A/N: Hey, there!
This is somewhat shorter than I'd like but a promise is a promise.
Here we go, we're slowly venturing toward M-rated territory, but not quite.
Still kicking, despite the pain. Holidays are ramping up too, which keeps me busy, busy, busy~!
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story...and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? If folks don't enjoy it? If I'm not entertaining people? Well...I won't be able to continue it.
I'm working two jobs with ever-increasing hours so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matter! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustains me. Without them, I cannot write a single word. Simple as that.
Not many questions this time around, so we'll keep this brief:
Q: Will there be lemons on Archive of our own?
A: Most likely, just gotta get around to posting them, which means even more work. Also trying to update other stuff like "An Endless Hunt", For Love of a Witch" and "Shed No Grace on Me.
Neon is tired X_X
Q: So...*SPOILER* is gonna be *SPOILER*?
A: You'll just have to read and see now, won't you?
Q: Is this going to be a long story?
A: Short, probably. Fifty chapters at most. Maybe twenty-five if I can tie things off in a neat bow, with that *SPOILER* DLC coming up, I dunno...
Q: What about the other Lords?
A: What about them? Sorry, can't say anything for spoilers.
Alrighty, then I've kept you waiting long enough. As ever, I own no quotes, references, themes, or memes. Not a wit or a one!
Seriously. I mean that. They're tributes to legends far greater than a measly writer like me...
...hope this puts a smile on your face in these crazy times.
"Clothes!"
"Tall-lady-say-what-now?"
"We need to find you proper clothes. No consort of mine will walk about in such rags."
Consort? Wait, wait, wait. Walk that last bit back. Is this your way of saying you care about me? Awwww...
~?
Third Bite
Something was amiss.
Mother Miranda felt it; a stirring in the air, a change in the Megamycete, experienced through her connection to her "children". House Dimitrescu had been altered by...something. Affected by an outside force. It had been gradual at first-slow even, a change so subtle and insidious that she'd not noticed it until now, some days later.
Now it was impossible to ignore. They were enhanced. Dare she say improved?
.
..
...curious. Ordinarily she would've investigated such personally, but she had naught the time to focus on such menial distractions. Her preparations were everything, her ruse nearly complete. In but a few months time she would take Mia Winters, replace her, and commence her grand plan. Nothing could distract her. Her disguise must be perfect, her means flawless. No one must know. Rose was all that mattered. Through her, she would have her Eva again, her prcious daughter in her arms once more. Surely her dear "children" could handle this hiccup in the interim.
And if the fools failed her as she thought they might, she could always find another.
No, this wasn't worthy of her full attention. Not yet...
...or was it?
A thorn of concern nagged at her heart.
Miranda considered it for a long moment, one finger tapping her chin.
It wasn't cowardice to be prepared, she told herself. She was certain her plan would not fail. Hers was the experience of ages. She'd had decades to concoct this scheme. To perfect it, down to the slightest detail. But a backup would surely not be remiss. A failsafe as it were, should anything go wrong. What was the saying people used these days? A "plan B" or somesuch? Yes, that was the phrase. Who knew who might meddle once she drew Ethan Winters here, to the village?
She could even conduct an experiment on this anomaly.
A most curious experiment indeed.
An idea was born.
(.0.0.0.)
Bela wanted him.
No two ways about it.
Naruto had no one but himself to blame.
Really, this was all his fault in the first place; his fault that she and her sisters had changed, his fault they couldn't feed on the servants anymore, and certainly his fault she felt this way. He'd gone and carved a hole in her heart. Thus it fell to him to take responsibility to fill it, did it not? Among other things. She just needed to make him aware of it.
Yes, she rather liked that idea.
A wicked smirk bloomed across her pale face.
Drawing up her skirts, she hopped of her bed and vanished in a swarm of black butterflies.
(.0.0.0.)
Cassandra watched.
She watched, and in doing so, observed.
Not yet. She wasn't ready to make her move yet. Soon...
(.0.0.0.)
He wasn't making a move.
Naruto's reticence baffled Daniela; confusing her to no end. Why?! Why wasn't he making a move? Hadn't she been obvious enough? Was she still being too subtle? He didn't seem to get the hint after all this time, silly boy that he was. If it was just one of them she could understand, but to fend off herself, Cassandra, and even Bela?! That implied a willful act of ignorance on his part; a deliberate attempt to skirt the subject entirely.
...unacceptable.
She could understand why Mother was avoiding him; she'd essentially signed a deal with the devil and as such she wanted to limit what she saw as his control over her. It didn't help that "Father" was being so friendly with her. Heh. Mother didn't know what to do, and so she hid. Wouldn't do her much good in the long run, she'd read all about these things in her books, but that was Mother's battle to fight, not hers. They could dance around one another until the ravens came home to roost for all she cared.
Mother was Mother.
Father was, well, Father.
Titles, nothing more. That's all there was to it.
She'd read up on these kinds of situations. Practiced.
Time to put her plans into action.
The hunt was on.
(.0.0.0.)
"Well. This is quite the predicament."
"Hey, you brought this upon yourself. Leave me out it."
Naruto scratched the back of his head,waring a smile bordering on exasperated.
He really had, hadn't he? In all fairness, he'd gone about this with good intentions. Best foot forward and all that jazz. Ever the optimistic sort, he'd thought himself prepared for the consequences of his actions. Even if it meant whipping Alcina and her daughters into shape. Things had improved for awhile...
But here? Now?
'...I've blundered.'
"Yes." Kurama's retort proved merciless. "You have."
Yeah, that about summed it up.
Never had it been more apparent then in this moment, when he found himself being waited upon hand and foot, dressed by a cadre of silent servants. Even now he tried his best not to grimace as they tugged and twisted him into yet another outfit. There was no point telling them to stop. He'd alreay tried. They wouldn't. He sought a different avenue of attack instead.
"Is this really necessary?"
"..."
No matter what he said, the wizened old crones wouldn't answer him.
He let his shoulders droop with a resigned sigh.
Look the part, Alcina said. Act the part.
What part?! Who was acting here?!
Not him!
He'd known the risks going into this endeavor; the changes he was trying to implement weren't small; nor could they be cemented overnight. They would be broad in scope-likely affecting not just the manor but the village beyond it. If he succeeded, he might well make things better for everyone in the long run. If. A few love bites seemed a small price to pay for creating a better world.
Now if only they'd stop dressing him up like some prissy ponce!
Kurama snorted, the absolute traitor. Bastard was probably enjoying his suffering.
Strictly speaking, he was a guest of House Dimitrescu, and to be afforded the respect of such. You wouldn't know it by the way these hags were tutting over him.
His new attire-according to Alcina!-was meant both to reflect his station and make him presentable; in place of his ruined orange-on-black attire, they'd wrestled him into some fancy outfit so ridiculous he could only balk at it.
Naruto glared down at it all now, scowling first at his heavy brown boots, blood-red trousers and scarlet tunic, over which they'd thrown a heavy black fur surcoat with long sleeves. Judging by the coarseness of said fur, he suspected it came from a large black bear. Alcina could probably take one of those buggers down in her sleep. Really, it was just the sort of thing one might wear for winter, and while he appreciated the warmth as much as gesture, he still felt like an overdressed peacock.
When the servants made to throw another coat atop the one he currently wore, he finally had enough.
Blue eyes snapped into scarlet. "No more! Scram!"
They scattered like mice before a cat.
He watched them go with a bleak look. If this was the treatment he received here, he shuddered to think that the other Lords might like. Apparently there were at least three others lurking in the village, and while he was both curious and...concerned about them, his schedule was full at the moment. He wanted to lock things down here before his hand at "helping" the rest of them.
"Found you~!"
Speaking of hands!
Naruto closed his eyes as a pair of ghostly pale palms burst out the dark, alighted upon his shoulders and spun him around. In short order he found himself face to face with a cloud of black butterflies, once which rapidly resolved into an all too familiar form. Slim arms looped around his neck, holding fast, bringing with it a faint whiff of perfume...and golden hair.
"Mornin', Bela."
His tormentor leaned in, licking her lips. "Morning to you too, breakfast."
She danced into him, hips swaying in sensual invitation, pressing the fullness of her figure against him. She'd come alone this time. That boded poorly for him.
"Ah!" He held out a finger to flick her forehead before she could sink her teeth in, drawing a petulant look from her. "Not so hard this time. I'm still healing from the last one."
"Awww, but I like it rough...!" His eyes flashed in warning and she winced. "Yes daddy, sorry daddy!"
"Still sounds so wrong when you say it like that!"
"Not sorry for that one!"
She leaned in before he could think to stop her. Teeth nipped his neck, nuzzling him as she tilted her head for a better angle and then-
Chomp.
A brief twinge of pain drew a bemused look from him. His hand came up to cup the back of his head and held her there as she fastened herself to him.
He could've broken free at any time he knew; shattered her wrists and bolted.
However, he didn't resist.
There was a part of him that didn't want to. He knew better by now. And their tells. Bela wouldn't relent until she had her fill; both of blood and him. Cassandra would pester him with questions about the outside world. Daniela wanted him to...act out scenes with from her novels. He'd caught onto to her ulterior motives quickly and vetoed that bit. Each wanted him to fight back; to run. To resist. For all his superiority over them, they enjoyed the chase. No, that wasn't quite right. They wanted his attention. And they'd not leave him be until they got it.
As for Alcina...well, that was a mountain he still had to scale. She'd been avoiding him these last few days. He'd cross that bridge when he came to it.
He wanted to help her too, ya know? Even if she didn't want to help herself.
Bela drew back, licking her bloody lips. "Thanks for the meal~!" not satisfied with a meager morsel, she darted in to kiss his cheek and danced around him mouth brushing his ear as she swept past. "Mind if I have another helping?"
Kurama absolutely cackled. Heat speared up Naruto's neck.
"I know I said you could come to me rather than feed on other people, but jeez!" He'd done a good deed, there could be no denying that, but they'd taken his promise too literally. "I'm not a bloodbank, ya know! Hand on a, mmph," he grunted as she leaned round to kiss him full on the lips, briefly wrestling with her. "Oi! I'm talking here."
"Hmm." Bela pivoted and rubbed up against him, pressing her breasts into his back. "You're also warm...
"Are you even listening?!"
"Tell me to stop, then." she cooed, laying a kiss against the nape of his neck. "Don't you enjoy this?"
...more than he cared to admit.
He'd grown used to being accosted by them over the last week, but it was becoming...difficult to fend of their affections. These girls weren't just clingy; they were smart; they knew he was interested. As such they'd made it their personal mission to break down his walls and drag him down into depravity with them. They wouldn't succeed in the latter -he wouldn't let them- but they'd succeeded in other ways.
In the end, he was but a mortal man, and he only had so much self control.
His fingers tightened on her waist. She cooed happily, thinking she'd broken through to him at last.
"Oi!" He seized a handful of Bela's rear instead, drawing a yelp from her. "If you've got this much energy, stop nibbling on me and go run outside."
He'd said it as a distraction, something to keep her from jumping his bones again as she had the last time.
"Outside?!" Bela reared back instead, words escaping her in a startled yelp. "I can go outside now?!"
Naruto blinked. Once. Twice. Thrice. ...did she not know that?! Did none of them?!
"Well, yeah. You're not really affected by the cold anymore so-hey!
She grabbed his arm and tugged, eyes pleading.
"Lets go! C'mon! I want to see the snow!"
Naruto let her drag him after her.
"Such an excitable girl...
(.0.0.0.)
Donna had grown used to being alone.
Ever since she'd lost her parents, her family, her everything.
But she'd gained new purpose with her new family, her true family, her lovely mother. She'd do anything for Mother Miranda, so long as she loved her.
And so when the call came, she obeyed, like a good daughter should.
She watched the Dimistrescu from afar as Mother told her to. She observed. She waited for orders, instructions, that never came. What was she to do? Simply keep an eye on them? Intervene? She didn't know. And so in lieu of mother's blessed command, she continued to watch. Waited.
Wilted now, as this "Naruto" was summarily dragged outside by Bela to play in the snow. She said something to him, only to yelp as he pelted her backside with a snowball. She recovered quickly and then they were at it; flinging frozen snow at one another. He got the better of her and tackled her, driving her down. Bela was having none of it and spun him around, diving atop him in turn. She climbed into his lap, all but mounting him to get at him, driving her lips against his.
Unsatisfied with such a union, she began to tear at his clothes.
Donna squeaked, face growing increasingly red.
Were they going to...? Oh. Ohh. Ohhh my.
Something twitched in her chest at the sight. She felt like a ghost, an intruder, a wraith intruding upon a scene not meant for her. Of course it wasn't. She was ugly. Hideous. A scarred freak. That would never be her. Her lips thinned, forming an almost invisible frown. It simply wasn't fair.
Angie, her doll, laughed in her arms. "Awwww, is someone jealous?"
The words struck dangerously close to home. Too close.
Donna huffed and pivoted on one heel to stalk away.
She'd seen enough. More than enough. Mother would be told of what she'd seen.
But really! Her? Jealous? Of this?!
She wasn't. Surely not.
...she absolute was.
A/N: Aaaand scene.
Poor Donna. Time will tell if she gets her happy ending.
So? Should this be a story? Yay or nay! Really need to hear from you guys and girls here.
Naruto's really too nice for his own good, ya know?
To clarify for those who've forgotten, Bela's the blond, Cassandra has midnight hair, and we all know Daniela's the redhead.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story...and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? POOF! Gone. Completely. I'm working two jobs with ever-increasing hours so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matter! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustains me. Without them, I cannot write a single word. Simple as that.
So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter!
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the previews!
They're mostly the same. Mostly, but not all.
(Previews)
"Harder~!"
Flowers.
He'd gotten he flowers.
Of all the absurd, insipid things.
She'd never had a man try to woo her before, even when she was human. For one to do so now...Alcina palmed her face. Sentiment. How silly. She wouldn't falter. No. Nay. Never.
"..."
She peeked through her fingers at the vase sitting on her nightstand. Red roses.
Her head hit the pillow with a groan.
Wretched man thing.
She didn't mean the words. Not at all.
"Hey, wait a sec-
Donna most assuredly did not, she squeaked bolted.
Naruto was left scratching his head. "Who in blazes was that? Why'd she run off?"
Heisenberg howled with laughter. "Ha! I knew it! You're sweet on him! Oh, this is riiiiich!"
Alcina peered over his shoulder. "What ARE you doing?"
"Making something." He held it up for her. "See?"
Her eyes widened.
"I know monsters."
"The hell's that supposed to mean?"
Heisenberg tipped his hat and walked away. "From one to another, good luck."
"Love? Fear? Pain? What are such things to eternity?" Miranda tutted softly. "I WILL have my daughter returned to me, boy. "And you will help me. One way or another."
He took three step forward. Glared at her. "Make me."
"Dear boy, I intend to." She touched a hand to her stomach. "Even if the matter in which you...help, has yet to be determined."
"Well, well, Ethan Winters. You've had a rough time of it, haven't ya...
"Buddy, I'm the only sane one here."
EDIT: Hey, you made it!
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story, and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? Well, it won't be continued. I'm working two jobs -might need a third soon!- so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy.
So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back~! Have a great day~!
R&R~!
