"Someone who heard your prayers. What would you give to save her?" whispered the voice.
"I'd die for her."
"Dying is easy. It's the struggle to live that's hard. Would you be willing to give up your soul?"
"Yes. Yes. If that’s what it takes."
"You answer too quickly. This isn’t a game. The question is real... as are the terms. I am asking you for your soul. In return I will save your lover."
Dakota hesitated, realizing exactly what had been asked of her.
"Good. You understand the seriousness of what I ask. Now, what is your answer?"
"I’ll give you anything you want," Dakota promised, frightened but willing to sacrifice everything for Yemaya.
"Freely?"
"Freely."
"Then I will lead you to her. It is up to you to show her the way out."
Dakota suddenly felt herself being drawn into the battle between the beast, Catrina and Yemaya. As her mind slid past the memories, she felt the rage turn its attention toward her. Pain seared her brain like a knife cutting through flesh. Falling to her knees, she cried out, clutching her temples with her hands. Yemaya, who was struggling to regain control, felt its momentarily distraction and Dakota's pain. Her anger grew. The battle had changed dramatically. It was no longer about her. If she didn't defeat this thing, not only would she be lost, but her lover would die. Lunging forward, she forced the rage backward until she reached Dakota. Mentally, she wrapped herself around her lover’s mind, shielding it from the assault. As she soothed the pain, she continued fighting her own demon.
Dakota could feel the pain subsiding. The beast struggled to regain control. The effort was draining Yemaya's strength. Sensing her weakening, Dakota pushed forward, adding her own energy to Yemaya's. Still the rage resisted. Neither would yield to the other. Suddenly, Dakota felt a mental nudge from something else. Wavering slightly, the darkness retreated. Gaining confidence, the two lovers renewed their efforts. Slowly it backed away, furious at having to give ground. Unwilling to accept defeat it turned toward Catrina, striking out savagely in frustration. Yemaya blocked as much of the force as she possibly could. The beast screamed its fury. Finally, slinking into its cave, it lay quiet, defeated but untamed. There would be another time, it promised, glaring angrily from its lair.
Dakota felt a sharp tug as she was jerked from Yemaya’s mind.
"You have won for now. She won’t remember your intervention or mine. The next time won't be so easy and do not forget your promise," the voice reminded her and then vanished.
"Easy?" mumbled Dakota, exhausted.
Yemaya looked at Catrina and blinked. The woman was pale, dazed and sweating, but seemed unharmed.
"Is she okay?"
"I think so," Yemaya said, checking her pulse.
"What now?"
"I wish I knew. Going back inside to see how she has been affected is out of the question. At least not now. I will not go through that again." She whispered, slumping into her chair, tiredly.
Me neither, thought Dakota. "Let's get out of here,"
"Yes. She should recover, shortly. Maybe all of this will scare her into changing."
"Wishful thinking. People like her don't scare. They adapt," replied Dakota. "But at least this might buy us some time to come up with a plan. Let's go."
Catrina opened her eyes, slightly confused. Her two visitors were gone. Not quite sure what had just occurred, she massaged her temples trying to relieve the ache.
"Damn headache," she thought. "Might as well leave. I can't get much done feeling like this. Maybe a little distraction will ease the tension."
CHAPTER 24
ONCE HOME, CATRINA took a quick shower and crawled into bed. Closing her eyes, she tried to remember the conversation between her and the two women that had visited her. At the moment, she couldn't even think of their names, which angered her. Frustrated, she sent for Helena. Reluctantly, the maid entered the woman's bedroom.
"Yes, ma'am. You wish my assistance?" she inquired, her voice quivering slightly.
"I wish your services, Helena, not your assistance. I have a headache. I need a little distraction. I'm sure you know what I mean," smirked Catrina and then winced as a sharp pain etched its way across her left temple. .
"Ma'am. Please! You should rest. You aren't well. I can get you some aspirin. That will take care of the headache, I'm sure," offered Helena, hoping to avoid a repeat of the night before.
"I don't want a fucking aspirin, you little cunt! I want you to eat pussy, my pussy. That will take care of the headache." The pain increased. "Now get on with it before I call Breshni and have him teach you obedience."
Reluctantly, Helena undressed. Catrina watched eagerly, the moisture starting to pool between her thighs. Anticipating the girl's hard moist tongue stroking her vulva, she felt the wetness seeping down her legs. Definitely, this would relieve the headache, which was getting worse.
"Fuck!" groaned Catrina, massaging her temples as the maid climbed onto the bed. Falling back against the pillows, she motioned for Helena to begin. When she felt the woman kneel between her legs, the pain in her temples spread to the back of her head, down her neck. A voice whispered somewhere deep within her brain.
"Beware, Catrina! You have been warned," it murmured, softly.
Shaking her head to rid herself of the voice only increased the pain slicing hotly through her temples.
"Get on with it!" she ordered, gritting her teeth. Helena separated the woman's lips with her thumbs. Swallowing, she took a deep breath and bent down. Just as she was about to stroke them with her tongue, Catrina screamed in agony causing the maid to jump. Her employer held her head, writhing in agony.
"So be it. You still haven’t learned your lesson about taking what isn’t yours to have," continued the voice. "There are many women who would endure your perversions willingly for a price. Forcing the unwilling is never an option. Had you only listened you could have had the world at your fingertips."
"Who are you?" Catrina demanded, tears streaming down her cheeks, her palms pressed harshly against her temples.
"No one you know, my dear, but the condemned should know their executioner. I am Lilith, Queen of the demons, bride of Adam and lover of Satan. I am the protector of whores. I am the one who has decided your fate in this world and the next... and I promise you, the pain you feel now is nothing compared to the unbearable agony you will suffer in the Underworld until I have grown bored with your wailings. Goodbye, Catrina, or should I say ‘until we meet again?" And the voice was gone, leaving a dark void in its place.
Drool trickled from her lips, down her chin and onto her neck. Gasping, Catrina rolled onto her side, drawing her knees to her stomach in a fetal position and began rocking back and forth, groaning loudly. Her whole body shook, the tremors causing the bed to vibrate. Suddenly she opened her mouth as if to scream, but no sound emerged except for a slight gurgling. Stiffening, Catrina's body spasmed and then she lay still.
Frightened, Helena gathered her clothes and ran to the door screaming for help. The housekeeper and Breshni pushed past her and into the room. Their boss lay naked, sprawled on her bed, her lifeless eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Blood dripped on satin sheets from teeth still imbedded in her lower lip. Catrina Drenkova had been an attractive woman in life. In death, she looked old and haggard.
* * *
The last thing Breshni remembered was looking into the young woman's face and then a strange voice whispering in his head, followed by an intense pain and then darkness. Slowly opening his eyes, he stared at the scene before him and blinked rapidly. Sweat beaded on his forehead and then ran down his cheek, pooling on his chin and jaw before finally dripping on his bare chest. Confused he looked around trying to figure out where he was. Everything appeared alien, almost like a video game setting. Bright orange and red flames danced almost merrily in the distance while shadows moved stealthily along black pathways between the fires. The sky was aflame with multi-colore
d clouds of silver, yellow and burnt umber.
Must be dream, he thought, shaking his head to flick the sweat away. When he failed, he tried to reach up and wipe it only to find his hand wouldn't move. Glancing at them, he found them tied to poles. Flexing his muscles, he tried to break the bindings but failed. His legs were also bound, forcing him into a spread-eagle position.
"Good. You're awake," murmured a voice from behind.
Turning his head, Breshni noticed a short, fat woman walking toward him. Skin the color of a bad sunburn, she wore no clothing. In her right hand was a small black bag.
Closing his eyes, Breshni again tried to convince himself that this was all a dream. No woman could be that ugly, he thought. Red hair sprang in frizzy tuffs from her scalp and stood straight out like a porcupine. Heavy jowls, a large bulbous nose and crooked teeth were bad enough but the beady brown eyes glinted with an unholy gleam.
"And this is a good day," She said, knowing his thoughts.
Breshni swallowed nervously.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
"I am what you have always been," she replied, giving him a toothy grin.
Not one to understand riddles, Breshni grunted his frustration.
"I see you are one of those stupid ones," continued the woman. "Well, let me enlighten you. You, my friend, are the worst of humanity... no conscience, no brains, no nothing except the need to satisfy your lust. Your whole life was spent abusing and raping women and children. You served a mistress unquestioningly, doing whatever she told you to do like a pitiful lap dog."
Standing in front of him, the woman examined his naked body and smiled. Putting the bag on the ground, she reached for his penis, pulled on it and laughed when it fell limp.
"I see you don't find me as pleasing as those young girls. Not to worry."
"Wha... what are you goi... going to do?" Breshni stammered, struggling again to break free.
"Why, Breshni. I think you're afraid of me." The woman giggled. The sound frightened the human more than her appearance. "Good! Fear is a wonderful stimulant. Now to answer your question. I will do to you what you have done to women all your life. You are going to know the horror and the pain of being fucked unmercifully and unwillingly. You see, I am the demoness, Ramiera, and like you, I am a rapist. Only I do to the souls of men what they have done to women... and I do it better."
Reaching into her bag, Rameira pulled out a huge black dildo with bright red veins pulsing through it. Stroking it lovingly, she beamed happily at her captive and then began rubbing it against his groin.
"Remember how you used to do this to your victims? They begged you not to rape them but you just laughed and grunted. Their pain and suffering was your pleasure. Now it's going to be mine. Their few moments of humiliation seemed like a lifetime to them. Your humiliation and suffering will be an eternity as will my pleasure."
Breshni could feel the panic building as she continued to stroke him with her enormous toy. Feeling nauseous he begged for mercy but Ramiera merely smiled. She had waited a long time for his soul and intended on enjoying every minute of his misery.
"I'm disappointed in you, Breshni. I thought you would be a lot braver than this. You were such a man when you were alive... at least when it came to anyone weaker than you. Why I haven't even begun enjoying you and you beg like the whores you fucked unmercifully. Perhaps you won't be as much fun as I thought."
Stepping behind him, she pressed the dildo against his butt, making sure it was aligned with his anus. Breshni tensed up, squeezing his cheeks tightly together and twisted back and forth. Cackling loudly, Ramiera pushed harder, enjoying the rapist’s futile efforts to escape.
"Yes. That's what I like. It's intoxicating, isn't it? The feeling of power over someone. Remember that feeling? Remember, Breshni? Give it to me! Make me feel what you felt and I may go easy on you... unlike you with those women. But not right now. Now, you are my woman, my whore."
Thrusting the toy deep into his anus, the demoness laughed joyously as screams of pain penetrated the bowels of the Underworld. A few demons stopped to listen and smiled, knowing another soul was being initiated into the realm.
* * *
Exhausted, Yemaya and Dakota went to bed early. Neither had much to say about the day's events. The time for talking would be later. For the moment, sleep was the priority.
Mari, Maopa and Intunecat watched the two sleeping women.
"Tonight they'll rest... no dreams... no interruptions," said Mari.
"That be best," agreed Maopa.
"Then I'll be gone," Intunecat said.
"One moment, please, Intunecat. Thank you for everything you did for my daughter?"
"I did little. Lilith provided the strength needed to save Yemaya," replied the Dark One.
"Technically, but I suspect you had something to do with that too."
"That is your assessment, my dear. The demoness has a mind of her own and wouldn't take lightly any intrusion by me. I doubt if anyone has much influence over her."
"Perhaps. But you're deliberately avoiding the issue. Had you not helped them, even if it were through another, they would have failed."
"Believe what you will," chuckled Intunecat. "I accept no credit for that which isn't mine. Now I must leave. These have been trying times even for me. Until the next time."
"Until then. Oh. Intunecat..." continued Mari.
"Yes?"
"When you see Lilith again please give her our thanks and tell her there is an issue I wish to discuss with her. Some souls cannot be bargained for."
Laughing, the Dark One smiled knowingly.
"As you wish."
"Thank you," said Mari.
The dark spirit merely tipped his head before disappearing.
"Well, darlin," said Maopa. "Maybe we need tah take a break ourselves. Hows about we gather up some nuts and fruits and go picnikin. I might even show yah a few more of them thar 'positions' we jawed about earlier," she teased.
Smiling, Mari took Maopa's hand, pulling her into her own realm.
CHAPTER 25
THE NEWSPAPER LAY face up on the tray as the waiter pushed the cart into the hotel room. Uncovering the plates, he bowed to the two women and left.
Dakota was first to notice the headline.
Shipping Tycoon Dead at 55.
Ms. Catrina Drenkova, owner and operator of the international shipping company, Eurasian Exports, was discovered dead in her bedroom around 4 p.m. yesterday evening. Her housekeeper said a maid discovered Ms. Drenkova lying in bed unconscious. Paramedics and the police were summoned to the scene. Efforts to revive the export tycoon failed. Her body was taken to Mercy Hospital for an autopsy. Dr. Carlson, the state coroner, has determined the cause of death was due to a massive aneurysm rupturing causing pressure on the brain. Death would have been instantaneous according to the coroner. Ms. Johnson, Ms. Drenkova's receptionist, told police her employer had left work early due to a migraine. Ms. Drenkova was a native of a small mid-European country called Moldova. It's been rumored she was closely connected to several upper level members of the Moldovan Parliament. She was single and childless.
"Do you think this was because of us?" Dakota asked.
"I don't know," replied Yemaya. "She could have had the aneurysm for a long time. Perhaps the strain triggered it. Maybe it would have happened no matter what."
Dakota didn't know what to say or think.
"Do you think I did this?" Yemaya asked putting down her coffee cup.
"I don't know. You were so out of control or rather that thing in you was."
"Maybe it would be better if we ended this now then," offered Yemaya, stoically.
"No! That's not what I meant and you know it. I know you wouldn't break your promise to me. Whatever this darkness is inside you isn't you, Yemaya. Oh, I realize it's a part of you but it's only a small part. The real you is the caring, loving, over protective woman I'm with now. You're my life and my soul and you're not getting rid of me that easily," d
eclared Dakota.
Yemaya lowered her head and closed her eyes. A tear trickled down her right cheek.
"I felt something for a moment. It went after her," she confessed.
Dakota wrapped her arms around her lover and pulled her close.
"I know. We'll never know for sure and I don't want to. But it wasn't you. Trust me on this, Yemaya," Dakota murmured softly, gentling rocking her back and forth.
Yemaya relaxed in the warm embrace. She didn’t want to know either.
* * *
Cammie lay half-dozing on her bed when she felt a sleek body slip under the sheets. Opening one eye, she smiled at the dark-haired, lavender eyed woman dressed in a white leather bra and thong. The contrast between her dark skin and the outfit was stunning.
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