San Francisco Covens: Crucible

by Manuel Tiger

  “There’s been quite a few people who have been run out of town for the old families will close rank and set to work on making life in Heaven Falls near unbearable. Sometimes, accidents happen as a warning.

  “So unless you were born here? Newcomers are kept at a distance, always watched to see if they prove suspicions true. Being with Mister Salvadori will promise you protection from that.”

  “You make Heaven Falls sound dangerous, Anna.”

  “Despite how people want to make Mister Salvadori out as this dangerous bad boy? There are far more truly dangerous things in Heaven Falls and its surroundings.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Let’s just hope you never find out Hen. Towns like Heaven Falls have two types of people in it,” she said exhaling. “Those that know and those that ignore.”

  “Could you elaborate a little more?” I felt my There’s-A-Story-Here instinct kicking in.

  “Not at the moment for my boss is yelling for me,” she sighed heavily. “Maybe we could hang out in a few days? Talk some more then?”

  “I would like that.”

  “Great! I’ll talk to you later, Hen.”

  She ended the call and I stared at my phone – the phone that Daman got me as he insisted for me to accept the gift of the phone and satchel – and felt my curiosity aroused.

  Was there something dark beneath the placid, Old South veneer of Heaven Falls?

  My mind quickly took the leap to cover ups, maybe even mysterious deaths or some past or slowly brewing scandals. Couple that with a possible supernatural angle? I may have an interesting piece to write.

  Of course the only place to begin looking was the archives room in the basement of the Gazette to see if such had been written about. Maybe not, if the town was exactly as Anna said it was. But the reporter in me was beyond curious.

  “I was told you were rolling around in the stacks without me.”

  I looked up from the reading table and saw Daman descend the last remaining steps of the stairs that led down into the basement.

  I glanced at my watch and saw that it was thirty minutes after closing time for the Gazette. I had been so engrossed in researching that I had let time get away from me.

  “Sorry,” I said standing up and carefully folded up the newspaper I had been reading. “Didn’t realize that time had gotten away from me so quickly.” I took the newspaper and returned it to the plastic sleeve it had been stored in and returned it to the large dusty box that resided in front of me. “I was doing some research.”

  He smiled and walked over to me and leaned against the table. He was dressed in a tight blue shirt, black jeans and boots. His raven colored hair was brushed back to form a widow’s peak as he glanced down at some of the other newspapers that were out of their protective sleeves.

  “Research on the history of the town?” he asked turning my notebook toward him and reading what I had written down so far.

  “Yes, for a story I thought I write since the one hundredth anniversary of Heaven Falls is coming up this autumn,” I said picking up the box and going back into the stacks to place it on the shelf I had taken it from.

  “What you see of the town now, Henry? Is pretty much as it was one hundred years ago,” he said as I came back out, adjusting the white gloves I was wearing. “Only with a few more buildings.”

  “I’m not surprised,” I said coming over to him and kissing him on the lips. He smiled and latched onto my tie pulling me in closer to kiss me back as his hand came to rest on my hip. He fitted me between his legs as I draped my arms over his shoulders as he deepened the kiss.

  For several long minutes we stayed like that till it became necessary to breathe. I gasped softly when our lips parted.

  “You do know how to take my breath away,” I whispered lightly bumping my forehead against his as he grinned.

  “I know of many, many, many other ways to take your breath away,” he whispered.

  I felt my cheeks warm as I smiled back at him. “Before I ask you to do such? Could you hand me that box behind you? The one marked with the eighteen hundreds archives? I just want to do a quick scan through them before we head out.”

  He glanced over his shoulder and I could feel him tense for a moment, his hand on my tie briefly tightening around it.

  “Daman?”

  “Sorry,” he said turning his attention back to me, sliding his hand down to the end of my tie. “But I think you’ve done enough research for today. I’m a bit jealous that I’m competing with old newspapers for your attention.” He playfully pouted his bottom lip at me.

  I grinned. “Nothing could ever compete against you,” I said kissing that pout as he suddenly grabbed me by the waist and pushed off from the table as he walked me backwards into the stacks and deep into the aisle of shelves. “Daman?”

  “Let me do some research of my own,” he said, his tone already husky, aroused as he pressed me up against a shelf, kissing me again as he took my gloved hands and pressed them above my head. I moaned into the kiss, arching my body toward his. “A very, very thorough search,” he said against my lips, his blue eyes dark as he dropped his hand down and cupped me, massaging me through my slacks.

  “Here? At my place of work?” I whispered blushing while I hardened beneath his hand.

  “I don’t recall you being so shy when we fucked in the theater,” he whispered back with a devilish grin.

  “Well, I was moved by the performance and aroused at the same time,” I replied. “And you were looking quite beautiful that night as well in your tux.”

  “So were you and so are you now,” he said kissing me again before he pulled back then quickly dropped to his knees and undid my belt and slacks hastily. “Just give me a taste, enough to hold me over till we get back to River Haven.”

  “Daman,” I gasped as he pulled my cock out and was already taking me between his lips, his mouth warm and wet as I groaned and pressed back against the shelf.

  My hands gripped the top of the shelf as he began to bob his head back and forth, to suck me hard and quick as I groaned and tried to muffle my moans for fear of being heard by the janitor that I knew was still upstairs cleaning up.

  By the time I finished cumming he was already up and spinning me around pressing me back up against the shelf as I heard his belt come undone followed by the sound of his jean zipper being pulled down. I heard him spit into his hand and next I felt was him pushing into me.

  “Daman!” I whispered harshly, groaning as his hands reached around slipping beneath my shirt and roamed over my body, his fingers teasing my nipples, pinching them as his mouth latched onto the side of my neck. “Fuck,” I whispered as he gently bit the side of my neck, a small piercing pain erupting as he latched his mouth more firmly, pulling me back against him even though I was already pressing back into his crotch to have every inch of him inside of him.

  He slammed into me hard and covered my mouth with his hand to muffle the moans he was working out of me. I reached down and around him, grabbing hold of an ass check to press him firmer against me, feeling the flexing muscle beneath my hand as he drove himself over and over into me with harder, rapid thrusts that left me feeling dizzy and light headed from the onslaught as he continued to suckle on the side of my neck.

  By the time we were done I was a heaving, sweaty mess leaning against him, feeling quite content if not a little lightheaded.

  “I…I think I like your type of researching,” I whispered as I turned my head and kissed him, greeted with his mouth as he delved his tongue between my lips for a moment, sharing the taste of myself with me.

  He pulled his mouth away, panting against my lips. “Let’s do more research in the bedroom of River Haven,” he whispered, nuzzling my nose with his.

  And we did and I forgot about the research I was doing till a meeting next week in which Belle Dawn announced that there were some boxes missing from the archives room.

  “It’s come to my attention that some of the archive boxes
have turned up missing,” she announced at that morning’s meeting. “We’re looking into it and checking with the library as well to make sure we simply didn’t forget and sent them some of the archives.”

  “Which archives are missing?” someone asked.

  “Some from the early twenties and forties, and the eighteen hundreds. We are mostly concerned with getting the eighteen hundred archives back,” she said. “They are extremely rare.”

  Even as this news was delivered to us I knew that it bore some importance, but for the life of me I couldn’t remember why it should. I simply nodded and like the rest of my co-workers and hoped that the archives were located and safely returned.

  By early October I was staying with Daman more than at the townhouse. Every weekend we began driving up to Richmond to look at townhouses or apartments to find one suitable for our weekend getaway. But until we settled on one we often stayed in one of the upscale five star hotels in the city.

  “Are you happy?” he asked one night as we laid in bed. The doors to the balcony were open allowing in the sounds of the city below and that of a cool breeze that only had me pressing closer to him, resting my head on his chest while my arm laid across him.

  “More than I thought I would ever be in my life,” I replied kissing his chest.

  “That’s all I want to hear,” he whispered dreamily, running his fingers through my hair. “I want ask you something.”

  “Yes?” I said as the old fear began to creep back into my head, to begin softly whispering to me.

  “Would you do an article on me for the Heaven Falls Gazette?”

  I lifted my head up and looked at him as he cupped and caressed my cheek gently with slow, sweeping motions of his thumb.

  “Of course. About what?”

  “I’m thinking of turning over River Haven to the historical society of Virginia and moving permanently to Richmond.”

  “Oh,” I said trying to keep the disappointment out of my voice.

  “With you.”

  “Oh!”

  He arched a brow, a slight frown forming. “Did you think I was moving away and leaving you, Henry?”

  “No, yes, maybe?” I said looking away guiltily.

  “I would never do that to you Henry,” he said turning my head back toward him, his face, like that of his tone, serious. “You and I are a package now so that where I go? You go too.” He pulled me back to him so that we were lying lengthwise, chest to chest and nose to nose as he looked into my eyes. “I was thinking I could ask some friends that are editors or owners of the local newspapers here in the city to see if they will hire you on, if you wish to continue working.”

  “I would. I feel like I’m taking advantage of your generosity since you refuse to listen to me when I try to tell you not to buy me things.”

  “It would be an insult to my honor if my lover refuses my gifts, and you’re not taking advantage.”

  “I still feel guilty for letting you buy me things when I have a job.”

  “Let me, Henry, please?” he said taking my hand into his and bringing it to his lips. “I enjoy the surprise look on your face. It is genuine, honest.”

  I relented with a nod of my head. “When would that time be in which the move will happen?”

  “In a year or two.”

  “Are you sure you wish to give up River Haven, Daman? We could still continue going back and forth like we are doing now.”

  “I suppose that we could,” he said tracing the lines of my face with a finger. “But River Haven holds only memories of my past, of events of my past and I rather start anew and make new memories with you elsewhere.”

  “My mother used to say all that it took to wash away memories was either a new coat of paint or a shopping trip.”

  He laughed softly. “That is some unique advice.”

  “She also believed that setting on cheap furniture could give one hemorrhoids. I kinda learned when to listen and not to listen to her.”

  He smiled as he traced my lips. “You don’t speak much of her, or of your father. I trust they are still alive?”

  “They are and they are a topic I’m rather inclined not to go into,” I said kissing the tip of his finger.

  “Will you ever tell me of them one day?”

  “When the time is right.”

  “Very well, Tesoro.”

  “Tesoro?”

  “Italian for treasure.”

  I laughed and shook my head.

  “You are Henry,” he said bringing his hand to cup my chin. “Sei il mio tesoro.”

  “Your Italian accent comes through perfectly when you speak it.”

  “And your Boston one comes through when you’re moaning.”

  I bit his finger and he grinned then wrapped his arm around me as he turned and pinned me beneath him.

  “One I love to hear again and again,” he said gazing down at me. “But first, I must ask another question.”

  “Which is?”

  “This,” he said brushing his fingers along my stumble. “Why haven’t you shaved yet?”

  “One? It’s the weekend. I’m feeling lazy,” I replied turning and kissing the inside of his hand. “Two? I never shave during winter so get ready to see me hairy.”

  “All over?”

  “Just my face.”

  “I look forward to seeing you with a beard then. I may grow one myself now.”

  “Oh really?”

  “We already dress alike. Why not look even more alike?”

  I rolled my eyes and pushed lightly at his chest.

  “There’s a reason for that.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes, for my boyfriend –”

  “I like hearing that term. Use it again.”

  “My boyfriend,” I said leaning up and kissing him on the lips. “Keeps buying me clothing when I ask him not to. And said clothing tends to resemble his.”

  “Only a few times,” he replied. “As you recall? You already have a closet back at your townhouse that is filled with clothing that already resembles mine which came from before we met.”

  “Maybe we were fated to be then.”

  “Mm, I like this thought very much,” he said settling firmly atop me, slipping himself between my legs that wrapped around the back of his loosely. “And there is another thing I like as well.”

  “What’s that?” I said feeling his cock hardening against my leg followed by him slipping his hands under me and cupping my ass.

  “When my boyfriend moans and his Boston accent comes through,” he grinned as I laughed, shoving at his chest as he kissed me, laughing himself. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and soon that laughter changed to soft moans as we lost ourselves to all else but each other.

  “So you two are now the beard twins?”

  I looked at Anna then over at Daman as he made his way back toward the booth carrying several beers. He was wearing a blue flannel shirt, faded blue jeans and brown boots which the legs of his jeans were stuffed into. With his tall muscular build he resembled the very image of a lumberjack at the moment.

  My lumberjack.

  “I always grow one during the winter,” I said running a hand through my hair which I was growing longer. “He simply wanted to since I was.”

  “I have to say it only makes him more devilish,” Anna said. “And you look happier than the last I saw you.”

  “I’m very happy Anna,” I said with a smile as I rolled up the sleeves of my red flannel shirt.

  “You not only look it Hen? But sound it as well,” she said lighting up a cigarette and tilting her head to the right to blow smoke out the open window. “You’re practically glowing.”

  “Well I’m not pregnant,” I said with a laugh.

  “Not that I don’t try to get him with my devil child,” Daman said setting down and passing out the beers. “I don’t believe I ever knew this place existed by the river.”

  “It’s been here for a while,” Anna replied. “Maybe a year now?”

>   The place in question was Luke’s Hideaway. It served seafood and local fair, and had a nightly live band according to the various posters that were hanging on the walls.

  “Well, thank you for introducing us to this hidden gem,” Daman said saluting her with a beer bottle. “We shall be sure to patronize it frequently now.”

  “They’re going to have a Halloween party here,” I said picking up the flyer on the table. “Costume party and all you can eat buffet.”

  “We should all come to that!” Anna said waving to someone she knew as she tapped ash out into the small brass ashtray in front of her.

  “Actually, I’m thinking of hosting a party at my house this year,” Daman said. “You’re invited of course.”

  “Well, Mister Salvadori, I’d be honored to attend,” she said. “We’ve only known each other for what? Two years? Sometimes it feels like a hundred or more.”

  Something about her comment had Daman eying her and giving her a smirk.

  “So you two do know each other,” I said sipping my beer.

  “Only in passing,” he replied. “But as far as making friends with anyone in Heaven Falls goes? She’s good people.”

  “Compliments too eh?” she said with a grin. “You have been an improvement on him Hen.”

  “He’s been very good for me,” Daman said leaning over and kissing me on the cheek. “Chased away some ghosts of the past. Only hope I’m doing the same for him.”

  “You are,” I said leaning against him, resting my head on his shoulder for a moment.

  “That reminds me! I have a friend, Celia, who wants to hold a séance on Halloween night. Could she come to your party as well?” Anna asked.

  “I don’t see why not,” Daman said slipping an arm around my shoulders. “I was wondering what other entertainment I could have on hand other than a live band.”

  “Has she done séances before?” I asked intrigued.

  “She claims to be a descendant of a Salem witch and is all into that mystical mumbo jumbo,” Anna replied. “She has some abilities, and is pretty good at reading tarot cards.”