03 Atavism of the Ifrit Read online

  “So tell me what you think of Time and End’s words to Kanade.”

  “As I said before. She is a being of love, but such passion can be turned in the heat of the moment. I do not doubt she did wish to kill her mother for the atrocious actions willingly committed, but she would regret it soon after and carry it forever upon those shoulders. I haven’t an inkling as to the part of ‘Harmony’, but we can only wait to see whom the others spoken of will join your bed and…”

  Inside the cabin Kanade caught an artists’ sketchpad that would be best used on an easel, but in her hands it was more a blank spiral notebook. Then Dress spit out an appropriate size pencil so she could begin sketching out a pattern for Ethan’s new attire she knew would emphasize his newfound physique, adding the measurements taken minutes ago to the sheet as her hands blurred with a Transcendent speeds. As she tore off one idea and started another she asked casually despite how fast her arm and fingers moved “What’s it like out there.”

  “Everyone is scared shitless if that is what you are getting at.” Dress spoke as his eyes roved her work, clearly impressed. “No one felt the skirmish you just told me you had with Spirit King and the others. But the moment you and Handsome got a power-boost, every creature who can use their energy felt the world shake many passed out from the sheer magnitude you two pumped out. There were earthquakes and dormant volcanoes erupting all over the globe. Even as we speak they are spewing. The Houses all across the world located here as the point of origin and the heads want to get in. Many have tried to come through, but Handsome’s barrier is something no one can bypass. Only my promise it won’t happen again eased worries, but they want answers bad, real bad, Girl.”

  “I know. Ethan wants me to tell you he’ll allow guests in after I’m done doin’ all this and we are properly clothed. What are your thoughts about all this?”

  “Armid’s being a complete and total asshole.” Dress was blunt. “Oh, I like that style. It draws the eye right to the crotch!”

  “Exactly.” Blushed Kanade as she tore off a fourth style, amazed at how much better her drawings have sharpened. As an Enchantress who could do all runes on the woman’s side it was imperative she had a sharp hand and eye for drawling, but her sketches now seemed lifelike. “But what of…”

  “You want my advice, Sweet Thing?” asked Dress looking up at her slightly swinging in the suspended bed. When she stopped and gave her undivided attention to him he softened his golden face. “There have been hundreds and hundreds of prophets and prophecies and let me tell you, it’s all bunk.”

  “Bunk?”

  “Crap. Rubbish. Stupid. Bullshit. A waste of time. Take your pick.” Blue eyes rolled on the polished knobs. “In all my years I’ve watched people go insane trying to reason and understand prophecies. I can say with certainty that it never works out as it sounds. Just look at Fate’s work. He calculates probabilities and gives the silver sheets to you Spirit Guides so you can snap your wrists to read and collect souls off a list. But then why did your hubby get overlooked? Why did Armid send a hit squad? They were both wrong. They, like many prophecy scholars I’ve seen, put too much stock in the words themselves without first understanding the individual. If I were you I would forget what you were told and be yourself.”

  “What do you mean?” She wondered softly.

  “Look. I’m the closest a human has ever come to transcending so I can understand many things at once. Before my body died I was a Specialist who figured out how to split my soul into inanimate objects before a war when I was just an Egyptian sheepherder who was drafted and barely survived the effects of a curse.” He winked as he told again a piece of his story. “Like me, you have choices. I chose to stay partially alive rather than move on to Spirit World. I choose to be everyone’s best friend and confidant. It’s who I am. You choose to be soft spoken and kind. Not some bossy brat like Val. I know you better than most. Just as I know Ethan. Yes, he is dangerous, but good at heart. If you told him to kill someone, I know he wouldn’t without good reason. He isn’t reckless unless you’re in danger. I hate to bring out this hippy phrase but ‘Make love, not war.’” He smiled softly gain. “You kids have been through hell in less than a year, but neither of you have snapped or shown me any reason not to put all my points on you two lasting forever. You two don’t have destructive personalities. So just be yourself. Needless worry will only give you a headache. Be like the rest of us who take one day at a time and discover ourselves. But you know Seers are the real deal and are rare. Unless they tell you something, don’t believe in Time’s prophecy. She hasn’t been confirmed as a genuine Seer.

  “Now tell me, what is it like for you now that you are all glowy!” he hinted to her luminescent wings. “Most Transcendent beings learn they have a knack for some task. Dream gives dreams. Death separates the body from the soul. Fate guides to strengthen soul quality and strength by calculating probabilities. Spirit King feeds life itself. Rest, he helps special mortals heal wounds. Fear… well you already know what he does to Dream’s domain, the cheeky brat. Or Eureka, he inspires ideas to flourish.”

  Kanade pondered for about a nanosecond. “Haven’t a clue. Ethan’s blood stops me from spreadin’ my essence to do like the others. I feel like me… I mean like I did before yesterday.”

  “You hornier than usual?”

  “No, but sex was like nothin’ we ever made before.” She admitted. “But after what Ethan did to them, standin’ up to them all… I doubt I would be allowed to have any effect to help mortals like they do. You didn’t see what I did. None could stand up to my angel, but I’m weaker than many of them and would be an easy target.” Her gaze went back to her sketches. “If I didn’t follow along as he discovered life beyond Earth, I would have been killed by Armid’s surprise attack… if not killed outright. Ethan saved me and this whole galaxy.”

  “You told me. And it just proves what I said earlier. He isn’t a destroyer. You’ve got yourself a good soul mate. Better than most who crave power. He isn’t the conceded type, nor is he one to abuse power. It’s why you and everyone are so drawn to him. He’s too adorably honest. As for your specialty, in time it will come to you. Likely you will be Love. Love…” Dress’s gaze unfocused as he thought on it. “Yeah, your celestial name could be Love. We don’t have a Love yet. There is Lust, Envy and Union and those sisters are complete oddballs, but no Love. Yeah… your personality would be good for Love. I know no stronger love than what you and Ethan share. What do you think?”

  “You want me to refer to myself as Love?” Kanade was all kinds of skeptical.

  “Why not. Your gorgeous, have a great rack. Can see the good in everyone. Even in demons. And it is tradition to take on a second name when you join the Transcendent club.”

  “I didn’t know that.” She seemed intrigued by it.

  “Baby Girl, you’re just twenty nine. I’m over ten thousand. You expected to know all the ins and outs of the universe by now? Think again.” Dress cackled.

  She blushed deep red and made her glittery skin change along with the rush of blood. “Do you really think I should go by Love now? Isn’t that… conceited?”

  “It isn’t conceited if it’s given to you, Babe.”

  “Good point.” She giggled. “So which one do you like best?” Kanade asked as she lifted ten lifelike sketch drawings of Ethan in different clothes.

  “Hmmm. That one will take time to sew… That seems more like the Fire King’s old armor. It is more for fighting, but could double as formal wear… No, that one is too elaborate… I think that one will be more his style that highlights his crotch while also emphasize his physique. That bit of fabric makes a good drape… like a skirt. Not unlike his boxers, except shorter around the thighs. That gem is to be a belt buckle, no?”

  “Yes.” She said while setting down the rest of the sheets. “I know rubies don’t get that big naturally, but could it be made of colored glass? His fur is so pretty pants will be an injustice. His chest and legs are like min
k. The skirt’s purpose is if he gets a hard-on and the under fabric bulges. I’m going to spell it to hide it so he isn’t embarrassed should there be any bulging issues. How long do you think it’ll take?”

  “Roughly thirty minutes. The pattern is simple enough. I’m already directing one of my leather makers and gem setters to fashion the belt while I make the cloth out of silver cotton-tough denim.” Came the estimate. “Now stand up so I can measure you a new dress and lingerie.”

  A deep sigh passed Kanade’s lips as she stood, hating this part of the process. No one made better clothes than Dressor with such perfection. Knowing he was gay helped ease the discomfort as his face parted and from the dark interior shot out dozens of strands that wrapped around her like chilly gold worms. The threads measured every inch of her body. Holding still, she felt her breasts being groped, lifted, squished and separated. All for a custom bra and to find her bust. She grimaced as the threads came up between her legs to touch her sex, measure each cheek, the depth of her crack and her hips. No one alive made clothes like Dress, not with his need for accuracy. It was easier on her long legs, shoulders and arms. The only part not caressed were her wings.

  And just as quick as they came out, they were sucked back into darkness. His face was speculating as the doors shut. Then Dressor asked “Still like a silk bra and thong?”

  “Always. It’s softer and stronger than cotton. I love the feel of silk.”

  “So does my man.” Dress winked. “What kind of dress would you like to accentuate your bombshell figure?”

  “Simple. Like my red one, but I want it to have shoulder straps and make the sleeves long and at the end I want a piece where it will fit between my index and middle finger. The elastic kind so my sleeves stay down.”

  “Color?”

  “Soft gold please.”

  “It’ll take about an hour for me to finish them. What do you want to do till I’m done?” She smirked lazily. “Not that! Seriously, Girl, you’ve got some raging hormones like nothing I’ve seen before and I’ve lived with thousands of horny Nymphs. You put them to shame and make them seem celibate.”

  “I reckon.” She didn’t seem put out. “Can’t blame a girl for findin’ her man irresistible. But actually I wanted to learn somethin’ important.” She began walking around just as the front door opened.

  Panther said “Master said you wished to speak to me, Mistress?” Still out on the ledge sat a buck naked Ethan who she didn’t want inside the hut yet since she hid her surprise mentally.

  “Yes. About yesterday when I asked if you can Blood Speak and you said yes… Can you teach me now? Ethan still tells me he doesn’t realize how to differentiate between them and English.”

  “Ifrit cannot distinguish. To them it is normal in their ears and minds. The heat of their blood is constant. For the rest of us of old blood, ours warms greatly so we can tell. Blood Speak is complex to those not born with it in their veins. It is in mine so I can teach. Would you rather we speak or…”

  “Telepathy would be faster. Can I learn it in about an hour?”

  “You can but try.” He bowed. “It will be difficult.”

  “Surely not as difficult as the past two days have been for us.” She crossed her arms while staring down at the nine foot tall Balam.

  “We shall see. Sit with me and we shall begin.”

  Kanade found out real quick how wrong her assumption was. Even with trillions of thoughts dedicated to the task, it was still difficult to say in the least. The guttural variations in the language were hard to master.

  But nearly a full hour passed before Panther withdrew his thoughts to say “You did it. Rest your mind now, Mistress.”

  Head already in her hands, she gave a soft moan of a clear headache. Joy of success didn’t help much, but it did help somewhat like a balm. “Ugh, that was horrible.”

  “Be thankful your mind could absorb the information. In Demon World it is necessary for the ruling caste to speak it. Had you not Trancended, it would have taken several centuries to fluently understand. Now, Mistress Kanade, can Master’s blood within you allow you to voice it.”

  “Give me a minute please.” She rubbed her temples as she got up off the floor, moved to the sink, located a metal pitcher and filled it up with water from the tap to drink generously. Cool relief coated a dry, parched throat. Twice more she filled it and polished the contents off. A few deep breaths calmed the nerves till she turned around and brought forth all she learned to the forefront of her mind and went to speak and yelped as her skin flushed and got extremely hot as if she had been running full out for over an hour, but didn’t break a sweat. In Blood Speak she said “I’m burnin’ up.”

  Panther reached a long arm up and gently touched her forehead with the rough pad of his fingertips and spoke in the same ancient tongue “As I expected. Master Ethan’s potent blood isn’t natural within you, but there is enough so you may speak. My own blood warms, but not as hot as yours. Not even Hydra become so hot speaking. But this does help matters.”

  “How?” Wondered Kanade as his hand withdrew.

  “Ifrit are and have always been the top caste since time before record. Ethan will be royalty even if he wasn’t Master Zagan’s descendant. Being able to Blood Speak will prove you are not a genuine Spirit Guide and a worthy First Mistress.”

  “First Mistress? I keep hearin’ that. You mean others will try to sniff around my territory?”

  “To try bearing the child of an Ifrit, most assuredly. Time and End spoke of others in your bed. Plan on it happening.” Panther revealed. “Many in the royal caste will pursue Ethan with clear intention to mate. Do not be ignorant in this. Demons do not have souls. We can be attracted to those already in a committed union of soul mates without being negated. The concept of a soul mate is nonexistent to us. We take mates. I have six currently whom I love and they have given me millions of cubs. It will be clear soon that another Ifrit lives and females capable of surviving coupling with an Ifrit will use any means necessary to become one of Ethan’s mistresses. You as the First Mistress will be approached often by powerful females to be asked your permission to court Ethan. Even my mistresses will come to ask one day. They will be your guards of course, but do not be surprised when they ask.”

  Kanade’s golden irises constricted dangerously and a deeper flush in her cheeks spoke of anger. Her tone surprisingly remained neutral. “Never. No one will ever lay his eggs but me and me alone. I’ll not be cheated children by anyone. Prophecy or not.”

  Panther remained stoic. “I’m merely forewarning you. If you order me to keep females out of the bedchambers, I shall. Same would my mates shall you direct them. I merely tell you this so you maintain composure when confronted. You are Ethan’s mistress and lover. You must understand, I too may seem calm, but should my mistresses bear the cub of another royal, I will challenge all but my master to the death. It is quite common for females to seek strong males and weaker males be prey when challenged. Though when Demons find love and are tempered by it and have the wild instincts tamed, it is in our nature to breed stronger offspring. The weak are prey. It is nature.

  “Mistress Kanade, you must maintain composure. Becoming angered is a weakness other females who will come to you will find it challenging. If you seem to be aroused by jealously, the other females will use deception to circumvent our laws and use any means necessary to have Master’s cubs and very likely try slitting your throat or trapping you for eternity since few species can truly kill your race.”

  His words calmed her and made sense in that context. “So I need to seem impassive even if another pretty pair of legs wants to wrap themselves around my angel?” Panther merely nodded. “Wouldn’t they know he can’t get hard to even have sex except with me?”

  The stoic expression melted to disbelief on the jaguar’s countenance before he purred a chuckle. “I forget how little you know of our world.” He held her gaze in his own. “Mistress Kanade, any royal demon who comes willing to become mot
her of your love will expect to have you join mating as well.” Kanade’s eyes bugged out. “Yes, the female will be observed and made love to by not only Ethan, but you as well in the hopes she becomes a permanent mistress herself. A lover and a sister to you. Females can have several males they are mistress to. Only the First Mistress must stay bonded to one male though she may step out from time to time if inclined. So mating will not be an issue as you will be expected there sharing the same bedding with her and Master Ethan. Or should Master Ethan allow it, to bring a male if he desires for you.” The Balam smiled. “Some females might find mating Ethan a bonus when their real goal is to mate you. Your beauty will be greatly sought after.”

  “Tell me you’re pullin’ my leg.” Kanade switched to English.

  The smile slipped from Panther’s muzzle and he spoke in the same tongue too. “Every word is true. Though you find it crude now. When we leave for Demon World, you will find out swiftly how much different our ways are. Though right now the sound of sharing a prized mate is tasteless, in time you will likely change perspective and find yourself surrounded by mistresses you deeply care for before you know it. You are still yet young and have many possibilities ahead. And you will find as First Mistress, any cubs you have will be higher caste than should one of your mistresses bear young first.”

  Needing the question to be asked she had too much curiosity to hold back. “How many mistresses does the Fire King have?”

  “None for six centuries. I believe it was something tragic that had my master send the females away. Before then, the Queen of Ice was the First Mistress and he had more than a thousand female lovers on hand at any given day. Ever since that day, he kicked them from the palace, no female other than servants, has entered his bedchamber.”