by R C Knight
It was a little after midday when Zane strolled into the village. Riley was leaning on a post by the village sign. He was chewing on a chunk of meat that had been skewered onto a stick. He had obviously bathed since they returned, his wet hair hung in his face and his clothes looked brand new. “Damn it!” Riley murmured under his breath. “Looks like I just lost twenty pieces!” he yelled at Zane. “But I’m glad you made it back in one piece!”
“Where is everyone?” Zane asked as they grabbed each other’s forearms in greeting.
“They’re at the bar, eating and relaxing. If you know what I mean.” Riley winked at Zane as he turned towards the road. “Come on, I’ll join you.”
Zane walked beside Riley towards the bar. The building looked worse during the day; parts of the roof looked like they had fallen off overnight. Riley was staring at Zane with fascination. “You are by far the scariest person I have ever met,” he commented in awe as he looked Zane over. “Did they even cut you?” He chuckled as he smacked Zane’s shoulder. “Did you kill all of them?”
“Shut up, Riley,” he responded sternly.
“Oh fuck! You did, you killed all of them! Shit!” Riley bounced on his feet like an excited schoolgirl. “You’ve got to tell me man.” Zane stopped walking and turned towards Riley.
“We’ll talk about this later,” he responded as he looked around the road. “Someone could be listening.” He turned and continued to the bar. Riley stood for a minute then ran to catch up.
“Yea, sorry. Definitely not the place to talk about it,” he agreed, a hint of disappointment filled his voice.
Zane walked into the bar and found his group sitting at a table near the wall. Riley sat down next to Keira. Mikayla was sitting on Bishop’s lap, feeding him a piece of meat. Everyone had plates of food in front of them, filled with meat and bread. Bottles of wine were scattered on the table, clearly, they had been enjoying themselves. Keira and Liam were finishing the last of their food. Jackson was chewing the last bit of meat off the bone. The waitress from the night before was under the table, working his cock down her throat. The group began to cheer as they saw Zane walk over to the table.
“He’s alive!” Bishop laughed while throwing his hands in the air. Jackson looked at Zane and smiled.
“Looks like you need to relax. How about a blow job on me?” Jackson tossed a couple of coins on the table.
Zane laughed as he looked at the coins. “With how my day’s been going, I might take you up on that,” he chuckled as he looked around the table. He wasn’t a fan of the debauchery, but he understood they needed it to relax, especially after the battle they just went through. After all, I’m no saint, Zane thought with a sigh. He looked over at Keira, noticing a hint of jealousy on her face. Bishop leaned around Mikayla and smacked the table.
“Well?” he whispered loudly. “Don’t keep us waiting! How did you escape?” Bishop paused, waiting for an answer. “There were –”
Zane waved his hand in the air, cutting him off. “Not now.” He looked around the bar, unable to avoid all of the sex. Even during the day this place was like a whorehouse. “I’ll tell you all about it tonight. But right now, I need to bathe and get some clean clothes. I’ll join you when I’m done.” Zane pulled some gold coins out of his leather pouch and threw them on the table. “You guys did well today,” he said with a smile and walked out of the bar.
~~~~
Zane stood naked over two large bowls of water; a bar of soap sat in a small tray next to the bowls. His body glistened in the candlelight as drops of water ran down his swollen muscles. He dipped his washcloth back into the water and rolled the bar of soap in it. He scrubbed himself, removing the last bit of blood and dirt from his body. Zane rinsed his face with the clean water and stared into the mirror. Water dripped from his hair into his blue-hazel eyes. Stubble ran along his jaw, hiding some of his scar. He ran a finger along the scar, remembering how painful it had been.
A soft knock on the door pulled him out of his reverie. He grabbed a towel from the rack and wrapped it around his waist. He opened the door, Keira was standing there, a bundle of new clothes in her arms.
“I thought you could use these,” she said as she held the clothes out to him.
Damn she was hot, Zane thought as he looked her over. Her long, red hair fell down to her waist in curls. She was wearing a black corset with red swirls. A red ribbon ran up the front of the corset, keeping her breasts from exploding out. His eyes traveled down her body, taking in the short black skirt and thigh high stockings. She completed the look with black, leather boots. “May I come in?” she asked in a whisper.
Zane stepped back and gestured her inside. Keira gracefully walked into the room and placed the clothes on the dresser. She turned around and stared at him, twirling her hair between her fingers.
“Ah, thank you Keira,” Zane muttered as he glanced around the room. “I appreciate it.”
“Not a problem.” She smiled seductively at him as she walked over. He watched her with fascination as she placed her hand on his chest and started to trace the silver tattoo.
“Keira,” he whispered; his voice strained. She put her finger to his mouth.
“Shh,” she replied as she kicked the door shut behind her. She pushed him back until his legs hit the bed, causing him to fall backwards. She jumped on top of him, straddling his hips. “You listen to me,” she demanded in a sultry voice. “We almost died today. I know you don’t want an emotional connection and that’s fine. But I want you.” She ran her hands up his chest. “And I’ll be damned if that whore gets you and I don’t. So, shut up and let me –”
Zane grabbed her head and pulled her down for a kiss. She moaned against his mouth as she returned his kisses with fervor. Her heart began to race as her body became hot. She grabbed his arms and pinned them above his head. She leaned back and looked deeply into his eyes, her blue eyes were filled with lust and excitement. “Now this is for me.” She smiled as she kissed him again. She sucked on his ear and bit it playfully. His body shivered with anticipation as Keira kissed her way down his neck and across his chest. She made her way to his abs and slowly pulled the towel away from his hips. She looked down, a huge smile spreading across her face. “Wow, you really are special,” she said lustfully.
Zane’s head rolled back, and he exhaled deeply as Keira took him into her mouth. He could feel the stress leaving his body as she used him as her plaything. His body began to tremble as she increased her speed. His abs tensed as he climaxed in her mouth. Keira slowly pulled off his cock, licking up everything he had just released. She smiled at him as she licked her lips.
Zane grabbed her shoulders and flipped her onto her back. “Now it’s my turn,” he growled as he pushed up her skirt and ripped off her red panties. She opened her legs, making room for his wide torso. He brought his head down and kissed the insides of her thighs. Slowly, he made his way up. He dragged his tongue along her slit and was rewarded with a deep moan. He did it again, working slowly, making her squirm with anticipation. He grabbed her corset and ripped it open, breaking the silk ribbon and exposing her well-rounded breasts. He grabbed both of them and gently squeezed her nipples. She moaned loudly and arched her back as he continued to caress her breasts and eat her out. Zane began to flick his tongue against her clit. She screamed with pleasure as she orgasmed.
He kissed his way up to her breasts and sucked one of her nipples into his mouth, gently swirling his tongue around the hard peak. Keira moaned again as she watched him play with her breasts. He lifted his head and smiled at her, a faint blush on his cheeks. She pulled him to her mouth, kissing him deeply. Zane brought his hips down; she could feel the head of his cock near her opening. He thrust inside of her, causing her to arch her back. She moaned loudly and dug her nails into his back. Keira could feel every inch of him, and she loved it. Her body was throbbing as she orgasmed over and over again.
Zane continued at a steady rhythm. Keira’s pussy gripped him tightly, making his co
ck swell even more with excitement. He thrusted harder and faster, relishing her moans. Sweat dripped from his body as she screamed in pleasure. His muscles tensed up as he found his own release. His body shivered as his muscles became weak, causing him to collapse next to her. As he laid on his back, Keira rolled onto her side and cuddled into him. She lazily traced his tattoo with her finger.
“Now,” she whispered into his ear. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
“I regret not doing it sooner.” He exhaled heavily, a smile across his face.
Chapter Nine
Earth
Aria and her team walked slowly into the village. The houses and businesses were all your typical brick and mortar buildings. Their thatch roofs were in various states of repair, most of them beyond saving. A few vendors had set up small wooden stands, displaying their wares with pride. People stopped and stared at their small group as they walked down the main road. Aria looked around nervously, what the hell are they looking at? she wondered as another couple stopped and pointed in their direction. She spotted a battered hotel sign and sighed with relief.
“Let’s get rooms there.” She pointed at the hotel. Her team followed her into the building, away from prying eyes. Aria walked up to the counter and rang the service bell. An elderly man hurried up to the counter and smiled.
“What can I do for you miss?” he asked, a look of awe filled his face as he stared at her group.
“I need three rooms for the night. One single and two doubles,” she responded as she pulled out her coin pouch.
“Oh, yes.” He turned quickly and grabbed three keys. “Here you go.” He handed her the keys and recited the room numbers. She pulled out three gold coins and laid them on the counter. The man looked down and his eyes widened in surprise. “This will do nicely.” He smiled as he quickly grabbed the coins and shoved them into his pocket.
Aria turned to her team and handed out the keys. “You have half an hour. Go to your rooms, drop off your gear and clean up a little. We’ll meet down here when you’re done.” They nodded and walked off. Myra and Eliza headed upstairs to their room while Ryder and Kai made their way to the main floor rooms. Aria flipped the small, bronze key back and forth in her hand as she made her way upstairs. As she neared her room, she heard the loud moans and screams of a woman in ecstasy. Damn it, she thought as she started to unlock her door, of course I’d get the room next to the screamer.
Aria entered her room and closed the door, slightly dulling the sounds of sex from next door. Her room was small; a single bed had been pushed up against the wall. A small table with an unlit candle stood next to the bed. On the other side of the room was a rickety dresser, which was next to the bathroom door. She threw her satchel onto the bed and pulled off her leather jacket. Next, she unfastened the straps of her belt as she walked over to the bed. She gently placed the belt onto one side of the bed, making sure her daggers stayed in their sheaths. She sat down and unlaced her mid-calf boots, pulling them off and laying them on the floor. Next came off the worn jeans and green t-shirt.
Aria glanced over at the bathroom door. She stood up and walked over, the sounds of her neighbors climaxing filled her ears as she opened the door. Well, at least they’ve finished, she thought as she looked around. A small mirror adorned the wall with a worn pedestal standing underneath. A large bowl sat on the pedestal, next to it was a clay jug full of water. In the corner of the bathroom was a small tub. She walked up to the pedestal and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She could immediately see why the humans were staring. Her face seemed to have a soft glow and was perfectly smooth. Nothing marred her appearance, and that seemed to be the problem. She thought about the human they had seen on the battlefield. He had a scar down the side of his face and stubble along his jaw. She remembered how he had fought, his strength and speed seemed impossible for a human. Has time changed them that much? Or is he different somehow? Out of all the books she had read over the years, there had never been any indication that one human could fight that many demons at once.
Laughter from the room next door pulled her out of her reverie. She shook her head, grabbed the jug of water, and filled the bowl. She grabbed the bar of soap and a washcloth, quickly cleaning up. Aria left the bathroom feeling refreshed but not at all relaxed. She threw on her t-shirt and jeans, then slid on her boots and quickly laced them up. She grabbed her leather jacket and walked towards the door. As she opened the door, she did a quick check of her room. Her eyes fell upon her daggers, she walked back to the bed and picked them up. Kneeling on the floor, she slid the belt and daggers underneath the bed. Perfect, she thought as she left the room and locked her door.
Ryder was already waiting in the small lobby. “About time you get down here. I bet you were gawking at your perfect face in the mirror, weren’t you?” Ryder chuckled as he looked her over. “Or.” He raised his eyebrows. “Were you eavesdropping on your neighbors?” He threw his hands up in shock and started to laugh.
Aria shot him a stern look. “How do you know about my neighbors?”
“Lucky guess. I’m in the room below them. It sounded like quite the performance,” he chuckled.
“Yea it did.” Aria laughed as she looked around the lobby. A young couple was sitting in the dining area, staring at her and Ryder. “Have they been watching us this whole time?”
Ryder turned and looked at the couple. He chuckled, “Yea, they came down after I was already out here waiting. You should’ve seen their faces when they saw me.” His face turned serious. “We still stand out, even in these human clothes.” He waved his hands down his body, indicating his light blue t-shirt and worn jeans.
The rest of their team joined them, all of them wearing worn jeans and various t-shirts and jackets. Excitement filled their faces as they met up with Ryder and Aria.
“This looks nothing like the last human civilization we read about. What happened to the tall towers, shining buildings and their cars?” Myra asked. “Everything is so old and dirty now.”
Aria looked at her and couldn’t help but laugh at her puzzled expression. Eliza stepped in, “Myra, didn’t you read anything about the Battle of Armageddon? There was a nuclear war that destroyed most of their cities.” Myra looked at the group, a blush of embarrassment on her face. Aria regained her composure and turned to Myra.
“Sorry,” she responded breathlessly. “I thought you were joking.” She paused to catch her breath. “Anyway, the demons don’t allow the humans to rebuild. Although, there are some larger cities that still have electricity and indoor plumbing. This just isn’t one of them.” Aria cleared her throat and took on an authoritative voice. “Now. We need to get down to business. Let’s continue scouting this village.”
The group nodded with excitement as they left the hotel. They still received random looks of wonder as they walked along the worn, dirt road. Aria’s theory that they were too “perfect” seemed to be correct. The people around here seemed to be filled with wonder and fear when they saw them. She turned down an alley to avoid the stares.
“They really don’t know how to react to us,” she muttered to Ryder.
“Well, there’s nothing we can do about it now,” he sighed with disappointment. “Let’s just stay out of sight as much as possible.”
“Yea.” Aria continued down the alley, she could see another street at the end of the alley. “Hopefully this one is less crowded,” she mumbled as she reached the end of the alley and turned onto the street. Aria froze in her tracks, throwing her arms out to stop the rest of the group.
“What the hell, Aria.” Ryder shouted in surprise as he ran into her.
“Shh.” Aria scolded as she held her finger up to her lips. She turned and pointed down the road.
“Fuck,’’ Ryder whispered. Myra, Kai, and Eliza gathered tightly behind Aria and Ryder, staring down the road with unease.
A man stood in front of a woman and child who were huddled together. The man was well dressed, wearing a pressed suit and his hair
slicked back. The woman and child had battered and torn clothes. Dirt covered their faces and their hair was matted down with grime. A demon was talking to the man while another was circling the woman and child. Flames were dancing in the demon’s eyes as he talked to the man. A smile spread across the man’s face as he reached forward and shook the demon’s hand.
The woman began to cry as she held the child close. “No!” she screamed. “Don’t do this to us.” She trembled as the demon’s gaze fell upon her.
“Don’t worry my sweet,” the demon hissed; his voice filled with an evil delight. “I’ll take good care of you and your child.” The woman’s sobs carried down the road as she clutched her child closer. The demon handed the man a small pouch full of coins. He smiled and ran down the road, leaving the woman and child with the demons.
Aria lunged forward, her fists clenched, and her teeth bared. Ryder quickly grabbed her arm, stopping her midstride. “Michael told us not to interfere, Aria,” he whispered urgently, looking down the road.
“This isn’t right,” she responded haughtily. “We have to do something.” She yanked her arm out of Ryder’s grasp and started towards the demons. Ryder jolted forward and grabbed her around the waist, throwing her into the alley. She rolled on the ground, stopping in a curled heap. Ryder followed her into the alley.
“You aren’t thinking straight!” Ryder whispered angrily. He picked her up from the ground and threw her against the wall, pinning her arms to her sides. “We need to complete our mission. Would you stop for one minute and think?” Myra, Kai, and Eliza quietly walked into the alley, watching the scene unfold. “We won’t be able to help the humans if we get caught.”
Aria struggled against Ryder’s grip, the veins in her neck throbbing. “Let them catch us.” She made eye contact with Ryder, pleading with him. “This isn’t right, and you know it.”