CH 6
Eric ate, his demons pretended to. They were finishing up as Kitira returned with the sword. She laid it on the table, hilt first by Eric. "These were general smiths who made this sword."
"The town's blacksmiths they made everything in town, so I heard," Eric told her.
"I agree to the trade, the steel you have for 940 pounds of gold," Kitiara stated.
"Done. Got the gold?"
"It will be at our main camp in the morning. May Sir Ralstat show you the way?"
"Fine by me," Eric said an raised an arm to call a waitress over. "A drink to seal the deal?" he asked.
They drank an ale together, then another just because. Eric mentally told Tikiez to watch the wagon. When Kitiara left, he had Saphrin follow her discretely. He wanted to know why she was eyeing him.
Kitiara rode back to the main camp that night. She checked their gold reserve to ensure they had enough, then went to visit her brother.
Rastlin was in his study room, his black cloak around him. Turning his hourglass shaped pupils to her, he said, "What brings you at this hour?"
"Rast, I think I met one of Tanis' relatives. Facially, they look almost identical. Tomorrow, he's coming to trade steel for gold with us. I'd like you to see what information you can get from him."
Rastlin let out a sigh. "Kit, Tanis chose another path. You need to forget about him."
"This man hasn't! Right now, he holds no allegiance to anyone but his own city. One of the Knights, Sir Ralstat knows him. He swears this Eric would be a very good addition to our forces if we can convince him to fight for us."
"Eric who?"
"Eric Carvon."
Rastlin snapped his head to stare at his sister. "Eric Carvon is in the town, right now?"
"He is. You know him?"
"I know of him from my studies. Kit, Eric Carvon has been around since the cataclysm. He appears and disappears. I also know he is not someone to toy with. He lives in a place for a while, pretends to die, then moves on. He was ran through by an elf a few hundred years ago and got up right after the elf left town. I suspect to go hunt the elf down. I will come to see Eric Carvon he has secrets that may unlock great power. Do not act against him for your own sake."
"I'm not, it's a friendly, mutually beneficial trade."
"That the dwarves are not happy with. He's driving the price of steel down. They have people looking for him."
.
Rastlin came out with Kitiara to the treasury fortifications. Mid morning, Sir Ralstat appeared, Eric and his women on the wagon behind him.
Rastlin noted two things right away. Not only was Eric very old, he was Tanthalas's Father. The women on the seat on either side of him were demons. Succubi to be exact. The dark haired one had tendrils intermingled with him. For all practical purposes, she was grounded to the material plane by an immortal, which meant she was invulnerable to any magic he knew of. Besides his succubi, Eric bore weapons Rastlin had never seen before that were more potent than anything else on the whole of Krynn.
Kitiara introduced him. Rastlin stood by and watched. Eric acted decent, they did the trade with scales to measure out every scale load for fairness. This made it take longer, but ensured accuracy for both sides. Eric was fair trader. It also made Rastlin wonder why. Eric had the power right here, to kill them all and just take their gold, and there was nothing any of them could do to stop him. He also felt Eric had other power at his command.
When the trade was finishing up, Rastlin did come closer. "Eric Carvon, I thank you for trading fairly with my sister. We both know you did not have to do that."
Eric eyed him briefly before saying, "I deal squarely with others. We had a good trade. Maybe another next year?"
"Yes, feel free to trade with us any time," Kitiara said, happy to get a big pile of high quality steel.
Rastlin went back to his workshop as they left. He motioned Kitiara to come with him.
"Did you find out anything?" she asked.
"Eric Carvon holds tremendous power. Those woman with him are demons. He has magic and knowledge of weapons that make the best we have, equivalent to children's toys. If he desired, he could rule all of Krynn. He is also the father of Tanthalas."
"Then why is he playing at being a common trader?" Kitiara asked.
"I could not determine that. I will tell you he met Soth in a violent confrontation and Soth fled back to the abyss. As you said, we want him for a friend."
.
Eric traveled on Tikiez on his right, Saphrin on his left. As they came to the gated guard stations on the road, they gate opened and they were waved through and greeted by the guards.
"Friendly people here," Saphrin said as she waved and smiled at the guards.
"Because they want something," Eric replied flatly. "Kitiara's brother, they guy with the strange eyes? He's a wizard and not a good one. We best keep a close eye out."
"If you think he might attack us, I can go watch him, or take care of the threat," Tikiez offered.
"No," Eric said in a mussing tone. If anything they would probably try to get all their gold back. "I figure tonight, we'll head back to Chicago."
Tikiez's eyes widened. She gripped his arm with both of hers. "Already? Nooo, let's stay for a while longer, we still have to get our other sister, don't we?" she begged.
"Not permanently," Eric told her. "Just long enough to unload the gold and get it in the vault. Then we can come back."
Tikiez sighed and relaxed against him, head on his shoulder. Casting him a hopeful grin, she asked, "Can we play ravish the headless maiden first?"
"If we get a private place to stop, sure."
Tikiez giggled and snuggled close.
.
They made a day's worth of progress towards Newsea. The place Eric stopped at a place was in forest, and remote. After fording the stream, Eric stopped to set up camp. Tikiez was quick to dig the fire pit and run off to collect firewood. Eric and Saphrin got the stones to ring the fire and logs to sit on. Bringing back wood, two armloads, Tikiez broke them up and got the fire going.
Eric got his sword out. He touched Tikiez on the shoulder with it. "So, you touched the gold, huh?" he asked in a hard tone.
Tikiez looked up at him with round eyes much more innocent looking that he knew she was. "But, I just put a coin back in the box," she said meekly.
"You still touched it," he said firmly. "Saphrin, start some food. This one needs to be taught a lesson."
Cringing Tikiez asked weakly, "What will you do to me?"
Eric put the tip of the sword under a breast and lifted. "On your feet." he commanded.
Saphrin was watching intently. She could feel there was no animosity. Just the opposite. Tikiez was aching for some sex, and Eric was anticipating. She got it, their 'ravish the headless maiden' game. This should be fun to watch.
Tikiez stood up quivering. She tried to act scared as she was eagerly waiting for what was to come.
"Strip," Eric commanded.
Tikiez did. Slowly. Her act of being coy ended up to be a very sexy strip-tease as she watched Eric with wide eyes. She made little mewing sounds as she slowly peeled her clothes off, trying to keep her privates covered.
Eric noted Saphrin's eyes were glued to them. "I thought you were going to cook?" he asked.
She nodded, but didn't move.
Tikiez finally got her clothes off and turned half away from him, still eyeing him over her shoulder and giving him a good view of her butt.
"Pick your hair up, hold it over your head," he instructed.
Tikiez collected her hair over her head with both arms. "Like this?"
"With just your left arm."
Tikiez did.
"Now close your eyes."
Tikiez did, standing stock still.
Eric whipped out with his sword and chopped her head off.
Tikiez, stiffened, her eyes flew wide open. Her body jerked and fell backwards, spread eagle. Her head tumbled to stare straight up, eyes and mouth open wide in shock.
Eric put the sword away and looked down on her. "Oh no, what have I done, she's so beautiful! How could I ever…" he knelt down by her body and petted a leg. "So soft, so sexy. I have to have her one last time."
Saphrin grew a big grin as she felt her own lust level rise up as Tikiez fluttered her eyes.
Eric petted her body, rubbed and suckled on her breasts, marveling at how soft and beautiful she was. He bent her legs up to the sides. "Oh yes, I must have her," he intoned.
Eric got ready to mount her and Saphrin cried, "I've been bad, take my head next!"
He cast her a grin and slipped into Tikiez. Her hips rose to meet him. Half way in he stopped and eyed Saphrin. Reaching over to his boot, he pulled a knife and motioned her over.
Eric knew just being partway inside Tikiez and not moving was driving her nuts. Her body was moving way too much to pretend to be dead. Rolling partway off Tikiez, he coaxed Saphrin onto her hands and knees. "Give me a breast to nurse on." he told her.
Saprhin did, pushing her chest out.
Eric cupped her large orb, pulled then sliced it off. Saphrin gapped at him, not expecting that. "Sit and watch," he told her.
Eric stroked into Tikiez, holding Saphrin's breast where Tikiez's head should be. He fondled and suckled Saphrin's breast as she slowly stroked in Tikiez.
It didn't take long for Tikiez to wrap her arms around him and hump him back.
Saphrin whined with want as she gripped her chest where her breast should be as she watched him play with it.
Gripping Tikiez's head by the back of her hair, he picked her head up and kissed her cheek, then her chin, Keeping her head away from her body.
"Kiss me!" Tikieze cried in a squeak.
He turned her head to kiss her, then just kissed her nose.
"Please," Tikiez begged as a tear formed in her eye.
Eric finally did. He kissed her and put her head back in place. She humped him like a wild rabbit as she drew energy from him in their deep kiss. The energy drain made them both orgasm. Even Saphrin felt it, she glopped on them, holding them tight.
Eric was spend. He was so exhausted, he couldn't even move. "I think I like ravishing the headless maiden," he said in a gasp.
"Oh yes!" Tikiez breathed out.
"Take my head, Master!" Saphrin cried.
Eric grinned at her. "I got something different for you," he said and kneaded the breast he was holding. He glanced at it and said, "Think I need a pillow tonight."
As Eric suspected, keeping her breast and as a pillow and playing with it some, left Saphrin squirming and panting until she got on top of him and coaxed him for another round.
.
In the morning with his demons back together, Eric took all but 50 pounds of gold out of the wagon. He transported him, Tikiez and Saphrin back to his warehouse in Chicago and put the gold in his vault. After this, the vault was effectively full. While he was here, he left his empty cartridges and got replacements and filled his cap and ball pistol cylinders. They then went back to the wagon.
Back in Kyrnn, Eric sent his demons out to search for where their sister was while he drove the wagon for the coast. Riding along by himself without the constant female attention, he began to think about Abby. Tikiez was right in that he was better off getting away from elven lands. He was sure that Abby was being taken care of. For some odd reason, he did miss that crazy elf. Abby was a pain in his ass, but he felt protective of her. At least he'd gotten her someplace safe. Although he would like to go check on Abby, it was most likely be better if he stayed away from that area.
Up ahead the road was moving down into a shallow valley. On the road, a wagon was tipped. Two men were working to lift the back corner to put a wheel on. To the side, a woman tended a fire. Coming upon the group of peasants, Eric stopped.
"Hey folks, need a hand?" he asked.
The men looked up. "Yeah if ya would," one said.
Eric got down off his wagon. They were having a hard time getting the wagon up to get the wheel on. Eric helped the one man push down on the lever to pick the wagon up.
"Perfect!" the other man said. Eric then felt a blade drive into his back.
With a yell of pain, Eric tried to recoil and turn. The man who'd been pushing on the lever drove into him, knocking him down. He was then kicked in the face.
The woman picked up a rock and tried to hit him with it. Eric managed to get his arm up and knock aside her attempt to smash his head. The knife wielder came at him again, knife held high. There was a flash of something speeding by and the man's arm fell away. The other man howled in pain, four thin knives stuck out of his chest. Behind him Saphrin picked him up by her fingernails she'd driven through him and tossed him to the side.
The woman screamed and tried to run. The man had his arm severed stared at it in disbelief until Tikiez flew past again and chopped his head off. She then flew into the woman, grabbing her by her hair and drove her to the ground.
"Master!" Saphrin cried and went to help him up.
Eric held up a hand, "Give me a minute," he said. The pain was ebbing, but it still hurt.
"Come on!" Tikiez growled, picking the woman off the ground by her hair. The woman cried and begged for mercy. Holding the woman and shaking her, Tikiez asked, "How do you want me to kill her?"
"Please, have mercy!" The woman begged.
Saphrin eyed the woman. "Tear her up a bit, or just lop her head off?" she asked in a musing tone.
"No, please have mercy!" the woman wailed again.
Eric rolled over and got to his feet. The knife would was healing. He wasn't happy. Tikiez and Saphrin were ready to kill the woman. He pointed to the woman and asked, "What's your name?"
"Donna, please, I'll do anything you want, just don't kill me!" she begged.
"Well, Donna, dig a grave for your friends," Eric told her. He turned to Saphrin. "See if they got anything useful."
Tikiez led Donna go and pushed her towards her wagon. "Dig!" she spat. Sobbing, Donna got a shovel, then with a screech, swung it at Tikiez. Tikiez caught the shovel easily then rammed her nails up under Donna's ribs.
"Wrong move," Tikiez told the gapping woman. Tikiez curled her fingers slightly and yanked her nails out. Donna collapsed.
"Thanks for coming by," Eric told his demons.
Tikiez frowned at him. "I felt it when that guy stabbed you. Try to be more careful."
Eric cast her a brief grin. "Yes, dear. How'd you make out? Find your sister?"
"We know she's in New Sea, we found the spot. We know how far down. We can't pick up her Amulet," Saphrin explained.
"I'll figure something out," Eric assured her. "We'll get a boat when we get there. First, make a hole and bury these thieves."
While ikiez buried the bodies, Saphrin looked frr their money, Eric checked out the wagon for anything he needed. The woman had some peasant clothes, he took the clothes for Saphrin and their sister so they would have something to wear when they got to Chicago.
.
On the way to the shore, Eric figured out how to get the amulet up off the bottom. A demon could not handle it's own amulet. Handling another was questionable as well. When they reached a fishing village, Eric rented a man's boat for a gold coin the man was happy to get. Besides the fishing pole and line, Eric got a coil of rope. Before they set out, he had Tikiez go to the amulet and tell him how it was positioned, and if it still had a thong.
Tikiez when to study it. When she came back, she reported, "The amulet is lying in the ruins of a house. It is covered in mud, but nothing solid. The thong has rotted away."
Eric held up a fish hook. "Can you hook this into the holes on the amulet for a thong?"
Tikiez grinned, "I can do that!"
"Then let's go."
The boat Eric rented had a sail and a tiller, as well as oars in case there was no wind. Eric was set to row, but Saphrin had a better idea. She got into the water and morphed her legs into a mermaid tail. Tikiez saw this and did the same. Each holding a rope tied to the front of the boat, they pulled it through the water. Eric had to grin as he watched them. Swimming in an undulation motion, they did look sexy. Of course, they swam naked.
It took a couple hours to get out to where the Amulet was. Once there, Eric gave Tikiez the hook that was now tied onto a fishing line. He paid the line out as Tikiez disappeared into the depths. Saphrin followed her. The line kept going out more and more. Eric was worried there wasn't enough. He tied the end of the line to a rope. Good thing too, the end of the line went over, pulling the rope behind it.
The rope stopped going down. Shortly after that, a red head came rising from the depths. Saphrin broke the surface. "We've got it!" she announced.
Eric pulled the rope back in, then the line. There was a lot of line out. Eventually, he saw the amulet coming up, Tikiez swimming not far away, watching it. Right below the amulet was a green head, followed by another smooth, streamline body of a mermaid. Getting the amulet up to the surface, Eric pulled it up to him. The green haired, purple eyed mermaid pulled herself up to gaze at him. "Master, what do you wish of me?" she asked, gazing at him.
Eric cleaned off the Amulet to read the name, then said, "Reika, get in the boat." He helped her up and kissed her. Moaning in joy, she kissed him back, arms around him as he pulled her up into the boat.
Every Succubus was different. Tikiez was very shapely, dark haired with horns on her head and black eyed and a long, spaded tail. Saphrin was a little slimmer, red hair, green eyes, and had a shorter tail. Shifting into human form, Reika was made more like an elf, long and slim, green haired, and large purple eyed beauty with sharply tipped ears. No horns or tail. One thing was common with all of them, they needed sex. Eric gave Reika a good 'charge' as they headed back to land.
Eric watched Reika gaze at the sky. "Been a while since you saw the sky?" he asked.
"Yes, Master," she said in a light, tone pleasant to his ears. Turning to look at him she said, "I drew off you heavily, you have a large well, almost unending supply of life force."
"That's what Tikiez tells me," he replied with a grin. "I'll tell you the same as I told Tikiez and Saphrin. You take care of me, I'll take care of you. You're going to need a name I can call you when others are around. Have a preference?"
"No. My former master only called me 'slave'."
Taking in her beauty, he asked, "How about Lily?"
"I am yours, you can call me whatever you want," Reika said.
"OK, in front of others, I'll call you Lily for now. If there is a name you like, tell me."
"Yes, Master."
They returned to land as the sun was setting. Like Tikiez's and Saphrin's amulets, he had Tikiez put magic on Reika's amulet to protect it. Eric made sure the boat was tied up and the man knew they were back. Heading to the wagon, Eric noted a few dwarves around it. Every one had a armor and either a battle ax or heavy hammer hooked to his belt. all had full beards and their faces looked like they had a bad day.
"Good day, gentlemen," Eric offered to the group.
The dwarf with the salt and pepper beard jerked a thumb at the wagon. "This wagon yours?" he asked in a gruff voice.
"It is. Something I can do for you?" Eric asked, stopping a respectful distance away.
"You're the one selling steel, even weight for gold?" the dwarf asked.
"That's the initial price, yes, to get a customer base built up," Eric said evenly.
"That's not the price of steel," the blonde bearded Dwarf said firmly. "The guild price is two and a half gold weight per weight of steel, and THAT is wholesale between merchants, not retail."
Eric shrugged. "I'm not in your guild. I sell for my price, not yours."
"You don't seem to understand," the salt and pepper bearded Dwarf said heavily. "The guild sets the price for ALL steel. The way we see it, you are stealing our business and cutting out the guild. You owe us around six hundred pounds of gold."
"Sorry, I don't owe you anything," Eric stated.
"We're giving you a chance to pay up. That, or we take your mines," The Dwarf said in a hard tone.
Eric no more than thought about Tikiez Charming them, when she stepped forward and in a coo said, "Oh! Such burly, strong Dwarves! You are the leaders?"
Under all that hair, a couple dwarves blushed. "Aww, no, Ma'am. We're just enforcers. This guy owes the guild a lot of money for taking our business."
Tikiez cast him a cute frown. "Not even if he sells you his steel for even weight, and you can make a profit by merely reselling it with no effort?" she asked.
The Dwarven faces lit up. That idea hadn't occurred to them. "Yes, then the guild would get their just due."
"That's right," Tikiez said sweetly. "All you do is resell, and let Eric do all the work in mining and smelting. He does the work, you get the profit."
As Eric watched, Tikiez set up and agreement to trade one ton of steel for a ton of gold at the market near the mountains the Dwarves designated. Even Charmed, the Dwarves insisted Eric sell to them and no one else. Eric agreed.
They still acted grumpy, but the Dwarves left feeling like they had gotten what they wanted.
"So, where to now, Master?" Tikiez asked with a raised eyebrow as she cast him a mischievous grin.
Eric shrugged. "Well all the steel is sold, we got your sisters, I'd say we're about done here after I check on Gateway and Abby."
Tikiez frowned. "Master, elves treat you terribly. We should return to Chicago."
Eric cast her a surprised look. "You want to go to Chicago? I thought you didn't like it there?"
"Maybe I just don't want any more arrows in my ass," Tikiez stated.
"You want to avoid a pain in the ass," Eric said with a smirk.
"Yes, especially pointy-eared ones."
Eric glanced at Saphrin and Reika. "We have to go shopping for clothes first for your sisters."
"Oh, yeah," Tikiez agreed in a grumble.
This caught Saphrin's attention. "Why? We can just conjure the clothes we want."
Eric shook his head. "There is no magic in the world Chicago is in."
With a huff, Tikiez added, "No conjuring, no flying, no manipulations, even Charming is very weak."
Reika frowned. "Then why do we want to go there?"
"Really, we'll be defenseless," Saphrin agreed.
"It's pretty calm there," Tikiez offered, "and boring."
"Is not," Eric retorted.
"Is too. I have to walk everywhere and do everything by hand," Tikiez replied. "I can't even wave a hand and make the dust fly away, I have to use a rag and wipe of off everything!"
Eric cast her a sad face. "Poor baby."
Tikiez glare at him briefly, then stuck her tongue out at him.
Eric laughed. "Come on, let's go find a store to get Sally and Lily some clothes."
.
Unlike in Chicago, there was not much selection in pre-made clothing. Peasant blouses and skirts, riding gear and plain shirts and pants was all the dry goods store had to offer. Eric got Saphrin and Reika each a blouse, Skirt a shirt and pants, and soft shoes. That with what he got from the thief woman should hold them for a while. He'd get them more clothes once they were in Chicago.
Getting back to the wagon, he had them all put their clothes on, then concentrated on his warehouse. Seeing the inside in his mind, he close his eyes and when he opened them, he was in the warehouse and noticed someone squatting down in front of the vault. He sensed the person and got a tingling headache. He hopped off the wagon an drew a colt pistol.
"Don't move!" he barked.
The figure clad in black spun to face him. it was a dark haired woman. She stood and stared at him.
"Don't think I won't shoot a woman," he warned. "You picked the wrong place to come stealing."
The woman offered him a winning smile. "I'm not here to steal, I came to be sure your vault is secured," she lied. "How ... how did you get in here?"
"I didn't use that rope you did from that window over there," Eric told her, glancing at the open window near the top of the wall. "Who are you?"
"Amanda. Are you here for my head?" she asked.
Saphrin called, "Are we going to play ravish the headless maiden?"
Amanda shifted her eyes briefly to Saphrin. She stiffened up to run.
"Not here!" Eric replied loudly. Seeing Amanda's bag on the floor Eric motioned to it. "Toss that bag over here, let's see what you've stole so far."
Amanda gave it a weak toss to land between them.
"Tina, empty that bag out," Eric told her.
Tikiez went over to the bag and dumped it on the floor. She motioned to the pile and said, "It's all tools. Nothing valuable and nothing of ours."
Eric motioned to the rope hanging down from the window. "Amanda, that's saved you from a world of pain. Take a hike, and if I find you in here again, you won't be leaving in one piece. Got that?"
Amanda nodded and ran for the rope. She quickly climbed up and out, pulling the rope out after her.
Eric put his pistol away. He'd have to make his warehouse a little more secure.
.
Although Tikiez 'hated' Chicago, she seemed to enjoy taking Saphrin and Reika out shopping. Eric allowed a hundred dollars for their clothes, and they spent every penny. Not quite trusting them, Eric went with them. He sat as they looked and fawned over different dresses and tried some on. When they wandered over to the nightgowns and underwear, he decided to wait outside for them.
Going outside, he got another tingling headache. Frowning, he rubbed his head. What the hell was that?
"Bit of a headache?" A dark haired man asked as he came up to Eric.
Eric eyed the smiling man. He was dressed in the 'latest' suit and tie. "Yeah, How'd you know?" he asked.
"It happens. You don't know why?" the man asked.
"Got a feeling you do."
The man stuck his hand out. "I'm Duncan McLeod."
"Eric Carvon." he replied and shook Duncan's hand.
Duncan looked around and said, "Let's go get a drink, I'll explain it to you."
Eric jerked a thumb at the store. "Got some girls in there buying clothes. Can't you tell me here?"
Leaning closer, Duncan asked, "You died once, didn't you?"
"I've died a few times. Keep getting back up," Eric confided.
"We really need to talk. There's things you need to know," Duncan said in a serious tone.
"I'm always eager to learn. Gotta wait for the girls," Eric said in a huff.
Duncan chuckled. "Married?"
"Sorta, not in what you'd call the conventional sense," Eric replied with a wince. "More like, they're latched on and won't let go."
"They?" Duncan asked with a raised eyebrow.
Eric held up three fingers. "Yeah. Sometimes it's good. Others, it's a pain where I sit." Eric paused and added, "You know, they could be a while. You thinking the place across there across the street?"
Duncan looked at the bar and said, "That will do."
"Let me go tell them where I'll be so they don't go running around like chickens looking for me."
Eric went inside and found they with a sales lady, picking out house robes. Eric told them he'd be in the bar across the street, then went back out and went with Duncan to go sit and have a brew and a talk.
Sitting a quiet corner of the bar, they made their orders. Eric then said, "I didn't think there as anyone else like me around."
"There are," Duncan said firmly. "That headache you got? It was from sensing me. Any time one of us comes close to you, you sense it. It's a warning another immortal is close by. The only way you can die, is if another of us takes your head. We're all part of the Game, like it or not. Some of us don't hunt other immortals, others do. Do you have a sword?"
"Got one a smith made for me. Never used it." Eric said. The waitress came by to serve their drinks. They both stayed quiet until she left. Once she was back out of ear shot, Eric added, "You're saying other immortals like chopping heads off?"
"They do. In the end, there can be only one," Duncan said firmly. "Practice with that sword you got. Get good at it. It could save your life."
"There you are!" Saphrin called out. Tikiez Saphrin and Reika came over to the table carrying their store bags. There were only to other chairs, so Saphrin dragged another over to sit on the corner between Eric and Tikiez.
Motioning to each, Eric said, "Duncan, this is Tina, Sally and Lily. Girls, Duncan McLeod."
Tikiez raised her eyebrows at Duncan. "Ohh, another man with lots of energy!"
"Handsome too," Reika added, grinning at him.
"Girls, leave Duncan alone," Eric said with a sigh.
"You look unusual, and very pretty," Duncan told Reika with a smile.
"Thank you. Want to play?" Reika asked, her grin widening.
Tikiez asked, "Do you play ravish the headless maiden?"
Duncan turned to her in shock. "What?"
"Girls!" Eric said firmly. "Behave yourselves." He got three frowns in return and a questioning look from Duncan. To Duncan he said, "They can be a ... handful. About these other immortals, you seen many of them?"
Duncan looked at the girls. "They know?"
"It seems they can detected them also," Eric noted. "They have ... talents that go beyond being perverted."
"Not so many here," Tikiez said in a huff.
"Really, my wings won't even come out," Saphrin agreed.
"We need to test what we can and can't do," Reika said firmly.
"No," Eric told her.
Saphrin looked at her hands and said, "We should be careful, my nails won't even come out."
Eric rolled his eyes and said, "I told you all, magic doesn't work here."
"They are like witches, or something?" Duncan asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Succubi," Eric told him. "Only here, on Earth, they can't use their powers."
"That's why I don't like coming to Chicago," Tikiez added.
Duncan thought for a moment then asked, "Succubi, as in demons?"
Eric nodded. "That's why I have to keep a close eye on them. They can be ... mischievous."
"You live in Chicago?" Reika asked Duncan in a purr.
"Just passing through," he told her.
"So, do you need a place to stay for the night?" Rika asked.
"I have a hotel room, I'm set," he assured her.
Reika cast a grin at Eric. "Master, I think Duncan might need a maid for the night."
"Yes, he just might," Tikiez quickly agreed.
"It would be wrong not to see to his needs," Saphrin agreed with a crooked grin.
Letting out a huff, Eric motioned to a confused looking Duncan and said, "It's up to you. Lily is ... special."
"I can see that," Duncan said with a grin.
"So before we completely get away from questions," Eric said, "Have you ever encountered a ghost-man?"
Duncan frowned. "A ghost?"
Eric shrugged. "Don't know what else to call him. He died a few hundred years ago, but he comes back to kill people. Name's Soth," Eric explained.
"Yes, he killed my previous master," Reika agreed. "There was nothing I could do to stop him. I tried to, but I just passed right through him."
"I did too!" Saphrin agreed. "It was like he really wasn't there. But Master was able to hit him hard and beat him to the ground."
Duncan raised an eyebrow and looked at each of them. "Never heard of that before."
"I'm just wondering if you ever put one down. I tried and he got away. He just vanished."
"Never seen nothing like that," Duncan told him. "There is one of these things around?"
"There is. He fled, and I have no way to find him. I'd really like to finish him, permanently." Eric stated. Seeing Duncan was taking long glances at Reika, he noted she was giving on a lusty grin. Right, she was doing her best to Charm him. Eric cleared his throat to get her attention. "Lily, we have some things to take care of. If you want to escort Duncan tonight, just make sure you're at the warehouse in the morning so we can leave."
Reika brightened up, casting him a big smile. "I can? Thank you Master!"
"Just be careful with him, got it?" Eric said firmly.
"I will!"
"And remember, your magic doesn't work here. Take it easy," Eric told her firmly.
"Yes, Master."
Duncan eyed Eric. "I have to ask, what's with this 'master' thing?"
"It's complicated, but each of these girls needs a Master," Eric explained. "They are lost without one."
"We do," Tikiez said firmly. "Master saved me, and he's real good to me too."
Saphrin and Reika nodded in agreement.
"They are also a handful," Eric said firmly.
Duncan eyed the girls. Quietly he asked, "Are they Immortals?"
"They are, but … different from you and me. It's hard to explain," Eric replied. He motioned to Duncan and added, "If you want to watch out for her for the night, that's OK. If you really like her and say, you both want you to keep her, that's up to you two, but let me know."
Duncan gave a nervous chuckle. "I don't know about that. I think I'd have at know a her a bit more."
"Duncan, I appreciate the information you gave me. I have to get home and we got things to do," Eric explained. "So will you take care of Lily for the night?"
Seeing Lily gazing at him, Duncan let out a chuckle and said, "I suppose we can spend a bit o'time together."
"You'll need this," Eric told him and pulled out Reika's amulet to hand it over. "Be very careful with this. You must not break it or loose it."
