Hello everyone, thanks for the reviews and love!

Writing Rock: "Rangers with Candy" sounds familiar. I think I read a piece of smut with this title awhile ago, lol. Maybe you could try writing the childhood story of Nortrom and Chen. These two heroes need more stories.

coincidencless: Carl is really occupied. He's going to be extremely occupied.

LordAmon52: What's a suicidal throwing rock gang? Did you lose mid to Chen's creeps?

The Untouchable part 2: Good that you find QoP sexy, as you'll be seeing more of her.

DameCarreau: So you were 'stacking' the chapters :) And you're correct about many of those things. Thanks for the detailed review!

Necroa: Hey, I'm happy you haven't forgotten this story.

Guest: Thanks! Hmm... Razor and Visage... as a pair or what? :P


Chapter 52: Devourers of Young Minds (NSFW)

Warning: Long chapter with 60% sexual content

Introducing:

1) New pairing (they share a similar skill, too), which will kick off a new story arc in the next few chapters. This will run concurrently with the other stories, like Chen vs Silencer and Mortred's story.

2) New teacher


Carl

"Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,

Who is already sick and pale with grief,

That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she.."

Carl paced around his balcony, reciting Romeo's lines from the famous balcony scene in the Romeo and Juliet play. Learning his lines had been a breeze thanks to his photographic memory; he'd gotten everything down pat just after reading the play once through.

But still, dissatisfaction gnawed at him, because he couldn't fully get into Romeo's character. The play was about forbidden love - something he'd never experienced. Nothing was ever denied to him; he pretty much got whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted it. He'd fucked both girls and guys and he quickly got bored of every one of them. Rylai bored him too, despite being the most beautiful girl in school.

Mastering the first two magic spells had excited him at first. But this, too, died down once he'd gotten past the initial hurdles, once it was clear nobody could stop him from acquiring the full arsenal of elemental powers. He easily saw through his opponents' plans, like that time when Traxex tried to steal his things.

What's the point of invoking those spells anyway, other than to show off? Leaning over the balcony, he mused listlessly while staring into the darkness. It was getting old, having people gushing and swooning over him. There was no element of unpredictability in his life at all.

Except when it came to that woman on the rooftop helipad opposite his balcony.

She was having an affair with his dad. They were probably done and she was perched next to her private helicopter in her long fur coat and high boots. The night was freezing cold although it wasn't snowing. But instead of getting inside her aircraft, the woman was gazing at his direction.

Is she interested in me? Carl was surprised at himself for even wanting to know, and for meeting her gaze. Why was he drawn to her? Was it because she was forbidden, dangerous territory in more ways than one? Was it the power and authority she wielded? Was it that she was the only one who made him think twice about making a move?

Just the thought of that aroused him.

Tightening his coat, he turned and retreated indoors. Just before passing through the sliding doors, he tossed one more glance towards her direction. She was still looking at him. Pulse slightly raised, he went inside, undressed and lowered himself into his Jacuzzi tub. If she wanted him, she would be able to get in without knocking on his door. As he soaked in the deliciously hot, bubbly waters, he closed his eyes and visualized that happening.

Holy shit, I'm actually fantasizing about someone.

An uncertain amount of time went by, but when he opened his eyes, he saw that his wish had come true. She was standing next to the pool, taking off her fur coat and boots, revealing a skin-tight black bodysuit that matched her luscious raven hair. She settled herself on the edge of the tub, lips pursed in a sensual pout, dark, alluring eyes reaching into his soul.

"I thought you were screwing my dad," Carl smirked, trying to remain cool. Never had he thought that a woman sixteen years his senior would make him so horny.

"My, you have a dirty mouth, boy," she admonished him in her melodious, sultry voice. A slender hand decked with rings reached out and caressed his cheek. This woman knew no shame at all, and her hubristic arrogance (that was only matched by his) only made her more irresistible. Unlike those silly, insecure teenagers, she knew her worth, she knew exactly what she was doing and she gave not a single fuck about what people thought.

"Indeed, I was sleeping with Mr Sunstrider," she answered in a breathy voice, laced with desire, totally unlike the tone she used in school. "But guess who I was thinking of while I was doing it?"

Carl took hold of her wrist. He wanted her to join him in the pool right now. And as usual he got what he wished for. She stripped herself from top to toe, a ghost of a snicker crossing her face when she saw his reaction. Another jolt of arousal radiated through him when she lowered herself into the tub and pressed her nude body against him.

Tenderly, she ran her hands over his shoulders and tasted his lips, seeming to approve of them. "Oh, Carl…" she moaned as she straddled him in the water, grinding against his erection. "I didn't know you were so hot for me."

Carl's hands wandered across her bare back as their mouths locked. Her skin was remarkably smooth and supple for someone her age. "You're so gentle," he said, his hands coming round to cup her overflowing breasts. "I thought you were into pain." That was one of the reasons why he had hesitated to approach her before. He wasn't into pain; he was into pleasure. But tonight, she had taken on an entirely different persona, revealing a side of her that he'd never known existed.

"You're right, I am," she whispered into his ear. "I do enjoy inflicting pain on my partners, watching them writhe and hearing them scream and beg for mercy. But with you, it's different. Maybe it's because…" she trailed off, lightly nibbling on his ear.

"Because of?" He had truly no idea what was going on in her mind.

Her breath was like fire on his skin. "I don't know. You're the first one I can't bear to hurt."

Carl felt his cheeks grow warm - she made him sound so fragile. "It's not as if I'm underage."

She smiled. "But you do seem rather shy. Is there something holding you back?"

He swallowed indignantly. As if to prove her wrong, his fondling became bolder and more aggressive. At the back of his mind, he knew fucking her really wasn't a good idea on so many levels. But his lust was now dominating and crowding reason from his head.

As if sensing his thoughts, her tenderness suddenly sharpened to something more demanding. "It is not easy to please me, though. I'm not sure if you're up to it."

Carl frowned. No one had ever doubted his abilities in this way.

"I want to teach you how to pleasure a woman," she said, her voice turning back to the inviting, velvety quality of dark chocolate. "And of course, how to heighten your own pleasure. Would you like to learn?"

Finding himself at a loss for words for once, Carl continued to stare into those magnetic dark eyes fringed with thick lashes. He found her patronizing attitude annoying, yet at the same time he reveled in the strange new sensation of being humbled by another, the knowledge that even a godlike entity as he could be brought down from his pedestal. Her question gave the illusion of choice, but there was only one answer she would accept. "Y-yes," he replied, rendered helpless by her compelling seductiveness and unyielding authority. He could not say no to her. He had to say yes.

"Very good," the Head of Discipline said. With a light kiss on his forehead, she climbed out of the Jacuzzi dripping wet and dried herself with one of the towels draped over the chair.

Disoriented, he got out after her and threw a bathrobe over himself, his eyes transfixed on her figure. Without her heels, she stood a few inches shorter than him. "Hey, er…" he began hesitantly. What was he supposed to call her? Miss Akasha?

"Yes, dear?"

"Are you ... going home now?" As soon as the words were blurted out, he regretted saying them. He sounded so needy and pathetic.

Akasha gave a wistful sigh. "It's past midnight, and I have a really busy day tomorrow. I don't just sit around spanking bottoms all day, you know."

"I know that," he acknowledged meekly. Apart from her disciplinary duties, she also taught music and was in charge of the school's brass band. But he was still unable to ignore the crushing disappointment and frustration.

"Well, I could probably fit you in my schedule for a few minutes." She winked playfully and turned around, dropping her towel in exchange for her underwear.

Carl threw his arms around her, stopping her. He couldn't persuade her to stay, but he didn't want to let her put on her clothes either.

"You're bored aren't you?" Akasha whispered, pressing her backside against him. "Even with the play coming up."

Another surge of desire gripped him, slowing down his thoughts. Her generous boobs were inviting him to massage them, and so he surrendered to their softness. What had she said just now? Something about the play. "Yeah, the rehearsals are boring and annoying," he replied. "Especially when everyone else keeps forgetting their lines."

Sighing indulgently, Akasha pondered for a moment. "Let's see... can you play a musical instrument?"

Carl pursed his lips at the unexpected question. "Yes, quite a few actually," he said. "The piano, the violin, the clarinet, the drums, and the trumpet... those are my best ones."

"That's pretty decent. You've covered all the instrumental families. Ever considered joining the brass band?"

"Not...really." The idea of joining a band or an orchestra had never appealed to him, because he'd rather go solo than work with other people.

"My husband's coming to watch the play," Akasha continued. "And he wants a fanfare to announce his arrival. Not a pathetic one with a couple of trumpets, but a big one, like the two-hundred-strong marching band I'm directing."

Carl stopped playing with her boobs. What would the king do if he saw them like this? "Um, seems he likes his ego stroked, huh," he commented.

"Yeah, that's him," Akasha shrugged. "Wherever he goes, the whole world has to know."

"And the band's going to be performing outside in the snow? That's kind of tough isn't it?"

Akasha exhaled sharply and spun around, a flash of impatience in her eyes. "Carl, marching bands are about discipline," she explained. "Rain, hail or shine, you play."

"I don't think I want to –"

"You're going to be my band major," Akasha declared, giving his shoulders a firm squeeze. "And you'll come for practices from now on. Forget everything you know about playing solo. You're going to lead and inspire the band and enhance their sound, all two hundred of them."

"What?" Carl's jaw dropped. Again she wasn't giving him a choice, just throwing him into the deep end. No doubt he was getting the challenge he wanted, but it was also making him nervous, something that rarely happened. "But how do I – "

Akasha suddenly kissed him deeply, molding her body against his painfully hard erection. He let out a helpless moan. Sparks were going off inside his brain, growing into flames and bursting into raging fire. She withdrew, and he vaguely registered her saying something but he couldn't make sense of the words. Something about… sonic manipulation. It was impossible for his brain to function when a queen was kneeling down before him, deep-throating him and handling his family jewels. He jolted awake only when he felt the sharpness of teeth.

"Goodness, you're really sensitive to pain, huh." She straightened up, stroking him gently as if to make up for her roughness earlier.

Carl couldn't take it any more. He grabbed her hand and pulled her with him towards his bedroom. She didn't resist, and he frantically pushed open the sliding doors. Most people got floored when they saw how luxurious his room was, but not her. They jumped straight into his bed.

"Darling," she crooned as she guided him inside her. "Have you forgotten something?"

"Huh?" His mind barely registered her words, overwhelmed by the intense sensation of being sheathed inside her tight, warm folds.

She tsked in mock censure. "You seem really new to this," she remarked condescendingly. "But don't worry, everything's safe. Feels good, doesn't it?"

He closed his eyes. "Feels... amazing..."

It was only then that he realized that he had forgotten to use protection. The first time it had ever slipped his mind, but he was enjoying himself way too much now.

Akasha smirked. "Are you sure you're not underage?"

The question sounded weird and suspiciously like a trick question. "Uh… isn't the age of consent... seventeen… the last time I checked," he mumbled, gripping her toned thighs as he slid in and out slowly.

"And who do you think made those laws?"

A little confused at first, Carl's eyes sprang open in realization.

"I could change the laws if I wanted," she fluttered her lashes. "But none of them matter to me, because I am above the law."

The statement drove Carl over the edge. His hips lurched in a burst of rapid thrusting, drawing an ecstatic cry from her. Their lovemaking was an intoxicating and unearthly experience. She came three times in a row and wasn't shy about letting him know. As he rammed into her desperately, he wondered if she was some kind of otherworldly creature, like a sex demon or something. Surely, a woman who dared to cheat on a king and the President of Kael Corporation, must be something beyond an ordinary human. Before he knew it, he lost control and came before he could pull out.

"Aw, you just can't hold it in, huh?" she teased.

"I did make you come," he panted, still spasming inside her. "Three times, in fact."

After he was done, he rolled over and she snuggled beside him lazily. "Now you know, there is more to me than just pain and torture," she whispered.

Carl buried his face into her heaving chest. The woman was so complex it would take a lifetime to know her. "Can I see you again tomorrow?" he murmured, again vaguely horrified at his own neediness.

"I'll text you my schedule," she said, stroking his hair. "And I will let you know what you need to improve on."

"Wh-what…?" Carl felt his dignity being shredded to pieces. Nobody. Fucking. Ever. Told him he needed to improve on anything.

Akasha laughed and kissed his nose. "Relax. You're doing pretty decent, my dear."

They resumed worshipping each other's bodies and in no time, he was hard again. They had sex two more times until he fell asleep.

That night, Carl dreamed of invoking his third spell.


Traxex

Traxex smoothed her hair, which had been trimmed to shoulder length after Akasha had lopped off some of it and left it looking uneven. To her immense relief, Akasha hadn't bothered her anymore after that incident. On the contrary, the Head of Discipline seemed to be in a jovial mood. Although Traxex had no idea why, she was thankful to have gotten away with only temporary ear damage and a haircut.

That look in her eyes when she couldn't blast her high note. In that moment of panic, she had only thought of getting away from the madwoman. But as she replayed everything in her mind, she realized Nortrom had saved her. So he does care, after all.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen." An unfamiliar, smoky male voice jolted her out of her reverie. Standing at the front of the classroom was a man whose appearance called to mind Severus Snape from the Harry Potter series. Flowing black robes flared out like bat wings, clumps of greasy jet hair framed a dour face and obsidian eyes. "I am Mr Harbinger, and I will be taking over Mr Nortrom as your math and homeroom teacher next year."

Traxex stopped breathing. What?

"What happened to Mr Nortrom?" Lina asked.

"He's leaving the school in two months' time," the new teacher explained.

"Yay!" Kardel pumped his fist into the air exuberantly. "Finally, no more Nortrom!"

"Woohoo, let's party!" Lyralei squealed in delight. Most of the class cheered as though they had been freed from the clutches of a dictator.

Mr Harbinger didn't look amused. "I see that many of you here don't seem to like Nortrom much. He was my classmate in university, and… let's just say that, compared to me, he is a very nice man."

There was a moment of confused silence as the students took in the new teacher's words and its implications. Still reeling from the unexpected news of Nortrom's resignation, Traxex was dying to take out her phone to text him, but was too scared to do so. The new teacher's aura went beyond sternness and coldness; he was downright sinister.

Mr Harbinger turned his permanently scowling face toward Lyralei. "Young lady," he said, crossing his arms. The ginger met his gaze with tentative green eyes. "Yes, you, the one who looks particularly pleased," he reiterated, the obsidian in his eyes darkening till they seemed to absorb the light. "What is your name?"

Lyralei frowned. "My… name?"

Traxex stared at her desk partner. With a nudge, she whispered. "Lyralei, Are you okay?"

"I… I can't remember my name," the ginger looked genuinely lost.

"But I just said it!" Traxex wondered why she had become so woolly-headed.

Showing not a hint of emotion, Mr Harbinger turned his attention to Kardel. "And how about your name, young man?"

The short teenager stood up and announced loudly. "My name's Kardel and my dick is three inches long."

A collective snicker rose from the class, which erupted into peals of laughter. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" Zeus bellowed, slapping his knee.

Kardel scratched his head. "Did – did I just say that?"

A flicker of amusement tugging at the corners of his mouth, Mr Harbinger changed his target again. He sauntered to the back of the classroom and stopped in front of Carl's seat, where the blond was nodding off with his head in his hands. Traxex had never seen him looking so sleepy before. The new teacher rapped sharply on his desk, making him jerk awake.

"You must be Carl," Mr Harbinger said. "I heard that you are the most intelligent student in the school."

Instead of giving his typical smug response, Carl rubbed his eyes, regarding the teacher rather suspiciously. After a few seconds staring into those pitch-black orbs, he seemed to realize something was wrong and averted his gaze, fixing it on the notice board instead. "Do you have a problem with that?"

"Not at all," Mr Harbinger replied. "Who doesn't like students who learn fast?"

"Well, some people seem threatened by my intelligence," Carl shrugged.

The new teacher cocked his brows. "My, you do have quite an inflated opinion of yourself," he observed. Still no response or eye contact from the blond. His voice still smooth and calm, Mr Harbinger added snakily, "But Carl, would you agree that even the most intelligent people become fools when ruled by their little friend between their legs?"

The blond shifted in his seat, his face turning a shade redder. "What are you talking about?" he muttered.

Mr Harbinger leaned forward as if telling a secret. "Your little romp last night."

Carl looked a little shaken now, lips slightly parted. Normally he would have made a sharp or boastful comeback, but it seemed today was not his day.

Releasing his gaze on the blond, Mr Harbinger strolled to the front of the classroom, his black robes billowing. "All of you are like open books to me," he addressed the class. "And if you think you're going to have an easier time with me than with your previous teacher, I'm afraid I've some bad news for you. Nortrom and I do have similar disciplinary styles, but you will soon wish that he was the one teaching you instead."

Mr Harbinger left the room, leaving the class subdued and stunned for a moment. Traxex immediately took out her phone to text Nortrom, but her heart leaped when she saw a text from him instead.

"Don't talk to the people from the Holy Knight's Church of Penitence."

Frowning at the cryptic message, she replied.

"What are you talking about?"

She tucked the phone back in her pocket and tried not to get her hopes up. Nortrom never, ever replied to her texts. The communication was always one-way, him sending out school stuff like announcements and reminders.

Lunch time came and Traxex checked her phone again. There was still no reply, but she noticed he was in the process of typing a response. He spent a long time doing this, so long that she wondered if he was writing an essay. In the end, there was only one line.

"Meet me at the Phoenix Restaurant at six today, after your training."

Her heart nearly jumped out of her mouth. Surely he couldn't be asking her out to dinner? No way - he rarely ever wanted to see her just for the sake of it. Nevertheless, she couldn't deny the butterflies in her stomach at the thought of meeting him.

Oh no! Maybe Akasha had told him about her stealing from Carl and he was going to tell her off! But why couldn't he just call her into his office? That paranoid man was so afraid of being seen with her in school or anywhere nearby, he was asking her to walk in the snow to the Phoenix Restaurant which was a good fifteen minutes away.


When she arrived at the restaurant, Nortrom was already there waiting for her. He didn't smile, but looked a little more relaxed than he was in school. The urge to hug him hadn't diminished over the weeks. They had a quick dinner, where he wolfed down his food in five minutes. She wanted to ask him about his resignation, but he didn't seem like he wanted to talk. However, to her surprise, he offered to drive her home.

Another surprise greeted her when she saw a Volkswagen instead of his champagne Volvo. The engine sounded different too.

"This car's really quiet," she observed as he drove off.

"It's an electric car. Quiet and environmentally friendly."

As they went past the colorful restaurants, stores and bars along the street, she enjoyed the silence – real, complete silence, without the radio turned on. She never understood why people liked to listen to the radio when they were driving - Nortrom was the only one who never did. She wanted to hug him so bad.

"Duck!" he suddenly said. She felt her head being pushed down as the car accelerated.

"What was that about?" she grumbled, rubbing her head.

"Sorry. The principal was standing there." Hands clutching the steering wheel tight, he continued driving slightly over the speed limit.

Traxex glanced back and saw the tiny figure of Principal Aghanim in the distance. It was a close shave.

After another few miles, Nortrom went paranoid again. "I think there's a car following us." He glanced up at the rear view mirror.

She turned around. There was indeed a dark blue car behind them, but it soon disappeared from their sight.

Finally, they arrived at a stretch of snow-covered pine woods, less than a mile from her home. He stopped the Volkswagen in a dark, secluded area. It seemed like an adventure just getting here, and by this time night had already descended. Traxex opened the door and breathed in the crisp winter air, letting the relaxing pine scent calm her nerves and chaotic thoughts.

Nortrom spoke. "I wanted to warn you about this cult called the Holy Knight's Church of Penitence. Have they approached you?"

She shook her head.

He looked relieved. "Be really careful about them. They get their converts to do horrible things like burn themselves, and they can teleport you right into their base."

Traxex nodded absently, not really focusing on the content of what he had just said. "Are you really leaving?" she asked.

"Yes. I've had enough of that school," he replied, looking straight ahead. "But I'll still be around for a month to finish up work and then Mr Harbinger will take over in the new year."

"Does that mean I won't get to see you again?"

His brows crossed in vexation. "I'm not sure about that. I'll be taking a break to further my studies, but I haven't decided where to go."

The thought of not seeing him every day sent a deep ache through her chest. Yet, what could she say to make him stay? What kind of an idiot was she to even hope he'd take someone like her seriously? "So you're just leaving me there to fend for myself?" she said unhappily. "You know how dangerous school is and how people are turning into monsters."

He cast a worried glance at her. "What happened between you and Akasha?"

"I - I broke into Carl's locker and tried to steal his things. I found something that looked like a Dire stone. And then Carl suddenly appeared. He must have reported me to Miss Akasha."

"You what? Didn't I warn you not to mess with Carl?"

"I know... I'm sorry."

"And be careful with Akasha, too. She's a real queen. She could get away with murder, you know that?"

"Huh? But she's become a nutjob like Strygwyr. She threw a dagger at me, and her eyes were glowing red. She must have gotten the Dire stone from Carl."

Nortrom sighed. "Just stay clear of these people and focus on your studies and archery, okay? And did you hear what I told you about the Holy Knight's cult?"

"Yes…I'm sorry I messed up. And thanks for saving me from Akasha."

"Look, I can't be saving you all the time," he said, a hint of impatience creeping in. "There's a limit to what I can do. Global Silence takes a lot out of me and I need a few days' downtime after that. Your own powers are much more effective."

Tears welled up when she realized she was nothing but trouble to him. Despite saving his life twice, she still wasn't good enough for him. Never good enough. As expected, he softened at the sight of her crying, but this time he made no move to touch her. He merely sat with hands clasped on his lap until she stopped.

She sniffled. "I'm going to miss you so much. I don't know what to do without you."

"You'll be fine without me. I know it seems like a big deal now, but you'll get over this as time goes by."

This can't be true... He was really done with her this time. He was slipping out of her grasp forever. She had to do something, anything! Her mind whirled like a hurricane. Nothing else mattered; her pride didn't matter now as she had nothing to lose. "I know I can't get you to stay... but I have just one request... "

He looked at her, his expression less harsh now. "What is it?"

"Could we kiss? Just one last time?"

Nortrom made a sort of grimace and turned away abruptly. "You really need to go home right now," he said firmly, placing his hand on the gear to start the car.

"No!" She grabbed his arm, painfully aware yet unable to stop herself from acting like a desperate maniac. "Please. I don't ask for anything else... just one kiss and I'll stop bugging you forever."

Nortrom swallowed. "I ... really don't think we should do that," he muttered, peering out of the window.

"There's no one here," she urged. "This is a forest." And then a moment of realization hit her. He was seriously considering her request, but was paralyzed by fear and indecisiveness, as he always had been. SHE had to take the reins. She couldn't be the timid one, or she would never gain any ground. And if he rejected her, so be it. Without warning, she grabbed his face, turned it around and smashed her lips against his. She pulled off his glasses roughly and tossed them in the cup-holder; not bothering with politeness at this moment. He seemed a little shocked at first, but reciprocated just as hungrily, sending strong currents of desire through her. The kissing quickly sent him spiraling over the edge, as his hands roamed over to the side of her bosom.

She was winning.

Drawing back, Traxex searched his crystalline blue eyes, and now she was able to identify what she saw. Fear mixed with craving and suppressed desire so intense that it seemed like he was in agony.

"Nortrom. I want to make you happy," she whispered into his ear, drawing a hiss from him. She slid a hand under his shirt and explored his back and chest.

"No no, don't say that," he protested. "You've given me a lot... there's nothing more I ask of you."

It didn't sound convincing to her at all. She opened the door and pulled him out. They settled in the back seats and resumed their kissing with greater intensity, their restraint slipping away fast. With another surge of boldness, she ventured further down brushing across his groin. The signs were clear - he missed her and wanted her badly. She didn't need to ask.

Determinedly, she began to undo his belt. "Don't… "he protested again, taking hold of her hand, but he didn't pull it away firmly like the last time. He was only making a weak show of resistance now.

When the belt was out, she pulled down the zipper of his pants, fingers trembling in anticipation of what she would find. He lightly clutched her wrist, eyes following intently what she was doing. A peek at his face showed a tense yet rapt expression. She had broken down his defenses and was getting into his base.

"Just let me," she insisted. The pants were open now, and she began to tug at his underwear, not too roughly as she thought she might hurt him. When she had freed the organ from its elastic confines, she examined it in fascination. It was her first time seeing this thing in real life; she was unable to fathom how something so large could fit into someone's underwear without causing major discomfort.

And then slowly, she wrapped her fingers around it. It was really warm.

A stolen peek at Nortrom's face showed without a doubt that he had conceded defeat. An irrational urge to giggle rose within her; she knew she could not look at his face in the classroom ever again.

"Relax, it's okay, really," she soothed, observing his rigid expression. Her fingers began to explore her intriguing new toy, amazed she was holding a part of someone's body that seemed to have its own life. He seemed to enjoy it, eyes squeezed shut, breathing growing heavy.

Feeling his hand slide under her blouse, she welcomed it by undoing her bra. A shudder escaped her when he touched her breasts. His large, warm hands felt really good. But she wasn't sure if she was pleasuring him enough.

"Am I doing this right?" she asked. "Could you um, guide me a bit?"

He opened his eyes and hesitated. "Uh…"

She took his hand and placed it over hers. "Show me."

He did so reluctantly at first, increasing the pressure and moving her hand along. And then he decided to let go. "Just do whatever you want." He said nothing after that, leaning his head against the car seat. The only hints she got were the little noises that he made every now and then, depending on where she touched. Those sounds were enough to bring her to the edge of her own climax.

Encouraged, she decided to try something new. This is going to be a bit more advanced. She'd done some 'research' at home, but she wasn't sure how it would turn out in real life. With a deep breath, she went down on him and began to tease him, eliciting a gasp from him. She plunged her mouth over him, all the way down as far as she could go, till she almost gagged.

A low, drawn-out moan escaped his throat. Her reward for being a good student.

She was falling into a delicious abyss now; nothing had prepared her for this. Whenever she watched videos of such acts, they seemed gross, but now that she was doing it to the man she loved, it felt really good devouring him like this. She went up and down experimenting with the pressure and speed, taking note of his reactions. A buck of the hips, a sharp intake of breath. Whatever she was doing seemed to be working. His breathing was ragged and his fingers dug into her hair.

This again continued a while and she went up for a break. Now he was looking at her, his eyes glazed with need yet tinged with embarrassment. "You can stop if you're tired," he said softly.

She stroked the engorged organ again; she just couldn't keep her hand off that thing. "Feels good?" she whispered.

"Umhm," he swallowed. Leaning forward he kissed her again, his fingers massaging her nipples and sending waves of dizzying pleasure throughout her.

The rest of the world melted away as they concentrated on each other. How long is this going to take? She wondered what else she needed to do to help him reach his climax. Stupidly she opened her mouth and asked. "How do I, uh, make it …come out?" she stammered, trying to recall the long word that she had learned during sex education class.

"Hmm?"

"What should I do to make the stuff… you know, come out? Do you put it inside me?"

Nortrom shook his head quickly. "No no. We're not doing that."

"But don't you have to release something?"

He awkwardly contemplated her suggestion. "You sure you want it out? It's going to be messy."

"But it would make you feel better, wouldn't it?"

"Yeah… I guess," he mumbled. Reaching forward, he grabbed a box of tissues from the dashboard. "It's my new car, don't want to make a mess of it."

Her lips folded with slight amusement. Geez this man is such a neat freak. "Could you teach me how to?" she asked.

The request brought a flush to his face and his eyes clouded with conflict. It seemed he was truly stuck and had only one way to end this. Avoiding her gaze, he took her hand and began to guide it. "Okay um… here's what you do. Hold it like this."

She adjusted her grip and began to stroke him again.

"Move really fast, faster," he urged, and she did as told. "Yes…" his breathing grew erratic again, his eyes rolled back with a slightly delirious look. "Hold it tight."

"Like this?" she increased the pressure of her fist.

"Tighter, even tighter."

Summoning all the strength she could muster, Traxex squeezed his manhood so hard till she thought it was going to burst, and was surprised it wasn't hurting but giving him pleasure. Meanwhile, her hand was beginning to ache a little from the exertion.

"Y-yes…" he panted. "Almost there." He held her tight as his breathing rose to a frenzy. With a few more urgent strokes, his face twisted with the violent explosion between his legs. Time seemed to stop as she sat and stared dazedly until the pulsing in her hand subsided and his breathing slowed down. She had to fight hard to keep a smile from blooming on her face at the sight of her teacher collapsing back in hot, sexy defeat.

After she had helped him clean up and put on his pants, he buried his head in his hands. "Shit, what have I done," he groaned.

"Hey, it's okay, really," she soothed. "You didn't do anything. You just sat there… I was the one doing everything."

"No, no," he shook his head. And then, as if in sudden realization, he looked at her and tentatively placed his hand underneath her blouse. "Would you like me to?"

To do what? She stared back at him, puzzled. Feeling his fingers on her belly, she guessed he was asking if she wanted him to return the favor. "No that's not what I meant," she clarified. It would feel really weird having his fingers down there. "I don't want it."

"Really? You don't?" he asked earnestly.

She shook her head again. "Uh, maybe next time." Strangely, after all that she had just done, she was now feeling self-conscious and shy. "Oh, maybe you could massage my shoulders. They're aching from the archery and er… you know."

"Alright," he said, placing his strong hands on her shoulders and kneading them firmly. She had never seen him looking so relaxed before and felt really happy for him. Most of all she was ecstatic that he hadn't rejected the idea of 'next time'.

As the snow continued to fall outside, they spent the night nestled in each other's warmth, him caressing her hair, her listening to the steady sound of his heartbeat and feeling the rise and fall of his chest. She stopped thinking about Carl, Akasha, the Dire stone or the Holy Knight's cult. All that mattered was that she was in the arms of the man she loved.

After what seemed like hours had gone by, he kissed the top of her head. "It's really late. You have to go home now," he said, rather unwillingly.

She refused to let go of him. Glancing up, she searched his azure eyes for the assurance she needed so badly. "When can we meet again?"

"Two months later. After I've officially left the school."

She groaned. Two months seemed like an eternity. But at least, there was now hope of being with him properly. "Are you going to ignore me tomorrow? Like what you always do?"

"Look, I really don't mean to hurt you by ignoring you. It's just that - " he paused with another fretful sigh.

Her fingers traced his jaw absently as she waited for him to complete his sentence.

"- you're too much of a distraction."

Feeling an inexplicable urge to giggle and weep at the same time, she buried her face in his neck and held him tight.

They lingered in each others' arms for a while more, and then he finally broke away. He drove her out through the wooded path, dropping her off a few houses away from hers. Pulling her hood tighter around her face, Traxex turned around and watched his car fade into the distance. She was tired, but too restless to sleep.

"Ahem."

The sound of someone clearing his throat cut through the silence.

She froze in her tracks. What's that? Pulse quickening, she swept her eyes across the surrounding trees. The bushes rustled a little and a diminutive boy in a blue hoodie and jeans stepped out.

Panic shot through her like a knife as she stared down at the much shorter boy. "Riki?"

"Wow, that was hot and steamy," her permanently-absent classmate chuckled.

"Wh-what are you talking about?" she snapped. Oh my god...he was there all along peeping at us? Did he see everything?! This can't be happening! Apparently he had kept himself so well-hidden that even with her sharp hearing, she hadn't detected his presence.

"I didn't know you were screwing our teacher."

"I was not!" she cried, her cheeks burning.

Riki cackled mischievously. "Man, what an awesome night. I came here looking for something else and then I got an extra treat. But don't worry, I won't tell anyone about this. Definitely not to Miss Akasha because I hate her."

"What the HELL do you want, Riki?" Traxex cried in exasperation.

Riki licked his lips. "There's something in your pocket," he said. "A precious stone I think. Seems like the special kind, too."

What? He can't be after my Radiant stone. I'm not giving it to him. Traxex backed off a little. "There's nothing in my pocket," she lied.

Slowly, Riki reached into his own pocket and took out his phone. He thumbed it and showed it to her: a photo of her and Nortrom making out in the car. There was also a video, but it wasn't clear as it seemed to have been taken some distance away. Thankfully, it showed only the upper parts of their bodies. But that was probably enough to ruin Nortrom's future.

Barely recovering from the next shock, Traxex immediately made a grab for the phone, only to have Riki sidestep her effortlessly. Pushing out her leg, she tried to sweep Riki off the ground, but he jumped over it nimbly too.

"Um, I've got martial arts training," he said. "Please don't embarrass yourself like this."

Traxex screamed inwardly, really hating being blackmailed like this.

"Well?" he reminded her. "How about that thing in your pocket?"

She bit her lip, staring into his narrow, crafty eyes. Strangely, the one thing she found comforting was that Riki didn't give off the creepy vibes of Carl and Akasha. It seemed his actions arose out of nothing but pure playfulness. Maybe she could trust him, maybe not. But she had no choice anyway. Grudgingly, she fished out the Radiant stone.

Riki's eyes gleamed at the sight of the brilliant blue rock, its rays illuminating the dark. "Wow! Can I have it?"

"Yes, for a while. But I... really don't suggest you keep it. It might bring you trouble," she shrugged and handed him the stone.

Closing his fist around the Radiant stone, Riki's eyelids drooped as he seemed to sink into deep, silent meditation. And then slowly, his head began to disappear, literally erased from existence. This was followed by his neck and torso. She watched him fade and dissolve, vanishing into nothing but a scarcely visible outline of a person. Only the Radiant stone remained, floating mid-air in the space that used to be his hand. She made a grab for it and managed to retrieve it just before it fell. But even without the stone, Riki remained invisible.

"Woohoo! I'm loving this!" his voice faded away into the distance.

"Riki! Where are you?" she called out anxiously to the empty surroundings.

"Going to my car," his voice replied, somewhere near the trees. "Thanks and seeya around!"

Traxex put her face in her hands. Nortrom had been right to be paranoid. And now she was going to bring him even more trouble.


(End of Chapter 52)

Carl - Invoker

Akasha - Queen of Pain

Mr Kael Sunstrider – Carl's father

(This name is taken from Blizzard's World of Warcraft. Kael'thas Sunstrider is the name of a blood elf).

Mr Harbinger – Outworld Devourer

Kardel - Sniper

Lyralei - Windranger

Traxex - Drow

Nortrom - Silencer

Riki - Stealth Assassin