(Sicillien)

?

“Ready when you are, medicine man,” the bounty hunter responded, keeping a tight hold on the horses.? Disorienting was right.? He felt his mind try to make sense of this perceived change in gravity, as if his body was being dragged down and yet there was still solid ground beneath his feet.? The longer they stood there though, the heavier he felt with his stomach threatening to upchuck the contents.

?

“Hey, ladies.? What’s the hold up?? I don’t want to end up half here and half there.? Let’s hurry it up please!” He called out to them, looking to Callie and Etienne.? That women was hesitating, he could feel it and if she bolted like she did during their one on one talk, then they could all end up in trouble here.? It’s not like he wanted to be part of whatever this fucked up shit was, but it was clear that he had to see it through to the end.? The question was…what would happen if their troupe split up?

?

(Chase)

He moved through the portal with his gear.? They were closer to Miller’s Crossing; he could feel it, not sure how but he knew he needed to be there, he knew they all needed to be there, particularly Etienne.?

?

It was about the group of them being able to stop whatever this was and that was NOT going to happen if they split up.? He wasn’t a magician so he couldn’t make her come, but he was well aware that they were going to fail if one of them didn’t come.? He remembered what Amy said…they all had a role to play.?

?

<<Please come Etienne, we need you!>> He said with almost a mental summons.? He needed her to come so he could be free, his sacrifice wouldn’t be in vain, everyone would have their playmate and he would be alone once more.? It would be as it should have been!? There was no happiness for him here!

He was rubbing both of his horses to calm them after coming through the portal.? He was holding on to the saddle horn as he got down, something told him the dark skinned maid would be the lynchpin in all of this…but it wasn’t the reason she thought or even he thought.? He just knew if the Sicilian had to do this on his own he would be a liability for he would be constantly thinking about Etienne.? Surely she would come to save his life if nothing else.??

(Callie Carson)

Callie let go of Etienne's hand and walked back over to where the group had assembled. If Etienne did not come with them she had a feeling they were doomed to fail at Miller's Crossing. She climbed back up onto her horse, took one more look at Etienne, then turned to the pookah.

? ? "I'm ready if the rest of you are," she said. Callie then prepared for what was about to happen...

(Etienne)

?

Etienne quickly gave Callie a hug before the woman moved away. ?She nodded.

?

“Thank you. I promise I will give you a heads start,” she said standing. “Just don’t go to Miller’s Crossing. Once I separate from you there will be no need okay. You will all be free.”

?

Etienne could feel the creatures drawing close. She knew what they were tracking. After all her master had always been quite thorough when it came to her pain, humiliation, and anguish. It made since it would be that way now. She had already caused one in this party to be lost, she would not do the same with the lot of them. She would no longer do anything to put them in danger…especially not Sicilien—not again. She had caused him so much pain as it was. She would give him a chance to be free…really free of her.

?

?

Maybe after there was some distance between them, he would find the letter she had placed in the knapsack of his horse. She had written the letter many many years ago. Maybe that was the only way to tell him what was inside her heart…what he needed to know since they couldn’t talk to each other without attempting to viciously tear each other’s hearts out with words and discord. She had loved him and would always love him and she had only left because she had no choice when it came to protecting him from one of those most powerful forces in the universe. A force that may be on Flynn, with his own magic might be able to understand. No...this was the only way to save him. Save them all. As long as she ran with them, they were all in danger.

?

?

Etienne quickly stood and moved away from the party. Towards the creatures who seemed to bear down on them. In a clearing, some distance away from the mouth of the cave she quickly drew the scared symbol and then knelt in the center. With arms outstretched, palms up as if in prayer, and she called in her ancient language, the language of her master…and master’s minion. “I am here o lord. And I seek mercy.”

?

(Flynn)

?

The Pookah was having to use all of his focus to hold the portal open.. He was dimly aware that Etienne was holding back for some reason, but there was no time.? With or without her, they had to go now.

?

"Best thing is to just close your eyes _almost_ all the way shut, but leave just a bit open. Then step forward.? You're gonna feel disoriented for a few seconds though it'll most likely feel like longer.? But keep hold of your horses as it'll likely be worse for them.? And don't do anythin' till you feel the rock of the cave floor under your feet again.? When you do, you can open your eyes again.? There'll be a little light from the portal itself, but that'll fade, So you might wanna light up a lantern or a torch when you get there, lessen' you can see in the dark like some can."

?

With that Flynn gripped the bridle on his horse and stepped into the shimmering portal, talking to it softly as the feeling of falling without moving swelled up around them.? A few heartbeats later, they were standing on the lower cavern floor with the barest hint of the ground having changed.

?

The Pookah opened his eyes wide and looked around.? "So, did we lose anyone else?? Or are we good to go?"

?

?Tag

?

Posting Order :Flynn,?Chase,?Sicilien,?Callie, Etienne

?

[Kites]

?

Kites was about to lean in and kiss Gen again when a voice came out of nowhere and startled him enough that he nearly jumped, the downy feathers at the base of his scalp stood on ends and his wings flared out in defense. He breathed a sigh of relief when the "danger" presented itself as Brandon, though he shrank back at the scolding tone in his team lead's voice. When he looked back though, instead of feeling anxious himself, Gen just laughed out loud which ended up causing Kites to giggle himself.

?

"I know that this is an exaggeration, but I thought I was going to die," Kites admitted. Was what they were doing right at all when everyone else was grieving and trying to make heads and tails out what to do now that Chord was gone? Lost in his head, he didn't even realize that Gen was pulling him out and away, sorely missing the body heat of his lover when his hand brought Kites back to reality. "Oh, my room's closer? Maybe yours would've been if you'd won the wing race."

?

Kites took Gen into his arms and flew up to the second floor, not letting go of androgyne as their lips glued together again, stumbling against the door as he blindly felt the wall for the touch pad and finally palming it, the door opened with a 'woosh' and they fell in, closing behind them with a hiss.

?

He rolled onto his back, Gen still in his arms as he brushed the androgyne's hair out of his face, taking a moment to look at him. Really look at him. When he first came upon Gen laying half-dead upon the lighthouse stairs, Kites felt as if the rug was pulled out from under him. His decision to send Harrison away could've cost him big time.

?

"Gen... Maybe what we're doing IS wrong, but by God, I don't want to be right right now," Kites breathed, caressing Gen's face. "When I found you on that island, I thought my heard dropped. But you are here and alive, and... My decision could've cost you your life. I want...I want you so much, but what if the next decision I make does? Would you still want to be with me in spite of that?"

?

?

(Brandon)

?

Brandon looked at Macamber and did his best to keep a straight face.? Every time he heard the name it was another stab to his heart that he had failed his father when he was alive and didn’t trust…only to let his ego and self-depreciation keep him from loving those around him.? Maybe in another life, his sister would have been…

He pushed those thoughts aside, but still, there was that part of him that wondered if his negativity was what truly drove her away.? He shook those thoughts away, he wasn’t about to go down that pity road again.? He didn’t have the damned time.? He had a company to run and a team to train.? He knew what father wanted deep down, but he was almost sure Raine was NOT coming back.

?

?“That makes two of us,” there was a slight smile upon his face but it was just the mask he would have to…be wearing for a while.? He said nothing only complied with her request to sit down.? He was in a suit, even though his uniform was underneath he was going to have to get used to the suit and tie also now.

?

?He looked at the woman and reached for the envelope he kept the mask in place as he looked at it. ?‘Another stab…God, he loved me far more than I trusted him!’ He didn’t have time for the water that was threatening his eyes. ?“Fine! I am going to need you to continue to do a great job as you have been doing Ms. Macamber.? I will need the report for the crash ASAP.? I will keep the team and their training will continue and some of your members that you think are better suited for training…will help to train them in combat, espionage, weapons.? I can’t make them an efficient team to protect others if they don’t know how to protect themselves.? That is security for the team, I will have to handle the company's day-to-day operations and finish fulfilling the outstanding contracts before deciding on what to do with the rest.? I know my father wouldn’t want me to just live off of his patents and inventions.? He would want me to help the company also grow and flourish.” ?He paused.

?

?“He left ME in charge, but he left Raine…nothing?!?” ?He asked which didn’t sound like his father at all, but he was still fighting his own bit of shellshock at present. ?> ?He was given the keys to the kingdom to run…alone!? No Harrison, No Ireland, No Raine even.? Just him and he was no Atlas!!? He was just finding that part of himself that could walk upright instead of feeling like the world was on his shoulders, now so many people’s lives were in his hands.

?

?“Ok so any other suggestions?? You have the boss’s ear, now?” ?He asked.? He would meet with all of the department heads he couldn’t do this alone but that is what the department heads were for, if he couldn’t trust them to run their departments he didn’t need them!

?

?Those that remained he would make sure they were trained.? He wouldn’t let his ego get in the way and if Mia still wanted the leader spot…he wouldn’t dare fight for it.? Even Harrison felt she was better suited for the spot than he was and right now…he had no qualms with that.

?

(Macamber)?

?

"I can't say about what your father loved or didn't love," Macamber replied.? "I only know that he considered you the better choice to run his empire. And when it came to business, your father never let emotion sway him.? Your brother made his choices, and so your father made his.? For the good of the company." She hesitated, then shrugged and added "Perhaps for the good of all concerned."?

?

"We are still working on the report about the crash," the security chief went on, "though at this point we're of the opinion that it was not an accident, that it was in fact sabotage.? Sabotage with the intent of assassination."? She picked up a separate document and flipped a page over.? "The androgyne, Gen, was able by some extraordinary means to detect and isolate a chemical found in the water at the crash site, a sample of which she was able to provide us with.? Our analysis determined that this was a military-grade explosive, extremely powerful and extremely difficult to make.? Our analysts estimate it wouldn't have taken more than a few ounces to produce the explosion that destroyed the helicopter.? Something that small would've been easy to conceal in the interior of the helicopter.? How it got there and where it came from is where we are now concentrating our efforts."

?

"This is why we are taking measures to insure your safety and the safety of everyone else associated with your father's work and his projects. Whomever was behind this, we doubt that your father's assassination was their only objective."

?

"My only suggestion is that you take the time you need to..." Macamber paused, considering her word choice, then went on "process your grief. And to familiarize yourself with the extent of your father's assets and operations.? All legal, administrative and technical staff are at your disposal.? I've taken the liberty of keying over his access codes to you, including the ones you'll need in his personal office.? Which, of course, is yours now."

?

"We've managed to round up the androgyne, Gen, and?the winged youth Kites. They are now secure within our facility.? We're still looking for the water-shaper, Mia.? She has not yet responded to my messages, but we do not think she is in any immediate danger."? Her expression darkened a bit as she continued.? "We are also looking for your brother, Raine.? We need to inform him, of course.? But we also need to determine if he had any involvement with the assassination." She held up a hand as if to ward off any objections.? "I know it's not something you want to even consider, but it _is_ necessary. At least until we know who or what was behind this attack."

?

[Gen]

?

The androgyne looked down from where he was straddling the winged youth's torso.? "Kites?" he murmured, running his hands slowly up and down the other boy's chest, caressing him through his open-backed shirt, "did anyone ever tell you that you think too much? Like, right now, for example?"?

?

"I don't really know much about what we're about to do," he went on, stripping off his top and tossing it to the side, revealing his cleanly-muscled upper body for the object of his very evident desire."? I mean, I know all of the theories and the biological mechanics involved.? I know what goes where and what's supposed to feel good and stuff.? But I never actually done most of it.? Hardly any of it really. Except with you."??

?

Leaning down, Gen pinned the other boy's wrists up by the long hair flowing from his head, then leaned in close.? "I do know that I _want_ you, Kites."? He began stripping off the winged youth's top, unfastening the straps from around his wings, freeing them and then tossing the garment to fall on his own discarded one.? "I may not know what the fuck I'm doing, but I'm doing it right here, right now.? With you.? I'm not taking any more chances of something happening to you or me."

?

The lithe androgyne nimbly divested himself of his remaining garments, then against straddled his lover's waist, quite naked and very aroused.? He gazed down at Kites with a mix of affection and intense desire.? "If there's any part of this you don't want," he whispered huskily, "speak now or..."? Gen sought and found Kites' left hand and placed it on top of the stiff member bulging out the front of the other boy's pants, pressing the fingers around it, eyes glinting with mischief as he added "or forever hold your 'piece'."??

?

Tag - Macamber, Gen, Kites, Brandon?

- Arowyn -

?

Arowyn opened her arms to him, accepting him into her warmth and center. She gasped when he filled her. He felt so good. So very good. His hand on her skin, his mouth on her breast.??She arched her body against him so tight her spine was in danger of snapping. His hands on her skin seared her to her. Her fingers knitted into the full thick hair of his nape. Her other bunching into fists in his tunic. She could feel sensations exploding within her core, the throbbing of her womanhood, her juice mixing with his own and beginning to run down the inside of her thigh.?

?

She shivered at the feel of his tongue on her breast, neck, lips.?writhed and moaned under the attention of his hands upon her nipples. He tweaked them making them hard, so hard she thought they would snap off in his hands. Her body was not her own. Her muscles contracted and tensed. Tiny shards of energy ricochet through her and she tried hard not to rush things, but his touch, his mouth was making her crazy.?She found herself responding to this man in a way that she never responded to anyone. Arowyn's eyes flutter closed. She moaned. She thought she would pass out from the intensity of it all. “Callum,” she whispered, as she bucked upon him.?

?

(Callum)

?

Callum was a man possessed, everything falling away from him but this moment of utter desire, the need to sheath himself again and again into the vibrantly alive woman he was joined to.? A woman who was not his wife.? But where was she?? Where was his Kirstene when he needed her, when she should also be needing him?? Lost to him, she was, lost in her deep well of private grief, one with apparently no room within it for anyone else.? Not even him.

?

But he wasn't alone, was he?? Someone was here for him, letting him in.? In all ways.? Someone warm, and so very alive beneath him, giving in to his needs - to her needs? - rocking up against him as they rutted in mindless passion on the stones of the ruin floor.? Suddenly he shuddered, erupting deep into her depths, his breathing coming in gasps.? He cried out a name.? "Kirstene!? My god, Kirstene, where you are?? Where....?"

?

Sated, the young lord collapsed atop the woman who was not his wife.? But who was there, for him.? "Arowyn," he murmured, kissing her sweaty face with hunger.? "It's you, Arowyn.? Only you.? Not Kirstene.? God forgive us, but I cannot think this wrong, no matter how much I feel I should."

?

Tag - Arowyn

?

?- Evone' -

?

Evone' came into his arms. Holding his close. Her head against his chest as she stood staring at the sun as hit flickered as it began to make its downward descent in the sky. "When I think about how far We have come," she said letting the words trail. "If anyone would have said that I would have fallen in love with my kidnapper I would not have believed them. You have done so much for me. So much that I could never repay you for. Thank you Andrew. Thank you for finding me, for saving me and for loving me. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you." She whispered. "But are you sure? I am sure you are aware by now that I can be quite the handful. Are you sure you want to do this? Be saddle with me? You can still leave me here you know."

?

(Andrew)

?

"My love," Andrew said, taking Evone's hands in his, "I'd marry you myself, right here, right now, if I had the power." He cracked a smile as he added "But while king and tradition have given ship's captains the power to officiate at marriages carried out on ships, they didn't give us the power to marry ourselves. So it must needs wait until we reach the next port. Or meet up with another ship with a captain who can do the rights for us."

?

"As for being a handful..." he laughed and pulled the young woman to him, swinging her about in a merry circle "...I wouldn't have it any other way.? Life without spice is a tasteless thing.? You've brought light into mine in abundance, and I would no more part with it than I would my sword arm.? So let's hear no more such talk.? I've chosen my course and you are my star to steer by."

?

Tag - Evone'

?

"Mara and I go back a few years. She was one of the first that I had met after learning I had abilities. As to how we met, well, she likes to keep her secrets and unless she wants you to know, I am sorry, but I am not allowed to tell that story." Kiera said with a smile. "Yes, you should get to know them all as they will all be working for us and our organization."

?

As he went to try and wrap his arms around her she turned out of them and took a seat in one of the lounge chairs, "of course not, but I think you should get things out of the way with him so that you can be back fully here. We have some jobs coming up and I need everyone to be focused." She said in reference to Brandon.

?

(Raine)
Raine he was listening to her and nodded.? He was going to say something else, as it was her story too, but he let that go.? If she didn’t want him to know it, it was still her choice.? “I will make sure I do that.”? As far as getting to know the others, trust was still good to have even among thieves.

He noticed her moving away from him and out of his arms.? He didn’t protest, he just continued his drink.? He downed his glass then placed it on the nearby table.? “As you wish.? I will be back then.”? He moved to his room to change once more.? <Tag Kiera>

?

?[Kutsuki]

?

?"Like calls to like.? Something like that, yes?" Kutsuki echoed, looking at his hands as he examined his own veins. Demon blood, huh?? Pyp had to be right because how else do you explain away a human have a demon's sight, being able to see in the dark as if it was dim light?? Any human could learn to read wicked tomes and have an interest in macabre, but how many of them could boast, if one could even do so, they were used in a ritual to summon a demon of hell?? "I wouldn't expect you to be repulsed at all.? You demons do so thoroughly enjoy the sin of flesh, do you not?? It's as natural to you as breathing is to me."??Suddenly, a feeling of heat and lust washed over him like a wave and he shuddered, cursing under his breath when he felt someone touch him below the waist and he involuntarily sighed.? When he looked back at Pyp, however, the imp simply stood there with his hands folded behind his back but on his face was the most wicked of grins.

?

"Fuck...Is that was that was?? You can't create feelings in a human, but you can enhance or diminish what already exists?? That is...quite an interesting development," the white-haired summoner spoke, mostly to himself, though he fully expected the hellion to answer him.? "So what about you, Pyp?? Do you wish to touch me?? Surely I'm not the first one, nor will I be the last, but I am curious.? How do you feel about me?? Do you desire me?"? Kutsuki was tempted, very tempted.? No doubt it was all the demon's influence.? Ever since the damned imp invaded his dreams, all he could think was how violated he felt, but suddenly knowing that he could touch him...it gave him ideas.? Dirty ideas.? One that he didn't really want to voice.? It shamed him in a way.? But perhaps...? "Answer me, demon."

?

(Pyp)

?

"Yes, Eraisama," Pyp replied with a slight smirk.? "It varies, of course, from demon to demon as to what exactly 'the sin of flesh' means.? The details can vary considerably.? But in general, yes, demons do love to indulge.? It's one of the reasons we usually like to come here." The fresh-faced demon gave an elaborately wistful look around the room, as if seeing the world beyond the walls as well.? "It's just not the same in Hell, not like it is here."

?

At his summoner's questions though, Pyp looked back at the pale youth with a sudden intense interest, his smirk morphing into something distinctly predatory.? "Of course I want to touch you, Eraisama," he purred, seeming imperceptibly closer to Kutsuki without actually taking a step.? "You're... well, perhaps not _completely_ mortal, but more than mortal enough."

?

"As for desire, well, my role is to fulfill _your_ desires, is it not?"? The demon raise an impeccably-manicured hand towards his summoner's face but stopped just short of actual making physical contact. Instead, he moved his fingers over the surface of the pale youth's smooth face, not touching but so close Kutsuki could feel their heat hover just above his skin.? "So what I desire is for _you_?to desire.? That way I can give you what you need.? If you'll but tell me what that is."

?

"What do you desire, Eraisama?" Pyp whispered, his face quite close now.? An enticing scent seemed to tease at Kutsuki's nostrils, palpable wisps flowing in the air between them.? "I know that you have them, but you have forbidden me to act on them.? Do you wish to _be_ desired?? Is that it? If so, then yes, I desire you.? Free me from your prohibitions and I will respond to your slightest carnal whim, in any manner you wish of me."??

?

"Use me, master," the demon murmured, his eyes now glinting with a smoldering red, running his hands down the front of Kutsuki's form, from his neck and across his chest to his pelvis, hovering over the youth's most sensual places without actual touch but their nearness very much being felt.? "No one but you or me need ever know how or what for."

?

Tag - Kutsuki

?

?

Tag - Kutsuki

?