by Eden Redd
A second-floor grid appeared over his head and snapped into place. A wooden staircase appeared, connecting the first floor to the second floor. Moving past the staircase, Morgan stepped into his study. The 2D menu glowed with each tap, rows of books appearing on the shelves. A globe appeared, the top part opening and inside filling with glasses and bottles of dark liquor. When he was finished, he stepped out of the study and back to the living room. Taking the stairs, he was on the second floor, three rooms connecting with a long hallway.
Picking a room facing the backyard, Morgan bought an easel. Buying a shelf and paints, he snapped the floating furniture to the nearby wall. Moving to the small window facing the backyard, Morgan tapped at the Build and Buy screen. The window extended and filled the entire wall, giving him a fantastic view of the back woods. With one more purchase, the player bought a chair and moved it before the easel.
“A few hours painting might be just what I need,” Morgan smiled as he picked up a brush and dipped it into a paint at the bottom of the easel.
A canvas appeared on the easel and Morgan began painting. Hand moving of its own accord, the sensation of painting filled the player with simple joy. Morgan had no artistic skills he could speak of, but the simplicity of the game helped him along. After forty minutes, a simple sunflower was painted on the canvas.
Morgan pulled it down and put up another blank canvas. Paintbrush working, he continued as the sun slid slowly across the sky. The player began to zone out, his paintbrush doing the work. Two alerts appeared as he painted.
You have gained +1 to Skill!
You have gained +1 to Knowledge!
The brush took on a life of its own as the painting took on more detail. Morgan continued, pulling off a painting of fruit and putting another blank canvas on the easel. The sun began to set as the sky took on a fiery orange glow. Thoughts spilled into calm pools, the player actually enjoying his time. Mind drifting, he thought of Anya and his heart glowed. He wasn’t sure if he should call her, but he knew he needed time to understand what was happening. Anya saw his inner self and she was seduced by it. It was the only explanation on why she wanted him to be her master. Thoughts swirling to the book Dracula, he remembered how women could not deny Dracula’s power. He was the personification of seductive power.
One thought lead to another and soon the pale image of Tibby crawled into his mind. She wanted him to come to some private party in town. Why was she so interested in him? Was there something more? Should he focus on Anya, gain a third heart and collect his winnings before the game sucked him into madness?
Morgan smirked before his eyes focused on the painting before him. Darkness clawed at his senses as the smirk melted away. Eyes holding a chill, he eyed the painting and let his painting arm fall to the side. A mutilated clown sat, eyes missing and bloody tears streaking down its white cheeks.
“Is this who I am?” Morgan asked himself.
The buzz of a cellphone vibrated in Morgan’s pocket. Fishing it out, he tapped Accept and held it to his ear. Silence greeted him. Pulling the phone away and looking at the screen, he saw Tibby’s name. He put the phone back to his ear, but was greeted by silence again.
“Tibby?”
Looking up from the painting, the player could see night had fallen. The darkness of the woods beyond his backyard swayed with the breeze. Morgan stood up and walked to the window, waiting for Tibby to say something. The silence deepened and when he was ready to end the call, something big moved through the darkness.
Morgan’s eyes widened as he tried to cut through the blackness of night. The trees were pushed aside as something wet gleamed in the star light. Trees cracked and snapped back into place as the thing made its way through. It must have been fifteen feet tall and strong to push aside trees like that. The snapping of branches faded as the thing moved deeper into the woods and was gone.
“Come to the party tomorrow. We can talk about the monsters,” Tibby said with a low tone before hanging up.
Morgan put his cell phone in his pocket as he stared for any hint of what just walked past his home.
“I’ll be there,” he whispered.
Ten
The alley was dark. Cool air rushed through the thin opening between two buildings. The ocean scent wafted in Morgan’s nose, the player drinking it in deeply before exhaling. It was nine pm and downtown was nearly deserted except for some of the small bars and clubs. Morgan wondered where everyone was. The ride in the cab was a solitary one, the streets nearly empty. The sheriff’s words echoed in his memories, telling of wild dogs prowling the night. Morgan glanced around the thin alley, searching for a hint of movement but all he felt was the breeze.
A thick door stood against a wall not too far away. Music whispered from behind the door, but if you weren’t listening intently you wouldn’t even know there was anything here. Dressed in his blue shirt, black jeans and shoes, the player stepped closer to the door.
The entire day set Morgan on edge. Work came and went, but the rest of the day was spent searching the woods behind his home and reading. Thinking whatever he saw last night was a hoax, he checked the area where the giant monster moved through. The player’s heart dropped in his chest as he saw broken branches and large, three-toed footprints leading deeper into the woods.
Not wanting to linger longer then he had to, he shut himself in his study. Pulling up the digital copy of Libro De Venari on his computer and opening the physical copy of Libro Nocte, Morgan spent his time taking turns reading each book. It took most of the day with the Nikki occasionally scratching at the door before giving up. The stories and tales written within each book spoke of mad hunters and ocean faring discoveries. Where the Libro De Venari spoke of hunters committing themselves to the animal god, Yir, the Libro Nocte delved in increasing one’s knowledge until their mind joined the cosmic symphony. The only thing similar between them was the need for experiences. To follow the maddening temptations until you evolved beyond your physical body.
Morgan’s brow wrinkled a few times, getting a New Age feel from the stories. He couldn’t understand what they meant during some passages. More than once, the writing was nearly gibberish before a calm flow of written words spoke nuggets of knowledge. Losing himself to the hypnotic trance of the passages, Morgan looked up and saw the fading rays of the day.
Dressing and running out the door, he stepped into a waiting cab. Now, he stood before a door to a secret club, invited by a strange woman who was stalking him. Fist up and ready to knock, thoughts flowed to Anya. He wanted to call, but if she picked up, he would have abandoned this little adventure so they could bask in each other’s warmth.
“Find out about the monsters and then go home. That’s all we’re doing tonight,” Morgan whispered to himself.
Knuckles tapping hard on the metal door, the player stepped back and waited. A piece of metal slid away to reveal two dark eyes staring at him. Morgan smiled but tried to play it cool.
“Tibby sent me,” the player said with a bored edge.
The eyes looked him up and down before the metal slid back into place. A lock clicked and the door opened. A large man looked down at Morgan, face looking like it was carved from hard granite. Morgan stepped in and past the man, glancing back to see him shutting the door and sliding a metal bar into place.
Beats vibrated down the brick corridor as dim red lights lit the way. Morgan stepped along, eyeing the red lights before turning a corner and entering a large room. Bodies twisted and danced to music. Eyes turned in his direction and smiles bloomed. A mahogany bar stood off to the right, taking up the length of the wall. Bartenders dressed in the style of the roaring twenties served drinks. Handlebar mustaches decorated their upper lips while women in flapper attire mingled with the crowd, serving refreshments. Lamps with red tassels dotted the higher side of the walls and large mirrors reflected from behind the bar. A DJ booth stood to the left, strobe lights stabbing into the crowd as music played on.
Morgan stepped toward the crowd. The first thing
he noticed was the dancing crowd was mostly female. Scantily clad bodies writhed, lost to the music. The few men he did see were barely clothed, collars around their necks and long chains attached to a number of female dancers. Leather shorts and speedo underwear covered the near naked men as they willingly moved to their owners. The player noticed small whips and cat-o-nine tails hanging from the women owners.
“I wish I could say I’m surprised,” Morgan chuckled, his voice lost to the loud music.
Turning, he nearly jumped out of his skin as Tibby was standing by him, her dark green eyes peering into his very soul.
“Hi,” Morgan said simply.
“I’ve been waiting for twenty minutes,” Tibby stated.
“Okay,” Morgan said, not sure what else to say.
Tibby looked him up and down before stepping closer and curling her arm around his. Guiding him along, the player quickly noticed the crowd parted and the many women didn’t give him a second glance. When they reached the other side of the bar, farthest from the dancing crowd, Tibby signaled the bartender before turning her gaze on Morgan.
“I’m glad you came,” Tibby said in a neutral tone.
Morgan simply nodded. Two glasses of scotch slid across the bar to them. Tibby picked up a glass and Morgan followed. Each taking a sip, Morgan couldn’t tear his gaze away from the pale skinned beauty. Tibby was wearing a tight, black top. It was short, showing her midriff and sensual belly button. Legs were covered in tight leather pants. A whip graced her hip and short high heels completed the outfit. Long black hair spread out from a widow’s peak and cascaded down, framing her alabaster colored features.
“You said you had information on the monster in my backyard,” Morgan said simply, cutting to the quick.
“I do,” Tibby said and took another swig of her scotch.
Morgan’s gaze hardened as an annoyance filled his chest. “I don’t often do the cloak and dagger stuff. Is there a reason you’re being so mysterious? Should I spend the evening trying to pick up clues in the conversation?”
Tibby’s blank expression slowly curled into an amused smile. “I believe this is the most honest you have been with me.”
“I want to understand,” Morgan said with hard eyes. “I’ve seen monsters and Driftwood Cove is a little odd.”
The player glanced around and then turned his attention back to Tibby, “And this place…is it one of many secret clubs? Why are we here? You could have told me what I needed to know on the phone.”
“Did you read the book,” Tibby asked with a razor grin.
Morgan wanted to say he read both books, but he decided to control the conversation a little. “I did.”
“What are your thoughts,” Tibby eyed him like a predator closing in.
“It’s a weird book, even for me. An ancient god named Thulu wants to drown the world in knowledge and madness. The author hints, but never says the intention of the stories, which was annoying.”
“What did he try to say?”
A heat burned as Morgan controlled his frustration. “The only way to achieve a higher form of being is to let go of control.”
Tibby’s grin grew sharper, “You are delicious.”
“Tibby, what’s does this have to do with anything,” Morgan growled.
The pale beauty’s smile faded as her gaze remained. “You’re used to being in control.”
“I have a say in how I live my life,” Morgan said flatly.
Tibby snuggled closer, her large breasts pressing against Morgan’s arm. “I…don’t wish to anger you. It’s difficult to be like this.”
Morgan looked down on her almost sad expression, his annoyance cooling. “Then be who you are meant to be.”
Tibby looked up. “No one has ever said that to me before. I hear how I should be outgoing, but…that is not who I am.”
Morgan gave the pale beauty a warm smile. “Tibby, you are beautiful and I feel something there between us, but I don’t understand your intentions.”
Tibby leaned in closer, gaze connecting with Morgan’s gaze. “You didn’t feel it when my lips were wrapped around your cock?”
“It was nice,” Morgan chuckled as the scotch began to work its magic.
“It was very nice,” Tibby whispered. “You’re cute in your private moments.”
“You are stalking me.”
The pale beauty touched Morgan’s stomach. “Is that a bad thing?”
“Normally, yes,” Morgan couldn’t fight the pulling gravity of her cleavage.
“What we have…is not normal,” Tibby sighed. “I can’t walk away from it.”
Morgan thought of Anya. “I’m seeing someone.”
Tibby’s wicked grin returned. “We are seeing each other.”
Morgan looked away, unsure what to say.
Tibby continued, “The same reason you let me suck your cock is the same reason you are here. I know I saw it, but did you? When did you see it?”
Images poured into his mind as he returned his gaze to the pale beauty pressing against him. “That first night, in the club.”
Tibby leaned in and kissed Morgan’s neck before pulling away. “I want to show you my world. I want to share what I have learned. All you have to do is be willing.”
“What about the monsters?”
Tibby moved her rosy lips to Morgan’s ear, “You’re a monster…you just haven’t admitted it to yourself.”
Morgan’s right hand curled into a fist. Anger etched into his brow. Maddening thoughts of simply leaving swirled, but a pale hand clamped on his arm, bringing him back to Tibby.
“Everyone here is a monster. Don’t be fooled by the happy smiles and dancing bodies. We all belong together. I want to hold up the mirror so you can see who you really are,” Tibby hissed.
“I know who I am,” Morgan hissed back.
Tibby patted his arm, “If you did, then you wouldn’t be asking these questions. You already have your answers, you just don’t want to believe them. I can show you. All it takes is a willing spirit.”
Morgan was silent for a long moment before his lips parted, “Show me.”
Tibby pulled the player from the bar with a wicked grin. Several women moved off the dancefloor and followed. Bodies parted as Tibby led the way. A door appeared against the opposite wall. A woman in tight leather opened the door and smiled. The music played on as Morgan pictured himself brought into a backroom and cut up into pieces. Instincts rose up, wanting to pull away and leave, but something deeper stayed his hand.
Stepping into the smaller room, Tibby and three women followed before one of them closed the door and locked it. Morgan scanned the room, drinking in the couches against the walls, metal chairs dotting the center and a thick red rug covering every inch of the floor. At the end of the room was another door with a bar across it. To the right, a small closet door stood. A giant chest sat next to a couch and two of the women in leather stepped over and sat on it.
“Who are they,” Morgan asked as he eyed the three women.
“Sisters in our little club. They will do nothing unless I direct them. The important question here is will you follow my directions?”
“You’re a stranger, stalking and giving me cryptic information. What do you think my answer is?”
Tibby’s smile faded to a small one. “Will it help if you get to know me through the process?”
Morgan simply nodded. No words could adequately convey what he was feeling. Like a ship lost to sea, he went with the winds while his deeper-self crawled the lower decks. Ships passing in the night, he often found himself talking with others out to sea and sometimes he intentionally rammed other ships if they behaved rudely. It was a game he played, but now, a beautiful creature wanted to play a game with him. It set him on edge, but lit a flame he’d never felt before.
Tibby stepped closer, fingers touching the handle of the whip at her belt before reaching over and caressing Morgan’s cheek. The women to the side opened the chest while one moved behind him. A chair w
as pulled closer and placed behind. Tibby’s hand dropped to Morgan’s chest and she gave a slight push.
The power behind the push caught Morgan off guard. He landed in the metal chair. Women moved and metal clanked. Before Morgan could glance over, metal cuffs closed around wrists. A chain clinked and connected to his cuffs and then clamped onto a ring fused to the metal chair.
Tibby leaned in close to Morgan’s ear, “The chains are learning tools…and to keep myself and my sisters safe.”
“Safe…from me?”
The three women began to shed their clothes. Morgan eyed them as Tibby stayed in front of him, fingers touching her whip.
“I will tell you a story. When I give you a command, follow it. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Morgan said simply.
“Yes Mistress,” Tibby corrected.
Morgan clenched his jaw. “Yes Mistress.”
Tibby stepped closer and sat down in Morgan’s lap. Pushing her covered breasts to his face, the player noticed a creamy vanilla scent with a dash of metal. Tibby shifted, getting comfortable and settling down. The heat pouring off her body caused the player’s manhood to stir. Her touch was powerful, yet soft. Distracted by her body, he barely heard her begin to speak.
“A young girl, fascinated with things beyond her understanding set out on a foolish journey to understand the universe. Her naïve nature glowed as she endlessly asked questions and searched for a hidden meaning to celestial dreams. Kiss my skin.”
Morgan leaned in, bringing his chin up and pressing his lips to her inviting cleavage.
“As the young girl blossomed into a mature young woman, her journey continued. She searched for answers, thinking others held the truths she sought. Her open nature and innocent beauty became a siren song for many to bask in. Some gave her simple answers while others lured her with promises of more. Lick my nipple.”
Morgan stared down, seeing two points straining against the black fabric. Tibby made no move to expose them so Morgan gripped the top with his teeth and pulled. The struggle to pull the top down strained his neck, but he followed her commands. The three women surrounding them stood, naked. Their eyes dark as they watched with indifferent gazes.