by Viola Grace
Emerald Envisage
An Anthology by
eXtasy’s Collective Mind
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Emerald Envisage
Copyright © 2009 eXtasy’s Collective Mind
ISBN: 978-1-55487-251-0
Cover art by Martine Jardin
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Published by eXtasy Books
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Content
1. Stone Cold Desire - Mark Alders
2. The Jewel of Herculaneum - Alexis Anthony
3. Lola - Alexis Anthony
4. Battle in the Bedchamber - Jojo Brown
5. A Living Forest - Paula Calloway
6. The Necklace - Kira Chase
7. Behind the Jade Tiger - Christie Gordon
8. Terra Form - Viola Grace
9. Mystical Passions - Stephani Hecht
10. Mystical Rapture - Stephani Hecht
11. Phantom Persuasion - Celia Jade
12. The Pirate and the Mermaid - Marc Jarrod
13. Banished - A.J. Llewellyn
14. Hula - A.J. Llewellyn
15. Disciplining Baron - D.J. Manly.
16. Green Eyes - D.J. Manly.
17. A Stone’s Throw: Emma - C.R. Moss
18. Perfect Vessel - Tierney O’Malley
19. Clancy’s Irish Dream - Evelyn Star
20. Department Nine - Jen Suits
21. Slave for Sex - Laura Tolomei
To our faithful readers…
STONE COLD DESIRE
Mark Alders
As Alcandor approached the cave, screams of anguish bellowed from it, like the mountain itself was in pain. He jerked his head toward the sound, hesitated, but moved forward, intent on his purpose. The wail of the one inside beckoned to him, for he knew of the torment she had harboured on his lover. An eternal hurt, a hurt he had come to mend. To set right.
He also knew of the danger.
Hope welled up inside him and, as he clutched the crocus flower he knew she liked so much, he proceeded. He stepped forward cautiously, trying not to disturb the loose rocks underfoot for fear of giving himself away before he had even begun.
Alcandor approached like an expectant suitor would to a black-widow spider. One foot placed tentatively in front of the other, he moved deliberately and with purpose in his stride. Even the gentle flap of a bird’s wing taking flight or the chirp of a cicada wanting to mate, could mean his demise.
He wasn’t deterred. He had to see her, to get her to release his Demetrious. He was so alone without him and so lost since his lover had been taken by her. His heart ached to be in his man’s strong arms once more.
Alcandor had to make it known there was a way for her, this Medusa, to let Demetrious go without diluting any of the legend she had become. He knew her reputation was important to her, but he also knew of her stubbornness. Alcandor stepped cautiously forward, using his hands on the rocks to keep himself balanced.
If only he could get her to see his reason before she destroyed him.
Perspiration had beaded on his brow and stained his tunic where his skin had come close to the cloth. The midday sun was so intense, so unrelenting, that it drained out the colours of the land like too many washed clothes. He licked his lips to try and moisten his dry mouth. He had to admit, he was nervous.
He looked down to the little flower in his hand and began to worry that it would wilt before his mission was complete. His brow furrowed, directing his sweat down his temples. Would a wilted flower anger her beyond reason?
Alcandor moved forward.
The stench from the cave made him retch. To make matters worse, the odour stuck to him like the cold sweat he produced in volumes. Alcandor then felt sadness wash over him. His Demetrious was trapped in such a place. That thought alone chilled him to his soul.
Demetrious didn’t deserve to be here. No one did. How could she treat sentient beings like they were possessions to collect as one would jewels or buttons or slave boys? But this terrible thought did not deter Alcandor. He knew Medusa was not beyond redemption. He had a plan.
Placing his foot inside the mouth of the cave, he proceeded, cautiously but with purpose set in his heart. The gloom within the cave consumed him, and his eyes, unable to focus immediately, became soaked in the darkness beyond the sunlight.
“Who dares enter my domain?” a voice from behind the veil of shadow shrilled.
Alcandor spun on the spot. He tried to see where she was, but couldn’t. The darkness and the dust he had just kicked up conspired against him. He didn’t have time to answer her, could do nothing else but try and make out what was inside the cave.
Once the dust settled, he stepped into the cave proper. The dark enveloped him and he found that he could just make out objects in the murkiness. He heard movement, stopped and then stared wide-eyed in the direction the sound had come from.
And stare he did. Right at her. At first he saw the emerald shimmer created by the scales on the snake-like part of her body. Then as she moved closer, the evil temptress Medusa herself became apparent from the darkness. He could not help but be awed by her presence. She was beautiful, contrary to all the legends, the rumours and the whispers from the village.
Alcandor then gasped.
He had also seen his Demetrious. His lover was a stone cold statue, set with the look of pain, arms outstretched, pleading for his life. His pleas obviously hadn’t worked. Alcandor’s heart sank.
Alcandor scrambled to get into the position that he thought might be his salvation, unable to tear his eyes from her, for to do so would be to lose where she was. Not a tactical move he wanted to suffer, especially in the presence of the enemy’s home.
On bended knee, and with the crocus extended out in hope, he was about to speak, to bargain for not only his, but his lover’s life as well, when his words became lost to him. His lips couldn’t even form the words his lungs gave air to. He was struck with fear.
She came closer. The light from the cave mouth illuminated her features even more. The light reflected off her body was now an intense green. He remembered not to look into her eyes for he would suffer the same fate as his lover if he did. Fear boiled within him.
“You offer me flowers, little man?”
“Yes,” Alcandor replied, his voice but a mere wisp of wind from his lips.
“So you can trick me? Take my treasure no doubt. Just like all the others who have come to my house before you. Now I have seen it all. Flowers. Bah!”
“No. I have only come for—” Alcandor cut himself short. Should he tell her the truth? Would she believe him?
“Speak! Or you will suffer the same fate as all the others that have entered my domain. You will become a part of my collection forever more.”
Alcandor deci
ded to tell her the truth. What did he have to lose? He swallowed hard and then said, “I have come to rescue my lover and in exchange I offer you this flower as my gift.”
The still air of the cave was pierced with the cackle of her laugher, like brittle wood cracking in a fire. “There are only thieves and soldiers with me here. How can you have a lover amongst these men?”
“His name is Demetrious. He is over there and he’s a captain,” Alcandor answered with pride.
Then there was silence.
“A man loving another man? Now I know you are lying. Men who come here cannot resist me. Why would a man lover come to see the great Medusa, if not to try and court her or take her riches?”
It was then, when Alcandor was about to protest, that he forgot himself. He wanted to explain to her that love is boundless. That love between two people is sacred, no matter what form they take. He looked up into her eyes.
Alcandor was turned to stone.
Light filtered in from the eternal darkness Alcandor was consumed within. He blinked vigorously to try and regain his vision, pressing his fingers to the bridge of his nose. He couldn’t focus and, no matter how much he tried, knew he would have to wait until the effects of being turned to stone had returned his body back to normal. He coughed.
“You have piqued my curiosity. That is why I have released you. Now, tell me more about your lover, little man.”
Alcandor could hear Medusa turn her coils in front of him and emerald light seeped through the eternal darkness he experienced.
“If I am not pleased by the answer, I will return you to my collection.”
Alcandor coughed again, hacking up the last remnants of dust that seemed to have clung to his throat. “I cannot tell you of my lover or the love we share. How can I? To explain love to one that has never experienced it would be fruitless.” He could feel Medusa’s breath caress his cheek.
“You think I am devoid of such an emotion? Do you think I have never felt tenderly for another?”
Alcandor could now make out shapes as the light continued to trickle through his dark vision. “Your answer proves it. Love is not an emotion. It is far more than that. It is more powerful. Look what it made me do.” He shifted his weight, testing whether or not he could move. “I came here because of love, remember.” He no longer felt her breath upon him.
“Tell me.”
“I told you. I can’t. It is something you have to see. Don’t you understand that?”
There was a long moment of silence. “Then what is it you want me to do?”
“Release Demetrious.” Alcandor got to his feet, a dull pain numbing him as he moved. “I will show you what love is.” Again there was that cackle that pierced the air, one that sent shivers through his soul.
“Oh, how delicious.”
Again he could hear her move. This time she moved away. “Do you mock me?” Defiantly he placed his hands upon his hips. Not that such an action would cause Medusa to take any more note of him than she already had, but it made him feel better nevertheless.
“On the contrary, little man. I am intrigued by what you are saying. I told you that. The fact that you are even having this conversation with me is proof enough of that.”
His vision had returned to a point that he could now make out finer details in the shapes around him. He could see enough to know that Medusa now stood next to his Demetrious. “What are you going to do?” But as he said it, he saw her touch his lover. Seconds later, colour returned to Demetrious’s body. Soon enough his lover would be breathing again. Alcandor had to admit he felt relief knowing that Demetrious would be amongst the living once more. Strangely, he felt calm.
“Exactly as you said. But be warned. If he does not return your love in kind or his intentions were malicious, then he will forfeit both of your lives.”
“What do you mean?” Alcandor snapped, genuinely surprised by what she said. “He does love me. That will be beyond doubt.”
“Why did he come to my house in the first place then, little man?”
Alcandor felt his stomach knot. The question she had asked had indeed played on his conscious. He understood why all the other men came to her. But why did Demetrious? Surely no amount of gold would be worth eternal damnation.
As the once-lifeless statue of his lover returned to flesh and blood, Alcandor realised that Medusa wanted to know what price both their loves carried. Did she suspect that Demetrious had become greedy just like all the others around her? Alcandor shook that thought from his head. If there was one thing he knew about Demetrious, it was that he was the most selfless man he had ever known. “I do not know why he came here to this forsaken place,” Alcandor spat.
“By releasing your so-called lover, it will be proven that there can be no love between men. It will also be proven that men are untrustworthy, only interested in gold and treasure and material things.” As she talked, she circled Demetrious, watching him intently as he came to life. “I almost feel pity for you, little man. You will soon see the truth as I do, as I have for thousands of years. Surely even you must know that this pathetic man just wanted to steal from me.”
“Demetrious is different.”
“Then why is he in my house?” she bellowed. Her voice echoed through the cave, increasing the intensity of her words.
Alcandor felt his spirit sink. “I told you, I do not know.” He went to his Demetrious as soon as movement could be seen, embracing him tight.
“Ali, is that you?” Demetrious croaked.
“Yes. Yes, it’s me.” Alcandor pressed his lips upon Demetrious’s forehead. “I’m here for you, Demi.”
“Oh, thank the gods,” Demetrious whispered. “I dreamt I was in a terrible place.”
As Alcandor wrapped his arms even tighter around Demetrious, he kissed his lover tenderly all over his face, over his thick eyebrows, down the bridge of his nose, across his stubbled cheek, to finally rest upon his lover’s plump red lips. Alcandor and Demetrious then kissed for what seemed an eternity. Gently at first, barely touching each other’s skin. Then as the moment became more emblazed with passion, their kiss quickly intensified.
Alcandor forgot where he was. All he wanted was to be with Demetrious, and now that he had him, nothing else mattered. He broke away from their passion for a brief moment for the question Medusa had asked gnawed at his insides so much he could not help but speak of his concern. “Why did you come here to this terrible place, Demi?”
It was then that a look of sheer horror ignited Demetrious’s face. “What? Where am I?”
“We are in Medusa’s cave. But answer me, why did you come here?”
Demetrious let go of Alcandor. “I…I—”
There was then the sound of scales over rock and sand. “You see. It is proven he is deceptive,” Medusa said. “How do I know that you both didn’t set me up? How dare you play on my curiosity to gain my treasure by masquerading as lovers. I knew that it sounded impossible when you said you loved a man.”
“Shhh. Let him speak.” Alcandor said, raising his hand. He placed his hands on his lover’s face, drawing his attention away from Medusa. “Please, Demi. Tell me everything.”
Demetrious’s lips quivered. “I came here to find a gift for you, Ali. It will be our anniversary once the waxing Moon is whole. And I-I wanted the celebration of the year we have spent together to be special. You deserve so much more than I can give you.”
“Oh, Demi.” Alcandor took Demetrious into his arms once more. “I only need your love, you hopeless fool.”
Demetrious pressed his lips into Alcandor’s Adam’s apple, before he said, “I wanted to give you more. Do you forgi—”
“Lies! Lies! Lies!” Medusa screamed. “How can you be so blind, little man? Can’t you see he wanted to steal from me to please himself? He is as greedy as all the others around you.”
“He does not lie,” Alcandor snapped. “Why can you not see that? Look into his eyes. Eyes of men that lie do not reflect such conviction as his do.�
��
“I will prove to you that I speak the truth,” Demetrious added as he ran his hand through Alcandor’s hair.
“I have heard that before, and not so long ago.”
Alcandor turned to look upon Medusa. “We do love each other. And we will show you our love.”
“And what if I am not convinced? You have done a poor job so far, considering it is your lives you are bargaining with.”
“So long as I am with Alcandor, I don’t care what you do,” Demetrious said.
There seemed to be an eternity of silence as Medusa circled them. Finally, with a crooked smile and her tongue moistening her lips, she added, “Deal. Now show me before I change my mind.”
Alcandor took Demetrious by his hand.
Over on the far wall of the cave, within an alcove, there was a bed surrounded by exotic fabrics and cushions of all shapes and sizes. It was an oasis, a small patch of comfort amongst the horror of so many petrified men.
“I don’t know about this, Ali,” Demetrious said, nervousness evident in his voice.
“Hush, my love.” Alcandor sat down upon the bed. “We must do whatever it takes to be together.”
“I understand…but…”
Alcandor placed his hand upon Demetrious’s knee. “Remember, the reward will be our salvation.”
Demetrious ventured a smile in reply, but the expression he presented resembled a nervous quiver over his lips. “I know.”
Alcandor, out of the corner of his eye, saw Medusa slither closer. “Close your eyes, Demi.” As Demetrious closed his eyes, Alcandor slipped out of his tunic. “Let me show you how much I have missed you.”
Demetrious gasped as Alcandor lay him down upon the soft bedclothes. “I missed you, too.”
Moments later, Alcandor began to lay tender kisses over Demetrious’s face and neck, clawing at his uniform to expose his smooth muscular body.
Soon both men were naked and locked in an embrace as Medusa came close to the bed. She remained silent as Alcandor continued to kiss his lover. He did not want to think of her right now. He wanted his Demetrious. Alcandor wanted to take him to the place that would make them forget their troubles, to soar the heights of their love and the depth of their feelings together, if only for a brief moment.