed, and that was the first time I laughed."

I shook my head and was about to say something but she pulled up one of my fingers from my hand she held to her chest. She kissed the very tip so lightly, I wondered if her lips had touched me at all. I knew she had. That small move, that tiny motion felt so good. I felt that wash of sensation just as she had a moment before. This time though, it was all me. It was what she had been describing, that deep joy that filled my entire being.

Sally lay back gently and I followed; both because she still held my arm and because I couldn't leave her side at the moment.

I smiled. She smiled too. I moved up, putting my face closer to hers. She moved in closer to me too, her entire body lining up to mine. There was less than half an inch of air between our lips, and I could feel hers almost brush mine as she said, "Not yet Ral. Let me finish." She smiled at me. It was beautiful.

I pulled back a bit. We had waited months to be together again. What were another few minutes?

The look on her face mirrored my own. She was anticipating what would come, what we were going to do. It wasn't a question of if she wanted to anymore; we both knew that. It was a question of what else her story could add to it.

"I couldn't let you just hold my hand anymore. I wanted more. You were so kind, so chivalrous. I knew you would just hug me. You remember, don't you? How I turned and kissed you when my Mom showed up? I slept that night dreaming of you doing the same thing, kissing me."

She didn't stop me as I closed the short distance and pressed my lips to hers. The sweet taste of her kiss, the warmth of her body, it was getting to me. I was going to lose all control if this kept up.

A brief kiss, that's all it was compared to what we both really wanted. A brief kiss and she continued, "Thanksgiving rolled around and you relaxed. You kissed me." She closed her eyes as if reliving the moment. "I felt as if Heaven was touching me and I wanted more, so much more." She opened her painted eyes, "Don't you see? Can't you imagine where things were going?"

That question was a little bit confusing. I was already sure of what she was implying with her retelling of our past, but it was enough to have me sit up a bit more.

"I wanted that something extra so bad that, for Christmas, all I got you was a big red bow." She smiled, "I wanted to see your face when you woke up and found me under your Christmas tree wearing only the bow. I wanted you that much. But my parents brought me back here for our annual family holiday reunion. I couldn't stand not at least hearing your voice for that length of time. It sounds selfish now, but that was the reason I called: just to hear your voice."

"During spring break, I hoped to feel you again. So much more of you pressed to so much of me, even if for only a moment. I had bought a two piece that was honestly a bit small on me. I had dreamed of you seeing me in it and getting excited and us making out in the pool. But alas, it was not meant to be. My parents didn't know about the suit and would have insisted that I put on a t-shirt or additional clothing with you around. My Dad was especially concerned of you getting too close to me, but it wasn't you he needed to worry about. I wanted you that close ... and closer."

"When Prom came around, I was hopeful again. You got used to touching and kissing. I thought maybe some petting would be possible." She looked up with coy eyes, "I bought that dress just for the low neckline. I wanted to impress you with what I offered. My Mom knew how I felt, though not everything. She thought simply that I loved you. She even offered to let me pick out something more elaborate, more expensive, but I wanted the simple lines and the chance to get a bigger-than-normal response from you. I got it too. When you arrived to pick me up and saw me in the dress, your face lit up. It was brief, but I caught it."

"I also felt elation. You had always dressed down, rough clothes that needed replacing, but when I saw you in that tux, the way it fit your body, your hair a soft brown, your eyes swimming in my cleavage. I wanted more than to just feel your body. I joined you in that mindset of being overwhelmed. My man was gorgeous and all mine."

That statement, or the last part of it, made me nervous. All hers? I wouldn't be just all hers. The others, my other women. I couldn't leave them. The thought was brief and Sally seemed too caught up in her thoughts to notice.

With a deep breath and long sigh she continued, "You danced with me for every slow song. You held me and I knew that you were very happy to have me against you. I was happy to be there too. That night went by too fast. When we were back at my place and you pulled me around for a goodnight kiss, I thought "Yes, take me now, here. Lay me down in the grass and join me." But I knew you wouldn't do that. I knew my Dad was watching and you didn't want to give him a reason to stand between us. I both valued and felt scorned by that choice."

"Still I didn't feel any different about you. I still wanted you. Even after graduation, when we should have had all the time in the world to enjoy each other, explore those desires, and generally have each other, it wasn't fated. With you working and me going to so many school tours, we had less time together than while in school. I was so aggravated."

"The night of the dinner, I knew you were finally ready. I knew you wanted it to be special and it was. The dinner was wonderful, the setting dreamy, and the bare-footed dancing divine. Holding you so close, feeling how full and ready you were, it was our night. But I couldn't. I couldn't enjoy just one night of blissful love with you just to be separated by half the country. I couldn't let myself fall just when we were about to be apart. I was serious about marriage. It would give us the perfect excuse to be together. To really be together. Every night. Always."

"I wasn't mad at you that night. All my screaming was from my frustration, my desire for the very thing we fought over. I was mad at myself for turning you down, for not enjoying what I had wanted for so long. You didn't deserve that. You had already suffered from everyone else and I cried that entire weekend because I caused you more pain than anyone else ever did."

I held her, pulled her to me tight. I hadn't shed a tear though I felt her joyful emotions and plummeting despair. Somehow, it would have been wrong to cheer or cry during her telling. She had told me the bold truth of what she had gone through and the devastating conflict of choice she had made. I considered apologizing, but for what? Being a thick dunce? I still had problems understanding women.

Gently I kissed the top of her head, then her forehead. I slid my face down to be level with hers and softly kissed her lips. She kissed me back. Her pain of remembering that decision momentarily forgotten, we laid on the bed together. Our lips locked together in an embrace that would lead to other things. Things we both wanted. Things fate wouldn't let us have.

I had actually cupped her full breast and she was being direct too with her hand rubbing my crotch when someone knocked on the door.

Both of us laughed. Maybe from stress, maybe frustration, maybe just the timing; whatever the reason, the interrupter knocked again before either of us could stand without falling to unlock the door.



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Chapter 24: Store Opening



Time. An illusion designed to help us not only get through the day, but by which to be stressed. I wasn't stressed, but this illusion of time was working against me.

I opened the door with Sally standing behind me. A woman stood on the other side. She wore a smart business suit and her dark blonde hair was pulled back in a fashionable braid. She had piercing blue eyes that reminded me of someone else but the expression on her face made me think of my high school principal.

"May I ask who you are and why you are locked in a room with one of my employees?" she asked.

"Certainly. My name is Ral Setton and the employee you refer to is my girlfriend." I answered so matter-of-factly and without hesitation that it took a second for me to realize what I had said about Sally. However, I resolved to stick with my answer and continued to look back at the woman.

"Mr. Setton?" she started to stammer. "My apologies. I was expecting to meet you earlier..."

"And I have to apologize for missing that meeting. My schedule has been thrown completely into chaos." I said this with my hand behind my back. Sally interlaced her fingers with mine and I knew I couldn't say anything wrong.

"Yes, I see," the woman said looking past me at Sally.

To distract her, I held out my other hand to shake. "Again, my apologies Miss..."

"Oh," she shook my hand, "Mrs. Tara Larson. I have to say Mr. Setton, we don't have much time and it would seem..."

"That the number of reporters we were going to do this for has increased dramatically," I finished for her. "Do you know who might have contacted the newspapers?"

"Oh! Well, no. I thought maybe you did."

I shook my head. "No, this was a surprise to me too. However, it doesn't change our schedule."

"Yes sir, but what about the photo shoot? The newspapers won't print what we were planning on displaying."

"That is their decision. However, I would add a few less exposing outfits to the line that way they have something to show."

"Yes sir." Again she looked past me to Sally.

Sally squeezed my hand and started to pull away. I couldn't let that happen. "Where are you going?"

"She's one of our models for the photo shoot," Mrs. Larson answered.

I smiled and looked at Sally. "Photo worthy, you are..."

She smiled and blushed slightly. I could sense the hesitation in her. She didn't want to leave any more than I wanted her to go.

Looking up at Mrs. Larson I said, "Her outfit is fit for public display. I'll take her with me for the initial speech and interviews."

Mrs. Larson looked at me. I could see the surprise in her eyes but she tempered that and nodded. "As you wish. Will she be participating in the rest of the photo shoot?"

I looked at Sally. "Will you?" I asked as I squeezed her hand.

She shook her head while watching my eyes and squeezed my hand back.

I looked back at Mrs. Larson. "Looks like she's decided not to. We still have time. You do have a list of replacements, yes?"

She nodded. "I'll start making calls immediately."

"You might want to consider three more instead of just one, considering the number of reporters and photographers." I suggested.

"Yes sir," she said as she turned to leave.

Sally smiled at me and I smiled back. "Looks like you're stuck with me for a while."

"I think I can handle that," she replied.

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I had always thought giving a speech during high school was terrifying, but that was because of how I was expected to be received by the other students. Looking out over the crowd of reporters and photographers, I felt peaceful and ready. Of course having Sally by my side, beautiful and exotic, helped a great deal.

Cameras snapped and electricity filled the air with a soft hum from the microphones mounted to the podium in front of me. I stepped up to it and greeted the crowd. "Welcome to Mr. Naughty's."

I took another look around. The faces that looked back at me were all lost. I didn't know any of the people in front of me but somehow I knew they were important. Each of them were there for a reason, something more than just taking what I had to say and publishing it in whatever they produced. Somehow they were ... witnesses.

I shook off the feeling and began my prepared speech.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Newspapers and Magazines, welcome to Mr. Naughty's. A store for all tastes, adult fashions and lifestyles. I am glad to be here today; Happy to share with you, your readers, and everyone else the opportunity to open up and be who you are."

I watched as some took notes and others watched me back. That feeling was there again but I had to continue.

"Mr. Naughty's sells all the products one would expect from any normal adult entertainment chain as well as outfits and even everyday apparel that can be worn in public. We offer custom tailoring for the standard outfits in our catalog and are happy to accept the challenge of creating clothing that our customers dream up."

I looked over at Sally. She smiled back at me and then turned that amazing look toward the photographers. Flashes snapped off as they caught her in an amazing light. I couldn't find anything else to say. The rest of my speech wasn't important. However, I could move things along.

"Now that we have the general introductions out of the way, and everyone here is anxious to know more about what goes on behind our doors and curtains, I open the floor up to you for questions."

I glanced at the store manager. Tara had expected my speech to last longer but didn't show how the change affected her. She would make a good manager I decided then.

Hands went up immediately. I pointed at a woman wearing a tan business suit. "Mr. Setton! Jana Daltson from Adult Entertainment Today. You say the store caters to different lifestyles, what does that entail exactly?"

I smiled. "Ms. Daltson, your lifestyle is your own. I would no more try to define what your lifestyle is than anyone else here. I simply mean that we don't ask questions, we don't judge, we are simply here to provide the products you want."

Pointing out one of the men, I glanced at the rest and realized that there weren't just more reporters but people walking along the street had stopped to watch too.

"Mr. Setton, Jo Walsh from New York Styles. You have an incredible catalog of outfits that you both carry standard sizes for and custom make for those who have difficulty with standard sizes, but you also offer to custom build outfits your everyday customers dream up. How can you boast such an offer?"

My smile never faltered but something was beginning to worry me. More than just the extra reporters, more than the crowd behind them. Something else was going on that I couldn't put my finger on. "We don't make the outfits personally, if that's what you mean. We utilize other companies from the United States to help with the custom work. Most of them are small businesses or individuals who do this for the pure creativity of it. I assure you and everyone else here that there has not yet been a garment designed that we have failed to create through these means with a timely return."

I started getting nervous. More so than just being in front of an audience. Pointing out another older woman and I waited anxiously for whatever was coming.

"Mr. Setton, Erica Lasondo from 'Ask Erica' in the New York Times. You've opened your store near several other fashion outlets that have made their opinions of what your store will bring to this part of town clear. How do you feel about this?"

I could have snapped off about how those same stores tend to not cater to everyone, but I held that back. My nerves were being frayed quickly. Maintaining my smile I answered, "I can assure all the businesses in the area that we run clean stores. Each of our employees must not only have good work ethics but pass a small battery of tests to be considered for hire. On top of that, the cost of our products varies greatly. Obviously custom made outfits will be the most expensive, depending on the amount of material and detail requested, and at the other end of the cost spectrum is our entertainment section for everything from movies to magazines to simple erotic novels."

"Security of the store not only includes some of the most sophisticated digital monitoring systems available but guards hired from some of the most well known services in the city. So, I seriously doubt that crime will rise as a result of the presence of this store."

As I finished my question, I noticed the approach of four individuals from the street. They stopped among the crowd behind the gathering of reporters and cameras, but these four seemed to stand out from the rest.

That feeling of something about to happen was confirmed. The "bad thing" Whisper told me about had arrived. Somehow I knew. I knew those four individuals didn't come to talk. They came to disrupt.

The reporters were all raising their hands with questions again. I leaned toward Mrs. Larson and said, "We need to get everyone off the street. Trouble has just arrived."

She looked at me and fortunately didn't drop her smile in the slightest. I looked back at the reporters. "Now, if everyone is ready, we have prepared a tour of the store for you."

I stepped away from the podium and looked out over the crowd. Three of the four that I had spotted were opening their coats and pulling out rifles. I went back to the microphones and yelled, "Guns, get down everyone! Get down!"

Everyone looked around in confusion. Some started to laugh thinking I was joking. Sally noticed what I had seen and dropped, as did Tara.

People in the crowd noticed the weapons being raised and either took off or screamed out of sheer surprise. That's when everything went downhill.

So many things happened so very quickly. To be honest, I was confused. Those four couldn't have been Mind Magi because they were using normal weapons. Then again, one of the Dragons had used knives and another knew several forms of martial arts. The attackers in the crowd could be Mind Magi. I would have to get to them and find out with memory sharing.

Most of the crowd of reporters had ducked when they finally noticed the brandished weapons and started dropping to their knees or flat to the ground. The ones carrying cameras instead turned to capture images of whoever I had warned about. That's when the gunfire started.

I had no time to think about anyone getting hurt. Sally and Tara were as safe as anyone could be for the time being. I was certain the gunners were there for me. So, to help everyone between me and them, I had to get away from the crowd.

My adrenaline was pumping. Everything was slowing down, but I needed the gunners to see me move until the line of sight was clear. Then I could take them down.

Bullets were everywhere. How I didn't run into them as they whizzed past me, I'll never know. The one thing I had never done was outrun a fired bullet. Again, I was proven too slow for an armed opponent.

I could hear the crowd screaming. Several had been shot. Most were just terrified. The four interlopers were watching me like wolves intent on their kill. I continued running.

Off to the side, I stopped and looked at the four as their weapons came around to aim at me. It was time for me to stop maneuvering and to start attacking back. A surge filled me. A passion for helping and protecting those who had come to simply ask questions and write stories filled me to overflowing.

Time stopped.

At least, that's how it felt. I rushed the first man. He was taller than me, with a larger build. He never took his finger off the trigger as he turned to aim for me. Bullets moved past me no faster than a person running full out. I rushed him and bawled him over. The rifle flew out of his hand as he landed on the concrete.

Next was another man. Again, he was taller than me but with a similar build. I rushed him too, knocking his rifle away as I slammed into him.

The third was a woman with shoulder-length dark hair pulled back into a pony tail. Her eyes were green and seemed to be glowing. Her hands were in her pockets but that didn't mean she wasn't armed. When I got to her, her hands were out and open, fingers curled like claws. She moved faster than the others and even took a swipe at me. I ducked under her attack and swept her feet from under her.

The last was another woman with a rifle. Again, I bawled her over too.

Once they were down I went across the street. With traffic blocked off by the police there was no worry about anything hitting me.

I slowed myself down enough to let the four attackers see where I was going. Then they did something else unexpected: they gathered themselves up and left. The woman with green eyes watched me for a moment but finally turned and ran off with the others.

"Ral!" cried Sally. "Ral, where are you?!"

I looked back at the downed reporters. It looked like several had taken bullets. It would take Ambulances some time to get to the store because of traffic. The police around the area were finally rushing in but they were too intent on chasing the fleeing attackers. I had to do something.

After crossing the street again, I found Sally. She wasn't hurt. Mrs. Larson was on her cell phone as were several others, calling 911. I went around checking on everyone. To my surprise, only three people had been shot. One was to the shoulder, another to an arm, but the third, a reporter from a smaller newspaper named Linda Penn, had caught a bullet in her back. She was on the ground fighting to simply breathe.

I knelt next to her. Her fellow photographer was holding her hand and talking to her. She was nodding and shaking her head in response to his questions and comments, reserving her air for survival. Blood was pouring out of her wound and she was turning white at an alarming rate.

I knew those symptoms. I had seen them before and the sight of Renée bleeding on my apartment floor flashed before me.

"No, it's not happening again if I can help it," I said under my breath.

Sally knelt next to me just in time to catch part of what I said and asked, "Ral, what?"

I moved to Linda's side and took her other hand. She looked at me and even gave me a small smile. She knew it wasn't my fault she had been shot. I felt that in her. She was cold. It wouldn't be much longer.

I moved in closer and placed my hand over her chest. Though she was still wearing a business suit, I could feel her. "Stay with us Linda. You have a lot left to do. Now is not your time to go," I said. I wasn't sure where the words came from, but I knew what I was going to do to help make sure they were well meant.

My desire for her survival was understood. The need to make her well and help her to live was accepted. The warm liquid sensation of my power passed through my arm into her chest. Linda's eyes widened at the sensation. First she was numb, then her back bowed as the power remade her flesh and corrected the damage the bullet had made. Finally her face and skin flushed pink as the blood she had lost was replaced. When it was all done, Linda laid there with wide open eyes and deep breathing as if she had just finished swimming underwater for a good two minutes, yet only a few seconds had passed.

I moved back, detaching myself from her. Linda's photographer had watched and started calling for help thinking she was in her final throws but when she looked back at him and smiled, he nearly fainted.

Linda sat up. The jacket and shirt she wore were drenched with blood but she felt fine and it took her several minutes to tell everyone that. It was time enough for me to pull Sally back up to the store to hide.

Sally looked up at me. "Ral, what just happened?"

"Linda was dying. I couldn't let that happen so I healed her wound and replenished her loss of blood."

Sally just stared at me for a minute. Those brown eyes, large with clarity. "How?"

I looked back at her, steady and calm. "I have a lot to tell you about."

{t}Part Four — Love, Sex, and Sorcery



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Part 4: Love, Sex, and Sorcery

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Chapter 25: Secrecy of Truth



The easiest way to tell Sally about everything would have been to just share my memories with her, but there were parts of my life I wasn't sure she would be very happy about, like me living with nearly twenty women.

I opened my mouth to try to explain the complexities of what had happened, both between us and during the attack, but someone knocked at the door. We had slipped into the manager's office for further privacy and I was hesitant about letting anyone in.

Whoever was on the other side would have many questions too. Most of those were better left unanswered. The Law of Secrecy of the Mind Magi demanded that the situation be controlled and made to look as mundane as possible. If only my instincts to protect and help hadn't overridden what the law demanded none of the others would be an issue. It would just be Sally for me to worry about.

There were witnesses. Many witnesses. Suddenly, the appearance of the newspaper reporters and news van made sense. They weren't sent to report the opening of my store, they were meant to be witnesses to what I would do when the attack came. The Mind Magi Council would be forced to banish me and whoever was behind the plan would get what they fought for the day before: me out of the way.

"Ral, what's wrong?" Sally asked.

"More than I thought," I answered with a wry smile. My cryptic answer wasn't any better than not answering.

After giving Sally a consolatory hug, I opened the door. Tara slipped in and pushed the door closed. "Mr. Setton, more police have arrived as have medical crews to help with the wounded. A detective is asking to speak with you." She was nervous but in control of herself.

What would I do about the police? If it was Detective Arneson then all was well. He could help cool things off, but we were across town. It wasn't likely that he would be heading up this investigation. In fact I was sure of it. So, what would I tell the police?

Nothing. I couldn't tell them what really happened, they would never believe it and I was tired of proving what I could do. The FBI agents the day before had been bad enough. If I pulled the same stunt with a local cop, then things could turn worse.

Still smiling slightly, I nodded. "Thank you Mrs. Larson. I'll speak to the Detective in here."

She nodded and reached for the door. Stopping she looked back at me. "I'm not sure it's my place to ask, but I have to know..." She swallowed and looked up, "Did I really see you fighting off those gunmen only seconds after they opened fire?"

As I said, a lot of questions that were better left unanswered, but my suspicion was also confirmed. Considering she was going to be the manager of my store, she deserved to know more than anyone other than those bound to me. Vague would have to do for now. "I would like to say it wasn't me Mrs. Larson, but you know what you saw."

She looked at me as if she wasn't sure if I had answered her question or not.

"Let me talk to the police and I will answer any other questions you have when I'm finished. Okay?"

She nodded and slipped out of the office.

I looked at Sally only to find her staring back at me. "Ral, I saw the same thing. How could you have been down there fighting them when you were right there beside me?"

"For the moment, let's just say I'm gifted in ways most people won't understand." I could feel her confusion and curiosity. She would need a detailed explanation and I wasn't sure how she would take it.

Pulling her to me, I gazed deep into her eyes. "I need to talk to the police and placate the press. Then, I'll tell you the whole truth because you deserve that," I said with a flickering glance down at her chest. My mark hovered there still. Nothing had changed. She was still bound to me. The violence had not made that any less real.

Sally caught my glance and looked at herself just as quickly. "Should I get dressed so you won't be distracted?" She had a coy smile but was serious.

"That's actually a good idea. As soon as I'm done here, you and I will need to leave."

She nodded and there was another knock at the door.

Sally, pulled me down for a quick kiss and then opened the door. That simple touch of her lips to mine felt wonderful. It was like kissing any of my other girls but something so much more as well.

The Detective stood back as Sally stepped out. He watched her for a second and then stepped inside the office. I closed the door. Yes, Sally was that distracting.

"Mr. Setton, Detective O'Hara." the Detective looked me over. I was used to people's surprise at my age when they thought of the owner of the store. He was no different.

"Yes, Detective," I answered grasping his hand and giving him a firm shake.

He smiled, "You know how young you look?"

"I am that young," I retorted with a grin of my own. "You had some questions for me?"

He nodded. "Yes, I was hoping to get your account of what happened."

I should have guessed that he wouldn't actually ask me anything first. He wanted to know my rendition of events and would compare that to what others had said.

I leaned against the desk thinking hard. How could I keep the truth a secret? Sure, the reporters knew what happened. They saw what I did. There were probably even photos and video recordings of the event. Somehow, though the attack would be the topic of the reports, my name, my face would show up.

Telling this Detective the absolute truth could have one of two affects: either he would just write down my statement and everyone would ignore it because it was ludicrous, or the police and other agencies would dig deeper. It wouldn't surprise me if there was a group out there that knew about the Mind Magi due to such events, or at least had conclusions about us without proof. Now they would have that.

"Mr. Setton? Are you okay?"

I looked up, giving the Detective a once over. He seemed normal. He wasn't a Mind Magi. "I'm okay Detective. I'm just not sure how much to tell you."

Of course that set off every cop instinct he had. "Then how about telling me what you can."

I nodded. "I saw the attackers pull their guns and I yelled into the microphones, warning the crowd to get down."

"Okay, and what happened next?" He was watching me closely, looking for signs of deceit.

"I ran around the crowd, drawing the attackers' attention from them because I knew I was their target."

"And how, in that space of time, could you possibly deduce that?"

"It was my store opening. I'm the owner. Unless there was someone more important at this gathering, I was certain they wanted me."

He nodded. "And what made you think they would focus all their attention on you?"

"Because this is not the first attack I've suffered. The difference was that the previous attacks were in private. I didn't realize it at the time, but this attack, out in the open, wasn't meant to hurt me but to expose me."

"Expose you? How?"

"Consider the size of the crowd, the chaos, and the bullets flying. Consider how long it would take a normal person to run around that crowd, to navigate past them to get to the gunners. Now, consider how a teenager could bowl over full grown men, men trained in more than guns."

He continued watching me, taking in the details not only of what I said but how I was acting.

"After they fled, which they did instead of pressing the attack and just killing me, I turned my attention to the crowd, to the wounded. Linda Penn had been shot in the back. She was having problems breathing. She would have died if I hadn't saved her."

"I just spoke to Penn. She didn't have a mark on her except for someone's blood."

"That's because I healed her Detective. You see, I was being exposed to the public. Or more specifically, my abilities, speed, strength, and healing, were being exposed. I was being shown off so that others would take those abilities from me."

"You're not making any sense Mr. Setton."

I nodded. I was skipping past details. "I'm not supposed to tell you any of this Detective. I'm supposed to lie and hide the truth. I'm supposed to try to convince you and the twenty some-odd witnesses out there that what they saw, what their cameras captured, didn't happen. It is a secret."

He smiled. "Mr. Setton, are you sure you weren't hurt?"

I could convince him, play games that shouldn't be possible, but I would probably be shot for it. "Has the attack been reported on the news?"

He nodded. "They were making television reports when I came in. I had to wait for some of them to finish before I could speak with them."

"Crap..." Containing the information at the scene would be one thing, but with the reporters having aired what they saw, and possibly my involvement, there would be Mind Magi on the way to find me, to bring me in for the Council to judge.

"What's the problem with that? The news reporters are a nuisance but they can help find the attackers."

"Forget the reporters. You need to find Detective Arneson. There was a break in at the 'W' yesterday, my room, and he was the Detective working the case. These cases are interconnected. He can fill you in on the details."

"This is my case. I'm not handing it over to another..."

Detective O'Hara never finished his statement. He would be located by the Mind Magi and have his memories altered unless I helped him hide. I reached out and touched his cheek. "Detective, listen to me," I said as his eyes glazed over. "You will turn this case over to Detective Arneson. He will return the favor when needed. Now, you have my statement and need to go."

Once I withdrew from contact the Detective sprang to life. "Well, I'll turn it over to him. He'll owe me one. Thank you for your statement and time Mr. Setton."

"Have a good day Detective."

Tara came in as he left. "Mr. Setton, are we going to continue with the plans as scheduled?"

"Yes, that would be best. Try to keep things as normal as possible. Oh, and I'll speak with Linda Penn, the reporter who is covered with blood but not hurt. I'll offer her something to wear. Pick out a few items that would be appropriate for her for the continuing events."

"Yes, sir. Anything else?"

"Only to say thank you Mrs. Larson. You held up well out there."

"Oh," she looked away at that. "Well, to tell the truth Mr. Setton, I was scared out of my gord."

"I was too Mrs. Larson. I was too." Maybe she had mulled over what I had said earlier and decided she didn't want to know more. She left without any further questions and I leaned against her desk with relief.

What would I do about Linda Penn? Should I wipe her memories? Scramble them so she's not sure what happened exactly? No. She deserved to know what happened to her. I just had to convince her to keep it to herself, at least the intimate details.

Another knock at the door broke my thoughts. "Come in."

Linda and her photographer came in. "Mr. Setton," she offered an outstretched hand.

I took it. "Linda, please come in," I offered.

Her photographer held out is hand to shake as well. "Mr. Setton, I don't know what we would have done if it hadn't been for you. Thank you," he said.

"I have to apologize, I never got your name," I said shaking his hand.

"James Monroe," he answered smiling.

"Okay James, Linda. I have something I need you both to do for me in return." Both nodded in acceptance of what I wanted. "I need you both to keep this to yourselves. I can't have the whole world, or even the small portion you two report to knowing what I can do."

They looked at each other and I knew questions were coming.

"Please, I would be happy to explain, but the less you two know the safer both of you will be."

"Safer?" James asked.

"Are you saying that attack was because of what you can do?" Linda concluded more quickly.

"Not because of what I can do specifically but more of who I am as a person and who I oppose." I actually chuckled trying to make light of what I was going to say. "Think of it like the heroes in comic books fighting the super-villains they oppose."

Both of them seemed to take it a bit more seriously than that. Linda asked, "How have we never noticed them before? Especially if they're like comic-book heroes and villains."

"Well, not exactly like comic books." I adjusted my suit and tie, bringing their attention to my attire. "I don't think I would look too good in spandex."

Both of them chuckled at that.

"My point is though, we belong to a secret society. We live among you and always have. It's not any different than living next to someone of a different culture or religion because we come from all over the globe."

I watched both for their reactions. They seemed to accept what I said but again, I knew they had questions.

"The top law we have is secrecy. Normally others like me would find witnesses of any event we are a part of and wipe their memories of that event."

"What, like the Men in Black?" James asked with a crooked smile.

I nodded. "Exactly. However, in this instance, if enough information is too screwed up to come out as anything other than an attack and the gunners running off, then there will be no need to find witnesses to wipe memories from."

I looked specifically at Linda. "You deserve to remember what happened. To know that you were seconds away from death and that someone helped you to survive and live on. You can play with the story in any way you wish, making it as grand and heroic or as simple as you see fit, but the actual truth can never be repeated."

Linda nodded and a tear ran down her cheek.

"Cheer up. I'm going to help continue to make your day."

Linda raised her eyebrows, unsure of what I meant.

I looked at her blouse and jacket, blood dried on both. "You seem to be in dire need of new attire."

She looked at herself. "Oh, well..."

"I've already instructed my manager to pick out a few items from our professional line. These are garments that are not only appropriate for public display, but are even considered suitable as business attire."

That changed her expression. "I'm not sure I can accept that..."

"Please do. Someone has to apologize for what happened earlier and I seriously doubt you'll ever hear an apology from the attackers."

She nodded. "Okay, thank you Mr. Setton."

I shook their hands again and escorted them to the dressing area where the other reporters were waiting for the photo shoot. Tara showed Linda the offered garments and I made sure Linda understood that whatever she chose was on the house.

Some of the other reporters tried to get my comments on what had happened and what they had witnessed. As much as I wanted to answer those questions I knew it would only make the problem worse. Looking at the cameras, and especially the video recording equipment, I wondered just how much had been caught. I guess I would find out when the next news report hit the air.

After deftly avoiding those additional questions, the photo shoot began. I excused myself from the remainder of the events and found Sally in the employee's break room. She had changed into a lovely white knit sweater and black slacks. She still wore heels but I could tell from across the room they weren't as high as the ones she had been wearing.

She looked up as I walked in and we just looked at each other. I had had moments like that with my other girls, moments of clarity that spoke volumes of what we felt for each other and where I would have ignored that and moved on before, now I basked in it.

Too bad the rest of the world wouldn't let me.

My phone rang. Sally watched me watching her as I fished it out of my pocked and without looking at the caller ID, flipped it open and answered, "Hello?"

"Lord Setton, it's Sarah Johnson. I've found three of the Dragons."

"Where are you Sarah?"

"They're about three blocks from your store and heading that way."

"Are they walking or driving?"

"Walking, and they don't look to be in any hurry."

"Good and Thank you. Try to find the other Dragons, I'll lead these away from the store. Keep safe."

"Yes sir, and you too," she said as she hung up.

Sally was still watching me. "What's wrong?"

"Dragons are coming. I have to lead them away from the store."

"Dragons?"

"I'll explain. Go get your car and meet me around front."

She stood there, still staring at me. So much was happening so fast and she didn't understand any of it.

"As soon as you pick me up, I'll tell you. I promise."

She nodded, picked up her purse and crossed the room to give me another kiss.

After she left for the parking garage, I went to the front of the store. The police and emergency crews had already left and traffic was moving past as normal. Pedestrians walked past the front of the store, both mundane and Mind Magi. The world was moving on. The incident forgotten as quickly as it had occurred.

Leaving the store, I knew that I had encountered the good and bad things Whisper had warned me about. No doubt, Sally was the good thing. And just as serious, if not more so, the bad thing was the attack, or more importantly, how I responded to that attack.

Things were going to change. I would probably face an inquiry by the Mind Magi Council, but that was if everything returned to what they considered normal.

I got to the sidewalk and looked up and down the street. I spotted Russ and Roy walking with another guy I didn't know. They spotted me and stopped. I adjusted my tie and smoothed out my coat. My eyes never left them.

Expecting the Dragons to start barreling down the street after me, I was surprised that they just stood there and watched. Had their orders changed? Were they to keep their distance or were they just wary of what I could do?

A car stopped in front of me. I heard Sally say, "What's wrong?"

I glanced at her and then looked back at the Dragons. They noticed the car and were starting toward me.

After getting to the passenger side and opening the door, I saw them running toward us. "Let's go," I said as I got in.

Sally didn't hesitate. I knew Russ could keep up, I just didn't know for how long. Traffic was light. We left them behind, including Russ. They were just watching now. Something new had happened. I had to find out what.



-------

Chapter 26: My Mind To Your Mind



I had never ridden in a car with Sally driving, not even in high school. She shocked me with how she maneuvered in and out of traffic. It wasn't dangerous, but she seemed to take chances I wouldn't have. Maybe her mind set could take what I had to tell her if her driving was a true testament to what her way of thinking was like. Then again, I might just be in more trouble than I expected.

"Now, tell me," she said never taking her eyes off the road.

"You would refer to me as a Mind Magi. It's not a club but a massive secret society that has been around for thousands of years."

"How did you find out about them?"

"They found me."

"But ... how... ?"

"I know, you have a lot of questions. I'll try to answer them all." I looked behind us to make sure we had lost the Dragons. We weren't just blocks away but two turns already. I was delaying.

"Tell me Ral, please."

"I was born with my gifts, but they didn't manifest until I ... Until I had sex for the first time." I blurted it out, not sure how else to say it.

Sally was quiet. Whether taking this in or simply waiting for me to continue I wasn't sure. "When?"

"After I arrived at college."

She glanced at me. I could feel the pain of her remembering our break up. Just like I was. "Ral, I'm..."

"Don't apologize. You don't have to. I understand."

She nodded and continued focusing on driving. "Where should we go?"

I had a couple of ideas on that, but Renée, Erin, Chloe and Charlotte hadn't contacted me yet. "Anywhere you believe is safe."

"Safe? What kind of safe?"

"Do you have an apartment?"

"No, I live in the college dorms."

I had thought she might have lived with her parents, which could have complicated things further. I wasn't sure how her father might be involved in current Mind Magi events. He might call the Dragons to let them know where I was or simply shy away. However, since she had a place mostly of her own, we could hide there for a while. "That'll work."

She nodded and we continued across town.

-------

Fifteen minutes later we were parked in the parking lot of her dorm. I had her park among several other cars even though she favored a distant corner.

Sally looked at me. She had toned down her makeup before we left the store and I was looking at what I truly remembered from high school. I had told her more about my abilities and some of the things that had happened since they had developed. Of course I had omitted certain details, such as all the sex I'd had and the fact that I was living with all the women bound to me. Of course, those omissions were obvious and led us around to those very points.

"Ral, I know that you know that I'm not blind. You're not telling me everything and I'm starting to worry about what you're not telling me."

I took a deep breath and let it out slow. Sally could be patient but when she really wanted to know something, nothing would stop her. "All Mind Magi have to bind to normal people. This bond is completely mystical and is what powers the Mind Magi's abilities. To a degree it also alters the ability in function."

"So, you're bound to someone?"

I nodded. "Anyone I'm bound to will have a duplicate of my mark."

Sally looked at my chest. "I was wondering what I was seeing..."

I ran my hand through my mark. "It appeared only days after my first abilities manifested." It was my turn to look at her chest, but I made it extremely obvious.

Sally looked down. "You're ... bound to me?"

"We're bound to each other. Other Mind Magi would say that you're bound to me rather."

"Why?"

"Because I'm the one with the power and you're my... Schiavi."

Sally looked up at that. "I am no one's slave."

I chuckled. I should have known she would know the word. "I would never say you are, however, the society uses that term as the title of those who are bound to Mind Magi."

She rolled her eyes. "Figures."

I reached out and took her hand. "Hun, I do not think of you that way. Not in the slightest." The contact was enough for both of us. The tension we felt due to the attack earlier melted away.

"Why do I feel so ... good when you hold my hand?"

"It's a feature of the bond. A Mind Magi usually bonds with someone they love. A relative, their spouse, even a close friend. The bond strengthens what they feel for each other."

Sally enjoyed feeling my hand touching hers. Her thoughts continued however and she was smart. "Ral, I didn't have this mark before we saw each other at the store. If you've been using your abilities and had to have them powered by being bound to normal people ... who else are you bound to?"

My increasing joy with touching Sally sank. I sat back and withdrew my hand. Now was the moment. It was all or nothing. "Sally, I'm something of a novelty among even the Mind Magi." I swallowed hard and tried to make it as simple and honest as possible. "Most Mind Magi only have to be bound to one or two people. I don't know how many I can bind to max."

"How many are you bound to?"

"Including you, eighteen." Of course, I was still omitting a certain detail. I also could not look at her. I felt guilty, as if I had been doing something wrong all along, something I shouldn't have, and I knew why I felt that way: I didn't want to lose Sally.

"Ral," Sally said, "Ral, look at me, please."

I looked up and swallowed hard.

Her brows creased, "What's wrong? Why are you so ... sad?"

I looked away again, trying to gain control of myself. "I have two more details to tell you about. I'm not sure how you'll take it."

This time she reached for me. I let her take my hand, not only because it felt good but because I knew the instant she touched me I wouldn't hold back.

Looking into her eyes I said, "My abilities are geared toward helping me find someone to bind to." I watched her watching me. She nodded in understanding and I said, "You're the first that I've bound to me without ... sex."

That last word was barely audible. I could see Sally thinking about what I said. Her hand continued to hold mine as she understood what I implied. Then she nodded and looked back at me with a steady gaze. "Then how did you bind me to you?"

"I can bind others to me through sheer will, the pure desire to have that person bound to me, but other than you I've only ever done it once before."

"And is she still bound to you too?"

I shook my head. "No, it was my Dad and I let him go."

That, of course, made Sally do a double take. "Your Dad?"

I nodded. "It's a long story but not important right now."

"It might be. Why did you let him go?"

I thought about that, or more how to answer the question. "I had no real desire to have him bound to me in the first place, so I had no reason to keep the bond."

"Then why bind to him in the first place?"

"To break a bond another Mind Magi had with him."

"And why did you want to break that bond?"

"Because the other Mind Magi was trying to punish my family for how I was raised. He intended that they would eventually die by punishment."

"That's harsh, even for your family."

I nodded in agreement.

"I'll want to know more about that later, but I'm worried about what would happen if another Mind Magi tried to break our bond."

That caught my attention. "The bond we have doesn't bother you?"

She smiled softly and rubbed her thumb across my knuckles. "No, why should it?"

"Because with possible exception of my Dad, no one I've bound to has wanted the bonds broken. Part of the nature of the bond encourages those I have a bond with to keep it, to stay with me."

Sally nodded, "That makes sense. You said your abilities are geared toward helping you find people to bind with and that the bond strengthens what they feel for each other. It all makes sense. What doesn't make sense is you. You seem to be afraid of this."

"I'm not afraid of what I have, or what I am. I'm scared that some detail is going to have you slapping me and demanding the bond be severed."

"And just what could you possibly tell me that would make me want to do that? Yes, it is very ... unseemly that you're living with so many women, but with what I saw earlier and what you've told me, it all makes sense."

"That's just the thing. You're not jealous. You're not reacting the way most would at such news. I've just told you I'm living with, having ongoing relationships with nearly twenty women, and you sit there and say 'that makes sense'."

Sally sat back and thought about it. "You're right ... I'm not jealous." She looked up. "Is that a feature of the bond too?"

I nodded. "I've never had a complaint."

"Let me ask you this then: if none of the girls you have a bond with are jealous of each other, everything is working out, then why are you so upset about this?"

I considered that and gave her my only answer. "Because this is simply not normal."

She laughed. "Ral, Hun, it turns out you're not normal. You have incredible abilities and can help others. You have to be bound to people to make those gifts work. So I guess I still don't understand why you're so upset about this."

"You remember what high school was like for me. I was hoping that once I got to college, things would be different. Instead of being a helpless geek everyone picks on, I'm now a whole different kind of geek."

"You're not a geek, so stop that. Yes, you're different. Yes it means you have to have a different life than what you expected, but is this really as bad as you're making it out to be? Have you been happy? I'm sure the girls bound to you have been, otherwise they probably would have left by now, right?"

"I've done everything I can to help them to be happy. I always thought I was doing it out of guilt because of the bonds." Then I remembered certain details that occurred just the day before. "I guess it has just taken some time to really understand what I have and that my life is never going to be normal." I looked up. Sally's smiling face was there. It was beautiful. "Now, I can say it can only be better."

Her smile brightened. "That's better. Stop looking for the rain clouds and pay attention to the sunny ones."

"Clouds aren't sunny."

"I know that silly, but the point is, you've been making yourself miserable. Stop it."

I nodded and heard my cell phone ring.

Sally heard it too. "If that's not a life threatening call, I say let it go."

I chuckled. "I need to know, at least, who is calling."

Looking at the caller ID told me nothing. It wasn't displaying any info, not even "No name, no number."

"It's Whisper," I said.

"Who's Whisper?"

I put my finger to my lips for silence and answered. "Hello?"

"Ral, you have to move. The Dragons know where you are."

I wasn't sure whether to listen to him or argue. Unfortunately I didn't get the chance. There was a knock at the window and the phone disconnected.

I looked around ready for a fight, but Cicely Reynolds was looking back at me.

"Who's that?" Sally asked.

"One of the House Leaders," I answered. "Listen very carefully Sally. If something goes wrong, anything, do not stick around. Leave, drive away. Do you understand?"

"Yes, but..."

I never took my eyes off Cicely as I said to Sally, "They have one of my girls, I won't let them have you too."



-------

Chapter 27: Prophecy Revealed



Getting out of the car, I kept my eyes on Lady Reynolds. She wore dark sunglasses and a trench coat. It was pleasant outside. I was sure that wouldn't last.

"Lord Setton, I've been looking for you," she started.

"How many are with you?" I asked.

I could tell she was blinking at my blunt question, even with the glasses impeding my sight of her eyes.

"How many Dragons are here Cicely?"

She cleared her throat and croaked, "Two."

"Get in the car and tell Sally I said to leave. I'll handle them."

"Ral, I can't just leave you."

I looked over Cicely's right shoulder. I could see Russ waiting in the distance.

"Ral, I heard about the attack on your store."

"That was fast," I said looking at Cicely again.

"It was on the news. There was even footage of you fighting off the gunners."

"Did you also happen to notice that one of the attackers was a Dragon?"

"Who?"

"I don't know her name. She had bright green eyes and moved pretty fast."

It was obvious Cicely was thinking about my description. "Did she have dark hair pulled back in a pony tail?" I nodded and she said, "Ral, that's Sever."

"Sever?"

Cicely nodded. "Her ability is a kind of neural blades. They glow green and will cut flesh. At the same time they will make you go numb or disrupt your nervous system."

"Fantastic, my luck's getting better all the time," I commented and then asked, "Has anyone from your House found out about the hostages?"

"That's why I'm here. We found them, but when we moved in to get them, the Dragons kept us at bay."

"Where are they?"

She handed me a card. It had an address on the back. "And Ral, one of the House Lords is involved."

I was about to ask who, but Russ chose that very moment to interrupt. I saw him coming and moved just as fast to open the car door, push Cicely inside and close it. If nothing else, she would be safe from the fight coming.

Like before Russ came at me with knives, but this time he moved with a grace and precision I didn't think he could have accomplished. I ducked and dodged. Moving away from the car, leading him away from those who couldn't protect themselves.

"Give it up Russ, you can't touch me."

"That's what you think..." he said and picked up the pace as he changed attack styles.

We must have looked like two blurs moving around the parking lot. No one could have recounted what happened. I didn't think about attacks or counter-attacks, it took all I had just to stay away from his blades.

When I had seen him with Roy and the third Dragon, I wondered how long he could have followed us had he decided to chase. It became apparent that endurance was something he never worked on because he started to slow down. I didn't feel tired in the slightest.

Finally I took the opportunity and grabbed one of his wrists. Apparently, he had chosen to let me and stabbed my arm shoving the knife completely through it, missing both bones. It hurt like nothing I had ever felt.

Blood splattered the cars we were next to. More dripped to the ground. The pain had stopped me for only the merest fraction of a second. Then I kicked him. I didn't care if he stabbed me again. I knew what it would feel like. I planted my foot in his chest and knocked him back, all the way across the parking lot.

Russ had let go of the knife stuck in my arm. His expression at my retaliation was something I would have considered comical, had I not been hurting.

I watched him land, waited for him to get up and come at me again. I would have said he had the edge, because I would have protected my arm and he could pull out another knife and be fresh for the fight. Fortunately, he didn't get up.

Another surge of pain flashed through my arm. I looked at the knife and grabbed it. I knew I could heal but I had to remove the knife and that was going to hurt just as much as when it went in.

Moving away from where Russ lay, I hunkered down between two cars. I thought about Sally and Lady Reynolds. My thoughts didn't go unanswered. I could feel Sally worrying for me, feel the motion of the car as she drove. They were away and hopefully safe.

Still gripping the knife, I focused. I tried to remember what I had been doing when I had been stabbed, so I could put the muscles back in the same position, the same state of flex for when the knife came out. I gripped the side of my leg as best as I could and pulled at the knife. Nothing. I couldn't move it.

Looking closer at the wound around the knife, I could tell that I was already healing, sealing the knife to me. I could also feel the knife inside my arm, as if my muscles were as touch sensitive as my fingertips. I was gripping the blade of the knife with my arm. I had to relax, but it hurt.

Looking around to make sure no one was heading in my direction I caught sight of the other man I had seen Russ with earlier. He was looking for me but didn't have Russ's speed. He would find me eventually, but I had to get rid of the knife first.

Focusing again, I relaxed my arm as much as possible. Again I pulled at the knife, trying to rip it out of my arm like ripping off a bandage really fast. Again, it wouldn't budge.

"What the hell?" I thought.

"If you're curious Mr. Setton, let me explain."

The voice was right next to me. I looked around expecting the other Dragon to be there but I spotted him even further away. It looked like he was going to check on Russ.

"My name is Steven Davis. I am a mind Dragon. Unlike most Dragons, I do not attack you physically. I have witnessed how you can very easily dispose of the other physical Dragons in such confrontations."

Again the voice was there, as if he were standing next to me. "You attack my mind then," I concluded for him.

"Correct. Not only can I keep you from removing the knife from your arm, but I can very easily add more."

Fear ran through me. Fear of what he might make me see, the illusions he could make real.

"Yes, that's right Mr. Setton, what I do is nothing more than illusion. You can keep telling yourself that but it will not stop it from happening."

"You're the one who hit me with abstract hammers back at the warehouse."

"Yes."

I had met Mind Magi who could force you to do things simply because you already wanted to. What was I going to do about one who could make up anything, whether you've thought of it or not, and make you believe it was happening?

I looked at the knife again, felt not only the shape of the grip in my hand but the metal of the blade inside my arm. Was the knife real or was I seeing an illusion he forced me to see?

"Mr. Setton, you've done quite a number on Russ. He's going to need an ambulance. Is this how you intend to treat the Mind Magi bound to your House?"

"The Mind Magi of my house don't try to stick knives in me."

I focused on the knife, and only the knife. Moving my arm I watched how the knife moved, felt how it impeded the muscles in my arm. I was sure the knife was real.

Looking around I realized I was in the shade of a car. Sarah Johnson could travel from one place to another through shadows. Since I could borrow her ability as her House Lord, could I move only the knife?

I thought about what she had said when she described it to me. "It's kinda like swimming but with a lot less friction because there's not really anything there to impede you."

I thought about what it would feel like to submerge my arm into water, hot, cold, luke-warm, it didn't matter. The sensation stole over me, over my whole body. I thought about Sally's car; focused on the back seat. When the sensation lifted, I felt the bump and motion of the car. I was lying on the floorboard and the knife was gone.

"Not exactly what I had in mind but it works," I said as I pulled myself up.

Sally and Cicely jumped. Sally regained control of the car and looked at me through the rear-view mirror. "Ral?!"

I nodded. "Yeah."

Cicely turned to face me. A combination of shock and relief were etched into her face.

I sat back and relaxed. Thankfully Steven would have a limit to how far away he could affect someone. I looked at my arm. The suit jacket and shirt sleeve were severed and I was healed under it. The knife had been real.

"Ral, what happened?" Cicely asked.

"Well, Russ tried to cut me up like before and Steven had a chat with me while I tried to figure out how to get a knife out of my arm."

Sally glanced at me in the mirror again. "Are you okay?"

"Thanks to Sarah Johnson, I'm doing better than I had hoped."

"Who's Sara Johnson?" Sally asked.

"One of my House members," I answered.

"Ral, how much does she know?" Cicely asked, nodding her head toward Sally.

"Everything," I answered.

Cicely just looked at me as if astonished that I would share privileged information with just anyone. Sally seemed a bit smug and that made me chuckle, which in turn made Cicely frown more.

"Cicely, this is Sally. We haven't seen each other since last summer and things are picking up right where they left off. You know what my life is like and you also know I keep no secrets from any of my girls," I explained.

Sally smiled at me in the mirror and Cicely finally turned around to face forward.

We had just stopped at a red light when my cell phone rang. It was Renée.

"Hey Lover. We've just landed and are picking up our luggage. Charlotte is scheduled to land in another half an hour so we're going to wait for her before leaving for hotels."

"Good to hear the trip when smoothly because things here haven't. We need to meet. Things have changed."

"Changed? What happened?"

"I'll tell you when we get together."

"Okay. Did you ever get a hold of Lady Reynolds?"

"I'm with her now."

"Did she give you a copy of the prophecy?"

"I forgot all about that, hang on." I pulled the phone away from my ear and asked Cicely, "Did you bring a copy of the prophecy for me?"

She looked back at me while reaching into her coat. "This doesn't make a lot of sense Ral. I don't think it will help us."

"It may not help with the coup but I need to know what it says nonetheless."

She handed me an envelope. Into the phone I said, "I've got it."

"What's it say?" Renée asked.

I opened the envelope and unfolded the one piece of paper.

Born to parents of opposing views, there will be a child whom none can resist ... Marked with amber ... The first sign of our world's end ... Everyone will know... [Magi] shall bow ... Unearthly powers ... Eternal benevolence ... Shall guide those of faith ... Bonds will change ... Lives will be [uplifted] ... Views [unencumbered] ... The bringer of peace...

I read it over twice and then asked, "Is this it?"

Cicely nodded. "I said it wasn't much help."

Over the phone Renée asked, "What's it say?"

I read it to her and her first response was, "Well, now we know why they made the first law, with that bit about 'the first sign of our world's end'."

"But the world's end has been predicted over the centuries. Every time the end meant for a society or a kingdom's reign, not the entire planet." I retorted. "This would be no different."

"That may be, but the Mind Magi society has been around for how long?"

"Agreed, if that's what it's referring to." I looked at Cicely and asked, "Can you get a copy in the original language so we can have other professionals translate it?"

"We have some of the best translators in the world," she started.

"I understand that, but I want someone who would be unbiased in its meaning."

"Ral, you're already in trouble with the Council. I doubt they'll hand over an original copy for you to take to outside sources."

Renée must have been able to hear her over the phone because she asked, "What's she mean you're in trouble with the Council?"

"That's part of what I mean about things changing. I'll tell you when we get together."

"Okay, obviously there's more going on than I thought. Where are we going to meet?"

"Sally, are there any nice restaurants near the airport?"

"Of course there are. What are you hungry for?"

What I was getting hungry for wouldn't be on anyone's menu. The pangs I had felt earlier were finally returning. I wasn't sure what had held them off until now but I was certain I would have to take care of it soon.

"Ral?" Renée asked over the phone, "Who's Sally?"

"I told you about her last summer," I said still trying to consider a decent place for us to meet.

"The girl who broke up with you for asking to go all the way?"

"The very same."

"Where did you find her?"

"I'll tell you about that when we get together too," I answered looking up to catch Sally watching me in the mirror.

"Is she coming with you to our meeting?"

"I couldn't leave her out of it any more than you."

There was silence on the other end of the line, but Renée's emotions came through loud and clear. Some were excited, others worried. "You've already bound her to you, haven't you?" She wasn't accusatory but it was the closest I had ever heard it from her.

"Yes, but not in the same way as you."

"What do you mean?"

"I'll explain later," I said looking at Sally again. She had already turned us around and I knew we were on our way toward the airport. Sally, Renée and I discussed meeting options and finally decided on a small Italian restaurant. Renée, Erin, Chloe and Charlotte would meet us there.

After I hung up Cicely asked, "I'm not sure I want to be at this meeting of yours Ral."

"Actually, you might be interested in what we have planned."

She looked at me with furrowed brow. "What you have planned? What do you mean? I thought you sent your girls out of town to keep them safe. Why are they back?"

"How much do you know about Master PC?" I asked in return.



-------

Chapter 28: Developments of Several Kinds



On the way to the restaurant I told Cicely about the plans my girls and I had come up with. Though she, like many Mind Magi, didn't put a lot of stock into the program, she couldn't argue against the idea. Sally listened aptly but didn't ask any questions.

The pangs that had begun anew in the car had built and built. Sally had cast worried looks at me but I continued to wave her away so she would focus on driving. Oddly enough, as soon as we arrived and she took my hand, the pangs stopped. That hadn't been enough with my other girls and thoughts about what Michael had said about me and Sally being Soul Mates made me wonder what all that included.

When we arrived it was easy for me to spot the girls. Four gorgeous women in various dazzling outfits were hard for anyone to miss.

"Is that them?" Sally asked when she spotted them.

"Yes," I said softly. Even though our conversation about my life and how I was living with them had gone so well earlier, Sally meeting the others would make it more real for her and she might have different thoughts and reactions. So far, I didn't feel anything from her except a low level of excitement. I took that as a good sign.

It wasn't much of a surprise to me that Sally's appearance and outfit fit in with the others. I recalled from high school that she dressed up much like the other students. It shamed me at the time that I didn't have better clothes, but then it had been somewhat my own fault for not asking for something better than what I'd had.

Renée, tall and statuesque, wore a loose fitting blouse that still had trouble hiding her upper assets. Instead of slacks or jeans, she had on a snug skirt that hugged her from hips to knees. She didn't bother with high heels because she knew she easily towered over the others. Still, she was a remarkable sight with the sun shining in her golden locks and her mischievous smile in place.

Erin also seemed to try to tone down her bust size with a simple, white, long sleeved shirt. She wore slacks nearly the same as Sally's and heels as well. Erin and Sally ended up almost the same height.

Chloe didn't seem to worry about what anyone thought. Her top had a plunging neckline that easily displayed her cleavage and I even caught a hint of her bra too. Her skirt rode high on her thighs, making her look like she had longer legs than what was real. High heels helped the sculpted muscles of her calves stand out and the smile on her face was unmistakable with her happiness of seeing me again.

Finally, Charlotte, who I hadn't seen in months, was the most welcome sight. Her dark hair fell in heavy waves over her shoulders, dark eyes twinkling with a heat I hadn't felt in some time, and her overall stature spoke volumes of what she wanted. Her outfit was either a mistake or purposely chosen because her blouse looked ready to burst trying to contain her ample treasures. She also wore a skirt but this one was loose and only hinted at her hips while covering her legs completely. Only her toes in what I had to guess was peeking out from high heels were visible.

Sally squeezed my hand as we approached and whispered, "Why do I suddenly feel so very small?"

I wasn't sure what she meant, considering Chloe was shorter and a bit more petite than she was. Then I looked at Renée who was obviously excited and Charlotte who seemed ready to explode out of her top. "You have nothing to fear on that account Hun. The others will attest to that."

Sally smiled up at me and squeezed my hand again.

To some degree, I was expecting to be mugged there in the parking lot, but all four, even Charlotte, were very restrained as they took turns giving me hugs. Apparently I wasn't the only one who was nervous with Sally being there.

Sally, in turn shook hands with each. What put a real shift in tension was when Chloe turned to me and asked, "Master, please tell me Sally will be coming home with us."

All eyes were on me.

Renée, Erin and Charlotte were mostly curious as to how I would answer, Cicely, mostly standing back as we greeted each other, seemed a touch shocked, and Sally looked up with the questions etched in her face. I could feel her emotions turn summer salts and land crumpled. She wasn't sure how to feel.

Erin smoothed things over. "Don't worry about that right now Chloe. Like the rest of us, Ral will let her decide."

Chloe, turning what seemed to be big puppy dog eyes to Sally, asked, "Will you? Please?"

I wasn't sure what prompted Chloe's sudden interest in Sally. To be honest they didn't know each other at all. At least, I didn't think they did. "Why don't we discuss this as well as everything else inside?"

As we reached the door my cell phone rang again. I pulled it out and was confused with a company name on the Caller ID. I sent the girls on inside while I opened my phone to talk. "Hello?"

"Ral, it's Michael."

"Michael? Good! I've got a lot to talk about and a few questions..."

"Ral," Michael interrupted, "I don't have long. I've been taken hostage by the Dragons. I never made my flight."

"What?"

"Listen, I've been very carefully listening in on their conversations. There are two things you have to know. First, they plan to attack you at the restaurant. Second, the person behind all of this is a woman."

"How do they know where I am? And who is the woman?"

"I've not caught a name, but it seems you know her."

"Then how do they know where I am?"

"Because they have my wife and daughter. Ral they're forcing me to track you and if I tell them wrong they'll kill them. I'm sorry."

"Damn it. How long do I have before they arrive?"

"Not long. I have to go before they figure out I'm calling. I'll try to call again. I'm sorry Ral."

"Do you know where they're keeping your family?"

"They're here too, but tied up and blindfolded. I can see them, but they don't know I'm here."

"What about the other hostages?"

"Something happened. They said they were moving them this morning."

"Okay, do what you need to take care of your family. And thank you for the tips."

"Sure. Be careful." And he hung up.

I put my phone away and went inside thinking about what he had said. The person behind everything was a woman. Someone I knew for that matter. Who? I knew many women. Then again, it would be a Mind Magi, not necessarily anyone outside of the society.

I stepped inside and let my eyes adjust to the semi-darkness. The girls had found a booth big enough for all of us near the back. When I got to the table they all looked up at me. Erin was the first to notice. "What's happened?"

"Michael and his family have been taken hostage," I replied. "The Dragons have been finding me all over the city because they're forcing him to track me.

I looked at Cicely. "You said you tried for the hostages but the Dragons were too much. What happened exactly?"

She looked down and fiddled with her napkin. "I went to the office where they're being held with several of my most powerful house members. I didn't ask any of the other House Leaders to come because you said one or more of them were most likely in on it. When we arrived it was like they were expecting us." She looked up with a tear running down her cheek. "That bastard Leland did something to Eric Longtree. I don't know what he did but Eric just fell to the floor and wouldn't wake up. That was all it took. The rest of my house ran and Leland said that the same would happen to my daughter if I told anyone where they were."

I sat down across from her and put my hand on hers. Immediately I saw her memories. Felt the shock and fear. Felt the pain for her daughter. Cicely was telling the truth. She wasn't the woman Michael had referred to. To be honest, I had hoped she was, then I could have ended the conflict or at least upped the ante.

The clarity of the memory made me consider something though. Something had changed. Something new was happening to me. First the dousing of my pangs simply by holding Sally's hand and now extremely clear memory sharing. So clear I could have drawn a floor plan of the building Cicely had been in. Fortunately, whatever was going on was helping me rather than hindering. I put aside my thoughts on it for the moment.

Standing back up, I told the others about Michael's warnings, the movement of the hostages, and our need to leave. No one argued.

Back out in the parking lot I told everyone to wait. I wanted the Dragons to see me so they wouldn't think Michael had told them wrong. I wanted the Dragons to believe they still had an edge on me. I also wanted to find him and his family. Finally, it occurred to me, I could use Michael's ability to track to find him. Once I had him and his family free, the Dragons wouldn't be able to find me so easily and I could do what I needed to.

I turned to Renée, Erin, Chloe and Charlotte. "I was hoping to get to spend a bit of time with you but obviously that's not the case. Get to the hotels and get ready. I'm going after the hostages."

Cicely grabbed my arm. "Ral, what?"

"I'm tired of the Dragons holding this over all of us. We have to remove that advantage if we're going to get through this."

"I know, but..."

I turned to her. "Your daughter will be okay. I know what Leland did and I can reverse it."

Cicely nodded and wiped away her tears. "Where are we going?"

"To meet the other House Leaders. Call the ones you trust and tell them I want an emergency meeting. I'll find out who's with us and who isn't."

"How are you going to do that?"

"I'll take their memories if I have to."

"Ral, most of us know how to block such invasions."

"Not if you're emotionally troubled. Back in the restaurant, I saw what you told me. It took no effort. I'm going to work them over and find our would-be captures."

"To what end? That doesn't get us our families back."

Letting my hands drop back to my sides I said, "Then I give up. You're not helping, the others aren't helping. It's almost like all of you are welcoming this."

The look she gave me was astonished. "No! I'm not welcoming this..."

"But you're scared for your daughter, I know. Don't you think I'm scared for them too?" I held my hand out to the girls standing around watching us. "If your daughter knew why this was happening, do you think she would blame you for trying to save her?"

She shook her head.

"She would welcome you. She would be proud of you for standing up to them and saving her, wouldn't she?"

Cicely nodded.

I took her by the shoulders. "Then save her. She's your girl. She's your baby. Don't let them take her from you, not without a fight."

Cicely looked up, fresh tears streaking some of her mascara. Her eyes had a new gleam to them. I could feel the strength of her. She wouldn't stop.

"Promise. Not me, but promise your daughter that you won't give up."

"I promise," she said solemnly.

And with those words something else happened. Something I didn't think was possible. Something no one would have expected. For the briefest instance, Cicely's eyes glowed amber. It was like the passing of a flash of light, it was so fast, but I caught it.

She looked back at me as I was clearly trying to puzzle out what I had just seen. "What's wrong?"

"Your eyes..."

She pulled back. "My eyes?" she asked as she opened her purse. She was apparently looking for a mirror.

"They're normal now but I thought I saw..."

She looked back up. "What? What did you see?"

"Your irises, they flashed amber."

I could feel her shock and dismay. "My eyes ... flashed amber?"

I nodded.

She pulled off her coat and threw it onto the back of Sally's car. Then she started unbuttoning her blouse and finally tugged away the collar. "My mark should be a white series of chevrons."

I could see her mark, where her shoulder met her neck. The shape was a series of chevrons, just as she said, but instead of white they were amber.



-------

Chapter 29: Fight and Insight



Cicely stared at me and asked quietly, "How did you do that?"

I shook my head. "I don't know. I didn't intend for it to happen."

She thought quickly. "If I didn't know better, I would say you just invoked what we normally used for binding a new member to our house..."

I was shocked and confused. "You mean having them make an oath? I don't do that."

"But you don't have to," she said quickly. "You already have the gift to bind Mind Magi to you." She thought more. "I've heard of such things but those were like fairy tales."

Movement caught my attention.

I was already a touch paranoid about the Dragons being on their way. Looking at the street I didn't see any of them.

Cicely caught on to how I was looking around. "Are the Dragons here?"

Paranoia was gripping me. Looking back at Cicely I said, "It's possible. You need to go anyway. It's one thing for them to see me, but if they spot you, your daughter could be in worse trouble."

She nodded.

I turned to tell Renée and the others to go, but the sudden change of their expressions only confirmed what I was worried about.

Fear for what could happen gripped me, but I didn't let it keep me from reacting.

Then I heard the motorcycle. Spinning I saw someone on a motocross type motorcycle come off the street. They were aimed right for me.

Instinctively I dove to the side, away from my girls and Cicely.

The martial arts training I had gleaned the summer before helped me regain my feet as quickly as I had hit the pavement. Turning, I saw that the girls were all running to their cars and the cyclist spun the bike around for another pass.

My adrenaline was pumping. The rider was slowing down.

Taking in details I noticed a faint green glow around the cyclist's hands and made out the gentle curves of her athletic body. Then I heard Cicely yell, as if in slow motion, "Iiiiittt'ssss Sseeeeevvvvvvveeeeeeerrrrr!!!"

The cyclist charged me, but was no match for my speed.

Literally waiting for Sever to get to me, I had plenty of time to decide my action. First, I needed to take her off the motor cycle.

As Sever got close, I simply stepped aside and ducked under her outstretched hand. As she passed, I grabbed the belt of her outfit from behind and held on.

With her forward momentum stopping at her belt, the Sever buckled as the motorcycle kept going. Without a rider, it veered off into the parked cars and crashed.

Sever recovered quickly and began to twist and flail in my grasp.

With the same speed and strength, I snatched both her wrists behind her back and had her pressed face-down into the parking lot. As far as I was concerned, the fight was over and I began to calm down.

Cicely came over and removed the rider's helmet.

Sever stared back at her. "You are supposed to be in your room, bitch!"

Cicely kicked her square in the nose. "Not as long as you have my daughter. Where is she!?"

Sever spat blood but grinned. "I don't know. I don't care to know." Then she looked back over her shoulder at me. "I came to find you."

I wasn't surprised by that. "And I take it the other Dragons failed to mention how none of them have stopped me yet, just like you?"

That seemed to push her buttons. Suddenly her wrists felt like razors in my hand.

Instinctively, I let go due to the pain of being cut.

With speed no normal human could possess, Sever rolled away and was on her feet. "I am not pathetic like they are."

I stood up, watching the cuts in my hand close up. It still hurt, but I wouldn't suffer from the wounds for long. Then I looked up at Sever and showed her my hand. "You may cut me, and I will bleed, but you cannot stop me."

"I don't have to stop you, just slow you down," she said.

She charged me.

Some of my fear was supplanted by knowing she was after me and not my girls. Ducking and weaving away, I recognized her attacks from my martial arts knowledge.

It only took a few tries for her to understand that she simply wasn't fast enough to touch me, but I could grab or punch her nearly at will.

After throwing her for the third time, Sever changed tactics and ran towards Sally.

Fear shot through me. Moving as fast as I could, I caught Sever just before she could touch Sally.

The pain of being cut by razors was there again. I almost let her go instinctively, but stopped myself, knowing it was what she wanted. Her tactic hadn't been to actually hurt anyone else, but to force me to touch her and therefore hurt me by my means rather than her own.

With a glance I caught Sally's wide eyes, but she was gone just as quickly. She put her car between her and us and watched our continuing struggle.

Pain seared through my hands but I continued to hold Sever. Spinning her around, I said, "You will never touch any of mine. Ever!"

Her smile was jeering. "How very touching," she said. "I only wanted to see if she bled as well as you do."

I could feel the effects of her power cutting into me deeper. Blood poured out of my hands, but I knew the consequences of letting her go.

What was worse, she was completely covered by some kind of material I had never seen before. Normally, even through material, I could have affected anyone while touching them, but my attempts to put her to sleep were having no effect.

Sever's eyes glowed green and she smiled.

For such a cold-hearted woman, she was quite lovely. Somewhat light-headed, I realized her head wasn't covered.

Taking advantage of that tiny bit of attraction I felt, I kissed her.

She tried to pull away, but I still held her. Through the kiss, my command to sleep took her and she slumped to the ground.

After making sure she was down, I let her go and stumbled back against another car.

Looking at my hands, I didn't recognize the hamburger meat they had become. I could tell I was healing already but the loss of blood was making me dizzy. I sat down and closed my eyes to wait for my head to clear.

The others gathered around me.

I could feel them, hear their words and smell their perfumes, but the light was quickly going out.

One of them pressed her lips to my ear. "Ral, if you can hear me, nod."

The feel of her skin pressed to mine was nice. I nodded, or at least I tried.

"You've lost blood. We need to get you to a hospital..." the voice continued.

She was worried about me. I could feel it. But the pain in my hands was gone.

I opened my eyes but didn't see the girls around me. What I did see were lights in the dark. Sparks in the Void. There was a presence that was somehow familiar but I didn't understand what was happening.

One of the sparks approached. It bounced in front of me and somehow I knew that it was communicating with me. "You must go back. You must wake up. Fight or all is lost"

Another spark approached. It too bounced in front of me. "Your destiny is not what you think it is. You have welcomed this chance. Do not let down those who have helped you."

The two sparks got even closer. Again that air of familiarity was there. I knew them. They were connected to me in some way, but I still didn't understand.

The sparks seemed to touch me, though I felt nothing, and memories flooded me...

I was sitting in a room with two people. They looked familiar but I couldn't place them.

The man, handsome yet troubled, asked, "Are you sure this is right? The First Law..."

I interrupted him. "The First Law is a means of control." My voice sounded old and wispy. "It was implemented to keep certain events from happening, but fate and destiny have shown me that things are spiraling toward that end anyway. There is no way to stop what is happening to our society, but other plans have been formed that will affect the world."

"What plans?" the woman asked. She was lovely with dark hair and deep brown eyes.

In the memory, I felt a love for her. The kind of love a man feels for a women who he knows he cannot have. "You two are already a part of those plans. You have already participated in them," I told them both.

They looked at each other puzzled.

Looking back at me, the man said, "We would have never participated in anything..."

I held up my hand for silence and he stopped at once. "You were lied to. It is that simple."

"Who? When?" the woman asked.

"That is not important. What is important is what you must do to make amends."

Again they looked at one another.

Watching, I could see that there was more between them than knowing one another. There was a bond, not like that of the Mind Magi, but something even normal humans formed.

The man, a mask of resignation on his face, asked, "The Dragons will find out, won't they?"

"Yes, they will know; which is why you must hide the child. It is too important that he be kept safe."

Both of them stared at me. There was no surprise on their faces. "How long have you known?" the woman asked.

I could feel myself smile. "For some time, but fear not, your secret is safe with me."

Though the woman wore the same look of resignation, she had a glow about her. She was already pregnant, though it had only happened recently.

It pained me to know what their fates held. I looked down to avoid their eyes, and then reached out and touched their holding hands. "I will pass my memories on to him. He must understand what is happening and not befall the terrible curse that has plagued me for so long."

The instant my skin made contact with theirs, pressure built up in my head. It was like an on-coming headache due to changing atmospheric conditions. It built and built, turning to pain. My skull felt as if it would crack. My ears popped and my throat dried.

Opening my eyes, I saw my girls looking back at me. It was surreal, as if I were viewing them through a video camera.

Finally the pain and pressure passed. The quality of my vision cleared. I was once again sitting in the parking lot where I had just fought Sever.

"Ral, are you okay?" Erin asked.

I shook my head. "Not at the moment, but I will be."

Shockwaves rolled through me as if something moved under my skin. It hurt like a physical hunger.

I did my best to hold back my reaction. The girls were already worried about me enough.

They exchanged looks. Had they noticed?

"What?" I asked.

"You were talking ... saying things as if you were with someone else," Renée said.

The pangs continued, throbbing and moving. No longer was the hunger merely in my gut. It moved through my entire body.

I swallowed and asked, "What did I say?"

They repeated what they could remember and most of it was from the memories I had just seen.

As they talked, I watched them. I realized they were noticing my increasing discomfort.

Pushing on, I tried to distract them from what I considered a minor issue. "Have I ever done that before? Talked about memories I was getting from someone?"

All of them, except Cicely and Sally, shook their heads.

"You've always just had your eyes closed and a very patient look on your face," Renée said. "At least with me."

The others nodded.

"What was so different about this?" Sally asked all of us.

The others shrugged and I thought about the memories. "I think it was because I was seeing me..." Looking up at them, I finished, "Before I was born."

Another wave passed through me and I couldn't hold back the groan.

Sally reached for me. "What's wrong?"

I pulled away, scared that something might happen out there in the open. Touching her before had calmed the pangs I had been having at the time. However, that hunger was mild by comparison. Now, I was concerned something could happen if she touched me.

Erin knelt in front of me. "You're having hunger pangs again, aren't you?"

I nodded. "It's much worse this time... " I thought back.

However, Erin wasn't the only one who heard me.

"What's worse?" Sally asked. I could feel her confusion and concern, and before I realized what was happening or could stop it, I felt my Charm reaching out for all of them, including Cicely and Sever. My Charm was doing what I had described to Sally earlier, seeking relief for me.

All of the women let out low moans. All of them, except Sever, looked at me and I could feel fires burning in each of them. It wasn't a matter of finding relief any more. Now it was a matter of finding somewhere private.

"Ral..." Renée whispered. "What are you doing?" Somehow she was resisting.

I was somewhat grateful for that and said softly, "We need to get away from here, quickly."

"Master is seeking us. He needs us..." Chloe said in a low dreamy voice.

Sally looked at the others. I could tell she was affected as well, but somehow it wasn't as strong in her. Even Cicely, whom I had also bound by non-sexual acts, seemed just as drawn as my others.

I didn't question the difference. "Sally, can you drive?" I asked her.

She gave me a confused look. "Yes, but what's going on?"

"I told you about my abilities and how they're geared to find those I should bind with. My abilities also help me recharge and I seem to be in desperate need..."

Sally looked at the others again and truly took in what she was seeing. Reaching out to each, she touched them and they seemed to regain some control.

"We need to go. Now," I said sternly.

Everyone stood there watching me, except Sally who walked away toward her car.

Getting to my feet was something of a struggle. Once I was standing, I waited to see if I was still dizzy. My body had healed and my understanding of the cost was becoming clear. Another wave of pangs passed through me and I waited, not sure if I could walk as it happened.

I looked down at Sever, still asleep on the pavement. A moment later, I had stepped over and knelt next to Sever.

"Is that a good idea?" Erin asked. Her breathing was heavier than normal, but she seemed composed. "You said the other Dragons were trained to defend themselves even when asleep."

"You're also pushing yourself too much," Renée said. Her chest heaving and her nipples very distinct against the fabric of her top.

I nodded. "I did, and I am, but I'm not going to just leave her here so she can wake up and come after us again."

"What do you mean?" Erin asked.

I looked up at Cicely. "What is normally the punishment for attacking a House Leader?"

"I-I don't know," she answered. It was clear she too was coherent but still under my influence. "It's never happened before."

"Would temporary banishment be too harsh?"

That question seemed to sober her more. "There's nothing temporary about it. It's all or nothing."

"Not the way I intend to do this. I'm going to block her power from her. She'll believe herself banished, but I should be able to reverse it at any time."

Cicely just stared at me. I wasn't sure if it was because of what I said or if my Charm was reasserting itself.

Looking down at Sever, I willed the change. The warm liquid sensation passed from me to her and she moaned in her sleep. "That should do it," I said as another, stronger wave passed through me.

Cicely was still staring. "That's it? You just make the change and no big to-do about it?"

I stood up. "I've always been like that, at least since my abilities manifested."

She seemed to be looking at me with new awe. "You can bind without words, banish without ritual and see your past while still in your mother's womb." Looking at the others and considering what she had felt, she added, "You also seem to have sexual persuasion on an extreme level." Finally, looking back at me, she asked, "What are you?"

Though her list sounded impressive, her question hurt. I had been singled out when my powers started. Finding the Mind Magi and realizing there were others like me made me feel like I wasn't all alone, but now, in the midst of everything happening, I was being singled out again.

Hardening myself against that idea, and yet another pang, I said simply, "I am human."



-------

Chapter 30: Recharge



I'd like to say that all of us went straight to a hotel and took care of business. It would have been a great break, but knowing that Michael could find us and the Dragons would then knock down our door to get at me, I couldn't just let my needs completely dictate what we did.

There was also Sever to consider. Not that I was worried about what she thought of me but more about what she might do when she woke up. Even without access to her special abilities, she was a skilled fighter and her relentless attitude made her very dangerous even in the mundane world.

Of all of us, Sally seemed to be more in control of herself, but she readily admitted it was an ongoing struggle.

"We have to figure out what to do with Sever, and then get somewhere safe. Then we can take care of my problem," I said, breathing heavily at the sight of so many lovely women around me. My own abilities were beginning to override my sense of control.

The girls took care of one issue by gagging and tying up Sever. After she was tucked into the back of the girls' van, they discussed potential safe locations. Finally they agreed that something outside of the city would give us the most time. The only remaining question was whether we make it there before I lost all control.

To help prolong that inevitability, it was agreed that I should ride in the van. Sally would drive the van while one of the girls kept me occupied. Sally was chosen for her apparent resistance to my Charm. The others would follow in the car.

Cicely opted to stay. She pulled out her cell phone and started making calls while the others discussed their plans. Once she had one of her House Members in route to pick her up, she turned to me. "Ral, I need you to break this bond. The House Members I've talked to have confirmed that their marks have all turned amber as well. You didn't just bind me to you but my entire House."

I glanced at the mark on her neck. Unfortunately, the sight of her slender, smooth skin caught my attention and I had to look away.

Closing my eyes I thought about the bond between us. I had never seen the bonds I had with my girls or any of my House Members, but I could see the bond Cicely and I shared. I pulled and twisted it, anything to break it, but it was like trying to break a very real and tangible rope. Nothing I did worked.

Opening my eyes and seeing Cicely so close, I gasped. Her eyes were lovely. She had a wonderful complexion and fantastic skin. I wanted to feel it, to touch her, but she spoke and her words broke my reverie.

"Ral, focus. I need to know if you can break this bond."

I shook my head. "It's too strong," I muttered.

She looked puzzled. "Too strong? What do you mean?"

"Can't break it." I swallowed hard, trying to focus on the conversation. "What do you normally do to break a bond with one of your House Members?"

She shrugged. "The bond breaks for me if the House Member breaks their vow to me."

"This may be the same..."

She thought about that. "So to break the bond, I have to stop fighting for my daughter?"

"It may be simpler ... Maybe when she's safe and doesn't need you to fight for her, the bond will break. Your vows are usually more long term. This is very finite."

She nodded and stepped back. "I hope you're right." She looked around at the others. "You should go before he gets worse."

I turned and made for the van. Sally walked with me and I noticed that Chloe followed us.

Sally said, "The others decided Chloe would be your best distraction. I'm not entirely sure why."

I glanced behind me at the one who would most willingly give herself to me, yet not do anything more than I wanted. "I already know."

When we got to the van I turned to Chloe. "Chloe, you have to be absolutely adamant about what will happen. I may want more than what I should have until we get to the hotel. We can kiss and do the normal teenager making out stuff, but not one stitch of clothing is allowed to be removed. Do you understand?"

"Even if you order me to do more?"

"After we get into the van, I'm not in charge, Sally is."

Chloe nodded and Sally looked at me funny. "I'm in charge?"

I nodded. "I don't trust myself. If you keep charge over her and resist me, then we'll all arrive in one piece."

Sally nodded and started to reach for me.

I backed away quickly. "I would love to give you a kiss, but my abilities are even more intense with touch. I need you strong and focused for more than just me."

Again she nodded and then turned and went to get into the van's driver seat.

Chloe and I got into the middle seat.

-------

The ride to the hotel seemed to take forever.

At first everyone sat in their respective seats, occasionally making comments about the city as we drove through it. Just as we got to what Sally called the edge of town, I wasn't just looking out at the structures or even the general public. My eyes were drawn to the women we passed and I found myself attracted to them all, whether I normally would have been or not.

Chloe got my attention by simply holding my hand. When I looked at her, I didn't see a young, lovely and vibrant woman, but my woman. She was mine, in all the ways nature intended and in all the ways I would and would not admit.

Her skin was soft and warm. The simple touch between us caused more waves of hunger to pass through me. Closing my eyes, I swallowed hard.

"How much further Sally?" I asked in low tones.

"About another fifteen minutes," she replied.

I caught her watching me in the rearview mirror and that same instinctual insight occurred to me. Sally was mine too, just like Chloe, and just like all the others.

Sally was mine, but I had not truly made her mine. Not yet. She bore my mark, shared the emotional link, but she did not yet know what it truly meant to be mine. To be with me. To be of me.

Suddenly Chloe was grabbing both of my hands and pulling them to her chest. She wasn't trying to get me to touch her, but simply restraining me. Without thinking, I had been reaching for Sally and Chloe had stopped me.

That brought my attention back to Chloe. She looked back into my eyes as I devoured her with mine. The waves that had been passing through me were now coming so fast I couldn't tell when one ended and the next began.

Never having been one to take the initiative when it came to sex with my girls, I was surprised at my own forwardness when I leaned into Chloe. It was almost like watching from afar as I laid her back into the seat and pressed against her.

For her part, Chloe didn't struggle or argue. She accepted my advances and gave in to what I wanted.

The feel of her skin against mine, her lips pressed to mine, her tongue slipping along mine, were all beyond measure. The only problem was all the stimulation seemed to feed the pangs I felt. My gut began to ache with what I could only imagine blue balls felt like. The need, hunger pangs, all of it was simply a larger, more potent variation of what guys normally complained about when teased sexually to the point of frustration. In my case, I was suffering this from simply using my abilities. Of course, that was my best guess.

I ran my hand down her side and found her thigh. Immediately my hand changed directions and started up her skirt. Chloe didn't say or do anything about it until I tried to slip my fingers into her panties. That was when she responded by simply barring my advance by holding my arm with her hand.

Instinctively, I fought to get what I wanted. I was the stronger. I was her Master, even in her eyes. However, she would not give in.

She turned her face from our kiss and then reached up to my ear. I expected her to lick and suck on my lobe, but she bit it. That seemed to short-circuit me for a moment.

Relaxing and pulling back to hold my ear I asked, "What did you do that for?"

She looked calm, but I could feel remorse coming from her. "You're stronger than me, Master. If you wanted, you could have broken my arm."

The pain in my ear passed and I nodded at what she said. "You didn't have to bite me though."

"You don't like pain with sex. At least not that much," she said simply.

The pangs were returning but the memory of what she had done clung to me. I fought the waves again, just as I had before.

Chloe laid there watching me. Her expression was like that of a puppy or kitten and reminded me of how Mandy looked at me when she was in 'cat-girl' mode. One thought led to another. Memories of my girls, the cute things they did, the sexy ways they touched me. The pangs grew stronger and I resumed making out with Chloe.

Twice more she had to fend me off, making sure we stuck to the rules I had set down before leaving. I would have wondered whether Renée, Erin or Charlotte would have had the same self control if they had been with me, but I was slowly drowning in my need.

A voice rang out in the van. "We're here, Ral."

Looking up I found Sally looking back at me. Then she disappeared from view.

Chloe pushed at me, trying to get me to sit up. "C'mon Master. We can go inside and do whatever you want."

I felt the excitement that coursed through her. Unlike our ride, she was looking forward to what she meant.

My other women were there, pulling at me, helping me out of the van. I tried kissing them, but they fended me off.

One said, "When we get inside, okay?"

Another offered, "Everything will be okay Ral."

And a third said, "Follow me. I need a shower and you can scrub my back..."

I followed her. She was the only one who promised to be naked for me.

All of us piled into a small room. I moved from one to the next, kissing and groping. None of them fought me off except when I tried to undress them or myself. I was getting aggravated.

They led me down a hall and into a large room. The one who wanted the shower immediately started stripping.

I too started removing clothes and no one stopped me.

She was faster than me in undressing and I was still trying to get my last garments off as I followed her.

She watched me approach as she turned on the water. I didn't care if we were wet or not. I simply wanted her.

The brunette stepped back into the water, letting it cascade over her tanned skin. Then she arched her back and let the shower douse her hair. Her breasts, easily as large as my head or bigger, stood out proud from her chest. Dark nipples hardened and her areola shriveled with her excitement. I could taste it in the air, feel the blood flowing to her groin, and smell the aroma of her body responding to what we were about to do.

There was nothing stopping me, no one restraining me, but I stood there, taking in the sight of the sexy creature before me. My blood was boiling with need. My body was fully ready for the event. But I stood there.

She looked at me, her dark eyes sultry with her own need. "It's been a long time Ral. Come here. Take me. Make me yours all over again."

Charlotte's breasts seemed to grow more as she looked me over. I couldn't have gotten any harder.

Stepping forward, I reached for her. She took my hand and reeled me in. All at once, our bodies were pressed together like magnets close enough to overwhelm gravity.

Hot, cool, soft, hard, tender, and intense. We were a combination of wanton lust and animalistic drive. Even if the Dragons had burst in on us at that moment, there was no doubt in my mind what I would have been doing.

My hands roamed all over Charlotte's body as if I were trying to touch all of her at once. She focused on the hair on my head and my butt, switching between the two.

With my cock pressed between the two of us, I felt a touch of relief from the pangs, but also an understanding that this was not what I wanted or needed. At least, it wasn't going to be enough.

With my other-worldly strength, I grabbed her legs, lifted her up and pressed her to the shower wall. My face ended up pressed in between her huge, soft and wet globes. She held on to my neck in support and in pleasure as I tried to lick and suck on as much of her skin I could reach.

She was high enough so that I was no longer pressed between us. While I didn't have enough control to position myself to enter her, Charlotte knew what was happening and was more than willing to help.

I felt her hand leave my neck and the way she twisted to the side to reach down for me. Holding her up took no effort. When I felt her touch me though, sensory overload was reached and I exploded.

"Let me down," Charlotte said as she realized what was happening and I let her go. She didn't just drop to her feet but continued going down to her knees.

I couldn't tell what she did beyond that. My orgasm was nearly all-consuming. All I could do consciously was remain standing.

When the haze lifted and I could see, Charlotte was still on her knees. The shower was slowly washing away the torrent of cum I had blasted her with.

She looked up and I could tell she was pleased with my orgasm, but she wasn't finished. I also knew that I wasn't either.

"Feeling better?" she asked coyly.

I nodded. "Yes, but I'm not finished."

"Good," she said as she stood up. "I've got some tension of my own built up."

The months we had spent apart always made me worry about her. Not just for sex, but for all the other things, all those little things the others craved as well. "When this mess with the Mind Magi is over, I'm taking you back home."

She smiled. "But what about the store... ?"

I shook my head. "I found a very good manager to handle the store here. You can do the same in Florida. I'm not letting you stay gone so long anymore."

Charlotte's hands slid along my length as we talked. Then she pushed my cock down and cradled it between her thighs. I could feel her heat moving along my own as she rocked her hips forward and back, stroking me with her crotch and thighs.

My hands fell to her waist and circled around to her ass. The feel of her against me was something I had missed, even with so many others around to douse my desires.

She kissed me. A nice deep kiss, however brief it was. Her body moved against mine as she said, "Well, good thing I found a manager for the store in Florida before I flew up here."

I smiled at that. "That's good news. The way you talked, you were having difficulty finding someone worthy."

"Well, after only having you in our dreams and knowing I would be in your real arms today, I made big sacrifices to make sure we weren't rushed."

My smile faded. The Mind Magi, or at least the Dragons were still on my mind. "We're still rushed."

She nodded. "I know, and we're wasting really good fucking time."

We both smiled at that and kissed again. Charlotte raised her leg and cocked her hips to the side. I was released from her incredible embrace only to feel her hand on me again. Pulling away, she gave me one of the most intense looks of lust I had seen. Then her eyes dropped as she focused on aiming my cock, hard and throbbing, toward her pussy.

Between her helping hand and my hip movements, I was slipping into her, deeper and deeper, very quickly. Charlotte groaned as if her lungs filled her entire body.

Pressed into her fully, I gripped her legs again and lifted her up. She held onto me and watched my eyes as I began moving.

"Don't make love to me now, Ral. We'll have time for that at home. Right now, I want you to fuck me. Fuck me hard."

All of my girls knew how their words affected me. If they wanted soft and sexy, they used simple moans, but if they wanted hard and raunchy, they were far more vocal.

Adjusting my stance and the placement of my hands — pressed against the wall behind Charlotte with her legs hanging over my arms — I gave in to what she asked for and what my body demanded.

Charlotte howled in pleasure and I pounded her hard and deep. Like my other girls, Charlotte was adjusted to accommodate my girth and length. Something that wouldn't have been possible without a lot of foreplay to get her ready — and neither of us wanted slow and easy.

She had another adjustment that was both helping with my sexual inspiration and becoming something of an issue. Charlotte's breasts continued to grow with her excitement. With us focusing more on the movement of our hips, our chests weren't exactly pressed together, but her breasts had reached me and began pressing against me. I truly enjoyed the sight and feel of large, soft breasts, and while the growth turned me on as well, it also worried me.

Charlotte seemed to realize what I was thinking. "Make me cum Ral. My tits will reduce..."

Redoubling my efforts toward that end kept my attention on her fat, round breasts. They shook and rolled with our movements. Her nipples were distinct against my chest and felt to be easily the size of my thumbs or bigger.

Charlotte had her hips thrust forward, fully accepting my driving cock. With her legs up and hanging over my arms, her breasts were well contained. Using one arm, she scooped up one of her gargantuan tits and hoisted it up to point the nipple, fully erect, to my face. There was no hesitation on my part as I latched on, sucking and pulling with everything I had.

The soft pliability of her breast allowed me to take her almost to the back of my throat, along with most of her areola.

"Oh! I have missed this so much!" she exclaimed as her body began to tense up.

Her breathing became heavier as she encouraged me further. "Yes, Ral! Suck me, suck my tits Baby!"

The feel of her warm body against mine, her wet, heated tunnel stroking me as I rammed my way into her repeatedly, the scent of her wet skin, the taste of her flesh, and the husky, lust-filled words she cried out drove me closer to the edge, closer to another intense orgasm.

Charlotte's body stiffened and I looked up in time to catch the intensity in her eyes as she softly said, "Cum in me..."

Her desire for me was the last straw in our mutual struggle for release. Into her I poured my essence, physical and emotional. This wasn't just my need to recharge, but to also reconnect with one of my women.

Charlotte locked up. Her legs hooked behind my back, her arms around my neck and her trembling pussy clamped down onto my cock.

At the same time, I released her nipple and pulled her closer to me, driving my cock as deep into her as our hips would allow.

By the time we recovered, we were lying in the tub with the shower pouring on us. The water was warm, almost too hot, but we both stayed there simply basking in the afterglow.

Minutes later we were standing again, washing each other like teenagers learning about each other's bodies all over again. Another aspect of our bond, I recalled. The renewal, the never-ending heat. We would always want each other. Always enjoy our time together as if it were the first.

Chloe knocked and came in. The shower door was simple glass. I wiped away some of the steam built up and noted her nudity. She looked back at me and smiled. I pulled open the door and pulled her in with us.

Charlotte had been right about her breasts reducing in size, just like I knew she was. I had, after all, bestowed this feature on her at her request. The others knew about it, but never said anything previously.

"You must have really enjoyed yourself," Chloe said, glancing at Charlotte's chest.

Charlotte smiled back. "You bet I did." Then she leaned down, considering they were a few inches different in height, and kissed Chloe.

Chloe didn't shy away and the two embraced as if they were lovers reunited after a long time. To a degree, they were.

The old saying of 'three is a crowd' holds no sway in my family. Usually, 'the more, the merrier' is more our motto. So it was no surprise to me that the bathroom door opened again and Renée came in.

At the sight of Charlotte and Chloe kissing, Renée smiled her classic mischievous smile.

I started to get out, considering the shower could barely contain three of us, but Renée pushed the door closed before I could. Then she slipped behind me and edged me to the other two.

Chloe had her back to me and when I pressed in against her, she moaned with pleasure.

In my ear, Renée whispered, "Sally said Chloe kept you from causing problems in the van." She reached down and pressed my cock up between Chloe's legs. "Show her your appreciation."

Renée was right. Chloe had done exactly what I asked of her and deserved a reward.

Charlotte seemed to understand what was happening and began to pull away from Chloe, presumably to leave so we'd have more room. Chloe, however, pulled her back and kissed her again while arching her back for me.

I smiled at Charlotte past Chloe's head and nodded. She understood that we were all going to help show Chloe how much we appreciated and loved her.

Part of me expected Renée to help with stimulation too, but she wasn't going to stimulate Chloe directly. Still pressed against my back, she helped steer me into Chloe's leaking slit. Her hand continued to stroke and feed me into the smaller woman until there was no room left.

Chloe squirmed and moaned deeply as she took everything I offered. Charlotte too, moaned as Chloe passed her stimulation on.

Renée held my hips and moved with me as I rocked back and forth. She kissed and nibbled at my neck, occasionally moving up to my ear to say things like, "That's it Lover ... Give it to her - every long, thick inch of that beautifully huge cock of yours."

Hands were everywhere. Charlotte was groping Chloe's breasts and reaching down to rub where I slid in and out of her. Chloe, in turn, was feeling up Charlotte's breasts, back and ass. Renée groped my ass as well as anything else she could reach on the other two. With one arm, I held both of the women in front of me and with the other, I reached behind me for Renée's supple buttocks.

"Give it to her Ral. Cum in her so I can suck it back out again..." Renée whispered to me.

Chloe had either finally heard her or had chosen to only reply at that point. "Cum in me Master. Fuck me deep and cum hard!"

Charlotte slipped her hand down and I felt her groping my sac.

All three put their efforts into getting me off again and weren't disappointed. I went off like a rocket and Chloe was right behind me.

Renée gave us a few minutes to regain some strength. I took that time to hold Chloe, whispering to her how much I loved her, and generally holding her in post-coital warmth.

Chloe, as expected, wasn't completely finished, but I was turning into a prune after being in the shower for so long.

I started to apologize to Renée for not showing her my thanks as well, but she stopped me. "Save your strength. You're going to need it."

"What?"

"Erin is getting Sally ready for you."



-------

Chapter 31: Bond of Completion



After drying off, I simply wrapped a towel around myself and went out to find out what Renée had meant.

Erin came out of the master bedroom of the suite and stopped me before I could go in. "Not yet."

I couldn't help but grin, ideas of what was being planned making me feel giddy.

Erin smiled back. I had seen her smile when happy, smile simply to be pleasant and even smile when she didn't want to — usually helping a customer who was being a complete pest — but this time her smile seemed sad, and that made my grin falter.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

She ran her hands over my chest, looking away from me.

I reached up and held her hands, regaining her attention. " Talk to me, please." I thought.

She looked up at me again. Her emotions were both happy and sad. The mix was very confusing. "I know how much you're looking forward to this. I can feel it."

I waited, not wanting to imply anything by thought or causing further confusion.

"I believe what Michael said may be right. She may be your Soul Mate... " Again, she looked away and I could feel the pain of depression spreading through her.

"You're afraid that once she and I bond, like you and I did, that I'll leave you?" Pulling her chin around to look into her eyes, I thought, "I'm not leaving any of you. I said I was going to marry all of you. I meant it. Sally will be included in those plans I'm sure, but nothing else will change."

"What if you don't have a choice in this? What if your bond with Sally breaks the bonds you have with the rest of us? What if... "

I stopped her by kissing her. "Shhh ... No more 'what ifs'." Pulling her to me fully, I kissed her deeper. "I sincerely do not believe what you suspect will happen. The only change that may occur, is we will finally, all, feel complete with Sally joining with us."

Erin pulled back to look me in the eyes again. "Joining with us?" She smiled, and though there was a touch of sadness in her expression, it was coy. "This is your first time with her Ral. This should be special. Just the two of you."

"My choice of pronoun wasn't exactly meant for that. I want my first time with Sally to be special, just the two of us. But, what I do mean, is that she is joining our family. She's going to join us."

Erin blushed. "Oh..."

"Will you be okay while I'm in there?" I considered what she might go through while waiting for Sally and me to finish.

She patted my shoulder. "I've waited for you while you were with the others. This won't be any different."

"I think it will be, just not the way you're thinking."

Erin didn't say anything else, but smiled again. She was still worried and after hearing what she was worried about, I was too.

What would I do if securing the bond with Sally caused some sort of loss of the others? What would they do? The bonds had made all of us happy and brought us together in ways I never would have imagined. Thoughts about the wedding ideas that I had shared with them ran through my mind again. I didn't want to wreck that. I didn't want to cause problems.

I kept those thoughts to myself. Time had taught me how to project what I wanted and keep other thoughts quiet, just like talking. The girls had learned that instinctively when it started, but it took practice for me. Now, I was glad I knew the difference.

I looked at the bedroom door where Sally was waiting for me. Erin turned and looked as well, almost like she expected it to open or for Sally to call out to me. Neither happened.

Finally, Erin went in. A moment later, she came back out and looked at me. That sad smile was back. So badly I wanted to reassure her.

"She's ready," she said. Then her smile brightened. She was being brave so she wouldn't dampen my mood. "Ral, she's beautiful. Go to her."

With that, she all but floated to me and kissed me again. Just as quickly, she pulled away and went into the bathroom.

Looking at the door, I hesitated. Sally was waiting for me. My girlfriend from high school. My first love.

"I wouldn't keep her waiting too long," Charlotte said behind me.

I turned and looked. She had put on one of the oversized terry cloth robes the hotel provided. "Erin has a good point," I said.

She nodded. "She does, but did Michael tell you what would happen if you bound Sally to you?"

I shook my head. "We didn't get that far in our discussion about it."

"Then how do you or Erin know the bond you form with Sally will cause ours to break?" She looked down at her chest, my mark glancing out through the soft looking material. "We still have a bond and you're already bound to Sally. So, I seriously doubt this will make any difference."

I nodded. "You're right."

She reached out and pushed my shoulder, egging me on toward the bedroom door. "Go to her. Join with her. Make her a real part of this family."

Again I nodded and finally opened the bedroom door.

Sally was sitting on the foot edge of the bed. She looked up as I came in and her whole body blushed.

Erin had said she was beautiful. To me, there was more than just beauty. This was the young woman who had been my first, real friend. She had helped me to open up and become more than I had been while in school. To me, she was more than just an addition to my family. So much more.

There was a mixture of eagerness and uncertainty coming from Sally. How could I tell her whole body blushed? Because she was wearing only a dark red, see-through lace bra and matching panties. Her skin looked a touch pale against the material and with the sunlight shining in through the windows.

Looking at me again, she smiled, and I felt the warm radiance of her in that one act.

Quietly, I stepped forward. She scooted over on the bed, the movement of her hips catching my attention in a way she had never done before.

At that moment, I saw Sally, the woman, not the teenage girl I had dated. My heart grew with emotion for her that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Love, lust, and something else were all there, mingled together. This was something I had wanted for some time, I realized, and from what she had told me back at the store, so had she.

She watched me sit next to her, and the way her eyes roamed over me made me weak in the knees. Had she looked at me that way before? Were there times, while we had dated, that I had missed that simple, subtle glance?

Most likely.

"I have to apologize," I said softly.

She looked up at me. "Why?"

"For not seeing you before," I said simply. She looked confused but smiled. I tried to explain. "You told me about what you felt, how you yearned for more than what I had given you while we were dating..."

"Ral..." She started to interrupt.

I waved her down. "No, I have to say this." I took her hands and simply held them in mine. "You felt so much more for me and I didn't exactly return the favor, or try until it was too late." I let my eyes roam over her, taking in her smooth skin and the soft blush remaining. "But I see you now. I see the beautiful woman you've become..." She smiled and I continued, "Coupled with the friend that I care so deeply for. I had always been respectful of your personal space, careful not to do anything that might offend, but I had never taken into consideration what exactly that constituted. I never asked you what you wanted or didn't want. I made that decision without asking you and that is what I have to apologize for."

She shook her head, her hair moving elegantly with the motion. "You don't have to apologize..."

"I've learned where I went wrong. I've learned even if I may have someone's best intentions at heart, they may not want it. I want to make that up to you."

Sally let out a sigh. "You do know you're messing up again, right?"

It was my turn to be confused. "How?"

She pulled her hands free of mine to reach up and pull my head down for an ear popping kiss. After a moment, and relaxing into it, she broke free and said, "You're talking too much."

I couldn't help but smile at her and then pull her in for another kiss.

Slowly, gently, we lay back onto the bed. I slid my arm under her and with no effort, lifted her up enough to move up onto the bed more.

"Erin said you were strong..." she said with mild surprise.

"Was there anything else she mentioned?"

Sally raised her knee, running her foot up the back up my leg. "She hinted at other things too, but said that I would find out more for myself."

I smiled. "Good thing you didn't ask Chloe. She would have reeled off everything she knows."

Sally cocked her head to side with that curious kitty move. "Why does she call you Master? I thought you said you don't treat any of your girls that way."

After letting out a sigh, I said, "That's the relationship she desires. I told you that I had learned to not try to give what I thought you should have but simply give you what you want. She's the one who taught me that."

Sally's smile seemed to glow. Without saying anything else, she pulled me down for a deeper, more passionate kiss.

The feel of her body moving under mine, the kissing, the scent of her perfume, all of it was having the normal affect on me. To say the least, the towel offered token resistance.

With one leg hooked behind me, Sally brought up her other between my legs. She rubbed against me and the motion freed me from the loose confines of the towel.

She never stopped kissing me as her hand moved down to my hip, and then brushed against the head of my hardness.

Breaking our kiss, Sally looked down. Her hand took firm hold of me and her eyes all but bugged out of her head. "Oh, my god!"

I wasn't sure if her shock was based in excitement or trepidation.

Rolling over, I allowed her to see me fully.

She moved with me, looking intently at what she held. Her hand looked utterly tiny wrapped around me. She was able to close her grip but only just and I worried that she might shy away from what we both wanted.

Finally she looked up into my eyes, a touch of fear running through her.

"You don't have to be afraid," I said.

"The only thing I'm afraid of is asking for more than I can handle," she retorted. "I am not afraid of you. I know you're a gentle loving man. I'm only afraid that I may not be able to do everything with you I wanted to."

I smiled gently, ideas of what she might have dreamed up floating through my mind. "Whatever you want to do, just say so and we can."

She blinked at me as understanding hit her. "The others can do what they want... ?"

I nodded.

"Is there anything you haven't done with them?" she asked softly.

Having lived with so many women, I had noticed potentially troubling questions. That was one of them.

Reaching down and stroking her cheek, I said softly, "Too much honesty can be brutal. I'll just say that of anything I've done, it will not be the same as doing it with you."

She smiled, and a warmth spread through her that resembled both love and happiness. "Are you just saying that?"

I tugged at her arm, and guided her up to lay with me, her body along mine. Once she was comfortable I said, "It's the truth. And we have these bonds to thank for it."

She glanced down at my chest. "I keep forgetting that you're not exactly the same as I remember."

"I'm still the same, or at least try to be. What I said is true though. No matter what they ask for, it's not the same with any two of them. It won't be the same with you."

There was no pain in her, no concern about how I may feel for the others. "It all sounds so flattering..."

"All I'm saying is that this can be special for you too."

She looked up into my eyes. "You're the one who said too much honesty can be brutal. So you tell me."

"I think you were right."

"About what?"

I rolled her over, my face hovering over hers. "I'm talking too much."

There was nothing I could say that would prove what I meant. Sally had to experience it for herself, and there was only one way for that to happen.

Kissing between us came easy. Both of us also felt heat from the other that we had never felt before. Our higher brain functions, such as worry and plans, took a back seat to what our desires filled us with.

We moved forward with our needs, groping each other, touching in ways we had only teased each other with previously. Barriers fell away. Emotions rumbled and rolled. Touch was all consuming.

In all the kissing and movement, Sally had spread her legs, wrapping them behind me. I was pressed against her, but her panties impeded that last bit of contact. Her bra held up against me like a security fence.

I wanted to reach down and push away her panties, and to find the clasp to release the fabulous globes she had flaunted earlier. Part of me, the part that still worried about how she might react, held out and kept me from doing as such. Apparently my kissing and groping suffered from it as well.

Sally pushed against my chest, breaking our kiss. "What's wrong?"

I just looked at her. The way her hair had already fallen from its elegant waves to the disheveled look my other girls had whenever we were finished with a good tussle in bed. Her breathing was heavy too, her chest heaving.

Something in my eyes must have given me away. Sally relaxed under me, took my hand and pushed it down to her hip where I met her panties.

Softly she said, "Take them off."

Permission was what I sought with her. Why? My other girls never had to give me permission to have my way with them. Did they?

I sat up. Sally brought her legs up and together in front of me. Her hands were touching mine as I gripped the sides of her panties and began sliding them off.

This was it. This was really it. We were going to, finally, be together.

As I pulled her panties off her feet, I held them, looking up in time to watch her spread her legs again on either side of me.

Had I always been so anticipatory? Was this that much of an epic moment?

With my continuing policy of being honest, the answer was yes.

Sally reached up and began unhooking her bra while watching me. I knew there would be many opportunities after this to watch her tease me, but this time, this day, I would do the unveiling.

Leaning forward, I placed my hand on hers. "Let me," I said softly as I leaned over her and gently pulled the clasps apart.

Sally watched me, smiling softly, as I pulled the cups of her bra away. She took a deep breath, causing her chest to rise, imitating Charlotte's expansion.

In response, I simply rubbed my cheeks against her breasts. The feel of her warm, soft skin against mine was almost mind-numbing. At that moment, I couldn't think of anywhere else I wanted to be.

Sally wrapped up my head with her arms, pressing her breasts against my face.

Naturally, I started kissing and licking her skin, inhaling her fragrance and generally enjoying her attention.

My hips also moved in response, pressing up against her and she shuddered as I slid my hardness against the soft wetness between her legs.

We quickly picked up where I had stopped us before. However, with the addition of our crotches pressed together, there was a great deal of moaning to add to the concert of our bodies in motion.

Again, my senses filled me with all the things the woman in my arms offered. Her thrills, sounded out in her moans; the feel of her body under mine, her arms and legs moving and holding me to her; the taste of her skin; the scent of her excitement; and the look in her eyes whenever I looked up. I was as excited as a man could get.

Sally's moans shifted. There was a pout that didn't sound sad as much as frustrated. Then she said, "I want you in me..."

I looked up and could tell there was some hesitation in her. She had seen and held me. She knew how big I was, and with me pressed against her, she seriously doubted that she could accommodate me. I smiled.

"Don't smile like that. You make me feel stupid or something."

'Sally' and 'stupid' didn't belong in the same sentence or paragraph together.

"You're not stupid, just forgetful."

Hope gleamed in her eyes. "What?"

I moved up, pressing myself to her more. She moved against me, making the pressure stronger than I had intended. For a second, her eyes lost focus just from that.

"You asked if there was anything I hadn't done with the others. I would have to say that there has not been much we haven't done."

She squirmed under me. "Why are you telling me this now?"

"How do you think the others have been able to enjoy anything with me if they weren't able to have me?"

Her eyes moved around wildly as her brain tried to gain some control and consider what I asked.

I spared her the effort by leaning down and whispering in her ear. "I have more abilities than just strength and speed. I can heal with touch, but that is a side effect of another ability I have. An ability the others have all enjoyed and asked for."

She pressed up against me, grinding along my length as I spoke.

"Do you trust me?"

She nodded without hesitation at that. "Yes!"

"Then hold on, because this will be more than you expected..."

Sally, still writhing under me, held onto me, almost enough that she would have clung to me if I had gotten up, but that wasn't my intent.

Normally, I would have considered exactly what to do. I let go my thoughts of what Sally wanted both from and with me. I could scan her desires and find out what she wanted, but that would ruin the surprise to a degree. So, I let my ability to mold flesh to fill her and adjust her in whatever way she wanted.

The warm liquid sensation filled me. Almost immediately, Sally yelped as it moved from me to her. Then she gripped me tighter. Her whole body was already sensitive from just being with me. She had been very close to reaching orgasm even though there hadn't been any penetration. On top of all of that, my power filled her, giving that additional sensation that felt good normally, but felt incredible when heightened as Sally was.

Sally cried out. Her nails dug into my back and she sank her teeth into my shoulder.

Occasionally the others would nibble or pinch. Certainly there would be red marks along my back where they had expressed their gratitude for such sensations we shared. Sally, however, was like an animal.

I held onto her, knowing that she couldn't hurt me beyond what I had suffered from the Dragons.

Of course, that thought reminded me of the situation going on outside of that room, but I quickly pushed it out of my head.

Sally relaxed and let me go.

I remained where I was but got up on my elbows so I could see her face.

It took another minute for her to be able to focus on me, and when she did, she was all smiles.

"Feeling better?" I asked softly.

She nodded, still unable to form words.

Patience had always been my virtue when it came to Sally. I was happy to wait for her to recover enough to say something.

Finally, she asked, "Wha ... what was that?"

"That was my ability to mold flesh," I answered simply. "Theoretically, I can alter anything. In your case, you chose what I changed."

"I chose what you changed? I don't remember making any requests."

I grinned. "Well, you must have thought of something, or desired something at least subconsciously."

She chuckled. "I'd hate to think what I wanted subconsciously."

I squirmed over her, which made her moan again. "Well, I'm no expert on your body, but I don't seem to notice anything different."

She giggled. "Sit up, let me see."

I got up onto my knees. Sally's body was flushed where we had been pressed together. Other than that she didn't look any different, just as I had said.

Sally looked down and made a cursory inspection.

I watched as she felt her own breasts, ran her hands over her abs and then reached down between her legs. I moved back enough to allow her room.

She shook her head. "I don't think anything changed."

"That's good news," I replied.

Glancing down at me, she let out a sigh. "I don't know. I really wish one thing had changed at the very least."

I looked down at her and wondered if maybe her memories of her own body had been altered along with her body. "How about we try something?"

"What?"

I smiled and moved to position my cock at her pussy.

Sally didn't do anything to stop me. She simply said, "Just take it easy, please?"

Giving her my most solemn expression, I said, "I would never do anything to hurt you."

She smiled. "Well, a little pain isn't a bad thing."

That made me smile. I wanted to rub my shoulder where she had bitten me, but I held off and focused on what we were about to do.

With practiced ease, I slipped into her and stopped with only the head of my cock inside. Sally let out a soft moan.

Pushing further, I watched for any indications that I had gone too far. Sally did everything except tell me to stop. In fact, she reached for my hips as if trying to urge me into her faster. I wasn't ready for that just yet.

I withdrew and pressed back into her. She wasn't as tight as I had expected. It was possible the change I had affected her with allowed her to take me like she so obviously wanted.

A thought resurfaced. If Sally wanted me in her completely, who was I to deny her that? It was what we had talked about, what I kept overcomplicating.

Giving in to the impulse we shared, I drove into her. She groaned heavily. I felt her lock down around me and then recognized the telltale signs of her riding another orgasm.

Leaning over her, enjoying the pleasures she was having, I was seized by her grasping hands and she crushed me to her chest. Her lips met mine and her tongue drove in as fervently as I had driven my cock into her now quivering pussy.

She relaxed under me again. Her hips made short, testing motions. Inside, she squeezed me. Finally breaking our kiss, she said, "That was good too."

I grinned at her. "You're gonna be too sensitive for any real fun if you keep that up."

She grinned back. "I could go for one more really good one like that, but this time, I want you to cum with me."

The feel of her increasing movements felt fantastic. I knew I could easily go for a while longer and have several more releases like back in the showers, but I also knew that time was growing short. The Dragons would find us eventually. Of course, later was preferred, but I wasn't betting on it.

Moving my hips, I ground against her.

Sally's eyes widened with mild surprise. "You're all the way in?"

I nodded.

"I didn't think... " she started.

I shook my head. "You don't have to. Apparently you wanted this even on a subconscious level."

Realization struck and she smiled widely. "And since you can heal me too, if things get a bit rough..."

I chuckled, remembering the first time I had to heal someone from having rough sex. I hadn't been involved in the sex, but the tones and excitement Erin had expressed at the time was pleasant by comparison.

Exaggerating my movements, I intended to rub my crotch against Sally's clit. It was something I had learned with the others and always drove them crazy.

Sally was no disappointment to that end. Moving in tandem to me, she made the pressure greater. Soon, we were slapping together, making many squishy, slurping sounds as I slid in and out of her.

We stared into each other's eyes. The intensity of our union could be felt in the air of the room. Both of us breathed like we were marathon runners and with only the merest thoughts did we make adjustments to increase our pleasures.

Sally brought her legs up higher, turned her ankles in and hooked them around the middle of my back. Almost instantly, I felt the difference in pressure. Both of us moaned and the pace of our bodies picked up more.

Breathing was too important to kiss too deeply, but kiss we did. I would suck on her lower lip. She would suck on my tongue.

Again my senses filled with the many details of our actions...

The sounds of our moaning and the way our bodies slapped together formed the core rhythm.

The scents of her previous orgasms mingled with the light sheen of sweet we had developed filled my body as I inhaled.

The taste of her skin, lips, tongue, and the light makeup she had been wearing told me exactly who it was I was with.

The intensity of her gaze met me whenever I opened my eyes. It drove home the understanding that we were both finally where we had not only wanted to be, but should have been so long ago.

And finally, the feel of her body. Her hands, her breasts against my chest, her legs wrapped around me, her skin sliding along mine, and the internal muscle play and velvety stroking all made up a symphony of sensations that excited me in ways I had both felt and never experienced.

Sally began to buck, her internal muscles locking down on me. "Cum with me Ral!" she called.

The sensations and intensity were too much for me to stave off any longer. With a mighty groan, and a "Yes!" I released.

A sensation stole over me. My body was locked up, throbbing and convulsing in the bliss of release. At the same time, something else flooded me. Something I couldn't describe. Whatever it was, it felt good.

Then, to my best description, my mind opened up. The pressure that had built up when I had seen the memory of the old man speaking with my parents before my birth popped. Thoughts, images and emotions filled me. It wasn't just the memories of one man's life either. Many, many lives played out in my head quickly. A dam had broken and the flood crashed through me.

For what felt like hours, I lived lives that I had never known. Eras played out around me. Entire nations rose and fell. Wars, plagues, political changes were all like waves rolling up and washing away on a beach.

When the rush of memories finished I was surprised to find myself still in bed with Sally.

When I looked down Sally was watching me. "Are you okay?" she asked.

I nodded. "I don't know what happened. It was like I just gained memories from hundreds of people.

Someone started knocking on the door and urgent voices called out to Sally and me. I recognized them. It was Renée and Erin. Something about their distress forced me to fully shake off the haze I was still in. Finally, I called out, "What's wrong?"

Renée answered, "We wanted to know if you two were okay. What happened in there?"

I looked at Sally, who was still glowing from what we had shared but watched me with a touch of concern.

"Ral? Are you okay?" Erin called.

"Yeah!" I answered. "I ... We..." I chuckled, almost drunk in the aftermath. "We just finished..."

Sally joined me laughing.

Once we settled down and took a minute to recover, I got up and opened the door.

All four of the girls were standing there and every one of them looked worried, even Chloe.

It dawned on me that something must have happened for them to look like that.

Somewhere in the room, my cell phone began to ring. I walked past the others to find it asking, "What's wrong? What happened?"

"We were hoping you could tell us," Charlotte said, fairly calmly.

I glanced back at them curiously and then at the caller ID on my cell phone. It was Cicely.

Knowing I would have to clear up whatever had happened to get the girls in an uproar, I answered the phone to find out what Cicely had to say. "This is Ral."

"Ral, what just happened?"

I looked back at the others again. "What do you mean?"

"My mark, still amber, all but exploded. Light shone out of it like it was made up of a small sun."

I took a second to understand what she had said and then asked her to hold for a second.

Looking at the others I asked, "Why were all of you worried about me and Sally?"

They looked at one another. Renée said, "Our marks suddenly lit up."

"It was like we all had mini-suns on our chests," said Chloe.

"And a light came from your room, as if the whole room were filled with a fireball," added Erin.

Stunned again, but in such a different way, I put the phone to my ear again. "Cicely, I'm gonna have to get back to you on that. I'm not sure what happened, but it seems to be over."

She started to say something, but I ignored her, hung up the phone and went in to look in on Sally.

She was sitting up on the bed, her hair disheveled, and she had the bed spread covering her. She had a shell-shocked expression as well. Other than that she looked okay.

Then she said, "Ral, your eyes. Your eyes!"

There was a mirror on the wall and I turned to it. My eyes weren't brown anymore. They were amber.

{t}Part Five — Countdown



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Part 5 : Countdown

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Chapter 32: Conference



To say the least, I was stunned ... again.

Sitting back on the bed, I considered what everyone had told me. While Sally and I were in the bedroom, my mark had exploded like a flash grenade not only from me, but from everyone bound to me. That included all the girls bound to me, all my House Members as well as Cicely and all of her House Members.

Even worse, at least for the Law of Secrecy, Mind Magi weren't the only ones to see it. Everyone who was within viewing distance of anyone with my color witnessed what had happened.

No one had been hurt, but there were suddenly a lot more people asking questions that shouldn't be answered and this time it wasn't just about me. That made it so much worse to me.

For her part, Cicely was sitting beside herself with worry about what would happen. She had been with one of her House Members in a car when it happened to them. Several other drivers around them looked at them. One was an off duty police officer. He had even gotten out of his car to check on them.

Other calls came in. My House Members were being bombarded with questions, curiosities, and concern. Whatever they had been doing was dropped and they headed for home.

As I sat there, contemplating all those involved and how it would affect them, I had flashes of memories from what had flooded me earlier.

I could see the slaves of Egypt working on the great pyramids as if I stood on a catwalk and looked on with anticipation of what they created.

Men mounted on horses, wearing armor and brandishing swords charged into an army of would be defenders of a country I didn't know.

A steam engine train pulled away from a gathering of people who had just witnessed the joining of two railroads in the middle of a heated prairie.

These events were vivid, as if I had actually been there. The memory I had received previously reminded me of the old man who passed his memories to me through my mother before I was born. I wondered if the flashes I was seeing were from him.

All of that occurred as I sat discussion the flash of my mark with my girls.

"I still don't understand," said Sally. "You've had sex many times with all the others. Why did it happen when you were with me?"

I shook my head. "I can only imagine that it has something to do with what Michael had suggested."

Renée looked up at that. "He said Sally might be your soul mate, not that she was."

Shrugging I asked, "Then what do you think?"

"I think your abilities are still evolving. Being bound to an entire House, this may have been a flashback of some sort."

That may have been possible, but I wasn't sure. I hadn't mentioned the torrent of memories or how they were currently flashing through my mind. At that moment another scene erupted, that of Roman soldiers marching along a street and throngs of people parting to let them through.

Instantly I was back in the hotel room.

"Ral, Michael told you about how House Leaders will step down and a new one will take over," offered Erin. "Did he mention anything like this when that happened?"

"No," I said. "And I don't think I've taken Cicely's House from her. She can still access her House Members' abilities."

"Then that leaves us with only your bond with Sally," Charlotte concluded.

I kept my head down, looking at the floor or anything to keep from looking at the others. Every time I did look up, whoever I looked at stared back at me. My eyes were still amber. I had hoped that it would wear off but there had been no change.

"Ral," Charlotte said. "Look at me, please."

I looked. She looked back at me. Her face reminded me of another woman. She too had dark hair and eyes, but she wore paint that made her appear more exotic. Their expressions were the same, a touch of curiosity with a heavy dose of concern. I closed my eyes.

"Is there a possibility someone did this using Master PC?" Chloe asked. It was the first thing she had offered since we all sat to discuss it.

I looked at her. Everyone else did too.

"That's an idea," Charlotte said with a touch of excitement. She got up and went to the briefcase she had brought with her that contained her laptop.

Sally and I had gotten dressed. The others had already done so while she and I were alone. Most of us were on edge, half expecting Dragons to show up, and half nervous about what had happened to my mark and eyes.

Charlotte pulled up my profile. After a quick scan over the code she announced that no recent changes had been made.

That was somewhat disappointing. Part of me hoped she would see something, at least added code, but I knew that just gaining additional memories didn't reflect in the program.

"Okay," I said standing up. "I know this is something we could sit and puzzle over for a couple more hours, but I'm sure the Dragons aren't going to let us. We need to get moving.

"Are we sticking to your plan?" Charlotte asked. She shut down her laptop and packed it back into her briefcase.

I nodded. "This incident will be a major distraction for everyone involved. We need to use it." I wasn't only sure of it; distractions were a very well used tactic. Something in my newly acquired memories told me that.

Everyone else got up; those still not fully ready to leave made preparations. Once everyone had everything ready, we left together.

When we got down to the parking garage Renée asked, "What about Sally?"

I looked at the young woman in question. Something told me she would be safe with me. Whether it was my instincts or the new collection of memories I wasn't sure, but I wasn't going to argue about it. "She's staying with me."

Renée nodded as if it hadn't mattered one way or another. I could feel something in her that I would have to address when everything was over. It wasn't jealousy per se, but something akin to it.

The four gave me hugs and kisses. Sally waited quietly behind me, but she wasn't left out, and to her surprise they hugged her as well. Finally, they climbed into the van.

After we got into her car, Sally asked, "Where are we going?"

"For now, just drive. I want to give them time to get to hotels and be settled. Once I get calls from them saying they're ready, I'm going after the hostages."

Sally started the car and we left the hotel garage. The van with my other four turned south, Sally and I headed north.

More scenes flashed through my head. Some were quick and I couldn't discern what was happening, others seemed to linger as if they were memories that had been thought about a lot. Again, all of them seemed to be events from human history. None seemed very specific, but only what someone had witnessed and remembered from various moments in their lives.

That thought disturbed me. One person had lived multiple lives? That wasn't possible. I was sure Michael would have known if there were a Mind Magi who lived so long. Especially with the eras and events these memories presented.

A short time later, Cicely called again. "Ral, I have a conference call with the other House Leaders set up."

"What time?"

"They're on now."

"Perfect, patch me in."

There was a conversation already in progress. Someone was saying, " ... has gone too far. We cannot allow him to continue to expose us to the rest of the world like this."

Several others murmured their agreement and no one attempted to say anything against that idea or defend me. It seemed I was already at a loss in trying to gain their assistance.

"Fellow Council Members, this is Lord Setton of House Nautikuus," I began. "The last day and a half has been trying for all of us. I would say the concern each of you felt for the family members who are being held hostage has only been replaced by the nonsense you now discuss in my absence."

"Lord Setton," said a low voice.

My new memories told me it was Lord Morehouse. Whoever the old man was, he knew the council at the time.

"While we do not disagree that what is happening is deplorable and must be stopped, your methods only seem to draw more and more unwanted attention as you actively pursue and fight with the Dragons," Morehouse said.

Several others started talking after that. Some even sounded angry that I had endangered their families.

"Do any of you realize that one of my girls is also being held hostage?" I asked, making my voice clear yet refrained from yelling to be heard.

The others stopped talking.

"That's what I thought. It seems the idea that I wasn't putting anyone I loved in danger was something several of you held onto. Has Lady Reynolds not told you of the events since our meeting yesterday?"

Again, several tried to answer. Finally another woman said, "No, Lady Reynolds has only just joined this conference."

"Considering we are not in a room together, where we can see who is about to speak, we should keep this as to the point and ordered as possible. If you have a question, speak your name," Lord Morehouse ordered.

"Lord Greenwood," was the first name I heard. The others listened as he asked, "Lord Setton, what do you have to say about your actions earlier this morning at your store?"

"I was simply fighting off an attack that could have turned out worse than it was," I replied.

"And you didn't even consider the news cameras all around the area?"

"At that moment, no. I was more concerned with stopping the attack."

"And what have you done to stop the flow of information after the fact?"

"Nothing, there hasn't been time because I have been continuously pursued and attacked by Dragons."

There were comments about that.

"Lord Setton, this is Lady Arneson. You had reported to my brother, a detective in the New York Police Department, that two Dragons had attacked you in your room at the 'W', but he found no evidence to support that claim. What about that?"

"If any of you would take a moment to consider who we are facing - and I do mean 'we' because if any of you were to attempt to do anything to rescue the hostages, the Dragons would be chasing you as well — then you will understand that the incident at the hotel, the attack at my store and everything else has been nothing more than an effort by the Dragons to force me to expose myself to the public, thus having you do what they cannot: stop me."

"To answer your question Lady Arneson, I have witnesses to the event. I didn't point them out to Detective Arneson only because he took my word about what happened, or did I make a mistake in understanding his willingness to help?"

To a degree, I felt insulted that I would have to defend my actions, however I knew there had been many times throughout history when the actions of a man or woman, willing to do what was necessary at the time, were condemned by those who ruled over them. I would not let the Council stop me any more than the Dragons.

"I will tell you this," I said over several trying to reply to my accusation. "If you attempt to stop me, I will consider you in league with those leading this rebellion."

"A rebellion?" someone asked with a seriously mocking tone. "This is Lord Flemming, and I don't know what you've been drinking or smoking, but no one is ceasing control of the Mind Magi."

"And what makes you so sure about that?" I asked quickly.

"If they wanted control of the Mind Magi, then they would have stripped us of our Leadership. All of us still have our mantles."

"And you're simply going to trust that whoever has taken your family member is just going to give them back and go away? Just like that?"

No one answered. For a moment I wondered if I had been disconnected.

"Is anyone still there?" I asked.

"We're still here," came back a voice. "Tell me, Lord Setton, do you have a plan to free the hostages?"

The voice was calm but had an underlying hint of fear. "Who is this?"

"Lord Hendon," said the voice.

"Yes, Lord Hendon, I do have a plan."

The line was still quiet. They were waiting for me to elaborate. The problem I had was my suspicion that one or more of them was involved in everything going on. So far, I still had no proof except for Whisper using Lord Greenwood's daughter and letting me bind her to me.

At that moment, I wondered if Whisper had known the young lady would be taken hostage as well, held as a captive to keep me in check.

"I have support for what I'm going to do. Going in alone will be rough, but all of you are more than welcome to join us."

"What is this plan?" another voice asked. It had a French accent.

"Lord Lasarge, I've met your daughter before, as you know. I'm going to use Michael's ability to track her. Once I know where she is, I'll get the blueprints of the building they're in and use it to gain entrance. Once inside, I'll take the Dragons down one at a time."

"We have been hearing of your fights with the Dragons through our House Members. I've even heard you put one in the hospital."

I hesitated and then said, "Yes, I did. After he plunged a knife through my arm."

Several made sharp intakes of breath. Otherwise it was silent.

"I also have another Dragon captive. Her abilities have been blocked temporarily."

"Which Dragon?" asked a man.

"Who wants to know?" I asked.

No one replied.

Finally someone said, "Lord Setton, please understand. The Dragons are our law enforcers. If you put them all in the hospital or..."

I interrupted, "Your police have been corrupted." Then a thought about Chloe's suggestion about someone using Master PC occurred. "Or they've been manipulated."

"This is Lady Arneson. Are you suggesting that the Dragons may not be acting of their own accord?"

"It is possible."

"No Mind Magi could control all of the Dragons," said another male voice. It was very scornful.

My mind reeled with ideas on how to prove my theory, but I would seriously implicate myself if I used my own abilities. However, using Master PC, I could prove anyone could do what I suggested.

"I have proof that it is not only possible, but anyone, even a normal human, could pull it off."

There were a couple of male voices that broke out in laughs. "And just how would any normal pull this off?"

"With Master PC," I said simply.

There was more laughing.

"Lord Setton, everyone on this Council has known about that program. It is a joke, just someone's idea of wishful programming." The voice was female.

"You say you've known about it? Have any of you actually downloaded a copy and used it?" I asked.

To my surprise, most of them said no.

"None of you?" I asked again.

"I have," said Lord Lasarge.

Everyone was quiet. I knew what this could lead to but I wanted to steer us away from implications of his involvement in what his daughter tried to do. "Lord Lasarge, you can confirm that this program can control others?"

"Oi, it can."

"You have got to be kidding me," said one of the Lords.

"How is this possible?" asked another.

"How long have you known about this Lord Setton?" another asked.

"I've only known about the program since my own abilities manifested. One of my Schiavi had thought my abilities came from it before we found out about the Mind Magi."

"And how many others would you say know about this program?" asked another in a very careful tone.

"I don't know. I do know that those who use it keep it secret. To have that kind of power taken away would be devastating. To know what might happen if it fell into the wrong hands..."

"Well," said Lord Morehouse in his measured tones, "it would seem that is exactly what we have. Lord Setton, how soon can you get copies of this program to the rest of the House Leaders?"

"In the next couple of hours," I said simply.

"Then if what you suggest is true, freeing our families may not be enough. How were you going to take down the Dragons?"

"Well, if my theory is correct, we can free the Dragons of this control before attacking."

"This is computer software we're talking about?" someone asked.

"Yes," I said.

"How the hell does a program have powers like ours?"

The answer came to me. It was there all along. "My parents," I said simply.

"What?"

"My birth parents were involved in some kind of project before I was born."

"What kind of project?"

"I don't know, but I can find out."

"Wait, are you saying your parents helped to make this program and then went and had you?"

I didn't say anything but I could tell the others were catching onto the implication.

"That prophecy. It said a child would be born to parents of opposing views ... and your parents were from opposing houses, weren't they?"

"It also said that Magi would bow and the child would be the first sign of our world's end," another quoted.

Quickly others joined in until someone said, "It seems like your parents set you up to take over Lord Setton," in the most contemptuous manner I'd ever heard.

For the first time, I was glad not to be in the same room as the rest of them.

Lord Morehouse, however, remained the voice of reason. "There is no way to prove that Lord Setton is the child described in the prophecy."

"There is also the fact that the ability of prophecy died with the Mind Magi who made that prediction," said Lady Arneson.

I certainly wasn't going to mention the visions I had been having about my girls. One, it was personal and two, it had nothing to do with the situation.

"You have to admit, it all fits together a bit too nicely," said the sardonic voice.

"That still doesn't prove Lord Setton had anything to do with the creation of the program or those who may be using it," Cicely said calmly.

To a degree, I was surprised that she was defending me. She could have easily added to the fire by telling them about how I had bound her and her whole House to me. It would seem to fit the part about 'no one can resist'.

"We must remain focused on the situation. If this program is being used to control the Dragons, we must do what we can to reverse that so they will be free to deal with the perpetrators who have put our families at risk."

"Do we even know who is behind this?" someone asked.

No one answered.

"Lord Setton, is there a way to find out who may have used the program to control the Dragons, if that is the case?"

"I'll have to look into that. I don't know at this moment."

"Do we know how the program works? Is it self contained or does every copy interact with all others?"

I gave them a rundown of what I knew, including the range limit, the fact that anyone within that range could be accessed from any copy and the basic security the program contained.

"If the Dragons are being controlled with this program, it is possible that the person using it has added passwords to them to keep others from reversing this," I added.

"The program should be like any other software. Would it be possible to hack the program and bypass the passwords?" Lady Arneson asked.

"I do know one person who used to have that knowledge," I answered.

"Who? And what do you mean?" she asked.

I was quiet, not sure how much to give out. I decided to use Victoria's alias. "Vikkor was her name. She was bent on wiping out the male half of our race and changing all women to hermaphrodites using viruses she created using that program."

There was a lot of silence. Everyone was waiting for me to finish.

"After I caught her, I used my abilities to remove all her knowledge of the program," I finished. In all the months since I had done that, I had never regretted it. Now, I was feeling a loss that I couldn't explain.

"Is it possible to get to her and retrieve the memories, even to see them for a moment?" Lady Reynolds asked.

She, like the others, didn't know who Vikkor really was. The only one who did was Lord Lasarge, and that was only because I had shared my memories with him regarding those events.

"There's the catch," I finally said. "Vikkor is one of the hostages."

"Stupid boy!" said the mocking voice.

Several others started in and it seemed that some of the House Leaders were with me regarding freeing the Dragons from the program.

"I'm still not sure if the Dragons are under its influence," I said over the many voices.

This calmed many down, but the sarcastic voice asked, "You're not sure ... Is there anything you are sure about?"

"Considering the nature of what we're discussion, wouldn't you feel it would be prudent to confirm any new information before acting? Or would you prefer to sit back and just wait it out?" I asked in return.

"My son is in there!" the voice came back. I had certainly touched a chord. "And if you think I'm going to follow some kid into that mess to risk his life, you are so sadly mistaken." After a few seconds of silence he added, "All of you are mistaken if you follow him!"

I still didn't know which leader it was, but there were a few who it could have been. "If you have a better plan, I would love to hear it because I'm tired of being the only one out here doing anything to solve this," I retorted.

To that, not even that Lord had a reply.

The discussion was over as far as I was concerned.

"I'm done with this. I'm still going to look into whether the Dragons are being influenced by Master PC and how to free them if necessary. If, however, I cannot free them or they are under a different influence, then we need a rock solid plan for getting the hostages out."

There were several murmurs of agreement and I hung up.

"Sounds like it didn't go so well," Sally quipped.

"No," I answered laying my head back. "All they're concerned with is what I've been doing and the fact that I'm no older than most of the kids being held hostage."

"You can't blame them for believing what they've been told by the Dragons."

"I can if there is a way to save the families," I said as I looked at my phone and started pulling up Renée's number. However it rang.

"Ral, it's Charlotte. Chloe and I are ready," she said.

"Good. Listen, I need you to try to pull up one of the Dragons."

"Which one?"

"Roy Jordan," I offered.

I could hear typing and then Charlotte said, "He's password protected."

"Try Russ Fairbanks."

"So is he," she offered after a few seconds.

"Steven Davis?"

"Protected."

On and on we went with the names I had collected. All of them were password protected.

"Okay, now for the hard part, Victoria Lasarge."

"Who?" Charlotte asked.

"You heard me. Pull her up."

"Okay, I've got her."

"Can you tell if she's hurt?"

"Doesn't look like it, but Ral, there's some of that strange code that you have in your profile."

"I know, I put it there. Is there any code regarding security access?"

"Um..." she hummed as she read. " Nothing that I see."

"Then I did remove it," I said more to myself than her.

"What's going on Ral?"

"We need to get a look at the code on the Dragons. I need to know if someone is using the program to control them."

"And if we can get in, then what?"

"We simply release the Dragons from that control. They're the Mind Magi police and it is possible some of the Dragons I've not run into yet know who is behind this."

"Ral, I'm sorry to say this, but they don't have to know who's calling the shots. If someone is using the program to control them, they can remain completely anonymous."

"Yay," I offered in a dreary tone. "More good news."

"I'm sorry."

"Do you know how to find out what other users may have made entries to someone?"

"No. The program keeps all that information completely separate from the subjects."

"Okay, we'll deal with that when we get to it. For now, I want you to work on trying to find a way to access those profiles."

"The only person who knew how to do that was..."

"I know, that's why I had you pull up Victoria. I was hoping the code was still there, but I apparently erased it from her."

"Then why can't you just do that with the Dragons?"

"What ... just remove any Master PC code?"

"Yes."

"I can try, but if they're not actually under the programs influence..."

" ... Then it's a whole other problem," she finished.

"I'll have to find a Dragon to test this on."

"What about that woman who attacked us? She's here with me and Chloe."

"She's a good start," I thought aloud. "Where are you?"

Charlotte gave me the name of the hotel and her room number. Sally knew where it was and we made our way there.



-------

Chapter 33: Freedom



When Sally and I arrived at the hotel, Sever was wide awake and fighting vigorously against her bonds. Charlotte and Chloe were anxious. Neither of them was happy having Sever there but they understood that we couldn't dump her just anywhere.

I went over and picked her up. She fought against me, but I carried her over to the bed and dumped her on it with little fuss.

She squirmed and rolled over to face me. Her look alone told me more than enough to know what she would do if she got loose.

There were no qualms about leaning over her and clamping my hands to the sides of her head. She struggled but I was too strong.

It only took a second for my power to wash through her. The instant it did, her struggles ceased and fear rolled out from her.

As I made the change, another memory flashed. I was in a frozen tundra. There was a massive animal with tusks lying on the ground. Men with primitive spears were cheering over their hard fought victory and the meals the animal represented.

Just as fast as it started, the memory left my consciousness.

I untied Sever's gag and sat back. The girls watched from a safe distance as I asked, "What's your name?" Of course, I could have just found out by taking her memories, but I wanted to test her to see if I had removed Master PC's influence.

Charlotte had already found out from Cicely that Sever's real name was Meg Bowers. She had tried pulling her up before Sally and I had arrived, but, like the other Dragons, Meg was password protected.

Meg stared at me. "What did you do to me?"

Her fear felt quite genuine, but I wasn't going to allow that to sway what I said or did. "Answer me first."

She looked at the others and then said, "I'm Meg Bowers. I'm a member of House Zamora."

"I'm guessing you know who I am and my status?" I asked.

She nodded slowly, still avoiding looking at me. "You're a new House Leader, Lord Setton of House Nautikuus."

I asked, "Do you remember everything that's happened over the last thirty-six hours Meg?"

She glanced at me in puzzlement. "I do. I remember helping to take people hostage. The other Dragons and I contacted the House Leaders to let them know that if they didn't follow our instructions then the hostages, made up of members of their family, would suffer."

"We went out and ensured the House Leaders remained in their hotels." She looked up again but quickly bowed her head. "I remember Russ and Roy calling to tell us that you fought them and got away. Other Dragons went out to rein you in, but none of them seemed able to stop you. For some reason it made me mad and I struck out on my own to take you down, permanently if it became necessary."

I sat there waiting, not sure what exactly I was waiting for.

Meg shook her head as if trying to throw off the emotions she was feeling. "Lord Setton, I would have never attacked you, but I had this overwhelming urge, an impulse screaming in my head to get to you and stop you," she said further.

"Do you remember attacking the crowd in front of my store?" I asked.

She nodded. "I do. We weren't supposed to actually hurt anyone, just get you to respond by using your abilities." She looked up. "And you did."

Leaning in close, I made sure we had good eye contact. The emotions coming from Meg were that of regret and confusion. "The ones shooting did hit three people. One of which would have died if I hadn't saved her."

Her eyes widened. "We weren't supposed to hurt anyone."

"Did you call the news crews before the attack, sending more to the opening?"

She frowned at that and shook her head. "No."

"Ral, I don't think she's under the influence of the program anymore," Charlotte said softly.

I nodded. "I agree." Reaching behind Meg, I untied her bonds. She sat back rubbing her wrists and ankles.

"What do you mean? What program?" she asked looking from me to Charlotte.

"Someone took control of you and the other Dragons with Master PC," I explained.

Of course she didn't believe me, when we showed her the display. With access to her being secured, we couldn't do anything. With Chloe's assistance, however, we not only showed her the display, but also used it to make minor changes that were too wild not to be some other kind of trick.

When we were finished some of Meg's resolve had returned, but nothing like it had been when influenced. "I want to help. I have to make amends to you and the rest of the House Leaders for what I've done."

I nodded but said, "I can't let you."

"Why not?"

"Whoever used the program on you could do it again. At the worst possible moment you could go from ally to enemy," I answered.

Looking up at Charlotte, who was standing next to me, I asked, "Charlotte, any luck cracking the password for Meg?"

She went back to the table where her laptop was sitting. "I have an idea I want to try..."

After a moment of her hammering away at the keyboard she said, "There!" and hit the enter key dramatically. All of us held our collective breaths but nothing seemed to happen.

"What did you do?" I asked.

She smiled at me. "I just gave myself the working knowledge of how to bypass software security."

"Wouldn't knowing how to bypass Master PC passwords be enough?"

She shook her head. "I had tried that earlier, when you were on your way. The program won't allow a user to gain or grant knowledge pertaining to the program itself, but for software in general, there are no restrictions."

"Clever," I said nodding. "How long will it take?"

"I have to write up a couple of programs to do the core of the work. I'd say about two hours." She seemed quite confident in that answer.

"Get started then, because I want access to the rest of the Dragons. This will simplify matters immensely."

Turning back to Meg I said, "I hope you understand that until we get into your profile we can't guarantee that you won't go postal on us."

"Didn't you just remove those commands? Couldn't you do it again if you had to?" she asked.

"I can and will if necessary."

"Ral, you just removed the code that had been entered into the program?" Sally asked.

I nodded. "But if the person who added the password pulls her up again, all they have to do is type in more code and she could be back to attacking or worse."

"Can't you just make her immune to the program altogether?"

I considered that. "I wouldn't know where to begin. The program can influence her in many ways."

Sally shook her head, "You're thinking too small. Keep it simple. Give her blanket immunity to the program in general."

"We don't have any way to test it..." I started.

Chloe said, "You can test it on me."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Charlotte nod. "It's a good idea," she offered.

"How would I will this?" I asked.

"Well, thinking from a programmer standpoint," Charlotte replied, "if you don't want the user to add text to a text box, you simply turn on the option of that text box that makes it read only."

I had known she knew a lot about computers, but I had never taken the time to find out just how much. "So ... I make Chloe 'read only'?"

Charlotte shrugged. "Sounds good to me, but only as far as additional entries with Master PC are concerned. Otherwise, you might affect her memory."

"What?"

"Read only means what it says. No new information can be added. In the case of a person, new information would be memories. Those are the building blocks of learning and decision making."

I slumped. "Thanks, now I have that to worry about."

"No, like Sally said, keep this to the program. Don't think about Chloe, but how the program affects her."

Nodding I turned to Chloe. "Are you sure about this?"

She looked at me with not only a touch of adoration but a certainty too. "I wouldn't have volunteered if there were any doubts."

Having her complete confidence was a touch unnerving. I had grown accustomed and even used her desire to do whatever I said, but this was different. Following orders, making the decision to blindly do what she was told was one thing. To completely forego any control and having blind faith in me was something on a completely new level.

Chloe moved closer and knelt in front of me. I reached out and held her hands. "You understand what could happen if anything goes wrong, don't you?" I asked.

She nodded. "I also understand that you'll do everything in your power or resources to fix it too."

Her simple addition helped calm me. She didn't have blind faith of my infallibility, but she did believe that I would do what I could to keep her safe. And that was something I agreed with.

After a glance at Charlotte and seeing her nod that she was ready, I focused on Chloe. As Charlotte had suggested, I thought about the effect Master PC could have on Chloe and willed her to have immunity to it. The flow of power was quick.

Another memory flash, that of men in robes speaking in what I knew to be old Greek. They were discussing philosophy but before I spoke the memory ended.

Charlotte was typing in commands on her computer. "Whatever you did Ral, it's working," she said. "I've tried commanding her to do simple things, like get up and leave, or go to the bathroom or even punch you, but she's just sitting there."

Chloe smiled up at me. I couldn't help but to smile back.

"If you can make her immune to the program, you can do the same for the rest of us, right?" Sally asked.

I nodded, and held my hand out to her. She took it. Again, my power flowed. Charlotte got the same. With both changes I also witnessed some event from history; however, each memory was less and less invasive. They were still very distinct but didn't remove my consciousness from current events. Finally, I turned to Meg.

She had been watching us, and seemed to feel more relaxed than before. Her fear had subsided. Whether it had been because of her lack of control or what she expected me to do to her I wasn't sure.

"Are you ready?" I asked.

"Before you do this, I have a couple of questions," she said.

"What?"

She glanced at the others and seemed a touch sheepish. "You had told me in the car you had banished me. Is there any way to reverse that since it wasn't the Council's ritual?"

I had blocked her powers with the intent of returning them when I felt she deserved it. Now that I knew her actions had been influenced by Master PC, the punishment was unjust. Add to that the confirmation that I could make individuals immune to the program's influence, and I had no reason to keep her powers from her. Finally, I nodded and said, "Yes they can."

Then she cocked her head to the side. "And, why are your eyes amber?"

That question made me blink and look away. "I'm not sure at the moment."

She could tell it was something that bothered me and didn't say anything else about it.

We clasped hands and my power passed into her. With that warm liquid sensation, I felt more confident about what to expect from Meg.

Also with that use of power, I had another memory flash. This was closer to recent history however.

A woman was telling me about something she was building. I didn't understand what she was talking about but I could tell she was excited.

She looked at me, her hair and eyes were dark brown. They reminded me of someone but I couldn't think of whom. Then she said, most vividly, "We will finally have everything we've been working for."

I could feel myself smile but I didn't feel happy. She leapt at me, kissing and hugging. With that the memory ended.

The old man knew about so much and had so many memories about events throughout human history. What was it the woman meant? Did it have anything to do with what was happening now?

I had to have those answers, especially if they helped me resolve the events currently going on with the Mind Magi.



-------

Chapter 34: Hospital Visit



I called Cicely to pass on what I had found out about Master PC's influence over the Dragons and the progress being made to counter the issue. Afterwards, I decided to pay a visit to Russ in the hospital.

Knowing that the speed Dragon had attacked only because he wasn't in control of himself, I felt even more responsible for his condition. Meg, however, pointed out a problem.

"Steven is at the hospital watching over him. He's not going to let you get near him Lord Setton."

"Then I'll have to get close enough to remove the program's influence."

Meg shook her head. "He specializes in not being touched. I've sparred with him several times before this started. I couldn't lay a hand on him."

"Then we need to fool him into thinking that Ral's not a threat," Sally suggested.

"How?" Meg asked.

I ran with Sally's idea. "You've been trying to catch me. Fine, you've caught me."

Meg was confused. "Are you suggesting that I go with you to the hospital?"

I nodded. "And I'll act as though you have my hands bound behind me. He should drop any defenses he has, and once I'm close enough I'll be able to grab him and do what I need to do."

Meg shook her head. "He'll see it coming. You just don't understand the depth of his skills."

"Then tell me. I'm familiar with his mind weaponry and illusions."

"He can hear thoughts too," she said.

I grinned. "I forgot about that."

"Why are you grinning?" Meg asked.

"I can hear the thoughts of my girls. I know how to keep my thoughts from them. This should be very similar. All I have to do is focus on thoughts of escape. It'll help give the impression that I am bound and your prisoner."

Meg still had doubts but time was running short. Charlotte was still working on the software to help her crack the passwords and the midnight deadline Whisper had told me about weighed heavily in my mind. Most of the day was gone and the sun would be setting in the next hour. We had to move.

Finally, Meg agreed to try. Charlotte and Chloe stayed to work on the programs and Sally was going to be waiting in the car for Meg and me.

-------

On the way to the hospital, I had Meg call Steven. He seemed glad to hear that I had been caught. Meg even improvised saying she had broken both of my arms in the process, hence our trip to the hospital. I could hear Steven laughing on the other end of the line.

When we arrived, Steven was waiting for us in the emergency room lounge. Sally stayed in the car to have it ready in case we had to run.

I did my best to look defeated and occasionally thought about how I might escape. Steven ate it up.

He walked up to us, grinning like a school yard bully. "Good work Sever. I've seen what he's done to the others. You have got to tell me what happened, and don't leave out a single detail." He looked me over like I was some piece of artwork Meg was presenting.

For her part, Meg played up the attitude she had before I had freed her from the program. "It wasn't that hard. A two-by-four does wonders even to assholes like him," she said as she pushed me toward a seat with her foot.

I stumbled and fell onto the couch, crying out because I had landed on my arm. Meg hadn't made a move to help me up, but Steven did.

As fast as a rattlesnake strike, I clamped my hands to his head. His look of surprise was a touch satisfying. Before he could put up any defenses, I poured my power into him, wiping away Master PC's influence. Immediately, I followed up with the same immunity to the program.

Steven reeled back and I helped direct him to the couch. He shook his head, looked around the room wildly and finally found clarity.

Meg knelt in front of him. "Steven, how are you feeling?"

He looked at her and recognition set in. "Sever ... What the hell was that?" He looked over at me and along with confusion; I felt a touch of anger.

"Are there any thoughts or impulses screaming through your head?" I asked.

That threw him, almost as my attack. He seemed to think about it, shaking his head, and then said, "No. My head's clear for the first time in days."

I nodded, certain he was okay. "Where do they have Russ? I need to help him and heal him."

Steven looked at me for a moment. "You're serious. You can heal him."

The statement confirmed Meg's point of Steven's ability to scan surface thoughts. It was the first thing I had thought of once I was sure Steven wasn't going to attack.

I nodded and stood up. "And we don't have much time. Whatever is going on is supposed to conclude at midnight."

Steven got up. "How do you know that?"

"I have my own resources," I answered. "Please, we need to go." I held out my hand indicating Steven to lead the way.

Meg and I followed him through the hospital. I had half expected there to be a guard posted at Russ's door but there wasn't.

Inside, monitors beeped and lit up the room with displays. Streetlights shone in on Russ where he lay. In the dim light, he looked horrible. There were no tubes feeding into his mouth though, which meant he was breathing on his own.

I felt bad, not for what I had done, but the fact that I had to do it.

I went around and stood next to him. Steven grabbed a clipboard that was hanging next to the door. Meg was slowest to approach, looking horrified by Russ's appearance.

After a moment I asked Steven, "What does the chart say?"

He handed me the clipboard. "According to this, they had done emergency surgery to open his rib cage so his lungs and heart had room enough to move."

I hadn't hurt him as badly as I had thought, but I had done enough. His ribs had collapsed and the muscles covering them were heavily bruised. Like the front end of a car in an accident, they had taken the brunt of the impact and spared his internal organs.

I handed the clipboard back to Steven and very gently placed one hand on Russ's forehead while resting my other hand on his chest. He felt like so much paper under my touch.

"I'm sorry Russ," I murmured as I closed my eyes and focused on what I had to do.

My powers understood. It wasn't an effort so much as the complexity to heal him, purge all Master PC commands and make him immune to any additional commands later. All of this passed into him quietly.

Another memory flashed through my mind. Part of me wanted to ignore it, another part watched in morbid fascination and a third part begged for something that would give me more information about the events surrounding my birth.

Someone was accusing me of manipulating someone else during an investigation. I knew what they were talking about but also knew I had to focus on what I was really doing, healing Russ. The memory ended.

After everything that had happened over the last day and a half, I expected myself to start craving replenishment after using my powers so many times. Not only did I feel relatively normal, but an understanding came over me. I was complete. Adding Sally to my family filled gaps I had in my power resources. Other Mind Magi didn't have to worry about issues like mine because their abilities were more simplified than mine.

Something in the collective memories I had gained had helped with this understanding. To a degree it was confusing, but I didn't dwell on it.

Russ's breathing picked up and he started coughing. He opened his eyes and looked around at the rest of us. A certain level of panic set in and I helped to calm him.

The door opened and a nurse rushed in. She stopped the instant she saw the rest of us. Then she looked at Russ, who looked back at her, and asked, "What is going on here?"

It dawned on me that healing Russ may have triggered alarms through the monitors. That's what drew the nurse and possibly more who were still rushing our way.

Steven approached the nurse.

She looked up at him and began to back away. When she stopped but continued to stare at Steven, I understood. He was adjusting her memories to keep the situation normal.

I looked at Russ. "We'll find a doctor and send him your way so he can get you checked over and out of here."

"But ... what's going on?" he asked.

"I don't have enough time to explain right now, but I can show you..." I said, offering my hand.

"Show me?"

"I can share memories."

He nodded and accepted.

Once my recent memories had been passed along, Steven said, "We have to go. More are on their way."

Russ started getting out of bed. I shook my head at him. "I want a doctor to check and make sure there's nothing else wrong in case I missed something."

"But I feel great. I don't remember ever feeling this good," he retorted.

"Patience Russ," Meg said. "Do what Lord Setton suggests. He's trying to stop this from happening to others and the least we can do is respect that."

Russ nodded and sat back in bed.

As the rest of us headed for the door, Russ asked, "Don't you know who's doing all of this?"

I looked back and shook my head. "No. I don't."

Russ frowned.

Steven, Meg and I left at that point, passing other nurses who were rushing back the other way in the halls. I had accomplished what I set out to do and felt one step closer to resolving the overall issue. However, Russ's question nagged me. Who was behind this? What would anyone have to gain from doing what they had done?"

If I was honest with myself, I didn't know the Mind Magi society well enough to answer that question. Even if I took the time to go through the memories I had gained, it would take too long. However, I knew one person who knew a lot and wouldn't need hours to remember. I had to get to him next. I had to free him and his family so that he could assist the rest of us, rather than helping those masterminding this.

Michael was next on my list.



-------

Chapter 35: Mr. Gilman



Finding Michael wasn't the problem. Between me using his ability to track him and the fact that both Meg and Steven knew where he was, we got to the office building quickly. No, the issue was the Dragons keeping Michael and his family hostage.

"Henry Livingston," said Meg after I asked her to repeat the name.

"Doctor Livingston?" I asked.

She nodded.

I remembered Dr. Livingston from the first time we had met. He was tall and not the friendliest looking person. Not long after that run-in, he had invaded the mind of one of my girls. His mark was black and hung over his face like a mask.

Sally asked, "Is there a problem?"

Looking at her, I wasn't sure what to say. "I've run into him and had a taste of what he can do." I looked back at Meg and Steven. "He has the ability to see into someone's mind, but for some reason, coming from him, that's frightening."

Steven nodded. "He has some of my abilities, but the fear is also from him."

My eyebrows rose. "He can incite fear?"

Both of them nodded.

Turning around I considered this. Michael was in fear for his family and had seen them there. Maybe the fear was from Livingston rather than any threat.

Sally pulled into the parking garage. There were only a few cars about. I wasn't worried about getting in or out, but having less people to run into if there was trouble was good.

As we got out and headed for the entrance, the door opened and a man, someone familiar, exited. As we approached each other, he stopped and said, "Sally?"

Sally and I stopped too. Sally said, "Daddy?"

"Go on in," I said to Meg and Steven, "We'll be right behind you."

As they left, Sally's Dad approached. He glanced at the Dragons but either didn't recognize them or dismissed their presence.

Sally hugged her Dad tentatively. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I-I was..." He looked around as if not wanting to be overheard. The garage was empty except for us. "I was working."

"You found a job?" Sally said, smiling.

Her Dad nodded, but to avoid her next question he looked at me. "Who's this?"

Sally glanced at me and reached out for my left hand. "This is Ral, Daddy. You remember him. He and I dated while in high school."

Mr. Gilman looked me over. "Ral ... Ral Setton?"

I nodded. "Yes sir," I answered holding my right hand out to him to shake.

His brow furrowed as he studied me. I was worried about him noticing my eyes but he looked at Sally. "I thought you two broke up?"

"We did, but..."

"What about Jake Neilson?" he interrupted. "I thought you two were getting along quite well?"

"I broke up with him last week," Sally said crisply.

He studied her for a second. "Why?"

"I have my reasons," Sally said and she squeezed my hand.

Mr. Gilman looked at me again. "And I thought you went to college in Texas."

I nodded. "Yes, sir. I'm a student at the University of Texas in Arlington."

"Why are you here in New York?"

"I came up to open a store," I said.

"Open a store?" he said. I could feel confusion rolling off him.

Sally jumped at his hesitation. "Dad, we have to go. We have some important work to do."

She turned, as did I, thinking the conversation was over.

Her Dad, however, wasn't finished. "Sally, wait. What work?"

Sally glanced at me.

Her Dad caught the look and seemed to really take me in. "Why are you here?" he asked in what I remembered as his most stern expression.

Knowing what Michael had told me about Sally's Dad I was free to tell him what was going on. "I'm not sure how much about current events you're aware of, but we're here to help a friend of mine. He's being held hostage here by one or more Dragons."

Seemingly instinctively, Mr. Gilman reached up and put a hand on his own cheek. "Dragons?" he asked as he realized what he had done and lowered his hand. I could make out a small stylized 'V' on his cheek. It was gray.

Mr. Gilman looked me over again and saw my mark. The way it hung over my tie but hid under my suite, it looked like it could have been a part of my tie. "You — You're a Mind Magi," he said. Then he asked, "What House are you in? I don't recognize the color."

"I am Lord Setton of House Nautikuus."

He looked up and studied my face. "Lord Setton?" he said, and then his expression shifted. "Your eyes. They're..." Glancing at my mark, he made the connection. "They're the same as your mark."

I nodded and said, "Amber."

Then he looked at Sally and down at her chest. The confusion he had been feeling shifted quickly to anger. "How dare you!" He looked back at me. "How dare you bind my daughter to you!"

Sally held out her hand to her Dad. "Daddy, no! Stop!"

He looked at her, his expression softening.

Softly she said, "Ral told me all about this. He didn't just bind me to him, I agreed to it."

That wasn't entirely true, but I wasn't going to stop her.

"Sally ... Why?"

She looked at me, squeezed my hand, and then looked back at her Dad. "Because I love him."

It took a moment for him to either grasp or accept her statement. Either way, he calmed down and looked back at me. "You said you were going after a friend?" he asked me.

I nodded.

"Dragons are extremely dangerous, hence their title," he said very calmly, almost sage-like. "I don't think you need Sally with you while you do what you have to do."

I couldn't argue with him about that. Keeping Sally with me was merely to keep my need for sex under control more than anything else. Even after using my abilities over the last hour, I hadn't felt any hunger pangs, but that didn't mean they wouldn't start the minute I left her behind.

However, Sally didn't agree with her Dad. "I'm going with him."

Mr. Gilman looked at her. I could tell, through his eyes, she was still his little girl. "Sally, I don't..."

She was shaking her head. "No, I won't hear it. Ral has done nothing to put me in danger. He can do some of the most extraordinary things and one of those is healing wounds."

Mr. Gilman continued to look at her, as if wanting to convince her otherwise, but her statement made him look at me. "You can heal?"

I nodded again. "Among many other things."

Mr. Gilman was torn between wanting to keep his daughter safe and not arguing with her. "Then I'm going too," he said at last.

Sally looked from him to me and back. "What?"

He looked at her with a mixture of pride and sorrow. "What? You think your old man can't keep you safe?"

"Daddy, I've seen what these Dragons can do. Ral has enough difficulty..." she started.

I simply asked, "What is your ability Mr. Gilman?"

He looked at me. "I can trace abilities. If there are any Mind Magi actively using their powers, I will know where they are."

I nodded. "That was why you didn't notice me when you were sent to that small town to find me. My abilities hadn't manifested when you were there."

"And just how much do you know about me and what I've been doing?" he asked.

I shrugged. "I've had many discussions with others regarding my parents. You were one of many who were sent out to find me."

He nodded. "I see. Well, if your friend is in trouble, we should get going."

With that, he walked back the way he had come. Sally and I glanced at one another and followed.



-------

Chapter 36: Rescuing Michael



Once we joined Steven and Meg inside, the five of us headed up to the thirtieth floor of the building. Much like the office building the Mind Magi Council had used for their meeting the day before, this floor had been rented out for Mind Magi use. However, unlike the other building, it wasn't mostly open floor space.

The elevator opened up into a hallway. On both sides, doors led to offices used for various purposes. Most were labeled with either the name of the person who worked in there or the function the office performed.

Basically, it was a maze.

"Where are they?" I asked Steven and Meg.

Meg said, "Doctor Livingston's office."

"Oh," I replied. "Well, where is it?"

Meg led the way. Steven followed. The plan was have both of them go in first and tell Dr. Livingston that I had been caught. We were hoping that he would lower his defenses like Steven had done.

None of the offices had windows into the hallway. The doors had plain, white stained glass that you could only see shadows through.

After having Sally and her Dad wait in one of the offices that weren't in use, I stood by the door to Dr. Livingston's office as Steven and Meg went in. Even with the door closed I could hear them.

"What is going on?" asked a man. The voice was familiar if strained. I was guessing it was Dr. Livingston.

"We've caught the would-be House Lord, Setton," Steven answered. "And it wasn't easy."

"Says you," Meg retorted. "I know Russ tried to chop him up, but I took him down with a two-by-four."

I heard movement and Dr. Livingston said, "Get up." More movement was followed with "Where is he?"

Had our plan backfired?

I could hear Michael. "I-I don't know. I-I can't think straight."

"You're scaring him too much," said Meg.

"Shut up," shouted Dr. Livingston. "Tell me Michael. Where is Setton?"

Dr. Livingston was trying to verify what Steven and Meg had told him. Had the Master PC user anticipated this possibility?

Michael whimpered. "I-I don't know..."

Then I heard someone grunt, and again.

"Tell me Michael. Tell me or your wife will be next."

"I ... Okay ... Okay!" Michael said. "Give me a minute, please! I have to focus."

Focusing on Michael, I reached out to feel his emotions. Fear swept through me and I pulled back instinctively.

"Dr. Livingston, you've filled him with too much fear. He can't do what you've asked," said Stephen. "And it seems that you don't trust us."

"I have to know. I have to!" Dr. Livingston said. "If he is free again, I must find him. He must be brought down."

"Are you calling me a liar?" asked Meg in a very severe tone.

For a moment there was nothing. Then very softly, I barely caught it, Dr. Livingston said, "Yes."

I heard footsteps and someone groan. "Tell me!" bellowed Dr. Livingston.

He must have been programmed to check on anything the others said if I had gotten to one or more of them and somehow freed them.

That was smart.

Focusing on Michael, I thought, "Tell him the truth. Make him come out and see for himself."

From inside I heard, "What was that? Who thought that?"

I should have realized that he would hear me.

More movement could be heard and then a woman yelped.

"Show yourself Setton!" Livingston called.

The plan was useless. Slowly I opened the door. "I'm here."

The office had several desks and chairs. It was big enough to have held a few more comfortably. Michael was sitting on one of the office chairs. He wasn't bound in any way, but the way he shook as he looked up at me told me he couldn't have moved if he wanted. Fear formed a cloud around him.

Steven and Meg were both looking at me. Fear was beginning to trickle in around them as well.

Then I felt it.

Looking over, I watched as Dr. Livingston grabbed the chin of a woman. She was blindfolded. From a pocket, the doctor pulled a gun and pointed it at her head.

"You don't have to do that," I said while taking a few steps forward to pull his attention away from her. It was already taking me lots of effort to fight off the fear building up in me.

"I don't have a choice," he said. His face was contorted. A mixture of fear and pain had stretched it as much as Michael's.

I fought just to take a simple step forward. The fear welling up in me had me wanting to stand as still as possible, so I wouldn't draw attention. I watched the gun Dr. Livingston held, and noted the tension in his hand.

"W-we always have a choice..." I said. I wanted to say more, to encourage him to lower the gun, but I couldn't form the words.

"NO!" Livingston shouted. He closed his eyes and I knew he was trying to fight the shouting commands in his head. "I have to do this!"

Livingston was several yards away. Even with my speed, I couldn't have gotten to him before he pulled the trigger. I knew that. I had to reach him though. I had to find a way to get to him before the impulses forced his action.

My instincts answered my desire. I could feel my Charm reach out to him, moving silently, intangibly toward the man with the gun.

Livingston looked almost demonic with his mark fully visible. His focus was on the woman and the gun he held to her head. Suddenly he looked at me. "You! Stop whatever you're doing." He pointed the gun at me.

My fear shifted from what would happen to Michael's wife to what could very well happen to me.

Wide eyed, I started at the gun. My voice shaking I said, "You wanted me. You've got me." It took effort to look away from the gun Livingston held and look instead at Michael's wife. "Let them go. You don't need them anymore."

He shook his head and I let my Charm get closer. The gun in his hand shook. My eyes came back up to it. The barrel looked huge even from across the room.

Meg and Steven were heavily shaken. Both had backed away to a wall, not wanting to be caught in the crossfire. From their positions neither moved to draw any attention. I was going to have no help from them.

Clarity filled Livingston's eyes. "If you do anything to me, I will shoot her." And he pointed the gun back at the woman's head.

Fear for my life lessened, allowing me just enough control to hold off my Charm, stopping it from reaching him.

"Let my Mother go!" cried a teenage girl from behind Livingston.

He ignored her, but I realized there was something else I could do. Instead of affecting Livingston directly, I directed my Charm at the girl. If I was right, she was Michael's daughter, Jenna. I was going to let my Charm wrap her up and hopefully use her to distract Livingston.

Fear kept gnawing at me, making me second-guess what I was planning. What if Jenna got hurt? What if she caused the gun to go off? What if ... It was too much to think about. It was more than I could handle.

Dropping to my knees, I pleaded, "Please, stop this. It's too much."

I had felt depression, but the fear that rode through me made me want to run for the hills.

Looking up, I saw Dr. Livingston lower the gun. He studied me, considering the possibility of what I might do.

To me, there was no choice. I couldn't do anything to risk Michael's family. Even though I didn't know them, I couldn't bear the thought of what Dr. Livingston might do. Thoughts of seeing his wife and daughter lying on the floor dead filled me. Terror poured out of me in ways I couldn't stand.

Dr. Livingston approached me cautiously and I closed my eyes. I didn't know what he would do to me, but anything would be better than feeling fear for me and everyone else involved.

Oddly, the fear that had finally powered through me lifted. I relaxed and felt for it. Fear filled the room. Had it been water, we would have all drowned in it.

Understanding surfaced. Renée had used Master PC to make me immune to fear.

I got up, at ease with what I had to do.

Dr. Livingston backed up and grabbed Michael's wife again. "Stay back!"

The freedom of not being afraid made things so very clear. I wasn't worried. I wasn't concerned even for the safety of the others.

Dr. Livingston looked not only a little worried, but quite afraid himself. The mask formed by his mark was only magnified into looking like a demonic visage due to the fear he invoked. Now, he looked like an older man, scared to death of what might happen.

Looking at the gun, I knew what I had to do. I was going to pull the gun straight up so that when it went off, it would miss Katherine's head.

Doubt, being a form of fear, was also gone.

Focus brought about the slowing of time for me. I didn't need adrenaline to speed up, it had always been under my control. I also knew that I didn't have to be faster than the gun, only faster than the person pulling the trigger.

I moved. No hesitation, no concern. Dr. Livingston was true to his word and pulled the trigger, but I had no doubts about my speed. I got to him, lifted his hand with the gun and waited for the shot to go off. It seemed to take forever.

After the shot, I wrested the gun from Livingston and used my abilities to free him of Master PC as well as make him immune.

Just like every other time I had done this, another memory flashed before me. Lacking any form of fear, I had control over what I saw and chose something that had bothered me.

I was standing in a hospital, feeling old and close to death. I wasn't there to stop my own death however; I was there to live on.

After finding a nursery I looked through the window at the infants inside. Finally I found the one I was looking for. A boy named Theodore Fitzgerald. He was the son of another Mind Magi. I was certain the child had inherited his mother's telekinetic abilities. I would add it to mine.

After watching the staff work, and learning the timing of their pattern, I went inside. The child was asleep. Perfect.

Placing my hand on the infant's chest, I focused. I passed on my memories, my powers, and my consciousness.

Opening my eyes, I looked up at an old man. His eyes were glazed over. Slowly, he went back out and to the viewing window. Closing my eyes again, I knew that he would die soon. I would live on. Born again in the wake of my death.

The memory ended.

The fear Dr. Livingston had been throwing at everyone had lifted from the room. Michael, Steven and Meg were all shaking off the remnants of Dr. Livingston's power.

I helped Dr. Livingston over to a chair.

"Why the hell did I try to shoot her?" he asked.

I shook my head. "You were under the control of Master PC. And don't tell me it's some nothing program because the rest can attest to what it can do."

Livingston was more shaken up by his attempt to kill Katherine than by any computer program controlling him.

I shook him. "Doctor! Listen, you were being forced to do this. It's that simple. You didn't choose to do it."

He finally looked at me, blinking as understanding filled him. "You're right. I didn't want to do it, but I couldn't stop myself."

I nodded and stood up.

The door to the office burst open and Sally rushed in followed closely by her Dad. After realizing that everything was calm, she ran to me and wrapped her arms around my neck. Mr. Gilman looked shaken.

"Are you alright?" I asked them.

Sally only nodded but Mr. Gilman said, "We felt fear. It was overwhelming."

Dr. Livingston stood up. "My apologies. I was trying to keep him," he nodded at me, "and anyone else in the area from stopping me."

Mr. Gilman looked curiously at the Doctor. "And what were you trying to do?"

Sally said, "We heard a gunshot."

I held up the gun still in my hand. "I stopped Livingston from killing Michael's wife."

All of us looked over at Michael. He was holding both his wife and daughter. Tears rolled down his cheeks. "Thank you," he said simply.



-------

Chapter 37: Many Memories



After everyone had calmed down a bit, I contacted Renée. "Thank you for the help. I wasn't sure how I was going to get passed Dr. Livingston's abilities."

"I didn't think that spike of fear was normal, " she replied. "I'm guessing that Michael and his family are safe now?"

"Yes they are. I'll be in touch again when we go after the other hostages."

"Good. Give them hugs from us."

Katherine and Jenna had calmed down enough that I was able to offer the hugs from Renée. Of course, that was after some introductions. Once that was done, I extracted Michael. He would have plenty of time to explain things in detail later.

I said, "I hate to interrupt but I really need to talk to you."

Michael nodded, and after giving his wife and daughter another hug each he followed me to the other end of the room.

Sally, Steven, Meg, and Mr. Gilman all gathered around Katherine and Jenna, trying to answer other questions they had. Dr. Livingston kept his distance, not sure if they would understand what he had gone through.

Michael glanced back at them. "I can't tell you thank you enough."

"You're my friend," I replied. "You don't have to."

He nodded and focused on me. He started to ask something then did a double take. "Ral, your eyes!"

I nodded. "I know, they're amber. I'll worry about that later. Right now I need your insight into the Mind Magi." I held out my hand and said, "I'm going to show you everything that I've learned since we left the meeting yesterday."

Michael nodded and shook hands with me. After the sharing, he started thinking. It didn't take him long to say, "Jennifer Greenwood? Why would Whisper believe Lord Greenwood is involved?"

"I don't know. I think the only way I'll be able to find out is to get to Jennifer and before making her immune to the program, allow Whisper to explain his actions."

"If he will," Michael said. "From what you've told me, Whisper isn't likely to answer questions he doesn't want to. Besides, he's already given himself away by calling you right before you put Russ in the hospital."

"I know..."

"What about tracking him?"

"Tracking him? He's too good with the program."

Michael nodded. "True, but didn't you say you met him once?"

I thought about that. "The mall. When my abilities were first manifesting."

"Exactly. Just show up where ever he is and make him talk." Michael glanced back at the others as if pointing them out as an example. "I'm pretty sure there's not much he could do to stop you."

"Do you believe Lord Greenwood might have anything to do with this?"

That seemed to drop Michael's smile. "I honestly don't know." He looked at me again. "If he does, woe unto him."

"What might he gain from this?"

"If he were after power, I would say a lot. He might try to steal the other's mantles, but that hasn't happened."

"Is there a ritual for that?"

"Yes," Michael answered.

"What's involved?"

"Well, normally, all the House Leaders witness the transfer. Honestly, it only takes the two people involved."

"Does it take long?"

"Minus all the preparations, not really. I'd say fifteen minutes at most."

"What preparations?"

"Well, a circle of protection is created. That way the power doesn't jump to someone else by accident. Incantations are spoken that allow the new Leader to choose the House color, but they usually forgo that and keep it the same. Then the sender and receiver essentially grasp hands and focus on the transfer."

"So the sender, the one giving the mantle, is a willing participant?"

"Not necessarily. There have been instances when a Leader's mantle has been stripped and handed over to a new Leader."

"So, basically, as long as the receiver makes the preparations, they can force the transfer of the mantle?"

Michael nodded. "They have to have a third if that's the case. Someone to 'act' as the giver. The two of them then grasp the hands of the Leader being stripped instead of each other."

"Then if Greenwood is after the other's mantles, he would need help."

Michael nodded.

"I seriously doubt any of the other House Leaders would help him with that."

"Agreed," Michael said.

We watched the others for a minute, and then Michael said, "Fiona Bennet." He looked at me again. "I didn't send anyone to pick you up at a warehouse. I couldn't have. I was a prisoner of the Dragons. So how she knew where to find you or how to get you away from the Dragons, I don't know. I would find her and ask her about that."

I was somewhat troubled to hear that. She had seemed genuinely helpful. However, if Michael hadn't sent her, how did she know where I was? How did she get me from the Dragons?

I looked over at the group. "Steven, can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Steven said and he joined me and Michael.

"Last night you were with the other Dragons when I found you in the warehouse. What happened after I was knocked out?"

He shook his head. "We just left you there. No one thought about binding you or taking you with us. We just left."

"Was it like everything else that you had been doing inexplicably?" Michael asked.

Steven nodded. "I just had the massive urge to leave."

"Did you see anyone else arrive before you left?"

"No."

Michael said, "If Fiona isn't under Master PC's influence, then I'm betting she's behind the behavior of the Dragons."

Steven looked from me to Michael. "Who's Fiona?"

"Fiona Bennet," Michael answered, and then he looked at me.

I told Steven about waking up at Fiona's place and what we talked about. Finally, I looked back at Michael. "And I'm not sure about the relevance, but her mark is a complex circle on her back and it's gray."

"Is it as complex as yours?"

I shook my head. "I only caught sight of it for a moment. I'm not sure."

"Well, you've met her. You can track her," Michael said.

I nodded. What bothered me most was the attraction I had felt for her. Even now, after fully binding Sally to me and feeling less need for the touch of my other girls, I could still feel Fiona's body against mine.

That triggered another memory.

I was laying in a bed with a woman pressed to me. The air was hot and muggy. We were both sweaty not only from the conditions of the room but what we had just done.

She sat up on her elbows and looked into my eyes. We smiled at one another and kissed.

My hands ran over her body and I was hardening in anticipation of something more.

Her hand moved down and gripped me. "From behind this time," she said in silky tones.

I got up and moved behind her. She watched me over her shoulder as I got into position. She guided me into her and as I began moving, enjoying the feel of our connection, I looked down.

There was a gray circular mark on her back. It looked a lot like Fiona's but lacked some details.

Other memories chained off that one. Repeatedly I saw the mark. It didn't matter whether we were having sex or she was wearing something that allowed her mark to be seen, it was always there.

The woman was always different too. She always had dark hair and eyes, but varied in skin tone and other dimensions. But I knew. It was her. It was always her.

She had lived as long as Theodore had. She had the same ability to transfer to another body when it came time.

Shutting out the memories took a bit of effort. I looked at Michael.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Fiona is long lived. Her mark is complex and has grown over many, many lives."

Michael shook his head and Steven looked dumbfounded. "Please, explain."

I told them about the other memory that I had seen when making Dr. Livingston immune. "Theodore Fitzgerald was already going to be a Mind Magi. Whoever I ... err ... he was before that, he knew. He also knew the infant's mother had telekinetic abilities. He wanted that for himself."

"That shouldn't be possible," said Steven.

Michael, however, had a different answer. "I've heard of such Mind Magi. Exceedingly rare, they are referred to as Phoenix Magi." He looked at Steven. "Like your title, the Dragon Magi, but for a different reason all-together."

Steven looked horror stricken. "You're telling me there are Mind Magi out there that can jump from one body to another?"

I nodded.

Steven shook his head. "Ah man! How could someone do that to a baby?"

"It's pure survival," I said. "An individual's instinct to live can be strong. Besides, if they're as old as these memories suggest, he got over the moralistic issue long ago."

"And if Fiona is also a Phoenix, she would have as many powers as you Ral," Michael said.

"I would think a lot more, but that still doesn't make her responsible for what's happening," I said.

"It doesn't eliminate her either," Michael said. Then he seemed to really look at me. "I'm guessing you got a lot of memories of being with her?"

I nodded.

"You cannot let those memories affect your judgment. If she is responsible, we have to stop her."

I thought again about Fiona, the woman who had lived as long as Theodore. Concentrating on more recent events, I thought again about the meeting Theodore had with my parents. What had he found out that led up to that?

I was in an office with another life of Fiona's. She was called Sandra McMillan at the time.

Sandra had tried to explain the complexities of the computer she was working on. She had purchased a company that had built what they called a super computer but it had failed government tests and was abandoned. Sandra bought it with a different purpose for it in mind.

"I'm going to finally allow the Mind Magi to come out of hiding," she had said. It was the first thing that really held my attention.

"What?" I asked. "How?"

She patted a computer monitor. "This computer will have a program that anyone with a computer can use. It will allow them to do things they normally couldn't."

"What kinds of things?"

"Well, that's still undecided. However, what we've accomplished so far is astounding."

I looked at the monitor. It reminded me of a television set. "I don't see how that would be possible Sandra. A Mind Magi can only endow specific objects with power." I looked back at her. "That's not something you can mass produce."

"I don't have to," she said smiling. "Only the main computer will have the endowed powers. Any other computer would access those abilities."

I shook my head. "The way you're talking, people would be able to do this anywhere."

She nodded with enthusiasm. I had never seen her so excited about anything. "Yes!"

I pulled from the memory. "I think she created Master PC."

"How?" asked Michael.

I shook my head. "I only know what they talked about. She said that the computer system she was working on would be endowed and anyone else with a computer would be able to access it."

"Mind Magi have been able to endow objects with power for centuries," Michael said. "Do you know where that computer was?"

I thought about the visit to where Sandra had been. "The World Trade Center here in New York."

"If that's where the computer was, how is Master PC still working after 9-11?" Steven asked.

"It had to have been moved," Michael answered. He looked at me. "Ral, did Theodore visit her at the computer system again after that?"

I shook my head. "If he did, it was after he passed his memories on to me."

Michael nodded. "If she kept records of renting space with the Mind Magi, then I'll be able to find out where that computer was moved to next."

"What if she didn't?" I asked.

"Well ... Do you know what the name of the company was?" he asked.

I thought. "Yes, Betadyne Industries."

Michael nodded. "I have a contact with the city of New York. He should be able to find out when Betadyne rented space in the buildings and a forwarding address."

Steven looked between me and Michael. "So, are we saying that this Fiona created Master PC and is responsible for what's going on?"

"She may have created it years ago," I said, "but anyone else who had been involved could have taken it from her for whatever reason." With a look from Michael I added. "However, she is not ruled out."

"Ral, with your abilities, I wonder if your parents were involved in the project." Michael said.

I shrugged. "I guess. I can remove code from anyone I touch."

"What if Theodore found out about what Fiona was planning and contacted your parents to help stop it?"

"If they had tried to sabotage her project..." I said thinking. "She wouldn't have let them get away with it. She had heavy security at the facility Theodore had visited. She would have known."

"Well, if the program is working, then they couldn't have sabotaged it," said Steven.

Michael and I nodded.

"I don't like the idea that she may have had something to do with my parent's death, but this still doesn't help us with the current situation," I said.

"There has to be a reason Theodore gave you those memories," Michael said.

"Are you suggesting he knew what she was going to do?" I asked. "I don't have that memory if he did."

"Think about how well he knew her, Ral. Consider how you might anticipate something from your own girls. You don't need to know the details, just a hint of what might happen. If he knew that she wanted to bring about a change in the world and that she had finally found a way to do that..."

I thought about it. "The conversation Theodore had with Sandra about the computer ... She said something about bringing the Mind Magi out of hiding."

"You've already had the first law abolished. What if she's trying to have the second law abolished as well?"

"Why take the hostages?" I asked. "That would reaffirm that the program was dangerous in the wrong hands and reinforcing the need for secrecy."

"Not if someone like you were to save the hostages. You've already displayed your abilities to the public. You helped to bring down the kidnapper in Texas too. If secrecy is the issue, or stopping the secrecy, then she's already using you to help her agenda."

I shook my head. "But Fiona didn't give Vikkor the program."

Michael nodded. "How did Lord Lasarge find out about the program? Who gave him a copy for his daughter to have?"

It was so difficult to fathom. Had she actually planned this so many years ago? No one could have put it all together.

Except Theodore, and he had passed his memories on to me.

"Why didn't Theodore just jump to a new body if he were so sure of what she was doing?" I asked. "Why not make sure she was stopped?"

"You already know that answer. It's already affecting you," Michael said softly. "He loved her. He always loved her and probably knew he would hold back from stopping her. The only way to make sure she was stopped was to pass his memories on to someone else."

"How could he have known I would find out about anything she had planned? I could have died or never found the Mind Magi. Any number of things could have occurred to keep me from being here."

"Only you can answer that, Ral. You have his memories. You have his combined knowledge. Think. What would you do to make sure the child you had entrusted with your powers and memories were made safe?"

"I wouldn't. I couldn't, not if I knew I was going to die soon."

Michael thought about that. "Then he must have had a backup plan."

"Like what?"

"Well, if you couldn't stop her, or the computer, then there had to be a way to stop it for someone else."

"And how do you take away the powers of an endowed object?" I asked.

Michael looked up. "With the counter object. When objects are endowed, it's a side effect, but there would be equivalent objects that, if brought into contact with the original, would permanently disable both. They were called cursed objects because they were usually horrible to use."

"Good thing you like visiting the Historians," I said. "What would we look for?"

Michael shrugged. "Well, if they were endowing a computer, or parts of it, then I would say other computer parts."

"And where would we find those?"

"Your parents left a vast fortune to you. Was there anything that the lawyer told you about that made no sense at the time?"

I shook my head. "No, just the money, the house — which burned down — and..."

"And?"

"And a safety deposit box I never even checked."

Michael and Steven looked at one another. Michael said, "So simple."

I checked my watch. "There's no way I'll be able to reach the bank to have them check for me."

"Don't worry about the bank. Send Sarah Johnson. She can get in, get the whole box and get out without any need to wake the employees."

"You're suggesting I send someone to break in..." I said with a chuckle.

Michael just looked at me. "If you were given these memories and powers to stop the program, it would be good to have someone standing by with the cursed object if you fail."

I had felt pressure when taking tests in school, but this was something else all together. "You do know we are guessing at some of this, right?"

Michael nodded. "But too much of it makes sense, considering the memories you have."

Another look at my watch reminded me, "What about this midnight deadline Whisper suggested?" I asked. "Is there any significance with today's date or such?"

Michael shook his head. "Unless something was programmed into the server itself, I don't think any deadline would have an effect on Master PC."

"Then I need to talk to Fiona," I said. "The only problem is, even if I find her, that doesn't mean she'll be with the server."

Michael nodded. "I'll find the server. That way if we have to shut it down we can."

Steven looked from one to the other of us. "Shouldn't someone do something about the hostages?"

Michael and I looked at Steven. "Good point," I said.

"If we spring the hostages free, Fiona, or whoever else is behind this will probably do something else," Michael said. He glanced toward his family as he did so.

That's when more good news came our way.

Not only did I hear what she said, but Charlotte was quite excited when she thought, "Ral, I've cracked the password protection in Master PC!"

Michael looked at me, catching my change in expression. "What's up?"

I smirked. "We're clear to go after the hostages. Charlotte's just told me that she's cracked the Master PC passwords."



-------

Chapter 38: Deadline



In a harsher part of town, several very nice cars were parked in front of a rundown cinema. Michael, Sally, Mr. Gilman and I could hear shouting coming from inside as we approached. With so much going on I felt it prudent to make sure those with me were inoculated from Master PC and that those who had already suffered from the machinations of the last two days were spared further distress. So, Michael's family was escorted to the airport by Steven and Meg.

In route to the cinema, I had passed on the names of the Dragons holding the hostages to Charlotte. It took her no time to open their profiles and free them of the commands that forced them to do what they had done. As soon as confirmation of success was received, Michael called the other House Leaders and informed them of the location of the hostages.

As we opened the door to the cinema, we heard someone inside yelling, "Where is Leland?"

"He just left sir. I don't know where he went," said an older man.

As I walked in, everyone turned to look. I stopped and scanned the faces. Many were relieved, both House Leaders and hostages. However, some were startled by the shouting.

Lord Greenwood was livid, his face contorted and red. "You!" He pointed at me.

I stood there, staring back at him for only a second. Then I noticed something at his feet. Jennifer was laying there, still unconscious.

Understanding hit me quickly. For whatever reason, Leland had left the scene before the House Leaders arrived and no one could wake up Lord Greenwood's daughter.

I looked at the man he had been arguing with. He was older, with graying hair and stubble. His clothes weren't very businesslike: a red flannel shirt and old jeans. Finishing the red-neck look, compared to everyone else gathered around, he wore worn hiking boots.

"George Fishburn," Michael said softly next to me.

I nodded in response and stepped closer to everyone. Looking them over, I saw many relieved faces. Lady Reynolds was hugging her daughter. Lord Lasarge and Victoria were watching me. However, Lord Greenwood stepped up to put his face in mine.

"Leland has done something to my daughter and I cannot wake her up. You said everyone would be fine!" he yelled inches from my face.

As calm as I could I said, "I'll find Leland and put her right. He hasn't done anything that I cannot undo."

He continued to stare at me as if trying to bore through me with his eyes.

"You should prepare yourself in the meantime. Jennifer won't be herself when she wakes up," I said and then I turned and walked out.

"What do you mean by that?" he called at my back.

I heard Sally and Mr. Gilman asking the others if everyone else was okay. They were distracted for the moment and I didn't think anything would come of them staying while I found Leland.

Ignoring Lord Greenwood as I left, I thought about Leland. He was walking, but not very far away. I started in his direction.

A few minutes later, I found him pacing along an alley.

Leland looked up when he heard me approach. He looked a bit scared but relief quickly swept that away. "I knew you'd come."

"Why did you leave?" I asked.

He shook his head. "When my head cleared of all that screaming ... and I saw the House Leaders arriving I knew I better leave."

"Why?"

"You know whose daughter that is, right?"

I nodded. "Yes, I do. She's bound to me. So, if anyone's in real trouble it'll be me."

"Still, I'm not going back there," Leland said, "I don't want to face him."

I shook my head. "Lord Greenwood can't hold this against you. You were under the influence of Master PC."

"But I didn't do that to any of the other hostages," he said. I could tell he was very upset with the situation and his involvement.

"I think part of the influence was to get you to up the ante when it came to dealing with me," I offered. "Sever did the same but I was able to stop her before anything truly dreadful happened."

He shook his head again. "That's all fine and well, but I'm not going back there."

I held out my hand. "Then let me have the vial and I'll take care of her."

He just stared at me. "You said you could do what I do, but can you..."

I nodded. "When I got your memories it was like gaining your experience. Everything you know how to do, so do I."

More tension flowed out of Leland. He must have really expected me to force him to go back. Now though, he was more than happy to hand over the vial.

As I took the vial, I grasped his wrist. "You don't need further problems from that program," I said as I made him immune.

Feeling the warm liquid change, Leland asked, "What was that?"

I gave him a lopsided grin. "Consider it a booster shot of sorts. You won't have any more problems with users trying to manipulate you with Master PC."

Leland nodded and said, "Thank you." And with that he walked off down the street.

I watched him go and realized for the first time something else was wrong.

Looking along the street there weren't as many people about as what I had seen the night before. I thought it might have been some major sporting event or such, but nothing to do with the Mind Magi issue.

As I headed back to the abandoned theatre, I saw a guy sitting in his car. The only reason I could make out any detail in the dark was that it looked like he was looking down at a laptop, which lit up his face.

Something about that made me stop and look at him closer. He had a faintly vacant expression but seemed was working furiously on the computer.

I moved around his car to see what he was working on. I shook my head when I noticed it was Master PC. Then I realized he wasn't just looking at or changing one person, but opening up one after another and making changes to each of them.

Leaning closer, I pressed my face to the glass and could just make out the command he was entering on each of them: "Get to a computer. Download and open Master PC. Open everyone you know and enter this same command on them."

He was simply opening different people, copying the command into the text box and hitting send. He was literally telling all those people about the program.

I knocked on the window. "Hey! Hey you!"

The guy stopped, looked at me over his shoulder as if he had heard something, and then went back to work.

He had looked right at me and didn't blink.

I glanced at my watch and noticed it was two minutes past midnight.

My heart racing, my adrenaline picking up, I ran back to the Theatre. Several of the cars had gone. Inside only Lord Greenwood, Jennifer, Sally, Mr. Gillman and Michael were there.

Lord Greenwood was kneeling over Jennifer, who was still unconscious on the floor.

Michael approached me. "I don't know what happened. Everyone just started leaving. No one said anything."

I nodded in response, not sure how to explain what I knew.

Greenwood looked up as I approached. "Did you find him?"

I nodded and went straight to Jennifer. "I'm going to have to talk to her when I wake her. She's not going to be herself," I told Lord Greenwood.

"She's not been herself for some time," he said. "I know it's that God-damned program."

"It's worse than that," I retorted. "Others who know about the program are commanding everyone they know to get it and repeat the command for everyone they know."

"What? Why would they do that?" Michael asked.

"That's what I have to find out," I said as I lifted Jennifer's head and pulled her mouth open. Following the steps in the memories that I had gained from Leland the day before, I put her soul back into her.

Almost immediately, Jennifer's eyes started blinking open and she looked up at me. "You took long enough."

"Whisper?"

She nodded and sat up. "You're too late Ral. The sub-routines built into the server have already kicked in."

"I know that," I said, "but why? Why would anyone want the entire world to know about the program?"

"It's not about what they know, but how they respond," Whisper said. "Whoever is running the server will be able to manipulate everyone who has ever been altered by the program."

I could feel a shiver run through Sally. She stood by watching me talk to Jennifer about something she still didn't fully understand. Mr. Gilman seemed impassionate about what was happening. Michael was astonished and Lord Greenwood seemed, if anything, to become more temperamental.

Then it hit me. "Why aren't you being affected?" I asked Jennifer.

"I've anticipated something like this for over a year now. I have commands on myself that will not allow any other entries to work."

Realizing how fast this could spread, I reached out and made Lord Greenwood immune to the program.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Making you immune to the program," I said. "That way whatever is going on won't affect you."

He looked at Jennifer, who nodded at me as if agreeing with what I was thinking, and then he looked back at me. "Do the same to her."

I looked at Jennifer. "You knew he'd make that request the instant he found out what I could do, didn't you?"

Jennifer nodded again. "It was expected. In fact I thought you would have done it sooner but ... I'm guessing you only recently figured out how to make others immune?"

I didn't acknowledge or deny what she said. It was true and that only pointed to my lack of deductive reasoning. Ignoring her statement, I pressed on. "Where is the server Whisper?"

Jennifer just stared at me.

Lord Greenwood looked from me to her and back to me again. "Is she..."

"Whisper's probably looking up the physical address," I suggested.

"No, I'm trying to decide why you want the address," Jennifer said.

"If you don't know why," I said, "then you're not as good as you'd like to think."

"I know you want the program to stop this mass control," Jennifer returned, "but what after that? Leave it so you and I can continue using it or ... not?"

"If I can stop the mass control, then maybe," I said. "But the mass control has to be stopped even if I have to shut down the server."

"Then I'm not sure I can give you the address," Jennifer said.

There was a general feeling of heightened anxiety at that.

"You need to consider what this makes you Whisper," I said. "With so few knowing about and using the program you are one of the elite, but if everyone knows about it and uses it, then you're just like everyone else. One of the many faceless masses. No one of importance."

"Ah, but is that what is really happening or is it something else?" Whisper asked.

"Spit it out Whisper, we don't have all night."

"Then I take it, like most users, you use Master PC because it works but have not taken a closer look into the code?"

"I said it before, get on with it."

"Yes, I fall down the proverbial ladder of 'leet should someone control the masses with the server. I wouldn't be able to do more than any other user because of the overriding commands the server could implement."

"But?"

"But if someone shuts down the routines in mid-run, then things get even worse."

I rolled my eyes. "How?"

"The routine is designed to infect everyone, but not allow them to remember what they did during that time. In other words, when it's finished, the number of users will not change."

"But someone will have access to everyone."

"Yes."

"And they could influence or simply make them think or act any way they wanted."

"Yes."

I nodded. Not only did I understand the sheer power the person running the server would hold, but I had a suspicion that Whisper wanted to be that person. It was starting to make some sense.

"Why do they need to infect everyone, why not just directly control them?" Sally asked.

Jennifer glanced at Sally. "I'm not sure. If I had access to the code in the server, I could verify my suspicions."

"Just tell us what you suspect," I said. "I can take it from there."

Again, Jennifer sat there staring at me. I wondered if Whisper was trying to figure out how much to tell me without giving away anything of real importance, which naturally made me suspicious of what would be stated.

"I believe the server is like the consoles we use: only one subject can be manipulated at a time. I believe that the code may have been updated but something didn't work the way the administrator wanted. Instead of having unlimited access to everyone, the code only allowed mass access to those already affected by the program."

"So, to gain access to the entire world, or at least a vast majority," Michael said as he nodded at me, "this administrator is running this sub-routine to add everyone else to the list."

Jennifer nodded. "Yes."

"So I would need to find the server and this administrator to find out their intentions," I said.

"Yes."

Sally brought up another point. "If this program is causing everyone to use the program on everyone else, won't there be major problems? I mean, think about pilots flying airliners right now. The possible catastrophes alone would indicate something massive happened. Someone would figure it out even if everyone was forced to forget what they had done over the last ... however-long."

I looked back at Jennifer. "She's right. There will be laps in time in various parts of the world. People will still notice the change. Someone will."

"That number would be quite small and insignificant enough to be adjusted by the server," Jennifer said.

It was obvious that Whisper was in awe of the power the server offered. Whisper wanted that power. Of course, he would never admit to that, nor would he just give me the location unless I promised that I wouldn't shut down the server. Why hadn't he gone in and taken the server already?

It had to be guarded.

"Who's watching over the server Whisper?" I asked.

"Very good," Jennifer said, nodding. "More of your kind are watching and guarding it. Those ... Mind Magi. The ones you consider dangerous."

"Dragons," Michael said.

Jennifer nodded.

I looked at Lord Greenwood. "Just how many Dragons are running around anyway?"

Greenwood seemed to have kept up with the exchange well. "Not that many. There's usually one for each of the Houses and one more for the Council."

"So, fifteen?"

"Yes, but that's the maximum and I know we've not filled all those positions for about the last ten years."

"But I thought once a Dragon is initiated they're always a Dragon?" I asked.

"No," he said. "After some time, they usually retire their position and status, or something befalls them. Either way, they die or are banished."

"So they're not above the Mind Magi Laws," Sally said softly.

Michael nodded at her as Lord Greenwood looked over at her critically.

"Okay," I said to pull his attention back to me, "but how many are active now?"

"Currently, only Seven," he said.

"So, Russ, Sever, Steven, Ron, Leland, George, and Laura," I counted off.

"Those are all of the active Dragons," Lord Greenwood said.

I glanced back at Jennifer but asked Lord Greenwood. "Then, where are the former Dragons?"

He shrugged. "Possibly under the influence of the program, like everyone else at the moment; I really don't know."

"We are going to have to change the policy regarding Dragons after this is over, especially to safeguard them from this kind of manipulation," I said.

Lord Greenwood nodded. "Agreed."

I turned back to Jennifer. "Now, I need to know where the server is Whisper."

"And I still need to know what you intend to do Ral."

"I intend to stop this mess."

Jennifer shook her head. "Not the way you're thinking I'm afraid. You have to let the program finish the routine so that all memories are wiped as it will do."

"How is that going to help? The damage will still be done!" Sally said.

"There is nothing that can help it," Jennifer said. "If you had shut down the server before the subroutines implemented then this could have been avoided."

"I have been a bit busy," I said, rubbing my face warily. "The Dragons have had hostages and have been trying to kill me."

"I told you what you needed to know yesterday," Jennifer said with increasing dispassion. "Regardless of anything else going on, you should have heeded my warnings."

"I'm not going to get into a hypothetical argument with you Whisper," I said. "This is what we have to deal with and I will make sure all is well when it's over."

"How?" Whisper asked.

I had no real answer to that. There was no way I could correct all the problems caused by the disaster the Master PC server was implementing. Allowing it to wipe the memories of everyone it had infected would circumvent a good majority of the problem, but the miniscule percentage of those still aware that some time went missing would still be an issue. Obviously, the program was probably designed to force others to ignore what was happening or believe they were still doing whatever they were doing before the program took over. But what about the small percentage?

"I'll allow the sub-routine to finish its course," I said. "After that, depending on the situation, I may have to dismantle the computer."

Jennifer furrowed her brow. "What situation can you possibly imagine that would call for that?"

"Well, whoever implemented this has former Dragons guarding the facility. The person responsible may be there as well and unwilling to allow me to change their mind about what they wish to use it for. Dismantling the computer would be the only way to keep them from doing what they're after."

Jennifer crossed her arms. "I'll have to think on that..."

I nodded. "Okay, while you're thinking, I'm going to release Jennifer from your control."

As I reached for her, she pulled back. "Why?"

"You know my cell number," I said. "You can call me to tell me an address just as easily as tell me through Jennifer. Probably easier I suspect."

"You still don't know the entire story. Everything that is happening," she pleaded.

"Really? Then tell me."

"There is more to stake here than just who uses the server, who gets to use the console version and why it should be shut down."

"Stop all the drama Whisper. Tell me."

"Have you not considered who all is using the console version right now?"

"That's pretty easy..." I started.

"No, it's not," Jennifer interrupted. "There are more than individuals using it. Do you really think something like this could spread along the internet and certain companies and governments not notice, not look into it and not covet the full power of this thing for their own?"

I looked over at Lord Greenwood with a very dry face. "If that were the case, then the secrecy of the Mind Magi would be in jeopardy. The individuals involved would have been dealt with, correct?"

Greenwood looked down and away. That one action alone told me he knew more.

"Talk to me Greenwood. Why haven't these offices and corporations been dealt with regarding the secrecy of Mind Magi? It is our one remaining law to protect us from the rest of the world."

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. As he did so, he looked back at me. "The Mind Magi Council has been aware of the activities of governing bodies and corporations that have begun to use and investigate Master PC," he said. "However, there is no direct link between the server and the Mind Magi."

I remembered having a talk with Sandra McMillan years ago as Thomas. "I understand there are no documents regarding Mind Magi, but if they have already spoken with enough people ... All it takes is one to talk."

"What are you saying?" Lord Greenwood asked.

"This was no accident," Jennifer said. "It was designed and is now being implemented. Master PC is too wide spread to stop. It would take something short of a miracle to reverse the damages to your secrecy, especially if any of those companies or governments gets control of the server."

Lord Greenwood looked wide-eyed at his daughter. "Then that's all the more reason to destroy the blasted thing." Then he looked at me. "And it would appear that you've been groomed for just that feat."

Jennifer looked at me wide-eyed then. "You can't."

"If what you say is true, Whisper, then I'll have no choice. Not only will I have to dismantle the computer, but I'll have to reverse the endowment on the components that were implemented years ago."

Lord Greenwood said, "How? You would have to have the counter items to do that. They could be anywhere."

I shook my head. "I'm pretty sure they were left to me. I just didn't know it at the time." I looked at Michael. "Have you been in touch with Sandra?"

"Yes," he said, "but that was before everyone started losing their cognizance due to the server taking over." He already had his phone out to dial.

"See if she's still with us," I said to Michael and then turned to Jennifer. "If I'm right, I may not need you to find the server after all Whisper."

"What?"

"The counter-objects will help guide me to the enhanced ones. It's their natural course to counter each other out." I looked at Lord Greenwood. "Isn't that right?"

He nodded.

Jennifer looked from one to the other. "You cannot do that Ral. There is so much Master PC can do to improve our society."

"Like taking over the minds of young men or women and do with them as you please?" asked Lord Greenwood.

"I have to agree," I said.

"I have done nothing with Jennifer," she replied. "Nothing that would harm her."

"Wrong, Whisper. She knows she's not in control. She's sitting back seat to her own body, unable to affect anything she does or says. That is what Master PC has allowed you to do to her." I reached out and gripped her upper arm. "And now it's over with."

Just as I made Jennifer immune to Master PC, Michael said, "Stop!"

I looked over at him as Jennifer lunged to hug her father. "What's wrong?"

"I can't get a hold of Sarah," Michael said. "She may have the counter-objects, but she's not answering."

I looked around the room at everyone. "I'll get the counter-objects from Sarah and then find Fiona..."

"Fiona Bennet?" Lord Greenwood asked.

I nodded. "Do you know her?"

He looked gravely past his daughter and said, "She's been in charge of the Master PC project since we started investigating it a few years ago."

I looked at Michael, Sally and Mr. Gillman. Looking back at Lord Greenwood I asked, "And when were you going to tell me this?"

He finally looked back at me. "You know that I didn't agree with your instatement as a House Lord. I know ... I know where you come from and how you came to have so many abilities."

I stood up and back, just to put some distance between me and him. He had known enough background to have kept this from happening in the first place, but hadn't done anything.

"Talk. Now."



-------

Chapter 39: Accusations



"I've known about Master PC since its inception," Lord Greenwood said. "I was one of the many Mind Magi recruited to help get it up and running."

"If you've known all this time..." started Sally.

Lord Greenwood snapped around to glare at her.

"Let him talk, Sally. He may be facing Banishment, " I thought to Sally. To Lord Greenwood I said, "Please, continue."

"As I said, I was involved in the program's creation. Sandra McMillan recruited many Mind Magi, not only for our abilities but our everyday skills as well."

Imagining the complexity of the software alone was reason enough to hire programmers. On top of that was the need to be able to implement the software on a wide variety of platforms. However, that was all well before most of the current operating systems were even dreamed up.

"I would love to know all the details of how Sandra orchestrated the creation of the software. That would make a good training program for how things might go wrong if the Mind Magi should meddle in the mundane affairs of the world. However, I'm more interested in more recent events. For instance: if the Mind Magi were involved in the creation of the program, why the need to investigate it years later?"

"Well, part of the history of the program was that it was never released as intended," Lord Greenwood said. "Not long after Sandra's death, the Mind Magi Council decided to pull the plug on the project and essentially bury it."

"If that was the case, who dug it back up?"

He shook his head. "I don't know."

"I'm more interested in how you know everything about Ral?" Sally said.

Lord Greenwood turned and looked at her. "I don't recognize you. What House are you a member of?"

"Sally is bound to me," I answered. "However, she has a good point. Why would I be so important to you to find out everything on?"

Lord Greenwood turned back to me with a bit of a sneer. "As you are aware of, you were born of two Mind Magi; something that was not permitted by our laws at that time."

"I became a House Lord only two years after your parents' deaths," he continued. "The other House Leaders felt no need to pursue you once your parents had died. They felt you posed no threat."

"Yet, due to the influence of the prophecy, you felt I was a threat," I said.

He nodded. "Though the prophecy mentions only your birth, I feared you would be far more detrimental in the rest of the prophecy. And so far, I've been correct."

I glanced at Michael. He looked about as confused as I felt. "And what threat do I present?"

Lord Greenwood pointed toward the door. "The world knows of your existence. They have electronically recorded you using your powers. Since those damned cameras are now a viable source of proof beyond doubt, and that particular bit of footage was broadcast on the air, there must exist more than just you."

"That would never have happened," I said in return, "if the Mind Magi Council and the rest of our society had been warned of the potential dangers of Master PC. If there had been someone to dismantle the computer and counter the imbued objects, none of this would have happened."

"I am not clairvoyant," said Lord Greenwood. "How was I supposed to know these kidnappings would happen, or that the program would be the tool for which it was possible?"

"You said it yourself Greenwood. You were investigating Master PC usage for the last few years. What's more, you knew about the server. You knew that if you shut it down then the occurrences would stop. Why didn't you shut down the server?"

Lord Greenwood glared back at me for a second. "Because the server had been moved."

"So you don't know where it is," I said.

"That's right. To say I've done nothing is quite incorrect. I've tried to warn the other House Leaders. The only one who gave it any thought was Lord Lasarge, but he let the others convince him that nothing could come of it that we couldn't counter."

"How many of the current House Leaders knew of the Master PC project from so many years ago?"

"Only one, other than myself."

"Lord Lasarge?"

Lord Greenwood shook his head. "No, Lord Morehouse."

"If he knew about the original project, why didn't he assist with the investigations?"

"Because he was too stubborn to listen," said Lord Greenwood. "He didn't want to believe that someone had resurrected the project, or distributed it, for that matter."

If Lord Greenwood had proof, I didn't see how anyone who knew about the project could ignore what was happening. That would make Lord Morehouse a suspect as much as Fiona. "Other than informing Lord Morehouse of what was happening, what else have you done?"

"I have sought the whereabouts of the server. However, since it was originally in one of the twin towers of the World Trade Center here in New York, it has obviously been moved prior to 9-11."

I nodded, having just discussed that with Michael. "Have you had any luck finding the server?"

"No," Lord Greenwood said.

"And you don't know who's running the server?"

"No."

"He's not any use then, " thought Sally.

"Agreed, " I replied. I pointed at Lord Greenwood and then at the door. "Go. Get your daughter to safety. If anyone should not be involved in what's coming, it's her."

Greenwood didn't even blink or attempt to argue. He led Jennifer to the door but stopped. He looked at her and then turned to me. "You still haven't released her."

I thought about Jennifer. Felt the turmoil of emotions. Remembered the few hours I had thought of her as Whisper, and then meeting the real her in our dreams. She had been through so much, but it wasn't for me to protect her. With almost no effort, I removed the bond from her. "She's free. Now go, be safe."

Lord Greenwood nodded but stood there staring at me. I was beginning to suspect another verbal assault, but then he said, "I may not approve of you as a House Lord, or completely trust your existence due to the prophecy..."

"But?"

"But you have kept your word. That I do appreciate." With that, he turned and left, leading Jennifer out of the run down cinema.

I turned to the others.

"I'm not sure how much time there is until the sub-routine finishes," I said, "but we need to find that server. Whoever is behind this will be with it because they're not going to leave to chance anyone else getting a hold of it."

"You mean like the governments or corporations Whisper mentioned?" Sally asked.

I nodded.

"Well, I've not heard back from my contact with the city," said Michael. "It's likely he's under the influence of the server right now."

"Get to that office and check the records yourself. With everything going on, there's not likely to be anyone to slow you down."

Michael nodded and walked out of the cinema.

"What about us?" asked Mr. Gilman.

I gave them the name of the hotel where Renée and Erin were staying. "Go there. They're likely to be under the influence of the server as well. I never had a chance to inoculate them. I'm not sure what condition they'll be in but they have a computer with Master PC on it. You'll be able to pull up anyone without a password and manipulate them. It's the most help I can ask of either of you at the moment."

"You're going to find the server," said Sally. "What about the Dragons protecting it?"

I smiled. "I've dealt with the other Dragons who have actively come after me with little pain to me or them."

Sally looked down and ran her hand over my arm where Steven had driven a knife through earlier in the day. "I know you have all these amazing abilities, but I still want you back safe."

In an instant we were hugging. It felt as if it had been days or weeks since I had held her. So much time. So many problems. Yet the feel of her skin, even just her cheek touching mine, reminded me not only of her waiting for me, but the others, both in the two hotels and back in Texas, all waiting for the same.

I pulled back enough to look into Sally's eyes. "You can't imagine how much those words mean to me," I said softly. "I'll be okay and will meet you at the hotel when this is over."

Sally nodded.

I could feel the pain she was feeling, felt the tear as it raced over her cheek. Reaching up and wiping it away, I leaned back in and kissed her.

"Ral," said Mr. Gilman, "there's someone here. I can feel him."

I looked up and around. "Where?"

"Outside," said Mr. Gilman, and just as quickly, the vacated cinema building seemed to tear apart around us.



-------

Chapter 40: Maelstrom



How the building tore apart around us, yet didn't hurt any of us, I couldn't explain. But then, there were many things I couldn't explain.

Without the protection of the structure, wind and rain lashed down on all of us. I turned, attempting to shield Sally from the sudden brunt of the storm.

Bits of wood and metal flew around the three of us and I could feel fear running rampant through Sally and Mr. Gilman. Their fear fed my sense of protection.

I felt the wind die down. Looking around, I saw the storm continuing to rage around us, but it was like we were in the eye where nothing was happening.

Sally looked up. "Is it over? What was that?" Then she noticed the eerie contrast as well.

Mr. Gillman looked around. "Either the storm is as odd as it is for just showing up..." and he looked at me "or Ral is demonstrating an ability he has yet to discover."

Sally looked at me. "You're doing this?"

I thought about the storm. I could feel it at range, and the sensation of holding it at bay. "I am. I'm holding it off."

Just as quickly as it had hit and destroyed the cinema, the wind and rain died away. Debris fell around us, still deflecting off the bubble I had erected unconsciously.

Once the clatter of everything settling ceased, I heard what sounded like someone clapping.

"Very good, very good!" someone called.

I turned, looking for them. "Sally, take your Dad, get a car and get away from me. This is going to become very dangerous."

Sally hesitated and I urged her to run. She and Mr. Gillman made their way through the debris toward the back of where the cinema had stood. I walked in the opposite direction.

A man stood in the shadows of the street. Streetlamps were toppled, giving us no light. I wasn't sure if the cinema was the only demolished structure, but with my focus on the man, I wasn't overly worried. "Who are you?" I asked.

"I am known as Maelstrom," he said with a deep bow. "And I believe I knew your parents ... Mr. Nautikuus."

That grabbed my attention as nothing else had. Why this Mind Magi was suddenly so important, I wasn't sure. Something in my head knew what to expect of him, and my emotions embroiled a storm within me that not even a protective bubble would keep away.

"How did you know my parents?" I asked softly.

He looked at me. I could feel his curiosity. "Haven't you been told?"

"My parents are dead, if that's what you mean."

"Yes," he said, looking up at the sky, "And I'm the one who brought down the lightning bolt that killed them."

The air around me suddenly felt full with something intangible yet undeniable. I looked up and saw rolling storm clouds and it dawned on me that Maelstrom was manipulating them.

Instinctively I sped up. The clouds slowed their movements. But a lightning bolt ... Could I outrun that?

I moved, jumping away to relative safety. The bold grazed my feet, but I felt nothing more than very hot shoes.

Maelstrom found me. "You are fast. The rumors about you are true then. Speed, strength, and who knows what else."

"I'm loaded with surprises," I said standing up. "Why not come over and find out what?"

He shook his head. "No. I have other plans for tonight. You are merely a distraction at best."

"You can't hit me with lightning," I retorted. "What makes you think you'll get on with your plans?"

He smiled. "Because I can hit you with other more, wide spread effects."

I could hear it coming. The ground smacked with rain. Heavy rain. Too heavy. Turning I saw a wall of precipitation rushing toward us. It wasn't rain hitting the ground. It was hail.

Looking the other way, I found an abandoned car. Thoughts of Sally and her father crossed my mind. If Maelstrom didn't think he was winning against me, he may turn to hurting them. I knew they were already driving away, but that wouldn't put them out of his reach.

Knowing how much it would hurt, but fearing more for the others, I stood there and waited for the brunt of the hail storm.

Pain wasn't the only thing to endure. The sheer cold of the heavy ice burned to my bones. The beating, about my head, shoulders and back, made it hard to concentrate. Falling to my knees and folding over into a fetal position, I tried to reduce how much of my body was hit. Still the pain and freezing effects kept me from retaliating.

I knew it was just a matter of time. The density of the storm increased the odds dramatically. Finally, one of the baseball sized blocks hit me in the squarely in the head and I lost consciousness...



-------

Part 6: Tangled Web

-------

Chapter 41: Conspirator



I didn't know how long I had been out. Waking on the street was enough to realize that I had let things go too far. Too many had suffered at the hands of others. If Maelstrom was any indication, there was no reason I could fathom to allow anyone to control the Master PC server. It was time to shut it down permanently.

Picking myself up off the street, I looked around. Much of the debris was now littered with hail. The scene stirred different memories in me. The strongest was from my grandfather. He had been there to see the arching, branching lightning bolt he had amplified and attempted to direct at Maelstrom. However, it struck my parents. In that instant, that moment of horrific tragedy, their bodies stood rigid, burned with the intensity of the electrical discharge, and then fell like puppets whose strings were cut.

The memory didn't overwhelm me, taking me to another time, like those Theodore had given me, but it did feed me with anger and the desire for revenge, just as it had with my Grandfather. Though Maelstrom would, undoubtedly, be frustrated with my lack of being dead, and I wanted to go to him and teach him the mistake of not insuring his job was done right the first time, I had to remain true to the duty that I had been given genetically.

I had never held a grudge, never truly hated anyone. No one deserved that, most especially those who had done wrong by me. The conflict of wanting to find and hurt Maelstrom and to let go of the anger and pain he had inflicted was vital. There was nothing wrong with merely putting him to sleep and letting the proper authorities deal with him. However, I was no longer just the average citizen. I was that authority. My title was not only a name of recognition, but a responsibility to uphold the rights of those who had come to me for protection and any collateral targets of those such as Maelstrom.

This was no longer just a matter of resolving an issue. It was not just a matter of putting the wrong things right. It was a matter of justice and I was the only one left in a position and with the tools needed to make sure justice was enforced. Dragon, Phoenix, House Lord, Mind Magi; I was all those things.

Those lingering thoughts of justice and my responsibilities resolved the conflict. I would both allow the pain to pass as well as punish Maelstrom. Even though there was an unspoken rule that the Dragons were not allowed to attack House Leaders, I was thinking more simply: Assault with intent to kill. It was a very real law that applied to him. First Degree Murder was as well. Proving these in a court would only be as difficult as proving my own abilities.

With the Law of Secrecy in jeopardy already, especially because of what I had done to stop the problems that had occurred so very publicly, not to mention that Master PC would change the minds of everyone about the Mind Magi if it was Fiona who controlled the server, bringing Maelstrom in for his crimes would be an absolute necessity.

Turning in a slow circle, I thought about Maelstrom. Finding him was easy, thanks to Michael's ability. Using Sarah Johnson's ability, I moved through the shadows. Just as quickly as I felt the sensation of moving through water, it was gone and I was inside an office suite.

Maelstrom stood nearby, talking to someone. " ... down where the hostages were."

Michael's secondary ability to hide when tracking his target allowed my sudden appearance to go unnoticed.

"And did you make sure he was dead?" asked a female voice.

"No one could have taken that beating and lived. Not even a Mind Magi," said Maelstrom. I could hear the arrogance in his voice.

I stepped out of the shadows. "You shouldn't be so over confident about your abilities Maelstrom."

He turned to face me. He was a couple of inches taller than me with blond, windswept hair, cornflower blue eyes and an expression of confusion.

The female looked at me as well. Her hair was dirty blonde. Her brown eyes took me in. She looked familiar but I couldn't place her.

Taking advantage of their surprise, I put Maelstrom to sleep and forced the female to her knees. "Tell me your name," I commanded her.

Her eyes glazed over. "Julie Straub."

"Are you a Dragon?" I asked.

She nodded.

"Who else is involved in this?"

"Fiona Bennet, Devon Gladstone ... Maelstrom ... and ... and..."

"And who?"

Julie started to shake and froth at the mouth. She was going into some form of convulsions. I laid her back on the floor and started pouring my ability to heal into her. Whatever was happening wasn't natural. Though I didn't feel toxins, nerve degradation or organ failure, I did feel the presence of another Mind Magi.

I threw up shields to protect Julie from the attacker, but either I was too late or the other Mind Magi knew enough to bypass my efforts, because within seconds she lay dead before me.

Looking down at her sleep-like form, another memory triggered.

I was walking through the hall of a house. My adopted daughter lived there. She had recently been promoted to Dragon status and would soon leave for training. I had arrived to see her off.

Stepping through an open doorway, I watched her packing her suit case. When she closed it, she turned around and spotted me. It was Julie.

Pulling back to the office suite, I looked down at the older version of her. Part of me felt bad for Theodore. Someone had killed the only child he had raised. Having the full range of emotions to match the memories of raising her, a tear escaped me and fell on her face.

Part of me, the part that felt responsible for what was going on and not having done something sooner, wanted to pull her back from death. The emotions of Theodore's memories agreed with the impulse. Something else, something dark and otherworldly suggested that doing so would be bad.

Calming myself, I sat back from her and reasoned that she had put herself in the position she now was. She may have not wished to be killed while being involved in the plot affecting so many, but she had to of known the implications of working with others with such ambition to not let anyone stand in their way.

After a moment of silence, I turned to Maelstrom. He was still peacefully sleeping. Leaning over him, I dove into his mind. His defenses were up and as good as the other Dragons I had encountered in the same way, and like with them, I was able to sweep his defenses aside and seek the information I wanted.

I saw the faces of those involved. Julie, Fiona, another Dragon named Devon Gladstone, and House Lord Blake Morehouse.

His face affected me the most, but on reflection, it made sense. He fit the suspicion I had had about one of the House Leaders being involved in the kidnappings. He hadn't been present at the cinema when the hostages had been released, there was also no one left who might have been related to him.

Just how involved was Lord Morehouse? Was he another pawn, working under the influence of the program or a willing participate? Part of me hoped he was the one pulling all the strings.

I still wanted to give Fiona the benefit of a doubt, but knowing that Sandra was involved in the creation of the program and wanted to use it to help give the Mind Magi freedom made that difficult. I had to find her. I had to know what she really wanted with the program.

Morehouse or Fiona? Who to look for first?

Fiona wasn't an immediate threat. At least I hoped not.

Thinking about Lord Morehouse, I knew where to find him.

I started to get up, but looking at Maelstrom, I realized there was one very important thing I had to do before I left. With a growing understanding of how different Mind Magi worked, I knew our minds were the key to our abilities. Physiologically, our brains controlled all aspects of our bodies, and that would include accessing our special abilities.

After removing Maelstrom's access to his abilities, I stood and focused on Lord Morehouse again. Prepared for a fight that would rival anything the Dragons had offered, I traveled through the shadows to his location.

I had no more than arrived and heard Lord Morehouse say, "Welcome Lord Setton. I have been waiting for you."

He sat at a desk in a plush office. The desk looked antique, as did several other pieces of furniture. The hard wood floor had two large oriental rugs to break up the space. Soft tans and leathers helped ease the sense of authority, but didn't hide it. However, my anxiety put me on guard.

"You look upset. Is something troubling you?" Lord Morehouse asked.

I looked at him, making eye contact. "Many things are troubling me."

He sat back in his chair and held out a hand to another chair beside me. "Sit. We can talk about them. See what we can do."

I didn't want to sit. "I'd be more comfortable standing."

He nodded.

He was giving me the impression that he had done nothing wrong. As if the memories I had gained from Maelstrom were wrong.

"Talk. Tell me what's on your mind," he said.

"Several things," I started. "The kidnappings ... The Dragons ... Master PC..."

"You mentioned that before," he said. "I didn't think a computer program could do what you suggested."

This was confusing. The emotions I felt coming from Morehouse suggested that he really did not know anything about what I had seen.

"I found out that the Dragons were being manipulated by Master PC. However, I still don't know who was pulling their strings."

He nodded and said, "I can understand your frustration about that, but I understood you had already freed the Dragons of the program and freed the hostages."

I nodded. Doing so brought a buzzing sensation in the back of my head to my attention. "Yes ... but that still doesn't explain why the hostages were taken in the first place."

Lord Morehouse leaned forward. "Why do you have to know?"

I looked at him. "Because ... They could do it again. They could do worse." The buzzing was turning into a low hum.

"I think you should have a seat. You don't look well."

Something told me sitting would be a bad idea, though I really wanted to sit down.

"Sit down Lord Setton."

The urge to sit was stronger. The hum and pressure in my head increased. "No," I said.

"You are strong. Stronger than she suggested," said Lord Morehouse.

I looked at Lord Morehouse again. "Stop this."

He just watched me for a moment. "I can't."

"Then you are involved."

"Yes," he said simply. He was at perfect ease. What he had done, what he had participated in, and what he intended to do had no adverse affect on his emotional state. It didn't bother him.

The noise in my ears and the pressure in my head suddenly grew exponentially. It felt like my head was going to explode.

"Simply do what you're told and the pain will ease," Lord Morehouse said softly.

I didn't know what he was doing to me. If he were causing physical damage I would simply heal, but this was as if he were simply making me believe I was in pain.

Inspiration struck. I plugged my ears and started humming loudly. The pain and inner noise ceased.

Lord Morehouse looked disappointed. I watched him stand up and straighten his suit. He was looking me over like he might a child who had done wrong and how best to punish him.

I stopped humming and unplugged my ears. The buzz started again, but there was no pain.

Speeding up, I moved around his desk.

To my surprise, Lord Morehouse watched my movement perfectly, as if I were not moving any faster than normal. While that was expected, I wasn't simply trying to move faster than him, but faster than his buzzing power.

When I reached him, I didn't bother to simply touch and command him to sleep, I knew he would be able to resist me, instead I used the Tae Kwon Do I had learned the previous summer and used a diagonal snap kick to his thigh in an attempt to put him on his knees.

He took the shot and stumbled back to remain standing.

I was still moving very fast and the kick had caused him to slow down. Using the advantage, I moved in with a combination of punches.

Morehouse dodged both attacks and seemed to jump across the room.

Worried that he was running and could get away, I looked around. The instant I found him, I rushed him, attempting to simply body-check him into the cabinet behind him.

Again, he dodged me. And I ended up crashing head-long into the cabinet.

I heard him laugh and ask, "What is this? What are you doing Ral?"

After extracting myself from the furniture, I faced him again. "I'm going to stop you."

Morehouse shook his head. "No you're not. Certainly not like this."

Part of me knew he was right. He had more Mind Magi to pull powers from, he had years of experience with his abilities, and obviously he could move as fast, if not faster, than me. Still, his condescending manner was making me mad. I knew I couldn't let my emotions get the better of me, but what else did I have?

"What's the matter, Lord Setton?" He said "Lord" as if it were a perversion, or more that I was a perversion to the title. "Can't you come up with anything clever? Why not just command me to sleep? Or show me your true strength the way you did with Russ and Roy?"

"You're the one who's been controlling the Dragons." It wasn't a question.

Lord Morehouse nodded. "I have."

"Did you also program them to go the extra effort when dealing with me?"

A wide grin spread across his face as he nodded, but that grin faded and shifted, changing to a grimace. "But they failed, just as our previous Dragons failed to find you as an infant."

I watched him, and felt anger build within him. Something else was there too, but it was smothered by his rage.

"You ... an infant, and full grown, fully trained Dragons could not find you."

"My parents hid me well."

He nodded. "Yes, but in the end, they are dead and you will be too." The additional emotion finally peaked through. He was afraid.

"Why is my death so important?" I asked. "Why are you so afraid of me?"

His eyes widened and he instantly relaxed. "I am not..."

"You hide your emotions well, Lord Morehouse," I interrupted, "but I am more than the sum of my parts. I can feel anyone's emotions. I can even tell when they lie. And right now, you're not only lying to me, but to yourself as well."

His anger flared again. "If anyone lies, it is you!"

I didn't understand his fear, but his anger was obvious. He was angry at me for being outside of his control, and he was angry at himself for being afraid. "What makes you think that I'm lying? You have an entire House of Mind Magi you can pull abilities from. Don't any of them have the ability to discern the truth?"

He stared at me for a second. Though I knew what he was feeling, I had no idea what he was thinking. "You self-righteous punk. You think that just because you're out there trying to rescue hostages and save others from being controlled by Master PC that you're the only one who is helping?"

"If you're talking about Sandra McMillan's dream of allowing the Mind Magi to be free of the Law of Secrecy, you didn't have to go to so much trouble. It would have been easy to simply abolish the law and allow everyone to mingle at their leisure."

He shook his head. "No. It would not be that simple."

"And why not?" I asked. "This country, the world, is not a dark medieval realm anymore."

"Oh yes it is," he said with a somewhat manic grin to go with it. "Do you really think even the United States government would allow us to walk the streets without some strategy to find all of us and haul us away should the need arise?"

The duality of his question and what was really happening couldn't have escaped him, but I pointed it out nonetheless. "So that's your justification for what you're doing now? Making sure everyone will be perfectly happy to accept us as if we were simply long, lost family members?"

"It is the best solution."

"And you expect that no one will ever suspect or investigate where we came from, why we were never noticed before, or any other trivial pursuit that may lead to more dangerous questions?"

"The few that attempt such pursuits can be dealt with."

"With the power of Master PC to back you, that is true. Otherwise, it's back to depending on the few Mind Magi who possess the power to alter memories or simply control others to do your dirty work for you," I said. "Unfortunately, there are not enough of those to go around and handle all the cases you would deem necessary."

Morehouse grinned. "You're correct."

"Then wouldn't it be an awful thing if the government or some other cooperation found out about Master PC and attempted to wrest it from your control?"

"They couldn't. Even if it were possible for them to find the server, we would retain control of it."

"You're living in a fantasy world if you think no mundane organization knows about it."

Morehouse looked me over. "You don't have any proof."

"I don't need it. It's as simple as anything else the government might investigate. They look into businesses that deal badly, they'll look into the Mind Magi as well."

Again, Morehouse smiled. "As long as we have control of the right people and simply direct them to ignore us as any kind of threat, no investigation would be initiated."

I nodded. It was that simple for him. Any conceivable threat to his control over what was going to happen would simply be stopped by using Master PC. The question was: did he have anyone in his House who already had similar abilities? "If you had to recruit my parents for the creation of Master PC, and then abandon the project after they died, then I'm guessing they were special in how their powers worked."

"There are hundreds of thousands of Mind Magi all around the world," he said. "Any number of them could have the potential to reproduce what your parents had accomplished."

"Yes, but how many are in your house?" I asked.

As Lord Morehouse stared at me, trying to rationalize a question, I sped up and threw myself at him again.

Hitting him in the mid-section with my shoulder, I drove him back. We slammed into his desk. His body took the brunt of the blow and buckled over the top of the desk, but my continued momentum forced us through the desk and into the wall behind it.

Without waiting for Morehouse to recover, I pressed my hands to his head. He was too shaken and hurt to respond in any way. I used that to my advantage and physically removed his access to his abilities.

When Morehouse finally tried to respond, using his abilities, his shock to find he couldn't was intense. "Wha ... What have you done to me?"

I ignored his question, still pinning him to the jagged hole we had made in the wall. "I've banished you, Blake Morehouse. You will no longer have access to your abilities or those you gain from your House Followers."

"You can't do that. I am a House Lord! I am the head of the Mind Magi Council!"

"Those are merely titles to which you no longer have rights to hold. And now," I said, still intent on find out what Fiona's play was in the hostages and Dragons, "I will find out what you don't want me to know. I will have the information on the full plans you've put together and who all is involved."

Surprisingly, Morehouse was very calm outwardly. Inside, there was no more anger, but he was still afraid of me. Now that I had taken away his powers, his fear was growing rapidly.

"You can't do this," he said more softly. "You can't destroy our world."

"I'm not the one who did this Morehouse. I'm not the one bent on any kind of destruction. You and your partners-in-crime are to blame. I'm simply trying to clean it up and help everyone recover."

"But you are the child in the prophecy. You're the first sign of destruction."

"If I'm going to destroy anything, it will be the Master PC server."

Morehouse relaxed under my grip. "Then I was right and Fiona's hope that you would understand her dream is worthless."

"Fiona hoped I would understand her dream?" I asked. "What dream? Because I don't think she was planning on you kidnapping and sending Dragons to kill me."

"I may have been the one to coordinate it all, but she was the one who came up with it."

I let Morehouse go and stepped back. He hadn't lied. His emotions were relieved, but a different fear crept into him. "You've told me and now you're afraid of her retribution."

Morehouse shook his head. "No, I am only afraid of how long she will keep me on the edge before she ... kills ... me..."

He started to gag and then dropped to his knees. Froth formed and dripped from his mouth. His eyes rolled back into his head and he started turning blue. Within a few seconds, Lord Morehouse had fallen to the floor, dead.

Morehouse had not killed Julie Straub. It had been Fiona.

{t}Part Six — Tangled Web



-------

Chapter 42: Confirmation of Complications



The death of Lord Morehouse would be felt by his followers once they were free of Master PC. I wasn't sure how I would address that. For that matter, I wasn't sure it was my responsibility. More than likely the entire Mind Magi Council would have to address it. Either they would find a replacement House leader or allow those members to join the remaining Houses.

Standing up, I pulled out my cell phone to call Michael. I turned away from Morehouse's body. Knowing that I couldn't save him made me sick. He deserved to be punished, but not killed. At least not like that.

Just as I pulled up Michael's number, I heard the rush of footsteps. If Lord Morehouse had more Dragons, even former Dragons, under his control, they may have felt his death and were rushing to his aid. I lowered my phone, waiting to see who approached.

The door burst open and a tactical unit moved into the room. Guns were trained on me and orders were barked.

"Get on the floor! Now!" One of the unit leaders said.

Surprised that this many people were free of the Master PC server, I held up my hands but didn't do anything more.

Two of the men approached me, the rest moving around the room to cover me from a range of angles and to check for anyone else.

By the time the two men got to me, I had my hands on top of my head. Having recovered from my shock, I wondered why they were there. If Lord Morehouse wanted some form of protection, he would have had a Dragon or two around, not armed soldiers.

One of the two men stopped in front of me.

I met his gaze and asked, "What's going on here?"

"No questions," he responded.

The other man moved behind me and attempted to pull one of my arms down, but I held my pose. He pulled and tugged, but there was no use.

Still staring at the man in front of me, I said, "If you want my cooperation, answer my question."

The man in front of me, seeing that his companion was having difficulty with me, stepped back and pointed his gun at my face. "You are under arrest."

"Under whose authority?" I asked.

"That would be the United States Government," said someone from the doorway.

I looked and spotted Agents Conway and Ellison stepping into the room with their own weapons drawn but pointed at the floor.

The unit moved to let them through, but I was still confused. "Why are you two here? Vikkor isn't here."

Conway shook his head. "No, but Morehouse is."

He moved passed me and found Morehouse's body. "What happened?"

"Someone killed him," I said simply.

"That much is obvious," he said. He stood up and looked at me. "Should we be taking you into custody?"

My curiosity regarding their freedom from Master PC was too much. "You're not here for his murderer."

Conway didn't flinch. "Our reasons for being here are not your concern."

I dropped my hands. Some of the armed men made it plain that I had moved too fast. Several guns were trained on me again. "You thought you could get the location of the Master PC server out of him, didn't you?"

Conway twitched at that. He exchanged a look with Ellison and Ellison gave orders for the unit to withdraw. Once they were out of the room, Ellison and Conway approached me.

"How do you know about Master PC?" asked Ellison.

I shook my head. "I'm not answering any of your questions, either of you."

"Mr. Setton, we know all too well what you're capable of..." started Conway.

"Then you know that you're in over your head," I said, cutting him off.

"That's where you're wrong," Ellison said. "That unit has already been modified by the program. They are now the elite. They are the soldiers of our future."

"Then you already know or have an idea of what's going on with the server," I said.

Conway nodded. "If I'm reading you right, we're working toward the same goal."

I shook my head. "No. Where you're trying to secure the server and make sure nothing befalls the populace, I'm looking to dismantle it. It's too dangerous."

The Agents exchanged another look. "You can't mean that. Think about all the things that server could do for us, not just the United States, but the whole world."

I nodded. "I know what it can do, but have you considered what would happen should someone like Charles Manson or Ted Bundy got a hold of that program. That may just be a local problem, but what about someone like Saddam Hussein, Fidel Castro, or even Osama Bin Laden?" I shook my head again and started walking away.

"Mr. Setton, you don't seem to understand. We are under orders to take anyone with knowledge of the server's whereabouts into custody."

I stopped and turned around. "It's you who doesn't understand. The entire world is being infected by that software right now. What will you do when they wake up? Arrest everyone?"

"Our experts are certain that the current ordeal will be wiped from everyone's memories once it is complete," said Agent Conway. "But we still have to take anyone with direct knowledge of the program, and that means you."

"Apparently, my demonstration at the hotel wasn't enough to convince you of what you face."

"We are faster and stronger as well."

I pointed back at the door leading to the tactical unit. "Not the soldier who attempted to put me in cuffs. If his strength has been increased, it's still not enough."

"We have programmers working non-stop on improving the commands used in the program to make our soldiers and agents flawless," said Ellison.

"Flawless?" I asked. "There is no such thing, and I'm proof to that."

The agents looked at one another. "What do you mean?" asked Conway.

I pointed at Morehouse. "He's dead. I should have been able to heal his wounds, to keep him alive, but the Mind Magi who killed him was too efficient."

"Take us to this person and we'll take them into custody," said Conway. "Let us help you."

I shook my head. "The person who did this was the one who made Master PC. She gathered the best Mind Magi to make the most effective device she could, and right now that device is ensuring she will have ultimate control of nearly every mind on the planet. Your programmers anticipated someone trying to manipulate you with the program and gave you features to keep that from happening, but me? I don't need it. I am the culmination of that device. I am the only person who can manipulate the program without a computer, without the server."

Again the agents looked at one another.

"The only person who can stop her is me, and I'm not going to just turn myself over to you or any other agency, government or cooperation. The best you can do for now is prepare your unit for a big let down because when I find the person responsible and serve justice for this and so many other atrocities, I will shut down the server and I will destroy it."

"You're not a court of law, Mr. Setton. You cannot execute justice like that."

"I am a House Lord. It is my responsibility to punish others like myself who use their powers for personal gain at the expense of others. And if you haven't realized it, this is about as expensive as it gets." Calming down a touch I added. "Besides, the worst punishment I can and will dish out is to banish the individuals responsible, which means taking away their powers. Making them normal. Beyond that, we have always left it to the courts to hand out proper punishment. If we don't intervene as we do, you'd never catch or contain any of those who should be imprisoned."

Agent Conway asked, "We ... you ... There are more of these ... House Lords?"

"I've said too much," I said. "You're lucky I appreciate what you're trying to do else I would be forced to remove your memories of this meeting."

Agent Ellison seemed to take that as a personal insult and pointed his weapon at me. Agent Conway continued to attempt to persuade me to see reason. "Mr. Setton, please, let us help you."

Agent Ellison tried to override Conway's plea. "Forget that, I'm taking you in for Murder and Treason."

I pointed at Morehouse's body. "That man was one of the House Lords. A corrupt individual who felt the best policy for the planet was to simply take control instead of letting us do what was necessary as individuals. When he couldn't stop me, another killed him." Looking at Ellison I said, "And if you believe you can stop what is happening with a gun, then you're wrong."

Ellison called the unit back into the room, shouting, "Arrest him. Shoot if he does not cooperate."

I stepped back from them toward the broken cabinet. I needed a good shadow to travel through.

Ignoring the agents and wall of bullets sent my way by the tactical unit, I thought about Fiona. I wasn't going to rest until she paid for her crimes and the server was stopped.



-------

Chapter 43: Trying To Reason



I didn't expect to have surprise on my side when I arrived. Fiona was in an office suite that, like Lord Morehouse's office, was very tasteful and very expensive. And like Lord Morehouse, she was waiting for me.

"Ral, I'm so glad you could make it," she said sweetly. She got up from her desk and walked toward me with her arms out for a hug.

She hadn't even noticed my flustered state. Maybe she had expected it. Maybe she knew what had just happened. Maybe I was right and she had killed Morehouse.

Fiona wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me into a wonderful hug. Instinctively, I hugged her back. Then it dawned on me that I might be able to stop everything happening.

Pulling Fiona to me tighter, I could feel emotions stirring in me that I wasn't prepared for. Theodore's memories were more powerful that I had thought. Having lived for so long, transferring from one body to another, making sure that every memory was included, he would have never let anyone else's memories override his and I realized how much Theodore had always enjoyed holding her. It really felt as if we, that is to say Theodore and Fiona, were meant to be together, not only emotionally, but physically too.

However, my emotions were not to be completely denied. Memories of my own were triggered by the same hug. Faces floated through my mind: Renée, Erin, Nadia, Sally and my other women. The contentedness I had found with them helped me stay grounded and not give in to the wrong choices I might make while with Fiona.

Fiona still wore the same red dress she had donned when we got ready to leave her place that morning. Yes, that morning. It felt like it had been years ago.

Fiona pulled back enough to see my face. "I've wondered where you've been all day." She shimmied against me in a very agreeable way. "I was hoping you'd stay with me another night before heading home."

She was acting like nothing was going on. Like the world was simply moving along outside her door like it should. Was it an act? Was she really innocent?

Theodore's memories told me, no.

I shook my head and stepped back from Fiona, forgetting even to try to command her to change her plans.

She let me go and studied me. "Now I know something's wrong," she said.

I looked at her. Her deep brown eyes. Her wavy brown locks framing her glamorous face. Even without a smile, she was a knockout. The touches of makeup weren't needed either. She was naturally gorgeous.

I moved further away, wanting to be out of reach. I felt better for it and realized one of her abilities was probably to make herself more attractive to those near her.

Once I felt the effect leave me, I said, "I have to know where the Master PC server is."

She cocked her head to the side. "Master PC?" she asked.

"You don't have to play ignorant ... Sandra. I know your history."

She straightened up and raised an eyebrow. "Theodore..."

I looked down at that. "I'm not Theodore, though I do have his memories."

She looked down at my chest. "And his abilities too."

I nodded. "But I don't have his consciousness. He made sure that was filtered out."

She looked back up puzzled. "That's not possible."

"For him it was," I said. "I have memories of him transferring before he got to me. I know what it felt like for him to go from one body to another."

Fiona's face softened. "Then he's truly dead..."

I nodded. "I'm sorry."

A tear trailed down her cheek. She looked up at me and I met her gaze. "I really thought you were him. There were so many times that I thought I wouldn't find him."

"What made you think I was Theodore?"

She shrugged. "You have the right build and look. We always chose similar appearances for each other."

That was exactly what Theodore's memories had told me. "And after being with me last night?"

She smiled, her face flushing a bit. "It was like with being with him again, but not.

"I am sorry for your loss Fiona," I said, feeling her raw emotions.

She shook her head. "No, don't apologize. I suppose that I should have seen it coming."

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

"He was growing sentimental," she said. "It was a conversation we had on a few occasions." And then she looked up. "He wondered what it would be like to die."

Knowing that Theodore had been effectively ageless, I could only guess at his state of mind. Though I had his memories, it was still somewhat an alien concept, wondering what death would be like. I wasn't depressed and had no desire to die myself.

Looking at Fiona, I was sure she had disagreed with his curiosity. Her reason was simple and selfish. She didn't want to be alone.

Regardless of her relationship with Theodore, there was the immediate issue to deal with. "Fiona, where is the Master PC server?"

She looked up at that. "Why?"

"I have to shut it down."

"Why?" she asked again with growing concern.

"Because someone is trying to make changes that could affect the world."

She nodded. "I know. That's been the intent of the program all along."

I shook my head. The culmination of memories and clues added up only to that answer. I had ignored it, hoped there was another reason, but for her to say it so blatantly, it took a second to truly understand what was happening. "It's wrong Fiona."

She cocked her head to the side. "What makes you think it's wrong?"

"What makes you think it's right?" I countered.

She smiled. "It's necessary."

"Why?" I asked.

I could feel the shift in her emotions. Before there had been grief, now self-righteousness replaced it. "I have spent countless lifetimes among them. I have watched the countless wars. One empire after another would rise and fall. Leaders come and go. I have seen the horrors that humans have inflicted upon their brothers and sisters for any reason. Religion, Kingdom, survival ... You could not possibly imagine."

I tapped my head at the temple. "Yes, I can."

Though she had risen on a tide of anger and frustration, my one reminder of her beloved slowed her race. "You've ... seen..."

I nodded. "I remember them as if I had been there."

Her face brightened. "Then you, of all people, should understand what I've been trying to do."

I shook my head. "No, I don't."

Fiona pushed passed me and headed for the door.

"Fiona, wait," I said, following her.

She went out through the door.

Just before it closed, I grabbed the handle, opened the door and stepped through.

Something hit me in the back of the head.

I went down to my knees. Stars were swimming in front of me.

Again I was hit. This time higher up on my head. It was enough to put me out.



-------

Chapter 44: Brick Wall



I woke up still on the floor, but this time whoever had hit me had taken further precaution by tying my hands and feet together. I was "hog tied", as it was known in Texas. There was also a hood over my head, preventing me from seeing anything.

I pulled at my bonds but didn't feel any give. Whatever they had used to tie me up was metal and extremely strong. Nothing came to mind that I couldn't at least bend.

"Good, you're awake," said a male voice.

I couldn't see anything. The hood was thick enough to not even let light seep through. However, my other senses were not hindered. I heard footsteps approach. "Who are you?"

"In a few minutes, you won't care," he said.

He grabbed the metal of my bonds and dragged me along. I tried to touch some part of his hand, but the bonds kept me away.

"Don't bother trying to touch me. I know that your powers are more physical than most. Such a waste, too. We could have used someone like you. Fiona had hoped you would understand and help us, but I knew better."

The voice wasn't familiar at all. "Who are you?" I asked again.

This time, I was answered by silence. Whoever had me probably intended to do something very unkind to me. For the most part I was helpless to stop him. I could only hope that one of my girls could help.

My captor continued dragging me along. We passed through countless doors and even rode the elevator higher into the building. Wherever he was taking me, it was well away from where I had found Fiona. As if that would stop me from finding her again once I was free.

When we left the elevator, we were apparently on the roof. The wind howled and the floor was rough. A thought crossed my mind. I didn't like it. "Why are we on the roof?"

"Don't worry. You won't be for long."

Of course, with that as an answer, I renewed my struggles. I might not have died from the fall, but I didn't want to experience the chance.

My captor chuckled. "Fight all you want. I'm strong enough to haul you over the edge without touching anything more than your cuffs."

Panic can be a wonderful thing. It can get your blood flowing, your adrenaline racing. It can also put ideas into your head that weren't there before.

I thought again about my cuffs. Earlier I had been stabbed in the arm and when moving through shadows, I had left the knife behind. I was outside. Effectively, the air itself was shadow.

I moved and I didn't care where I would end up as long as it was still on the roof.

Feeling my hands and feet were free I pulled off the hood. At the same time I heard my captor yell, "What the hell?!?"

It took me a minute to figure out where I was compared to him. Since I was pumped up from fear, it felt a lot longer.

The man was as tall as me and built better. He wasn't as large as Ron had been and I thanked whatever luck I had that he still hadn't spotted me.

I rushed him, just as I had done to Lord Morehouse. However, hitting this guy was like running headlong into a brick wall, without the benefits of being able to heal.

Simply said, I was knocked silly.

"I'm not that easily knocked down," he said unnecessarily. Then I felt his hands on me, getting a good grip.

I was betting he was going to go through with tossing me over the side anyway, so I grabbed his arms.

Mr. Brick Wall slung me around trying to shake me off. He may have been strong, but so was I. I also had a few other tricks that gave me advantages over him.

"Are you finished trying to shake me off?" I asked.

He stopped and I met his eyes. "You're more of a pest than she suggested."

"She called me a pest?"

He grinned at me and before I could do anything, he slung me toward the edge again.

This time, I went flying.

Panic didn't set in this time. I knew what I would do. Darkness is a good then when you have such a power, and I landed back on the roof before Mr. Brick Wall got to the elevator.

He turned back around to look at me. "What the hell do I have to do to kill you?"

"Probably fall on me," I said as I walked up to him.

He smirked. "That sounds like a good idea." And like some kind of perverse kangaroo, he suddenly shot up into the air.

I watched his launch and stood there waiting for his decent. Timing his fall, I moved just before he landed. The hole he made was not a cut out of his form.

Unfortunately, he didn't stop at the next floor, or the next one. I went over and took the elevator down one floor at a time. He met me on my fifth stop.

He pinned me to the back of the elevator and began pummeling me in the face.

After about the third or fourth punch, I finally responded by kicking him in the gut. I'm sure most guys would have been knocked well away from me, but not this one. And since he was holding me up off the floor, I didn't have to try to stand while the broken bones in my foot healed.

Apparently my body, and probably my subconscious, got tired of me being beaten. Mr. Brick Wall was still swinging at me, and he was hitting something, but it wasn't me.

I looked and saw his fist bash at something just an inch from my face. I flinched several times because I thought he was really going to hit me again.

He stopped punching and just held me there. "What the hell?"

"You keep asking that. I don't believe Hell has anything to do with it," I said.

I could see a flicker of anger in his eyes. After everything he had done, I was sure I didn't want him angry. He might bury us with the building we were in.

Since he couldn't hit me anymore, he went back to his original idea and threw me. I hit the wall on the far side of the room.

As he approached, I twisted around to get back to my feet. "As much fun as I've had, I really need to get back down to Fiona and turn off that server."

I stood up just as he reached me. This time when he took a hold, I grabbed his wrists and said, "You're banished."

Knowing that I had to be facing a Dragon, and an old one at that, I poured everything I had into the change I was forcing him through.

Mr. Brick Wall howled at the sensation. I knew it didn't hurt, but I was sure it was the idea of losing his strength and near invulnerability made him cry out with grief.

He tried to throw me again. I just stood there as he yanked on my shirt. Fear flooded his system. He knew what I had done. "No one is supposed to be able to do that. It has to be a group."

"Tell that to the Dragons who killed my parents," I said.

I could see the whites of his eyes, and then I only saw his back as he turned and ran.

I let him go. Fiona was waiting.



-------

Chapter 45: The Power of Fiona



Fiona was at a computer terminal when I returned. The room was filled with server cabinets and many systems. I wondered if everything in the room made up the server.

"A server is a single computer, Ral," Fiona said without facing me.

"So, on top of manipulating Dragons and House Lords, you can read minds too?" I asked softly.

"I can do many things," she said. "Please, don't try anything to stop me Ral. I have been working on this for a very long time and would hate to have to put you down in order to complete my goal."

Her threat was subtle, but there. Could she put me down? Was there anything I couldn't recover from? Well, there were probably situations, like having my head removed, that would keep me from healing on my own. So, instead of replying to her threat, I decided to focus something else.

"Your goal?" I asked shaking my head. "Your goal is to put everyone under your thumb. You're not bringing humanity together, you're stripping it."

Fiona turned. "I am not."

"Really?" I asked. "Prove it."

She glanced back at the terminal and then turned fully to me. Leaning against the desk and crossing her arms she said, "All I am doing is helping everyone understand the direction the world is heading."

Knowing enough about Master PC I asked, "And what command are you using to accomplish that?"

She shook her head. "It's more than just one simple command," she said. "It's a complex array of commands designed to bring understanding to everyone."

"Whether it's one command or a thousand, they are still commands."

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, anything you type in and send is a command as the terms of the program go. However, I'm not telling anyone anything. I'm giving them understanding."

I shook my head. "Giving them understanding? You're forcing your ideas into their minds."

She sighed. "If you insist on breaking it down to basics, yes."

"And you don't call that control?"

She shook her head. "No, I don't. It's no different than giving someone an additional skill, the understanding of how to do something new."

"Ah, but an individual would probably understand the benefits of such an act. However, entire groups, or regions of people would generally have a different perspective. Given that any group will never totally agree on any one subject, I would say that you would not find them accepting of any change."

"I'm not asking," she said simply.

"And if you're not asking then you're telling, or commanding," I said, nodding at the terminal.

"And why does that make any difference?"

"The fact that you have to ask that question answers itself," I said. "Commanding any individual or group is taking away they're inborn disposition to be who they are. Any change, no matter how small, changes who they are."

Fiona stood there shaking her head.

"You're taking away people's rights to be assholes, if it comes down to it."

She smirked at that. "Yeah. I am. Because I've seen what this world has been. I've seen what humanity has done to its self, and quite frankly, I'm tired of suffering through that."

I wanted to say, "Theodore found a solution to that, didn't he?" but didn't.

The look on her face told me she heard me anyway.

Trying to ignore her reaction, I trudged on. "So, it's better to force everyone to be what you believe they should be instead of letting our natural evolution dictate where we end up?"

"If it comes down to it, yes."

I shook my head. "I cannot allow that."

"And you can't stop me," she replied.

For a few minutes we both stood there, staring at each other. I didn't want to make the first move and apparently neither did she.

What did happen was completely unexpected, at least to me: the door burst open.

I spun around to see what was happening. Fiona simply looked in that direction.

The same FBI special forces I had faced back in Lord Morehouse's office stormed the room. Among the armed and armored soldiers, someone shouted: "Freeze!"

How had they found us? Well, the fight I had had on the roof with Mr. Brick Wall had probably been a clue. With the city mostly under the influence of Master PC and docile, the sounds of that short skirmish could have traveled some distance. Since I had traveled through shadows rather than on foot, I wasn't sure how far that was. It could have been a block or several miles.

"Both of you get your hands up, now!"

I glanced over at Fiona. She was still leaning against the desk with her arms crossed over her tummy in defiance. Looking back at the officers, I held up my hands.

"You're such a hypocrite Ral," Fiona said. "Conforming to their will, but not allowing me to impose mine on everyone else."

"Has it escaped your attention that these men are not under the influence of your server?" I asked in return.

"As if they pose a threat," she said.

The men were spread out and each of them had a weapon trained on either me or her. Of course, her statement caught a majority of their collective attention.

The room was already well lit. Plenty of phosphorous lighting overhead made sure everyone could see what they were doing. However, the room lit up more. I turned to see Fiona crackling with electricity.

With trained precision and only the need to squeeze triggers, the elite squad opened fire, and it wasn't just her they shot at.

Anticipating that I might be shot, I threw up the same defensive shield that had protected Sally, her father and me earlier from Maelstrom's storm. Bullets ricocheted off the invisible barrier.

Across from me, Fiona was flailing with the barrage the special unit unleashed.

Something in me snapped. The sight of Fiona falling, possibly mortally wounded or dead already, caused a tide of anger in me that felt foreign. Theodore's memories were accompanied by his emotions and he had always loved her, regardless of her faults. Anger is anger, whether mine or someone else's and I reacted accordingly.

With all my will I shoved every member of the unit into the walls behind them and screamed, "NO!"

All of them flew back into the walls. Only a couple took the hits badly and fell to the floor. I didn't care whether they were alive or not, just that they weren't moving. The rest had been protected by their armor and got up immediately.

Rushing the squad, Theodore's anger blurred my vision. I was swinging at them, using my considerable strength and speed to cause damage beyond their armor.

They attempted to subdue me with the butts of their rifles, but each hit only brought my attention to each of them in turn.

One soldier flew past the server banks and hit the far wall of the room. He slid to the floor. I turned to find the next one.

Their hits didn't faze me. I took the shots and put them down one at a time. They never had a chance. I had warned them before.

By the time all of them were laying unmoving on the floor, I noticed that Fiona had gotten back up.

Relief swept through me. I went to her without realizing the potential danger. "Are you okay?"

She nodded. "I have a power similar to yours. I can borrow an ability from anyone around me, but I don't have to share mine to get it."

I realized she had borrowed my ability to heal, or at least she had done it unconsciously. The desire to survive can be very strong.

Fiona reached up and caressed my face. "Thank you for your concern Ral, but it wasn't necessary."

I started to nod but then felt her power course through me. Every nerve ending in my body felt like it was on fire. My muscles contracted, all of them. The light in the room was bright and brighter.

I had to get away from her. I had to break the connection. Responding instinctively I used the same push I had used on the soldiers and since Fiona was right in front of me it took nothing to know where to aim.

The pain, the near seizure, subsided immediately. The blinding white light took a minute for me to recover from. Once I could see, I thought my eyes were having problems. I was seeing weird light. Brighter than the overheads. I looked at the ceiling and realized that many of those lights were out, the bulbs broken. Looking around for the source of light I found Fiona dancing with electricity again.

Arcs of power reached out to the walls, ceiling and computer components in the room. Her face was twisted with rage. I wasn't sure if her power hurt her, if it took effort to maintain it, or if she was simply that angry. She answered my question: "I told you to not try to stop me Ral. I warned you."

Wary of what she could do, I said, "I did no such thing. You attacked me."

She held out a hand, pointing at the soldiers. One of the arcs followed her movement and touched several of the soldiers. Their bodies twitched at the contact. "You led those damned soldiers here. How else would they have found me?"

Witnessing what her power would do to the unconscious and possibly even dead, I turned back at her. Fear was there, running along the edges of my skin, but her anger was strong and started feeding me as well. "Well if your friend, Mr. Brick Wall, hadn't tried to throw me off the roof our little get together might have gone uninterrupted."

A maniacal look crossed her face. "It doesn't matter anymore!" she screamed. "The computers are ruined. The Master PC server is down and now ... now I'm going to put you down. I'm going to kill you just like I should have done centuries ago."

Her anger was clouding her judgment. She had been angry that the soldiers had found her and she tried to defend herself with her power. However, the attack must have shorted out her control and she, in turn, fried the computers. However, now she was mixing me up with Theodore. "You're talking about Theodore. I'm not Theodore!"

"Shut up!" she screamed and threw one of those electrical arcs at me.

Having barely dodged a lightning bolt earlier in the evening was one thing. Trying to do it again wasn't so graceful. But then, who cares about grace when you aren't hit?

Grateful for having something to hide behind for the moment, I looked up over a desk.

Fiona was walking toward me.

I ducked. Scared and angry, I looked for an exit but realized that I was cornered. Once she had me in plain sight, there would be no where for me to go.

I had heard that when you're near death, you relive your life. I hadn't lived that long, as age goes, but my life had felt full and rich. I had more going for me than almost anyone could claim. Thoughts of my family, my mom and dad, my sisters, even my estranged grandfather flittered through my mind.

Then I saw the faces of my girls, the women I called mine and who claimed me as theirs; Renée, Erin, Nadia, Jeri, Yvonne, Tabitha, Chloe, Linda, Li, Alexandria, Mandy, Tanya, Carrie, Charlotte, Savannah, Anna and Sally.

So many faces to go through, yet it felt as if I hadn't thought of each of them enough. So many things to say. So many things yet to do. I had promised them weddings in our shared dreams the night before. I knew some of them were pregnant with my children. The love they felt for me filled me at that moment. With a thought I sent them my love as well.

Just as quickly I felt their responses. The need for me to come home. The desire to have me with them. The grief they would face should something happen.

As strong as Fiona's anger had been, the collected emotions of my women were stronger. Unlike Fiona, I had never failed them. I would never fail them.

Fiona stepped around the desk.

I stood up.

She didn't say anything. The build-up of power that she displayed said it for her. She was going to hit me with everything she had, and should I recover from that attack, she would still be there to bear down on me repeatedly.

"I'm sorry," I said.

Fiona thrust out her hands and all of the electrical arcs that played around her converged at her direction.

I didn't feel fear. I didn't feel anger. I felt the love of my women and pity for Fiona. Then I braced for the strike.

The pain of the electrical current flowing through me was horrendous but short.

I had collapsed to the floor, coughing and spitting up blood. My skin felt raw and brittle. But I was healing already. The smell of burnt hair and clothes filled the room.

Fiona had fallen too. She was on the floor and looked weak from the effort she had put into her power. "How ... How can you survive... ?" she asked.

I looked at her. "Because Fiona," I said and then coughed. "Because I have too much to live for. I have a full life ahead of me. Unlike Theodore, I have yet to live. I have children on the way. Weddings to plan and see through and women who are waiting for me." After more coughing I added, "And I survive, because Theodore wanted to die."

She shook her head and collapsed. Holding herself up on her elbows, she sobbed.

I got up on all fours and crawled over to her.

She looked up at me.

For a moment we stayed there looking into one another's eyes. Then she reached out and hugged me. I probably looked like a horrible sight. She didn't look much better, but not from physical pain. No, her damage was emotional. I was fortunate that my body turned off any pain I was feeling at the moment. I didn't think there was anything I could do for Fiona.

However, that didn't stop me from the obligation I was still faced with.

I sat back and cradled Fiona's face in my hands. "Fiona..."

She opened bleary eyes and looked back at me.

" ... I banish you." I said and poured my power into her.



-------

Chapter 46: Darkness Before Dawn



New York City at night is really a nice sight. The lights, the life of the city, the hum of its people coming and going, I couldn't think of anywhere better.

Home, of course, was better.

Getting home and having my whole family together was my next goal. It was simple, very realistic and so much needed.

However, the city that never sleeps was waking up from a nap. As it were.

People were out on the streets. They talked. They cried and questioned. The topic of conversation: What was Master PC?

Of course, with the server down, the program wouldn't work. Attempts to log on only resulted in a message that the server was unreachable. I had tried it already to confirm what Fiona had said.

Fiona slept. She would have a nice dreamless sleep for the rest of the night. As for the soldiers she and I had hurt, I had healed their wounds and left them to wake when they were ready. I never did find Conway or Ellison. Maybe they ran when they realized what might happen. Couldn't blame them, but they still posed a threat that I might have to face some time in the future.

At the moment, I wasn't worried about them. I was having a nice stroll through the city streets, watching the denizens pose their questions, hearing radios blaring warnings and watching televisions flash news scenes of the phenomenon that had not only affected the city but apparently the whole of the planet.

As I passed one shop, some of the people stopped me to ask if I had passed out. I just shook my head and continued walking. I didn't want to answer any questions just then. I just wanted to get to my girls.

Cars began buzzing the streets. Cabs passed by and I finally waved one down. After telling the driver where I wanted to go, he talked none stop about what had happened to him and everyone he had already talked to. I just sat quietly, taking in his words, but not really hearing him.

When I arrived at the motel where Charlotte and Chloe were staying, I realized that I didn't have my wallet. I asked the cabbie to wait for payment and turned to find Chloe bounding toward me.

"Master!" she cried with glee as she jumped into my arms. I giggled with her and hugged her tight. After a quick kiss I asked her to pay the cabbie. She had to pull her credit card out of one of the cups of her dress. The cabbie didn't mind at all.

After he left, we went inside. Charlotte was fuming at her computer. When she saw me she asked, "Ral, what the hell is going on? I can't log back into Master PC."

I sat down on the bed and Chloe happily sat on my lap. I held her to me as I answered Charlotte. "That's because the server was fried. There won't be a Master PC anymore."

I'd like to say that Charlotte's expression was priceless, but she was too upset by the news.

Turned out she only felt special because she had access to the program. Even though I had made her immune to its effects, she knew the power the program had possessed and felt diminished by the news.

I called her to me and consoled her. The thought crossed my mind that I might be able to endow her with the same ability as myself to modify people without the computer, but I let the idea go. One person with that power was already too much.

Sally called the room. I answered and confirmed everything was okay. She wanted details and I started to tell her, but then I realized that I would end up retelling what had happened with each group of my girls that I met. There was also the thought that I might have to answer others too.

The Mind Magi Council would want to know what had happened, especially with the death of Lord Morehouse. With the world aware that they had been under the influence of a computer program, investigations would spring up to find out how it had been possible. Inevitably, those investigations would lead to the discovery of the Mind Magi.

Sally called my name for the umpteenth time. I finally told her that we would talk later and I hung up.

Charlotte and Chloe started asking what was wrong when I turned on the television in the room and began flipping through the channels. I told them that I had to find someone. I felt their confusion but knew the answers to their questions would be met if they just paid attention. None of my girls were without intelligence.

Then I found her. Linda Penn was giving a short report on a local problem as a result of the short term control Master PC had exhibited over everyone.

I dialed information on the phone and was transferred to Linda's news station. After a short wait, I asked to speak with Linda. Of course, I was told that she was in the field and unreachable. I told the nice lady to call Linda and have her call me at the motel. Of course, I pushed her to follow through.

Linda called about ten minutes later.

"Mr. Setton?"

"Yes, Linda?"

"Yes. I was told to call you. I'm kind of busy at the moment, I have another report I have to make..."

I interrupted her. "Cancel it. I have an exclusive for you that will explain everything that has happened."

For a few heartbeats, there was silence. Then she came back softly. "Are you saying ... more of your kind had something to do with this?"

"Yes."

"Is that for the record?"

"Yes."

"Holy cow! My boss won't believe any of it. I'm still having problems getting my head wrapped around it."

"I know. That's why I'm going to let you interview me live."

"Live? But, how are you ... you know ... gonna prove you can do what you do?"

I smiled. "I can do a lot more than just heal wounds Ms. Penn. So, I'm not going to ask anyone to get shot."

"Okay, that's good to know. It's still going to take some effort to convince my boss though. He may not even allow me to do the interview. He might think it too important for someone as inexperienced as me."

"Tell him I said you do the interview or I won't talk."

"Oh, that's all?" I could hear the sarcasm. "Okay. I'll tell him. Where do I meet you if he says okay?"

I gave her the address of the motel. "I'll be out front."

After I hung up Charlotte asked, "What are you going to tell her?"

I reached up and stroked her cheek. "Everything."

Charlotte and Chloe just looked at one another in response. While they puzzled over the truth of that, I went to the bathroom for a quick shower.

When the news van arrived, I realized that other news networks must have gotten wind of what was going on. Linda and her cameraman led what looked like half a dozen different reporters.

Linda wasn't sure what to ask. For that matter, I'm not sure I would have known what to say, but the first words out of my mouth were, "What you're about to see are not tricks of photography or special effects. These are not prepared stunts or any kind of hoax."

With that I turned and went to a nearby parking pole. You've seen them. Short steel poles buried several feet into the ground to keep drivers from running through the buildings with their vehicles.

The cameras followed me as I grabbed one of the parking poles and simply pulled it up out of the ground. Concrete was still attached as was a good amount of earth.

Settling the pole on my shoulder, like a sack of potatoes, I walked back to the cameras. "Linda, could you confirm for me that this is not some trick. Tell them what this is."

I set the pole on the ground and it cracked the pavement of the parking area.

Linda walked up to me and ran her hand over the metal. To the camera she said, "It feels like solid steel." She even attempted to rap on it with her knuckles but there wasn't a loud enough sound for the cameras to pick up.

I laid the pole over on the ground and said, "Try to just roll it."

Linda handed me her microphone and bent to the task. She could barely get it to roll back and forth much less get anywhere.

I handed back the microphone and picked up the pole.

All of the lights and vans had drawn the attention of some of the other people in the motel. Several were standing outside their rooms watching. I held my hand out to them. "Does anyone want a new car?"

Several of them laughed but one guy raised his hand. I waved him over.

"For the record, what's your name?"

"Steven Foster," he said.

"Steven, are one of these cars yours?"

He nodded. "That one," he said, pointing at an old Buick.

"Okay Steven, I'll tell you what. I'll buy that car off of you with another car of your choice."

He laughed and looked at the cameras. "Are you serious?"

I nodded. "Absolutely." I twisted around and called, "Chloe!"

She ran out to me, the cameras turning to follow her. I hoped her appearance wouldn't cause too much of a problem, but I had little time. She was dressed decently enough.

"Do you have your cell phone?" I asked and she nodded. Take Steven over there and call the bank. Have the system play our current balance so he understands that my offer is real.

She let Steven away and I turned back to the cameras. "I would appreciate it if everyone stepped back a bit."

While they backed up, I went and got the car. I didn't care who saw. I pulled at the bumper and dragged the car away from the others. Once it was clear, I proceeded to pummel the car with the parking pole.

It didn't take long.

After I finished, I called Steven and Chloe over. "I hope you've given this some thought." Steven nodded. He wanted a Dodge Charger, the latest model. I got his information and let him go.

Then I turned to Chloe. "Thank you, my servant."

Chloe blushed all the way down to the tops of her upper globes. "Does that mean I can..." she looked back at the cameras and finished, "call you Master, publicly?"

I nodded.

She yipped and jumped into my arms. After several kisses all about my face, she slid from me and went back to the room.

I turned back to the cameras. "What you've just seen," and I turned to indicate the car, "is only a small portion of the powers I possess." Then I held my hand out to Linda. She was wide eyed but took my hand and allowed me to pull her out in front of the cameras with me. "Earlier today, there was an attack at my store. Gunmen had opened fire on a group of reporters there to cover that opening and Linda Penn was hit."

I looked at Linda and she just looked back at me. "I did the only thing I knew to do." Looking back at the cameras I continued, "I healed her. Instead of hiding what I could do and allowing her to die, I saved her. I didn't do it for glory or for prestige. I did it because it was the right thing to do."

I got closer to the cameras. "Late last night, New York City, The State of New York, the New England area, The United States, the entire planet fell under the influence of a program called Master PC."

Linda took her queue. "But how can a computer program do that?"

I looked at her. "The software itself was merely a means by which to access powers that had been embedded in the circuitry of a server by others like me."

"You're saying others with powers had endowed a computer server with the ability to take over everyone's minds?"

I nodded. "Yes, exactly."

She looked at the camera and then back at me. "But how are we awake now? What happened?"

I couldn't take credit for what had happened. "I had confronted the person responsible for the server. She had powers all her own and when A special forces grouped stormed the room, she attempted to retaliate using her powers. She could through electrical arcs and that power fried the server, making it useless."

"Oh my! Were there any casualties?"

I shook my head. "No. Several of the soldiers were hurt but I healed their wounds before I left."

"But what about the person who had attacked the soldiers? If she attacked them, they would have responded with force, correct?"

I nodded. "Yes, that is correct. However, she is not dead. She had an ability to borrow powers from others around her. She borrowed my ability to heal and survived."

Linda glanced at the cameras and other reporters. "But if she can heal wounds that fast, how can anyone stop her?"

I looked at her. "I said she had that power. She no longer does. I took it away. I took away all of her powers and put her to sleep so the authorities could take her into custody."

"Was she the only one involved?"

"No, but like her, the others are no longer any more of a danger than any normal person. Their powers have all been removed."

One of the other reporters stepped forward, a question burning in her mind. "If there are others out there like you, what should we do? What can we do if something like this happens again?"

"That's what I'm here for, that's why I'm taking the time to inform you and everyone else of this. Should this or something similar happen, keep a level head. Panic never helps. Second, ask. Just simply ask. Most of us are just trying to get by like everyone else. Most of us don't have the extraordinary abilities I've exhibited here. A vast majority have very simple, very passive abilities that only give them a slight edge in rare situations. As for the rest, well, they'll have to answer to me regarding the use of their powers and then to the courts for any crimes they commit."

Another reporter asked, "How do we know who have powers like that and who doesn't?"

"That's not for me to say. There are no identifying marks that you could distinguish," which was true. Only Mind Magi and their Schiavi could see the marks we possessed. "If someone wishes to share that with everyone else that is for them to decide. It's no different than divulging your sexual preferences or anything else of such a personal nature."

Someone else asked, "How long have people like you been around?"

"All through human history," I said.

"Why haven't we ever known about you before?" someone shouted.

"Because as our own society, we have had a law regarding secrecy. It was our own law and has been upheld for centuries."

"Then why are you breaking your own law now?" asked Linda.

"Because sooner or later, after what has happened tonight, someone would have found out about us. Better to step into the light and present ourselves than continue to hide and hope to go unnoticed."

Then I felt it. There was fear. One of those who were scared asked. "How can we trust you or anyone else like you?"

I let out a long sigh. "We are everywhere. We are your neighbors, your relatives and your friends. We are your countrymen, your religious brothers and sisters and your strangers. We are your enemies foreign and domestic. We are you. If you don't trust someone, you don't trust them. There's nothing I or anyone else can do to change that. I can only hope that my openness and honesty leads to peaceful relations."

With that, I turned and went back to the Motel.

The reporters turned to their cameras and made final comments regarding what I had to say.

It only took a minute for someone to come to my door and knock.

Linda Penn was standing there when I answered. "I did have one more question," she said.

I nodded and noticed that she didn't have a mike or a cameraman following her.

"How can I get in touch with you ... should something come up?"

I smiled. Chloe brought me one of my business cards. I handed it to Linda. "This is a number to an answering service. Leave a message and I'll get it soon after. You can reach me from anywhere in the world."

She smiled and took the card. "Thank you."

As she walked back to her news van, Chloe asked, "Do you think things will be okay?"

"Nope," I said instantly. "There'll be an investigation. I could be brought up on criminal charges for attacking the unit that shot at me and Fiona. Then there will be attempts to find out more about me and the other Mind Magi by various agencies and even corporations."

I turned to look at her and Charlotte. "Not to mention another meeting of the Mind Magi Council to determine what should be done about my disregard of our only law."

"Do you think they'll try to banish you for that?" Charlotte asked.

I shrugged. "I don't know, but we'll find out."



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Epilogue



Sally and I were sitting in the back yard of our new house. A table just big enough for two was laden with a very delectable meal. The sun was just grazing the western skyline of the city as we began our meal. Music drifted to us through a small stereo I had setup on the back porch. A warm breeze swept only a minute portion of the Texas heat away from us. We both sat there eating and sweating.

It had been months since my trip to New York. My interview in the early morning hours on the outskirts of the city had been played repeatedly. I had become a household name. Certainly not my intention at the time, but like anyone who does their duty, others seemed only to want to show their appreciation.

Proving Master PC was capable of what I had said had something of a dilemma. With the help of the best programmer I knew, Charlotte, and my own abilities, I demonstrated what could have happened. Of course it was simply on a small scale. Like proving one can hypnotize someone into forgetting a number, or barking when they hear a bell.

The time spent in court had been short though. Fiona freely admitted to her attempts to "help the world." That was all it took for a conviction. I wasn't present for the sentencing hearing. It had been closed court after the original case. Several people had made it known that if they could get at her, she would never have to worry about prison.

Thoughts of Fiona still crept up on me. Theodore's memories weren't going to go away any more than my powers would. And there were still nights when I would wake up thinking Fiona was laying next to me. I would have to clear my eyes and take a good look at the woman lying next to me to realize that she was not Fiona.

I never told any of my girls about that particular problem.

Speaking of my girls, the weddings we had discussed worked out mostly without problems. We would invite in each of the girls families for the week leading up to the day of the wedding. The following week would be just me and whichever of my girls I had just married. Everyone agreed to the arrangements. It wasn't just a matter of spending special time with each of them but also making them all feel special. Not a single one of them had a complaint.

Of course there were minor problems. Occasionally I would have to help out one of my House Members, but it was never anything that would take more than an hour or two.

To say I had been busy during those months was an understatement, but I wouldn't have changed any of it for anything else.

The meal Sally and I were sharing was on the last night of our week together after our wedding. An attempt at recreating the night we had broken up, but with a different ending in mind.

Of course, there were also children to enjoy as well. Jeri had hers first, a boy. We named him Nathanial. Personally, I thought of the name as a play on my birth name, Nautikuus. Jeri had always liked the name.

The visions I had had back during winter break came true as well. Yvonne, Mandy, and Chloe were all pregnant. Of course, with the statistics of the amount of unprotected sex I was having with all of my women, it was only a matter of time. They were each still in their first trimesters but time would progress and more and more doctor's visits would occur. Anna was a big help with that. Being a nurse at Children's Hospital in Dallas gave her access and kept the doctor's from figuring out that I was a polygamist. Yeah, I know, a dirty word, but it's the truth of the matter.

Even with those girls pregnant, none of us use protection.

Sally understood everything going on. Unlike the rest of the girls however, she's never developed a taste for female flesh. She simply waits for our time together and makes the most of it when it comes around. Just like this dinner.

I had called it, our last date, two-point-oh. Sally had smiled when I had brought her out to the setting. I had plans for dancing and even sleeping bags rolled up next to the porch for some post-dinner entertainment.

Since we were in a city rather than back in the countryside, the stars were not as bright. That didn't stop us from lying back on the grass and looking up at them.

"Ral, do you think anything will ever be normal again?" she asked suddenly.

I chuckled. "What do you mean by normal?"

She clutched my hand and pulled it over onto her belly. "Well, like the night we broke up. I know we're re-living it and all, but what about the others? Don't you think they think about nights like this? About wanting to get to do something special with you. Just the two of you?"

"I know they do," I said. "But you're saying this as if it happens every day." I looked over at her. "How many guys do you know that have a dozen women sharing them?"

She shrugged. "I know that's not normal. Unless you live in Utah. But even with your abilities, nothing is normal anymore."

I looked back up at the stars and pointed. "You see that? That's normal. No matter what happens to me or you or anyone else. That will always be normal."

Sally looked over at me and I met her gaze. "Yes it is." Then she scooted closer and kissed me.

She rolled over on top of me, our kissing getting heavier. Then she sat up from me as I squeezed her butt. "What do you think you're doing?"

I stopped for a moment, searching my mind for possibilities. "Well, I'm groping your very sexy butt for one thing."

"Oh, really? And what makes you think that's okay?"

The look on her face had been very serious. I was suddenly worried that she might have been under the influence of my Charm for the months we had been together and for whatever reason she was suddenly free of it. "Are you okay?" I asked.

She smiled at me, kissed my nose and said, "Just playing hard-to-get." With that, she jumped up and took off for the house giggling.

I flipped over and took off after her. By the time I caught up with her in the living room, the phone rang.

I had tackled Sally into her couch, and was laying kisses all across her upper chest when she said, "Oh, pooh!"

I looked up. "We don't have to answer it."

She said, "I know, but what if it's one of your House members with an emergency?"

It had been weeks since the last incident, but I had made the promise to all of my House members that I would be available should something come up.

"I can only hope you're wrong," I said as I got up.

Picking up the phone I said, "Hello?"

"Ral, good." It was Renée.

I looked at Sally. "Renée? What's up?"

"Look, I know I'm interrupting and you said to only call if it's an emergency..."

"It's okay, what happened? Is everyone okay?"

"Everyone is fine, but I'm not. Ral, I'm spooked."

"Spooked? About what?"

"Do you have a computer?"

I shot Sally another look. "A computer? Why?"

"Just get to it. I'll send you what I have."

I shrugged and followed Sally to her computer. Once it was booted up Renée sent the email. It had a subject of "Master PC Reborn."

"This has got to be a joke," I told Renée.

"Just open it and see for yourself," she said.

Sally left me at the computer as I downloaded the file and ran it. The installation was quick and clean and when I ran the icon on the desktop, the familiar opening appeared: "Welcome to the Master Command Center, where the Master allows you to become a virtual god to the people around you. Now, you possess the power to bend their reality to your specifications. You are the Master's representative."

"Ral!" Sally called. I spun around to see what she was looking at. The television was on. The news had a breaking story about the release of a program calling itself Master PC.


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The End
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Posted:  2007-11-11
Last Modified: 2009-06-01 / 02:35:06 pm
Version: 1.20
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