Illusion

by Dy Loveday

  They reached a small grotto where water poured from a crack in the wall. “Let’s swim,” he said.

  He handed her a bar of soap and a comb. As soon as she walked into the water, a weird energy wound up her legs and tugged her stomach.

  Lord, what was that? She started to bolt for the shore, but Resh dragged her back, held her hand tight in his hot grasp.

  “Maya, it’s fine. It’s a relaxant in the water. It won’t harm you.”

  She’d kept her eyes averted when he’d dragged down his pants, and she sure as hell kept her own T-shirt and underwear on when she stepped into the water. If she caught a glimpse of his tattoos and muscled backside, well, hell, she was only human. Well, half djinni—or was it half demon? She pushed away the argument and focused on the heat from the pool instead.

  It was very warm. Warm enough to chase away the shivers running over her body.

  The cavern had grown eerily silent. She waded up to her hips in the water and dipped below the surface to soak herself completely. Resh had already submerged and swam toward the water flowing from an overhanging rock. She followed him, hoping to wash her hair in the stream, slightly nervous about swimming in a lake fed by a volcano. What was it with her anxiety about being trapped by rocks anyway?

  She swallowed hard when his hand appeared out of the mist, but she let him pull her close to the waterfall. It was icy cold so she quickly washed and combed the tangles out of her hair. As soon as she finished she placed the bar of shampoo and thin, marble-like comb on an overhanging rock, and ducked beneath the water, let the heat warm her again.

  She pulled her hair back and tied the mass on the top of her head in a high pony, aware of his gaze on her breasts. She couldn’t blame him for that. There’d been some hot tension, but they’d never had a chance to follow through. Even so, she felt terribly nervous all of a sudden, uncertain if he would make a move or if she wanted him to.

  He made the decision for both of them, pulled her close so she could smell the clean scent of his breath on her face. His eyes were a hungry pewter-black, locked on her chest. For once, she was happy with the way she looked. Maybe they weren’t such a bad addition after all. Not long-term, but hey, they had their advantages. As long as she could get rid of them later, she might as well reap the benefits now.

  He bent close and whispered in her ear, “Take the top off.”

  “What about…” Her voice was a thread of sound.

  “Forget the others. They won’t come back for hours.” He looped his arm around her back and pulled her close. His erection was a line of steel against her thigh and he rocked against her.

  With one hand he tugged her head to the side and nuzzled her collarbone, murmured something in a low voice. She couldn’t hear what he said, but a moment later he bit her gently, and she whimpered. Then he laved the bruise with his tongue. She looped her arms around his neck and brushed her breasts against his tattooed chest. His tanned skin was smooth, except for a smudge of black hair trailing from navel to groin. She averted her eyes from his lean hips and ran her hands down heavily muscled arms. He sighed, grasped them in his own and lowered them beneath the water to his open thighs.

  They faced one another, chests pressed together, his forearm tight against her lower back. Oh, she loved playing with fire. There was no doubt about it. She’d love to paint him like this, a rich landscape of passion, his eyes tracking her every movement, opening him to the world.

  He swept his hand down her body and captured her breast in his hand, rubbing the nipple with his thumb, tugged slightly, then released.

  She flushed all over as perspiration beaded on her face and ran down her back. The water lapped against her hips, the faint swoosh of water spilled down the rock, and the mist swirled around their bodies, hiding them from the shore. She could smell him, bergamot and yes, a hint of ozone mixed with male sweat. Her heart raced.

  Desire built between them, crackled like flames burning on dry logs. Her muscles tightened in anticipation. His hair spilled over his shoulder, black and wet. She loved his hair, ached to see it fall free across her pillow. In a world that was safe and calm, free of all their obligations.

  “I want you,” he said. “You have no idea.”

  She could imagine.

  His hand reached between them as he licked her neck, gave her another nip. She almost cried out, but he hadn’t hurt her, even though her skin burned. The back of his hand brushed high on her thighs and he pulled one leg, then the other over his, so she was splayed wide. His hand sank between soft folds at the same time as he angled his mouth across hers. He lifted for a better fit, then joined, tongue deep in her mouth, stroking.

  Her entire body shuddered as an electric line of pleasure ran from her head to her toes, and centered on her loins.

  She started to shake and he pressed her against his chest, rubbed her back and buttocks in wide sweeps, trying to slow her down. Her skin was so sensitive it felt like he touched raw nerve endings.

  His thumb passed over her clitoris, then pressed inside slowly, parting her slippery folds. Her muscles clenched down and she grasped him, held him in her hand.

  “Resh. It’s been a while,” she whispered, not wanting to break the spell.

  “Shhh … I’ll take it slow.” His eyes were burning.

  His kiss deepened, harder now, and she cried in the back of her throat. Tingles ran up and down her spine, hit her between the thighs where his fingers circled, entered, then rubbed, slow then faster.

  The rhythmic movements made her head tighten as if a rubber band wrapped around her skull.

  She pulled back, collapsed against his chest. He shoved back, took her breast in his mouth and bit down slightly on her nipple. He waded out of the water, one hand between her thighs, the other hand on her hips, holding her legs tight around his waist.

  The air cooled her skin, a welcome relief. He edged back onto a rock and cupped her knees, pulled them down to the smooth surface, stared into her eyes.

  “I want to be in here,” he breathed into her mouth. “Take me.”

  He waited for long moments, huffing, silver sparks lighting in his pupils, and she nodded, her senses expanded as every hair on her body stood to attention.

  She grasped him in her hand, her finger rubbing over the slit at the top, making him jolt and arch his back. An electric line of pleasure ran from her head to where his finger slid into her so deeply. Her legs began to shake before he entered, her walls bearing down hard, clenching on him. Slowly, her body opened to accept him.

  Her muscles tensed as he thrust into her, her knees driven off the rock as he pushed up, head slung back, his mouth a hard line.

  “Look at me.”

  She couldn’t; it was too personal. What if she disappeared?

  He stopped moving, trembled. “Stop thinking and look at me. I’m here.”

  She looked into his eyes and the moment was so revealing she felt tears well in her own.

  “That’s it. Together. You and I. Don’t hide from me.”

  And he shoved into her, hands hard on her hips. His entire length in one urgent thrust. The base of her spine melted, caught on fire, and she exploded. The sensation ran up her body, through her blood, and hit her head. She screamed, stared into his eyes and saw his face contort, felt long, rhythmic spurts inside. They went on forever, as she shook and cried, tears spilling down her cheeks. His pupils lit up like stars and the Tesseract stared right back at her. Beautiful and black, thousands of universes, young and old. All alight and aware. Millions of possibilities sparkled back at her.

  Beginnings and endings.

  Eternal.

  * * * *

  Maya had no idea what to say, couldn’t quite meet Resh’s eyes, even though her pulse quickened at the thought of what they’d been doing five minutes earlier. It wasn’t just the intimacy between them. He wanted more from her than she could give. She knew she was sending him mixed signals, but right now she didn’t know how to bridge the silence between them. He see
med to understand. After one glance at her face, he let her be. Just held out his hand to help her over some white rocks hugging the shore.

  Wisps of mist curled across the water, clawed across the white sand. It didn’t seem possible that she’d ever reach old age. She couldn’t imagine that happening here, or on Earth. They would have to confront the Khereb and her father as well. If it came to it, would she forfeit her own life to save Resh and this realm? She couldn’t side with her father. At least with Resh she had a chance at intimacy and real affection for the first time in her life.

  Omigod, it had been good.

  “Stop worrying about the future.” His rough voice rasped in her ear, making her shiver. He relaxed when he saw her response, and smiled. She’d been so deep in thought she hadn’t realized they’d reached the empty camp.

  “That’s fine for you to say. You don’t have a demon lord as your father.”

  “No,” he agreed. “My father had other shortcomings. He threw me through a window when I was six. He was an arch-warlock with more mistresses than I could name. My mother was a courtesan and she loved him. I lived with her until she died, then paved my own future in the world. If my sister’s temperament is anything to go by, perhaps I had a lucky escape. She doesn’t seem to have led a happy life.” He put one hand on Maya’s waist to steady her as she stepped over a lump of dolomite.

  “You’re lucky to have survived. He sounds like an ass.” Maya crouched on the sandy soil and began to roll up her swag.

  “He’s dead now. A powerful senator with few principles, but many political allies. Several of his orations have been scribed in the grimoire.”

  She could empathize. Her own father was nothing to rave about.

  “Molokh did something interesting when I was in the Abyss,” he said.

  She turned her eyes back up to his face. His expression was ruthless, the hard bone structure revealed from the glow of the crystal light.

  “He searched my mind for every memory of you. As if he wasn’t quite sure of all your powers.”

  Uncertainty and fear swept through her. Would she turn against everyone and side with Molokh?

  “Molokh is the Great Trickster. He loves to bargain. I nearly made a pact with him myself. I hated to betray my country, but I confess, I was tempted. The main thing holding me back was…” He stopped for a moment and gripped her elbow, lifted her to her feet. “You. I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving you trapped in the darkness. The world would lose something immeasurably precious if you disappeared. I couldn’t accept the thought of losing you forever.” His tone was determined—absolute.

  She snorted and broke the mood. She wasn’t ready for this, and maybe she never would be.

  “Doubtful. Somehow, I can’t imagine you tearing up because of me. What time is it?”

  He appraised her for moment, an austere expression on his face. She held her breath, but he seemed to come to some type of resolution because he bent down to check the backpacks. He withdrew a leather pouch from a side pocket. Something rattled and chinked inside. He opened the drawstring and pulled out a string with his finger and thumb. With a quick tug and a small clatter, a long opal, the length of his little finger, dragged free. She moved closer, mesmerized by the colors swirling in the black stone.

  “What is it?”

  “A timepiece. Opal represents the four-squared Universe. Can you see the sun moving over the horizon?”

  She’d have to be blind not to see what he meant. The crystal lit up within, glowing orange, then fiery yellow, brighter and brighter as a small sun appeared. “Is it hot?”

  His lips curved into a smile and he shook his head. “No, it just reflects time. As you see, it’s dawn. At night it reveals the stars and the moons so we can track the time in the heavens. The others should be back soon, and then we leave. Are you…” He stopped for a moment, a perplexed expression on his face, “do you feel well enough … that is…” A splash of red darkened his cheekbones and she stared at him, trying to understand what he was saying.

  Then she laughed.

  “I’m fine.” Who would have thought it? Resh. Fighting for words.

  He gazed down into her face. “I’d like you to have it. It was my mother’s. Wear it around your neck if you would. It will offer protection and healing.”

  “Oh. Thank you.”

  He moved behind her and the heavy weight of the pendant settled between her breasts. She’d never received a present from a man before. The polished teardrop was sprinkled with flecks of gold. Tears prickled her eyes, but she blinked them away. She immediately felt a wash of gentle peace.

  “It’s beautiful. Is it magic?”

  “Of course.” She felt his lips brush the top of her head and he pulled her back against his chest. “All stones project energy. But they have a mind of their own.”

  She played with the smooth stone on her chest. It reminded her of something. “What about the crystal your friend gave me back in Balkaith? The Soulbearer?”

  Resh wrapped his arms around her from behind and leaned his chin or her head. “I’m not sure. I trust Aseroth. For all his fighting skills, he’s intuitive. It would have cost him greatly to admit it, and we’ll keep the stone close. Rumor has it that the witches of Tau use them in death rituals to capture the souls of those departing the physical realm. But I’ve never seen it done. Either way, we might be able to use it to barter with the High Priestess. They are rare.”

  The smell of sandalwood washed over her, making her feel safe and cared for. For a second she wished they could just stay here, underground, away from everyone. The air thickened and she wanted to say something, tell him how she felt about him, how her heart pounded whenever he was near, that she’d never felt this way for anyone. The incense seemed to be coming from her skin and her brow creased into a frown.

  “Maya, this isn’t the best place to ask you. But I’d like to make a formal offer—”

  “Well, isn’t this lovely?” a silky voice interrupted, and they both turned to see Esmonda entering the cavern from a dark tunnel. Alexandr followed close behind, wearing an apologetic expression on his face. “The two lovebirds. I shudder to think what crossbreed species will result from this pairing. The ashes of our pedigree father must be churning in fury.”

  “Esmonda. I don’t think…” Alexandr grabbed her arm, but Esmonda pulled away and sauntered over to them. Resh released Maya and stood slightly in front of her.

  “The female survived, more’s the pity. We need to have this out.”

  Resh stiffened. “Have your say and be done with it. We’re all sick of your biting words and ill humor.” His own tone was tight, his narrowed eyes fixed on his sister, but the sorceress ignored him, and turned her purple eyes on Maya.

  “You disappeared. Completely. What are you?”

  “I don’t know.” Maya kept her voice calm. “Something strange happens when I get stressed. It’s like an out-of-body experience.”

  “So, you don’t know how to control it?”

  “It’s the first time it’s happened.” She couldn’t help the defensive note that crept into her voice.

  “Did you bring the Khereb to Balkaith?” Esmonda towered over her so she had to stretch her neck to meet her cold stare.

  “I think they followed me.” She said it without a trace of emotion.

  “You’re not human, nor sorceress, dryad, witch, or magi. So what type of creature are you?”

  “I told you. I don’t know.” Maya might be blonde and short, with fake breasts, but that didn’t mean she was stupid. “I’m changing daily.”

  “Give yourself to the Khereb. Save my saintly brother and all the people of this realm. Do you realize what your presence will cost us? The Khereb will destroy Balkaith and find us in Tau eventually.”

  “It won’t help. Molokh is my father. He wants this realm and he wants me to join him. Either way, the Khereb are here to stay.”

  “You’re a demon lord’s daughter. The reason we left Earth in th
e first place!”

  “Shut up, Esmonda.”

  “No, she should hear this. It all makes sense now. I should have realized. You were his High Priestess in Carthage. Even then, you disappeared at will. Our people were happy on Earth. Then you arrived, promising magic in exchange for fealty, prayer, and, finally, sacrifice in the name of your father. You were called the Illusionist; your true name is—”

  “Stop it,” Resh bellowed.

  Loud buzzing filled Maya’s ears, flashes of color darted behind her closed lids. She shook her head. She felt herself falling into hideous darkness, heard low murmurs, her father’s voice growing louder; asking, no—cajoling her to return. A skeletal hand appeared, beckoned her toward a dim light among dense black shadows.

  Someone pulled her to a warm chest, brought her back to the present. A faint smell of incense. Alexandr. Tears coursed down her face—she was bringing conflict to this realm. The words in the grimoire rang in her head.

  Above her head, the argument between Resh and his sister raged, dragged her out of her misery.

  “You are not one to stand on high moral ground. She cannot be blamed for a past life. Take a good look at your own reflection before you cast aspersions on others. You, who murdered our father,” Resh yelled.

  “I did not poison his drink.” Esmonda’s body turned rigid.

  “It had to be you, or your mother. The only two close enough to slip past his guard. The only two he trusted.” Resh seemed to make an effort to control himself. “He loved you.”

  “Was he such a good father to you that you wish to avenge him? Cast aside your sister because of gossip?” She pushed back her hair with thin, trembling fingers.

  “Your actions point to your guilt. You didn’t attend his funeral, nor did you grieve or put aside colors for mourning. You left his holdings and came to Balkaith, danced, and forgot.” He bit out the words.