by Gayle Keo
His thrill was almost instant. He throbbed and the skin seemed to stretch tight at the knob. He was too long for her and so she stroked with her hand what she couldn’t reach with her mouth. He was so hairy at the base and the friction made him swell even more. Still wrapped in Janet’s kiss, he sighed so contentedly.
He stroked Marla’s hair with one hand, and fondled Janet with the other. He caressed Marla’s head and she thought that she knew what he wanted. She was surprised when he gently eased her up and away. He kissed her tenderly and then he led the two to the bed. Marla wanted to spare her friend from as much as she could and so she took the lead. Janet lay by his side, kissing and toying while Marla lay between his spread legs and began again her oral ministration.
Jarris lay like a king, moaning and sighing. He toyed with Janet. She fell to his touch. She wrapped her thighs around his, and pressed and thrust herself. Jarris laughed as he tickled her slit. Marla looked and saw the lust in his eyes. He was starting to shift, reaching to the girl. Marla moaned long and low. With a long, last slurp she pulled away from him, rose to her knees, straddled the werewolf and pressed herself against the bulb. Jarris lay back with a laugh of triumph.
Marla began to ease herself onto the warm, throbbing shaft. But even as she did Janet was there, giggling a soft, girlish giggle. She took his rod and Marla moaned, leaning back as her friend guided him into her. Janet yelped delightfully as Jarris started to finger her. Marla eased deeper and deeper until he was all inside. She wailed with bliss as the two fell into a rhythm, thrusting and riding.
But Janet was still with her. As Marla leaned back and humped, she felt Janet’s warm, wet tongue on her clit. Marla cried out. Jarris pulled Janet to him and it was Janet’s turn to wail as he buried his face between her legs. Marla clutched her own breasts as she drove herself harder and harder, faster and faster.
Janet wrapped her lips around Marla’s swollen button. She began to suck and lick the thing, even as she wailed, ramming pussy against the man. Marla shrieked in ecstasy and Janet’s tongue flitted like an insane butterfly. Jarris pounded her and when she felt the first explosion of bliss flood her inside she rammed as if she would impale herself, clutching Janet by the hair and crushing her face with her bliss.
*****
Jarris proved to be insatiable. After her first climax, the rest of the night for Marla was mechanical. When she woke Jarris was gone. She nestled and gazed at Janet until the woman fluttered open her eyes. The two just looked at each other a while.
“So,” Janet said. “Is that what all the hoopla about heterosexuality is all about?”
Marla chuckled.
“Overrated if you ask me,” Janet said shaking her head. “Jeeze, I’m sore. You always wake up feeling like this?”
“Some people like it.”
“So, how’re you feeling?”
“Like a cup of strong coffee and a long shower.”
They got both their wishes. The Geisha from the night before served them breakfast in bed.
“What’s your name?” Marla asked the girl. She was so petite and so delicate. Her face was covered with that innocent make-up, but Marla saw something running deep in her dark, pretty eyes.
“Mai,” she said in a voice so soft Marla could barely hear.
“That’s a pretty name,” Marla said. The woman just nodded. “Mai, do you know where my friend Laird is?”
“He is sleeping.”
“Is he okay?”
The girl said nothing, but Marla saw her flush beneath the make-up. The girl left silently. After breakfast they found a shower the size of Marla’s parlor and their clothes cleaned and pressed. Mai appeared again and announced that Jarris wished to see them. In the office they found Laird, clean clothes and a contented smile. After a few moments Jarris entered.
“I see everyone is all rested and refreshed,” he said smiling. “Did you enjoy your oriental delights, Laird?
“I did,” the alien smiled.
“Excellent, excellent. And you Janet? Cured of your lesbianism?”
Marla lit into him, but he cut her off.
“Don’t get your undies in a bundle,” he said opening a wall safe. “We both got what we wanted.”
He reached in and pulled out a small twig from a fir tree. Maybe two inches long it had three lonely green needles clinging to the end. He tossed it to Marla.
“What is this?” she asked.
“It’s your witch. Well, the key to her anyway,” he said. Then he shouted, “Mai-Lynn!”
The Geisha appeared instantly. She had her usual demure look, but she quickly realized that something was wrong. She glanced to the twig in Marla’s hand. Her eyes froze.
“Mai-Lynn,” Jarris said. “This is Marla. You’re going with her. She’s your Master now. Be a good little witch.”
Marla looked at the girl, then at the twig, then at Jarris.
“That’s her broom,” Jarris explained. “Or what’s left of it. Still it’s where she gets her power. Don’t lose it. She ever gets out of hand, or you need to punish her take a match to it.”
Mai-Lynn yelped softly. Jarris smiled.
“She’ll do anything to get that from you,” Jarris went on. “She can’t take it from you by force, that would be stealing and that would upset all kinds of balances and things. But she’ll try and trick you out of it any way she can. Be very careful.”
“Okay, then,” Janet said. “We got what we wanted. Let’s get the hell out of here
“Sure,” Jarris said. “Unless anyone wants to take another roll.” But he spoke to their backs.
They found Marla’s Blazer on the front drive. It too was cleaned spotless, and the tank was full. Janet drove. Laird took the passenger seat while Marla and Mai-Lynn sat in the back. The Head was still propped up in the cargo area.
“Holy shit,” Mai sighed as she flopped into her seat. “Thank you for getting me out of that fucking hell hole.”
She reached to her hair, pulled out the needles, and shaking her head she let her locks fall.
“Anybody got a cigarette?”
Laird and Marla stared. Janet glanced in the mirror.
“What?” the girl said. “Oh shit. Don’t tell me that you want me to play China-doll for you too?”
“No,” Marla said placing a hand gently on the girl’s shoulder. “No, I just – we just – we need your help.”
“You need my help,” she repeated.
“Yes.”
“Okay,” she said sweetly. “But first will you do one thing for me?”
“Sure. What.”
“Get your filthy hand off of me you,” she said smiling. “I’m a fucking Princess you idiot!”
Marla jerked back her hand.
“I thought,” Laird said, “that you were a witch?”
“Oh,” she sang, “I am all of that and so much more.”
“So,” Marla said. “Will you help us?”
“Were you born stupid,” the girl asked. “Or do you take lessons? I am your servant, you moron. I have to help you. But before I can help anybody I have to help myself. Can we go someplace where I can scrape this white crap off my face? And can I get some real clothes? And a cigarette?”
Back at the motel, Mai grumbled and complained. Janet shopped and got the girl some clothes and things. Marla and Laird explained their situation as Mai scrubbed her face and washed her hair. Dressed in jeans, a tee, a denim jacket and sneakers the girl looked nothing like the small and shy geisha. She listened and didn’t say anything until after her second cigarette.
“Vanessa you say,” she said exhaling a long thin stream of smoke.
“Yes,” Marla said. “Do you know her?”
“Who doesn’t?”
“I didn’t,” Marla said, “until just a few days ago.”
“You are a peasant.”
Mai stood and walked to the window. She was silent for a few minutes. Then she stubbed out her smoke on the sill.
“She’s a real bitch,” Mai s
aid. “And she’s good. But I’m better. A frontal assault would never work, as you idiots found out. We need to approach by guile, and I’m gonna need you to trust me and do everything that I say.”
“That,” Laird said, “depends on what you say.”
“Look, star man, I’m all you got. And if I get into this I’m putting my ass on the line. We screw up and we’re all worse than dead.”
“Um,” Marla said. “I got your broom, remember? I can compel you.”
“Um,” Mai echoed. “Compel me and you get my obedience, that’s all. Work with me and you get an ally, a very real, very loyal and very powerful ally. But I’m gonna want something in return.”
“What?” Marla asked.
“Oh I don’t know? Let’s all put our heads together and see if we can come up with something that will make a princess who’s been a slave for seven bloody years happy. Anything spring to mind?”
“I have no need of a slave,” Marla said. “We just want Jason and Rachael back.”
“I agree,” Laird said. “Your freedom for our friends . . . it’s more than fair.”
“What about you, pretty tits?” Mai said to Janet. “You got a stake in this too.”
“All I want,” Janet said. “Is Rachael – and maybe someday wipe that smug look off of that werewolf’s ugly face.”
“You and me both, baby,” Mai said chuckling.
*****
“Then we are agreed,” Mai said. “your buddies for my broom. Done. So, can I just see it a moment? Make sure that he gave you the right one?”
Marla chuckled.
“I had to try,” Mai said. She lit another cigarette. “Okay. So, to get this operation off the ground I need to know where Vanessa is, and to do that I need to find a pool of unsullied rain water.”
“A what?”
“It could be a little thing,” she said. “A puddle will do, but it needs to be still, on the ground and unspoiled; no animals can have drunk from it, or stepped in it, or pissed in it – and no bugs. Definitely no bugs. Bugs are creepy.”
“Where are we going to find something like that?” Marla asked.
“And,” Mai added. “I need to know the current lunar phase.”
“Two days in a waxing gibbous,” Laird said.
“Cool,” Mai said nodding. “Full would be better, but it’ll do.”
“I will ask again,” Marla said. “Where are we going to find a pool of unsullied rain water?”
“Someplace where it rained last,” Janet said, “for starters.”
“Give the pretty little thing a prize,” Mai said.
The newspapers were useless and their phone batteries were dead. Laird struck on an idea and he soon had the head hooked up to a local Wi-Fi. The head found NOAA and reported that the day before a storm had tracked north along the Massachusetts-New York border. The closest wet place was Springfield, two hours away. Marla drove. Mai sketched out her plan; it required deception and a lot of guts. Marla, Laird and Janet would be putting their total faith in a snide, Japanese witch princess.
“Oh boy,” Laird said.
As they approached the city of Springfield they saw signs of rain.
“So now what?” Marla asked. “What do we look for? A park or something?”
“That would be stupid,” Mai said. “There are animals in parks, not to mention children. Yuck.”
“Maybe a cemetery?”
“Dead people spook me,” Mai said. “Why don’t you exit here, I’m, hungry.”
They got off in Chicopee and headed straight to the first truck-stop they saw. Mai feasted on cheeseburgers, French fries and chocolate shakes. While the witch gorged, the others racked their brains over the water problem. They lingered. The waitress was irritated. Trucks roared. The sun set. The moon rose. And then Janet got a look in her eyes.
“I got it,” she said grinning. “So simple. Finish your fries.”
She led them out. She skirted the building, past the parking lot and to the rear of the restaurant to the dumpsters and waste oil bins. Despite the stench Mai smiled. Among the garbage and waste, the pavement was dotted with lovely little puddles, on the ground and undisturbed.
“I like this one,” Mai said.
The four knelt looking down at the dark pool. They waited until the moon had risen high enough to reflect in the still water. The silver orb lay motionless.
“Beautiful,” Mai sighed, “absolutely beautiful. Now we need the broom.”
Marla held the twig over the water. Mai instructed her to place it so that its shadow crossed the mirror of the moon. Mai began chanting in a language that Marla didn’t recognize. Then she blew across the water, little ripples broke up the reflections. Then they waited until the water stilled again. Mai shook her head.
“You’re not holding it right,” she said.
“What am I supposed to do?” Marla asked.
“Hold it right – oh let me.”
“No way.”
Mai rolled her eyes. She placed her hand over Marla’s and adjusted the shadow a little bit one way, then another until she was satisfied. She began her chant again. This time Marla heard the word “Vanessa” twice. Again Mai blew across the water, but this time as the little waves stilled the moon began to change. It swirled brightly beneath the dark image of the twig. It seemed to glow just a little, then the swirling shifted and dark patches formed, then the dark coalesced with the light and Marla hissed as the image of Vanessa’s face emerged.
The witch’s eyes were closed but her brows were raised and stretched wide. Her mouth was open as if she were gasping for breath. Her head began to dart from side to side and it suddenly looked like she was screaming.
“She’s having sex,” Mai giggled.
But even as she spoke the image of Vanessa seemed to startle. Her ecstasy paused. Immediately Mai pulled the broom away and slammed the puddle with her other hand.
“That was close,” she said standing. “She almost saw us.”
“But we saw her,” Janet said.
“Yeah,” Mai smiled. “And now I know where she is.”
“Where?”
“I don’t have an address,” Mai said. “But I know how to find her and so we can go to her.”
“We can?” Marla said. “How?”
“With this,” Mai said waving her little broom at them. “Oh! Lookie what I have. Can you say ‘slave bitch’?”
*****
“Slave bitch”. The words echoed, haunting Marla’s mind. Something inside of her knew that she should have been heartbroken. But she wasn’t. She should have felt betrayed, but she didn’t. She wanted to cry out in a furious rage, but she couldn’t. It was as though some soothing force held her anger at bay and all she was left with was a gripping fear.
Mai had cheated. She had lulled her, lulled them all with a promise of what they dearly desired. And then she made her move. Marla hated the scheming witch. She had lost, Mai had won. And now Marla was a slave.
The world around her seemed to be flying away in a blur. She felt a soft but steady wind. The wind was warm – no it was hot. It was hot and dry and it stung. It stung her flesh because it had torn away her clothes, and she felt more naked and more vulnerable than she had ever felt in her life. The wind hurt her eyes and she wanted to shut them but she couldn’t. And so the tears that she couldn’t cry from her soul she cried from the pain of the wind.
And then it stopped.
Marla reeled as the inertia inside of her roiled against her still body. Then all was calm. It was cold. It was night. She saw stars spread across a vast black sky. She felt sand under her feet. A building came into focus. It was a palace. She saw minarets and an onion dome. In the distance she thought that she heard thunder. She tried to look about but her head wouldn’t move. Then she heard voices.
“Princess Mai?”
“Mistress Vanessa.”
“Your royal highness! However, did you – oh never mind. Hug me you little imp.”
“Mistress? What�
��s all that rumbling noise?”
“We’re in Syria, darling. Just silly people bombing the hell out of each other.”
Marla strained to see, but she couldn’t move her eyes.
“Darling Mai, you are as lovely as the day I first set eyes on you.”
“I remember that day,” Mai said dreamily. “You tried to assassinate me.”
“I was young,” Vanessa said. “And your father was so handsome and charming. How is he?”
“Old, ugly and refuses to die. He’s hiding in Mongolia someplace.”
“He always was a survivor. But I am sure that you didn’t come all this way to find me and reminisce. You have also brought . . .”
“Tributes, Mistress.”
“Oh? Are you looking to curry favor?”
“I am Mistress. There are whispers in the wind. So it was that when these hapless idiots crossed my way and I learned of their, um your connection, well I thought that if I could tie up a few loose ends for you, you might think kindly on this poor princess.”
“I see,” Vanessa said. “And you have enthralled them?”
“I have,” Mai said. “The star man was much easier than I suspected. We might chat about that sometime.”
“And you are giving them to me?”
“Yes.”
“I have always been wary,” Vanessa said, “of Kegon bearing tributes.”
Mai laughed.
“No Buddhist ever gave you tribute, Mistress Vanessa. So let this be a first. Put them to a test if you like”
“I like.”
Marla felt herself moved by no will of her own. She was transported deep into the dungeons of the palace. She heard the echoes of pain, past and present. In her steel-eyed stare she saw shadows of torments as she wended down, around and along dark ways. And when she stopped her heart stopped also. Jason hung before her.
He was manacled at the wrists and ankles and a dull silver collar wrapped his neck. He was hanging naked. His body seemed trapped in transformation. He was covered in that grisly long hair, his chest was heaved, his claws were fierce and his animal muscles bulged. His legs were trapped between a man’s and a wolf’s and the bondage against the half-formed limbs was cruel. But his face was set and fully human. He gleamed with sweat and his canines were long. He was fighting to stay Jason.