I started this one off with a different point of view...been wanting to get inside this guy's head for a while ;-) Dangerous Ground "You are well on the way to discharging your debt to me," I told Nyxalinth as she lay by my side, exhausted with the efforts of the past hours. I'd put every lovely bit of her to work at making up for her indiscretion with Zerith. Now I stroked her cheek gently, letting my fingers savor the softness of her skin. I had never known a mortal woman with such fine skin, especially considering her life as an adventurer. Her blue green eyes slowly opened. Regarding me with considerably less warmth than she'd displayed earlier, she said, "I would think, my Count, that you would be well satisfied by now. Personally, I doubt that there is much more I can do, for you have worn me out. But I hear tell that Lishara misses you greatly." I leaned over her, grinning in the way I knew both terrified and delighted her. She might deny it, she might fight me at every turn, but she was a deliciously wanton and passionate creature when aroused. There were no others for me-what do pretty trinkets matter when one possesses a rare jewel? "Lishara has long been in my past," I told her. "She long ago ceased to be of any use for me, but that she commands my morphoids." I purposely allowed a thick sheath of my emerald hair to fall across her body, even as my hand caressed her thigh. She tried to suppress a shiver and failed. "Will you never cease, my lord Vex? I am weary, and only mortal." She smiled then and said, "Allow me some rest, and I believe that I will be more than eager to.continue making up for my bad behavior." "Indeed you shall, and I will expect you to be eager for me indeed. Otherwise," I narrowed my eyes at her, "I might be led to think that your abrupt change of heart was all but a deception on your part. And," I continued, squeezing her thigh hard enough that she winced, "You would not wish that, no?" "No, my Count." She smiled then, saying, "I would far prefer that you be pleased with me, than angry." "I am very pleased with you, sweetness, and shall remain so as long as you remember who I am." I allowed myself the luxury of kissing her lush mouth, but just as her desire stirred, I pulled away. "I leave you to rest, sweet Nyxalinth. Make use of this time, for when I return." I dropped my voice into that husky purr that thrilled her so ".I expect to enjoy all that you offer me." Saying thus, I arose from the bed and dressed. Nyx I fell asleep almost immediately after Vex left me alone. He'd been very aggressive and demanding with me, and it'd taken all my stamina to keep up with him. When he was finally certain he'd worn me out, only then had he left me alone. And there was more to come-pun most certainly not intended. When I awoke, I was stiff and sore all over. I bore no bruises, however, for Emerald Vex disliked marring me. Red and Blackie were often more than happy to leave bruises on my tanned skin, and bite marks as well. But I wouldn't think of them right now. No wait, yes I would.in the context of Balefire roasting them alive with a fireball and Kriella running them through with her katanas-this time, it would be real. My thoughts turned to Zerith. Kriella had told me of his escape, and how he would be meeting the others at the Lake of Dreams. I had to wonder how things were going for him. Zerith made a better warrior than he cared to admit. I'd shown him how to do a few things with the saber and dagger mix I favored, and he'd taken well to it. And given that he was more powerfully built than most mage scholars were, I often wondered if perhaps he'd missed his calling. He would have made an excellent Spellsword. Or a warmage. I sighed and made ready to bathe and eat, and await my lord's return. "It will be a miracle if I ever desire sex again," I muttered wryly. "I've seen more action in my time with Emerald Vex than my friend Elsbeth could have hoped for in all her years of catting around," I thought with a grin. I did not bewail my situation-I'd given that up long ago. And while I couldn't precisely say that I enjoyed it, I couldn't deny that Emerald Vex roused my deepest passions. I'd ceased to feel ashamed of myself long ago-, as Zerith had said, this was no fault of mine. Perhaps some would call me a whore or worse. Perhaps some would say that I should have slit my own throat long ago, rather than endure Emerald Vex, and especially Red and Blackie. But I was not a whore, and if refusing to cut my throat and take a coward's way out meant I had no ethics, no virtue, then so be it. I wouldn't die because narrow- minded fools, who wouldn't understand my situation if Julianos explained it to them, saw fit to degrade me for wanting to survive. And I would survive. Better still, I would enjoy my life. Before, I'd always held part of myself back. But no more. Come whatever, heartbreak or no, there would be no more holding back. My father told me of something he'd heard while visiting a far away world one time: `Yesterday is already a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision. But today, well lived, makes yesterday a dream of happiness and tomorrow a vision of hope.' Emerald Vex returned just as I finished arraying myself for him. Finally I'd chosen to wear some of the jewelry he'd given me-even the most avaricious thief would have been delighted by the diamonds and aquamarines I wore. The daedra count's expression was grim. My heart plunged and I struggled to keep my face impassive as he said, "It would seem that Zerith has escaped, my sweet." He smiled his most charming, winning smile, yet beneath the charm it was as deadly as razorblades. "You wouldn't happen to know anything of this, no would you, lovely Nyxalinth?" ---------------------------- Shadow Walkers Realm http://www.livid.org mailto://sherrian@pagan.net PGP Public Key Fingerprint: F3C8 947E 0895 B415 00FC 5980 6497 91F4