by Darcy Abriel
Gulietta lifted a hand to touch the front of the main, black iron door that separated what was now her world, from the human world. She looked at Quintus.
"So, your soldiers built this wall and it has lasted all these centuries."
"Yes. And no one passes through unless I authorize it."
"And what does Marius do?"
"He keeps the books. Who passes through, when they do so. He also maintains the records of Antius's children. Which women, when conception took place. For the most part there is no other record of the births except in Marius's book. No record in the human world, that is."
"I have a birth certificate. I could even collect Social Security, I expect, if I took a job in the States."
It was Marius who answered. “True, you are the exception.” He brushed a hand over her hair. “But then you are the exception in so many ways, sweetling."
She turned around to face them, her back flush against the black door, and looked at each of them. “I have a photograph of my mother standing in front of this gate. I always wondered what she was thinking. And now I think I know."
"What do you know?” asked Quintus.
She stared up at him. A Roman warrior, no doubt about it. Lethal and yet the way he made love to her took her breath away.
"I know she had a decision to make. She must have known she was pregnant."
Just as Gulietta knew she was carrying a child. There was a sense of another soul existing inside her. She looked at Marius. So much like Quintus and yet so different. The afternoon she had spent with them had turned into four delicious weeks. She had wanted to stay there forever.
But she couldn't put off facing her father any longer. She knew when she got up that morning what she had to do.
Until she came to Reate, she'd been using contraception, but for some reason once she'd entered her father's kingdom she'd forgotten all about it. Hadn't even brought the pills with her. Making love on the other side of the gate did not necessarily culminate in pregnancy. So she'd been told. That's part of the reason there was such sexual freedom. No disease. No pregnancy. No guilt.
Except for those days surrounding the fertility festivals. Then whatever procreative veil kept the women pregnancy free, fell away. And no one seemed to mind. They seemed to embrace the opportunities.
But she had been having sex on almost an hourly basis outside of the gates while at the villa. Beyond the veil, in the human world. They all should have realized there would be consequences.
Or maybe she instinctively knew it and ignored what might happen.
"My mother didn't have an easy time with her decision. I think she loved Antius, but she also knew that once she passed through this gate there would be no going back.” She tilted her head to look first at Quintus and then at Marius.
"Will there be other wives, other lovers in your life once I've made my choice? Once I'm pregnant with your child?"
The men looked at each other and then back at her. It was Marius who answered. “You realize you are a satyress and unable to maintain fidelity to one man. For a satyr to remain true to one person simply doesn't happen.” He looked at Quintus.
And it was Quintus who finished. “We have accepted the reality of mating with a satyress. To be honest, neither one of us expected to fall in love with you. But you might as well know, we are in love with you. But the one you will have will give an oath of fidelity. Once that choice is made, the other will walk away. Neither my brother nor I will cross that line. Whomever you may take as lover, we have agreed. Once your choice is made, you will never bed the other of us again."
"I see. So you've made that pact between yourselves then. It doesn't matter what I want."
"We have to accept that you are a satyress and there are ingrained instincts of that magical breed. We accept that."
"You accept it in exchange for your freedom from my father."
"Partly, yes."
This world was so strange to her. “Unbalanced” was the word that came to her mind. The human part. Or maybe there was some sort of odd balance that she didn't quite understand yet. Surprisingly, considering her so-called nature, she'd had no desire for another man since encountering these two gorgeous Romans. Their words made her wonder if it would last.
She thought of her father's court, the many Sabine women there, the numerous children. They all seemed happy and content with their lives. She'd been told Sabine women birthed fraternal twins of a sort—one female, usually with only human qualities, and one male, usually satyr. There had never been a birth like hers. A female who was also satyress. Not in this region. She was one of a kind. And what would her child, or children be like?
In one sense that scared her; in another it exhilarated. One of these men had sired the child she now carried. Or maybe both. Who was to know in this crazy world she'd been thrust into? And thus her need to see her father.
"All right. Let's go to my father. I'm ready to tell him my decision."
Quintus pulled out the large iron key and unlocked the door. Gulietta stepped through the gate without a second thought. Immediately her antlers and hooves reappeared. While at the villa she had almost completely forgotten about them. Okay then. “Well, I guess we're back. Let's go to my father."
They made their way to Antius's castle and entered his greeting room.
"Gulietta. Where have you been? Everyone's been searching for you.” He gave a dark look to Quintus. “You should have brought her back immediately."
"Let me do the talking,” she said just low enough for both Quintus and Marius.
She strode forward, both men flanking her to either side. “I've been at Marius's villa in the human world. It was my choice and no one was going to make me come back here until I was ready. I heard you were trying to dupe me and play my lovers against each other."
Her father leaned back in his throne. Two Sabine women knelt to either side of his chair. A third brought him a glass of wine, then sat on the step at his feet.
Gulietta was certain she knew exactly why her mother had left this place. She had to have been a strong woman to make the choices she did. Gulietta had never realized how much determination it must have taken to sever her relationships with someone she had loved so deeply.
"Would you like some wine, daughter? A new blend from Bacchus. I think you'd like it."
"No thank you. I've come to inform you of my choice. Your game is at an end."
"So, you've decided on one of them then. Which shall it be?” He lifted the glass to his mouth.
She reached first for Quintus's hand and then for Marius's. “I'll have them both, thank you."
Antius almost spilled the wine as he surged to his feet. He shoved the glass at one of the women, who fumbled to catch it before it dropped to the stone floor.
"You what! You will do no such thing.” He glowered at her.
"Look at you, Father. You have women scattered all over this realm. And you think to confine me to one man.” She laughed as she released her hands from the firm grip of her lovers. “I think not. It may have been your game, but you gave them both to me for a trial run, so to speak, and now I have accepted them both. They are mine and you will release them from your service."
"That was not the wager. Only one was to be set free."
Hands on hips she strode toward her father. “That wager was not with me. I claim both. Marius may continue to do your books, but you will free him to be my lover. I have need of my men on a regular basis. They will not have time to run errands at your beck and call. They have done enough of that for the last centuries."
"You would take it all. My Romans, my women. Everything. Who do you think you are to assume you have that kind of authority in my kingdom?"
"Your daughter, Antius, but my mother's as well. I am one of a kind, the only satyress in your kingdom. In the future any woman who you take as lover must come of her own free will, not because of a blood pact. The world is changing, Father, and you will have to learn to change with it."
"How dare y
ou think you have the authority to demand anything from me?” He took a step toward her. Immediately Quintus and Marius stepped closer. Antius halted, his expression showing his shock.
"So, I see the way it is. They would betray me for you. You must spread your legs quite adequately."
"Antius,” Quintus's tone was more of a warning growl. “Be careful what you say."
"Father, you brought me back here. You sent your Romans to me. I think you wanted to set me on a pedestal, a show of your power and magnificent stud status. But I am not a thing to be manipulated by you. And now you must pay the price for your vanity."
"Damn you. Just like your mother. Stubborn and territorial."
"Are we agreed? Or do I take my lovers and leave this realm forever. I think they will come with me. And I will soon be powerful enough to stop you from achieving any retribution.” She added one last twist. “And you'll never see a grandchild of mine. And that's what you really want, isn't it? My power transferred to a male who will inherit your throne. It's not me you want, but a satyr child bred of strong Roman blood and satyr's get."
She saw something in his eyes and knew she had struck very close to home.
"Get out,” he said. “I'll summon your return when I decide to forgive your ill manners, brat."
"Very well, Father. As you wish. But Quintus and Marius come with me."
"You'll mate with one of them at the next fertility festival. I want that child."
She smiled slowly. “You'll be happy to know the breeding has already been accomplished. I'm with child. So your price is already met."
Both Quintus and Marius looked at her with shocked expressions. “What!"
She spun around, reached for each of their hands and with head held high, walked out of her father's throne room.
They both halted her once they were outside the castle.
"You're pregnant?” Quintus asked.
"Who?” Marius wanted to know.
"Does it matter which of you sired this child?” She reached up to cup each of their jaws. “I love you both. You both satisfy me and please me. I'm afraid I can settle for nothing less than both of you. For now, you are all I want. I think all I have ever needed. I don't know what my nature will bring down the road. I expect I'll have a long life living here and much to learn."
First Marius leaned forward and kissed her. And then Quintus did the same. She smiled contentedly.
"Let's go home. We really need to get a different bed. I've become used to that big one at the villa.” She looked at Quintus. “Maybe you can get a few of your Romans to build us a good solid one."
He leaned forward and kissed her. “The only ones getting near your bed will be Marius and me."
Marius cupped her jaw and turned her to face him. “Well, Satyress, I would say the fates certainly do have a way of getting back at Antius for his game playing and bartering over the last centuries."
Gulietta laughed. “We shall see.” She was certainly looking forward to having these two gorgeous Roman wolves in her bed for a very long time to come. Antius was very likely to be sorry he ever asked for her return. How splendid was that?
This one's for you, Mother. And for me.
Her laughter trailed behind her as she headed back to her new home.
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Darcy Abriel
Darcy Abriel delights in writing the stories that rouse the dark side of emotion and passion. Going back to the days of Saturday Night Chiller Theaters, series such as Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits, toss in a little Alfred Hitchcock, and these are the stories that have always fascinated Darcy. That edgy sense of danger that leaves one tingling. Be it a roller coaster ride, a Dracula movie, or a good erotic horror read at the darkest slice of night. Visit the dark side with mystery and passion, eroticism and tingling fantasy. Explore what makes your heart pump faster, your blood run hotter, and the adrenalin surge. Edgy, mysterious emotions are what drive a Darcy Abriel story.
Find out more about Darcy at www.darcyabriel.com.
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