Chapter Thirty-Five (Old Memories, New Beginnings..Red Fish, Blue Fish.. SEXUAL SITUATIONS..MATURE READERS ONLY
The River was as old as time. Fueled by the snow capped Andes, with it's many tributaries winding their majestic paths through the lush rain forests, this body of water was formed countless ages ago, by the soul of the Earth venting it's fury upon a newly formed Continent.
Our of fire grew an abundance of life and beauty. It's banks were steeped with high juts of cliffs, blanketed by green trees of every shape, size and type. And exotic scent hung heavy in the air, an endless variety of flora grew wild and free, mingling..co-existing with dense patches of wild rose bushes, dotting the landscape like soft hued stokes from a master artist's brush. A pungent aroma filled Althea Adam's head, mixed with the mist of a late night gloom.
A small outlet of sandy white beach gave way to the gentle lapping at the river's bank, water meeting the Earth's edge.
A gigantic bon fire broke the night's darkness. Althea had watched as the twelve students constantly in attendance of their Master, Edwin Aldemeer, worked diligently, following his instructions to the letter. They had carried out their assigned duties well.
He had chosen this area for it's serenity..it's majesty. It seemed a fitting place to say a final farewell to a cherished friend.
The Enforcer stood now, his gaze resting upon Stefan Richter's peacefully composed countenance. There seemed nothing more to be done, after all.
The passages had been read, the eulogy given..the goodbyes..said. Now..Edwin was alone with his demons and guilt.
He had tried to sit with Stefan while all was being readied but..Edwin's despondency was so great that he found his courage lacking for the first time in his many centuries of life. Edwin Aldemeer had come face to face with a foe..he could not master.
He felt less a male for the fact, but..in the end, he had taken solace in his rooms. Telling himself, he must, at least..dress the part he would be expected to play.
He had donned the attire of the warrior's of old. He and Stefan were the only two who could truly lay claim to such trappings. For their mettle had been tested many times in such cloth..in countless battles. The garb was a source of great amusement to Stefan, of course.
Considered by most to be a 'badge of honor', worn only by the elite of the military forces of the day..Stefan thought only that..the robe was so much more functional than modern day garb..he could lift it much more easily when fucking a willing..or even..unwilling female.
The designer, he often said, had 'making love' in mind when thinking up such a fine creation.
No difficult zippers or exasperating buttons or ties to deal with. Nothing to spoil the moment..or the mood. Robes were a fine thing, he would say.
Never mind that these particular robes were worn by the Order of Templars..Christ's soldiers. Who often swore a vow of celibacy. Stefan had never been one of 'those' misguided souls, of course.
Edwin had offered up one of his own mantles as time was of the essence. He would journey later..to take care of Stefan's affairs and estates. He could not think on such things at the moment.
He looked down now on the magnificent startling white robe with the boldly emblazoned cross of red upon the chest area. It suited it's current owner well. Stefan was a handsome specimen, with classically chiseled features the females had found irresistible.
Edwin often found himself second choice in any encounter with the fairer sex. He had grown accustomed to the spot. He had never truly minded.
The Enforcer felt the 'presence'..his senses startled from their revery. He did not turn, however, for his face was streaked with tracks of dried tears and he was simply..too embarrassed to do so at this stage.
But...he took great solace in the fact...she had come. He did not know, that Althea Adams had been patiently waiting his arrival now for near on to an hour.
The sun was threatening to make's it entrance, however. It's pink and orange rays, a thin line of warning outlining the mountain's peaks along the Eastern sky.
Edwin stepped back from the funeral pyre, shoving the hastily constructed raft of thick, sturdy logs away from shore.
The wood planks floated eloquently away, topped with freshly splintered wood pieces, surrounding the raised dias upon which Stefan's body rested.
The platform was draped in red silk, the material billowing softly in the light breeze coming down from the mountains. It was an ethereal sight. With it's ghostly pale captain, the tiny 'ship' sailed into eternity.
Edwin had placed Stefan's sword alongside the warrior.
He watched the current take the small 'craft' further and further from the shore.
"Stefan's ancestors believed..their dead sailed off to Valhalla..to meet Odin." He began without preamble. "He did not believe in any 'god' per se but..he was always fond of this type of..send off."
Althea had started at the unexpected voice, jarred out of her doldrums. Edwin had not acknowledged her, so..she assumed he did not know she was here just yet, so deep within his mourning was he.
"Warriors will be chosen to assist in Ragnarok...one big ass battle that will decide the fate of everyone on Earth, not to mention..a few of the major gods." Edwin walked to the fire, dipping his arrow in the flames for a goodly spell. "This is followed by a very large party, according to Stefan..with an abundance of delicious mead..and a fine selection of females of every sort..whose morals are somewhat ..questionable, of course."
Edwin kept his back to Althea. The Enforcer scowled for his inadequacies. He wanted to say so much more..important things..deeply profound things. None of which materialized at this stage. "I think..Stefan took a few liberties with the tale."
Althea glanced at the being in question. Yes..that sounded like Stefan.
Edwin wiped his face with his the heavy sleeve of his raiment. The arrow end burned with a fierce furor. He positioned himself, his powerful biceps straining with the effort it took to counteract the tension on his bow strings.
He stood, perfectly straight, his arm outstretched, the bow taunt and tuned to perfection. He released the shaft, the arrow arching high in the night sky, a brilliant spot of light against the velvet darkness for an instant..
Althea's mouth fell slightly open, her eyes following the spectacle in the air above her vision.
The bright flame floated downward, hitting it's mark with a resounding thud which reverberated across the still waters unto shore.
Twelve similar arches of light shot through the night sky, all converging on the funeral pyre. The students had positioned themselves high on the cliffs. The flames shot up, incandescently consuming the body of Stefan Richter.. an exceptional end to an exceptional being.
Edwin closed his eyes, misery flooding his mind. He fought back his pain, swallowing with great difficulty, the lump that had arisen in his throat.
Althea swiped the tears from her cheeks yet again. A part of her was hurting terribly, for Stefan's death was a tragic thing. Another was reminded..the being had attempted to take her Father from her. She was torn and confused and...pissed at Stefan.
Edwin turned his head slightly, his tone one of subdued melancholy. "Thank you..for attending." He acknowledged the effort. "It is..appreciated."
Althea waited tensely for, LaCroix had promised she would know what to say when she needed to..say it, but..no words came to mind. None that mattered, at least. "...I am sorry that Stefan is..gone." She blurted the inanities.
Edwin lowered his head for a long beat. Yes, he was sorry as well. "...I was not aware of his plans where LaCroix was concerned." He wanted that made perfectly clear between them. "Had I known.." He lifted his head but...it didn't seem as important as it once had, so...he let it go. "...You do..believe me?" He turned to finally face her, his eyes filled with an indescribable sadness.
Edwin's form was silhouetted against the orange glow of the flames that danced high into the air behind him.
He reminded Althea of something out of Ivanhoe with his Templar robes and the chain mail adorning his arms, hanging down to the powerful thighs..the prerequisite 'hood' which now lay heavy about his shoulders and neck line..the leather belt with it's accouterments, soft leather gloves and an evil looking knife.
"...Yes." She swallowed the threat of more tears. Althea shivered in the stupid gown, the cream wrap doing little to hold back the chill of the night. She pulled the flimsy fabric closer about her body. She had no time to change. For she had sat with Stefan's body. She had seen Edwin leave the room and..glanced in, sensing what was..inside.
She had arrived late, one of Edwin's people directing her to the right place, after her inquiry. But, she hadn't been sure if..Stefan was lain to rest in that section of Sabien's home. The section was dark and silent upon her arrival.
She had seen Edwin though, his manner keeping her from calling out to him.
He seemed so...angry and distant.
So..she had approached Stefan's body..thinking only to pay her respects then..leave. But..she could not just..leave him alone like that. In that cold, dark place. So..she had sat and..began her vigil. But, Althea hated silences..or perhaps it was her own thoughts she dreaded confronting...so, she spoke.. at length, on many topics..every topic of which she could think..any topic to counter balance the silence.
Stefan didn't seem to mind, after all. But, in the end, even she had run out of things to say, so..she made her way here. The students had come for the body. She had followed them, keeping back, out of the way. Edwin had arrived finally and..the proceedings had begun.
"...Well..I..suppose..." Her mind failed her when confronted by the reality of Edwin's presence and the current situation. She could think of nothing important or meaningful to say that might have any great impact. She could not aid this being. They had sent the wrong representative..obviously. Her Sire had been wrong to trust her. She 'supposed' nothing, therefore..in reality. She fell silent.
Upon the ridge of the North wall, the security breech surrounding Sabien's home, stood four spectators to the scene taking place below. The wall meandered for miles around the sprawling estate, housing an occasional parapet of stone. The occupants were silent, for the most part, each to their own thoughts.
Until..Althea and Edwin had began to speak.
"I wonder what they are saying?" Janette DuCharme shared her concern with the other's gathered. She huddled close to Josef Kostan who had draped his tuxedo jacket about her shoulders. He held her against his body, the security of his arms giving her comfort.
"Something stupid, knowing Althea." Nicholas replied but his tone lacked any real animosity. He too, was anxious, knowing the moment was an important one for the two individuals below. Hoping against hope, his sister did not ruin it with her stubborn ways.
"It was a lovely send off." Janette remarked, her eyes returning to the small dot of light floating far down the way, in the distance..making it's way slowly to the ocean, the funeral pyre having traveled a goodly distance already in the rapid currents of the river. "Simplistic but..very..fitting somehow, for a being such as Stefan."
"Richter would have wanted no fan fare." Nicholas knew, he himself had felt the same.
"What possessed him to wish your demise, LaCroix?" It still puzzled Josef Kostan, the reason behind the actions taken. "..was it in retaliation for the attack on the Council?"
"That has not been established as yet." Nicholas reminded. "That LaCroix had anything to do with.."
"Nicholas." LaCroix chastised, his tone uncensored however, for such a nonsensical statement. Of course he had something to do with the..incident. "No..it was because of my refusal to allow his friend's association with my daughter."
"With LaCroix out of the way..Aldemeer had free access to Althea." Nicholas had understood Stefan's statement to the other Enforcer. "I did it..for you." Nicholas quoted verbatim. "I never would have given my permission for her to ..be with that bastard!" Althea would have been under her brother's domain, had her Sire passed. It was 'law'.
"Then they very likely would have tried to eliminate you as well." Josef knew how he would work such a plan, at least.
"Edwin knew nothing of the plan..surely!" Janette was not so jaded.
"Aldemeer is not accustomed to denying himself..what he desires..he takes." Nicholas held another view point, still angry. "Perhaps he planned the entire thing..even the murder of his..dear friend."
"Nicholas..you have become..a cynic." LaCroix seemed pleased.
"I think he truly loves Althea." Janette was adamant on the subject.
"He is incapable of such emotions, Janette." Nicholas knew of such beings. "Lust perhaps.."
"We shall see." LaCroix put an end to the squabbling. "...Aldemeer is not the only one being tested here." The intelligent eyes had never left the small beach below.
Josef glanced hastily at the Elder, something in his voice alerting him. "Tested? For what?" He asked respectfully but..received no answer.
Janette lifted troubled eyes to his inquiring ones. The silence returned.
"....It..it was a..lovely ceremony." Althea still struggled with the moment. "I think..Stefan would have..I m-mean...if he were..here..." She trailed away. What a stupid thing to say. She had just reminded Edwin that..first, his friend was dead and secondly..that he was very dead..at his own hand. "If there is anything I can do?" Besides make a stupid idiot of myself, she tacked on silently.
She glanced around the small beach haplessly. "...I think perhaps I should go." Before she did any more harm. Althea sought him out. She could not see his face, it was shadowed in the fading light of the fire. "...Will you be ..alright?"
He remained silent for so long, she thought he was not going to answer.
"...I will be fine." He replied evenly. "Again...thank you..for being here."
She nodded, picking up her gown, turning, making her way through the small path which lead up the far hill that ended at the steps that one must climb to return to the mansion.
She...stopped, pulling up uncertainly. She..turned.
He stood..watching her retreat..nothing more.
"..Well, I just can't leave you here..alone." She exasperated. "Come with me. To the house."
He shook his head. "Go." He stated quietly. "You are chilled. Get out of the night air."
"It's not like I will catch my ..." She halted abruptly, realizing how inappropriate such a remark would be at such a time. "...Please come to the house. I..I would feel better if you did."
"I have to fly out tonight. There is much ..to do."
"Oh." She hadn't thought of that. "Well..then..." There wasn't much to say to that.
She still hesitated. "...You don't seem... 'fine' to me, Edwin." She blurted her opinion.
He did not say anything, simply picked up his heavy cloak, coming to place it about her small shoulders. It dragged the ground but..it was warm and held his scent. She did not really want to give it over but...she shrugged out of it..or attempted to hand it back to it's rightful owner.
"Why do you do that?" He questioned, genuinely interested if his tone was any criteria by which to judge. "Why...do you refuse any attempt at ..comfort from another?"
"I...I..don't do that." She was confused. "If..you are going, I didn't want to..take your..." She allowed him to place the cloak back around her. "This..belongs to you."
She looked at him..really..looked at him. He seemed to have aged. She noted the lines in his face..the haggard quality of his features. Her heart softened. "..You seem so..alone, Edwin."
He averted his face, his thoughts private ones.
"Is it what you wish..right now, I mean." She asked. "Should I..leave you to your peace?"
He refused an answer, knowing..it would be best for her..if she left.
Althea gave up the fight, taking his silence for affirmation. She turned, ever so grateful when his hand snaked out, grasping for her's..his fingers eventually intertwining with her slender ones, his grip an incredibly tight one.
Althea returned the pressure, her eyes searching his expectantly..hopefully. "...I..will stay, ..if that is what you wish."
"...Yes." He whispered wearily, his conscious bothering him terribly. "...Stay."
Janette snuggled into Josef's neckline, her lips trailing a soft, seductive trail along his flesh. He stroked her back lovingly, encouraging such familiarity. "Are you alright?" He asked quietly.
"I know you are troubled about..Althea." he added.
"As are you." She raised her head, smiling at him. "You like her very much, do you not, Josef."
"I like her very much." He smiled back. "But..she and I are not...eh.."
"I know that." She returned to her former position and the male relaxed somewhat. "She has eyes only for Edwin Aldemeer. She has had an infatuation with him for many months now, I think."
"I got that." He grinned. "She isn't the most subtle person in the entire world, you know."
"She tries to hide it..and thinks she is doing quite well." Janette traced a line over Josef's chest with her finger, watching it's progress as she explored the muscled, sinewy area to her heart's content. "I think, at first, Edwin found her attentions quite tedious. I wonder when it changed for him?" She smiled with her eyes, a rather flirtatious up and under that caused Josef's pulse to quicken in..anticipation.
"About the same time it did for me?" He suggested. "When I saw you in that black dress..cut up to here?" He touched her thigh with his hand, the palm easing up the lovely flesh slowly, ending when he curved his palm to her waist. He leaned, joining his mouth with her uplifted one. He felt her mouth 'smile' lifting his own with a stern expression. "Serious up here, woman..I'm trying to make my move."
She chuckled appreciatively. Then, shifted, the sheet falling away from her breasts as she pushed herself up, her leg easing over his thighs as she straddled his body. "I had my heart set on..making my own move." She leaned down, the tips of her mounds lightly grazing the soft down of his chest hair.
Josef's eyes dropped accordingly, closing his eyes to the feel of her moistness positioned so expertly directly over the width of his hardness. "Far be it from me.." He breathed out, his voice a mere whisper of it's former vitality. "To deny a lady..whatever she wishes."
"You are so good to me, Josef." She purred. "Allow me to..return the favor." Janette lowered her nakedness, her body melding with the hard muscles of his own. Her mouth caught his lips in a sweet, passionate kiss. Josef's tongue flicked anxiously into the warm, wet hollow, his stomach convulsing spasmodically as a most pleasant sensation traversed his torso.
He ran his hands gently up the sculptured plains of her back, encouraging her closer, the feel of the wondrous mounds crushed deliciously to his chest muscles, her middle resting on his convulsing shaft. She spread her thighs, her hand reaching between their bodies, the cool fingers curving about his thickness as she..positioned him for entry.
Josef felt the soft, giving surface, groaning brokenly as he shoved slightly upward, embedding himself into her heat. He began the ancient movements of love making, his arms tightening possessively about the small indentation of her waist as he held her pressed tightly to his abdomen. Janette's soft moan of surrender heightened his senses and..his pleasure. He wanted...more.
"How are you feeling?" Mick St. John's smile was a gentle one as he cradled Beth Turner's slight body, his fingers playing in the cool silk of her blonde curls. His chin rested on the top of her head, his free hand massaging her back with a light stroke of his fingers causing ripples of cascading goose flesh about Beth's body.
She sighed lightly, snuggling further into his hard, muscled body, her arms reaffirming their hold about his waist. "Much better." She murmured. "This is..nice."
"Yeah." He grinned. "Real nice." He glanced down to her nakedness. "You know.." He decided to tease her a bit. "It was ridiculously easy to get you out of that really expensive gown Josef bought you."
"Yeah, I'm a slut." She wasn't about to be disturbed, closing her eyes, nuzzling his chin, liking the feel of that five-o'clock shadow he sported.
"That's not funny." He scolded. "I was..."
"But, I'm YOUR slut." She finished before he could get all indignant, grinning for the expected retort.
"...Yeah?" His tone had changed back to..the lightly flirting one she was quickly growing to love. "I always wanted one of those for my very own."
"Well.." She reached, her fingers curling about his dormant shaft. She felt his stiffen a bit but..decided to go for broke, refusing to back down. "Now..you have one." She lifted him an innocent stare, holding tight to her prize. "What do you intend to do about it, Mr. St. John?"
She felt him grow hard in her grasp, his eyes deepening with subdued passion. "..What do you want me to do?"
Beth shrugged a tiny shrug. "We could go get a pizza."
"Yeah, we could do that." He grinned down at her, rolling his weight half-way on top of the lovely curves and delectable bulges. "Or..." He found a comfortable spot. "I could..reward you in other ways."
"Reward me?" She fought her blush for his gaze had dropped meaningfully to a very specific spot. "Why?"
"For being such a very good little...slut."
"Oh." She got it. "...do I get any input into this..reward thing?"
"Nope." He kissed her mouth slowly...deeply..wantonly. Beth moaned her gratitude, responding in kind. They both were breathing heavily when he lifted from the contact. "Do you know how long I have dreamed of you...like this?"
"You dream of me?"
"...Succulent..." He trailed a fevered path from her neckline to her breasts..downward.. "Delicious..." Across her abdomen..his tongue flicking erotically into her belly button.. "Decidedly..." His nose nuzzling the tiny bit of blonde fluff just above her clit.. "Wet..."
His fingers intertwined with her's, their hands clinging tightly. His tongue finding the sensitive spot, working diligently across the engorged nub. "Dreams..."
Beth drew in a hasty breath, stiffening, crying out his name then...relaxed totally into his..expertise. Mick's lips curved into a smile of prurient pleasure. He enjoyed her reaction to the fullest. He enjoyed..pleasing this woman. He enjoyed..every aspect of...Beth Turner.