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Sacrifice

Page 20

by Underwood, Patrick


  Aided by the massive fire started by our new resident fire expert, we could still see smoke rising off into the distance when we finally stopped. She had created one hell of a tremendous blaze.

  No campfire for ourselves, we had just laid out the bedrolls so we could all fit together and put a still sleeping Tasnia in the center. Then we had each taken a side when we went to sleep. We did not want to take a chance that she would wake up without those that cared for her in close proximity.

  As my eyes finally adjusted to being open again, the dawn light streaming through the branches allowed me to see what was happening.

  Tas was moving and wrenching in her sleep from a dream. Based on her rapid movements, I would guess it was a nightmare. She moaned several times in a way that made me think she was screaming.

  I tightened my grip on her midsection and peered over at Tyla, who had also opened her eyes with concern at her friend.

  “Should we try to wake her?” Tyla whispered.

  I pondered this for a minute as I considered. I was not a psychologist or anything, but I recalled that dreams usually helped the subconscious process things so that the awake mind could deal with them better. There were a few technologies developed back on Earth before the end that would even let you learn things in your sleep.

  “No, we can just be here for her, hold her close, and be ready when she wakes. I doubt anyone could track us with the fire she caused, but even if they could, it’s worth the risk for her to deal with this a bit.”

  Tyla nodded and moved her arm so that our hands clasped, while we both leaned against the redhead, who was going through trauma that I wished I could fix for her.

  But I couldn’t. Tyla and I could only support her on the journey through it.

  A few minutes went by before Tas jumped in our arms, her eyes opening wide, and she let a small scream.

  “Father!” she said.

  “Shhhh, Tas,” I said when she struggled from our grip. “You're safe, we have you.”

  Tears came out, and she started crying uncontrollably. “He killed him! I… I saw him die.”

  Tyla and I both snuggled closer to the woman, both putting our head to the side of hers.

  “I am so sorry, Tas,” Tyla said, her own tears breaking through as she joined her crying friend.

  “I…” I began, not sure what I wanted to say. “I honestly don’t know what to say… but I am here for you.”

  Part of me felt guilty at not being fast enough but saying that aloud would not help Tas right now, so I kept it inside. If I thought she blamed me for her father’s death, which I may deserve, then I would accept that.

  Instead of laying blame, she turned to her side facing me, moving down so she could plant her face in my shirt, using it to wipe her eyes as she continued to cry. Grabbing the fabric with both hands balled up in a fist as she did so.

  I could feel the wetness sink through instantly, and it brought me memories of the time that Tyla did the same just a few short weeks ago.

  It was then that I realized my feelings for Tas were the same as my feelings for Tyla, and the trajectory of our relationship was heading on a similar path. I honestly was not sure if I could or should stop it.

  I was not even sure if this was another mental push from Vex.

  Tyla scrunched up and spooned the back of Tas, putting her chin on the top of Tas’s head and looking up at me with knowing eyes.

  She felt it too.

  We sat like that for a long time as Tas continued to cry, and Tyla and I just let her. I was not sure exactly how much time passed, but eventually, the crying died down to the occasional sob.

  Even when the sobs finally ended, no one moved. We each just appreciated the comfort of each other while we came to grips with what had happened the night before.

  “Thank ya,” Tas said, finally lifting her head, putting her hand to the side of my face and kissing me on the mouth.

  Shocked at the sudden movement, I could only react by returning the kiss. My passion for the woman almost overriding my sense of propriety.

  But she broke it off before it got too heated, then smiled at me with a small smile, looking beautiful even with her red-rimmed and puffy eyes. She then turned over to Tyla and gave her the same kiss on the mouth as she had given to me. Again, it was just a simple kiss, no passion involved, but it lingered like that of lovers comforting each other, not friends.

  With the kiss finished, she got back into her spot, nestled against my now wet chest. It did not seem to bother her as she wrapped her leg around me and Tyla moved her body to fill the void, bringing the blankets over us as we sat like that for the rest of the morning.

  “I really do not want to do this,” I said to the group, both women looking up at me expectedly. “But I really have to pee.”

  Both smirked a little, and a giggle even escaped Tasnia’s lips.

  We pulled ourselves from the pile, and I walked out of the tree and found a bush to claim as my own.

  When I returned, Tyla and Tas had set out some of the preserved food we had packed. They had placed some inside a bowl for me while they left the protection of the travelers’ tree to take care of their own morning ablutions.

  “The sun has hit its zenith,” I said around bites of food when they returned. “We need to get moving soon.”

  “Do we continue on to Riven Hold?” Tyla asked.

  “Yes,” I said with a nod. “But we only stop by the backup rendezvous we discussed with Stern, leave a message for him to meet us somewhere else if he is not there, and get out as quickly as possible. I do not want to get trapped again.”

  “Yes, Master.”

  “Tas, I… I hope you are not angry at me,” I said, feeling it was time I broached the topic.

  “Why would ya think I was angry at ya?” she asked.

  “I… am not sure that you are, to be honest. Just feeling a little guilty and angry at myself for not getting your dad out alive. I would honestly not blame you if you were, but I wanted to know. I think that… if we are going to be around each other for a long time.” I paused, trying to get the words I wanted to say right. “We should work on being open with our thoughts and feelings… and I wanted to share them with you to start that off on the right foot.” I looked down at the ground, chewing the jerky as I considered the words I just said.

  She scooted over to me so that she was in front of me. “I don’t, Derk. I blame the one that killed him. But, since you just mentioned being honest with your feelings, I will tell you the truth as well. For a while this morning, I thought about that. How, if you did not come into our lives, he would be alive right now. For a brief second, I was angry at you in my grief.”

  She paused for a second, changing her gaze from me and then to Tyla. “But I… quickly concluded that I also care for both of you and want you in my life as well. So, I refocused that anger on the one that did it. I want to kill that Demigod right now more than anything else, but I don’t want to lose either of you to do it. I… already lost too much.”

  I reached over and grabbed Tyla in a hug, Tyla joining us a moment later. No one cried this time, but there was a definitive sadness in the group still.

  “Will you let me join ya?” Tas asked, in a whisper. “I see how ya and Tyla are together, and I find… I want that as well.”

  A war waged inside of me. The battle of wants and desires waged against my sense of what was right and wrong. I was unsure which would win.

  “Say yes, Derrick… please,” Tyla said from the other side of Tas’s head.

  “I… I want to. Part of me is still against it, though. Give me some time to come to grips with it?”

  They both agreed and tightened their hug.

  After a few minutes, we finally got our bags packed and our stuff ready to travel.

  “I now realize that a bow would have been preferable to the crossbow for a few reasons,” I said as I carried the rabbit into the small rock overhang that we had decided would be our camp for the night.
/>   We had built the tent we brought with us under it for protection from the winds that had picked up since this morning, a sign of severe weather approaching as the seasons shifted.

  “What happened?” Tyla asked as she prepared the fire, and since it was dark enough now that we did not have to worry about the smoke signaling our position to any trackers. We had only gotten a few miles in that afternoon, and I did not feel completely safe.

  “I missed the rabbit with the crossbow, and it’s a pain to reload when running. So, I had to use my power to run it down and tackle it and twist its neck to kill it.”

  “At least ya got it.”

  “How are you doing?” I asked the redhead.

  “I… still hurt inside, but I feel better with you two around.”

  “Anything you need, just ask,” I said, casually placing the rabbit on a flat stone someone had cleaned, glancing over at the girls in time to see them share a glance with each other. That hidden language all women could share, apparently throughout time and place regardless of the planet they were on, all with a simple expression on their face, but I did not comment on it. I was pretty sure I had made my decision, and they would just have to accept it when I told them.

  “I skinned and dressed it, just need to put a stick in it and put it over the fire when it’s ready. Should be plenty for us tonight.”

  “Tas said she would cook for us. She used to do it all the time at the Inn, and she brought spices.”

  “That's great, thank you.”

  Tas turned red in the cheeks. “I hope you like it. I was not as good as the regular cook, but when she had her last child last year, I had to take over for a while.”

  “I am sure it will be fine,” I said, going over to the edge of the clearing to wash my hands. “Let's see if I can make this work today.”

  I closed my eyes and focused on my power, specifically the blue element that Tyla was giving me. I reached out with the energy inside me and pictured the atoms of hydrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere. Using the power given to me, I… commanded them to come together in the palm of my right hand and shift into the substance I desired.

  Sound of water hitting the soil made me open my eyes as I saw a small stream of water coming out of my hand like a faucet. Excitement at the success ran through my body, and I could not help but raise my hand in the air in a fist to celebrate.

  It was a stupid move really, especially since water was coming out of it.

  I soaked myself all over my right side before I could gather the will to stop the water. You had to consider both the start and stop when summoning water.

  Unfortunately, this meant I had to endure the ridicule as both women fell over laughing at what I had just done.

  “Of course, I did that,” I said then gazed over at the two giggling girls. “That shall be your night’s entertainment, my ladies. I hope you enjoyed the show.”

  I took a small bow which made them giggle even more.

  I focused again and got the water started without making idiotic celebration moves and filled up a bowl we were using to wash hands. We even had soap that smelled a little better than what we had before.

  Finished, I went over to the bag and fished out a fresh shirt and pants. At least I had taken my armor off. It had some damage from the fight, but it was still serviceable.

  I placed my wet clothes on top of the tent, hopeful they would dry overnight. Then I put on new clothes before I sat down. The rabbit was now cooking over the coals and Tas was heating a pot of water with her power next to it.

  “I added some spices to it. It’s not much, sorry.”

  “If it will keep us from digging into our prepared food, it will be perfectly fine. I’m just worried just in case we get to Riven Hold, and it’s a disaster.”

  “There are a few other towns, but they will probably be sacked before Riven Hold,” Tyla said.

  When the food was complete, we ate in comfortable silence for a while. Cooked rabbit and a broth with some vegetable in it to go with it. Simple but filling.

  “It tasted great, Tas, thank you,” I said.

  “Yer welcome.”

  “Going to be a little chilly tonight and may storm a bit,” I said, noticing the rapid drop in temperature.

  Clouds had also moved in.

  “It’s the storm. It means winter is going to be moving in early this year. Glad we got the winter gear,” Tas said.

  “Me too,” I said. “We should plan on moving early tomorrow so we can get some more distance. According to the map, we can move south, west of the main road, all the way down through the woods and… hopefully, miss any trouble that might look for us. Should only add a day extra to the journey if we move fast.”

  The ladies agreed with me, and we cleaned up the campsite.

  We put out the fire with dirt I had collected earlier. Putting all our stuff in the bags and then placing them along the sides of the single tent we had.

  It was a little snug, but we would make do.

  “I’ll change first,” I said as I made my way into the tent and removed the clothes I would not be sleeping in, planning on just wearing pants to bed. The bed rolls, which each were just two thick blankets folded in half, could be used individually or together. I unrolled them and placed each right next to each other with me on the side, Tyla in the middle, and Tas on the other side.

  When I laid down on my spot, the other two walked in from their run into the woods.

  “No master, you are in the middle.”

  I glanced up at her. “Pretty sure you just called me master then told me what to do.”

  “I did, didn’t I?” Tyla smiled.

  The only light in the room was two candles in a brace hanger attached to the tent pole I had lit before coming in. They were covered in a glass container like a hurricane lamp, providing plenty of light to see by.

  “Fine, you win.” I shuffled over and moved into the middle as the girls undressed for bed.

  Based on the redness in Tas’s cheeks, I had a feeling I knew what was going to happen next. So, I braced my will power for shenanigans and considered the words I would use when I stopped them.

  But even as they undressed to simple underwear and breast bindings, they did nothing but get into bed with me. Though they each cuddled up against me and settled, not doing anything remotely provocative.

  That got me to relax from my earlier alarmed state, and I started to relax.

  “Do you want me to blow out the candle? Both are a little bright for me,” Tyla said.

  “Sur—-” I said but was interrupted.

  “I’ll get it,” Tas said and lifted just enough to reach for the lamp.

  However, as she reached, her breast bindings, somehow already loosened, came undone and fell away from her chest, exposing her perky and luscious breast. My mind stopped functioning as I stared at them just above me.

  Tasnia blew out one of the candles and suddenly the tent was darker but still enough to see by. Tas slowly lowered herself, not bothering to recover her exposed cleavage, and simply leaned back into my side.

  My manhood was suddenly rock hard, and it shattered all the control I thought I had built up into a million pieces.

  I took deep, slow breaths, trying to get control when more movement got my attention. Tyla reached up to me and kissed me on the lips. “Good night, Master.”

  She moved out of the way to be replaced by Tasnia.

  “Good night, Derk,” she said then kissed me on the lips in the same manner.

  Her boobs pressed against my chest as she leaned into me. I could feel the hardness in her nipples, and it sent my brain scrambling even more.

  “Uh… good night,” I said when she released me and they both resumed their positions, cuddling into me on my sides.

  “Good night, Tas,” Tyla said, smiling at her friend from across my chest.

  “Good night, Tyla,” Tasnia replied, and they got up once again to press their faces together to kiss.

  However, this wa
s not the same kiss they gave me. They lingered… and soon their tongues reached into each other’s mouths to vie for dominance.

  My manhood, already fully erect, simply strained in my pants, begging for me to free it as the two beautiful women began making out right in front of my face.

  I could honestly only stare for a few minutes, not wanting to ruin the sight in front of me. My decision from earlier gone and my will power destroyed, my inner caveman danced a jig at my surrender.

  I could only watch the show.

  They stopped their kiss and smiled at each other before turning their predatory gaze upon me with knowing looks from both.

  “If this is what you really want,” I croaked, not sure if it was a good idea but going with it anyway.

  The only thing making the last vestiges of my conscience feel better was Tas could always refuse the offer, or I could release her later.

  But even that thought flew out of my brain as both attacked at once.

  27

  Then There Were Three

  I’ll be honest, I had traveled the world — before it was destroyed, that is — and met many people. I saw some crazy things and did things most guys in the military would do at a young age.

  A threesome was never on that list of accomplishments.

  So, the horny young man still occupying a part of my brain got to check that box right the fuck off with glee.

  The girls kissed me at the same time, our tongues mingling in a rhythm I did not know how we learned so rapidly.

  A flash of light happened in the tent, making us pause momentarily as we looked to see its cause. A few seconds later, we heard thunder, and we relaxed, smiling at each other with a brief pause.

  I resisted the urge to ruin it, asking one more time if Tasnia was sure she wanted to do it. Her eyes, as I gazed into them, were sure at this moment, which was enough for me now. As I realized I wanted her with us as much as I wanted Tyla.

 

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