by Lora Darc
“Aha,” Elise said as she pulled out the metal cutter. It was her best option besides keys and she prayed it was strong enough to break the lock on the collar.
She snuck back into her room and hid the metal cutter under her bed. With the cutter and the key, she had an actual chance at getting the river god out and back where he belonged.
She would wait till nightfall once more, then make for the tank room.
***
There were more people milling about then she liked, but Elise wasted no time regardless in sneaking out and getting passed a few interns talking on the far deck nearby. Dr. Hillman was in his office and the other scientists kept to their rooms. As long as she got the river god out to the deck he could easily jump from the boat and swim away.
Swiftly she went down the dark corridor then down the stairs. She made to unlock the door when she heard a pair of voices. She quickly shot back up the stairs and hid in the dark hallway as a pair of researchers exited the tank room and walked passed. She waited a moment longer then hurried back down.
Elise unlocked the door and stepped into the tank room where, to her dismay, she saw the river god thrashing around the tank, yanking on his collar. With the metal cutter in hand, Elise rushed to the tank and up the metal steps to the top.
She went to call for him to stop but didn’t know how to address him so instead she stuck her hand in the water and rapped on the side of the tank. The creature stopped and glanced up. Seeing her, the creature shot to the top, reaching for her.
“No time,” Elise said. She motioned for him to turn around. “Hurry, I have to cut your collar off.”
The river god tilted his head then eyed the cutter and seemed to understand. He swerved around, allowing Elise to take hold of the side of his collar. She positioned the cutter over the lock and began to squeeze.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Elise?”
Elise jumped. The cutter slipped from her fingers and fell to the bottom of the tank.
She looked over and saw Dr. Hillman with two of his colleagues, along with Jamie, each looking at her in stunned fury.
“Get her down and take her to her room,” Dr. Hillman told Jamie.
Elise shook her head. “No. No!”
Jamie climbed up to the stairs and grabbed her. Elise tried to pull him off, but he held her tightly.
The river god snarled. Enraged, he tried to swipe at Jamie but it was no use. He shrieked with rage as Jamie tugged Elise away.
“Let me go!” Elise cried. “He isn’t an animal, leave him alone!” She went to hit at Jamie but he blocked her hand then swung her over his shoulder. He carried her out of the room and Elise caught the sight of thrashing water before the door closed behind them.
“Quick kicking won’t you, damn,” said Jamie as he carried her up the stairs. “Dammit Elise, stop fighting.”
Elise banged against the metal walls, hollering. She didn’t care if the whole ship heard her.
Jamie kicked open the hall door and stepped out onto the main deck. Elise saw the other interns and a few crew members watch in shocked disbelief as she struggled in Jamie’s arms while he carried her to the opposite side of the boat.
Just as he was about to fling open the door at the end, an incredibly loud bang somewhere below deck made him stop short. He turned and there was another bang followed by several shouts and then an immense roar.
The door leading to the hallway from the tank room burst open. Dr. Hillman and his men came flying out, blood staining their shirts. One drew out his pistol and shot into the dark hall and Elise screamed.
Stunned, Jamie released Elise and she fell to the ground. Another roar shook the boat and out from the dark the river god shot out and attacked the man with the pistol. He bit into the man’s arm and the man bellowed in pain.
Chaos erupted on the deck. The interns screamed in terror; the scientists shouted out orders, and the crew went running. The river god released the man’s arm and flung him away then he swiped at a crew member who branded a knife.
Elise gazed around wildly and saw, from the top deck, men beginning to load guns and take aim.
“No!” Elise leaped up and stumbled toward the creature. “Go! You have to go now!” She shouted at him but he didn’t seem to hear her. In his wild fury, the river god lashed out at any who drew near.
Elise got closer and reached for him but, as the creature swerved around, he slashed at her.
Pain shot through her arm and Elise clutched at her hand. She groaned and saw her blood drip down to the ground. The creature seemed to come out of his rage long enough to realize what he had done. He reached for her but fear shot through Elise like an electric shock and she flinched away, cowering from him. The creature saw her fear and he cried out for her. He stepped toward her when a shot rang out and a bullet hit his leg. The river god hissed and turned, his rage returning full force. He shrieked at the men with their guns and then, just as they went to fire, he shot away and jumped from the ship, disappearing into the dark waters below.
The men fired their guns into the river and Elise crumbled to the ground in shock.
***
I am free.
But at a terrible price.
The wounds on my body mean nothing to me. They will heal.
It is my heart I fear that will not.
I have hurt her.
My goddess.
She shrunk away from me.
I saw it in her eyes.
The terror.
I was a beast.
I am a beast.
As I swim the dark waters, I cry out in misery.
I am free.
But now my goddess will be the one to suffer the consequences.
I cannot allow it.
I claimed her as mine in that cage when she gave herself to me.
She is mine and they can’t have her.
She might fear me now.
But I will make it up to her.
I will take her.
***
Elise stood by the side of the boat as the last bit of light left the sky and rain clouds began to set in. They allowed her out of the room, just for a little while. But as soon as they left (which was in less than an hour) she would be locked away until they made it back to the states where she would stand trial for attempting to release the asset and the damaged caused in doing so.
Elise looked at her bandaged hand. She didn’t care. They could throw her in jail but she still felt what she had done was right.
The image of that night flashed again through her head. The river god in all his fury taking on several men... the shots... the screams... the blood.
Elise shivered and closed her eyes. That night had made her realize what the river god really was. She had this fantasy before, but now it was turning dark.
It made her think of a beautiful snake one longs to caress until it bites and one remembers that it is dangerous. Even deadly. One thinks they have control, that they are safe. But maybe it’s not so.
Still, Elise was glad that the river god was free and wished him happiness and safety nonetheless. She tried to ignore the ache in her heart.
“Elise…”
Elise turned and Dr. Hillman came up to her along with two other grim-looking crew members. “It’s time.” He gestured toward her room.
Lightning flashed in the sky and Elise felt the first few raindrops hit her shoulder. She said nothing, only nodded and went to follow.
A shout nearby made her pause. The others too stopped and looked around. Men were running from the top deck, shouting and pointing to the water.
“The Monster! The Monster!”
Elise’s heart leaped and she twirled around and went back to the side of the boat.
“Where?” Dr. Hillman shouted back as he too went to look over the side. He nodded to the other men and they brought out their guns.
“It just disappeared!”
Elise went still.
Has he come back... for me?
Elise backed away. The others didn’t take notice as she stepped over to the other side of the boat, watching as the men ran around, peering down into the water.
Another flash of lightning struck above. Elise felt a wind at her back and went to turn.
Then a great shadow fell over her and an arm wrapped tightly around her waist.
Before she could even scream, she was pulled from the boat; falling into the dark river below.
***
Elise didn’t remember much of the journey. She only remembered clinging to the river god as he swam through the river’s raging current, back into the dark forest, away from the village and the boat. The rain had stopped by the time they got to the cave. When they entered the dark cavern, Elise released herself from his back and the river god picked her up easily, carrying her out from the pool, into the tunnel way beyond.
On the other side was a large, secret cavern, with a pool at its center and, above it, an open sky where the moon now sat full. A small waterfall fell from the back, spilling softly just a few feet above. The water shimmered in the moonlight.
The creature sat Elise on a nearby rock, just at the water’s edge. He reached for her, his hand lifting toward her face, but Elise flinched and turned away, her face and neck turning hot.
The river god went on his knees and took hold of her hands and forced her to look at him. Elise did look and saw in his eyes his deep regret.
Feeling sorry for shrinking from him, Elise held his face with her hands.
“You wouldn’t hurt me would you?”
The river god shook his head.
Elise stared at him for a long moment then smiled sadly. “I suppose I can’t go back...”
The creature took her hand and placed it over his heart.
He didn’t have to say it for her to know.
Mate.
Elise nodded. She stood up and slowly peeled her wet clothes from her body until she was naked before him. The creature remained kneeling before her. With his clawed hands, he caressed the sides of her thighs and growled softly.
He brought his face to her center and kissed her core. Elise gasped and lifted her head as he slowly traced his tongue around her clit. Heat licked at her center and Elise felt herself grow wet. She spread out her legs to give him more access and placed her hands on his shoulders. The river god went in deeper, his tongue swirling and flicking against her, tasting her. He latched on to her core and suckled. Elise moaned and her legs began to shake. He teased her as Elise moved her hips against him.
She felt him draw away from her core and trail his slick tongue down to her center. He slipped inside her and Elise felt his hot tongue fill her, moving and stroking through her.
“Oh... oh my god,” Elise breathed. Unable to keep herself up any longer, Elise slowly moved to sit back on the rock and the river god moved with her.
She spread out her legs, opening fully for him and watched as he penetrated her with his tongue. He moved his head in clean deep strokes, his tongue a wet hard muscle that pulsed and writhed inside her, swirling and rubbing against her. His tongue was long enough to fill her deep and she could feel him moving up into her canal. The heat at her center rose quickly and she could feel herself clenching against him.
The creature thrust his tongue in and out of her and Elise moved her hips to meet him.
Elise gripped the top of his head. “Fuck... Yes, your tongue feels amazing. Fuck me... make me come with your tongue.” Elise mewled as she ground against him. Blind in her need, she arched and moaned loudly.
The creature moved quicker and harder and Elise’s wet heat dripped from her center, down his tongue. Goosebumps rose on her legs as she felt the heat ready to burst from her. She lifted her hand from his head and gripped the sides of the rock to steady herself. She cried as she felt her center tighten around his tongue.
Elise screamed as she came hard around him. He moved his tongue more against her and she could feel it squirm and jerk inside her.
Elise continued to cry out even as he slowly released from her. He licked his lips and growled with pleasure, his body shuddering. Elise whimpered and moaned like an animal in heat as the river god got up, turned her over and bent her on the rock. He spread out her legs and when Elise looked down, she could see her wet pleasure gushing out from her center.
That didn’t stop the river god from sliding his thick length deep inside her. She could feel the hard ridges and smooth bumps along his shaft and it made the heat return in her center as if it had never gone.
He pounded deep into her, his hands gripping her rear. His nails dug so deep Elise felt them cut into her and she gasped. The mixture of pain and pleasure made her turn mindless again with need. He beat hard against her and Elise moaned, holding steady to the rock in hopes she didn’t fall. She looked down and saw she was still dripping. As he took her it only grew worse. Elise gritted her teeth as the creature’s slick hard cock drove into her, making her wet heat slip out to trickle down her legs and on to the wet rocks.
He came into her so suddenly Elise shouted in surprise, trembling as she felt his thick hot need jet into her. Panting, Elise stood her ground as his need gushed from her and poured onto the ground.
“Oh my god, oh my god!” Elise gasped. The river god only paused for a moment then he continued. He gripped her tightly and thrust into her just as hard as before, grunting and snarling like a feral beast.
Elise succumbed to him. Though she still kept herself up, she didn’t so much as move, allowing the river god to take her as he pleased. Her body shook as he plunged into her and her center and core were covered in his need. It continued to drip down between her legs.
She felt her center clench around him. A throbbing ache tugged at her and Elise arched and writhed in agony as the heat built in her once more. His hard wet strokes brought her over the edge and she began to move quickly against him. Her body turned hot and sweat dripped down her neck and breasts but she didn’t falter.
“I’m so wet. There’s so much... I can’t stand it. I’m going to come,” Elise cried as she moved wildly against him.
They beat against each other. Soon the pressure built until Elise tightened around him and shattered violently, wet heat squirting from her center. The river god came with her, his need filling her up and pouring onto the ground. He roared and Elise screamed, her voice echoing through the cavern out into the night.
***
Bliss.
Pure Bliss.
Nothing can compare to her.
My little goddess.
The feel of her.
Is heaven.
Now as she swims with me and I hold her close.
She smiles.
I know she feels it too.
Bliss.
Haunting Grace
Grace stared up at the towering, gothic manor with nervous anticipation. It stood two stories tall with a tower on its end and veranda on its side. The windows were shuttered and the brick and mortar walls stood covered in thick masses of vines, trailing up to the weathered and rotted roof above. Grace would have found it beautiful if not for the graffiti covering its doors and sides.
“Grace, you coming or what?” asked her friend Michael. He and three others—Victoria and Terri from her sorority, and Michael’s brother, David—were already walking up to the entrance, with David fumbling for the keys in his pack and the girls whispering and laughing nervously beside him. Grace looked at Michael and smiled.
“It’s amazing. I can’t believe your grandpa lived here.” Grace walked up beside him, lifting her pack up on her shoulders.
“Been in the family since like the nineteen twenties or something.” Michael shrugged. “No one’s lived here for at least eighty years.”
They walked up beside the three at the door. David had the keys and was turning the lock. He turned the knob and pushed opened the door which moaned in protest.
The inside was black as sin. Not even the moonlight or the light from the street lamps could penetr
ate such murky darkness.
“Ladies first,” said David gesturing to the girls. Victoria shook her head and laughed. Terri took a step then jumped back.
“Fuck that,” Victoria said, “It’s your house, you go in first.”
“Little babies.” David shook his head and took a flashlight from his pack. He gave one to his brother as Michael came up beside him; the two walked in first, waving their flashlights from side to side as if to erase the darkness ahead. The girls giggled and followed closely behind.
“There should be a living room just ahead,” Michael said pointing his light towards a dark hallway. “We can all sleep in there.”
“I thought you said there were bedrooms?” Terri asked.
“I mean, yea, but I thought you said you wanted to sleep together.” David grinned. He winked at Victoria who pushed at his arm.
“And the bedrooms are too small to fit all of us,” said Michael. “Plus, Dad took out all the beds and furniture. They’re probably full of junk now.”
“No better than down here,” Victoria commented. The flashlights circled around to reveal
crumpled pieces of ceiling on the ground, shards of wood and glass from shattered windows and broken furniture, covered in dirt and dust.
“Hold up,” said David. He rifled through his pack and took out a High Bay work light with a
battery case. He switched it on and the darkness drew back instantly, giving them a better perspective of the main entrance. David whistled and Michael cursed under his breath.
Grace stared all around, turning her body in a full circle. The ceiling to the entrance was higher than first thought; a huge crack covered a whole side, reaching from the far right wall to the center of the ceiling where a broken chandelier barely hung on its chain.
“We are definitely not sleeping in here,” Terri said.
