Triumph 08

 The room was still in good repair, looking much like it had the last time Lezard had used the time machine. The pillars gleamed, the marble shiny and cold, the walls dust and cobweb free. In the center of the room there was a deep depression, circular in shape, with gold runes inscribed in a complex hexagram. It was the largest compass ever made, and crafted out of stone floor. Five gravel constructs surrounded it, each positioned made to mark a different direction on the stone compass. Their points aimed at the circle’s center, were whole and untouched.

Lezard trailed his hand over one of the constructs, adjusting it’s position slightly. Click click click went the gravel, like the ticking of a clock as he maneuvered it to point to the future. He spared a glance over his shoulder, seeing the barrier the dark Valkyrie Hrist had put in place to guard this room. Lezard laughed, having found it too easy to pass through her magic wards. He supposed it was adequate enough to do the job, should one be a normal human, but he was anything but! He added his own power to the barrier, strengthening it to keep the other Gods from meddling. It would not do for them to find the time machine, no…

He could sense others moving about the castle, humans and undead things, but they were of no concern to him. Their essence buzzed about in the back of his mind like gnats, annoying but easily ignored. It was the Asgardians he had to take notice of, surprised that none had approached him since leaving his new world. He supposed they were a cowardly lot, to afraid to face him and Gungnir just yet. Lezard smirked, looking forward to the reckoning he would have with them.

But for now, he had things to do. Timelines to mold, a person to meet, in order to ensure no paradox would occur in concern to his becoming a God. Lezard stepped into the center of the stone compass, his hand raised over his head. He blinked, concentrating and Gungnir appeared in his grasp, deadly and gleaming from the light of the runes.

“Now…” His face was deadly serious as he called out in a commanding voice. “Open the gates of time!” He stepped into the center of the circle, and had to close his eyes as an intense golden light washed over him. A wind approached where there was none, tugging at his clothes, lifting his cape up to flare out behind him. His hair ruffled, though he himself did not stagger as the wind sought to toss him about the room as though he was a rag doll.

Lezard stood tall and straight, and risked opening his eyes when he heard the chime of bells. The air shimmered around him as though from an intense heat, blurring, obscuring the details of the room. He stood watching, waiting for his vision to clear, and when it did he smiled to see the room in ruins, pillars old and decrepit. He laughed again, finding the trip easier this time than the last.

He quickly stepped out of the circle, and with a thought Gungnir disappeared from his hand, shifting into the ether between dimensions where it rested, waiting for his call. Even as he walked, his body seemed to shimmer, his surroundings twisting in a wash of colors, taking him elsewhere, to a place he knew all too well. It was a tower he went to, dark and foreboding, with three windmills attached to the side. Lezard stood on the roof, ignoring the ghosts that seemed to haunt the tile rooftop, settling his hood around his face, cloaking it in shadows. It would not do to frighten the owner of this abode.

He teleported again, this time inside the tower, pleased at how easy it was to travel in this manner as a God. He no longer had to chant out the complicated spells of ancient magic, no now it was just a matter of thinking where he wanted to go. With a simple thought and slight exert of his will, Lezard could go anywhere…anywhere in the nine realms, though he hadn’t yet found a way to sneak past the barrier of time without the machine’s assistance.

Lezard’s footsteps were muffled as he walked, glancing about the room. Now where would he be at this time of night…? He didn’t bother checking the bedroom, knowing his sleeping habits all too well. He tried the library, seeing stacks of books piled onto the table, notes littering the floor. But no sign of his quarry, even as lightning flashed outside the tower window. Ah of course… He smiled, thinking he should have gone straight to the laboratory to begin with.

Once again he was on the move, not bothering to walk, merely thinking where he wanted to be. He teleported, keeping the noise to a minimal, wanting his presence to be a surprise. Not that the young man hovering over the body on the gray slab would have noticed him. No…his eyes were all for the naked girl spread out on the jagged stone. His hands were on her chest, brown gloves touching the breasts, caressing, molding them into the shape and size he wanted.

Lightning flashed again, and the young man glanced up. “I must hurry…It’s almost time…” He fretted. He went to attach tubes to the body, sharp edges piercing the delicate flesh. The youth turned towards a pump, giving it a push, and red liquid flowed through the tubes, filling the body up with the blood it needed to sustain it. Lezard watched this, familiar with the ritual, having performed it numerous times, and each time he had met with failure.

“It’s not going to work you know.” Lezard spoke up, unable to bear watching his younger self fail. The youth whirled around, purple cape swirling about his body, as he brought up his arms, a spell on his lips. “Fire lance!” Three balls of fire appeared, molding themselves into the shape of spears. For an instance they swirled into the air around the caster before torpedoing towards Lezard. The God merely held up his hand, and they harmlessly crashed into it, dissipating with a thin trail of smoke.

“You simply don’t have the power to capture a Goddess.” He continued as though his younger self hadn’t just tried to kill him. His eyes traveled over his body, looking at the mismatched colors of clothing, of the green jacket over a mustard yellow shirt, and brown pants. His hair was messy, his purple eyes looking wild.

“Who are you?!” demanded the younger Lezard, his mouth agape at the cloaked stranger.

“Someone you can trust.” The God announced, stifling a smile. His younger self reacted in just the manner he expected.

“I don’t trust anyone.”

“Not even yourself?” He slowly lowered his hood, revealing immaculately groomed hair of chocolate brown locks, the bangs long and falling over his amethyst orbs. Lezard watched as his younger self’s mouth fell open even wider. “What manner of trickery is this?!”

“No trick.” He moved, walking closer to the body on the slab. Lezard watched him nervously, not wanting him to touch his precious homunculus. He looked at it closely, fingers tracing over her face, hovering but not touching. “You didn’t get her smile right…” He commented, his back to the boy. “Her lips are fuller, more pouty.” This time he did touch the body, fingering her hair. “And her hair isn’t this shade…” He frowned, finding the strands too dark a gray.

“What are you…”

“She’d be insulted you got the details wrong.” Lezard told him, finding the body substandard for his beloved Goddess. “But I suppose it’s not bad for a first try.”

“How did you…”

“How did I know?” interrupted Lezard. He let out a chuckle. “Silly boy, it’s because I am you.” He gave a graceful shrug of his shoulders. “No matter, you’ll get better at making bodies…at capturing her likeness…” He let out a weary sigh. “You’ll have years of practice to perfect your art.”

“You’re just trying to distract me…” The younger Lezard said, hand reaching into his belt. He pulled out a wicked looking knife, the jagged blade curving inwards. “Keep me from my goal…” He was creeping forward on silent footsteps, eyeing the intruder’s back. Thunder rumbled as he lifted up his arm, bringing down the blade to slam into his flesh. The youth was shocked when the blade shattered as though meeting rock, and Lezard backhanded him, his body flying through the air to slam into the wall with a thud.

He slid to the floor, landing on his knees, a glare in his purple eyes as he stared at the God. “Go ahead and kill me!” He goaded. “My life is not worth living without her!”

“You really mean that…” Lezard laughed. “Ah the impetuousness of love, I know it well.” He turned back to the body, waving a hand over it. Dark hair lightened, growing out to sweep past her knees, and her curves evened out, the girl becoming slightly less top heavy than before. Lezard touched her face, fingers caressing her lips, changing them to the shape and texture he knew intimately well. “I think you’ll agree…this is more like the Goddess you saw…”

With a nonchalant wave, he had the naked girl levitate off the slab, spinning around to stand upright, feet hovering inches off the floor. He watched as his younger self got up off the floor, a reverent look in his eyes. “Yes…” The young Lezard breathed out. “That’s perfect…she’s perfect!”

“It is still a pale imitation of the real one.”

“But at least this way I can have her…I can hold her…touch her…” Lust was in his purple eyes, an embarrassed blush on his cheek. “…make love to her…” A desire the God knew all too well! He shifted, uncomfortable at the leer on his younger self’s face, wondering if he ever looked at Lenneth like that. If he had, no wonder she reacted in fear of him at times!

He moved his hand, allowing the body to rest once again on the slab. “I am not here to make your desires come true…not yet at any rate.” He adjusted his glasses, considering his next words. “I’ve come to impart important information to you…information you need to know…”

“I already know everything there is to know.” His younger self boasted. “I have discovered the philosopher’s stone!”

“Fool!” His fist slammed into the slab, the body rocking slightly from the tremors he wrought on the table. “You think I don’t know that you have yet to dechiper the codex? You know nothing! You’ve had just the merest taste of knowledge, and you’re too stupid to yearn for more!”

“If I’m so stupid, then why are you here?” The young Lezard crossed his arms over his chest, with a sullen stare at his Godly self.

“Good grief, I really did think I knew everything back then…” muttered Lezard, running his hand through his hair. “What an annoying little prick I was.” He laughed, realizing the insults his friend Mystina had hurled at him were accurate. “I want you to listen to me, and listen good. I’m only going to tell you this once, so you better pay attention.” He watched as his younger self rolled his eyes in annoyance.

“Keep making your homunculi…it matters not to me, but it will be good practice.” The God said.

“Will I succeed?”

Lezard shook his head. “No…not in this endeavor. Not in the way you hoped…but you will find success…in a grander ambition than caging a Goddess into mortal flesh.” He watched his younger self frown, and sighed again. “You don’t realize what I am, do you? What I’ve…what you’ll become?”

The younger Lezard bit back a comment about him becoming old, just watching and waiting. “You fool!” scoffed Lezard. “Don’t you recognize a God when you see one?!”

“You’re a God…but that’s impossible!”

“Nothing is impossible to a master of time and space.” Now it was the older Lezard’s turn to brag. “I can tell you how I did it…and when…though I suppose you will want to do this immediately…However…that doesn’t fit into my plans.”

“What do I care of your plans?” Lezard hmphed. “If I become a God, I can go to her…” He grinned, clearly picturing the scene in his mind.

“You might not care at the moment, but when you become me you certainly will.” His tone was mild, Lezard trying to keep from growing angry. “Fortunately I have fail safes in place…you won’t be able to access what you need to transcend your mortality until the time is ripe…”

“And when will that be?”

“It should be when you reach your 24th year…” Lezard heard his younger self let out a groan, impatience vibrating off of him. “But that’s years away!”

“Yes.” He nodded. “It will be a lesson in patience for you.”

“Will I at least get to have the Goddess during this wait?” His was a one track mind it seemed.

“No…you will have to be content with slacking your lust on the bodies you make.” He stifled a shudder, thankful he no longer had to satisfy himself with the cold, lifeless husk of a homunculus. Not when he had a warm, all too live Goddess waiting for him back in the past.

“What are you smirking at?” demanded his younger self suspiciously.

“Nothing you need concern yourself with…just know your 24th year will be a busy one…” He almost told him that he would encounter his beloved Valkyrie two times during that age, but now he was not so sure. Not with the way the timeline was so screwed up. Instead he said, “You will travel to the ruins of Dipan…”

“Dipan? I’ve heard of no such place…”

“But rest assured it exists.” He strode over to the map hanging on the West corner of the wall. He picked up a red pin, pushing it into an island, marking the spot on the map. “It is there that you will meet your destiny.”

“How will I get to such a far out place?” The God was surprised. “You haven’t discovered the magics of teleporatation yet?” Lezard shook his head no. “No matter I shall teach you.”

“And what will I do, once I get there…?”

“You will find the time machine.” He held up a finger in warning. “And lest you think to go there now, know this…” He slowly let out a smile, confident and cocky. “I’ll have a barrier on it…the magic won’t fade away until you come of age. Of course…” He chuckled. “Knowing you as well as I do, you will risk going over there earlier. Have fun testing my barrier.”

“I’ll break it old man.” boasted the young Lezard. “Youth wins out over old age any day.” Lezard merely chuckled in response. “What do I do with this time machine?”

“You will travel back hundreds of years, to the century when Dipan thrived. To the time just before it’s fall…you shall ingratiate yourself to the courts, get on the wizard’s good side, pretend to be their apprentice.”

“And I do this because?” asked Lezard, not liking the thought of serving someone else.

“Merely to bide your time until the princess returns. She will prove instrumental to your becoming a God, and ultimately claiming Lenneth as your own.”

“Lenneth?”

“The Valkyrie’s true name.” Lezard told him. “She is but one of three…and now, my foolish comrade…let me tell you all about the Valkyrie known as Silmeria…”

———————————————————————————————————————————————-

Alicia crept forward, holding the torch high above her head. It’s warm light cast shadows on the walls, and she nervously peered ahead of her. Somewhere close by a rat squeaked, the princess could swear she felt it running across her foot. She did not let out a gasp, thinking if a mere mouse could scare her, what hope had she at facing monsters and the undead?

Behind her was Rufus, walking as close as possible to her, a hand on her lower back. He was waiting, ready to pull her back as the slightest sign of trouble. Further down the passage she could hear Arngrim’s heavy breathing, his voice grumbling as he walked along the narrow opening. The walls were squeezing in around the warrior’s beefy frame, letting them all hear the scrape of his gauntlets on the wall.

The sound made her want to hurry, to relieve him of his tight fit, but the princess forced herself to go slow. It would do none of them any good for her to rush headfirst into danger. So she walked at a slow pace, and inch by inch she reached the passage’s end, seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. When at last they emerged, it was to a cozy round room, with one lone bookcase.

“More books…” groaned Rufus, his breath blowing on the back of her neck.

Alicia stepped inside, placing the torch in a metal sconce. The room was magically illuminated, and she saw a safe in one corner. She walked over to it, finding it locked. “Allow me…” Arngrim said, stretching his arms out over his head, glad to be free of the passageway. She watched as he reached into the pouch on his belt, removing several thin pieces of metal.

“Lock picks?” exclaimed Rufus. “Don’t tell me…tricks of the trade from your pirate days?”

“Heh…” Arngrim actually winked at them before turning to the safe. “It comes in handy at times like this.” He placed the lock pick in the safe’s opening, concentrating intently to the sounds it made. His tongue peeked out on his lips, the man’s eyes lost in concentration. Alicia watched him for a few minutes, than turned to the bookcase, finding a wealth of forbidden knowledge in it’s tomes.

“Theories on time…bending space…math calculations…” Rufus read out loud over her shoulder. “These must be the books they used to create the time machine.”

“Anything on ghoul powder…” Alicia frowned, running her fingers over the spines of the books, reading the titles silently.

“Got it!” proclaimed Arngrim excitedly, pulling the safe door open. The pair turned to look at him, seeing the warrior shifting through it’s contents. Another book was found, as was more dosages of ghoul powder amidst gold coins. Alicia’s eyes widened, seeing the book’s title. “Theories and practical uses of ghoul powder…” She flipped to the back of the book, looking at the index.

“Does it contain what we need…” asked Rufus, trying not to let his hope build up.

“I don’t know…it contains so much knowledge…” She ran her finger down the page, searching out the word cure. It listed a page number, and she eagerly turned to the page. Her lips moved silently as she read, Rufus holding his breath waiting for her answer. Arngrim paid them little attention, eagerly stuffing the gold into his pouch.

“Rufus look at this!” She turned the book around, pointing at the page. “It lists ingredients for a cure!”

“That’s wonderful Alicia…!” He said excitedly.

“But…” And here her blue eyes dimmed, happy expression falling. “It lists the Dumas flower as the key ingredient…”

“So?”

“The Dumas flower has been extinct for fifty years.” Arngrim said, surprising them both with his knowledge of the plant.

Rufus frowned and shook his head. “No it’s not…there’s plenty in the Forest of Spirits…” The two humans looked at him in surprise. Really?” asked Alicia, hopefully.

“I should know…my mother used to keep a garden of them.” Rufus said, eyes distant as he grew lost in a memory. “I guess it’s only in the human world that the flower ceases to exist.”

“Can we go there?” asked Arngrim, having never heard of this forest before.

“Yes…but we’ll have to be careful…it’s the realm of the light elves…and there are Aesir patrolmen lurking around near Bifrost’s entrance.”

“But they’re your people…they should help you.” said Arngrim. Rufus shook his head, not looking happy at all. “No…they never treated me as one of them…only a prisoner, a vessel they kept for Odin’s private use.”

“You worry they seek to imprison you again.” noted Arngrim.

“Can you blame me?” The warrior shook his head no, and Alicia leaned forward to give him a quick hug. “We made it through the forest once…we’ll do it again. Have faith Rufus…”

“I’ll try…” He said, lifting his arms up to return her embrace. But she was already moving away, leaving him to grasp at air. Rufus let out a wistful sigh, and Arngrim smirked.

“We should go…” Alicia said, tucking the book into the knapsack that contained the Dragon’s orb. “There’s nothing else left for us here.”

———————————————————————————————————————————————————

It was a field of green, beautiful and full of flowers. They blossomed before her eyes, reaching with their petals to the sun, a rainbow of colors, of sweet scents filling her nostrils. The warmth of the sun touched her skin, kissing her with it’s rays as she sat up, peering among the field. She wore a thin summer dress, and it shimmered, changing from white to pink to blue with each blinking of her eyes. She didn’t find this strange, Lenneth already knew she was dreaming.

She rose to her feet, and found them bare of shoes, toes sinking into the grass. Stems of flowers curled around her feet, worshipful touches, seeking her blessing to grow. A sweet summer breeze blew, strands of her hair escaping from her braid, and the woman turned with the wind. She saw someone approaching, fighting as though a hurricane kept them away from her. Lenneth just stood there watching, waiting for the person to reach her, having a feeling that they would.

She seemed to wait forever and a day, but bit by bit the person got closer. Until she could see it was a man, could make out his features. He had short blonde hair, the color of haystacks, and baby blue eyes. He wasn’t in his typical armor of blood red, no he had shed the metal for more casual clothes. A white shirt under a blue vest and brown pants. It made him look younger, more carefree, and a smile crossed her pink lips as the man stopped just inches from her.

“Lucian!” Lenneth cried, and flung herself into his arms. She nearly fell face first into the dirt as she passed through his body as though he was a ghost. Lenneth let out a gasp, feet stumbling as she tried to catch herself. She turned, worry in her cerulean colored eyes, and saw Lucian smile apologetically at her.

“I’m sorry.” He said. “I wish I could be here with you, for real…”

“Lucian…” She reached out with a hand, as though to will him into flesh and blood. “Why are you here, where are we?”

“We’re in your dream…where time is blurred, and the line that divides realties is thinned out…” He told her.

“I wish you were really here…”

“I know baby…I wish I could be there with you as well.” Lucian sighed. “This will have to do…”

“Why are you here?” She asked again. “Have you come to warn me?”

“No.” Lucian shook his head no. “I’ve come…” He lowered his eyes, but not before she caught the grief on his face. “I’ve come to say good-bye…”

“What?” Her eyes were confused, not wanting to process his words.

“Lezard…” He clenched his fists, anger making his voice tremble. “Lezard has won.”

“Don’t say that!” protested Lenneth.

“Believe me, I wouldn’t if it weren’t true.” His body shook with rage. “But our future…our future is no more…only the barest fragments exist…I’m using the last of them to appear to you like this…”

“There’s still time…I could…” She didn’t know what she could do, with her powers weakened as they were. Lucian gave her a sad smile, and shook his head. “There’s no time left…there’s only this…” He walked towards her, and she held herself still. Lucian pressed his ghostly lips to her, and for a second she imagined she could feel his warmth. Tears slid down her cheeks as he kissed her, and her hands came up to touch his face. They passed through, finding no substance to the man.

“This is good-bye Lenneth…” Lucian pulled away from her, hands hovering as though he would wipe away her tears.

“No…you can’t…I won’t let you..” But she didn’t know how to hold him to her. “What about Platina?” She suddenly asked. “We will even meet then?”

“I don’t know…” He stepped away from her, and she went to follow. But arms grabbed at her, a black shadow pressing against her body, holding her back. “Lucian!” She screamed, struggling against the body, scratching at it’s solid substance with her nails. “Come back! Don’t leave me!”

“If I had a choice, I would never leave your side.” He told her. He was standing absolutely still, but still he floated away from her. Lenneth let out another scream, elbowing the shadowy creature in it’s face. It let out a cry of pain, it’s grip loosening enough that she could free herself. She picked up her skirts, suddenly finding them much heavier, her dress changing to gray, a corset with gold edging on the frame tightened about her waist, making it difficult to breathe. But still she ran, chasing after Lucian, one hand thrust out in his direction.

“Try not to forget me…”

“Lucian!” She was running faster now, and she could hear something chasing after her. Wings beat in the air, a furious pumping of something large. It wasn’t the rustle of feathers she heard, but the sound of thick, leathery wings, a dragon or some demon was pursuing her. She glanced up into the sky, now blood red and full of turbulent gray clouds, and screamed as a dark shape descended upon her.

Lenneth sat up, screaming out her terror, feeling the tears trail down her face, the water works seeming to never end. She glanced about the white room without seeing, cerulean eyes passing over the furniture, ignoring the details of the room. She could swear she still felt the wings beating at her, and she looked around for Lezard, wanting him to comfort her. A frown crossed her face, the girl knowing that thought was wrong, but not sure why.

“Lezard?” Lenneth called, disappointed to not get an answer. Once again he had left her all alone, to sleep in the too big for one person bed, to fall prey to the nightmares sleep brought on. She pulled aside the thick blanket, moving to the edge of the bed. She lifted up a hand, touching her wet face, wondering why she felt so sad.

Feet touching the floor, finding it cool against her flesh, she walked towards the table. She picked up a napkin, dabbing at her eyes, even as she looked at the bar Lezard had set up. She felt as though she was in need of a good stiff drink. She heard the sound of chimes, felt the reverberations of in the air as someone teleported into the room. She knew without turning that it would be Lezard.

Lenneth intended to keep her back to him, keep him from seeing her face until she could compose herself, but a sob escaped her lips. The sound drew Lezard to her, and she felt his hands touching her shoulders, gently spinning her around. “Why are you crying Lenneth?” He asked, reaching up to touch her face. The gentleness of his touch made the tears flow all the harder, and he frowned, concerned. “Are you hurt somewhere?” His hands were rolling up the sleeves of her dress, trying to see if there was any more bruises on her skin.

She sniffled, seeing him through vision blurred with tears. “I don’t know…” She started to laugh, it ending in a choking sob. “I…I had a dream…”

“Another nightmare from the looks of it…” Lezard was holding her wrists gently, just peering into her face. He tugged on her, pulling her into his embrace, hugging her close as she let out more cries, sounding out her sadness on his chest. The velvet of his jacket grew wet with her tears, though Lezard did not complain, he merely stroked her hair and murmured soothing words. It seemed to calm her down, and sensing her subdued mood, he picked her up.

It was a sudden move, Lenneth was surprised to find herself lifted up into the air, the wizard carrying her bridal style towards the bed. “No…” Lenneth protested, not wanting to sleep, not wanting to dream. But he merely sat her down on the edge, kissing her on the forehead. She closed her eyes, feeling the wet remains of her tears on her cheek, and was surprised when a tongue touched her skin. Her eyes flew open, and she saw Lezard, his face up close to hers, his hands cupping the sides of her cheeks. His eyes were closed, and he licked at her face, cleaning away the tears.

She tried to move away from him, but the hands on her face held her still, tongue rough and oddly ticklish against her skin. She couldn’t help herself, she let out a small giggle, and Lezard smiled at the sound. He moved to her other cheek, licking away the salty sadness, causing her to let out more giggles. Lenneth was still laughing when he moved to her mouth, tongue dashing across her lower lip.

Lenneth gasped, but he didn’t take advantage of her, merely brushing his lips chastely across hers. She looked at him confused, wanting to ask why. “Are you feeling better?” Lezard asked, going to sit down next to her. A hand snaked around her waist, pulling her tight against his side. With a sigh that wasn’t exactly sad, Lenneth nestled in close to him, under his shoulder, needing to feel his presence against her.

“Yes…”

“Can you remember what the dream was about?” He asked, curious over what could make her cry so hard.

“It was…it was…” Lenneth frowned, realizing she did not know exactly. Just that she felt overwhelming sadness. “Someone…I think came to say good-bye..” He felt her shiver next to him, and he stroked her back, feeling the satin against the palm of his hand. “Lezard…where were you?”

“Just taking care of business.” He didn’t want to say, didn’t want to risk her getting angry at him.

“I wish you wouldn’t leave me alone…” Her arm went around his waist, and she buried her face into the side of his jacket. He turned surprised eyes at her, and couldn’t quite stifle the laugh. “That’s a surprise! Usually you say quite the opposite!”

“Do I…?” She frowned faintly. “I can’t remember…” He was touching her face, insistently raising it up to look at him, eyes worried by her admittance. “Lenneth, are you feeling all right?”

“I’m fine…” She tried to give him a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I just missed you…” Lezard’s eyes widened as she titled her head back, eyes closing, lips softly puckering. She seemed to be asking for a kiss, and Lezard would not disappoint her! He twisted, lowering his head towards her raised face, closing the distance in a matter of milliseconds. She quivered under the touch of his lips, and he reacted in shock to find one hand reaching up to entwine in his hair.

Lezard sighed against her mouth, happy for the touch, thrilled at her willingly meeting his tongue. “I should go away more often if this is the homecoming I get.” He murmured against her mouth.

“No!” Lenneth pouted, shaking her head no. “Don’t say that, not even in jest.” He was surprised to find her arm tightening around his waist, the girl clinging to him in her neediness. He pulled back to stare at her face, sensing something was wrong. “Lenneth…” He whispered her name, stroking her hair. She just stared at him, wide eyed, eyes still a little red from all the crying she had done. “I’m not going anywhere…”

She nodded reassured, missing the way his eyes narrowed. He could feel something was wrong, something was off with the situation. Lezard wondered if she sought to trick him, lull him into a false sense of security. For one imperceptible moment, his hand tightened on her hair, angry at her for hoping to play on his emotions. But his rage passed, and a crafty smile appeared on his lips.

“Lenneth…” He said again, going to kiss her. She eagerly kissed him back, lips soft against his, nibbling and sucking at his mouth. Lezard was smiling, teasing her back, dying to see just how far she was willing to go to keep up the charade. She kissed at his face, trailing kisses down his chin, worrying at his neck. He tilted his head back to give her better access, hand still wound up in her hair, as she graced the front of his throat with her lips.

Lezard’s fingers massaged her scalp, the girl’s tongue licking at his pulse point, teeth lightly grazing his skin. He didn’t gasp, only wore a faintly bemused smile at her antics, enjoying being touched for once. Her hands went to his shoulders, squeezing and massaging, kneading the skin there. The tension in his frame seemed to melt away, and he almost wanted to oooh at the massage she gave him.

Fingers catching at the back of her head, he pulled her back off him, roughly kissing her lips, leaving her mouth swollen from the attention. Lenneth didn’t issue a complaint, merely looked at him through shy eyes, lids lowered modestly as she gasped around his mouth. Again his tongue was invading her mouth, udalating in an enticing rhythm against hers. She sighed trying to mimic his movement, a stray thought causing her to wonder who had taught him to kiss so well.

As Lezard kissed her, he thought of how good she tasted. How he wanted to learn how other parts of her tasted and smelled, to learn every inch of her inside and out. He spends his time licking, and stroking, seeking to draw her tongue into his mouth, just sucking on it. He realizes he’s starting to get half hard, just holding and kissing her like this.

With one last kiss against her lips, he pulled her half on his lap, back against his chest. He nuzzled the side of her face, and her head fell to the side, exposing her neck to him. Wet kisses down her skin, the necromancer seeing the fading kiss marks of an earlier tryst. His lips sucked against that light mark, seeking to darken it once more, and Lenneth cried out encouragingly against him, wiggling her hips on his lap. His hands went to steady her, and even as he worked at her neck, they were on the move, reaching up from behind to cup at her chest.

Lezard squeezed, and the tops of her breasts swelled, dangerously close to spilling out of her top. Lenneth gasped, and an arm reached up behind her to grab at his hair. But it wasn’t to stop him, that soft gentle touch in his hair, was rubbing, teasing, wanting him to continue. He was pushing her breasts, pressing them together, then pulling them apart, gently fondling, feeling the weight of them in his palms. His thumb stroked the tops of her globes, the touch of skin pure electricity between them.

“Lezard…” Just his name, but it’s gotten him excited, his hands going to her dress, ripping open the material of the front. Lenneth gasps at this, and he murmurs, not at all apologetic, “I’ll make you a new dress.” He has to feel her breasts now, all of them, feel the texture of her nipples against his hands. She’s shaking her head, but still not fighting, still being so damn eager for this. He buries his lips in her hair, still wondering how far she will let him go, and if he’ll be able to stop in time. If it’s a game she’s playing, it’s a dangerous one, liable to burn them both to the core.

Lezard feels her shiver as he pulls the gown lower, sliding the sleeves off her arms. She’s revealed down to the waist, and his hands are back on her chest. Her nipples are tightening, crinkling under his expert fingers, twiddling one between thumb and forefinger. A firm pinch, straddling the thin line between it feeling good and it feeling bad. His other hand is on her breast, palm flat, moving in circler motions, teasing her nipple harder. He is turning her, so that Lenneth half faces him, his head dipping down to lick at her chest. He takes one nipple into her mouth, suckling against the skin, the pull reaching down to things low in Lenneth’s body.

He’s transferring his attention from one breast to the other, mouth always busy. But even then he doesn’t leave her other breast neglected, fingers caressing, teasing her to hard straining points. “I feel…hot…dizzy…” comments Lenneth, body squirming under his lips.

“You’re not gonna pass out on me again, are you…?” He looked up from her breast, glasses glinting, obscuring his eyes. He thinks he’s caught her, now comes the protest, the game at an end.

“No…” She shakes her head, the frown looking out of place with the sounds she’s making. “It feels different…”

“Do you want me to stop?” He can’t believe he’s asking her this, his breath catching as he waits for her answer. She shakes her head no, Lenneth’s hair brushing against his face. Lezard smiles, and there is triumph in his grin. He reached down to pull the gown further off her, Lenneth’s hands helping him to remove the cumbersome skirt. It slides off, revealing lithe legs, the mage’s hands lingering on her supple skin. He smoothes his hand up her leg, past her knee to her thigh. His hand brushes insistently at her panties, feeling Lenneth give a slight jump, but she stays seated on his lap.

Lezard puts his hands on her thighs, giving a small push, moving them apart. “Stay like that…” He tells her, moving his hand upwards to caress her through her underwear. He strokes, just a light rubbing touch that brings out a mewling sound from Lenneth’s mouth. He smiles, loving the sounds she makes, his fingers gliding up to find the top of her panties. He pulls on the band, slipping his hand down inside the cotton material, brushing her soft curls with his fingers. His fingers slide through the hair, finding the crease they hide, and he gently spreads her lips apart. His middle finger strokes down the center, sliding in, feeling wet velvet. Lenneth’s already damp with desire, biting back a moan as he caresses the most intimate part of her body.

His finger is moving, slow and patient, up and down, a lazy search for something. When he finds it, she knows, Lenneth crying out, backing against his chest. Lezard presses a little more strongly, finding her clitoris hidden, a tiny button nestled snugly in the folds of her flesh. He flicks his finger over it, and he feels her jerk, a shocked cry from her lips.

Lenneth’s eyes flutter close, and when she opens them she is crying out again. But it’s not pleasure that is coming from her mouth, but shocked grief. Lezard doesn’t notice the change in her voice, his hand still tickling her down below. She can feel him building her up, a tingling pleasure that makes her want to wiggle her hips, and ride his hand. But she’s holding herself back, staring at something in the distance.

Staring back at her, is a man, tall in height, with blonde tresses, and piercing blue eyes. There is betrayal in those eyes of his, his face shocked as he watches her writhe on Lezard’s lap. For a second she is speechless, not knowing who he is, and then the memories come flooding back. Lucian! She thinks, still having the presence of mind to not say his name out loud. Lezard’s lips kiss the back of her shoulder, and she feels shame at what she is doing, at what she is letting him do to her.

“No!” Lenneth cries, trying to leap to her feet. It is difficult, the pair a tangle of limbs as she tries to scramble free. Lezard’s hand is slowing, the man realizing something is wrong. But he doesn’t disengage fast enough, and she is twisting at the waist, whirling around to slap at him. She hits him hard across the face, all her rage in the movement, causing his glasses to fall lopsided on his nose.

Lezard grunts, his face rocked to the side from the force of her slap. He stares stunned at the wall, knowing it had been too good to be true. But then he is turning to face her, even as she leaps off his lap, hair settling around her like silver cloak. His eyes narrow in anger, pissed at her for teasing him, mad at himself for letting her do this to him.

He doesn’t see what she sees, seeing Lenneth move away from him, stalking after the ghostly apparition of Lucian. The man is fading, shaking his head slowly in disappointment, and she holds out her arms to him, trying to catch him. But just like in her dream, her hands catch at air, and he is gone. Lenneth sinks down to her knees with a cry, hands wrapped around her arms, hugging herself. For one second Lezard almost forgets his anger, reaching out to touch her. The Valkyrie hisses like a wounded animal, turning to strike at him again.

“Have you gone mad?!” Lezard demanded, catching her wrist before she could hit him again. He sees she is crying again, and he wills himself not to soften, not to pity her.

“I remember everything!” Lenneth tells him, blue eyes flashing with rage. He doesn’t know how to respond to that, and he’s beginning to fear her mind is broken. “You can’t make me forget…not so easily…” She adds, and begins struggling to get her arm free. He doesn’t let go of her, watching as her struggles cause her breasts to bounce free of her hair, offering distracting glimpses of her flesh.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…” Lezard is surprised to find her anger not only matches his, but surpasses it.

“Liar!” Lenneth shakes her head, hair moving with the rapid movement of her shake.

“Perhaps…” He said coolly. It was just one word, but it made her scream in rage, the Valkyrie trying to lunge at him. He easily caught her in his embrace, pinning her arms to her sides. She let out another scream, wailing loudly in his face. She wasn’t calming down, growing madder at his touch. A grim smile crossed his face as he thought of a way to cool her down, and already they were moving, fading from this room into another.

It was a bathroom, large with light blue tiles for the walls. He dragged Lenneth into the shower, that was big enough for two people, and thrust her against the wall. Using his body to trap her between the cold tile and his front, he reached over, turning on the faucet. Shocking ice cold water poured out the shower head, drenching them both. Lenneth screamed again, but the fire of her anger is mostly gone, the cry being born of the cold water against her skin.

Lezard was also being pelted by the water, his clothes soaked on his thin frame. He felt her relaxing against him, and he cautiously moved away, seeking to escape the ice cold water. Lenneth tried to follow him, and he held her at arm’s length, letting her feel the full effect of the shower. She looked at him, shivering miserably, teeth starting to chatter, and only then did he shut off the water.

“Are you calm now?” He asked, hand still on the faucet. Lenneth rapidly nodded her head yes, skin goose pimpling from the freezing water. He watched her carefully, conjuring a towel to his hand. Slowly approaching her, he went to dry out her hair, wrapping the thick wet mane in the towel’s folds, squeezing to rinse out and absorb the water. Lezard shook the towel, droplets of water flying free. He let it fall to the damp floor, conjuring a much larger one in it’s place. This time he wrapped her whole body up in it, covering her from chest to her knees. Her hand came up to clutch at the material, keep it closed around her body.

Lenneth’s silence unnerved him, but it was better than that wild screaming she had done. Lezard moved to take her in his arms, and she backed up with a gasp. The mage stiffened in displeasure, choosing to ignore her reaction. He scooped her up into his arms, exposed skin still wet, and teleported them back into the bedroom. Lenneth quickly realized his intent was to take her back to the bed. “No…” She broke her silence with a protest, beginning to struggle in his arms. One arm pulled back, but before she could strike him he was uttering a command. “Sleep!”

The effects were immediate, the girl’s body growing limp in his arms, her head settling against his damp chest. Lezard let out a sigh, hating to have to use his magic on her, but not wanting to deal with any further tantrums. He walked towards the bed, and eased back the covers, sliding the girl underneath the blankets. “It’s best you sleep a while…” He said, fingers playing with the damp bangs plastered to her forehead. “For both our sanity’s sake!”