A/N: Thank you for reading and I hope that you enjoy! Special thanks to Bebus for the edits and support! Warning, this is for a mature audience and contains some explicit scenes.
If you are enjoying this story, then you might want to check out a new story that I am co-writing with Bebus. Our pen name is Vectus and 9147327 Unnatural Selection is the link.
Chapter 4: Acting On Instinct
Seeing the light streaming into the cave and feeling the cold morning air lightly blowing on her, Aven woke up early. Tenderly stretching out, she realized that her body was still very tender and the wound in her torso was oozing and sore. She looked over at the sleeping form of the alien creature that had been caring for her and a warm sensation rushed over her. Aven longed to be able to speak with the girl, but there was something more too. She found that her smile and nervous laughter were charming and in her presence, Aven felt safe. What is your name and what are you? Where am I and have you ever seen anyone like me before?
The elf was snoring lightly and Aven liked the rhythmic noise that she was making, it was soothing and reminded her that she was not alone. The girl's head was close to Aven; close enough that the asari could touch the strange, black fur that took up the top of her head. The texture was soft and silky. As she let the fine strands run through her fingers, Aven gently looked to see if it was attached to the scalp. A smile came to her lips as she quickly discovered that the fur was part of the little creature. The sensation of her hand running through the strands made Aven think of the feel of water across her skin. "You are an interesting little thing," Aven whispered.
Hearing the melodic sound of her companion, Merrill stirred. The feeling of fingers running through her hair made the elf slightly coo quietly before she realized it probably wasn't appropriate. Merrill's eyes went immediately to woman that was curled up in the bedding next to her and was delighted to find a smile on the beautiful blue face directed right at her. "Good morning Luin. Are you feeling better?" Knowing that she would not actually get an answer, Merrill returned the smile, stretched and then stood. She looked to the fire that was now embers and went to get fresh logs to start making breakfast.
Feeling the eyes of her patient follow her every move, Merrill hurried to assemble everything that she needed so that she could be at her side again. The woman's color had deepened and Merrill took that as a good sign that she was healing. Merrill got busy making breakfast, heating some tea and some grains and cutting some fruit and brought the fruit to her companion to tide them both over until the rest had cooked. The wound was still seeping and Merrill knew that it needed to be tended to. She looked into the eyes of the exotic woman and then pointed at the injury and then to the potion and bandages she was holding. The woman nodded and then held her breath, as if bracing herself for the expected pain that would result.
Aven saw the concern in the girl's eyes and knew that her wound was a problem, plus she could feel the wetness around the bandages and realized that it was much deeper and more serious than she had thought. The injury brought the asari a deep ripping pain with even the slightest movement and she was trying to mentally prepare for when the girl touched it and changed out the bandages; she knew that it would hurt a lot. She squinted her eyes and held her breath, anticipation built as the little creature stretched her hand out to tend to her.
Merrill saw her patient flinch, as if preparing for the pain that was coming. Hoping to comfort the woman, Merrill gently took her hand in hers. "Luin, I have to change the dressing, but I will be as quick and gentle as I can." She tried to be as reassuring as possible and felt the woman squeeze her hand with acceptance. Merrill gently touched the fetid bandage and called on a healing spell to help calm her patient and in doing so; a faint white light encircled her body and slowly dissipated as the spell took action.
Surprised by the illumination, Aven thought of her own biotics and their effects on her body. I wonder if she is like me? Does she have biotic abilities too? If only I could ask her. Aven felt the calming relief from the potion and allowed herself to exhale. The wound looked deep and the used bandages were seeped in a dark blue shade of blood. Her caretaker was looking intently at the injury and seemed to be talking again. If only I could know what you are saying! Aven was both scared and angry that she had so little control over her body and could not communicate with the girl. Why did my parents refuse to let me have a translator? Did they think I was going to be at that monastery for my entire life and would never need to speak to anyone other than another Ardat-Yakshi? Damn them!
Keeping her expression even and trying not to react to the deep cut in the woman's torso, Merrill went to work cleaning the excess blood and pus from the wound. The elf recognized that it was starting to get infected and that she would need to take aggressive action to keep her patient from becoming septic. "Luin, I'm going to need to leave you after breakfast and get more supplies. I won't be gone long, I promise."
Hearing the squeal of the tea kettle, Merrill picked up the used bandages and threw them aside, wanting to get them away from their living space. In doing so, the bloody pile landed next to the Eluvian, which sensed the alien blood and started to emit a slight red glow from under the sheet; neither Aven nor Merrill noticed.
When they had finished eating, Merrill began cleaning their living space. When the dishes were put away and the waste disposed of, she went to work inventorying all of her goods, with the hopes of being able to secure what she needed from the forest. She knew the area well and had foraged all of her life; it was almost second nature to being Dalish. As she went through the cave, she hummed a Dalish tune to keep her occupied; the time alone had made her hate the quiet of the cave, and she had talked to herself for as long as she could remember. While Hawke and Isabela had gently teased her about it, Merrill felt like it helped relax her patient, even if the strange blue woman could not understand a word she said. "Oh… I need to burn these things." Merrill looked at the pile of used bandages and noticed the slight red glow from under the sheet, "No! I should burn you too! She is not yours and you will never have her!"
As Aven watched the girl work, she wished that she could join her. Sitting and not being able to move without fear of opening her wound was maddening. Worst yet was not being able to understand or talk to her caretaker. With nothing to do, Aven's mind filled with questions, which she knew would go unanswered. Every time the girl approached, Aven could feel her warmth and an inner power within her. The feeling triggered something deep and primal within the asari, something that she had not felt in decades: a hunger to know the girl's mind, to touch it… to meld with it… to feel what the other was harboring within her. The realization horrified and excited the Ardat-Yakshi equally.
In the back of the cave, the Eluvian continued to emit its reddish glow. It was a soft, almost unnoticeable glow that had been hidden from view by the sheet. The Eluvian and those in the Beyond had tasted the blood of the Ardat-Yakshi and wanted more. The power that the blood contained was unlike anything that the demons had ever known. It was the blood of a powerful creature that still had its innocence; it was the sweet nectar that could empower those in the Beyond. The Eluvian hummed and tried to reach the mind of the alien that lay only feet away.
A little over a week passed, as Merrill did her best the help her patient continue to heal and Aven tried to adapt to her new home. The woman's wound was slowly mending, but still needed to be tended to multiple times a day. Merrill used various spells and potions, but the ones that worked the best held traces of lyrium in them. Whenever the woman's body was exposed to lyrium, it emitted a charge that engulfed her beautiful blue form and sent a ripple of warmth across her skin. Merrill loved the feeling and response that it would cause within the woman. Merrill could sense the woman's body strengthen with the application of the potion and knew that soon after, she would smile and draw her closer. The feeling of her body, its heat and softness right next to Merrill made something within the elf come alive. Intense dreams of the exotic blue woman greeted Merrill every night and each night, they got more intense and exploitive.
They had created a routine together and every day, they spent more of their time quietly enjoying the others company. It was as if they could both sense the solitary lives that they had endured, their body language and their expression wore the sadness of their pasts and the wanting of their futures. The asari drew her strength from the elf and the elf found her place at the asari's side. Both yearned to be able to communicate in a more direct way, but neither seemed to be able to understand the verbal language of the other.
For Aven, her injury and the lack of a translator were sources of frustration. The wound greatly limited her activities and kept her close to the cave. She longed to stay with the little creature that she found so fascinating. Aven watched the way that her caretaker could intuitively read the land and find exactly what she was looking for; it made Aven think of her studies at the monastery and her love of the terrain of her home. She wanted to learn from the girl and was slowly starting to become acquainted with all the new herbs, flowers, animals, and elements, but without being able to talk to the girl, it was a slow process. You are such an enigma and I have never been so content to be with another before.
Nights for Aven were full of intensities that she had never experienced; it was as if something was trying to talk to her and did so in her dreams. She could hear something within calling on her to use her abilities, to meld. She could taste it, feel it and indulged her yearnings in her dreams. When she awoke, the asari had to stop herself from reaching out to touch the girl's mind. There was something alluring about the girl that made Aven long to be with her and want more from her. Aven could see the intensity in the girl's eyes and could feel a veiled power within her. Whenever the potion was used to heal her wound and her biotics were activated, Aven could also see the flicker of some type of energy within the girl. "You have biotics and obviously have had training, if not, I would be dead. Why are you alone? You are so mysterious and I wish that I could know your story and tell you mine. Although if you knew what I am, would you still accept me?"
The air was getting colder and the daylight was getting shorter; the seasons were starting to change. For the elf and the asari, time did not seem to matter. They continued on together, with Aven still healing and Merrill showing her companion everything that she could about the forest and how to survive. Aven was fast to learn and always seemed eager to take in more. Merrill could sense the blessing of magic within her new friend and tried to show her how to make spells and imbue potions. They continued to grow closer, with their personal space getting smaller and smaller between them. Both dreamed of the other and each desperately wanted to be able to talk to the other.
Days of foraging together, making the potions necessary for the asari to heal and nights spent quietly next to the fire were becoming a welcomed way of life for the women. Time was passing and the two were forming an unspoken relationship together, as the autumn started to take hold of the mountain.
"See that yellow bloom? The one with red tips on it… that is the one we are after." Pointing out a special flower that only bloomed in the fall and was found growing in the rocky outcrops of the mountain; Merrill had taken her gaze away from her companion and was focusing on the flower when she heard a bone chilling scream.
"Help me!" Aven had been watching the girl and was not paying particular attention to her surroundings when she caught her foot in one of the loose rocks and slipped. The fall was not that serious, but the impact and twisting caused Aven's wound to rip open. The asari felt a sharp, stabbing pain and instantly her clothes began to dampen with blood. "Not again… no!"
"Luin!" Merrill called to her companion and raced to be next to her. "Shh… let me see." She knelt down next the fallen form of her friend and placed her hand on the woman's back.
The asari looked up at the elf, eyes wide and full of tears, lightly panting and trying desperately to hold on to consciousness. She could not form words, only short whimpers of pain.
Merrill saw the blood stain on her clothes and called up a strong healing spell. Nothing was helping and both were becoming desperate. "I need to stop the bleeding! Oh… what am I going to do? Please, be okay!" Merrill's hands were covered in the rich blue blood of the asari. Fear and panic coursed through the elf when she saw the amount of blood that her friend had lost. "I have to do something… anything!" Tears started to form in Merrill's eyes, as she turned to the only option that would work: blood magic.
Since Merrill already had fresh blood on her, she closed her eyes and focused on a healing power from the Beyond. A faint light engulfed the elf and she directed the magic directly at the wound. The alien's blood was powerful and a rush of energy filled the mage and empowered her with gifts that she had not known before. The Beyond answered with a flash of light that closed the wound with searing force. Merrill held her breath as the power faded, but was left with a euphoria that was indescribable and almost addicting.
Aven screamed in excoriating pain, as a burning sensation washed through her. She was sure that if she looked, her body would be on fire and that she would soon be consumed by the flames that the girl had set upon her. Just when she thought that she would die, the pain left her. The burning was gone, as was the light that had been surrounding the girl. Afraid to breathe, she looked at the creature through tearing eyes of both fear and relief. "What have you done to me?" Her hand went to her wound that was now healed, but still tender.
Merrill knew the expression that the woman was wearing. She had seen it often, the face of fear and misunderstanding. Instinctively, Merrill felt the happiness of the last month fade. Hurt was replacing the feelings that she had only moments prior and she slumped dejectedly next to the woman, tears now threatening to spill over her eyes too. She brought her hands up to her eyes and turned away from the woman, "Not you too… I'm so sorry, but I couldn't stop the bleeding… I didn't know what else to do." Her words came out in sobs and defeat.
Looking at the girl, Aven saw her reaction and had witnessed the reaction to herself and being an Ardat-Yakshi. She knew the feeling of rejection and accusation and instantly felt guilty for her reaction to the biotic display. Trying to sit up, Aven reached for the girl that had shown her nothing but trust and care and placed her hand on her shoulder. "I wish that you could understand me… I am sorry… Please know that I understand." Aven pulled her companion towards her, wanting to look in her eyes and show her that she was okay.
"What?" Surprised by the touch, Merrill faced the woman but could not bring herself to look in her eyes, for fear of what she would see there. "I'm sorry, Luin... Don't hate me."
The asari moved her hand from her shoulder to her face and directed the girl to look at her. When their eyes met, a wave of emotion ran through Aven, one of want and yearning. She slowly stretched her form and lightly guided the face of the girl into her. Her eyes closed, as her lips pressed into those of her companion and she held her breath as the kiss lingered. A slight twinge of pain reminded the asari of her recent injury and caused her to gasp, ending the kiss.
Euphoria overtook the elf. The kiss was unexpected, but Merrill had dreamt about it for weeks. The taste of Luin was sweet and alien; Merrill wanted more. Her whole body tingled with the excitement of the affection from the woman. When the kiss ended, her head was spinning as feelings coursed through her. She smiled at her companion and offered her hand to try and help her to her feet.
With the quest for the autumn flowers forgotten and instead replaced with yearning, the women hastily returned to the cave, hand in hand. Desire and want seeped out of both of them. Strong pheromones of sexual anticipation filled the cave, as Aven found Merrill's lips. Lust for more of the girl swelled inside of Aven as she felt the probing tongue of her soon to be lover exploring her mouth, and caused a strange feeling and wetness between her legs.
With her pulse racing, Merrill could barely feel her body. The need to be naked before the exotic woman and to feel the textured skin against her own was the only thought in her mind. Acting on her wants, Merrill started to slide out of the clothes that were now serving as a hindrance to her goal.
Responding to the actions of the girl, Aven also started to pull off her clothes. Neither wanted to break contact with their lips, as they groped at each other hoping to gain more exposure to skin; the pile of clothes started to mount at their feet.
Merrill, in her desperation wanted nothing more than to be one with the exotic woman. She could feel her body respond to the woman's touches. Her breasts throbbed, wanting to be touched and suckled by the blue lips. Her slit became wet and ached to feel the pressure from the woman's hand spreading her open, finding her bundle of nerves. Grinding into the blue, muscular leg of her lover, Merrill was desperate for some sort of purchase and release. Her body longed for the touch of the woman and the union that would result. Is this real? Can she really want me too? Please don't stop! Waves of want flooded the elf, as she willingly gave herself over to the asari and her ministrations. "I am yours Luin."
Sensing the girl's openness and wanting her equally, Aven reached for the breast in front of her. Taking hold of the supple nipple between her thumb and forefinger, the asari smiled as she was instantly rewarded with a cooing sound from the girl. Moving her tongue from her lover's lips, the asari started to make its way down her companion's body: her neck, her clavicle and finally her breast and the erect nipple. Aven's attuned senses could smell the release of pheromones, signaling the girl's readiness for Aven to penetrate her. The realization sent waves of want and desire through the asari and caused her to continue her exploration of her lover with her tongue. Wanting to satisfy the girl, Aven gently pushed her lover back down to their bedding. With the signal to lie down, the girl compliantly got on her back and opened up her legs, exposing the want between them. Noticing the slightly coarser, black hair on her lover's mound, Aven couldn't help but run her fingers through it and also be comforted at the realization that her lover looked very similar to her own anatomy.
Crying out in satisfaction and closing her eyes, Merrill knew that her lover's tongue was only inches from reaching its target. "Yes! Luin… Take me! Please don't stop… whatever you do, don't stop!"
Tasting the sweetness of her lover, the exotic taste of want and ecstasy combined with the asari's own yearnings made it all the more intoxicating. The predatory nature of the Ardat-Yakshi was welling up inside of Aven. Barely able to contain the need to join, the asari focused on using her tongue to pleasure her lover. She imagined what her own reaction would be if their roles were reversed and tried to maintain a steady rhythm with her tongue. She had never actually been with another and had only seen vids of intercourse and mating rituals before being placed at the monastery and was going on instinct and her own need; her lover seemed to be pleased with her efforts.
Merrill's head was tilted to the side and her body was arched into the waiting mouth of Luin. She had never felt such pleasure and could not help herself from screaming out. Her toes curled up as waves of delight ran through her. "More… Oh, oh… Yes!" Wanting for the two to merge into one, Merrill longed to have her lover penetrate her, to be inside of her.
As if sensing her lover's needs and responding to her own, Aven's mind started reaching out for the alien's. Her eyes changed to black, as the meld was initiated. Strange thoughts, pleasure, longing, the need for fulfillment washed into Aven's mind. The asari was touching the mind of the… the elf, Merrill. Her name is Merrill and she is an elf! Language and understanding were shared between the two from the meld… then fear, overwhelming fear from Merrill started to penetrate the thoughts of the asari.
The passion from her lover was amazing and Merrill gave into the pleasure. Just at its height she felt something… touching her mind… No, stop! As the thoughts formed in her mind, she could sense the presence of the… asari, Aven. Nooo… what are you doing? Panic took over when Merrill felt the mental invasion. Out of desperation, the elf attempted to push Aven off of her and in doing so, caused Aven's wound to open. Merrill could feel the warm, sticky blood on her hand and used it to summon a demon from the Beyond.
The same Desire demon that Merrill had visited before waited for her. Merrill's survival instinct took over, as she called the demon to her and filtered it into her thoughts. Come to me… Come into my mind… Help me! Merrill could feel the demon enter her and the power of summoning a creature to be invaded by Aven added to her climax.
Aven was aware of the intrusion, but could feel the strength in spirit that had been called. Her powers and needs turned to the demon and with a rush of excitement, Aven consumed the demon through Merrill. Her need to feed was satiated and the joining had not fully been broken. With the demise of the demon, Aven climaxed in a way that she did not think was possible, while Merrill could feel the release too and for a moment enjoyed the sensation of her lover coming, the demon being consumed and the use of blood magic.
The two broke apart, Merrill collapsing on the ground. Her screams of passion were now muffled cries of sadness, betrayal, and fear of her own power. Aven had not known such satisfaction, but as she came down from the high, the realization of what she had done hit her. She had tried to consume the very mind of the one person that had cared for her. The euphoria of the kill was waning, as self-loathing started to displace it. Though she now understood Merrill's language, she did not have the words to explain her actions.