True Beauty

True Beauty

by

Macie Snow

What is beauty?

Is it your face?

Or that coat of make-up

covering up your face.

Is it your body?

Or the flashy clothes you wear?

Is it your hair?

Or that careless style

That took you hours to perfect

Is it your personality?

Or that fake laugh

covering up the true feelings

What is true beauty?

I believe it is the heart

Whether you love others

more than yourself,

when you would be willing

to sacrifice your make-up and flashy things

to feed the hungry.

When you live truthfully

true beauty is found

in the heart.

Valkyrie's Curse - the Conclusion

You've been on the edge of your seat waiting for it, biting your nails you're so anxious.  Well wait no longer because the conclusion  of Valkyrie's curse is here!

 

Valkyrie's Curse

Part V

 

by

Ellie Mack 

 

Scott and Niall’s watched silently, waiting until the police had cleared the area.  They made their way back to the four wheeler, this time Scott let Nialls climb on behind him.  Both were a few shades lighter than when they had raced out here.

Back at the camp Scott headed straight for Brad’s tent. Nialls stopped at the mess tent ,offering to grab something for Scott.  ”Sure, grab me a couple of those muffins and a Cliff bar – and a bottle of juice.  I’ll be at Brad’s tent.  OH, you might want to just get a box and put a bunch in it.  If we have food, he’ll want some.”

Scott hurried, he’d need the few extra minutes alone with Brad before Nialls showed up.  He ducked his head quickly under the flap, catching Brad in one of his RP chats with his girlfriend.  ”Fuck man!  Announce yourself next time.”

Scott turned uncomfortably, combing his fingers through his hair.  ”We need to talk and we’ve only got a few minutes.  Nialls will be heading this way very soon.”

Brad zipped his jeans mumbling to himself. 

”Look, sorry man but this is important.  They found the body of that student.  She was ripped apart on the sacrificial alter up there – yeah, guess I owe you twenty bucks on that call.  Anyway, it  was a bloody mess.  The police have the whole area roped off.  They cleared out for now.”

”Damn.  Someone murdered her?  Why was Nialls with you?  How did he react?”  He stood and adjusted himself. 

”Nialls hurled.  I don’t think he’d have a stomach for anything like this.  He’s pretty shaken, but I don’t think we can trust him with”

Brad made a big cutting motion across his throat.  Just then, Nialls ducked through the flaps with a huge box of food.  He went straight to the folding card table and set the box down and ripped open a bag of Skittles.   Brad searched through the box and found himself one of the giant blueberry muffins and a bottle of Frappaccino.  Scott grabbed his muffin and  a juice.  The three men ate as if they hadn’t eaten in weeks. 

When Nialls started into a package of chocolate glazed donuts, he paused long enough to ask ”So, what are we gong to do? ”

Brad drained his bottle of frappaccinno, then dug through the box for one of the juices.  ”We are not going to cause the police any trouble.  We are going to comply with them, and lay low.  Let them find the crazy bastard that killed that girl.”

Joe burst in out of breath.  ”There’s another one.  What the hell is going on around here?”

Scott felt his stomach lurch, his suspicions high.  ”Another one what?”  He had stopped, his bottle raised to his lips but not drinking.

”Another girl’s gone missing. ”  Joe bent over, his hands on his knees to catch his breath.  ”With Helena gone, I thought I better tell you guys.  

 

                                                *                             *                             *                             *

 

The camp was sheer chaos.  Students threatening to walk back to the airport, students huddling in their tents, others in a near state of shock.  Over the course of five days four girls had gone missing.  The fourth day the second girls body was found strewn around the alter stone north of their dig.  Police were staying in the camp now, patrolling the perimeter, and getting regular updates from Scott and  Brad. 

Nialls was a nervous wreck.  He sent reports to Dr.  Montgomery about what had been happening. He reluctantly reported to the guys that the Doctor and the board were seriously thinking of shutting down their dig, and compensating them for their time up to that date.

A couple of the undergraduate men decided to chaperon the girls at all times.  It seemed whoever was perpetrating the crimes was only interested in the women. They checked in with Brad and Scott on the hour.   Meanwhile Brad and Scott worked on their plan to free Helena. 

 

”Where are we going to get a virgin Valkyrie?  Do you think maybe somehow one of the Vikings escaped when she passed through and is sacrificing these girls?”  Scott nervously rubbed his stubble. 

”Nah, I don't think so.  I think there’s someone here trying to figure out a way to get in, so they can plunder the halls of Valhalla.  Legend says there is hoards of treasure there.”  Brad flips through one of his notebooks.  ”Look here, at the runes we found on the alter stone.”  He points out to Scott the pictures taken of the stone, then the rubbings and his translation.  ”I think maybe some local, or someone associated with the school here is  killing those girls. It says here that if the sacrifice is given and Odin be pleased, The halls of Valhalla will be open and Ragnarok will begin.”

”So there’s the whole plunder the halls end of the world scenario?” 

”Yeah, something like that.  Amazing that thieves are always so short sighted.  We’ve got two days to figure out how to get Helena out of there”

Scott paced around the small tent.  There had to be a way.

 

                                                *                             *                             *                             *

 

Helena struggled to read the crude drawings on the wall. They had explored each of the corridors and always came back to the room where the man had been staying.  There was another similar wall at the North end of the network of tunnels, but she could find no way to open it either. 

The man tried to tell her each time she went from the north stone to the south stone she had fallen through something about Valhalla, about Ragnarok and Valkyries.  On the last trip, she noticed he tucked his dagger in his waist band as he was muttering about Valkyrie curse.  She had a bad feeling about his intentions.  Held not tried anything sexual with her, so she figured she must have told him the right words before but also decided that minimal talk was best so she didn’t say the wrong things.  With each minute that ticked by, she became more agitated at his behavior.

If she got out of here alive, she made herself a vow to spend more time studying runes, and learning the language fluently.  She muttered prayers as she walked slowly back to the South wall.  There had to be a way, there just had to be.

He stood behind her, playing with his dagger in his hands, turning it over and over.  He eyed her suspiciously ever so often.  Her stomach growled and he handed her a leathery piece of dry  jerky.  It had little taste, but she was grateful. 

She pointed to the stone wall and asked him  ” Hvad betyder dette sagt?”

He walks closer, squats down on his knees before her . ” siger ikke sagt. Just My Luck jeg får en Valkyrie, der er smukke, men dim.”

She startled at his comment.  ”OK, say not said – my bad.”  She rolled her eyes.  ”Wait a minute, did you just say I was a dimwit?”

He smiled at her. ”Ja”

” Du taler engelsk?”  she asks him if he speaks English.

He waved his hand back and forth.  ”nogle”

Great!  Helena thought about all the things she’d muttered to herself wondering if there was something  she may have said that upset him over the past, what had it been?    ” Hvor længe siden jeg fik her?”

”Fer diz.”

”Four days?  I’ve been stuck in here for four days?”

She stood and paced .   ”Oh my god oh my god oh my god!”  She had her arms crossed over her chest feeling as if she’d hyperventilate.  She walked up to him within inches.  ”What does it say?”  She screamed it at him.

” Når blod er udgydt på døren, skal ved månelyset valkyrien ind at styre tabte til deres destinationer indtil Ragnarok. De skal komme med fuldmånen i Samhein for at de ikke begge være tabt for evigt. En anden Valkyrie skal åbne døren for Valkyrie at vende tilbage til menneskenes verden.”

She tried to make out the words.  ”the blood upon the door, from the maiden Valkyrie, in the moonlight enters.  Leading warriors to Ragnarok. No.  Leading to destination until Ragnarok. Something about the full moon before Samhein – or they are lost. A second Valkyrie must come to return to men.”  she stared blankly at the man.

He shook his head. ”dim”

She punched him square in the chest. ” I am NOT dim.  You arrogant jerk!”  she walked a few steps down the corridor.  ”Right.  So we’re trapped here until a Valkyrie comes to rescue us.  Great!  My life depends on a legend.  Wonderful.”

She kicked a rock down the tunnel, hearing it skip several times in the dark tunnel.  A terrible thought occurred to her.  She walked back and grabbed his arm, practically grabbing him behind her.  She rushed  to the North wall an pointed.  ”Read it!”

” ikke dæmpes, kan bare ikke læse”

”Oh, I can read buster, just not ancient Danish runes.”

His eyebrow shot up. ” Det er ikke gammel, det er vores sprog.”

”What do you mean, OUR language?”  She stood with a scowl on her face, arms crossed.  ”Read it.”

”Jeg kan acceptere dim når så beautful.”  He leaned over and kissed her lightly.

”You think I’m beautiful  but dim.  Great.  Well thanks for the beautiful part.”

He flashed her a brilliant smile.   If he shaved he would be a good looking man.  And if he bathed.

” Dette er dør til Nefflheim. Hvis du finder det åbent, er Valkyrie ikke komme efter dig. Velkommen til Nefflheim.”

”Right so basically this is the door to hell.  No Valkyrie for you, welcome to hell.  Let’s pray this door isn’t the one that opens.”

 

                                                *                             *                             *                             *

Scott was frantic.  Another body had been discovered.  The police had been on patrol and somehow the killer managed to evade them and leave another girls body on the same stone.  This one was different though, she’d been bound and gagged, apparently raped then had her throat slit.  The others had their stomachs slashed and their insides ripped out,strewn around them.  Time was growing short for his Helena.  He’d wanted her for so long and now that she was his, she was gone.

He had begun to ask each of the remaining girls in camp a few questions before hitting the big one, were they virgins.  Sadly, most of them were not.  Susan Thornton was, but she was definitely of Indian descent. 

He paced through his tent mumbling.  He thought nothing of the jeep that rolled up outside thinking it was probably another of the police, or Dr. Montgomery.  Either way he didn’t care. 

”Hello, are you Scott?”

He turned to find an attractive young girl in braids standing with the tent flaps open.  ”Joe over at the mess tent told me to come see Scott about my sister.”

”Um,  which one is your sister?” He nervously combed his fingers through is hair.  Explaining a brutal murder to someone wasn’t in his plans for the day. 

”Helena?”

Scott stood perfectly still.  ”Brittany?”

”Um, yes, how did you know my name?”

Scott ran to her and hugged her tight.  ”I know exactly where Helena is.”  He took her bags and tossed them on his cot.  ”Let’s go.”

He stopped at Brad’s tent and filled him in. They climbed into the jeep, and headed for the dig.  Brittany chattered the entire time about how Helena had invited her to visit, to see if she wanted to follow her big sisters foot steps.  She told about the flight over, and the long wait in town for a taxi when Helena was suppose to pick her up. 

Scott turned the jeep off.  ”If I’d known I’d have come to get you. Helena has been, well she’s been busy at the site. ”

It was fifteen minutes to midnight of Samhein.  There was no time to waste.  He practically drug her down the tunnel, Brad fast on their heels.  When they reached the stone wall, Scott looked up to see that the moonlight was filtering in.  The brightness of the full moon gave them plenty of light albeit a creepy blue light.  ”Helena is just on the other side of this door.  Ready?”

”Sure.”

She barely got the words out of her mouth when Brad grabbed her hand and sliced across her palm with his pocket knife.  As Brittany inhaled, her eyes growing large with the shock, Scott grabbed the same hand and slapped it against the stone.  The stone vanished revealing Helena and her Viking friend. They both rushed out, Helena straight into Scott's arms and the Viking falling on Brittany.

” Priset være Odin. Guderne foretrækker mig!”  The viking kissed Brittany hard on the lips, lifting her off the ground and twirling her around.  (Praise to Odin, the gods favor me!)

”Scott grabbed Helena, kissing her firmly.  ”Helena.”  He kissed her again. ”I thought I’d lost you.”  He hugged her tightly, then kissed her deeply, passionately.

After an awkward length of time, Brad cleared his throat interrupting the two couples. 

Brittany blushed as the Viking set her on her feet.  ”Um, hi.”  She looked down  embarrassed that she had been kissing the stranger.

”Brittany meet Yani,  Yani Brittany.” She then stepped closer to her Viking friend.  She leaned in close to his face with a stern expression.  ”She is my sister, not a Valkyrie.”

Yani chuckled, his arm around Brittany and tossed his head in Helena’s direction.  ”Dim”

 

                                                *                             *                             *                             *

The police captured the killer as he tried to sacrifice the fourth girl.  It turned out to be Dr. Sheffield, the Danish professor that originally coordinated the dig.  He had spent a life time researching the site, gathering all information about the dig and the stones  related to the site. 

Yani had been trapped in the in between for nearly 400 years, but hadn’t aged in that magical ”nether” place.  When Scott and Brad had helped him clean up, shower and shave he was an attractive man that was determined to be with Brittany.  In his things was a purse filled with ancient coins.  When he sold them to the museum of Denmark, it set him up with a small fortune.  He then hired  Brad and Scott to tutor him in modern English, and modern ways.

The following year Scott and Helena were married in a dual ceremony with Brittany and Yani.  The site was a huge success, revealing intricate tunnels  underground thanks to Brittany having opened the door.  As a wedding gift to his sister in law, Yani presented Helena with a map.  It was written in runic language.

”Read it please.”  Helena told him.

He read to her in Danish then offered, ”It is map to Atlantis.”

Her eyes grew large, her archaeological interest now piqued.  She grabbed it from his hands.

He chuckled, twirling Brittany around then tossed his head in Helena’s direction again.  ”Dim”

Swingers Part VII

How do you define Swinging? Can you swing solo? 

 

 

Part VII: All That Glitters

by

Abyrne Mostyn

 

 

Tangyr glanced about the modest room, slipped off her shoes and sat down on a small settee. The gold lame mask in her hand making her smile. It was not your everyday mask, what could it mean? The whorls and scroll work extending up from the area about the temples on the mask making it seem baroque or more than just an identity concealment. Fun.

She unzipped the bag she had been handed and now brought out the items with careful hands, inspecting each of the meager pieces. Upon first glance into the bag she had seen small shimmers of gold and had thought they were pasties. They weren’t. They were similar but something much more than a simple stick on. She wondered absently for a few moments if all the females would be adorned the same.

The first item she withdrew was elaborate gold lame and sequins, something of a paisley shape, but nothing as stodgy as a simple paisley. Reaching in she withdrew an identical, if opposite facing piece. Each one with a small O-ring clasp on the back that didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how they were affixed, or where. Next came out a scoop-looking piece, though it was more a quarter curve that seemed to be more flexible with a tail of feathers opposite the wide top. It too was gold, glitter and sequin. Someone had planned for the dismal March to be broken by quite a party. The clasp on this piece was significant and would be no small matter to attach. Already she trembled with excitement to try them on.

Deciding that the odd piece of the grouping might be easier if she didn’t have to fight with the matching ones, she slipped off her filmy slacks, thigh-highs and her favorite thong folding them carefully before setting them aside. Tangyr studied the piece for a few moments before she figured out it was a clit-clamp. Tricky thing about these types of clamps, you had to be erect to attach it. Excitement had gotten her part of the way, but she was nowhere near enough to the stubborn knot of nerves she would need to attach the piece and get it to stay.

Her own emerald green eyes stared back from the mirror on the wall. Sliding the mask into place she stared, becoming the voyeur and the victim of her own wandering hands. Long slender fingers trailed from knees to hips, around and between the globes of her arse and back to the front again before toying with the top line of the scream of dark curls. Twisting and furrowing, outlining and venturing to the midline and back she watched as she teased herself. Waiting for a short eternity before sliding one finger between the folds to check her progress, damp. Bringing that finger and another with it to her lips she wet them both before returning to the little button she hid at the cleft of her and began a slow pressure-ful turn.

Turning, pressing and turning some more she could feel the bud begin to wrap itself tighter. Feel the clench and unclench all the way through to her stomach. Feel the nipples that she hadn’t exposed tighten to small pebbles and become ultra-sensitive to the slide of her satin camisole. Dipping those same fingers back an inch and sliding up and down within her core, she was more than damp now, but now, she wanted it all. Watching avidly as the fingers came out again shiny and iridescent she changed directions of the turning against her clit, rubbing with a finger along each side of it and a pressure building between. She watched as her lips parted so she could pant, and her free hand scratched streaks up her thigh as she pushed herself higher. Watched as her own hand turned faster and faster, her hips begin to pulse in a rhythm they knew by heart, and her teeth come to bite down on her bottom lip to stifle the cry as she wet the inside of her thighs with the proof that she was ready.

Grabbing a few tissues from the table to wipe up some, she pinched the cross-clamp open and pulling back the labia that were still shiny with her release; she slid the opening over the angry pink bud and released it to grab hold. The immediate tension and pressure nearly had her releasing again. The piece designed to keep her on the edge, a pleasure and a torture all at the same time. The tail that seemed to plume and cover the essentials of her arse seeming very showgirl in her mind, but also something else she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Wasting no time as her nipples were still standing up for attention, she slipped from her blouse and camisole, rolling the tight tips against her open palms before squeezing the O-rings open and attaching the pieces with the paisley points up and out. The pinching not comfortable, but not uncomfortable either, instead something like a constant biting feeling and again her core wept. This night would be a wet one.

Sliding on the nude slippers, she took off all her jewelry, put her accoutrements in the bag, zipped it closed, locked it, and slid the key band onto her wrist. Setting the bag aside to a shelf with the others, she took one last look in the mirror before opening the door and entering a festival in full swing. Smiling as she recognized Carnival, she hummed as she walked. Making her way to the far table for a drink and to see what was on the menu she stopped abruptly when someone gave a soft tug on the feathers of her tail. The sensation shot an electric current through her clit, up thru her stomach, and nearly had her moaning. Having taken her release before she entered just moments ago, everything was still hyper-sensitive. Turning, she found a tall leggy blonde with honey eyes watching her intently from behind her cerulean mask. The woman pointing to the scratch marks up her own thigh before motioning to Tangyr’s.

“You too?” was all she said. Tangyr’s soft shrug and giggle the only response she could muster as she nodded. The blonde circled her like a lion measuring a quarry, standing behind her, inhaling deeply as she tugged the feathers again just enough to make Tangyr’s knees go weak before she leaned in to whisper in her ear;

“Work the room, have a drink but know this much...I will have you in my bed this night. If you taste as good as you smell right now, I’m not of a mind to share, but your choice. Two of us? Or three?”

Tangyr took all of three seconds to turn the tables on her, circling her as she stood still this time; before stopping behind her, pulling rhythmically and repeatedly on the feathers that controlled the clit, inhaling slowly watching the goose bumps rise on the blondes arms and back before whispering back;

“If you think you can handle me alone, I dare you to try.”


Read Part VI here
Read Part V here
Read Part IV here
Read Part III here
Read Part II here
Read Part I here


Faere Warrior: Passion's Price Pt. 5

Dr. Mubarak seems to have more than one secret she's hiding.  Sometimes the unexpected can nearly be expected.  Fate has a way of throwing those things in front of us that we just can't seem to escape.  The question is, is Salena gong to be a saviour or a destructor? 
Just when you thought things couldn't get any weirder, never under estimate the powers of the Dark Fae. 

Faere Warrior

 

Pt 5

 

by Ellie Mack

Keegan fidgeted all through class, keeping his head down. Her voice played havoc with his memories. While laying out the outlined schedule for the class, Keegan envisioned her beneath him, straddling him, on top of him, and kneeling before him, using her mouth. He squirmed in the seat. He noticed the jock next to him rubbing himself and was furious. He shot him a dagger stare, then tossed out a quick spell. By the end of class the guy was nearly doubled over with stomach cramps. It would ease when he was fifty yards away from Dr. Mubarak.

He closed his notebook and bound down the steps, taking three at a time. “Salena?"

She spun around, an expression of shock at hearing her name, saying “It’s Dr. Mubarak,” as she turned. When she saw that it was Keegan, she couldn’t help the gasp that came out. “Keegan.”

“So that’s how you treat your best. Hate to be your worst.” He was furious. He was nearly sick pining for her, and she was carrying on as if he meant nothing. “And I’ll no be addressin’ ya as Doctor.”

“Keegan. I--” her hand went to her throat, brushing the delicate skin there. “I went back to your hotel and you had checked out. I didn’t know how to find you.”

“Aye, so ya say. No numba, no nothin’. I’ve been out of my mind wantin’ ya. Now I have to wonder if it meant nothin’ to ya.”

“Of course it did! I wasn’t lying when I wrote that. I had to leave, had to get in early preparing for the semester and all. Like I said, when I went back you were gone. I even went back to that club.”

“Aye? Did ya now?” He reached for her hand. She busied herself with organizing her papers.

“Not here; I could lose my job.” She stuffed papers into the briefcase. “But, if you were to follow me to my house.” She gave him a coy look, motioning him to follow.

He was helpless to do anything else. He followed her to her car, then followed her to her home. His mind raced!  He knew Lee would harass him for his behaviour but he didn't care.  All he could think about had been Salena, and there was no way he was going to walk away. It was more than the sex, although the sex had been off the charts.  She had gotten to him, gotten under his skin, affected him in a way no other woman had ever managed. Although, to be honest it was his own doing.  He never allowed anyone to get close.
He pulled into the drive of her house, and shut off his bike. His heart was pounding and pulse racing.  He was already hard just being near her again. Once inside the door, it was instant heat. Salena closed the door behind them then turned as Keegan pinned her to the wall, her hands over her head as he plundered her lips.

When he finally came up for breath, nuzzling her ear he said “God, lass, I’ve been crazy for ya. Can’t think of naught else but you.” He licked her neck from collar bone to her ear, she shivered.

“You affect me like no other woman.” His lips on hers again as he raised one hand massaging her breast, kneading, cupping then rubbing over her hard nipple leaving her breathless.

“Keegan, I’ve thought of you as well. I keep reliving that night in my mind.” She kissed him aggressively, biting his lip. “Making me crazy with your touch, your kisses.”

He lifted her, her arms falling around his neck. He raised her up, allowing her legs to wrap around his waist, then pressed her against the wall. He couldn’t stop if he wanted to. Salena was finally his again.

He carried her, her legs wrapped around him as she directed him down the hall to her bedroom. He laid her gently on the bed, following her with his full weight, pressing against her fully as her legs were splayed.

She moaned he growled. Her hands clutched the comforter, his hands frantically unbuttoned her shirt. She trailed her nails down his back causing him to arch, pressing into her harder. She nearly screamed.

    A flurry of clothes fell to the floor as they kissed and licked each others bodies. He scooted up against the headboard and she straddled him, her legs wrapped around him. They moved together as if they’d been lifelong lovers, matching movement for movement, anticipating the other’s needs. It was a magical relay, unspoken cues for when they handed off the lead to the other, reaching the pinnacle together.

    As he lay there with Salena, his chest heaving trying to recover from the intensity, he saw a movement at the foot of the bed.  It was just dark enough that it was hard to distinguish. 


            *              *                 *                *

    Master would not be pleased!  His human had brought a male home an allowed him to not only touch her, but she enjoyed him immensely. Siann was to watch her, keep an eye on her, protect the master's property.

    Siann decided, she'd have to punish the humans.  Punish the male that touched the master's property, and punish Salena for her betrayal.  She crouched, shifting her shape into a different form.  Her flesh rippled, the inner parts vibrating as she focused her energy and thoughts into the new form.  It had been a while since she'd taken this form, nearly two centuries since she roamed the Sahara.

    She crept closer, silently edging to the male's leg.  Her mouth watered.  She wanted to taste his blood. She could feel the warmth coming off his body in waves, pulsating with his heart beat.  Her mouth salivated, she wanted to taste him but if she did chances are he'd move before she could sting him with her venom. She edged closer, the battle waging within her whether to bite and taste his blood or to sting him and punish him for touching the master's property.  

    Siann moved closer, she had to move quick.  If she bit and stung at the same time he wouldn't stand a chance.  She crouched, hidden in the folds of the sheets, carefully edging near his flesh. Her mouth watering as she sprang into action, clamping her pincers into his flesh and lashing her scorpion tail over her head, burying her stinger into his leg.  She lapped at the blood, sucking fiercely; knowing it was only a matter of seconds before he would fling her aside to allow her escape. 

   She sucked in deeply, waiting for the intoxicating rush that it gave.  Suddenly a rush of pain shot through her.  She released him before he could brush her aside and scrambled from the bed, falling to the floor.  Shifting as she moved, changing from scorpion to cat as she ran for the door. 

   The Pain!  It was so intense.  Nothing felt this painful except Seelie Fae blood.

   Once outside she halted, turning, spinning around.  Fae blood!  But he was human. Yet, unmistakably Fae blood.  Her insides clenched, she was going to be sick for days with Seelie blood.  Last time she prayed for death, it never came.  Siann slinked off to the cool damp cave on the edge of the woods and reverted to her natural form. Gone was the sleek lines of a feline, in it's place was her rough dark skin, the bulging eyes, her razor sharp teeth, and grotesque form that she despised. Instantly the waves of bile rose within her and she hacked, sputtering blood from her system.  Every nerve was on fire, every cell throbbing with the pain.  She slumped against the cool earth.

   As soon as the sickness passed she'd report to the master.


          *              *                *                *


     Keegan let out a scream!   He smacked at his leg, seeing a giant scorpion scurry across the floor.  "Fuck!"  He clamped his hand over his calf, the pain shooting up his leg.  As he took his hand away, a smear of blood came with it.  He glanced over at Salena, she barely stirred.

    He stepped towards the door determined to squash the stupid scorpion.  'How the hell did it get in here anyway?  Scorpions weren't native to California, were they?' When he stepped to the floor, intense pain overwhelmed him as he buckled to the floor.   He felt nauseous; waves of bile rising, churning his inside.  He drug himself to the bathroom.  The smooth tile floor felt like fire against his skin.  Just a few more feet. 

    He drug himself up to the edge of the toilet, a mere second before his stomach emptied it's contents.  A wave of fire ripped through his insides, and as he glanced at his leg, blood trickled down his leg from bite marks as well as a spot above it.  The blood from the spot above it was thick and greenish. Unseelie blood, but from where?

    "Leevander Traherne!"  He yelled, then collapsed on the cold marble tile. 


Read chapter 4 here
Read chapter 3 here
Read chapter 2 here
Read chapter 1 here

 

Twin Desires Part 3

Change of plans.  I know you were expecting Replacements, but  . . . we're switching gears. Today's installment is from Macie Snow.  Replacements will appear on Friday in Macie's usual spot. 
Now, let's find out what Justin and Katrinna are up to.

Twin Desires pt 3

by Macie Snow

I jerk upright in my saddle, blinking sleep from my eyes. The first thing I notice is my sore backside. Cursing the poor construction of saddles, I rub my aching tailbone before realizing that Justin is calling my name.

                “-inna! Katrinna! Are you awake yet sleepyhead?” Justin laughs, seemingly in much better spirits than I.

                I moan and stretch, attempting to release some of the tension from my muscles. I had never been a morning person, and usually ended up being extremely irritable until well after the sun had made its way past the horizon.  My mood was improved none by the fact that dew had soaked through my clothes overnight, leaving me chilly, and grumpy.

                “So nice of you to wake up.” Justin grins. “We are approaching the town of Tarneth. Once there we can buy you some more appropriate clothing.”

                “What counts as appropriate?” I ask, hoping with all my might that I would not be required to wear a corset and dress, and briefly thinking about getting some skimpy clothing, but deciding against it as they would more than likely get me the wrong kind of attention, and from the wrong person.

                “A tunic and pants most likely, something easy to move in, and light. We might also want to buy you a cloak.” Justin says. Apparently I hadn’t hidden my shivering very well. I grit my teeth and force myself to stop trembling.

                “That’s perfect,” I say. An idea pops in my head and I blurt it out before thinking twice. “Will I get any weapons? A dagger at least?”

                Justin surprises me by chuckling. “I plan to get you a bit more than a dagger. While I will protect you, you will have to be prepared to defend yourself in case I am otherwise occupied, or something makes its way past me.”Justin says, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “How about a sword? Yes, a sword should suit you nicely; perhaps you would do well with two one-handed swords…” Justin continues to ponder as we approach the town. I bite back my excitement as I mull over what he had said. Justin had said if ‘something’ gets past him, not ‘someone’. Suddenly I find myself rethinking my plan to rush after Adrinna’s kidnapper to save her.

                I clear my throat, causing Justin to look towards me. “You would need to teach me to use them.  The swords I mean. I learned basic defenses, with a dagger, but I’ve never been taught to fight.”

                “Of course you weren’t! You are a princess! You wouldn’t need to know how to fight!” Justin pauses and sighs, before continuing in a calmer voice. “However, I suppose I must teach you, to suit our… Unique predicament,” Justin says, the corner of his mouth twitching up in amusement.

                I duck my head to hide a blush. Teaching me to fight would require the two of us being in VERY close proximity to each other. Suddenly I was very anxious for this evening.

                “We are approaching Tarneth now princess,” Justin says, stopping Flinn. I pull Zypher to a stop and watch as Justin climbs off Flinn and starts rooting around in his saddlebags. Justin pulls out a dark mass of cloth and walks towards me with it.

                “Here princess, we will have to lay low for now. I don’t know if anyone would recognize you, but I don’t want to risk it,” Justin says, holding the cloth out to me. I grab it, and it unfolds, revealing a cloak.

                “Very well,” I say, swinging the cloak behind me. I lift my chin as I tie the cloak at my collar. Once the cloak is secured I pull my hair out from under the cloak and twist it around to lie over my right shoulder.

Justin gasps. I look over to see him staring at me.

“What?” I ask looking around frantically to see what is wrong.

“You-, your hair!” Justin exclaims.

“What? Is there a spider in it?” I ask, swiping furiously at the top of my head.

“No, no.” Justin says, grabbing my wrist. I look down at his warm hand around my wrist. He was so much darker than I. My skin tingles where his fingers touch it.

“Your hair has golden streaks in it.” Justin says, still staring at my head.

“Is that all?” I ask, distracted by his warm skin.

“I just never noticed before,” Justin says, trailing off. He lets go off my wrist and walks over to Flinn, mounting the buckskin mare without even breaking stride. “Let’s go. Pull your hood up princess.”

I smile, and pull my hood up. My brown hair did have golden streaks, but no one ever noticed with Adrinna around. Adrinna was blonde, golden blonde, and with her blonde hair, all people ever noticed about my hair was that it’s brown. That was our one difference, physically that is. We both had bright blue eyes, and the same build.
Before I could start missing Adrinna, we arrived in Tarneth.

I duck my head to hide my face, and peer out from under the hood at the little town. I had never been outside of the castle and its surrounding town before, and I am surprised to find that I love this bustling little town. People and animals are everywhere, running every which way. Justin leads the way to a tailor shop a little ways into the town. I see mothers holding their infants, buying the mornings eggs. Children play in the street. Dogs bark at passersby’s. This town was wonderful.

We stop just short of the tailors, at a hitching post. Justin unties Zypher from Flinn and I start untying the ropes holding me in the saddle. Justin finishes, and ties both Flinn and Zypher to the post near the store. Once he finished tying the horses to  the post, he realizes I am still in Zyphers saddle. He chuckles at seeing that I was still struggling with the ropes before coming to help me.

“Stick close to me Katrinna,” Justin whispers reaching around my waist to unhook the ropes. “The tailor is right here, and the blacksmith is across the way,” Justin says, gesturing across the bustling street. I see a faint line of smoke rising from a building towards the outskirts of town, and assume that is the blacksmith. Justin frees me from the ropes and helps me down. I trip, and Justin catches my arm.

“You okay Katrinna?” Justin asks as I waver unsteadily.

“Yeah, fine, just give me a minute to get my footing,” I say, clutching to Zypher’s saddle.

As soon as I’m steady, Justin reaches behind me and roots around in Zypher’s saddlebags, before pulling out a bag of gold coins. Bouncing the bag on his palm we walk toward the tailors shop. People scatter, avoiding Justin, and pay no notice of my presence. I find myself having to practically jog in order to keep up with Justin’s long strides. We quickly arrive at the tailors and I pause outside the shop. I look up at the sign, causing my hood to fall back. I sigh and, after pulling my hood back up, walk into the store, wishing Adrinna could be here with me.

o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o

“Thank you!” I call behind me, as I leave the tailors shop. I was now adorned in a dark green tunic that is remarkably soft. The tailor had called the fabric cotton, said he found the stuff in fields just outside of town, and that his wife spun it into thread and fabric. I also had a leather belt fastened around my waist. The belt had diamond patterns circling it, and inside the diamonds were roses that had been tooled with incredible detail. Tight black pants and tall leather riding boots completed my new attire. The tailor’s wife had helped me braid my hair so that it wrapped up around itself, and hung in a short ponytail on the back of my head. It also made my hair look shorter, which would help me not to be recognized.

                “Well that is definitely an improvement!” I hear Justin call. I turn to see him riding up to me from the blacksmiths. “I’m glad Mr. and Mrs. Tyler didn’t mind dropping everything to help with our unique predicament.” Justin says, smiling as he dismounts.

                “Well, it probably helped that you are the best knight in the kingdom. You intimidate people.” I giggle.

                “Ha-ha princess,” Justin says. His voice sounds angry, but I see his eyes twinkle in amusement. “I had the blacksmith make these.” Justin says as he turns and pulls two gleaming blades off the back of his saddle.

                I gasp and run over to him. The blades were perfection; sleek, and beautiful.

                “Make no mistake,” Justin says chuckling at my reaction. He holds the blades just short of my eager reach. “Despite their hasty production, these are very dangerous weapons Katrinna.”

                I sigh in defeat. “I understand.”

                Justin grins before turning and tying the swords to the back of my saddle.

                “When can you start teaching me?” I ask, eager to have an excuse to get up close and personal with Justin, not to mention learning to defend myself. I was tired of playing the damsel in distress. It was high time I would be able to take care of myself.

                “I can begin your instruction tonight. But first,” Justin turns around and presents me with a dagger. “I believe you might want this.”

                “You got this for me?” I ask, barely able to keep from squealing with excitement as a blush rose in my cheeks. “But why? You got me the swords!”

                “Until you reach a certain level of proficiency, the Damascus blades are as dangerous for you as you enemies.”

                “Damascus?” I ask, reaching eagerly for the dagger, but Justin held it out of my reach.

                “That’s the type of swords they are. Very time consuming to make. Which means they are all the more impressive because they were formed so quickly.”

                “Will they be weaker as a result of their quick formation?” I ask, starting to worry. How horrible would it be if my sword broke in the middle of a fight?  No matter what the circumstances, that situation would have no happy ending for me.

                “No, they are as strong as any blade that took weeks to make. The blacksmith assured me, and I tested them thoroughly.”

                I sigh, relieved as Justin passes the dagger to me. I pull it from its sheath and stare at the blade. It was clear as any looking glass in the castle. The handle was simple, yet beautiful with the metal worked so that it twisted around the handle.

                “This dagger is perfect for you, at least until I am able to teach you the… art of swordplay,” Justin says, climbing onto Flinn.

                I smirk, and re-sheath the dagger before fastening it to my belt and mounting Zypher. Even under the circumstances, Justin insisted on being proper. Art of swordplay my ass. Justin was going to teach me to kill. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. “So when will you start teaching me?” I ask.

                “Tonight if you wish, but for now we must move if we are to stay ahead of search troops.” Justin says, situating himself in the saddle.

                “Justin?” I say softly. Justin glances over his shoulder at me. “Thank you,” I murmur.

                Justin’s eyes soften as he smiles warmly. “You are more than welcome, princess.”

                “Katrinna,” I correct.

                “Katrinna,” Justin says softly. I nod, blushing.

                Justin smiles, and looks ahead. He clicks his tongue and starts Flinn forward. It seemed as if we would finally be starting our search for Adrinna.