The Fantasy Trove

“For the record, I still say this is a bad idea,” Shelly’s brother complained.

“You’ve said that already,” she reminded him. Shelly didn’t add that she wasn’t enthusiastic about the plan either. “I’m sure Marchosias isn’t as bad as he once was.”

They were winging their way over Water’s domain. The rain pelted them but didn’t affect the huge birds. The same couldn’t be said about their miserable riders. Nothing could be seen in all directions but blue water and gray sky. They had to yell to be heard while riding the two rocs, but the wind and rain wasn’t bad enough to make hearing too difficult.

“You don’t believe that anymore than I do,” Gloria yelled. She was holding onto Eldon, while Jessica sat behind Shelly. “Demons don’t change. At least, not very often. I ought to know.”

She didn’t qualify that statement, and Shelly chose not to press it. They all had their secrets.

“I don’t trust her,” Jessica muttered in her ear. “But I agree with Eldon about this plan. Isn’t there a better escape route than going through the human world?”

“That’s the closest portal,” Shelly said. “Unless you know of another one that’ll be closer to Varun’s castle?” No response came. “Or some better way to escape Varun once we have Aunt Brooke?”

“What about the birds?” she pressed. “Why can’t they take us out?”

“We’ll need to be out of Varun’s domain as soon as possible. The rocs are fast, but not fast enough to escape the Pillar of Water in his demesne or his wrath.”

“What about the demon?” Jessica pressed. “Can he really be trusted?”

“Can any demon?” Shelly shot back.

That shut the other woman up. The plan wasn’t perfect, no plan ever was, but it was the best one they had. Actually, it was the only one they had after hours of arguing about the best course of action.

Marchosias’s island came into view a few minutes later. It wasn’t large as far as islands went, maybe a couple kilometers across at its widest point, narrowing slightly in an ovoid shape. Trees grew thick on its surface. The center rose up in a gentle hill. Shelly knew that Marchosias’s cave and home was under that hill. Or maybe she should think of it as his lair.

It was also where the Cyclopes worked.

Their rides landed on the beach. The four companions were soaked to the bone from the incessant rain falling all around them. She ordered her roc to head for home and dry off, wishing she could go with the majestic bird. If it was possible, they became wetter as both birds flapped their wings, sending water off in all directions before they took to the air.

“Hey Shelly! Hey Sheldon!”

Shelly tried to hide her grimace as she turned to the new voice. It wasn’t that she didn’t like her brother/sister. Not exactly. She never felt comfortable around this sibling. She never knew whether to think of him/her as Brock or Bridget. It didn’t help that Brooke’s child could change gender at will. At least he/she was confined to the water, never able to leave for more than a few seconds.

“Hey, Brock!” Eldon waived. She knew he was just as uncomfortable with this sibling, but he played it off better. “I thought we were meeting up with you after we talked to Marchosias.”

“Areth said you’d be here,” Brock said. At least he was staying one gender. “Are we really going to go save my mom? I couldn’t do anything when they came to get her, but with your help I’m going to make them pay!”

“Areth?” Eldon groaned. “She’s here?” He glanced around as if expecting an attack at any moment.

“Someone has to keep an eye on you four,” the pixie tittered. She flew down from the tree line and joined them. “I remember what happened the last time Jessica and Eldon got together. Are you two going to do any more perverted stuff?” She didn’t even try to hide her excitement at the idea.

“Not likely,” Jessica said in a cold tone at the same time Eldon said, “I doubt it.”

The tension between those two grew by the moment. For her part, Shelly didn’t know how she felt about Jessica and her brother getting back together. When they’d fooled around at the fairy spring, she didn’t have any intention of doing more. Afterwards, as they’d talked on the way home, she found she got along with the other woman.

“Was it really a good idea to send you with us?” Shelly asked. She’d heard stories about Areth and the demon Marchosias. Bringing her along didn’t seem like the best idea.

Areth tittered as she fluttered about in the rain. Despite her only being four inches tall, the rain didn’t bother the fairy at all. It had to help that her element was water. “That’s the best part! Lyden doesn’t know. You won’t tell him, will you?” Areth flew to within a couple inches of Shelly’s face. She had to go cross-eyed to look at the winged woman. “Please!”

“Go home, Areth,” Shelly said in an even tone. It wouldn’t do to insult or upset her, but she was more likely to cause problems than to be of any help.

“Uh-uh,” Areth stated, placing her hands on her hips. “I’m a responsible adult. Besides, it might be fun!”

Shelly was about to argue further, but Brock interrupted. “Stop fighting you two. My mom is down there and we need to go get her. What does it matter if Areth comes along?”

Because having a fairy on your side can be as dangerous as having a dragon with a toothache watching your back. You never know what they’ll do next, she thought, but chose not to say. By the look in Eldon’s eyes, he wanted to say much the same, but for once he kept his mouth shut.

“Let’s just get this over with,” Shelly said after a couple seconds of tense silence.

Everyone nodded with her statement, and they headed towards Marchosias’s cave entrance. Dad told her where to find the shortcut into his cave, but when they arrived—without Brock, thankfully—it was nowhere to be seen. What they did find was a sign, pointing them to the main entrance.

“I guess he wants us to do things the hard way,” Eldon grimaced as he spoke.

“Um, are you sure we can’t just blast our way through?” Areth asked. She sounded uncharacteristically nervous. Shelly had never seen her aunt act anything other than curious and jubilant. To see her act this way made her nervous.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, trying to keep her voice level.

“Wrong?” Areth squeaked. “Nothing’s wrong. Why should anything be wrong? Brooke is in trouble. That’s it! I mean, that’s all. We should take the fastest way in so we can go save Brooke.”

“I’m sure Marchosias wouldn’t appreciate us breaking through his walls to get to him,” Gloria said, giving the fairy a doubtful look. “Besides, how helpful do you think he’ll be if we anger him?”

“But there are Cyclopes the other way!” Areth whined. “It’s not that I’m scared, or anything, but there is only one man here, and I’d hate to see any of you delicate women disturbed by those horrendous creatures.”

“That’s mighty altruistic of you,” Gloria said with a twitch of her lips. She wasn’t buying this act any more than Shelly was. “I’ll have to tell you some time about when I tried to seduce one of those horrendous beasts during the Trojan War.”

“You did?” Areth asked, shuddering and giggling with girlish delight at the same time. Areth landed on the succubus’s shoulder.

“Not my favorite day, I’ll tell you!” Gloria laughed as she started walking back to the beach. “He didn’t have much tact and smelled worse than an ogre’s armpit. What’s worse, with only the one eye, he had no depth perception. He’d go to grab my breast and either miss, or it felt like he was shoving them into my spine. You don’t even want to know about the fiasco when he tried to enter me. It’s a good thing succubae are resilient. As it was, I didn’t walk straight for a week!”

Shelly noticed Jessica glaring as Gloria spoke, and wondered again what her deal with the succubae was. It was obvious she detested them, but refused to say why. She hoped it wouldn’t become an issue on this mission. They needed to work together to rescue Brooke.

They entered the cave as Gloria continued to regale Areth with her sordid past. Shelly glanced at her brother, wondering if hearing this from his latest lover would bother him, but he was being a typical male, more interested in the sex than the fact that it was his lover’s past. Some of Gloria’s stories couldn’t be true. She even claimed to have seduced the Pillar of Darkness! Just how old was she?

They heard the hammers and raucous sounds of the Cyclopes at work after they’d walked a decent length into the cave. A hush fell on them, no one daring to speak. Shelly wondered how the Cyclopes would hear anything over their own cacophony, but her father warned them not to make a peep if they had to enter this way.

She glanced nervously over at Areth, but the tiny woman had somehow fallen asleep on Gloria’s shoulder. Gloria saw her looking and winked while placing a finger over her lips. Shelly laughed silently as they continued walking.

The next thing she noticed was the heat. The temperature was starting to rise into an uncomfortable level. She soon saw why. An opening in the side of the cavern revealed the tall, ugly, one-eyed monstrosities as they worked. Hammers lifted in thick hairy arms, only to come crashing down on white hot metal. The Cyclopes weren’t even using gloves to handle the hot metal, often using their meaty fingers to shape their creations.

Shelly didn’t realize she’d stopped to watch until Jessica tugged her arm to get her moving again. It was almost hypnotic, the way they worked, heating the metal, then pulling it out and either banging on it, or using their hands to shape it, and then shoving it back into the fires to heat it to a searing white color. Most of these items would never leave this cave. Only the Cyclopes would use them, but those that did make it away would sell for a high price. There was a healthy black market for such items on Earth.

The cave began to cool after that point, until they were almost shivering, though Shelly knew the cave was plenty warm. There was just that much of a difference between where the Cyclopes worked and Marchosias’s portion of the cave.

They knew when they’d entered the demon’s domain, as softly glowing white orbs dotted the walls. They’d been warned about this as well. The glowing balls of light were traps, set by the demon to catch the unwary. Touch one, and you were stuck to it until the demon released you, or you cut off the appendage keeping you fixed to the light.

They came to a large wooden door blocking their progress.

“I guess we knock,” Jessica said. The sudden voice was startling, considering no one had spoken since they passed the Cyclopes.

Areth sat up and stretched on Gloria’s shoulder, looking around in confusion. “How’d we get here?” she half mumbled, still trying to wake up.

“Most of us walked,” Eldon said with a grin. “Though there was one freeloader who insisted on taking a nap and making the rest of us do all the hard work.” He winked at Gloria, and she adopted his teasing tones.

“Next time I’m charging a ferrying fee. No free rides with me, young lady!”

“I’ll bet she’s given more than her fair share of free rides,” Jessica whispered in Shelly’s ear. Shelly found humor in the comment, but didn’t think Gloria deserved the rude remark. Thus far, Gloria had been the perfect companion, helping where needed and hardly complaining. The last couldn’t be said about Jessica.

To avoid saying anything in response, Shelly stepped up and knocked on the door. They waited, but nothing happened. Shelly knocked again, harder this time and the door creaked open.

“Hello?” Shelly called, sticking her head into the room. Her heart thumped in her chest and her hands grew slick with sweat. She didn’t see anyone. “Mr. Marchosias, sir? We need your help.”

Silence was her only answer. Where was he? Her dad had acted as though the demon always knew what happened in his area. He should know that they were coming for his aid, so where was he?

She took a cautious step inside, followed by her companions. The room was stuffy and crowded, despite its large size.

“Creepy,” Jessica muttered, looking around. Shelly felt the woman’s hand slip into hers. She didn’t want to admit to herself how thankful she was the feel Jessica’s firm grip, or the sweat in her hand also. She wasn’t the only nervous person here.

“Ooh, pretty!” Areth cooed, zipping past Shelly.

“Areth! No!” she shouted, but it was too late. One of the glowing trap balls sat on a table in the middle of the room. Areth shot straight for it before anyone could stop her.

As soon as the golden fairy’s hands came into contact with the light, it flared to a brilliant, blinding white. Shelly had to cover her eyes, or risk being blinded.

After a couple seconds, the light dimmed and Shelly dropped her hands to look around. Where the light had been, now stood a tall, powerfully built man. His strong jaw and sharp eyes fit within a face that was nothing short of perfection. If his body had been carved from marble, it wouldn’t look more chiseled. Where some men could be called handsome, or rugged, this man was gorgeous. The only flaw was Areth’s hands stuck to his cheeks.

Marchosias puffed, blowing out the side of his mouth and the fairy tumbled through the air, righting herself before striking the wall.

“You never learn, Arethusa,” Marchosias laughed. Even his laughter sounded perfect, resonating from deep within his chest. He turned to look at all of them, and a small frown marred his otherwise perfect features. Shelly got the distinct impression that if she ever had cause to see him angry, it would mean her death. “Forgive me for not being there in person, but your father and I have never been on the best of terms. While I have no fear of you, I don’t care to anger your father by destroying you.” His eyes glanced around the room, taking them all in, until they land on Gloria. “Lilly! Long time no see. I believe it was during the American Civil War. You were playing the part of a southern belle, and I was a Northern Yankee.”

“It has been a while, Mark,” Gloria smiled, “but I go by Gloria now.”

“Right,” Marchosias nodded, “I might have heard something about that. Well, it’s still good to see you. There aren’t many out there that are up to your caliber. Anyway, I’m sure you’re not here for a reunion, and I would like to return home as soon as possible. What is it I can do for you today?”

Shelly didn’t know if she liked the fact that Gloria and Marchosias had a history together, and from the way Eldon was glaring, he didn’t either. It didn’t bother her that Gloria had changed her name. She knew that many ancient creatures did that from time to time for various reasons.

“Brooke was kidnapped and we need a way to enter Varun’s demesne to rescue her,” Jessica said, stepping forward to face the demon.

“Ah, the prodigal daughter. Forgive me, but I don’t see why you of all people care?” The remark was said off hand, but Jessica stepped back as though slapped, releasing Shelly’s hand in the process.

“Because she was asked to by my father, Demon,” Eldon stepped forward to defend Jessica.

Shelly shook her head at her brother’s foolishness. If he understood women better, he’d know that the last thing Jessica wanted was to be defended. Though, glancing at the woman, Shelly was surprised to see a slight smile on her lips as she regarded Eldon. The smile slipped a moment later, and she shoved Shelly’s brother to the side.

“I don’t need you defending me,” Jessica turned on him. She squared her shoulders and faced Marchosias again. “Whether I care or not is no concern of yours. I was asked to come along, and I’m choosing to do so for my own reasons. Now, can you help us or not?”

A rumble came from the demon’s chest. It took Shelly a moment to realize that Marchosias was chuckling. “You have no secrets from me, little one. I see you for what you are, though you refuse to do so yourself. Yes, I will help you, though it’s not out of the goodness of my own heart. Lord Varun has become increasingly difficult to deal with lately. I can’t get involved directly, you understand, but if some thieves were to enter my domain while I’m away, steal a few potions, and leave—without touching anything else!—I can’t be blamed, now can I?”

Before anyone could answer, Marchosias shrunk back down into the glowing sphere.

“So pretty!” Areth squealed as she zipped across the room.

“Not this time!” Shelly snatched the fairy out of the air by her feet before she could touch the sphere again. She couldn’t be sure, but she thought she heard the orb chuckle.

“Drat!” Areth cursed as she tried to free her dainty feet.

“Well, that’s all well and good,” Jessica groused as she glared at the globe, “but how are we to know which potions we’re to steal?”

“Oh, I know!” Areth piped up. “I was there when Lyden needed it last time. You see, he needed my help because he’s colorblind and didn’t know which potion was purple… or was it blue? Anyway, he needed my help, so I know which potion to grab.”

Shelly released the fairy and she zipped to one side of the room where a door was visible only because that portion of the wall wasn’t cluttered. Eldon opened it for her and everyone followed her inside.

“It was right back here last time,” the fairy chattered as she zipped about what appeared to be some sort of storage closet. Various objects littered the room, from small skeletons—including a tiny hand— to gold coins, to half a cup of mold. Shelly noticed a sword in the ancient Japanese style that look very similar to paintings she’d seen of her father’s blade, Murasame, except the blade was dull gray instead of striped with black and chrome. “Hmm, let’s see. It’s been what… twenty years? Now was it the blue potion, or the purple? I was rather distracted at the time, because Lyden had just done something very perverted to me, and I—“

“I don’t want to hear about that,” Eldon snapped as he joined her in the back of the room. When Shelly joined them, she saw three neat rows of glasses filled with various colored liquids, all with stoppers on top.

“Which color is it?” Jessica asked. Her eyebrows were knit together with concern as she looked at the prospects before her. Shelly remembered what Marchosias had said to Jessica earlier, and wondered again what secrets she held. They each held their own, but Shelly was becoming concerned that there were perhaps too many secrets in this group.

“Purple! Yes, yes. Definitely… or was it blue?” Areth replied as she tapped on her chin.

“What happens if we drink the wrong one?” Jessica asked. She looked worried, and Shelly couldn’t blame her. She was the only one that would need to drink the potion. Sheldon could transform into a mermaid, having acquired that form years ago, and Shelly could become a sword for him, having no need to breathe. Gloria was a succubus and could become anyone’s fantasy. Well, Areth might have to drink it as well, unless they could convince her to stay behind.

“You’ll probably die a horrible death,” Gloria responded to Jessica’s question as though discussing what they were having for lunch.

Jessica glared at the succubus, but Gloria ignored her.

“The blue one,” Shelly said, remembering something she’d heard years ago. Dad liked to recall some of his stories, though she didn’t remember him mentioning doing anything “perverted” with Areth at the time. She suspected he’d edited it for her sake.

“Are you sure?” Jessica asked. Shelly couldn’t remember seeing the woman look so vulnerable.

“Absolutely,” Shelly replied, trying to put on her best smile. At least, she was fairly certain.

“I’ll trust you,” Jessica said, as though saying she wouldn’t trust anyone else there.

“Blue it is!” Eldon grabbed the two blue vials and they left the closet. Shelly was all too happy to get out of there. She couldn’t help but sigh as they stepped through Marchosias’s front door.

They hiked their way out until they could hear the hammers clanging again.

“No, not again!” Areth screeched and zipped past Shelly’s head.

Jessica was fast enough to catch her before she got too far away, and hauled her back. Areth fought frantically to get away, but Jessica hummed gently to her, until her struggles ceased and a few moments later, Areth was snoring in the woman’s hands.

“What’s wrong with her?” Eldon asked as he looked at the four-inch fairy.

“She had a traumatic experience with the Cyclopes once before,” Gloria said softly. “They didn’t take her maidenhead, but were very rough with her otherwise.”

Jessica cradled the fairy against her breast as they started walking again.

“You shouldn’t poke around her thoughts,” Jessica sneered. “It’s rude.”

Eldon gave her an odd glance, but Gloria just shrugged. “When someone shouts their thoughts like she did, there’s no way I could miss them.”

Jessica opened her mouth to say something else, but Shelly placed her hand on the other woman’s shoulder. Jessica glanced at her before turning away and walking ahead of them.

They reached the cave entrance without any further incidents and walked down to the beach. Bridget was there playing tag with a grindylow.

“You changed,” Eldon commented, looking as happy about it as Shelly felt.

“Yeah,” Bridget grinned. “I didn’t want to be outnumbered by women like Eldon is, so I changed.” Her hair had gone from Brock’s brown, to Bridget’s red to match her mother’s.

“I wish you wouldn’t have,” Eldon muttered, though it was too quiet for Bridget to hear.

Looking around, Shelly realized that her brother was the only male there. Any guy’s best dream, if more than half the women weren’t related to him.

“Did you get what you needed?” Bridget asked, hope filling her voice. “Did Marchosias have the potion you need?”

“We got it,” Eldon said, patting his pocket.

“Got… wha—“ Areth muttered as she yawned and woke up.

“Welcome back,” Gloria said with a grin.

“Back? Did I go somewhere?” Areth looked around, confused and dazed.

“That’s not important,” Eldon said as he handed her a vial. “Drink this, so we can go save Aunt Brooke.”

Eldon handed the other vial to Jessica, who immediately downed it. Within seconds, she began gasping, choking on the air.

Eldon slapped Areth’s vial out of her hands before she could drink it. It sailed through the air and shattered on a rock jutting out of the sand on the beach.

“Hey! What was that for?” Areth yelled. “I’m not into getting slapped around, young man.”

Eldon pointed to where Gloria was trying to help Jessica, but to no avail. Gloria was behind Jessica, trying to give her the Heimlich maneuver, but the other woman started turning blue.

“Well, duh!” Areth spat with her tiny fists on her hips. “The potion lets you breathe water, but it means you can’t breathe air. Get her in the water and she’ll be fine.”

Gloria must have seen the thoughts in Areth’s head as she was already dragging Jessica to the water. She heaved and Jessica splashed into the water a few feet out from shore. Shelly didn’t realize how strong the succubus was until that moment. A few seconds later, Jessica poked her head up and waved to them. She tried to speak, but gagged as water spewed from her throat. She dropped back down until her nose was under the water and gave them a thumbs-up.

Areth fluttered over to where the vial had shattered and looked down at the broken glass forlornly. “Now I can’t go with you,” she pouted.

Shelly wouldn’t admit it out loud, but she was secretly relieved the fairy would be staying behind. “Sorry,” she told Areth. “Why don’t you go back to dad and let him know what’s happening. I’m sure he’d love to do perverted things to you.” She twinged inwardly at that last statement. She knew her dad had sex, but that didn’t mean she liked to think about it.

“You think?” Areth’s mood brightened, switching from sadness to joy as fast as only a fairy could. When Shelly nodded, Areth zoomed off into the rain before another word could be said.

“Time to get wet!” Bridget called, splashing them with her tail.

“Do you want me to be a sword or spear?” she asked, turning to her brother.

“A spear might be too long to maneuver in the water,” he said after a brief deliberation. “Maybe go with a long dagger.”

She closed her eyes and felt her body shrink down to match the image of a dagger she’d touched a few years ago that she thought was pretty. It had a long thin blade that gleamed like silver, and a golden hilt with a blue sapphire set in the base of the hilt.

She felt her brother grasp her hilt a moment before water surrounded her. She allowed herself to see through the sapphire as Eldon swam towards Jessica.

“Were you just going to leave me on the beach?” Gloria asked, sounding cross as she swam up to them. Shelly could tell that she wasn’t really angry by the gleam in her eyes, but she doubted her brother could read the other woman as well. Not that it mattered though. Gloria had chosen to become a mermaid entirely, with not a stitch of clothing. Her grapefruit sized breasts hung full and round in the buoyant water, her nipples hard and pointing right at Eldon. Gloria was beautiful in this form, as she seemed to be in every form. Shelly felt a little jealous of the other woman, but tamped it down. They weren’t competing against each other.

“Sorry,” Eldon muttered, looking right at Gloria’s chest. Could he be any more obvious? “I’m glad Shelly was thinking enough to help you change forms.”

“I don’t need help,” Gloria smiled. “I’m old enough to change on my own whenever or however I want.”

Shelly once again wondered how old Gloria was. As far as she knew, only the oldest of the old succubae could do that.

“Mom’s not going to get any freer the longer we wait,” Bridget commented. She was naked from the waist up too, but at least Eldon wasn’t looking at her.

They followed her half sister deeper into the water. It grew darker, but Shelly had no problem with being able to see. It also grew colder.

“It’s getting close to nipple level seven down here,” Eldon muttered.

Pervert! Shelly thought. She could speak, but it wasn’t worth the effort. Was sex all men thought about?

“Mom says it didn’t use to be this cold, but after dad froze Varun, he’s kept it like this to remind himself that he isn’t invincible, and to make sure no one else will be able to draw the energy from the water and do it again,” Bridget said. Shelly noticed that her sister didn’t seem to be suffering from the cold.

After a little while, Shelly realized that it was growing light again. She noticed an old grizzled grindylow approaching them. Bridget saw it too and swam out to meet it. She swam back a moment later, grinning.

“Everyone, this is—“ she made a noise in her throat that sounded like a cross between a choke and a gurgle. It made Shelly’s nonexistent throat hurt just thinking about saying it. “But you can call him Gurgle if you want. He knows where mom is.

The small green tentacled creature swam over to Sheldon and looked him up and down.

“It is a great honor to meet you.” Its voice was definitely masculine. “Your father was a great hero.”

“Was?” Eldon asked, confused. “Do you know him?”

“No,” the creature looked terribly sad. “My great, great grandfather helped him out when your father came to rescue the Great Brooke last time.”

Shelly looked at the wizened and small creature, and wondered how old his great, great-grandfather could be, until she recalled how short grindylow’s life spans were. In the twenty years since her father defeated the Outsider, three generations of grindylows had come and gone. For them to revere her father so much meant that he’d made quite the impression on them.

“Can you get us safely to Brooke?” Shelly asked, wanting to get this mission over with. The creature swam backwards in alarm.

“A talking sword?” it screeched. “You must be powerful indeed, if you own one of those!”

“I’m not—“ Shelly said at the same time Eldon protested, “She’s not—“ They both cut off at the same time. Eldon looked at her, before shaking his head. “She’s not really a sword,” he continued. “This is my sister.”

“You’re related to a sword?” The poor thing asked, confused. “I had heard that the Great Lyden did some strange things, but how did he manage to mate with a sword?”

Shelly noticed that both Jessica and Gloria were laughing behind their hands. She couldn’t blame them. The little creature was funny in its own way, but they had more important things to do.

“Can we just get this over with?” she called out.

“Yes,” Bridget agreed. “Mom needs us!”

The grindylow gave Shelly one last look before turning and swimming for Varun’s city. It was still cold when they stopped outside the top of a tall tower but she was getting used to it.

“She’s not in a dungeon?” Eldon asked. “Isn’t that where dad rescued her last time?”

“No,” the grindylow said. He bowed as he spoke with reverence to Eldon. “She is being guarded in this tower. Lord Varun can see it at any time he is in court.”

Shelly looked down at the courtyard far below. As far up as they were, she could easily make out the imposing figure of a massive seahorse. Lord Varun, Pillar of Water and Lord of the Seas, was in court.

“How are we going to get her out of here?” Jessica asked. She was looking below as well and didn’t look happy.

“We stick to the plan,” Eldon said. He swung Shelly through the air as though she were a normal blade. She knew her brother was trying to act tough and unafraid for the ladies.

“How do we stay ahead of the Pillar of Water, though?” Gloria asked.

“We will distract him so you can get away,” the grindylow commented.

“We?” Shelly asked, but the small creature was already swimming away. Small dots formed in the water and swam towards their new friend. A swarm of grindylows formed up and dove for Varun.

“Let’s move!” Shelly shouted and vibrated in her brother’s hand.

They shook off their shock at what had to be a suicide mission and swam for the tower. Three guards swam outside a window set high in the edifice. They braced to meet the coming threat. Gloria had outpaced them all, and she transformed into a massive shark, swallowing one in a single bite. The succubus spat out a sword as the other two guards swam back to back.

Water rushed by as Shelly was brought to bear against the spear of a topless merman. For a couple moments, she lost track of what was going on as her brother wielded her. Water rushed by her smooth metal surface, jerking to a halt as she met with their opponent’s blocks. Sudden warmth blossomed around her, but vanished almost as fast as she was plunged into the merman’s chest.

Eldon wiped the cooling blood from her surface, and she was able to look around again. Two mermen sank through the water, dead. Jessica swam down and gripped one of the dead mermen’s swords before rejoining them.

Eldon swam through the window into a dimly lit room. It was empty.

“Was this a trap?” Shelly asked. There were no other doors or windows to this room, but it was the one the grindylow pointed them to, and it had been guarded.

“No,” Gloria spoke up while she tried to pick something from her teeth. She must have changed back to a mermaid after the fight. “She’s hidden behind an illusion.” Eldon’s girlfriend was scary. Shelly was thankful that the succubus was on their side.

“How do you know that?” Eldon asked, though Shelly had already figured it out.

“Because I can hear her thoughts on how happy she is to see all of us. Her mouth is gagged… and… yes, she’s over here.” Gloria swam forward and into the opposite wall. Only it wasn’t a wall. The succubus disappeared for a moment, and then reappeared with an attractive redheaded mermaid in her arms.

Eldon used Shelly’s sharp edge to cut her bonds as Gloria pulled the gag from her mouth.

“Mom!” Bridget yelled as she swam forward and hugged her mother.

“I’m so glad you’re safe,” Brooke cried, “but you shouldn’t have come. Varun won’t let me go that easily.”

“It’s an honor to meet you,” Jessica said, swimming forward. “We have a plan to get you out, but we’d better leave now.”

“That’s not going to happen,” a deep voice informed them. They turned to see a large merman, bigger than any Shelly had ever seen before, blocking their escape through the window. He had a long white beard and in his hands was a golden trident.

“That’s the guy that took mom,” Bridget screamed. That went far to explain how Brooke was taken in the first place. Brooke was known for her prowess with a blade, and Shelly had wondered how Brooke could have been taken against her will. This powerful merman exuded power and strength. He almost made Marchosias look weak.

“Poseidon,” Brooke groaned. “Why are you helping Varun?”

Poseidon? Shelly thought. The ancient Greek god of the sea is working with the Pillar of Water? That doesn’t bode well.

”It doesn’t matter,” Poseidon spoke. His massive barrel chest poked out and he pointed his trident at those in the room. “By order of the Pillar of Water, I sentence you all to death. Lyden Snow’s pain will be great when he learns that three of his children and one of his wives are dead.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Gloria swam forward to stand before the merman god.

“Who do…” Poseidon’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the succubus. “Aphro—no, I’ve heard you changed your name again.”

“I go by Gloria these days, Posy. Now step aside.”

“Do you really think you’re still strong enough to fight me?” the god asked.

Shelly wasn’t sure what was going on. She’d already figured out that Gloria was ancient, but who was she really? Poseidon had been about to call her Aphrodite, if she didn’t miss her guess, but hadn’t Marchosias called her Lilly?

“I am older than you,” Gloria intoned to Poseidon. “There are still more out there that worship what I represent, than they do you. Especially now that Earth knows of our world. Can you feel the weakness of years of neglect soaking into your ancient bones? I can’t. Don’t test me.” The look in Gloria’s eyes, or her tone of voice should have been warning enough, but Poseidon was a typical man and oblivious to his danger.

“Why are you with these mortals?” Poseidon didn’t like being challenged.

None of those ‘mortals’ spoke, letting the two powerful gods face one another.

Gloria smiled and glanced at Eldon. “I happen to find one of them to be rather cute and brave.” She faced Poseidon once again and Shelly realized that the succubus was gently glowing. “Brooke has earned my respect, though I think she’s a little too attractive for her own good. I sense great events occurring around these mortals, and this time I’ll be a part of them. I won’t sit out what’s to come.”

“You always were capricious.” Poseidon shook his head, but his trident never wavered. “I don’t care to fight you, but I can’t let the mermaid go. Varun wants her for his own purposes.”

“I don’t remember you being one of his boot-lickers. Or is it his tail you’re licking?” Gloria laughed as Poseidon grimaced and his face burned red. Shelly didn’t feel it was a good idea to anger the god, but she wasn’t in a position to chastise the ancient goddess.

“Varun is dying,” Poseidon said. His voice was deep and sonorous. “He has promised I will replace him when he goes.”

Stunned silence filled the tower room. One of the Pillars was dying? That… That…

“That’s impossible!” Gloria yelled. Her face was ashen and some of her glow had dimmed. “He is one of the Firsts. He can’t die!”

“So was TanaVesta and Fujin.” Poseidon’s voice had dropped an octave and it vibrated the very water around them.

“That traitor was killed for her crimes,” Gloria replied. Shelly saw that she was shaking, bothered by the revelation. “And Fujin died because of TanaVesta and the Outsider. Who is killing Varun?”

She didn’t know what Gloria meant by Varun being one of the Firsts. She knew of a number of beings that were immortal. They couldn’t die naturally, but could be killed if you knew how.

“The same person who killed TanaVesta. He mortally wounded Varun. It has taken years, but Varun has grown weak thanks to Lyden Snow, the so-called hero of the Chaos War. Have you not noticed the temperature of the water? Varun is no longer strong enough to manage his own realm. I will be the next Pillar.” Poseidon didn’t wait for a response before charging forward.

A golden magic girdle formed around Gloria’s waist. Shelly was certain that Gloria was about to die, impaled on the sea god’s weapon.

“No!” Eldon shouted, and dove for his lover, leading with Shelly in front.

“Stay,” Gloria turned to face the twins as she calmly spoke that single word.

Something washed over Shelly. Some power worked its way into her mind, and she had no desire to disobey this woman. How could she? Gloria was the most beautiful creature she’d ever seen. She would do anything for her. She knew her brother was under the same spell, but didn’t care. All that mattered was doing Gloria’s will.

They watched as Poseidon’s trident glanced off the impenetrable girdle, causing their mistress no harm.

“Come now, Posy,” Gloria’s voice was softer than silk as it caressed Shelly’s senses. “You don’t really want to fight me, do you?”

Poseidon shook, and Shelly noted that his face was turning red. “That won’t work on me, Aphrodite! I will become the next Pillar of Water, and I will stop you from taking Brooke from this tower.”

Gloria pouted, and Shelly thought it was the most glorious pout she’d ever seen. “Well, that’ll make things more difficult.” She turned to face the others in the room. “As soon as you can get by, leave. Get Brooke out of here. I will catch up when I can.”

There wasn’t a chance Shelly would disobey her mistress. She would do anything Gloria asked. Anything!

A long blade the color of pearl formed in Gloria’s hands. She met Poseidon’s next thrust with it and turned it aside.

Shelly split her attention between the window and her mistress. Gloria fenced with the sea god, slowly moving him away from the window. As soon as there was a large enough gap, Eldon carried her out into the open water.

None of them looked back, charging for Marchosias’s island and the portal to Earth. They had an order to follow, and none of them could disobey.

They were soon flanked by a group of Grindylows, but Shelly hardly noticed. Her mistress had commanded that they leave her and save Brooke. That’s all that mattered.

If they were attacked on their way out, the Grindylows must have taken care of it. She could sense her brother’s body weakening as he continued to swim, pushing himself for all he was worth. In the end, they had to be towed back to the island by the Grindylows. All of them, with the exception of Shelly, were beyond exhausted from the hard-paced swim.

Shelly wished that she could help in some way, but she couldn’t change into a boat, or a motor to move them. Those objects were too complex, with too many moving parts. Instead, she remained on her brother’s back as their small allies brought them to the surface. Small hands and tentacles projected them through the air and rain and through the portal to the Bermuda Triangle.

Before they went through, Shelly heard someone start gagging.

* * * *

Blackness swallowed them whole as they passed through the barrier between worlds. Shelly heard gagging sounds, muffled through the water, but couldn’t make out who it was. She couldn’t see anything.

“Oh, no!” Brooke’s voice sounded weary but concerned. “You used Marchosias’s potion to breathe underwater, right? I don’t think it works in this realm. We have to get her to the surface!”

Shelly tried to look around, but she couldn’t tell up from down. They were supposed to be at the bottom of the Bermuda Triangle. If that was the case, then they’d never make it to the surface before Jessica drowned.

“This way,” Brock’s voice pierced the darkness. When had he/she changed back?

“We’ll never make it,” Shelly said as she felt them start moving in the water again.

Jessica’s choking sounds grew weaker.

Shelly noticed a light above them. Were they getting close to the surface already? It seemed too dim to be sunlight filtered through the water. What time was it here? It was always impossible to know what time it would be when you traversed between worlds.

No, that wasn’t one light, it was two. In fact, it looked like headlights. Shelly cursed herself for forgetting this part of the plan. The stress of the mission must have worn on her, to have forgotten that simple detail. The Orange Bubble was waiting for them. It must have sensed their distress and come down to meet them.

Jessica was no longer choking when the old Volkswagen Beatle turned on its side and opened the door closest to them. Air remained trapped inside the large interior of the car. Somehow, none of the furniture inside moved. In fact, as Sheldon carried Shelly through the opening, gravity changed and she felt herself pressed against her brother’s back.

She wasted no time in changing back to her normal form and hauled Eldon inside. She hadn’t had to swim the distance away from Brooke’s tower and was fully rested. She pulled Jessica out of Brock’s grip and rolled her onto her back. She felt for a pulse but didn’t find it.

She wasn’t breathing. Eldon groaned as he crawled further into the car and Shelly started chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth.

Brooke joined her a moment later, taking over the chest compressions. After a few more tense moments, Jessica coughed up half a lake’s worth of water. Shelly rolled her onto her side and looked around to take stock.

Eldon was sprawled out on the floor. He still had his shirt on, but nothing below the waist. At least he’s on his stomach so no one else has to see his deformity, she thought.

Her brother was the only one wearing any clothing. Brooke had changed her tail into two slim pale legs, and her son’s head bobbed through the still open door. It looked odd to see the wall of water covering the door sideways.

Gloria, or Aphrodite, or whatever her name really was had saved them, and they’d abandoned her. It didn’t matter that they really didn’t have a choice in the matter. Part of her mind still felt the last vestiges of Gloria’s power. She shuddered to think how strong the woman must be, to so completely compel them to her will. No wonder the Greek Aphrodite had been revered as such a powerful love goddess.

Jessica groaned as she tried to prop herself up.

“You should rest,” Shelly said, trying to push her back down. She was too weak to fight and let Shelly press her back.

“What time is it here?” Jessica’s voice was barely above a whisper.

“Late,” Brooke said. “Sometime at night. We should all get some rest. Brock, son, come in and rest in the fountain over there.”

Jessica sat upright, fear pulsing behind her eyes as Brock crawled his way into the car and the door closed. “Late? How late?” she demanded, strength returning to her voice. “Is it past midnight, or before? We can’t be here when it changes.”

“I don’t know,” Shelly tried to calm her. “Let me go find out. What happens at midnight?”

“I—you don’t want to know,” Jessica shuddered.

Shelly moved to the front of the car and pulled out one of the cell phones. She turned it on and waited for it to power on.

“Nine fifty-eight,” Shelly called back. “Looks like it’s before midnight.”

Jessica relaxed a little. “We have a couple hours, then. How close is the next portal?”

“I think there’s one in Florida. With the Orange Bubble, it shouldn’t take more than an hour to get there,” Eldon sat up. He looked down at his nude body and limped into the back of the car where clothes were kept.

Shelly realized she ought to get dressed as well and walked back.

“Did your phone update to this time zone?” Brooke asked. “It should be a couple hours behind Atlantic time.”

Shelly looked at the phone again and frowned. She noticed movement at the door to the Orange Bubble, but ignored it for now. “Probably not. I don’t have any service down here. I guess it’s really…” She trailed off as the clock ticked to ten o’clock, meaning it was now midnight here.

The mood in the car changed. Shelly found her mind start to cloud as the temperature rose. Or was that just her body temperature rising? She felt flushed as heat suffused her, further clouding her mind.

Something trickled down her leg. She felt so… saucy. She couldn’t think of a better term for it. She took a step forward and tried to brace herself against the bed as her head spun and she lost her balance. Her bare skin tingled. She hadn’t been able to start getting dressed yet.

Someone groaned nearby. Shelly looked up to see a naked man on the other side of the bed. His cock was standing fully upright, though it was twisted and misshapen. Why did he look so familiar? Why couldn’t she think? Why couldn’t she look away from his manhood?

The sight of that cock sent a thrill down to her core. Her nipples hardened as she continued to stare, unable to look away. The man groaned again, and she tore her eyes away long enough to see that the man was looking at her. There was undisguised hunger in that gaze. Hunger for her. Fear and desire rushed through her in equal parts. This man wanted her in the most primal of ways. As her pussy continued to leak, all she could think about was getting this man’s huge cock into her.

She heard someone giggle. Despite the veritable stream that felt as though it was running from her sex, she felt something wasn’t right. If only she could think clearly enough to figure out what it was. The giggle sounded again, and she looked over. A very attractive redhead was looking at some fishboy lying in a fountain. She had a smile on her face, and he… he had a massive hard on in his hands as he looked back at her.

“What’s happening?” another woman asked, holding her head. She seemed to be just as groggy as Shelly felt, but was fighting it off better. “Something’s not… not… My body is on fire. I haven’t felt this horny since… Why can’t I think?”

Another woman cackled. Despite the flush of desire running rampant through her body, that laughter sent chills through Shelly.

“Relax succubus. Let it happen.” When had the succubus shown up? Shelly couldn’t identify the woman that spoke. Her long silver hair flowed down a slender back, ending above a set of perfectly round buns. She jutted her chest out, proudly displaying larger breasts that defied gravity in their firmness. “You can’t fight what you are. You can’t fight what your body wants.” She walked over to the other woman and cupped the succubus’s face in her hand.

“Oh, damn. What’s happening to me? I—I need…”

“Shh,” the unknown woman cooed. She was slightly shorter than the succubus and had to get up on her toes to bring their lips together.

All fight left the taller woman as she flung her arms around the stranger and kissed her back with passion.

Shelly stepped forward, wanting to join in the fun, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her. That touch sent lightning into her stomach. Desire. Fear. Want. Need. A hollow pit formed between her legs that demanded her attention. It demanded to be played with and filled.

She turned to face the man with the amazing cock. That cock would fill the emptiness. It would fill the hollowness between her legs, even if she doubted it would fit in her tiny hole. It would sate all the emotions ravaging her psyche. But something was wrong. It was right there. She knew she wanted it, but she hesitated.

Do it, the thought intruded into her mind. The only thought that came through clearly. Perhaps it just needed some preparation.

She dropped to her knees. Her hand moved of its own volition as it gripped the man at his base. She pulled on him and he stepped forward. Her hand guided him to her mouth. She had to stretch her lips wide to get past the head. Pain in her lips told her to stop, but her hand forced him on. She wanted—no, needed—this.

With an almost audible pop, his head entered her mouth accompanied by a guttural moan from the man. A thrill went through her as she realized he was enjoying her mouth. She was enjoying his rod stretching her lips, and the taste of his precum as it leaked out onto her tongue.

He tried to move his hips back, but her free hand shot out and gripped his hard muscled ass. She used both hands to pull him forward. She had to breathe through her nose, but she managed to get another couple inches into her mouth. By the Pillars! This man is a monster!

She used her tongue to swirl around the head, eliciting more sounds of desire and pleasure from him. Carefully, she brought her teeth down, grazing the skin as she pulled back. She felt his hands on the back of her head, urging himself back in. She would have smiled if she could, but her lips couldn’t form the proper shape with such a delicious piece of meat in her mouth. Her jaw ached, but it was a good ache.

To reward him for his desire, she sucked hard while pressing and rubbing her tongue against the sensitive underside of his cock.

He erupted with a loud groan. Her mouth filled with his seed. It was slimy and salty, but there was no place for it to go but down her throat. She swallowed load after load, and still he kept cumming. Just when she thought she was going to drown, he finally stopped.

Her jaw was sore as she pulled her face off him, but it was a mark of how well she’d done. There was an errant drop of semen poking out of the prick’s single eye. She used the tip of her tongue to clean it up, resulting in a grunt from the man.

Why had she thought there was something wrong about this? Everything felt right. Well, almost everything. She still felt that hollow ache in her nether region. The man hadn’t grown soft. He would make the perfect key to her dripping lock.

There was no hesitation left in her as she stood up and shoved him back. The backs of his legs struck the bed and he fell. He didn’t complain as she climbed on the bed with her back to him and straddled his stomach.

A moan reminded her that she wasn’t the only person in the car. The redhead was in the fountain getting plowed from behind by Fishboy while they lay on their sides, his thick cock making squelching noises as he churned the woman’s cream into a frothy mess. The other two women were locked into a sixty-nine position, hungrily lapping at the other’s pussy.

She looked back at the couple in the fountain, at the look of complete abandon and contentment on the woman’s face as the Fishboy filled her up. She wanted that feeling, and knew how to get it.

Reaching between her spread legs, she grabbed the massive twisted phallus and aimed it for her cunt. She slid her body down until the head came into contact with her nether lips. She gasped at the sudden and intense orgasm that rippled from that contact. She’d never cum from so little stimulation before, but it only made her want more. The orgasm lubed her up, preparing her body for the pleasures to come.

She used her grip to rub him against her slit, lubing him up and delaying the end of her orgasm. When she felt it start to ebb, she used her powerful legs to move forward, impaling herself on the monster cock.

A wail of exquisite agony escaped her parted lips as he stretched her to the point of breaking. She’d never felt anything so large down there. Looking down at her poor sex, she gaped as she realized that she’d only taken a couple inches inside.

His hands landed on her waist and tried to force more inside. What happens when you fill a balloon with too much air? That’s how she felt as another inch slipped between her soaked labia. But instead of pain, she had another orgasm. This one washed through her body, making her toes curl and her nipples harden even more. Why had she chosen to face this direction? If she turned around, maybe the man would play with them? But then she couldn’t watch the others in the room.

She chose to lean back, grab the man’s hands and move them up to her underappreciated tits. He began to roll her nipples between his fingers as he thrust upwards with his cock. Her stomach felt distended as he somehow crammed more and more of his twisted rod inside her, but she didn’t care. She no longer felt empty or hollow inside. She felt deliciously, wickedly, sensuously full.

She turned her attention back to the others. The silver haired woman was looking right at her, her gray eyes flashing as she cried out in orgasmic bliss. She smiled, showing slightly larger than normal canines. Shelly thought she should be afraid of those teeth, but also wondered what it would feel like to have them nibbling on her clit.

That thought sent her over the edge again—she’d never cum so fast or as often in her life—and she clamped down on the steel rod splitting her in two. The man grunted and she felt a new fire fill her up, spreading from somewhere behind her navel and filling her with a wonderful warmth. She didn’t want to get pregnant, and so wasn’t worried about that coming to pass.

Fishboy started grunting in rhythm to his thrusts, and the redhead let out another wail of passion as he unloaded into her.

I wonder what their combined juices tastes like? she wondered. She pulled herself off the man below her, wanting to find the answer to that question. For a moment she felt free air up inside her, before her stretched muscles could close again. She walked—or it felt more like waddling—over to the other couple in the fountain and dropped her face to where the two were still connected as they lie on their sides.

She poked her tongue out, tasting the cream that leaked around Fishboy’s prick. Salty, but mixed with sweet. She wanted more. She pulled the cock out of the other woman and took a couple moments cleaning him off with her mouth, making sure to get every bit. She was disappointed when she couldn’t find any more, but then remembered where she could get some.

Ignoring the water that splashed around her, she dove into the redhead’s crotch, sucking the churned cream from the woman’s hole. She felt the woman’s hand on the back of her head, trying to pull her in. She sucked, and nibbled for all she was worth, wanting to taste every bit of them.

Someone started nibbling on her as she was bent over. She turned to see the silver haired woman’s head between her thighs. She was finally finding out what that woman could do with her mouth. The succubus was straddling the man that Shelly had been with moments before.

The redhead’s guiding hand reminded Shelly of her treat, and she returned to it with gusto. While the silver-haired woman’s mouth felt great, she started feeling empty inside again. It didn’t last long, though. Just as she was brought to a delightful orgasm, the mouth moved away, and the long cock of Fishboy replaced it. It wasn’t as thick or filling as the twisted cock she’d first had, but it sated her snatch’s hunger for the moment.

Fishboy thrust into her as he moved her body more into the fountain. When his hips struck her rear, her face was thrust into the redhead’s pussy, making them both moan and groan in delight.

She was beginning to feel another powerful orgasm coming on when the silver haired woman started speaking again. Only the voice had changed and a quick glance showed her silver tresses turning black.

“No. Not again! I’m so sorry.”

Shelly didn’t care what the woman could be sorry for. She felt wonderful as her orgasm crashed against her. She couldn’t think of anything she’d rather be doing at that moment as Fishboy filled her with his cream.

“I’ll fix this. Somehow I’ll… I’ll—sleep. Everyone sleep!”

Despite the satisfaction her body was receiving, she felt an undeniable weariness overcome her. She tried to fight it, to keep sucking and thrusting back against that glorious cock firing off deep inside her, but it was too strong.

As her eyes closed, Shelly’s face fell into the water of the fountain and oblivion took her.

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

From the Author

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

Eldon ordered his roc to descend. The bird dropped gently to the ground and took a few steps to slow its momentum. His chariot, as he’d referred to it to Gloria, was surprisingly graceful despite its large size. Gloria let go of him, before dropping to the ground. It’d felt nice having her hold him. For a small time, he was able to forget about Jessica and his broken heart, but it was time to end the charade.

“What are we doing here?” Gloria asked as Eldon joined her on the ground. “I thought we were going to the Pillar of Earth’s capitol city for some drinks.”

“Okay, my sister is out of earshot,” Eldon said, turning to face the succubus next to him. “You can go do whatever else you want. I’ll tell Shelly that we had a great time together, or something. I’m sure if I smile enough, she’ll buy whatever I tell her.”

“Or something?” Gloria asked, raising one delicate eyebrow. Then her eyebrows drew together in anger. “You think she’s paying me to spend time with you? I’m a succubus, not a whore!”

Eldon backed away from her, holding his hands up, palm out. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just figured that since she set this whole thing up, we could stop pretending and go our separate ways. I appreciate what you said about me back there, but let’s be honest with each other. We’re both doing this as a favor to my sister.”

“I wasn’t pretending back there,” Gloria snapped, flinging her arm out to point behind her. “I really did want to meet Sheldon Lance. Why is that so hard for you to believe?”

He wanted to believe her, but wasn’t sure. He’d lived in his father’s shadow his whole life. He had no idea that anyone would want to meet him because of what he did for a living. Was he really that well known? He felt his ego puff up a bit and couldn’t deny he liked how that made him feel.

“I just assumed—“ he began to tell her, but she cut him off.

“Assumed what? That because I was a succubus, a soul sucking creature, that all I ever do is pretend?” She grabbed the red cap off her head and threw it to the ground in anger. “I thought the son of Lyden Snow would know better than that. Your father always treated the succubae with respect whenever we’ve seen him. Now there’s a man who knows how to treat a woman, and doesn’t make assumptions about them based on what species they are.”

“My father?” he asked. “My father wasn’t around very much, growing up. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I know he tried and he loves me, but with all of his wives and responsibilities, his time was stretched pretty thin.” Eldon sighed and tried to gather his thoughts. “You’re right, though. I was raised better than that, and I’m sorry. I honestly didn’t intend to offend you. I know Shelly worries about me, and I haven’t exactly been the best person to be around lately. That’s why she set this whole thing up.” He gestured between them. “I thought I was in love or something. Well, not love. I didn’t know her well enough, but she.... She treated me in a way no one ever has.” He couldn’t help but remember how she’d reacted to his deformity. Instead of ridiculing him, she accepted it and even treated it as a positive thing.

“Because of your cock?” Gloria asked. Eldon’s head snapped up at her words, his eyes wide. “I can read surface thoughts, remember? I’m a succubus?”

He felt his cheeks burn as he realized what he’d just been thinking. She’d seen all of it in his head. Jessica could read surface thoughts also, though she emphatically denied being a succubus.

“I don’t know any succubus by the name of Jessica,” Gloria said next. “Your sister told me about what you consider a deformity, and I still chose to meet you. It’s not that big a deal, really.”

“Because you’re a succubus,” he said with a hint of acid. He was getting tired of having her read his thoughts. It didn’t help that his sister was talking about his twisted penis with strangers. She had no right to talk about that.

“You need to get over your hang-up about me being a succubus,” she chided him. “I can’t control what I am, but I can control how I treat people. You don’t like people thinking something’s wrong with you because you have a different reproductive organ than everybody else. I don’t like people throwing what I am in my face.”

Eldon was speechless for a moment. “You don’t understand,” he said shaking his head and turning away.

“I don’t?” she laughed. Something in her voice made him turn back and look at her. She had her eyebrow arched again and an incredulous look on her face. “You know nothing about me. All you know is what I am, and that’s enough for you to know what I do and don’t understand?”

As Gloria’s words sunk in, Eldon couldn’t stop a soft laugh from bubbling up. Gloria’s face went an angry shade of red as she glared at him.

“I can’t believe this!” She stomped her foot. She bent over, picked up her red hat and brushed it off before putting it back on her head, pulling her blue and blonde ponytail through the back. “You’re right, there’s no sense in continuing this.” She turned to go and already had her leathery black wings out to fly away when Eldon found his voice to stop her.

“I’m not laughing at you,” he told her. “I’m laughing at how foolish I was being.” She stopped with her wings spread wide, but didn’t turn around. Shouldn’t she know what was in his head? “You’re right, of course. I made assumptions that I shouldn’t have. I don’t know anything about you, other than what you are, and I let that rule how I treated you.” Eldon watched as she tucked her wings against her body and turned to face him. She didn’t put them away, however, and he knew he had more work to do. “I’m sorry. You mentioned getting drinks. I can’t think of a better way to get to know who you are. That is, if you’re still willing?”

He held his hand out to her. She looked at it with skepticism. For a moment he was sure she was going to turn away. When she finally stepped forward and took it, he couldn’t hide his relief.

“One condition,” she told him.

“Name it,” he replied. He felt terrible for the way he’d treated her and wanted to make it up to her.

“Make any comments or remarks about me being a succubus, and I’ll make sure all my friends will know.”

Eldon wasn’t sure what her threat meant, but suspected that having the wrath of the succubae would be a bad thing.

*    *    *    *

Eldon’s laughter boomed off the rafters in the tavern. “You’re kidding me!” he gasped, looking at Gloria with shock. “You didn’t really do that, did you?”

Gloria’s smile was broad as it split her lips. “Yeah, and you should have seen her face. Of course, that was before she became the Pillar of Fire, or even met your father.”

“What happened after that?” Eldon asked.

“Well, we were on Earth, so we couldn’t really talk about what we were. I took her under my wing and taught her a trick or twenty. As old as I am, she taught me a thing or two as well.”

“Did you ever meet my grandfather?” He’d heard a lot about the man that at one time ruled over the succubae. He thought he would have gotten along with him and regretted that he’d died before Eldon was born.

“Now there was a man who knew how to please a woman,” Gloria laughed. “Shemhazau was a lot of fun before he disappeared. I was sorry to hear what happened to him.” She took a sip of her wine. “To friends and family,” she toasted, holding her glass up.

“Friends and family,” he parroted, clinking his earthenware mug against her glass. He took a sip of his beer, looking at the woman across from him. Even knowing what she was—he refused to think the word, lest he offend her again—he couldn’t deny her personality was attractive. She wasn’t hard to look at either, but he knew she could look however she wanted.

“What about you?” Gloria asked him. Her cheeks were a bit rosy, but she didn’t sound or act drunk in any way. “I’m sure that living with your sister, there have to be a few embarrassing stories.”

“Shelly?” he asked, trying to think. He couldn’t think of anything as embarrassing as one succubus accidentally seducing another one. “Not really.”

“Oh, come on,” Gloria pressed. “Your sister is quite the good looking woman. You mean to tell me the two of you never....”

“No!” he shot back. “She’s my sister. That’s just plain gross.” The thought of doing anything with his sister didn’t nauseate him, but it didn’t appeal either. As far as he was concerned, Shelly was a human that he fought alongside. She was a companion and a friend. Yes, she was his twin sister, but there were only familial feelings there. Nothing more.

“Sorry,” she said, mollified. “I meant no offense. It wouldn’t bother me in the least if you—okay, okay. Forget I mentioned it.”

“I’m not offended,” he said. The mood had perceptibly changed and he tried to figure out how to get her to smile again. “I don’t get out much, so there isn’t a lot of opportunity for embarrassing situations. Unless you count last week when I got caught kissing a girl while I looked like her boyfriend. He seemed pretty pissed about it, but she didn’t mind too much. She even admitted I was a better kisser!”

He was rewarded by a smile on her lips, though he tried to hide the pang that went through him. Jessica had saved him from that situation before it became violent.

“Well, that doesn’t sound very embarrassing,” Gloria smirked at him. “She thought you were a good kisser, huh? A regular human girl like her likely doesn’t know what a real kiss can be like.”

“Are you implying that I can’t really kiss, or just that she was naive?” he asked, his ego feeling challenged.

She regarded him over the lip of her glass, sipping more at her wine before answering. “Oh, I’m sure you know how to kiss. Any fool can kiss. But not every person can make their partner’s knees weak.” Her voice dropped an octave as she caressed every word. “Can you kiss well enough to fill a woman with desire and need? Can you make her gasp for air, but not want to let go? Can you kiss a woman and make her forget about everything around her? Make her want to rip off her clothing no matter who is around or watching?”

Eldon shifted in his seat, his pants uncomfortably tight after her pointed questions. Her sultry voice worked up conflicting emotions. Desire for her welled up, while indignation at her assumption that he didn’t know how to please a woman tried to take dominance. Of course he knew how to please a woman! Just because she was a succubus, didn’t mean that he was incapable of....

It dawned on him what she was up to. She’d raised one eyebrow when he thought about her being a succubus, but she hadn’t said anything. He smiled at her, took a sip of his beer and sat back in his seat.

“I guess there’s only one way to find out,” he said, answering her question with a confident statement. “Come here,” he commanded her.

Her smile broadened as she stood up and walked around the table. When she was right next to where he sat, she raised an eyebrow in question. He patted his leg as he looked her in the eyes. “I don’t want to have to catch you when your knees grow weak.”

“You think so?” she challenged, but sat in his lap. She had a small rear and wriggled it against the bulge pressing against his zipper. He was thankful that he was still in another man’s form. His real phallus wouldn’t fit within the tight confines of the trousers he wore.

“So? Are you going to kiss me, or what?” She wrapped her arms around his neck, but made no other moves.

“Some things shouldn’t be rushed,” he told her. Reaching forward, he picked up her glass of wine. She looked at him, waiting to see where he was going. He kept his mind blank, not wanting to tip her off to what he was planning.

He took a sip of her wine, but didn’t swallow. He wasn’t a fan of the liquid, but enjoyed the way it made his tongue tingle with its tangy flavor. He waited a couple more seconds before swallowing.

“You know, there is such a thing as too much preperat—“ She was cut off as Eldon leaned in and brushed her lips with his. He pulled back, looked her in the eyes and smiled. Before she could speak again, he brought his right hand up to cup her chin and brought her face to his. Her grin turned into a soft moan as their lips met again.

He used his lips to separate hers, but didn’t bring his tongue into play yet. His left arm slipped around her waist, and he pulled her to him. He felt her tongue venture out to tease along his lips, but he didn’t take the bait. She tilted her head some more, allowing him to drop his right hand to her waist. Her arms tightened around his neck, pulling him deeper into the kiss, but still his tongue remained in his mouth.

Her tongue slid across his teeth, but he didn’t let it pass. When she groaned in frustration, he opened up. She shivered as her muscle entered his mouth and was met with is. For a moment the two instruments battled against each other, both seeking dominance.

He had to admit that she was talented with her mouth. Her lips writhed against his, bringing lascivious thoughts of what else she might be capable of. His cock was growing almost painful, filled with blood and desire for the delicious woman wiggling in his lap. His left hand travelled up her back, his fingers curling into her shirt, pulling them even closer together.

He wanted to lay her down and rip off her clothing. He couldn’t remember the last time he was turned on to this degree. Some portion of his brain that wasn’t overcome with lust knew that they had an audience, but he didn’t care. The other patrons in the tavern were going to see just how good he was at kissing.

...how good he was. He realized he was falling under her spell, allowing her to win, and brought his thoughts back into focus. Clearing his mind, he twisted his tongue around to caress the invading one in his mouth. She moaned again as their bodies rubbed together along with their mouths. He moved his right hand around to her rear, giving the muscles there a firm massage.

His mind started going over thoughts of what he could do with that small rear. He was certain that if he could just get her pants off, he could be within her in seconds, making her moan even more. He didn’t care about their audience. He wanted to feel her. A moan escaped his lips as he imagined what she would feel like, wrapped around his hardness. The look on her face as he slipped in and out of her, bringing them both closer to—

He cut the thought off, sensing himself growing close to losing this battle in more ways than one. Her resulting moan was half frustration, half need.

Both tongues still writhed, still sought some weakness to exploit and gain dominance. It was time for the finishing move.

He was careful as he closed his teeth. Her tongue abandoned the fight, fleeing back into its home safety. He charged after, penetrating her mouth.

Her body convulsed in his lap, a throaty moan escaping her mouth and resonating into him.

“Enough!” she gasped, trying to catch her breath. Her chest heaved as she looked at him with wild eyes. She leaned in and gave him a peck on the lips, another moan escaping her before she could pull back. “We’re getting out of here, now.”

The tavern erupted in cheers and applause as Gloria pulled Eldon up by the wrist and hauled him out.

“I cheated and you still got me off first,” she complained. Before he had a chance to respond, she shoved him up against the wall, plastering her body against his and kissed him with passion. “Argh,” she grunted after a second. “If you don’t get us out of here, I’m going to end up raping you right here.”

He was about to comment that she could do whatever she wanted to, but he noticed a couple passersby, and decided to get out of there. The last thing he needed was for Gaia to get word of this and pass it on to his mother. He knew Gaia saw everything that happened in her domain, but that didn’t mean she paid attention to it all.

“You cheated?” he asked after whistling for his roc. He was having a hard time thinking straight as he watched her small rear swaying before him.

She giggled guiltily and flashed him a smile. “How quickly you forget what I am, Eldon. I cranked up my pheromones and did my best to flood your system with lust. I’ve only ever known one person with enough self control to resist me, but that was ages ago. You’re just full of surprises.”

His bird was waiting for them on the edge of the city, and they clambered onto her back. Gloria sat in front of him. He kept her fire stoked as they flew to his home, both of them on edge, remaining on the precipice, but neither stepping over that ledge.

*    *    *    *

Eldon’s front door slammed open with two bodies entwined, forcing their way in. Gloria’s hands were on his cheeks, their mouths working against and with each other. Eldon grabbed the hem of her shirt, tugging it up and off. There was no bra. Their mouths had to separate momentarily, but the hunger between them could not be denied. As soon as the shirt was free, their passion continued to envelope them.

Eldon’s hands dropped down the succubus’s back to her tiny rear. Cupping a cheek in each hand, he lifted her up. Her legs wrapped around his waist, her pelvis beginning a rhythmic grinding against his. He moaned as wanton lust flooded his system, making him want more. Needing more. His bedroom was too far away, but the couch was right there.

She was light in his arms as he walked over to the furniture. Feeling mischievous, having no doubt that some of his desire was being induced by the succubus’s skills, he dumped her on the couch without warning or preamble.

He laughed as she squealed. Her chest bounced as she landed, but there was a twinkle in her eyes as she smiled up at him. He took a moment to take in her beauty, getting a good look at her chest for the first time. Her nipples were small and hard on top of her grapefruit sized breasts.

“Are you just going to stare, or are you going to come here and take advantage of me?” She asked. She bit her bottom lip in a way that made him want to jump on top of her and ravish her in every way.

Through some unknown reserve he held back, stepping up to the couch. He unbuttoned his pants, and let them slide to the floor, freeing his hard phallus. The man he’d copied would never be a porn star, but it was plenty thick and hard. Veins pulsed along it in time with his heartbeat.

“Why don’t you come here and take care of me first?” He asked. She smiled as she met his eyes, but it faded as she looked down at his manhood.

“That’s a fine specimen,” she said, her voice thoughtful, “but I want to see the real Eldon’s Lance.”

He wilted inside for a moment. He couldn’t do that. She might be a succubus, but he was too self-conscious to show that to her.

“Please!” she pleaded with him. Her hands rubbed up her sides to her mammaries. Cupping her flesh, Eldon could see how firm her breasts were as she massaged them. She met his eyes as she pinched her nipples. “I already know from your mind, Eldon. I’m not afraid.” Her hands dropped to her pants, quickly undoing the fastenings and shoved them down and off. “I want to see it. I want to feel it. I want to have you right here. Mmm,” she moaned as she slipped a finger into her slit. Her labia were small, but it already glistened with her fluids and desire.

That did it. There was something inside him that went nuts when he saw a woman fingering herself. He knew that she was aware of his decision before he changed because of her triumphant smile.

He felt the change in his body as he grew a little taller and a lot fuller in the crotch. His muscles thickened, becoming more defined.

He watched her face for reaction. Her eyes grew wide, her mouth dropping open in an ‘O’. Embarrassed, he covered himself up.

“What are you doing?” she demanded. She blurred as she sat up and grabbed his wrists. She tried to pull his arms away, but he was stronger than her. “Please,” she begged again. “It’s bigger than I thought, but I want it. Please lemme have it?”

“It’s deformed,” he said, shaking his head.

“Deformed? No. It’s beautiful. My mouth is watering, I want to taste it.” She looked up into his eyes. “Please?” she asked again.

His resolve crumbled and he let his hands be pulled aside.

“Thank you,” she said, full of sincerity. He could feel her warm breath on his twisted member. “Mmm,” she moaned, and then leaned forward to lick along its bumpy length.

“Ah.” The sound escaped him before he could stop it. After all the foreplay in the tavern, and then the long flight, he was sensitive and ready for action. His rod thrummed with potent energy as she brought her mouth to his scrotum, kissing the sensitive organ, and then returned to the tip.

Gloria stretched her mouth wide to allow the large head past her lips. He was surprised to see her fit the monster into her slim face. His shock increased as her head continued moving, swallowing more and more of him. He was sure she would stop when he felt the back of her throat. Instead, she started humming and taking him even deeper. Her nose brushed up against his pubic hair. It took all his concentration to keep from exploding right there.

“H-how?” he asked. Looking down at her, he couldn’t see how his cock was able to fit.

Her blue eyes lifted to meet his. He could see the smile in them as she winked. A second later, her throat undulated around his flesh, sending new waves of pleasure through him. It was too much. He felt her fingers digging into his rear as she pulled him tighter to him. He had to lock his knees as he fired strings of semen into her stomach.

Even when he was done, she didn’t let go. Eldon knew she needed to breathe, but she kept him lodged in her mouth. After a few seconds of trying to gather his thoughts, he realized he wasn’t softening.

Gloria pulled her head back, letting him slowly slip from her mouth with a satisfied smile. “I like you like this,” she said. There was still a thick string of saliva connecting her bottom lip to his shaft. She used her right hand to gather it up and return it to her mouth. “Yum! I hope you can return the favor, but right now, I want this thing inside me. I can’t wait to find out what it feels like!”

“You want it?” he growled, ripping his shirt off. He tossed it aside before bending over, grabbing her under her arms and pulling her to her feet. She turned in his arms and pressed her crack against his shaft, sliding herself up and down its length. He moaned, enjoying the feel of her firm globes gliding up and down his schlong.

“You better believe I want it,” she confessed. With her back pressed against him, she snaked her left arm up behind his head and pulled his head down. Their lips met. This time he didn’t hesitate before meeting her tongue with his.  “Damn, you’re good at that!” she gasped.

She moved to the couch, bent over and shook her delectable rump at him. “Stick it in. Please stick it in!” He was more than happy to accept that invitation. Stepping forward, he gripped himself at the base and rubbed the head against her. Heat radiated from where they touched. She was slick with desire, but he tried to tease her before doing what they both so desperately wanted.

She wasn’t willing to wait. As he brought the head into position, she shoved back. Her hole swallowed the first couple inches before he was even aware of what she’d done. She felt like a felt vise sliding up his twisted length. He smiled as he moved his hands to her hips.

“If that’s the way you want to play it....” he trailed off. With one quick motion, he pulled back with his hands and thrust with his hips. She took him to the hilt with little more than a grunt, followed by a long low moan.

“Oh, damn! I’ve never felt anything like that before,” she cried out. Her inner walls constricted around him, massaging every inch of his organ. Even the folds and bumps of his length were compressed by her hot tightness. “Hold on for a second. I need to get used to this.” He waited, relishing the way she fit him like a glove. He couldn’t believe that not only had he fit inside her, but that she was even enjoying his deformity. “Okay,” she said, sounding out of breath, “I think I’ve conformed. Let’s see what you can do.”

He wasn’t sure what she meant by getting conformed, but he understood the rest of it. He pulled back, looking down at where they were joined. Her pussy didn’t seem to want to let go, sliding along his skin while moving around to follow the twisted length of him. Light glistened off his wet cock. Her opening stretched tight around the head when he reversed directions, shoving himself back to the hilt into her.

“Mmm, don’t stop,” she panted as he repeated the process. “Right there. Mmm, you hit all my spots.” She started to move against him, so he picked up his pace. “Mmm, I’m going to cum. Are you ready?”

Being asked if he was ready for her to cum sent a jolt through him. Not only was she not turned off by his cock, but she was about to get off on it!

“Yeah,” he told her. “Give it to me!”

She shuddered as he spoke, her insides rippling around him. Her juices flooded out and around his pole, but what he noticed most was the energy flooding into him. In the heat of his lust, he’d forgotten that she was a succubus, and that she could choose to give energy as well as receive. As new strength flowed into him, he moved his arms under her, lifted her off the ground, turned, and sat back on the couch. The impact drove him deeper into her.

She spun around in a blur without losing their connection. Her eyes grew serious as she looked down at him, her chest still heaving from her climax.

“I think we need to make this a weekly thing,” she told him. “I’ve never felt anything like this before!” As she spoke, she wriggled in his lap, eliciting a soft moan of pleasure from him.

“Just once a week?” he asked with a grin.

“Shut up and fuck me!” she ordered, bending over and kissing him.

Eldon’s hands moved to her breasts, rubbing her tiny nipples between his thumbs and forefingers, while swiveling his hips. A steady clapping noise reverberated through the small house as he sensed her getting close to a next orgasm. He was only moments away from his second climax.

Neither one of them heard the door open over the sounds of their combined moans. Neither one saw the shocked expressions painted on two female faces.

“Sheldon! You’ve got a room to do that in!” Shelly screamed.

“Well, I didn’t expect to see this when I walked in,” Jessica drawled right afterwards.

Eldon froze, shock gripping his system, but Gloria climaxed right then. As her orgasm washed over him, he started firing deep into the succubus, horrified to be caught by the woman he’d been moping over just a few short hours ago.

*    *    *    *

“I’m sorry, Sheldon, but how was I supposed to know you would be in the front room?” Shelly demanded of her brother.

“You’re the one that set us up,” Eldon shot back. He was angrier with himself than he was with his sister, but had to vent. He only wished that Jessica wasn’t standing off to the side with that smirk on her face.

“It’s really not a problem,” Jessica said. Her arms were folded as she regarded the siblings. “We were never official. You can do as you like, Eldon.”

“That’s not—!” He started to protest. Jessica raised one delicate eyebrow, but never lost that smirk. “I mean, I know, but it’s just embarrassing to have my sister walk in on me while I—”

“While you give a succubus one helluva orgasm and fill me full of cum?” Gloria laughed, talking for the first time since they got dressed. By the look on her face, he didn’t know who was enjoying the encounter more; Gloria or Jessica. The twins were red-faced by comparison.

“You’re a succubus?” Jessica’s mien changed faster than anything Eldon had ever seen. He’d forgotten about her dislike of the succubae. Anger now forced storm clouds to cross her eyes. Those storm clouds turned on Eldon. “I can accept you sleeping with another woman, but how could you stoop so low as to sleep with a succubus? They’re worse than prostitutes!”

“Wait, I—“ Eldon began, but Gloria got to her feet, matching Jessica glare for glare.

“Stoop so low? What’s wrong with being a succubus? You know, Shelly told me about you. Told me how you broke Eldon’s heart. How dare you come in here and treat him like that! At least I have enough decency to—“

“Decency?” Jessica cut her off with a sneer. “What does a succubus know about decency? All you care about is your next victim. About whom you can get between your legs and drain of life.”

“Victim!” Gloria choked on the word. “Does Eldon look like a victim to you? Tell her, Eldon. Do you feel weak or victimized?”

Eldon’s heart sank as two sets of angry eyes turned on him. How did things get here? If he told the truth, Jessica would get pissed at him, but he couldn’t lie. Too late he remembered that both women could read surface thoughts.

“That’s how it’s going to be?” Gloria stamped her foot. “I thought better of you, Eldon. I don’t know what her grudge is against my kind, but someone needs to set her straight. Obviously it’s not going to be you.” She turned and stormed out of the house, slamming the front door.

“It’s going to take days to get that stink out of my nose,” Jessica sneered, looking at the closed door.

“I can’t believe you,” Eldon stated. He got to his feet, anger burning in his chest as he finally found his voice. Some of the blame rested with him for not stopping this earlier, but Gloria hadn’t deserved to be treated like that.

“Me?” Jessica asked, turning a confused stare on Eldon. “What’d I do?”

“What—?” Eldon was exasperated. “You storm out of my life without even a backwards glance, and then waltz in and insult the one person that treated me like a human being since you left? What right do you have to berate or choose who I sleep with?”

“I treated you like a human,” Shelly spoke up. Eldon ignored her.

Jessica’s face twisted into one of confusion. “I don’t understand. She’s a succubus. You don’t think she really has feelings, do you? She was faking everything. You can’t trust their kind.”

“That is the most racist thing I’ve ever heard,” Eldon snapped. “I thought only normal humans could be that narrow minded.” He turned to his sister. “And how can you be silent during all this? I thought Gloria was your friend.”

Shelly opened her mouth to speak, but she never got the chance. The front door banged open, drawing everyone’s attention.

“It’s not often I come here and find you two fighting,” a deep voice intoned. A solid man with brown and gray hair stepped through the door a moment after Gloria. The succubus looked bothered and not happy about being back in the room. The man looked tired.

He’s getting old, Eldon thought.

“I ran into this young lady outside. I thought I taught you how to treat women better that that, son.” Lyden Snow’s gray eyes looked grave as he stared at his children.

“Son?” Jessica whispered. Eldon saw that her face had changed from its dark complexion to sheet white. He wondered what it must be like for someone to meet the legendary Lyden Snow like this. Eldon had grown up with Lyden as his father and had a different view of the man.

That didn’t mean he wasn’t intimidated when his dad was angry with him.

“I’m sorry for my children’s behavior, Master,” Eldon’s and Shelly’s mom said entering the room. It was getting crowded in their small house again. “Shall I punish them for you?”

“No, love,” Lyden turned to one of his wives. His smile was filled with love as he looked at her. That smile vanished as he looked around the room. “There are more important things right now.”

Eldon watched as his father closed his eyes, took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. Eldon had never seen his father this shaken before. He even noticed that Lyden’s hand was shaking.

“What’s wrong, Dad?” Shelly asked, concern in her voice and eyes.

Their dad opened his eyes, and Eldon saw tears forming in them. If anything, this struck Eldon to his core. He’d seen his father cry before, but only when the situation was dire.

“Brooke has been kidnapped,” he said, his voice cracking.

“Who took her?” Eldon asked, stepping forward. “Why haven’t you gone after her yet?” Brooke was another one of his father’s wives. She was also a mermaid. “What about Brock or Bridget?” Brock, or Bridget, was Brooke’s child with their father. He, or she, was one person able to switch genders. Eldon usually got a headache when he thought about that sibling and his, or her, issues.

“Brooke was visiting him when she was taken. He’s staying as Brock for the moment, trying to deal with it. I was hoping you could help him get Brooke back.” Lyden walked over to the couch—that Eldon had just had sex on—and sat down. Eldon glanced at Gloria and saw her blushing at him. He also saw Jessica glaring at them.

Damned women who can read minds, he thought, knowing both of them would pick up on the thought.

“Who took her?” Shelly pressed.

Their dad just shook his head, unable to speak. It was their mom who answered. When she spoke, her voice was filled with acid and poison. “Varun took her. He left Brock with the message that if Master enters the Pillar of Water’s domain, she’ll be killed.”

“What did he say he wanted in order to get her back?” Eldon asked. He knew Varun held a grudge for the way Lyden had defeated the Pillar of Water during the Chaos War. The Pillar had remained paranoid after Brooke saved him from the previous Pillar of Fire, and ended up fighting on the Outsider’s side during the war. Lyden went toe-to-toe with the Pillar and left Varun frozen in a block of ice, but alive. Very little was heard from the Pillar of Water after that. Apparently the large seahorse finally decided to strike.

“Nothing,” Lyden croaked. “He wants me to know that she is under his protection, and that he can kill her at any moment. He wants me to suffer.” Lyden was human now. He no longer held the power and strength that allowed him to take on a Pillar of this world and survive.

“Master and I thought you could go in and save her,” Sheila said. “Brock is waiting for you on the border.”

“Pardon me,” Jessica piped up, speaking out loud for the first time since Lyden showed up, “But this looks like a family issue. I—”

“I would like to help, if you’ll let me,” Gloria spoke up, cutting Jessica short. “I know how to fight, and would like to offer my aid to the savior of the Chaos War.”

“I’m no savior,” Lyden said in a soft tone. Despite how famous and important his father was, Eldon knew he was also humble. He hated being treated as anything other than a normal person. “Your help will be appreciated. I would go myself, but I can’t risk Varun killing her outright, and I have a meeting with the U.N. about continued relations with the Shadow World coming up.”

“I was about to say,” Jessica piped in with a glare for Gloria, “that I would like to help.”

Eldon knew it was a lie, and that the only reason she was willing to help, was that she didn’t want to be shown up by a succubus. Gloria’s nod to him let him know that he was right. Could they read each other’s minds? Gloria shook her head slightly. He really was going to have to watch his thoughts around these women.

Sheila glanced between the other two women. From the look on her face, Eldon knew his mother was picking up on the tension as well. He didn't expect Shelly to step forward and take Jessica’s hand in hers. He remembered the two coming in together, and wondered if something had happened between them. For a moment, he felt the rare bit of jealousy enter him, but he shoved it aside. Jessica wasn’t his, and from her behavior towards Gloria, he wasn't sure he wanted her.

Jessica turned a hurt eye on him, while Gloria smiled smugly. If these two women were coming along, then he was going to get himself into some serious trouble.

“Dad,” Eldon spoke up, “I want to save Brooke, but I think Shelly and I can do it alone. Or rather, with Brock’s help. I don’t want to put these women in any danger they don’t need to be in.” He knew both women would know the real reason for him not wanting them to come along, but didn’t care.

Lyden shook his head, though. “I’m glad to see you being a gentleman, son, but no. If you’re going into Varun’s demesne, you’ll need all the help you can get. All I will say is: be careful. If he finds out what you’re up to, he may kill Brooke right then. I hate to say it, but you’re going to need Marchosias’s help as well.”

Eldon groaned inside. He was stuck going into battle with two women who despised each other, and could read his mind. This mission was going to be interesting. Marchosias and Varun were the least of his worries.