The curse of Kalaan

by Unknown

  “My love,” Catherine cooed with her soft feminine voice, hiding her hostility. “First help rid me of my bodice. I’m literally suffocating with desire for you.”

  Kalaan gloated for one short moment, when saw doubt clouding Virginie’s beautiful eyes and could see her confusion. After the story she’d just told him, she wasn’t going to play the frightened little prude, was she?

  Night had almost fallen, yet Kalaan felt no pain warning him of the coming transformation. He only had the unpleasant pins and needles in his hands and feet. For once he was impatient for the transformation to occur so he could avenge the pain Virginie had caused him.

  “Ginny?”

  She jumped when he called her name and swallowed. She regained her composure and smiled a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Then, on her knees, she crawled over to Kalaan who had his back turned to her, so she could undo his dress.

  “Mu...must we… go… so fast?” Virginie asked stammering, trying to control her voice. She undid the hooks on his dress and started unlacing Catherine-Kalaan’s corset with trembling fingers.

  “If you love me as much as you say, then yes!” he answered, enjoying the young woman’s sudden hesitation.

  “We could try to become better acquainted first, don’t you think? Before we…go all the way?” Virginie asked, hopeful.

  “As you did with Kalaan?” Catherine couldn’t help herself; it had to come out. She turned to look at Virginie, and held her hands in a tight grip.

  When Catherine’s loosened bodice dropped, revealing her taut full breasts with their rosy nipples, Virginie looked away in modesty. She tried to pull her hands free, muttering excuses and looking out the window at the nightfall.

  Kalaan thought she looked disappointed and weary, but his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of tearing fabric and he looked down to see his body transforming, once more, without any pain.

  “Oh... my Lord!” Virginie, who was on her knees, fell on her bottom, her eyes transfixed by Catherine’s rapidly shrinking breasts, the widening torso, ripping the seams of her bodice and lower down, the rippling pectorals forming a tautly muscled and very masculine abdomen. Then she raised her chin and looked up. Her eyes were wide in shock as she placed her hand over her mouth to stifle a cry. Catherine’s face was deformed, moving horribly, in plain transformation, to slowly become the face of Kalaan.

  He seemed totally unaware of the change in his features as he stood up in a torn dress, with ripped sleeves hanging off his brawny arms. Virginie, however, crawled backwards as fast as she could until her back hit a china cabinet.

  At that moment Kalaan, disturbed at not having felt any pain during the transformation and devoured by the desire to show the young woman who he really was, noticed Virginie, shivering and despondent from what she had just witnessed.

  Seeing her in that state, all anger vanished. Despite her perfidy he felt nothing but compassion for her. She had, after all, just seen something unbelievable and at the same time, lost her soulmate.

  “So… it is really true,” Virginie whispered, slowly regaining her composure.

  She scrutinized Kalaan from head to toe, seeing his magnificent body for the very first time, a body she could only have imagined since their first night of lovemaking was in the pitch-black night when she could only feel his body.

  Kalaan frowned. She was incredibly bewildering! Shouldn’t she have screamed or run off for help? Become a nun in order to have God’s protection against evil?

  “Is what really true?” he asked, in his rich baritone voice as he tore away the rest of the fabric hanging off his arms and chest and kicked off the skirt revealing his virile legs covered in very torn stockings.

  Virginie started to laugh, trying to stifle it at first; but then she broke out laughing freely, so much she had tears in her eyes. Kalaan looked absolutely ridiculous, despite his powerful charisma.

  “Is it always like that?” Virginie wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes and asked, as she pointed to the shredded stockings.

  He was wearing little more than what was left of the stockings, a pair of very old-fashioned white bloomers and his shoes. At the sight of him Virginie could not hold it in any more and began laughing so hard she was rolling on the floor. Her reaction puzzled him but as he watched her, the question she asked finally made sense in Kalaan’s mind. She’d asked if it was always like that.

  “Virginie?” he called out questioningly.

  Then, in an access of frustration, he pulled off his shoes and the remains of his stockings throwing them helter-skelter. He hastened to her side in his bare feet, knelt down to grab her and forced her to look him in the eyes.

  “Ginny!” he called her name again, but more firmly, hoping she would come out of her hysterics, which she did, slowly.

  Her lips and voice still trembling from laughter, she murmured,“Ladies’ bloomers suit you beautifully.”

  “How many fingers am I holding up?” he asked, his heart pounding.

  “Five!” Virginie answered her eyes looking deeply into his. “I’m not insane, Kalaan. I never have been, by the way. And it’s thanks to Clovis,as well as what... what I just witnessed, that I finally understood. Your skin, your bones, your hair, oh my! It was horrible; everything was suddenly moving and transforming you!”

  “It’s difficult enough as it is to go through. Please, don’t tell me what it looks like,” he begged, smiling weakly. He went on, raising his eyebrows, “So, Clovis told you my story?”

  Virginie shook her head to say no, and Kalaan immediately understood. He gave a long sigh.

  “You were there, nearby, and you heard everything we said?”

  “Yes,” Virginie confessed, gazing hungrily at the face of the man she loved, its virile contours highlighted by the light of the flames. “I was looking for a place to calm down and think about everything that was happening — how I felt about Catherine and you, and also that horrible monster. I was hiding behind the well when Clovis called you ‘Monsieur.’ Right then I knew I wasn’t losing my mind, but later, after your conversation and your confession ... everything came together in my head and I was extremely upset with you for having played such a trick on me. And yet, even while I was putting on that pretense earlier, I still couldn’t quite believe the extraordinary story. I started thinking I would have to apologize to Catherine.”

  Kalaan sat down next to her and took her into his arms. As he cradled her, he want to laugh, shout his joy on the rooftops and at the same time, scold her, before showing her his passion! So, the little vixen had feigned everything to back him into a corner and force him to tell her the truth.

  “Everything you told the thing was false?” Her words had caused him so much pain, Kalaan still needed to be reassured.

  “Retribution, Kalaan, simple retribution. You should have trusted me, confided in me much sooner. When I was with Catherine, I mean you… heavens but this situation is complicated, I had the same feelings, the same attraction.” A moment later she continued, “The thing, is that what you call yourself when you’re a woman? I heard talk about a curse, a dark spell and… does magic really exist? Oh, I’m such a ninny, of course it does. You’re the living proof it does,” murmured Virginie again, as if to herself.

  Of course, she had to answer for herself; Kalaan couldn’t get a word in edgewise.

  When she finally stopped talking to catch her breath, he seized the opportunity.

  “Yes, Ginny, my dear,” he said, smiling tenderly at her. Then, his face clouded over and he continued. “The occult world does exist and I paid the price in Egypt. It all took place inside a mysterious building after I touched a black stone in the shape of a pyramid,” Kalaan explained, raising his hand to show her the scar. “This has marked me for life.”

  Virginie took his wrist, and caressed the wounded palm with her lips. From his palm she lifted her face up towards his and kissed his strong chin and started running her fingernails across his chest, making him quiver with desire
. The young count made an effort to control his hunger because he needed to have a conversation with her before they could let their bodies sing together.

  “Will you remain Catherine from sunrise to sunset for the rest of your days?”

  Kalaan nodded and smiled bitterly.“Yes, until death sets me free, according to the texts.” he replied gloomily.

  “Tell me about the curse, I want to hear the whole story.”

  Kalaan got up and took Virginie to the fireplace where he laid out a thick sheepskin and they sat down on it, closely entwined, their eyes looking into the fire. And so, Kalaan told Virginie about his adventure starting with the story of the strange edifice at Amarna with Jean-François Champollion and ending with his urgent return to the Isle of Croz.

  “Jaouen and Salam are doing everything they can to find a cure that will set me free.” As Kalaan ended his story, his hands were gently playing with Virginie’s soft hair. She turned to him and kissed him lightly on the lips.

  “I hope for your sake, that they succeed,” she said quietly.” For when you think of the number of people who now know about the curse, your secret could very well be known to the whole world. Your mother and sister knew the very first day you were home!” She said, shaking her head. “They must have laughed at my expense!”

  “Oh, no, no, my sweet! They only wished to protect you and were worried about your reaction. They weren’t exactly stoic when they saw me transform the first time. You arrived just after, with an ax in your hand,” Kalaan said, smiling at the memory. “And I strictly forbade them from speaking about it.”

  “Would you accept to live at our side, mine and Catherine’s, for the rest of your life?” He suddenly asked, looking at her, his eyes full of hope.

  “You... that... is that a marriage proposal?” She stammered and sat up straight, while he lay back on his elbows, his magnificently muscular body on display for her.

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Kalaan! Oh, yes! Yes, a thousand times yes! I have loved you for such a long time, even when the feeling was not mutual. There has only ever been and only ever will be you!”

  “I was such a fool, Ginny, my love. My heart was cold as stone and in that alone, the curse has been good because it opened my eyes and showed me what is most important in this world — you, and my family.”

  Virginie leaned down and kissed him passionately, lacing her arms around his neck and lying down half on top of him as he lay down completely on the sheepskin, holding her tight. Desire rose in them like fire. Their slow, languid kisses soon became passionate and burning and as Virginie and Kalaan’s bodies sought to conquer each other once again, their caresses became more intimate.

  “Wait, ma kariadez,” Kalaan whispered before rising with quick agility to pull the heavy curtains and lock the door. “’Tis only 6 o’clock and we could easily be disturbed if the house stayed open.”

  He came back to her walking seductively, but stopped in his tracks when Virginie started giggling as she looked at his hips.

  “Blasted woman’s bloomers!” Kalaan growled before laughing with her and tearing off the lace and cloth of the annoying undergarment. Finally he was free.

  Virginie, suddenly breathless, stopped laughing, for Kalaan, sublimely naked, was standing before her. He was once again the god of lava, and she was already quivering at the thought of being consumed by him, over and over again. Kneeling near her, he asked her to turn her back to him and started to slowly undress her, kissing and gently biting every inch of skin as he freed it from her clothing.

  Still behind her, Kalaan cupped her breasts in his hands lightly playing with her hardened nipples. He leaned his powerful chest against her back while gently pushing his hips into her making her feel the extent of his imperious need for her. Virginie, moaned, her loins on fire and her heart throbbing. She leaned her head back and placed her lips on his neck biting him too. He groaned, and his caresses became more and more insistent. With one hand he reached down under her skirts.

  Kalaan began stroke her warm intimacy while rocking in rhythm with Virginie, their mouths locked together and their tongues meeting and dancing around one another. He slid two fingers inside the warm humid heart of her femininity and drank in her panting breath. Quickly, he liberated her from the few vestiges of clothing that could be an obstacle to the culmination of their passion.

  Facing each other, they were both naked on their knees and Kalaan could finally admire the beauty of his beloved. The contours of her velvet-like skin were lit gold by the light of the fire.

  Words were useless, and the lovers gave in to their desire to be united as one. Virginie pushed Kalaan onto his back and climbed on top of him. Impaling herself on his member, she let out a long cry of sheer voluptuous pleasure. Surprised by her verve and enthusiasm, Kalaan clenched his teeth and thrust his manhood even deeper inside her, gripping her hips with his hands to prevent her from moving.

  “Gently, Ginny my love,” he groaned before letting out a muffled moan as the young woman’s intimate muscles began contracting around his sex.

  The hell with gently! He was overcome with violent urge to rock back and forth inside her, powerfully plunging to hear her sigh and sing out her pleasure.

  Kalaan began moving faster and faster, Virginie rocking to meet him each time he thrust his organ into her sheath. They were united as one being, and the wave of ecstasy swelled inside them consuming the two lovers before finally carrying them to the ultimate explosion of pleasure where they shouted their love for each other.

  They had just experienced a true explosion of senses and their bodies trembled for a long moment before their breathing finally slowed enough for them to close their eyes and find sweet rest.

  It was paradise until they were shaken awake by pounding on the door and Lil’ Louis’ worried voice calling out. This was unusual behavior for the old man, so they knew something very serious had happened!

  Chapter 19

  The time has come

  Virginie hurriedly pulled her dress on over her naked body while Kalaan strode into the next room, coming out a few minutes later wearing dark trousers and pulling on a white shirt. His face was taut with tension as he glanced at the young women. She nodded her head to confirm she was ready before he turned the key in the lock and opened the door onto Lil’ Louis. The chief mate was standing there, deathly pale, fist in the air ready to start pounding again.

  “Mabig[68]! There’s been trouble!” he shouted as he entered the room. He was in such a state of turmoil that he didn’t notice Virginie in the room.

  “You’re injured!” Kalaan exclaimed in concern as he took a step forward. Lil’ Louis’ shirt was covered in blood.

  “’Tisn’t mine!” the old man reassured his captain as he pulled his trousers up over his potbelly.

  “Who…?”

  “Let me speak lad and I’ll tell ye! This mornin’ we took the Darius person and the priest on board like ye asked. ‘Tis certain! We had a good laugh, t’were all sick as dogs all the day, the boat was pitchin’ hard. Oy even thought they were gonners, they dinna move until we reached shore this evenin’. The boys carried Charles-Louis onto the levee and put him on the cart. But the other one… when we turned round for him, he was standin’ straight and tall, fresh as a daisy! Ma Doue, Oy’ve never seen anything like it! It takes a week for a man to recover like that. The last time Oy vomited for hours…”

  “And the blood?” Kalaan interrupted him impatient to learn the origin of the red stains.

  “Ya,” Lil’ Louis sighed as he scratched his head. He was avoiding the count’s eyes, to hide his sadness. “’Tis yer wolf,” he finally said. “’Came out of nowhere and started growlin’ and barin’ his teeth at Darius. ‘Twas scary he was, th’beast! Most o’ the men were petrified. But… not Darius. He started laughin’ and the wolf leaped at ‘im. That’s where the devil pulled out a knife and stabbed the wolf in midair! He was laughin’ like a madman and would have stabbed the poor beast again and again if w
e hadn’t surrounded him! Doue... he enjoyed that... and his laugh... t’would freeze yer blood.”

  The entire time the old man was speaking Kalaan quietly listened. He stood very still with a darkly dangerous expression on his face. He was once again the ruthless pirate, ready to face the enemy. Everything about him made him almost frightening the controlled rage, his nostrils flaring with every breath. He understood that after detecting the scent of the person who had killed the sheep, the husky followed his trail all the way to the port where he found Darius Borgas.

  “He’s crazy, that one, yes he is,” Lil’ Louis declared sitting heavily on the bench facing the door. “He, he licked th’blood on the knife and went off towards the inn whistlin’, as if nothing happened.”

  After hearing Lil’ Louis’ horrible account of what happened to Skedaddle, Virginie’s legs were shaking, but she hid her fear and approached the old sea dog, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, which made him jump. It was the first time he noticed her presence in the room.

  “Mam’selle Ginny, yer here!” he cried out, trying unsuccessfully to stand up. The young woman took his hands in hers and sat next to him.

  “It’s all right, Lil’ Louis, you’re with us now,” she whispered, using a voice she would have used with a child. She wanted to reassure him, but also reassure herself. Darius’ behavior proved he was a lunatic.

  “Nann[69], not after what I saw...” he murmured, shaking his head as if to forget the horrible scene.

  “I will take care of him,” Kalaan growled through his clenched teeth, his voice hardened and hoarse with anger. He put on his boots and jacket before attaching his sword to his waist and picking up his pistol.

  Now it was Lil’ Louis turn to keep Virginie from standing up. She wanted to block Kalaan’s path.

  “You won’t be able to stop him,” he said to her. “And you mustn’t!” In a louder voice he addressed Kalaan, who was leaving the longhouse. “’Tisn’t dead!”

  “Who?” asked the young count, who had stopped and turned his head. Virginie could see the muscles of his clenched jaw and the blood pulsing in his artery.