Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Spirit of the Wolf ❯ Chapter 8: Vega's Return ( Chapter 8 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: WolfGoddess_77 
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Fantasy / Romance / Supernatural | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.27.2012 | Updated On: 09.26.2012 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.0K | Visits: 120 | Status: Work In Progress
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Fantasy / Romance / Supernatural | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.27.2012 | Updated On: 09.26.2012 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.0K | Visits: 120 | Status: Work In Progress
Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual people or places is purely coincidental.
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Before Reyith had even opened her eyes, she became aware of two things. One, she was very comfortable, enfolded in warmth and surrounded by a familiar scent. The second thing she noticed that was that she was being held. She could feel a pair of arms wrapped around her, though she wasn’t being held tightly. Instead, one arm was around her shoulders, and the other was draped over her side.
Slowly, her violet eyes opened, and she smiled. Cael was laying close beside her. Sometime during the night, he had apparently decided to hold her. Now, he still slept soundly, unaware that he was being watched. Carefully, she pulled away from him, then paused, waiting to see if her movement would wake him up. As she had suspected, he began to stir, then slowly raised his head.
“Mornin’,” he mumbled, obviously not completely awake yet.
Reyith’s smile widened, but only for a moment. “Good morning to you,” she replied, her voice quiet. Though she was outwardly relaxed, inwardly, she was in turmoil. Two days… Vega would return today. Sliding out of the bed, Reyith moved over to her pack, opening it. After rummaging around in it for a few seconds, she withdrew a clean set of clothes.
“I will return shortly,” she said, looking over at Cael. She turned towards the bathroom, the smile fading away as soon as she had her back turned. Entering the bathroom, she put her clothes down, but in her distraction, she didn’t close the door completely behind her.
Cael’s eyes were beginning to close once more when he heard Kago’s voice ring through his mind. As always, it was calm, but he was certain that it held a disapproving note. You shouldn’t leave her alone. She needs you now. The upcoming battle has made her nervous. What you must do is reassure her; try to calm her back down.
This made a faint blush come to his face. But she’s in the shower. I can’t follow her…
She didn’t lock the door; it will be a simple matter to open it and enter.
Cael shook his head. What’s gotten into you? Shouldn’t you be against something like this? He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Not that he was complaining, really, but would Reyith really want him to come after her? Surely she would murder him for even considering it…
But Kago wasn’t leaving him any choice. The spirit’s voice suddenly turned commanding, then. Go. I will not say it again.
Sitting up, he immediately pulled himself to his feet, then grabbed some clothes out of his own pack. At the door to the bathroom, he hesitated. He could hear the water hitting the floor of the shower, and he swallowed hard as his mouth went dry. “Forgive me, Reyith,” he whispered. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door, then went inside.
Even over the sound of the water, Reyith heard the door open, and she froze, her head turning towards the sound. Surely he wouldn’t… But there was no doubt in her mind. Cael had followed her. She felt her heartbeat speed up, but then frowned at herself. Just because he was in the same room didn’t mean that he would actually come into the shower with her. Even with his new instincts, he wouldn’t be that bold. But then she heard the sound that brought a fierce blush to her face: the sound of rustling clothes. He was undressing.
“Do you mind if I join you?” he asked, his voice taking on a calm, almost bored tone.
“N-no,” Reyith said, her gaze fixed on the wall. “I do not mind at all.” This wasn’t entirely a lie, but it wasn’t the full truth, either. She wasn’t sure exactly how to react to something like this; she had never shared a shower with someone before. But she didn’t want to tell him no, and right now, she wanted to be close to someone. The coming day made her nervous in a way that no other fight ever had.
When she battled a hoyu seishin, there was never any doubt in her mind that she would win. Metsu was perfectly suited for helping her do this. But with Vega, for the first time in her life, she had felt the fear of potentially losing. Not winning a battle she could handle, but not knowing what would happen to her afterwards was terrifying. Even if death was what awaited her, that was something she could deal with. Death had never been frightening for her; it was inevitable, even if she never lost a fight.
But Vega had said it herself. Reyith was to be kept alive. For what, she didn’t know, but whatever it was, it wouldn’t be good.
She was pulled out of her thoughts by Cael pushing back the shower curtain. He stepped into the shower behind her, but for the moment, he kept a respectful distance. The blush didn’t leave her face, but she couldn’t stop her gaze from roaming over his body. Within only a couple of seconds, she turned away abruptly, determined to finish her shower without looking back at him.
That resolution was shattered a moment later as she felt Cael wrap his arms around her, one hand rested against her stomach. The other raised slowly, a single finger tracing a line between her breasts, and his arm brushing lightly over one. Finally, his hand reached her shoulder, and he brushed a lock of hair back off of it.
“I know you’re nervous, but you have nothing to worry about. If you can’t defeat her, I’ll help you. I’m sure the both of us will be strong enough. I won’t let her hurt you.”
Slowly, Reyith turned her head, looking up at him. “I appreciate that,” she said softly. “But you must be careful. While she says that she does not want me dead, she has no such inhibitions when it comes to you. I would rather endure whatever she has in store for me than see you be killed.”
Cael blinked, taken off guard. He hadn’t thought she actually cared about him that much. Before, she had never given any indication one way or another about her feelings for him, but now he was beginning to understand. She wasn’t as indifferent as she sometimes acted. This confession proved it. Now if only he could get her to act that way more often…
Then, a thought came to him. It was wicked, and he would probably get in trouble for it later, but… Oh, what the hell. It was worth it. “Here, let me help you relax. Nothing bad is going to happen. I won’t let it.” The hand on her stomach moved to the side slightly, wrapping around her waist. The other – still rested on her shoulder – trailed back down, brushing lightly over her breasts.
Reyith stiffened against him, swallowing hard as she felt heat began to flow through her. “What are you doing?” she whispered, her voice hoarse.
“You know exactly what I’m doing,” he replied lightly. “It’s all right. You’ll like this, I promise.”
For a moment, it seemed like she would protest again, but she was silent.
Taking this silence as her agreement, Cael gently cupped one of her breasts, squeezing it gently. At the same time, he leaned forward, kissing her neck. When she didn’t automatically tilt her head to the side, he nipped the skin, earning a soft gasp from her. With a trickle of satisfaction, he watched her slowly bare her throat to him.
“Good,” he breathed, his hand moving to her other breast and repeating his actions. “Obedience deserves a reward, don’t you think?” He paused for a moment to lick gently at the bite he had left, as if in apology. “But I want you to tell me what you want. I’ll give you a choice. I can either repeat what I did the night of the full moon, or I can try something new.”
Reyith waited for a few more seconds, but he didn’t elaborate on what he meant about ‘something new’. She had to admit though, now she was curious. He had said that she would like it… Though the familiarity of repetition would be comforting, in this case, she knew that it was better to choose the other option. Besides, the night of the full moon, though she hadn’t said anything, she had gone to sleep with an ache deep within her, a fire that had needed to be quenched. But he had denied her that.
Today though, she hoped that he wouldn’t change his mind. It had been very uncomfortable for her when he had decided to stop.
“I want you to try something new,” she whispered at last, her mouth dry.
Cael smirked. “I thought you might.” All of his earlier inhibitions had vanished the moment that he had seen her standing underneath the flow of water. Now, all that was left was the confidence provided to him by his new instincts, and a desire for her.
Slowly, the hand that was wrapped around her waist began to inch downward. He moved forward, resting his chin on her shoulder, and pulling her back against him. As he expected, he felt her body tense up, but she never protested. He knew that she was nervous, though not enough to ask him to stop.
Reyith’s breath caught in her throat as she felt his fingers ghost across her folds for the first time. He paused, waiting for her reaction. When she didn’t pull away from him, he repeated his actions, more firmly this time. One finger found the sensitive bundle of nerves, and he stroked it gently.
This made her arch against him, giving a quiet gasp. Her hand came up to grab his arm, as if for support. Cael smiled, then used his free hand to turn her head towards him, kissing her soundly. Feeling bold, he let his tongue trace her lips, and she hesitantly opened her mouth. Before she could change her mind, he deepened the kiss, thoroughly exploring her mouth.
Finally, he broke the kiss, then smiled at her, his other hand still manipulating her petals, and letting his fingers dip shallowly inside of her every so often. “What do you think?” he whispered. “Do you like this?” Of course, he already knew the answer, but it never hurt to be sure.
“Yes.” Her voice was strained as pleasure flowed through her body. Her grip on his arm tightened, and a soft whine made its way out of her throat. The heat within her was beginning to condense into a ball in her lower belly, slowly coiling ever tighter.
Though he had started off with only one, he soon slipped a second finger inside of her, then paused, allowing her to become used to the new intrusion. She squirmed against him for a moment, but then went still once more. Once Cael was sure that he wasn’t hurting her, he began sliding them in and out, letting his thumb brush over the sensitive bundle of nerves.
His free hand moved to caress her breasts, gently pinching the pink buds that adorned the soft mounds. Kissing her throat, he smiled. “Climax for me,” he whispered into her ear.
It took only a couple more minutes before he felt her inner walls rippling around his fingers, and she arched against him again, a soft cry escaping her throat. He continued to work his fingers inside of her until he was sure that the pleasure had died away, then removed them. After a moment’s consideration, he brought them up to his mouth, then licked her essence off, getting his first taste of her nectar. He smiled slightly; her taste was faintly sweet.
Reyith turned to look at him, the deepest blush he had ever seen from her adorning her cheeks. He reached up, touching the blush lightly. “You look cute like that,” he told her, his voice faintly amused. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, you know. You taste wonderful, don’t worry.”
To this, she didn’t reply. Instead, she turned back around, moving under the flow of water. Quickly, she finished her shower, then turned off the water, which was beginning to grow cold.
“Thank you,” she said at last, her voice quiet. “For doing that, I mean. It was very enjoyable.”
Cael grinned. “Anytime. I’m happy to help. Besides, you needed to relax, and I knew that would help you.”
She paused. The truth was, he was right. She was a lot more relaxed than she had been. Interesting. But then she noticed something. She had found her release, but he hadn’t. Should she offer to help him, as he had done for her…? “I… If you like, I can return the favor for you,” she said hesitantly, not meeting his gaze.
This startled Cael in more ways than one. He could tell that saying this was extremely hard for her, if her tone of voice was any indication. He hadn’t expected her to say something like that, and it took him off guard. Also, the way she was acting was something he had never seen before. Though he had seen her act submissive around Kellan, now she was outright shy.
It was interesting, he reflected. While her submission in front of Kellan had made him uneasy, when she did the same for him, he found it incredibly attractive. Perhaps it was because he now had similar instincts, but his opinion about her attitude had completely changed. When it came to things like this, at least, he wanted her to be submissive. But he also wanted to be the only one who was able to see this side of her. It would be something special, just between the two of them.
But even though he wanted so badly to take her up on her offer, he knew that now wasn’t the time. He gave her a small smile, though it was somewhat regretful. “Not this time. Today was something just for you. You can repay me another time, all right?”
She blinked, and for a moment, didn’t say anything. “As you wish,” she said finally. Turning, she stepped out of the shower, picking up a towel and wrapping it around her.
Cael watched her, then followed, taking a towel of his own. Had he hurt her feelings? Judging by her reaction, it certainly seemed that way. But what was he supposed to say to her? “Hey,” he said finally.
Slowly, she turned to look at him, arching one eyebrow questioningly.
He moved over to her, placing his hands around her waist, and pulling her closer to him. Automatically, her hands rose to rest lightly against his chest. “It’s not that I don’t want you to, but like I said, this was something special, just for you. If you feel like you have to repay me, then it won’t mean anything.” He reached up, brushing a lock of damp hair out of her eyes. “It’ll be all right. I’m willing to wait.” Besides that, he didn’t want to force her into something she wasn’t ready for. If she had come to him of her own free will and offered something like that, he would have accepted, but as it was, it felt like he was pressuring her.
She nodded once, a smile coming to her face. “I understand.” Pulling away from him, she picked up her clothes, then redressed. “It’s time we were on our way,” she said, moving towards the door and opening it. “Vega will return soon, and I would rather be away from any others when that happens. I doubt she has any regard for others’ lives.”
Cael nodded, and after pulling his own clothes on, he followed her. They collected their packs, then exited the inn.
Reyith didn’t waste any time, moving to the edge of the town, then onto the road leading out. The entire time, she kept close to Cael, though she never said anything to him.
“When do you think she’ll show up?” Cael asked finally, wanting to break the almost tangible tension in the air. “She said two days… But you never know; she might not come. She might have wanted to scare you.” He was aware that he was babbling; it would be better to just shut up and keep walking. But the forest was so quiet, it was unnerving. He needed some kind of sound. Besides, he was also trying to reassure both himself and Reyith. If he kept saying that things would work out, maybe it would be true.
“No,” Reyith said finally, her voice quiet. “It will be today. I do not know when, only that it will be soon. Be prepared for anything. I do not want to be taken off guard.”
He nodded, then reached out, resting his hand on her shoulder comfortingly. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, they heard a rustling sound off to their left.
Reyith immediately tensed, a ball of red light appearing in her hand. Her eyes were fixed on the treeline, and her teeth were clenched.
A moment later, Vega dropped out of one of the trees, smiling. “Good morning, you two. I hope you slept well?” Her voice was friendly, but neither Reyith nor Cael was falling for it.
“What are you going to do with Reyith?” Cael asked, narrowing his eyes. He didn’t really expect an answer, but he had to try. Maybe she really would answer this time. Stepping closer to Reyith, he concentrated, reaching for the energy that would form his weapon.
Vega shrugged. “I told you before, it isn’t important. At least not to you. Now move. I have no business with you.”
He growled softly. “If you want her, you’ll have to go through me. I won’t let you hurt her again.”
“Isn’t that sweet,” Vega said, smiling. Her eyes danced wickedly. “To be so protective…I think he’s in love with you.”
Cael went still, a small blush coming to his face, but Reyith’s gaze was focused on Vega, and she didn’t notice. “Silence. He is my partner; he is not in love with me.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t be too sure. But whatever; you know him best, I suppose.” She giggled, then placed her hands behind her back. “Well, shall we get started? I already know what you’re going to say. You won’t let me hurt her, and you’ll do everything in your power to stop me, right? Too bad; she needs to come with me. Now, since I don’t need you tagging along, making my work harder, I’ll ask you once, and only once, to step aside. If you’re a good boy, and do what I say, I won’t hurt you.”
Kago appeared in Cael’s hand, and he growled softly. “If you already knew what I would say, why bother even asking? It was just a waste of time.” He took a step forward, and as he did, Reyith raised her hand, Metsu forming from a lance of energy.
Vega sighed, shaking her head. “I’d hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but if you insist, I suppose I can take you both on. It’s really too early for this kind of workout, but…” She shrugged. “I’m not one to back down from a challenge.” Before either of them could move, Vega raised one hand, her palm out towards Cael. Sharp shards of ice shot out from her hand, heading straight for him.
He brought his sword up, though he already knew that it would be useless. The blade glowed for a moment, knocking away some of the shards. Others struck him, making him hiss in pain.
Reyith’s eyes widened. “Cael!” Growling, she stepped around him, then leapt at Vega, slashing at her with the black scythe.
The ice spirit smiled, stepping back just far enough to avoid the blow. A cold wind began to blow around her, and her arm became encased in ice, as it had been in their previous fight. But this time, instead of forming itself into a sword, the tip was blunt. She brought her arm down, aiming for Reyith’s shoulder.
Reyith leaned back, and the weapon barely missed striking her. It came close enough that she could actually feel the chill of the ice. Leaping to the side, she spun around in a circle, gaining momentum. As she completed the turn, she saw Cael move forward.
He brought Kago down in a diagonal arc, and Vega raised the hand that was encased in ice, blocking his attack. The blade penetrated a couple of centimeters into the ice, making the ice spirit frown. It seemed that she had underestimated his strength. The ice would need to be hardened further before he could make another attack.
She took her weight onto one leg, leaning slightly and kicking him hard in the ribcage. Cael doubled over, gasping, allowing Vega the time she needed to pull the sword out of the ice around her arm, and push him back out of the fight.
He fell back, one arm wrapped around himself, the other still holding Kago’s hilt tightly. For a few seconds, he gasped for air, then pulled himself up onto his knees.
Vega’s distraction had, unfortunately, spared her from Reyith’s attack. Metsu’s black blade whistled past only scant inches from Vega’s body.
Cursing, Reyith moved back, regaining her balance. This time though, she didn’t attack again. Instead, she held back, studying Vega intently. Her violet eyes moved to Cael, and she quickly made sure that he hadn’t been seriously injured.
As Reyith looked away, Vega lunged forward, going on the offensive. She swung the blunt ice blade at Reyith’s head, though it was clear that, even if it connected solidly, it wouldn’t be a fatal blow. However, it would knock her unconscious, lending credibility to Vega’s earlier claim of needing Reyith alive.
To the spirit’s surprise, Reyith didn’t attempt to dodge the blow. Instead, she held her ground, bringing Metsu up in front of her as a shield. She had to take a step back under the force as the two weapons collided, but not once did she show any signs of backing down.
At the same time, Vega saw Cael climb to his feet out of the corner of one eye. He was still for a moment, still catching his breath. But within a few seconds, he was moving forward again, raising Kago in preparation for another attack.
Vega clenched her teeth, raising her hand once more and sending another volley of ice shards at Cael. These were stronger, and were enough to knock Cael back, sending him sliding along the ground. This distracted Vega long enough for Reyith to land a hit; the tip of her scythe lodged deeply into the back of Vega’s shoulder, though she had moved enough to avoid a debilitating blow.
But then, things took a turn for the worst. The instant that the scythe struck, snow swirled up around Vega, catching them both in the blinding vortex. Ice appeared on Vega’s skin, freezing the wound. A moment later, it began creeping up Metsu’s blade, winding around the scythe. It made its way rapidly down the hilt, even forming underneath Reyith’s hands. She gasped in pain as it suddenly solidified into thin, needlelike slivers, which pierced her hands. For a few seconds, she held on, but she was finally forced to let go of the scythe as they worked their way deeper into her skin. The weapon shimmered, then slowly faded away. In that instant, Vega grabbed Reyith by the throat, squeezing hard enough to close her airway.
Reyith brought her hands up, clawing ineffectually at Vega’s wrist. Spots began to swim before her eyes, and she slowly sank down onto her knees, gasping for breath. Just as she was about to lose consciousness, she saw Vega reach into a pocket and pull out a vial of odd-colored liquid.
Pulling the stopper out of the vial, Vega tipped it slightly, allowing a drop to fall into Reyith’s open mouth. Suddenly, she pitched forward as Cael slammed into her, sending all three of them to the ground. During the fall, the entire contents of the vial were accidentally poured down Reyith’s throat.
She stiffened, feeling a dreadful cold sensation begin to trickle through her blood. Her breathing became labored, and she gasped for each breath, feeling like she was suffocating. Mercifully, after a few seconds, the feeling passed, and she found herself growing sleepy. Her entire body felt like it was filled with lead; she couldn’t move. Slowly, her eyes closed, and she lay back, falling into a deep unconsciousness.
Vega sat up slowly, shaking her head. “You moron!” she spat, her voice dripping venom. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” She picked up the vial, looking around as if hoping to see the liquid spilled across the ground. “Just a drop of that is strong enough to knock someone out, and now she’s taken the entire thing!”
Cael reached out for Reyith, but Vega was faster. She turned over, kicking him viciously in the stomach. He doubled over, coughing. Before he could recover, Vega pulled herself up onto her knees, then grabbed the front of Reyith’s shirt. As she did, the cold wind began to blow around them, and they both vanished.
Though Cael made a grab for them, it was too late. They were gone. He had failed to protect Reyith, and now she had been taken away, being put through who knew what kind of torture. He clenched his teeth, feeling despair wash through him.
Calm yourself. We will get her back, fear not. Remember, they want her alive. They will not kill her. If we are swift, we may be able to prevent anything too severe from happening to her.
Cael closed his eyes, almost immediately finding himself standing in front of the icy noble. Below the cliff, he could hear the waves pounding against the rocks, and the sky was dark, with low-hanging clouds. A sharp wind blew around them. “But how will we find her? We have no idea where they are. Searching for her could take days…”
Kago shook his head. No, it will not. Perhaps you are unaware of it, but the two of you are connected. When you accepted my power, it was as good as swearing an oath, both to me, and her. I will be able to find her without too much difficulty, though I don’t know what awaits us at her destination.
“It doesn’t matter. As long as I know she’s there, I’ll get her back, no matter what I have to deal with. I’ll save her, I swear it!”
A faint smile made its way onto the spirit’s face. Admirable words. His voice grew quiet, then, and it was clear that he was speaking more to himself than to Cael. Perhaps that girl was correct after all…
“What?”
Nothing. It is of no importance. Now, prepare yourself. We leave immediately. If you need to recover, do so now. We have no time to waste.
Cael nodded, allowing himself to fade away. When he opened his eyes once more, he was sitting on the side of the road, the sword rested across his lap. “I’m coming, Reyith,” he whispered, determination reflected in his eyes.
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Before Reyith had even opened her eyes, she became aware of two things. One, she was very comfortable, enfolded in warmth and surrounded by a familiar scent. The second thing she noticed that was that she was being held. She could feel a pair of arms wrapped around her, though she wasn’t being held tightly. Instead, one arm was around her shoulders, and the other was draped over her side.
Slowly, her violet eyes opened, and she smiled. Cael was laying close beside her. Sometime during the night, he had apparently decided to hold her. Now, he still slept soundly, unaware that he was being watched. Carefully, she pulled away from him, then paused, waiting to see if her movement would wake him up. As she had suspected, he began to stir, then slowly raised his head.
“Mornin’,” he mumbled, obviously not completely awake yet.
Reyith’s smile widened, but only for a moment. “Good morning to you,” she replied, her voice quiet. Though she was outwardly relaxed, inwardly, she was in turmoil. Two days… Vega would return today. Sliding out of the bed, Reyith moved over to her pack, opening it. After rummaging around in it for a few seconds, she withdrew a clean set of clothes.
“I will return shortly,” she said, looking over at Cael. She turned towards the bathroom, the smile fading away as soon as she had her back turned. Entering the bathroom, she put her clothes down, but in her distraction, she didn’t close the door completely behind her.
Cael’s eyes were beginning to close once more when he heard Kago’s voice ring through his mind. As always, it was calm, but he was certain that it held a disapproving note. You shouldn’t leave her alone. She needs you now. The upcoming battle has made her nervous. What you must do is reassure her; try to calm her back down.
This made a faint blush come to his face. But she’s in the shower. I can’t follow her…
She didn’t lock the door; it will be a simple matter to open it and enter.
Cael shook his head. What’s gotten into you? Shouldn’t you be against something like this? He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Not that he was complaining, really, but would Reyith really want him to come after her? Surely she would murder him for even considering it…
But Kago wasn’t leaving him any choice. The spirit’s voice suddenly turned commanding, then. Go. I will not say it again.
Sitting up, he immediately pulled himself to his feet, then grabbed some clothes out of his own pack. At the door to the bathroom, he hesitated. He could hear the water hitting the floor of the shower, and he swallowed hard as his mouth went dry. “Forgive me, Reyith,” he whispered. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door, then went inside.
Even over the sound of the water, Reyith heard the door open, and she froze, her head turning towards the sound. Surely he wouldn’t… But there was no doubt in her mind. Cael had followed her. She felt her heartbeat speed up, but then frowned at herself. Just because he was in the same room didn’t mean that he would actually come into the shower with her. Even with his new instincts, he wouldn’t be that bold. But then she heard the sound that brought a fierce blush to her face: the sound of rustling clothes. He was undressing.
“Do you mind if I join you?” he asked, his voice taking on a calm, almost bored tone.
“N-no,” Reyith said, her gaze fixed on the wall. “I do not mind at all.” This wasn’t entirely a lie, but it wasn’t the full truth, either. She wasn’t sure exactly how to react to something like this; she had never shared a shower with someone before. But she didn’t want to tell him no, and right now, she wanted to be close to someone. The coming day made her nervous in a way that no other fight ever had.
When she battled a hoyu seishin, there was never any doubt in her mind that she would win. Metsu was perfectly suited for helping her do this. But with Vega, for the first time in her life, she had felt the fear of potentially losing. Not winning a battle she could handle, but not knowing what would happen to her afterwards was terrifying. Even if death was what awaited her, that was something she could deal with. Death had never been frightening for her; it was inevitable, even if she never lost a fight.
But Vega had said it herself. Reyith was to be kept alive. For what, she didn’t know, but whatever it was, it wouldn’t be good.
She was pulled out of her thoughts by Cael pushing back the shower curtain. He stepped into the shower behind her, but for the moment, he kept a respectful distance. The blush didn’t leave her face, but she couldn’t stop her gaze from roaming over his body. Within only a couple of seconds, she turned away abruptly, determined to finish her shower without looking back at him.
That resolution was shattered a moment later as she felt Cael wrap his arms around her, one hand rested against her stomach. The other raised slowly, a single finger tracing a line between her breasts, and his arm brushing lightly over one. Finally, his hand reached her shoulder, and he brushed a lock of hair back off of it.
“I know you’re nervous, but you have nothing to worry about. If you can’t defeat her, I’ll help you. I’m sure the both of us will be strong enough. I won’t let her hurt you.”
Slowly, Reyith turned her head, looking up at him. “I appreciate that,” she said softly. “But you must be careful. While she says that she does not want me dead, she has no such inhibitions when it comes to you. I would rather endure whatever she has in store for me than see you be killed.”
Cael blinked, taken off guard. He hadn’t thought she actually cared about him that much. Before, she had never given any indication one way or another about her feelings for him, but now he was beginning to understand. She wasn’t as indifferent as she sometimes acted. This confession proved it. Now if only he could get her to act that way more often…
Then, a thought came to him. It was wicked, and he would probably get in trouble for it later, but… Oh, what the hell. It was worth it. “Here, let me help you relax. Nothing bad is going to happen. I won’t let it.” The hand on her stomach moved to the side slightly, wrapping around her waist. The other – still rested on her shoulder – trailed back down, brushing lightly over her breasts.
Reyith stiffened against him, swallowing hard as she felt heat began to flow through her. “What are you doing?” she whispered, her voice hoarse.
“You know exactly what I’m doing,” he replied lightly. “It’s all right. You’ll like this, I promise.”
For a moment, it seemed like she would protest again, but she was silent.
Taking this silence as her agreement, Cael gently cupped one of her breasts, squeezing it gently. At the same time, he leaned forward, kissing her neck. When she didn’t automatically tilt her head to the side, he nipped the skin, earning a soft gasp from her. With a trickle of satisfaction, he watched her slowly bare her throat to him.
“Good,” he breathed, his hand moving to her other breast and repeating his actions. “Obedience deserves a reward, don’t you think?” He paused for a moment to lick gently at the bite he had left, as if in apology. “But I want you to tell me what you want. I’ll give you a choice. I can either repeat what I did the night of the full moon, or I can try something new.”
Reyith waited for a few more seconds, but he didn’t elaborate on what he meant about ‘something new’. She had to admit though, now she was curious. He had said that she would like it… Though the familiarity of repetition would be comforting, in this case, she knew that it was better to choose the other option. Besides, the night of the full moon, though she hadn’t said anything, she had gone to sleep with an ache deep within her, a fire that had needed to be quenched. But he had denied her that.
Today though, she hoped that he wouldn’t change his mind. It had been very uncomfortable for her when he had decided to stop.
“I want you to try something new,” she whispered at last, her mouth dry.
Cael smirked. “I thought you might.” All of his earlier inhibitions had vanished the moment that he had seen her standing underneath the flow of water. Now, all that was left was the confidence provided to him by his new instincts, and a desire for her.
Slowly, the hand that was wrapped around her waist began to inch downward. He moved forward, resting his chin on her shoulder, and pulling her back against him. As he expected, he felt her body tense up, but she never protested. He knew that she was nervous, though not enough to ask him to stop.
Reyith’s breath caught in her throat as she felt his fingers ghost across her folds for the first time. He paused, waiting for her reaction. When she didn’t pull away from him, he repeated his actions, more firmly this time. One finger found the sensitive bundle of nerves, and he stroked it gently.
This made her arch against him, giving a quiet gasp. Her hand came up to grab his arm, as if for support. Cael smiled, then used his free hand to turn her head towards him, kissing her soundly. Feeling bold, he let his tongue trace her lips, and she hesitantly opened her mouth. Before she could change her mind, he deepened the kiss, thoroughly exploring her mouth.
Finally, he broke the kiss, then smiled at her, his other hand still manipulating her petals, and letting his fingers dip shallowly inside of her every so often. “What do you think?” he whispered. “Do you like this?” Of course, he already knew the answer, but it never hurt to be sure.
“Yes.” Her voice was strained as pleasure flowed through her body. Her grip on his arm tightened, and a soft whine made its way out of her throat. The heat within her was beginning to condense into a ball in her lower belly, slowly coiling ever tighter.
Though he had started off with only one, he soon slipped a second finger inside of her, then paused, allowing her to become used to the new intrusion. She squirmed against him for a moment, but then went still once more. Once Cael was sure that he wasn’t hurting her, he began sliding them in and out, letting his thumb brush over the sensitive bundle of nerves.
His free hand moved to caress her breasts, gently pinching the pink buds that adorned the soft mounds. Kissing her throat, he smiled. “Climax for me,” he whispered into her ear.
It took only a couple more minutes before he felt her inner walls rippling around his fingers, and she arched against him again, a soft cry escaping her throat. He continued to work his fingers inside of her until he was sure that the pleasure had died away, then removed them. After a moment’s consideration, he brought them up to his mouth, then licked her essence off, getting his first taste of her nectar. He smiled slightly; her taste was faintly sweet.
Reyith turned to look at him, the deepest blush he had ever seen from her adorning her cheeks. He reached up, touching the blush lightly. “You look cute like that,” he told her, his voice faintly amused. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, you know. You taste wonderful, don’t worry.”
To this, she didn’t reply. Instead, she turned back around, moving under the flow of water. Quickly, she finished her shower, then turned off the water, which was beginning to grow cold.
“Thank you,” she said at last, her voice quiet. “For doing that, I mean. It was very enjoyable.”
Cael grinned. “Anytime. I’m happy to help. Besides, you needed to relax, and I knew that would help you.”
She paused. The truth was, he was right. She was a lot more relaxed than she had been. Interesting. But then she noticed something. She had found her release, but he hadn’t. Should she offer to help him, as he had done for her…? “I… If you like, I can return the favor for you,” she said hesitantly, not meeting his gaze.
This startled Cael in more ways than one. He could tell that saying this was extremely hard for her, if her tone of voice was any indication. He hadn’t expected her to say something like that, and it took him off guard. Also, the way she was acting was something he had never seen before. Though he had seen her act submissive around Kellan, now she was outright shy.
It was interesting, he reflected. While her submission in front of Kellan had made him uneasy, when she did the same for him, he found it incredibly attractive. Perhaps it was because he now had similar instincts, but his opinion about her attitude had completely changed. When it came to things like this, at least, he wanted her to be submissive. But he also wanted to be the only one who was able to see this side of her. It would be something special, just between the two of them.
But even though he wanted so badly to take her up on her offer, he knew that now wasn’t the time. He gave her a small smile, though it was somewhat regretful. “Not this time. Today was something just for you. You can repay me another time, all right?”
She blinked, and for a moment, didn’t say anything. “As you wish,” she said finally. Turning, she stepped out of the shower, picking up a towel and wrapping it around her.
Cael watched her, then followed, taking a towel of his own. Had he hurt her feelings? Judging by her reaction, it certainly seemed that way. But what was he supposed to say to her? “Hey,” he said finally.
Slowly, she turned to look at him, arching one eyebrow questioningly.
He moved over to her, placing his hands around her waist, and pulling her closer to him. Automatically, her hands rose to rest lightly against his chest. “It’s not that I don’t want you to, but like I said, this was something special, just for you. If you feel like you have to repay me, then it won’t mean anything.” He reached up, brushing a lock of damp hair out of her eyes. “It’ll be all right. I’m willing to wait.” Besides that, he didn’t want to force her into something she wasn’t ready for. If she had come to him of her own free will and offered something like that, he would have accepted, but as it was, it felt like he was pressuring her.
She nodded once, a smile coming to her face. “I understand.” Pulling away from him, she picked up her clothes, then redressed. “It’s time we were on our way,” she said, moving towards the door and opening it. “Vega will return soon, and I would rather be away from any others when that happens. I doubt she has any regard for others’ lives.”
Cael nodded, and after pulling his own clothes on, he followed her. They collected their packs, then exited the inn.
Reyith didn’t waste any time, moving to the edge of the town, then onto the road leading out. The entire time, she kept close to Cael, though she never said anything to him.
“When do you think she’ll show up?” Cael asked finally, wanting to break the almost tangible tension in the air. “She said two days… But you never know; she might not come. She might have wanted to scare you.” He was aware that he was babbling; it would be better to just shut up and keep walking. But the forest was so quiet, it was unnerving. He needed some kind of sound. Besides, he was also trying to reassure both himself and Reyith. If he kept saying that things would work out, maybe it would be true.
“No,” Reyith said finally, her voice quiet. “It will be today. I do not know when, only that it will be soon. Be prepared for anything. I do not want to be taken off guard.”
He nodded, then reached out, resting his hand on her shoulder comfortingly. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, they heard a rustling sound off to their left.
Reyith immediately tensed, a ball of red light appearing in her hand. Her eyes were fixed on the treeline, and her teeth were clenched.
A moment later, Vega dropped out of one of the trees, smiling. “Good morning, you two. I hope you slept well?” Her voice was friendly, but neither Reyith nor Cael was falling for it.
“What are you going to do with Reyith?” Cael asked, narrowing his eyes. He didn’t really expect an answer, but he had to try. Maybe she really would answer this time. Stepping closer to Reyith, he concentrated, reaching for the energy that would form his weapon.
Vega shrugged. “I told you before, it isn’t important. At least not to you. Now move. I have no business with you.”
He growled softly. “If you want her, you’ll have to go through me. I won’t let you hurt her again.”
“Isn’t that sweet,” Vega said, smiling. Her eyes danced wickedly. “To be so protective…I think he’s in love with you.”
Cael went still, a small blush coming to his face, but Reyith’s gaze was focused on Vega, and she didn’t notice. “Silence. He is my partner; he is not in love with me.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t be too sure. But whatever; you know him best, I suppose.” She giggled, then placed her hands behind her back. “Well, shall we get started? I already know what you’re going to say. You won’t let me hurt her, and you’ll do everything in your power to stop me, right? Too bad; she needs to come with me. Now, since I don’t need you tagging along, making my work harder, I’ll ask you once, and only once, to step aside. If you’re a good boy, and do what I say, I won’t hurt you.”
Kago appeared in Cael’s hand, and he growled softly. “If you already knew what I would say, why bother even asking? It was just a waste of time.” He took a step forward, and as he did, Reyith raised her hand, Metsu forming from a lance of energy.
Vega sighed, shaking her head. “I’d hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but if you insist, I suppose I can take you both on. It’s really too early for this kind of workout, but…” She shrugged. “I’m not one to back down from a challenge.” Before either of them could move, Vega raised one hand, her palm out towards Cael. Sharp shards of ice shot out from her hand, heading straight for him.
He brought his sword up, though he already knew that it would be useless. The blade glowed for a moment, knocking away some of the shards. Others struck him, making him hiss in pain.
Reyith’s eyes widened. “Cael!” Growling, she stepped around him, then leapt at Vega, slashing at her with the black scythe.
The ice spirit smiled, stepping back just far enough to avoid the blow. A cold wind began to blow around her, and her arm became encased in ice, as it had been in their previous fight. But this time, instead of forming itself into a sword, the tip was blunt. She brought her arm down, aiming for Reyith’s shoulder.
Reyith leaned back, and the weapon barely missed striking her. It came close enough that she could actually feel the chill of the ice. Leaping to the side, she spun around in a circle, gaining momentum. As she completed the turn, she saw Cael move forward.
He brought Kago down in a diagonal arc, and Vega raised the hand that was encased in ice, blocking his attack. The blade penetrated a couple of centimeters into the ice, making the ice spirit frown. It seemed that she had underestimated his strength. The ice would need to be hardened further before he could make another attack.
She took her weight onto one leg, leaning slightly and kicking him hard in the ribcage. Cael doubled over, gasping, allowing Vega the time she needed to pull the sword out of the ice around her arm, and push him back out of the fight.
He fell back, one arm wrapped around himself, the other still holding Kago’s hilt tightly. For a few seconds, he gasped for air, then pulled himself up onto his knees.
Vega’s distraction had, unfortunately, spared her from Reyith’s attack. Metsu’s black blade whistled past only scant inches from Vega’s body.
Cursing, Reyith moved back, regaining her balance. This time though, she didn’t attack again. Instead, she held back, studying Vega intently. Her violet eyes moved to Cael, and she quickly made sure that he hadn’t been seriously injured.
As Reyith looked away, Vega lunged forward, going on the offensive. She swung the blunt ice blade at Reyith’s head, though it was clear that, even if it connected solidly, it wouldn’t be a fatal blow. However, it would knock her unconscious, lending credibility to Vega’s earlier claim of needing Reyith alive.
To the spirit’s surprise, Reyith didn’t attempt to dodge the blow. Instead, she held her ground, bringing Metsu up in front of her as a shield. She had to take a step back under the force as the two weapons collided, but not once did she show any signs of backing down.
At the same time, Vega saw Cael climb to his feet out of the corner of one eye. He was still for a moment, still catching his breath. But within a few seconds, he was moving forward again, raising Kago in preparation for another attack.
Vega clenched her teeth, raising her hand once more and sending another volley of ice shards at Cael. These were stronger, and were enough to knock Cael back, sending him sliding along the ground. This distracted Vega long enough for Reyith to land a hit; the tip of her scythe lodged deeply into the back of Vega’s shoulder, though she had moved enough to avoid a debilitating blow.
But then, things took a turn for the worst. The instant that the scythe struck, snow swirled up around Vega, catching them both in the blinding vortex. Ice appeared on Vega’s skin, freezing the wound. A moment later, it began creeping up Metsu’s blade, winding around the scythe. It made its way rapidly down the hilt, even forming underneath Reyith’s hands. She gasped in pain as it suddenly solidified into thin, needlelike slivers, which pierced her hands. For a few seconds, she held on, but she was finally forced to let go of the scythe as they worked their way deeper into her skin. The weapon shimmered, then slowly faded away. In that instant, Vega grabbed Reyith by the throat, squeezing hard enough to close her airway.
Reyith brought her hands up, clawing ineffectually at Vega’s wrist. Spots began to swim before her eyes, and she slowly sank down onto her knees, gasping for breath. Just as she was about to lose consciousness, she saw Vega reach into a pocket and pull out a vial of odd-colored liquid.
Pulling the stopper out of the vial, Vega tipped it slightly, allowing a drop to fall into Reyith’s open mouth. Suddenly, she pitched forward as Cael slammed into her, sending all three of them to the ground. During the fall, the entire contents of the vial were accidentally poured down Reyith’s throat.
She stiffened, feeling a dreadful cold sensation begin to trickle through her blood. Her breathing became labored, and she gasped for each breath, feeling like she was suffocating. Mercifully, after a few seconds, the feeling passed, and she found herself growing sleepy. Her entire body felt like it was filled with lead; she couldn’t move. Slowly, her eyes closed, and she lay back, falling into a deep unconsciousness.
Vega sat up slowly, shaking her head. “You moron!” she spat, her voice dripping venom. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” She picked up the vial, looking around as if hoping to see the liquid spilled across the ground. “Just a drop of that is strong enough to knock someone out, and now she’s taken the entire thing!”
Cael reached out for Reyith, but Vega was faster. She turned over, kicking him viciously in the stomach. He doubled over, coughing. Before he could recover, Vega pulled herself up onto her knees, then grabbed the front of Reyith’s shirt. As she did, the cold wind began to blow around them, and they both vanished.
Though Cael made a grab for them, it was too late. They were gone. He had failed to protect Reyith, and now she had been taken away, being put through who knew what kind of torture. He clenched his teeth, feeling despair wash through him.
Calm yourself. We will get her back, fear not. Remember, they want her alive. They will not kill her. If we are swift, we may be able to prevent anything too severe from happening to her.
Cael closed his eyes, almost immediately finding himself standing in front of the icy noble. Below the cliff, he could hear the waves pounding against the rocks, and the sky was dark, with low-hanging clouds. A sharp wind blew around them. “But how will we find her? We have no idea where they are. Searching for her could take days…”
Kago shook his head. No, it will not. Perhaps you are unaware of it, but the two of you are connected. When you accepted my power, it was as good as swearing an oath, both to me, and her. I will be able to find her without too much difficulty, though I don’t know what awaits us at her destination.
“It doesn’t matter. As long as I know she’s there, I’ll get her back, no matter what I have to deal with. I’ll save her, I swear it!”
A faint smile made its way onto the spirit’s face. Admirable words. His voice grew quiet, then, and it was clear that he was speaking more to himself than to Cael. Perhaps that girl was correct after all…
“What?”
Nothing. It is of no importance. Now, prepare yourself. We leave immediately. If you need to recover, do so now. We have no time to waste.
Cael nodded, allowing himself to fade away. When he opened his eyes once more, he was sitting on the side of the road, the sword rested across his lap. “I’m coming, Reyith,” he whispered, determination reflected in his eyes.
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