Chapter 22: Young Love
Karl had raged when Iris finally arrived back at the factory with news that she, and only she, was capable of being Eva's vessel. The kitchen was a warzone, smashed plates and distorted metal cluttered the room, until he'd finally exhausted himself, grabbing at her like an animal and holding her tight.
"We can't have a baby." He'd whispered, "We can't let her win."
"Luckily avoiding pregnancy is an easy feat." Iris deadpanned, glaring over his shoulder, his greying head tucked under her chin. She had silently fumed as he had his tantrum, as he acted like this was the end of the world, as if he was the one chosen to bear Miranda's undead spawn. "Just stay away from me."
Like a dog, Heisenberg sulked at her with big droopy eyes, sighing deeply. "I'm sorry."
She didn't reply, but held him tighter.
He slept in his office that night, and the next and the next. An uneasy, icy wall had been established between them, as if a single touch would descend into carnal activities, as if just looking at each other for too long would miraculously form life.
The breaking of the ice was Miranda calling another meeting, to discuss "the plan". Iris had picked up the phone, Dimitrescu's giddy voice on the other end, with her daughter's squealing with excitement in the background.
"Another meeting my dear, I believe it will bring excellent news!" Before Iris could interrogate, a time and place was shouted at her, then the line dead.
Behind her, Heisenberg shuffled. Nights at his desk or sprawled on the couch had been rough on the old man.
"Another one?"
"Yes. At the Castle, this time. She sounded… happy."
A sigh behind her, strong arms wrapping around her waist, a chin tucking into her shoulder.
"I'm so sorry." Iris leaned into her Karl's head, taking in his scent, she had missed him.
"Sorry will get us nowhere. We have an hour, and need to act normal. The war is still coming, maybe if we keep her all gooey eyes over her fucking baby, we can catch her by suprise."
The man behind her groaned, lips grazing her neck sending shivers down her spine.
"Talk like that is why I'm stuck on the couch."
"I'm sorry my dear." He snickered into her neck, arms stroking her waist slowly, sensually, finally grabbing her hips roughly with a groan.
"I hate her."
Me too.
They separated quickly after that, Iris scurried away to prepare for the castle, and tried to ignore distant groans and moans from Karl's office.
Meetings in the Castle were always a mixed bag according to Karl, it meant good news, but good news for Miranda was bad news for them.
All in all, it was likely that Iris did not possess some mystery illness that would prevent her becoming pregnant. She'd hyperventilated over the fact the whole walk to the Castle, with Karl casting dirty glares at any and all villagers that dared be outside the same time they were.
They arrived to a flurry of pale hands and thick eyeliner, Iris hadn't seen her mistresses since she was a maid. Obviously they looked exactly the same.
"Congratulations!"
"You were always my favourite you know"
"I cannot wait to see your belly!"
The girls babbled and coo'd at the two, Karl holding his tongue immensely well, although his hand held her own with a vice-like grip.
From the corner of her eye Iris tried to grasp sight of a maid, any maid, a sign that her girls were still clinging onto their lives in this nightmarish place. Unfortunately, they were taught well, it was as if there were no other beings within the walls other than the Lords and mistresses.
"Sit! Please!" Dimitrescu's smile was like a sharks, Iris hadn't been this close before, not without offering her wrist. It ached at the mere thought, her arm ready to stretch to the bloody red lips by pure muscle memory. Her mind blurred as memory after horrible fucking memory forced their way to the forefront of her mind, blood being sucked out of her, the dark bruising, the migraines and infections of open wounds. Being dragged back to the maids quarters by weeping young maids, leaving her to horrid nightmares and fevers until the next morning, where she was back to work, dusting chandeliers and scrubbing floors.
"Iris."
She blinked, Karl was staring at her like she was an idiot, and Miranda was stood directly in front of her, a manic smile plastered across her pallid face.
"Sorry Mother Miranda."
"Don't be. I'm sure you've been looking forward to today." Iris nodded, smiling up at the woman who's grin widened further. The bags under her eyes were even worse now, deep hollow crevices smeared with what Iris remembered to be concealer.
"Your results are all positive, I cannot see a reason as to why you wouldn't be a perfectly hospitable host for my Eva." A clammy hand shot out to Iris's face, she took it gingerly and was pulled to her shaky feet. A thin arm grasping her shoulders with a grip that challenged Karls. How was such a wisp of a woman, who clearly lacked nutrition and sleep as much as any other villager, be so strong?
"My dear family, we finally bring a new member into the fold. Our Iris will be officially recognised as a Lord to the village, and bring forth a child as soon as possible, correct?" Iris nodded fervently.
"Excellent." A predator's smile, "Then we shall commence the ritual in which my Eva's soul will be pulled from the Black God's all powerful grasp, and be brought to this world via your womb."
"I am honoured, Mother Miranda." Her voice was shaky, Iris hoped the insane woman took it as a show of excitement, rather than pure dread.
"Excellent. Now, some momentary privacy please. I must speak to my son alone." Miranda nodded at Heisenberg who looked like a cornered wolf, skulking after her into Dimitrescu's private parlour.
The moment the door shut, the "family" were on her.
"You know this was the best outcome honestly," Dimitrscu's smile had yet to break throughout the entire meeting, "I would obviously do anything for Mother, but find manthings absolutely abhorrent. And Dear Donna here is simply too fragile for a task of this nature. You were truely the perfect vessel. It's almost as if the Black God itself deposited you into my Castle, knowing it would lead you here, your destiny."
Iris wasn't to scream. The Black God had nothing to do with this. She became a maid because it was work or starve, because her grandmother was gone and she had no friends or family to take her in. The Black God did not do anything but rot the minds of those unlucky enough to be in it's grasp.
"I have always been faithful. Like an village girl I prayed for the Black God, for Mother Miranda. I never thought in a million years it would choose me, bless me like this." Her eyes were watering, she was so fucking scared, surrounded by brainwashed monsters, who stared at her like she held the key to all of their wishes.
"Congratulations." Donna whispered, her lap bare of Angie the doll who was skittering around the room with Moreau, childishly talking about "the baby".
There'd be no fucking baby.
The door creaked open again, dragging over plush lilac carpet. Miranda stepped out with a cool smile on her face, settling down onto her chair and sipping tea from a delicate cup that Iris knew was only brought out for her visits.
Karl shuffled over to her, eyes downcast, mouth set in a grim line. He gently grabbed her hands, concealing them in his own.
"Iris." His voice was rich, full of emotion. But his eyes betrayed them, showing nothing but resignation. "I'll admit I assumed you'd be long dead when you arrived at my factory. No offence, but I didn't think a kid like you was worth shit"
"Heisenberg-" Dimitrescu reprimanded, but was silenced by a stern look shot over Miranda's teacup.
"Infecting you was merely an experiment. But the Black God chose you, and you were reborn. You became magnificent. I wasn't sure what your gifts would be, since you're yet to develop any powers. But now I know what your blessing is. It's to bring forth Eva. To complete our family. This is the ultimate gift. You are an angel, and I'm the sucker who managed to be lucky enough to catch you."
These flowery words were not her Karl, although he made a good show of pretending it was, and did not match his stony face, hidden from onlookers by his silky grey hair. As he descended to the floor on one knee, fumbling in his pocket Iris's stomach dropped.
"If we are to bring Eva into this world. We will do it properly. Under the eye of the Black God. Iris. Will you marry me?"
Somewhere behind them, over the screaming in her mind, she could hear Moreau crying happily.
"Of course, my Lord."
The ring was clearly old, silver metal work with a substantial emerald set in the middle. He slipped it onto her finger, rising up and bringing her into a kiss full of longing, bringing tears to her eyes.
They parted to an applause, Dimitrescu also crying, to Iris's complete shock. She must have had some wine before the meeting.
"The wedding will commence post haste" Miranda announced, "Donna I am sure there is a suitable gown in your substantial selection. The ceremony will be held two weeks from now, in front of the Black God. The newly weds will then march through the village, for our people to witness their new Lord."
During the speech, Iris's heart froze as doors opened, revealing a familiar, terrified face. One of her girls, holding a tray of champagne glasses. Her eyes were wide and glassy, a tremor to her hands that Iris prayed would not result in a single drop being spilled. Dimitrescu's temper would know no bounds if this poor girl messed up in front of Miranda.
The glasses were handed to each and every Lord, then lastly Iris who whispered a hurried "You're ok" to the maid who responded with a ghost of a smile. It was enough.
"To the Heisenbergs" Miranda cheers, and in a sick display of comradery, chittering and smiling at each other. Karl downed the drink in one, setting the glass harshly onto the table. He kept Iris close, a firm arm around her waist, and silently observed as she was congratulated by Dimitrescu, Donna and Moreau for a final time.
They couldn't have escaped the castle fast enough.
Karl was rocketing ahead of her, storming through the village and over the bridge, throwing his coat and hat onto the table and grabbing at a bottle of whiskey.
"That fucking bitch"
"Tell me about it" Iris removed the ring, setting it to the side and gulping down her offered glass.
"Fucking Marriage? Really?" He huffed, "They really expect me to suit up and stand in front of that, that thing and pretend that this is all hunky dory? That I want this?"
Iris rolled her eyes, refilling her glass "Could be worse. They could want you to squeeze a baby our of your dick." A laugh ripping out of her throat at his disgusted face.
"Don't ever say that again." He grunted, swigging more alcohol straight from the bottle.
"Where did the ring come from?"
"Fuck knows… Kid I'm sorry." He sighed deeply, grabbing her hand, brushing his lips across her knuckles, the coarse hairs of his moustache tickling her. "Now I'm not really the marriage, lovey dovey crap type but… that's no way to propose to your lady."
"I'm your lady huh?"
"Well you're nobody else's. Won't ever be too. You're all mine." He flashed a wolfish smirk, the kind that would've scared her those years ago, when she was just a maid and he was some scary old grouch.
"C'mere"
Against her better judgement, Iris obeyed, settling into his lap, her legs either side of his thick thighs.
"We're going to fuck her up. Whilst she's thinking about weddings and babies, we're going to be going Hell to leather with our Soldats. We'll get an army. We'll crush her."
The thought of blood spilt and laying wreck to Miranda's disgusting bubble, finally being free, not just her but every sorry villager who was under her thumb, made Iris shiver. She sipped at her glass and brought Karl into a deep kiss, the taste of whiskey and smoke on his tongue an intoxicating mixture.
He groaned into it, gripping at her waist and thrusting into her, something she matched with fervour.
"We can't"
"I know." Iris kissed him again, continuing to grind down on him, "penetration isn't everything however."
"Oh really?" Her Lord drawled, leaning back and lighting a cigar that seemed to materialise out of nowhere.
Iris lifted her dress over her head, throwing it to the side and getting to work on his shirt and the laces of his trousers, his dick straining through underwear, weeping a small dark circle through the thin fabric. Karl nipped at her collarbone, a hot tongue lazily tracing the bone, dipping down to a nipple and circling it, biting it.
"Heis-"
He thrust up against her with a groan, mouth full of her breast, twisting and rolling her other nipple with his free hand, her own trembling hands trailing up and down his spine, gripping his hair.
"Bed." The growl vibrated through her chest as he grabbed her thighs, forcing them around him and carrying her to their bedroom, laying himself down with a smirk as she sat on top of him. His length burning between her legs, just her simple underwear keeping them apart. She rolled her hips, grinding down onto him, forcing a choked groan out of his mouth.
A broken sob escaped her lips as deft fingers crept under her underwear, circling her clit, the other returning to pinching and rolling her nipples.
He shuffled her forward until her cunt hovered just over his lips, parting her underwear and licking a fat swipe up her slit.
"Karl"
The man beneath her chuckled darkly, pumping two fingers into her sex whilst sucking at her clit. She startled and moved away briefly, spinning around to pay attention to his own satisfaction. Licking the head and bobbing up and down in the same rhythm as his fingers.
She was close, her thighs squeezing his head, his fingers stretching her just right, she licked and sucked until he spent in her mouth, swallowing with a grimace and grinding down onto her "fiance's" face, chasing her own orgasm as if her life depended on it.
"AH! Ka-"
She rode it out, flopping to the side breathlessly. With a groan, the old man rose to search for clothes and to clean her up, placing a glass of water on the bed and kissing her sweaty forehead.
"I… I'm not opposed to marrying you, you know." Iris huffed at the confession, rolling over to meet his eyes, as he stood awkwardly, flaccid dick dangling sadly between his legs.
"How romantic."
"Shut it."
Author's note: about 10 ish chapters left!