Okay, I'm back, better, and ready to start this story again. Also to the person who emailed me, I would enjoy it if you commented so I can know you saw this. Hope you like it.
Enjoy.
~Tae
Affinity
A natural liking or sympathy; esp., a mutual attraction between a man and a woman.
noun
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Claire rolled her eyes at her older brother. Claire had teleported most of the guards looking over them into the shadow realm. He had been complaining since he saw her running and fighting Ogres before she freed him.
"What else do you want to do, huh Damien? Because if we don't do anything we will be stuck here as slaves." She made sure to not mention the 'sex' slave part, that would have frightened him. So what was Claire's scheme? She knew that the trolls were in the next hall to where they were being kept. She just needed to get to that hall, open a portal, further Troll's and make their escape. Damian would watch and make sure no one was coming when she was trying to open a doorway and warn her when they were. The Hallway was long and dark. She brought her index finger and middle finger up to her mouth, leaving three inches of space. Her eyes grew into deep indigo and inky texture. She inhaled deeply and let out a hot breath. Her fingertips were the source of light in the room. The fire was large and waving like it was out of control, and as many know, fire isn't an element that can be controlled but since she was not only practicing Arcane Magics she was inhabiting an ancient goddess within her... somewhere.
She quickly walked down the hall moving her fire along the empty cages, she knew they were, "I found them." She says aloud. They were happy to see her, "I'll get you guys out of here." She saw the torches on the walls and had her fire bounce from one and on to another to brighten the room up. She easily broke the locks of the cases letting the Trolls free but her luck didn't last. " Claire, they're coming!" Damien yelled. Claire hurried into the lotus position. A dark swirl formed into the ground, it growing larger and larger as her focus sharpened. "Jump in, on the other side is California, I can't take you to Troll Market directly!" Her voice was distorted but she still managed her focus. One by one the Trolls begin to jump into the portal. She could hear the heavy footsteps and that only made her lose her focus and the portal glitched. "Hurry." The more the doorway grew the more wind blew around the room. Claire's body began to float into the air. "They're here!" Damian yelled and at that moment the last Troll jumped into the doorway and sumptuously an explosion went off. Claire's body expanded as she closed the doorway and was pushed back by the power of the doorway being closed and the explosion.
"Claire!"
Her vision was blurry, is that an Ogre above her calling her name? She wasn't sure, because her eyes completely shut and her consciousness slipped. But it didn't seem like she slept for long. It was like as soon as she closed her eyes they opened again. The first thing on her mind was her brother and what the hell knocked her out in the first place. "Damien?"
She struggled to sit up straight, her head was pounding, literally. She groaned and then she remembered the explosion that rusted her back against a wall, which may have been the thing to knock her out. She looked around, her surroundings were unfamiliar but seemed very much Troll-like. She swings her feet off the bed and stands on her feet. She walked towards the exit of the room. The floor was made of rock, like most Markets inhabited by Trolls. She pocked her head over the corner, there was no one. "Hello."
Her voice echoed down the long hall, the walls seemed to be molded by clays and water. It was a very neat setup they had here. They must have been here for generations maybe even before the battle of Kill-a-head. "Stay awhile, me and my people are happy to invite you and your team to dinner before you go."
Claire's s head perks up at the voice echoing through the hall and when she heard the other voice she followed it immediately. "Fine, we will stay and we leave tomorrow."
"Jim!"
Jim turns around, Claire was standing in the doorway. Jim's natural frown turned into a smile, Claire was faster tho, she ran and jumped into his arms. It was an odd sight to the Trolls in the room to see this outlandish couple. Jim kissed her forehead and gently let her feet touch the ground. Claire stayed close to the boy, it didn't feel right to be so far from him, it was physically painful and he gave her somewhat energy. Claire had her head near his chest. His heartbeat was fast as it is, and it seemed to be speeding up the longer she remained in his arms. Jim grabbed her chin softly, "I'll never let anyone take you from me again." She nods, not having the energy to say anything else. "This must be your mate, flashbacks."
Claire glares at Hyde and suddenly had the means to defend herself, "This flesh bag, beat a 12-century deity, twice, whose powers are now my own."
Hyde smirked, "Oh, so this soft-skinned, is a witch. Hmm, I can imagine how powerful the whelp will be." He chuckled, The couple cringed at his loud outburst. "You may leave and rest in the chambers, my guard will let you know when dinner starts."
The guards turn their attention to Claire and Jim leading them out of the room, the door closed behind them and both guards guide them towards said Chamber. Claire closed the large door two their room, she turned and was immediately pulled into a hug, "I'm so glad to have you in my arm again, safe." She returned his love by rubbing his scruff, which she had learned he liked. She felt and heard the grumble in his chest, it was the same as last time when she rubbed him when they were at school. They separate and they plop themselves on the bed. "What are we going to do after this dinner?" Claire asked, not taking her eyes from the ceiling. Jim hummed.
"We pack up, make sure we have everyone and everything, and head home on foot." Claire turns her body laying on her side looking at him. "But then what after that, soon we need to figure out our future, we aren't human and according to Merlin, we are Immortal." She was right, this got Jim thinking. What would he do after school, college is out of the question unless it was online but he had his Troll duties and there was never just peace, he would have to fight again whether it was in two weeks or two centuries. And Claire. He turns to look at her doe eyes looking at him with such innocence. Her life, he knew she was designed for great things, she deserved the world she didn't deserve to be dragged around the world on foot traveling like an animal. She deserved a good home, with a man who had a regular job who could give her everything. She deserved a family. But he wasn't any that. "Jim?"
He snapped his attention back on her, "Claire, I'm so sorry."
"What do you mean?" Claire sat up, moving closer. "You, your such a smart girl who has a bright future ahead of you, and here you are wasting it with me. You deserve someone who gave you a good life a safe life and a family." Claire frowned shaking her head. "Jim, no, I'm your and your mine, we belong together. You are the man I deserve and you are the only one. You keep me safe no matter where we are on this planet, you give me a good life because you are next to me, loving me and letting me love you, and we-" She points to his chest and then hers.
"We are family, and if that isn't enough for fate itself, then we will start a family." Jim looked surprised, Claire looked serious when she suggested they start a family. It threw him off but he remembered what he promised himself, to control his instinct until he could control his growth in size and strength. She smiled at him and laid on his chest close to his neck, "I'm tired, wake me when dinner is ready." He hum.
He begins to purr as she laid her head on him, he would hope that would help her sleep more. 'If I can't give her a normal life, ill give her the best life I can.' Jim looks down at Claire. Claire Nunez. Clair... Lake. He then had an idea pop in her head. He would consult with Blinky and maybe Merlin about it.
It took at least an hour or two for the guard to call for Team Troll Hunter. The sun was an hour or two away from coming up again. That was when they would sleep for the night. "Claire, I promise when we are done eating, we can cuddle to sleep, Ill even purr for you again." Claire groans as she weakly stands from the bed. "You promise?" She outs her face in his chest. "Yes, I promise, dear."
She smiled and clings on to him, they begin to walk out of the room, and as usual, the guards lead them through the hallways until they arrived at what looked like a dining room with a large table in the middle of the room. It was pretty neat, looked like it came from the twelfth century, Merlin should be pleased with this. Everyone was already settled in their seats plates empty and waiting for the two. "Lady Claire, it is nice to see you well." Blinky smiled.
"Yes, I feel all better after napping." She returned his smile, Jim leads the sorceress to her chair, which she gladly say in. He sat next to him, rubbing his hand together as his stomach growled. "What's for dinner, your highness," Jim said playfully.
"My mother's famous recipe for us Trolls, and something Humans call steak for the soft-skinned." They all but Jim, Claire, and even the Warlock gave him a worried glance. They weren't sure if they could cook human food and they worried for their digestive systems. "Don't worry, we've been here for centuries and we've picked up a few tricks from humans."
Suddenly the door in the back burst opened, which they assumed was the kitchen, coming out the room was multiple Trolls with aprons with food in their hand. They placed the cuisine in front of the hungry guest and king. "You all are dismissed for the night." He said to the employees. They left the room most likely heading to their chambers. "So, your highness is there a queen sitting next to you on your throne."
"Actually, yes there is, but she is in our nest, carrying three of our whelp as we speak, she is too weak to move." He chuckles, which lets them know she wasn't injured just pregnant and probably having a hard time moving. "Awe, Congratulations." Claire awed, she loved children and adored them when they were at their most innocent stage in life, as infants. Hyde looked at the couple who was knowing talking and digging into their food. "Well, does the Troll Hunter plan on having any whelp soon?"
"They are only 16." Merlin said, this surprised the Troll, "So young but you look like a Troll who just entered his prime."
"Yes we are 16, but when it comes to human standards we would only need to be 18 and up to legally have children since humans did live long." Hyde nods intrigued, he seemed to only understand the obvious thing about humans and not things like how they work and function with one another, that was obvious by his response, "Tell me more about humans, I only know of your weaknesses and nothing else."
Jim looked at Claire, "Well, humans are mysterious creatures. We all are different and no one is the same. We are animals but we have a conscious mind and have the power to override the instincts animals have." She explained. That what they talked about for the rest of dinner.
"I'm so glad, you joined me for dinner, I will have my men, pack you extra food for your journey back home," Hyde said to Jim, as the others left the room. Claire stared at the Troll, something was off about him, the only thing he asked Claire was about children and when she planned on having any. It creeped her out and Jim noticed, so he ended that conversation the moment it started. Claire held on to Jim's hand. As the King told them good night.
She smiled as the door begins to close and let out a breath when the slammed closed. "What's wrong?" They begin to walk back to their chambers, this time without any guards. She looked up at him, "He gives me weird vibes, and this isn't just the regular human intuition type of thing. It's a sorceress type of instinct thing." Jim opened their room door letting her walk in first. "Is Morgans picking up anything?"
"I haven't heard from her since I and Damien were prisoners in that dungeon." He nods, maybe it was wise to watch out for Hyde. Jim wasn't a fool, he wasn't getting the best vibes from the Troll either. "Don't worry, I won't let him get near you. We will leave as soon as the sun goes down."
, Claire kissed his chest, showing her love, he grabbed the side of her face, he looks down at her bringing her close. He brings their foreheads together as their eyes connect. "What does this mean, is this a Troll thing?"
He hums, "It means... I love you." Her heart skipped a beat and her eyes watered, she jumped into his arms and connected their lips. His arms wrapped around her waist tightly and her left arm went around his neck and the other travel up to his horns. "I love you too." She says after they separate, he brings his pointer finger to her cheek, wiping the loose tears away. "Now teach me more about the Troll way."
"Well there are many Troll ways but these are my... our ways" For at least an hour, they spend time together, he showed her new communicating that he had been naturally doing and soon realized she had picked up on that way too after watching him. By the time the sun was completely up and the human was making their way to work, the two were cuddling in the darkroom with a small blue heart stone glowing on the clay counter. They laid in the large bed with their blankets and the one that was there before them. Though Jim hadn't noticed, he had created a nest. He placed the pillows in a certain manner, they laid where their heads rested and closing any open spaces. He rolled the original blanket below them in a circle position and laid their cover on top of them with extra small pillows. They curled up on each other creating a warm environment. Claire's head rested on his chest that automatically purred as he slept. His large arms covered over the rest of her bringing her in, and as said before the blanket was over her.
Jim was the first to wake up, he showed before Claire woke up. And luckily their chambers had a washroom. He throws on a new pair of sweats and a hoodie and by the time he was done dressing, Claire was getting into the Washroom. He begins to load both of their bags. " Ai yay, I miss hot water."
"Same, I'm going to go see how the others are doing, I'll be right back." He kissed her forehead, she nods. She dried her damp body, not forgetting to lotion her body. That one thing she had to be with her. Lotion. Vanilla. Her favorite. A couple of seconds after Jim left, there was a knock on the door.
"Give me a minute." She says loud enough. She grabs her clothes but before she could even put her arm in her shirt the knocking got louder. "Give me a minute."
But the knocking didn't stop. She angrily puts her limbs through her clothes and stumps towards the door, "I said, give me a minute! Oh hello, Hyde..."
He smiled down at the irritated sorceress. She gives him a small smile and he gave her a wide one. She saw he had something in his hand, "Is there anything I can do for you, Jim just left, you could catch up with him."
"Oh, that fine, I'll just talk to you." He pushed himself into the room, Claire side-eyed him, she didn't have the patience to deal with him. Yes, she was in a good mood, but as she said before, he wasn't giving her good vibes. She turns to face him making sure her back wasn't. "I bring gifts for you and the Troll Hunter." She slowly nods, as he placed the items on the table sitting in the middle of the large room. "Cloaks and Food?" She says.
"Yes, the food is another one of my mother's recipes, the Cloaks are a gift my wife created with her own hands, an apology for not being able to meet you." Claire could tell the wife was an angel. "That is so sweet." She placed her hand on her chest. She wished she could meet her. Maybe one day. "Thank you, for all of this, I will make sure to pass the message down to Jim." It was quiet for a moment, the air became thick out of nowhere, it seemed as if there was no air. She looked up to see the Troll's face.
"There is no need, I can stay and talk until he comes back." Claire glared at him and stepped back slightly. "And what would we talk about?"
"You know, life, family, children, you're pretty young, and by the smell of you, you're ready, I know the Troll Hunter noticed it." Claire pauses, I'm ready?
"What does that mean?" She glared. "It means, not only are you subconsciously ready, your womb is ready."
"That doesn't mean Jim noticed."
"Has he been acting strange, distant, confused, has he been holding back?" Claire looks to the side. He has been acting differently...
"Your scent is awakening his most deep and primal Instincts and he hasn't even figured out that you are the cause of his change." Claire gulped, she didn't feel guilty or anything, this just meant Jim was changing and she didn't know what to do just yet. "But there is nothing to worry about. He will reach his breaking point sooner or later..." He smirks down at the table. He walks past Claire and out the door. There she stood in the middle of the room confused. Was she ready? Be honest. She was. That why she dared to tell Jim if they wanted more they could start a family and she didn't even. think over what she had said to him. Her scent and his instincts, we're preparing them both to have chil–
"Claire?"
She turned around and nearly tripped over herself, she bumped into the table tipping over the item but she quickly placed them back on. Her face was crimson as she looked up to Jim. "YES?" she answered loudly. He chuckled at her clumsiness, she whimpered ever so lowly at the deepness of the laugh. Though it was low he heard it and he frowns instantly. He walked closer to her. "Jim..."
He placed his hand on her cheek and slowly went down to her neck, her breath hitch, the feeling of his hand on her made her shiver. His large hand could cover her entire face. his finger on the back of her neck and his thumb around the front of her neck. He lifted his thumb against the part of her chin, exposing her neck to him. Little did they know that was one of the signs of submission. This calmed Jim slightly but he was still excited about her whimper. And when he kissed her neck he heard it again. He dragged his rough tongue up her neck. Her head was now completely back, neck fully exposed. His teeth glazed across her skin, making her gasp. His eyes were dilated and glowed red. He sucked on her neck leaving a bruise, "Jim~" He growled, his hand grabbed her shoulders, turning her, her back facing him. Luckily he still had a hint of humanity in him to control his urge to, "Can I?"
She didn't know what he was about to do but she trusted him, "Please, Yes." She moans loudly. And then it was, he bit down on her navel. Her eyes crossed, this was an odd sensation, it made her legs weak. He wrapped his other arm around her stomach to keep her from falling. Her legs twitch and her thighs squeezed together. "J-Jim!" She didn't know what was happening but it was overwhelming. His eyes glowed brighter as he released his mouth from her neck. He watched as the mark glowed red, it wasn't blooded it seemed like magic, the mark glowed and then disappeared with the red gleam. He had calmed down slightly but then there was Claire. She was biting on her thumb and she looks love-struck. "Claire are you okay— oh my."
His eyes widen as he looked at her pants, he sniffed the air to make sure it wasn't what any random would think it was at first sight. "It's not pee, I promise." He could tell she was embarrassed, "Claire, it's okay." He puts his arms over her protectively. "We will get you cleaned up and changed." He gulped as he smelt her arousal, all over her pants, as she took them off. "Deya, I didn't know you could do something like this." He gawked, as he picked up her clothes. "Me neither." She stepped into the washroom.
She looked back to him, "What was that?"
"From what, Blinky told me, it was Marking. Something Trolls do to Protect their Mated from other Male or Female Trolls, it's a warning to others that, I'm yours and your mine. But only respectable Trolls take heed of the Marking." He recited Blinky's words. It irritated him that a lot of creatures wouldn't care that someone had a mate and would do what they wanted.
After Claire was done cleaning herself and putting her wet clothes away, they got their things and met up with the others. "Are you ready, Master Jim and Lady Claire?" They look at each other and nod. "Safe Travels," Hyde said as the Guards. Claire shivered after seeing him smirking at her and Jim. "We are never coming back to Hyde's Dwelling. "
"Agreed." Jim chuckled.
When they were far enough, they stopped to gather themselves and the path they would take. They were still in the mountains, so they should be safe from humans. These mountains were way more complicated and harder to get through. It had at least been your or two and it would have taken longer but they hadn't eaten yet. "–that was pretty nice of her."
Claire told him about Hyde's wife and what she had done for them. Though he still wasn't so sure about her husband, he wishes he would have met her, "We will be using these." He stated as he folded his larger cloak, placing it into his bag, Claire did the same, she looked to see what was else in the bag.
"Oh, Hyde brought us some food— his mother's recipe— for you." She smiled, it seemed to have gotten cold so Jim would probably wait until a later time, when electricity was available, to warm it up. As the two talked Blinky and the others eye them oddly, except for Damian he hadn't even noticed it, he just played with the spare heart stone that lit up.
Blinky coughed to get the attention of the two, they snap their head toward him, "So. How was it?"
"How was what?" Jim tilts his head in confusion along with Claire. "You know—"
While Blinky was hesitant to say it, Merlin wasn't. "The Marking Process." Claire's face turned red.
She screamed, "Oh, Dios mío, ¿cómo podrían saberlo?" She turned to Jim could understand some of those words. Damian understood so he turned his attention to them. (Oh gosh, how could they tell?")
"How could you tell?" Jim turned to Blinky, Merlin, and NotEnrique. "Because of ya scent. She smells different, it's like a combination of you guys' scents. but since she hasn't marked you, the smell is not only a warning but a threat to nearby Trolls, letting them know the process isn't over and—giving them a possible chance to mark her for their own."
"What?" Jim growl surprised everyone in the room, "It's okay Jim, we just have to figure out how I can mark you, I'll talk to Morgana, for now, we should start moving soon." She said as she felt the hairs on her neck rise and fall. Damian was quiet for a moment.
"What is a Marking process?" He whispered over to NotEnrique."
"It's a thing where Trolls, use to protect their mates, claiming them as there, it's only one part of the Binding process, it had to do with the mental, then there is the Soul binding, the two mates share feeling and touch— a spiritual connection—through the soul, and lastly there it the mating process, the physical process that should grantee a whelp."
The Binding Process was sacred to some Troll's many get it and others don't. The Binding Process includes three steps— Mental, Spiritual, and lastly Physical. Marking, Soul, and Mating. The Marking process is stating that this person is taken and is in a relationship with another Troll, which Trolls take more serious than humans and choose wisely, the Soul process is Marriage, and the Marking is to ensure a whelp, to continue and help Troll kind flourish, for centuries to come. The Process is only complete when the whelp is born.
Blinky had thought and remembered what Jim had told back in Hyde's Dwelling.
"I want to marry her. Can you do this?"
"Of course, I can, but as I learned while being in your world, don't you have to ask her first?"
And he was right, so Blinky would push this idea forward. "This Cave seems to move further, We will rest here for the day, I fear I have digested too much food."
They agree, Jim catches the blink he faces him and smiled, "Claire." He said as the others walk deeper into the cave leaving them alone. "I know this is so sudden and I know, I can give you an ordinary life but I will try to give you the best as I can—"
"What are you saying Jim, ?" She looked at him with her brown eyes. He signed. She gasped as she saw him slowly get on one knee. "We.are far from home and we are far from normal so if I can't give you the humankind, I will give you the Troll Kind. Will you marry me?"
She was shocked, a tear rolled down her face and a smile crept up on her. She bends down to be face to face with him," Of course I will." She pulled him in for a kiss and he laughed in joy.
"When. do you think you want to get married?" He asked
"Now." His eyes widened, he didn't expect that answer, "I'm sure Trolls have a more meaningful way. And if we choose to we can go home and have a Human–Troll Wedding in Troll Market."
He nods. And now they talk to Blinky. "Congratulations!" He said loudly. The cave was deeper than they thought and x had gems all over the walls. They were in the deepest part of the cave while everyone else was further up. Blink said they needed power and he said natural gems would give the power, maybe even more than a heart stone because of how many are on the wall, it was beautiful.
"Now let's get started. First, hold both hands— yes just like that, and now here I come with this red heart stone." He moves the heart stone around the wrist of Claire and then the wrist of Jim, he repeated this on their other wrist. He moved the stone around their bodies moving in a circle. He stopped, he lightly touched the stone to Claire's she felt a ping and then to Jim's heart, he felt a ping. It was now in motion, this process could be stopped, he moved it to between her eyebrows and then to his.
What was this feeling, it's like she could feel another heartbeat, it was his, what does overwhelm mean. Jim could feel every emotion she was feeling right now and vice versa. Blinky could see their eyes glowing, Jim's red in Claire's purple they were caught and the feeling of feeling each other. Blinky pressed his hand on the back of their heads. "And now you connect."
Their head was brought together. Her forehead touched his and his hers. they looked into the eyes of each other, and it felt like they could see every single part of the other, no secret was found unknown by the other. The gems around we're giving them power and then suddenly red lines of string appeared, around their wrist, around their body, and to their heart and forehead. They start to tighten until they were no longer visible and then it stopped.
They gasped for air, as it felt like they couldn't breathe. "It is done." Blinky smiled as he walked back to the others. They smiled at each other and hugged, her tears became his, he could feel her joy and so that made it, his. They didn't need words, they just needed each other's love.
It didn't seem like long before they were out again and as they were just about to exit the mountains, the hair on Claire's neck raised so fast, that she turned and blasted whatever she felt was behind her in the air. Everyone was now in guards. There it was the lady with no legs, flying in the air, the women who hunted happy couple. Manananggal but there was someone else there. "What the Hell is that!" Damian yelled.
"The Manananggal, Morgana warned me that I had a target in my bad when we were in going to Kirwin." Jim summoned his armor.
"For the glory of Merlin— why did you say anything."
"Because this is my battle and someone out that target on my back, there someone else here, we just can see them." The Manananggal flew towards Claire at a high speed. Jim swung his sword to distance the creature from his now-wife.
"Stay back, me and Jim will handle this, Merlin, Imma need you to conjure up some type of portal far from us, that we can send her through," Claire yelled as she continued to throw attacks at the huntress. "Give me a second." Little did they know that was a bad idea.
Simultaneously, as Merlin conjured up the portal he threw it towards the huntress, and at that same time Claire through her attack, not only did they knock out the hundreds and bounce off of each other, the portals, the magic combined in a fast way and reflected at Claire and Jim throwing them into the portal and closing behind them.
"WHAT THE FUCK!" She yelled as they landed on the ground. "Where in the hell are we?" Jim groaned, Claire reached into her bag grabbing her phone.
"UGH, FUCK ME!" Claire ragged, racking her hand through her hair.
"What wrong?" Jim sweated, as he realized how hot it became.
"We are in LATIN America. México!"
Shit...