The Fantasy Trove

Bobby completes what was supposed to be an easy first mission.

 

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Chapter 07

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Purged from Purgatory

 

Charlotte’s blue-green eyes sparkled as she took me in. From the look she gave me, she was just as surprised as I was to be meeting again.

 

“Bobby!” Charlotte grinned and quickly stepped up to me. I expected her to stop and maybe offer her hand to shake, but instead, she pulled me into a tight hug. “Kind of surprised to find you here. I figured I drained your balls pretty good a few days ago. Must be the stamina of youth, huh?”

 

My cheeks burned at her blunt words. I glanced over her shoulder and saw the Asian woman looking at me speculatively. Thank God Adam wasn’t out here to see this. I pulled back and worked to school my face to something approaching a smile.

 

“I’m just glad this meeting is starting out better than the last one,” I told her, trying for levity as I gathered my wits. I remember how angry she’d been when I accidentally took her drink at the tavern. So what’s she doing here? She can’t be the freak I came into contact with… Can she? I felt my stomach twisting in knots, but I couldn’t be sure if that was my anxiety or the pill to detect freaks.

 

Her laughter had a calming effect on me, and I found her smile infectious. I didn’t remember her laugh being so musical, but I found it soothing. Of course, it helped that my guts decided to untangle, and the discomfort passed.

 

“As I recall, the night still ended up quite well for us,” she said with a lascivious grin. “And the best part was that the world didn’t end!”

 

I couldn’t help but chuckle. Charlotte couldn’t be a freak. She was way too human that night. Isn’t there supposed to be some devil’s mark or something to identify them? “The world is still going crazy, though,” I said. “Between the bombings in Wyoming and the fr—island showing up in the Gulf of Mexico, things aren’t looking pretty.” I’d almost said the freaks showing up but remembered to watch my words. My stomach may have calmed down, but I was still on a mission.

 

“It’s terrible what happened in both places. But, I hope the survivors can find solace and peace,” she told me with a sad smile. Her sympathy was almost palpable, her voice and eyes conveying the most profound compassion for those who suffered.

 

After a moment, I saw her lips lift into a soft smile as she met my gaze, the sadness forgotten. I can still remember the way they tasted as we—I broke off that line of thinking, trying to remember Elly and Shayna waiting for me.

 

“But I’m sure you didn’t come all the way out here just to discuss the fate of the world with my old bones.” Charlotte’s sparkling eyes told me exactly what she was thinking.

 

“I hear you fishing for compliments,” I teased her, then took the bait anyway. “And you know damned well you’re not that old. You proved that well enough Wednesday night.”

 

Her returned smile showed I scored a hit. We looked at one another for a long moment, and I think I even saw her glance at my lips before returning to my eyes. Those eyes looked a little greener than I remembered, which I attributed to the lighting.

 

“Well, don’t keep me in suspense,” she mock-chided me. “Come, sit down, and let’s see what my fine establishment can do for you.” She indicated a cushioned bench as she walked over to it.

 

I followed and sat first, only to have her sit on my right close enough that her left leg touched mine. The bench was large enough for three to sit comfortably, and the black velvet was exceptionally soft.

 

“So, this is your place?” I asked, not wanting to discuss why I was really here. She looked great in her form-fitting black dress, and I was acutely aware of her smooth, bare leg touching mine.

 

“Is that a problem?” The way Charlotte quirked her eyebrow reminded me of her temper from Wednesday night. I still wasn’t sure how I managed to smooth things over, much less ending up in that hotel room with her.

 

I met her gaze easily as I thought through my answer. “Are you asking if I have any issues with the woman who gave me mind-blowing sex running a brothel? Or are you asking if I have a problem with that woman slipping out without a proper goodbye before the next morning?”

 

I watched her stern expression crack and morph into a grin as I spoke. “I still can’t read you. You seem older than your age would imply, and yet….”

 

I waited for her to finish the statement until I grew uncomfortable under her gaze. “Why did you leave?” I asked when the scrutiny became too much.

 

“I hate awkward goodbyes,” she told me with ease. “And most men your age—and as drunk as you were—probably would have woken with regrets next to a woman as mature as me.”

 

I failed at stopping the laugh that bubbled up at her words. “I admit I felt a little used, but not in a bad way. Now, as I recall, I wasn’t the only one who was wasted. Are you sure you’re not the one who would’ve had regrets?”

 

This time I’m sure her eyes dropped to my lips, then my crotch before she answered. “My only regret is that I didn’t get your information before leaving, but not from a lack of trying. I tried to wake you, but you were pretty out of it. I had to leave early, and I didn’t want you to—”

 

“If you’re going to make another comment about your age or me regretting it, then stop,” I told her, cutting her off with a bit of annoyance. She hadn’t been this hung up on the age disparity at the tavern. “I don’t regret that night.” Though I hope I didn’t knock you up, I added in my head.

 

Charlotte’s blue-green eyes turned predatory. “Oh? Then how about we give Mana over there a demonstration of what we did?” Charlotte turned to the Asian receptionist and called out, “Mana, bring us a whiskey sour for both of us.”

 

“Yes, ma’am,” the petite woman gave a slight bow and walked away.

 

I opened my mouth to protest but stopped. I initially thought I didn’t want an audience, but could I say that after Thursday night? I couldn’t deny that I’d enjoyed Al and Jolene watching me with Shayna and Elly. I noticed Charlotte watching me with those same hungry eyes, and I thought fast about what to say. “You remembered what I like to drink?”

 

Her return smile didn’t disguise the sharpness behind her eyes. “Of course I do. I may have been a little tipsy, but I remember everything from that night. Especially the way your lips tasted.” Her tongue slipped out to gently run across her lips as she gazed at me.

 

Before I had a chance to respond, Mana returned with three drinks. I wondered at the number of beverages for a moment until she sat next to me on the cushioned bench. Before I could comment on that, Charlotte’s hand slid up my inner thigh.

 

Remembering that I was here for a reason, I found my voice. “So, how does this place work, exactly? I know what I was told before coming, but how do you do it?”

 

Charlotte’s laugh was rich and throaty before she answered. “Oh, I think you’ve already proven you know how to do it.” She met my gaze for a moment before taking her drink in her free hand—the fingers of her other hand performed random designs along my thigh. Then, taking a sip, she smiled at me. “What have you heard?”

 

“Hmm, yes, do tell us,” Mana whisper-moaned into my ear. I could smell sweet cherries on her breath; she was that close.

 

“The word on campus is that you can have any fantasy fulfilled here,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “Any desire or kink can be accommodated.”

 

“We do more than accommodate,” Mana said, and I felt her fingers tracing up and down my back, but I kept my gaze on Charlotte. Despite myself, the proximity of these two attractive women had me straining the crotch of my expensive pants.

 

“We don’t do any kink,” Charlotte corrected with a wry grin. “Nothing illegal, so no snuff acts, bestiality, or contraband. But, a customer comes in, fills out a request form of what they want, and we provide the experience.”

 

I’d already gathered that much info, but I wanted to know how they did it. Charlotte couldn’t have a duplicate of every person working for her.

 

“So, if I wanted to have sex on the moon with a three-breasted elf?” I asked, forcing a chuckle.

 

“That’s a Tuesday night,” Mana laughed musically. “We have one guy come in almost once a week asking for that.”

 

“Mana,” Charlotte’s voice dropped to one of warning and rebuke. “Our client’s preferences are kept confidential. You know that.”

 

“Sorry, Mistress,” I could hear the regret in her voice, though her hands never left their task of roaming my back, nor did I take my eyes off Charlotte.

 

“Something tells me that’s not what interests you, though, Bobby,” Charlotte said, her voice returning to that sultry edge. “If I answered your question, it’d kill the magic of the experience.”

 

Did she just confess? I wondered. “So, it’s magic?” I tried to look interested in the prospect instead of disgusted.

 

“Oh, not that type of magic,” Mana giggled.

 

“Why so many questions?” Charlotte asked, and I felt my heart race, worried I was pushing too hard.

 

Thinking fast, I said the first thing that came to mind. “I prefer a more authentic experience. I don’t like being tricked. And being a gamer, I wondered if it was some type of virtual reality.”

 

“You want authentic, and you came here?” Charlotte quirked an eyebrow.

 

I realized my mistake and grabbed my drink to give me time to think. The whiskey sour was mixed perfectly, and I enjoyed the burn of it as it slid down my throat. “You know what I mean,” I said after downing the glass. “I know there’s no love to find here, but I want a real woman. Not a fake. That’s what I liked about you.” I decided to throw that last line out to change the focus of the conversation. “You weren’t pretending Wednesday night, and I found that attractive.”

 

I couldn’t tell from Charlotte’s look if she knew what I was doing, but after a few long seconds, her dark lips cracked into a smile. “That was almost smooth,” she said in an approving tone. “If you really must know, we use a combination of projectors, cosplay, and acting to fulfill our customer’s desires. Now then, why are we talking about business? You have two women here who would like to blow your mind. That is unless you’re tired of me and want to fill out a request form?”

 

“Your friend seems to be taking his time filling out his,” Mana said right before I felt her teeth graze the back of my neck. I felt my cock stiffen even more at her overt attentions despite myself. “I wonder what depraved requests he’s filling out on it?”

 

“Mana…” Charlotte warned the other woman.

 

“Sorry, Mistress,” Mana apologized, sounding thoroughly chastised. “But when I have such an attractive man before me, I only want to build him up and make him happy. I could read from his body language that he doesn’t really like the other guy, so I’m curious why he would pay so much to give him that experience.”

 

“You’ll have to forgive her,” Charlotte told me, shaking her head. “She considers herself a bit of a mentalist, reading body language and motives. I think it’s about time we put her mouth to better use, don’t you?”

Panic at her words raced through my mind, and I missed what Charlotte was getting at until I felt cool air around my groin. The milf was quick and agile as she undid my pants and fished out my thickening horn. Then she reached past me and grabbed Mana’s head, forcing her down.

 

The petite woman had just enough time to moan, “Oh, yes!” before my cock slipped past her lips. Then it was my turn to moan as Charlotte moved the other woman’s head up and down my shaft with a fistful of her black hair. I might not have been steel-rod-hard when she started, but it only took a few seconds to reach that level. From Mana’s moans and the sensation of her tongue slithering around my sensitive rim, I knew she was enjoying herself.

 

“You’ll have to forgive Mana,” Charlotte whispered as she continued to use Mana’s head to service me. “She’s relatively new and hasn’t had any clients of her own yet. I’m still training her on our procedures, but I can tell her skills are as good as advertised from how your eyelids are fluttering.”

 

I managed to let out a low moan and nod, unable to form words through the bliss of Mana’s blowjob. But, after the teasing and aborted head from Shayna that morning and being on edge all day, I wasn’t going to last long.

 

I placed my hands over Charlotte’s to hold Mana’s head down, ready to fill Mana’s mouth with my seed, but my hands were shoved off.

 

“Nuh-uh. Not so fast.” Charlotte chided me with a throaty laugh. Then, using Mana’s thick black hair, she pulled the small woman off me. Thick strands of saliva still connected her lips to my sloppy cock before snapping as her head was yanked back. “This little slut would happily slurp up all your seed, but I want some. Wednesday seems like a long time ago, and I want some more of what you’re packing.”

 

“Um, out here?” I asked, seeing how open and public this was. Anyone could walk in and see us. Mana’s oral skills were enough that I’d lost track of where I was, but with the breather offered me, I gathered my wits about me.

 

Charlotte let Mana go and pulled the top of her dress down, revealing a lacy black bra. Then, before I could think of anything to say, Mana lunged back for my cock, sucking and slurping hungrily. My eyes couldn’t decide if they wanted to admire the voracious Asian woman worshipping my manhood with her mouth, the gorgeous goth lady taking off her bra next to me, or just close and wallow in the experience. Thankfully the slight break reset my counter, and I managed to last.

 

The decision was made easier when Charlotte dropped down next to Mana, and the two women made out around my thick pole. “If you think Mana’s tongue is magical, you should know that no client has experienced her pussy yet.” Mana moaned, and I heard a sound that indicated that Charlotte was playing with that soaked pussy. “Would you like to be the one to break her in?”

 

Mana is a virgin? I dismissed that thought immediately. Of course not, you didn’t work in that business as a virgin, but it sounded like she was as pristine as one might find here. This place was all about selling an experience, and this was all a show for my benefit.

 

“Oh, I think you just got a little harder at that thought,” Charlotte chuckled as she fondled my scrotum. “Does the thought of stuffing this thick, hard cock into her young, tiny little Asian pussy turn you on?”

 

Mana moaned as she took me deep into her throat, eliciting another guttural moan from me. Before I could speak, however, the sound of a bell rang out. To my disappointment, Mana stood and hustled for the reception desk. “Sorry,” she called over her shoulder after wiping off her mouth. “Looks like your friend finally made his requests. Give me a moment, and I’ll be right back.”

 

“Don’t make that face,” Charlotte said as she stroked my length. “I’m still here for you.”

 

I looked down and smiled as our eyes met. “I remember barely holding back the other night. She’s good, but you’re better.”

 

“Flatterer,” Charlotte mock chided me, but her hungry grin gave her away.

 

I reached down and ran my fingers through her reddish-black hair. Odd that the red didn’t bother me, but perhaps it was due to her skills. Or that she couldn’t be more different from Megan. Using my hand, I guided her to my groin, but a grunt from Mana pulled my attention back to her.

 

“Sorry, it looks like he’s requesting me and quite a few other things. I’ll leave him in your capable hands, Mistress.”

 

“Looks like you won’t be experiencing her tight pussy tonight, after all,” Charlotte said, looking almost as disappointed as I felt. “Maybe the next time. But that means I get this fat, juicy cock all to myself.” She leaned in and traced her tongue from the base of my shaft to the tip, making me moan again. How did she make such a light touch feel so good?

 

Deciding that foreplay time was over, I reached down under her arms and pulled her up onto the bench. Hiking up her slender black dress, I grinned, noticing her lack of panties. Running my finger up her slim slit, I enjoyed how wet she already was.

 

“Fuck me, Bobby,” Charlotte moaned and gazed at me through heavy eyes. “Shove it in, and fuck me deep!”

 

I thought her lines were just a tad corny, but since I was about to sink my sword into her slippery sheath, I wasn’t about to complain.

 

“Oh shit!” Charlotte all but screeched while I aimed for her hole. As I prepared to skewer her, her eyes went wide, but I noticed she wasn’t looking at me.

 

Following her gaze, I glanced over my shoulder to see a man wearing a trenchcoat running in with something in his hand.

 

It’s a little warm for a trenchcoat, I thought, not even caring that my pants were down and he was interrupting me getting it on with this lovely older woman.

 

“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!” Charlotte screamed as she grabbed me and pulled me to the floor. “Get down!”

 

I moaned despite the rough treatment as she sank fully onto my length.

 

“For humanity!” the man shouted, brandishing whatever was in his hand. Before I had a moment to ponder what the hell was going on, the world went white, and all I knew was pain.

 

*    *    *    *

 

 

“What the hell?” I asked the open air, looking around. Did I just die? What happened? One moment I was deep into a hot MILF, and then there was all that pain. Next thing I know, I’m… I’m… Where the hell was I?

 

I appeared to be in a crowded lobby with cheap tiled flooring and barely any elbow room. I couldn’t see the walls or ceiling, and it was hard to hear over all the shouting and talking going on around me, but I managed to pick out one voice.

 

“Goddammit!” Charlotte’s voice pierced the din, and I looked around for her. “Mother-fucking-piece-of-shit! Not this again.” I could tell she was furious and pushed my way through the crowd towards the voice. She seemed to have an idea of what was going on.

 

“Charlotte?” I shouted out, trying to get her attention. Where did all these people come from? But, if she heard me, she didn’t respond. “Charlotte?!” At least I was on my feet and dressed again. What happened? The last thing I remember was Charlotte throwing me to the floor in a fit of passion, sinking my cock into her warm and inviting pussy, and then something happened…

 

I noticed that not everyone around me was human. I froze for a moment, terrified that I was surrounded by freaks.

 

This is a dream, I told myself. “This has to be a dream.”

 

“Afraid not, lover boy,” I heard Charlotte’s voice as a hand gripped my arm.

 

I turned to her, thankful that I’d found her, then my blood turned cold. It wasn’t Charlotte that held my arm but a demon. Tall and skinny, her reddish skin looked alien and threatening. She had two sets of horns poking from her head, two short curved spikes protruding from above her eyes at her dark hairline, and two longer ones from behind her pointed ears curling behind her head. Black hair flowed from her head like gossamer strands, framing a rounded face. Small fangs poked out from behind midnight black lips. But the most telling and frightening features were the batlike wings and long prehensile tail behind her.

 

“Demon!” I screamed and tried to pull my arm from her taloned grip. I felt her nails slice into my arms before her grip tightened. My heart hammered in my chest as I panicked. The monster refused to let me go, and I had no doubt that I was about to become the foul creature’s next meal. This was a nightmare. It had to be!

 

“Bobby, stop,” the demon said, stepping closer to me. She spoke with Charlotte’s voice, and I didn’t know if I should be more or less scared. Instead, her blue-green eyes captured mine, and I found myself being drawn in. My heart rate normalized as I calmed down. When she placed her warm, free hand on my cheek, I couldn’t remember why I was so scared. “Lover, relax. It’s me, Charlotte. I know I look different, but I mean you no harm. I never have. You trust me, right?”

 

I nodded, knowing that every word she spoke was the utter truth. Never mind the blood dripping from my arm from her talons. I trusted her with every ounce of my soul.

 

“Where are we?” I asked, fighting through the fog filling my mind.

 

“Impressive willpower,” the demonic woman said, her eyes regarding me as though considering whether I’d taste better with butter and garlic or BBQ sauce. But I knew that wasn’t in her thoughts because I trusted her. She meant me no harm, regardless of how hungrily she gazed upon me. She was trustworthy, right? “I’m going to tell you something that might worry you, but I need you to stay calm. Can you do that? Good. We were killed. Some fuckwad decided to blow up my business and us along with it. This is purgatory. It’s a lot more crowded than the last time I was here, but if you follow my lead, I can return us to the land of the living. Follow my lead, and trust me, Bobby. I’m not your enemy. Follow me.”

 

“Not… enemy… Follow…” I drooled those words out as I felt pressure on my mind. I didn’t know why it was so hard to think, but I knew that Charlotte was my friend, and I could trust her. I had a friend named Charlotte, didn’t I?

 

“I’m sorry to do this to you, Bobby, but we each need to be resurrected.” She sounded so concerned and worried that I felt terrible for making her need to apologize. Not that I knew what she was apologizing for. “I made a promise, and I won’t break it. I have to say, though, your willpower is impressive.”

 

“Okay,” was all I managed to speak as I let her drag me through the crowd. I no longer cared that there were other monsters around me. All that mattered was trusting and following my dear friend Charlotte.

 

As we walked, though, some small part of my brain that still operated normally noticed that she was getting agitated.

 

“Shit, shit, shit!” Charlotte swore as we turned this way and that. I wondered if she was lost but knew that couldn’t be true. I trusted her to do what was needed. I followed her willingly. “We don’t have time for this! Our window to get listed is too short… Where is… Oh! Sir, we need to get seen right away. It’s of the utmost urgency.”

 

“Sure it is,” a well-dressed demon glanced at us over a set of spectacles. He took in me, the devil woman, my bleeding arm, and then everyone else around us with a bored expression. “You and everyone else in the god-forsaken room. Can’t you see that we’re overloaded here?”

 

“Yes,” Charlotte said, a sweet smile spreading on her dark lips as her voice turned to honey. “But I promise that we will be quick and out of your horns.”

 

“Fuck it,” the demon cursed, shrugging his shoulders. “Not like it’ll make any difference. Follow me. The way you’re holding each other, I assume you’re a couple? Eh, it doesn’t matter. Easier to do you both anyway.”

 

The demon turned, and I was dragged after him. The whole time Charlotte never released my arm. I noticed the blood dripping from the scrapes earlier but ignored it as we entered a small room with a desk, ancient computer, and a few chairs.

 

“Now then, if you haven’t figured it out yet, you’re dead. Better to rip that band-aid off right away.” The demon spoke as though he’d said it all a million times. “Most souls are either good enough or bad enough that they automatically go to their fore-ordained afterlife. You two, however, lived a life that balanced out, or near enough. Either you never did anything truly good or evil, or you did enough of both that you reached an equilibrium. It’s my job to scrutinize your lives and determine where you should go. In the rare case that you’re perfectly balanced, you’ll be offered the chance to have your memories wiped and sent back to Earth or accept a job working here for eternity. I recommend you be reborn. This isn’t precisely Hell, but it’s not much better.”

 

“Balanced?” I managed to ask. That didn’t seem right to me, but I couldn’t think well enough to figure out why.

 

It was Charlotte who turned and answered for me. “If you think of it in terms of your Dungeons and Dragons games, we both lived a true-neutral existence.”

 

I nodded as though that made perfect sense. Of course, it didn’t, but I trusted Charlotte implicitly. Even if she looked a little strained around her eyes.

 

“Well put,” the male demon said with a nod. He regarded Charlotte for a long moment before saying, “You seem familiar. We don’t get many demons through here, even of your variety. Have we met before?”

 

“I’ve been around for a few millennia. Maybe we ran into each other before you started working here?” Charlotte shrugged, then changed the subject. “I know my friend here is curious about a friend of his that died a few days ago. Any chance you’d be sweet enough to see where she ended up?”

 

The other demon’s face shifted from curious to annoyance. “I thought you said you’d be quick? If you had any idea how much effort that takes, you wouldn’t ask.”

 

“I understand,” Charlotte nodded with a hopeful expression. “But it would offer him some solace as he moves onto whatever afterlife he’s destined for. You wouldn’t deny him one final boon, would you?”

 

“You said you would be quick,” the demon grumbled again, shaking his head. He looked at me a moment longer, then stood and walked for the door. “Stay here while I go get an index. What was the name you wanted me to find?”

 

“Thank you so much,” Charlotte gushed, then turned to me. She still held my arm firm as she looked into my eyes. “Isn’t that nice of him, Bobby? He’s going to see where Megan Raquel Myers went for her afterlife. You should thank him.” Was that sweat beading on her red skin?

 

“Thank you,” I said as a shiver ran through my body. That name meant something to me, but how did Charlotte know it?

 

“Hmph,” the demon grunted and walked out.

 

Charlotte’s demeanor changed from one of grateful appreciation to deadly serious. “Okay, Bobby. I’m going to let go of your arm now. I need you to remain calm. We only have a few minutes before we lose our window to be resurrected. Can you remain calm?”

 

I felt the pressure on my mind lessen, but I knew I could trust her. “Of course!” I grinned and nodded.

 

She held my arm and met my eyes for a few more seconds. Then she took a deep breath and rushed to the other side of the desk.

 

Soon after releasing my arm, sanity returned. It took a few seconds for my mind to sort past the fog and catch up with everything. Charlotte used those seconds to type furiously at the ancient computer.

 

The first thing I did was look at my torn and bloodied arm, wondering why it didn’t hurt, but it was whole and spotless. Had I imagined it?

 

“What the fuck?!” the words flew from my mouth, along with spittle in my sudden rage. I glared at the demon as she furiously worked the keyboard. “What did you do to me?”

“You promised to be calm,” the monster said without looking at me.

 

“To hell with calm!” I spat, literally and figuratively. “You cast some kind of mind hoodoo voodoo on me. Damn it, quit ignoring me. I asked you a question.” She muttered to herself, continuing to ignore me.

 

“Where is it…?” Her red fingers tipped with black talons flew across the keyboard, typing faster than anyone I’d ever seen. “Why can’t I find the file?”

 

I stood up to pull the keyboard away from her, but a new presence filled the room, drawing my attention away. Whoever or whatever it was, filled the room with an overpowering sense of supremacy.

 

“It’s not there because I closed that loophole,” a robust feminine voice said. The newcomer was stunning, and not from just her looks. Shoulder-length brown hair was tucked behind her ears, framing a perfect face with green eyes and full lips. Her body looked slim and quite well proportioned despite standing almost twice my height. Somehow, despite the ceiling only a few feet over my head—why was there a ceiling in here but not outside?—this woman fit in here. I felt as though I were in an M.C. Escher painting standing before her. It wasn’t her height or the weird room physics that drew my awe, but her golden glow and the sheer power I felt emanating from her. Whoever or whatever she was, I felt a nearly overwhelming urge to drop to my knees and grovel for every sin I’d ever committed.

 

“Who are—” Charlotte demanded, then cut herself off as she looked at the imposing figure. “Oh, fuck. I guess that explains it. I’m surprised you angels didn’t shut it down earlier, but then again, you never could make decisions on your own. So did the Pillar of Light finally decide to take notice of the world, or did you just get a wild hair up your shiny ass?”

 

I gaped at the darker woman. Sure, I understood that angels and demons didn’t get along, but this newcomer had some serious umpf under her belt. Light pressed in all around me, almost like a physical presence. I wanted to weep and beg for forgiveness. I wanted to cheer for joy and exultation that beings of such strength and purity existed in the world. This type of woman made men better, just by their presence. How did the demon withstand it?

 

“There has been a change in management,” the giant said. Far from being offended, the smirk gracing her lips said she was amused. “Since I took over, I’ve made several adjustments to this realm. One of the first was to stop the Paladonic Knights from resurrecting their fallen kin that managed to live a balanced life.”

 

“Shit!” The demon stomped her foot, which I just then noticed was hooved and had matching black fur from the knees down. Then her eyes grew large as she took another look at the unknown woman. “Wait, you said ‘change in management’… And the cataclysm last week… and if you made the changes… then that explains… Oh, fuck!”

 

“Ah, I miss being around someone who knows how to properly swear,” the giantess chuckled. “Of course, Lyden would have a fit listening to you. I swear, if he didn’t have multiple wives and girlfriends, I’d think he had a stick up his ass.”

 

“Will someone please clue me in to what the hell is going on?” I felt both sets of eyes fall on me, and it took every ounce of willpower I had not the shrink away. I was in too foul a mood to let them talk past me and sick of not knowing what was happening. If the demoness could get away with her attitude, so could I.

 

After a few tense seconds, the newcomer spoke in even tones. “Some men know when to keep their mouth shut and listen. But your willpower is impressive, Bobby Brody. This is good because if you were like most men, I wouldn’t have a use for you.”

 

I opened my mouth to say I was done being used, but the demon cut me off before I could.

 

“This is the Pillar of Light!” Was that panic in her voice? “You know, the God of all creation? Jehova? The beginning and the end? Alpha and Omega! He who must not be named?”

 

The giantess chuckled softly but never took her piercing gaze off me. “That last one is Voldemort, not one of the titles belonging to my predecessor. And I’m not as full of myself as she was.”

 

“She?” I asked, once again confused. Wasn’t God a man?

 

“No, that’s just what the men leading most religions want you to believe,” she said, reading my mind. Again, I felt at my chest, wishing I had my pendant. “Don’t worry, in this realm, I’m the only one who knows your thoughts. But you will want to get your talisman back as soon as you can, though it won’t be easy. You’re going to need it.”

 

“Get it back?” I heard the demoness mutter. Why did she have to sound like Charlotte? It annoyed me, because I knew it couldn’t be her. Charlotte was very much a human. Sure, she claimed she was that MILF from the tavern, but demons were known for lying. “Wait, does that mean you’re sending us back?”

 

“I’m sending Bobby back, Succubus,” the tall woman said with a slight scowl. “No matter what I may have been in my past life—or who my companions were—I hold little sympathy for demons. There are more than enough of your ilk in the world.”

 

“But I made a promise to his father to watch over him,” the demon protested. “I owed Bernard more than my life—My very soul! I can’t abandon his son.”

 

“Then you can watch over him from Heaven, as you’ve got just enough good in that soul to get you there. But if you want to stand there and argue with me, I can adjust it so you return to Hell.”

 

I watched the exchange with mixed emotions. My father had something to do with this red-skinned monster? And didn’t the giant say she was a succubus? I wouldn’t put it past my sadistic father to fool around with a demon, but why did he have to send her after me? And wasn’t he supposed to slay monsters? Not lay them. The damned bastard!

 

The large woman turned sad eyes on me. “You have much to learn and no time to learn it. Your father wasn’t who you thought he was. His soul is—”

 

The door opening cut her off, and the demon clerk from earlier bustled in, a frown on his face.

 

“Sorry for taking so long,” the demon said, looking at a document in his hands. “It took me a while to track down the name of Megan Raquel Myers. It appears she—Oh, ma’am! Please forgive me. I didn’t know—”

 

“No worries, Malconivent. I’ll handle this case personally. You may go.” The powerful lady waved her hand, and the demon vanished with a squeak. Literally, not figuratively. I would have laughed at the comedy of the event if not for something the creature had said.

 

What was that about Megan? I vaguely recalled the succubus sending the demon away on some task, and it took me a bit to remember what.

 

“Wait, did Megan make it to Heaven?” I asked, needing to know. Sure, she left me and broke my heart, but I didn’t hate her. Sheldon Lance, I hated, but not Megan. Watching her die on the holographic screen at the tavern was heartwrenching.

 

“No, she didn’t,” the woman said, and I felt my heart plummet. “She’s still tooling around after Sheldon Lance. The woman is more than a handful, and I don’t envy that man.” Her eyes narrowed, and then she chuckled. “Nor do I envy you and what you’ll be going through over the next while.”

 

“Ma’am. Pillar. Mistress!” The demoness begged for the tall woman’s attention. Her tone had changed from one of annoyance and derision to one of pleading. “Please! I will do anything. I have to watch over and protect him.”

 

“Enough!” I swear the room shook, and thunder accompanied the shout. Dust trickled from the ceiling as the lights flickered. Anger darkened the bright lady’s features as she faced the succubus. “If you’re worried about your soul oath, you must know that ended upon your death. I will not be sending you back to your own body. Speak of it again, and I will destroy your essence right here.”

 

Shock registered on the demoness’ face, and I saw her tremble. Part of me enjoyed seeing the monster put in her place, but something about the tears that started leaking from her soul-filled eyes pulled at my sympathy.

 

Then the giant turned on me, and if my heart still beat, it would have stopped. “And you need to open your mind, or you’ll be back here a lot sooner than I want and headed to Hell. This is the only time I’m resurrecting you, and it’s because I have a purpose for you. Charlotte over there did a lot more for you throughout your life than you’ll ever know. So you should be thanking her, not hating her because she’s not human.”

 

Once again, I felt my mind stutter at the revelations. The succubus was Charlotte, after all? And she really was looking out for me without my knowing? What else about my life was a lie? Was this really purgatory? Was everything I’d learned growing up wrong, or just skewed?

 

I saw the demoness’s tears grow in size as they ran from the monster’s—no, from Charlotte’s—dark eyes. Why did she care? What was this soul oath? And what the Hell was going on?

 

“I’ve wasted enough time on this. Due to my predecessor’s death, a prison holding the worst or the worst was cracked open for a time. Your ancestor escaped. Bobby, I’m laying on you a destiny that will likely get you killed again, but you’re my best hope for seeing this through. You meet the requirements for the prophecied Knight’s Son.

 

“If that wasn’t bad enough, ancient beings that decided billions of years ago to go their separate ways have picked now to return to Earth. Naturally, they won’t be happy at the shambles the universe is in. In fact, that’s probably why they’re coming back here. The rifts leading to Chaos might be gone, but those beings could be infinitely more dangerous.”

 

“Whoa, slow down!” I protested, my head spinning. “What are you talking about?”

 

“No more time. I see the perfect opportunity to send you back.” The giantess shook her head, then turned to Charlotte. “I’ll let you say goodbye and walk him to where he needs to go. Believe me when I say I understand better than you can imagine that I know what you’re going through. You must hurry, though, as you only have minutes to get to the chamber.”

 

“I don’t know what I’m going through!” I protested, trying to gain some grasp on sanity. But, unfortunately, I had too many questions—too many revelations in a short time—and not nearly enough context or answers to start understanding.

 

Charlotte didn’t care or wait for me to finish speaking before I found myself wrapped in her arms, her tears staining my neck. She was a lot stronger than I would have guessed, and I couldn’t break free from her tainted presence.

 

“Thank you,” I heard the succubus say to the other woman, but when I looked for help to escape, the giant was gone.

 

“Would you get off me!” I tried in vain to push her away. “You deceived me, lied to me, and weren’t who or what I thought you were. Let me go!”

 

I no longer feared this creature, but her touch disgusted me. She was one of the freaks. And I’d had sex with her! I needed to get away from her as soon as I could. I would need several hot baths to begin cleansing myself of her taint.

 

“No time!” Charlotte said, then to my eternal embarrassment, she scooped me into her arms and carried me from the room. She ran faster than any human could as I struggled to get free. The crowd parted for her, the ceiling too low for her to use her wings.

 

I really didn’t like that smile on her face.

 

I didn’t have time to ponder her change in mood before she dashed into another room with a large shiny metal disc on the floor. As soon as she set my feet down on it, I felt the surface vibrating, and an electric bolt shot up my legs.

 

“Just in time!” Charlotte laughed as I tried to push her off me. Her arms tightened around me, making it difficult to breathe.

 

Do I even need to breathe? I pondered as the energy intensified, traveling up my spine.

 

“Now we’ll be together forever,” Charlotte sighed and rested her head on my shoulder.

 

I don’t know if I shuddered from her words or the power as it crawled across my scalp, but as the world went white, the only thought left in my head was, Oh, fuck.

 

*    *    *    *

 

 

“It worked!” a male voice crowed in exultation as sensation rushed back into my body.

 

I groaned as every nerve ending came alive at once. Everything either hurt, tingled, or felt wrong.

 

“But why did it work this time?” another voice demanded. “Over a week of complete failures, and suddenly it works? No other stations have reported success. Hurry and get him off that table. Save the logs from that attempt, and let’s try another one, quick.”

 

I felt hands roughly grasp me, moving me. I tried to open my eyes, but intense pain shot through my head, and I blacked out.

 

 

 

 

I don’t know how long I was out, but the pain was gone when I woke up again.

 

“Easy now,” a gentle male voice said. I couldn’t be sure if it was one from earlier or new. “You’re new body is still melding with your soul. There were a few complications, but you’re the only one we were able to bring back. What is your name and rank?”

 

“Bobby…” I gasped, my throat parched and sore. I felt something press against my lips, and I drank greedily. Whatever it was, it tasted sweet. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see, and I quickly realized I had bandages over my eyes. As soon as the cup was pulled away, I felt my stomach rise, and before I could offer a warning, I spewed what little was in my stomach.

 

“Good,” the soothing voice said, patting my back. What was good about that? My throat hurt even worse now. “Now, drink this, and you should start feeling better.” I tried to shy away from it, but the man insisted, assuring me that the worst was over. Water was in the second cup, and I held it down this time.

 

A moment later, the bandages were removed from my head. It took a bit for my eyes to focus, and I was able to see a squat, balding man with a genial smile in a white robe. The sunburst symbol of the Knights stood out on his right breast.

 

“Good, good,” the man cooed as he took the empty cup from me. “Now, let’s try this again. Is Bobby short for something? Robert, perhaps? Or Bobberatheon?”

 

“Bobbera—What?” I shook my head and grunted, testing my throat before speaking again. It was still sore but manageable. “I’m Bobby Brody. I was just promoted to Carpenter before my first mission.”

 

I noticed the man scowl for a brief second before his smile returned. “Promoted before your first mission? They must have seen some true promise in you. Where were you based out of, Carpenter Brody?”

 

Suddenly, I felt wary. Why was he asking me all these questions? Who was he? He wore white robes, and I recognized the symbol of the Knights on it, but I didn’t know him. Could this be a ruse?

 

He patted my back, and his face held that same soft smile as his voice talked, calming my nerves.

 

“It’s common to be disorientated after a resurrection. I’ve known a few Knights that took a couple weeks before they could speak without drooling. Sometimes it can be challenging to grasp that you’re really alive again. But, I assure you that we will do everything to get you back on your feet and back to your unit.” He took a deep breath then asked, “Do you remember anything about your death? Do you know why you were able to be brought back? In over a week, you’re the only success. All other resurrection centers have failed.”

 

My mind played back over the mostly incomprehensible conversation, and all I could think to say was, “There seems to be a change in management. Something about closing the loophole? Not sure what that is or was.”

 

“And how did you slip through?” the man pressed.

 

I felt that wariness crawl under my skin again and shook my head. “I don’t know. Everything is a jumbled mess in my head. I can’t remember very much after the mission.”

 

“That’s okay. Not everyone returns with memories from there.” The man stood and walked to a plain-looking wooden door. “I’ll have food brought to you in a bit. Meanwhile, get some rest. Your body is still acclimatizing.”

 

He left the door open behind him, and I was glad to see I wasn’t a prisoner. Of course, I had no idea where I was. I took a moment to take in my surroundings. The room was sparsely decorated with the bed, a dresser, a desk with a small chair, and an older 2-D LCD television. The walls were painted a soft beige color with a light brown carpet. It looked more like a bedroom than a recovery room in a hospital.

 

I laid back in the bed, my head starting to throb. How did I get here? Vague memories floated through my mind, but I struggled to link them together. I had died; I knew that much. I hadn’t gone to Heaven or Hell, but some in-between place. I remembered talking to someone, something about being resurrected, and some kind of destiny or prophecy?

 

Groaning, I rolled over as the thoughts slipped from my mind. My hand moved to my bare chest, only for me to remember that I didn’t have my pendant. In fact, I was dressed only in a loose pair of boxers. I felt weird without the talisman. Even though I only recently learned what it could do, I’d worn it nonstop since childhood. My mother gave it to me, and now it was gone.

 

A soft knock on my open door roused me from my thoughts, and I looked up to see the man from earlier standing there with a tablet in his hands.

 

“Sorry to disturb you, but I was hoping to get a little more information. I requested some food to be brought in. It’s been a few days since you were resurrected, so I’m sure you’re hungry,” the squat man said as he entered and stood next to the bed. He waited for me to sit up before he spoke again. “We checked our records, and it doesn’t look like a Bobby Brody was stationed in Wyoming or around the Gulf Coast. When and where did you die?”

 

My head throbbed again, but I fought through it to answer. “I died on Sunday, I think, in California. I… I want to say someone killed me, but the memory is fuzzy. I was on a mission to investigate a brothel, but I don’t remember what happened after I got there.”

 

The man’s thin eyebrows drew together before he smirked. “A brothel, huh? Probably had your mind blown, among other things. But Sunday? Do you happen to remember which Sunday?”

 

“Which Sunday?” I asked, confused by the simple question. “How long was I dead? Have I missed any classes? Wait… It was the weekend after the bombings in Wyoming and the thing in the Gulf of Mexico.”

 

“Last weekend, then. Curious, it was after the other main events.” The man nodded and mumbled something as he typed onto his tablet. “Oh, today is Friday, so you’re aware. We successfully brought you back Tuesday at midnight or Wednesday morning, depending on how you look at it. Ah, I see you here now. Wow, you’re a brand new recruit. Odd. That explains why you don’t have a degree. And, huh… How were you made aware of the resurrection program?”

 

“I…” I rubbed my temples, a sense of panic starting to sink in. How did I know? I couldn’t remember. I decided that honesty was my best option. “I don’t know. I didn’t think it was possible until I woke up here.”

 

The man regarded me with a slight scowl for a few uncomfortable seconds. When he finally spoke, his voice had lost some of its soothing tones. “Resurrections are usually reserved for high-ranking officers and heroes. For a new recruit to be brought back, you’d have to be something special, but I don’t see anything in your file to indicate you’d be worth the expense. No offense. Of course, it doesn’t help that we haven’t been able to bring anyone other than you back since that vile land fell into the Gulf of Mexico. Did you, by chance, run into anyone else in the other realm that may have guided you? Perhaps one of them put you on the right path?”

 

“I don’t remember,” I told him honestly. “I remember hearing something about a loophole being closed, and I think I was talking to some lady? I’m not sure.” I felt awful that I couldn’t answer his questions, but I couldn’t remember, and the harder I tried, the worse my head throbbed.

 

He regarded me a few seconds longer before reaching out and gripping my wrist. I hadn’t realized I was rubbing my temples again until he stopped me.

 

“Your new body is supposed to be perfect, but as I mentioned earlier, there were a few complications.” He peeled back my eyelids, then produced a light from somewhere and flashed it in my eyes. After a second, he grunted and pulled back. “As far as we can tell, you’ve taken to your new body fine. Better than fine, in fact. Your spirit is very strong, so it should finish molding to your shape by tonight.”

 

“Molding?” I stared at him, once again confused. “What do you mean?”

 

A soft smile touched his lips, and his voice returned to the soothing one as he spoke. “Sorry, I forgot that you were unaware of all of this. Typically, Knights go through training on what to expect and what being resurrected entails. I’m not going to go into too much detail, but I’ll give you the basics.

 

“For all intents and purposes, you are now a homunculus, though of full size. A golem would be another term that almost fits. Your soul is inhabiting a construct that was designed for this. For most, it takes about a week for the blank body to change, but you almost look like your file already. That’s a good sign. It means you have a strong soul. This body will be faster, stronger, and more resilient than your previous one, but you can still die again. I used to say that we would try to bring you back if that happened, but it looks like I might be out of a job.”

 

I took that in, coming to terms with it. “So, I’m not human anymore?” I’m now a freak. I’m a fucking freak!

 

“You’re still human,” the man was quick to assure me. “Well, your soul is human, but it’s driving around a better body. I can’t go into all the details of what makes it better until you’re cleared for that information, but suffice to say that there are almost no drawbacks.”

 

“Almost no drawbacks?” I asked, a little worried, panic starting to creep in again. Am I going to grow a tail? Fangs? What kind of freak am I going to become?

 

“Oh, nothing serious,” he assured me. “You’ll need to eat a little more to support a higher metabolism. Some people require less sleep, making your days longer. You’re sterile. It’ll be harder for you to get drunk. And… oh yeah, you might find your libido has increased with this particular body blank.”

 

He delivered that whole spiel in calm, easygoing terms, and I almost missed the most important one. “I’m sterile?!”

 

The man grimaced but shrugged before answering. “There are a few reasons for that, which I can’t go into. But the short answer is we don’t want you passing on mutations to any offspring.”

 

“Mutations?” I demanded, becoming even more worried. Would I develop cat ears, or—Stop it! I ordered myself. I needed to get my emotions under control. I’d learned at a young age to control my feelings. I took a few deep breaths and noted the robed man watching me.

 

“You won’t have any mutations, and even if you somehow managed to reverse the sterilization, there’s no guarantee that there would be mutations. Oh, and everything else down there works like it should. So you’re sterile, not impotent.”

 

A short Asian woman wearing a white smock walked in carrying a covered tray. The scent of cooked meat and vegetables preceded her, and my stomach gurgled with anticipation.

 

“Well, I’ll leave you to eat. Enjoy your meals.” For some reason, the man winked before walking out.

 

To my surprise, the woman didn’t give me the tray or set it on the desk but seated herself next to me. The covered tray rested on her lap as she faced me. She was cute enough but not on the same level as Shayna or Elly. Mana was better looking, but thinking about her made me twinge inside for some reason. I picked up a light floral scent from her, but my focus was on the food under the tray. I was ravenous.

 

“This will be your first solid food, so I will feed you,” the petite woman said with a soft accent. “Sometimes recovered Knights need some assistance with coordination and using their new bodies. However, your body looks to be developing faster than normal. You must have a strong soul.”

 

Her voice turned husky as she placed her hand on my broad chest. She bit her lip as she looked into my eyes before looking away. Her fingers curled inward against my right peck as she fought something within herself and pulled away. After taking a deep breath, she pulled off the cover, and the smell of meat and vegetables nearly overwhelmed me. There was enough food there to feed three linebackers.

 

I had to slurp up sudden drool and was surprised when I felt a sting on my hand. Without realizing it, I’d reached for the food, and this lady slapped my hand to stop me.

 

“No! I will feed you,” she told me with an earnest demeanor. “It is my duty, and I will fulfill all my duties.”

 

I almost snapped that I could feed myself, but something in her eyes stopped me. Was that sadness or determination? Swallowing the buildup of saliva, I nodded and said, “Feed me, then.” I opened my mouth, waiting to be fed like an invalid.

 

The petite woman grinned as though I’d given her a present. I won’t go into details of the following few minutes except to say one thing. Despite how demeaning it felt to have an attractive woman feed me, the lady somehow made it feel erotic. I couldn’t tell if it was the way she bit her bottom lip as she placed a mouthful between my teeth or the gentle way she wiped my mouth, but I sported a powerful erection by the time she finished slowly feeding me.

 

Either I’d forgotten that I was only in a set of boxers, or my mind was wrapped up in how great the food tasted, but I was unaware of my second brain’s alertness right up until the woman set the fork down and gripped my tool in a firm grasp. Thankfully I’d swallowed the last bite, or I’d have spewed it out in my surprise.

 

“I’ve fed you,” the woman purred, bringing her lips close to mine. “Now, I think it’s time you fed me.”

 

I know I should have pushed her away or declined her advance. At the very least, I should have asked her name. However, something about her touch sent my sex drive into high gear. Despite having eaten more in one sitting than ever before, I became ravenous for something else.

 

With a groan that was equal parts hunger and desire, my lips mashed against hers, with enough force to cause bruising, I pushed her back on the bed and crawled over her. She didn’t release my horn throughout the maneuver, managing to stroke my length the whole time.

 

My tongue slipped between her lips, tasting her as my right hand slid up to cup her modest breast over her white top.

 

“Wait!” she gasped, pushing against my chest. She was stronger than I gave her small frame credit for, and I found myself on my back, confused.

 

“What’s wrong?” I asked, taking in her heavy breathing and the flush to her cheeks.

 

“We shouldn’t do this,” she gasped, holding her hand against her chest. Her eyes roamed across my body, lingering on the bulge within my boxers. I heard her breathing hitch, and then she shook herself, standing up. “I was only supposed to feed you and ensure your body is developing. Not go all… I really shouldn’t.”

 

I moved to my feet but didn’t block her exit. “Why not?”

 

Her eyes drank me in as her breathing increased. I marveled at the details I was able to notice. All of my senses seemed enhanced. I could make out each individual strand of her black hair, and I could almost swear I heard her pounding heart. I even smelled her arousal, but not in a bad way. Instead, she smelled clean and excited. Was this one of the side effects the man mentioned? I didn’t want to push her, but I could also tell that she wanted this as much as I did. Some portion of my brain knew that I should let her go, but my throbbing erection demanded satisfaction.

 

I remembered the wink the older Knight gave me and wondered if this was some sort of game or test? Was I supposed to seduce her or be a gentleman and give her free reign?

 

“I…” her breathless voice came out with a slight stutter.

 

“Yes?” I asked, stepping closer and leaning down to nuzzle her neck. He’d told me my libido would be increased, and I couldn’t deny that it was leading my actions.

 

“Please,” she gasped, half protest and half plea.

 

“Please—” I nibbled lightly on her neck for a second, enjoying the sound of her soft moan. “—what?”

 

“Oh, we shouldn’t,” she said, but her arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me tighter to her lithe body.

 

“We should,” I argued, pulling my face away enough to look into her eyes. My right hand cupped her chin as her eyelids fluttered. My left hand pressed on her lower back, and she was short enough that my groin pressed against her stomach.

 

“But…” she tried once more to protest, but I could see she’d given in. She needed one final push to admit it out loud.

 

The tip of my nose brushed hers as I drew our faces closer. “I want you,” I said in a firm tone, feeling her shudder at my words. “I want to feel your skin next to mine. I want to hear you moan as I fill you up, making you gasp and beg for more. I want to see what cute faces you make as you cum with me inside you. But first, I want you on your knees.”

 

“What are you doing to me?” She shook in my arms for a second, then kissed me fiercely. This time it was her tongue that ventured out to meet mine, and I accepted it in with a hungry growl.

 

The kiss was short-lived, though, as she followed my request and dropped to her knees. She pulled down my boxers, and I grinned at the shock on her face. She compared my girth to her wrist before taking me in her dainty hand.

 

“They really built this body well,” she cooed as her electric touch sent tingles through my body. “I’d heard this one was reserved for the top brass, but you somehow ended up in it. Oh, wow. I don’t think I could fit this in my little pussy. I hope you’re okay with just my mouth. We really shouldn’t go further than that. I shouldn’t even go this far, but—”

 

“Then get to it,” I commanded, wondering if she would really stop at that. She was putty in my hands, and I could tell she wanted this as much as I did. I didn’t care if this was a test or not. Every touch of hers sent lightning to the pit of my stomach and back down to my scrotum.

 

She gave me a wicked grin, then leaned forward to lick up my shaft. “As you wish,” she said before opening her tiny mouth wide and taking my tip in.

 

My knees nearly buckled at how great that felt. It was like I was experiencing it for the first time. I guess the body was even if my mind wasn’t. I gripped the sides of her head as I steadied myself, but instead of pausing, she swirled her tongue around the sensitive ridge, eliciting nonstop moans from me. She felt so good. Too good, in fact.

 

“Hold on, stop.” I was the one protesting this time, but instead, she gripped my thighs and forced me deeper into her mouth. I had enough time to grunt before I felt her throat stretching around my girth. I was done. My fingers tangled in her hair as I unloaded into her throat. My knees finally gave out from the bliss, and somehow she managed to keep onto me as I went down to the floor.

 

I had to pull her off when I became too sensitive. “My turn,” I growled as I pulled her on top of me.

 

“No, we can’t go all the way,” she claimed, but I ignored her.

 

I rolled us over on the floor, then shifted to lift her into my arms. She was petite and weighed almost nothing as I stood and carried her to the bed. Either this body was stronger than my old one, or there was less to her than appeared.

 

“Please, I don’t want to get in trouble,” she said as I laid her down, but she started removing her top, giving the lie to her claims. “We can fool around, but I can’t go all the way.”

 

She was taking too long to get undressed, so I leaned down, gripped the hem of her pants, and yanked them down. She squeaked and giggled as I took in her nudity. She hadn’t been wearing a bra, and now I could tell she wasn’t wearing panties either. She had a slim black landing strip above her glistening quim, and she looked up at me with hungry eyes.

 

I couldn’t help but wonder if her protests were an act. No underwear, that hungry look, and her wanton behavior led me to believe otherwise. She was no shy virgin, that’s for sure.

 

“Be gentle,” she whined as I moved between her legs. I realized I was hard again—or maybe I’d never gone soft?—and I debated on taking her right then but shifted course. Planting my lips on her smooth stomach, I kissed my way south. Her scent was a heady mix of arousal, floral soap, and something that burned the back of my nose but made me want more. “It’s been a very long time since—Oh!”

 

I nipped lightly at her outer labia before sinking my teeth in a little more where her tender thigh met her groin. She bucked at the sensation, but the way her fingers curled in my hair urged me on. I pointed the tip of my tongue at her hole, then licked up her slit, swirling it around her clitoris but avoiding direct contact.

 

“More,” she pleaded with me, using her hands in an effort to get me at her magic button. “Please, I want more!”

 

I wanted to tease her, but I was getting impatient to get her off. I wanted to give her at least as much pleasure as she’d given me. So I slipped one finger from my left hand into her tight hole at the same time as I sucked hard on her clit, making her scream out as she came. I couldn’t believe how hard she squeezed my digit as I tried to pump it in and out of her, or how easily I’d gotten her off. She squirmed on the small bed as I continued my assault on her cunny. Finally, I slid my right hand up her body to play with her left nipple.

 

“Fuck, fuck, shit!” she cried out, thrashing as she soaked my hand. I curled my finger inside her to rub against her front wall, and apparently, that was too much. Small though she might be, she was strong and managed to push me off her. “Damn, I haven’t cum like that in… I can’t remember,” she gasped.

 

“What’s your name?” I asked with a self-satisfied smirk. At that moment, I felt powerful, like nothing could stop me. Despite what she might say, I knew I could have her in every way.

 

“Why?” She asked, then bit her lip with her own smirk as she glanced at my hardness. “Want to know what name to scream out as I’m emptying your balls again?”

 

“I thought you said we shouldn’t go any further,” I teased her.

 

That hungry looked returned as she tapped her chin with one finger. “This has already gone beyond what I’m supposed to do, but…. There are things we can still do without going too far,” she said, then pounced on me. My bed was small enough that my head hung over the bottom, but the way she wiggled against my length sent shivers through me.

 

“Like this,” she purred as she slid her soaked pussy up and down my length. “Doesn’t this feel so good? So close to breaking the rules. Ungh… All it would take is one little slip, and you would be deep inside me. But we can’t do that… Oh, fuck… No, we can’t. I’m not allowed to go all the way with resurrections… The rules forbid it. Only… allowed to… fuuuccckkkkk… Allowed to get you off with my hands and mouth.”

 

I placed my hands on her small but firm breasts, thumbing her nipples as I spoke. “But you’re using more than your hands and mouth right now,” I told her, my voice mocking her resolve. I remembered how she’d balked at even using that at first. How malleable were these rules, or were they all a game?

 

“Just—Oh!—a little bending of the rules… You’re not actually inside my tight, wet, empty cunt.” Her words and cute little reactions every time she bumped her clit along my length had me more rigid than steel. I wanted desperately to plunge deep into her but managed to find enough willpower to hold back. I knew she would let me, but I wanted to see how far she’d go on her own.

 

“Just a little bending,” I agreed as I moved in counterpoint against her. The feeling of her slippery lips sliding up and down my shaft felt divine. My tip bumped against her clit again, and she froze before she readjusted herself closer to my base.

 

“Careful,” she chided me, but the only heat in her voice was that of desire. “That almost went in… We can’t do… We shouldn’t do that.” Despite her words, she increased her pace.

 

I tweaked her nipples again, enjoying the squeak that popped from her throat. Her eyelids fluttered, and she planted her palms against my chest as another orgasm coursed through her. I wanted desperately to thrust into her, to ravish and claim her as mine. All it would take is a quick shift of my hips and then a thrust….

 

“Damn it,” she grunted, opening her eyes and looking deep into mine. She remained motionless as she gathered her thoughts. “Why can’t I get enough of you? I ache to feel you in me. I know I shouldn’t, but I want it so bad… Maybe if I can get you to cum again, that’ll be enough.” Her hips started moving again, faster and with more force. “Then… unh… I can be a good girl and—Oh, fuck! You almost went in again. But we can’t. I want to, but I can’t… I shouldn’t… I want you so bad, Bobby.”

 

I kept my mouth shut, not wanting to interrupt her. Even if this was all a charade, it had me harder than any time I could remember. I continued playing with her nipples, letting her work through this while trying my hardest not to cum again. I couldn’t believe how much sensation I was feeling. I didn’t even dare move my hips this time.

 

Her movements became erratic as she drove herself to higher and greater ecstasy. We had more close calls as I continually bumped against her clit or opening, making her moan and squeal each time. She kept muttering to herself, trying to convince her mind to either walk away or go all the way.

 

I felt energized, knowing that I was having this effect on her.  Nothing stokes a man’s ego more than seeing a woman lose control over him.

 

Without warning, she froze, and I thought she was in the throes of another orgasm. Her eyes met mine, and the hunger I saw there would have scared me if I didn’t feel so powerful at that moment. Her hand snaked down her sweating body to her clit. She started rubbing the magic nub while biting that lip again.

 

“I can’t… I won’t… I shouldn’t.” She repeated over and over again, without blinking or looking away from me. “Maybe if I just rub you against my entrance… That’s not breaking the rules.”

 

“Just bending them,” I agreed, moving my hips ever so slightly.

 

“Oh!” She gasped before fondling the end of my cock and rubbing it against her slit. Her pussy grool coated my cock and scrotum, puddling above my pelvis. “I’m so close. One more orgasm. Just one more, and then I’ll be good.”

 

I chose that moment to pinch her nipples. Hard.

 

The wail that escaped as her body locked up was music to my ears. There was no way anyone else in the house didn’t hear it, but I couldn’t care.

 

I realized she held me right at her opening. In fact, her inner labia were tight against my mushroom tip. I doubted she was a virgin—still possible based on whatever rules she had to follow—but I hadn’t felt a hymen when fingering her. Was she saving herself for a First Knight event? What would happen if I took her right there? Would she—?

 

“I can see you want this as much as I do… Oh, you’re so delicious and cute. Fuck it!” I heard her say, interrupting my thoughts as she made her decision. She pushed back and down on me, managing to take only a couple of inches before stopping. Despite how wet she was, her canal was incredibly tight. Not even Shayna or Elly was this tight with our first coupling.

 

Thoughts of my wives snapped me out of the lust-crazed fog filling my brain. Were they mourning me? What were they going through while I fooled around with this stranger? For a moment, I had the crazy idea that they’d be disappointed in me. Then I remembered how they acted after telling them about my mission, and I knew they wouldn’t be angry. Hell, Shayna even gave me an aborted BJ before I left. Still, I would need to call them as soon as I could. Why hadn’t I thought about them before now?

 

“No, right now, you’re mine,” the Asian woman growled, bringing my mind back to the present as she gripped my chin and met my eyes. I opened my mouth to say something, I don’t know what, but she didn’t give me a chance. “You’re so much bigger than I realized. Fuck the rules because I’m going to fuck you into oblivion. I’ve been good, but it’s been so long!”

 

I’d thought I’d wanted this only moments before, but the hunger in her eyes was frightening. She shifted her hips, taking me a little deeper, and then I didn’t care about any rules either.  My chest rumbled with a hungry growl as I gripped her hips and thrust my pelvis, sinking even deeper into her hot embrace.

 

“Yes!” the woman threw her head back and crowed.

 

If she liked that, she’d like this next move even more. My right arm snaked around her back as I sat up a bit, causing me to slip out a little. Still, as I pulled her tight against me and latched my teeth onto her turgid nipple, and came back down, I sank nearly halfway into her. My tongue swirled around the rubbery nub between my lips as I sucked hard enough to leave a hickey. Almost half her breast stretched my jaw as she swiveled her hips against me.

 

“Oh, that’s it,” she cooed and pulled my head tighter to her breast. “I’m going to drain you dry. Who cares about the consequences when it feels this good? I deserve this. It’s been so long since I last gave myself to someone like this. Those little tarts they feed me are nothing compared to this bliss.”

 

Her words went in one ear and out the other. As I felt my climax approaching, my cum boiling and begging for release, all I cared about was getting off. If she wanted to keep fucking me, who was I to argue?

 

I heard a loud bang but couldn’t see anything past the delicious tits before me. I was almost all the way inside her now; just a few more strokes, and we’d be complete.

 

“No, no!” I heard her shout. “I’m almost there.”

 

“Mft trr.” I tried to say ‘Me too,’ but her breast muffled my words. Toes curling, I prepared for a powerful orgasm. I felt the tingle in the back of my nut sack work its way up, ready to baste her insides with my sticky cream.

 

Suddenly, the woman pulled off me, my mouth making a loud pop as it left her breast. I had enough time to notice my teeth marks as men hauled her away. My orgasm was too close, though, and my back arched as I shot thick wads into the open air.

 

“That was close, Sir,” someone said as I tried to catch my breath. “A couple more seconds, and we would have lost him.”

 

“What’s going on?” I asked as I sat up, not caring about my nudity as I tried to catch my breath, and my head swam with the aftereffects of a powerful orgasm. I had no idea what they were all doing in there or why they’d almost ruined my climax, but the looks on their faces said something serious was up.

 

The older man that I’d seen when first waking up injected something into the thrashing woman’s arm, and she calmed, her head drooping with a sloppy smile painting her lips. She started a sing-song chant to herself that I couldn’t make out, but at least she seemed happy.

 

“Over fifty years, she’s behaved,” the man said, shaking his head. “Not even a close call. I guess we’re going to have to get someone else to train up the next generation of girls until she gets him out of her system.”

 

“Fifty years?” I asked, looking at the petite woman. She didn’t look older than twenty. Or was that her Asian heritage?

 

“She’s half oni and much older than any of us,” the man said as he approached the bed. I didn’t see the needle until it was too late. Despite the slight sting in my arm, my eyelids grew too heavy to keep up. “Never mind any of that, though. Once we have word from higher on what to do with you, you’ll become someone else’s problem.”

 

More may have been said after that, but I was too preoccupied with visiting my vast tracks of property in La-La Land.

 

 

*    *    *    *

 

1072 A.D.

 

Ardin hauled on the rope as rain pelted his skin. This was the type of storm that would have had his village sheltering and praying for safety on land. Instead, at sea, it felt far worse.

 

Lightning split the dark sky, leaving molten white lines as it spidered from horizon to horizon. Somebody yelled orders to him as he tied off the rope, but he couldn’t make out their voice over the creaking of the ship’s sails or even their face in the dim light of the storm.

 

Fear set his heart racing that he wouldn’t make it back to his wife and that his children would grow up without their father, but he shoved it down. Fingering the slick medallion at his neck with one hand, he gripped the rail of the ship with the other.

 

Was that a face in the waves? Again, lightning flashed, and this time he was sure, except that he didn’t want to believe. The man he saw silhouetted in the storm-tossed waves was far too large. His broad naked chest shimmered in the flashing white light. A golden trident shone in his massive hands, nearly as big as this vessel. But the most disturbing thing about him was his smile as he stared back at Ardin.

 

“Neptune,” Suralin said, his hand landing on Ardin’s shoulder. Suralin was another man paying for passage by working on the ship. The man made the gesture of the cross on his chest, and Ardin followed suit.

 

He didn’t know who Neptune was but hoped that the demon would leave them be. He needed to obtain the fruit his wife claimed would keep their children safe. Venita told him that the last remaining Ambrosia rested in a pagan temple, and there was just enough for the four of them.

 

He wasn’t comfortable stealing, especially from a temple, but this was a pagan temple to some false goddess. Would it really count? Considering it was to save the lives of good, honest Christians, he was confident that God would forgive him.

 

Ardin turned to see if anything else required securing. His eyes grew large as his body froze. A wave towered over the ship. He’d never seen one so large, nor could he have ever imagined that they could grow to that size.

 

Ardin turned to warn Suralin but saw the man scrambling for the hatch to belowdecks. He tried to follow, but the deck canted, throwing Ardin to the slick wood surface. He scrabbled to grab something—anything—but as the ship continued to tilt, he knew he was done for.

 

A split moment existed where Ardin felt free and weightless. Then, time seemed to stop as even the rain held still in front of him. Time lurched back into motion as the frigid sea swallowed him.

 

He attempted to offer a prayer to Heaven for his soul, but saltwater filled his mouth, making him gasp and swallow. Closing his eyes, Ardin hoped that the prayer in his heart and desire for his wife to remain safe would somehow reach his Heavenly Father. He also wished to repent for failing God, Venita, and his unborn children.

 

Something wrapped around his torso, making Ardin gasp again as he opened his eyes. This time, air filled his lungs, and he coughed as his chest burned. Something warm and wet touched his chest over the medallion Venita gave him. A growl deeper than the loudest thunder rumbled nearby.

 

“Benedicite maledicentibus vobis, Venerem,” a voice boomed, though Ardin didn’t understand the language. It sounded the same as the priests when they chanted to God, but he wasn’t worthy of understanding the tongue.

 

With the dim light and the salty water dripping down his face, Ardin struggled to see. His efforts were all but futile as the rain drenched him faster than he could wipe it away. He couldn’t even block it as it came from every direction. Giving up, he reached down and felt something slimy and thick. He imagined the sailor’s stories of giant sea monsters with multiple arms, dragging him to a toothy maw. He had no desire to find out how being eaten alive felt.

 

One of the first things the sailors taught him when they set out was to carry more than one knife. He couldn’t get to the ones on his hip or either ankle, but the one in his forearm sheath was fair game. It took him a moment to grip the soaked handle and rip it free. A moment that he was confident that every breath would be his last.

 

Gripping the small hilt with both hands, he brought it down hard on whatever had him. The blade wasn’t long, designed to cut him free if he got tangled in ropes, but it was sharp. Heart racing, he stabbed again and again, but the creature tightened its hold, if anything.

 

“Oh, great and Heavenly father, who dost dwell in Heaven and guide our destinies,” Ardin cried out to the darkened sky, praying for respite. “Please guide my hand and free your humble servant from this beast. I beseech thee, oh Lord, do not let my children grow up without their father. Guide me to safety, and if it is your will, my life will be ever devoted to you.”

 

“Oh, great,” that thunderous voice sighed with the power of a hurricane. “You’re one of them. The things I do for my ex-lovers. You’d better sleep until you reach land. Don’t want you spouting more nonsense. Tell Venus she owes me.”

 

Ardin struggled to understand what the words meant but figured that it must be due to God’s benevolence if he were being saved. Before he had time to ponder more, darkness swallowed him whole.

 

====================

From the Author

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First off, I'm sorry for the delay in this chapter. The time around the holidays is always hectic with little time to write or edit.  Which means the next chapter will likely take a bit as I try to get caught up in all my real-life efforts,

Anyway, I'm excited to see what you think about this chapter. There are a lot more revelations to come in the next two that I'm hoping no one has predicted. Please leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts.

Bobby

Shayna

Elly

Charlotte