#Rafe Nightshade

[sothera]

Mingle, listen, help, move on...

Mingle, listen, help, move on...

Mingle, listen, help, move on...

Rafe had been doing this for over half a century; not long after.... Janice... when he was still staying away from the prying eyes of the Inductor Board. Janice had met her future... human... husband. Rafe knew it was time to leave; an actual marriage would have been impossible, and even if it wasn't, Janice deserved someone who could share the years with her... experience time with her...

...grow old with her...

Rafe felt the years, at least in his...Soul...but his body remained unchanged...

... Janice deserved more...

Mingle, listen, help, move on... and snap out of it...

So far, Rafe had managed to defuse two in line squabbles, a fight a few moments away from fisticuffs, and quietly get a lunch for a woman about a minute away from passing out. He sent her to the job wagon, wondering if he'd done her a favor or not.

Then, there were the brush ups...

...and he didn't mean the makeup...

...Damn this shirt anyway...

If it had been a proper shirt, with proper sleeves, it wouldn't be a problem...but since it wasn't...

"Woe..."

"Solid..."

"Gods..."

"Wonder how much it would cost to have him..."

"He can plant a pole under my Big Top anytime..."

It wasn't the words; Rafe learned to block them out long ago.

It was the feeling... the intent behind them.

That was impossible to ignore.

Then, he heard it...

"Daddy...? Dad?"

It was a little girl, and she was nearby...and worried. Not scared, not yet, just worried.

Rafe saw her...

Old enough to have a basic conversation, but young enough to not be let out of sight...who in their right mind...

Then, it happened...

What would it be like..to have a little girl..not a boy...you could dress her up in cute dresses...get her little shoes... take her to museums... Rafe thought.

Gods, snap out of it!

"Hi!, I'm Rafe, welcome to the Rainbow Salamander Cirus, did you lose something?" Rafe asked, careful not to lean over her.

The little girl looked up at Rafe...

"My goodness!" She exclaimed.

Rafe gasped and smiled at her, hoping he could keep her calm and not intimidated by his.. size...damn this shirt anyway Rafe thought.

Then, he came up with it...

"You lost your goodness?" "Woe!, that's not good!" "Where were you when you discovered you were no longer good?" Rafe asked.

"No silly, my dad!" She said.

"You lost your dad too?" "Do you think he might be with your goodness?" Rafe asked.

"No, I just lost my dad, he was going to get in line to get a ticket for that Wild Man guy." She said, pointing at one of the many posters on every blank space nearby. The one Rafe disliked most (naturally) with him chained up in the forest.

'Guard Dog' indeed...Rafe thought... The poster was cheap, even by Regina's standards...

Rafe wondered what she'd think when she looked closely enough at it to realize he'd left his ComGem on 😇?

What is it they say...Win Little Victories?...

"Let's go find your pops..." Rafe said, "maybe we can find your goodness on the way."

"I still have my goodness, I just need my dad!" the girl said, looking up at him.

"How about a free dragonback ride while we look?" Rafe asked, hoisting her up to his shoulders.

"Okay..." she answered.

"What's your name?" Rafe asked.

"Lisbeth... Lisbeth Mitchell..." She answered.

"Okay, Lisbeth, let's go!" Rafe said, running just fast enough to make her feel like she was moving fast.

Lisbeth tried not to giggle...

"Do you see your dad or your goodness yet?" Rafe asked.

"Yeah, there's dad, and I still have my goodness." Lizbeth said. She pointed to a man in the crowd.

"There you are!" the man said.

Rafe crouched and put Lizbeth gently on the ground...

"Daddy!" Lizbeth said as she hugged him tightly.

"Thank you, Sir, I'm Jeb, Jeb Mitchell." Jeb said.

"Rafe Nightshade: I work here, your daughter was very brave." Rafe said.

"I don't know how I lost her; I was trying to get a ticket to see the Wild Man, you know, The Blue Reaper, and I just...lost her." Jeb said.

"That happens sometimes," Rafe said, "we think we lose something, but we still really have it, or we look down for it and realize it's gone."

Jeb looked at Rafe; an odd thing for someone his age to say...

Rafe smiled, "kinda like goodness; you never really lose it if you had it at one point, you just forget it's there...but...just look in the eyes...if you look hard enough, you'll see it."

Lizbeth smiled at him as he smiled at her...

...with his blue eyes...

...and his blue hair...

She'd noticed it when she was on his shoulders; funny color...

She looked at the poster...and then at Rafe... her eyes widened.

Jeb's eyes followed Lizbeth's....he drew the same conclusion.

Rafe realized they'd put two and two together...

"Well, I'd better get back to work, you know how bosses can be, especially if you don't live up to their expectations." Rafe said.

"Yeah..." Jeb said.

Jeb held out his hand, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Nightshade."

They made contact...

...We won't say a word...be happy...

Rafe smiled..."Maybe we'll see each other again one day: I hope so..."

Jeb and Lizbeth nodded...

"Bye..." Lizbeth said.

"Take care..." Jeb said.

As they drove home in silence, Jeb turned on the newfangled wireless in the car, another Kadiri concoction; nothing like big, wooden monolith that also played records in their house, but a tiny thing with just basic controls. It didn't produce the rich, deep sound their wireless at home did, but it came on instantly, and was good enough.

Best of the nightfall to all our listeners; here is the news in brief. A large upsurge in creature encounters has been reported across the region, continent wide. The problem has come to the attention of the Great Council, which is considering the use of the UKDF as a deterrent. This is the first time in decades the Defense Force has been used in such a manner.Its hoped that the upcoming drop in temperature at year's end will force the monsters back into their caves. More on that later; right now, let's enjoy the music of Squeaky Madison and his orchestra, brought to you in glorious high fidelity sound, courtesy of Kadiri Technology...

Jeb turned the wireless off, "If I hear that name one more time..."

"We're almost home, dad." Lizbeth said.

"Good." Jeb said.

"What do we do?" Lisbeth asked.

"What we always do; we talk to mom, she just joined this Foundation her mom's friend created just before she passed..." Jeb said.

"Yeah, she has a card it's..." Lisbeth suddenly paused.

"It's what?" Jeb asked.

"It's..The Nightshade Foundation..." Lisbeth said.

"Well, come morning, it will have a new member." Jeb said.

A few years later, when she was old enough, Lisbeth also joined; when she had children of her own, so did they, and by that time, The Foundation had grown, and would not be ignored....

[princessoftheuniverse444]

falling, falling, falling into wonderland . . .

" feels like stardust, floating all around us,, "

♡ ⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ♡

⋆˙⟡ 2013 fame dr . . .

tumblr girl. victoria's secret angel. liam's girlfriend and one direction's sweetheart.

instagram account in my fame dr 🤍

⋆˙⟡ marauders-era hogwarts university . . .

slytherin sweetheart. prefect. future head girl. heir to the house of nightshade. the chosen one. can be found sipping hogsmeade hot chocolate and studying with her obnoxious gryffindor boyfriend, james potter.

⋆˙⟡ supernatural . . .

the winchester brothers' witch girlfriend (not really) (unless)

⋆˙⟡ camp half blood . . .

daughter of hades. legacy of venus and selene. princess of the underworld. daughter of the moon. lovergirl. member of the prophecy of eight. jason grace's kind-of-scary girlfriend.

⋆˙⟡ outer banks . . .

pogue princess. sweetest girl in the whole world . . . at least according to rafe — just don't tell JJ.

⋆˙⟡ star wars . . .

princess of selune. force-sensitive. jedi-in-training. forbidden relationship with anakin skywalker.

⋆˙⟡ jjk academy . . .

sorcerer-in-training. teacher's pet. choso's favorite girl.

⋆˙⟡ renaissance-era true-form sukuna au . . .

it takes a special girl to love a monster . . . ryomen sukuna's human wife. lady of the shrine.

♡ ⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ♡

more to be added !

[katewibberlystan]

TBOB characters as flowers (AKA I did symbolism research and now I’m gonna make it everyone’s problem)

Kate: Lilies - These flowers symbolize sorrow and majesty.

Michael: Apple Blossoms - These flowers symbolize good fortune and hope.

Emma: Dandelions - These flowers symbolize youth and perseverance.

Gabriel: Gladiolus - These flowers symbolize strength and integrity.

Dr. Pym: Aloe - These flowers symbolize healing and superstition.

Wilamena: Light Pink Roses - These flowers symbolize grace and a passion for life.

Rafe: Nightshade - These flowers symbolize danger and mystery.

[thecameronchronicles]

The Debt~Part Twelve: Finale!

TW: Language. Extreme violence. Extreme Angst. Extreme Domestic Violence. Half fluff, half smut. I do not own any characters but ask that you do not publish this fanfiction without my permission on any other platform. Please and thank you. 

SUMMARY: A game of survival changes you and Rafe’s fate indefinitely…

WORD COUNT: 4700

The Debt: Part Twelve

Ward Cameron was the epitome of a Machiavellian. Polished and sleek with his graying hair and peroxide smile, he was innocuous and even charming upon first introductions. Hell, you thought so yourself when you first met him and even when coming to his office on occasion to see your mother. But behind the overpriced clothes and accompanying cologne of equal vulgar pricing, he was anything but harmless. 

Of course, he hid this well behind his self-made pedigree in eloquence and bribes masked as donations. But you have come to learn him well. Specifically knowledgeable that being alone in a room with him would prove fatal. Deadly nightshade incarnate, a devil waiting to claim dominance over what he believed to be fragile. But of those who had rivaled him in his past, none were quite like you. After all, if you were able to handle Rafe, as even he seemed exasperated to remain a father to his son, what was he but a mere obstacle to your happiness as you had Rafe practically on his knees for you. 

“I was hoping to get a minute alone with you…” Your eyes had already surveyed every possible escape route by the time these words lingered in the air. But from the distance from you to either the side door leading back into the party or the window at your back, the obstacles of locks made you well aware it would result in your swift imprisonment. Instead, you decided to buy time until Pope would return. 

“Oh?” You fought the urge to tell him to go to hell or flip him off as your finger began to inflate in his direction at the thought, but managed to keep it at bay when thinking of not only your safety but that of Rafe and the pogues if your intentions were to be uncovered. Yet as he began to round the desk, fingertips tracing a pristine and well organized counter, you had no choice but to counter him, or risk being too close for comfort. 

“I wanted to apologize…” He now rested before his own laptop, still wearing the hacked files courtesy of you and Pope having worked as a team. As your eyes peripherally scanned the door while also keeping half attention on him, you watched as his conniving smile developed behind his beard. 

“But THEN I recognized a few faces that had no business being here…and realized you are FAR more cunning than I thought-” Well aware any attempt to remain polite or indifferent would only delay the inevitable, you set towards the door with enough speed to blur the space around you in a swiftness that was simply not quick enough. With a hand to your neck to keep you quiet, you were taken just beside the door, teasingly with your fingertips able to brush the knob as you tried it. 

“I truly underestimated you…” His words, slick with a guttural timbre informing you of his inappropriate interest in you, you turned away as he forced you to stare at him. For a moment, you were driven to think of how Rafe must have felt in his most primitive years, looking at this man, as he saw him as an idol, treating him with such hatred. It was the thought of Rafe and the life you wanted to give him away from his father that kept you fighting for your freedom. 

Grunting and squirming in an attempt to break free, he would only laugh at you, well aware your greatest attempts to break free were unrivaled to his effortless strength against you. Much like Rafe, you were powerless, but unlike your husband, you weren’t willing now like you would have been with him. 

“Did you really think a few files would have changed anything?” He scoffed. 

“I paid my debt to you-” His brows rose as if genuinely surprised by your words. 

“Your MOTHER was the one who held the debt to me. HER debt was to get Rafe off my hands by convincing you to marry him. But YOUR debt…” His eyes trailed down your body, enough to understand his most sadistic of intentions via his wandering gaze. 

“YOUR debt is to ME-I own you-” As he managed to let down his guard just enough to be unaware of your lingering fingers, you happened upon a heavy book, using it to hit him beside the head and move towards the door. But just as you pulled it open, managing to squeal for help, muffled by the music and chatter nearby, you were apprehended once again. Now, taken back to the desk by the back of your neck. 

“Son of a bitch! Get off of me! Asshole!” You ridiculed as he drug you through your fight, dodging your kicks and claws, until he had you over the desk. 

“I’ve wanted you since the first moment you stepped into my office looking for your mom…” He bent down over your back, your body chilled into stone to his words. 

“Luckily for me, your mom was a little too greedy and gave me JUST what I needed to keep you close…” His fingers pulled your dress to expose your lack of panties as he growled. 

“I take it my son is responsible?” He chuckled, the sound of his belt sending your fingers in a frenzy over the desk. But with the only things nearby either too heavy to lift or completely useless, you were left at God’s will and his mercy alone. 

“Fuck. You-” You clenched, not wanting to beg or plead as you knew this would only inflate his ego that much more, make his victory that much sweeter. If he intended to take you by force, you weren’t going to make it enjoyable for him. 

The sound of his zipper coming down made your eyes close tightly for just a moment before a miracle happened by a sudden shift made by you and his lust leaving him capturing you with only one hand. A mere inch allowed you to take hold of a small statue on his desk, lighter than how it first appeared, but heavy enough to do damage, as you used quick succession to strike him down. The cling of the metal to his face validated the impact as you didn’t dare to look back and just charged for the door. Yet he was resilient as the cockroach he was synonymous to, grasping at your ankle and sending your head to collide with the table off center of the room, disorienting you enough to keep you from fleeing immediately. Yet the feeling of his body weighing you down charged your adrenaline enough to endorse you once again, but now with him straddling you flat. 

“I WAS going to be gentle…But we both know how you like it rough, don’t we?” He was maniacal, his hands slipping to the top part of your dress, your hands lodged beneath his thighs in the specific way he held you. Lifting your legs as high to his back as you could to try and knee yourself free, he only grinned wider before ripping your dress apart. Exposing you to him, the cold air like ice to your skin. Without the ability to free yourself, you had one last action in your repertoire. 

“Nothing to say?” He teased, the sudden spray of your saliva cast up to him in disgust as he lifted his hand to wipe it, allowing you the space needed to thrust upwards and knock him to the side. But this only made him amused. 

“You’ll never get away with this, Ward. If you do anything to me, Rafe will-”

“My son is too afraid of everything to ACT on it. He’d still be using training wheels if I hadn’t torn him off when he was four…You should be thanking me. I made him who he was…Without me, he’s-”

“He IS the way he is without you! You abandoned him and abused him-”

“I had to correct him! I had to show him it was wrong…” Something dark altered Ward’s amusement into deception. 

“Much like I have to show you…” Suddenly his fingers came around your throat, squeezing hard enough with a steady strength that increased as if enjoying the thrill of watching you strain. Your knees began to flail in desperation, choking on air you desperately needed, as your eyes began to flutter with the tease of life leaving your gaze. The claw marks made, the desperate swallows, the pleading in your eyes did nothing but motivated him to silence you…permanently. 

What you believed to be the fingers of death having taken mercy on your asphyxia, the choking sensation came to a cessation. But once you were able to adjust your gaze to your surroundings, your hands immediately assessing the damage to your neck that was more visible to those nearby than yourself, you realized that it was not divine intervention that kept you alive, but Rafe. He held Ward by the collar of his shirt, using his knuckles as his outlet for years of abuse and neglect brought to this moment. 

“Rafe?” You choked, voice made raspy by Ward’s attempts to claim your life, you found how your pleas, even hushed by the blunt force of your husband’s, continued contact of knuckles to jaw, did nothing but motivate him to continue. 

“You think you can have anything just because you want it?! You think you can touch HER?! You’re fucking dead!” Reving up to project another blow, you would catch onto his arm out of the desperation of needing hsi support. You couldn’t care less if Ward had brain damage or internal bleeding, you just wanted the comfort of the one person you could truly rely on. The irony that this had been Rafe Cameron, a man you hated not even three months ago, was not lost on you. But you damned the red flags to hell. You were too dizzy, too achy, and too emotional to listen to anything but the pulling of your skin yearning for him in a way beyond sex. 

“Rafe…Please…” You began to sob, tears realigning his motivations as he pulled his father closer to him. 

“You so much as look at her again…I’ll fucking kill you.” He released his dad before moving over to you, finding how it was difficult for you to stand. 

“We have to go…” You pleaded, voice remaining weak and consciousness fleeting from the mix of trauma, both physical and mental, from the last handful of minutes that felt like an eternity. But Rafe looked back to his father, who was groaning, but otherwise immobile. 

“Come on, baby…” Rafe swept your arm over his shoulder, using his effortless strength to lead you to the door, where he reached to grant you the peace of an exit, before Ward spoke at your back. 

“You’re dead already. Both of you.” He uttered behind a gurgling sound caused by blood gathered in his mouth. As Rafe moved to retaliate, you trembled within his arms. 

“Please, Rafe…” Your pleas, tears, and shudders convinced him where your words would have otherwise gone ignored. He nodded rather slowly, as if thinking of an alternative, before opening the door to find Sarah on the other side of the threshold. You were half prepared to rev your own punch in her direction if she were to try and stop you. But when she made note of your wounds, Rafe’s knuckles, and the genuine look of fear over her brother’s face-which was a first for her, she seemed to understand. 

“Go…” She surprised you both as you looked to Rafe, finding him matching your bewilderment to his sister. 

“GO!” She said again, urging you to leave, as you were taken out of a side exit. But before you were able to cross from the interior of the house unaffected by Ward’s selfishness, possibly even reveling in what he had to offer, you collapsed from your wounds and your anxieties. Rafe took you within his arms, head against his shoulder and legs collected over his forearm, before taking you to his truck. 

“Oh my God!” Kiara exclaimed. 

“What the hell happened?” John B added as you were taken to the aforementioned rendezvous spot, set within the passenger side of his truck, your eyes fighting to remain pried. But to their continued questions, Rafe only seemed to grow more heated. 

“YOU were supposed to make sure he didn’t touch her! I trusted you because SHE did! Won’t be making that mistake again!” He explained through clenched teeth. 

“Rafe…” You muttered, well aware the true culprit was lying bloody within his office, not before the both of you. 

“Fucking pogues…Good for nothings-” 

“Stop it…” You pleaded, moving back out of the car. 

“It’s WARD not…not th-them…” Suddenly everything became too heavy and your head was a victim to this affected equilibrium. Before you could correct your stance or fight for a remaining consciousness, gravity pulled you to her greedy grasp. The last thing you would hear was your name spoken in a worried unison before feeling a familiar hold capture you just before you would have been one with the grass. 

When you awoke, your eyes took a moment to adjust to the room illuminated solely by the moonlight shone in through gently parted curtains. It was enough to understand you were in one of the more secluded rooms within The Chateau as it was safe away from Ward and his reach-possibly the only place to claim such a title as he wasn’t aware it even existed. At least from what you knew. 

But your thoughts quickly left the pending arrival of your father-in-law as your eyes made out a figure on the side of the bed. You knew the silhouette well.

“Rafe?” But you found that your acknowledgement of him only seemed to anger him as he was on his feet, turned away from you, and now standing before the window. Struggling to stand, you did so slowly, before moving towards him, your fingers running over his shoulders to try and ease what you believed to be guilt of his misplaced anger. 

“Rafe…”

“Don’t!” He charged, revealing through his words that he had been crying due to the sniffle and sudden beads of tears made luminescent by the moonlight. 

“Don’t tell me you’re fine. Don’t tell me it’s okay-because it’s not! It-I just-Fuck!” His hand came to a small collection of unimportant and discarded bottles now forced to the floor by this sudden outlet. 

“But I am-”

“Bullshit! I did this to you!” Your expression lifted into pity at how having you both endured this and he still blamed only himself. The idea pained you in a way you could only feel for someone you loved. And you knew, baggage, pain, anger issues and all, you loved Rafe with a passion that could leave you certifiable. But at least you had him…You just wanted him to see that-to know that. 

“If I would have just left it alone-left YOU alone, you wouldn’t be bleeding-”

“You wouldn’t be either…” You added. But in your attempt to nurse him with your kindness, he pushed you away. 

“Stop-” He shrugged you off. 

“Rafe! I had one night of Ward-you’ve had an entire lifetime of it-”

“And you wouldn’t have HAD to if not for me! He’s right, okay! I can’t do anything for you! I can’t provide for you! I can’t BE anything but a let down to you-” You couldn’t stomach how he spoke of himself and then decided to silence him with a kiss. But once allowing you this momentary connection for just that, a moment, he retreated. 

“Please, Rafe…” You begged. “I need to feel you…” You urged, desperate to replace the memory of Ward’s touch with Rafe’s. You needed the familiarity, the distraction, even the confusing peace it brought to you. 

“Please…” You begged again, fingers running through his hair as he spoke your name behind a troubled exhale. He was hesitant for a time, eyeing you as if trying to understand the truth behind your words. When he didn’t move, you kissed him again. Only this time, he would pull back completely. 

“I won’t fuck you like this…” His words pulled your lips apart in objection. It wasn’t even about the sex for you. It was about the comfort offered by his embrace and his touch alone. You needed to relish in it. But instead, came the softness of his hands to your cheeks, brushing away tears you weren’t aware had even fallen. 

“I’m going to make love to you…” The words, almost vulgar from lips usually cruel, sent him into you until you were against the bed. 

Fingers slowly pulling apart what remained of your dress, he kissed your lips for only a moment before moving that same kiss to your neck. Without the need of words to do so, it was as if he attempted to alter any pain you felt on your skin to that of his lips for his own consumption as he focused only on your wounds. The pressure was soft, but still left your skin on fire from how his care radiated behind this. Possession exchanged for passion as his lips, his tongue, his touch, all rivaled what you previously knew of him. But as always, he knew exactly what you needed without you having to ask, even without you understanding it yourself. 

“Let me love you…yeah?” You nodded slowly as his hands cascaded your curves, leaving you in only your bra as he claimed your panties earlier that day, a time before the trauma and the pain. But as always, he managed to manifest it into a lust that grew more amorous with each exchange. 

“Lay back…” He guided you onto the bed, assisting you until you were comfortable, as he lowered to the foot of the comforter. Taking your legs over his shoulders, he silently kissed the seam of your thigh, the feeling of his tears on your skin somehow intensifying beyond what his tongue or fingers could-but he remained steadfast to try. 

Your eyes erupted in a series of flutters to the stripe made with his tongue, slow in savoring you. He remained this way, tasting you, drawing away your troubles with the perfect unison of tongues and fingertips delving into you until his knuckles extended to that curve to your g-spot. Toes curling behind his back, your body responded quickly to his attempts. 

“Rafe…” You breathed. “Need to feel you inside-” He suddenly withdrew his lips, your eyes finding his usual smirk when he rose from you this way now absent from his face, but now present with a gloss left from you having dripped on him. 

“This is about you tonight, baby girl. All you.” He returned to your center, making your body shudder how he elongated his tongue inside of you, between you, curled his fingers-did everything you didn't know you needed. In what was usually rough, even painful, was now blissful, attentive, and completely selfless. Soft breaths against your thighs, French kisses to your clit, and fingers bringing you to pulsate and writhe, pulling you to that cusp of desperation. 

“Rafe! Fuck!” You squealed. “I need you-” You pleaded, pulling at his hair. Only this time, he would hover over you, shifting the bed behind you to his movements. Dismantling his belt as you pulled apart his dress shirt, still stained with blood, ignoring how the sight dampened you that much more to know the lengths he would go to protect you. 

The once harsh grip on your jaw was present more in guidance than possession as he turned your head to expose your neck to him. One soft kiss sent chills through every nerve recently on fire. 

“Nobody will ever touch you again. I promise you, baby…Only me…” You nodded, finding his lips through the darkness while his fingers pulled your hands above your head. Holding them softly yet firmly in place with one hand, he used his other to continue undressing himself until he could release his quivering erection to you. Just as you had never known kindness like this from Rafe, he had never experienced it with someone else. He had never cared to before you. But you made him want to. You made him want to care. 

“Uhh-Ah!” You winced for a moment, never quite prepared for his girth, as his hand wrapped around your mouth. 

“I don’t want anyone to stop this…Not until you’re satisfied.” Your eyes came into a roll. You managed to get a hint of that cold and possessive man you had come to love as he continued his thrusts, moving slow and deep, wanting to learn your body once again. This time, proving to himself that he could be just this way-just for you. 

“Fuck-” He clenched his jaw, his body tightening to how eagerly you responded to him. His nails lifting your hips to meet him, your breathing only endorsing his motions, your fingers leaving lines of evidence to how thoroughly he moved within you. It was as if he used each thrust as an apology and for this, you wanted him to be eternally sorry. 

“I’m-” You warned, the way he played with your clit having brought you to this edge, tears brimming in your eyes at the feeling. He nodded, your internal spasms having informed him in unison to your confession. 

“Cum-cum for me, baby.” He breathed low into your ear, your body arching beneath him as he followed your high, “Mine…You’re mine-MINE!” He spoke possession in every synonym available as you nodded, mouths parted in a reflection of one another, as he joined your orgasm to you having agreed by mouthing ‘yours’. 

But as you would usually find yourself abandoned in a cold sweat customary for your afterglow of being with Rafe, you were instead pulled into his chest, where he kept you as a promise of his protecting you, returning you against him for every time you attempted to readjust. 

You would awake that next morning to the deafening screech of the front screen door driving you to wrap yourself in Rafe’s dress shirt and witness the origin for such a noise. 

“Sarah?” You quickly eyed the space behind her. “Is Ward with you?”

“Of course not.” Her eyes fell in pity for a moment and then became swallowed in guilt. “Wheezie saw what happened…She…I’m not saying I agree with my brother or even your methods…but my dad can't get away with this. And…I think you’ve been good for Rafe…” To this, your heart lightened. Even more so as she produced a flashdrive between her fingers. 

“This is what you need to take him down.” Rafe suddenly emerged from behind you, having heard the conversation since she arrived as he sensed your abandoning of him. Sarah continued as she saw him. 

“You deserve to have a life. And maybe getting away from dad will be what you need.” She directed this towards Rafe. “But once you do this, you have to be sure…” She extended the drive to you. 

“Are you sure?” You looked up to Rafe, who seemed conflicted, his hand coming around your hips to pull you into him. 

“Absolutely.” He finally answered. 

“Then let’s take the bastard down-” JJ suddenly added, revealing the core pogues made awake by your conversation. 

“P-4-L?” Pope questioned as Kiara rolled her eyes, setting her hand in the infantile joining of hands. 

“To freedom?” Kiara added.

“To answers…” John B scoffed. 

“To second chances…” Sarah’s eyes fell to John B as her words held a double meaning of hope. 

“Of making things right…”” Rafe now looked at you. 

“To us.” You finalized. “Kooks and pogues alike.” 

“I think we should smoke on it-” JJ broke the otherwise awkward silence left by the ascension of hands joining in victory, even if celebrated early. 

“That’s your answer for everything…” Kiara said with an eye roll. 

“And it hasn’t steered me wrong yet-”

The group joined together once more, suddenly made friends by a mutual enemy who would learn just how devoted you were to your task. 

SIX MONTHS LATER

“Rafe?” You questioned, joining him at the fire ablaze in victory of the verdict passed down by the judge earlier that day. 

Ward Cameron found guilty on accounts of murder, embezzlement, attempted murder-the list was endless. But the smoking gun came from Big John’s return to the living, having been hiding due to Ward all of this time. With his difficult to dispute, your and your mother’s testimony, and those he had wronged in the past that couldn’t wait to help lock him away, the jury decided within record time that the once picture perfect patriarch was guilty. But as so many celebrated this victory, you couldn’t help but feel guilty to join in their happiness when seeing how it affected the man you loved. 

“Rafe?” You called his name again as he took his fingers to your waist until you sat over his lap. 

“Drink?” You offered kindly as he accepted it. This was how it had been the last several weeks. He was always quiet, but always in need of you. During the day, he had to have his hands on you, and at night, he proved his love in the soft possession of what it meant to truly belong to one another as lovers. 

“Are you okay?” You asked now as he shrugged. “You know, you can talk to me about it…''You explained, hands traveling down his back and returning upwards to comfort him with this caress. 

“I just…” He let out a sigh. 

“It’s okay…to be sad…” His eyes shot up in confusion. 

“I’m not…I’m not sad, baby…I’m just trying to figure out…how to pay you back…” Now you looked at him in misunderstanding. 

“Pay me back?” You laughed behind the echo of his words. 

“I’m free. YOU made that happen. Baby, I haven’t done a line since we’ve been married-and the one time I tried, you…” You smiled in remembering how that moment had ended. He cocked his jaw for a moment before continuing. 

“You saved me…Your hard head and stubbornness…YOU…” He shook his head, the realization hitting you both of how extraordinary you found how something so pure could come from two hearts once so tainted. His hand rose to your cheek. 

“That’s ALL I need baby…You and me…” He supplied a gentle kiss to your lips. “Now…do YOU want me to get YOU a drink? You’ve been waiting on me for the last hour…” To this, your face illuminated. 

“Actually…I can’t…”

“I forgot…You’ve been feeling sick…I thought it was because of the trial…Do you feel ANY better now that it’s over?”He asked, completely compassionate. 

“No…I mean…Yeah…I think I’ll feel a LOT better in about seven months…” His face pulled back in uncertainty.

“Nine months? What do you-” The realization behind his eyes sent him to his feet. “Are you serious? You’re-” Everyone now looked at you, the news heard due to his reaction. 

“I didn’t want to tell you until I was sure. Sarah and I went to the doctor this morning-” Before you could continue your explanation, you were swept in his arms and spun before being landed back on your soles. His hand then moved to your stomach as he apologized, relief and hope having returned to his eyes. For the first time, a bliss that didn’t come from sex or deviance. This was from love. 

“I for one think that ‘pogue’ is a VERY good name for a baby-” JJ added, pulling a blunt from his lips. 

“OR JJ, I’m not picky-” Kiara took the blunt from his lips, extinguishing it and berating him for even smoking around you.You rolled your eyes to their banter, hoping one day they would swallow their pride and cross that line and know the happiness you had with Rafe. But as the group began to playfully argue over names for your unborn child, Rafe leaned in to you, forehead set against yours. 

“I love you…” Words you once rejected at just the thought once upon a time, now brought peace that you weren’t even aware you needed. But they were spoken in repetition from this day forward, proven every night, and never left to question. Your hearts indebted to each other for having saved one another. Undeniable and passionate-sometimes too intense to handle without going a little crazy. But that was what it was like to love Rafe. And as you loved Rafe, he loved you twice as much…

THE END

Taglist: @hopebaker

[yesshinypizzastudentthings-blog]

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[sothera]

The scroll took them to a dry, arid place, elevated; no trees, just rocky...buttes?...no people, no vegetation, just desert and rock.

Yet, as he looked around, Rafe felt a sense of familiarity...

"We're more than halfway to Dagresh."

"Yes; the scroll sent us about a thousand Leagues East; we're in the Silent Expanse." Soth said, quietly ditching his street clothes.

"Not totally isolated, though, there's the old service road, and the train track." Rafe said, pulling his own shirt and shoes off, getting ready for the task at hand.

"There's the new one; no one is using it, though, but that will change eventually." Soth said, looking at the Contract.

"There's the new road; it could use a cleanup." Rafe said, seeing it in the distance.

"Why in the world would anyone build a road this far from anything? The train I get; Dagresh is this way, as are other Kingdoms, but here.." Rafe wondered, finally getting his shoes off.

"I suspect, eventually, this area will be populated." Soth said, thinking of the areas on the Surface that would be considered too difficult to inhabit, but we're thriving.

"Air conditioning will make the difference; so will this..."

"Flintstrike Mining; they intend to open up the cave system and the surrounding area."

"They must've played out the last four, or they may be complete communities by now."

"Well, our task is clear, ready?" Soth asked.

"I'll try not to cramp your style." Rafe answered.

"I'll try not to cramp yours..." Soth said.

"You're the expert here; back in the day, I would just do what I needed to do, then get back as quickly as possible. The Dwarves weren't as...judgy...as Purebloods, but they didn't want to know the details. How do we do this?" Rafe asked.

"Normally, we'd survey first, see what we can handle, see what's going to take...a little more effort." Soth answered looking around.

"But this is different..." He continued.

"You need to Feed...now...just let me get my bearings..."

Soth stepped into the cave, placing one hand on the wall, planting his feet firmly on the ground.

"The good news; neither of us is gonna starve any time soon..."

Rafe did the same...

"Yeah... I can feel them...umm.." Rafe put a hand to his temple.

"Food...now..." Soth led Rafe to the chamber where he sensed the most of...them.

He was not disappointed...

"Overgrown...terribly...but good news for us."

Soth entered first, the Kuvogs glaring at him, several jumped at him...

Knocking several back against the wall, watching them skitter away, Soth grabbed one for himself, and one for Rafe.

"Take Your Fill, Brother..." Soth grinned as he handed a Kuvog pup to Rafe.

Rafe grinned, "I Give Thanks, Brother..."

Rafe hesitated, then...

Like a starving person, Rafe slammed the pup against his chest, the Flare turning dark red...

He felt the Kuvog's claws scratch his skin, but it didn't matter, he Connected with it, feeling its fear, its resistance...

Its strength...only a little more than a Pureblood Human, but...

Rafe felt it; like cool water, untouched by anyone or anything, with vague hints of berry and spice, he could actually taste...the creature's strength flowing into him, like Jeff, yet different.

Then... nothing...

Rafe opened his eyes...the Kuvog pup was dead.

He looked at Soth, a feeling of shame coming over him; before he could utter a sound...

"And the record for who can drain a Kuvog the quickest goes to...Rafe Nightshade!" Soth, looking very different from his usual self, grinned as he grabbed two sneaking up behind him, offering one to Rafe.

"Seconds?" He asked.

"Please..." Rafe said, and the way he said it...

This one, an adult, was far stronger than the pup Rafe Fed on before... and unwilling to give up without a fight.

The first two swipes missed; the fourth made a slash across Rafe's chest, as it lowered its head to try to gore him, Rafe grabbed the horns, lifted its head, then pulled it to him.

Rafe held the monstrosity the way a Pureblood would hold a crying infant... The creature bit at the air, flailing its claws, helpless against the force that held it.

Gods... Rafe thought it had been so long since he'd... indulged.. not thinking about the consequences. He drew a deep breath as he pulled the strength out of its body, feeling it pump into his own. The Kuvog slumped against him, submitting...

The taste... Rafe thought...sweet blossoms, cave grapes...and something else...

Meat...

...or to be more precise...

Flesh...

Rafe's muscles bulged...the Kuvog let out a sound of agony... Rafe ripped the last of its strength from it.

Soth, watching, was holding the other adult Kuvog over his head, the way a child would hold an errant doll... Why hadn't he told me he was so empty? he thought as he waited for Rafe to finish.

Still clutching the creature, Rafe looked at Soth...

"This one...has killed."

"I see... you've never experienced that before, Feeding on one that has killed a person..."

"No...I was lucky, the few I ran into this size stayed away from the Dwarves, and the Dwarves always had something with them, tools, pickaxes, even explosives to defend themselves."

"Hmmm... I know what I do, but many find it... distasteful..." Soth said, looking at the Kuvog.

"Crush it..." Soth said, looking Rafe in the eyes.

"What??" Rafe said, looking back at Soth.

"Crush it...you have it in an Embrace, it's empty, what's left is yours..."

"Soth... I..."

"Trust me...let the anger out here, where it's safe..."

Rafe flexed...not that it took much...

Pop Pop pop pop POP POP CRACK CRRRAACK... GUSSSSH...

The bones broke, and inevitably one or more broke inward, breaking the skin, and the remains of the Kuvog plopped onto the cave floor, what didn't covered Rafe in a mixture of ichor and Kuvog paste...

"Cathartic, isn't it?" Soth asked.

"Yes..." Rafe answered, feeling the blood and other fluids dripping off his body...

"Now, here's dessert, then a quick cave bath, then home." Soth said, handing Rafe the other Kuvog.

Rafe wasted no time...

"I feel..."

"I know..." Soth Flare blazed for a second...

Soth had been noting, journaling, on the back of the scroll for a while, the words glowing briefly in orange highlights...

"The initial drop has served its purpose; let's get cleaned up and back, before William finds the rest of your secret stash."

Rafe grinned at Soth, fairly glowing with new strength flowing through him...

They trotted off, towards a low chamber in the cave...

[sothera]

"Hey you two...have a look."

"I always thought you cleaned up nicely."

"Could ya walk me round the block, Mr. Stetman?"

Rafe and Soth were back in the living room; William slipped into one of his older outfits, waiting to see their reactions.

"Seriously, do you think this will take me up a notch in Regina's eyes?" William asked.

"Depends on how you wanna be notched..." Rafe said, approaching William, his hand outstretched...

He's not Soketh William thought as Rafe gently brushed his hair back...

"No, I'm not..." Rafe said, "and you won't have to worry about him for a long... umm..."

Rafe swayed slightly; the color drained from his face...his muscles twitched... William grabbed him by the shoulder, Soth immediately on the other side...

"Thanks, kids; just get the old man to a chair..." Rafe said.

There it was again... the reference to...

"Regina must've given them a bigger dose this time." Rafe continued.

"Eighty-five, by the way..." As he sat, Rafe's composure, and his color, seemed to be returning.

Rafe still looked drained somehow...

"I stepped out early today; I needed to...I was going to use Jeff, but, I don't want him to become a storage battery for me, so."

"You used the Kobolds..." Soth reasoned.

"Yeah... she likes to keep me...level..." Rafe said.

"There's got to be something we can do." William said.

"If we do anything, it will put people's jobs in the shredder. I'm surprised she hasn't come down on me yet." Rafe said.

"Eighty-five?" William asked.

"Soon to be eighty-six; it's not something that comes up in a normal conversation. Regina knows, or at least knows I'm older than I look. Her parents and I were great friends; for the good 'ol days..." Rafe said, sighing.

Soth looked at Rafe, then William...

"We'll sort that out later; let's solve the immediate problem, you need to Feed...now."

"Regina..."

Soth pulled the Contract from his EternaBag, "With this, we can leave right now, no explanation needed."

"I don't know what she's using, but if it can get into your system through Feeding, someone needs to know. We need to get whatever it is out of you as quickly as possible."

Rafe stood up, back ramrod straight, the grin back on his face...

Then he stopped...

"That leaves you here, alone, with..." Rafe began.

"An entire, literal circus, not to mention your group; I think I'll be fine." William said.

"I'll get Tait; he can bunk here with you if..." Rafe started.

"We won't be gone that long; just short trips there and back, enough to get you up and ready for the upcoming task, and clean out the cave." Soth said.

Rafe stood silent...to Hunt...he'd had a small taste not long ago, when he'd found Jeff, but this? To Hunt, with one of his kind...

"You will be okay here, right?" Rafe asked William.

"Go, get what you need, I can always crank up the wireless and listen to the news." William said.

"We'll be back by the time it's over." Soth said.

"You'll be back when he's settled, and you've got a feel for the place, okay?" William said.

Nodding, Soth picked the scroll up; looking at Rafe...

"Hold my hand, or put your hand on my shoulder..."

Grinning, Rafe put his hand on top of Soth's head...

"Blast away, kiddo..." Rafe said.

Joey... thought Soth...

"Accept!"

Foomp!

The air around them rushed in to fill the spot where they once stood....

Sighing, William went to his room, to change into something more comfortable and get a snack when he returned.

[sothera]

Another night, and another day of waiting...

Perhaps...today... please Gods...

"I wonder if he runs around shirtless.."

"He put on quite a light show..."

"He's as strong as Rafe if the arms..."

Those were easy to move out of his mind...

"Oh my Gods... his head..."

That one...not so much...

The TacTack...a rare creature, even for The Pits. Parasitic, it needs a host for reproduction.

Soth wondered which had wound up being.... the announcer or the young Lieutenant.

Either way, he hoped someone was there to...end it.

As he wished he were there, in the cave, to end it...

Soth imagined holding its arms just far enough apart to cause it pain, yet not tear them completely off, then...

Then...

The satisfaction of pulling it towards him, pulling its arms further back...

Toward the Flare, glowing brilliant red...

The look in its eyes as it slams against his chest, then the struggling as he starts to Feed...

Its strength entering him; filling him, adding to him, whatever wounds he has healing instantly, the Bliss he feels as all of the fight goes out of it, the monster getting weaker and weaker.

The moment it went limp... submitting...

Then...

If it had attacked someone he knew, or even didn't know, he would then crush it against his chest, feeling it's ichor running on him.

Sometimes he would tear the head off, dry it out and offer it to the person or family it wounded as a trophy.

Then, of course, the bath...

The nearest clean pool would do; remove the stain, the taint of...it...

The stain of what he'd done; that never washed away...

I am a killer; a thing in human form, that must kill other things in order to live...

"Does the Hawk apologize to the Salmon?"

Soth remembered that question, and the conversation he'd had with Master Ryan. All things must eat, that was The Way, but he wondered, if William knew his thoughts...during... would he still be willing to call me 'friend'?

"Are you At One With The Universe yet?"

Rafe...

"No, and I don't think I'm going to be for a while."

"Cosmic Thoughts?"

"Just thinking about the broadcast last night."

"They're back on the air; Soth, the Lieutenant, Dryden... apparently, one of us was a minute behind it..."

"That's all it takes."

"He Drained it, then tore it in half, then yelled 'Cleric!", then moved on. The announcer guy saw the whole thing; they have a new gal on in his place."

"A new...gal...?"

"Ellen Blightbane..."

"Ellie Blight!?"

"You and I could call her that, but our noses regenerate if they get broken."

"True..." Soth tried to recall...he hadn't spent much time around a wireless until he'd returned... of course constant babbling was always in the background on The Surface.

"I remember; she did a lot of work exposing child labor, she would disguise herself, sneak in a camera, a Gem would've been spotted." Soth said.

"She risked her own life to expose some pretty nasty stuff." Rafe said.

"Brave woman." Soth said.

"So was her camera guy..." Rafe remarked, "still, she did good, and still does."

"Anyway, she's on, thought you might want to listen, seeing as this isn't working."

Soth remembered he was barefoot; looking down, he saw Rafe was, too.

How much did you pick up?

Most of it.

Sorry, just brooding...

It's okay, I was your age, once...

"It's just...when they said 'his head', I knew it was the Lieutenant, and I felt like I should be there..." Soth said, aloud.

"Spoken like a true Pit Fighter." Rafe said.

"It's all I really have to offer..."

"You know that's not true, right?"

"Rafe...you make things, you repair things, you entertain people; I'm just the guy that tags along and kills things."

"Making it possible for the rest of us, me included, to do those things."

Good evening everyone; this is Ellen Blightbane, and this is the KNN evening news. I'm speaking to..

Tholek.. Tholek Deathstrike...

More like 'Latestrike' you Ungodly..

AAH! MY NOSE YOU LITTLE!...

Get him outta here...now...

My apologies, Mr. Deathstrike...

Call me 'Tholek', Ma'am...

Only if you call me 'Ellen'...

Of course...Ellen...first, let me apologize for not being there in time to save the life of Lt. Dryden, may the Gods grant him Peace Eternal.

This is slowly becoming a war, Tholek, and in war, people are lost.

True, still, his death will stay with me. I trust the Hygieans will be able to help your... predecessor?

They seem to think so, although he will be restricted to studio only for a while.

At least he's alive, thanks to you, Tholek.

I'm honored to have been of service.

For those of you who haven't figured it out yet, Tholek is an Inductor, a race of half-human, half-demon men with, well, let's just call them extraordinary skills, and without whom, this struggle would be much more difficult.

How many of your kind are with us, Tholek?

Fifty, Miss...Ellen; The Council saw fit to send more after they heard the broadcast. My Brethren will do everything in our power to ensure...

That just enough of these monsters survive for you to keep Feeding!

Ah, I see the Red Dandies are here, ladies and gentlemen, that was Maurice Nebut, local leader of The League Of Racial Purity...

Hi, Morrie, remember me? The cotton thread factory a few years back? All those kiddos you had scrambling between the gears?

Yes; shame about your cameraman, may the Gods grant him Peace Eternal...

Oh, believe me, once I get those photos out, he won't be alone up there.

Of course, dear...

Take that truth home with you, 'dear'...

In any case, I'm here to deliver a letter of protest to the highest ranking Human official.

Yes, I've been told your little group is passing these around.

Not so little anymore, Miss Blight.

That's Blightbane to you, Mr. Oldeass...

I have a letter here from the Red Dandies; any takers?

I'll just hold onto this for you, and make sure it gets all the attention it deserves.

See that you do...

Well, there he goes, full of vim and vinegar...(sound of paper tearing)

Anyway, thank you, Tholek, for everything...

Always, Ellen, and perhaps we could speak later?

Sure! Anything in particular you want to talk about?

Well... I'd like to show you a nice left hook to go with that right cross...

Thank you, but I already have one.

Well, I'll have to think of something else...

You're a bright guy; you'll think of something...

Well, back to work then...

Be seein' you!

Well, I'm told our own Barbara Sunstone has the weather forecast ready for us, take it away, Barb!

"She's quite the spitfire..." Rafe said, switching the wireless off.

"Yeah; it reminded me of the broadcasts I heard on The Surface." Soth replied.

"Have they perfected the visual radiometric yet?"

"Television, and yes, large screens less than half a fingerspan wide, full color, incredible picture quality, color of course, and the sound..."

Rafe had an almost hungry look on his face...

"All in good time, Brother Soth; I have a sword to make first..." Rafe said.

[sothera]

"Okay...let's see..."

🎵If you were the only girl in the world, and I were the only boy...🎵

"Uh...how about no.." Rafe said, as he continued to search the airwaves.

🎵The Day The Bumblebee Invaded The Nudist Colony... 🎵

"Uhh...try again..."

🎵Watch 'em go into the caves... (waa-waa)

Without nary a fear (waa-waa)... They clean up the Scourge (waa-waa)..

Those beautiful Knaves...

They are The Handsome Devils (waa-waa)...

They are The Handsome Devils (waa-waa)...

Watch out girls, your first Embrace may be your last (waa-waa)...

But...what uhh...gas (waa-waa)🎵

At the table, William smiled and stifled a chuckle as both Soth and Rafe turned an interesting shade of red...

"Hetty's in good voice tonight, isn't she?"

"Uhh...yeah..." Soth said, trying to find a way to change the subject.

"Oh!, Food's here!" Rafe said.

"I'll get it..." Soth said.

The evening was approaching, bathing the windows in a warm, orange light...

Refracting off Soth's Flare...

"Oh..hello..." Soth said, looking at the young lady.

"Uhh...yes...uhh..I...Rafe..." the young lady stammered, looking Soth directly in the eye, then the inevitable glance at the Rune, then each arm, then back up to his face.

"Uhh... food..." she said, suddenly aware of the double meaning.

Calm down Soth thought trying to control the Flare.

It was harder here; he'd spoken before he remembered she was female, and she should have spoken first.

"Oh yes, thank you Ma'am, if you would please put it on the chair, I'll give recompense.."

"Huh?"

"I'll pay you..."

"No!, I mean, Rafe got me this job when I really needed it, so it's on the house."

"That's very kind..thank you."

"I didn't know Rafe had friends that were..like him."

"He and I sort of...met by chance."

"I see..."

"Yes, I guess you do..." Soth said, glancing down.

She giggled nervously, and sat the bag down; Soth retrieved it...

"Are you sure I can't..."

"No, it's really okay, tell Rafe I said 'Hi', okay?"

As she moved back, her hand brushed his...

Wow, he's just like Rafe, and just as strong, if the arms have anything to say about it. I wonder if he runs around shirtless like Rafe does...

"I do...uhh...I mean I do like the smell of this food..."

"Is Rafe really going to eat that Dagreshi meat stick?"

"Uhh...no, that's for me..."

"You've been to Dagresh?"

"Yes, it's a fascinating place, full of markets, with cloth, magic items, and...spices..."

"Spices?"

"Yes, the colors, the scents, it's quite intoxicating..."

"It can make you drunk?"

"I mean it's fascinating, it can overwhelm the senses, or at least mine..."

"Wow..."

"Well, I'd better get back in, before they send out a search party..."

"Hah, me too, anyway, nice to meet you..."

"Soth..."

"Soth..."

"See you again, maybe..."

Soth gathered the bag of food, and then smiled at her.

"I'll be here a while..."

"Oh...bye .."

"Bye.."

Soth watched, giving her an awkward smile as she half walked, half ran away. Had he scared her? The Flare was red, but that didn't always mean Hunger or Danger, in fact, in his case, it was usually nerves...

Soth watched her until she was out of sight, then went back inside.

"Forms...in triplicate?" William looked at Rafe.

"Yep..." Rafe answered, the rakish smile returning.

"So, you do, umm, indulge..."

"Seventeen years is a long time to...go without...and yes, we do indulge, whenever we wish, actually."

"As long as we fill out the proper forms, of course..."

"Of course..."

"In triplicate..."

"Naturally..."

"And wait four to six weeks for review of the case..."

"Four to six...weeks??"

"I did a lot of public heavy work, physical stuff, to uhh... keep my mind busy. Foundation shoring, metal bending, concrete pouring..."

"You'd hold the structure up..."

"While they did the pouring..."

"The more physically demanding, the better, and the fact that I was...am...a Smithee. None of those buildings ever collapsed, none of those pipes cracked, to this day..."

To this day...

"What about you, you must catch eyes all the time."

It was William's turn to redden...

"Well...I..."

"Oh.. sorry.. I just assumed..."

"I've only... recently... become interesting."

"Nah, yer still boring, Will..."

Soth... ever the watchdog, easing tension...

"I can smell it from here..." William replied, thankful.

"Me too, what is it?" Rafe asked.

"Here, let me set it out..." Soth answered, giving Rafe a 'we'll talk later' look.

"It's a Dagreshi meat kebab; I ordered the double, thought you might want to have a taste."

"Oh yeah; I remember, we used to go there, the circus, but had to stop. Too much competition with all the Bazaars and markets." Rafe said.

"These..." Without another word, Rafe grabbed one and Soth the other...

"Watch the stick!" William warned...

At least they didn't eat the stick... William thought.

Then of course the grin, both of them...

"Well?" Soth asked.

"Umm.. delicious...I remember the smell, but never had one, until now, definitely on the menu from now on." Rafe answered.

"Now, about those forms..." William said.

"Oh, umm, yeah, after final approval, The Board gives the location a quick inspection, to check for structural defects... just in case..."

"In case of..." William prodded, genuinely curious...

"Well, even I forgot sometimes, pipes can be such fragile things, when you're holding yourself and your... partner up one-handed for a few hours..." Rafe said.

"Oh... yeah... that would be... umm..." William replied...

"Uh, the news is coming on." Soth said, relieved to have something, anything else to talk about.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, now the news, brought to you by the Kadiri News Network. KNN: news from all Kingdoms and all the ships at sea...

"They really need to update that opener..."

First, news from The Front... The Surge is increasing, and the UKDF is having some issues. Between peacekeeping missions aboveground and fighting The Menace Below, Defense Forces are spread pretty thinly across both fronts.

UKDF Special Forces Lt. Dryden explains...

"We're a technological force, trained to use technological force, but the usual percussive and projectile weapons tend to ricochet down there, creating a situation that's as dangerous as the creatures themselves. Flame units work best, but they're limited, and with the Orcs having at each other for Gods know what reason... We've outreached to the Elven and Dwarven Kingdoms; they're sending Mages and DSF (Dwarven Special Forces) troops, if anyone knows how to fight underground, it would be the Dwarves."

What about The Hunters?

"They're already here; they make a difference, but their concern is mostly for the rural areas; of course, the Inductors...when you spot one...let's just say, I'm glad they're on our side..."

Oh, that reminds me... sorry Lieutenant, my duty calls.

Ladies and Gents, kids too... if you live out in the Boonies, please, if you can, check the Wardings as these are the first line of defense for you folks. If you see a jittering Ward, please call the emergency services immediately.

Sorry about that, Lieutenant, please continue...

Yeah, so, we're also outreaching to the Board of Inductors, hoping they can... persuade... some of them to enter the Fighter/Warrior job, and offer them... incentives... to switch over to...

Look out! It broke through! Look out!

Oh Gods...his head...🤮

ffffffffffffffffffffffff ffffffffffffffffffffffff

ffffffffffffffffffffffff

ffffffffffffffffffffffff

Uhh, ladies and gentlemen, due to technical difficulties, we are unable to continue the live broadcast at this time...

Please enjoy the music of Richard Flamestrike and his orchestra while we... untangle this mess...

Reaching out to the knob, Rafe turned the wireless off...

Complete silence...

"What do you reckon, Soth?"

"A TacTack; it makes that kind of noise just before it...takes a host...it's wicked fast."

"Look, guys; you can bet Regina either heard this just like we did, or will find out about it soon enough. She doubtless has her bean counters working around the clock; you'll have your money soon, William, and I'll be able to work on your sword." Rafe said.

"We don't have a lot of time..."

"For what?" William asked.

"For Soth and I to start on that contract...and even the odds..."

[sothera]

"David kept the Gem on the coffee table in the living room; it has a nice round hole all the way through it, but he's okay. Brann is going to stay a few days, to make sure nothing else explodes, and to start showing Joey the ropes." Soth said.

"Thank the Gods..." William said.

"You've angered someone very powerful; or at least someone with a few connections, likely both. Any ideas who that might be?" Rafe asked.

"No; I'm still too new at this to have made any enemies, and I basically went from the castle to the Pits." William said.

"Anyone in the castle?"

"No; I've probably aggravated the odd servant occasionally, but nothing this bad."

William and Rafe then focused their attention on the other person in the room...

"The only person I've ever considered a possible enemy is Kellon, and I haven't seen or heard from him in almost four years." Soth said.

"He wouldn't have the means to..."

"Kellon?" Rafe asked.

"Yes.."

"Kellon Trúgvandi?"

"I only knew him by his first name; the Pack's Way, unless they had a nickname." Soth said.

"Vaguely orange tint to his hair?"

"Yes..."

"That's got to be him; his family isn't as well known as the Kadiris, but they're as powerful as them. Trúgvandi Medicinal Group...and Trúgvandi Shipping Network..." Rafe said.

"We've used both." William said.

"Have you heard back from your sister?" Rafe asked.

"No: I was going to wait and use Regina's phone, I kept mine in Soth's EternaBag, along with a... special.. outfit." William replied, but added," Now that I know this ComGem isn't compromised, I will use it."

"Keep it hidden; as long as she doesn't know you have one, it's another weapon in your arsenal."

"She really is that bad?" Soth asked.

"Yes!" William and Rafe replied in unison.

"She knew you were an Inductor; she had us under observation... somehow..." William said.

"I've heard she has a Scryglass, and I know she has a group of cronies that spy for her." Rafe said .

"So, she could be listening in on us right now.." William said.

"I had the place Warded when I found out, so not that way, of course, she could wire the place while I'm gone, but I haven't found anything." Rafe said.

"Anyway, tomorrow is another day, as they say, whoever 'they' are. I'm going to contact my source as soon as we know how much we have to work with."

"Now...food..." Rafe began

Soth looked at William as if to say 'Please don't' (make the usual jokes about Inductors and Purebloods eating) but...

"Neither of us expect you to cook for us, and it's late, those food courts are still open, right?" William asked.

"Yeah; some don't close at all, wherever there's a coin, you can be sure Miss Grabbit will be there, claws out..." Rafe said.

"As long as you're not bitter 😁😜..." William said.

Rafe looked at him, shocked, then grinned, the only one that would joke with him like that was Tait.

"Nah; I'm the evolved sort...I cry on the inside."

"Have the Kadiris brought the ketchup Down to the masses yet?" Soth asked.

"Yep; in the fancy bottles too, with the spout on the bottom." Rafe answered.

"Good news!, we don't have to go back to The Surface to fill yer head back up, Willy..." Soth said.

"Wonderful!, I'm sure they'll have your favorite too; plenty of everything." William said.

"Tell ya what; I'll call Missy and see what she can get us, are you sure you just want something simple, William?" Rafe asked.

"Yes, a sandwich and some tea..." William began.

"On me, time I spent some of my coin." Soth said.

"Not ta worry; working here has its perks..." Rafe said...

"But I do have to make you two breakfast some time; me, Roundy, Dr. Feldspar..."

"It's been so...long..."

Rafe caught himself...

"Sorry...uh... flashback...you get those when ya..um... maybe I should turn the squakbox on..."

William and Soth looked at each other...

Rafe felt a hand on his shoulder...

We're not going to leave you, and if we do, we're a Gem away. In fact, if you ever want to join us, we'll make it happen.

You mean that, don't you...Gods bless you, kid..

Soth looked at William and nodded; William knew Rafe was still holding back, but with a little patience, he would open up.

"I'll fiddle with the knobs; why don't you go ahead and order, Soth can just stand there and look pretty." William said.

"Sounds good..." Rafe said, smiling at them both.

"That was dumb.. and clumsy.."

Regina spoke through her ComGem; she bought it on a whim from Kadiri Fashions, ordering it from their catalog.

"It was worth a try; I didn't know he'd changed Gems." Kellon said.

"Do you have my Brainflight; he's getting pesky again."

"Your personal demon? Yes, he's a pretty thing, isn't he? They all are...at first."

"He's a profitable commodity..."

"In more ways than one?"

"Don't be base, Kellon; my interest is strictly financial, besides, there's plenty of human men if that's what I want."

"Besides, he's old enough to be my grandfather..."

[sothera]

Kellon had grown tired of waiting; it wasn't so much their last encounter, but the one that immediately preceded it, that apparently Soth had forgotten.

Kellon, however, had not...

It was in the cave; and Kellon was alone with it. He'd caught a brief glimpse of it, before it ripped him up and left him there.

Kellon managed to sit up; but that was about it...

Then...naturally... 🤬

"You..."

"You just can't help yourself, can you? That thing took out the entire Pack, but you, no, just a little grime in the best place possible."

"Where is it?" Soth asked.

"Out the opening; you'll have to sniff it out, not a problem for Old Bluepecs." Kellon glared.

"Let me help.." Soth said.

"A Cleric will come.."

"Not in time; tell me you want to lose that leg, or your life, rather than let me.."

"I'd rather die than be manhandled by you, half-demon filth.."

Soth backed away from him; he realized Kellon disliked him, but...

"If I come across one of the Field Clerics, I'll let them know where you are." was all Soth could say...

"I have The Courage of my Convictions, beast."

"I...hope it's enough ..." Soth said.

Realizing he could do nothing, Soth left Kellon in search of the monster that had done this to his Pack. In the distance, Kellon could hear the groans, not of pain, but bliss...

He knew what Soth was doing, and how... how he had to remove their armor to...

Disgusting 🤮...

Then the words...

"Thank you... really...thank you..."

"That's enough kid, ease up..."

"You're breathin' heavy, time to stop..."

"Payter!" Soth yelped

"Hey, Musclehead, you look like my Ma after she's had a bender, except a wee bit more muscle. Still ugly as a Boreth Princess..."

"Just got the wind knocked outta me: Kain here won't leave till I'm back up."

"There's a couple a Red Eyes by the fire; you look like you could use a snack, don't worry, I won't look." Payter said.

Soth found them...and took his Fill...

"Least I don't have to worry about 'em creepin' up on me; you look a little better."

"I'm going after it; when you get your legs back under you, find the Clerics, get them to Kellon, he's about to lose one of his." Soth said.

"Right...look, Soth, that thing is a real deal, even for us." Payter said.

"I can at least keep it busy until Tau and Ryan get here."

"You'll have it killed to death by then."

"I'll sure try..."

Kain stared straight at Soth...

Live..or I will come for you in the Other World and drag you back..

Kain!?

"Uhh, i'd better go..." Soth said.

"Crazy Lobo, what'd you do?" Payter asked.

Kain watched Soth run out of sight, then sighed through his nose as he disappeared.

A Cleric finally got to Kellon...

"Panacea has been kind... your wounds have healed, and you may walk again." She said.

"But not well; my Status in the Pack may be in question." Kellon said.

"You will walk with a slight limp, but you can still run and function without pain, Praise Be to the Goddess." she said.

"Yes .. Praise Be.." Kellon said.

Then, of course, Master Ryan...

The others were talking...

"Gods, he's a walking corpse..."

"Get a Cleric, NOW!"

Bump, shuffle, bump, shuffle...

"We can't let him walk around like that!"

"No Shite, Learned One!"

Bump, shuffle, bump, shuffle...

One leg worked, the other mostly dragged along.

"Hey, Sothie..."

Payter...

"How bout you go to Ryan's office; I'll help ya, the rest of ya... go...get... something!"

All of them scattered out to the caves, in search of...food...

"Come on, buddy..." Payter gestured.

"Kay"... Soth said.

"There we go...you just...uhh...sit here, I'll go get Ryan.

When he was told, Ryan knew what had to be done, he just hoped Soth had enough of a mind left to know when to stop.

Kellon of course remained behind, watching the others scramble about heading for places that had small, yet strong creatures they could bring back for him.

A few moments later, he heard the sounds...

"No... NO!... Bad...WRONG!!

"Soth, you need me, I'll be careful..." Ryan said.

"No..No...NO!" Soth's voice was weak and dry.

"It's okay, I've read up, I know what to do..."

Then, under the door, Kellon saw the light..."

Then the groaning...

But not like before...

He had to do something; Soth would drain Ryan dry if he didn't.

Kellon opened the door... what he saw...

Ryan, chest exposed, hugging Soth, who was laying in a chair.

Ryan, already bathed in sweat, looked at Kellon... and released Soth.

Even half drained, Ryan picked up his sword...

"If you speak of this to anyone, I'll pin you to a wall... get out... NOW!

Kellon backed out of the room...

To be met by Payter's dog...

Kain let out a low growl; Kellon was smart enough not to run, but he made it quickly back to the barricks.

Where he'd discovered two things...

He'd wet himself...

Every Hunter in earshot has brought back a "gift" for Soth.

It wasn't long after that when Kellon was dismissed from The Hunters...

He'd joined The League within two weeks.

He knew what had to be done...

Those Abominations had to be expunged...

The Strength of his Convictions made that easy...

As did his connections...

He looked deeply into his ComGem...

And said a single word...

"Frailhañ!"

Yes, that should help...

At least this way, Regina would get all the winnings...

Maybe he would ask for... William's?... half.

Too bad about the Knight, but that's what you get for befriending demons.

[sothera]

"Here ya go...need help getting out?"

"No dad, I'm fine..."

"I'll store these till we or at least I get back Up Top..."

"We can wash them; or get them washed..."

"They get cleaner if we use their..."

"They'll be clean enough, plus, the Kadiris probably copied it by now, like they do everything else."

"I'll plop'em here; just be careful getting out of that tub."

"I will."

Rafe listened to their exchange; mundane, but strangely fascinating to him. Of course, Tait and he had a similar kind of relationship, and his friendship with Jayce was getting better, all things considered.

All things considered...

Soketh...

Rafe sensed him on William; knew that he'd been... He tested his... theory... while they were in the cage. William didn't notice, but he was at least twice as strong as he should be, even given his size. "The Gift" was subtle; most people only noticed the visual changes.

That was a conversation for another time....

Back to the task at hand...

A Mythril/Adamantine blend, with a pure copper handgrip...

Even with only half the winnings, there should be more than enough to buy the metal from the... usual source. The armour may be a bit harder; there may not be enough to fully fund its completion, and it was as important as the sword itself. It would have to work with the sword; unless William cared to strip half naked to heal himself.

Then, of course, the main issue...the sword would have to be Fed from time to time to stay strong. Would William accept this, given his experience with Soketh?

Judging from the conversation he'd just heard, Rafe thought so.

Soth and William made their way to the living room, William sitting in a chair looking at Rafe.

"What's it to be, then?" William asked.

"We wait for the counting, but I intend to at least make you a sword, and most likely armor. I can gather enough of the metals needed to do both." Rafe said.

"What materials will you use?" William asked.

"Mythril, Adamantine, and Copper." Rafe said.

"So, you intend to..." William began.

"Imbue the sword..." Rafe said...

"With your own energy..." William said, horrified.

"It's better that way; I trust the Elves to do their job, the problem is what happens afterward. Even if they teleport the equipment to you, there's a chance someone could get to it first, and you'll wind up in the same situation." Rafe said.

"There is a Contract; a basic clean out, but the cave in question is quite large, so there will be many creatures for Rafe to Feed on. He will have to Feed frequently to do this, it's too bad we can't take the forge with us." Soth said.

"I won't have a sword or armour, obviously, but I can lift and haul with the best of 'em; if you need...a snack...Soth can give it a whack and I can trot it up to you." William said.

"Not a bad idea, actually, but I intend to Hunt, along with Soth, and there's Tait and Jayce for that." Rafe said.

"So, I just sit here..." William said.

"No...you get a special job..." Rafe said.

"What might that be?" William asked.

"You get to keep Regina outta the way, as much as you can..." Rafe said.

"Swell..." William said.

"Don't worry; Tait and Jayce will be around to help if you need them." Rafe said.

"Yeah, but how do I get them, my ComGem is.."

Then he remembered...

The ComGem has was wearing wasn't the original; he'd picked it up at the Jubilee, after leaving his with...

OH NO...

"Soth!, get Brann on your Gem, NOW!"

Suddenly remembering, Soth got his Gem, and started calling Brann's name...

It was a dark and stormy night...

David remembered reading that somewhere...

He'd managed to finally drift off...

BAM! CRRRAACK BAM!

David's eyes popped open...

That was very close...and it sounded...off... like wood chipping...

Did it hit the house? Maybe a branch?

Sighing, David got up and went to the living room...

...and saw the coffee table...

Whatever happened, it'd managed to put a perfect hole in the center of the table, and the sides too.

Then he remembered...

The ComGem...

When he was home alone, he kept it there, figuring he would hear it if one of them called.

If he'd been wearing it...

"William..." David said aloud...

CRACK!!

Another bolt of lightning struck nearby, making him jump...

...and then...

Ding! Front Door...

The nine mil was in his room, in the drawer, his phone was there as well, so he couldn't see who was there.

Ding! Front Door...

"David, are you there, are you awake, please answer me!"

Brann...

David moved to the door...

[sothera]

"Perhaps we should begin with a look at your winnings..." Regina said, not mentioning the call he'd just placed.

"Yes, I'm eager to see what I've won..." William said, although that was only half true.

William was far more interested in seeing Regina's reaction to it.

"Here we are..." She said, leading him to a room with a rather large wooden chest inside.

"It took several men quite a while to move it in here; normally, Rafe would just hoist it over his shoulder and trot it in, but..." Regina's voice fell off.

Shoulder...

William had managed not to recall the image, or the sensation, for a while, but it came back like a Plainsman's throw stick.

"Sorry..." Regina said, although it was quite obvious she was not sorry.

"Of course; just as I am for harming your chief source of income, as such, allow me to make amends." William said.

"Please accept half of the chest's contents as thanks; for saving my life and introducing me to someone that will be helpful for our team in the future."

That had the desired effect...

Money, then...

Regina's eyes showed the first signs of life...

"That's very generous of you, Mr. Stetman, that amount of money will be helpful for quite some time. As our circus grows, so does its expenses, and of course the salary issues."

William smiled, "Under better circumstances, I would happily donate the entire chest, but I have a feeling I will need some scratch too."

"Oh yes .. raw materials.. always a challenge. I can relate." Regina said.

"Food alone, both for the public and our employees, not to mention the exhibits..."

"But then, you'd know about that, wouldn't you, William?"

"Pardon?" William asked.

"The young man you brought with you to watch the match; he was accompanied by an Elf, which first brought him to our attention." Regina answered.

"We don't get many Elves; a few Dwarves to see the spectacle from time to time, but maybe one or two Elves a year, and never the same ones."

'We'... 'Our'... William was tempted to ask, but thought better...

...no use popping the spring...

"As if the Elf weren't enough, the young man that accompanied him, well, had a unique way of speaking, kids these days, not a 'Sir' or a 'Ma'am' in their vocabulary."

The Hunters, William thought, they wanted Soth to have as much education as possible, so they made sure he spent as much time in their library as he did on a Hunt.

"Then of course there's the build; if they weren't...well, what they are, they could really clean up. Isn't it funny when they try to suck it in, like a big belly, Rafe tries it and it's hilarious!" Regina giggled slightly.

... and there it was...

"He also put on quite the light show..."

"Yes; Soth is still quite young, and seeing one of his kind being injured by (careful) someone he works closely with, well ..." William said.

"Yes, they do have feelings, don't they, rather intense ones." Regina said.

(Easy) "Yes, they do..." William said.

"I imagine working so closely with one gives you insight on how they think and feel..." Regina said.

"I know it hurts, William, sorry about the armour, but you're clean now, and I can pour the powder in, it will hurt more than a little..."

"So...tired..."

"I know...I could..."

"No, Soketh, please, please..."

"It's okay, William, it's Soth...I'm going to get you into town, a good, proper hotel, you can rest, and recover there. The bad news is that it's a League dominated town; the good news is you can lean on my back for support when the townsfolk aren't looking..."

"You would imagine correctly (easy) but let's get back to our original conversation." William said.

"Oh, yes, I will have the accounting clerks count and divide it evenly; do you want to be present when that happens?"

"No, I'm sure you and your staff will handle things professionally." William said, suddenly sad that he hadn't defended his friends better.

Regina smiled...

...or, rather, her lips stretched into a smile...

"You can count on it..." Regina said.

... probably the closest she'll ever get to making a joke... William thought...

"I'll let you know when it's done; Tait's outside, probably hopping from foot to foot for you, you're staying with Rafe, right?"

At first, William thought about it, but he realized if he said no, it might put himself and Soth in danger, not to mention Joey...

... better to have two inhumanly strong people around than one...

"Yes, if we can..." William began.

"Stand the smell?" Regina asked.

"Yeah..." Wondering how many baths Soth had already taken.

"Well, at least I know where you are...you should probably go before Tait ruptures..."

"We'll speak again soon." William said, trying not to speed walk to the door.

Regina waited several minutes, then got her Scryglass...

"They know; you need to be more careful."

"I'll do my best," Kellon said, "but at the end of the day, I want him to know who it is."

"Can you get me more Brainflight?" Regina asked.

"Don't worry; your Kobolds will be tipsy by the end of the day tomorrow." Kellon said.

"Good..." Regina said, cutting the link.

[sothera]

Hayden... Lucas...

It would be past nightfall at home, but there was always someone awake... Sarah Joe at the shack at least...

Rafe... the blade going in... the resistance..

He had to push...

He'd killed creatures for years; the sword always sliced through, like a hot knife through butter...

Not this time... It was as if the sword abandoned him.

Sensing Rafe's obviously vast strength and endurance, the sword chose him, while still embedded in his shoulder, to be an assassin.

My assassin...

I have to talk to my family...

"Hey... HEY... I need you here..."

Tait...

"Right..." William said.

"Sorry, I don't usually get shaken so easily." William said, as they approached Regina's office.

"You've had quite a day, with more than a few twists to it. Part of the problem might be the armour; what do you have on under it?" Tait asked.

"Soth gave me an outfit; it's practical, but not much else." William answered.

"Everything's covered? The way Regina eyeballs Rafe... it's almost like she wants to make a sandwich outta him." Tait said.

"Top to foot; covered, grimy but covered." William said.

"Here's as good a place as any; let's get that off." Tait said, spying a spot between two houses, he kept a lookout as William got out of the armour.

The moment he did, William felt even better, at least the weight was gone.

Odd he'd never noticed the armour to be that heavy before...

"I'll get this to Rafe; he thought it might be working together with the sword, somehow, a 'time bomb' he called it." Tait said. "Anyway, it's good it's off, you'll have enough to deal with once you get in there."

"Yeah, I've heard..." William said. "If I didn't need to use the Candlestick, I'd leave her be, money and all."

"She's got one; more than one, and doubtless a ComGem, she talks... when it suits her." Tait said.

"Think she'll let me use it?" William asked.

"I don't think she wants to stir up the Royals, no matter how far away they live." Tait said.

"What am I dealing with here?" William finally asked.

"Someone who will do whatever they want, whenever they want, to whoever they want, to get what they..." Tait said.

"Want.." Will finished the sentence "Like a Dictator.."

"Except a Dictator will give up if what they want is too much; and usually a Dictator can have friends, some can even love...our Ice Princess... can't." Tait said.

"But she can wheel and deal..." William said.

"Up to a point; sense will go flying out the window if you have something she really wants." Tait said.

"A token..." William said.

"What?" Tait asked.

"I have a plan...sorta... something to appease her...just in case..." William said.

Tait looked at the entrance to Regina's office, then to the full suit of armour he was carrying, then back to William.

"It's okay; get that to Rafe, I'll be okay." William said.

"Don't take your eyes off her; listen to everything she says, it might come in handy later. I wish I could go in with you, but even if I didn't have this, I would probably make it worse. As soon as I drop this off, I'll come back and wait for you, okay?" Tait said.

"What exactly is Rafe going to do with my armour, and the sword?" William asked.

Tait looked uncomfortable...

"He wasn't always a... performer...a while back, he was... something else... someone else..." Tait said.

"A blacksmith?" William guessed.

Tait nodded, but it made no sense, Rafe was the same age as he was...it took several years to get from apprentice to journeyman, and years more to actual Smithee...

"It's his story to tell, and you have other things to do now." Tait said.

"You're right; sorry, get that to him, I'll be fine, just come back and get me when you're done." William said.

"I'll be back as quick as I can; try to stay on the horn as long as you can. That might help." Tait said.

One last glance, and Tait was off...

William opened the door...

[sothera]

Brann, Joey, and Soth watched as Tait led William out of the cage personally talking to him softly as he escorted him to Regina's office. William looked briefly at them; the makeup made him look brutish and hostile, in reality he was numb.

"Sorry guys, change uh plans.." a voice said.

"I'm Jayce; Rafe wants me to take you to his house. Tait was supposed to do it, but William's a bit shook up, and with the sword and all..." Jayce said.

"It's corrupted, isn't it?" Brann asked.

"Apparently; by someone that knew what they were doing." Jayce answered.

"Rafe suspects some kinda time bomb effect."

"Is Rafe okay? Does he need to Feed? I can get him to a Pit, even grab one for him." Soth volunteered, the Sigil glowing red through his shirt.

Jayce backed away from Soth... slowly... It was the kind of fear Soth was all too familiar with, and had not missed while he was on The Surface. Fortunately, he knew how to deal with it.

Soth looked down at his feet..

"My name is Sothera Vidar, no Beast shall harm you while I draw breath, it is an Honor to Know Your Name, Mr. Jayce." Soth repeated the formal greeting he'd learned as a child.

"Gods, sorry, Rafe told me, but he didn't tell me you looked like him..." Jayce said.

"Like who?" Soth asked.

"Soketh..." Jayce said, "No... you're different... younger... but something else..."

"It's called 'kindness'; Hi, my name's Chopped Liver, nice to meet ya." Joey said, in an attempt to break the ice.

"Actually, his name is..." Soth began.

"I swearda Gawd if you call me 'Mr. Joey' I'll shave your head while you sleep." Joey said.

"Ah my boys; so sweet, so well behaved..." Brann said.

"Joey." Soth finished.

"Uhh.. well... Uhh... Follow me, you guys should try to get on the wireless, you'd make a Mint. As for Soketh...well, that's Rafe's story to tell." Jayce said.

"Here we are..."

"Not bad..." Brann said.

"Comfortable looking..." Soth said.

"I could live here..." Joey said.

"Just up the stairs and in: the doors unlocked." Jayce said.

"I've gotta get to the workshop; it never ends around here, see you around."

The three of them thanked Jayce as he waved back and walked on.

"So...we wait.." Brann said, sitting down on a comfortable looking couch.

"Yeah..." Joey said.

"I hope Rafe is okay; even for one of us, having a large metal blade jammed into a shoulder, and keeping it there... do you think they let him Feed properly?" Soth asked.

"Don't worry; he has his friends, and now he has more." came a familiar voice.

He was sitting at the table, smiling...

"Hi guys! See any good matches lately?" Rafe asked.

"Mythal!" Brann said in Elvish.

"Jesus!" Joey said.

Soth was a little calmer...

"You're okay...no Hunger?

"I'm okay Soth; a quick bath, a visit with Jeff, and a quick change of clothes." Rafe answered.

"Jeff?" Soth asked.

"Yes; a new.. friend.. of mine, and a new acquisition for the circus." Rafe answered.

"He's resting comfortably... I..." Rafe looked ashamed.

"I had to make sure I had a clear head; you all have questions, I might have some for you too, and the two old, drugged up Kobolds I usually use..."

"Your food source is... contaminated?" Brann asked.

"Regina likes me to be... compliant." Rafe answered.

"That's a violation of Contract." Brann said.

"Technically... yes...but..." Rafe said.

"But?" Soth asked.

"There are a lot of lives involved in this.. situation..lives that could be torn apart if Regina isn't..appeased." Rafe said.

"Appeased?" Joey asked, "How?"

"I think it might be a good idea to wait for William to get here; he's with her now, in her office, getting his..reward." Rafe said.

"Plus, I think he'll be wanting a bath when he gets out; I always do when I deal with her."

[sothera]

The time had come...

The three of them, although invited to sit up front, decided on seats a little further back, for discretion's sake.

"You okay?" Joey asked.

Soth looked at both of them; he could see the concern in Brann's eyes, and Joey's too.

"I'm sorry... If I'd thought, I would've asked Rafe for some of his makeup." Soth said, remembering his early days when he had to resort to it to hide his Shaqarava.

It created some awkward moments...

Like now...

"I'm keeping my shirt as far from my chest as I can without being too obvious about it. "

"If you suck in any harder, you're gonna pass out." Joey said.

"Try to focus on the fact that it's staged." Brann suggested.

"I am, still, it's hard to watch, one of them is a Pack Brother, the other one is blood related, if either of them makes the slightest mistake... " Soth said, his hands clenching into fists.

"I'm sure Rafe coached him on every movement; Rafe is very good at what he does." Brann said.

"Which makes me think; why the sword and the armor, what does Rafe think he can do that a craftsman can't?" Joey asked.

Joey looked at Rafe from his vantage point; he looked to be about William's age, once you get past the comic book body and the G.Q. face, normal..all things considered.

Yet... there was something... the worldliness...

Rafe had mentioned a Dwarf... his "first" Handler...

"First?"

Joey's attention was diverted by the loudspeaker...

"Ladies and Gentlemen, The Rainbow Salamander Circus is pleased to announce a worthy opponent for our Wild Man Challenge. An heir to The Blue Eyed Throne; please welcome Sir William Stetman!"

There was applause as William stepped into the cage.

"And of course, our own blue demon, The Wildman..."

Freak!

Monster!

Abomination!

Shouldn't you be out eating your own kind?

Soth looked like he'd been slapped in the face by his best friend...

Luckily, two of his best friends were sitting next to him...

"Do you remember when we watched wrestling on TV?" Joey asked.

"Yes; I still don't understand how people think that's real." Soth answered, shaking his head.

Good, he's calm now Joey thought.

"All the people in the audience that booed the wrestlers?" Joey asked.

"I know there are... people... in the crowd, whose job it is to keep the audience riled up, still, for example, that last one is the man I bumped into earlier before we sat down to eat." Soth said.

"Good memory..." Joey said.

"My fear is that the... more easily lead...in the audience will believe these things, and create and spread fear of us." Soth said, looking at the crowd nervously.

Brann glanced at Joey, "Maybe we should discuss that with Rafe."

"It's starting..." Soth said.

"I see you got the full treatment too." Rafe said quietly as he entered the cage.

"It makes me look thuggish and brutal." William said, displeased with the effect.

"It's what the public wants; at least what Regina thinks the public wants." Rafe said.

A wisp of flame appeared along one of the walls, and fire started peeking out of the floor. William's sword began to glow.

"She's turned the gas on; time to shine, Sir Knight, any last questions?" Rafe asked.

"Do I really have to stab you?" William asked.

"I'm not welcoming it, but yeah, I don't have time to explain it now, but the closer it is to me, the better I will understand it." Rafe said.

"Understand?..." William asked too late...

Begin!!

The command came over the loudspeaker...

Rafe and William moved into the central part of the cage, circling each other. As rehearsed, William unsheathed the sword and passed it from hand to hand, occasionally flipping it in each hand.

Ten minutes William thought we need to get through ten minutes...

Hey, Stetman!, why don't you use that pig sticker and gut the Unholy Bastard!!??

Unconsciously, William turned his head to find the man that said it..

.. and Rafe slapped him .. or so it seemed..

To the crowd, it looked like Rafe had slapped him "silly"; reality was much different. It was almost like a soft caress...

Rafe's reaction, though...

"Do I have to remind you of The First Rule?" Rafe asked.

"Always keep eyes on the opponent.." William answered, eyeing Rafe oddly.

It was almost like he was back working with his old trainer...

Five Minutes!

Halfway there...

"Let's give them the Bloodsport they came here to see." Rafe said.

"Remember; small, shallow cuts, from a distance, they can't tell the difference."

"Rafe..." William said.

"Then The Big One, okay?" Rafe said.

With a sigh, William began swinging...

Rafe was easily as fast as Soth: sometimes, he would be in front of him, sometimes behind. Rafe hit him a few times, not hard, but hard enough to jar him and make loud metal on metal sounds as his fists impacted with the armour.

Several times, William's sword made contact with Rafe's bare torso, leaving long, shallow cuts on his back, chest, and a few on his legs.

Each time, they bled..

Each time, William felt worse.

Soth wanted to run from the room. It was all he could do to stay in his seat. The Flare raged, turning both blue and red, almost like a Yule time celebration.

Thankfully, no one seemed to notice...

Soth focused inward...

Dammit boy, you are.. were.. a Hunter.. you've seen worse.. you've done worse. Quit acting like a child; be a man! They deserve that much!

The Shaqarava dimmed...

Brann smiled at him, quietly grateful to whatever Gods there were.

Joey grabbed his hand...his thoughts came...

They know what they're doing; they rehearsed it. Remember the cage matches on TV? They hit each other with ladders and metal chairs! They were bloody too; this is no different.

Soth looked at him and nodded...

Still...

Those people were unknown to him; these people were not...

Two Minutes!

"Just a little more blood to spill..." Rafe said.

An instant after he said it, he was behind William; Rafe grabbed William by the shoulders and opened his mouth as if to bite through William's jugular vein!

Instead...

Now... NOW, William... Came the voice...

William pivoted, brought the sword up...and...

Rafe grunted as the blade embedded itself in his right shoulder.. the pain was... impressive, but rather than shy away from it, he held it close.

And Time!

We have a winner!

The crowd was cheering...wildly... 😣

Finally met your match freak!

Woo-Hoo!

The missus and I will sleep well tonight!

Soth was at the front of the crowd, watching..

Rafe was.. listening.. he connected with the sword.

"I am your death, now come to life...

Here to end your mortal strife...

Struggle hard, struggle long...

Struggle deep, struggle strong...

Struggle now, with all your might..

Then surrender to eternal night.."

So far, so good, the enchantments are working Rafe thought

Then...

"Or..

Like a thief, with loot stole fresh..

Rip me from your jagged flesh..

Kill the Knight, with Me in hand..

Take from him his promised land..

With your great strength, with Me, alone..

Take from him his Blue Eyed Throne..

No... Rafe thought.. Never..

"Rafe..." came a gentle voice... William

"Let me help, my Gods, I'm sorry..." William said, crouching next to Rafe to pull the sword out.

"No!" Rafe said, wait for the stage hand, Tell him to give you a cloth to wrap around it. The sword is tainted; I don't know how, I don't know by whom, but it has been tampered with." Rafe said, the sword still protruding from his shoulder.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine, Tait will come after the stage hand; he'll take Soth and the others to my house." Rafe said.

"You're not going to be that lucky... you'll have to meet with Regina to get your winnings." Rafe said.