Fox Hunt
Part 3
Disclaimer: Do I have to repeat it again? Don't sue; it's still not mine, unless otherwise specified or the character happens to live in Split Pea or is an elf. Then they're mine.
Warnings: Implied lemon (but no gory details), more awkwardness and torture for Marron. ^_^
Stuff in * * still means thoughts.
In the middle of the night, hours after Vanilla had helped Marron back to bed, the first wave of pain that signaled the beginning of another seizure tore through him, wrenching him awake. Marron sat up sharply, not even noticing the malevolent greenish light emanating from his body as he squeezed his eyes shut, tensing against the pain.
Thankfully, the first wave passed quickly, and he opened his eyes, shaking and disoriented with the rapid transition from deeply asleep to wide-awake. He knew that it wasn't over yet, though, and he also knew that it would get worse.
*This is the third fit,* he thought. *How many more of these will I have to suffer before I'm cured? How many people will be injured or killed because of these stupid fits? I wish Niisan and the others were here . . . well, maybe just Niisan and Tira.*
The second wave hit, and he groaned in pain, doubling over as it shot through his belly, twisting and coiling inside of him. This wave was much more intense than the first one, and lasted for about five minutes before releasing him to half-collapse back onto the pillow.
Marron raised his head with an effort and looked at the small stone sitting on the table beside the bed. Vanilla had given it to him just before she bade him goodnight, just in case.
If you need anything, just pick up this stone and think of me, she'd said, her brilliant purple eyes solemn. I will come.
*I'm losing it,* Marron thought, sick with dread. *I don't want to hurt Vanilla, but I can't hold on much longer.*
With a bit of a struggle, he dragged his body into a sitting position and reached over to the table for the stone that Vanilla had given him. His fingers curled around it just as another violent wave of pain wracked his slender frame. His awareness faded rapidly to the small stone in his hand as the intensity of the pain crashed down on him.
*Vanilla,* he thought, and his vision started to go dim. *Vanilla, help me . . .*
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Vanilla felt the summons and was awake instantly. Without conscious thought, she sat up and shoved the blankets aside, practically leaping out of her bed.
Marron's room was just a few feet away from her door. She hissed at the feel of the energy pulsing from within the room; it gave her a very powerful, almost physical shove backwards, but did not make her lose her balance.
*This isn't good. Marron must be having another fit, but this is different from the other one . . . or is it just that the spell that backlashed on him can have different effects? Damn you, Lox! Just what are you trying to accomplish by tormenting this poor man?*
Vanilla countered the energy's pulse with a gentle deflection charm, making a ripple in it big enough to allow her to reach the door. Then she had to shove the door open with all of her weight to get it to move aside so that she could enter the room.
An eerie greenish light suffused the entire room, emanating from the mage's body. Vanilla started in surprise, then hurried forward to help him.
Marron was sitting up on the bed, with his legs over the side and every muscle tensed and trembling with the strain. He was hunched over at the waist, his hands clenched in the blankets on either side of him, panting heavily and gasping with pain. His yukata was wide open, and the left sleeve had slipped down his shoulder to his elbow. A thin sheen of sweat covered his entire body, glistening in the greenish light.
"Marron, can you hear me?" Vanilla asked, kneeling in front of him to look up into his face. She did not touch him just yet, having not been able to see how badly he was affected by the spell this time.
"It's . . . it's getting . . . worse," he gasped out, trembling in agony. A low cry accompanied the painful spasm that suddenly wracked his slender frame, and his hands gripped her shoulders painfully tight. "Vanilla . . . help me . . ."
Vanilla lifted her hands, cupping both of his cheeks. She closed her eyes, concentrating on the energy pulsing wildly through Marron's body, tugging it toward her and out of him, grounding it into the earth as fast as she could.
It wasn't enough. Marron's hands tightened on her shoulders, and he cried out again, twisting and writhing with the pain. His yukata slipped down his other shoulder, baring his slender body from the waist up. Vanilla gritted her teeth and pulled harder at the power feeding the spasms.
"Vanilla," he panted, and she looked up to see his tormented face inches away from hers, his golden eyes reflecting his agony. "I . . . need you . . ."
Before the meaning of this statement could penetrate her confusion, Marron slid his arms around her, pulling her up against his body, and seized her lips with his own. She gasped in surprise, and he took full advantage of the slight parting of her lips to deepen the kiss.
His tongue swept into her mouth, and his arms clutched her desperately against him. One of his hands buried itself in her hair, holding her still. Vanilla trembled, forgetting herself enough to press her body closer to his with a soft moan, slipping her arms around him. That was all the incentive he needed to pull her into his lap, sliding back on the bed so that both of them would fit.
Marron's hands untied the sash of her yukata, sliding inside over her suddenly very warm and hyper-sensitized skin as he parted the satiny fabric. One of his hands cupped her breast gently, and she arched into his touch, moaning again.
*What am I thinking? I can't do this!*
Then she noticed something strange.
*But the spell is draining a lot faster this way . . . is that what he meant when he said that he needs me? Is this the reason that Lox put the spell on him? What is she trying to do - embarrass him to death when he wakes up in the morning? He won't remember this, and I'm certainly not going to say anything. It doesn't make any sense. I'm the one she has the grudge against.*
Marron broke the kiss to trail his lips down her throat greedily, nipping at her sensitive skin. The reality of the situation once more entered into Vanilla's mind, and she started when his tongue flickered over the hollow of her throat.
"Marron, you shouldn't do this to yourself," she whispered even as her embrace tightened when his head dipped slightly lower. "My people mate for life. It is our custom to - " She broke off with a gasp, trying not to think about what his hands were doing.
*He's not listening to me,* she thought frantically, even as she arched into his soft caresses.
"Listen to me," she said pleadingly, breaking off with another gasp. "My people, we . . . we marry our first lovers - "
"I need you," he begged, his voice sounding less strained with pain and more ragged with desire. "All of you, please . . ." She could feel an unmistakable bulge pressing against her thigh as he pulled her closer to him, and her eyes widened.
*I don't get it, but this is definitely helping me ground the energy faster. It may even cure his backlash completely if I can drain the spell this way. And . . . even Ice Maidens get lonely . . .*
Marron pushed her down on the bed gently but insistently. She did not resist.
*He may not even remember this tomorrow . . .* This thought saddened her, but she tilted her chin, kissing him quickly. *Right now, I don't care. He doesn't ever have to know. And the spell on him will be gone.*
"I'm here," she whispered back, touching his face gently.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Lox opened her eyes and unfolded her legs, taking a deep breath. The dreaming incense she used for meditating was still strong in the air, and she inhaled its sweet, tangy scent with relish, smirking a little to herself.
"Well?" Bagel demanded, pausing in mid-stride to glare at her before resuming his impatient pacing in front of her little shrine.
Lox ignored him for a moment as she sinuously stretched her long, lithe body and stood up all in one motion. Her golden sandals, adorned with rubies, sparkled in the light from the golden lamps hanging from the ceiling, and the anklet of tiny golden bells adorning her left ankle chimed sweetly as she took a single step forward. She stretched again, smiling inwardly as Bagel's eyes almost involuntarily dropped to the curves her low-cut red dress clung to like a second skin, and raised her yellow eyes to meet his gaze as it returned to her face.
"The spell has served its purpose," she reported, allowing her smile to grace her lips. "It won't be long now, with the other Sorcerer Hunters suitably distracted at the moment on their fruitless quest. And the Eastern Magic user's threat to us will be completely negated very soon."
Bagel's eyes traveled over her body again. "Good," he said shortly. "I must confess, my dear, I had my doubts about this plan of yours at first, but it seems as though everything is right on schedule so far."
"Of course it is," Lox retorted, affecting a pout. "Have I ever given you a reason to doubt that my methods will produce results?"
He smiled, stepping forward onto the rich red carpet laid out on the raised dais her altar stood upon, and reached out to brush her pale cheek with the back of his hand. "Never, my love," he replied smoothly. "I have always found your methods to have a certain . . . creativity in their execution. You know how much I enjoy learning over and over just how devious and insidious you can be."
Lox smiled back. "Insidious," she repeated, pleased. "I do love that word."
"And with this, my heart, you have outdone yourself," Bagel murmured, his blue eyes glowing with pride as he cupped her face in his hands. "I never even dreamed it was possible to get rid of the most dangerous group of Sorcerer Hunters and that whore who nearly killed me in one fell swoop. How did I ever manage without you, darling?"
"Poorly, I'm sure, beloved," Lox replied with a smile as she leaned forward to kiss Bagel softly. "And just think, precious, it's hardly even begun yet . . ."
Bagel chuckled as he closed the slight distance between them. "Not even in the slightest, my sweet," he agreed.
*~~~~~~~~ To be continued ~~~~~~~*
Author's Notes: I know this chapter is short, but I had to split it into two pieces since these parts needed a break in between. I really want to know what people think of what happens next, though, so I'm posting the next chapter right after this one. I'm very nervous because this story takes kind of a strange twist at this point. Well, it's strange to me. ^_^
I'm having a lot of fun with this, and of course, it is all due to my wonderful reviewers. ^_^ Today they were four as of 6:45 PM Colorado time, and all four of them have reviewed me before! I'm so, so happy!
Quatre's girl: Yay! You came back! I was hoping you would. ^_^ I've had that same "Wow I love you" issue with a couple of other Marron fics, too, and it always had me wondering how he got to that point. Glad you like it so far. ^_^ Angst is definitely good. ^_^
JRM: Yay! You've reviewed three times! (Insert happy dance here). That definitely makes you very special! ^_^ Thanks a bunch, and let me know your pen name if it's different from JRM when you post your fic. I don't want to miss it. ^_^
DratiniRocket: Another or "else!" I can die happy now! ^_^ Are you posting more of It's a Whole New World We Live In soon? ^_^
And, last but not least:
NCDavis: Thanks for your email. ^_^ I think I confused you with someone else because I thought you'd updated Fair Game, and you haven't yet. Sigh . . . It will be out soon right? It wasn't finished yet, right?
Thank you all very much for reading this, and please remember to leave a review for me. ^_^ It only takes a couple of sentences to make me happy, even if you totally hated what I wrote.
~ Lady Cianyin ~
Part 3
Disclaimer: Do I have to repeat it again? Don't sue; it's still not mine, unless otherwise specified or the character happens to live in Split Pea or is an elf. Then they're mine.
Warnings: Implied lemon (but no gory details), more awkwardness and torture for Marron. ^_^
Stuff in * * still means thoughts.
In the middle of the night, hours after Vanilla had helped Marron back to bed, the first wave of pain that signaled the beginning of another seizure tore through him, wrenching him awake. Marron sat up sharply, not even noticing the malevolent greenish light emanating from his body as he squeezed his eyes shut, tensing against the pain.
Thankfully, the first wave passed quickly, and he opened his eyes, shaking and disoriented with the rapid transition from deeply asleep to wide-awake. He knew that it wasn't over yet, though, and he also knew that it would get worse.
*This is the third fit,* he thought. *How many more of these will I have to suffer before I'm cured? How many people will be injured or killed because of these stupid fits? I wish Niisan and the others were here . . . well, maybe just Niisan and Tira.*
The second wave hit, and he groaned in pain, doubling over as it shot through his belly, twisting and coiling inside of him. This wave was much more intense than the first one, and lasted for about five minutes before releasing him to half-collapse back onto the pillow.
Marron raised his head with an effort and looked at the small stone sitting on the table beside the bed. Vanilla had given it to him just before she bade him goodnight, just in case.
If you need anything, just pick up this stone and think of me, she'd said, her brilliant purple eyes solemn. I will come.
*I'm losing it,* Marron thought, sick with dread. *I don't want to hurt Vanilla, but I can't hold on much longer.*
With a bit of a struggle, he dragged his body into a sitting position and reached over to the table for the stone that Vanilla had given him. His fingers curled around it just as another violent wave of pain wracked his slender frame. His awareness faded rapidly to the small stone in his hand as the intensity of the pain crashed down on him.
*Vanilla,* he thought, and his vision started to go dim. *Vanilla, help me . . .*
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Vanilla felt the summons and was awake instantly. Without conscious thought, she sat up and shoved the blankets aside, practically leaping out of her bed.
Marron's room was just a few feet away from her door. She hissed at the feel of the energy pulsing from within the room; it gave her a very powerful, almost physical shove backwards, but did not make her lose her balance.
*This isn't good. Marron must be having another fit, but this is different from the other one . . . or is it just that the spell that backlashed on him can have different effects? Damn you, Lox! Just what are you trying to accomplish by tormenting this poor man?*
Vanilla countered the energy's pulse with a gentle deflection charm, making a ripple in it big enough to allow her to reach the door. Then she had to shove the door open with all of her weight to get it to move aside so that she could enter the room.
An eerie greenish light suffused the entire room, emanating from the mage's body. Vanilla started in surprise, then hurried forward to help him.
Marron was sitting up on the bed, with his legs over the side and every muscle tensed and trembling with the strain. He was hunched over at the waist, his hands clenched in the blankets on either side of him, panting heavily and gasping with pain. His yukata was wide open, and the left sleeve had slipped down his shoulder to his elbow. A thin sheen of sweat covered his entire body, glistening in the greenish light.
"Marron, can you hear me?" Vanilla asked, kneeling in front of him to look up into his face. She did not touch him just yet, having not been able to see how badly he was affected by the spell this time.
"It's . . . it's getting . . . worse," he gasped out, trembling in agony. A low cry accompanied the painful spasm that suddenly wracked his slender frame, and his hands gripped her shoulders painfully tight. "Vanilla . . . help me . . ."
Vanilla lifted her hands, cupping both of his cheeks. She closed her eyes, concentrating on the energy pulsing wildly through Marron's body, tugging it toward her and out of him, grounding it into the earth as fast as she could.
It wasn't enough. Marron's hands tightened on her shoulders, and he cried out again, twisting and writhing with the pain. His yukata slipped down his other shoulder, baring his slender body from the waist up. Vanilla gritted her teeth and pulled harder at the power feeding the spasms.
"Vanilla," he panted, and she looked up to see his tormented face inches away from hers, his golden eyes reflecting his agony. "I . . . need you . . ."
Before the meaning of this statement could penetrate her confusion, Marron slid his arms around her, pulling her up against his body, and seized her lips with his own. She gasped in surprise, and he took full advantage of the slight parting of her lips to deepen the kiss.
His tongue swept into her mouth, and his arms clutched her desperately against him. One of his hands buried itself in her hair, holding her still. Vanilla trembled, forgetting herself enough to press her body closer to his with a soft moan, slipping her arms around him. That was all the incentive he needed to pull her into his lap, sliding back on the bed so that both of them would fit.
Marron's hands untied the sash of her yukata, sliding inside over her suddenly very warm and hyper-sensitized skin as he parted the satiny fabric. One of his hands cupped her breast gently, and she arched into his touch, moaning again.
*What am I thinking? I can't do this!*
Then she noticed something strange.
*But the spell is draining a lot faster this way . . . is that what he meant when he said that he needs me? Is this the reason that Lox put the spell on him? What is she trying to do - embarrass him to death when he wakes up in the morning? He won't remember this, and I'm certainly not going to say anything. It doesn't make any sense. I'm the one she has the grudge against.*
Marron broke the kiss to trail his lips down her throat greedily, nipping at her sensitive skin. The reality of the situation once more entered into Vanilla's mind, and she started when his tongue flickered over the hollow of her throat.
"Marron, you shouldn't do this to yourself," she whispered even as her embrace tightened when his head dipped slightly lower. "My people mate for life. It is our custom to - " She broke off with a gasp, trying not to think about what his hands were doing.
*He's not listening to me,* she thought frantically, even as she arched into his soft caresses.
"Listen to me," she said pleadingly, breaking off with another gasp. "My people, we . . . we marry our first lovers - "
"I need you," he begged, his voice sounding less strained with pain and more ragged with desire. "All of you, please . . ." She could feel an unmistakable bulge pressing against her thigh as he pulled her closer to him, and her eyes widened.
*I don't get it, but this is definitely helping me ground the energy faster. It may even cure his backlash completely if I can drain the spell this way. And . . . even Ice Maidens get lonely . . .*
Marron pushed her down on the bed gently but insistently. She did not resist.
*He may not even remember this tomorrow . . .* This thought saddened her, but she tilted her chin, kissing him quickly. *Right now, I don't care. He doesn't ever have to know. And the spell on him will be gone.*
"I'm here," she whispered back, touching his face gently.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Lox opened her eyes and unfolded her legs, taking a deep breath. The dreaming incense she used for meditating was still strong in the air, and she inhaled its sweet, tangy scent with relish, smirking a little to herself.
"Well?" Bagel demanded, pausing in mid-stride to glare at her before resuming his impatient pacing in front of her little shrine.
Lox ignored him for a moment as she sinuously stretched her long, lithe body and stood up all in one motion. Her golden sandals, adorned with rubies, sparkled in the light from the golden lamps hanging from the ceiling, and the anklet of tiny golden bells adorning her left ankle chimed sweetly as she took a single step forward. She stretched again, smiling inwardly as Bagel's eyes almost involuntarily dropped to the curves her low-cut red dress clung to like a second skin, and raised her yellow eyes to meet his gaze as it returned to her face.
"The spell has served its purpose," she reported, allowing her smile to grace her lips. "It won't be long now, with the other Sorcerer Hunters suitably distracted at the moment on their fruitless quest. And the Eastern Magic user's threat to us will be completely negated very soon."
Bagel's eyes traveled over her body again. "Good," he said shortly. "I must confess, my dear, I had my doubts about this plan of yours at first, but it seems as though everything is right on schedule so far."
"Of course it is," Lox retorted, affecting a pout. "Have I ever given you a reason to doubt that my methods will produce results?"
He smiled, stepping forward onto the rich red carpet laid out on the raised dais her altar stood upon, and reached out to brush her pale cheek with the back of his hand. "Never, my love," he replied smoothly. "I have always found your methods to have a certain . . . creativity in their execution. You know how much I enjoy learning over and over just how devious and insidious you can be."
Lox smiled back. "Insidious," she repeated, pleased. "I do love that word."
"And with this, my heart, you have outdone yourself," Bagel murmured, his blue eyes glowing with pride as he cupped her face in his hands. "I never even dreamed it was possible to get rid of the most dangerous group of Sorcerer Hunters and that whore who nearly killed me in one fell swoop. How did I ever manage without you, darling?"
"Poorly, I'm sure, beloved," Lox replied with a smile as she leaned forward to kiss Bagel softly. "And just think, precious, it's hardly even begun yet . . ."
Bagel chuckled as he closed the slight distance between them. "Not even in the slightest, my sweet," he agreed.
*~~~~~~~~ To be continued ~~~~~~~*
Author's Notes: I know this chapter is short, but I had to split it into two pieces since these parts needed a break in between. I really want to know what people think of what happens next, though, so I'm posting the next chapter right after this one. I'm very nervous because this story takes kind of a strange twist at this point. Well, it's strange to me. ^_^
I'm having a lot of fun with this, and of course, it is all due to my wonderful reviewers. ^_^ Today they were four as of 6:45 PM Colorado time, and all four of them have reviewed me before! I'm so, so happy!
Quatre's girl: Yay! You came back! I was hoping you would. ^_^ I've had that same "Wow I love you" issue with a couple of other Marron fics, too, and it always had me wondering how he got to that point. Glad you like it so far. ^_^ Angst is definitely good. ^_^
JRM: Yay! You've reviewed three times! (Insert happy dance here). That definitely makes you very special! ^_^ Thanks a bunch, and let me know your pen name if it's different from JRM when you post your fic. I don't want to miss it. ^_^
DratiniRocket: Another or "else!" I can die happy now! ^_^ Are you posting more of It's a Whole New World We Live In soon? ^_^
And, last but not least:
NCDavis: Thanks for your email. ^_^ I think I confused you with someone else because I thought you'd updated Fair Game, and you haven't yet. Sigh . . . It will be out soon right? It wasn't finished yet, right?
Thank you all very much for reading this, and please remember to leave a review for me. ^_^ It only takes a couple of sentences to make me happy, even if you totally hated what I wrote.
~ Lady Cianyin ~