Bait and Switch Ch. 09

I knew where I was as soon as the blue light penetrated my eyelids. My eyes flew open, but I was disappointed to see I was the only person in the room. The white light doused me then, and I could feel the energy leaking from me, as it built up my body.

"Lela?" I called out, but there was no answer. In silence I waited for the light to finish its work, and then I was back in my own bed. Worried that she was still upset with me, I didn't get much sleep. I was too guilt ridden.

Robin was in the bathroom when I got up, so I went ahead and ate, while I waited. She took a little longer than Shanna had yesterday, but I didn't mind too much. Dennis came out of the bathroom with her, and I understood what had taken them so long.

I quickly showered and shaved, and then decided to walk to campus. The sun was up, but the air was crisp, my breath misting thickly from me as I walked.

My phone rang, and I saw it was Gina, from the Caller ID.

"Nick?" Her voice sounded quiet on the other end. "I think that person is back. Can you come over and check?"

I was already most of the way to campus, and really didn't want to turn back around to get my car. "I'm sure it's nothing. Just jump in your car, and drive here. I'm sure you'll be fine," I tried to reassure her.

"Okay. See you in class?" She still sounded unsure, but I was glad I wouldn't need to walk all the way back, and get my car. My first class had a final today, and I didn't want to be late for it.

"I can't wait," I told her. But I could wait. After what had happened with Prof. Frankens last night, and then having both Gina and Shanna in the same class... Well, let's just say that if I didn't have a final, I would be ditching it again.

The morning veritably flew by, my finals were easy, and I was usually one of the first ones done. I saw Robbie talking with Nicole, and knew I didn't need to tell him about her. He actually went so far as to give me a smile and a nod when he saw me, though Nicole only gave me a disgusted look before saying something that made Robbie laugh.

I didn't have a class after lunch, having taken the final on Tuesday, so closeted myself in the library, and tried to come up with ideas on how to defeat the demons. From experience, I knew I could affect groups, but it was harder on me than making switches one at a time. And the thought of trying to affect an entire fleet of the red beasts... That would kill me, and I would never get the opportunity to even move the switch, once I made it. Was there something I could do to a few that would affect the rest?

Maybe if they mated like Lela's race did, I could put all of the females in heat. The males would go wild with lust, and the females would have to mate, lest they die, meanwhile the human race could fall upon them, and defeat them...

There were too many problems with that, though. While affecting only the females would reduce the strain on me, it would still be too much. I would also need to notify the government about the aliens, and I didn't feel like being locked up in a loony bin. And then, I am only going off of a guess that they MIGHT be like Lela, which wasn't a good start. Lela's entire species was herbivores, while the demons were pure carnivores. Their food preference didn't really mean anything, though. It wasn't likely to work, but for now it was something.

No further plan occurred to me by the time I had to get to Prof. Frankens class, and I reluctantly turned my feet in that direction.

Shanna greeted me just outside the door, with a smile on her face, and her long lashes batting at me.

"Are you ready for this? I stayed up half the night studying, but I know there will be something I forgot to look up on this final." She seemed fidgety as she spoke all in a rush.

"Relax. I have no doubt you'll do fine," I tried to reassure her, but she wasn't having it.

"Well, we can't all be as smart as you, Nick. I'll bet you played games all night, instead of studying."

"I studied," I told her defensively. I had listened to Robin's loud cries, and Dennis's grunts more, but I HAD tried to study.

Shanna sat right next to me, and I looked around for Gina, but she was nowhere to be seen.

Prof. Frankens had us separate some, putting at least one empty seat between each student, before handing out the tests, one by one. She informed us that there were four different test versions, but when she handed me the question booklet from the bottom of her stack, I saw that the answers had already been marked, and then poorly erased. Donna smiled at me, before walking on, handing out other tests. I noticed a few of the other men in class giving me jealous glares, but luckily Shanna was already going over her test, and hadn't noticed.

I still didn't see Gina.

I started answering the questions, at first verifying the circled answer was the correct one, but after the first twenty were accurate, I just started copying the book. Every now and then I answered one intentionally wrong; there was no reason to make my cheating obvious, even if Donna had handed me this book on purpose.

About halfway through, Gina still hadn't shown up. She had said she would see me in class, didn't she? Was there really someone there this morning, and did they do something to her?

I started to rush through the test, worried about the blonde woman. I could call her as soon as I got out of this test.

Sweat was actually beading on my brow, as I walked up and handed the test to Prof. Frankens. She smiled at me again, and I thought she was about to say more, but looked at the class behind me, and just said, "Thank you."

I tried to walk calmly out of class, though I knew my steps were still fast. As soon as the door closed behind me, I pulled out my phone, and called Gina.

One ring... Two rings... After the fourth ring, it went to voicemail. I hung up and tried again, but with the same result. I decided to leave a message this time. "Gina. Just worried about you. Gimma a call when you get this. Bye."

That had been my last class, but I would have skipped any others as I started to walk briskly home. My heart was thudding in my chest as I walked, and despite the cold, I was sweating as I rushed to get to my car.

I only had the faintest warning, before pain exploded in the back of my head, and blackness swallowed the snow-white world around me.

* * *

Pain was the first thing I became aware of. The back of my head hurt almost as bad as the second day with my ability.

A soft sobbing was the second thing to penetrate the haze that seemed to fill my mind.

Looking up to find the source of the crying, informed me that I was tied up, and naked.

Gina lay hunched on the floor about ten feet in front of me, her hands tied to another post, and just as naked as I was. Bruises and cuts covered her body, all of them fresh.

"So, you finally wake up," a cold voice said from a shadow. I looked in the direction of the voice, groaning at the pain it caused in my skull. The voice laughed, and only then did I recognize it.

"Derek," I said, the name hissing through my teeth. I fought feebly against my bonds, but they were rope, and I knew my ability couldn't affect them.

Gina moaned piteously in her corner, and I felt my rage increase, some of it directed inward. I had assumed that Derek's attack would come at me. I didn't think he would attack someone else to hurt me.

"What do you want from us?"

"Us? I don't want anything from her, it's you I want to make pay. She is just an innocent, caught in your evil ways."

For a second I debated on flipping his 'sleep' switch, but that would still leave us both tied up. Somehow I had to convince him to untie us. And in order to do that, I had to keep him talking. I didn't think a 'guilt' switch would work in him, like it had in Gina the last time I'd been tied up.

"My evil ways? What are you talking about?"

Derek stepped out of the shadows, and into the dim light, wearing nothing but a wicked smile. His dick was hard between his legs, and it wobbled as he walked towards Gina.

"Why, it was a good thing I arrived when I did. Unfortunately I was too late to stop you from raping and killing poor Gina, but at least I got here in time to do you in."

Gina cringed as Derek approached her, and I spit in his direction. I noticed he had a condom on, as he bent over, grabbed Gina's ass, and lifted it up. She struggled against him, till he smacked her hard, and then she sobbed, but didn't fight any more. I knew this wasn't the first time he'd raped her today, and that this time it was just for my benefit.

I couldn't stand it. Even if it meant staying tied up, I couldn't let him hurt her again. I flipped his 'sleep' switch, and cried out in pain, as nothing happened.

Derek mistook my cry of agony for one of anguish, and laughed as he shoved himself into the bound woman from behind. Gina cried out in pain, which just made Derek smile wider.

I tried again to put him to sleep, but the pain in my head was too intense, and I couldn't work through it. I slumped in my bonds, trying to drive the pain away.

"No!" Derek screamed. "No, you will watch this." I heard him approach me, and looked up in time to see him grab a broom handle and crack it against my ribs. I felt my ribs break, and breathing became a chore. Spider webs of pure torture blossomed from the point where he'd struck me. My scream echoed around the small room well after I ran out of breath. "Watch it and weep, or I'll hit you again. You don't have to watch long. She is pretty loose, but as soon as I'm done, I'll put you both out of your misery."

"You won't get away with this," I wheezed, having a hard time getting enough air.

"Won't I? What is there to get away with? I heard some odd noises from outside as I was walking by, and I came in to find you strangling Gina as you raped her. I beat you with this stick, and apparently went too far, and killed you. I'll even call the cops, and sob at the evil I saw in here." Derek cackled, and I knew I needed to stop him somehow.

If only my switches worked. If my head didn't hurt so badly, I was sure I could do what needed to be done, but there was no chance of that now.

Derek walked back over to Gina, and flipped her to her back, before thrusting back into her. Her tits bounced obscenely as the bastard plowed in and out of her. He gave me a big smile as his hands wrapped around her neck, and I could see her eyes bulge as he started to strangle her.

"You pansy assed bitch!" I cried, hoping to distract him, but he ignored the insult, grinning at me while he choked the life out of Gina. I could no longer hear her sobs, as they were also cut off. I could see the stark terror in her eyes as she looked at me, pleading for me to do something.

I knew she wanted me to use my ability, but I couldn't. It just wasn't working right now. "I can't," I sobbed, as I watched her dying. My head hurt too much. Maybe if Lela were here to heal me, I could use them, but she wasn't.

Wait, wasn't she always watching me?

"Lela!" I yelled, ignoring the pain in my chest and head at the effort. "Help me."

Gina's eyes slowly closed, as her struggles weakened. In desperation, I fought against my bonds, needing to get out, to run to her and save her.

Gina's eyes closed, and her limbs went limp.

There was a quick flash of light, and I saw Derek look away from me.

"What the fuck?" His hands loosened around Gina's neck, but I feared it was too late. She lay unmoving, as Derek stood up, and grabbed his broom handle again.

A familiar greenish-yellow light surrounded me, and I didn't waste any time. The broom handle was flying hard and fast at my head, a blow that likely would knock me unconscious, if not worse, when I hit his 'paralyze' switch. The broom stopped centimeters from my temple.

I could feel my body tingling, as it repaired itself under the healing light. My ribs knit back together, and the throbbing in my head lessened till it was gone. I felt the ropes holding me to the post loosen, and then fall, but my eyes were locked on Derek.

I could see fear in his beady little eyes, and his lips quivered as I walked up to him. I glared at the bully, and would have laughed at the drool that was leaking from his mouth, if I weren't still filled with rage. Death would be too good for him, and I didn't think I could kill another human, even in my anger.

The healing light was still on me, and I drew all the strength I could for this switch. Just forming it created an immediate headache behind my eyes, but the light soon relieved me of it. Pushing it was another matter. Even the light couldn't keep the mental pain at bay, but my outrage fuelled me, and slowly I felt it move.

Derek's eyes grew large, as what I'd done started to take effect. A pitiable wine escaped his throat, and I wondered if he was in pain. I truly hoped so.

I then ran to Gina, and felt at her neck for a pulse. It was weak, but it was there. Then and only then, did I breathe a sigh of relief, and look up to Lela, who was now looking at the nude form of Derek. She was in her light-suit, and in the dim room, it looked particularly odd. I wondered what Derek must have been thinking as he stared at the pink alien.

"Can you heal her?" I asked Lela.

Lela's hands moved before her for a moment, and the light shifted to cover me and Gina. I watched, still slightly amazed at what this light could do, as Gina's bruises turned yellow, and then faded away completely. The few cuts sealed themselves. The only evidence left that she had been hurt at all was the crusted blood that spotted her smooth skin here and there.

"Thank you," I said as the light vanished, but Lela was gone.

I found our clothes in a pile, near where Derek had come out of the shadows, and quickly dressed Gina first. I had a hard time getting her undergarments on, having had a lot more practice getting them off, but soon she was fully covered. I dressed myself, before standing in front of the motionless statue that was Derek.

He was still whining as I examined his body. His chest had grown some, his cock and balls shrunk, and even his hips had widened.

"You will regret today for the rest of your life. If I EVER see you again, I will do much worse than what you are suffering now." I looked him deep in the eyes, wanting to make sure he understood what I was about to tell him. "I hope you enjoy the rest of your life as a weak, mute, woman."

I easily made two more switches in Derek, or whatever her name would be after today; one to make her muscles always weak, and one sealing away her voice. I only hoped it would serve as punishment.

I carried Gina out the door, and saw her car parked outside. It wasn't until I had started the car, and was driving away, that I released Derek from his paralysis.

I used Gina's phone to call her mom, and let her know that Gina was alright and with me. Her mom seemed fine with everything, whether because she was content with anything I did, or because she had no idea what had happened to her daughter, I wasn't sure.

I had to carry Gina up to my apartment, but she felt light in my arms, and I knew my strength was still growing.

I tucked her into my bed, and watched her sleep peacefully for a bit, until I received a call from Shanna.

I hurried out of the room before answering it.

"Hey! You rushed out of class so fast, I didn't get to ask if you wanted to come over and play games tonight."

"I'd love to, but I have to work tonight. Rain check?" I tried to sound normal, and think I pulled it off. I didn't know what I was going to do with Gina, while I was working.

"Is something wrong? You've been avoiding me lately..." Uh-oh!

"I haven't been avoiding you," I protested, but could see how she would think that, after turning her away yesterday and now today. "I talked with you before class."

"Barely. Well, if you say you aren't I'll believe you. I'm probably just being emotional. You know how women get sometimes." And that's when it dawned on me: it was that time of the month for Shanna. No wonder she didn't try to have sex with me the other night, and why she'd kicked me out of my room before she got in bed. It wasn't that she was being shy, but hiding what she was going through. Part of me thought it was cute.

"I'll tell you what; do you work tomorrow?" I hoped she didn't.

"No, I have it off. Do you?"

"No, I have it off too. How about we celebrate the beginning of the holiday break, with a marathon gaming session. I'll even let you win a few this time." Truth be told, she might be a better gamer than me, but I needed to tease a little. If only to wash away today's events from my mind.

"Oh-ho! You're on. I'll trash your ass three ways from Sunday. You better bring your A-game, mister." I laughed and told her I would, before getting off the phone.

"Was that Shanna?" The voice right behind me sent my heart into my throat, as I felt like I jumped to the roof, thoroughly startled.

"Um, yeah," I told Gina, embarrassed, turning to face her. Her hair was a mess, and there was a wild look in her hazel eyes. Before I could think or say anything else, I was suddenly gripped by a powerful hug, while she sobbed into my shoulder.

"Thank you, Nick. Thank you, thank you, thank you..." She continued to thank me, and soak my shoulder, as I held her in my arms, thoroughly confused.

Dennis walked in, and wanted to know if we needed to be alone, but Gina pulled away then. "No, you're fine," and then she tugged me into my room.

She closed the door behind her, and kept hold of my hand, while her eyes examined me. "I know you saved me, but why did you wait so long?"

I still didn't feel comfortable talking about Lela, so I hedged a little on the truth. "When Derek hit my head, he must have done something with my ability. I had to recover from that, before I could use my switches."

"Oh, Nick! I was so scared, but I knew you would save me. What did you do with that... That..." She tensed up, and I pulled her head back to my shoulder, patting her back.

"SHE, will never be able to do that again, much less talk," I said.

"She?" Gina giggled slightly, and I thought it sounded great. "Do you really have to work tonight?"

"Yes, but you won't be alone. You can come with me and sit in the lobby, or I will see if Dennis will stay here with you. I think Robin will be here later, too." I knew there was no way Bradley would give me the night off. Not this close to the holidays, and not after he'd already refused to give me this week off to study, and with the economy the way it was, I didn't want to have to find another job. I was just glad he'd given me next week off, so I could see my family. I hated having to leave her, but I really had little choice.

"I don't want to be around a bunch of strangers. Do you promise to come back here when you get off?"

"I promise," I said as she pulled away from me, and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.

She stayed in my room, watching me get dressed for work.

"You know Shanna has a crush on you, right?" Her question shocked me, and I didn't know how to answer. Finally she spoke up after a few seconds of silence. "I don't mind, really. We aren't official, or anything. I think she is actually kind of cute."

I really didn't know what to say to that either, so I just grunted noncommittally, and she laughed. I quickly finished getting dressed for work, and made sure Gina was alright staying here with Dennis and Robin for a few hours, until I got back.

"Just come back to me," she told me as I walked out the door.

Work went by agonizingly slowly, except for when Shanna showed up.

"Come to spy, and make sure I wasn't making up excuses, huh?" I asked, as I flipped over a steak on the grill.

"I believed you," she said so defensively, I knew she was lying.

"Wanna go back into the freezer, and relive some memories?" I teased, already knowing the answer.

"Is everything always about sex with you?"

Oops.

"Sorry, it's just been awhile, and as always, you look gorgeous." She smiled and gave me a peck on the lips, before letting me get back to work. It wasn't till she was gone, that I realized she didn't have the 'happy' switch. That had been Shannon.

As soon as I was done, I rushed right home.

"Is she okay?" Dennis asked me as soon as I walked in. "She is taking her third shower since you left."

Worried, I knocked on the bathroom door. "Gina?"

I didn't hear any response, but I wasn't sure if she could hear me above the shower. The door was locked, but my ability took care of that.

The mirror was fogged up, and steam was pouring from over and around the shower curtain.

"Gina?" I called again.

"How did you... Oh, right... Nevermind." She sounded far away and despondent.

I peaked around the curtain, and saw her furiously scrubbing her skin with soap. She saw me, but didn't cover up. "Do you have a loofah? I still feel dirty." Her skin looked raw and red, and I wondered how much she had been scrubbing it.

"Gina, stop. You're as clean as you're going to get. Give me the soap." I held out my hand to her, and she just looked me in the eyes for a bit, before finally handing it over.

"I know. I know it doesn't do any good. You read about these things, but then it happens to you, and it feels like he is under my skin. No matter how hard I scrub, I still feel filthy."

I nodded as she spoke, and grabbed the shower nozzle, rinsing off the soap. As soon as that was done, I turned off the water, and helped her out. She let me gently dry her, wrapping the towel around her before she hugged me again.

"Oh, Nick. I don't know what I'm going to do. I can still feel him inside me. I want to throw up!" I should never have left her here, I realized, but the mistake was already made, and I needed to take care of things as they were now. I had made a number of mistakes, but concentrating on those wouldn't fix the current problems.

I remembered making the memory switch in Gina, and quickly flipped it. She calmed down a bit, before pulling away, and looking up at me.

"Did you just do that? You made me forget something. I was just thinking about it, and suddenly... I don't remember. I can recall everything else, but that one thought is gone."

"You don't need to suffer," I whispered. "Let me help you."

She took another step away from me. "No, don't take everything away. It hurts, yes, but it happened. I don't want to forget that you saved me, nor what you saved me from." I couldn't help but admire her strength. Part of me suspected that whatever part I had already deleted was the worst, and she felt as though she could handle the rest.

"I won't take anything else away, unless you ask me to," I promised, and she hugged me again, the towel falling to the floor between us.

I felt her lips touch my neck, then my chin, as they worked their way up to my mouth. "Gina, are you sure you should be doing that?" I asked, not wanting her to stop, but also not wanting to cause her any further grief.

"There is still one place I haven't been able to scrub, and there is only one thing I can think of that will get all off it. I need you to wash away the last bit of him," she told me, and I knew she wasn't talking about her memory.

I picked her up, and carried her into my room. Robin gave a small laugh when she saw us, and I realized we probably looked a sight, me still in my work clothes, and her naked in my arms.

"You smell like meat," she told me as my bedroom door closed behind us.

"Do you want me to go shower first?"

"No, I like it. Just... Just love me tonight," her voice was breathy as I laid her on my bed, and then took off my shirt.

"Stop me at any time, if you need to," I told her earnestly. "I don't want to hurt you."

"I know. But hurry. I want to feel you in me. I want to feel all of you, all around me, and nothing else."

I nodded, as I dropped my pants to the floor, and kicked off my shoes.

She asked me to love her tonight, and while I refused to say the words untruthfully, I could perform the actions. I took her slender ankle in my hands, and brought her toes to my lips. She let out a gentle sigh, as I kissed each tow, running my tongue across the bottom of her digits.

I massaged her calves, as I kissed and nibbled the underside of her foot, tickling her arch with my teeth, and making her giggle. Then I switched to her other foot, and did the same. I could see that her labia were wet and swollen as I did this, and smiled at the serene look that was currently painted across her features.

I let my fingers gently glide up and down her smooth legs, lightly tickling as I set them on my shoulders and alternated kisses between them. Slowly I worked my way up her calves, under her knees, around her small thighs, gently kissing my way to her sex. By the time I finally reached it, her juices were dribbling down her ass crack, and making a puddle on my sheets.

I gave it a tender kiss, letting my hands trail up her flat abdomen, and around the swell of her ample breasts. I didn't touch her nipples, as I laid flat on my stomach, and lightly licked up her leaking fluids. Her hips jumped as my tongue barely touched her clit.

She grabbed my errant hands, and mashed them against her teats, moaning loudly as my tongue dove into her. "Thank you, Nick. Oh, I needed this. Thank you!" Her voice grew in volume, as my mouth did its work, bringing her to orgasm.

I broke away from her nether lips, and trailed soft kisses along her stomach, and sides. Kissing the undersides of her breasts, and then moving my head between her two mountains, I pressed them together, and licked my way up to the hollow at the base of her neck.

I felt my penis bump against her vulva, but made no move to enter her. Instead, I continued my kisses over her left shoulder, even kissing her armpit as I moved down her arm, to her elbow, and wrist. When I reached her hands, I kissed her palm, then along each finger, giving each tip a kiss, before returning to the palm, and kissing up the next digit.

She reached down between us, gripped my member, and moaned as she rubbed the head against her slit. Her hips hunched against me, wanting me inside her, but I wasn't ready yet.

Finished with her left hand, I brought my head around, brushing her lips lightly with my own, before dropping back down to her other shoulder. She moaned in frustration as she tried to capture my mouth, and tried again to get my head inside her, but to no avail. I wanted to wash her body with my kisses, before I entered her.

I gave her right arm and hand the same treatment as I'd given the left, and then propped myself up on my hands, as I looked down at her. Her hair was still wet, and I realized I would have to use another pillow tonight, but right then I just thought she was gorgeous. There was no mistaking the hunger and desire in her greenish-blue eyes.

I dropped my lips to hers, at the same time I moved my hips forward, getting half my cock in her, in one movement. Her mouth hungrily devoured mine, in a kiss that was equal parts love, lust, need, and desire.

Her hands gripped my ass, and helped me to set a slow and steady pace, gently sinking my length into her velvety folds. Derek had said she was loose, but she gripped me with a force that I almost feared would strangle my cock, if she weren't so wet.

Gina's hands went to my face, as she started to cum around my rod, pulling me deeper into our kiss, and we both moaned with pleasure. The sound of my voice increased her arousal, and she started to buck under me with earnest.

I pulled out of her, and rolled her over onto her stomach. I put my face back between her legs, and licked her juices up from her crack, running my tongue over her asshole. She jumped slightly when I did that, and moaned. I kissed both globes of her rear, and then gently up and around her back. She was moaning in earnest by the time I reached her neck.

"I want to feel you in my ass," she told me, twisting her head around to look at me.

"Did he—" I couldn't finish that sentence.

"No, he didn't. But I said I want to feel all of you, ALL over me. Please, Nick. I need this."

I nodded, giving her cheek a quick peck, before placing my phallus between her cheeks. It took me a moment to get the angle right, and a bit of pressure to get my head past her sphincter, but she gasped, as it broke through.

"Gawd, I needed this! I love how you feel inside me. Pussy, ass, mouth... Fuck me, Nick. Fuck me, and wash him away."

My cock was plenty slick from her juices, as was her crack from what had leaked out of her, but I took my time, slowly slipping my length into her colon. I slipped my hands under her chest, and felt her hard nipples between my fingers, as I got the last of my prick inside her.

"Fuck me." That one command was all I needed, as I pulled out, and slipped back into her. I hit a frenzied pace, and knew I was getting close.

Her sphincter suddenly gripped my rod, and it was too much. We came together, as I filled her bowels with my semen, and I collapsed onto her back, kissing the back of her neck as I unloaded. It felt like I loosed a gallon inside her, by the time my orgasm finally washed over me.

I rolled onto my back, breathing heavily, and my skin pebbled with sweat.

She placed her head on my chest, and cuddled up to my side. "I think a shower is in order," her soft voice broke the lethargy that was starting to creep over me, and I groaned. Gina laughed. "Not for me, though I probably need one now, too. You positively reek of sex and meat."

We showered together, and I gently washed her body, and she returned the favor. Dried once again, we stepped back into my room, accompanied by the unmistakable sounds of Robin and Dennis going at it.

Gina gave me a wink, before stating, "He watched us have sex, I think it is only fare we return the favor."

I smiled inwardly, and thought she was going to be okay after all, as she crept towards my roommate's door.

It was unlocked.

Gina cracked the door, and peaked inside, then turned to me, smiling. She opened the door the rest of the way, and slipped inside.

Shaking my head, I followed after the erstwhile blonde. Robin was on top of Dennis, his long cock shoved deep into her cunt, and one of her fake tits locked between his lips. We watched for a bit, till Gina indicated she was ready to go.

As soon as we were back in my room, Gina ravished me again, crying out in sweet release as the day's horrors were overlaid by my tender care.

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Elle's Revenge

“Come on elephant get your fat ass moving you’re holding us up!” The snide thin athletic girl yelled at Elle from the top of the hill.

Oh how she loathed that nickname, was it her fault her stupid parents named her Elle, knowing perfectly well that her family did not exactly have a history of being thin. Of course she had escaped that ridicule for most of her childhood having been home schooled, but unfortunately her new step-mom, who stuck out in the family photo like a sore thumb. Thin and athletic in a group of well, overweight individuals. Elle’s family liked to eat and combined with the ‘bad’ genes the family definitely drew attention with their size when they got together. The nice thing about being from a family like that was Elle was at least accepted by them and for most of her life despite being what some considered grossly overweight, she was happy. That was until her mom died of heart failure little over a year before. About the same time her dad had a scare too and not wanting to leave her parentless, he made a decision to try to get control of his weight. It was that decision that directly led to the mess Elle was now in.

Her dad started seeing a trainer, and he began seeing remarkable results. Of course it was only later that Elle learned that the trainer’s methods were a little more sexual than is usually used. One thing led to another and soon Elle had a new step-mom from hell, which Elle had little doubt had less to do with affection for her father and more to do with the extremely large sum of money her dad had inherited year before from a rich eccentric uncle.

The first thing that Crystal, her new step mom, did was to put Elle in public school, and insist that she too get herself in shape. She said it was for Elle’s own good, but Elle knew better, Crystal felt that feeding Elle and paying for private tutors to spare her humiliation was cutting into her profit margins, so she ‘cut the fat’ as they say. So now as a part of that Elle was on a wilderness hike with a local girl’s outdoors club, which of course had to be led by none other than Darci Malko, the cheerleading captain at Elle’s school, and a bunch of her lackeys.

Elle glared at Darci and silently wishing she would fall off the rock on which she taunt Elle from, began huffing her way up the large hill sweat soaking her shirt shorts and underwear thoroughly. By the time she made it to the top gasping for air her clothes were drenched so much so that you could see right through the white shirt.

“Uggh!” Darci shouted looking at her, “Cover those things up Ellie-phant! There is no wet t-shirt contest on this trip, as if anyone would want to see you naked you fat cow!” Elle looked down and was horrified to note that, sure enough, her front was soaked through so that even her nipples we visible for the whole group to see. She turned scarlet as the group noticed all but a few erupted in laughter. Darci gave a wicked smile as the laughing died down and said, ‘Its called a sports bra Elle-phant, and don’t say your boobs are too big, yours are not much bigger than mine, only mine are more noticeable because, unlike you I don’t have a big flabby belly under them!” and to emphasize her point Darci lifted her shirt to show her toned stomach and massive chest. “See Ellie-phant,” she taunted, “This is what a real woman looks like!”

Elle’s humiliation turned to anger and somewhere deep inside her something snapped and power surged through her. Forgetting her tiredness and her aches and pains Elle launched herself at the shocked cheerleader, but Darci was too quick and was able to step out of the way. Elle’s momentum carried her well past the group of girls and before she could stop herself she had gone over the ledge behind Darci. Elle fell only a few feet but hit the ground and rolled all the way down the grassy slope barely missing trees as she rolled out of control. When she finally came to a halt she was in a small pit that until she had crashed through had been cover by plants and part of a fallen tree. She also could swear she had broken something open when she fell in the depression as she could feel what felt like glass stabbing her back, but after her tumble she had no strength to move to investigate. She suspected that from the pain she felt a few of her bones were broken and she was bleeding from several deep gashes. She hope wondered if they would find her in time. She got on look at the sizable crater like whole before she felt a sharper pain in her back and she passed out.

What happened next was vague at best she remembered flashes of what happened but nothing definite, the only thing she knew of for sure was a voice telling her over and over she was going to be okay.

“It’s a miracle that you weren’t hurt or killed Elle!’ her dad said once she had woken, concern etched on his face. “What were you thinking rushing Darci like that?”

Elle wanted to answer but she knew it would do little good, her dad was a sweet man, but Crystal had him completely pussy-whipped by now. Elle knew complaining to him would get her nowhere if anything it would make things worse. Elle gave no answer and her dad just shook his head and kissed her forehead before saying, “Okay, if you don’t want to tell me fine, just promise daddy you’ll never scare me like that again, I already lost your mom, I can’t lose you too.” Elle nodded and felt shame for what her momentary loss of control had nearly done.

“Sorry, daddy, I won’t do it again I promise.” She said remorsefully.

“Its okay, no harm done, well I’ll let you get some sleep, goodnight pumpkin.” He said and left.

Elle watched him go before reflecting on her lack of injury it seemed incredible, that given how crappy she had felt that she now not only felt okay, she felt stronger somehow. What’s more she had been pounding double helpings of food at every meal with little effect, in fact the doctor said she had lost ten pounds in the few days she had been here. This was only precautionary as the doctor wanted to be sure that there were no internal injuries that and Elle had been running some kind of fever.

In fact the only thing she was still suffering from was a nasty stomach ache, but that was hardly to be unexpected given how she was eating, though oddly enough though it seemed to hurt worse when Crystal or one of the attractive nurses came by.

Despite this curious issue Elle was released after a week in the hospital since it was a Friday, she was glad of this as it saved her enduring Darci’s taunts. However, she still had Crystal to deal with Who would not be happy Elle had managed to get off the trip. Sure enough on Saturday Crystal cornered her step daughter as Elle sat watching TV and shoveling down snacks.

“So you lazy piece of shit, you managed to get out of losing some weight again, and here you are back again eating crap on the sofa. Pathetic!” Elle did her best to ignore her step-mom, but when Crystal said, “Look at me when I’m speaking to you, you fat cunt!”

Elle glared at her step-mom and that when she felt it sharp stab in her abdomen and a wave of pain washed over her. then another and another. Somehow Elle maintain eye contact throughout Crystal’s tirade of which Elle heard none as another sharp pain hit her but this time it was not her stomach, it was from her vagina. She then felt a rush of fluid in her pussy and moments later the front of her pants began to show a growing blood stain. As she was sure she felt something pushing further down her vagina finally stopping just short of her pussy.

Crystal spotted the stain and said, “Jesus Christ, didn’t that cow of a mother teach you anything, go get a tampon or something you useless cow!”

Elle did not need telling twice. She rushed from the room and the minute she reached the bathroom she pulled down her sweats and panties and without hesitation plunged her fingers into her pussy she could feel the full sensation retreating as she did, but not before her fingers met what was unmistakably a hard object in her vagina canal and unless she was mistaken it had but deflowered her from the inside!

Elle was scared, but she also felt another sensation, horniness and pleasure. Her fingers still buried in her pussy her body reacted to the absence of the hard object with a desire to be filled. Elle grabbed one of Crystal’s hairbrushes that was nearby and buried it as deep as it would go in her now wet pussy. At the same time her thumb worked her clit and while her other had reached for her nipples to find that they were rock hard. For the next few minutes Elle played with herself thrusting the brush handle in faster and faster, until she could stand it no longer and came hard nearly collapsing to the floor from the effort.

For the rest of the weekend Elle avoided contact with Crystal at all costs, not wishing to have that hard thing emerge again. Elle did notice that her cramps continued to get worse though, and what’s more despite not slowing her appetite at all, Elle was still losing a remarkable amount of weight for such a short time. She her jeans wouldn’t fit her anymore if this kept up. Elle knew something was definitely wrong but she couldn’t argue with the results. For the first time in her three years three Elle actually got some compliments that Monday, apparently her weight loss had not gone unnoticed.

However, it did not prevent Darci from taking her shot at Elle the first chance they were alone. Elle was in the locker room taking a shower on mandate from her PE teacher when mid way through her scrubbing she heard it.

“Well, well it is true even the elephant gets bath once in a while. She turned to see Darci standing naked behind her and as she inadvertently checked out her attractive classmate Elle felt that stab of pain and throb she had felt when she had looked Crystal he other day. Elle tried to get the cheerleaders perfect form out of her mind but for some reason it wouldn’t budge and suddenly the pain became worse the throbbing increased the thing was pushing down her vagina again this time with far more urgency, what’s more Elle knew it was bigger and thicker this time.

“Darci…” Elle cried not looking at the girl, knowing if Darci didn’t clear out soon there would be trouble.

“But not for you Elle,” a familiar voice seemed to say in her head. Elle knew it from somewhere she couldn’t place it.

“…get out now!!” Elle shouted as a warning, she did not know what the voice was but she did not like it. Darci only laughed.

“Why? Does the ugly elephant want privacy? Only people get privacy Ellie-phant! Now finish your bath so I can…”

That was all Elle remembered her saying, rage overwhelmed her and again she rushed the cheerleader, this time Darci could not get out of the way. Elle grabbed her and tackled her to the shower floor. Darci landed face up on the ground and was clearly dazed, Elle right on top of her. As Elle got another glimpse of the body there was another surge of pain, ecstasy, and what Elle swore was lust. Then to her horror and surprise Elle fell her pussy lips spread and looked down to watch what could only be a penis emerge from her. It kept emerging inch by inch until a cock of over ten inches stuck proudly out of her stretched pussy.

Elle examined the odd thing for a second taking in its bright blue color and that unlike a man’s cock, or least pictures she had seen of one, it was ribbed. Tentatively she reached down and grabbed the blue rod and was surprised to feel a wave of pleasure wash over her as she did. Elle stroked it a few times then moaned with pleasure.

“God now I know why boys do this so much!” Elle thought.

‘Yes,” said the strange voice in her head agin it chuckled then added, “it is quite fun but so is sex, put it in Dacri, and find out.”

Elle knew he voice now it was the one that had reassured her after her fall.

“What are you?” she thought,

“A friend you released me the other day and I’m going to help you as a result, but I do have a few conditions one of which is what you are currently experiencing my dear Elle. I will explain later, but first fuck Darci for me.” Then after pause the voice said, “You know you want to.”

“That’s rape!” Elle thought.

“She deserves it Elle, she’s made yours and countless other girls lives living hell while here, and don’t deny it Elle, I’ve scanned you memories. Think of it this way she’s spent three years making virtually every girl in this place her bitch, isn’t it time someone took her down a peg and made her their bitch? Why not you Elle? All you have to do is shove that blue cock of yours into her and fuck her brains out, do that and she’s yours!”

Lust and greed fought shame and pity, but ultimately anger won out. With a wicked smile Elle said to the still dazed Darci.

“Get ready for some Ellie-phant cock bitch!” She then buried her new shaft so deep she felt Darci’s pussy lips touch her own.

Darci tried to scream but Elle silenced her

“No, no not today you spoiled cunt! Today you’re going to be nice and quiet. Speaking of cunts though I must say very tight Darci, I guess Steve really is small.” Steve was the quarterback and the guy everyone knew was fucking Darci. “I guess after me poor Steve won’t do anything for you. He just doesn’t measure up does he?” Elle said with vindictive pleasure.

For a while Darci resisted pleasure, but ultimately it was too much and she had a huge orgasm. At this Elle pulled out and roughly shoving the blue rod down he throat pumped quite a bit of what Elle assumed was cum down the cheerleaders throat.

Then she stood up and leering over the ravaged cheerleader Elle said, “Okay bitch here what’s going to happen I let you off easy this time, but next time I’m not going to be so lenient. From now on your nice to me and the other girls here. If I heard you terrorized any girl at this school I’ll be back and next time it won’t be your throat I’m flooding if you catch my drift. The same goes for if you say anything about what just happened got it?” Darci nodded and Elle said, ‘Good now get out of my shower bitch I need to finish!” Dacri quickly left the showers and Elle marveled at what she had just done.

“See Elle, what did I tell you docile as a pussy cat now.” Elle heard the voice say as she felt the penis retract. Elle smiled as she finished washing thinking of others she’d love to use this on, her new mommy dearest for one.


(More? y/n)

Elle's Revenge 3

Sorry for the gap I'll try to keeping posting new stuff

As it turned out Crystal’s belly was normal by the time Elle’s dad returned home and she was saved the embarrassment of explaining things. Elle was upset about this until she noticed how affectionate Crystal suddenly was to her husband. Seeing her father so happy placated Elle for a while but fucking Crystal and Darci had given the teen an appetite, no doubt enhanced by the alien lodging in her uterus. This had caused her to practically rape her step mom whenever she felt too horny. Elle always felt bad about this but it almost seemed Crystal liked it.

One day a strange thing happened as she arrived home to find her step-mom doing aerobics in a vain attempt to keep her figure as her body change to accommodate the coming brood. Elle once again felt arousal and suddenly ran to her room knowing she would rape Crystal if she stayed much longing watching her tight ass and swollen boobs shaking to the beat.

Elle closed the door of her room and prepared her equipment she knew the only ay to prevent attacking her step-mom again was to relieve the aliens, but first she had to make him emerge. Elle pulled down her jeans and panties and rapidly began fingering her still tight pussy. She thought of the cute guys at school she wanted to fuck trying to erase the image of her step-mom hoping the alien would not make her jack it off. No luck though Crystal would not leave her mind.

“Why so hesitant and modest Elle,” Peter’s voice said in her mind, “behold the body you helped sculpt, admire how much more feminine you made her overly toned form.”

Elle ignored the voice and continue trying to fight the images until a voice broke her concentration.

“My you are a tasty morsel Elle, aren’t you?” Crystal said as she walked in stripping off her few items of clothing. ‘I don’t know what your secret is, but…oh wait yes I do your little friend has done this hasn’t he? Well he’s done an excellent job Elle, you are a knock out the boys must be falling all over you no wonder Mrs. Malko is so worried about Darci, you must have knocked that little bitch right off her high horse!” Crytsal said with a smile then noticing where Elle’s hand was she smiled even wider.

“Ddddon’t come any closer…I don’t want to hurt you!” Elle said struggling against her urges.

“Hurt me? My dear step-daughter you can do nothing of the sort! In fact our little sessions are about the only reason I stay her any more you my dear are the best sex I’ve ever had, and if it means I have to carry that friend of your’s seed then so be it.” Crystal said as she moved on to the bed. “Now lay back my dear and tell mommy where it hurts.” Crystal said with a wicked smile.

Without waiting for Elle’s answer Crystal leapt between her step-daughter legs and began lapping away at her pussy with a will. Crystal was instantly in heaven and even as she felt her friend awaken she didn’t even try to stop it.

As the tip emerged from Elle’s soft fold Crystal immediately gave it a hard suck and lick.

“Come on little friend come to momma!” she cooed to it. Rise it did in a matter of seconds the full shaft stood proudly out of Elle’s body.

“My you are lucky Elle it must feel amazing to feel this thing cum out of you I can take all the sticks out, but you take all of him every time.”

Elle gave no response and barely heard her step-mother praising the large phallus, the pleasure it emergence had caused was too great. All she felt was Crystal’s warm wet depths descending upon the hard shaft. She opened her eyes to she the once hated Crystal riding her new appendage like there was no tomorrow this time she had done it willingly in fact this time she had seduced Elle!

Elle felt a surge of power radiate through as she realized the control over her step-mom she now had. Elle gather her new strength and pulling the pleasure ridden woman to her rolled them both over and began brutally fucking Crystal, her knowledge that the little slut enjoyed it and wanted it spurring her on more and more. She lost count of the times Crystal orgasmed as Elle pistoned the blue rod between her thighs. All she knew was the release she built towards and when she let the pleasure go nothing existed in that moment but the cum gushing from the rod. Her own climax coming with Peter’s and Crystal’s the three of there juices mixing between her and Crystal.

Invigorated by the process Elle got up as she felt peter receded back into her pussy. Once Elle had dressed she looked at the bed and smiled then she leaned down and kissed her near comatose step-mom.

“Same time tomorrow mother dearest?’ Elle said with a wicked smile. Crystal smiled and gave a nod before passing out. Elle left the room after all she had to babysit tonight and she wouldn’t want to be late of that.

Seeing the transformation in Crystal had given her ideas, after all Mrs. Hollis was just too busy for her own good. No good mother should neglect her darling children like that. Perhaps Elle would teach her a lesson tonight. Elle grabbed the bottle of wine off the counter it had been Crystal’s but she wouldn’t be in any fit state to drink it for some time. Then again, Elle smiled at the thought, neither would Mrs. Hollis after tonight if things went according to plan…

To be an Assassin (5)

Author's Note: Yes, it usually is a good idea to read these!

So yeah, this really badly needs revising. The whole story. I need to put what they look like in the beginning, Mordock needs to change a bit.... Actually, a lot. And the relationship Calsa has with Jerako needs to change something fierce. But I gotta stick with it. I don't know how this story will end, so I'm in the same boat as the rest of you. When the ending hits me, then I'll revise it. For now, hope you can forgive how badly this wanders. But I do know that this is the quiet before the storm. Trying to come to terms with the fate of the characters. I'm almost crying knowing what Calsa's about to go through, but something has to happen to make her snap. And I hope the world is ready for it.






Calsa woke slowly. Every muscle in her body ached. She took a deep breath as she opened her eyes slowly. She was laying on her stomach, her arms clenched tightly around the pillow, the blanket just above her lower back. Her brow furrowed when she realized she was naked... and in Alt's bed.

Memories from the previous day sprang to her mind suddenly. She squirmed as she remembered what she and Alt had done. She could feel the stinging scratches he had given her along her side. All his bites were livid on her skin. She let out a slow breath, wondering what was going to happen now. She'd spent so long playing a boy that she almost believed it.

Gradually, stiffly, Calsa slipped from the bed. She fished out a tunic from her drawer, pulling it over her head with a low groan. She'd taken the final ritual twice in one day, gotten away without any injury each time, only be bruised and scratched up by her teacher. She truly didn't know how she felt about all of it. She'd made herself forget that they had ever been together before, made herself forget that she'd ever wanted to be with him.

Her stomach growled angrily, stopping her thoughts. She could smell food. Alt was apparently cooking something. Gulping the dry lump in her throat, she left the bedroom into the mainroom. Peering around the corner, she peeked into the kitchen.

Alt wore his pants, his thick, powerful torso bare. She'd seen him shirtless a million times, but now her body tingled to see his tanned skin. She blushed when she saw the scratches she'd given him along his back. He'd cleaned them since they had drawn blood.

"Finally awake?" She was startled when he glanced at her, knowing she was there though she hadn't made a sound.

"Kind of," she responded softly. She slipped closer to him to see what he was making.

He grunted, suddenly wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her against his body. She gasped, uncertain. "I'm sure you're hungry." His voice was somehow different. Before, he'd always spoken down to her. He'd always had a certain tone, stern and all knowing, but now it was soft, informal.

Calsa nodded without a word. Her body so perfectly nestled into his side. She found her head leaning against his shoulder, not even remembering having relaxed. He turned slightly, tenderly kissing her lips. She kissed back, thinking it felt so strange and yet so perfect.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked softly, his large hand slipping up to gently caress her hair.

"Sore," she admitted quietly, blushing a little.

He smiled. "Well, that's to be expected. I tried to wake you up yesterday so you could stretch, but you were pretty adamant on not opening your eyes."

"Yesterday?" Calsa glanced at him.

He nodded, still smiling at her. "You've been asleep a whole day and two nights." He turned to remove the food from the heating coil, using a wooden spoon to scrap it all into a steaming heap on a plate. "I'm sure taking the ritual twice was draining." He handed her the plate, ruffling her hair fondly.

She looked up to his eyes. They were different like his tone, softer. She looked down, taking the plate from him. She sat down at the small table. He sat in the opposite chair, still smiling at her. She just stared at her food despite how hungry she was.

Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. "What happens now?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

He raised a brow. "You're Ha'trin now. You come with me on all my assignments until I think you can go solo...."

She shook her head. "I don't mean that." Her eyes met his.

He sat there silently, looking at her. He finally took a deep breath, turning his eyes away. "I hadn't thought that far ahead," he admitted quietly. They sat in silence for a moment. It was agonizing. Then he looked up her. "I guess it all depends on what you want to happen now."

Calsa thought. She thought long and hard. She could tell Alt was doing one of his little meditations to help with his patience. He had to do that a lot. She'd been a stubborn student, at least for the first year.

"I... I don't know," she whispered. She leaned back in the chair. She kept staring at her food. Her body was begging for it, but she didn't feel like eating.

"What don't you know?" Alt asked gently.

She let out a breath. "You're the best thing to happen to me since I became an orphan. This place is my home. I don't want that to change."

She glanced up at him when he moved, coming to kneel in front of her. He laid his hand against her face, staring deeply into her pale orbs. "That won't ever change. Whether you want us to continue as we were or as we were the other night, I'll always be here for you, this will always be your home. Those won't change."

Calsa smiled. Alt stood, ruffling her hair again. "You should eat. We can talk more later." He turned away to go back into the bedroom but stopped a moment, looking at her over his shoulder. "Oh, and while you were out, Jerako passed his ritual. Since he's your friend, I thought you'd like to know."

When he was no longer in her sight, she dug into the food like it was last meal she was ever going have. By the time Alt had emerged from the room fully dressed, she'd finished her food and was already sprawled out on the couch asleep. The tunic she wore barely covered her long, slender legs, having been pushed up to just below her ass.

He had to resist the urge to kneel down next to her and wake her with his teeth, nipping and biting her. Instead, he gently covered her with the blanket on the back of the couch. He remembered after he had taken his ritual, he'd slept for days, his body having to adjust to losing all its inherent magic. He wouldn't dare wake her now. So he caressed her hair fondly before standing to leave.

**************************************************************************************

Calsa woke slowly, her whole body still aching. But her instincts told that there was a strange presence in the house. She opened her eyes, peering around the room. It was dark. She slowly sat up, realizing she'd fallen asleep on the couch.

Something moved in the shadows, making her stare intently at the corner. The fire in the hearth made all the shadows in the room dance, but there was one in particular that didn't move like the rest. Before her eyes, the shadow moved, oozing along the ground, silently coming to pool near her feet.

"Mordock?" Calsa whispered, not sure if it was who she thought it was. She backed up against the couch, her hand groping for a weapon, any weapon, on the small table beside the couch.

The shadow shot up, suddenly becoming solid, forming into a humanoid face. "I'm surprised you knew," Mordock said quietly, his body forming rapidly until he was standing before her fully solid.

"I was guessing," she admitted, relieved. "Why are you here?"

"Grand Master Sanlis told us he had information about the anti-shifting device," he responded, his eyes quickly flicking over to the bedroom door to make sure that Alt was asleep. "So I volunteered to come and look. It is truly a wondrous discovery. It will go a long way to helping us, and in helping me convince more of my kin to help in this war." He then moved to sit beside her on the couch, letting out a sigh. "But really I wanted to come make sure you were alright."

Calsa looked at him carefully. He seemed genuinely concerned for her, which was an unusual thing coming from a shadowshifter. "I passed my test," she said, smiling. "I had to take it twice."

Mordock grunted, a hint of fondness in his eyes. "I had no doubt. I knew you could. When you meet so many people, and live as long as I have, you learn to see things in people. You can almost see their future."

"Can you?" Calsa blinked in surprise. "See the future, I mean?"

He smiled a little. "I wish. Would make things simpler as much as it would complicate matters."

For a moment, Calsa stared at him, not sure what he meant. "Is my mother alright?"

Mordock nodded, giving Calsa some relief. "She's well. My kin in charge is keeping her safe. He made sure the Templiks stopped torturing her, told them if she has not talked yet, then there's nothing she knows. They bought that. If he keeps up with that story, then they'll eventually see fit to release her. You'll see her soon enough, little one."

Calsa leaned over, giving him a kiss on his cheek. He raised a brow at her, but didn't respond. He, as all his kin, spent their existences around humanoids; he knew their customs.

"That's for being so nice to me," she whispered, blushing lightly.

"It's rare to find one like you, little Calsa. I do what I can for those who deserve it." He stood then, going to the fire mantle. There were various sculptures of gods and goddesses that her species worshiped there. Mordock reached out and took one that was very obviously female. "Tazono, goddess of harvest," he said idly while he toyed with it.

"Dear Calsa, do you know why there has only been one other female Ha'trin since they started the draining ritual?" He did not turn to look at her, his eyes still on the statue he held.

She shook her head, but realized he wouldn't see it. "Something about women can't lose their magic? But I did."

"Not quite," he said, his voice just barely above a whisper. "Women are vessels for all that exists. Women take, amplify, and then release back into the world something more than what they received." He glanced at her, noting her confusion. "Take, for example, life. It's really a very simple matter. They take the life force from the man, drawing it into their own bodies. They nurture that energy, they amplify it, let it grow, and then release it back into the world as another being. It is also why women are so emotional, they take the emotional energies they sense around them and amplify it. So, too, do they do with magic. It's why if you were to take a male and a female of the same magical knowledge, the woman will always be more powerful. Men excel at all they do with their bodies, with the physical things in the world. Women, they take into themselves the power that exists around them and put it back out greater than what they were given."

He gently set the statue back on the mantle. "You have lost your own magic. That is a very dangerous thing for a woman. Now, it is not your magic that you should fear. It is the magic of others."

Calsa blinked, still bewildered. "What do you mean, exactly?" she asked cautiously, her eyes narrowing.

Mordock looked at her. "You can draw the magic out of others. You can hold it in your body, amplify it, and release it with a disastrous ferocity. Since you have no magic of your own, you will start to leech it out of others. Among the Ha'trin, there is no threat of this. But should you face a Ha'tinre, I just wanted to warn you to be careful. The only other female Ha'trin in their history became corrupted by this power she was able to wield. She turned to the Ha'tinre, became one of them instead. She would draw out their magic and use it to do terrible things. I see in your eyes there is no such greed in you, but there is still a desire for vengeance. Heed your Master. Do not fall to such emotions."

"How do you know about that?" Calsa asked, a little shocked.

Mordock shrugged. "I'm old. I've been around."

"You knew her, didn't you?"

Again Mordock shrugged. "I did. I saw her go insane with the power she had. Lacking her own magic which would have kept what she could take into herself in check, she was able to take in more and more magic until she ended up killing herself with it, but not before she did many terrible things. I don't want to see it happen again. Not with you."

"Why would you care so much?" Calsa asked a little suspicious. "You don't have to fear such things."

"This is true," Mordock replied, sitting down beside her again. He looked into her eyes. "Does not mean I don't care what happens to the fleshlings I take an interest in. My kind cannot exist without yours. We cannot exist in our true forms forever. We have to take solid forms to feed our true forms. We may live forever, but we are all intimately bound together; all that exists cannot exist without the others. It's always been that way. All the worlds were seeded by a common ancestor. Without each other, nothing would be here. Space would be empty. Even your world seeded another far away. It would not surprise me to think that the humans fueled your existence. Perhaps even the Ra'asz. And for all that, I cannot turn a blind eye to what goes on among the fleshlings. We all need each other to survive what is and what is yet to come."

Mordock then stood slowly. "I best start my return journey. You should continue your training, ensure that you are ready for when the time comes that we shall have need of you."

"How long will that take?" Calsa asked with much enthusiasm. She wanted the Reds off her world.

"We must make certain we are so deeply entangled into their own hierarchy that they can never weed us all out, no matter how many of us might get found out. During that time, the various resistance groups have been instructed to stay out of sight, let the Reds think they have fought us back." Then Mordock turned, looking at her with a soft expression. "It will be long enough for you to have your child in peace."

"What?" Calsa blinked in surprise. She stared at him blankly, not sure she understood what he was talking about.

"I have lived long enough to know the signs, little one," Mordock said quietly, an all-knowing tone to his words. "It is no surprise to me that you and Alt would finally give in to your feelings. I saw it in him when he looked upon you. I also know he is not the kind to shy from fatherhood."

Without warning, his form began to dissolve, his legs changing to shadow, dancing in time to the firelight. "Remember to continue your training, young Calsa. You will need it." And then he was gone.

Calsa peered around, but the shadows moved as they would normally in the firelight. Now that he did not want her to see him, she would never be able to pick him out. He was probably already out the door, slipping through any little cracks.

Despite her exhaustion, Calsa found she could not return to sleep, not after Mordock's words. She continued sitting on the couch, mulling over his words. Why she was even surprised that such a thing would happen, she didn't really know. The only reason she had been lucky enough to avoid this situation in the past had been her lack of nutrition, but now that wasn't an issue. Her hand idly lay over her belly as she continued thinking. She really didn't know how she felt about this sudden news. She'd been a fully fledged Ha'trin for not even a day before becoming with child. What kind of a harlot did that make her? What would the others think of her? Would they even respect her after this? She knew that those who were her own species wouldn't mind; among her kind, though the males were stronger, they practically worshiped their women. But it was the others, like Jerako who was a halfling, that she worried about.

"Can't sleep?"

Calsa nearly leapt out of her skin. She hadn't noticed the grey of dawn outside the windows. Alt came into her field of vision, peering at her closely in concern. "Are you alright? You look pale."

"Mordock was here," she said softly.

Alt glanced around quickly. "In here? Sneaky bastard. Didn't trip any of my traps. It's a good thing he's on our side." Then he looked at Calsa again, sitting in a chair. "What did he want?"

It took Calsa a few heartbeats to gain her voice and even then it was barely above a whisper. "He wanted to know if I passed my test. He told me my mother is well. He said I need to continue my training."

Alt fixed her with a look she knew meant he knew she had more to say. Many times when she had done something wrong, she had tried to omit mention of it, but he had always known. He knew her all too well for her to try and keep anything from him. She couldn't meet his gaze, which made him all the more suspicious. "What else did he say, Cal?" His voice was stern as she had always known it.

An eternal moment passed in silence. Finally, Calsa stood up, still not meeting Alt's eyes. "I'm going to sleep," she stated, turning to head into the bedroom.

"Cal." His voice was authorative, making her stop. "I'm still your teacher. You need to tell me if he said anything important."

"Can you be a father, too?"

"What?" Alt blinked. Her response had been so quiet that he wasn't sure if he had heard her properly at all.

Calsa turned, looking up him. He had followed after her, stood only a step away. He was too bewildered to even move at the moment. But when she placed her hand over her belly, he knew he hadn't misheard her. "I'm pregnant," she whispered.

Alt moved so abruptly she could only gasp, feeling his arms wrap around her. His lips pressed against hers with such a passion that she couldn't help but melt into him. There was much more than just lust behind this kiss. Barely breaking contact, Alt lifted her off her feet. She wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling him carry her into the bedroom.

He sat on the edge of his bed, holding her in his lap, his arms wrapped tightly around her, keeping her against his body. She nuzzled her face into his neck.

He took a deep breath, breathing in her scent. "Are you sure?"

Calsa looked up him. He almost seemed hopefully. She knew Mordock had not lied when he said he knew Alt would not shy from this. She buried her face against the curve of his neck again. "I guess we'll find out soon," she mumbled.

After a moment of intimate silence, she looked back up at him. He could see the concern in her eyes. "Will the Grand Master get mad?"

"Sanlis?" Alt raised a brow at her, surprised she'd even ask. He sneered. "I don't care if he does. I don't care if anyone has a problem with this. I'm next in line to be the Grand Master, so I can just tell them to go to hell. Though I don't know why anyone would care. The Ha'tinre have relationships and families amongst themselves all the time. I think it's only from the lack of women in our order that has prevented the same." He then held her tighter, kissing her with all the love he had for her, making her melt into his powerful physique. "Whatever happens, I am yours, if you'll have me," he said softly in her ear when he was finished stealing her breath.

She pressed herself closer to him, kissing his neck. "I think you were mine from the moment we met," she teased with a giggle.

"Oh? You think so?" he chuckled, nipping her ear. "You were just lucky I was in such a good mood!"

Her giggle was interrupted by a yawn. He leaned back, laying out onto the bed, holding Calsa atop his body. In his protective grasp, she felt safe, cared for.

Their species were still young enough to have most of their primal instincts, and right now Alt's instinct was to make certain that his female had everything she needed. He wasn't so densely muscled for no good reason, he had been designed that way for generations before him for the sole purpose of defending his woman and offspring from the wild animals and other males. They had only just started entering their industrial era when the aliens had landed on their world. It had been the Ha'tinre first, though Ha'tinre did not care to rule worlds. But with them they brought the concept of male rule, of rape and murder and war. Before that, women had ruled, making all the decisions, all the laws. They were the ones who chose their mates, sometimes they even chose more than one male. They had been a nurturing society, but now they were in chaos, their evolution forever changed. But he still considered it an honor that she had chosen him.

Alt's thoughts were brought back from his old history lessons, feeling Calsa's svelte form shift on him. She was already asleep. He kissed her on the forehead, very gently laying her back against the bed. Slipping out from under her, Alt left the house, going to watch the tabi graze as he often did when he wanted to think. The creatures lived such simple lives, with no concept of evil or cruelty.

"If you're out here, then there's something on your mind." Alt jumped, cursing himself. He had sworn he would some day know Sanlis was coming before the Grand Master had the chance to sneak up on him. His old master had laughed at him, telling Alt that would be the day he would give up his status as Grand Master.

Sighing, Alt didn't meet Sanlis' gaze. He idly flicked an insect off the fence that kept the tabi from escaping. Sanlis leaned against the fence with him, a brow raised. "What did that bug ever do to you?"

Alt shrugged. "Might bite someone."

Shaking his head, Sanlis patted Alt's shoulder. "That's not like you. I thought you'd be happy. Cal is the first woman in over a thousand years to have the Draining work on them, and she even survived the full ritual twice in a single day! You were right about her. She is a very tough young woman. So why do you look so... conflicted?"

"Let's just say I was a little too happy about that."

"Ah." Sanlis caught Alt's meaning immediately. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Well, I suppose it was bound to happen. Living with her for three years, I'm actually impressed you didn't give in sooner. When I was your age, I doubt very much I could have done that. Though now it will be interesting to see what comes of your union."

Alt glanced at his old teacher quizzically. "How do you mean?"

"Well, if I'm reading you right, my boy, she's with child and you're worried that the others won't accept her." Sanlis shrugged. "Though I'd be less concerned with that and more concerned what kind of a child she'll bring into the world." When Alt bared his teeth, Sanlis continued. "If you recall, when a child is born to two Ha'tinre, they are born with the very magic that courses through their parents. They are born into the order, without a chance to make a decision. They tend to be more powerful, but are more at peace with the power within them. Our order is proof of that. This will be the first child to be born by two parents who lack any inherent magic."

"I see your point." Alt looked down at the ground.

Sanlis chuckled, patting his ex-student on the back fondly. "Don't look so concerned. She chose you. That's an honor. And from what the shadowshifter told me, you two will have enough time to have your child. He told me it could take up to two years before they're ready to call us into the battle. By that time, more of our order will have snuck onto the world, and if the Clan of the Plains were as sincere as you said they seemed to be about getting their kin off the world, they'll come to us directly soon enough. We'll have an army and we'll sweep them off our world like the filth they are."

"Calsa will be happy for when that day comes," Alt muttered as if he was speaking to himself, a brief expression of adulation flickering across his face.

"I think we all will." Sanlis turned away. He paused for a moment, letting out a sigh. "You know Bezin didn't survive his ritual?" Glancing over his shoulder, Alt was genuinely surprised. "One less of us, a dozen more of them. Sometimes things can seem so hopeless. And then there's the little things that suddenly make it all worth the suffering, like expecting a child with the woman you love." He walked away without waiting for Alt to respond.

********************************************************************

"Damn street runt! Get back here!" The Templik guard snarled, realizing that his coin purse was in the small nimble hands of Calsa. She darted among the people, hoping to get herself lost in the crowd. She was small enough that the guard would have a hard time seeing her.

"Cal!" She heard her older brother's voice in an alley. He motioned to her to hurry. She ran over, handing the coins over to him. "Good job. Let's get out of here!" He took off down the alley.

Calsa couldn't keep up. She was so very hungry and it made her unable to keep the pace her older brother set. "Wait, Savik!" she called out weakly, stopping to lean against a wall. He apparently didn't hear her, vanishing around a corner. She panted, whimpering at the pain in her belly.

The hiss of a sword being drawn made her spin around, looking up at three Templik guards. Two of them were her own species. The other she didn't know, though there were a lot of those kinds on her planet these days. She turned to flee when a big, strong hand grabbed her by the back of her tunic, pulling her back. The flimsy fabric ripped as the man tossed her without care against the wall, knocking the breath from her.

One of the males of her kind grunted, grinning. "Well, well, hello little girl."

Calsa brought up her hands to cover herself, but the other male, his hair a raven black, one eye yellow and the other blue, snatched one of her wrists, jerking it away so she couldn't close the front of the tunic. One flat breast showed, her little nipple hard in fear.

"How do you know it's a girl?" the unknown species asked, looking her up and down. "Looks like a boy to me."

The other one of her kind, his hair light green, eyes blue, chuckled cruelly. "Males don't have tits." He reached out and pinched hers to emphasis his words.

She cried out in pain, using her free hand to try and claw at his face. He slapped her hard across the face, nearly throwing her to the ground. Like most males of her kind, he was much bigger and stronger than she. But they had evolved that strength to fight each other, not to over power females. However, right now he was most certainly using it to his advantage. "Little bitch, where'd you put our money?" He growled in their own guttural language.

"I don't have it," she snapped back, baring her teeth, her small canines not eliciting any kind of fear from the men. "I didn't take anything."

"Oh, that so?" The green haired male snarled back, leaning over her, his much larger canines making her cringe against the wall. "Then why were you running away?"

Calsa was young and very haughty. She glared back up at the male, holding her gaze. She would not submit to his bullying. "To avoid this very situation," she replied angrily.

"This one's got some real spirit," the one with the bicolored eyes said. He seemed truly reluctant to allow the other male to keep harming her, continuously glancing at him as if about to speak.

The green haired one grinned. "That's fine. I like them when they fight." Calsa gasped when his big hand wrapped around her throat, pulling her to her feet from where she'd been crouching, and slammed her against the wall. "Adds a nice touch when they break at the end."

"Hey!"

The Templiks turned when they heard the voice right behind them. They glanced up in time to jump away, avoiding fist sized rocks that were being tossed at them. They covered their heads, yelling to each other to find a way into the building and get to the roof.

When they'd gone around the corner to go inside and climb the stairs, Savik poked his head over the edge. "Run, Cal. We'll meet you back at base!"

Calsa ran as fast as she could through the alleys and back streets, keeping her torn tunic closed over her chest. It was why she wore clothes too many sizes too big for her, to hide the fact that she was female.

Vaulting up a tall wall of a crumbling building, she found herself in the dark, abandoned apartment at the top. The place had several rooms, no doors, and no glass on the windows. Instead, planks of wood had been nailed haphazardly over the windows, and over the doorways. Rope was strung around the place, old blankets and curtains hanging over the ropes around each of the old mattresses that were laid about the place.

She lay in her bed, panting. She shared one of the rooms with her older brother. He was five years her senior. He had always protected her. When they were orphaned, he had taken care of her as best he could. When he found this little gang of other orphans, he'd fought his way to the top just to make sure that he could protect her from the other boys. He wouldn't let anyone touch her.

She opened her eyes when she heard foot steps. "Cal? You back here?"

"Yeah," she called back, sitting up.

Savik came into their room, squatting down before her. His arms were full of food. He handed her a large purple fruit. "I know you're starving, bro. I got this for you." He always called her his brother. Even though the other boys knew she was female, he kept up the act that she was a boy. It kept her safe. Though most Druaks tried to hold on to their old customs of female worship, the other aliens had no such thought. Most of the boys in their group were halflings, having either been abandoned or losing their parents when they had attempted to fight back against the Templiks.

Calsa took it, biting hungrily into the fruit. She looked up at him. "What about you?"

He smiled at her, touching her pale blue hair. "You need it more than I do. Girls need more food when they grow," he spoke quietly as the other boys started filing into the apartment, going to their little beds and laughing at each other.

There was an odd look in his dark blue eyes. Well, they were darker than hers. Her eyes were such a pale blue they were almost white. But Calsa didn't understand the look. She turned her eyes away, paying attention to her food.

The night came fast, the heat of the sun quickly dissipating. She had changed into another long tunic. It only reached her knees, but it's what she slept in. She turned to her side, cuddling up under her blanket.

She was almost asleep when she heard the curtain that separated her and Savik rustle. She turned onto her back to look up at him. His eyes glowed in the dim light as he looked down on her. He rested a hand on the other side of her head, leaning over her. His finger tips gently caressed her cheek where the Templik had struck her earlier in the day. His voice was very quiet so as to not wake anyone else. "My little Calsa. You were lucky today. I don't know what I would do if those Templik dogs got to you first."

Calsa blinked lazily, not understanding what he was talking about. "What's the matter, Savik?"

He took a deep breath, whispering as he leaned forward to kiss her on the forehead. "I don't want those Templiks ever touching you. I don't want them to have you first. They wouldn't care if they hurt you."

Calsa's heart suddenly slammed against her ribs when it dawned on her what he was saying. She whimpered, trying to squirm away from him. "Savik, it's ok, they won't get me. I... I don't want...."

She whimpered again when he put his hand over her mouth. He moved onto her bed, sitting beside her. It was then she noticed that he was naked. She'd seen him naked many times. It was hard not to in this place. But this time it was different. She could see he was hard, a small drop glistening at the tip of his gender.

"It's alright, little sister," he crooned gently, trying to calm her. "I'll try not to hurt you. I just couldn't live with myself if I let them get you first."

She squirmed, her breath coming in short gasps in her fear as he pulled the blanket from her delicate little body. She tried to struggle against him, but he was calm and determined. It was a necessary evil, he told himself over and over. No matter what, it was better he do this to her.

He got between her legs, pushing her long tunic up. He'd already slept with a female. Granted she had been older than he, but he knew what to do because of it. He knew to go slow, gentle.

Calsa whimpered, trying to push him away, but she wasn't nearly as strong as he was. He kept his hand over her mouth. If she begged him to stop, he wouldn't be able to go through with it. The tears that glistened in her eyes were making it hard enough for him.

She let out a sharp yelp, stifled by his hand, when she felt him push into her. He moved slow, with purpose. She breathed hard, not understanding why he was doing this. He was the last person on the planet she ever thought would hurt her like this. He was starting to move, sliding out of her and slowly sliding back in, over and over again. She was so tight that he had to work his full length into her carefully so he didn't tear her. She wanted to cry, she wanted him to stop, wished this was some kind of nightmare.

His thrusts became faster, and she squirmed under him, writhing as she still tried to get away from him. But she didn't make a sound, afraid that if the other boys heard her, they'd come and do the same thing to her. He panted over her as he moved, finally fully within the heat of her body. His free hand held her thin hips up for his violation.

She closed her eyes, tears wetting her temples when she felt him stiffen, the head of his rod swell up inside her, an intense heat rushing into her under her navel. Savik gently wiped her tears, leaning down to kiss her eyelids.

"I'm sorry, Calsa," he whispered only because he was afraid of his voice cracking if he spoke any louder. "I'm so sorry. I wish mom and dad were still alive. This never would have to happen."

She sobbed, not wanting to believe what had just occurred. Savik gathered her into his arms, holding her tightly, letting her cry, feeling like he wanted to cry with her. He rocked her gently, kissing her forehead.

"I love you so much, Calsa," he whispered in her ear as she cried herself quietly to sleep. "Please forgive me. I'll never do it again, I'll never hurt you again. I promise." He knew things would never be the same between them. But for the knowledge that some Templik ass wouldn't be the one to take her innocence, he was willing to live with the consequences.

***********************************************************************************

Calsa jerked awake from her dream. She panted heavily, her heart pounding in her chest. She realized her face was wet with tears. It'd been a long time since she'd last cried.

Next to her, Alt turned, looking up at her. "Calsa?" He sat up, wrapping his arms around her. Feeling her tremble against him, he kissed her sweaty forehead for a moment, waiting for her sobs to quiet. "What's wrong?" he asked gently, concern on his face.

Whimpering, Calsa let out a shuddering sigh as she tried to gather her wits back. "Bad dream," she whispered, trying to hide her distress.

"Must have been very bad," he replied soothingly.

Eventually, she'd calmed down enough for them to lie back into bed. Alt had pushed the beds together while she'd been asleep. She was starting to feel better, her body growing accustomed to its lack of magic. She let out a heavy breath as she cuddled up against Alt's body.

"It's almost morning. Would you like to eat or go back to sleep?" Alt caressed her smooth arm, his voice reserved.

Calsa's stomach spoke for her. Wordlessly, Alt slid out of bed, pulling on his pants. He left the room, leaving her to think. Memories of her life before this place seemed so distance, so much more like the nightmare that was quickly fading from her mind even now.

Sighing, she wiggled out of bed, following Alt into the kitchen. She watched him for a bit, a little smile on her face. Alt finally turned to her in question. "What is so amusing?"

"You called me 'Calsa,'" she giggled girlishly. It reminded him just how young she actually was. Much younger than he was.

"It is your name," he responded, almost smiling. "No reason to pretend you're a boy anymore."

She suddenly pouted playfully. "But I liked being a boy."

Alt had to laugh. He turned to her, striding over and snagging her around her waist. "I don't mind being gay for you," he chuckled, nipping at her ear.

Calsa giggled again, nuzzling his neck. "You know, that's why I bashed Bezin over the head with that bucket. He said we were gay lovers."

Alt then let out a sigh. His expression was somber as he turned back to the food. Calsa blinked, startled by his sudden change. "What's the matter?"

"Bezin didn't survive his ritual," he responded flatly.

"Wha-What?" Calsa gaped. "What happened?"

Alt shrugged. "He was probably too arrogant. Thought himself so well off." Then he glanced at her. "That's why I trained you the way I did. You can't be haughty to pass the ritual. If you think yourself better than the program the Grand Master sets up for you, if you think you're better than he is, you die. It's suppose to be a humbling experience. The test is to see if you're ready in your mind, not necessarily in the body. That still takes a while."

"I was definitely humbled," she said softly.

"Don't tell me," Alt reminded her, holding up his hand. "The ritual is only for you to know. It is a lesson only for you to figure out."

She sighed sadly. "I didn't like him much, but I wouldn't have ever wanted that for him."

Alt wordlessly placed the food on a plate, offering it to her. They both sat at the table in silence for a minute before Alt decided to try and change her thoughts. "If you're feeling up for it, I have a task for you."

She looked up at him. "Oh?"

"Remember when we first landed and I made you saddle Marm?" Alt continued when she nodded. "I told you one day you'd have to break in your own tabis. Think you'd be up for something like that?"

Calsa rolled her eyes. Then she giggled. "Why do I need my own tabis? I can always ride you." She stuck her tognue out at him playfully.

He guffawed. "Do be careful. I just might make you do just that!"

Again Calsa giggled. "Make me? I'd like to see that!"

"I could always just call you a girl," he snickered.

Calsa laughed. "Wouldn't that be insulting yourself?"

Alt chuckled as he brought the food to his mouth. "I think it will take me some time to remember you've grown up."

"What? Now that you can't bait me into giving myself to you I lose my appeal?" she teased, peering at him through seductive lashes.

Alt grinned at her. "I'm sure I can still bait you. For example, I had Marm saddled in under six hours. I'd like to see you do the same."

Calsa snorted. "Why should I try so hard? I'm the one with the baby."

Alt's expression softened for a heartbeat. Then he laughed. "The first female Ha'trin and she's afraid of getting dirty. Whatever will our descendants think of that?"

Calsa glowered at him. "I was a homeless orphan. I'm not afraid of getting dirty!"

Alt shook his head as he finished his food. "I don't know. You've been quite prissy of late. You haven't even cut your hair in a while." He stood to take his dish back to the kitchen. "I think you might be turning into a lady!" He gasped mockingly, then turned away. He could feel her eyes trying to burn a hole through him.

"I am not! I can break a tabis in less time than you did!"

Alt laughed from the kitchen. "I'd have to see it. I don't believe you!"

Calsa pursed her lips. She knew Alt was goading her, but she couldn't help thinking how much it would humilate him if she, a female and pregnant, could get a tabis saddled in less time it took him. Certainly that would make sure he never thought to taunt her again.

"So?" She glanced up at Alt. He was grinning at her with that confident, mocking expression she had seen on him when they had first met. Her eyes narrowed.

"I'll show you just how little of a 'lady' I am! And you'll be sorry you ever teased me about it!" With that, she stood and stomped past him into their room.

Alt had to snicker. She was still the same old Calsa he had first met. And he loved it.

****************************

Dressed, Calsa and Alt left the house. Calsa breathed deeply of the fresh air, having been asleep inside for several days. Her body felt stiff, so when they got to the field where the tabi grazed, she used the fence to help her stretch. Marm saw her and huffed, trotting over to sniff her hair. Smiling, Calsa patted the massive beast, grabbing hold of her tusks playfully. With a loud bleat, Marm shook her head, trotting off again to graze.

"Cal!"

Calsa whipped around at hearing her name. With a squeal of glee, she rushed over to Jerako. She put her arms around him. Without hesitation, he hugged her in return, both of them laughing with joy.

"We made it, Cal!" Jerako grinned at her. "We're Ha'trin now! I knew you could do it! The first girl to do it!"

She glanced at him in surprise. "You knew?"

He still grinned at her. "I knew the moment I met you. My mother has your same hair and eyes. It's so rare, very few people know it's only girls who have it. But I knew."

Calsa smiled, hugging him tighter. "You're an amazing friend," she said into his ear.

He laughed. "So what are you doing out here?" he asked when they broke the embrace.

"Going to put Alt in his place by breaking in a tabis in less time than him." She glanced around. Alt had vanished while she had been stretching. He often went to talk with the other Ha'trin. He had friends he liked to be around, the same as she did.

Jerako chuckled. "Master Talis is having me do the same thing. Wanna make it a race?"

Calsa stuck her nose in the air, looking at him with narrow eyes. "That's not even a contest."

They both laughed, chasing after each other to the stables, where bridles and saddles and the various gear to care for the tabi was. Jerako had his rope and bridle over his shoulder before Calsa, rushing out the door with a cackle.

Calsa hurried after him, though she stood back to watch him select his tabi. Those beasts that were not already broken shied away from him. The rest snorted, ignoring him mostly. Jerako had to chase the large animals around the field a bit, trying to tire them out. If they stopped to turn on him, he bared his teeth and clapped his hands, causing the tabi to caw loudly in panic and run the length of the fence.

Calsa watched with a grin. The small herd was coming toward her. She loosened her lasso, getting ready to hook herself one of them as they went by. Carefully eyeing those in the herd, she made her selection. It was a small male, grey-blue fur, a thick brown mane, and powerful body. He pranced as he ran, showing off his fitness.

Accurately, Calsa threw her lasso. It wrapped around a tusk of the beast. Despite its size, his head was jerked to the side, forcing such a sudden stop that he flipped over onto his back with a loud caw, inciting the rest of the tabi to run faster.

Before Calsa could close in to try and subdue the animal, the tabis gained its many sharp hooves, standing with an enraged bellow. He tucked his head, pawing at the ground. His yellow eyes watched Calsa closely. Nostrils flared, head down and tusks out, the tabis charged Calsa.

Rolling out of his way, Calsa braced herself, jerking on the rope to unbalance the tabis. He fell to his knees this time, snorting and shaking his head. Lunging to his hooves, he realized that something was around his tusk. He started leaping into the air, bucking wildly and shaking his head. Gasping, Calsa had to roll away to dodge the powerful kicks.

She found it difficult to keep control of the animal. Several times it nearly tore her arms from their sockets. At last, the tabis managed to free himself from the lasso. He bellowed again, galloping off to rejoin the herd which was still skittish, trotting back and forth along the fence as they eyed Jerako trying to subdue his own catch.

With a growl, Calsa stood and chased after the herd. She had her heart set on that male. When he saw her coming toward the herd, he turned, lowering his head again and pawing the ground in warning.

*****************************************

Alt glanced out the window as he sat on the couch in Jadmisk's house. His friend chuckled. "Are you worried about her?"

"Naw," Alt shrugged. "If she wasn't tough, she never would have become Ha'trin."

Jadmisk raised a brow. "Do you remember when we were training together, that story about Silar? The only other woman in Ha'trin history?"

Alt waved his hand as if dismissing the thoughts. "Calsa's not like that. Maybe when I first brought her here, maybe then she would have fallen to such temptation of power, but not now."

Jadmisk nodded, glancing up at Alt with his bicolored eyes of purple and yellow. "I hope you're right. You were awfully fortunate that Sanlis even let her take the ritual."

Alt smiled. He glanced out the window again. "I think I might go and mock her from the sidelines. It's been six hours." Snickering, he stood.

Jadmisk laughed. "I thought so!" When Alt glanced at him quizzically, his friend continued. "You've always been luckier with the women than the rest of us, Alt. I still remember that time we finished our first mission together, those red haired twins you vanished off with. I didn't see you until the morning."

Alt growled, glaring at his friend. "I would prefer if you didn't remind me, and certainly don't go spreading that around where Calsa hears it."

Again Jadmisk snickered, shaking his head. "Lucky bastard. You know, the rest of us have to leave the village to get laid. You had your own bed warmer right here under our noses."

Now Alt bared his teeth angrily. "It wasn't like that. My goal was to make her Ha'trin. I was just as frustrated as anyone. Moreso, considering I knew she was right there."

Jadmisk raised a brow, his smile gone when he heard the sincerity in Alt's tone. "You must care about her a lot to have resisted so long."

Alt glanced at his friend before turning away to leave, pausing long enough to speak over his shoulder. "More than I've ever cared about anyone."

He strode out toward the field. He thought of his past, thought back to all the things he had done that had been so dishonorable. Indeed, what Jadmisk had said was a part of why he had brought Calsa here. He had thought a few times of repeating their first meeting, but each time he had thought it, he had been unable to bring himself to do it. She had grown on him more ways than just physically. He had no intentions of letting his past misdeeds screw it up now.

Coming around a building, Alt was surprised to see Calsa and Jerako laying out in the field together, laughing as they talked. Beside them lay two young tabi, calmly chewing mouthfuls of grass.

"So then we took his money and slipped the sausage in his pocket. Oh boy, we could hear the the butcher for blocks!" Calsa giggled.

"Oh wow, served him right!" Jerako laughed.

"Cal. Jerako."

They both sat up, looking up at Alt. He stood only a few paces from them. They had never heard him coming. Scrambling to their feet, they both held up the reins of their tabi.

"I told you," Calsa remarked smugly. "I named him 'Josmer.' How's that?"

Alt shook his head, trying not to smile and laugh and hug her close. The last two he managed, but a small smile tugged at his lips. "I think he's a fine tabis. Son of the alpha pair. Very good choice."

"You're just jealous!" Calsa giggled.

Alt laughed, turning away. "Why would I be jealous? Marm is the alpha female!"

"Oh...." Calsa glanced at Jerako. He shrugged.

Carefully, they both released their tabi from the bridles, following after Alt. Calsa drew close to him. "So? What do I get for breaking a tabis in under six hours?"

Alt grinned, glancing at her. "What made you think there was a prize?"

Calsa pursed her lips with a glare. "At least I showed you up... Altameriz."

Alt suddenly stopped, turning to her. Both she and Jerako were snickering behind their hands. He was about to ask her how she knew his full name, then he thought about it, growling. "Sanlis told you, didn't he?"

Calsa laughed, turning away. "Not telling!"

Rolling his eyes, Alt crossed his arms, waiting for the two to put away the bridles and ropes. Once they had bid fairwell to Jerako, Alt and Calsa returned to their house. They prepared an early dinner together. Happy enough to just be close, they sat on the couch together to eat.

When they were done, Calsa peered at Alt thoughtfully. He cocked a brow, looking back at her. "Something on your mind?"

"I want a rematch!" she exclaimed suddenly.

He tilted his head. "What?"

"Remember when you beat me with the broom?"

Alt guffawed, understanding her meaning. "Do you really think you could beat me just because you passed your ritual?"

There was a glint in Calsa's eyes. "I don't think you'd hit me."

"Think so?" Alt grinned sadistically. "Just because there's a chance you're carrying my kid doesn't mean that I wouldn't hesitate to put you back in your place. I think you're getting all too arrogant."

Calsa pouted. It made Alt laugh. "Fine. Rematch. Tomorrow." Then he snagged her, pulling her against him as she giggled and squealed. "But before I beat you senseless, I'd like to hold you for awhile." He lay back on the couch, holding Calsa tightly.

Giggling some more, she rested her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes. Indeed, her life long past seemed so distant from this moment. This perfect moment. This quiet before the storm.