by JK Ensley
*****
The old cabin was severely run down, yes, but abandoned it was not. Jenevier heard the drunken laughter echoing far out into the woods. In the next breath, she was opening the door and stepping inside.
“Well, well, well… Lookie what we have here, boys.”
“Looks like someone wants to join our little party. An uninvited someone, that is.”
“Hey, pretty lady. Come on over here if you want to join the fun. We’re just about to get started.”
“But we can always accommodate one more lusciously slick set of lips.”
Jenevier quickly counted heads. Each man was as wicked and guilty as the next. No innocent sister or male companion present.
“Truly?” She smiled then. “A party? Well, I count myself lucky to have made it in time. Who’s the honored guest?”
“You are, little lady. Come here and sit in my lap. Show me what ya got under that coat. Let me have a good feel.”
“It’s just you and this pretty little thing right here,” another man added. “She wanted to have a real good time tonight. Didn’t ya, girlie?” He glanced back at Jenevier. “But don’t worry your pretty little head none. I’ll save some for you, too.”
Their depraved drunken laughter turned her stomach. She looked at the poor terrified teenager. Her shaking hands were bound in front of her. A dirty gag was tied around her mouth. She was filthy and traumatized, yes, but Jenevier could see no other injuries.
At least her clothing is still intact. She flashed a radiant smile. “Wow, she is lovely. Is she not?”
Jenevier walked toward the mortified girl. The child looked so very young, so very innocent. Her eyes were stretched wide with fear. All the color had left her pale cheeks and she was trembling like a snared baby rabbit.
“What say you and I give these fine, handsome men here a little show? Hmm?”
She sent the young girl a secret wink as the intoxicated crowd roared their approval. The child faintly nodded her understanding.
“Step over here with me, Lass,” Jenevier said, taking her bound hands, leading her away from her repulsive captors.
“Okay, boys. Are you ready? Is everyone here? I don’t want even one of you gorgeous men missing out on this. It’ll be a show you will never forget. I promise.”
She had been untying the rope binding the trembling girl. Then, she spun her around to face the jeering men.
“Hang on! Wait a minute. Where’s Rudlin? He’ll definitely want in on this.”
“Yeah, and Mordon. Where’s Mordon? Is he coming tonight?”
“Forget Mordon. He’s no fun. Besides, he never takes part anyway, so he doesn’t deserve to get to watch this erotic little feast.”
Everyone cheered.
“Shall we wait for Rudlin, then?” she asked.
“Forget him, too. He passed out when he went to take a piss behind the house. Get on with it.”
They roared again as Jenevier placed her hands on the girl’s trembling shoulders and ran her fingers down the innocent little fragile arms. When the men cheered again, she quickly whispered to the girl.
“When I say go, you run until you reach town. Stop for nothing. Understand me?”
The girl quickly nodded her head. Jenevier untied the gag, leaned in, and lightly kissed the precious child on the cheek. Their ruckus roars echoed through the night. During all the excitement, she swung the door open and shoved the girl out into the moonlit darkness.
“Run!” She slammed the door and turned her sexy smile back to the stunned drunkards. “What can I say? I’m selfish. I wanted you all to myself. Come on, gentleman. Let’s dance. Who wishes to be first?”
Her angelic ruby eyes glowed…
*****
The girl ran as hard and as fast as she could, never looking back. She heard someone running through the darkened woods beside her. She panicked and began running wildly just as the shadow sprang from the trees and grabbed her. They rolled across the dusty old horse trail. Her terrified screams stopped only once she had recognized the shadow’s frantic voice.
“Floria. Floria. It’s me, Alastyn. It’s okay now. I have you, baby girl. You’re safe now.”
Willow caught up with them and held her little sister as the girl choked out, through her sobs, the story of the beautiful woman who saved her and was still trapped within the cabin.
“We can’t just leave her there to take Floria’s place. Oh, Alastyn,” Willow cried. “Imagine what they’re doing to her right now. We have to help her.”
“There’s no way the two of you are going anywhere near that place. Here, take my knife and hide over there in that brush. Don’t come out for anyone but me. No matter what, stay right where you are. Understand?”
“Be careful, please,” Willow said, trembling.
“If I do not return, go get the constable and bring him here after dawn. Do not go to that cabin alone.”
Alastyn could hear the heart stopping screams from a long way off. He ran towards the cabin, not sure exactly what he would do. Eight grown men would be more than a handful, and now he had no weapon. Yet, he could not leave that poor woman to die all alone after she had sacrificed her life to save Floria.
The almost constant screams only reaffirmed his fears—that selfless lady would not be long for this world.
All was silent by the time he reached the cabin. He headed for the front door, but stopped short when he heard a gruesome, sluggish, tearing sound coming from behind the rundown old shack. He ducked into the bushes just as a tiny woman—barely five feet tall, dressed all in black and humming—casually walked the length of the house and out onto the winding old trail.
“…Jenevier?”
The name slipped out before he even thought it fully.
The girl stopped humming and turned toward him, eyes narrowing. Alastyn cautiously stepped from his hiding place several feet away from the tiny, silent figure. She didn’t speak. She only cocked her head to the side and stared.
“Jenevier.” He choked out the name.
Still, she did not respond.
“Is it really you? But how?”
Silence.
“Jenevier, even by moonlight, your hair gives you away.”
She didn’t speak, only slowly raised a blood-soaked hand, running it through her mussed curls.
Fear suddenly seized his throat, cutting off his air.
“Y-you’re bleeding. Are you hurt?”
She was covered in blood, drenched in it. He ran toward her, but she disappeared into thin air. Alastyn was horrified by what he was certain he saw, but couldn’t possibly believe.
He cautiously opened the cabin door, and immediately retched up his entire stomach’s contents.
Chapter 56
Varick
(VAH-rick)
She was instantly back, standing in front of the door to her rented little room. A tiny note was stuck within the frame. She looked up the hall and back down. No one was around. She carefully unfolded the tattered paper…
Tamar Broden
Broken Wheel
Two days hence
Dusk
Prince
Jenevier crumbled the odd little note within her bloody hand and opened the door.
“You didn’t even change, did you?”
The beautiful voice startled her. Then, recognition caused her to reflexively roll her eyes.
“Come now, Varick. It is way too much fun to catch vermin like that off guard. It’s exhilarating. Me being so small—they never see it coming. Fear not. I used my claws. Promise.”
“It is too dangerous, especially here.”
“What’s so special about this place?” She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s just like a million others I’ve roamed.”
She took off her blood-stained jacket, secretly tucking the crumpled note underneath as she laid it on the dresser.
“You have become far too much like Vareilious—careless and overconfident.”
“Vareilious is your bes
t warrior, my love. Besides, what would you have me do, have me become? Vareilious mercifully taught me how to laugh off the misery I must witness. He taught me to channel it. And then it just… well, it manifests itself like this.”
“But, Jene—”
She held up her hand, cutting off his protest. “Varick, I don’t know what the good way is of accepting what I now am. I just try my best, every single day, to hold it all together. Not crack under the pressure.”
“Yes, my love.” He took her hands in his. “But that certainly does not mean you should mimic his tedious bad habits.”
“Varick, do not count me as your child. I have been absent you for months. If you wish to speak to me, speak to me of my beauty or how much you miss me and love me. Tell me about how you couldn’t possibly live without me in your arms, upon your bed, pressed against your perfect lips.”
“All those things and more, lovely maiden. But, first things first. You need to bathe. There’s filthy swine blood drying in those beautiful golden curls.”
*****
When her head popped up out of the steaming water, Varick’s angelic face was next to her.
“Do you know where you are?”
“Yes, Captain. Fourth layer, town called Haven.”
She answered him precisely, dutifully, as her commander. He rolled his eyes. She didn’t notice. She was looking straight ahead, shoulders stiff.
“Yes, and do you know where you are near?”
“Ousten, sir,” she barked, still in combat mode.
“Ugh, think maiden. The fourth layer is Ashgard.”
“Oh. Yes…” She relaxed a little, allowing her shoulders to slump slightly. “That would make sense, now, wouldn’t it?”
“Why?” He furrowed his brow. “What happened?”
“Nothing. Well, not really.”
She blushed slightly, cutting her eyes away from him.
“That’s never a good answer coming from you.”
She chuckled. “Well, I never think of this world in terms of my home. Not anymore. It simply didn’t dawn on me. That’s all. I am only Vanir now.”
“Yes, my love. You are Vanir now. But you were born in Moorglen and lived in Tamar Broden. This is a tiny layer compared to some of the others. You have friends and family throughout whom could easily recognize your human form. When Vinika told me of your current mission—”
“Oh wait, let me guess. You panicked, as always, and came here to make sure I was okay.”
“Well, are you?”
“Am I what?”
“Okay?”
“Yes, my love. I’m fine. Mission complete,” she said dryly.
“Is that so?” He turned her chin back to face him. “Then, tell me what it was that happened. It must be terribly exciting since you are so desperately trying to avoid mentioning it.”
“It was nothing.” She nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders. “Perhaps someone recognized me is all.”
He cleared his throat. “Where?”
“Well…” She snorted. “That may be the only little problem.”
“Where?” he pressed.
“Ugh.” She rolled her eyes. “Leaving a cabin full of bits and pieces of about eight or nine vile men with filthy souls.”
“Oh, is that all? And who was it?”
“I’m not for certain. I believe it was the raven-haired boy. But he was all grown up. I mean, he was reallyall grown up. No longer a boy… all filled out and—”
She took Varick’s growl to be the warning it was meant to be and ceased her detailed recollection.
“Apologies, I only meant… he was older now. And he had changed… a lot.”
She couldn’t help but smile at the thought, then quickly turned her head, trying to hide her grin.
“Umm Hmm. And, did you speak to him?”
She grabbed some of her curls, holding them out so Varick could get a good look.
“Like this? All covered in blood and guts?”
“Did he speak to you?”
She blushed. “Yes.”
“I see. And what did he say?”
“He called my name. Said he knew me by my hair.” She absently ran her fingers through her wet curls. “After all these years, can you believe that? I was shocked. I mean, how can he remember such a thing as my hair after more than ten years? Surely he hasn’t been searching for me all this time. Waiting for me to return. That would be madness,” she said absently. Or love, she thought.
He cleared his throat again. “Anything else unusual?”
She jumped as his sharp words ripped away her musing thoughts. Her heart raced every time he took that tone. It reminded her of their training.
“Umm… Nope.”
“You only say nope when you are hiding something.”
“Very well, no, then.”
“You have definitely been spending way too much time with Vareilious. I don’t like it.”
“Too much time?” She snorted out a laugh. “I haven’t seen him in months. Besides, I rather like being compared to Vareilious. Everyone loves him.”
“Irrelevant,” Varick snapped.
“I miss my old friend terribly. He’s so much fun. The bloodlust and intoxicating adrenaline that courses through my veins during battle… I understand why he is like he is. I get him now. Vittorio, too.”
Varick growled again.
“Apologies. But why such jealousy over mere words meant only for fun?”
“That is precisely what I mean. Think about it. Being seductive and turning on drunken slime so you can get a bigger thrill out of killing them with your bare human hands. Avoiding answers with cute little sarcastic comments. Entertaining lascivious thoughts of a raven-haired young man I know you were once attracted to. Not to mention, joking about accidentally killing innocents with Vinika.”
“She told you?”
“No. I overheard her laughing about your ridiculous little conversation concerning you know who. It is totally out of character for you, Jenevier. It sounds more like him, more like Vareilious.”
She rolled her eyes. “Are you my warden or my lover?”
“Sadly, I am neither. I am your Guardian. I only wish to be your lover.”
She shot him a wickedly mischievous smile. “Even when I misbehave?”
He absently bit his lip and tried, unsuccessfully, to rein-in his increasingly desirous thoughts.
“Especially when you misbehave, Princess.”
She giggled, but dared not push him further. When she was finally clean, Varick wrapped her in a towel and began brushing out her long silky curls.
“You are so beautiful, so perfect,” he whispered.
She felt his desire pressing against her back.
“Umm… Varick?”
“Yes, my love?”
His hot breath in her ear made her shiver with excitement. She couldn’t go on speaking. His sensual kisses trickled down her neck, continuing past her bare shoulders. He gently laid her back upon the bed, smiling as he covered her with his glowing body. She let out a tiny gasping moan when his tender attention reached her anxiously awaiting breasts. He wasn’t usually this passionate, this unreservedly intimate. Not without trying to warn her away from him, and always stopping just past the point of her no return. She ran her fingers into his luxurious angelic hair and pulled his head back so she could look into his enchanting amber eyes.
“Varick?”
His lids were weighted down with desire. She bit her lip.
“Yes, my Princess.”
“Do not do this thing right now. Please. What you are doing, it isn’t good. I am yet heightened from battle.”
“Heightened?” He wasn’t focused on her words. “What are you talking about?”
He asked the question, yes, but covered her answering lips with his. He hadn’t kissed her with desire such as this since the Valley of Trees—their first time, when he came to her as Alzeen. She relished in the wondrous attention of his sensually exploring tongue. She placed her han
ds on his sinewy shoulders and squeezed. For the flicker of an instant, she thought about pulling him hard down against her, but she went with her original intent and gently pushed him back.
“I am still heightened, Varick… from battle. Do you not understand? What you do with me now, is not a good thing.”
He pressed upon her further, kissing the tender spot at the base of her neck, muffling his words.
“I know not of this heightened you speak of. I only wish for you to cease your words and let me please you properly.”
Her eyelids fluttered when his words were cut off as he took her breast in his mouth once more. She moaned and drew her knees up to his sides. Her nails slid down his back, causing his guttural purrs to increase.
“It’s something Vittorio taught me,” she rasped.
He was gently exploring the tender spot just below her navel, the spot that always made her squirm. She had her fingers entwined in his ethereal hair when his head suddenly jerked up. He glared at her. Jenevier had been lying on her back with her eyes closed, enjoying every tiny touch. When his sensual explorations came to a screeching halt, she half opened her eyes, lifting her head slightly before she saw the fire in his. It was no longer a passionate fire that burned within them. Not by a long shot.
“What?” she whispered. “What happened?”
“Tell me more of what Vittorio taught you. I was wondering why I always seemed to catch his scent near the door to your home. Does he visit you often? I did not realize the two of you were so close.” He growled through his gritted teeth. “And I certainly did not know you were so learned in the ways of love. Tell me. What did my skirt-wearing brother teach you?”
“What? No, no. It’s not like that.” She sighed. “Vittorio simply warned me about the aftereffects of battle rage. He explained how the blood runs hotter and the nerves are heightened to the point of exploding. Oh, and it’s a kilt, not a skirt.”
His look had softened, but turned darker after her kilt comment. A devious smile pulled up one corner of his mouth in a devilish grin.
“Sooo,” he purred. “You are heightened right now?”
“Yes, extremely. I can hear my blood pulsing through my veins. Every single nerve is absolutely vibrating with sensation. So you see, this thing you do to me now is not a good thing, Varick. Playing and kissing is all well and good, just… not right now. Not this night. If you continue on this path, I will go mad when you stop.”
