‘I can think of worse fates,’ Kate commented. There was a hint of bitterness in her voice which seemed out of place. ‘We also found a hidden entrance to a cellar in his house. The remains of his daughter were down there, just like you said.’
‘Thought so.’ Ceri turned over. ‘Lil, would you do my back?’
‘Of course, love,’ Lily replied and there was the creak of weight being shifted off the lounger.
‘Time to go,’ Kate said. ‘We’re finished aren’t we?’
‘Uh, yes,’ John replied, sounding a little confused. ‘There’s no major hurry…’
Kate patted her partner on the shoulder as she stood up. ‘Take my word for it,’ she said, ‘you don’t want to be here when Lily puts oil on Ceri’s back.’
Lily’s dirty giggle did more to persuade him that he did, indeed, want to leave than anything Kate had said.
Battersea, September 7th
There was a naked young man sitting under the tree when Ceri arrived in the park. Every time she saw Michael in human form the thought passed through her mind that he was so young. She was a terrible, dirty, cradle robber and he deserved a younger woman. The thought was generally fleeting, and it was growing more fleeting every week, but on this night the only thing she could think of was that he looked amazingly hot.
His eyes opened as she walked closer, but he did not move. He just watched, his head resting against his forearms, crossed between skull and tree trunk. Ceri smiled at him and he smiled back, and she began to undress, tucking each item of clothing into her satchel after removing it. By the time she was down to her collar and the silver chain around her ankle she was pleased to see that his appreciation was quite visible.
She reached for the collar at her throat and stopped as she saw him shake his head. Ceri grinned mischievously and dropped to her knees beside his legs. She was leaning forward to make good use of his “appreciation” when he stopped her again, holding out an arm. A little confused, she snuggled up against him and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She draped an arm across his chest, and could not resist stroking the smooth skin.
‘How are Rhys and Kai?’ he asked, his voice soft, very relaxed.
‘Good. Kai seemed really happy. Tegan’s obviously good for him. Rhys has fallen into your father’s shoes well. The pack’s rallied around him and he seemed confident, and way more relaxed than when I first saw him.’
‘The raid went okay?’
‘Oh yeah, no trouble. The only people hurt were the bad guys. Lily got to shoot a grenade launcher.’
Michael chuckled. ‘I bet she loved that. I wish I’d been there.’
‘It was kind of fun, yeah.’
‘No,’ he said, ‘I worried about you. I wanted to be there to protect you. I know it’s a bit silly…’
‘No it’s not!’ Ceri protested. ‘I just don’t know how to say how much I appreciate it without it sounding condescending.’
‘You could so massively kick my arse without breaking a sweat,’ he pointed out. ‘You don’t need me guarding you.’
Stretching up, she kissed his neck just below his ear. ‘Need, perhaps not,’ she said. Her hand slid downward, across his stomach, and he stiffened slightly as her fingers wrapped around his still semi-hard shaft. ‘Want, though, I so want you guarding me.’
Michael let out a groan. ‘That… feels like a different want.’
Ceri gave a little giggle and lifted up the better to go down.
Kennington, September 12th
Ceri stepped through the front door and took off her coat with a grimace, hanging it on the stand nearby. It was dripping, so was she. It had been the first really bad day of the autumn; windy, heavily overcast, and constantly drizzling down that misty rain which seemed to get everywhere no matter what you were wearing. Ceri had been in to the university and now she was feeling cold and soggy.
Twill floated in from the kitchen and frowned at her. ‘You’re wet,’ the fairy said.
‘It’s raining, Twill.’
‘Did you have to bring it in here?’
‘Pretty much. Where’s Lily?’
Twill gave a little grin to indicate she was joking about the rain. ‘In the dungeon with her father.’
Ceri nodded. ‘I’m going to have a shower then.’ She trooped off toward the stairs, her jeans clinging to her legs uncomfortably as she walked.
The hot water felt glorious as it cascaded down her body, washing away the chill. She was just about up to a reasonable temperature when she felt hands sliding around her waist and a nubile body pressing into her back. ‘Better and better,’ she murmured and Lily gave a soft giggle. ‘How was your lesson?’
‘Good.’ Lily picked up some peach scented shower gel and squeezed some of it into her palm, beginning to wash Ceri rather more slowly and carefully than required for just cleanliness. ‘I think I’m getting better at the magic. I think I’m getting better at being, well, me.’ There was a slight hesitation in the movement of her hands. ‘How do you know I’m not my Dad?’
‘Faran can look like you and sound like you, but he can’t feel like you,’ Ceri tapped her head, ‘in here.’ She giggled. ‘Don’t tell him though. He likes trying to catch me out.’
Lily laughed softly, hands drifting and playing. ‘I won’t, but I’m glad. You’re my mistress, I don’t want him to have you.’
Ceri turned in Lily’s arms and kissed her gently on the lips. ‘Not going to happen, love.’ She grinned. ‘I’ve got quite enough on my plate with you and Michael.’
The mischievous look which suddenly swept across Lily’s features was a little worrying. ‘Sure?’
Ceri laughed. ‘Quite sure. Why?’
‘Jessie called while you were out. She’s got a role she’s casting for. A hot Dom to get double-teamed by two hunky man-slaves and she thought of you. Interested?’
‘Two at once? On camera?’ Ceri asked. She cuddled up against Lily, letting the water warm her back.
‘Uh-huh.’ Lily began soaping Ceri’s back, enjoying the cuddle for a while before the silence got to her. ‘Ceri? You okay?’
‘Oh yes,’ Ceri replied, ‘I was just thinking about the offer. What’s the pay like?’
Lily’s eyes widened and she pushed Ceri back to look at her. ‘You wouldn’t!’
Ceri started giggling. ‘The look on your face…’
###
About the Author
I was born in the vicinity of Hadrian's Wall so perhaps a bit of history rubbed off. Ancient history obviously, and border history, right on the edge of the Empire. I always preferred the Dark Ages anyway; there’s so much more room for imagination when people aren’t writing down every last detail. So my idea of a good fantasy novel involved dirt and leather, not shining plate armour and Hollywood-medieval manners. The same applies to my sci-fi, really; I prefer gritty over shiny.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stor
ies, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
Writing, sadly, is not my main source of income. By day, I’m a computer programmer. I work for a telecommunications company in Manchester, England. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
For More Information
The Thaumatology Blog: http://thaumatology.wordpress.com
Further Reading
Thaumatology 101 – ASIN: B006IYIESW
Demon’s Moon – ASIN: B006JPN7A0
Legacy – ASIN: B006OKR8PK
Dragon’s Blood – ASIN: B006JPN7A0
Tales from High Towers’ Study (Anthology) – ASIN: B006ZAJ7TY
Table of Contents
Part One: London City Blues
Part Two: Blue Murder
Part Three: The Green Hills of Home
Part Four: The Wages of Sin
Part Five: Underbelly
Part Six: A Portrait of Revenge
Part Seven: Taking Care of Business
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