CH14
It is now two months later:
Rikki was headed for the front door where Elka was whimpering and whining and spinning in a circle. Rikki opened the door to find Kate on the other side. "You don't need to knock when you have an Elka in the house." Rikki was grinning.
Kate stepped inside and gave Elka a quick scratch to her ears and then wrapped her arms around Rikki and kissed her.
When Kate broke from the kiss Rikki moved her mouth to Kate's throat and started to kiss and bite Kate's pulse point, getting Kate to lightly moan.
Rikki stopped and left her face buried into Kate's neck. "One whole damn week without you around has been hell." Rikki confides and moves her head back around to kiss Kate.
This time Rikki breaks from the kiss. "How has your practicing been going?" Rikki asks looking into Kate's eyes.
Kate however shakes her head. "Not so much as a drop." Kate deflates.
"Did you pray this morning?" RIkki asks, watching Kate nod her head.
"Take your bag upstairs and meet me in the kitchen. Show me what you are doing." Rikki gooses Kate up the stairs getting a yelp out of Kate and a smile out of Rikki.
Kate has changed into her new favorite lounge around clothes, even if it was well into fall and a little cool outside. Big baggy t-shirt that falls off at the shoulder showing that she has removed her bra, yoga pants and warm fuzzy socks to walk around in.
Kate is pretty sure she got it from Rikki since she is similarly dressed. Kate steps into the kitchen where Rikki is waiting.
Rikki places Kate in front of the kitchen sink and stands behind Kate, really close. Like Kate can feel Rikki's breasts pressed into her back kind of close. Rikki takes Kate's hands from behind into hers. "Let me hear the words and not use your hands." Rikki asks of Kate.
Rikki listens to the words to see if she is screwing anything up. "Sounds good. Now repeat the words in your mind. Don't say them but move your fingers like I taught you."
Rikki watches Kate's hands from behind, and quickly reaches out. "Not that finger there, …. This one. Now concentrate and try again." Rikki watches. "Good, now do all of it. Say the words while moving your fingers. Concentrate on when to move your fingers with what word you say."
Just as Kate starts Rikki places her hands on Kate's breasts over the t-shirt and starts to massage them through the material.
Kate moans when she should have said a word. "That is not helping me concentrate." Kate points out but doesn't stop RIkki.
"You're supposed to think with your heart, not your head. … The kitchen sink is dry and you're thirsty. Fill the sink with water because you're heart says you can and your head knows the words and gestures required. … Try again." Rikki offers.
This time Rikki has a hand reach up under Kate's top while another hand finds it way past the waist band of her yoga pants. "Rikki?" Kate warns.
"Ok fine, have it your way." Rikki withdraws her hands. "The sink is dry and you are thirsty." Rikki keeps her hands on Kate's waist and doesn't move them.
"Wrong finger, try again." RIkki corrects her.
Kate tries again and soon the sink is full of water and starting to overflow onto the floor. "Stop, stop." Rikki asks as the mess continues.
"I DID IT!" Kate is jumping up and down lightly clapping her hands. "I actually did it. I did magic!"
"Says the woman who once told me she didn't believe in magic." Rikki counters.
Kate spins in place and takes Rikkis face in her hands. "Thank you!" And then kisses Rikki, long and deep.
"We'll try the light spell later tonight after it gets really dark. For now try shooting a flare into you sink full of water." Rikki offers.
On the second try Kate sees a tiny ball of light shoot from her hand and strike the water in the sink, creating a little steam.
"Very good. … After the light spell we'll move on to bigger spells after you pray for them in the morning." RIkki offers.
"I did it, I actually did it." Kate has her hands over her mouth and is blinking back tears.
"What do you think girl? Two Druids in the house?" Rikki looks down at Elka who barks in response. Getting both Kate and Rikki to laugh a little.
"I say we celebrate." Rikki announces. "Dinner at Juni tonight?"
"That's supposed to be one of the best restaurants in town. I hear it costs a fortune to eat there." Kate announces with her mouth hanging open.
"Let's find out." Rikki goes looking for her cell phone.
Rikki covers the phone with her hand. "8:00, Chief's tasting at $180 per person."
Kate's jaw drops to the floor and her eyes are open wide and starts shaking her head while trying to mouth the word "NO!"
"We'll take it" Rikki answers into her phone. "8:00 tonight, we'll be there." Rikki hangs up and spreads her arms wide.
"Have you lost your mind? … I could eat for weeks for that price." Kate was sure Rikki had lost her mind.
"Oh come on, you only live once. … And at these prices only ever eat there once." Rikki nods her head side to side, having to admit it was a bit pricey.
Then Rikki slides up next to Kate. "You could wear that new dress you found last week. … Or was it the week before? Either way I'll only be too happy to take it back off of you later." RIkki purrs.
"And this is your idea of not pushing very hard?" Kate counters.
"If I was pushing hard you'd already be naked on the sofa while I did wicked things to your delicious body." Rikki counters.
"Weellll, when you put it like that." Kate knew Rikki had a point.
"Since we have some time between now and dinner, let's see if we can get you to practice a spell that is a little harder, one you've seen me use before already." Rikki suggests, and seeing Kate's look.
Speak with Animals.
"You mean like, … literally speak with Elka?" Kate was really interested now.
Rikki was nodding her head. "And hear her answer you back." Rikki adds.
They were still working on it when it came time to get dressed for dinner.
Rikki had only just made it to the first floor when she heard Kate on the stairs.
"WOW!"
"WOW!"
Kate thought Rikki was beautiful before, but this was amazing!
Rikki was thinking something similar but was also thinking of just how badly she wanted to take that amazing dress off of Kate.
"Think we should risk walking to dinner?" Rikki teased.
Kate shook her head. One she didn't want to walk. Two, …"You'll cause too many accidents dressed like that." Kate covers her mouth.
Did I just say that out loud? It's just that she will.
Now Rikki was smiling wide and Kate was melting into a puddle of goo, yet again. It didn't help matters any when Rikki stepped up next to her and gave Kate a quick kiss to her lips. "You're sweet. …. But I'm not the one that is going to cause accidents dressed like this. You are.
You be a good girl while we're gone." Rikki tells Elka.
Just outside. "A limo?" Kate's mouth was hanging open for just a moment.
"I didn't get dressed up like this so I could ride in the back of a taxi." Rikki points out.
"Are you wearing magic?" Kate asks since Rikki had told her about a few of them.
"Just both rings and the ear rings. Oh and the amulet. You want the ear rings? I'll trade you." And Rikki promptly takes them off as they ride to their dinner.
As soon as Kate puts them on Rikki notices the difference. Kate instantly became even more beautiful than Rikki thought she already was. "Are they working?" Kate asks, getting Rikki to nod her head since she didn't trust her voice.
"I don't feel any different." Kate comments.
"Go to the ladies room while we are there and look in the mirror and then tell me what you see." Rikki offers.
Juni turned out to be IN the Hotel Chandler.
Chief tasting turned out to be a table all to themselves IN the kitchen. They were served immediately after it was made, by the chief himself. It was a multi-course sampling of a large number of items.
Rikki melted on the first one. "Hhhumm, and I thought I knew how to cook." Rikki hums out.
Kate's eyes opened wide and while pointing to her mouth. "This is really good!"
When they are done both Kate and Rikki compliment him on his cooking, along with a heartfelt kiss to each cheek at the same time. Rikki on the right and Kate on the left.
They were offered to come back anytime. They would always be welcome no matter how full they were.
Rikki and Kate were just exiting the hotel and headed for the limo that was waiting for them. "Just think, I get you to cast that Speak with Animals spell correctly and we get to do this again." Rikki was smiling.
"You do this for every spell and we're both going to end up fat." Kate points out.
Rikki shrugs her shoulders. "More runs with Elka should fix that."
The driver was holding the door open. It's just that neither of them notice that it was a different driver, though it was the same limo.
Inside as Rikki and Kate sit down, there are two men across from them with weapons pointed at them. "I trust you two had a pleasant last meal. Be so kind as to not make any sudden moves. I would hate to have to try and get all the blood out of the seat and carpet." One of the men tells them.
And then the limo door closes.
They are both escorted into an abandoned area of a building up on the second floor. Their hands are already tied behind their backs and Rikki and Kate are just sitting there, while the three in the limo move around a little, watching them.
Finally a fourth guy enters coming up the freight elevator. "Detective Beckett, how kind of you to join us. And you brought a friend."
"And you are?" Kate asks.
"I have a task. You answer my questions and I'll make it quick. One round just below the left ear, but if you jerk me around. … Well let's just say it will be uncomfortable for you."
"Like I would tell you anything." Kate counters.
"I need to know what you and the police know. So tell me what I need to know."
"I know you're an idiot. Unless you want a second opinion." Kate offers her information.
"My opinion is that he's ugly too." Rikki speaks for the first time.
He steps up to Rikki and slaps Rikki with the back of his hand. Causing Rikki's head to spin to one side.
"And he hits like a girl." Rikki adds.
This gains Rikki a fist to her jaw, which almost causes her chair to tip over, except the guy behind her holds Rikki in place. Now there is a little blood rolling down Rikki's chin.
"Ask your questions." Kate spits out.
"Tell me how much the police know about my employer."
"Mickey Mouse employed you?" Rikki questions.
This earns Rikki another fist to her face. "It's such a pretty face too. … What have you learned about Coonan?"
"He's gay, just like you?" Rikki questions.
This earns Rikki another punch to her chin. The blow caused one of her teeth to cut her lip, so her lip is now starting to become swollen.
"I know your employer is going down." Kate tells him.
"Detective. No one knows you are here. You left in the same limo you came in, which is at the bottom of the river at the moment. Your detective friends are all out on dates, so they won't be coming.
You told no one you were going to her house. And I should thank you for leaving the house by the way. Made my job that much easier."
"Happy to help" Kate comments.
His response to to punch Rikki in the mouth again. "STOP!" Kate yells.
"You keep jerking me around and I will beat your friend here till she is a broken and swollen mess, just before I put a bullet in her, … say her knee cap so she never walks again."
"Of course she will never walk again, you've already told us you're going to kill us." Kate points out.
His response was to hit Rikki again. "Stop this." Kate asks him.
"When I stop is entirely up to you. What do the police know about my employer?"
He hits Rikki again.
"All of this ends when you tell me what I want to know. Tell me what the police know."
He hits Rikki again.
"And she used to look so pretty too, don't you think detective? Tell me what the police know?"
He hits Rikki again.
He moves Rikki's head around. "Hhmmm, still conscious, so she can feel all of this."
He hits Rikki again.
"Tell me what the police know."
He reaches back to hit Rikki again. "Stop! Please stop. I don't know your employer. I have no idea who he is."
He hits Rikki again.
"STOP! … I don't know." Kate is crying now, looking at Rikki's swollen and bloody face. Forever ruined because of her and her dead mother.
Rikki mumbles out something through her broken and swollen mouth. Getting the guy to step over to Rikki again and lift her head. "What was that, I didn't quite get that through your swollen and damaged face."
Rikki mumbled again and promptly changed forms.
Druid Wildshape, Dire Bear - Spittle drips from this feral bear's roaring maw, and its matted fur is broken in places by wicked, bony growths. A typical dire bear is 12 feet long and weighs as much as 8,000 pounds.
Rikki's quick growth easily breaks the plastic zip ties that were used to bind her hands behind her back. Rikki spins and swipes at the man behind her holding her and her chair upright.
Rikki's swipe sends him flying to crash up against the wall behind him with his chest and midsection ripped open by her claws, allowing his guts to spill out over the floor.
The guy who is obviously in charge is shocked and steps back a step, and Rikki spins and swipes back handed against him, sending him flying across the room.
Rikki steps up to one of the other guys and stands up tall leaning over him and roars with her giant teeth just an inch from his head. So close he can feel the drool from Rikkis mouth fall on his head, as he pees in his pants.
Rikki pulls back an arm and takes a full swipe against him, sending him flying through a far wall with his midsection ripped open which allows his guts to spill out on the floor.
Rikki turns for the last guy who has managed to pull out his 9mm hand gun and begins to empty his clip into Rikki's body.
Rikki however just steps up and roars in his face and reaches back and swipes her huge claw across his body, sending him flying just like the last one, with his guts spilling out onto the floor.
Rikki than walks over to the man in charge who is partially up watching Rikki rip him men to pieces. "What, … what are you?"
Rikki simply bends down and roars in his face allowing her spittle to hit him in the face.
Rikki reaches out and gathers him up into a bear hug with her open mouth muzzle directly in his face and pulls both of her arms into herself, breaking his back.
Rikki then drops him allowing his broken body to land on the floor. Rikki then walks over to Kate who is staring at Rikki wide eyed.
Rikki reaches out one of her huge paws and runs a large nail softly down the side of Kate's face, and then is behind Kate and using one of her nails cuts Kate free.
Kate is free and stands quickly backing up from Rikki. "Rikki?" Kate questions softly.
Rikki comes down from being on two legs to being on all four and just stands there. It is only now that Kate sees blood dripping on the floor.
Suddenly Kate moves forward and places a hand on Rikki's face. "Rikki?" Kate hears Rikki growl softly and then Rikki's head brushes up against Kate's body.
It's only now that Kate's mind works out that it may look like a giant weird bear, but it was actually Rikki. "What can I do?" Kate strokes Rikki's face.
Rikki sits on her butt and rears up with her paws out in front of her. Kate can clearly see the blood that is leaving her body through the bullet holes. "I don't understand."
Rikki growls lightly and moves her paws. "I don't understand Rikki. I'm sorry but I don't, … understand. … You mean cast the spell you were teaching me."
Rikki growls and reaches out to softly touch Kate in the chest.
Kate starts her spell, saying the words and using her fingers. "Say something." Kate asks, only to hear Rikki growl softly and touch Kate's chest.
"Cast with my heart, not my head." Kate remembers what Rikki had told her.
Kate tries again. "Can you talk to me now?" Kate asks.
Kate hears part growl and it sounds like. "Nice work Kate, my love."
"Rikki!" Kate starts crying and places both hands on Rikki's head, one on each side. "How bad are you hurt, what can I do?"
To Kate it sounds like Kate growls, but to Kate it sounds like. "I'm a Druid, I can change shape at will, however I'm injured. In this form it is almost nothing. I'm going to start cast spells; I need you to tell me what you see."
Rikki in this form starts casting.
Cure Critical Wounds.
"A lot of your wounds look to have been healed over, but you're still bleeding. And what about your face?" Kate stroked Rikki's face.
"Casting another spell." Rikki growls out that Kate can understand.
Cure Moderate Wounds.
Kate is still crying. "You're still bleeding Rikki." Kate was crying heavily now.
"Casting last healing spell." Rikki growls out that Kate can understand.
Cure Light Wounds.
Kate moved in close, still crying. Kate stepped back and held up a bloody hand. "You're still bleeding Rikki. Please tell me what to do."
"When I change back to human form, I will likely die from my wounds." Rikki growls out and yet Kate still understands her.
"NO! … No Rikki please. … PLEASE!" Kate moves in to hug Rikki's face.
"Just one chance left, it might be enough after I change forms. … If it doesn't work, remember that I loved you and take good care of Elka." Rikki growls out that Kate can still understand.
"RIKKI!?" Kate kisses her head and watches as Rikki changes back to human form and watches Rikki fall to the floor, still dressed in her dress, however her face looked a lot better.
Kate was on her knees holding Rikki's face in her hands, as she watched the amulet Rikki was wearing glow and all of Rikki's still obvious wounds healed.
Amulet of Second Chances.