Zion: Light of the New Moon, Ch 5.2 Myre
Zion - Light of the New Moon Chapter 5.2
Myre The Silver Gate
The group has elected to involve the Silver Gate in their event arc, and, as such, the storyline has evolved. Let's sit in and see what becomes of it.
Not only did I have to evade those who were following me, I had to find a way to track down Liam. While either of the two objectives might have been easy enough on their own, trying to do both at once wasn't exactly simple. In the end, I realized that I wouldn't be able to handle the prying questions of my traveling companions, so adding some distance between me and them had to take priority.
I never thought all that time we used to spend in the castle playing Priest and Heretic would come in so useful but, I have to admit that our endless hours of chase paid off. In less than an hour I was able to focus more on finding Liam than avoiding the questions that would eventually come my way. Since I didn't have the slightest idea where he had gone, I started with the most obvious possibility and made my way to his room.
You ever have one of those 'wow, that was easy' moments? Well, I found Liam right outside his door, face down on the ground. It didn't take me even ten seconds to realize what had happened, and I quickly moved to pick him up. He was mostly incoherent, and was babbling the standard gibberish of the Grace-less... but he was still able to support some of his own weight as I helped him up, wrapping one of his arms around my shoulders. I pushed the door open and half-carried, half-walked him into the room before closing the door behind us.
I deposited him on the bed before I bothered opening up my belt pouch. Liam stared at me with glassy eyes; it was obvious that his brain was reminding him of who I was and what I meant, but the warnings just didn't seem to take... he stared at me like a fish looking out of its fish bowl. Regardless of how zoned out he was, I saw his ears perk the moment I pulled out the needle and the Grace. His tongue hung out the side of his muzzle as he watched me, and offered no resistance as I took hold of his arm and gave him two thirds of a dose. It was more than I had been giving him and, looking back, I wonder now perhaps if it was from guilt.
I sat down next to him on the bed, staring at the needle in my hands. I must have lost track of time, because, before I knew it, I heard "Why won't he just let me go?" Liam quivered beside me with barely restrained rage.
"He feels responsible for your condition." I answered freely, surprised at how simple it was to speak the truth. Obviously I wasn't supposed to speak so earnestly with him... was that also because of the guilt?
"Why would he even care?" Liam asked, "It's not like he was in charge of--"
"The guards that injected you were making the Grace under his orders." I spoke, closing my eyes as I realized I was crossing the line. I felt him tense up next to me.
"H...h..... he....?" it sounded like he had trouble even drawing breath, let alone talking.
"What happened to you was an accident, Liam... you weren't supposed to be there." I explained. I'm not sure if it was my attempt at an apology, but it felt like something pathetic to say.
"....why?" it was a vague question, but I had a good feeling I knew why he was asking it.
"Lord Dalton--"
"Your father." he interrupted me.
"He's spent the last ten years looking for a cure." I explained, "and he needed the Grace to--"
"There is no cure." he snarled, ears going back as he glared at me, "Now... because of YOUR FATHER, I--" he started shaking anew. At first, I almost wondered if he was already going through withdrawals again, but then, after a moment, I realized that he was fighting back a series of sobs, "Goddess... why..." he covered his face, lowering his head as he placed his elbows on his knees.
"I wish it didn't happen, Liam, I really do. I know what you're going through. I'm sorry... I'm so, so sorry... I-"
"HOW CAN YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH?!?!" he bellowed, standing up and pushing me back. Partly, I knew it was the Grace talking, making him angrier and more hot headed, but I also realized he had a right to be angry. I was honest again, Miri... Goddess help me, I explained.
"Believe me..." I said quietly, holding my arms out, "I know."
I watched the recognition flow into his eyes even as the berserker's rage escaped. He collapsed, falling down onto the bed as he stared at the pitted veins in my arms and I was able to pin-point the exact moment when he really understood. Less than two seconds later, the words I had dreaded came out of his muzzle, "He was making Grace was because of you."
"My first use of Grace wasn't by choice either." I offered, but it seemed like a feeble defense for the realization that was going through his mind.
"How..." the word came out as a croak. He tried again, "How long... have you used Grace?"
"The first time was when I was fifteen." I answered honestly, sitting next to him again.
He looked at the far wall and not at me, "You said it wasn't by choice?"
"No." I answered. Despite my honesty with him, I couldn't bring myself to explain that night, and I won't now. Lord Dalton never told you how Anthony found me three hours later, and I pray he never does.
"So you've used it ever since?" he asked, still not looking at me.
"Not exactly." I answered.
"That's a pretty straight-forward yes or no question in my mind... how can you 'not exactly' use or not use Grace?" he asked, talking through his teeth.
"I don't take pure Grace anymore." I explained casually, "That's why..." and I couldn't help but lower my voice a little, "...why I'm still alive."
"Either you take Grace or you don't." he argued, "There's no such thing as not-pure Grace."
"Yes there is." I explained, and I held up the syringe I had used on him, "Let me see your arm."
He watched me closely; the fact that he didn't trust me was readily obvious. To be honest, I wouldn't have trusted me either. I moved slowly and, when it was evident he was not going to pull away, I slid the needle into his arm, and slowly waited for the chamber to fill.
"Oh, Goddesss...." he whispered, "You're not going to..." and he looked away, ears clamping down on either side of his head when I transferred the needle to my own arm. I can't remember feeling so disgusted with myself as when I was watching his reaction. To make it worse, I offered the ultimate explanation, "They were making the Grace so they could hire junkies."
"To dilute it for you..." the fox noted, still turned away from me, "So you could.... do that."
"But it wasn't supposed to be you..." I explained.
"Bad luck on my part then." he said flatly, laying down on the bed on his stomach.
"I'm... just so sorry, Liam..." I said, "Nothing like this was supposed to happen... Lord Dalton--"
"Your father." he interrupted me again, still laying on his stomach without bothering to look at me.
"My father, Lord Dalton," I acknowledged, "he said that it would be harmless... that they were going to find someone who had already succumbed to it." I remained sitting on the side of the bed, "Goddess... there's no way I can say how sorry I am." I felt the tears begin to form.
Miri... it really WASN'T supposed to happen that way. I knew there was nothing I was able to do to convince Liam of that, but, Goddess... how I wanted to. I just sat there on the bed next to him for I-don't-know-how-long but, finally, he answered, "Thank you for telling me." it was in an unreadable tone... one that hinted at genuine openness but also suggested a dismissal. I didn't leave, but I did pause when he sat up and turned to regard me.
I had no idea what to expect... but one of the last things to enter my mind was that he would kiss me. As you might expect, I'd never kissed a fox before. One thing I CAN say for sure was that Liam made it a not-entirely unpleasant experience. One moment I saw fury in his eyes, and an overwhelming sense of anger... and the next, they were closed, and the soft fur of his muzzle was brushing against my nose, his whiskers ticking my cheeks. I didn't fight it, Miri... I kissed him back... Goddess... I did more than that.
His shirt was already off, and, since I was only in leather armor it wasn't any great feat for him to strip off my vest. I remember gasping when his teeth brushed against my neck, and his breath come out as a hot blast when I dragged my fingernails through the fur on his back. It felt like it was only seconds before he had my blouse open, and I couldn't fight back a moan when his tongue brushed across one of my nipples... oh Goddess, he knew what he was doing.
My head spun as he lowered me to the mattress. He kicked one leg then the other, working his way out of his breeches that I had unbuckled and unbuttoned during the time my hands explored his body. I had barely giving my own clothes any thought but he held himself up with one paw, the other going to the straps holding my leather leggings in place, "I've never done this while I was on Grace before." he admitted, the insides of his ears turning reddish. I suddenly realized what was going on.
I was pretty satisfied with my ability to get his attention; I flexed a shoulder then an arm, pushing off of the bed as I forced him sideways, rolling over until his back was on the mattress and I was on top of him.
"Wow..." he noted, a faint smirk on his muzzle, "so YOU like being in control, do you?"
"This is the Grace." I explained, taking hold of his paws and pinning them against his abdomen, "Once it wears off you're going to hate me."
"I don't hate you right now." he grinned, taking in a deep breath through his nose, "and from the smell of you, I don't think you'd mind taking advantage of me while I'm like this." I felt myself blush deeply; I'd never had a fox lover before, and I was unable to deny the fact that being so close to him was having an effect on me. I pushed the thought from my mind just like I pushed myself away from Liam.
"I would mind." I stated resolutely, "I'm not okay with taking advantage of you."
"I'm okay with it." he grinned, sliding his breeches off the rest of the way. He reclined on the bed, one leg laying on the mattress, the other spread invitingly.
"It would be rape." I argued, though, despite myself, I couldn't help but glance back at him, admiring his well-toned, smooth-furred body. I looked away before my eyes traveled too far down his abdomen.
"You can't rape the willing." he practically purred.
"Goodnight." I stated, and made my way quickly to the door, grabbing my blouse as I went.
"Wait!" he added.
"What is it?" I asked, my back to him.
"I didn't know what to expect on this trip," he stated, "except that I didn't expect to survive."
"Uh-huh..." I acknowledged.
"I don't know if I will or if I won't at this point..." he said. I heard him stand up and move toward me, "... but, even if you ARE Lord Dalton's daughter, I'm still glad I had a chance to meet you."
"You're saying that beca--" I started, but he turned me around, interrupting me.
"I spent all day trying to figure out what to say... and that was before the Grace." he stated, "So don't tell me it's the Grace talking."
"If you weren't on Grace you'd be wanting to kill me for what I've done to you." I answered.
"You didn't get me addicted." he stated, "I'm mad, and I may be high, but I'm not stupid... you're not at fault."
"If I'm not at fault, then why do I feel so guilty?" I demanded.
"Because you're a good person." he answered.
"Now I KNOW you're high." I couldn't help but giggle.
"I told you I was." he grinned, and leaned a little closer, "So... if I've been thinking about you all day..."
"That was before you knew who I was." I stated, pushing him away again, "And things will seem different in the morning."
"Then stay here so we can find out if that's true." he offered softly, leaning forward again, unwilling to be denied... and, finally, at that point I was unable to deny him. I didn't pull away when he kissed me... or when he picked me up like some kind of rescued princess.
He returned me to his bed, carrying me in his arms. Liam lowered me to the mattress and slowly took hold of my leggings, leaning over them as he pulled them off slowly, brushing my bare skin with his nose as he did so, from thigh, to knee, to ankle. Once my armor was out of the way, I laid back, closing my eyes when I felt his warm panting against my undergarments... but my panties were only there for a moment; he slid them off after my leggings and then nothing was between my bare flesh and his hot breath. Soon enough, there wasn't even that much space between us, and I gripped at the sheets as his tongue pressed into me without hesitation.
I remember gasping for breath as each of his movements stole the air from my lungs and made my toes curl. His paws caressed my thighs even as me pressed his muzzle further against me; at one point I thought he was going to bury his nose but, just as I felt my entire body begin to grow even hotter, my ever extremity shake with anticipation, Liam pulled away. He slowly climbed up onto the bed, licking his muzzle as he straddled me, his excitement evident in what sway between his legs.
At one point I had tried to offer one last objection, a single reminder that he would despise me in the morning and regret his actions of the night, but he silenced me with a kiss. I tasted my own eagerness on his lips and from his tongue, and his muzzle muffled my cry as his flesh spread me apart, sliding into me slowly in a long, smooth stroke. I gasped as our kiss broke, and remembered sending a prayer to Tah'Aveen... and feeling just a little guilty about thanking the Pregnant Moon for the night I was sharing with Liam.
The Grace in his blood, and his blood in me ensured that neither of us felt the fatigue of our long journey... we focused only on the moment, and on one another. It had been a long time, Miri... a long time since I willingly let any man be with me like that. When he cried out and I felt him release inside me, I wasn't disgusted by it... no... it took me over the edge, and he was whimpering in delight... I'm pretty sure I was too. And then it was over. He pulled me close, and whispered comfortingly that the morning wouldn't change anything. Goddess... I wish I could believe that. I laid next to him for an hour, unable to sleep and unable to leave. Even now, here with my journal, I'm using his desk and not my own.
Looking to Liam asleep in his bed as I write this, I can think how, less than two hours ago, every fiber of his being was focused on me, and everything about me. How, just a little more than sixty minutes past, I lay with him atop me, crying out as his every move brought me closer and closer to the Great Prayer... the sounds he made as he fought off his own release and the way his body shook when he finally gave in... when he joined me in our duet of ecstasy and our cries of passion. Miri, at your age you had better not have ever been with a man. I know it sounds magical and wonderful, but it's something you should wait for.
In my case, I'm still awake, watching Liam as he sleeps. His shakes are gone for now... he looks like he's sleeping more restfully than he has since we first left Myre. I'd like to think that our time together might be somehow responsible, but I'd just be deluding myself. In the morning he's going to wake up and then I'll see just what this night has cost me. Miri, I hope you never have to ask that of yourself, and especially not because of what you've done to a nice guy like Liam.
All my love, Leijh
* * * * * *
Having selected "The Silver Gate", the Myrenese Caravan gets the benefit of an extended stay in the Wayside. This also gives us a chance to focus more on the different characters.
This post deals exclusively with Liam and Leijh but other characters can now get the spotlight in future posts before the earth-shattering, world-changing, adventure-confirming trip through the Silver Gate.... stay tuned!
Oh yea... red border because... 'stuff' happens and drug use.