Chapter 43: Discovery
The atmosphere at my breakfast table could be described, in a word, as 'fraught'. Melina and CC glared daggers at each other while Naomi glanced worriedly between them, Kasane kept a wary eye on the two to intervene if necessary and Shiro merely ignored it all to focus on my hand that was rubbing her head. The little gremlin had demanded head pats, and I found no reason to disagree, even in times such as these.
If I ignore it, they will either sort it out themselves or escalate it to a point where I have to get involved. I trusted CC to not take anything too far and will make a note to have a chat with Melina about what caused this friction between them. Either way, it will not be solved at the table, at this very moment.
The only thing to be thankful for is that Valerie was still passed out in bed, not witnessing this in her state. Speaking of vampires though…
"Selene?" I asked, causing the attention of the table to snap to me, "What's the problem? You haven't dished anything up."
"Oh." Selene jolted in place, startled by my words before she looked around the table, realising she was the only one with an empty plate.
Suddenly a calculating look entered her eyes, "I'm still rather full, only one thing really appeals to me. Can I eat anything at this table?"
"Yes?" I answered, a questioning tone in my voice, "Why would you ask me to specif…"
My words were cut off by her pulling back her seat, hopping out of it and walking around the table, followed by everyone's gaze as she walked up to me and straddled my lap. Ignoring the growl from the girl under my hand, Selene leaned in close and kissed my neck.
"Thank you for the meal." Her breath tickled me, before she sank her fangs in and started to drink greedily.
"Consort?" Ranni asked, unsure, "Art thy…"
"It's fine. I will replenish more than she can ever drink." I answered the unasked question, bringing my spare hand up to gently rub at Selene's head, causing the Vampire to hum into my collar.
"She could do this forever and never actually hurt me." I finished, causing a hum of agreement to emanate from the lamprey this time.
"I see. Very well then, if thou hath no objection. Incidentally, that action thou art performing with your hands, it appears pleasant. I would ask that you perform it upon me as well, when thou art finished." Her words caused the table to come to a stop, motionless as we all stared at her.
Did Ranni, the Dark Moon, Goddess of the Chill Night, just ask nicely for head pats? The silence was broken by CC's laughter, Naomi giggling along with her. Kasane smiled fondly, even Melina managed to crack a small grin.
Shiro meanwhile, glared at the Goddess.
"Dangerous." Is all she said.
True to my thoughts, I wanted to find Melina after breakfast to get to the bottom of what happened between her and my Queen. However, the Queen in question found me first, just as I was starting to look for the wayward Kindling Maiden.
CC grabbed my robe and started leading me towards my room, a frown gracing her features.
"May I ask what brought this on?" I asked, a wry smile on my face.
"Can I not spend some time with my lover?" She replied, tension lacing her words.
"Funny thing to call someone you refuse to admit you love." I replied, "Besides, somehow I don't think this is as spontaneous as you wish me to believe."
"Stop being so observant and go with the flow for once, you infuriating man." She snapped, "A woman is coming to you for comfort. Is this any time to interrogate her as to her reasons? Shouldn't something else be more important, hmm?"
"You are right, of course." I stopped, causing her to jerk to a halt as well, the sudden resistance taking her by surprise, "Who am I to deny my Queen when she is being so needy and cute?"
"I am not cute… Hey! Unhand me, you brute!" Her protestations were cut off by me grabbing her and throwing her over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"Silence, woman." I spanked her lightly on the ass, causing her to playfully struggle in my grasp, "You wanted this, don't complain about getting what you wished for."
"Barbarian." She sniffed, crossing her arms, which I could feel on my back, "Absolutely no class or tact. Such a philistine."
"This 'philistine' is your lover, as you oh so proudly proclaimed. Besides, you love this, be honest."
My words were repaid by a strike to my back, I could clearly see her pout in my mind as she responded, "Some things should be left unsaid, fool."
Opening the door to my bedroom, I tossed her onto the bed, causing a delightful jiggle as she bounced on the mattress.
"Oh, my dear Cecelia, trust me." I stalked towards her, causing her to prop herself up on her elbows and watch my advance with anticipation, "I won't be saying anything else for a while."
"I won't just lie here and let you have your wicked way with me. You do realise that?" She arched her eyebrow, attempting to remain imperious and composed.
True to my word, I did not verbalise in response, instead looming over her prone form with a grin. Contrary to her words, she let me have the first move, an expectant air about her. Leaning down slowly, I took her lips in a kiss, before pulling back slightly, just out of reach. Teasing her, as our breaths mingled and our lips ghosted over one another.
Growling, she snapped, lunging forward and attacking me lustfully. Our lips slammed together, the sudden frantic shedding of our clothes a secondary concern to devouring as much of each other as we could. Our tongues collided, greedily plundering as much as they could, the sticky wetness a sharp contrast to the heat being produced by the friction between us.
I ran my hands over the smooth expanse of her skin, the sinful silk feeling divine under my hands. She was not idle in her explorations either, but instead of caresses her touch was more akin to wrestling as she tried to simultaneously reverse our positions and meld herself as closely as possible to me. I didn't let her, instead using my greater weight to press her down into the mattress, showering her with pleasure as I did so.
Dragging my hand up her thigh, leaving a trail of goosebumps in my wake, I grabbed her arms. Struggling and fighting her every step of the way, I was soon able to pin them into submission above her head. Reaching down to line myself up with the other hand, I looked down victorious over her nude form. My Queen was spread out on her back before me, a veritable feast for the eyes.
Long, shapely legs, with thick delicious thighs leading to her hairless pussy, that itself was wet and needy. It was not alone, a thin sheen of sweat covering her body, her modest breaths and tight stomach heaving in time with her panting. Putting the head of my cock at her entrance, I thrust forward just enough to feel her begin to part before me, then paused.
Smirking down at her at the resulting whine, I raised my eyebrow. She wiggled her hips, but despite the pleasant movement, did not achieve much of substance.
"What are you waiting for?" She eventually asked, realising she was stuck.
Preemptively reinforcing my body with my magic, my smile turned cruel, "Beg."
As expected, that set her off, struggling mightily against, in earnest this time, "Are you out of your mind? Like I would ever do something that embarrassing!"
Despite being ready for it, when she suddenly threw herself towards me trying to struggle loose, the force was enough to slam our hips together, causing her to arch her back and release a sweet moan. Taking advantage of the distraction, I leaned over her, making sure to strengthen my grip on her wrists and stabilising myself properly.
Panting, she glared up at me as she recovered, "Move, you bastard. Must you make everything so difficult?"
"Yes." I kissed her, jerking my head back as she attempted to bite my lips in response, laughing as I said, "Feisty! You know what I want, Cecelia, it's only a matter of time until I get it."
"That confidence of yours is infuriating." She got her breathing under control, something I ruined by gently caressing a nipple with my free hand, "Fine then. Do your worst."
So I did.
Continuing my ministrations, I decided to place my lips somewhere I wouldn't have to worry about teeth, instead taking a hard, pink nipple between my own, gently nibbling it, causing CC to suck in a hiss of air. I let my free hand begin a journey, tracing lines and patterns all over her body as I soon switched to her other apple sized breast, giving it the same tender treatment.
She struggled, attempting to free her hands, buck into me, reverse our positions, but with my new stance I was easily able to fend off her efforts. Suckling at her tit before releasing it with a wet 'pop!', I decided to taunt her.
"I have all day, my dear Queen. When you want this to end, let me know." My words caused a fire of resistance to ignite in her eyes, as she set her mouth and glared at me.
Shrugging, I continued with my actions, turning her into a shivering moaning mess, briefly broken by repeated attempts at escape and countering. All her bucking did grant her some relief, but not enough to achieve the high she was soon at the edge of. Time ceased to exist, my focus drawn in by her silken skin, her delightful sounds, her beauty. Lavishing upon her praise and care, with hand and mouth, choosing where I pleased to kiss and caress.
I don't know how long that continued, but my haze was broken by her voice, "Fine… You win dammit."
"What do I win?" I asked, smirking.
"You know what! Take me! Fuck me! I've lost, you beat me?! Are you happy?" She cried out, wriggling her hips frantically as I still refused to grant her release.
"Hmm, I'm not hearing a particular word in all that." I mused, amusement dancing in my mind.
She pursed her lips at that, amber staring into my blue, vulnerability filling her eyes before she turned them to the side and closed them. A blush built up, this single action causing more embarrassment to fill her than anything else I did. Red filled her cheeks, before stretching downwards, so intense that it soon appeared all the way to her upper chest.
"Please…" She whispered, the word seeming to take all her effort to say.
I considered asking her to say it louder briefly, but I was but a man. Seeing my Queen acting so cute, so demure, broke my restraint entirely.
Pulling back with my hips, causing her to gasp at the friction that it produced, a wet sound filling the air as her arousal had been building for some time, I thrust forward hard, slamming our hips together again and causing the mattress to jolt from the force. Repeating the motion, I was soon rhythmically thrusting into the body of Cecelia, causing her to wrap her legs around my hips, her head thrown back as she met my movements gladly.
Reaching her hands, which snapped down to my shoulder, I reached down and found the nub at the apex of her pussy, gently rubbing it and amplifying her pleasure even higher, sending her hurtling over the abyss that I had kept her suspended over for so long.
Her moan was musical, the twitching and convulsing of her body from the powerful orgasm greatly enhancing my own pleasure from the act, I proceeded to do my absolute utmost to drive her into insanity. Employing every trick I had learned about her body, I soon sent her hurtling head-first into another orgasm, then another and another after that.
Cumming constantly on my cock, her pussy walls were soon driving me quickly towards my own climax, my thrusts growing sloppy as I neared my own release. With a final, deep thrust, I came, sending my sperm as far into her as possible, a shudder running through my body as I closed my eyes, basking in the feeling of completion.
My basking was interrupted by a whirling sensation, as I opened my eyes to see that my Queen had reversed our positions finally, resting on top of me while furiously blushing.
"You infuriating man! You… You…!" She gritted her teeth, before starting to bounce upon me, causing me to suck in a breath at the feeling of her around my sensitive dick, "You better take responsibility."
"I will." I managed to say, as her motion started to speed up, "Always."
"Shut uppp." She groaned, shuddering atop me as she reached her next peak.
From then, the sound of our bodies coming together and separating filled the room as she rode me to my second completion. Unable to accept a draw, I quickly fought back, throwing her to the bed and pounding into her from behind. She then turned the tables again, and again I responded.
Positions were flown through, but eventually I laid on my back, victorious as my exhausted Queen rested upon my chest, our naked bodies entwined with each other.
Deciding that nap wouldn't hurt, I closed my eyes, only to feel CC shifting as she weakly rose up on trembling arms and placing her lips on my neck, teeth coming into play as she sucked a prominent hickey onto my skin.
Licking the bruise, she weakly spoke, "Mine."
I laughed breathlessly, "Is that what this was about?"
She repeated her earlier advice, "Some things should… not be said…"
I smiled, "I understand. I love you Cecelia. That will never change."
She collapsed onto my chest, burrowing her cheek into me to hide her face, "…Infuriating."
"Thou seem distracted." Ranni's voice was free from judgement, but I felt it nonetheless, "Is the reasoning that blemish upon thy neck?"
"No." I opened my eyes, looking towards the Goddess from where I was sitting cross-legged within my Manor's garden.
Ranni had asked me to join her to attempt to strengthen my soul. Apparently, the first step was meditation, attempting to reach towards my inner self or something like that. However, clearing my mind was easier said than done. Despite spending some time, I had come no closer to feeling anything like the source of inner energy she had mentioned, aside from my own Demonic Power.
"Then what ails you, Consort?" She asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
"I am worried about Melina. CC and her seem to have an issue, and I wanted to speak to her about it." I spoke, causing her to nod in reply.
"Indeed. Their strife would cause some disruption to thy house. But that is not all, is it not?" She pressed, causing me to sigh.
"Tomorrow I'm meeting with Runeas Gremory. I have no idea what to expect." I finally revealed, deciding that talking through the issue might help.
"I see. This 'Gremory' is a powerful being?"
"That's not the issue. It's the form her power takes is the issue." Seeing her interest, I decided to elaborate, "Devils from the Pillar houses each have a unique power that they can use. My own is the power of Binding, being able to lock concepts and people. It can even affect the physical world as well."
"It is this power that makes you weary? Surely you can combat its effect in some way?" She asked.
"For most of them, yes. But the Gremory are special. I'm not sure I could counter it, depending on how she uses the effects. You see, their power grants them control over Luck." Ranni's eyes widened as I continued, "Probability manipulation is always difficult to deal with. If she used the effect on me, I could likely resist it, but if she can use it on herself… Thing's will just go right for her, no matter what I attempt."
"A truly vexing issue." Ranni agreed, humming as she considered the problem, "Would you wish me to be present? I should be able to mitigate the effect should it be that pronounced."
"That would be helpful." I smiled, before sighing, "It would be a lot easier if I just knew what her goal was. It's the unknowns that are bothering me."
"I understand." Ranni commiserated, before she went to her knees in front of me, arms coming up to rest upon my cheeks, "It is unlikely that thou wilt be successful on thy own with this issue clouding your thoughts. With your permission, wouldst thou acquiesce to allowing me to attempt to guide thee?"
I grinned, "Why would I refuse?"
Her eyes stared into my own, "Most would baulk at allowing any to touch their souls. The damage that could be done…"
"I trust you." I said, simply.
"Thou art foolish, to place so much faith in one such as me." She whispered, before closing her eyes, "Allow me to be thy light, my knight. Follow me."
I closed my own, before feeling what she was talking about. A thin, wispy feeling, like a coil of mist, beckoned me within my being. Following it, I was drawn 'deeper', for lack of a better word, far into my very own being. Soon, I was beholding a vast, white orb, light shining off it and blazing like a sun, giving a feeling of intense foreboding.
However, despite the danger and violence that I could feel, I was perfectly comfortable. Content, as if this was intimately familiar with me. In a way, I suppose it was.
"Thou art beautiful. I would expect nothing less." Ranni's voice whispered, appearing in my mind, rather than my ears, "Perhaps it is not your fault thou were unsuccessful. I do not need to say more, do I? The sight alone fills me with immense displeasure."
Rather than tone, the contempt and fury she was feeling was conveyed to me directly. Of course, I was mirroring those feelings myself. Mine for more personal reasons than her. I could see why she, believing as she does in being the master of your own fate and having the freedom to act, would be incensed at the sight.
I was filled with wrath, because of the structure that was erected around my soul. Thick bars, like the cage for a dangerous animal, encased it from all sides. The cage was not containing it, or seeming to press down upon it, rather it just seemed to surround it fully.
More than fury however, I was also filled with dread, a single burning question filling my mind.
'Who the fuck put a seal on my soul?!'
