InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Of Gods and Monsters ❯ Chapter 7: Alpha (lemon) ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer in Prologue

A/N: THIS IS A LEMON! Rated R

Also, great thanks to Merith for the quickie beta

Chapter 7: Alpha

For the first time in nearly one hundred and fifty years, Teles was unable to find solace in her cavern. Rather than feeling refreshing, the air seemed uncomfortably damp. The rush of the waterfall was no longer soothing - it tore through her head, deafening her. She sat in the middle of the soft futon, the silken folds of the bedding pooling around her. Teles' head was in her hands and she was trying to block out the roar of the falls in order to create some degree of order in her head.

How is it a demon said to despise humans - said to have tried to kill his own kin because of the human blood in him - how is it that such a creature could associate himself with a human child?

Exhaling, she lay back on the futon. She didn't think that the half-brother of Sesshoumaru would have lied about the demon lord. His anger, his dislike of Sesshoumaru was too evident. It was not false - she had felt it as surely as one might have felt heat from a flame.

She knew that Sesshoumaru was a powerful demon, and that alone made him dangerous to most. That he could be deadly was not a surprise. That he had such blatant disregard for his brother's life was.

And then, to see that small girl run to him, so clearly full of happiness and youthful exuberance...

Shaking her head, Teles got up from the futon and wandered throughout her quarters. She ran her fingertips lightly along the walls, noting every imperfection in the apparently smooth rock. She paused at a long, low table made of polished marble. On it were several small statuettes - Artemis, Aphrodite, and Athena - the only link she had to her Olympian life. She sorely missed her kin and wished, for what wasn't the first time, that she had never been unfortunate enough to provoke Hera's anger.

A mirthless smile curled at her lips. She probably would have provoked Hera's anger even if she'd cloistered herself away amongst the mortal priestesses.

With a sigh, Teles picked up one of the statuettes, her fingers tracing lightly over its details. The statue was smooth and cold, offering no consolation, no comfort -- nothing at all that would have eased her puzzlement.

Ryujin's deep voice, his great black eyes watching her thoughtfully... 'He is an honorable youkai...'

Unbidden, her mind vaulted back to the feel of the demon's hands knotting tightly in her hair, the insistent force of his mouth, and the sensation of his robes fisted in her hands.

Teles made a guttural sound in the back of her throat, setting the statuette down hard on the table. Gritting her teeth, she growled, "If he's so honorable, why does he wish to kill his own brother?"

A faint frown formed on her forehead. If he does indeed fight to the death, if he is truly a ruthless and determined fighter... why is Inuyasha still alive?

Neither the priestess nor the monk had been lying -- of that much she was sure. And yet, Teles could not ignore the joyous laughter that had come from the human child.

Frustrated at the abundance of unanswered questions, Teles paced the caverns restlessly, following path after path, each one leading to a different cave. She'd spent some of her early years memorizing the system of caves, but they had eventually bored her. Teles stopped suddenly, the echo of her footsteps resonating off of the stone walls. Here, the roar of the waterfall was nothing but a faint whisper. The air was still and cold, but stale.

Not until now did she begin to feel the ache that Hera's sentence had been meant to inflict. Here, far underground, away from gods, demons, and humans alike. She thought briefly of Sesshoumaru's half-brother and his companions. Their camaraderie and easy familiarity with each other had been obvious. Now, as Teles sat in the silent darkness, she felt the keen prick of envy. Shaking her head, she turned and followed the labyrinthine tunnels until she returned to her quarters. She walked through the series of rooms without seeing them, her footsteps leading her away from the sacred place.

***

"I will return."

Jaken blinked at Sesshoumaru with his bulbous eyes. "But my lord, what about the human child?"

"She will remain asleep. I will return."

"B-but what if she wakes?"

The demon lord narrowed his eyes. "Jaken, do not question me."

The smaller demon swallowed and nodded. "Y-yes, my lord. Forgive me, I did not mean..."

Clamping down on his annoyance, Sesshoumaru strode away from the toad youkai, leaving the comfort of the den. He stood outside, deeply inhaling the night air.

There was no one there.

It had been pure chance that he had noticed the goddess' presence earlier that afternoon. Her scent had been barely noticeable; he'd simply looked up. She had been there -- too far away for human eyes to see her clearly -- watching him.

A low growl of irritation had formed in the back of his throat. Sesshoumaru had been careful -- he'd not seen or heard anything from Teles for over two weeks. He hadn't wanted Teles to see Rin -- he hadn't wanted to be associated with the child.

It was not acceptable for the goddess to get the idea that he might have had a weakness.

The exchange had gone nothing like he had expected it to. Rather than tossing him one of those maddening smiles paired with a boastful challenge, she had expressed nothing but curiosity -- and not a small amount of shock.

He sighed, wondering what it was she was up to. The demon lord took to the air, letting the night air wrap around him as he flew, deep in thought.

The goddess' presence had quickly become an annoyance to him. He loathed the fact that she was a female with the ability to subdue him so easily, but the fact that she had that power sent a dizzying rush through his veins. Their first two meetings had been so charged with energy, Sesshoumaru had been faintly perplexed when he hadn't been able to catch her scent anymore. It was if she had simply vanished -- like she'd never existed at all.

But she had indeed existed. Sesshoumaru had the vivid memory of her taste to assure him of that. Almost against his will, Sesshoumaru's memory called up the vision of Teles straddling him, the gentle light radiating from her hands holding him effortlessly in place. Her kiss had been bold and exploratory; he had felt her tongue gently testing the sharp ends of his fangs before sliding further into his mouth.

It had not left him with a thirst for battle or a desire for blood. Instead, it had left him with the single desire he had acted on. Once he had caught up with her, once his hand had clasped around her wrist and he had felt the warmth pulsing beneath her skin, Sesshoumaru had lost all sense of restraint. The taste of her blood had only sweetened the kiss as it sent the same needle-like sensations of pleasure ricocheting through his body.

He felt his lip curl as he recalled the heavy blast of water separating them, allowing the goddess to hide herself away in her cavern. She had been hiding behind the barrier, watching him, laughing at him -- mocking him.

Of course, he hadn't really expected any less. She'd already made it quite clear that he amused her.

Sesshoumaru's eyes scanned the ground until he found what he'd been searching for. Exhaling softly, he floated to the ground, the corner of his mouth lifting up slightly for a moment.

The spring was a well-concealed one, hidden by foliage and underbrush. The terrain around it was dense, rendering it inaccessible to humans, who were usually too superstitious or cowardly to venture so deep into the forest. The heat of the water was also more intense than most of the hot springs. It was for these reasons that Sesshoumaru preferred it. His eyes glided over the smooth water, the steam rising from it creating a dense mist as it came in contact with the cool nighttime air.

He disrobed quickly, sliding gracefully into the hot water. A faint hiss slipped through his teeth, but he became acclimated to the temperature almost immediately. Sesshoumaru lowered himself until he was completely underwater and swam downward, testing the spring's depth.

***

When Teles had not been presiding over the Sirens or watching in silence as devotees left offerings at her shrines and temples, the goddess had occasionally disguised herself as human and ventured into towns and villages, quietly observing as mortals moved about their everyday lives. She had enjoyed the anonymity that had come with the masquerade -- it was fascinating to walk among them, to blend in with them, to become one of them for a short while. She never stayed particularly long -- sometimes the harsh voices and strong odors were too intense for her and she found herself yearning for the comparative peace of Olympus.

Now, on the other hand, Teles found herself so starved for contact that she longed for all of it -- the noise, the smells, the people.

She sat on the outskirts of the nearest village. It was late -- far too late for any of the inhabitants to be out of their homes. The air was still heavy with the scent of food that had been cooked over a fire and if she listened closely she could hear bits and snatches of conversation before they settled into a deep hum.

It made her ache.

The goddess stood, closing her eyes against the village's warmth. She turned and walked away from that which only served to remind her what she did not have access to. Hera had taken away far more than Teles' home. She had taken away the goddess' kin, devotees, and companions. Ryujin had made sure that his lands were welcoming, but even he could not provide her with that which she craved.

Sighing heavily, Teles let her body lift into the air and she flew slowly away from the village.

In the time during her exile, Teles had accepted her punishment with grace. She had come to acknowledge her solitude and embrace it. She had grown bored of course, but had always seemed to find ways to alleviate her boredom.

It was only after speaking with Sesshoumaru's half-brother had the goddess begun to truly long for her home. The demon lord was one who had kin, but apparently had no desire other than to murder him. Teles no longer had direct access to those she missed.

He ignores the blood that does exist between them. Foolish youkai.

As if on cue, Teles once again felt the familiar shudder wrack through her frame. She grit her teeth in annoyance.

In Gaia's name-- I've been stuck in these gods-forsaken lands for a century and a half, never running into that insufferable bastard. Now it seems I can't step beyond the caverns without finding him!

She slowed in flight, looking earthward contemplatively. As late as it was, Teles wondered if he still had the girl-child with him. After a moment, she decided that chances were good that the demon lord was alone.

"Perhaps the Lord Sesshoumaru wouldn't mind another match," she murmured, her body beginning a graceful descent. Their earlier encounter had left her unsure as to whether she needed to eliminate him. "The only fair thing to do is to give him an opportunity to explain himself." She paused. Not likely. The day he willingly explains himself will be the day Dionysus allows the vineyards to run dry.

Teles' descent stopped before her feet hit the ground a fair distance away from where she believed the youkai to be. Inuyasha had stated that utilizing surprise was the only way to truly gain an advantage over the demon. She maneuvered herself around trees and shrubs, the tips of her toes barely grazing the grass as she flew. She felt warmth spread in her chest and down her back and she smiled -- the fool was near water. He would not have the advantage this time. She felt her strength and stamina increase the closer she got to the water source -- she could already see the mists from the hot spring. She inhaled the clean scent of water and savored it for a moment.

After she let her bare feet touch the ground, Teles moved carefully, searching for the demon. She already knew that his sense of hearing as well as his sense of smell was incredibly acute -- if he knew she was coming then all of her efforts would have been in vain. She called on the mists and felt them thicken slightly. She could feel the water; its presence made Teles' skin grow sensitive and prickle slightly. She moved silently, making her way around an outcropping of rocks before coming to the water's edge.

Teles' movements came to a sudden stop, her eyes widening in shock.

Before her, the demon lord stood in water up to his chest. He dove underwater and swam a short distance before resurfacing again and bringing his hands to his face to wipe away the excess water. As he did this, she could see a faint line on his left arm. Her eyes moved to his hands and she realized that while one was elegant with long fingers ending in tapered claws, the other was not a perfect match for it, as close as it might have been. His hair was plastered to his head, but where it hit the water it fanned outwards. It moved when he moved and when he stood still, like he was doing at present, the silver locks separated into tendrils whose gentle motion was not unlike that of a delicate undersea plant.

Teles found that she could not move, could not speak. She could only remain rooted to the spot and watch.

The faint scent of salt air enticed Sesshoumaru to turn. There, the goddess stood, bathed in mist and moonlight, her honeyed skin now pale and ethereal. Her green eyes seemed to shine at him in the silver light. He blinked once and swallowed, feeling his heart contract against his will. This woman, this goddess -- damnable, insolent, intolerable -- seemed to call to him, not with words but with something that transcended language completely. She tugged at his soul, and he, the most powerful lord in the lands, was unable to resist.

He moved forward slowly, feeling the water cascade down his shoulders as he came out of the water. His skin was still flushed with heat, but if Sesshoumaru took notice of the comparatively chill air, he did not show it. He approached the female -- this impudent goddess who had not given him a moment's peace -- and stopped before her. He was aware of the world beyond the moment -- the soft rustlings of night creatures and the hushed chirping of crickets, but within the moment, a perfect sphere that seemed to capture them both, none of it existed. Amber eyes were focused on green and everything that surrounded them became muted. His gaze never wavering, Sesshoumaru brought his hand to the goddess' cheek. A shuddering intake of breath raked across his ears at the touch; his eyebrow lifted slightly and a slow smile curled faintly at his lips.

Teles swallowed, aware of the heat that spread beneath her skin at the simple touch while at the same time she was railing against it. She gasped softly as his fingers trailed down her neck, the touch so light she wasn't sure if it were there at all. When one of his claws delicately traced her collarbone, something inside of her quickened and she dragged her eyes away from his.

This was not right. This was not the order of things.

He was a demon, a killer, a monster.

"We should not be doing this," she breathed, forcing her gaze at a spot beyond his shoulder. She could not bring herself to look at him. More to the point, she could not bring herself to look at him and lie, denying the irrepressible urge she had to take, to dominate, to seize the very thing her body and soul desired. The very thing her lineage had taught her to despise.

"Your words lack conviction," Sesshoumaru murmured as he tilted her face upwards, forcing her to meet his eyes.

"I hate you." I hate what you do to me, what you reduce me to. I hate that I desire it.

Sesshoumaru saw only need in the goddess' eyes -- there was nothing of hate. In each of the times they had encountered each other, hate had never been in her eyes. There had been amusement, of course, and regal superiority -- there had been that in spades. Most recently there had been confusion. But there had never been any hate.

There certainly wasn't any now.

"The feeling is mutual," Sesshoumaru growled, his mouth closing on hers. His damp arms slid around her waist, pulling her against his chest, letting her body mold to his. He felt her tense in his arms, her inherent dominance fighting against the assault on her lips and mouth. As he felt the desire surge up within him, he likewise felt the goddess' mouth become pliant beneath his, her lips like warm candle wax.

Teles inhaled raggedly, the demon lord's taste and scent flooding her senses. It was instinct to control -- to hold superiority in her partnerships was Teles' practice. To let this demon dominate would be...

She gasped as he tightened his hold around her waist.

To let him take what she wanted to seize would be...

She felt him hardening against her.

It would be...

His low growl rumbled against her chest and she felt her fingertips dig into the flesh at his neck and shoulders. She slowly brought her hands downward in exploration. She could feel the heat beneath his skin and the water that clung to him. Teles' fingertips wandered further, brushing lightly over his hipbone before boldly seeking out the flesh pressing insistently against her thigh.

Hands suddenly grabbed at her wrists, forcing them back up. Her eyebrows drawing together, Teles broke the kiss unexpectedly, staring up at Sesshoumaru in disbelief. When she finally could speak, her voice was a whisper. "What are you--"

Still gripping her wrists tightly, the youkai claimed the goddess' mouth in another kiss -- this one more demanding, more probing than before. She was pulled tightly against him, and a deep moan formed in her throat as she felt the burgeoning stiffness press boldly against her. She gasped raggedly, trying to shift against him, trying to force his hand. Her lips still sliding against his, she tried pulling her wrists from his grasp, but he only held her more tightly. Slowly, Teles began to relax against his mouth, allowing herself to feel, to taste, to sense him. Once her wrists had gone slack, Sesshoumaru released them, leaving his own hands free to roam her shoulders, her back, her waist, her hips, her abdomen...

But soon his hands weren't on her body anymore -- he was disentangling himself from her, holding her at arms length. The sudden loss was like a shock and she looked up at him, her eyes wide as she swallowed hard against the sudden tightness in her throat. Teles was not sure whether it was relief or disappointment that washed over her so completely.

Oh gods, he's stopped. He's stopped -- he sees that this cannot be. He sees that this cannot possibl--

"Undress for me."

She stared at him in the half light, her eyebrows contorting quizzically as she blinked. "Sesshou--"

"I said, undress." The words were spoken smoothly, as if he'd asked her to do nothing more complicated than walking. Teles, suddenly unsure, looked away, blushing furiously.

He was asking her to willingly bare herself to him. Teles found herself strangely off-balance at his words.

Sesshoumaru looked at the woman before him, now so uncharacteristically demure. He could see the struggle in her face, in her eyes. That sudden shyness only fanned his own desire -- the need to claim her, to make her his own in a way that transcended the battlefield.

"Teles," he said, his voice low. "I want you to undress."

She opened her mouth to say something, anything, but words would not form. He merely watched her, his expression one of hunger veiled with patience. She brought her hands to the material that covered her. Teles swallowed and glanced down at herself. Removing the gauzy sheath would mean submission, but walking away meant...

The blush deepened. Walking away meant accepting defeat.

Her mind raced, searching for something that would alter their positions -- something that would restore her dominance. She thought of nothing; Sesshoumaru was already undressed. Teles swallowed, her eyes taking in every nuance of the demon lord's face. She saw no compromise neither in the golden depths of his eyes nor in the determined line of his mouth.

She lifted her chin slightly. If I do so it is because I choose to do so, not because this demon has demanded it of me.

The left side of her mouth lifting in an infuriating half-smile, Teles released the clasp holding the sheath and pulled it away from her body, letting it pool at her feet. She watched Sesshoumaru's face, searching for any change in his expression. There didn't appear to be any difference aside from an almost unnoticeable lift of his eyebrow.

It spoke volumes.

"Well done." The demon eyed her smugly and stepped backwards, grabbing the goddess' wrists again and pulling her into the spring.

Gasping slightly as the hot water hit her skin, Teles breathed his name, letting him pull her into the deeper waters. By the moon's light, she could see the demon's expression become laced with hunger as his eyes raked over her. Teles' breathing slowed, growing somewhat labored. The power of the water that surrounded her paired with the youkai's close proximity sent a flush to her cheeks. She blinked slowly and tried to wrap her arms around his neck, no thought present in her mind beyond her desire to search out his mouth for another kiss.

Sesshoumaru caught her movement and almost smiled at it. His grip on her wrists tightened slightly as he raised her arms above her head and looked down, watching with fascination how her breasts lifted in response. Her hands twitched in his grasp and the youkai could feel the goddess doing battle with herself, still unsure as to whether she would submit or not.

He decided not to give her the opportunity to contemplate it any further.

Releasing her wrists suddenly, Sesshoumaru brought one hand to the nape of her neck, the other to the small of her back, his mouth descending against hers in a bruising, possessive kiss. His hand fisted tightly in her hair as she inhaled sharply, allowing him full reign of her mouth. He tasted her leisurely, feeling her tongue glide against his, grazing his teeth, testing the tips of his fangs. He felt gentle vibrations against his mouth as she made soft mewling sounds in the back of her throat -- the sensation only caused him to pull her more tightly against his chest.

Teles' arms were tight around Sesshoumaru; she could feel his heat coupled with the heat of the water around them as his lips worked intently against her mouth. She felt him pull her even deeper, until the water reached his chest. Though Teles was not diminutive in stature, her toes were barely touching the spring's floor. She purred in response as her body shifted slightly against his. Every inch of her skin felt alive.

No longer were they youkai and goddess -- they were male and female. Exploring hands and searching mouths knew no difference between the two beings beyond one's defined musculature and the other's supple skin. A sudden, intense surge of desire welled up in Teles' chest as she mentally opened herself to him, relaxing into his touch and savoring it, finally deciding to give him willingly that which she had wanted to seize from him.

For his part, Sesshoumaru had begun to feel himself get lost in sensation as the goddess' power wrapped around them both. He doubted she was even aware that she was doing anything, but he'd been able to feel it -- dozens of tiny fingertips caressing his spine, dragging teasingly across his skin, tempting him further and further. For as tightly as she held on to him with her arms, her magic bound them even tighter. He forced himself to maintain his composure as he let one hand leisurely glide across her skin to cup her breast. She gave a shudder before arching her back to allow him better access. He trailed one claw lazily along the sensitive underside of the breast before running the soft pad of his thumb over the already erect nipple. He smiled faintly against her mouth as he felt her hands tighten in his hair.

Teles slowly dragged one leg upwards, stroking it against Sesshoumaru's leg. She let out a small, surprised sound when he grabbed her leg and hiked it further up before guiding the other leg up as well. Soon she was pressed against him, her legs wrapped tightly around his waist. Sesshoumaru broke the kiss and eased her torso away from his, noting the way Teles moved with his touch. He held her, his palms braced against her back before dipping his head and letting his mouth close over one alert nipple. Teles cried out, arching her back violently, pressing her breast to his lips and teeth, and uttering a throaty moan when one of his fangs toyed lazily with the hard nub. She let her head drop backwards, gasping when the water soaked the rest of her hair, caressing her scalp. As his tongue lapped slowly at her flushed skin, she breathed his name like a benediction.

At the sound of her voice, Sesshoumaru lifted his head and regarded her in the moonlight. Her eyes were closed, dark lashes resting against heated cheeks. Her lips, swollen from his many assaults on her mouth, were parted slightly, offering a flash of white teeth. She said his name again, a plea this time. The sight of this goddess looking so debauched and sounding so beatific sent an unfamiliar tightening in his chest.

His. She was his.

Struck with the sudden urge to claim her, Sesshoumaru kept one hand braced on her back while the other reached down between their bodies. He found the soft, slick folds, warmed with her desire as well as by the heat of the water around them. Teles lifted her head and watched him, her green eyes dark with anticipation. The goddess brought her hands to Sesshoumaru's shoulders to bear some of her weight as he brought his other hand down to her hip. She shifted slightly to ease his access, but the demon lord did not move, choosing instead to let his erection tease against the goddess' flesh. He held her gaze in silence until one word passed her lips.

"Yes."

Grasping her hips tightly, he slid inside of her, barely choking off a howl at the sensation that movement caused. Her slick channel was snug and closed around him completely, but it was the sensation of her power embracing them both that sent tendrils of ecstasy racing through his veins. The water began moving around them, lapping at their joined bodies. Clenching his jaw in an attempt to control the maelstrom, Sesshoumaru began to move the body he was holding so securely against his own, leading her hips back and forth in a maddeningly slow motion.

She murmured his name once, trying to thrust her hips against his hold. His name became a growl as his movements gradually quickened. Her head had fallen back again and her eyes were tightly closed. Her hands were on his shoulders, her nails digging into the skin there.

Sesshoumaru was barely aware of her nails breaking his skin as the intoxicating sensation of Teles' power continued to flood his system. Her body tightened invitingly around his, sending his desire skyrocketing. He brought his face to her neck and inhaled deeply before fastening his mouth on the soft throat. His fangs grazed her skin; his tongue laved away the bite.

Teles' eyes flew open at the sensation. The slight pain followed by such a soft touch sent her mind and body spiraling into completion. She inhaled sharply, a high, surprised sound, and then cried out, her body convulsing in a shudder. Sesshoumaru was taken by surprise at the desperate movements and throaty noises coming from the goddess. It was the goddess' body and soul that pushed him over the edge. Her power, on the other hand, helped to sustain the sensation. He thrust into her, riding out the dizzying waves until they subsided.

When the shockwaves finally ceased, he and Teles carefully disentangled themselves from one another and moved from the pool to the grassy land alongside it. There they collapsed, skin on skin, drowned in each other's scent. Their mouths moved lingeringly against each other before they succumbed to their drug-like slumber, Sesshoumaru's arm tucked possessively around Teles' body.

It was done. She was his.