by Megan Parker
She blushed, arching an eyebrow, “Oh? And what does that mean for us now? With me being a cure, and all?”
He stared at her a moment longer and smiled, letting his hand trace over her cheek, “It means that, right now, I’m taking my first dose of a lifetime remedy!” His hand found her shoulder and pulled her into him once again, slamming his lips to hers and taking in all of her essence with a greater understanding of what it meant.
Moaning, Serena lifted her chin more to match his efforts and deepened the kiss. Neither of them were used to giving in; had never backed down in a challenge, and it showed then and there. For every ounce of pressure one put in, the other matched and surpassed. Their combined efforts—a violent eruption of passion and desire and need—had them clawing each other’s clothes from their bodies in a mad-dash effort to rid themselves of anything that could come between them.
As the last burden of fabric was cast away they began to worship every inch of the other’s skin; nipping at necks and kissing along the length of exposed shoulders and down further to flesh that, despite the rising heat, had become tight and puckered. Their senses were overwhelmed by the sound of their racing hearts and the torrents of blood coursing through veins and further fueling their mutual need.
Serena groaned as his mouth paid homage to her heaving chest and she moved her hand along his side until she had his length throbbing in the palm of her hand. The sexual energies increased as their contact grew. Zane gasped at the contact, his warm breath rushing over the lingering moisture his kisses had left on her chest and causing her to shiver and writhe beneath him.
Not ready to give him his victory, she met his passion with her own; pumping her hand along her prize and biting her lip as she watched his face shift into a mask of ecstasy; the first bead of moisture surfacing against her palm and trailing back down its length.
Refusing to succumb entirely to her skills, he countered her touch with his own; letting the fingertips of his right hand trace down her stomach and into her depths. Heat and moisture enveloped his advances and he felt his breath catch in his chest as he watched Serena’s face wash over with pleasure as she leaned her head back in a silent moan and exposed her throat in its entirety to him. And, though he ached to taste more of her—to take more of her into him—he was more driven, at that moment, to fill her with himself instead.
No longer able to keep score over whose passion had tipped the scale, they offered one another a silent draw as their mouths found one another again and they became one.
Nikki sighed as she watched the group finalize their plan against the Keith-vampire that had seemed to make quite an impression on all of them.
Though she and the rest of her tribe had never had much direct business with The Council, she understood that there had long-since been a shaky truce between them and all Taroe, who—because of their practices and knowledge—posed a potential threat to the Mythos community’s secrecy, which, from what Nikki had gathered, was a key motivator to most of the laws they worked so hard to uphold. In this regard, however, she was in understanding, since her people had always thrived because of fact that they hid their activities from the humans. While there was nothing inherently inhuman about her or any other Taroe—who, though she hated to admit it, were still just humans with an advanced understanding of magic—their paranormal activities were enough to draw the attention of the supernatural creatures who valued secrecy and ambiguity as much as they did. Still, while The Council’s affairs had never directly impacted her, she was very aware of the power they wielded and what that power meant for every living being on the planet; human or Mythos.
A power, it turned out, that Keith was using for selfish and vengeful purposes. And while she hardly considered herself an expert in the subject, it was worked into the minds of every Taroe youth that entered into adulthood with the tattooing rites that power of any kind should never be wielded in such ways.
It was why the Maledictus curse had never been used before—or after—Zane had brought it down on himself.
An act, ironically enough, that brought The Council down on their tribe.
Just like the elders had warned; power wielded against somebody in anger will only bring anger back upon them.
And though she was supportive of their goals, she could not will herself to be interested in the tedious planning process they were applying to it. As the group’s incessant banter cycled back and began again she tried to hold back a yawn.
And failed.
“Is something boring to you?” Serena asked, lifting her eyes to her.
Nikki frowned as the attention of the room turned to her, “I just feel like you’re thinking about this way too much.”
Serena frowned, “You’re saying we shouldn’t plan our approach?”
“I’m not saying not to plan,” she offered, “So much as I’m saying you might not want to make your plans so rigid. You can plan for years on how to react to an attack from the front, but, if when the day comes to fight, you’re attacked from the side, then you wasted all that time and focus on something that didn’t allow for any adaptation. Furthermore, if you’re dealing with a perfect vampire—who can use his aura to read your thoughts and attack with the speed and strength of a sang—then would it really be in all of your best interests to walk in with everyone thinking the same thing?”
A collective frown washed over the room as everyone realized that what she said was right. Though she had successfully shifted the judgment on her, she nevertheless resisted the urge to jump onto the table to do a victory dance, knowing that it would only serve to reverse what she’d just achieved.
“So, what would you suggest then, Nikki?” Zane glared, stepping behind Serena and setting his hand on her shoulder.
Nikki frowned and felt her chest tighten as the tension rose, but forced herself to shrug it off, “Well, I haven’t known any of you for very long, but I see no reason why you shouldn’t be able to handle yourselves using your natural abilities. It looks like you all understand the situation and how you want things to turn out, so why shouldn’t you all be able to do what’s come natural for so long?” She smirked, “Besides, it’s not like he or his followers can plan any more than you can, since both of you”—she nodded towards Serena and Zoey—“can ‘see’ their thoughts just as easily. Plus, and I hate to be the one to say this, but you do have your ace-in-the-hole.”
Zane frowned at her, “And what would that be?”
Nikki bit her lip as she watched him brace himself for what he knew was coming and she sighed, “You, Zane. If it gets too bad out there, Maledictus will do what it’s made to do.”
A deep, rumbling growl started in Zane’s chest and started up his throat. Just before his lips had a chance to part to let it out, Serena’s hand raised and came to rest on his sternum, stifling his growing rage and muting the encroaching snarl in the process. Startled, he looked at her, uncertainty warping his enraged features.
Serena smiled warmly at him and nodded, “They’re just tattoos, Zane. Don’t let them wear you.”
Zane bit his lip, “But we can’t just—”
Serena increased the pressure on his chest, “We will do whatever works for us.” She looked at Nikki and smiled, “I remember, when we were still young, playing in these woods with Keith. One of my favorite things to do was play a game called ‘stronghold’. Keith hated the game not only because he could never win, but because it was also the only thing I beat him in every time.” She leaned forward and nodded at Nikki, “Now, the rules of ‘stronghold’ were simple: we each built a small structure—our personal strongholds—with materials we found around the woods. We would pick different spots to build on to try and vary the outcome, but it never worked for Keith. You see, once we were finished building our strongholds, Keith got to send an auric blast at both of them. Just one blast against both structures—the same force against both of them—and the winner was whoever’s stronghold was the least destroyed.
“What you just said
about not relying on a single, reinforced plan reminds me a lot of why I always beat Keith. Even as a kid Keith was all about strength and rigidity—I swear he was born with a stick up his ass!—but I knew that when his aura hit our strongholds, that if anything was too stiff, it would drag everything else with it. He could never figure out why his strongholds—which were built from the thicker, harder branches and always bound tighter and tighter and built taller and taller with each new game—toppled every time and mine—built with thinner and more flexible branches that I wove loosely in a pyramid shape—hardly shifted under the force of his aura.” She laughed, “He actually started throwing harder and harder blasts, and while he did start causing some damage to my stronghold, his would be demolished!”
Zane looked over at her, “Serena?”
She beamed brighter and nodded, “I like you, Nikki! You’re not afraid to call an entire room on their bullshit and prove them wrong in doing so. And, though he hates it, Zane’s situation canhelp us in a pinch. No matter how hard my asshole of a brother and his followers hit us, if we can hit him just as hard and be more flexible while doing it, then none of them will be left standing. My father once told me that what separates a good leader from a great leader lies between knowing you’re good enough and admitting when others are better.”
Zane and the rest of the room stared at her in shock.
Nikki blushed, “What are you saying?”
Serena smiled and nodded, “I’m saying that when we step out there to do what we need to do, I want you to lead us. I’m saying that I want you to be our general!”
“Ah! It feels so good to have a place to work out again!” Nikki mused to herself as she stepped into the training room where a few of the therions of Isaac’s pack were weight-training. As she started to get settled in, however, their activities fizzled until they just stood and watched her begin to stretch with a little too much interest. Smiling at the attention, she turned to them and winked, “Sorry, boys. I’m still getting over my last therion lover.”
They groaned and scowled as they moved on to other activities and Nikki smirked before she channeled her energies around her and began to throw her empowered punches and kicks into a reinforced punching bag.
“That thing is going to get demolished by the time you’re done!” The therion named Isaac mused as he paused from his sparring with the vampire named Zoey long enough to watch her assault on the sandbag. Nikki had noticed the two had been really close since she had gotten there.
She shrugged and drove her fist into it once more, “Better it than me, right?” She grinned.
Turning back to the sandbag, she narrowed her eyes at it, imagining Zane’s face for a moment before driving her fists into the center of the bag repeatedly.
“Nikki, we need your help with the plans,” Zane called out as he stepped into the room.
“What plans? I thought we’d decided against too much planning!” She shook her head and sighed, sending another powerful punch into the center of the training bag.
“Please refrain from destroying our equipment. It’s not made for your type of magic.” Zane sighed.
She smirked, noticing that a few of the supporting rails above her had begun to warp, “Didn’t know I was that strong! You should probably invest in stronger equipment.” She rolled her eyes and turned to Zane. She could certainly see the appeal that the Serena girl saw in him, he wasn’t a total loss in the looks department; though it didn’t change the fact that he was a grade-A asshole. Still, she could get used to the face and body.
Besides, it wasn’t him she liked.
“So what do you need?” She asked.
“It’s this whole Keith mess.” He said simply.
As if it was ever that simple, she sighed. “Oh? You sound like you have something in mind.”
“Not particularly, but if you’re going to be leading us then I’d like to know what you had in mind.”
Nikki smiled and looked at the punching bag and shrugged, “Well, one of the benefits of being what I am is knowing that very few understand what they’re dealing with. A human would think I was a monster and a Mythos would think I was nothing more than a human,” she smirked over at him knowingly, “So, at any point in a battle, I’m either against somebody who’s either already afraid of me, or underestimating me.”
Zane frowned, “Is there a point to this? I’d like to get back to Serena soon.”
“Oh I won’t be long,” Nikki chuckled, throwing a gentle punch into the sandbag, “Anyway, what I’ve come to learn from this is that—afraid or unafraid—it’s never hard to get the enemy to get sloppy. Either their nerves get to them and you get them desperate not to die,” she drove several more punches—growing in tempo with each strike—into the sandbag, “or they shift their focus because they’re certain they’ve already won.” Zane frowned as she continued to throw her magic-laced punches and began to mix some kicks into her approach and the sandbag continued to shift and pitch under the impacts, “Either way, when the opposition gets sloppy, their hold on the situation gets weaker and weaker until…” she drove her fist into the sandbag, letting it swing out before driving her leg into the side and tearing it from the ceiling and sending it crashing to the floor and spilling sand all over the gymnasium.
Zane sighed, staring at the mess and looking up at her, “You know you’re paying for that, right?”
Nikki smirked, “I’ll make you a deal, Maledictus; if I succeed in leading you and the others in tomorrow’s battle, then consider me settled up. Otherwise, I’ll pay ten times the damages!”
“If you fail,” Zane frowned, “we’ll be dead.”
Nikki smirked and patted his shoulder, “Like I said; consider me settled up.”
Zane sighed as he stepped through the door to his and Serena’s room, grumbling as he locked up.
Serena smirked and looked up at him from the bed, her purple eyes meeting his mismatched bright gaze, “That didn’t take you long.”
“She broke a sandbag and told me to bill her…”
Serena giggled, “Well, at least she’s taking responsibility, right?”
Zane sighed and shook his head, “Yea… if we die!”
Serena cackled.
“Yea, it’s hilarious.” Zane sighed, “You and her are clearly made for each other!”
“Well, as true as that might be,” she smirked, “she’s missing a few things that I’m looking for in a lover.”
“Oh?” His eyes sparked and he studied her shape under the sheets with refreshed interest.
Serena smirked, seeing him stare and she shifted to give him a better view of her, “Oh my, Zane. Are you ready for another go, again?”
“What? Is five times too many?” Zane gave a phony pout as he walked towards the bed.
Serena smiled and started to peel her shirt off, “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll tell you when you’ve had enough.”
“And if you can’t stop me after that?” He smirked and leaned closer, kissing her neck causing her to gasp.
“Mmm! I don’t know. I don’t think I could say ‘no’ even if I wanted to,” she confessed, smirking.
He smirked and continued to kiss lower, “Then I guess I have nothing to worry about.”
“You know me,” she groaned as his lips traced her naval, “I… I aim to please.”
Zane grinned and reached down, “Oh? You too? Then maybe you can tell me how my aim is.” She moaned loudly as he found his mark and bit her lip, “Oh! Looks like I’m still an expert marksman.” He smirked.
Tired of the games, Serena pulled him down and wrapped herself around him.
The forest was cold and quiet in the throes of dusk, even more so than usual. With a low-hanging cloud of mist turning the landscape into a haunted haze, Zane and Serena and the rest of their small, lackluster army of surviving Vail warriors marched together in the clearing.
There was no question if Keith and his group were there—of that they were all certain—but the atmosphere and his auri
c shields made knowing his exact location and intentions impossible.
Serena frowned as she felt the first wave of doubt rift through their ranks and she looked over at Zane. “Do you think this will work, Zane?”
Zane nodded, his familiar warrior swagger throwing extra power behind each step he took, “No worries, babe! We got this one in the bag!” he sighed and looked forward “It’s like Nikki said; we’re covered for the worst.” He lingered on that thought a moment before he looked back and smirked at her, “Besides, you do have your one, unmistakable talent.”
Serena smirked, remembering her discussion earlier with Zane pertaining to the skill that had rapidly made her an iconic force—one that trumped Keith, Zane, Devon, and any other who dared to try their luck with her—and made her nothing short of legendary in her applications…
Her uncanny ability to piss anybody off!
She laughed again and flipped her hair proudly as Zane reminded her of just how skilled she had become at getting under the skin of anybody in her path, and while she thought—hell, she goddam knew!—that Zane hadn’t simply agreed to this revelation for her sake, she hoped that the “gift” wouldn’t fail her when it counted for something more than a petty argument.
“Damn-straight, it’s gonna work!” Nikki grinned as her tattoos began to shimmer with the promise of battle as she peered through the rows of trees and pulled out two Sais and rolled the forked swords in each palm to check their balance one last time.
At an unspoken cue, the group stopped their advance in the center of the clearing and prepared themselves for what was next. Isaac and the rest of the therions had already transformed and, as they saw the vampires give the signal and prepare their weapons their bestial forms shifted into view from the trees and surrounding landscape and they moved forward to join them.
