by Diana Steele
“He's mine, bitch,” she thought as she shoved her arm underneath his and pulled herself close to him. She wasn't really sure why she felt so possessive all of a sudden, but she did and that was all that mattered. She leaned against him and smiled, then cast her eyes back towards the girl at her desk just to make sure she got the message. Anna wasn't sure what all this was really about, or if she was even actually married to him. But she didn't really care. Something about him was for her and her alone, and she wanted that. She would sort the rest out later, she thought, as she just held his arm and let him guide her.
*****
Kat woke up that evening in the bed lying beside Anna who was still fast asleep. She had never slept next to anyone before. She had never done a lot of things before she met Anna. She looked down at the girl laying beside her. They looked so much alike. They WERE so much alike. They had shared their nightmares, the fears, and the first real friendship Kat felt she had ever had. But there was something else Kat couldn't put her finger on. As she looked at Anna intently, contemplating the last few months of her life, her body started to flush. Kat certainly noticed, it was that same flush she had been getting for some time now whenever she looked at Anna. She felt guilty. Anna was her best friend. But sometimes she couldn't help it. Anna was so relaxed and free around her. She would change her clothes while in the middle of a conversation or lounge around wearing almost nothing at all. And then the dream.
“Oh God!” Kat whispered under her breath as she looked down at Anna's breasts slowly moving up and down with each delicate breath. The mysterious dreams they shared. Laying bound on the stone altars, their bodies stripped bare as they were ravaged by some stranger. Every night the dreams came. Once they realized they shared them, once their dreams had merged and the two could look beside them and see the other in that vulnerable position, Kat could hardly keep her eyes off of Anna. Each night the man would take her body, but her eyes stayed on Anna, watching in total amazement the beauty of her friend lost in the throes of passion. The touch of the stranger was irrelevant to her, her body was reacting to Anna's pleasure. As she thought about those scenes, Kat's body began to sweat and the ache she had grown so used to started to throb between her legs. Being so close to Anna like this was driving her crazy. She tried to shift her weight slowly so as not to wake Anna. The pendant around her neck slipped between her breasts. The cool metal against her skin made her jolt with guilt. It wasn't her first Christmas present, but it was the first in a very long time that wasn't identical to every present handed out in the orphanage. It was the first Christmas present she felt was really hers. She clutched it to her chest and began to cry silently. But her body was still burning, and she knew she couldn't control it much longer. She slipped from the bed and made her way in the darkness of the room to the door.
Kat walked out the door of the dorm into the cold winter night hoping the chill in the air would help diminish the heat that was boiling inside her. She was so confused by all the changes and complications that leaving the orphanage had brought to her. She was torn by the growing, aching lust she felt. She was so confused about her feelings for Anna. “Is it just because she's my first real friend?” She wondered as she marched down the icy sidewalk. “Or am I really..,” her thought was cut short but the sound of something in the darkness behind her. It sounded like scraping metal on the bricks, and it filled her whole body with dread. The heat that had been so all consuming instantly fled, and her body became colder than she ever remembered it being. The winter air now burned her lips as it passed into her lungs.
“Shit.” She said to herself as she turned away from the sound and quickened her pace. As she turned around the corner of the long wall that ran behind the dorm she saw him. Her stranger, as Anna called him.
“Kat, come here quickly. You're in danger,” he said as his eyes shot past her towards the echoing sound screeching out once again behind her. Kat didn't feel the same about her stranger as Anna did hers. He didn't comfort her. He didn't thrill her quite the same. But the sound terrified her so she ran into his open arms. As she pressed herself into his chest she felt the heat return to her skin slowly. He held her tight and turned to guide her down the sidewalk towards the library. The closeness made Kat uneasy. She had come out into the night confused and now was not only more confused, but afraid too. Being this close to the stranger made her body tremble, and she felt her panties start to soak between her thighs. But it was wrong, something about it felt mechanical and cold. Not like when she thought of Anna.
“Anna!” she said out loud as the couple came to a quick stop at the steps above the drill field. Her stranger turned and pulled her close to him as he wrapped his arms around her. His hips pushed into hers, and she felt him throb against her.
“Anna will be ok. Connor will find her,” he said as his head leaned down and his lips pressed against hers. The touch felt like an explosion inside of her. Kat felt a pulse start to beat low in her belly as his lips parted, and his tongue slipped into her mouth. She felt her nipples pulse against the pressure of his body pushing into her chest. She felt her legs shake and weaken as he held the kiss firmly. As he pressed to her the pendant brushed across her breast, and her mind instantly rushed back to Anna. Her eyes burst open wide, and she bit down hard on the tongue slipping between her teeth.
As the stranger jolted backwards, Kat sprang to life like a rabbit from a cage. She ran, and she ran fast. She didn't look where she was headed. She didn't care. She felt angry and disgusted with herself. She didn't know why. She didn't understand any of this. She just knew she had to escape. Her feet hit the ice at the edge of the sidewalk, and she sprang forward. Her body lurched, and she felt herself flip forward as her body tossed itself down the hill and was thrown into the bushes. Her head was spinning, and her body throbbed with pain as she lay in the snow staring up at the night sky. Her lungs burned from the cold air and the panicked sprint. The force of her body striking the frozen dirt had forced the air from her, and she choked as she desperately gasped for air. Tears ran down her face, and her vision blurred as the throbbing in her head overwhelmed her and she faded out of consciousness.
“Oh fuck,” Kat groaned as she winced at the pain in her head. She could barely open her eye as the throbbing moved from her temples and down over her face to make her teeth pulse.
“Shhh.” The soothing rich feminine voice came from beyond the other side of Kat's heavy eye lids. “It's ok. You're safe.” Kat didn't recognize the voice, and she struggled to open her eyes to find out where she was. The room was dark and warm, lit with the warm glow of a candle by the bedside. As things came into focus in the darkness, Kat saw where the voice had come from. Sitting by the bed in a small wooden slat-backed chair was a young woman. Or maybe she was older than Kat. Her features were so smooth it was impossible to guess her age. She had pale skin that flickered with the candlelight, deep red lips, and her wavy auburn hair that flowed over her shoulders down to her hips. There was something about this woman that screamed seduction. At first glimpse, Kat felt her body react as it warmed and her nipples stiffened.
At that moment Kat realized something was missing - her clothing. She was naked beneath the warm fur blanket. The silky feeling made every inch of her body tingle. The woman's green eyes seem to pierce right through Kat. Her full lips almost pouted as she looked down at Kat. As if reading her mind, the woman slipped a small hand over and wrapped her thin fingers around the edge of the blanket.
“Your clothes were soaked and freezing,” she said as she pulled the blanket up and tucked it under Kat's shoulder. “I had to strip you down, or you would have frozen.” The woman rose from the chair and stepped back into the darkness for a moment and then reappeared with an arm full of assorted pillows. She approached the bed and leaned over Kat to work the pillows in behind her head. As Kat leaned up to allow her room, her face slipped right up to the woman's breasts. They were full, firm-looking breasts that seemed to fight against the tight blouse to escape. Kat couldn'
t help herself as her eyes sank down into the darkness between the woman's breasts. The scent of perfume, like slightly burned wood and sage drifted into Kat's nose, and she felt herself growing even more hot beneath what was now far too much blanket. “I'm Iris, by the way.” The woman's voice slipped out like music. It sounded soothing but commanding all at once. The tone of it made Kat tremble.
“Uhm,” Kat muttered out. “You, uh undressed me?” she asked clumsily.
“Yes, I did, little one. You were going to catch your death in those clothes,” Iris said as she slipped backwards gracefully until she was sitting back in the chair with her legs crossed over one another and her hands propped on her knees. The way she moved seemed almost like a butterfly. It was sudden, quick, but graceful, and somehow delicate, as if she might break in the process. But something about the presence of her made Kat think she was the strongest person she had ever seen.
“Well thanks, I guess,” Kat responded as she sat up on the pillows and let the blanket slip slightly. The heat building up in her skin was starting to make her sweat.
“Oh little one, it was my pleasure,” Iris spoke and the words rolled off her red lips as she leaned back in the chair. Kat's body surged with heat at the look on Iris's face as her words struck like an arrow. She choked on her breath and started to cough. Iris was on her feet in an instant hovering over Kat and peering down at her.
“Are you ok, little one?” She asked as her she leaned against the wall behind Kat on one hand and stroked her other cool hand across Kat's burning cheek. “Oh you're burning up, little one. It's almost time. Bless your little heart.”
“Almost time for what?” Kat managed to ask as she regained her composer a bit.
“Well now, that's a long story, little one. Let me get you some tea first.” Kat noticed the way she called her “little one.” Had it been anyone else, it would have seemed offensive. But the sound of it on Iris's tongue made Kat feel warm inside like nothing ever had before. It felt safe and somehow made Kat proud. Kat's eyes stayed on Iris's every move as she walked across the room. The deep red blouse that was so tight around her breasts, opened up and flowed out like a breeze just above her hips as she swayed across the floor. Her perfect ass seemed to have been poured into a tight pair of black leather pants. The motion of it made Kat's heart pound in her ears. As Iris turned back toward the bed with a small, cracked tea cup in her hands, she saw Kat's eye jump up to meet her. Their eyes locked for a moment, and Iris's lips curled into a smile as she brushed her hair back with one hand and stepped forward with the tea cup extended politely. “Here you go, little one. Drink up,” she said as Kat reached for the cup. Her fingers brushed against Iris's, and the tall strong woman smiled even wider as she passed the vessel to her. Kat felt complete awe for this woman. Despite the events of the evening felt she herself contract at the touch and the flames inside her started to flurry. Iris slipped back into the chair and watched for a moment as Kat simply held the tea cup and stared. “Come on now drink up, little one, and I will tell you a story.”
“A story?” Kat asked as she finally snapped back to life. She drew the cup to her lips. The warm liquid made her lips tingle and tasted earthy but slightly sweet. “What kind of story?” Kat asked as the tea slipped down the back of her throat with a soothing feeling.
“The kind of story that explains the dreams you've been having and all the strange things in your life.” Kat's eyes shot towards Iris with a sudden sense of fear. Her mouth hung open slightly as she trembled and wondered if she was actually as safe as this woman made her feel. Sensing her concern Iris leaned forward and laid her hand on Kat's bare arm. “Hush, little one,” she said softly. “It's ok. I understand what you're going through, and I am here to help. You can leave if you want. I will get your clothes.”
“No.” Kat said nervously. “No, I'm ok.” Her mind was dizzy with the way things had been going insane lately. Her body ached so often, and her mind was confused. But being here, with Iris, she felt calmer. And she longed to know what the hell was going on so she could bring some order back into the chaos she'd been suffering. “Please tell, tell me your story.”
“Alright, little one, but it’s a long one, and it's going to sound a little strange.” Iris leaned back slowly letting her hand drift down Kat's arm so the touch lasted as long as possible. “Now then where do I start?” Iris asked herself as she finally settled back into the chair and placed her hands on her knees again. “Oh I know,” she said and started carefully telling a long fairy-tale to Kat.
It was a story about how a very long time ago an evil sorcerer named Talisin had kidnapped a beautiful forest nymph and forced her to marry him and bear him a daughter. The nymph bore him a beautiful daughter named Ceridwen, whom he then sold to the King as a bride so he could have greater influence over the kingdom. But when the nymph escaped him to return to her true love, a feminine spirit called Arwin, the sorcerer killed her. Talisin cursed all of her descendants by binding their magic to their lust, and because he was disgusted by the fact that his wife truly loved another woman, he added to their curse that their lives would only persist if they were to surrender to men who served the King as brides so they would forever be Queens as he had made Ceridwen. But Arwin had stolen the curse, and to save the daughters of her beloved throughout the passage of time, she asked her own most loyal houses to volunteer to be cursed as well so they might protect the heirs of Ceridwen forever. But before she cast the evil curse upon the volunteers, she sacrificed her own life so her blood would break the bonds of ruthlessness that Talisin had sold his own daughter into with the King of men.
The tale was long and involved. It was about a battle between good and evil for control of the world. So many times Kat had to stop Iris and have her explain. Though she had trouble following and felt that it all sounded too much like a late night movie, Kat found she just enjoyed listening to Iris talk. Each time Kat had a question, Iris calmly listened and guided her to an understanding.
“So that's who those strangers are?” she asked. “That's why they can be in my dreams?”
“Yes, little one, they call themselves the guardians, but they are really slavers who demand ownership of the heirs of Ceridwen.” Iris said as she leaned down to comfort Kat who was obviously getting upset.
“But who?” Kat stumbled with her question. “Who is the guy in my dreams?” she asked.
“The guardians have a Seachrán, a matchmaker, who binds the heirs to one of the men from the King’s great houses at birth,” she said as a small tear formed in her eye. “To them, the heirs are the property of their mates after the wedding night.”
“No!” Kat cried out as she sat straight up in the bed. She didn't notice that the blanket quickly fell away, and her naked breasts spilled out into the warm air of the room right before Iris. “I don't want him. I don't want to be with a man, a man like that,” Kat cried as the tears poured from her eyes. Iris slipped from the chair and into the bed wrapping her arms around Kat and pulling her face to her chest. Kat's fear and anger at the thought of being forced to marry the stranger made her ignore the swell of Iris's breasts as her face pressed into them. All she cared about was how this woman made her feel safe.
“Hush, hush now, little one,” Iris soothed her and her delicate hands stroked Kat's hair. “I'm sorry, kitten. It will be ok.”
“But I can't,” Kat whimpered as her tears turned the red blouse dark around the edge of the plunging neck line.
“You don't have to, little one. There is another way,” Iris said as Kat sobbed against her. “The gift the Arwin gave of her own life gave the heirs a choice,” she explained. “Then you do not have to choose to surrender yourself to the men of the King's great houses.”
“Tell me, please,” Kat begged as she snuggled as tightly to Iris as she could. “I will do anything.”
“Because of the sacrifice of Arwin, the heirs have a choice. They can choose to marry a Hunter instead of a Guardian, and their lives will still be preserved,�
� Iris told her. She held her tightly and stroked her hands up and down the crying girl's back.
“But I don't want to marry any man, I just,” Kat drew back to arms length and looked Iris in the eyes as her tears dripped off her chin. “I just don't think I can, a man.” She choked and began to sob once again.
“Little one, hush,” Iris said as she wiped the tears from Kat chin and slid her hands around the young girls face. “You don't understand. Because of the love of Arwin, you have a choice. You must marry soon or you will perish. But you have a choice.” She held Kat's trembling face in her hands as she looked deep into her eyes. Then Iris carefully leaned towards her drawing Kat's face in, and their lips met softly. Iris's lips drew Kat's in between them and gentle sucked at her open mouth. Then just as soon as she had brought their faces together Iris drew back and spoke again. “You have a choice, little one. You don't have to marry a guardian,” she said and then paused as she looked deep into Kat's eyes. “And you don't have to marry a man, little one. Arwin and Ceridwen understood real love without the cruelty of men. The choice is completely yours.”