The Succubae Seduction 2: The Twins, Chapter 8
Introduction:
Shelley & Jessica head to Marchosias’s island.
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Chapter 08
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Whose Side are You On?
âShelly, Jessica, wake up!â
Years of training and instinct kicked in. Shelly moved before her eyes were open. She rolled off the bed and hit the floor, looking for the source of the threat. Brooke stood at the foot of the bed and was the one who spoke. Bridgette stood by the door, a sword in one hand and a pistol in the other.
âWhatâs going on?â Jessica asked with a yawn as she sat up, stretching her arms. Shelly watched as she blinked sleep from her eyes and looked around. Neither woman had redressed after their tryst last night. Jessicaâs breasts stood perfect on her chest, her nipples hard and proud in the cool underground air, except for a hickey or two that belied what had happened. The blanket theyâd used to sleep with puddled around her waist, hiding the hickeys lower down. Shelly wondered if they shouldnât have been healed afterwards, but knew there were more important things to worry about.
âErwin was missing when we got up this morning,â Brooke said with a cautious tone. âHe didnât leave a note to explain his absence and I donât trust his agreeing to help us last night. Heâs a wily man and tends to do things the way he wants. Sometimes I feel heâs more cat than human anymore.â
Shelly relaxed as Brooke spoke. If she had enough time to explain this much, they werenât in immediate danger. She searched for and found her shirt on the floor where it had been tossed. Her cheeks burned as she felt Brookeâs eyes on her. Brooke had never been one to be judgmental, but the simple fact that her step-mom knew what theyâd done last night was mortifying. At least her half-sibling was in her female guise. Having Brock gawk at her would have been mortifying.
âSo, youâre afraid heâs setting a trap for us?â Shelly asked to distract herself from her embarrassment.
âItâs no secret that most of those living here donât like the Pillars, or some of their rules. Itâs not too far of a stretch to think heâor some of those hereâmay have had something to do with Varunâs death.â Brooke joined her daughter at the door, giving them a modicum of privacy.
They dressed, the movement and action waking them up, if the worry about their situation hadnât.
Brooke glanced into the room and saw that they were clothed. âGet your stuff, and weâll get out of here. The sooner weâre away, the better Iâll feel.â
They didnât have much to grab. Shelly hid a yawn behind her own hand, wondering what time it was. She shared a couple of red-cheeked glances with Jessica as they left Bridgetteâs home. Her sibling was going to have to wash those sheets if she ever came back.
âWhy donât we leave via Bridgetteâs room?â Jessica asked as they slinked down the well-lit streets. âShe has that back door entrance under the water, doesnât she?â
Shelly felt her cheeks burn hotter as her girlfriend mentioned, âback door.â She shook herself to get rid of the thought. She was thinking like Sheldon, and that would only get them in trouble.
âItâs the most obvious way to leave,â Brooke said. She peeked around a corner, then waved them forward. Shelly suspected it was still early in the morning, too early for most people to be awake. âWeâll sneak out another route and swim to the border.â
âSwim?â Jessica asked as her face darkened. âI canât hold my breath forever.â
âWe only have to go underwater for a moment,â Bridgette stated. âMom or I can pull you along, and then we can stay above the surface until we get to Marchosiasâs island.â
Silence fell as they continued sneaking through the underground city. Bridgetteâs mechanical legs made plenty of noise, but it didnât carry far. Shelly worried about what Erwin Schrödinger might be doing right then. He hadnât been the most pleasant host last night, and she knew his scruples werenât the highest. The man had put a cat in a box and left it alone to starve in the name of science. Despite the tense situation, and her dark thoughts, Shelly giggled.
âWhatâs so funny?â Bridgette asked.
âSorry,â Shelly felt her cheeks heat as Jessica smiled at her. âI just had the thought that until we know exactly what Erwin is doing, heâs both setting up a trap, and not setting a trap for us.â
Brooke shook her head, but Shelly noticed a smile touch her lips. Bridgette looked between them confused. âI donât get it.â
Brooke leaned over and whispered in her ear low enough that Shelly couldnât hear. Bridgetteâs gray eyes grew wide, then a look of horror crossed her face. âErwin did that to a cat? No wonder the fairy cursed him!â
No one else commented, and they moved to the edge of the floating island without incident. âEdgeâ was the perfect word to describe the drop-off to the water about five meters below. If there were waves in the water, Shelly couldnât see them.
âWhat about your legs?â Shelly asked her half-sister. âAre they waterproof?â
Bridgette grinned as she patted her mechanical limbs. âYeah, Dad thought of everything. It even has built in boosters, places to store weapons, and I can even fly for short distances.â
Shelly didnât want to admit it, but she was a bit jealous. She understood that Dad hadnât been able to spend as much time with Bridgette as he did his other children, because he could no longer change forms, but Shelly had never received such a gift from her father. She wouldnât give up a moment of the time sheâd spent with him, but she couldnât smother the spark of jealousy that her sister had something so cool.
âIs it safe to jump?â Jessica asked while looking over the edge.
âThere are no jagged rocks and the water is plenty deep.â Brooke stripped off her clothes as she spoke. âThe water will be cold, though not as cold as last time. Shelly, Jessica, let us go first. Give us a couple seconds to get out of the way, then come down.â
The two women nodded. A second later, Brooke and Bridgette leapt over the edge. There was no wind to carry sound, but Shelly barely heard them splash when they hit.
âYou ready for this?â Jessica asked as she gripped Shellyâs hand. Shelly smiled before leaning in and giving her girlfriend a soft peck on the lips. Jessica returned her smile as Shelly pulled away.
âIâm glad youâre here with me,â Shelly admitted before she knew the words were out of her mouth. Jessicaâs eyes widened at her admission, and she thought to pull them back, but knew that they were true. Rarely had she ever gone into a dangerous situation with someone other than her brother. Sheldon could be foolish and brash at times, but he was brave and Shelly trusted him implicitly. Jessica was also brave and knew how to fight. Jessica was on a very short list of people that Shelly trusted at her back, or to wield her. Last nightâs confession about her past only solidified Shellyâs trust.
Shelly saw tears form in Jessicaâs eyes, but she didnât understand what would have caused them.
âThank you,â Jessicaâs voice was full of suppressed emotion. Before Shelly could react, Jessica pulled her into a tight hug. She hugged back, not sure her words warranted this much reaction, but enjoying the contact anyway.
âCome on!â Bridgetteâs voice reached them a moment later, and Shelly realized they were holding up the mission. âWe said wait a few seconds, not all day!â
âWeâd better get going,â she said, pulling away a bit but grabbing the other womanâs hand.
âUm, yeah,â Jessica nodded and tucked a strand of her black hair behind one ear. She glanced over the edge again. âDo we really need to get naked again?â
Shelly took a moment to consider. She kept her grip on Jessicaâs hand as she came to a decision. Jessica gasped as Shelly changed form, taking on the shape of her favorite swimsuit. She slid under the other womanâs clothes, hugging her body tightly.
It only took a moment to shift most of her mass away and form the one-piece swimsuit. She enjoyed the intimacy this afforded her as she was able to snuggle her entire body around Jessica. Just for fun, Shelly allowed her fabric body to ripple across the other womanâs skin.
âOh, this could get naughty,â Jessica giggled.
âI think Brooke stripped so that her clothes didnât interfere with her becoming a mermaid. Youâd better jump before she gets upset,â Shelly laughed as she made her thin form vibrate to make noise.
âIâm not going to be able to do much thinking when you talk,â Jessica replied, pinching Shellyâs fabric between her fingers. She stood next to the edge and looked down.
âPerhaps I should just hum then,â Shelly laughed as Jessica shivered. She started humming, and realized that she was really having an effect on her girlfriend when Jessica started growing moist. Before she could comment, Jessica leapt off the ledge and they were weightless for a moment. If Shelly still had a stomach, it would have been in her throat at the unexpected launch. As promised, the water was cold when they struck, though not as cold as it could have been. She felt Jessicaâs body stiffen against the low temperature, and thickened her form to offer as much warmth as possible.
âI could get used to having clothing like this,â Jessica thanked her.
âAbout time you two showed up,â Bridgette commented. Shelly wondered how her half-sister knew that she was already here and not still up above.
âWeâve got a long way to go,â Brooke piped up before Shelly could ask. âWith Bridgetteâs booster powered legs, I recommend we all grab on and save our energy.â
She followed suit with her own words, and Jessica gripped the hard metal on Bridgetteâs opposite side, which hovered just above the water.
âDo I really need to say the words?â Bridgette moaned before they started moving.
âIt was your dadâs idea,â Brooke replied. âHe was the one that helped program them. Just say them and we can be on our way.â
âFine.â Bridgette heaved a hearty sigh that even Shelly had to admit did wonderful things for her chest. âGo, go, Gadget Boosters.â
Shelly didnât understand what Bridgette meant, but before she could even think to wonder, the water around them bubbled as they were propelled forward at a powerful rate. This trip was going to be shorter than sheâd originally thought at the pace they were cutting through the water. The only difficult part came when they had to travel underwater through a cave, but it lasted less than a minute before they powered back up and continued on their way.
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Despite the speed at which they cut through the water, it took them hours to reach Marchosiasâs island. By the time they stopped, Shelly had a headache from the sound of Bridgetteâs rockets and the water constantly beating at her cloth body. She never knew a swimsuit could get a headache, but her mood was foul when Jessica walked onto land and Shelly changed back with all her own clothes intact.
âWhat other fun things can you become?â Jessica whispered in Shellyâs ear.
âBe good, and maybe Iâll show you,â Shelly forced a smile and gave her a peck on the cheek.
She looked around and saw that Brooke and Bridgette were knee deep in the waves, bent over something.
âThank you,â Brooke said to whatever was in the water. âIf you learn anything else, please get word to me, but donât get in trouble with Poseidon. Heâs got a big heart, but he also has a terrible anger.â
Shelly made out tentacles as it flipped and dove under the water when she approached them. Brooke looked up and from the look on her face, Shelly didnât think sheâd received good news.
âIt seems not everyone is happy with Poseidon taking over. Thereâs been a fair amount of infighting.â
âYou mean thereâs civil war?â Shelly asked, aghast at the very notion. One of the best things about living in the Shadow World was the absence of war, with the exception of the Chaos War before she was born. Oh, there were fights and skirmishes between the elemental borders from time to time, but the genius in the landscape of the Shadow World kept those down to a minimum. While not every faction or race got along, they knew better than to battle amongst themselves. Even Aeacus didnât actively fight against the Pillar of Fire, though heâd made his hatred of her clear over the last couple decades. Wars were a human thing. The idea of a civil war in the Shadow World was⊠unthinkable!
âA civil war implies only two sides,â Brooke shook her head. âThis sounds more like complete chaos. No one seems to know who really killed Varun, but theyâre blaming each other. Poseidon has the largest power base, but heâs nowhere near in control of his realm.â
âAre we going to leave him in power?â Jessica asked with a frown. âDidnât he try to kill us? Iâll bet heâs the one that killed Varun. Didnât he say he was next in line to take over? My guess is he grew impatient and offed the stupid seahorse. With us having been there, it offered him an opportunity Iâll bet he couldnât pass up.â
Shelly watched a series of emotions play across Brookeâs pretty features before she settled on anger. âVarun may have had his problems, but he was worthy of respect. I wonât have you disrespecting him.â
Jessica looked like sheâd been slapped. Shelly saw her recover quickly and straighten her shoulders as she faced off against the assassin turned supermodel.
âWhy would you defend him? Didnât he kidnap you twice and have you tortured? Didnât he try to kill your husband? Why would you defend a monster like that?â Jessica demanded.
Shelly didnât see Brooke move. One moment the mermaid was standing in the water, the next she was standing over Jessicaâs prone form with one of her shimmering blue blades at Jessicaâs neck.
âYes, he did all that, but he wasnât to blame for most of it,â Brooke snarled at the prone woman.
âWasnât to blame?â Jessica tried to ask, but Brooke talked over her.
âWhen he had me taken and tortured the first time, he was under the Outsiderâs influence. I love Lyden for all Iâm worth, but my husband grievously wounded and insulted Varun. Can you really blame the previous Pillar of Water for wanting revenge? Before the Chaos war, Varun was one of the wisest among the Pillars. Creatures from every realm came to him for advice. Calling him a seahorse would be like calling a human an ape. No, I didnât love Varun for what he did to me, but I donât blame him either. This world is weaker now because of his death. Three of the six Pillars are relatively new to their power. The other three have to shoulder that extra weight until Lysa, Angela, and now Poseidon can completely control their strength. This world is on the verge of crumbling. You heard what Gloria told us about the Firsts. Whoever, or whatever killed Varun has placed us all in danger.â
Shelly saw tears drip from Brookeâs eyes onto Jessicaâs cheeks. Jessicaâs throat swallowed, but she didnât blink as she met Brookeâs glare.
âMaybe it should crumble,â Jessica said, shocking them all. âHow much trouble and misunderstanding has occurred because the two worlds were separate? Both sides wonât get along until theyâre forced to.â
âYou donât know what youâre saying,â Shelly said through numb lips.
âWhat youâre talking about is the death of thousands on both sides by the time it settled down, if it ever did,â Brooke spoke next. âTensions are already thick between both worlds. How many innocents would die? How many children would lose their lives or their parents, because youâre not happy with the way things are?â
âIt wouldnât go that far,â Jessica said, though sheâd lost some of her heat. âYou and⊠your husband, or Shelly and her brother would stop them before it got that far.â
âWhat do you think weâre trying to do?â Brooke demanded. She hesitated another moment, then pushed herself away from Jessica. âWeâre trying to stop the violence now, before it gets that far. If the two worlds combine, there will be no stopping the violence. Thatâs hoping that the worlds donât collapse altogether, killing us all. The original six Pillars separated this world from Earth, but theyâre still tied together. Collapse one, and they both might fall.â
Jessica didnât get up right away. She touched her throat where a trickle of blood seeped from a shallow cut.
Shelly was torn. On the one hand, she wanted to run to her girlfriend and comfort her. On the other hand, she agreed with Brooke, if not necessarily her methods. No matter how much Brooke might have respected Varun, there was no reason for her to attack Jessica like that. She chose to comfort her girlfriend, but Jessica glared at her, and Shelly stepped back instead. She knew she should have backed Jessica up from the beginning, but the thought of the two worlds crumbling sent a shiver of terror through her.
âHas anyone else noticed that itâs not raining?â Bridgette spoke into the tense silence.
Shelly blinked a couple times as she tried to understand what Bridgette was getting at. Why was she talking about the rain? There were more important things to worry about. A moment later, her heart sunk as she realized what the lack of rain meant. It always rained in the Pillar of Waterâs demesne. Looking up, Shelly saw that there were clouds in the sky, but they were white and fluffy. What did this mean?
Silence fell as they all looked at one another. Did the lack of rain mean that Poseidon hadnât taken over as the Pillar of Water? Or was he changing things up now that he was in charge? Or was he too occupied with fighting for his position to properly manage his realm?
âI donât think now is the time to sit here and argue,â Shelly said. All eyes turned on her and she wished sheâd kept her mouth shut.
Jessica grimaced as though swallowing something sour, then dropped her head. âYouâre right. We have other things to worry about.â
Brooke looked out over the water before walking over to her daughter. âWeâll go see what we can find out. You two go talk to Marchosias and see what he has to say. Iâm sure I donât have to tell you, but he can be dangerous. Watch yourselves around him.â
âWeâve dealt with him before,â Jessica said in a derisive tone. âI think we can handle him.â
Shelly saw Brookeâs eyebrow rise in a way that she knew meant danger. No matter how Brooke might look on the outside, or what most of the world saw her as, Shelly knew she was a dangerous woman. She moved to her girlfriend. âWeâll be careful,â she said in a rush. âIf weâre lucky, heâll only be an illusion again. If not⊠well, weâll be careful no matter what.â
âSee that you do.â Brooke turned her back on them. Shelly felt Jessica tense next to her and she reached down to grab the other womanâs hand. Jessica looked at her for a moment before pulling her hand away and walking up the beach.
Shelly moved to follow, but Brookeâs voice stopped her. âWatch her, Shelly. I can see what she means to you, but thereâs a darkness inside her. I wonât tell you whom to care for, but be careful with her.â
âThen donât tell me,â Shelly spat before she could think better of it. When she saw the shock and anger on the assassinâs face, she moderated her tone. âShe told me how she was treated by her own mother. I canât say I understand what she went through, but I know we can trust her. Sheâs saved our lives more than once, and helped rescue you.â
âDonât talk to my mom that way,â Bridgetteâno, now it was Brock in the mechanical legsâstated as he stepped forward. âSheâs not the one that wants to destroy our world.â
âJessica doesnât want that either,â Shelly spun to face her half-brother. âNot really. Sheâs just been hurt and doesnât know how to deal with a family that loves and cares for each other.â
âI think there is more to it than that,â Brooke told her in even tones. âAll Iâm telling you is: be careful. You havenât known her that long.â
Shelly felt her anger boil up from her stomach and she wanted to scream. How could Brooke understand? Brooke knew Shellyâs dad for most of his life. Lyden Snow had had a hard childhoodâpartially due to Brookeâs actionsâbut he came out all right. Shelly had no doubt the woman loved her father, but she couldnât understand the pain and torment Jessica had gone through with her mother. It was nothing like what Lyden had gone through. She couldnât understand the feelings Shelly held for the other woman. She wouldnât call it love, but she cared deeply for Jessica.
Brooke continued to look at her, waiting. What was she waiting for? Did she expect Shelly to leave her girlfriend? Did she expect Shelly to blow up and throw a tantrum? Shelly was well beyond that stage in her lifeâŠ.
Or was she? Wasnât she in a small way throwing a tantrum internally instead of exploding outward? Why was she getting so defensive? Brooke hadnât asked her to leave Jessica, but to be careful.
âDid your dad ever tell you about when I followed Angela and him into this world?â Brooke asked and Shelly shook her head. âI suspected what Angela was. Of course, this is before she became the Pillar of Fire. I loved your father even then, though Iâd never told him. All I knew about Angela was that she was a succubus. Like Jessica, I didnât trust her kind. She was a soul sucking demonic creature aligned with Fire, and she was in the company of the man Iâd spent my whole life protecting. I followed them into this world, sure that Angela was luring him here to kill him. I almost killed Angela that day.â
Brooke paused, and when she didnât continue, Shelly asked, âWhat does that have to do with me or Jessica? Sheâs already promised to give the succubae a chance like you did with Angela.â
Brooke frowned. Shelly realized her tone was a bit inappropriate, but she refused to apologize.
âI didnât tell you that story for Jessicaâs benefit.â Brookeâs green eyes flashed with irritation as she spoke. âI mentioned it because things arenât always what you think they are. You of all people should understand that, living in this world and with your ability to change shapes. Youâre right that Jessica has helped us. Yes, she helped save me from Varunâs prison. But what do you really know about her? Why did she do those things? Our family has a stake in protecting both worlds. Whatâs her cause?â
Shelly opened her mouth to argue, but realized she had nothing to say. The truth was, she didnât know a whole lot about Jessica. Jessica wasnât a bad person, she was sure of that. Her own words and thoughts from when sheâd first met Jessica came back to her. Sheâd gotten between Sheldon and Jessica because she didnât trust the woman. But Jessica had proven herself since then. Just as Angela had proven herself to Brooke.
âHelp her,â Brooke said in tones that were softer than Shelly expected after her earlier comments. She straightened her shoulders and turned to her son. âCome on, Brock. We have a ways to go yet, and a lot of people to talk to.â
Brock met her eyes before turning to follow his mother. Shelly watched them go and disappear beneath the waves. After a few moments passed, she realized she was staring at the calm surface of the water. Sheâd never seen the Pillar of Waterâs demesne so calm. Of course, this hadnât been her favorite tourist destination in the past either. If Poseidon kept things this way, it might become a favored destination for tourists, assuming no one tried to see Marchosias or the Cyclopes.
In her mind, she saw towels set out on the dry sand as a human child built a sandcastle with the help of a grindylow. Out in the water, a merman served patrons at a floating bar. Orcs and goblins played volleyball while a centaur refereed. She added Jessica and herself lying back under an umbrella, sipping some frozen drink and enjoying the peaceful scene.
The image popped and shattered as she heard someone approach from behind. A sense of loss swept over her as she realized the picture would never become reality. Even if the Pillar of Water allowed humans to come to this beach, it was too dangerous with the Cyclopes nearby. Thatâs assuming any of the races sheâd pictured actually got along with each other when this was all over.
âItâs beautiful,â Jessica said next to her. For a moment, Shelly thought she was reading her mind. Then she saw Jessica looking out over the water withâwere those tears in her eyes? Jessica blinked and faced her. âIâm sorry about my outburst earlier. Itâs just⊠Itâs just that everyone thinks this world is so great that they forget about the bad stuff. The Pillars rule with an iron fist. If you go against them, you die, or get locked away. They donât understand what itâs like to be one of us. How could they with all that power?â
Shelly almost pointed out that Angela hadnât always had that kind of power, but buried the thought. No sense in starting another argument centered on a succubus. Instead, she took another tact. âWhat about all the death and chaos that would result if the two worlds collided, instead of being destroyed?â She was careful to keep her voice calm as she spoke.
Jessica was silent for a long moment before she finally responded. âIt would be bad for a while. I wonât deny that, but it would force everyone to get along. Those from this world would see that humans arenât so dangerous, and vice versa.â
This time it was Shelly that remained silent. Humans were dangerous, and so were a great many creatures from here. Hadnât she killed her fair share of ogres, mer-people, myrmidons, and others? Her vision of a peaceful beach seemed further away than ever before.
âCome on,â Shelly said as she turned and headed up the beach. âWe still need to talk to Marchosias and see if he knows whatâs going on.â
She sensed, more than saw, Jessica follow after her as they headed for the cave that acted as the long way to Marchosiasâs home.
âAre you mad at me?â Jessica asked in sullen tones as they stepped into the dimly lit cave.
Shelly searched her feelings before answering. âIâm not mad,â she said with all honesty. âIâm just confused.â
âAbout?â Jessica asked when Shelly didnât continue. The black haired woman reached for Shellyâs hand, and she decided to accept the touch.
âThis world is my home. I grew up here. I understand that what you went through was terrible, but you have to see that itâs not all bad. Like that goblin girl you played with the first time you escaped. The humans think all goblins are badâand Iâll admit that many of them can beâbut that girl was your friend. Look at the friends youâve made since you escaped the last time.â
âYou mean your brother?â Jessica asked with a touch of acid. âI thought he was a decent guy, but ever since he got with that harlot, nothing I say or do is good enough for him. Brooke seems to have something shoved up her ass whenever I talk. Bridgetteâor Brock, depending on whichever identity crisis is in control at the timeâhangs on her motherâs apron strings like a lifeline. Youâre the only good thing thatâs happened to me since I met you, and even you were cruel to me at first.â
Jessicaâs words sent Shelly into turmoil. On the one hand, if Jessica had treated Gloria better from the beginning, then Sheldon wouldnât struggle so much with her. It didnât help that Jessica had walked away from him, hurting his ego. That was partially Shellyâs fault also, adding guilt to her defensive emotions. She was also defensive for her half-sibling. Her half-brother/sister couldnât help the fact that he was dependent on his mother. Hated by both worlds for being a half-breed, Brooke was his/her only comfort. At least Sheldon and Shelly had each other. She felt guilty for the way sheâd mistrusted Jessica at first, but also elated that Jessica thought she was one of the good things in this world.
In short, she was a mess and she knew it. She didnât have an answer for Jessica, and kept her mouth shut as they walked. Her throbbing headache didnât add to her mood in a positive way.
As they passed the Cyclopes, the thought occurred to Shelly that she ought to see what she could do about getting a sample from one of them. Sheldon had his ogre form, but that was dangerous to anyone else around. Would a Cyclops be any safer? They were supposed to be much smarter, if not quite as strong. She imagined her brotherâs strong hands gripping her as a sword or a spear, his powerful grip holding her body as he wielded her in whatever form. His fingers caressing her metal blade orâ
Her cheeks burned as she realized where those thoughts were going. What was wrong with her? Sheldon was her brother! Ever since escaping from Poseidon though, sheâd seen him in a different light, and she didnât like it. Maybe it was time for them to move apart and live their own lives. She wasnât completely useless on her own, and besides, she had Jessica with her now. She squeezed the other womanâs hand as they moved deeper into the cave.
The first sign that things werenât as they should be was the flickering globes of light that Marchosias also used as traps. The last time they walked this path, the globes had hung in the air, lighting their way with a soft glow. Now they lay on the rock floor, flickering as though they were losing power and about to go out. The second sign was more ominous. Marchosiasâs door hung open on its hinges.
Shelly changed into her sword form, shifting most of her mass outward. Jessica carried her into the room, point first.
The place was a disaster. Shelly remembered it being stuffy and somewhat clustered before, but now it looked light a tornado had come through. The chairs were on their sides, and the previously organized stacks of items were spread everywhere. The lights in here flickered as they had in the cave, and Marchosias was nowhere to be found.
âWhat happened?â Jessica asked as she walked around the room.
âIâm not sure,â Shelly vibrated to speak. Jessica almost dropped her in shock, but tightened her grip before it was too late. âI donât see any blood and nothing looks broken. Did whatever it was that killed Varun attack Marchosias?â
âI doubt it,â Jessica replied. She walked to the doorway that led to the long closet where the potions had resided earlier. âWhatever was big enough to tear Varun apart couldnât fit inside this area.â
âThatâs assuming that what killed the previous Pillar of Water was big,â a baritone voice stated behind them. Jessica spun around and pointed Shelly at the demon Marchosias in his human form.
If she was in a form that breathed, her lungs would have halted at the sight of the man. He was gorgeous! No, he was beyond gorgeous. With his long brown hair flowing across his broad shoulders, and his dark, deep set eyes set within his chiseled face, he was the embodiment of beauty. He had something in his arms, but Shelly had a hard time taking her attention away from his face. Shelly couldnât remember being this affected by him the last time they were here, and she suspected that it was because the last time, he hadnât really been here. It had been an illusion.
âDo⊠do you know what killed him?â Jessica asked. By the tremor in her voice, Shelly suspected that she was being affected by the demonâs charisma as well.
âNo,â he stated in a flat tone as his brows drew together. âWhat I do know is that I let your gang borrow a couple potions, you went down to rescue that damned mermaid, and the fucking Pillar of Water was torn apart.â
âYou think we had anything to do with that?â Shelly demanded, shock at the accusation and his vulgarity pulling her from the stupor his perfection put her in. No man or creature had a right to be that⊠flawless!
âI did,â he continued to look at them. Shelly finally noticed what was in his hands. Marchosias held a sword with a dull gray blade. She thought she should know about that sword, but couldnât think of how. If only his beauty and her headache werenât such a distraction. âThen I listened to your little conversation on the beach.â
âI thought you knew everything that happened in your area,â Jessica said. Shelly realized she was backing up to the door. She changed back into her normal form. She was more vulnerable this way, but if Marchosias had intended to attack, he could have done so before notifying them of his presence.
âPrecisely,â Marchosias hissed. âUnder the waves isnât my area. If it happens on my island, I know. What did happen while you were down there?â
Shelly faced the beautiful man. His lips looked so kissable! She had to shake that thought away before she could speak. âWe went down to rescue Brooke like we said, andââ
âYes, yes. I figured that much out when I saw the tart standing on my beach. I mean what happened to Varun?â
âWe donât know!â Shelly almost shouted. âPoseidon attacked us, and we fled. It was chaotic, and I canât remember very much after Gloria made us leave. She stayed behind to shield us. When we woke back up on Earth, Gloria was with us.â
âLily wouldnât do something like that,â Marchosias spat. âShe couldnât. Sheâs not strong enough, and she knows better. Think, girl! What else happened? You had to have seen something.â
Shelly remembered him calling Gloria, Lily, before, and wondered how old her brotherâs girlfriend was.
âHow do you know Gloria didnât do it, if you couldnât see what happened?â Jessica asked. Shelly noted a steely look in her eyes. The same look she always got when attacking the succubae race.
âI already told you. She couldnât and wouldnât do it. Iâve known her a long time. Longer than Iâve known any of you. Now quit acting like you donât know whatâs going on and answer my questions!â
Shelly realized the demon was furious and forced herself to take a step away. Even in his anger, he was breathtaking. In a one on two fight, she knew they would lose.
âWe donât know whatâs going on!â She protested. She knew that Gloria was once Aphrodite, and very powerful in her own right. If what Marchosias said was true, and she wasnât strong enough to kill Varun, what had?
Marchosiasâs dark eyes bore into her and she took another step back. It took more effort than she cared to admit, but she broke the gaze first and looked around for anything that could help them. The room was still a disaster, but nothing looked promising. Obviously Marchosias wasnât hurt, so he probably wasnât attacked. Why was the area in such disarray? âYouâre moving.â The words were out of her mouth before she knew they were in her head.
âIâm not moving. Iâm being evicted!â His mouth twisted as he spoke, lengthening as his teeth grew larger. âPoseidon thinks I had something to do with Varunâs death. Since heâs the new Pillar of Water, I have a choice: fight him, or leave. I have no intention of killing the new Pillar, so Iâm going. I wonât add more chaos to whatever is going on down there.â
Shelly wondered if the demon was really strong enough to take on a Pillar, even a new one, in his own domain. Something told her now wasnât the time to ask or test him.
âWe didnât kill the Pillar,â Shelly said in as calm a voice as she could muster. âWe donât know who did. Weâre trying to find out.â
He was in full wolf form now, with a snake for a tail. The sword was gone, but she noted a dull gray sheen to his pelt. Whatever it was about that sword that tugged at her memory told her to be extra careful.
âIâm terribly sorry to hear that,â the wolf demon grinned at them. At least she was no longer distracted by his beauty. âIâm sure if I offer your two corpses up to Poseidon, heâll allow me to stay. Itâs nothing personal, you understand, but I have grown accustomed to this home over the centuries, and I was loathe to start imbuing a new place with my power.â
Shelly felt Jessicaâs hand grab the back of her shirt, and she shifted back into a sword. Marchosias leaped at them. Shelly felt disoriented for a moment as Jessica swung her at the demonâs head. Marchosias twisted in midair somehow, avoiding the blow, and landed back on his feet. The snake tail hissed at them, snapping in their direction, but was too far away to be dangerous.
The wolfâs yellow eyes watched them as it started to pace. Drool dripped from its bared gray fangs as it growled. Jessica turned to keep Shelly between them. Shelly didnât know how powerful Marchosias was, only that her father respected him. If he was confident enough to think he could best Poseidon, then the two women were in trouble. Was her father the answer to getting them safely out of here?
Before she could ask, Jessica spoke as though reading her mind. âIâm sure Ambassador Snow wouldnât appreciate you killing his daughter. I thought the two of you had a truce?â
Marchosiasâs tongue licked out around his sharp teeth before he answered in a voice that was much deeper and rougher than his humanoid voice had been. âHa! Your father isnât the man he once was.â Shelly knew Marchosias was talking directly to her. He stopped pacing and sat on his haunches, eyes wary, but otherwise seeming relaxed. âOh, I know his secret. He couldnât hide that from me when he came to visit after his resurrection. Without the sword he stole from me, he canât hurt me. He might whine to Gaia, but Iâm perfectly within my rights to kill you. After all, I didnât invite you in here. You just walked in. Youâre intruders. And after I deliver you to Poseidon, Iâll be free to stay. I respect your father, but he is no threat to me.â
Shelly realized that Jessica had dropped her guard a bit as the demon spoke. She was about to warn her girlfriend, when the demon launched himself at them again. Jessica tried to get Shellyâs sword form up in time, but Marchosias was faster. They were knocked to the ground under the wolfâs weight. Jessica managed to get Shelly between the monsterâs teeth before they bit down on her throat.
Shelly felt the demonâs tongue lick across her blade, lathering her metallic surface in saliva. A few minutes earlier the thought of his tongue on her would have made her shiver in delight. Now she was holding back panic.
He pressed harder against them and Shelly felt her edge bite into his flesh. As his blood seeped around her, Shellyâs world shattered.
* * * *
âHey young lady.â Shelly didnât recognize the voice that spoke. âHey! You want to wake up now? Youâre cute and all, but this is my space. I donât appreciate door-to-door salesmen or freeloaders.â
Shelly opened her eyes and saw an attractive older man leaning over her. His long gray hair hung from his head, and familiar gray eyes seemed to pierce her to her core.
âWhere am I?â she asked. She had to roll to her side before she could sit up. They were on a small island with a hut and a palm tree leaning over it. Waves lapped against the sandy beach beneath an ivory white sky. It wasnât the island sheâd been on a few moments before.
âHow is it that an attractive young woman shows up on my doorstep, literally out in the middle of nowhere, and she doesnât know where she is?â
Shelly tried to think, but her head felt like it had been used as a bowling ball by a couple of golems. âJessica!â she yelled as the thought came to her. She was in trouble.
âYour name is Jessica?â The old man asked. âNo need to shout, Iâm right here. Nice to meet you, Jessica. Iâmââ
âNo,â she interrupted as she got to her feet. âMy name is Shelly. Iâm⊠Jessica is my girlfriend. She was in trouble.â
âGirlfriend?â The man arched one eyebrow with a lecherous grin. âNice! Lesbians!â he paused and looked at her with a shrewd look. âI hope youâre into men, because itâs been a long time⊠and did I mention how attractive you are?â
âIâm notâyou did, but⊠I⊠wait, what? No.â The old man was confusing her. She needed to get back to Jessica, but she didnât know where she was or how sheâd gotten here.
âNo?â he asked with a pout.
âAah!â Shelly threw her hands in the air and walked away from the man. She saw dolphins jumping out in the water. She had to be in Waterâs domain still, but she didnât recognize this island. Could she convince one of those dolphins to take her back to Marchosiasâs island? Was it already too late? If only she had her brotherâs ability, she could change into a dolphin, or something else that could swim. Of course, then she would also need to know where she was in order to get back to Marchosiasâs island.
âWow. The youth today have changed since I was alive. Thereâs no more respect for the elderly.â
The manâs voice stopped her in her tracks. Since he was alive? Was she dead? This didnât seem like either Heaven or Hell to her, but sheâd never really believed in either anyway. Was the man undead? There was sunlight, so he couldnât be a vampire. Unfortunately, vampires werenât the only creatures that were undead, and many of them didnât fear sunlight.
She spun around to face him. There was still something about him that was familiar, but she couldnât place it. She was sure sheâd never met him before. She decided to keep a careful eye on him.
âMy girlfriend is in danger. I need to get back to her.â She tried to keep her voice calm, but she didnât like the way he leered when she said girlfriend. âDo you know how I can get off this island and get back to her? The demon, Marchosias, was trying to kill us, and suddenly I wound up here.â
At the demonâs name, the old man grew serious. âThat old demon? Why would he want to kill you?â
âYou know who he is?â she asked with rising hope in her voice, though it shouldnât surprise her. If the old man had lived here long, then he would know of the powerful demon that shared Waterâs domain. Shelly wished she knew of any other islands in Varunâsâno, it was Poseidonâsâdemesne.
âI know him all right.â The man shook his shaggy head. âHeâs usually a good guy, but if heâs trying to kill your friend, then sheâs in trouble. Did you say she was as good looking as you?â
Shelly got the impression that this manâs mind only worked down one track, and he wasnât her type. She could play along though, if it got her off this island.
âBetter looking. Sheâs the daughter of a succubus, and absolutely stunning.â Jessica wouldnât appreciate her giving away that secret, but Shelly would deal with that later.
âA succubus, huh?â the manâs grin showed pearly white teeth. âBeen a very long time since Iâve been with one of them.â His gray eyes grew distant for a while, then focused back on her. âWell? What are you waiting around here for? You need to get back to that woman!â
Shelly opened her mouth to retort, but her stomach cramped hard enough to double her over. Her insides felt as though they were twisting into knots. She realized she was face first in the sand and the old man was talking to her, but she couldnât think or hear past the pain.
Something large grabbed her feet and yanked. She was ripped through the air as the island disappeared below her. The old man stared in astonishment. Everything grew dark as the world vanished.
* * * *
âShelly, wake up!â She felt something warm and moist press against her lips. âPlease! I need you to be okay. I⊠I need you, Shelly. Donât leave me.â
Shelly groaned as she opened her eyes. Her body felt stiff, but at least the pain was gone. It took her a moment to focus on the woman leaning over her. Tears dripped from Jessicaâs blue eyes onto Shellyâs face.
âWhatâŠ?â she started to ask. Memories crashed into her with the force of a tidal wave. She sat up too fast, slamming her head into Jessicaâs and making them both cry out. Shelly dropped back to the floor and rolled onto her side, holding her forehead. âMarchosias?â she gasped past her sudden renewed headache.
âHe fled, I think,â Jessica moaned next to her.
Shelly sat back upâwith a lot more care this timeâand looked at her girlfriend. âFled? Why would he flee?â
Jessica returned her look with bloodshot eyes. She was silent for a moment, making Shelly wonder if she was going to answer. When she did, it wasnât what Shelly expected to hear. âWhen he bit down on you, I got worried. I saw blood, and thought it was yours. It was stupid, I know. You were a sword, so how could you bleed?â Jessica shook her head, then groaned. Shelly saw a large lump already formed on her head. âI donât know why, but he pulled away after that, and vanished. I⊠I donât know where he went.â
Shelly moved to Jessicaâs side and hugged her. âSorry about your head,â she whispered, not sure of what else to say. âIâm glad youâre all right. I was so worried about you.â
âYou were worried about me?â Jessica laughed as she hugged Shelly back. âI thought for sure that Iâd lost you. After Marchosias left, you changed back, but wouldnât wake up. Your heartbeat was weak, and you were barely breathing. What happened?â
Shelly felt her eyes brimming with tears as she tried to think of an answer. That island felt like a dream now. The details grew foggy as she tried to recall them. âI donât know,â she admitted after a few seconds. âI went far away⊠somehow⊠but now Iâm back. I donât know what happened.â
âYou, um, changed shapes right before he ran away.â Jessica sounded hesitant as she spoke. âYou became a different sword. IâI dropped you because I wasnât expecting it. I was afraid Iâd hurt you.â
A different sword? Why would she become a different sword? There were plenty that she could become, though only a couple forms she used regularly. She recalled the blade Marchosias had held in his human form, and how his coat had taken on a dull sheen when heâd transformed. Sheâd never changed without meaning to in the past, so what happened?
âWhat did I look like in the other form?â She asked, almost afraid of the answer. âThe other sword, I mean.â
Jessica pulled back and looked into Shellyâs eyes. âIt looked old. Not as pretty as you are now.â Jessica cracked a half smile.
âFlatterer,â Shelly accused, though she couldnât hide her smile at the compliment.
âYour blade was dull gray and thin. It was curved like an old Japanese blade. In the hilt was a round pearl.â
âA round pearl?â Shelly asked, feeling snarky for some reason. Something tickled her memory, but she still couldnât place it. As far as she knew, sheâd never heard of a sword with a dull gray blade. âAre you sure it wasnât square like most pearls?â
âIf youâre feeling good enough to make jokes, then youâre feeling good enough to give me a kiss for saving your life,â Jessica teased back.
âI thought you were already kissing me when I woke up.â Shelly winked at her girlfriend, feeling a lot lighter. Something still bothered her, but for that moment, they were safe. Except⊠âShouldnât we get out of here? Wonât Marchosias come back?â
âThe way he high-tailed it out of here?â Jessica shook her head and her smile widened. âYou didnât see his face before he vanished with his snake-tail between his legs. I doubt heâll be back any time soon. You scared him good with whatever it was you did to him.â
Shelly didnât think sheâd done anything to scare him away, but she glowed inside, thinking that Jessica found her important.
âIâm still waiting on that kiss,â Jessica smirked.
âGet over here,â Shelly grinned and sat up enough to pull Jessica down and into a kiss.
* * * *
* * * *
Lyden stood waiting with his wife, Becky, at his side. Gaiaâs waiting area was different from the first time heâd come here. It always was, depending on who was waiting. There was no opening to the outside to let a dragon in, and only two rooms off the entrance. One for each of them.
This was Gaiaâs realm, and her home, and it was under her complete control. A lesson he wouldnât forget. Gaia was an ally, but she was also the Pillar of Earth. He couldnât allow himself to forget that she had her own agenda.
âAre we going to talk about what you almost did?â Becky asked him. He knew from her tone that she was still upset with him. Not that he could blame her, but what was he supposed to do? His children were dying!
âNo,â he told her in a soft voice. âNot here.â He knew Gaia was listening to everything they said. He knew he would have to talk with her about it eventually, but was surprised sheâd waited this long to bring it up.
âItâs not like I donât understand,â she told him, though he wondered if that were true. They didnât have any kids together. Not living at any rate. Instead, Becky tended to look after all his kids as though she were a secondary mother. He knew she loved them all, but⊠well, they werenât herâs. She refused to try again, after.⊠No! He wouldnât think of them. It hurt too much to remember their deaths.
He didnât respond, so she continued. âThey were hurt. I get that, but sometimes I think you act too fast. There were other options.â
âIâm worried about everything else going on right now,â he told her, trying to change the subject. He really didnât want to think about the twins, bleeding and hurt, or what they had to do to recover. It was one thing for him to do it, but his kids? Sure, they were old enough to do adult things, but it didnât mean he wanted to think about it, much less be in the same area.
âWho could kill a Pillar?â Becky responded, though she gave him a look that let him know she knew what he was doing.
âAs far as I know, either an Outsider, or me before I died.â
Becky shuddered next to him. âI hope another one of those beasts havenât come here.â
âWhat ifâ?â Lyden began, but Becky cut him off.
âNo. You killed it, my love. You need to stop worrying about that.â
Lyden wanted to believe her. He wanted to believe that every bit of the Outsider had been pulled into him before he was shot through the heart, killing them both. What if something escaped? What if he missed a small part of it? They could all be in serious danger.
âIâm glad to see the twins have found someone to care about.â Now it was Becky changing the subject, but Lyden wasnât going to argue. He didnât like worrying about the Outsiders. âGloria seems like a decent sort, and seems to really care for Sheldon.â
âI worry that she may be too old for him,â Lyden replied, then felt his cheeks burn as Becky scoffed.
âToo old? Angela is over two-hundred, and Brooke is over a hundred-fifty. Not to mention Gaia, who is as old as the Earth.â
âFine, youâve proved your point,â he conceded. He really didnât have room to talk, though Gaia and he werenât really a thing. In fact, they hadnât been together since his resurrection, but there were reasons for that.
âAnd Jessica seems nice enough, once you get past her dislike of succubae.â
âDislike?â he arched one eyebrow at her. âI donât think âdislikeâ is the right word.â He paused as he considered his daughterâs girlfriend. There was something about her that bothered him. He figured it was her hatred of the succubae, while he still loved Angela. He wasnât able to be with the Pillar of Fire as much as heâd like. He felt bad, but with his duties between both worlds, none of his wives got the attention they deserved. Neither did his kids, but he still tried when he could.
âIâm not as old as the Earth,â Gaia stated as she rose up out of the ground. âIâm older than dirt.â
Lyden struggled to hold back his chuckle as Beckyâs cheeks grew heated.
âThank you for seeing us,â Lyden stated, aware that he wasnât able to hide his mirth from his tone. Beckyâs jab to his side let him know that she noticed. The truth was that theyâd waited hours for Gaia to show. It was about time she presented herself.
âI apologize for the wait,â she smirked at him. âYou should have refreshed yourselves while you waited.â
Lyden glanced at the two rooms adjoining this one. One had his name above the door, and the other one had Beckyâs. He knew why she wanted him to go in there. Only the owner of the room could enter, and it would have separated the pair. Of course, Gaia could enter also, and he knew she would try to seduce him. Despite being older than dirt, she was an attractive woman. Dark, earthy skin, wide hips, and a healthy bust added to her sex appeal. Even as he looked at her, he felt himself growing hard in his pants.
âIâm afraid the reason weâre here is most urgent,â Lyden said though his throat had gone dry.
âVarunâs murder,â Gaia stated with a small frown. âThe strain of supporting this world is becoming worse.â
âLysa and Angela are trying their best,â Becky said in defense of the other Pillars.
âI didnât say they werenât,â Gaia rebuked Becky. âThey were the best choice we had at the time, but it may take centuries before theyâre strong enough to pull their full weight.â
âIs it that, or because theyâre not a First?â Lyden said, stepping between Gaia and Becky. They were in the Orange Bubble when Gloria told them about the Firsts. It was a gamble bringing that up with Gaia, but he needed to know. By the look on the Pillar of Earthâs face, she hadnât known that they knew.
Gaia regarded them for a long moment before she spoke. âHow do you know that term?â
Lyden thought it was a good sign that she didnât deny it. Or kill them outright. Or did it mean she was going to destroy them after this conversation?
âIt doesnât matter,â Lyden held his groundâno pun intendedâdespite Gaiaâs glare. âThere are bigger concerns. Besides, you know we can keep your secrets.â
Gaiaâs thick lips thinned as she regarded them. âBut you donât trust me with all of your secrets.â
âAre you implying that we have all of yours?â Lyden shot back. Becky gripped his arm in warning. Gaia was arguably the most powerful of the Pillars, and here he was provoking her.
Gaia burst out laughing a second later, and Lyden relaxed. âNo, Lyden Snow. You will never have all of a womanâs secrets.â For some reason, he suspected she was looking past him at Becky. âSo, you know of the Firsts. Yes, I am one, among others. It may be that your daughter and wife will never be strong enough to match who they replaced. Poseidon was powerful before he took up the mantle of Water, but the other two are doing a better job of supporting their realm than he is. I wasnât lying when I said that it may take them centuries to master their respective mantles. I believe they can do it, or I wouldnât have let Angela remain, much less chosen your daughter for Air.â
Lyden shuddered at the finality in her tone. He had no doubt that she could destroy either one if she chose.
âDo you know who killed Varun?â Becky spoke up, coming to stand by Lydenâs side.
âIf I knew that, they would be dead,â Gaia said with that same note of finality. Lyden noticed the strain in the corners of her eyes. Half the Pillars were relatively new, and the original half had to pick up their slack in holding this world together.
âWeâre sorry to have bothered you,â Lyden said, realizing that coming here had been a waste of time. Gaia could see everything that touched the Earth if she chose to focus on it. If it floated in the water, or up in the air, however, she was blind to it. It had been foolish to think Gaia might have seen Varunâs murderer.
âIt was no bother,â Gaia grinned. Lyden didnât like the hunger behind that grin.
âIf there is anything you knowââ Becky began, but Lyden cut her off.
âI can see youâre busy. We wonât take up any more of your concentration.â He really didnât like that gleam in Gaiaâs brown eyes. Except⊠her eyes dimmed as she melted into the ground.
âThereâs no need to rush,â Gaia said as Lyden felt her arms wrap around his chest from behind. Where was Becky? Her voice was soft and sultry as she spoke into his ear. âWhy donât you stay and rest?â She didnât hold him tight, but there was no doubt that Lyden wasnât getting away from her. Her finger tips stroked his chest as she continued to speak. âItâs been a long time, Generator. I could use a recharge.â
âIâIâm no longer a Generator,â He told her. Despite his worry and concern, he could feel his arousal rising. Angela may control the fires of passion, but Mother Earth could control earthy desires. He needed to get out of here before it was too late.
âHmm? Thatâs too bad. No one has been able to power me up like you used to.â Despite her words, she didnât let go.
âPardon me, Pillar,â Becky came to his rescue, âbut if you donât know who killed Varun, then we should get going. We need to find out who did it, and put a stop to them.â
âBecky⊠Dear, Becky. I havenât forgotten about my favored apprentice.â Lyden turned his head to look at his wife. Love and pride flooded him as he noticed no fear in her gaze as she looked back at him. He saw concern etch the lines around her eyes, but she wasnât afraid. As he looked at her, a clone, or copy, of Gaia formed behind Becky and enfolded her in the Pillarâs arms. âDo you remember the spell I taught you that will drive a man wild with lust?â Becky nodded but didnât speak. By the increased worry in her eyes, Lyden knew he was in trouble. Gaia placed her hands on Beckyâs cheek and turned her face. âRemember how powerless you were to stop me when I used it on you?â
âWhy are you doing this?â Becky gasped. The gasp turned into a moan as Gaia kissed her. To his horror, Lyden watched as Becky tried to fight against the kiss for a couple seconds, before melting into the Pillarâs embrace and kissing her back.
âThereâs no point in resisting.â Gaiaâs warm breath tickled his neck. Lyden hadnât known that the Pillar of Earth could make multiple copies of herself. Unfortunately, with the way she started to nibble on his neck, he began to wonder what it would be like to screw duplicates of her. Would she feel each copy differently, or would everything be multiplied? He knew firsthand how talented she was in bed. Duplicate that, andâŠ. He felt her hands dip into his pants, freeing his cock. It used to change size and shape according to whomever he was with, but that had changed after his death. It was still a member to make him proud as it pointed towards his wife and Gaia-clone.
âI canât⊠I donâtâŠâ Lyden tried to think through the lust haze that was crowding his thoughts. They were here for something important. âIâm notâŠâ Gaiaâs fingers stroked his length. She knew how to use her hands and he couldnât stop the moan that escaped him at her expert touch. âNot⊠Generator⊠Ahh. I, um⊠Oh, yeah. That feels⊠No. Canât power you.â His words were only slightly less jumbled than his thoughts.
âI know,â Gaia whispered as she walked around to face him. She never let go of his manhood, but Lyden knew he couldnât escape her even if she had. âBut it has been too loooong since Iâve had this fine specimen between my thighs, or between my lips. I miss your taste, your feel, your excitement.â As she drawled the word âlongâ she stroked him faster, making him whimper with need and delight. âIâve had many lovers over the millennia, Lyden Snow, but far too few that were as talented as you, and none within a couple centuries.â She dropped to her knees in front of him, but kept her eyes locked on his. He couldnât look away from those beautiful, lust-filled brown orbs, but he knew when her clothes evaporated. âIâm sorry to resort to this, but I need a break from the stress. You have no idea how hard it can be to control and support this world with three new Pillars. I had hoped you would come to me willingly. Your wives didnât need to know. I hope youâll be able to forgive me, but I need this more than you can know.â Her fingertips grazed his sensitive flesh making him need more contact. âI think that your wife needs a bit also.â
Before he had a chance to process her words or even respond, she leaned forward and took his girth between her lips. His knees would have buckled at the bliss her tongue delivered as she bathed the rim of his rod, if they hadnât been locked. Her eyes were still riveted on his, adding an air of lewdness as she took his cock deeper into her mouth and down her throat.
Movement to his left drew his attention, allowing him to break eye contact with the Earth vixen making him moan in pleasure. The Gaia-clone led a completely nude Becky over to him. His Gaia moved over to his right as the other two dropped to their knees with Becky in the middle. His Gaia released him from her moist mouth and licked along his length. The three women began to share his member between them, with Becky swallowing the tip, his Gaia licking his rod, and the Gaia-clone bathing his scrotum with her talented tongue.
The bliss was too much and he felt himself careening towards his culmination. Instead, he cried out in shock when the Gaia on his right pinched him off at the base and pulled him away from the other two.
âI have uses for this,â Gaia told him. âYou want to please me, donât you?â Lyden nodded. His libido was in overdrive. He would do whatever she wanted, if it meant more of that exquisite ecstasy. He knew that this wasnât what he wanted a moment ago, but couldnât figure out why. There was something he needed to hide. What was it? It was important, but it couldnât be as important as pleasing these three women. Could it?
Gaia stood and used his prick to guide him over to a couch. She had him lie down, then straddled his waist. The Gaia-clone and Becky followed after, the former planting her wet coochy on his face. She tasted like a fresh mountain stream, the soft grass that made up her pubic hair tickled his chin. The two Gaiaâs faced each other, while Becky got on all fours between them. Her tongue joined his as he licked and nibbled the cloneâs clit.
He felt Gaiaâs weight settle around his hips as he slipped inside her tight canal. Becky moaned into Gaia-cloneâs cunt, making Lyden suspect that Original-Gaia was licking her sweet pussy.
Gaia-clone rocked her hips against the two sucking and licking mouths, moaning loudly. They were rewarded with a warm gush of water a moment later as she came. Lyden continued to drive his tongue into her hole while he let Becky work her clit, lengthening the duration of her climax.
âEnough,â Gaia-clone groaned and pulled away from them.
Lyden noticed the clone melting back into the floor before Becky grabbed his face and shoved her tongue into his mouth. She kissed him frantically, her moans reaching a fevered pitch as Original-Gaia continued to munch on her box and ride his stiff prick.
Lyden brought one hand to Beckyâs over-large nipple, thumbing it and making her squeal. His other hand moved to Gaiaâs hip, picking up her pace as his cock turned her insides into a frothy mess. Gaiaâs poon was tight and warm as she rocked her body on top of him. His thick hardness bumped against her deepest recesses, making them both shudder and moan in heaven.
Once again he felt himself getting close, but Becky and Gaia reached theirs first. Becky had to move her lips away from his, leaving his mouth feeling empty and naked. Her lips were next to his ear, though, and he enjoyed the sounds of her cumming.
Gaiaâs sweet cunny gripped him as his crotch was soaked in her juices. He wanted to fire off deep inside, to fill her womb with his seed, but she pulled off him before he could.
Beckyâs weight settled on him, and he felt Gaiaâs hand guide him into her wet and ready hole. He pumped with abandon, both of them grunting and panting as he tried to reach his climax. He was so close. His entire world centered on the explosion that was being prepared in his balls.
âIâve adjusted her monthly cycle, Lyden,â Gaiaâs words whispered into his brain. âSheâs fertile right now. Donât you want to get her pregnant? I know she wants to carry your child. She hides it well, but I know whatâs in her heart. Sheâs afraid, but I wonât let this child be harmed. Sheâs suffered enough. Fill her with your seed, Lyden. Sow her womb with your cum, and plant a new child within her.â
The words soaked into him, but he knew he shouldnât. Becky was afraid to have any more children with him. Heâd already lost two children. He couldnât do that to her again. He wouldnât!
âOh Lyden! Youâre making me cum again. Fuck me, Lyden. Fuck me!â
Before he could do more than moan, he felt Beckyâs tiny twat tighten around him. His toes curled as electricity flooded his nervous system. He tried to lift her off him, but his muscles couldnât function beyond the joy wracking his body and mind. He filled her insides with his potent seed, no longer capable of choosing when to procreate. He had no doubts that Gaia was right, and Becky would end up pregnant from this.
âRest and sleep, you two,â Gaia muttered to them. âYouâll need it. When you wake up, Iâll have someone help you with your mission. I know just the one.â Becky was already snoring softly on top of him, his softening prick still ensconced within her. âThank you for the stress relief, Lyden.â
He sensed, more than saw, Gaia moving away from him as a deep lethargy overtook him.
âI donât know who is trying to kill the Pillars this time, but I know you can find them before itâs too late.â She moved away from him before turning to face him with a serious look in her eyes. âYou should have trusted me with your secret. Get your rest. Eldon needs you right now. Heâs dying.â
Before Lyden could think to respond, the heavy weight of sleep overtook him.