It Started With a Kiss

There were rules for these things. You never went against the rules. No exceptions. The moment they broke the rules was the moment things would unravel. The moment they broke the rules was the moment they began down a path they had to finish.

Also a S/O to my loyal readers. Thanks for hanging in there with me. I have not given up on my stories. Life just slows down the upload process. And I want to thank the loyal reviewers as well. The views are a great reward but hearing your feedback is even better! It gives me life for the story.

Chapter 7: There Will Be Storms

There was no light. There was no sound. She was numb. Numb. She had not known how long she was in that haze. She wanted to move but a haze covered her eyes. She blinked several times and it was only then did she see slight images. Outlines in the dark, slightly lit by the moon shining in. She looked to her right, the curtains were blowing in the slight breeze of the night. Above her, a broken chandelier. The chains and jewels of the crystal dangled in a mess. The netting of the bed was strewn everywhere and she saw a lone figure sitting at the end of her bed.

Her instinct told her to scream until she remembered who it was. His blonde hair looked angelic in its disarray. He had stayed. She didn't know how long she was out but he had stayed

"You were not unconscious. At least, I did not mean to put you under." Gippal told her in the dark.

He seemed in thought. This was odd for what she's seen of him. She moved to get off the bed, not realizing how weak her legs would be. They felt like jelly and just like jelly they trembled beneath her. She held onto the bed to move to him but it was in vain. He had already moved to her side.

"You should rest. That was taxing on you and you didn't eat any of the food before it…" He looks behind him at the mess.

"What happened?" She questions obviously meaning the room. And its chaotic destruction.

He picks her up bridal style and takes her back onto the bed with him. When he adjusted her to rest between his legs. This is how they sat under the tree in the courtyard back at the palace. It comforted her.

Rikku let her mind wander to what was transpiring. About how rash her actions were. She left so suddenly and without word of where she was going. She didn't even know at first. She was told by a mysterious voice to go to the veil to see the answers she desired. But she didn't know what or where the veil was. She was going on intuition that probably wasn't her own. Weaving a web that would be hard to get out of. With a being who she on and off trusted but couldn't seem to get away from. Orr out of her mind, literally.

"Tell me about what happened." She tells him. It wasn't a request. He sighs and lifts his hand. She watched in awe as it lit up with a fierce glow that provided a small source of light.

The room was worse than she thought. Everything was knocked around and broken.

"Is this what a Sire's release is like?"

"I do not know from other's experience. We are told that the first is a violent one as we are so sexually backed up until the readiness of our masters. It is not described as more than a burst of our powers. That is why they advise us to put our masters into a subconscious world."

"I'm fine though. You said your powers can't be used against me out of harm. So why were you so worried for me to see the whole experience?" She asks. His hand dims and he sighs.

"The mortal psych is weak. Untapped. Raw. If it is exposed to such a stronger psyche it poses a threat of going into a chaotic and unresponsive state. It's hard for even the Sire to recover them… and even then it would not be them that it fully recovered."

That is why he said not to look at him. Why he didn't want her to truly see the essence of his climax. Because she was inferior and unable to handle such a powerful thing.

He said nothing to her thoughts. He kissed her bare shoulder softly. Maybe to calm her thoughts or because he was still eager to touch her. Then she thought about something. She felt fine. She woke up to a destroyed room but she had no psych issues at all. Wait- She woke up.

"Did you put me into a subconscious again?" She asks him. The look she gave dared him to lie to her. Her nodded remorsefully.

"For a moment at the end. You would not close your eyes and I was afraid the blast would harm you. I was barely able to as I held back from release. It was a very taxing thing to do."

"Then why did you do it after I asked you not to? I told you I wanted to… experience the whole thing."

"Twas in your best interest." He told her and that is what annoyed her. She had lived a life where she was told what was best for her. Rules and expectations. Never asked for a choice until he came. She thought he was an escape from all that. Thought he was a savior from this. That is one of the only reasons she let him in… let him get so close. It angered her.

"I do not need to be told what tis in my best interest. " She scoots away from him to prepare to leave the bed. He takes her arm gently, asking her to look to him.

"I told you most of the rules, master. You are my master. I am to serve you in the best way. " He says softly. Asking for her understanding.

"Unhand me." She tells him and he does so, regretfully but immediately. She gets off the bed and searches for her gown. He had placed it on the displaced table which now sat against the wall. She didn't say anything to him as she dressed, managing to button the gown on her own, leaving the corset off.

"It is not safe to travel around the Salam on your own." Gippal advices but she was too annoyed to listen. He had moved to get off the bed but she held her hand up to pause his movements. Leaving him to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Tell me. Do you still ache for me?" She approaches in a seductive manner. Still upset.

He looks to her and without flinching or blinking tells her "Yes. I will always ache for you…. My lust for you is insatiable."

She gives a vindictive chuckle. Something very unladylike and unlike her royal upbringing. "Then you have my pity. For you will not have a chance to relieve your lust with me again. That I do assure you sir." She begins to leave the bedroom when he speaks.

"It is not just my lust. Your lust for me…. Will not stop. Once a master has had their first encounter, staying away is near impossible. And I will always oblige without question."

She clenches the door knob in anger because a part of her knew he was telling the truth. He had a hold on her. Or she on him. But this wouldn't be the only time.

"I am neither your master, nor your sex slave. I am your princess and you will respect me as such!" She tells him then storms out of the bedroom, grabbing her cloak off the floor on her way out. She felt that he would follow so she demanded him to stay put in her mind. A request she full-heartedly wanted.

-0-0-0-

Rikku huffed for the umpteenth time as she wandered through the city. The Guadosalam was a majestic place. Beautiful sights and vibrant colors. Something she would have enjoyed had her mind not had been burdened with thoughts of the Sire she left in the Inn. She had never been so conflicted in her life. Her mind couldn't even decipher if she was doing the right thing.

She did however decide that she needed nutrition. It came from a tantalizing smell she couldn't resist. She found herself roaming to a shop on the edge of town. A small bakery it looked like. The smell was divine.

She came into the door, the bell ringing upon her entrance and was surprised to find it very empty. Not much traffic came to stop in Guadosalam though so it was normal.

"Hello?" She spoke when she saw no one upon entering. Soft music was playing like in the Inn.

When no one answered, her curiosity got the better of her. She cautiously walked to the back of the shop to peer into the seemingly empty kitchen.

"Hello? Is anyone here? I wish to partake in some food." She says to the empty kitchen. No one answered. She almost turned back and left out the shop. Almost because of the sudden fear she got in her heart. The unease that told her to run. But she didn't have the chance as a hand clasped over her mouth and everything with black with a scream.

-0-0-0-

'This black out thing was getting tiring.' Was all she could think as she returned to the black nothingness she had come too accustomed to seeing. The empty void engulfed her. Void of color but not gravity. She stood on what she felt to be solid ground. This wasn't like the joyous void Gippal put her in.

Gippal… this wasn't Gippal's doing. She already knew that without asking. So who was it? The intruder?

'I am no intruder. Simple someone who wishes for you to see the truth. The truth they refuse to tell you.'

'Refused to tell me?' She asked the blackness. This made no sense. 'Who are you?!'

'Someone who wishes for you to see it all. Even the ugly.'

She stayed silent.

'Shall I make you a deal?'

'Why would I make a deal with someone who has been invading my mind and trying to provoke me into danger?'

'The road less traveled is always dangerous but it is necessary at times. And believe me Rikku, there will be storms…. Much worse to come.'

Much worse to come. That scared Rikku. She wasn't ready for this road less traveled… She wasn't ready for the storm.

'Then let me prepare you, Princess.'

'Who. Are. You?'

'The calm before the storm.'

TBC…

Okay so this was a short chapter. I didn't want to separate the upcoming parts of the story into two chapters so I made this one short instead of the other being INCREDIBLY long. So what are your thoughts on this mysterious character? Good or bad? If you were in Rikku's shoes would you take the deal? Given you don't know what the deal is though. Hmmmm and what is to become of her lover boy Sire? More to come. Let me hear your thoughts!

Xoxo,

Ayata-Ayumi