The Fury

by Sloan McBride

  The debate waged clear on her face and hunger must have won out because she nodded and came toward him. Kur looked down into her bronzed, beautiful, tear-drenched face. Her amber eyes studied his every move.

  He had her bathed every day to be fresh whenever he felt the need to see her. Reaching up, he grasped a chestnut lock of hair, rubbing it between his fingers and imagining how it would feel to have her above him, looking down with adoring eyes and this soft hair caressing his body.

  Those images caused his cock to swell. Maybe tonight he would be able to make sweet love to his wife and bring them both pleasure.

  “Stand still,” he said, and reached behind her head to untie the gag.

  When he pulled it free from her mouth, she coughed a couple of times and rolled her tongue around her lips.

  “Come over here.” He moved toward a large black stone table in the far corner. “There is wine and food.”

  He smiled when he heard soft footfalls trailing him.

  When she reached for some food, he lightly slapped her hand. “No. I will feed you.”

  Her hands fell limply to her sides, the chains clanging with the motion.

  He picked up the goblet filled with a sweet mixture. Taking the first sip into his mouth, he moaned with bliss and felt the power of the wine and human blood, which always gave him a buzz. Slowly and with careful precision, he lowered the goblet to her lips. She drank greedily, but he didn’t mind.

  “Enough,” he said and pulled the cup away. “We don’t want you getting sick.” He set the wine down and picked up a ripe strawberry. Smiling, he dangled the fruit in front her mouth, which she opened. He watched hungrily as she opened wider, and fantasized about stuffing his cock into that hole and how good it would feel.

  She made small noises, impatient to have the food. “Wait,” he ordered. “Close your mouth.”

  She complied but narrowed her eyes at him.

  He bit the tip of the berry off and chewed. “Ummmmm.” Then, he took the juicy portion and rubbed it across her lips over and over. Leaning in, he kissed her, licking the juice from her lips. “So sweet,” he murmured.

  He kissed her five more times as he fed her food. Ereshkigal did not fight or retreat during the whole time. This pleased him and his temper abated.

  “Well, now that we’ve had something to eat, wife, let’s see what you can do for me.”

  Kur picked up the chains which he had dropped during their meal and led her toward the bed.

  “No.” Her voice sounded raspy and not quite whole.

  “What, wife?”

  “No,” she said again and began to pull away.

  Keeping a smile pasted on his face, he tugged the chains harder causing her to stumble against him. “You will do as you are told.” He crushed his lips on hers, punishing. When he ended the kiss and leaned away, she spit in his face.

  Anger ripped through his body. He wiped the spittle from his cheek. How dare she spit on him, the king?

  Grabbing the manacles, Kur threw the chains through the rings in the ceiling and secured them to the wall.

  “Let me go,” she screamed.

  He stormed over to the armoire in the corner and flung open the door.

  Ereshkigal cried out. “Release me, release me.” Yanking on her chains caused them to tighten and the cloth around her right wrist broke loose, exposing her skin to the rusted metal on the cuff. It rubbed a raw spot that began to bleed.

  “Now look what you have done,” Kur growled as he spun around, holding a riding whip. “I’ll have to heal your wrist as well.”

  He pulled tight on the chains and hooked them a second time so her arms were held high above her head. “You will have to be taught how to properly act, wife,” he sneered. “You will do as you are told and pleasure me when I demand it.”

  “Although you performed the ceremony, I am not your wife,” she spat. “I am not.”

  The energy he absorbed from the human still had him riding high. He walked behind her, grabbed the top of her shift and ripped it off her body, leaving her naked back to him. The riding whip had tassels at the end and he brushed those across his hand.

  “Some day you will acknowledge your position as my wife and queen of this kingdom. Then, you will cherish your place at my side. You are mine and will remain so.”

  The first lash stopped her struggles for a moment, but she resumed screaming insults and tearing the skin off her wrists. He brought the whip down harder. When one of the welts broke open, he frowned. He did not want to mar her skin that way. Walking over to the cabinet that held his tools, he pulled out a long wood plank. Returning to his position, he began to swat her bare ass. Once, twice, three times. Her naked flesh turned a stinging red. She had stopped struggling and her screaming turned to whimpers.

  “You shouldn’t make me angry,” he told her. “I do not wish to punish you so. If you would only accept what is.”

  He placed the paddle on the shelf and lifted out a large golden dish adorned in expensive jewels containing a creamy salve. Releasing the chains, he pulled them down from the ceiling. “Go lay across the bed, on your stomach, with your arms stretched out in front of you.”

  She hiccupped and softly cried, but complied with his order.

  When she had positioned herself the way he wanted, he dropped the chains to the floor. The weight of them kept her arms in place. The massive bed supported her entire body so that only a portion of her legs hung off the other side and he stepped between them.

  Digging his fingers into the jar, he scooped the silky smooth salve and rubbed it in both palms before placing his hands on his wife’s ass and massaging the balm into her heated skin.

  Her crying renewed. He stared at her soft, hot skin. The welt that had bled would clear up quickly. They always did.

  The blooming red color made him think of the human’s blood and the rush he’d received from sucking the life out of him. He unzipped and dropped his pants, releasing his cock, which jerked out away from his body. Dipping his fingers into the creamy substance again, he took one coated hand and wrapped it around his aching cock. He moved closer to the bed and used the other hand to knead her ass.

  “I want you to squirm for me, wife. Buck your ass in the air up and down like you are riding me.”

  She didn’t move.

  “Do it,” he yelled. When she began to buck her pelvis so her ass advanced into his hand and then retreated, he stroked his cock in time with her movements until he exploded and ejaculated all over her back.

  Smiling he said, “Soon, you will have all of this…” he rubbed his cock in the crease of her ass, “…here.” He took two fingers and pushed them gently through her folds.

  Soon, he would consume the life force of Enki’s descendants and with the power would consummate his marriage to the Goddess and make his mark not only on Earth, but in Dilmun as well.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Explain to me about those yellow-eyed creatures. How are they different from the others?”

  “They are called tregorians. They are assigned a specific target and they belong to that one target. It is their only purpose. They will keep coming until they succeed.” Unfortunately, he knew of no way to permanently kill that type of demon.

  She shivered. “Great.”

  “Kur is getting restless.”

  “Why did I suddenly feel lethargic when it touched me?”

  His head whipped around. “One of them touched you? When?”

  “It came up behind me and grabbed my arm, but I had on long sleeves. With its other hand, it grasped my neck. I felt fine, unconcerned, willing.”

  Dagan leaned toward her and lightly caressed her neck with his fingertips. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “You were killing demons. Besides, he only had me for a couple of seconds and then Joe took him out.”

  A low rumble emanated from Dagan’s chest.

  “Why?” She re-emphasized her question.

  “The tregorian sucks the will ou
t of a subject, so much sometimes that the person will go comatose. But they have to be touching bare flesh.”

  “I didn’t feel anything until he touched my neck.” Her whole body shook from the memory. “Let’s hope we don’t see any more of those things.”

  “Yes, let us hope.”

  He didn’t sound confident.

  This time, when Reese pulled onto her father’s street, she didn’t notice the quiet surroundings or how beautiful the trees looked covered in ice. Her mind churned with thoughts on how to explain all this to her father, and how she would talk him into leaving his home, just when he’d begun to come out of his depressed mood and start experiencing life again. The timing sucked.

  “What are you thinking?” Dagan asked.

  “How this sucks.”

  His soft laugh made her glance his way. “Well it does. Yesterday, my father started cleaning out my sister’s room and her closet. Jeez, that took guts right there.”

  Dagan’s confused look made her laugh too. “You’d have to see my sister’s room to understand the implication of actually cleaning it.”

  “I see.” But his confused look remained.

  Her voice got softer. “Cleaning out Riley’s room is a start. At some point, maybe, he’ll clean out my mother’s stuff too.” She sighed. “It’s been three years and her clothes still hang in the closet. He won’t allow anyone to touch them.”

  “It’s hard losing someone you love.”

  His statement, laden with such sorrow, made her wonder if he had lost a loved one. “Yes. It is.”

  She pulled into the driveway. When she stopped the car and put it in park, she grabbed the steering wheel on top with both hands and flexed them.

  Dagan reached over and laid his hand on hers. “Take a couple of deep breaths and then we’ll go in together.”

  She nodded. “It gave me hope, but now I’m going to throw this at him.” She stared at the house. “I’m not sure how he’s going to take it.”

  “You might be surprised.” He used his hand to loosen her grip on the steering wheel. “I mean look at how well you’re handling it.”

  She threw him a droll look before smiling. “Thanks, I feel so much better.”

  He took her now loosened fingers and laced them with his own. “Come on, beautiful.”

  He met her at the front of the car and bumped her shoulder with his.

  This felt so normal in a way. Taking Dagan to meet her father could be interesting. He would most likely think she’d lost her mind though.

  “Dad, where are you?” she called as they went through the front door.

  “In the living room,” he called back.

  They rounded the corner and found him sitting in the middle of the floor between two big boxes, and surrounded by stuffed animals.

  She stopped short, causing Dagan to run into the back of her.

  “What are you doing?”

  He looked up and smiled. “Going through toys to see what I can pitch and what I can give to the local children’s shelter.”

  When he saw Dagan, his good mood seemed to deflate. He got to his feet. “Who’s this?”

  “This is Dagan.”

  Her father walked over and eyed Dagan. She wasn’t sure what he would do. She’d never brought a guy to her father’s house before.

  Dagan just stood there, jaw tight and hands at his side. Reese’s father walked a circle around him.

  In a frustrated voice Reese said, “Dad.”

  He stopped in front of Dagan and held out his hand. “I’m Clive Whittaker.”

  Dagan shook the offered hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

  “So what are you doing here, Reese?”

  She pointed to the couch. “Why don’t we sit down.”

  “Hmmm, that doesn’t sound good,” he said to Dagan.

  Reese smiled at her father. “What would you say to coming and staying at my place for a little while?”

  “Actually, sir, I would like you to consider hanging out with some friends of mine for a few days.”

  Clive narrowed his eyes. “Your friends?” His head whipped around to Reese. “What is he talking about?”

  “Dagan, I thought—I mean you never said anything. I thought he would come and stay with me.”

  “How is that safer, Reese? You know what happened already.”

  She got up in his face. “That’s beside the point. I will not let him be put with people he or I,” she emphasized, “don’t know.”

  He stood toe to toe with her and said his piece. “They are skilled and trained to do their job well. It will be like he’s in protective custody.”

  “No.”

  “Yes.”

  “Enough!” Clive yelled.

  They both stepped back.

  “Do you want to tell me what the hell is going on? I’m not going anywhere.”

  Reese shot a glare in Dagan’s direction before she turned all sweet to her father. “Dad, there’s been some disreputable people casing your house and I—we would like to take you some place safe until things can be handled.”

  “Handled?” He looked at Dagan. “What people? Who do they work for? Where did they come from?” He turned around to Reese. “I don’t have the mind of a five year old and I don’t appreciate being treated like one. Now tell me the damn truth or get your ass out of here.”

  She threw her hands up in the air. “Tell him.”

  “Reese.”

  “Just tell him, Dagan.”

  “Great, another mind wipe. They’re adding up.”

  Clive went to the French doors and stood with his hands clasped behind his back. Dagan breathed deep before his attempt at explaining.

  “Mr. Whittaker, there is a gang out there who’s trying to do harm to you and your family.”

  “Why?” he said, but didn’t turn around.

  “I know this sounds strange, but it is because of your ancestry, your bloodline.”

  Clive Whittaker nodded his head. “So it begins.”

  “Sir?”

  He turned to face them. “My father said it would come to this. I wouldn’t listen to him. I loved my wife and my girls. I refused to live the life.”

  Stunned, Reese said, “Dad, what are you talking about?”

  “Where to begin.” He propped his chin in his fingers and contemplated. “I’m the son of Enki.”

  “What?” Dagan and Reese said in unison.

  “You are the son of Enki?”

  “Yes. My mother was human though.”

  Reese dropped to the chair. “I feel sick. The water god is my grandfather?”

  “Exactly,” her father said.

  “How—when—oh crap.”

  Dagan pressed. “You have known all along.”

  “Yes. At a young age, Enki came to me. He explained how I would be different and needed to be careful.”

  Reese shot him a scathing look. “How are you different?”

  He shrugged. “I have some powers, but I haven’t used them in a very long time.” Clive scooted over toward Dagan and leaned in. “It was a kick in my teenage years though.” He slapped his knee and laughed. “I have to confess I used them a couple of times at school too, but not to cheat or anything, just to get back at somebody who pissed me off or maybe to help me get on the baseball team.”

  Dagan smiled. He liked this guy. “I know what you mean.”

  “Of course you do.” Reese sneered. “It’s a guy thing.”

  “Exactly,” Clive replied then laughed again.

  She growled. “What kind of powers?”

  “I can move things with my mind. I used to be able to make myself invisible.”

  Dagan sat back and crossed his arms. “Cool.”

  “Used to scare the hell out of my parents when I used that one. Plus, I could sneak out of the house and back in again. Of course, it got tricky when I drank too much.” He gave Dagan a conspiratorial wink. “Parts of me would start reappearing at the most inopportune times.”

  Dag
an laughed. The look on Reese’s face was priceless.

  When I met your mother, I never used them again. I wanted to be a normal guy. For her, I wanted to be the world.” He grew sad. “When your mother got sick, I wished I had all the powers, but I couldn’t save her.”

  Reese went to her father and gently touched his shoulder. “Dad, she wouldn’t have wanted you to do that.”

  “I know, but I wanted it more than anything.”

  “She knew you loved her.”

  He hugged Reese. “Yes, we loved a lifetime in those years.”

  Dagan watched a tear roll down her cheek and then she opened her eyes and a wave of emotion practically knocked him to the floor. He imagined loving someone so much that your life got derailed when you lost them. He never thought he would experience it, but gazing into those big blue orbs glistening with tears, he hoped.

  “So,” Clive said as he stepped back from Reese. “Tell me what brought you both here today.”

  “We have had someone watching your place after I found out you were in the area.”

  Continuing, Reese said, “We were attacked at my office last night.”

  “What? Attacked?” He ran his hands down her arms. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” She nodded in Dagan’s direction. “Dagan, Rufus and the rest of my team were there. We handled ourselves pretty well.”

  Astounded, her father said, “Your team? They know about this?”

  “Believe me, it was not my first choice,” Dagan said and smiled at Reese who stuck her tongue out at him.

  “What exactly is your part in this anyway?” Clive turned on him with interest.

  He walked over to stand before Clive and bowed slightly. “I am the son of Enlil. I belong to an elite group known as time walkers.”

  “Time walkers? What are they?”

  While he ran through a cliff note of his kind, Dagan kept his eye on Reese who wandered around the room gently touching things. She fought the sadness off with a vengeance. He wanted to cuddle her in his arms and protect her from the ugliness, but she would fight him tooth and nail if he tried. So, he kept pace but didn’t overshadow. She would find her way.

  “I’m protected by some pretty powerful magic, you know. And so are my daughters.”