The Rook and The Raven

by R. H. Burkett

****

  How could one kiss turn me into a she-cat in heat? Just thinking about his firm warm lips on my neck, shoulders, and mouth made me squirm. His tongue had tasted, hunted, and probed sending shock waves of pleasure to every nerve ending. Fantasies of his hard body pressed on top of mine made heat wash over me.

  And what was that about? Sex had never been a big deal to me. Of course, I’d never slept with anyone except Walt. But sex was sex. Wasn’t it?

  The tingle between my legs told me differently. By the time I’d locked up shop and drove home, I was ready to jump the Rook’s bones on the kitchen table, living room floor, washing machine—any place.

  Only one problem with that. He existed in another dimension. Guess that’s what Madame Katanga warned me about.

  ****

  Mama ChiChi won every hand of gin rummy without cheating that night because I couldn’t focus on the games. Finally, I took a cool shower and went to bed.

  Mortimer curled beside me until my tossing and turning got to be too much, and he left in a ruffled huff. When my restlessness woke me again and again, I stopped fighting sleep and went out to the balcony to peer into the blackness. He had come to me in the deep, dark mysterious night. Perhaps he would return at the witching hour.

  As usual, the wonderful fresh scent of honeysuckle lay thick in the night air. I took deep gulps of its sweetness. The stars twinkled like diamond points in the midnight sky and whippoorwills called for their mates in the distance.

  What summons would the Rook answer to? A howl? A prayer? A wish?

  Crawling back into bed, I closed my eyes tight, brought his face to mind, and called for him.

  Feather soft touches on my face pulled me from sleep. “Go away Mortimer,” I mumbled. Irritated the pesky cat didn’t heed my command, I flipped over to my other side. The spicy scent of musk and a low chuckle jarred me fully awake.

  He had returned.

  “You called?” His voice melted every bone in my body.

  I was in his arms tearing the shirt from his back before his smile faded into nothingness.

  He kissed the top of my nose, my ears, my eyes, and finally my lips.

  I took his tongue into my mouth and sucked like a hungry pup.

  Pants slipped from slender hips and hit the floor.

  All playfulness dissolved.

  Demanding, almost rough, he pushed me down on the mattress. His eyes turned to white-hot silver and never left my face as one of his hands slid down my belly to the swell between my legs while his other pinned both of my hands over my head. My heart beat so hard my ribs ached. In one swift move, he ripped my panties away and began stroking me. Heat rippled under my skin and my back arched.

  After five years of marriage, I wasn’t a stranger to sex. But downright animal lust and passion? Well, that was an entirely different thing. Walt had called me his ice princess and, for years, made me believe something was wrong with me. I wondered why everyone thought sex was so great.

  As the Rook’s fingers massaged, stroked, and slipped inside me, I finally understood what the fuss was all about.

  I bit his arm.

  Surprised, he released his hold on my hands with a wicked grin.

  I sat up, pulled off my T-shirt, and pushed his head between my breasts.

  “Bite!”

  He teased with his tongue licking each nipple. Usually smooth and soft, they hardened into pebbles. A flicking on the point of each sent shock waves directly to the wetness between my legs. If he didn’t bite soon, I’d scream.

  “Bite! Bite hard!”

  He nibbled.

  Waves of pleasure washed over me, and I clung to his body afraid to let go. Afraid if I did I might fall into an abyss so deep I’d never return.

  His low groan set me on fire.

  I begged, raking my fingernails down his back.

  “Now.

  He exhaled, his breath hot in my ear. “No.”

  His mouth lowered.

  I sucked lips that tasted like warm whiskey.

  His fingers found a nipple and pinched it into an aching tip of fire.

  Strong and fast, he pulled me up against his chest.

  The sizzle of hot skin on hot skin and his wild spicy scent made my head spin. His hand caressed my bare bottom then inched up my back one agonizing squeeze at a time until it reached the nape of my neck. He grabbed a fistful of hair, twisted, and pulled my head back exposing my throat.

  I expected to feel the sharp sting of fangs on the tender flesh. Instead, tiny nibbles and soft licks made a round trip from my neck, to my ear, to my lips, and back again. Waves of ecstasy throbbed with every beat of my runaway pulse.

  At the same time, he guided himself into me and thrust.

  The deeper he plunged the more he sucked and groaned, driving me into a frenzy.

  Everything began to slip away. The room. Reality. My sanity.

  I climaxed so hard I shattered into a million glowing stars.

  Every nerve vibrated like a tuning fork.

  Ice princess my ass!

  “Again,” I whispered and ground my hips into his.

  “No.”

  “Oh, I forgot. You rest. Then again.”

  His chuckle confused me.

  “I am not bound by human restrictions,” he said and eased beside me. I turned to face him and ran my hand up his leg. Hard as steel.

  “It is you that will need rest.”

  The inside of my neck itched. If my hair turned silver from just one kiss, what kind of hickie would he leave?

  “The bite mark will disappear by morning,” he said and smoothed damp strands of hair away from my eyes.

  Great. He can read minds too.

  Oh God! What about protection? I was still on the pill, but would it guard me against Rook sperm or some supernatural STD?

  His amused look told me he had heard that thought too.

  “Well?” I asked.

  “Not to worry,” he answered and pulled me against his chest hair glistening with sweat and smelling of evergreen and sage.

  My hands couldn’t stop touching him. They traced his square jaw line and tiptoed across lips that begged to be kissed. I massaged his wide shoulders and back. With a gasp, I sat bolt upright.

  “Your wings! Where are your wings?”

  This time his chuckle was deep and rich. “If I need them, they will appear.”

  What did that mean?

  I gathered my knees under me, leaned over his side, and searched his back. No nubs. No slots. No nothing, except bronzed skin still damp from love making.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “In my world, one only has to believe to make it so.”

  I eased back and stared. “You mean, all you have to do is think you have wings, and they magically appear?”

  “Not magic. Truth.”

  I continued to stare at him. What was he? He looked human. God knows, he felt human. Yet, he wasn’t.

  Almost afraid to ask, I whispered, “What...who are you?”

  He took my hand and massaged my palm. Sensuous. Tender. His eyes, softer now after loving, pulled my soul into their depths.

  “I am neither man nor beast. Angel, devil, or saint. I am the Rook. The Protector.”

  “Are you human?”

  “With you, yes.”

  “Guess that’s all that matters then, isn’t it?” I smiled.

  “I am your deepest, heart-felt desires, dreams, and wishes in physical form,” he continued. “And I have always loved you.”

  That one simple confession broke the heavy yolk of guilt that I’d carried for so long over a failed marriage. Loneliness and self-doubt fell away as well. Tears burned my eyelids.

  Walt bought rings for every one of my fingers, but had never held my hand. Not once had he taken the time to gaze into my eyes, to understand who I was. And never had he said those three simple words, “I love you,” with as much intensity, longing, desire, and pure truth as the man who lay beside me now.

  He m
ust have sensed my release and leaned in to touch my lips so softly my heart shivered.

  I kissed back. Deep. Hard.

  He pulled away.

  “I must go,” he said and rose from the bed.

  “Why? What’s wrong?” I grabbed his hand.

  “I’ve been here too long.”

  His voice softened, and his hand caressed my cheek. “I am needed in another time. Another space. You cannot understand.”

  There was sorrow in his voice.

  “Will you come back?” I whispered.

  He placed his warm hand on my chest and pressed. Liquid lightning shot directly into my heart and seared through my veins. Every nerve danced. Every muscle quivered. Sick to my stomach, I trembled.

  “I have never left you.”

  Cool fingertips touched my eyelids, and the nauseous feeling disappeared.

  “Close your eyes. See my face. Wish me back to you. I will return in time. This I promise.”

  I opened my eyes.

  One moment there.

  The next, gone.

  Chapter Four

  The soft whisper of wings stirred the silence, and the Keeper eased beside him. In the distance, a rogue lightning bolt split the sky’s seam. The Rook tensed in anticipation of the Keepers’ reprimand.

  It did not come.

  “Of all the Sentinels that comprise my legions, you are the most—“

  “Rebellious?”

  The Keeper chuckled “While that is true, it is not the word I choose today.”

  The tension melted from the Rook’s shoulders. Judging from the jovial tone in the Keeper’s voice, this meeting was not to be a stern lecture but more friendly persuasion. He smiled to himself. Knowing the Keeper as he did however, there would be a point to it all.

  “Then what word do you select, oh wise one?”

  “Actually, two come to mind. Compassion is the first.”

  The veteran warrior turned from him, walked over to a granite boulder, and sat.

  “Do you know the Sentinels were created at my request?”

  The Rook opened his eyes wide in surprise.

  “While it is true that I can be in thousands of places at the same time, why spread myself so thin? I petitioned the Creator for an army that would guard every life in the universe. ‘They must be all powerful,’ I told Him. ‘Able to manipulate time. Travel through dimensions. Shape shift. Fierce. Invincible.’”

  Thunder rumbled and the Keeper shifted his gaze to the horizon and shook his head. “But I made one very big error. Never once did I ask for compassion.” His gaze returned to the Rook.

  “Imagine. Me, the Keeper of all-that-is, forgot to ask for the greatest, most important qualification of all—the ability to care, to love.”

  The Rook couldn’t believe what he heard. The Keeper never made mistakes.

  “To add insult to injury, I didn’t realize the blunder until you disobeyed me and took sympathy on a little girl whose death had been decided.”

  The bearded warrior smoothed his wingtips and walked toward the Rook, talking with every step.

  “I was shocked at your disobedience yet grateful. Your insubordination made me see the error of my ways. Which, I am relieved to say, can and will be fixed.”

  He rested a gnarled hand on the Rook’s shoulder in a rare fatherly gesture.

  “Roark, of all the Sentinels in my command you are the most intense. Many times however, you are driven more by emotion than logic. Why this is so remains a mystery. Perhaps the Creator in all His wisdom made you more sensitive than the others to teach me a lesson, to make me realize that power without caring is only brute force. Yes, you are the Rook, a mighty protector, but you are also the most difficult.”

  What was this? It had been centuries since he’d heard his name. He stared at the old man in surprise.

  The Keeper nodded. “I know the names of all the Sentinels.”

  “And yet never once do you say them, wise one. Perhaps it is time for that to change?”

  “Perhaps.”

  The winged general dropped his hand and walked to the mountain’s edge. The scent of rain saturated the air.

  “Now for the second word.” He turned back, his voice stern, but not unkind.

  “Curious.”

  “I want to know what hold this mortal has on you. Why do you constantly break our laws to be with her?”

  Ah, there was the point.

  “I broke no rules. Sentinels have always joined with mortal women.”

  “But never you. She is the first. Why?”

  He said nothing.

  The Keeper continued. “While it is a fact that we couple with mortals, it is forbidden to fall in love with these women. Mortals cannot live in our world and we cannot survive long in theirs. You know this yet you press the limits and remain in that lower dimension longer than is necessary.” His brow furrowed. “And never is it permissible to burn your energy, your spirit, into their bodies. Again, you shun the rules, branding your essence into her heart. So, I ask once more. Why do you risk censure for this girl?”

  The Rook scowled. Had he not asked himself that same question time-after-time?

  The storm broke. Rain beat stone and stung his face.

  The Keeper didn’t move.

  An answer must be given.

  But how could he rationalize a feeling, a longing that defied all logic, all reason? He loved her, always had, and always would. Love was what it was. Perhaps that in itself was the answer.

  “Love needs no explanation.”

  Majestic wings unfolded and the ground quaked.

  He stood steadfast and waited for the Keeper’s wrath to be unleashed.

  Bring it on, aged warrior. I can withstand your fury...for her.

  The storm calmed. White wings folded. The Keeper shook his head and sighed. “I should’ve known you would have an answer.”

  The Rook let out his breath. Clouds scurried across the sky.

  The ancient one’s voice hardened. “Her soul was tied to yours many years ago, but because of the burning you are now a physical part of each other. One cannot survive without the other. Even so, she remains mortal and has no way to enter this time and space.”

  The Keeper’s eyebrow cocked and a mischievous glint made his hawk eyes dance. “What clever answer do you have to that, rebellious one?

  Deep laughter sounded from the mountain top and echoed throughout the universe. “Love always finds a way.”

  Chapter Five

  Mortimer’s paw on my face woke me to singing birds and warm sunshine. The scent of sex lingered on the cotton sheets and hung in the air. I hugged fluffy pillows to my chest and lost myself in the memory of the night’s lovemaking.

  My feet fairly floated when I got out of bed and headed for the shower. A quick glance in the mirror confirmed no bite marks on my skin.

  No evidence at all betrayed that I’d slept with a man from another dimension. None, except one. My heart felt different.

  What was that feeling? Oh, yes, now I remember. Happiness. I wanted to skip, sing, dance, and shout for joy.

  I loved him.

  He loved me.

  There was no greater feeling on earth.

  The house was unusually quiet for a Sunday morning. The heady aroma of fresh ground coffee didn’t climb the stairs to entice me to breakfast. Where was everyone? I switched on the radio. The announcer’s voice destroyed my tranquility.

  “Good Monday morning. The weekend’s over and it’s back to work.”

  What?

  Monday?

  Impossible.

  I’d slept for twenty-four hours.

  ****

  My little pickup hummed down the streets and around the corners while I sang along with songs on the radio. Everything looked sharper, colors more brilliant, smells more pungent, the air fresher. I arrived at the shop just in time to hear the grumblings of Madame Katanga and a customer’s indignant remarks.

  “No mirror. Bad MoJo.”

&
nbsp; “Well, mercy me, I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

  I smiled at the lady’s thick southern accent. Highly incensed, she slammed the gold earrings down on the counter.

  “How can one possibly buy jewelry if one can’t see what one looks like with it on? The shop down the street has wall-to-wall mirrors.”

  “Then one should go there,” Madame Katanga mimicked.

  It was all I could do to hold back my laugh. Madame K, as I had taken to calling her, never lost her temper. Something was wrong.

  “Well, I never!” The puffed up holier-than-thou lady said and stomped out the door.

  Puzzled, I looked at Madame K who glared back at me. “You late,” she said and walked toward the back room.

  Mama ChiChi clicked her tongue. “Sister cranky. Is Angelina’s birthday.”

  I picked up the earbobs and replaced them on the rack. “You know, even though she was uppity, that lady made a valid point. We would sell more jewelry and hats if we had a mirror for the customers to use. Why is it so bad to have one?

  “Because is dangerous.”

  I jumped at Madame K’s voice. She came from the back room and handed me a box of rose quartz for the crystal display. “Why?” I asked. “How can a mirror be unsafe?”

  She sighed down to her toes. Worry lines etched her usual smooth face. I could tell she hadn’t slept. A twinge of guilt hit me. Was it right to be so happy when she was so sad?

  “Looking glass is gateway to other dimensions,” she explained. “If a body step into the glass and no one on other side to catch you, the soul wanders forever. You lost in time. Never find way home again.”

  I wanted to ask her just how a person steps into the glass, but the scowl on her face stopped me.

  For the remainder of the day, I stayed out of her way.

  ****

  Even though I felt bad for Madame K, my heart skipped when the sun fell into purple and orange clouds and slipped below the horizon. Darkness settled around the majestic plantation house and night creatures began their serenade.

  The Rook came with night.

  Candlelight danced a tango with moonbeams that crept along the walls and ceiling. The soothing scent of lavender and vanilla circled the room. Eyes closed, I called his face to mind and wished him back to me.

  At midnight certainty waned to hope.