Nevermore: Neither Here Nor There (Haru & Mally)

Carrying the blood of the Beast, as so many said about his kind, Straton was not shy about his body nor about sex. It was simply a part of him and his people. So as Emory climbed into the tub he let his eyes drink her in, imbibing her like a fine wine. Pale skin was accentuated by dark hair, and her pink nipples and sex were the same color. Devoid of hair save for her head, she was every bit a vision. Straton welcomed her and surprisingly she lowered herself and her pussy rubbed softly against his throbbing arousal. Peering down for a moment he could see through the magnification of the water that her soft warm labia had split around the thickness of his shaft, caressing it as she moved ever so softly against him. She had lifted herself enough that the swollen head of his cock pressed briefly against her entrance, and then her whispered words brought his attention back up to her.

"Of course it is."he intoned. The nervousness she had felt, expressed earlier, seemed to have melted away a little and Straton cocked his head to the side to observe her. His arms still rested on the raised sides of the tub, giving all the control and power to this wonderful woman. Whether she was from Nevermore or not made no difference. Males and females did what they did.

"Kiss me." he said, his tone soft but commanding. He wanted to feel more than just her nether lips upon him, and his bright blue eyes never wavered from her. More and more he was feeling that pull toward her, and deep down he was starting to wonder if this was his mate.

She felt a little nervous but at the same time, it was nothing in comparison to the nervousness she felt earlier. She was getting the inkling that this man desired her so anything she did from here on out, whether it was throw herself at him or perform a kind of seduction like she had read once upon a time in her romance novels, may be well received by him. She had the belief from her mom that men liked confidence, finding it sexy. She wanted to feel confidence and what better way to do that than to take a risk? What was the worst he did? Changed his mind and cast her away? Yeah...that would be about the worst feeling ever! But a risk she was happy to take to feed the needs of her burning loins!

Raising her chin, Emory’s gaze braved to meet his and she released her lower lip from the clutch of her teeth, an indent of her teeth embedded into the skin. She leaned in closer, her fingers brushing over the back of his neck before sliding up slowly into the back of his hair, at the root, touching his scalp.

His tone wasn’t overly demanding. Just authoritative and she found herself quick to want to comply. But instead, she dragged it out, not wanting to be too eager. Smiling a soft smile, she leaned in closer, letting her lips brush against his softly, featherlight touches, her tongue coming out to tease his lower lip just the slightest. It wasn’t a full kiss but rather a teasing touch and brush but she couldn’t help herself. She could actually test to see if some practices or theories in her romance novels were true!

There was a small bit of surprise that Emory did not so quickly comply, but she instead raised her chin and met his gaze, her plump lower lip freed from her teeth as she met his eyes with her own. Her fingertips played at his hair, his scalp, and Straton felt his breath hitch ever so slightly. She was teasing him! Drawing out their interaction to bring the utmost pleasure to them both! With that realization his breathing deepened and he realized he wanted her more than ever. There was no way she could have stopped him if he wanted her, and as they sat their, limbs entwined, he realized he could simply take her.

But he didn't want to. Actually, he did, but if Emory gave herself to him of her own accord, and completely, then it would be worth the wait. Straton saw her soft smile as her lipsjust brushed his, and between them his cock throbbed and raged, almost on the cusp of desperation as her tongue came out to tease his lower lip. A small sound escaped him - one of want and need and Straton's arms finally left the sides of the tub to slip about Emory's smaller form, the feel of skin on skin sending electricity through his form. His hands slipped along her back, teasing fingertips along her spine as they traveled downward. Finally they reached their destination and those strong hands cupped her bottom, pulling her closer to him, her pussy so hot against his raging arousal, and Straton started to tilt his head forward, eager to see if she would meet his kiss or make it drag on further until they both gave in to their lust.

Her back arched as his hands reached down to cup her bottom. She could feel him even more now. He was throbbing with need just as she was so hot with the same predilection. Her hips pushed into his and she savored the sound he made with the way her tongue teased over his lower lip. But even as he leaned in forward, as if silently asking her for a more proper kiss, Emory switched tact. Not because she didn’t want to kiss him, she did, but because she enjoyed that sound he made so much she wanted to make it happen again, only more.

Capturing his lower lip between her teeth, she gently tugged, all the while reaching down between them, her fingers finding their destination and giving his thick cock a nice squeeze before guiding him back to entrance and letting the head slip inside, a fair indication of what she wanted from him, rather, what she needed from him! Moaning a breathy moan, she released his lower lip from her teeth’s hold and dug in, her lips latching to his neck and sucking firmly, her tongue teasing over the spot simultaneously. Emory pushed her hips further down, taking him deeper but not yet through the threshold of her hymen.

Straton loved the way she arched her back, her lush breasts pressed into his sculpted chest, and the softness of her skin accentuated as her flesh plumped between his fingers as her bottom pressed down. She switched her angle though and grabbed his lower lip with her teeth, tugging playfully, and there was a hiss of pleasure from Straton as her fingers found his cock to wrap about it and give it a squeeze. A growl of surprise as he felt that swollen crown just barely press into her and once more Straton's breath hitched in his throat. The heat of her was immense, and the slickness of her pussy was heavenly.

Then, as her mouth latched onto his neck, Straton shuddered. A whimpering mewl of need reverberated from him, and his hands, which had cradled her bottom, moved just slightly feeling the slight stretch the head of his cock gave her, and teasing at that entrance all the same, light touches meant to cajole and coax. Yet the suction on his neck and how her tongue trailed over his skin... Straton was already closing his eyes in rapture, and he felt himself slide just another half-inch into her, but not far enough to bring them both to the cusp of divinity. Yet enough to knock upon those gates and Straton leaned back, pulling her with him, as the water caressed them both and her breasts pushed more fully into him as he reclined with her in his arms. He was sure she was going to be a wonderful lover and superlative mate.

Emory sighed deeply against his neck, the sensation of his thick expanse sliding deeper doing wonders. She wanted more but she needed to know that it would not be a mistake. To give herself to him meant a lot to her, to give herself to any guy meant a lot to her because of her reputation as a basic pariah to members of the opposite sex. But Straton looked at her like he actually desired her and that was a heady cocktail to be drunk off of.

Bringing her lips up from his neck, the brushed along the path of his skin until they hovered just an inch from his lips. Their bodies moved back as he reclined them back into the tub though he did take careful measure to not push deeper into her. His control and restraint was something to admire, especially since she had hardly exercised any with her current situation.

Her breasts pressed to his chest, his hard paned chest with exquisite sculptor detail like the famed Roman statues of the Adonis Man, Emory looked up at him and smiled a shy smile. “Do you want me Straton?”

Even as they moved together, as one, Straton slowly lifted her, slipping out of that very shallow penetration, his cock slipping free of her and laying back against Straton's flat taut belly. Her lips hovered just a scant inch or so from his lips and Straton's eyes settled on Emory's. The question she posed seemed odd, yet entirely fitting. Without hesitation he answered. "Of course I do. What man would not want you? You're quite divine, and you yourself have wrapped your hand around my desire for you. I do want you Emory. So badly it almost hurts." Straton said, and glanced down at his cock, the swollen head of which no oozed precum along his belly, and protruded from the surface of the water.

When his eyes met hers again they were darker with his desire but also held within them a certain look. A look of desire and want, lust and need. "I would never ask that you give yourself to me, nor would I ever take you against your own desires. But I feel if I cannot have you that I might rather perish from this world than exist in it without you at my side."

Emory almost pouted when he pulled her off of him. Why did he do that? Settling her hands back down on his shoulders, finding that she had to be touching him in some way or the other, she looked up at him and smiled gently, her cheeks flaming a deep blushing red color as he spoke. “I suppose you might see why I would have a hard time believing that, since many man would not want me, at least where I am from.” She nodded her head. “It is a nice feeling, heady mix in fact. For a man to take an interest me for something other than to simply hold the door open.” She leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to the scruff on his chin before letting her lips brush down lower.

Perhaps she was in the same boat he was in or simply that she wanted him so badly, she didn’t care at what cost. And in a way he mirrored that sentiment. “Then why did you take yourself out of me.” One hand slid under, touching his cock and lifting herself enough to once more rub that bulbous crown against her swollen and needing pussy, pushing her hips down to once more take just the tip inside of her. “I want you Straton. I need you. Surely you didn’t think I’d let you slip away from me so easily after what you did?” She purred, amazed and a bit dumbfounded as to where this surge of primal sexual energy and confidence came from. Though she knew better than to question it.

“You know what you did. You know what you awoke.” She whispered, lowering herself greatly. Not just to take another inch into her. But taking all of him and feeling the twinge of pain in her lower stomach as her hymen ripped, allowing this man to claim her, giving herself to him. With a shaky breath, a soft breathy moan sounded from her and she kissed his lips softly, finally acquiescing to his request after all this teasing torture. “Take me.”

Straton could almost feel that would-be pout, and he immediately regretted taking her off of him, no matter how shallowly he had been introduced to her most intimate of places. Her cheeks were flushed with color and Straton could not help but kiss one, softly, and when he looked back at her he was genuinely confused. "Why would anyone not desire you?" he asked, honestly perplexed. Her lips left a trail of fire as she kissed his chin and then down a bit lower to the top of his chest.

"I have to be sure it is right. I could not forgive myself should any regrets linger." he told her, though he knew it might be more than that. He wanted to see her confidence, to see herself given freely and not simply taken. Then she shifted herself, lowering herself just barely onto him once more, the heat of her pussy unable to be hidden and almost scorching him despite his own heat, his swollen and throbbing cock nestled in her small pink hole.

Her words brought a smile. He had known, and he had done it purposefully as well. That smile turned to a gasp of pleasure as he felt her stretch and give, taking several thick inches of his cock into her virginal channel. He'd felt the give of her body and the sweet tinge of blood, just a little, from her core as she gave herself to him. That was what Straton had wanted, and the pleasure that coursed through him was pure bliss as he realized tat this was indeed his mate.

"Yes my love." he answered simply, and once more his hands cradled her bottom, his own shuddering breath answering the moan she'd given him, and his great strength helped pull her up a bit only to allow her to once more sink down on him, and he kept his movements slow and easy as her body would adjust to him. And him to her. She was unbelievably tight and his thickness stretched her, making her feel him and know that he was indeed where he was supposed to be. "We should go back out to the bed." he whispered to her, his breath hot against her neck.

She smiled lightly, that smile not exactly reaching her eyes. “In my world, I am at the bottom of the tier of women to covet and behold.” She said softly. And though she was aware of it, she hadn’t done anything really to change it. How could she? She was socially awkward, had a weird change in personality around men which made her incapable of stringing a coherent thought and she liked her quirks, weirdness and nerdiness. Surely someone out there would too. And it seemed someone did.

“I don’t think I would regret it. However, if you were to go off with another woman, then I likely would regret it.” She grinned, her lips pressing to his chin once more. And as she became accustomed to the sensation of him deep inside of her, and the pain ebbed away, Emory was left with an intoxicating amount of pleasure that she didn’t know existed. Sure, she thought what he had done in the bedroom was amazing and beyond belief and it still was, but this was on a different level of its own. That was amazing on the scale of oral fixation and this was amazing already without any movement on the penetration scale fixation.

Sighing softly, enjoying the sound of his gasp--it gave her great pleasure to still be able to surprise anyone with her actions--Emory looked up at him and nodded her head. He called her ‘my love.’ While she believed it was too soon to think she was in love with him, she knew she was already very much greatly in like with him. Love would follow soon thereafter which left the lingering pleasure of being called ‘my love’ by someone. That made her smile, swoon and melt and she nodded her head. “We should go back to the bed. Love.” She kissed his cheek, turning her face to meet his lips and kissed him with a deep kind of feeling, not just a simple peck of a kiss or a soft one either. Something more. Something far meaningful.

"I would never believe that." he told her, no hint at all that he might be teasing in any way. "Surely there must be something wrong with the men where you are from." he said seriously. Then as she spoke about regret he shook his head. "I will never go off with another woman, so long as you do not abandon me for another male." he said matter-of-factly. Then her lips pressed to his chin again and Straton closed his eyes for a moment. There was something about the way she'd explained herself, and though they were, at the moment, only lovers, Straton knew that she had mate potential, and that warmed him far more than any sex ever could.

As she agreed that they should go to the bed and then called him 'love', Straton smiled and was about to lift her to carry her to the warm bed they'd left when her mouth pressed to his. Her lips were soft and warm, and the desire behind the gesture could be felt. Straton kissed her back and for the first time in a long time, he poured himself into someone. Not breaking the kiss he held her close, still inside of her, and stood. Stepping over the side of the tub he son carried her to the soft warm bed, where he laid her down and was atop her, still inside of her, and only then would he break the kiss.

She shrugged her shoulders, smiling a sheepish smile. “Don’t get me started on what is wrong with the men of my time, let alone the world of my time.” She didn’t want to think about it or dwell on it. She finally felt like she was in a place she could be appreciated more, a place not ruled by the stigmas of society. No, in a time like this, those stigmas must be only starting out and not cemented by centuries of traditions and oppression to keep them in place. Which meant that someone like Straton could take well to her because in comparison to her world, what she knew of this place, it was rather innocent. “Nothing would tempt me to look at another that was not you.” She drawled against his lips before becoming consumed by the passion he returned ten fold in their kiss.

As he lifted her, still deep inside of her and she well adjusted to his girth and welcome invasion inside of her, she wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. Welcoming the comfort of the bed beneath her back, a soft mewl of disappointment came from her as he broke the kiss. She cupped his cheeks and shook her head. “Nuh uh, you get a little bit more.” And then her lips were on his again, capturing them wildly in a heated kiss that sent jolts of pleasure through her, making her push her hips up into his, silently encouraging him to begin. She wanted to know pleasure and more importantly, she wanted to know that pleasure with him. He needed to finish what he started with her by her prodding. Or seduction, would it be safe to call it that?

"The men of your time must be fools indeed." was all Straton said, and as she proclaimed that she would not look at another that was not him, Straton swelled inside of her, proud and more wanton than ever for this strange woman... from wherever she was from. He cared not. He wanted her. All of her.

As he laid her down, Straton was surprised by the eagerness with which she kissed him again, and shoved her hips up, almost hilting him inside of her. Her encouragement was all he needed and slowly his hips started to move, sliding several thick inches in and out of her tightness. She was hot and wet, almost too tight, her virginity having just been taken, and Straton grunted his pleasure at the feel of her. Starting to speed up he soon set a steady pace, but did not press all the way into her just yet. His heavy balls slapped her ass now and then, but he kept those few inches in a steady rhythm, letting her feel that wonderful friction and how he kept her stretched. Looking down at her he smiled and soon caught her lips in another kiss.

"Are you alright?" he asked, still concerned over her and not wanting her to regret any of this at all.

She couldn’t say if the men were truly fools. That was her belief and that stemmed from the fact that men did not pay her a moment’s notice for anything really. But she also held firmly in her belief that most men only liked a certain kind of woman. And that was fine and dandy but at the same time, such a woman didn’t really exist unless a woman should alter herself to fit that description. It just wasn’t natural. And she did blame the pornographic industry for that, creating an image of women too impossible to fit and yet that was the standard.

But all thought of her world and the kind of life she had been leading there vanished as she became too consumed in his kiss and his movements. Pleasure radiated through her as he began to thrust, the thick expanse of his cock filling her deeply each time he thrust, even her senses felt like they were in overload.

Her nails raked down his back, digging in regardless of how short and blunt they were and she moaned deeply, her head tilting back as she gave herself over to the pleasure. She wasn’t unaccustomed to masturbation but this was a whole other thing, and it seemed that books and what she saw in porn couldn’t ever do this justice. This was the real thing and it was amazing.

Panting softly, Emory kissed him back and she brought her fingers through his hair, keeping him close to her, her hips lifting up to meet his thrusts. “Mm, very much so.” She moaned against his lips. “More. Don’t hold back with me Straton. I want all you can give me.” And it was true. Though it was her first time, she always believed that this act was something one didn’t hold back in. It was a time to let go and completely marvel in coming together with another person like this, all walls and guards down. In it, she believed she would feel free. He should too.

Her nails raked along his skin, driving Straton into a frenzy, and Emory's permission to do as he liked brought a smile as he caught her lips in a passionate kiss and decided, however briefly, to tease her as she had done to him. The first thing he did was to pull completely out of her and let her feel how empty she was without him. The cool air hit his wet and glistening cock, and even as it got to the point where neither could stand it, he slid back into her, stretching her and filling her, before hilting himself balls deep into her virginal pussy. "You feel so wonderful Emory." he admitted to her, and then with a devilish grin he flipped her, putting her on her hands and knees. "Now, you can help me out a little bit here Emory. Wiggle those lovely hips of yours and fuck me, ok? The tiger in me really likes this position." he admitted, and leaned back to watch and see if she would move on his cock and seeing how he stretched her out.

She was so small compared to him, and yet she did not complain once as Straton began to slide in and out of her, having scooted her to the edge of the bed and looking down at her pale and lovely ass as he impaled her on himself again and again. This was not how he had envisioned this day ending, and yet it felt so right, felt so... fated. Emory was his mate, and though he felt this, knew it, he wondered her own feelings on the matter. She likely did not believe in such things, not the same way that he did, but he would take no other but her.

A whimper of dread and pain crossed her as she experienced a most horrible sensation. The voice he left when he pulled out. Her eyes shot open and she scrambled her melted mind for something to say but unable to form a coherent string of words, let alone think one. He did not just do that! She made another dreadful whimper, begging him with the sound alone until he couldn’t stand it either any longer it seemed, plunging back into her, so deep too. Emory cried out deep and clung to him, the pleasure filling her senses, more like swarming, putting her into such an erotic frenzy, that delicious build-up was more present. “Mm…” She panted. “So do y--” She squeaked as he flipped her and she found herself on her hands and knees. Oh wow, she had seen this in a porno but she didn’t think she’d actually be on the receiving end of this position.

Well...of course she expected to be on the receiving end because let’s face it, she wasn’t fond of giving it, as it was she had nothing to give it...with. She just never thought she’d actually be taken from behind. Gripping the bedding, Emory looked back at him and her eyes were filled with lustful need. “Give it to me. I’ll show you.” But he wanted her to take it in. She looked back and pushed her hips back, lining up her pussy with his cock until she felt that meaty head slip into her. She pushed back with force, feeling the entirety of his massive girth slide into her with ease considering how wet she was and she moaned loudly, a guttural sound that truly came from deep within.

The thrusts began and she found herself in an easy rhythm of pushing back into his thrusts, feeling his cock hit her most secret of pleasure spots inside of her. Her body shook, licked with sweat and she breathed deeply while unable to control the volume of her moans. It was so good, so intense and he was absolutely abusing her g-spot in the best way possible. Her orgasm swelled and she burst the way a dam did after breaking apart, a flood of pleasure attacking her senses mercilessly. Her pussy gushed, clenched tightly, spasmed and starts and fireworks exploded behind her tightly closed lids. It was even more intense than the orgasm she had when he went down on her.

Straton would not have had any idea the other day, much less this morning, that he would be involved in such acts with this woman. Emory, from another world or time. It mattered not. The sounds she made beneath him, and how she writhed and her body begged to be filled - it made Straton want her all the more and he gave himself to her completely and without reservation as he slammed into her from behind and Emory took his cue and pushed herself back onto his swollen throbbing cock.

He could feel himself bottom out inside of her as he plumbed her depths, unable to be any more inside of her than he was already and yet desiring to do so. It was a strange feeling, to want to give himself so completely to her. "I am yours." he breathed to her, leaning over her back, his hips still pumping his fat cock in and out of her, but his chest pressed gently to her back and his hands grabbing her hanging breasts. His mouth was at her ear and he felt so... intimate with her. Nibbling on her ear he gave her breasts a squeeze, tugging on her nipples as he filled her warm slick pussy again and again. He could feel her orgasm as her cunt spasmed around his thickness and she grew so tight she almost forced him out of her. With a grunt he pushed back, keeping her stuffed full of his meat as her slickness grew and he felt her juices coat his heavy balls and run down her thighs.

"I think I am going to fill you up Emory. Would you like that?" he asked, his voice a hoarse whisper.

It ended so intimately. His arms around her, his chest pressing down onto her sweaty back, his hands groping her breasts and his mouth at her ear, nibbling and breathing hard, which was such a sexy thing to hear and feel. She closed her eyes, losing herself in it all. He told her he was hers. And she wanted to say that she was his but then her orgasm unleashed and she lost herself, the pleasure so unbelievable and intense, it was a full body sensation.

“Yes!” She cried out, pretty sure she heard him. She always thought when a guy came inside of a girl, it was the hottest thing ever. There was something so naughty and raunchy about it and she wanted to experience it. “Yes! Fill me up Straton. Give me your all.” She wanted to feel his cum gush inside of her, feel it dribble out of her and pool around his cock mixed with her juices. She wanted to shudder with lingering spasms as he pulled out of her pussy and let the last remaining drops of his cum ooze out of her so sexily.

“I am yours Straton.” She gasped. “So show me what you do with your claim.” She breathed.

There was no way to hide the smile Straton had when Emory cried out for him to fill her up, to stake his claim. Kissing her ear he moved back, letting go of her breasts so that they hung once more, erotic and swaying with his movements, and he grabbed her wrists and pulled her arms and hands back. From this position Straton slid into her pussy over and over, looking down and watching their union and how he filled and stretched her. Straton closed his eyes, concentrating, feeling his cock pulsate, and he kept his resolve, trying to keep his rhythm steady and not rush.

A low groan of pleasure came from deep in his chest and Emory would be able to feel his member swell and throb and with a deep grunt of satisfaction Straton began to empty himself into her. Hot spurts of his cum would fill her deeply, his balls twitching and feeding his seed through his gently pumping cock, into her now very slick and wet core. It almost seemed like it would never end, and even before he was done she was full, his seed leaking out around his cock despite the tight seal of her cunt. His hands kneaded her ass, squeezing hard and sure to leave light bruises as he finally emptied himself completely and gently pulled his hips back. Soft wet sounds of her wetness, now augmented by his cum, could easily be heard and immediately as that swollen crown slipped out, a small stream of cum and their mingled juices dribbled from her now puffy and deeply hued pussy. It was the sexiest thing Straton had ever seen.

His grip was so gentle but firm in keeping her wrists in his grip secure. It didn’t seem or feel like an inconvenience. It felt like he was using her to really bring on his own climax, more than before. Not using her like she was a Kleenex but using her as in needing her help. More urgently.

His thrusts prolonged her orgasm and she was in the massive throes of pleasure when he finally began to cum, filling her deep with his hot seed. He left her hands and she brought them in front of her to grip onto the bedding with all her might, just as he began to grip onto her ass with all his might. It was almost painful if it wasn’t so sexy. It made her feel sexy, where he would grip her. Emory groaned deeply, her face turning slightly into the bed, her hair mussing even more.

He filled her to the last drop, to the brim and then she felt him pull out slowly, leaving her feeling empty but oddly full. That feeling of his hot cum still inside of her, even as she could feel it dribbling out of her combined with her juices. She still felt so full. “Straton…” She whimpered breathlessly.

"Emory..." he echoed her a bit as he whispered her name, almost reverently, and with her bottom still up in the air Straton bent down and placed playful nibbled and kisses on her rump before he pulled her back into him as he gently laid down on his side. His arms wrapped about her, almost cocooning her in his size and strength. Soft sounds of contentment and fulfillment left him,his chest rumbling gently against her back as he spooned her, his nose nuzzling her shoulder momentarily as the warm glow of post-sex bliss washed over him. Even as he snuggled with her, saying not a single word except the utterance of her name, Straton could feel his desire for her had yet to abate. It was a strange sensation, to have emptied himself so completely and yet remain as hard and needful of her as he had been moments ago. It did not bother him, but merely once more pointed to the fact that this woman was far more to him than a mere stranger in Nevermore that he was lending his aid unto. She was here for a reason, and it involved him somehow and Straton needed to find out why.

His mouth found her soft skin, placing kisses along her softness as he breathed her in, the smell of her, of them both, together. "We should get some sleep now. Once we rest we need to get moving. We can only travel during the day." he told her softly. She'd seen the sort of beasts that cae out after dark to stalk the land. It was not too late in the day and perhaps they could get out and make some decent progress. Yet Straton was not overly concerned with that and just wanted to rest with Emory in his arms for the moment. "Did you like it?" he asked her softly, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear it from her lips. He'd taken her maidenhead and deflowered her, and her well being was of the utmost importance to him.

Tucked into his arms, cocooned and spooned by his great form, Emory felt safe and so warm. Even more than that, she felt comfortable and like she could lie in his arms like this forever. It drowned out the bit of fear of being in a new place that she didn’t know or understand. There was a sort of kismet connection between her and Straton and they shared that even more through this coupling act of severe intimacy and pleasure. The sounds he made rumbled through her, reverberating from his massive form and it was kind of like a soft lull that made her relax even more in the bliss of their coupling.

Nodding her head slowly, her eyes fluttered closed and her breathing became more even as she was very close to nodding off. “Yeah. We should. Rest now. Travel later.” She murmured sleepily. She was nearly and fully asleep when his question came and it only made her smile. How lucky was she to find a man who not only seemed attracted to her but also cared about her well being after the fact. He was definitely a lot more special than the men of her time who wouldn’t have bothered to ask. The most they would have asked was likely if she came, wanting that pride fulfillment of knowing they gave her great pleasure, rather than asking about her well being. She always knew that sex would be more emotional to her.

“I loved it.” She whispered. “Thank you. Definitely worth waiting for.” She paused a moment and slid her hand over his around her and brought it close, up between her breasts so she could lean down and kiss the back of it softly. “You were definitely worth waiting for.” And then she fell asleep, unable to stay awake any longer. The excitement of the day, the sex and the raging headache she felt since she arrived here took its toll.

The soft sound of contentment from Straton could have been described as a growl, but in truth it was so much more. To the anima he knew he'd found a mate. In body and soul. The Beast within lay still, happy, as if some part of it had been fulfilled in a way that Straton could have never achieved on his own. This was true, but how deeply... not even Straton himself knew. The small form of Em in his arms was a balm, a succor for a wound he didn't even know he had.

"I will always make it worth your wait." he whispered. Straton watched her fall asleep, and felt her breathing sow, and her heart-rate. The tiger that he was could feel the blood flowing in her veins, and he wondered what the future held for them. Together they could persevere and make a difference. At least to each other. Slowly Straton let sleep claim him as well, keeping her close, her hand pressed to his chest right above his heart.


The life support machine's constant hum was interrupted by a flashing red light and a beep. Out at the nurse's station Dorothy Watkins frowned and got up, going into the room. Checking the machine she could see there'd been some fluctuation in brain activity. Strange. Grabbing the chart she pushed the power button, the screen flickering to life.

Straton Skarsgaard. NYC police officer shot in the line of duty at the age of 21, only his third year on the job. That was two years ago now. The city was footing the bill for his care, the thugs who'd gunned him down caught and still awaiting trial. Straton had interrupted their stickup of a small mom and pop store on his way home, just half a block from his apartment. The men robbing the place had pulled several jobs in the area, killing the proprietors of the establishments, so it was widely regarded that Straton had saved the life of Michael and Elizabeth Goines. A hero, though slipping into a coma shortly after arriving at the hospital.

Dorothy checked, and the chart did say that there were fluctuations in his brain activity and various other bodily functions. Blood pressure, heart-rate. The doctors never could explain it,but they kept an eye out. They'd not ruled out the possibility that he might awaken, but chances were slim despite his strength.

What was he holding onto? What was he waiting for?


Far to the east, on an unnamed island occupied by only a single lone city and a fortress known as the Iceshard, the heavy footsteps of a darkly clad knight, strode through that formidable fortress. Iceshard Fortress, known as such due to the high elevation that often left shards of frost and ice upon the parapets, sat unbreachable upon its cliffs. The fortress had been there for as long as anyone in Nevermore had ever known. To most it had sat uninhabited, an empty husk long abandoned by people lost in the antiquities of time. Yet still it stood, and now... now it was home to a plethora of inhabitants.

The city around the fortress bustled with life, and the fortress itself was full of servants and maids, cooks and all manner of soldiers that made the castle what it was. The man now striding through the halls was the foremost of these.

Stratus strode through the hall, servants scurrying out of his way as he seemed intent on his destination. Pushing open the doors to the throne room, the darkly clad knight made his way to the dais, whereupon his queen reclined.

"She has come."he said simply, stopping before the dais and settling his one good eye on the figure there. He was entirely unsure of what sort of reaction he might get.

”Blood pressure is normal, brain activity seems to be responding. All her vital signs are just normal but she is unresponsive to any light signals, touches and sounds.”

“Is this a brain thing? Is her brain disconnected or something so that it is not receiving and inputting these signals?”

“No. The swelling in her brain has gone down tremendously. Our fear that her brain stem would disconnect from her spine has gone away. She is completely free of that risk, which if that happened, she would be unable to live a meaningful life.” The doctor explained. “But...for some reason she is just...not responding to anything. It is like she is here, physically but her mind is somewhere else.”

“What can that mean?”
“At this moment Mrs. Martinique, I am unsure. But we keep a constant monitor on her and we will continue to do so. Mr. and Mrs. Martinique, I don’t wish to give either of you false hope, but I feel that not all hope is lost quite yet.” He said with as much compassion as he could muster.

“Thank you doctor.”

--

It was on this dreary night in Nevermore that she beheld the accomplishments of her toils. Unfortunately the fall had jogged a spurring action in the space in her chest where her heart once lay, as if the lingering essence of the organ still remained and affected her. She already knew. She did not need to be told. But she had not come off of her throne all day. Too long she was brooding in the musk of darkness and murky aura that surrounded her. Her veil ensconced her face and she breathed in the musk of her glow, further infecting her mind with purity, innocence and goodness, as she continued lounging back in the cold comfort of her icy iron throne.

She is not so bad. She is you. What you could have been. Had you not met him…
“Silence.”
I shan’t relay to you the grievances that which so repulse you, but I must insist--
“I said enough. Who are you to question my authority? Who are you to date question my appointment of him?”
I am you. That is all. Your subconscious. Your mind. Your inner soul. Your inner turmoil! You know this is wrong! That which haunts you sets you on the course to become the plague to those less...powerful.

She smirked and slowly traced her tongue over her plush lips, red in color and plump to taste and feel. “Does it frighten you? What we are capable of?”

You know that is not what it is, Em--
“DO NOT call me that! My name is Embry, the finest and harshest ember of Nevermore that would not hesitate to gulp you in the fiery pits of my wrath!”
You do that you not only kill me but you kill yourself.

“I will find a way to disconnect you and when I do, I shall be free from your psychobabble. And it all starts and ends with her.”
Harm her, you harm yourself. You both perish. When one dies, the other perishes. You two are connected. You two are the same. You two are incomplete without the other. You must be whole.

“Silence!”

Embry, with hair like fire and a spirit of darkness wholly consuming her and whatever bit of a conscience she had left, pushed the veil off of her face, letting the hood cover over the top of her head still. But with it opened now, the voice stopped and she was given a reprieve from her stupidly moronic and annoying voice! Who asked her?!

Settling back into her throne, Embry draped her legs over the arm of it and she closed her eyes, trying to find some sense and logic in this nonsensical mess. But by then, the door opened. She didn’t need to open her eyes to see who it was. “You’ve come to tell me news I am already aware of. Of course she has come. The moment she stepped foot onto the land, I felt the tugging of my heart’s essence wage a war!” She stood up and hurriedly approached Stratus, getting all too close for comfort, her hair glowing, as if taking on the actual flame it represented. “Why do I feel it?! Why do I feel her?! Tell me. Tell me right now!” She demanded, her voice distorting in octaves as if she was possessed and her eyes flashing a deep red like molten lava ready to burst from the opening of a volcano. Why was she connected to this nobody commoner? Why did it affect her so? Why did she feel the tugs of her heart that was safely tucked away, begging to be placed back into her chest and make right with the world? This conflict...this pull...this struggle...she wanted it to end.

"You promised it would end..." But almost immediately she became calm again. Still, it remains to be admitted wholly on a regular basis...

To say Embry had a temper was the understatement of the century.

Stratus sighed as Embry threw her tantrum. He let is ride for a moment and then stepped up to the dais. "There is something else my love. He is here as well. I did not feel him until she arrived, but now that I do his presence seems somehow... more." he informed her. One gauntleted hand reached out, his warm skin exposed as the magical armor evaporated away. In fact, the armor melted away to reveal most of his body.

"Calm, my love. Come, let me ease your spirit." Stratus said, his hands already caressing along her skin. A slight gesture and the servants in the castle left, leaving the couple alone.

"We will crush them. Worry not. You will realize your victory, as will I, and then we can rule Nevermore together." Stratus said, his lips trailing kisses up along her arm. Stratus wanted to distract her, as he knew why she could feel her counterpart. They were, in so many ways, one. She knew that, he'd told her that, and yet it was a difficult fact to swallow. Still, they could be rid of them, and never be bothered by them again.

Stratus' lips found her neck and he suckled the skin there.


The night passed and as morning broke, Straton found himself still wrapped about Em protectively. Kissing her forehead he extricated himself from her and went to the washroom to relieve himself. He still smelled of her, and he smiled softly at the stickiness between his legs, reminding him of her. He began to draw a bath as well, and decided to let her sleep a few moments more until he was done, so that he could then fetch them breakfast while she prepared for the day.