Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Mario or its franchise; it belongs to
Nintendo and their affiliates. I just am really grateful to its creators for giving
me such a wonderful game and media series to write about!
I also don't own anything related to Harry Potter, all that belongs to J.K. Rowling,
but thanks go to her as well because, using her wonderful work, I can expand this
story to make it more interesting.
I also don't own anything related to Naruto if you see me throw a little of that, too.
Chapter Twenty-Five
It wasn't funny. This was a serious situation. It wasn't funny. It really, really wasn't-
"What are you laughing at?!"
"You!"
"Shut up, Bigmouth."
MJ swallowed the rest of his humor and shook his head. He couldn't help but smile though because Roy looked like a madman, flinging open drawers and chucking stuff onto the bed. Well, a fraction of the things landed on the bed. The others banged behind him against the wall. He and Eriana had to stand off to the side of the room near the door so as to avoid getting hit. When he heard MJ's losing battle against his laughter, Roy strode away from his dresser over towards his closet, shooting his brother a glare.
He's still high-strung, MJ thought, and the guilt came back. He felt bad for judging his older sibling so quickly when here he was, throwing his whole life away for him and Larry. He went over to the closet with Eriana in tow.
"Roy," MJ started, "You don't have to do this."
Roy had torn down only two pair of pants and two shirts from where they hung on the upper racks and started sloppily folding them. He wasn't listening to MJ.
"Roy." The black-haired boy said, touching his brother's shoulder.
Roy thrust the messily folded clothes at the brawnier boy and said, "Here, hold this. Eri!"
Said girl perked and brushed past MJ, who moved out of the closet because it was starting to get crowded. He stood near the dresser, holding the clothes awkwardly, while Roy addressed the dark-skinned girl.
"Go get me one of the pillowcases off the bed, alright?" He instructed, then ran his fingers through his hair.
He looked so agitated and ticked off but MJ sighed and approached him again. Eriana was quick about yanking the pillow free of its silk cover and she squeezed between MJ and the closet door to hand it to Roy. He took it and started filling it with his necklaces, rings, chains, and bracelets. She frowned at his erratic actions but held her tongue.
"Roy, you don't have to do this." MJ said again. "You got a good thing going here. You don't have to leave it behind for me and Larry. We'll be alright."
"Larry." Roy froze, his green eyes alert and lucid for a second. He faced MJ and said, "Go get Larry. Make sure you've both got your shit together."
"But-"
"Go, MJ!" Roy barked, and MJ huffed out a sigh and obeyed his older brother.
As soon as he was gone, Eriana stepped in between Roy and one of his drawers of jewelry and folded her arms.
"What is going on?" She demanded softly.
Roy stroked her cheek and sighed. He forgot about her, too, for a moment. He dropped the pillowcase, stretched out and heavy at this point, and locked eyes with the shorter, older girl.
"Are you going somewhere?" She asked him, worry filling her features.
He nodded and her heart began to race. The girl held both sides of his face and he hated the fear in those pretty dark eyes.
"Rex, what about me?" She asked desperately, "I won't make it here without you! You're the only one who cares about me, and Ariadne, but she's just like me; she won't be able to stop the slavers if they-"
"Shh, Eri, it's alright," Roy said, covering her hands on his face with his own. He told her simply, "You'll just have to come with me, then."
Eriana relaxed and let her hands slide down his neck and rest on his chest. She mulled over the idea and nodded absently, finding it to be a satisfactory plan of action.
It's not like I have any ties here, she thought, but I will miss Ariadne. We could have been good friends under…different circumstances.
And speaking of the blonde, she'd heard the ruckus coming from Roy's room and feared the worst. She now entered through the wide-open door and looked around. The place was a mess. There was underwear all over the room, silk underpants that Roy had tossed out of his dressers in his haste to find something. A sack of gold coins. It rested on the bed along with a bunch of socks and other things. She noticed most of the trinkets on the bed and on the floor near the wall had been gifts for Arid City's Champion. She picked up the hem of her white dress and walked over to where she heard Roy's voice. She wasn't surprised to see Eriana with him but something her ears picked up made her worry.
"Did you say you're leaving?" Ariadne asked, her fine features twisting anxiously.
Roy groaned and Eriana went over to the blonde. She held Ariadne's hands and a sad smile broke out on both the girl's faces.
"We both are." Eriana confessed. "And so are his brothers."
"You can't leave, Rex!" Ariadne cried, "I need you!"
"Ari," Roy frowned. "I…I can't take you, too. Your uncle wouldn't let me. He don't want me leavin' as it is."
Tears formed in Ariadne's eyes and Eriana rubbed the girl's back, but it broke Roy's heart to see the king's niece so upset. He walked over to her and pulled her into his arms.
"You'll be alright," Roy told her, "just stay put in the castle like you said and you should be fine."
"Rex," Ariadne's voice was close to breaking. "I don't want you to go."
"I have to." He stated.
He kissed the top of Ariadne's head and her forehead. He cared for the girl a lot and now that he was leaving, it made his insides ache. Uncomfortable, he moved from the girls to the vanity mirror. From his reflection he sought clarity.
Should I even leave? What if Ari's right? What if something bad happens to her while I'm gone?
Roy shook his head and thought, I know what to do about that.
He picked up the clothes MJ left at the dresser and went over to his bed. He got to his knees and retrieved his suitcase. It was the very same one he brought with him when Ludwig dropped him off all those months ago. And only when he was packing his outfits and the sack of gold coins into it did something occur to him. Around the same time, MJ came back with a bundle of linen garments and things in his arms and Larry on his heels.
"Bring it over here, MJ." Roy instructed.
Eriana and Ariadne came to stand on either side of him and MJ dropped his armful onto the bed. Roy began stuffing his brothers' load into the suitcase, thinking over his next words.
Larry glanced at the older people and asked, "What's going on?"
"We're going to find Ludwig." Roy answered.
MJ blinked but approved of this and Larry grinned. He'd wanted to find his fellow bluenette brother since he met up with MJ in the other kingdom. Eriana moved to the closet to gather some of her own clothes from her chest and Roy went over to his vanity. From one of the hanging-open drawers he fished a simple chain with a tear-shaped, teal crystal hanging from it. He closed his fist over the crystal, careful not to smash it, and infused it with a bit of his magic. He then went over to Ariadne and settled the thing around her neck. She held the crystal, still warm from his touch and tingling with the added magic.
"If you're ever in trouble, give it a squeeze." He instructed.
"What will happen?"
"Hopefully you'll never know." He smirked weakly.
He knew that it would alert him, since it contained his magic, and if he was able he'd teleport to wherever she was and help her. There was no guarantee it would work since, although he'd improved in leaps and bounds with his training, he still wasn't as good at manipulating his magic as Ludwig was. But the necklace was the only thing that eased his conscience about leaving her behind.
At least it's something, he thought.
"Umph!"
All the wind left him when Ariadne smothered him in a deep hug. On her toes she was able to kiss his cheek and the boy flushed scarlet. When she let him go, her face was wet.
"Thank you, Rex." She whispered. "I'll never forget you."
Hell has officially frozen over.
"Would you stop staring at me like that?"
There's gotta' be little snowflakes and icicles and everything down there.
"Seriously, Luigi. You're starting to freak me out."
Was my face frozen, too? It felt like it. Frozen in a perpetual state of incredulity and disbelief.
"Alright," Daisy said, rising from our bed. "I'm gonna' go shower. You have fun not blinking."
I did blink as soon as she disappeared into the room to the left of the bed. I blinked and sat up and shook my head, still not understanding how it was possible.
"She's got the day off," I told myself, but I was no more convinced than when I first heard it from her own mouth.
I was sleep when I heard her running up the steps to the tower and wide awake when she slammed open the door. I asked her if she was insane and if there was a reason for scaring the piss out of me, and that's when she'd told me the good news: no meetings, no conferences. She was totally free.
I wonder how she pulled that off, I thought and heard the shower start. From the bed I stood, intent on finding that out.
Hm, nice rug, I thought when my bare feet weren't met with ice-cold stone floor. The red and gold fibers were plush and numerous and muted my steps on the way to the bathroom. I turned the crystal knob slowly and opened the door a little, slid into the room, and shut it as quietly as possible behind me. Then I stood by and waited for the girl to notice me.
The bathroom was large and the sound of running water filled not just the tile shower area but the entire space. Daisy stood in front of the glass doors of it with her back to me and I leaned against the wall, between the door and the towel rack. For decoration there were crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and one was above the tub. It sat across from me on gold pegs, a ceramic white creation big enough for two people or more. To the right of me was another sink and a closet for dirty linen.
Oblivious, Daisy started to undress and I rolled my eyes up to the ceiling. A great, indulgent grin spread on my face when I heard her shriek.
"Luigi, you pervert!"
I saw in my peripheral vision that she'd grabbed something from the towel rack and figured, if she was accusing me of being one, I may as well act the part and sneak a peek. But it was a robe she'd grabbed and she was hastily closing it around her body by the time my eyes dropped back down. She was blushing and then she started to laugh.
"You got me good!" She grinned.
"Serves you right for busting in here like a crazy person this morning," I chuckled.
Daisy's hair fell into her face and she leaned against the shower door. It took her a second to catch her breath and the way her chest heaved drew my eyes to her breasts.
"I always pegged you as a gentleman," She spoke wryly, "but now I don't know. Sneaking in here when all you had to do was ask."
"What?" I blinked, meeting her teasing eyes.
Daisy said with a deviant smirk, "If you wanted to join me, sweetie, you should have just said so. I don't mind…"
"Really?" I smirked back, stepping towards her.
Her chin I tilted upwards so that I could kiss her. Before I got locked in the embrace, I had to ask her something.
"So you're really free today?"
"Yes." She affirmed.
"Like, really? You have nothing to do?"
Daisy sighed in mock-frustration and turned her back to me. She slid open the shower door and steam poured out into the rest of the room. She stepped into the smaller space and before she shut the doors she cast me a sly, heady glance over her shoulder.
If that wasn't an invitation I don't know what is
I slid the door open and didn't expect the girl to be waiting for me. She didn't even let me get my shirt off on my own, she was pulling it off with me and threw it over the top of the door before wrapping her arms around my neck. I kissed her but she was the one in control; the girl was passionate and slow with that tongue of hers and one of her hands ran down my chest, over the front of my pants. I shivered and laughed under the spray of hot water.
"Oh, but I'm the pervert?" I whispered, catching her hand.
Daisy grinned broadly and in seconds we were both soaked. She started dragging her mouth down my jaw, under my neck and I wanted her. I missed her so bad and all week we never got to finish anything. It was killing me.
And if she touches me there again I don't know what I'll do
In a breath I said, "This was not a good idea."
"You sure?"
Why are you even asking, stupid? Do you want her to change her mind?
Daisy nodded eagerly and I crouched down. She grabbed my shoulders for balance and I lifted her into my arms and carried her out of the bathroom back to the bedroom. We were still wet but we could worry about the sheets later.
"Promise me you won't stop?" Daisy begged me, crawling to the center of the bed.
"No matter what," I vowed, climbing on top of her.
She beamed and I wanted to save this moment for life. She was so beautiful and perfect and I never wanted this to end. In my ears I heard her voice, she was making noises as I trailed kisses down her throat.
"Bite me."
Her hand was behind my head, tangled in my hair and her leg wound round my back. I couldn't, would never, deny her so I did as she asked and made sure there'd be a mark above her collar when I was done with her. She tightened her fingers in my hair and sank her teeth into my shoulder. I winced and she kissed the spot sweetly.
"You're vicious, you know that?" I murmured into the wound I'd created.
Downwards I nipped and bit gently until I got to her chest. I closed my mouth around the wet robe and found her hardened flesh beneath the thin fabric. Her breath hitched and I heard her heart beat faster when moved her robe aside and took her bare skin into my mouth. Daisy yanked on my hair and I bit her as lightly as I could, but she wanted more.
"You know I don't like hurting you."
"But I like it," She argued insistently.
I took her in my hands then and flicked the tips of her buds with my thumbs, opting instead to suck on the flesh between her twin mounds. Her breaths came in short and ragged the closer I got to her navel and she moved her hand from my hair down my back. For the third time she ghosted those wandering fingers over my pants and I flinched.
"Take it off, Luigi."
"You first."
Daisy smirked and made a dance out of shrugging out of her robe. Bare before me she said, "Your turn."
So impatient she was because I was only just starting in on the latch on my pants when she shifted on top of me, her hair forming a curtain over her upper body. Distracting me with another kiss, she rolled her body against mine and drove her hips into my lap. I couldn't take this much longer.
I think Daisy could sense that because she left my lap and dove under the covers. Did she want to play games? I was at my limit but came out of the rest of my clothes as I pursued her. I found her near the foot of the bed.
I kissed her with my hands buried in her damp hair and my body screaming for hers. It was cathartic when she hooked her legs around mine and the distance was closed between us.
"You promised not to stop."
I did and I held true to that only after I was inside her.
It hurt when at first, just like the other time, but it felt so good that she didn't care. He moved fluidly inside her and she wanted to cry. She could hear her own and her fiancé's choppy breaths and it turned her on even more.
"Mmm," She sighed and wondered if it was always going to feel like this or if it was especially amazing because it'd been a while.
I don't care, so long as he doesn't stop…
She scraped her nails down Luigi's back and took his earlobe between her teeth. He rubbed his hands up her arms and laced his fingers through her and was painstakingly loving in the way he kissed her. She bit his bottom lip and licked the tiny cut before chasing his tongue all around his mouth and hers.
Tightly she closed her eyes because he was moving faster now and the fiery knot inside her tightened the closer she got to release. His fingers closed coarsely around her thighs and he rose above her, his hair in his face. She felt a thrill of excitement shoot up her spine at the sensation of his body slamming into hers.
Over the hard planes of his chest and stomach she slid her hands. His body was slick with sweat and she could feel his tense muscles shuddering under her palms. But for a second she choked.
Red.
She could've sworn she saw his hair flash bright red but she screwed her eyes shut and willed the image away.
Warm hands gripped her hips and inched up to her breasts where they squeezed harshly, making her gasp and when he started stroking her much more slowly, drawing out the pleasure, she whimpered.
"You promised!"
I heard her accusing whisper and smirked and said, "I'm not stopping, love, I just want this to last."
It felt so indescribably incredible to be inside her again and I wanted to take my time. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't taking all my control to slide in and out of her at this pace, though. I was craving release just as bad as she was and when the girl whimpered my body twitched in her stomach and I brushed my knuckles over the girl's flushed face.
"You are so, so damn beautiful," I whispered.
And then the gates broke loose and I couldn't hold back anymore. I dug my arms up under her back and held her off the bed against me. Like an animal she buried her teeth in my neck and sucked on my skin until the last wave of pleasure had wracked through us both. I was positive there'd be blood from how deeply she'd embedded her nails in my back.
I heard her say, "I love you," after I collapsed beside her but I was too worn out to say it back so soon.
That was intense, emotional. I needed a second to recover. While I did, I touched the spot where Daisy had gone to town on my neck and hissed.
"I'm sorry," Daisy whispered.
She kissed my chest and crawled on top of me. I propped up one of my legs and turned on my side and raised her head so that she could kiss me instead.
"It's alright," I told her. "It's pretty sexy."
It smarts like a bitch, but it's sexy.
Daisy smirked up at me and then something came to her mind that made her smile fade.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," She shook her head a bit and beamed. "That was long overdue, mister."
"Don't blame me, it was the Council!" I claimed, draping my arm around her waist and backside. I asked, "What do they talk about at those meetings, anyway? How to cock-block like a pro?"
Daisy tipped her head back and laughed hard and the sound was like music to me. I'd missed having her all to myself and I never wanted to let her go again.
It was extremely cold out. The wind wasn't blowing but a chill hung icily in the air, freezing the bones and blood of whoever so unwisely chose to be out of doors that morning. Two such unfortunate individuals hurried to a destination only one of them was privy to, fleeing the hustle and bustle of the nearest city and finding themselves in a darker, seedier part of town. Eyes leered, voices jeered, and every alley they passed one of the two expected someone or something to jump out at them.
She clutched her boyfriend's gloved hand and trailed him like a shadow. The cold washed all the color out of his face but didn't diminish the delicate beauty present in his glittering sea-green eyes and red-mouthed smile. He kept Wendy close and was glad for procuring them both proper garments for the inclement weather.
"It isn't much farther now," Munson declared.
Wendy nodded and her long hair bobbed with the motion, not doing much for warming her pale cheeks. Most of it was braided and pinned up near the top of her head. She was fifteen still but looked a little older in the slim black trench coat and matching scarf. She made the mistake of locking eyes with someone hanging about in an alley; they blew her a kiss and she swallowed and stepped closer, as close as was humanly possible, to Munson. He smiled obliviously and put his arm around her.
"Not much farther at all," He told her again.
I hope you're right, Wendy thought anxiously.
The two crossed the street from there, turned down two more roads, and stopped a small white duplex. It was set back from the street between another house and an apartment complex and looked old and run-down. Munson walked towards the front door with a huge grin and enough enthusiasm to make one think he was walking up to a mansion. He removed his gloves and knocked on the surface of the white, chipped door. No one answered.
What if we've got the wrong address? Oh, this is just like the other times, Wendy silently despaired. He's only eighteen; he probably doesn't even know where he's going-
Munson abruptly glanced at Wendy, beaming.
"Guess she didn't hear me," He spoke, unperturbed, before knocking again.
Wendy blinked and smiled bashfully in return, watching him stand confidently with his hands sheltered in his coat pockets and that patient smile on his face. His optimism was infectious and she felt her own doubts about the situation melt away.
"Who is it?" a scratchy voice demanded.
Munson said coolly, "Is Lily there?"
"Who's asking?"
He hesitated before leaning into the door and saying softly, "Her son."
Wendy flinched and Munson stepped back at the sudden sound of rattling chains and sliding locks and the door swung open to reveal a taller, more feminine version of Munson. She was slim and had the same sea-colored eyes and long, wavy dark hair and was staring at Munson like she wanted to cry. He didn't look any better, for his eyes were wet and his optimism peaked with a shaky, triumphant smile.
"…Munson, baby, is that really you?" The woman asked.
He nodded and said, "Yeah, mama. I'm here."
"No tricks?" She asked hoarsely. "No illusions?"
"No, mama."
She opened her arms then and the teenager embraced his estranged mother. He held her as if she were in jeopardy of disappearing and the woman hugged him back with just as much vigor. She closed her eyes and sniffed and rubbed her son's back and they both were trembling. Then, above his head, she locked eyes with the young girl standing there.
"Oh!" She exclaimed, "Come in, come in out of the cold."
Wendy smiled politely and let the woman herd her inside. The place smelled like lavender and was nice and toasty. Here mother and son broke apart so that the woman could close the door. She stood before the two in a thin grey robe, white v-neck shirt, and black yoga pants. She didn't look much older than them. Closing the robe with her arms around her waist she glanced between the young people.
"So Munson, won't you introduce me to your pretty little friend?" The woman spoke.
Her voice was the auditory version of two fingers skimming the surface of a pond on a clear sunny day. She was disguising it earlier before answering the door.
Munson smiled proudly and took Wendy's hand and said, "Wendy, this is my mother, Lily Chauvin. Mama, this is Wendy Koopa, the girl I'm going to marry."
Marry? He's already thinking about that? We're just starting to date, Wendy blushed.
Koopa? Lily thought, where have I heard that name before?
She shook Wendy's hand and the young girl was disturbed by how badly it quivered. Wendy chalked it up to the impromptu reunion, figuring the mother was nervous. Munson had said it'd been years since they last saw each other.
"Wendy?" Lily stated, "That's a charming name."
Lily's red mouth smiled and frowned and smiled again, like she was unsure of how she felt. She was behaving oddly, but it would seem only Wendy noticed and she didn't want to be rude. Munson was too hung up on the fact that he'd finally found his mother again to notice anything out of the ordinary.
"How did you get here?" Lily asked, "How did you find me?"
"I tracked you down." Munson replied.
His mother remarked, "Yes, you were always good at that. Just like your uncle."
"I'm not as good as him." Munson shrugged humbly.
Lily's eyes narrowed and darted to and fro as she asked, "He's not here, is he? You didn't bring any of them with you, did you?"
Munson shook his head and said, "It's just me and Wendy."
He removed his coat while his mom nodded and Wendy did the same, shedding her outer garment and putting her gloves and scarf in its pocket. She rubbed her arms. She was proud of her outfit.
The dress she wore was black and plain and hung on her every fledgling curve. It made her feel sophisticated and unique, as did the red lipstick and sheer stockings she wore. Munson had brought her a ring, a plain gold-banded, ruby ring that she wore on her left hand and on her right wrist she wore a fancy diamond bracelet. She knew that if Roy or Ludwig saw her now they'd drop dead.
No, they'd kill Munson first and then drop dead, She amended with a soft, bittersweet smile. As annoying as they are, I miss them.
She longed for her family in the midst of Munson rejoining with a member of his. But she smiled for her boyfriend's sake and he put his arm around her again. He wore a stark white dress shirt and black pants and from this close, Wendy could tell he was also nervous. But mostly happy.
"Why did you come here?" Lily asked, though not in a rude way.
Munson responded, "I wanted to see you again, mama. And since Wendy and I are going to be living in this world now, I thought maybe we could all be together."
Lily looked sad and sighed. She glanced at the back room and knew she had to talk to the boy in private. But first she spoke to the young girl.
"Would you like anything to eat or drink?" She asked, "Some cocoa? It's pretty nasty outside, it would warm you right up."
"My mom makes the best cocoa," Munson boasted, "You should try some!"
"Alright," Wendy smiled and nodded once.
I could go for some cocoa, and maybe a nap, Wendy thought.
Lily went into the kitchen. It was small and only had room for one person at a time to pass through it, what with the stove, countertop, and fridge on one side and the sink and microwave and dishwasher on the other. Lily opened the cabinets and took out a couple of paper pouches and a light pink mug. She poured the dusty contents into the cup and added some milk from the fridge, then popped it into the microwave.
"How come you're not making it how you used to?" Munson frowned.
"No time, baby." Lily explained.
She then left the kitchen and crossed the white-carpeted floor and swept her arm towards a cute little periwinkle couch and armchair set. There was a coffee table in front with magazines on it and a television set to the right. To say the place was tiny, it was no hovel.
"You can sit here while we talk in the back," She told Wendy, who nodded. To Munson she said, "Come on."
The lanky boy shot a big smile back at Wendy before heading to the only bedroom with his mom. Left alone, Wendy walked over to the right of the door.
There was a wooden table and three chairs there, and atop the table there was a mess of papers and pens and the like. She walked into the kitchen and glanced at the fridge. It was covered in photographs. She took her time studying each one.
The first one she saw was of Munson and he couldn't have been more than five or six years old. He sat on a rocking horse with a big red cowboy hat on and nothing else. Wendy giggled and wondered how he felt about that picture being plastered where anyone could see.
The next one was of Munson and his mother. He was a bit younger and looked to be at a park, holding her hand. She looked a bit thicker in the waist and very happy. Several of the photos were pictures of Munson at varying ages, though in none of them was he any older than nine. The other photos were of Munson, his mom, and another man. He had tan skin and brown eyes and Wendy had a feeling he wasn't Munson's dad.
He looks nothing like Munson, she reasoned.
The microwave beeped and Wendy took out the cocoa. She inspected the rest of the fridge while waiting for her drink to cool. When that got boring, she took her cocoa over to the couch and took a few sips.
"Pretty good," She assessed, sitting the mug on the coffee table.
She sat with her legs tucked to the side and picked up a magazine. After going through about three of them and finishing her cocoa, she leaned against the arm of the chair and took a nap.
In the other room, Munson and his mother caught up.
He'd first surveyed the bedroom. There wasn't even a bed, just a king-sized mattress pushed against the left wall. A bunch of rumpled up sheets lay atop it along with some fluffy white pillows. There was a dresser against the far wall, next to a window with blinds but no curtains. To the right of the dresser was a door that led to a closet and along that wall was a miniature red and black couch. Munson took a seat and his mother sat next to him. She stared at him forever and just fixed his collar or straightened his hair, in shock that he was really there with her.
"Mom, you wanted to talk?" he smiled gently.
She nodded and cupped the side of his face, kissing his forehead.
"You remind me of your father." She stated grimly.
Munson frowned faintly and said, "Please don't remind me."
"When's the last time you saw him? Is he looking for you?" Lily pressed.
Munson said, "Mom, don't worry. I left him when I was fourteen. I ran away. Been on my own ever since, just laying low in the Badlands."
That's where I heard that name, Lily recalled, then asked, "Did King Koopa give you any trouble?"
"No, I think he's dead now anyway." Munson relayed. "But the Badlands is where I met Wendy."
"Oh." Lily remarked. "That's interesting. I suppose. Have any of them come looking for you?" She returned to the topic that worried her the most.
Munson smiled understandingly at his mom and said, "No, they don't care."
"Your father does, if he's still alive." Lily stated bitterly. "He wanted you to end up like him."
"I almost did." Munson admitted quietly.
Her face crumbled and she stroked his hair. "Oh baby, I should have never let him take you!"
"Mom, it's okay." Munson assured her, putting on a brave grin. "I'm alright. I got out. And now we'll be together."
Lily looked no more consoled than if he hadn't have said anything at all. She swallowed and glanced over at the dresser where her cell phone was, lying deceptively docilely. She hated and relied on that thing. It was the source of her relief but a reminder of her misery.
"What happened to the other house?" Munson asked.
"House?" Lily echoed, staring at her phone.
"The one I grew up in?" Munson playfully hinted. "Where is it?"
Lily said, "It's there, where it's always been."
"How come you're not there?" Munson asked.
Lily stood and sighed. She ran slender fingers through her waist-length hair and began to pace. Munson sat waiting for her reply.
Of course he would want to know that, she thought, the boy has questions. Naturally. But how do I tell him? I can't let him know what happened. It would break his heart and ruin his view of me.
Munson was only nine years old when he met his father and moved with him to that other world. Prior to that, he'd grown up in Maine in a house on the beach with his mother. That was his life, that was what he knew. What he didn't know, was that his mother had run away from his father, too, only she'd been pregnant with him at the time. She fled from her abusive husband and made a life for her and her son in her old hometown where she'd first met her husband.
That was my first mistake, Lily thought in hindsight. I should have gone somewhere where he wouldn't find me.
But find her he did, after Lily had moved on and got a job and even married someone new. Furious with what he found, her husband took custody of their child, amid her protests.
I still don't know how he even found out about Munson, Lily frowned, chewing her lip as she paced.
Retrieving his son wasn't the only thing her husband did that day. In his jealous rage he'd laid a curse over his wife, a terrible magic that poisoned her loins with an insatiable lust. She didn't see the effect of the curse until a month after he left and it was only grew worse with time. At first she could deal with it; a bit of extra coupling was nothing to ask of the man she'd come to love, but after a while he couldn't keep up and she'd sought out others who could. Those affairs eventually broke up her marriage and her new husband divorced her. Without him, without her son, she felt lonely in that lovely house but she'd tried to weather on. However, her curse was steadily ruining her life. She grew alienated from her friends and co-workers and got fired. That was the last straw. She left her house and moved here, to a duplex in the slums. It was better this way, for in this area she could more easily deal with her…urges. There never seemed to be a shortage of willing individuals who she could call on no matter the hour. Sometimes they even paid her.
Because of him, I lost everything I ever cared about, Lily lamented, then glanced over at her son. Well, not everything.
Munson smiled a slightly goofy, innocent smile.
No, I could never tell him what happened, she resolved. He doesn't need to know. It's bad enough I have to bear this burden. But I know we could never be together. I can't predict when the urge to…when the urges come, and if he were to see me like that…
Lily wasn't herself when the urges took hold. A vixen would be too kind a word, perhaps a nymphomaniac suited her better. She didn't want her son to ever witness the things she did and said while under the influence of his father's curse.
"Mom?" Munson questioned.
"Oh, baby." She sighed, coming over to him. "I feel like he's taken you from me all over again." She started to cry.
Munson stood and held his mom and said, "Shh, it's okay mom. We can be together now, don't you see?"
Lily wiped at her face and went over to the dresser. She was often paid for what she did and the money had really piled up. Opening one of the drawers she surprised herself with how many stacks there were.
It's not like I need or want it, she thought. She first of all didn't feel right for accepting the money because she was the one using whatever greedy soul joined her in sating the curse. And taking the money always made her feel like a whore.
Though I'm sure he would have liked it that way, she thought of Munson's father.
There also wasn't anything she could spend the money on anyway. She'd been responsible and kept up a healthy bank account, so the bills for the duplex, including groceries, were easily paid. And nothing money could buy would ever make her happy again.
"Where'd you get all that money?" Munson asked.
Lily ignored him and began removing stacks of cash. She handed them to her son, who eyed the bills warily.
"No, mom, you keep it." He said, then admitted, "I've been using magic to get what we need so far."
"You don't do it in front of the girl, I hope!" Lily spoke, alarmed.
Munson shook his head and said, "Of course not."
"Good." Lily nodded. "I think your father could track your magic. That may have been how he found you years ago."
"You think so?" Munson mused.
Lily hugged him briefly and said, "Now you'll want to go down to the bank first thing and tell you who you are; I've saved an account in your name. That way you won't have to use magic anymore."
"What do I need money for?" Munson frowned.
"You'll need things, like ID cards and-and driver's licenses and clothes and food and stuff." Lily rattled off. "I'll go down to the place and get the lights and water back on at the house. It's just sitting there. And they're gonna' want the girl to be registered in school or something-"
"Mom." Munson spoke, "Aren't you coming with us?"
"If you ever need anything, I'll give you my number." She said feebly in answer.
Munson looked winded. He asked, "Why aren't you going back to the house with us? I thought we'd all be together now that…my father isn't here and we're all…"
He trailed off when his mom hugged him again. She patted his back and told him, "I can't explain it, baby, but because of your father, we can never be together again."
"What happened?" Munson asked, jerking back.
She said, "He did something awful to me nine years ago that I'm still paying for today."
"What did he do?" Munson demanded. "Mom, please tell me?"
"No." Lily refused. She pushed him towards the door and put the money in his pocket for him and said, "You go. Take that girl and be safe, okay? I'll come and visit you."
"But mama-"
A high-pitched ringing pierced the air and both dark-haired heads whipped towards the right. The cell phone was ringing and vibrating loudly. Lily strode over to it and snatched it up and her fingers couldn't find the mute button fast enough. She looked up at her son with a strained smile.
She felt the familiar, white-hot whip of desire lash around in her core and thought, not now, why now?
"Who is that?" Munson asked.
"No one." Lily sniffed. "Just go, alright?"
"Mom can we just talk about this?" Munson asked, his voice catching. "I think we can work something out. I came all this way…"
Lily went over to him and held both sides of his face. Tears that he wouldn't shed slid down his mother's cheeks and she blinked hard.
"I know, baby." She whispered. "I know you did. And I promise this isn't the last time you'll see me. But I need to be alone right now. Alright?"
"…Okay." Munson nodded.
He opened the door, dejected, and went over to where Wendy slept on the couch. The sight of the blonde lightened his heart. He remembered that she was here, depending on him. She had no one to look after her and it was up to him to make sure she was protected and cared for. That meant doing the responsible thing and getting them both settled at the house, in a stable location. Even if the last thing he wanted to do was go there without his mom.
"Wendy," He sang softly, shaking the girl's shoulder.
Wendy's baby blue eyes fluttered open and she blinked, confused for a moment. She then smiled at Munson and he helped her to her feet. She was too sleep-addled to speak as she tugged on her coat and scarf and gloves, and Munson was thankful for that. He didn't want to talk about what just happened.
A/N: I think I said it before, I'm not the best at writing explicit scenes so bear with me there ;P
Thanks for reading and thank you for all the honest reviews! See you next time!
~DymondGold~