Ch 47: The Witch and the Godslaughterer

Jereth

(31 weeks 4 days after birth of the 8th)

Sweet Christ almighty…if I'd known becoming the newest Godslaughterer would require such an immediate increase in administrative work I would have been perfectly happy to remain a Godslayer instead.

For fucks sake, I though this is why I let Creele do all of the Branch Head running and such shit.

[Brother Jereth, are you there?]

"Oh, uh, right. Sorry Mateo, been a pretty eventful day. Send Creele the request for backup and I'll drop him a text to step on it in providing the reinforcements. Sound good?"

[That would indeed be excellent…except I was offering you additional Brothers and Sisters, not the other way around. We have our search quotas filled with some to spare.]

"…Shit. Sorry."

There's a brief moment of silence that leaves me feeling a bit nervous, like I just pissed off dad when drunk and now he's debating whether to bust out the belt, until the South American Branch Head snorts in amusement and says, [Get some rest, 'Godslaughterer'. There will be little slaughter to be found if you can't even keep track of what beings you should be killing.]

"Fair point, that…all the same, I'll let Creele know."

[Until next time, Brother.]

He hangs up and I release an exhausted sigh, the elevator ride seeming to drag on far longer than usual.

Christ, how the Hell has the past nine hours somehow left me more drained than fights against freaking Gods do?

I let that thought trail off into nothing as I walk into my home, inwardly wincing as I realize that I'll have to have a very uncomfortable conversation with Ambriel now that I've begrudgingly accepted that at least hearing her out isn't a terrible idea.

So I'm more than a little surprised when there's no Angel or Audrey in the apartment, only a Witch.

Who looks like she's trying, and failing rather miserably, at making an Electric Lemonade.

"You're adding too much Curacao. Mix in a bit more lemon and that'll give it a sweeter taste."

She doesn't react to my sudden appearance aside from an idle reply, "Creele said you got kidnapped by the Quiet Land and not more than an hour later the entire Monasteries are being upturned as Quiet Landers are making contact and proposing plans for joint searches for some kind of 'pseudo-deity' things. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you kicked this off, I'm getting the impression that exciting events follow you like carrion birds follow an army."

I exhaustedly collapse into a nearby sofa and dryly retort, "Hey it ain't just me that has this problem. Just take a look at Kusanagi. Dude goes through his life without much in the way of supernatural events, becomes a Campione and all of the sudden it's Freaky Friday eight days a week."

"So? My point still stands."

I'm about to offer up a snarky reply when a glass full of bright blue deliciousness is offered to me and I decide that gratitude is a more appropriate response than snideness.

"Thanks, I needed this."

She merely nods in confirmation and carefully sips on her own, making a face that suggests she isn't quite sure what I find quite so enjoyable about it.

I just down mine in a single gulp and instantly feel myself perk up a bit, the simultaneously burning and freezing concoction making its way down my throat in a carbonated fizzle of deliciousness.

I use a brief application of Magic to send the glass levitating towards the sink before asking, "So where's Ambriel and Audrey? I figured they would be here."

She rolls her eyes and I take the opportunity to 'borrow' her drink and down that too.

"Audrey took her to another Baseball game, they probably won't be back until way later tonight. I tried to warn the Angel that she might end up on the kiss cam with Audrey if she wasn't careful, but…beats me if she took that bit of advice seriously."

I can't help but briefly smirk at that, marveling at Audrey's ability to somehow never cease in her quest get in somebody's pants.

"Well, she's nothing if not persistent."

"That's about the nicest way you could put it…", is the Witch's resigned reply.

Yet again sending the empty glass back towards the kitchen I notice Eliza giving me a searching gaze, a mix of confusion and curiosity in her eyes.

"See something you like?"

She ignores my glib remark and slowly says, "I'm…not really sure. Did going to the Quiet Land do something to you? I don't really know how to describe it, but it's almost like you have an aura more powerful than before. More domineering and noticeable, without a doubt."

I briefly wonder where this sudden observation came from…and then I remember being given Kur's Authority by Amar.

A Dragon type-Authority that has connection in legend to the Underworld? That kinda power would definitely create a draw for Magically sensitive people.

"Ah, well, I did kinda receive an Authority while I was over there-"

"The Hell?! You 'received' an Authority? How does that work?"

I have to reign in my sigh at her sudden questions, realizing that while the vast majority of the Monastics now know about the Quiet Land taking an active part in things, they're still in the dark about Amar's past and some of the more sordid details of that affair.

Eliza is one of em'. And while it'd be simple to just show her the highlights using Soul Read…I can't help but remember Amar's words about how he never once regretted embracing romantic pursuits, despite the pain and loss it brought.

Taking a deep breath I give her a searching look, ignoring her questioning expression.

Raptor like features that give her a predatory appearance, although some of the intensity is smoothed out by her Witch blood and youth, creating a beauty that doesn't come off as fragile or delicate.

Grey hair that almost drifts into the territory of silver falling down to the nape of her neck while piercing aqua eyes search my own.

A slim-yet athletically tight-build that is on uncharacteristic display, only a long sleeve t-shirt and yoga pants covering her frame as opposed to the baggier stuff she tends to prefer.

…That's the surface level stuff.

Deeper down, she's similar to me in startling ways. We were both branded with Commandment Seals at one point due to us trying to find a more 'humane' way to carrying out the Monasteries work, both of us coming to the realization that the world cares little for our wishes and wants.

Then you have her prickly sense of humor, the fact that at one point she quite literally saved my life, has happily worked alongside me without question for the few short months I've been a Campione…

Shit, is it any wonder I started to feel attracted to her on multiple levels?

"Jereth? You in there?"

I briefly shake my head and heave out a massive sigh before locking my own eyes into hers and seriously intoning, "Well…I think it's gonna be way easier if I just show you all of it, explaining the mess of things that I just went through verbally would take hours…"

She happily nods before smugly asking, "Should I be worried that your Soul Read attempt is going to go out of control again?"

I would laugh, but…I think the both of us are gonna have a bit of an awkward moment once this is all said and done.

So I elect to hold my peace and instead blandly intone, "Soul Read."


Nice to see I wasn't exaggerating about that awkward silence.

Eliza is standing stock still, her eyes darting back and forth as she seems to mentally review everything I just shared with her.

And I mean everything.

"…Jesus Christ, that Dragon Authority is terrifying."

I can't resist a small shiver at the memory of almost being eaten alive and mutter, "Yeah, no kidding…"

Her brow furrows even further.

"…Seems a safe bet that Ambriel's initial madness was a result of these pseudo-divinities actions, wasn't it?"

"Potentially Alice's vision as well. At this point I wouldn't put anything past these supposed creatures."

The slightest hints of incredulity join said furrows brow.

"And he was banging two Goddesses?"

"Truly, a man among men. If only because I've never heard of balls those big before…"

She shakes her head back and forth in awe, the two of us falling silent yet again.

Her cheeks gain the slightest dustings of pink.

"…So where do we go from here?"

I don't have to ask her to be more specific.

I know exactly what she's talking about.

"I…don't really know. But I do know I trust Amar's advice that…delaying, might end up with us missing something…"

She shyly nods-an emotion that I feel myself, somewhat embarrassingly-and I gently hold her hand before pulling her onto my lap, the tiny slip of a woman tucking her legs sideways and leaning her shoulder against mine so that we can meet each other's gazes.

And we both immediately wince, knowing perfectly well that we don't have a clue on how to proceed from there.

How flipping sad is that?

"…So what exactly do we do now?"

Her tentative question leaves me stumped and I use one arm to scratch the back of my head, the other still lightly wrapped around her lithe body.

"I guess…we go on a date?"

She ponders on that before carefully nodding and asking, "Sounds good…where do you want to go?"

"I was, uhh…kinda hoping you would have an idea?"

We both awkwardly shift for a moment-

-and then break out into soft laughter.

"Man, we really don't have a clue, do we?"

Eliza smiles beautifully and leans a bit more into me before quietly replying, "We seriously don't. Then again, we aren't exactly normal, are we?"

"Abnormal, really."

More silence, but this one isn't uncomfortable.

"Jereth, what was the Godslaughterer talking about when he said you might want to talk to Ambriel about helping you with 'issues'?"

My wince is far more noticeable this time.

"I…may have not been entirely honest with myself over the years regarding my peace of mind."

"Hmm…"

I raise an eyebrow and curiously ask, "That's it? Just, 'hmm'?"

She shrugs indifferently.

"It already sounds like you've got a handle on whatever it is that's bothering you. Besides, we've been inside each others heads before, remember? I know what you've been through in life, it running pretty parallel to my own. That's all the knowledge I need."

Her admission causes a strangely warm feeling in my chest…before she offers up an unrepentant grin in my direction.

"Well, that and I finally talked to Tim and heard about how he kicked your ass before your boyfriend Lucho had to swoop in and save you."

My right eye spastically twitches and I privately resolve to shove Kosall up Tim's ass at first opportunity given. Let's see him heal from that!

Eliza just laughs at me and I scowl before abruptly using my arm that was previously lightly wrapped around her waist to pin her arms to her side and trap her against my chest, our faces now dangerously close.

"Careful as you go, Witch. Aren't you familiar with the tales of what happens to Maidens that anger their captors? And you are in my castle, so to speak…"

I'm surprised when instead of appearing annoyed, embarrassed or amused…she looks playful.

"Oh? Has it maybe occurred to you that, if we're just going to stay at home, maybe I'd like to see what happens in the Dragon's bedchambers?"

I blink, struck dumb by that admission-

-before two simultaneous rumbles echo throughout my head as Kur and Fenrir attempt to influence my actions, their respective natures making themselves known in the most base way possible.

Kur, what with kidnapping Ereshkigal off to the ends of the Earth to do who knows what with (because that's just what Dragons do) and Fenrir just being…well, Fenrir likes primal things.

Not many things are more primal than sex.

Nonetheless I keep my cool and instead ask, "Oh? Are you proposing something, Elizaveta?"

Something seems to flash in her eyes at the way I say her name before her tongue darts out to sensually lick her lips…and then, to my shock, she seems to lose some of her momentum, hesitantly asking, "Um, so do you, y'know…mind the way my body is? I mean, I was talking with Ambriel earlier and she said I could probably learn to alter my aging in a few weeks, if this isn't to your liking-"

She gives an adorable squeak as my free hand grabs her thigh, my fingers almost able to touch each other in a perfect circle, and roughly drag her lower half forward so that she can feel my erection that's almost becoming painful to keep under wraps.

Letting an annoyed growl escape my lips I tell her, "Does it feel like I think you're unattractive? Or did you forget how I reacted at More Mesa beach? I could care less what you look like, Eliza, as long as it's you."

That was without a doubt the right thing to say as I feel a slight shudder in her lower half that causes me to lightly pant in desire, her eyes boring into mine with an intensity that's delicious.

"And besides, if you ever do learn to control your aging, that just means I get to have you whatever way I want."

Ok, maybe Fenrir and Kur are having a bit of a noticeable effect on me, because that was talking dirty at it's most filthy.

Eliza just salaciously smirks and purrs out, "Well, maybe if you ask me nicely…"

"Ah, so how's this for nice?"

I grab the back of her head and lace my fingers through her luxuriously soft hair before bringing our lips together in a rough kiss, both of us simultaneously gasping at the sudden rush of adrenaline and arousal.

The almost unnoticeable trace of rosemary enters my sinuses and I breathe deeply, enjoying Eliza's natural scent that she goes to great lengths to typically make untraceable.

The aroma pushes me even further and my bulging groin almost hurts I'm so damn aroused.

Seeking an outlet for my lust I bend Eliza backwards at the waist, my arm that's wrapped around her arms pushing her body further into mine and I deepen our kiss, her head canted back at an extreme angle as I dive my tongue deeper into her mouth, a pleased moan issuing from the both of us.

She's so…addictive.

Wanting to taste even more of her I almost violently explore with my tongue, tracing her teeth, gums, throat…

Yeah, I think that just about clinches it that Kur and Fenrir are affecting me when it comes to this kinda stuff. I usually get like this during the main event, not foreplay!

I promptly kick that thought aside and enjoy myself, only after who knows how long of heated make-out do I pull back, glistening strands of saliva leaking from our mouths as we both gasp for air, an excited flush decorating both of our faces.

"That…was fun."

I can't help but grin at her words and playfully reply, "Enough of a warm up for you?"

Her answering smirk sends something cold and bestial up my spine.

"Yes. Yes it was."


While I would hesitate to call either myself or Eliza masters of the bedroom, we do have a pretty solid grasp of how to make a night that someone won't forget anytime soon, if ever.

With the two of us copulating together, well…I think it's going to be a wild ride.

"We're going to need a bigger chair."

Before she can reply I scoop her up in my arms and carry her bridal style to my bedroom, kicking open the door and not bothering to shut it closed behind me before I drop her onto the queen-sized mattress.

No sooner does she land on the soft surface than she graceful rises to her knees, tugging my shirt over my head and with a greedy expression starts gently laying kisses over my abs and pecs, her small and deadly hands gently ghosting my back muscles and lats.

I grit my teeth and heavily breathe in and out, pushing back against the mental compulsions to skip all the openers and get straight to the fucking.

Screw that, I'm going to enjoy this part as long as I can!

Goddamit, wearing cargo shorts wasn't the best of ideas, my cock feels like someone wrapped it in several layers of duct tape or some shit…

I'm abruptly brought out of my thoughts as Eliza gently takes my right nipple into her mouth, fingers possessively latched onto my shoulders as she gently nibbles and sucks, the sensation a maddening mix of tickling and numbing.

"That's…ugh, pretty damn good…Eliza…but turnabout is fair play."

Not waiting for her to answer I hook my fingers under her shirt and swiftly pull it off, revealing her pale skin in all it's highly defined glory.

But hello…

Smirking evilly I draw closer to her beautiful features and teasingly whisper, "No bra? Eliza, I had no idea you were like that…"

She pouts of all things before shyly muttering, "Why bother? It's not like I'm loaded down with stuff to pack in there…"

I sensually trace a finger around her slight chest, letting my nail gently tease the top of a light pink nipple all the while saying, "You worry too much, Eliza. There's more to a Woman than breasts…and besides-"

I bend forward and take her left tit into my mouth, gently sucking and stretching the warm skin and drawing a shuddering gasp from her.

"-You make it sound like there's nothing to play with here. I beg to differ."

"God you sound, mmm~, like such a perv…"

That makes me laugh.

"Not the first time I've ever been accused of that particular defect, funnily enough. But this pervert knows a thing or two…"

I get on my own knees and slowly drag my tongue across her stomach, dropping the occasional kiss to her navel and letting my hands caress her legs, thighs and spine, slowly arousing her even more as I avoid the more intimate areas of her body.

Within a minute there's a noticeable dampness to her folds even through her clothing, her eyes half closed in enjoyment even as her hands lightly play with my hair and gently massage my scalp, a pleasurable feeling all on its own.

A hungry grin on my face I let my hands freely wander, now moving to stroke her inner thigh and gently squeeze her ass, the feeling of her tight, small rear giving way beneath my fingers borderline addictive.

I ever so slowly pull her pants and underwear past her hips, playing with the elastic and gently exposing her taut hips, smooth pubis and, at last, her lush pink lips, already lightly swollen from our actions.

"Oh…someone's excited…"

She seems to preen under my words and ministrations, my fingers now gently playing with her labia and my lips lightly caressing the hairless patch of skin just above her mound.

"And you're-mmm~not?"

I ignore her teasing tone and instead abruptly stand up, grabbing her legs and lifting her into the air before sitting down cross-legged on the bed, depositing her onto her back where she's nestled between my legs, my dick throbbing against her spine even as her face adopts an incredibly aroused expression at our positioning, her lower half held immobile in my grasp and her sex mere centimeters away from my mouth.

"You know…", I state idly, "I've always wondered what a Witch tastes like…"

I don't give her a chance to respond and instead gently insert my tongue into her cunt, her lips wetly spreading and a short gasp leaving her throat.

…Damn, there's a bitterness to her juices, sure…but it's almost like a citrus kind of bitterness, something I definitely don't mind indulging in…

Ah shit, I really am turning into a pervert.

Might as go all the way then.

"Hey, Witch."

Her gaze meets mine, my groin twitching painfully at the sight of her aqua orbs staring into my own green ones as I go down on her, her chest lightly heaving as I go back to leisurely exploring her insides.

"Y-yeah?"

"Did you know I'm one of the very special people on this planet that can roll their tongue?"

A chuckle of all things escapes her throat, eyes rolling once before she dryly-if somewhat erotically-replies, "No, but I should have known-ahh~that you would have something inflates your ego…"

I grin and halt my oral stimulation just long enough to playfully tell her, "Let's see if you're still laughing after I do this."

I rearrange my arms so that my left is holding her up by her hips, freeing up my right to gently caress her folds back, revealing her clit. Smirking, I roll my tongue, lightly set the nub inside the folded muscle…

And then I go to town.

A brief squeak escapes past her lips and her abdomen bucks against my hold with sudden force, her hands clutching the bedsheets as the sudden stimulation forces her to find some kind of outlet for the pressure, me keeping her from actually moving the part that's being relentlessly teased.

Fuck I love this technique.

Not only does it provide 360 degrees stimulation to one of the most sensitive parts of the female body, it frees up my hands to do this!

Even as she writhes and lets out pleased little gasps at my actions I take my right hand-now no longer needed to expose her clit-and plunge two fingers into her glistening sex right beneath my chin, causing her to moan seductively and twitch with even more frenzied energy.

Damn she's tight…looks like loosening her up a little might be necessary to avoid discomfort when we get down to the main event.

With that in mind I softly twist and stretch my fingers, investigating her walls textures and erogenous zones, looking for that special spot-

"Ah~!"

Oh, found it. Looks like her G-spot is at a slight angle to the left, but more or less located a bit below her navel…that's very good to know.

Grinning like a madman I pump my fingers in and out at a frenzied rate even as I do the same with my tongue, thrashing the muscle up, down, left, right…any way and every way.

Eliza is practically writhing at this point, her breath coming fast and heavy, legs kicking futile in the air as I bring her closer to the edge…

But not over it.

She is Monastic trained, after all…it'll take a little bit extra than this to really get the reaction I'm looking for.

With that in mind I pull a move that had worked rather splendidly on Raffaello.

Coating my tongue with the lightest of electrical currents I bring my lips down on her clit-still securely wrapped up in my mouth's embrace-and suck as hard as I can.

Eliza screams, her back arching and eyes flying wide as the simultaneous numbing and burning overload of pleasure hits her, her cunt spastically twitching around my fingers as she hits her pleasure high.

Hmm…no squirting though. Ah well, maybe that'll come later.

Instead I just lovingly release my hold on her body, retracting my fingers with a quiet sucking noise and letting her legs slide down my shoulders, her face flushed crimson and her rapid pants wet and erotic.

I can't help the primal shiver that crawls down my spine as I look at the results of my handiwork, an odd feeling of both dominance and tenderness dancing in my chest at what I can make my partner feel.

Which leaves me completely unprepared for her to suddenly wrap her legs around my waist, heave herself forward and unbalance me enough that I fall flat against the mattress, our positions reversed with her gazing down on me.

…I like this.

"That…was pretty damn good…my turn."

Before anything resembling an intelligent response makes it's way to my brain she swiftly leans forward and captures my lips in a blazing kiss, her tongue violently wrestling mine aside before she breaks said lip-lock in less than a second, her eyes glittering with unbridled excitement.

"Let me show you my own bit of bedroom ingenuity…"

An animalistic growl escapes my throat and I gravelly spit out, "Witch, you are really making it hard for me to keep my cool…"

She just shoots me an impish look and with her graceful, lethal fingers aggravatingly and gradually unbuttons my pants, sensually and tantalizingly pulling down the zipper before lightly setting her hands on my hips-

-and in a motion that makes me moan at the release of pressure she yanks my clothing downwards and finally frees up my cock to stand at full mast, no longer kept contained.

"Heh, and you accused me of being overly excited?"

"None of that sass now, it'll kill the mood…"

"Are you kidding? I think at least half of this relationship is based off of sass."

I'm about to respond when she finishes divesting me of my pants and underwear, tossing the clothing aside and proceeding to use her lithe hands to cup my balls and gently squeeze them, tongue lightly darting forward and licking around the sensitive organs with circular motions and cutting off whatever it was I was going to say as I lightly groan.

Damn…I can't decide if her touch is more ticklish or more numbing, the genital massage varying between those two extremes as I grit my teeth in pleasure.

Although gritting my teeth doesn't work so well at keeping me quiet once she moves her way on up, tongue maddeningly slow in tracing a line up my shaft, leisurely exploring the skin in languid sweeps and gentle kisses until finally she arrives at my tip.

Which, at this point, is practically overflowing with precum.

What can I say? I've been excited.

"Did I keep you waiting~?"

That fucking teasing voice of hers almost pushes me into grabbing her head and starting things off that way…but that's mostly just Fenrir and Kur talking.

Buzz off, assholes, I'm a gentleman!

Mostly…

I force a relaxed grin and genially reply, "Nah, I was having the time of my life here. Is it over already?"

Something in her eyes flickers at my teasing and her mouth curves upwards in an evil smile.

"No. But you will be."

And with that she brushes her hair to one side-an action that somehow ends up being just as sensual as her words-takes a deep breath…

…and swallows my dick whole, her head darting downwards like a bird grabbing it's prey.

"Shit!"

I nearly climax right then and there, the sudden warmth and texture of Eliza's throat, of my cock being sucked that deep inside her, practically pushing me over the edge in one go.

"That…ugh…wasn't fair."

She just hums deep inside her throat, the sudden vibration sending me to cloud 9 and it's all I can do to not blow my load inside her.

…Goddamn, I forgot Monastic woman are pretty damn good at their craft. Despite the size difference between us she's taking my dick like it's nothing.

Well…I can't exactly profess to having much of a gag reflex myself. That get's beaten out of you pretty quick during training...

And I'm sure as shit not complaining! This feels incredible

With exaggerated care she slowly retracts her head from my loins, her teeth gently nibbling at my cock as she does so, the motion causing her mouth and throat to contract and heightening my pleasure to almost unbearable levels.

"Damn, Eliza…you gotta go a little easy on me there, or this'll be over in a flash with only my bruised ego leftover."

She lets go of my chode with a sharp pop and playfully bats her eyelashes at me, curiously asking, "Oh, am I that good at it?"

"Unfairly so."

The smirk she shoots me wouldn't seem out of place on a gremlin's.

"Well maybe I just need to cool you down a little then~."

Before I can even ask what that means she manifests a chunk of ice with an idle wave of her hand-pretty slick elemental manipulation there, I'll admit-and sexily slips it into her mouth.

Oh.

Oh I get it.

A chuckle I have no control over escapes me, a chuckle that turns into a full-blown gasp as she again takes my cock in her mouth, the chill of her icy tongue and throat warring with the heat coming from my engorged member, making for a burning experience that I am completely okay with.

More than okay with as she slowly starts to bob her head up and down, light swirls of her frozen tongue and playful nibbles of her frigid teeth bringing me once again to the cusp.

And then she does something that finally brings me to my limit.

She gently gathers my hands in her own, ever so deliberately brings them to either side of her head…and sets them there, giving me a submissive gaze as she stops her movements, tacitly allowing me permission to take the lead.

Fucking Hell, I kinda understand the whole stigma about Witches being dangerous seductresses now.

I start off slow, lightly caressing her hair and scalp with my fingers as I guide her head up and down my cock, working myself deeper and deeper into her mouth.

After a few shallow, almost loving dips of her neck I pick up the pace, lightly bucking my hips forward as I aim to get as much friction out of the movements as I can.

Within what feels like an eternity-but is probably more like a minute-I feel my abdomen and groin tighten and flex, my body trying to reach it's first climax.

"Eliza, I'm-"

She doesn't make any reply other than to knock my hands away and deepthroat me as much as she can, animalistic grunts slipping past my clenched teeth as I feel my cock pulse several times in quick succession, my Witch's throat tightening and squeezing every last drop out of me as she almost greedily sucks me off, the sensations leaving me gasping for breath as they wear off.

"Damn…that was something else…"

Eliza doesn't respond except for to extricate herself from my loins and straighten out her back-

-upon which she immediately starts coughing and holding her larynx, my afterglow and contentment vanishing just like that as lean forward and worriedly inspect her, furiously whispering, "Dammit Eliza, if it hurt to do that fucking say something! Christ, I didn't mean…to…"

My voice trails off as I hear something emanating from the Witch that I never thought I would hear in a million years.

Giggling.

She raises her face to meet mine and there's nothing on it but playful mischief.

"Got you~!"

"That wasn't fucking funny!"

"Nope, but your reaction sure was…"

I try to violently scowl but fail miserably, a grin appearing on my lips instead.

"…Alright, I'll admit you got me there."

"Damn right I did. Consider that long overdue payback for when you bit my ear."

"Hmm…I had no idea Witches could hold on to a grudge for that long. Or be so petty."

She gently laughs and presses into my chest, leaning forward and playfully nibbling on my earlobe as she whispers, "It was rather cute how worried you were…"

"Please don't use the word cute when describing me. My testosterone levels are already fragile enough as is."

Her hand suddenly grips my renewed erection and she brings her head around so that we're staring eye-to-eye, fire dancing in those lovely aqua orbs.

"That's not what I feel…"

A content smile pulls my lips upwards and I gather her lithe frame in my arms, complimenting her with, "Dunno if I've told you…but you are simply radiant when you're like this…"

Her eyebrows raise a fraction in surprise as she asks, "When I'm like this?"

"Happy, playful, joking, even a tad malicious…I like this you."

A bit of pink dusts her no longer quite as red cheeks, a small smile making it's way onto her beautiful features even as she slowly grinds her dripping sex over my shaft, amusedly replying, "Really? I couldn't tell…"

Tenderly pushing her flat on the bed so that I'm looming over her I lightly plant a kiss on her forehead and murmur, "Well, you know what they say. Show, don't tell…"

She slowly licks her lips and seductively whispers, "Go ahead and show me then…"

I don't need to hear anything more than that before I align myself with her moist lips and carefully, even lovingly, push.

Like it or not, there is a size difference between us and even if we're both lubed up enough that friction is more of a concept than it is a factor, never mind the finger-fucking I gave her earlier, I'd rather not start off the most enjoyable part of things with discomfort on Eliza's end.

So despite my two outside influences howling and roaring respectively for me to go wild I ignore them and slowly ease myself inside, my jaw locked due to the tightness and muscles tensed, Eliza keeping her eyes closed and short little pants leaving her throat, even as she keeps her loins relaxed.

…Fuck! I never really had a preference in women before this…but if this keeps up, I'm definitely gonna start liking them on the smaller side.

Seriously! In between the constriction of her snatch, the obviously aroused face she's making and just the general empowerment that comes from being inside her…well, thank God I don't have to worry about refractory periods anymore.

Because I don't think I'm gonna last a terribly long time.

...

Wow, that kinda stings to admit…

"Shit you feel amazing…"

Eliza doesn't immediately respond, her hands grasping the bedsheets and biting her lower lip in obvious enjoyment.

"Nice to hear…now keep going."

I smirk at her tone and let out a trembling breath as I almost completely bury my length inside her, reveling in the feeling of heat and pressure, as well as the heavily ridged walls of her cunt.

I grit my teeth and enter the last few centimeters-

-and feel my tip bump up against something, coinciding with a sharp gasp from my Witch and a locking of eyes between us.

…Was that her cervix?

A shy smile appears on her face and she demurely says, "Well how's that for coincidence…you fit me perfectly."

Charmed by her sudden shift in demeanor I lean down and gently kiss her before amusedly replying, "Call it an act of God?"

She snorts at that-

-and both of us flinch in delight, the sudden action causing a spasm of movement that highlights the connection between our bodies.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Get moving!"

I raise an eyebrow but play along and subserviently reply, "At your command, Princess."

I extricate myself from her folds, grinning like a madman at how her lips seem to clench onto my cock every step of the way, before re-inserting myself.

Holy crap…the second time feels even better, what with something resembling a path opened up for me, yet still deliciously tight and firm. Eliza seems to enjoy it just as much, another sexy moan sipping past her lips as I again lightly brush her guarding wall.

I lose track of the next few minutes, consumed by the steady rhythm of thrusting in and out, drunk on the feelings of pleasure I'm receiving from MY Witch, from entering and exiting her body with such intimate movements.

"Ah~, Jereth, you're…mmm~, almost there?"

I bury myself balls deep in her cunt once again and pull back out, a wet slapping noise sounding out throughout the room as complete the action and breathily reply, "Y-yeah…another minute, maybe?"

Her abrupt grin catches me off guard and the following words leave me more than a little perplexed.

"How about now?"

And then her pussy just squeezes. A strangled noise escapes me and I double over in shock, brought well past the edge by the sudden action.

"W-what did you-"

Her beautiful hands cup my face and her voice is an aroused coo as she explains, "Kegels. Such a useful exercise."

I want to tell her how that is just SO not fair but all that leaves me is a sort of pained wheeze as I feel my dick almost painfully spasm, jizz coating Eliza's insides in sporadic bursts as my cock is practically being choked by my Witch's seriously intense hold.

And I wouldn't trade it for the world.

So instead I just mash my lips against hers and furiously shove my tongue down her throat, all while twitching my hips and extending the pleasure as much as I can.

"Ahh…heh, did you like that, Jereth?"

"…That's cheating."

She gives another one of those giggles that I'm quickly coming to love hearing and quirks an eyebrow at me.

"Aw, is the big bad Godslaughterer brought low by a few pelvic exercises?"

Ok, now that calls for some hardcore rebuttal!

I scoop her up in my arms and flip her around so that she's facing away from me, knees on the mattress and tight rear pressed up against my rapidly swelling cock.

"You know, that hurts my feelings…"

Even as I mutter those words into her hair I'm letting my hands run over her nubile body, twisting her nipples and stroking her sculpted muscle packed underneath deliciously smooth skin, reveling in the way she's submissively pressed up against my larger frame.

Lining up my fully turgid cock with her hole once more I playfully bite the back of her neck and murmur, "I think I might just need conjugal therapy…"

She shivers at my words and breathily replies, "Well we were just talking about how apparently you have some sort of emotional hangups, whatever that means…so I think you're-OOH~!"

Her no doubt 'funny' remark is abruptly replaced with a whimper of arousal as I slam my cock home, burying myself balls deep in one go and causing my Witch to jerk forward.

I wrap my hands around her hips and bring our bodies into a heated rhythm, the slapping sound of her rear on my groin echoing throughout the apartment, the only other sound being of our respective breathing, which is once more becoming heavy with the primal exertions of lovemaking.

In seconds I feel the familiar tightening of my abdomen, a feral smile appearing on my face and I slip my left hand to cup her flexing mound and pinch her clit, a high-pitched moan escaping her lips.

Reveling in her reaction I yet again thrust forward-

-and feel something lightly brush up against my palm, almost like a bump.

…Was that my…

Curiously pulling back and entering her once again I feel the same sensation.

Oh my God…that's my cock, bumping up against her walls hard enough and at an angle that makes it feelable through her abdomen.

I just lose my fucking mind, restraint be damned.

Weaving of Black Wool flares to life in my eyes and I lift Eliza up to a slightly modified Superman position, her body at a 45 degree angle where I use a hastily created levitation spell to keep her there, a startled gasp emanating from her and she quickly asks, "Jereth what are you-"

She shuts up with a groan of excitement as, with the help of the spell, my hands are free to explore her body, one mauling her tiny breast and the other violently massaging her clit, her hands spastically reaching behind her to grab my neck and shoulder, legs and thighs gripping my side with desperate strength as I slam into her slick cunt with more force than I previously used, animalistic grunts coming from me as I make this Witch mine.

"Ah~, Jereth that's, Ooh~, too good~!"

Her tone sends me into a frenzy of motion, the hand that was fondling her breast seeking her mouth and shoving two fingers into it, my Witch greedily sucking them off even as she whimpers in delight as I fuck her at an angle that brushes up against her G-spot, the bumpy texture heightening my own pleasure even as my remaining hand skillfully pulls and massages at her extra-sensitive cluster of nerves, the knowledge that my cock is distending her body, even if ever so slightly, leaving me drunk with power and excitement.

In what feels like the blink of an eye I feel her pussy start to yet again tighten even as I also prepare to cum, a stroke of lustful inspiration causing me to lean next to her ear and savagely growl out, "This is payback for earlier…"

Much like how I did earlier with my fingers I channel an extremely low amount of current through my extremities and cock-

-and I just ram myself home one last time, Eliza screaming as I do so even as she deep throats my fingers and her cunt grips me with involuntary strength, a ragged snarl replacing my usual voice as I climax, coating her insides with giant spurts of cum and I give several rapid thrusts, instinct taking over and demanding that I prolong my enjoyment as long as possible.

Goddamn that felt amazing.

I release the levitation spell and my Witch slumps forward weakly, my arms there to catch and cradle her as I sit us down on the bed, my tool still embedded in her warm body as it's already slowly swelling back to it's normal size.

A contented growl-almost a purr, really-leaves my chest as I look at the half-lidded expression of my Witch, her arms and legs still involuntarily twitching from the violence of her orgasm and low-level electricity stimulation.

"So, did you like my revenge?"

"It was…shocking."

I can't help it.

I laugh.

"Ok, you're automatically disqualified from giving me shit about my sense of humor in the future. That was awful."

An Angelic smile makes it's way onto her face as her body finally stops spasming, relaxing into my chest as she lazily replies, "So what was with the laugh then?"

"Obviously just to make you feel better."

"Hmm…"

I ignore her doubtful tone in favor of gently running my tongue over her ear, tasting the slight saltiness that came from the sweat we've been working up.

Back in the mood I lift up her legs and rotate her in place, enjoying the new stimulus that coats my still sheathed dick as I meet her gaze head on, the intimacy of meeting her lovely gaze while I'm inside her body causing an odd feeling to burn in my chest.

That…catches me off guard.

Doing what feels right I lean forward and gently brush her lips with my own, trying-and failing, if you ask me-to summarize said feeling by gently murmuring, "Would you call me a sappy fool for saying I'm glad I met you?"

Probably the most charming smile I've yet seen on her flawless features, she quietly replies, "If I did, I'd be acting like a complete and total hypocrite…"

Ah.

I know what this warmth is.

Affection.

…Shit, I suddenly understand why people go to such stupid lengths to help people they love all the better now.

I'm startled out of those deep thoughts as my Witch gracefully wraps her legs around my waist, arms clasped together behind my neck as she says, "You're still hard, right? C'mon, what kind of ferocious Dragon stops things halfway?"

I smirk and lightly run my tongue along her shoulder blade, quietly muttering, "The one's that been tamed by the Princess, obviously…"

I pull back and cautiously ask, "That said, are you sure you're up for more? That last bit was pretty intense and I wasn't exactly being considerate…"

She thinks on it before shrugging shyly.

"Well…being a little gentle wouldn't hurt…"

I affectionately lay a kiss on her nose and reply, "Well in that case…Soul Read."

We both gasp simultaneously as our minds connect, a deeper one than the time I bonded with Raffaello, emotions and sensation being transferred in equal part.

Which causes the warmth in my chest to blaze all the harder, an action mirrored by Eliza as both of our affections intermingle, my love of her humor, honesty and loyalty, her love of my recognition, appreciation and acceptance swirling together in a cocktail of emotions that leaves me almost light-headed.

Add that to the almost alien feeling of a tingling, pleasant soreness in my loins from being stretched to the utmost and the lines between us blur, her bodies pleasure becoming mine and vice-versa.

After a brief moment to gather our wits, we once again lock eyes-

-and only a single, shared soul stares at itself.

While the previous hour or so was one of violent-almost primal, really-sex, the next is some of the most tender, ardent lovemaking I've ever partook in.

And I wouldn't be over exaggerating to say it was an hour of some of the most genuine happiness I've felt in far too long.


I can't help but smile at the peaceful expression on Eliza's face as she rests her head on my chest, not really asleep but somewhere in the twilight of consciousness and dreamworld, our recent exertions and the emotional upheaval that had come from being connected through Soul Read had done a number and not all of us have the natural resiliency of a Campione.

Gently brushing aside a strand of her hair that was about to fall into her eyes I lightly hug her tighter, marveling at how quickly things seem to have progressed during the past day or so.

Met the Quiet Land, met the Godslaughterer, learned the truth of the universe, fought the Godslaughterer, and then…well, I got laid and realized the woman who's currently snuggled into my side is someone I'm, well…in love with, I guess?

It had been a sort of unspoken agreement after we'd finally finished making love and taken an amorous shower together that I wouldn't completely drop Soul Read's connection. Reduce it? Sure. But dissolve it?

We'd both known each other's feeling on the matter and I'd left it just intact enough that we can always be aware of the others presence, a comforting action that I liken to having an old friend walk you to your job interview, that sort of given companionship that doesn't need justification nor explanation.

…Audrey is gonna be bouncing off the fucking walls when she gets back.

I cast one last glance at my lovely little Witch, now clad in a simple tank top and sweatpants, and feel that goofy smile come to my face again.

Ugh, I'm such a bleeding heart at the oddest of times.

Well, maybe it's not odd…just unexpected.

I sure as shit had never thought I'd find anything approaching a romantic interest during my life, yet here I am.

Life surprises.

She suddenly shifts and, with barely a moments drowsiness to show for it, seems to fully wake up from her half-asleep state, one piercing aqua orb shifting upwards to stare into mine and she gracefully stretches, a few subdued pops and cracks coming from her joints.

"How long was I out?"

"Only like half-an-hour, welcome back to the land of the living."

She cutely yawns before draping an arm over my chest and languidly replying, "I see someone did a bit of housekeeping while I was gone…"

I amusedly smile and take a whiff of the scent of fresh bedsheets, the previous ones being, well…let's just say rather messy.

"And unless my eyes deceive me, that was a pretty liberal application of the, 'morning after' Spell."

She offers up the smallest of grins and lightly brushes a hand over her abdomen, dryly explaining, "And thank Christ for it, otherwise I'd be missing my next period for sure, what with all the jizz you dumped into me…"

I push myself back against the bed's headboard so that I'm in a sitting position, pulling Eliza into my lap and cradling her in my arms as I playfully frown.

"Easy with the dirty talk there, otherwise I might find myself wanting to go for another round."

Her expression is more than a little perplexed.

"…You're not joking, are you?"

"Nope. Having one Hell of an augmented body with two vitality-oriented Authorities will do that to you."

"Christ, I better watch myself…"

I'm about to reply when I hear the front door to the apartment open and Audrey yells, "Ellie, we're home! You hear the news about your boyfriend apparently kicking over a giant anthill yet again? Wait a second…hey, Ellie! What smells like sex?! And why wasn't I invited?!"

I lock a laugh behind my teeth and glance at Eliza, who looks like she wants the ground to open up and swallow her whole.

"Does she do this whenever I'm not around?"

"…Yes."

Her tone is painfully neutral and it takes everything I have to not break out cackling in delight, instead opting to stand up and take her hand in my own, easily stating, "Well why don't we finally give her something to really gossip about?"

Looking like she's about to march to her own execution Eliza just sighs and mutters, "Well…she'll find out on her own sooner or later…"

I smirk and push open the bedroom door and half-drag the Witch alongside me, reticence apparent in every movement.

I walk out into the hallway and find Ambriel and Audrey staring at the two of us in varying levels of surprise.

Ambriel merely raises an eyebrow before an imperceptibly small smile crosses her face, so fleeting that I'm half convinced I imagined it.

Audrey is…less composed.

With a deafening squeal of joy she practically teleports forward, picking up Eliza in a painful looking hug and swinging her side to side as she gleefully shouts, "My little Ellie is finally growing up! Getting both a boyfriend and a good fucking in one night, ooh I'm so proud of you!"

The smaller Esoteric gives me a pleading look to which I smoothly shrug in helplessness, not at all eager to interrupt their team bonding.

…Also because it's just too damn funny to watch.

I leave the two of them to their antics and subtly motion for Ambriel to follow me, the Angel doing so without comment.

As we walk onto the veranda and wordlessly take our seats, me trying not to snort in amusement at the fact that one of Yahweh's very own messengers is decked out in the orange and black colors of the home team, I can't help but frown as I feel an odd tugging in the back of my head, like there's something try to influence it.

Focusing a bit more on the sensation I'm experiencing I have to resist the urge to pinch the bridge of my nose as I realize that it's possessiveness.

Fucking Kur with the whole, 'kidnapping Goddesses and absconding with them' deal…I wonder if it's only me that has Authorities that constantly try to steer my decisions, or if al the other Campione have it.

Sure would go a long way towards explaining Doni and Voban…

"Jereth? You wished to speak to me?"

I give an irritated shake of my head and reply, "Right, sorry…actually, I have no idea where to even begin with this."

"Words typically help."

I give her a suspicious look and ask, "Was that a joke?"

"Perhaps it was."

I heave out a sigh and explain, "In short, I just met someone who…opened my eyes, I guess, to some things and I mostly just want to ask you one question."

She calmly meets my gaze, not displaying any outward emotion.

"You pointed out some of my flaws last time we spoke. Disinterest and frustration in the methods I'm employing, a refusal to acknowledge certain facets of who I am, a hair-trigger temper when sufficiently angered, misguided motives for carrying out my plans…some of these I agree with, some of them I don't. What you didn't talk about…"

At this point I can't help but look at her with a puzzled expression.

"How the fuck were you planning on actually helping me? It's one thing to point out what you perceive as flaws…it's another thing entirely to solve them. What the Hell was your plan? Sit me down in a chair and ask me if I had unrequited sexual feelings for my mom? Feel free to say otherwise, but most 'standard' therapeutic techniques won't work on Monastics, if only because we're all too aware of what the Hell it is you're trying to pull."

She doesn't seem concerned in the slightest and merely says, "I had no intention of employing these methods in the first place. For one thing, why I offered to aid you has nothing to do with a disability, mental imbalance or any other such handicap. Why I intervened is because while your life experiences have driven you to accomplish an admirable goal, your personality providing you with the resolve to carry it out…you are going about this crusade of yours in a harmful way."

I'm about to ask what the fuck that means when she sadly finishes with, "Harmful to yourself."

I blink.

Then another blink.

"…You're gonna need to explain that statement to me."

She offers a tired smile before quietly saying, "When I confronted you not more than a few days ago, do you remember what my words were? What the intent behind them was? I barely even suggested that you would fail, aside from a single sentence meant to prove a point. All I did was point out how unsatisfied and painful it would be for you to maintain your current course. Answer me, what were the first words I said to you after we vacated your mind?"

I fall silent, rapidly calling up my memories of our argument…and leaving me lost for words.

"You've had a difficult life…Jereth."

"Precisely. I am not clairvoyant. You may very well succeed as you are now, I cannot say."

Her eyes of mismatched color seem to blaze to life and she deliberately tells me, "But you will not be happy. Not to any real extent."

I struggle to form an argument against her.

"Like Hell I won't be happy, especially after tonight! And let's assume I was all alone and miserable, what the fuck would it matter on the grand scheme of things?"

"It would matter little. But it would matter to me."

"Huh?"

Wow. Chalk that one up to the greatest and smartest of replies I've ever made…

"The fuck does that mean?"

She looks amused at my complete confusion.

"It means precisely what it sounds like. I care about your happiness, therefore I wish to help you attain some measure of it, if you will let me."

"No, I get what you meant-sorta, I guess-but why the Hell do you even want to do that in the first place?!"

She offers up a beatific smile and cheerily says, "Remember what I said about the Gemini and my interest in unusual individuals? You most certainly qualify. Thus, I have decided to help you, that being something I both wish to do and as a consequence of who I am."

This time I don't bother hiding my nose pinch and incredulously ask, "So let me get this straight…you decided to make sure that I, a killer of Gods, a person that has done things that go against what you stand for…can be happy?"

She nods.

"That's so STUPID! What the bloody Christ kind of reason is that?! It's like you spent five seconds thinking about things and then just said, 'fuck it'!"

She gives me an admonishing glare and retorts, "Are you one to criticize others about making hasty, life altering decisions on a whim?"

I'm about to give her a piece of my mind-

-and then I fall silent, remembering how I started off on this path…after Johannesburg and those three…

"…Fine. You win."

She seems a little too happy at my grumble of admission and I can't help a cheap shot of, "Can't help but wonder what Bid Daddy Bible would think of you helping someone like me…"

To my further chagrin she just continues to smile and easily replies, "Father was always the forgiving sort, sometimes to a fault. No doubt he would be pleased at my actions…"

I can't help but raise a skeptical eyebrow and archly ask, "Forgiving to a fault? I guess flooding most of Turkey and Armenia was just an accident, right?"

"You of all people should know the difference between a God and a Heretic God."

Forget it, I'm not in the mood to argue.

"So, shall we begin?"

Her features show nothing but calm attentiveness and I briefly look up to the sky, hidden by pale fog illuminated by the cities lights.

…Well shit, isn't that a nice little bit of foreshadowing?

"Sure, why not? What do I do?"

"Well…", she begins, a bright smile adorning her lips and accentuating her natural etherealness.

"Why don't we start simple? Why don't you tell me what you want? Not what you think you want, or what you think other people think you should want…what you want."

…Now that's a loaded question.

I lean back in my chair and take a moment to think about that, since she doesn't seem to be in any particular rush for an answer.

Shit, I've never really given that any thought. What I've 'wanted' has always just seemed so secondary to what 'is' that after awhile I stopped thinking about it entirely…

I gaze around, lost in thought…and through the glass doors leading inside to the apartment I see Audrey pouring a red faced Eliza some kind of beer, obviously laughing at the young woman over some no doubt raunchy joke.

Unbidden, my mind goes to the last conversation I had with Creele, of how my oldest friend, in his own special way, tried to help me.

Of how I'd seen Doni and his family react, of that sort of tranquility Raffaello and I had shared while watching Alec, Doni and the rest play off of each other.

…And I can't believe I'm fucking saying this…but of how Tim and I had traveled through South America when I first became a Campione, probably my only ally during that time and who had stuck it out with me despite the shit we gave each other.

And just like that I have my answer.

"I can't tell you what I want, I don't have the slightest clue yet…", is my reply to Ambriel's question.

An honest, slightly sheepish grin tugs at my mouth.

"But I can tell you what I already have."

The joyful dance of light in the Angel's eyes tells me that I answered correctly.


The knot is tied (somewhat) between Jereth and Eliza, He's talking with Ambriel about his future (work in progress) and now has a clear goal in mind what with hunting down the pseudo-divinities and all (apocalypse incoming, captain).

And now the hunt begins in earnest, although next chapter is gonna highlight that the scope of the conflict is drawing in more and more players...you'll see what I mean when we get there.

ARSLOTHES: Plenty of readers said they'd like to see more of Raffaello and it's an easy enough thing to give her a greater role to play in the story, but right now she isn't quite in a position to hang around Jereth. Rest assured, in the future that'll change :D

Dark White Fang: Well, turns out you weren't waiting very long...and yeah, I really tried to portray the Godslaughterer as someone who, if Jereth had actually had to fight them for real, wouldn't have had the slightest prayer of defeating. Serves as both a humbling reminder and warning of what he's up against.

desdelor97: Спасибо!

Temsen: Pfft, Princesses are yesterdays fad, it's all about the Goddesses! Although he's already pretty aware of how Kur has a weird obsession with them...I just know I'm gonna have fun with his and Athena's interactions when they reunite!

piddle: I'm glad you think so, it wasn't made to do pretty things...