For the next fifteen hours, those of the Gathering labored and schemed, but decisions were made and, in the end, the Aegis Synod and the High Command were of a single mind – the Shadow Spark must be protected, and only they could manage to do so properly.
Then, they scattered across the Sixteen Worlds.
There was much to do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~♦~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ Chapter 24 ~
(Summer – 2018)
Sickness
[With too much on his mind, he decides to clear his head with the dug-up fossils of the past. Almost eagerly, he activates the program and loses himself. It is a welcomed relief to have the weight of Sixteen Worlds lift from his shoulders.]
I awoke in a panic, the vestiges of a dream flittering away the moment the sun shone into my room. I was on my back with Katie sleeping almost completely on top of me. Only her right leg was on the bed. The rest of her was draped over me like a blanket. She was a warm, breathing blanket that had drooled on my chest. She was still in deep sleep, and she still very nude and very exposed just as I was. The bravado I had felt the night before vanished. I searched frantically the Loft for any sign that anyone else other than Katie and myself had been up there. I needed to clear my head, and fast.
The Loft appeared unchanged.
I turned my head to look at the digital clock on the nightstand opposite the one where I charged my cell phone. I was relieved to see the display read 5:54 am. Exhaling with one long release of air, I ran my fingers through Katie matted and tangled hair, knowing only my father would be up this early. He would be in his usual rush to get out of the house by 6:15 and wouldn’t have the time to come up to the third floor and snoop around. The rest of the family would only now be awakening. My mother was usually set to get up next, but that wasn’t from a few more minutes. So, for the time being, Katie and I were, most likely, not going to be disturbed.
“Katie?” I whispered at the top of her head, thinking it prudent to get clean up just in case. I was of a mind to wake her up slowly and gently. There was no need to wake her up with a start. “Kat, my love, it’s time that we got up.” I tried for a second time when she didn’t respond the first time.
She stirred, blurting out something unintelligible, though her eyes remained closed.
I reached down and patted her on the butt, then gave it a nice fat pinch, my hand squeezing the entire cheek from hip to butthole. “Kat? Katie, wake-up, Babydoll, we have to get cleaned up before someone comes in and sees that you and I have been real bad… Kat, do you hear me?” I fell silent when I felt her stiffen atop me, fairly certain she was about to stretch, staying still as wakefulness slowly seeped into her. She merely arched her back instead, pushing her ass into my palm, and let out a long groan. She placed a hand on my chest and pushed herself up from me, her eyes finding mine through the spill of her hair.
“Hi,” I said when expression returned to her face as she bit her lower lip, blinking rapidly at me. My fingers played idly with the firm meat of her ass.
She rested on one elbow, wiping at her eyes, clearing the debris that had gathered overnight.
“How you feeling?” I asked when she had finished.
She half-laughed, half-sighed, a small smile crept at the corner of her lips. “How do think, goof-ball, tired and sore. I think a little bruised, but very, very satisfied.”
I nodded through slitted eyes, the sun was becoming bright.
“You really gave it to me last night, Eff. I don’t think I’ve had sex with that much intensity over such a long period of time before. You were magnificent, even better than I imagined – .” She stopped and gave me an impetuous peck on the lips. She pulled back speculatively, and then seemed to reconsider. She came forward once more with a deep, passionate kiss that instantly put a fire in my chest and made my cock come to life. Only when the blood began to fill it, a series of sharp pains rifled through my entire scrotum that made me yowl and break from the heat of her. My hand moved over to cup my abused nutsack. Hours later, I was still drained!
Jesus Chris, had I pumped two todays worth of cum into her as well?
“What’s wrong?” she asked her brow furling, because I had ended our kiss so abruptly.
“It’s my cock, cuz, it’s still in recovery mode I guess,” I explained. She laughed as I went on. “It wasn’t just me screwing last night, it was you to. And, because you were so damned good, I think I emptied everything I had into you. Now, it’s sort of painful with any blood flow down there.”
“So, I guess, we both kinda beat each other up, huh?”
“Yup,” I replied, giving her another quick kiss. Then I rolled over and off the bed. “You wanna go first, while I clean up this place a bit?”
“Sure,” she answered squirming off the bed, but came up to me and gave me a full frontal hug, her body melting into mine. It felt so good, I felt the innards in my lower abdomen begin to cramp again, but breathed through it and hugged her back, my hand running up down her body as she did the same. “I want to do it over and over again, Estefan. Every night, if we can, for as long as we can,” she murmured at my chest.
“We will, Kat, whatever you want, whenever you want,” I concurred, stroking the back of head now.
“Promise?” she asked meekly.
“I promise.” There was no need to hesitate. I wanted her more than I wanted any other girl outside of Ramona. I knew it was just the beginning. I knew from the moment we crossed that line and committed a real sexual act, we would start down a road that would enrich and expand our relationship. It would be filled so much desire and sweet love, it would draw us like moths to the flame. Whether or not we’d be burned, on that morning, we just didn’t care.
…The hope was not to get burned in any way. It would have to be a secret, silent love for all of time. And yet, after that night, I don’t think either of us minded the restrictions. We wanted each other too much. Consummated love had conquered all.
“Good, because I’m going to hold you to that,” she said finally, breaking my train of thought. She gave me one last firm embrace, and then moved away. She strode toward her side of the room, where she had yet to sleep, but where her clothes were stored in the spare dresser my mother had placed over there for her.
I stared after her, watching the flex and bounce of her naked ass, thoroughly enjoying myself until my groin spasmed on me again. I had to remind myself, for the time being, I would have to keep my mind on things less arousing or risk a sprained dick or something like that. I glanced around the room and saw my shorts on the ground where Katie had thrown them the night before. I snatched them up, putting them on when I saw Katie’s top a few feet away. I side-stepped toward them and bent down to collect it when a sudden, sharp pain lanced from my right temple, behind both eyes, to the left side of my head.
I remember, I had yelped in pain and staggered for a moment, disoriented by it and almost fell to the floor. I was over-balanced, leaning too far forward. I caught the edge of my desk before I fell, though, managing to pull myself upright, feeling a wave nausea washed over me. What the fuck, I thought, was there something else in the weed that Jacob bought yesterday? Why I thought that, I have no idea. It really didn’t make much sense since the marijuana for the most part was out of my system. Fucking Katie with such gusto had burned most of the high from me by the time I had fallen asleep.
I leaned back against the desk, taking a few deep breaths with my cousin’s top in one of my hands. I heard Katie go into the bathroom. I tried to get a grip on whatever it was I was experiencing. I arched my neck back and then to each side loosening it, controlling my heart rate and slowing my pulse. The pain had passed, but there was still a dull ache behind my eyes, but it was manageable. I came away from the desk and went about cleaning up the room, grateful that we had left the windows open. The Loft didn’t smell of hot, sweaty sex. It smelled of summer instead, the dry mustiness of leaves just beginning to crack and curl under the anvil of the sun. There was something else, something that I couldn
’t quite identify, but knew it was there. I heard the toilet flush and, a second later, the shower turned on. I remembered thinking was a good thing, good that Katie was washing herself, cleaning herself, letting the dried vestiges of our bodies fall down into the drain, into the pipes…
It hit me then, overwhelming nausea, so strong, I nearly doubled over with it. My face flushed as my stomach seemed to twist like a pretzel and all I could think about was… toilet! Got to get to the toilet! My eyes filled with tears as I involuntarily retched, a violent convulse. If hadn’t brought my hand up to my mouth, I would’ve vomited all over the carpet. I strode toward the bathroom, stumbling every other step, bowling into anything that wouldn’t get out of my way. Outraged, with I had a huge glob of puke in my mouth, already seeping through my lips and into my hand, I hit the bathroom door without bothering to turn the knob. Somehow I found the clarity of mind to thank god that Katie hadn’t closed it properly. It flung wide before my shoulder and hit the wall with a resounding crash.
Katie screamed. Her eyes were wide, wild. The steam from the hot water had yet to cloud the glass of the shower. She was still visible, trying to cover herself, not knowing it was me who had barged in on her.
I ignored her and bowled my way directly to the toilet. If had been one step further away, I wouldn’t have made it in time. My guts clenched horrendously, for a second time, and everything within me, exploded from my mouth, splashing just about every square inch of the toilet bowl. I fell onto my knees, my vomit slickened hand slipping on the lip of the porcelain. I almost went headlong into my own mess. I caught myself with my other arm, by literally hugging the under portion of the toilet, arresting my momentum. Then another convulsion wracked me. I regurgitated with such force, it felt as if my throat was shredding before the onslaught. I heard someone crying out in pain, whimpering and mewling like a baby, not realizing it was me making those pathetic sounds. I tried to peer through my bleary eyes, but couldn’t.
“Oh fuck, what is happening?” I moaned, feeling the room spin. The horrible, half-digested stench from the contents of my stomach made me retch again. My throat screamed in agony as even more filth spilled from me. I felt cold, wet hands on my back - frightened, furtive hands pulling me into a more upright position as I threw up yet again.
“It’s ok, my love, I have you. I am here. It’s ok,” said a voice.
I was filled with gratitude that Katie was at my side, though at the time, I had no means with which to thank her. I tried to look at her, but my head howled at even the slightest movement. So, I was forced to keep my head where it was, staring into the abyss that was the toilet.
“Don’t worry, baby, I am here,” she kept saying over and over, though her voice cracked now and again as the fear consuming her, manifesting itself through her unsteady speech.
It was nearly a minute later, before the nausea passed. By then, I had completely emptied my stomach and was dry-heaving. Occasionally, yellowish bile spurt forth, but with only the most violent contractions. I sat back on my haunches, while Katie left me for a few seconds. Then she returned with a glass of water and a damp towel.
“Babe, swish some of this in your mouth, but don’t swallow it, just spit it into the toilet. I’m gonna clean you up ok?” I nodded and took the glass, my head lolling, realizing, in her haste, she hadn’t bothered to find a towel. She was wiping my face and neck, then my befouled hand, stark naked.
Katie, I can see your pussy…
“N-naked,” I gurgled, my throat on fire. I swilled the water in my mouth, then spit it out just as Katie flushed the rest of the corruption down the drain.
She smiled at me. “Yes, Eff, I’m naked, nice of you to notice.” She glanced around, then hopped twice, extending her foot and closed the door with it. She leaned toward the towel rack and pulled a large bath towel from one of the rungs and wrapped it over her shoulders. “Just in case someone comes in, it’ll look like I attended you with this wrapped around me instead of with my tits and ass hanging out.”
“An-and pu-pussy, too, can’t forget the kitty-kat,” I croaked with as much of a smile as I could muster.
She play slapped me on the arm. “Come on, you horn-dog, let’s get you washed up, so you can get that awful taste out of your mouth.” She helped me to me feet. I, with her assistance, stepped unsteadily toward the sink. “Just brush your teeth and wash your face, for now, when everyone leaves you and I will get in the shower together, so I can help you, ok?”
“Sounds like a plan,” I consented and did exactly as she had suggested. I stumbled my way back to my bed when I had finished and lay down heavily. I could hear her moving around in the bathroom and few minutes later she came out with the towel still encircling her body, a market bag full of toilet paper, knotted shut at the top, holding her nose as she walked toward the door, holding her nose. She opened the door and placed it on the top stair. She spun on the balls of her feet, letting the door close behind her. She strode to where I had dropped the top she had worn “to bed”. She quickly put it on, buttoning it up the front. She trotted back to the other side of the room and retrieved the matching bottoms. She had discarded them when she’d been smoking out, letting the cool breeze waft up her vagina, waiting for me to awaken so she could jump my bones.
That made me think of the joint she hadn’t finished. I lifted my head to my own detriment as pain shot through my temples like a dull knife slicing through bread, rending, tearing rather than cutting.
“Fuck!” I growled, frustrated by this mysterious ailment that had stricken me, virtually out of nowhere. This was supposed to be the morning I should’ve been basking in the afterglow of having made wild monkey sex with the girl of my dreams.
“What’s wrong, Eff?” asked Katie, scurrying over to my side, sitting on the bed, as carefully as she could manage, not wanting to jostle me and make things worse.
“My head is pounding. When I tried to move, it swatted my ass for doing something as stupid as wanting to get up,” I explained, putting my hand out toward her. She clasped it at once. “Thank you, Katie, for helping me.”
“Don’t worry about that, my dear, I said I was going to be by your side no matter what, even if you do happen to puke on me now and again,” she responded light heartedly, her fingers rubbing at the meaty portion of my palm.
Then suddenly I asked, “Hey, where did you put the joint from last night? I don’t want it left out in the open,” wanting to make sure we had tied up all of the loose ends form the night before.
“It’s in the top drawer of your desk wrapped in a piece of toilet paper underneath some papers. Is that hidden well enough? I mean, will anyone go through your shit that extensively?” she looked about to get up and go fetch it, but I forestalled her. That was good enough for now.
“It’s fine, leave it,” I said tugging at her hand, so that she would stay beside me.
She stared at me up and down, her face turning thoughtful. “What the heck happened, Estefan?” she asked, her thin eyebrows knitting in the middle.
I cleared my throat, which hurt like hell. “I don’t know exactly, one minute I was fine and the next I was blowing chunks like Mount Saint Helens. It came so fast. I didn’t even time to wonder what was going on. It hit me quick and so hard. Shit, I’m lucky I even made to the toilet in time, one more step and we would’ve had to decommission the bathroom, like forever.” I spoke slowly, hoping my head would cooperate. It appeared to be alright, for the moment, as long as I didn’t move.
“Well just rest and we’ll wait for everyone to get leave. Then we’ll get you all nice and clean. Until that time, I think you should probably sleep for a while,” she mused, scratching at the back of her neck, glancing at me. Her head was at an angle, one green-blue eye before the other.
“Ok,” was all I said, rubbing at either side of my head, the dull ache that had been behind my eyes had spread.
“You want me to do that for you, babe?” she asked quietly.
“That would be divine of y
ou…”
She crawled toward the head of the bed and sat with one leg underneath her butt, the other to the side, so she could easily reach my head. A few moments later, she was gently caressing my temples, her cool fingers light on my head. I peered up at her dreamily, feeling like a king.
Katie has had that effect on me ever since. I don’t need to be at the bow of a giant cruise ship, steaming across the north Atlantic at flank speed either. I can be anywhere and feel special, feel unique, feel loved like no other man has ever had the honor of being loved before.
I love you, Katie Lorraine… always have, always will.
~~~~~~~~~~~~♦~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ Chapter 25 ~
(Summer – 2018)
True Scent
About ten minutes later, we heard footsteps upon the stairs, soft thuds that sounded familiar to the both of us. When the tentative knock sounded in our ears, we both knew it was my mother.
Katie spoke first. I couldn’t trust my throbbing head and aching stomach enough to speak above a whisper. “Come in, Auntie,” she had said. She didn’t move. She kept applying pressure upon either temple, trying to ease the pounding in my head.
My mother opened the door and took a step into the room like she typically did, but stopped short. She was dressed for work in a tight-fitting skirt and matching blouse, sensible heels on her feet.
It was the sight of me, in only my shorts, and her niece, her legs about my head, massaging me, that surprised her. I could see a momentary sense of uneasiness ripple throughout. She was ill-at-ease with the natural intimacy between Katie and me. Maybe we looked too familiar with one another, our bodies used to touching as if we’d been close like this countless times. I watched as her eyes drank in the particulars of the situation. The fact Katie was wearing her gossamer sleeping outfit. The fact I was positioned between her legs. My unmistakable proximity to Katie’s womanhood, just inches away, behind a thin layer of cotton. Her eyes narrowed. For a moment, as I measured her stare, it flashed through my mind that my mother had seen see me, the night before, as I had inserted my tongue into Katie and ate her out like I was possessed. While, between my legs, Katie plunged my cock down her throat time and time again. Fuck, I’m going to hell! She knows!
Shadow Seed 1: The Misbegotten Page 32