When the world started ending three weeks ago, she’d upped her game, truly become evil, not just content with ruining a man, she started to kill, no longer afraid of the consequences of her dark appetite. She’d been a predator, through and through.
He was also disturbed because he was still… attracted to her looks, her outward beauty. The large breasts, the wide hips, and lusciously thin waist, not to mention the gorgeous face, hair, and eyes, she was a ten in his opinion. Or was, he corrected himself. Not the dead body in his living room of course, but the memory of the woman, even despite knowing for certain what she was. It was… fucked up.
He’d stared at her empty eyes for hours, a conflict deep within him. Where had the power come from, the power over life and death itself. Was it some game of the aliens, had they done this to him? To what end?
He’d eventually gotten up when dawn broke, the light coming through the window snapped him out of his shock. He’d cleaned up his blood on the floor and then jumped into the shower. He shook his head as he shut off the water. He was clean, and couldn’t take the cool water any longer.
He shivered as he moved back to the living room in a towel, grabbed a bottle of water, and stared at the light coming in through the window. He’d need to move out soon and find food if he wanted to survive, his stomach was so tight. He looked at the rat considering his predicament, perhaps he had a way he could be a little safer. He turned toward Cynthia, found that empty spot, and instinctively poured energy into her.
Her body twitched and moved, and he could see the color of her skin return as her heart started to beat, and she blinked as life returned to her eyes. Strictly he supposed, she was still dead. She lacked that warm life spark inside her chest. But he could see the intelligence in her eyes, and she turned to him and smiled. She got up on her knees and bowed her head.
“Master,” she said softly, almost reverently.
He tilted his head, “Why are you bowing like that?”
She raised her head and looked confused, “Because you wish it master, I hear your will and obey.”
He was bemused for a moment, as he examined himself internally. He’d never been one for self-reflection before. He supposed it was true, he did want her to obey him, and respect him. So she did. He wasn’t sure how real it was, or rather if Cynthia even existed here in some way, her memories were in there, and she seemed intelligent, but her will was his, he didn’t think she had one anymore. He believed, or at least, he hoped the soul had moved on, he’d have a lot less of a moral qualm about this if that were true. After all, she’s done with body now right?
She was still smiling at him but lowered her eyes.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked curiously.
She nodded, “Yes, as you require.”
He mused for a moment. He wasn’t an asshole, or he didn’t think so at any rate. So he wanted her to obey, and be happy about it. He studied her for a moment, she really was beautiful. Her dark brown hair really shone in the light, and her large doe eyes made her appear innocent, where her body was just… built for sin.
She stood up and pulled the torn clothing off her body, and he could only gape as she spun for him, and posed. A part of him was disgusted at himself, but he couldn’t deny he wanted it. He was rock hard, and if he hadn’t wanted it… she wouldn’t be doing it. Still he felt guilty as she flirted with him coyly, he even had the thought she’d been so evil and such a user of others in her life, that it somehow excused him from what he was doing now.
He knew better than that of course as his mind squirmed, trying to justify what his desires was causing right in front of him, he knew it was wrong. Yet, he did nothing to stop her when she walked up to him with needy eyes, and then dropped back to her knees. He had no way to hide the truth from himself, morals didn’t stop the mind, and that’s what Cynthia, or at least the semblance of her, was reacting to.
He did nothing to stop her as she stripped off his towel, and eyed his straining member hungrily, licking her lips as she looked up at him with a smile. He did nothing but moan, and breath harder as she wrapped her soft warm pouty lips around him.
He was a little disgusted with himself, and ashamed. But she was entirely too tempting, too beautiful, and too damned willing to please his every desire and whim, for that to make one whit of difference. He didn’t want to stop and he could see eagerness and lust in her eyes as she took him deep inside her mouth over and over.
Her silken lips sliding along his most sensitive skin, engulfing him in the warm wet heat of her mouth.
She was amazing at it, and he’d never had a better blowjob as she pleased him with her mouth and both hands, and she held his eyes captive with hers. He idly wondered if she could deep throat, predictably, his wish was her command. His whole body went numb at the blissful pleasures she engendered in him, and he felt himself boil and explode, as pleasure washed through his body and mind.
She stayed down there a moment, and cleaned him lovingly. Slowly and sensuously licking him to her soft sounds of approval. He knew that too was a lie, and it made him… pathetic, but he didn’t care, she was his now to do with as he pleased, and he would. She stood, and took his hand and pulled on it, leading him to the bedroom. They could go out later…
It turned out she had nicer clothes in her backpack, that outfit had been part of her act to distract her victims. She was in short shorts and cute t-shirt, and he was in jean shorts and a light collared shirt. It was summer in southern California. Cynthia walked by his side, alert for any trouble, and quite willing to protect him. He knew instinctively he could heal any damage to her body, and it wouldn’t hurt her unless he wished it to.
He on the other hand, could only heal what didn’t kill him.
They walked out into the streets, and walked toward the Walmart that was just a mile away. It was probably looted already, but surely there’d be something to eat left. The weird thing was, he wasn’t actually hungry. He was still… full of energy from taking Cynthia’s life. It felt like that was all he needed, as if her life nourished his cells. Still, he didn’t really know for sure, so better safe than sorry.
For all he knew it was a side effect of some kind, an illusion. He didn’t want to risk starving himself. They were close to the Walmart when he heard the faint scream of a woman inside, and he paused and looked carefully at the doors from across the parking lot. One of the doors was barricaded closed, the other door had two men in front of it, with long knives, or maybe a machete on their belt, and they were holding baseball bats.
He thought that was strange, but he was glad they didn’t have guns, so he simply started to cross the parking lot. He was full of righteous anger, wondering if that poor woman was being raped. It was a little ironic, but he didn’t believe what he’d done was the same thing. Cynthia, the evil crazy bitch killer was dead. Using her body was a little wrong, but the body had life, and the will was his.
If anything, fucking Cynthia for him was closer to masturbation than taking an unwilling woman. The real woman was gone, even if the body, the flesh, lived. It made him a little pathetic, that he wanted her to adore, obey, and even love him, but it wasn’t rape. Not even close, at least not in his own mind.
If he was guessing right, these guys had set up a Walmart kingdom. The two guys stared at him hard, and he stopped about thirty feet away.
“Gun problems?”
The guy growled, “Guns don’t work ass face. Beat it, but you can leave the hot bitch with us.”
The other guy chuckled, “Yeah, we could use a fresh fuck.”
“Did you guys consider using the bow and arrows, I’m sure there are some in there,” he said calmly.
“Why the hell would we do that, I like a more direct challenge.”
Apparently they’d had enough talking, because they stalked forward.
He shook his head, reached out to their shining life force, and yanked. It was like a drug, it felt incredible. Not quite as good as a powerful orgasm, but it beat a minor
one hands down. It was a rush. He just… enjoyed it this time. He’d decided to hell with it. As long as he didn’t kill to feel that rush, and only killed to defend himself and others, did it matter if he enjoyed it?
It wasn’t him, it was absorbing the life force that made him enjoy it.
He didn’t react physically this time, but probably only because Cynthia had completely worn him out earlier. He was surprised when she kissed him, passionately.
She whispered in his ear sultrily, “I love you Sean.”
Fuck, he really was pathetic. What was even more pitiful, was that he’d almost said it back. He couldn’t help but like her back, she’d done whatever he wanted in bed, anything, so of course that had influenced him, but he tried not to think about it too much.
He shrugged, and spent some power to command the two dead assholes on the ground. They got up, grabbed their bats, and led him inside the building. He felt no guilt at all, those two fuck nuts had raped more women than he wanted to think about, and killed the men with them. They had a… stable in the back, and gave the women extra food if they were willing. Just for the hell of it, to see if they would.
There were a few more sentries, but dumb and dumber knew where they were, so of course he did as well. By the time he arrived in the back, he was high on life, literally, and had eight minions, not counting Cynthia. She seemed more lifelike, and he had to remind himself it was only because he wanted it that way.
They strolled into the back, there were thirteen more men back there. He wasn’t sure he could take much more power, so he had his eight minions got to town with their bats. They were outnumbered, but then they didn’t feel any pain either, or get tired. And each head they cracked in, was another minion for him a second or two later.
The fight was fierce in the beginning, but the longer it went on, the faster the rest went down. He didn’t even bother talking to them, he knew what he needed to know. Now he had a gang of twenty-one male zombies, plus Cynthia. He took a seat, and sent his zombie men to get some bows and arrows, it wouldn’t hurt to be able to shoot from a distance, he was sure he wasn’t the only one that thought of this. While they were at it, he also sent them for backpacks, and all the food they could carry.
Cynthia went into the back room, a tentative smile on her face as she released the women from their captivity. The idea he’d saved those women from further violation… made him feel good about what he’d done. Sure, he was kind of a freak, but he wasn’t rapist. Seriously, rapists are fucked up he thought, they should all be castrated.
His eyes widened, as he heard the loud screams. Holy crap, he really needed to watch his thoughts. Apparently he also thought they should feel it, because it sounded agonizing…
Chapter 7 – Kurien
Kurien may have been in charge of the expedition, but it was Arielle who picked their path and felt the way to the bearer of the mantle. Arielle was as beautiful as he’d remembered, but the rest of his memory had been flawed, or he’d been too blind to see it since they’d grown up together.
He glanced her way at the long light blonde hair, so light it was the color of ash. The ends tickled the fabric of her flowing clingy robes at the small of her back, and shapely waist. She was tall, willowy, and graceful. Her long curves were pleasing to his eyes, and though he couldn’t see them now, the bright blue of her eyes were captivating. Her face was fresh, fully free of youth, yet still showing no signs of age, her high cheekbones, full pink lips, and the gentle curve of her ears also filled his thoughts.
What he’d been wrong about, was she hadn’t thrown herself at him at all, in fact, he found he missed that, and glanced at her often. She wasn’t aloof, she was in fact very friendly, she just didn’t seem… interested anymore, which was disappointing, and more than a little confusing to him.
He turned his gaze to his other companion for the scouting trip. Brianthenia or Bria to her friends, had beauty of an entirely different kind. Her body was closer to voluptuous, and she was a little short, just five foot four in height, which was ironic since her other form was much… larger.
What marked her as different from members of his own race, was her shiny silver hair, and penetrating yellow eyes. She was extremely attractive, and volatile. He never quite knew from moment to moment how she would act, except perhaps, he had no worries that she had his back.
Bria turned her head and looked at him in amusement, apparently easily tracking his train of thought in regards to Arielle.
Though he didn’t know it, they were up in the mountains of Colorado, what he did know however was the terrain, the lay of the land looked very similar to the realm they had occupied before returning. He could also feel through the forest, there was not much more wildlife and game, than what they’d had on the other world.
He thought that was rather ominous, since all their animals had been returned with them. During the split they’d taken their share. He had to wonder if the humans had over hunted the area, and if they did… was that true of everywhere? He tried to take note of everything, meeting up with Merlin’s successor was only part of their mission after all, and he would need to report it.
Arielle stopped her horse and just stared ahead, he felt the break in the forest, but couldn’t see what she did yet. He rode his horse forward and pulled up on the reigns when he was next to her. Then simply stared as well.
“A stone road?”
Arielle’s voice was musical, “Yes, should we stick to trails and valleys, or take this road. It will be faster, but we’ll also be highly exposed.”
He frowned, “Yes, but if we avoid all signs of human civilization we won’t learn what we were meant to. I think I have an idea.”
He muttered words under his breath and closed his eyes. His mind’s awareness expanded, and he found an eagle that was amenable to assist them.
He smiled at her, “An eagle will scout ahead for us, so we have time to take cover and investigate if we run into humans, without revealing ourselves.”
She nodded, “Assuming they are not hiding somewhere in ambush.”
He frowned, “True, but there is risk in everything, and they shouldn’t know we’re coming. Merlin not being able to tell the humans of us works to our advantage in that case.”
She nodded, and smiled shyly at him, but didn’t speak when she kicked moved her horse’s flank and moved forward onto the road heading east. He stared after her for a moment.
Bria chuckled when Arielle was far enough ahead not to hear her soft laugh.
She rolled her eyes, “Elves… just kiss her already, stop being a dolt.”
He shook his head, “She doesn’t seem all that interested anymore.”
She snorted, “Yes, but haven’t you heard the old saying. She ran away until she caught him? Regardless, let’s not let her get too far ahead of us, shall we?”
He grunted thoughtfully and chased after Arielle, which he thought may be the whole point. Bria kept pace at his side.
They made good time on the road for the rest of the day, as it twisted and turned between the mountain peaks. A few times they ran into boxes made of metal, on wheels, left abandoned. He thought it ominous they hadn’t run into a human yet. It was becoming clearer to him that something very bad had happened on Earth.
Nothing would have prepared him for the truth of it however, when they found the outskirts of Denver. They all stopped as Arielle did, and he could see the large sprawling buildings laid out below.
Arielle shivered and dismounted, “Death, we can’t enter that city, we must go around it, tomorrow.”
He nodded, not able to take his eyes off the city. There was nothing in his life that had prepared him for such a sight. He noticed Arielle shaking, and walked over and put an arm around her. She turned and laid her head against his chest, she was shaking.
Bria said softly, “Many died here, we should go back a little ways and camp for the night, and move around the city. This has to be related to…” she just trailed off, realizing she was stating t
he obvious.
He turned and walked, holding Arielle against his side as they moved off so they wouldn’t have to see it anymore, and then they struck camp. They shared a tent that night, but he didn’t do more than hold and comfort her. Priestesses of Charites revered life, and he had a feeling the goddess had filled her in on what happened because he could see the knowledge that haunted her eyes, but he didn’t pressure her for answers, he held her. There would be time enough to learn the truth of it tomorrow…
Chapter 8 – Tarrock
Garrock peered intently at the enemy position from their position of concealment and said, “All is ready sir.”
Tarrock was frustrated, but he didn’t say so. The field disrupting their technology was still on line, and he was doubting the fact a rescue would even be successful. He wondered if it was possible to find and destroy the origin of the field, but he wasn’t even sure where to start. He wasn’t on his ship, and couldn’t just run a scan.
The only thing his science officer had been able to verify was it was somewhere to the east of them, and south. But that was only going off the memory of his scanning boards, there was no way to truly pinpoint it. He needed data.
He ordered, “I need some of them alive, to question.”
Garrock replied, “Yes sir.”
They waited a few more minutes for false dawn to light the sky.
“Attack!” he screamed.
The humans in front of the building were frozen by the scream, and they rapidly approached as they sprinted across the parking lot. One of them seemed to snap out of it and lifted his bow, and released an arrow.
He chucked evilly, the human missed.
But that had been enough for the rest of them to snap out of it however, and eight other men lifted their weapons and shot. He growled, hearing the arrows hit home in his men. The humans looked terrified as they dropped their bows and picked up machetes.
Emergence: Return of Magic book 1 Page 4