Hello everyone. Theo here with another chapter for Into the Pit of Magic. It's been difficult to get these chapters up when you're working on several pieces at once. One bit of advise. This chapter has a major turning point in it. I've been assaulted with repeated requests to have Themis and Zyerne form a relationship. This chapter gives you my answer.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Magic: The Gathering or its characters. I only own the idea for this story and the made-up characters I add.

WARNING! This chapter contains nudity, possible sexual content, violence and other such adult material. You should leave instead if any of then offend you. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

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Chapter 21- In Hot Water

Electricity sparked from the pair of blue eyes that were set in the beak like head. Its mission was to spy, to inform and to evaluate to it's master, a metal oracle locked in Aphetto. The Etched Oracle watched its human pray enter a shamans hut, but there was a strong magic surrounding the building that kept the oracles ever-seeing eye from penetrating the walls. Thus the Myr was to be the eyes. No one would notice it as it perched itself on the roof of the hut, poking its head down the chimney to hear and see what had transpire between its prey and the visionary old woman.

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Themis felt weird after he had left the shamans hut. What she said really confused him. Did she even answer the questions he wanted answered at all? Perhaps not, but he couldn't be sure. He knew such people spoke with hidden messages and her riddles seemed just like that. Then again, how could he know that she wasn't misleading him? He had to be careful, that much was sure. He'll have a migraine if he thinks too much, and aspirin is nonexistent in this plane of reality.

'I'm sure that woman is mad. How can I have a large place in Zyerne's heart? She barely even knows me.'

Themis wondered, only to have his thoughts silenced when Gerald approached him. His grin told Themis he was pleased, but the human wasn't sure if he wanted to be around this huge man and his over-affectionate ways… otherwise Themis' small body would be crushed in the giant mans embraces.

"Our shaman has spoken well of you little man."

He laughed so heartily, it sounded like an avalanche was occurring nearby.

"Her words may seem confusing at first, but they'll become clear to you in time. They always do."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"Come friend!"

Gerald slapped Themis so hard on the shoulder that it felt like his shoulder was dislocated, though it wasn't.

"You and your friends shall dine with me tonight as my humble guests. The night is coming, and our fires must be lit."

"Ah… Sure."

Themis agreed rather reluctantly. He wasn't in the mood for a formal invitation to dinner. What he really wanted now was a nice hot shower. He could barely remember the last time he had a bath, and he nostrils, now free from the smoke of the Shamans hut, could detect his own body odor. How could Gerald not be offended by the stench? Surely it was not lost to the big man that Themis was dirty, had wounds with dried blood on his hands and face, and covered in sweat. Or perhaps Gerald didn't care.

"Ah, Gerald. If it's ok with you, do you think I can wash up first? I'm not exactly guest material."

Gerald blinked at the young man under him for a second. Then he roared in laugher that was the loudest Themis had ever heard. In fact, Themis had to plug his ears with his fingers to keep the vibrations from shattering his ear drums.

"'Guest material?' Ha! Ha! Young man, you are more than that. You and your friends brought us from dejection. We'd still be afraid of our own shadows if you and that girl of yours didn't talk some sense into us."

'That girl of MINE?'

He knew he meant Zyerne, but Themis didn't own her, nor did he try to make it seem as such. Is everyone on this planet so thickheaded that they can't understand the fact that Themis does NOT own Zyerne, nor is she his slave in ANY way?

"However Themis, there is a bath house just past that hut,"

Gerald pointed with his large finger to which Themis followed.

"Feel free to use it."

Then Gerald gave Themis another pat on the back (though it felt more like a tackle), which left Themis fighting for his balance, and laughed again as he departed. Themis rubbed at his sore shoulder and looked back at Gerald as he left.

"If this keeps up, I'll be lucky to still have even half of my body left."

He groaned, more in pain than annoyance. Gerald was being kind and he had his ways of showing that, so Themis shouldn't condemn the man. He wouldn't even try to make Gerald ANGRY. Doing so would mean suicide, at least in Themis' case. Putting such thoughts away, he headed for the bath house.

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Moments later, Themis calmly relaxed in the hot spring, his clothes piled near the wooden fence that enclosed the pool of thermal heated water. Themis laid his head back against the stone shore and sighed in content. He had never felt so good in his life, he thought. Sore muscles began to relax, aches were ebbed and the dirt and blood cleansed away from his skin.

"Oh my God, this is wonderful…"

He said to himself nearly dozing off to sleep.

"Who would have thought this people had a hot spring in their back yard?"

He began to rotate his head to relax the severely tight muscles in his neck. He was so relaxed he didn't notice the presences of a pair of slender hands massaging his shoulders and neck.

"I could just die happily right here…"

"I would not advise that Lord Themis. I would be devastated should that happen to you."

Themis smiled and nodded in understanding, and then groaned in pleasure as Zyernes hands work their magic on his neck.

"I suppose your right Zyerne. I guess,…WHAT THE HELL…!"

Now fully awake, and suddenly aware of Zyernes company, Themis leapt away and reflexively hid his lower body deeper into the pool from her sight.

"Zyerne, what are you doing here!"

He demanded, trying to restart his heart from the shock of a woman seeing him skyclad (A term I use for being naked) in the middle of a bath.

"Gerald sent me to you. He asked Narkgul and I if we would attend his celebration."

"Couldn't he have sent himself instead!"

"I'm sorry, but he said he had to attend to other matters."

Zyerne couldn't understand why Themis was so uncomfortable all of a sudden. He was calm and relaxed when she started to massage his shoulders, but now his face was all red and he was trying to avoid her. Why was he scared of her now?

"Have I hurt you Lord Themis?"

She asked. Themis looked up at her cautiously, while still hiding his gender differences from her.

"What?"

"You jumped away. Did I stroke you too hard? I apologize."

"No Zyerne, you were actually quite nice… Wait a minute! Zyerne, I'm trying to take a bath here!"

"I'll take one with you."

She said and he could hear her remove her cloths and then enter the pool. Themis froze in horror. A woman? In the same spring as him? Naked! This couldn't get any worst… It took all of his will power not to look at her. He fought with his emotions to control himself. He was not a pervert like his father. Themis is too much of a gentleman to stare at disrobed woman.

"Zyerne, please… this is very uncomfortable..."

He said with a trembling voice. He kept his eyes shut but hearing her move closer to him through the water was not helping him.

"Please relax Lord Themis. I won't harm you."

She said as her hands began to rub at his neck and shoulders again.

"You sir, are uptight. You need to calm down."

She said with a slight smile. How strange it suddenly felt to him. Themis was terrified of the fact that he and Zyerne were skyclad together, however the loving caresses of her hands on his flesh somehow subdued that fear. Themis began to relax again, but he could not overlook the important fact that Zyerne was with him in their current condition.

'Please Dear Holy God in Heaven, Don't let this get out of hand.'

Themis prayed with his eyes still tightly shut and his hands covering his lower body. However, his fear was loosing ground to Zyernes skilled massage. He felt himself go limp and simply trusting her. She did nothing to offend him, Themis was glad to notice. All she did was give him a relaxing massage that did not go lower than his shoulders.

"Lord Themis, if I may ask, how is it you are so tense?"

Themis moaned softly to the sensation of her hands but managed to answer her question.

"I've never been relaxed long enough in my whole life. A life of torment could do that to you."

"I am sorry if I have upset you Themis. I do not understand why you are repulsed by me."

That's when Themis' eyes shot open. She thought he disliked her? How could she even think of such a thing?

"I do not find you repulsive Zyerne. I actually find you attractive."

It was Zyernes turn to blush, but Themis didn't see it.

"Thank you."

"Zyerne, I didn't jump away because you hurt me or I find you hideous. It's just that, where I come from, a man and a woman should not be alone and naked together unless they are either married or planning to have intercourse."

Zyerne blushed even redder. So that was why he was scared of her a moment ago

"So privacy is a respected quality among where you live?"

"You can say that."

Zyerne then smiled as a wicked thought entered her mind

"So how would you react if I told you I DO want intercourse with you?"

Themis instantly froze like a statue. Even though Zyerne meant it as a joke, he did not see it as such. Themis' shoulders began trembling underneath her hands and it was then she realized she probably should not have said that.

"It was a joke Themis, I was not being serious."

"One would think otherwise in this situation."

Themis replied as his nerves calmed down to the point he could move again.

"Please don't scare me like that. I can't take very many heart failures."

"I apologize Lord Themis. I will say no more of it."

Themis nodded, then chuckled.

"But tell me this. What if I told you I would be more than happy to accept your proposal to mate?"

He smile and tried not to laugh, hoping her reaction would be similar to the one he had only seconds ago. Unfortunately, it was not. Themis felt himself get spun around, and he was now staring at Zyernes eyes. Before he could say anything, she threw herself at him and locks her mouth against his…

TO BE CONTINIUED

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Believe it or not, this chapter is actually much longer than this, but for the sake of my audience (Whom I assume is under 13), I decided to cut this chapter short. However, if I am bombarded with requests to put the whole chapter up, I'll consider it.

Until Next Time

Theo