Author's note: Due to the graphic nature of some of the content of this chapter, this story is now rated as an R. Please do not read if you're under the age of 17.
I sit and watch another beautiful sunset over the Australian Outback. This is our third night on stake out and the perimeter has now been moved out to a two mile radius. John got drawn for tonight's bait duty.
I have dubious pleasure of being stationed with Dr. Taylor tonight. Over the past couple of days he's been very charming toward me. However, there's something about him that doesn't sit right with me. I'm not sure what it is, but it puts my teeth on edge every time I'm near him. Since Abe needs to be in the same room to read thoughts, all he can say is that Taylor is attracted to me. Not that I'm not flattered, but the man gives me the creeps.
Taylor has been prattling on about how wonderful he is ever since we parked. I pray the baginis appears tonight. I don't think I can last half the night listening to this man go on.
"So tell me, Meg, what do you like to do for fun?" he asks.
"My name is Margaret," I tell him. "I would prefer if you just called me Agent Cavendish."
"Oh, come one now," he says as he gives another one of those smiles. "Don't be stick in the mud. We're going to be out here for a while, so why don't we get to know each other."
"Dr. Taylor, we're supposed to be doing a job," I remind him. "That job does not include playing twenty questions."
"So, you wear that to fend off would be suitors?" he asks.
"Wear what?" I respond.
"Your ring," he replies pointing to my left hand.
"It's my engagement ring," I answer.
"So, what do you think your fiancé would say if he knew you were alone out in the desert with another man?" he asks as he rests his hand on my headrest.
And what would you say if I told you that I'm engaged to a merman? I think to myself.
"Nothing," I finally reply. "He trusts me."
"So, has he gotten to sample your wares yet?" he asks as he rests his other hand on my knee.
I push his hand off of my knee and knock his hand off of my head rest.
"Dr. Taylor, please stay on your side of the car," I order.
"My, my, my, aren't we the little ice princess," he sneers. "Maybe I should do your fiancé a favor and defrost you for him."
He starts to caress my shoulder. I immediately knock his hand off of me.
"Dr. Taylor, please keep your hands to yourself!" I demand.
"You know I like it when sheilas play hard to get," he says with a voice full of passion. "Don't fight it. It'll all be over in a few minutes."
Before I know what happens, he's on top of me, pinning me to my seat. His mouth is on mine and his tongue is trying to force its way in. I 'push' him off of me, knocking him into the steering wheel. The horn goes off briefly. I reach for my seatbelt release, but he beats me to it. He grabs for me again, this time tearing my shirt and exposing my right shoulder. He gives me a wolfish grin when he sees my lace bra. I give him another 'push' this time hard enough to slam him against his door. He comes back at me, going for the release again. The seatbelt suddenly breaks and I reach for the door. He quickly reaches past me and locks the door. Keeping one hand on the lock, he grabs me with the other and starts groping me. I 'push' him back hard enough to crack the windshield. I reach for the door again, but he pins me down once more. His mouth is on mine so I can't scream. He's got a solid grip on my arms, so if I 'push' him, I'll just go with him. I'm panicking and I can't think.
Suddenly, the car door is pulled open and hands with claws on the ends reach in and grab Taylor and drag him off of me. By the time I realize what's happened, Taylor and the baginis are gone. I'm shaking so hard that it takes me several minutes to be able to pick up the radio and call in.
"Manning, come in," I say. My voice is shaking so bad that I don't even recognize it as my own.
"Cavendish, is that you?" answers Manning.
"The baginis just took Dr. Taylor," I inform him. "I'm going to try and follow them."
I drop the radio and move into the drivers' seat. Manning is talking into the radio, but I can barely think as it is, so I ignore him. Thank the stars this thing is an automatic since everything is reversed. I'm not sure I could drive a stick while I'm shaking like a leaf in a hurricane.
"CAVENDISH, TURN ON YOUR TRANSMITTER!" I hear Manning scream over the radio.
It takes me several tries to finally get the transmitter turned on. Then I go for the keys. I finally manage to get the car started and into gear. I do a 'check' and find a human moving at very high speed toward the hills a couple of miles out. I aim the 4X4 in that direction and floor it.
Some time later, I stop at the opening of a narrow canyon in the hills. By some miracle, I didn't roll the car on the way here. I get out and do another 'check.' They're about a hundred yards up the canyon and I start to carefully pick my way through the dark. A few minutes later I find them.
The baginis has Taylor pinned to the ground with one hand and is caressing him with the other hand, the claws lingering in the area below his waist band. He's whimpering in fear and there's a definite bulge in the front of his pants. I thought I was being quiet, but the baginis suddenly looks up and growls. I see her human form transform into an animal that looks like a cross between a dog and a cat. No wonder no one can say what the animal half is.
"He's mine," she snarls, stopping her caressing, but not letting go of Taylor.
"Why did you pick him?" I ask.
"Because of what he's done," she answers with a hiss. "Because of what he was about to do."
"I'm not sure I understand," I say.
"Why do you stop me from doing to him what he was about to do to you?" she asks me. "What he has done to others."
"I'm curious," I answer. The fear was replaced by anger on the drive over here. "Why did you pick him over the other man in the desert?"
"Because of what he's done. Because of what he was about to do," she repeats. "The other one has never done that. Probably never will. To noble."
"So you're going to rape him because he was about to rape me?" I ask. I feel the cool wind tugging at my torn shirt.
"Yes," she answers. "You. And others."
"He's raped others?"
"Yesssss," she hisses softly. She starts stroking him again. "Many others. I can smell it on him."
"The other men you've done this to, were they rapists too?"
"Oh, yes," she purrs.
"Why are you here? Why pick rapists?"
"She called me," the baginis says. "She was violated. No one would believe. So she called me. I prefer the violators. They're so much tastier."
"I thought you only raped them," I say in confusion.
"It's not their blood I crave," she chuckles.
Ok, that was probably more information than I really wanted. I hear material start to rip.
"MEG!" Taylor screams. "HELP ME!"
"How long will you stay here?" I ask, ignoring him.
"Until I have partaken of all the violators here," she says as she runs another claw down Taylor's pants, tearing the fabric further. "There's only one more here. This one is a bonus."
"Where will you go after the last one?"
"Back to where I came from," she answers. "Back to the Dream Time. Until I am called again. It's been so long since I was called."
Satisfied, I turn to leave.
"MEG! DON'T LEAVE ME! HELP ME!"
"Don't fight it," I tell him over my shoulder. "It'll all be over in a few minutes."
I walk back down the canyon to the sound of a man screaming and cursing as he gets exactly what he deserves.