03 Atavism of the Ifrit Read online

  “Time and End said something like that.” Mumbled Ethan though no one clearly heard it.

  “Me?” gulped Kanade.

  “Yes, Child. You. I cannot See what causes the decision, only know you will decide. One path is dark, meaning I see my own death in it, but not before yours and Kyoko’s I’m afraid. The other is good and happy for three centuries, as I said before. We will all be mothers and have a large family and our friends from Order will likewise find themselves blessed.” Gaia winked at the team. “Especially you, Kira Penbrook. I see soon to come rowdy twin girls that will make the loudmouthed Ogre pull his hair out by the roots.”

  “NO! NOT GIRLS! Not again.” Baldr groaned. “Every daughter I’ve had has made my life a living hell.”

  “What’s worse is the second born is destined to be the soul mate of First Mistress Kanade’s son.” Gaia laughed.

  Ethan and Baldr looked at each other and fainted.

  Nell giggled outright, unable to stop herself. Kira stopped Baldr from planting his head in the ground and Panther did the same for Ethan.

  Gaia slapped her armored knee and laughed. “Just as I Saw.”

  Kanade had hopeful tears that would not shed quite yet. “Gaia, are you serious… about everythin’?”

  “I wouldn’t lie in a vision. Think back to when we met under Methrom’s territory. What did my smile say to you when I laid eyes on where you would enter?”

  In a flash Kanade’s hand covered her lips to stifle a gasp. “You seemed more than pleased… as if you knew what no one else did… a Seer’s gift. Why didn’t I sense it?”

  “Because I can mask the power since I’m the eldest Seer, next to End that is, eldest Titan and their ruling queen. I’m better than the five monks Zagan keep around as pets. They may see further down the paths than I ever will, but my visions are clearer. The only way I know to separate vision from the here and now is experience and no forks in the branching pathways.” Gaia gestured to the Balam stationed at the tree line. “They know my gifts for I often warned them to danger to their king’s former mistresses, but beyond them and my kind, no one knows of my gift. So yes, Child, what I say is true. As is your next words. You are about to ask to bond immediately so we may get started on and practice making children. The answer is yes. Oh and our husband is about to wake in seven seconds. Baldr will take another minute and forty three seconds.”

  Kanade stared dumbfounded as that is exactly the next thing about to come out. She knew Gaia wasn’t inside her head. Not even Sarimee was.

  “Wha…” Ethan came around at seven seconds. He looked at the feline head. “Panther? Why am I…” He sat up and looked around in embarrassment. “Well that was embarrassing.”

  “I’d pass out too if one of Baldr’s kids are destined to one of mine.” Magnus said jokingly, but also serious. Very seriously disturbed to even consider it.

  Ethan got to his feet and brushed off his pant legs, still being fed upon. “Sorry.”

  “It is a natural male reaction confronted with children under a Seer’s words.” Gaia said, but Ethan knew she was just trying to reassure and lessen the humiliation bouncing around internally. “Thank you for the delightful feast.” Gaia licked her lips. Then looked down to the spidery Shaman “You know what to do.” and laid the circlet down around her. Gaia said “This will take a few minutes, Sarimee. Go ahead and bond with Kanade first.”

  Kira and Amandale again wrote the spells as Kyoko near repeated verbatim what she did for Flajeen and Ivonniq. Kanade kissed Sarimee’s muzzle since she didn’t have lips, a flash of light and it was all over. Then they hugged and Sarimee licked her new life-mate’s cheek.

  By then the Arachne Shaman moved away and Gaia put the modified circlet on. The power stripping was replaced by a shrinking spell.

  Gaia didn’t show any sign of discomfort as she went from over two hundred, down to Nineteen feet two inches. But then as she approached, the ground still shook proving only size and armor changed, not weight. Two of the Titan’s hands took Kanade’s while the spares held themselves over her lower belly like a mistress walking the palace.

  Baldr awoke, but rather than embarrassed just laughed doing in-law jokes.

  Gaia and Kanade kissed to seal the bond and Gaia whispered something in Kanade’s ear that had her nod. Kanade lifted a hand and the Six appeared along with Amandale. To the Elf she said “Mistress hall immediately.” The eight women disappeared.

  “Gaia?” Ethan hesitated.

  “All is well. Kanade simply has gone to collect your last two wives Catnis and Benillimina.”

  “Who and what now?”

  Gaia’s beauty radiated as her eyes twinkled. “Seventh Mistress Catnis of the Arachne and Eighth Mistress Benilliminia of the Sirens. As you did battle these past days in one of the war rooms she was still searching for more mistresses to fulfill the king’s prophecy long before the sixth month deadline so that we,” Gaia touched her bountiful breastplate. “your wives, will be so well joined nothing can separate us and that we will protect one another. Many did not know she was doing so during the slaughter, but I just told her there was no need for show since she already decided to bring them. She planned to keep going back to continue selecting as she has been, but it is not needed. Word shall spread like wildfire. Gossip affects demons too. She knew they were the ones as soon as I called their names minutes ago, that they were also joining us and none other than she knew their names. So how did I if not for my visions?

  “She will return shortly and Sarimee and I will go to reclaim our full power then sex likes never you’ve had so far will be all yours, believe me. In sixteen seconds she will return.”

  Fifteen, fourteen, thirteen, Ethan and everyone mentally counted. twelve, eleven, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two…

  Eyes scanned and at one Kanade and the others returned holding the hands of the most gorgeous females of their species.

  “I’m convinced.” He told the much smaller Titan. Gaia winked.

  Catnis was twice larger than Tamarian by a goodly amount and blonde with six sky blue eyes filled with wondrous life and excitement. Her spiderlike lower half even in what little light was given off in the sky reveled her carapace and legs had an indigo hue and shine like no other Arachne he’s ever seen. At once he knew she was the type that carried her heart on her sleeve, but loved to live life fully and people would gravitate to her good moods.

  Meanwhile Benilliminia was the fairest Siren he’d also seen. She embodied calm demeanor to its fullest. Though her covered beasts were smallest of them all, what swimmer’s isn’t? A satin aquamarine gown was wet, speaking of a recent swim. And she was very tall. Close to sixteen feet. It clung to curves only an Olympic swimmer could pull off. Something though caught his eye for some inexplicable reason, a black choker encasing her throat.

  He came close and she held still till reaching for her neck and she shied away. Kanade put a hand on his chest and came to her rescue. “Don’t, Darlin’. Beni can’t speak. She’s mute.”

  “I beg forgiveness, Fire Prince. Just please do not ask me to let anyone see it.” Came soft thoughts. “I do not wish to shame you as it is unbecoming…”

  “I’m not asking.” He rumbled. “Either let me take a look or I’ll order Panther to cut it off.”

  “Darlin’, what’s gotten into…” He cut her off with a hard stare.

  Benilliminia fought and lost against the tears as they spilled, but she stepped forward and allowed him to carefully fold down the full neck choker. Many gasped at seeing the savage scars and holes in her throat the sheet covered. Like someone made her live with eleven different tracheotomies from a pencil eraser’s size to a gaping golf ball. Her eyes held his and she expected pity or horror, but not the anger in his expression.

  The curse that left his lips caught them by surprise. It was a name, the foulest way referred. “Armid.” He growled. “I knew I sensed his doing. I felt it before when he tried and failed killing me with that sun-sword o
f his. Armid stole your voice didn’t he?”

  Tears tuned to sobs though no sounds rose she covered her neck. “Yes. He cut me long ago. I barely managed to survive by pretending to be dead.”

  “Hush now. Let me make it better.” He soothed, dropping to a knee. Held in shock’s embrace she couldn’t deny him. His eyes could see the blade had cut near enough to take her whole head and a Siren’s voice what their only true weapon. Healing had not gone correctly. How she survived for so long he hadn’t a clue other than she was the definition of a survivor. The need to look at her neck was strong and it called to him. Screamed was more like it. And the violence done to her was brutal. He now saw why Kanade liked her so much. After an in-depth examination he nodded, satisfied.

  “Hey Kira, got any Crème Sap and Mermaid water handy?”

  “How much?” she asked, coming over while digging in a pouch at her hip.

  “Half cup of sap and three quarters water.”

  “Sorry, Boyo, I’ve got just a half cup of Mermaid water left, but the sap I’ve got plenty.”

  “Alright. Just blend as much as you got for right now.” She sat down and snapped her fingers to conjure a mixing bowl. “Panther, collect two hundred aura sealing acorns and gauze.”

  The general took off to speak with Villiken and they vanished.

  Kira blended the two ingredients into a wet consistency of homemade pudding. It wasn’t as smooth as he wanted it, but he’d make do. His fist glowed and imbued the potion with unknown runes for about a minute till the Elf and Balm reappeared. Without looking away he said “Squeeze out as much oil as they got, Panther. By hand. Using magic to do a better job will ruin what I’m doing.”

  “Yes, Master.” Nuts were crushed in his bare hands into another bowl summoned by Kira.

  “I did not foresee this.” Said Gaia with genuine confusion.

  “Because it just popped in my head. I didn’t plan on it.”

  “But what are you doing?” Asked Ivonniq as she slithered curiously for a closer look.

  “Benilliminia’s voice can’t heal properly because traces of Armid’s energy are bonded to her skin preventing it. The seeds strip escaping energy so I’m using their oils to soak into her neck to seep in and express the foreign energy out of that area. Crème Sap is good for repairing sensitive skin and muscles and the Mermaid water will help heal her damage gills. The spells I’m putting in will not allow the sap to burn her and my own Demon Energy will further promote correct regeneration… Kira, I need ten gallons of distilled and purified water.” In moments he had it and poured a half gallon in his mouth, swished it around and spat directly in the potion. He did it again and Kira was about to stop him till Kyoko told of his saliva’s minor healing properties, touching her own scarred neck to make a point. He did it again and again till the bowl was full. He then personally mixed it together into a slightly murky solution. “Kyoko, chill the water down to about fifty degrees.”

  “Celsius or Fahrenheit?”

  “Latter. Go gently in the chill.”

  Panther, Nenetl and Teicuih worked side by side expediting the process of hand squeezing the nuts for their properties as Kira went back to straining out the pieces of nut that fell. The speed at which they worked no machine could keep up with. Soon as much as could be squeezed was, and the seed oil was much like vegetable oil in color and mildly thicker. “Thank you.” He told them and took the bowl. And dropped the gauze inside to soak up the oil. “Beni? You don’t mind if I call you that do you?”

  “No, most do. My name is not easy to pronounce naturally.” She said in his mind, still overwhelmed he was doing something for her and hoped this time at last it would work. It was hope she long ago lost, but his confidence was bringing it back.

  “Alright, this will not be a walk in the park, and it will sting badly, but I’m going to wrap this around your neck and Amandale is going to massage it in gently.” The Elf’s pointy ears perked. “Her hands are small and can do what my large ones cannot. I need you to breathe through your gills, not down your mouth as much as possible. And swallow dryly as best you can though you won’t ingest the oil.” She agreed to the instructions as Kanade ripped the choker completely off.

  He wrapped the oil-soaked fabric around her neck again and again. Amandale called for her new love and with Dallare’s help they gently worked the oils in Benilliminia’s entire neck for fifteen minutes while under the unblinking stare of Ethan. It was disconcerting, but he was not truly seeing with his eyes as he came to say “Armid’s power is being attacked by the Demon Energy within the oils. The demon seeds are making war. Keep it up ladies. Ten more minutes and his energy will be gone for good.”

  Ten minutes later. “That’s it, the last trace is gone. Unwrap her. Kyoko.” He held his hand out, knowing she was right beside him. The bowl was taken up and he said “Beni, this will not be what you are comfortable with breathing and will not be easy for that matter, but if you want to sing like you once did for Zagan’s troops during the old wars you will endure.”

  Her shoulders set though she didn’t stand, even if she could. Her emotions made her knees unsupportively weak. Her soft blue head nodded the go ahead and he made a spell to take the ten gallons worth of chilled potion rise up and dropped it over her head and down to the hollow of her throat.

  Immediately those unable to look away saw her struggle with a mighty effort to breathe. Her silhouette showed it wasn’t remotely comfortable, but as soon as Kanade and the other women she would come to love put their hand on her she settled under their soothing demeanors. Up close they watched as scar tissue began dissolving and over the course of an hour the skin began gradually knitting back together.

  When it was complete the spells inside the potion broke apart and splashed over those closest. At once all saw a completely healed Siren’s throat and neck gills.

  “Heeee…” Beniliminia stopped and touched her own throat as she squeaked more than said anything, but then she felt the soft curve of her throat than disfigurement. It was the first sound in longer than she could fully remember and new tears fell in fat drops.

  Kanade said “Easy now, yes it’s all gone, but your muscles need to get stronger. You can’t expect to talk right away after millennia of silence.” Kanade gently head butted her. “Yes, the scars are really gone.”

  “For now.” Ethan said lazily and the Siren worried it would come back. “I’ll be marking that petty neck since you’re mine now.”

  Benilliminia gulped and her eyes trailed down to his crotch before going back up. Then she brightened right up. “Yheee. Heee.” She squeaked eagerly and looked at Kanade intimately.

  Love laughed and swatted her arm “Yes, the rumor are indeed true. You’ll find out soon. You are the Eighth Mistress after all. You and Catnis need to bond to me first though.”

  Beni shook her head, leapt to her webbed feet and jumped at Ethan without abandon to plant her lips on his. His assumption to taste like fish was wrong. She was more like a ripe pear that was chilled in a refrigerator. Sweet and delectable. She rapidly kissed his cheek and lips over and over again mentally overwhelmed to say ‘Thank you. Thank you! Thank you!”

  He chuckled and cradled her to his chest. “Easy now. You’re very welcome. Don’t strain too much.” He sat her down and rubbed a calloused thumb over her soft cheek. “Knowing you will soon be mine forever is all the payment I’d ask for. Now go and complete the ritual with Kanade.”

  Squeaking with enthusiasm the Siren stood in front of her wife-to-be and managed to squeak a rather difficult “Ieee! Doeee!” and happily kissed.

  Catnis dabbed a handkerchief at all her eyes at the happy emotions made and goodness of everyone before completing her own vows.

  Not long after, they all left the clearing, but they waited outside the heavily guarded power vaults for Gaia and Sarimee to return. A half hour was spent learning about the two newest additions before they stepped out together. Gaia hadn’t changed outwardly, but her energy was a hundred fold t
hat what it was. Sarimee though shot up to twenty feet with legs that didn’t stop.

  All then Translocated into their designated chambers.

  “Lovely!” Gasped Catnis as she took in the royal chamber’s splendor for the first time. In the different lighting her carapace was a different blue hue that only enhanced her more rather that give the creeps. Ethan found her rather charming. Three other’s first timers likewise shared the experience.

  “Calm yourself, Beni.” Ethan laughed as she started to tug his arm the moment her large aquamarine eyes fell on the building up inside the face of the mountain. “I know you want to show me how grateful you are. Just pause for a moment to take in your new home.” She spun around, put a hand on a hip and spun back just as swiftly, clearly unimpressed with other things on her mind. “Beni, what happened to all the calm indifference you had when you came to the field?”

  “A farce, My Prince. I’m easily excited and no cock has filled me since my voice was stolen. One look at my wound told them I was tainted and not fit for breeding. I was afraid you too would be like the rest, but you desire me. I smell it.” Slits where her nose should be opened slightly as she inhaled. “It has been too long and I cannot wait to have something alive to wrap my legs around.”

  Kanade laid a gentle hand on her shoulder and said calmly, but had an edge. “Take a few breaths and calm down. What is an extra ten minutes to enjoy the scenery?”

  Beni looked down and sobered. “I forget my place, First Mistress…”

  “No apology necessary. I completely understand the desire to make love.” Soothed the women who embodied the name Love. “Just trust me when I say hittin’ the bed first will hurt you if not ready. No sex for centuries will mean your pussy’s tighter than a virgin on prom night. We’re goin’ to first hit the bathin’ pool I fixed up for us all. We need to ready for his cock or it’ll tear those of you who never experienced it.”

  Ivonniq giggled. “She isn’t kidding.” Her pink body coiling around itself. “He is large enough to kill if not ready. All this talk of sex is too much. Kanade, I’m going to get the vibrators ready.” Serpentine muscles bunched and like a coiled spring Ivonniq’s Lamia tail propelled her unerringly like a bullet straight up towards the easily seen building situated inside the great mountain. The new size especially made for a certain four armed someone.