by M. A. Thomas
“If what you’re saying is true, why didn’t you come after me?”
“Because of him,” she said.
“Eldrich?”
“He’s not what you think he is. I was afraid.”
“Don’t hold your tongue, now, old lady!”
“I was afraid he would rip me apart if I tried to take you. Most of our spells don’t work on vampires and the few that do require special ingredients and a wise hand. I have neither. I’ve never traveled outside of Barmoth. I’m a pathetic witch.”
“Eldrich is not like that. He would have never harmed you.”
“I know you love him, but he’s hiding something from you.”
“Enough! I want to know where my father is. I swear I’ll strangle you right here and now if you don’t tell me.”
“My sisters cast a spell on the castle, making it invisible and impenetrable. They helped me protect the people I love. But another witch, a powerful and old one, cast a different spell. She sent everyone to one of the unknown kingdoms. She hates you and Eldrich. She wants nothing more but to see you both suffer. I tried to bring them back. My sisters and I tried, but we could not break her curse.”
The same witch who turned Eldrich into a frog for not lying with her; the same witch who cast a spell on Zel sentencing her to death unless Lela lied with her lover, Xavier; the same witch who was now bent on forever hurting her and Eldrich. Curse you, witch! Curse you!
“What must I do to get them all back?” Lela asked.
“You’ll need to travel to her. She demands that you and Eldrich come to her and beg her for forgiveness.”
“Forgiveness?” Lela bit her upper lip.
“For the hurt you and Eldrich have caused her. Eldrich for not lying with her, and you for breaking the curse, and worst of all because Eldrich fell in love with you. For all of that, she demands you ask her for forgiveness.”
“And if I do that, will she return my father...everyone to the castle?”
“She has given me and my sisters her word.”
If Lela was to beg anything from anyone she needed to know that person’s name. “What’s her name?”
Lady Rema shuffled her feet. “She goes by the name of Stiltz.”
“I know that name,” Lela said. She’d heard her mother and father whisper it when they thought she wasn’t around and whenever she asked them about it, they’d shoo her away and tell her to go play and never speak of it.
“She’ll try and trick you.”
“Did my parents know her?” Lela asked, frowning.
Lady Rema covered her face with her hands. “The day after you were born she came before your mother and father to claim you. Stiltz had helped your poor mother after her father told a terrible lie to the King. He told your father that his daughter, your mother, could spin straw into gold and when your father found out that she couldn’t, he sentenced her to death. Bless your father, he is kind but he’s no one’s fool. He’ll not tolerate disrespect or treachery. Ah, but the wretched witch, Stiltz, helped your mother and in return for her help your mother offered her, her firstborn. You.”
“I have absolutely had it. How many more secrets are you keeping? And spinning straw into gold? Absurd, ludicrous! Gold has not existed in Barmoth for an eternity,” Lela said.
“When Stiltz came for you, your father and mother tried to dissuade her, offering her treasures and a noble position in the castle. She finally consented to one thing. If they could guess her name in three day’s time, she’d pardon your mother. Witches are secretive. We do not disclose much about ourselves and certainly not our real names. But Stiltz was careless. She thought she had won and so on the third night she walked through a remote village yelling her name. A villager, I’m convinced it was a fallen angel who was passing through Barmoth, traveled to the castle and told your mother and father. Stiltz swore she’d hurt you someday. She stormed out of the castle swearing she’d find a way to hurt you.”
Lela could not absorb the information she had just heard. It was all too much. She’d think about it later.
“If you have any other secrets, hold them. Tell me how to get to the witch.”
“She lives in the highest point of the tallest mountain.”
“Even with Eldrich’s speed and strength it will take us days, maybe even weeks to reach it. I’m not a climber. It’s impossible!”
“I will give you my broom. It can carry you both. Go to Eldrich and be back here at sundown.”
Lela wrapped her arms around Lady Rema. “All is not well between you and me. We will someday sit down and finish this conversation. But I know you did what you did because you wanted to protect me and my father.”
“Come back at sundown,” Lady Rema said.
“Wait for me here,” Lela said.
“Go.”
***
Lela made it back to the house in less than an hour. She raced up the stairs and into her room. Exhausted, her stomach full from dried, salted meat, she fell into her bed. She needed to sleep, if only for a few hours. Drifting into slumber, she prayed to the Gods to give her courage.
A whisper awakened her.
“Sweet Princess, I missed you,” Eldrich said into her ear.
Still groggy, she said, “I have so much to tell you.”
Kissing her neck, he swept his hand down her arm. “Tell me afterwards.”
His heat was driving her crazy and she felt guilty for wanting him inside of her.
His lips touched hers. She opened her mouth to him, her hand sliding down to his hard cock. She gripped its head and moved her hand up and down on it. He continued kissing her sending shivers down to her toes.
Moving her hand away from his stiffness, he said, “I have a surprise for you.”
“What is it?” she asked, moaning and squirming.
“Will you do as I say?” he asked.
She’d do anything he asked. “Command me.”
“Sweet delicious, Princess, I missed being inside of you, thrusting into you.”
“Then do it, my love. Plunge into me, hurt me.”
“Not yet. First I want to show you my surprise. I think you’ll be pleased.”
“Tell me what to do. I’m yours.”
He sat up in the bed and leaned against the headboard. “I want you to play with yourself. I want to watch you touch yourself.”
He had never asked that of her. It struck her that she had never thought about putting on that kind of display for him. She suddenly felt prudish.
The sconces on the walls shimmered light into the room. She got up and glided to the end of the bed.
Grinning, he winked at her.
“Undress for me,” he said.
She let the top of her dress fall to her waist.
“Touch your breasts.”
Slowly, she fondled her breasts.
“Yes, slowly, that’s it,” he said. “Now squeeze your nipples.”
For goodness sake, what was wrong with her? She was behaving as if this was the first time she and Eldrich had had sex. As if she had never used her own hands to arouse herself. Ah, the difference was that she had yet to put on a show for Eldrich and she was suddenly terrified. What if he didn’t like what he saw?
Breathing in, she pinched her nipples.
“Are you enjoying what you’re seeing?” she asked. I’ll die if he says no.
“Love of mine, I want you to give yourself pleasure as if I weren’t here. I want to see what you do when I’m not with you.”
Ah, yes, that she could do.
“Then don’t give me anymore commands.”
He nodded.
Stepping out of her dress, she widened her legs. She then stroked her belly button and lowered her hand to her vagina. Using two fingers, she spread her vagina’s lips.
“Sweet, delicious Princess,” he said, moving his hand to his swollen cock.
“No, you’re not allowed to play, yet,” she said, winking.
“You’re mean,” he said, smirking.
<
br /> “And you’re not supposed to be here, remember? I’m to do what I do when you’re not with me.”
He blew her a kiss. “Apologies.”
She slid a finger inside and threw her head back as she swirled her hips in delight.
He got up from the bed and came toward her. He was holding something in his hand.
“Are you ready for your surprise?” he asked, revealing what was in his hand.
“Oh, you’re naughty. Where did you get it?”
“From a village not too far from here.”
“What are you going to do with it?” she asked, biting her lip.
“Ah, so you’re ready?”
“Oh yes, oh yes.”
He dragged a chair to her and said, “Lean over it and open your legs as wide as you can.”
And she did.
He slapped her hard on her buttocks.
She winced.
“Do you want me to hit you again?” he asked.
“Yes, hurt me until I gush,” she said.
Smacking her again, he said, “You’ll drive me mad, I’m convinced of it.”
He then got down on his knees and bloody hell, began to swirl the cucumber around the tip of her vagina.
She screamed and then screamed louder as he inserted one end of the cucumber into her. Sweet Gods!
“Do you like what I’m doing to you?” he asked.
She liked it so much it embarrassed her. It also reminded her of her night with Xavier and the squash!
“Yes, oh yes,” she said.
He stood, spread her buttocks, and began to rub his cock on her. “Sweet Princess, you make me crazy.”
She flinched with anticipation.
“Let me do what I want to you,” he said.
“Yes, my prince, do as you please. Have your way with me.”
“Do you like the way my cock feels against you?” he asked.
“I love it, oh, I love it.”
He reinserted the tip of the cucumber into her vagina and then he oh so gently started entering her from behind.
When she thought she would faint from the extreme pleasure she was feeling, he sank his fangs into the back of her neck sending potent shrills up and down her body. Blessed Gods! He was having his every way with her...drinking from her, using a hellish vegetable on her, and sweet Gods pleasuring her from...
“I want you to climax first,” he said to her.
“I have multiple times already.”
He pulled her hair back gently. “Are you happy? Do you want me to do anything else to you?”
Oh, he was her prince...her beautiful, forceful, yet selfless lover.
“I’m happy,” she whispered, climaxing again.
He pulled out of her and ejected his semen on her lower back. “Forgive me, love.”
“Don’t apologize. I’m yours and you’re mine.”
***
As Lela’s drunken, fogged mind began to clear, the reality of what she had learned earlier in the day presented itself front and center.
“Eldrich!” she said.
He was sitting on the edge of the bed putting on his trousers. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”
“We need to go right now. Get up, hurry,” she said, grabbing his arm and bringing him to his feet.
Quickly, he pulled up his pants. “Where are we going?”
“A witch...the same witch who cursed you has vanished my father and everyone from the castle to an unknown kingdom. We need to meet my handmaiden, Lady Rema, at the castle. She’s a witch and she’s going to let us use her broom to fly—”
“Slow down. I don’t understand anything you’re saying,” he interrupted.
She took hold of his hand and said, “I’ll explain on the way.”
With speed, she led him out of the room and down the stairs.
“You’re not faster than me, love. I’ll carry you,” he said, lifting her into his arms. Then he took a lamp from one of the foyer’s walls, turned it on and handed it to her. “Hold it tight.”
“Fly!” she said.
Off they went. Even in near-darkness, Eldrich danced around branches and fallen trees with ease and in a few minutes, they were standing on the castle’s grounds.
“Lady Rema! Come into view,” Lela said. “I promise he won’t hurt you!” Then she whispered to Eldrich, “Please be sweet to her.”
“I’m not fond of witches but I promise I won’t hurt her,” he whispered back.
“Lady Rema, I promise I won’t drain you!” he screamed.
“Eldrich, for bloody hell’s sake, I said be sweet.”
“Oh, okay,” he grumbled. “I’m sorry. That was rude of me!” he yelled.
Lady Rema appeared holding a torch in one hand, a broom in the other.
“Come closer,” Lela said.
Lady Rema eyed Eldrich.
Lela poked him on the side of his stomach with her knuckles.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he said to Lady Rema. “I’m making a rule not to hurt you. As a witch, you should know vampires respect rules.”
She took a step forward and then another until she was standing two feet from them. “Did she tell you everything?” Lady Rema asked Eldrich.
He nodded.
“Then you understand your role? You’re to plead...beg Stiltz to bring back the King and the rest of the people she sent away.”
“I will get down on my knees and weep if I have to,” he said.
“Take it,” Lady Rema said, handing Lela the broom. “It will fly you to the highest point of the highest mountain in Barmoth. It will bring you back. It will not dissuade from its mission, I promise you.”
“Thank you,” Lela said.
“Princess, remember what I said to you earlier,” Lady Rema said, giving Eldrich a brief glance.
He’s not what you think he is. Yes, Lela remembered.
“Wish us luck,” Lela said to her.
“Be on your way, child, and may the Gods be with you.”
Lela put the broom between her thighs.
“Get behind me,” Lela said to Eldrich.
He joined her and in the next moment, the broom began to ascend. Lela closed her eyes and held on tight.
“Don’t be afraid,” Eldrich said. “I’m with you.”
She opened her eyes and looked down. She couldn’t see Lady Rema. All she saw was darkness. The broom rose higher and a thought came to Lela’s mind. One she wished had stayed hidden. Xavier. She remembered feeling safe with him when he was holding her in his arms as he glided through the air when he brought her back to Barmoth from the Kingdom of the Lost. A part of her wished he was holding her, now.
Higher they rose and she thought they were going to collide with the full moon. She stared at it. So majestic and powerful, she wondered how many secrets it was keeping for people.
“We’re almost to the mountains,” Eldrich said.
“Are you scared?” she asked.
“Of a witch? No, of course not.”
He was lying. Stiltz was the witch who cursed him, turned him into a frog!
“She won’t put a spell on you, again. I’m sure of it. That would be too easy. Her intent is to cause us both pain,” Lela said.
“I never told you how many years I spent as a frog. I lived as a slimy, insect-eating close-to-the-ground frog for ten years.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. In that time, I learned a lot about the forest, humans, and I also got to feel the sun’s rays on my skin without feeling pain.”
“Do you miss the sun?” Lela asked.
“When I was a young vampire, yes, I missed it.”
“And now?”
“Now I’m with you and you’re all that matters to me.”
Ahead, Lela could see the tallest mountain. The broom ascended higher.
For an unknown reason, Lela started laughing as the broom approached the peak of the mountain.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“This is
all so utterly ridiculous. If I don’t laugh, I’ll start crying and fall down into the trees.”
“How do you think I feel? Vampires despise witches. And yet, I find myself flying on a witch’s broom on my way to see another witch.”
She laughed, harder. “We’re quite the couple.”
“At least we’re not boring,” he said.
“Mind if after we get through this, we settle in for a bit of boringness?” she asked.
“Even when having sex?”
“Of course not!”
“You had me worried,” he said.
“Ah, don’t worry, my love. I have a few things planned for us,” she said.
“Do tell. More vegetables?” He laughed.
“Is that all you think I like?” she asked, snorting.
