Pretending Pearl hadn’t heard Vergel’s parting comment and that she wasn’t suddenly wet from the low, hungry tone of his voice, Pearl headed up the stairs leading to the loft above, letting the giant of a man trail behind her. His body heat licked along her spine, making her overly aware of just how closely he followed.The sexual frustration driving her insane was her fault. She had no doubt Vergel would welcome another session like the one they’d shared in the gym. Or more. He’d offered her as much already.And she wanted more, so badly that she ached with it. But everything felt too uncertain, and her emotions were in too much of a tangled mess to let her initiate that leap.These men had her tied up in knots and continually drew her focus away from where it needed to be: learning to use her power and finding out who the hell wanted her dead. No matter how hard she tried, her mind wandered back to them.Back to Ethan and the way he stared at her so intently. Back to the tantalizing
She was convinced that she was about to be sucked fully beneath. As the vile mud came to her breasts, she felt the bottoms of her left feet make contact with the hard surface. Her right, on the other hand, was unable to alter positions. She lacked the willpower to break free from the shackles that held her captive. She screamed for help, completely assuming that no one would hear her.Unexpectedly, a noose was dropped right in front of her face. When an extraordinary male voice called out from the ridge, "Milady, hold on tight. "I'll get you out of there," says the voice.Lucinda grasped the rope and was relieved when it taunted her. Slowly, she felt herself being drawn upward and out of her entrapment as the rope hauled her. Within minutes, she had regained her footing and was able to scramble up the obstacle. She met Osmond, the strange, crooked troll of the forests, while she was there. "Thank the goddess, Osmond, you've tracked me down."However, Osmond was an awful sight to behol
Three days ago.Mount Harmony, at seven thousand feet in elevation, was the tallest mountain in the Cold Mountain range, which stretched from the eastern side of Redberg Village to the border between Munster and Winterberg. It was about twenty miles inland, through mountainous terrain, from the main hamlet of Redberg, where the young witches had been assembled.Its snow-capped summit towered above the surrounding wildernesses and hillocks, displaying great fortitude. During their annual gathering on this elegant mountain, the young witches performed the ritual of concocting potions, which was inspired by the ritual of their goddess Circe.Circe, daughter of Helios, the sun god, appears in Homer's Odyssey as the first witch of any kind, as well as a sensuous minor deity who plied the loom like a proper female, according to the legend. Although she was immortal, like mortals, she had to follow the dictates of the more powerful gods. When she was hosting Odysseus's famished crew, she com
There was only one important old individual who did not turn up, and she was a really important part of their ritual. "Where on earth is Marietta?" Criselda, who had taken over the proceedings from the three others who had departed the circle after an hour, was irritated by the situation. It had not shocked anyone because it was evident that the hulking old hug was either attempting to return to her cabin in the witch village or had fallen asleep and forgotten about her responsibilities. The silver-haired witch added, "Wipe off that bitter puss, sweetheart; she will come soon. Late usual." Norma spoke in hushed tones to Criselda. "She will come, maybe a day late," Norma added with a wink. Criselda responded with a whisper, "She has the audacity to rule with a tyrant's majesty." "I am, and should continue to be, the leader of this coven." "I think you should keep your mouth shut," Norma mumbled to her. "You have no chance against her strength if you are alone. You and I have the ab
Following the deaths of their parents and siblings as a result of the floods, he and his brother Dawar had been in and out of the healers' grasp. It wasn't his choice, but in order to rescue his brother, he had no choice but to turn him into one of them, and the little lad had no choice after Camellana saved his life from another illness and a rat infestation that threatened to wipe out the whole population of the Redberg Village.Since then, Dawar and Cronos have embarked on their own mission to recruit new members for their hidden organization. Cornelius also requested that Camellana transform into a Cronos-like creature. Yes, they never get old; they are strong, fast, and powerful, yet they can be slain by old witches' spells, and yet this did not discourage them from carrying out their mission as instructed by the old witches.Nonetheless, after the great flood and fire, they had become exhausted from their life as predators; now t
The ogre was killed, and the audience erupted in applause, exclaiming that they were ready for the next prey. Darwin despised the obnoxious members of his audience. He regarded them as a swarm of animals, swept away by their own bloodlust and exploited by their leaders in the same manner that their performers were exploited by their audiences. Of course, it wasn't something new for him. The throng had no idea that he, the most dreadful and bloodthirsty lycan in the land, would show up in their ring of blood and death to attack them. Not now, but soon. Darwin thought to himself.Though he has the ability to eliminate them all in an instant if he so desires, he wouldn't do that just yet.When the signal surged or the announcement of a meaningless bang of a massive drum heralded the start of the battle, a hive of useless, dumb pests and a hornet-like lycan audience roared in delight. Yes they were stupid and bloodthirsty, and this was especially true when the mob was otherwise intelligen
Darwin, on the other hand, would fight to the very end of his days.With his left hand, he gripped his javelin, while his right hand unfolded his leash in preparation to meet the ferocious werewolves. After all, the troll was considerably more intelligent than the werewolves and the lion, and it would contemplate and take its time, watching him and waiting for its turn. As a result, he was aware that it would have to wait for its turn to appraise his abilities. Dar could perhaps be the next. First and foremost, eliminate the insignificant opponents. He thought to himself.However, the nature of these violent werewolves could not be described as small. His pursuers were well-coordinated and vicious. They were most likely to attack in unison with synchronisat
Human RealmPresent TimeJanet unpacked and spread her belongings on the floor, much to her delight, discovering an aspirin tablet, chocolate bars, a water bottle, a fire starter, nuts, tissue paper, and an extra shirt amongst the other things in her backpack."Did you take all that from the museum's canteen? Where the hell is the book?" Ryan asked. He was Janet's best friend, and right now he was just pissed."Wait… what book are we talking about here, Ryan?" Janet asked and raised her eyebrows, checking the last thing in her backpack."Seriously? I was under the impression you had it with you? The book of the Lycans. The book from the museum would lead us to the map."Janet went through her belongings one more time and discovered that none of the books Ryan had mentioned were in there. "There isn't a book here.""How come you didn't bring it with you?" Ryan screamed and went to her side, where he rummaged through the backpack himself."Ryan, I don't know what to say. Maybe… I don't
Henry approached the captives, who were dangling from a tree. He leaned in close to take in June, Ryan, and then Janet's features. In his murmur, he said something along the lines of "This woman is unusual; she smells like a lycan but also human. It has an odd scent that reminds me of Her Majesty Queen Janet herself. When June and Ryan heard the massive lycans, they looked to each other and toward Janet, who was smirking at them, as if to say, "I told you so." Henry continued, as he went to Janet's side and licked the blood from his forehead and raised his brows. "You are an oddity, little one. And you are not from around here, either. Who are you?" Henry and his band of mercenaries might have been the same ones that June's own people were on the lookout for. It was a long-running blood controversy that began some years ago. Nonetheless, June had been on the verge of passing out when he felt that all the blood flowing to his head from the wound made him conscious of the fact that he
Suddenly, they were knocked senseless by three lycans as they were transported to their secret lair when someone appeared out of nowhere and attacked them, rendering them unconscious. Janet's nose was dripping with blood, and a trickle of it dripped out. It did not drip down her chin, but rather up into her eyes and over her forehead, due to the fact that she, along with her partner Ryan and June, were hanging upside-down in the air. After being taken and strung up, they will be skinned alive and eaten by a gang of feral lycans who have come to take advantage of their situation. Earlier, however, the three had been attacked when they were seen traveling down a trail near the cliff, and their belongings, including their backpack and weapons, had been taken from them. And now Ryan and June were arguing with their backs to the wall. "I told you we shouldn't stop," June snarled at him. "But you dickhead, you weren't even forced to walk in front of us, but for your own bloody sense of im
"We need to check to see if my friend is still in the building.""Why?""Wait a minute, and you'll see."Before they knew it, they were being waved at by someone who said, "Thank goodness, your little train is still running." June uttered the words and walked over to the man, who appeared to be an elderly retired soldier."Nice to see you, young man, and I've received your secret message on my radio, and right now we must move quickly. After ten minutes, the train would depart from the station. I already had a secret compartment set aside for you three, but please don't leave your cabin at any time, okay? I've managed to bring on a dozen lycans. Actually, you're dealing with tourists, so keep your mouth shut and never, ever open your cabin door, okay? Unless, of course, it's me knocking on the door.""Of course, Joe, and thank you for your assistance." June wrapped her arms aroun
Suddenly, June shook his hands, as though he were attempting to dislodge himself from the spell of Ryan's lips. "It was a dirty trick," says June."Oh yeah? According to the person who made me drunk and then attacked me to prove a point. What is it about you that requires everything to be a test? Is it June? Remember when you chose the army over me?" Ryan said with a sigh, "We are done with that nonsense.""Come on, sweetie. Play fair now. Tests enable you to push yourself to new limits, mate," June moved in so quickly that he was standing by the couch one moment and standing right in front of Ryan the next. His punch was deflected by June, who moved more slowly than usual, and Ryan managed to avoid his punch back."It's a bitter past, Ryan! And I already apologized a hundred fucking times, did I?""I don't care! You still hurt me." Ryan added with a bit of a smile on his lips. He knew it drove June
June added, "I think this is going to be good." He murmured to himself as he sat in a nearby chair and rummaged through his backpack."This is the possible trail that we have to follow to reach the peak." "We needed a compass and a certain map to reach the cavern.""What cavern?" Janet asked.June gestured to his own graph and mumbled something under his breath, "There is a cavern at the peak of the mountain, and if I'm not mistaken, then there is a possible entry on the west side." So maybe whatever you've been looking at was inside the cave, right?"Worth a try." Ryan smiles, knowing full well that there was an adventure waiting for them.After two bottles of June's grandmother's wine, Janet was unable to keep her mouth shut. When she told them everything, they laughed at the foolishness of her tale and didn't believe her at first, but after an hour of hearing about the Scroll of Fate, the message behind Ethan's research paper, and her time traveling with Finn, Vergel, and Ethan, th
"No, not at this time." "I believe the trail has been buried beneath the sleet." She sighed as she took up a position beside him."Fuck it. I'm done with it. Does that mean we're stuck here? "I'm not sure whether I should be angry with you or grateful," he said as he turned away from her and back into the chimney fire."What the hell are you talking about?""While you were outside, I needed to go to the bathroom." "I happened to stumble into some sort of attic." Ryan went on to say that, as he stared into the flames, he felt something stab him in the back of the head. There was a ray of hope. Then he went on, "...and then I found this," he mumbled as he handed her a small brown military bag that looked like it had been abandoned."Can you tell me what this is?" "What am I supposed to do with this?" Janet inquired as she purposefully opened the back and began to untangle what was inside."That, Janet, you know. That notebook, of course. Take a look at it right now." He muttered somethi
Human Realm. Present Time With two warm sleeping bags of her own, Janet warmed up beside Ryan. They were lying close enough to the chimney's fire that Ryan could feel the warmth of it lapping at his face as their wet clothing dried on the brick quarters hanging near the vent as Janet added wood to rekindle it. When the storm had passed, Janet had buried the family in the snow a few yards away from the cabin, just in case. By the next day, however, the storm was still raging outside, with the entire bracket of the house trembling under the force of the storm's powerful wind. After his encounter with the father's dead body, which was lying in the living room the day before, Janet's eyes were opened. She couldn't help but wonder. She didn't mean to touch his forehead, but she was not expecting those memories to come crashing down on her like hurricanes. It was both terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. Janet had no idea she possessed the ability to read the memories of someo
He nodded.She stroked his shaft with the curled tip of her hand, rubbing back and forth on his glans. "To bring you down before we even started," she snarled, her tongue slithering across his ear, causing him to moan. "Of course, I'd go further... I'd keep going until I thought you couldn't take it anymore, but I'm a kind woman. After all, I asked to have your soul... but let me have fun!"She giggled again before attacking the other side of his neck, causing Darwin to whimper again as his fangs elongated. He wanted to taste her. She pumped him carefully, tightening her grip and almost wringing his rod out. Her leafy scales moved on his naked skin and garments, wrenching and untwisting as she shifted her coils, all over again as he moaned.His body bucked, turning involuntarily against her shackling grip. He feared this would enrage her, but it didn't. It had the opposite impact: it was terrifying and erotic.She liked it. Her veins shifted to enable his reflexive twists to gain some
Darwin murmured. He was getting eager, clenching his thighs together automatically. Alicia hissed sensuously, her rich fragrance only marginally less sensual. "I can smell your blood boiling, I can smell your aroused soul, little vampire, just like what I smelled from the little sorcerer earlier—wanting it, wanting me." "I... I don't..." he began, unsure of what he was saying. He couldn't quite get what she was saying, but her voice was fascinating and alluring. He was in a trance; he understood, but he couldn't get himself away from her. "But don't you wish to enjoy the pleasure no dark creature can provide? What do you have to lose to get a taste of heaven and a replica of the manuscript? If you only accept, you will discover new passions." She slithered closer, her head brushing his hips, her eyes peering up into his. Her body loop softly nudged his back, her head rising in an arc again. Her movements were slow and deliberate, a lovely performance that soothed the senses. Nothi