50: Old Friends

    "Derek, how very nice of you to join us." Tanner snarled, the enmity readily apparent in his voice.

    "Tanner." Derek gave as a simple greeting. "Where is she?"

    "Where is the stone?" Tanner countered.

    "Here." Marge spoke up, stepping out from behind Rob's back.

    Tanner smirked. "This must be the vampire-witch. Such an interesting hybrid."

   "Where's my daughter?" she asked before a blood-curdling howl rent the air. Someone in the hunting party wasn't happy.

     Tanner's eyes narrowed a fraction before he refocused on Marge.

     "My daughter?" Marge asked. "I refuse to hand this over until she is in our custody."

     "Show her the witch." Tanner barked over his shoulder. They brought Gabby within view through a window they could see through the short patch of woods behind the gate. She struggled against the hold of the wolf that held her.

     Marge glared at Tanner. "Bring her down here. You said-"

     "Don't, Tanner!" Katharine suddenly screeched. "It's a fake!"

     "Preposterous." Marge scoffed. "Why would we offer a fake?"

     "More like why wouldn't you?" Tanner growled while the wolves behind Marge tensed.

     I'm going to kill you, Derek, Marge thought maliciously.

     "Looks like we're going to have a little fun tonight, boys." Tanner grinned at the vampire. With a simple flick of his wrist, his pack charged forward towards Derek's crew.

      Unfortunately for one of Tanner's number, however, Marge shot a killing spell out from her hand, bringing the wolf crashing down in front of his brothers. She quickly felt a sudden inspiration, and she created a wall of flames between herself and the remaining members of Tanner's pack.

      Suddenly, she felt herself jerked backwards, being carried away in someone's arms.

      "Keep firing!" Robert directed as he carried her along, so she did so, downing a few more of Tanner's pack that felt brave enough to dash through the wall of fire.

      Their path got intercepted by Nate as he flew past them, knocking down a few more wolves.

      "Go!" he yelled behind him, looking irritated, while the two small opposing forces worked quickly to get organized, thinking that Nate, Marge, and Robert would do the same.

      Robert and Marge went towards Appaloosa Plains while Nate rushed back in the direction of the compound. Not expecting this, the larger wolf party had to split once again.

      Just before they disappeared from view, Marge's gaze fell upon a wolf with long black hair, and she knew without trying that this wolf was the one that raped her daughter.

      "Robert." Julian growled while the other wolves raced in another direction, chasing Derek and the others of their small band, giving Marge a wide berth.

      Cowards, she thought viciously while Rob set her down and faced the rapist.

     "Murderer." Julian snarled, and Marge wondered what he meant. She didn't bother trying to figure it out and instead kept her attention on the enemy wolf.

     "An accident." Robert growled back, and her stomach plummeted.

     The other wolf took a step towards the pair, but Marge quickly fired a warning shot at his feet.

     "Why not simply kill me and be done with it?" his ancient eyes asked her.

     "It's not my place to do so nor it is your time." Marge answered cryptically before the wolf roared with laughter.

     "Then be gone, witch! Leave the big dogs to their fight." he suggested.

     "I said I wouldn't kill you; I didn't say I wouldn't stop you." she snapped. "Rapist." she finished.

     "I wouldn't be interested in Gabriella if it weren't for your boyfriend here." the other wolf said as he took a step towards them. A look of mock concern showed up on his face as he asked, "Has he not told you he's a murderer?"
     Marge shrugged. "As am I."
     "He killed my wife."
     "You raped my daughter."
     Julian snarled at her, "My fight is not with you, witch!"

     "Well, mine is with you!" she argued back, throwing a stunning spell his way that he quickly dodged.
      Julian had wanted to only fight with Robert, he hadn't really counted on the fact that the woman would want to fight him. Still, he knew he could overpower her if given the chance, and he sought his opening. Finding it, he pounced.
      Simultaneously, Robert reached out to pull Marge out of the way, and Gus appeared from out of nowhere to attack Julian, pinning him to the ground.
      "Foolish move, boy." Gus spit at Julian below him.
      Julian threw August off of him, sending him in an arch through the air. Gus landed on his feet and hands in a crouched position, watching the were with excited eyes.

     In a laughing voice, Gus said, "I was all for you attacking the pup, but you made the decision to go after my woman." He ignored the low growl from Robert.
       Julian smiled evilly at August and quipped, "And yet, you let the pup mate with her. I can smell him all over her."
       "My Marge knows to whom she really belongs, and to whom I lend her is my business." Gus said coldly.
      "My fight is with Robert, Ancient One, not with you, or her, for that matter. If she continues to be in the way, then I must remove her." Julian said almost warily and watched Gus like a hawk.
      "Let's go." Robert said quietly to Marge. "I want you away from this."
      Men, Marge thought, irritated at how both Gus and Robert felt the need to protect her. She looked at Robert with a mildly-irritated expression.
       Rob took her hand and said, "Please." She rolled her eyes, and the pair of them sped off.

       Julian moved to follow them, but August blocked his path once again. He roared with irritation at the vampire and his jovial expression.
      August laughed loudly and asked, "So, hm, what do you call yourself now? Oh yes, Julian. Tell me, Julian, I'm curious. Just how was Gabriella?"
     "Still listening to gossip, old man?" Julian asked in place of an answer.
     "Only when I'm curious." Gus answered. "How much of a fight did she give you? I've found her to be quite resourceful in a state of panic."

     Julian smiled wickedly and decided to give an answer. "She was more than I expected."
     "I must admit I'm rather curious about the offspring." Gus smiled. "I wonder if the old man ever considered that when he made that bauble?"
     "You knew him, only you can answer that question." Julian remarked.

     August's mind went back to a different place and time for a few seconds as he remembered the man that made the stone and what he intended its original purpose to be.
      He smiled and said, "I love how your kind wish to cherish and protect it." Gus felt pleased that Julian looked confused as to the meaning behind his statement. They still don't realize.

      A howl sounded in the distance, one that meant a victory of sorts. Julian sniffed the air.
      "Your pack calls you." Gus pointed out dryly.
      "If the witch gets in the way again, I will remove her." Julian promised.
      "And I will be there to stop you."
      Julian let out a chuckle. "Until next time then, 'old friend'." With that, he sped off in the direction of the howl.

49: Extortion

Recap:
*Tanner instructed Julian to capture, not kill Nate even though Julian would prefer to kill him.

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The following scene takes place a little before Derek's pack shows up on the cliff overlooking Tanner's estate. I decided to jump a little ahead chronologically in the last chapter so it would flow better, thinking it would've been odd to jump to this scene in the middle of Derek's pack running.

For the record, I'm a little uncomfortable with the next chapters. Not by the way they're written, but with what takes place. They're a prime example of how I feel like the story has taken control even if what's happening is what was planned. I hope that makes sense.

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      Gabriella stood and watched dispassionately as Julian prepared to go out. The sun was nearly set outside the window.

       Julian saw her looking at him, and he took a few large steps to bring himself directly in front of her.

       "Don't worry, Kitten. I'll come back in one piece, and I have been instructed not to kill your vampire love." he said softly as he reached up to cup her face with his hand. 

       She unsuccessfully tried to bat his hand away before she said, "I don't care if you come back in one piece or not, and you wouldn't have to worry about whether or not to kill Nathaniel if you'd just simply hand me over to him." She said it, but she doubted seriously that he would do as she recommended.

       Julian chuckled deeply in his throat. "I said I was 'instructed' not to kill him, but if I get the opportunity to do it and get away with it, believe me, I will do it gladly. He is an obstacle that needs to be removed." He could smell the cold fear coming from her, and that gave him an idea.

       "What do you mean 'instructed'?" Gabriella asked, trying to mask her fear.

      "Tanner wants him taken prisoner. I don't really care why, and I'm not happy with his order. I may need to find another alpha once again. If that's the case, I'll take you with me when I leave." he said, his eyes drinking in her features as his thumb caressed her cheek.

      "You've had other alphas?" she asked, trying to delay and distract him.

      "Many."

      She studied him for a second before she asked, "How old are you?" She didn't care if he was offended by the question or not.

      He smiled a small smile down at her. "Old."

     "That's a relative term." she said, continuing to distract him. "Old like you should be a grandfather old? Several hundred years? Stone circles old?"

     His eyes took on a curious gleam as he said, "Interesting you should mention stone circles."

     "You avoided answering." she pointed out. Then, she couldn't stand not taking the bait he threw out, "What do you mean by that?"

     He shrugged noncommittally, "Only because of what you are."

     "I don't understand."

     He looked at her in mild disbelief. "Haven't you wondered why there are so few of you?"

     "Are there few of those like me? Seems to me I'm running into them everywhere."

     "Because you have steadily been killing each other over the years." he continued with his earlier statement like she hadn't spoken. "You swear you don't know this?" He waited, curious.

     "I only found out what I was a short time ago. I thought I was just weird."

     He chuckled and said, "No wonder you were so easy to capture." He caught her hand as she reached up to slap him, her fury rampaging across her face. He laughed outright now before he said, "Much as I'd love to stay and chat, I have a vampire I need to try to figure out a way to 'accidentally' kill." He held onto her wrist as again he felt curious about her reaction.

     "No." she whispered, her anger dissipating quickly. "He's not been really good to me either, but he doesn't deserve to die."

     Neither did Charlotte, Julian thought angrily. Pushing that anger aside, he quickly took this opening to execute his earlier idea. "What will you do for me if I don't kill him?"

      Gabriella's eyes widened in horror. "That's .... that's extortion!" She took a step back, pressing her back against the wall.

      He kissed the knuckles of the hand he still held captive. "Maybe." he stated, his eyes twinkling with mirth. "But I want you."

      "You said you wouldn't hurt me." None of my visions prepared me for this. I have to get out of it somehow.

      "And I won't. I want you to give yourself to me willingly." he said huskily, taking a step forward to close the gap between them.

      "You're despicable." she spat at him.

      He shrugged and said, "Maybe I am, but I'm also a man. And you are a beautiful woman that is under my 'protection'."

       Her eyes narrowed as she said, "Like you protected me from your alpha's mate?"

       "That, sadly, was out of my control, and it's another reason I want to leave this pack." He sighed in an over-dramatic way and continued, "I guess I'll have to kill him then."

       "Please, no." she begged.

       "Then agree to my proposal."

       She shook her head and said, "No. I can't."

     He dropped her hand and said, "No matter then. I can wait. I am a patient man all things considering. I'll kill him, and you'll eventually come around." He turned and made his way to the door at a normal pace.

       "Wait!" Gabby cried as he'd made his way halfway across the room.

       Julian turned, his eyebrows raised in question as he asked, "Yes?"

        I'm crazy for doing this, but Nate is definitely outnumbered.... and if Julian can keep him from being killed.... "Fine." she said and tried not to vomit.

        Julian tried not to gloat. He hated the disgusted look on her face, however, and his gloating mood turned sour. He got another idea. "Since I have no time to see that you'll carry through on your end, how can I know you're telling me the truth?" He started back towards her.

        Gabby shook her head hopelessly. "I don't know."

        "I do." he said as he stood directly in front of her. "And it's really quite simple, but it will tide me over for now." He looked into her crystal-blue eyes and said, "Kiss me."

       No. "What?"

       "You heard me. I need a little assurance that you're not going to go back on your word."

       Gabriella's heart raced as her eyes darted around. She'd honestly hoped she wouldn't have to follow through on her end of the deal, and she hadn't expected him to want anything immediately.

       "I'm waiting, Gabriella." he said in a commanding way, leaning towards her to make it easier. 

       She backed her head up as far against the wall as she could because he'd started getting too close.

        "It's very simple, you know." he pointed out laconically. "Just press your lips to mine. Easy."

        "Why are you making me do this?" she whimpered.

        "I explained that already." he said in an exasperated manner. "You're wasting my time. Either do it or I won't take you at your word."

      She closed her eyes and turned her head away from him as her breath came out in painful shudders.

        Julian snorted derisively and said, "I see." He straightened up, looked down at her, and prepared to go.

        "No!" Gabby said in a panicked voice, and without letting herself think too much about it, she did as he asked, hoping it would be brief.

        Julian had no intention of the kiss being brief. He greedily wrapped his arms around her with one of his hands holding the back of her head in place as he hungrily opened her mouth for more.

        Gabby let out a small cry, immediately regretting her hasty decision. Julian continued to demand more out of her, reminding her of the horrible night she had a few nights ago. She struggled to break away from him, but he wouldn't have any of that.

       His hands roved over her unchecked while he had her pressed back against the wall behind her. This had gone much farther than she even dreaded for it to go, and she felt violated by his lack of restraint. When his hand cupped her between her legs, she managed to jerk her head to the side in her shock.

       "No." she whimpered.

       "Oh, that's not what we agreed to, Kitten. You're mine. You said so yourself, and I intend to take full advantage of this short moment before I have to go out and show mercy to the undeserving for you." he mumbled into her neck while she fought against the pleasurable sensations between her thighs.

        He lifted his head and held her eyes with his as he said, "Besides, I want to give you something to carry you over until I can return and really pick up where we'll leave off."

      She reached her hands down to try and pull him off of her, but he, almost angrily, caught both of her hands in his other one and pinned them above her head, now even more determined to prove his dominance.

       "No, Kitten. You're going to feel this. Feel me and what I can do to you." he said as he picked up the speed of his hand.

       "Ah!" she cried out, still fighting against the will of his hand. "Please."

     "No need to beg. Take it." he commanded, deliberately mistaking the reason for her plea. Not too much time went by, and Julian watched her as her breathing became labored. He leaned down and claimed her mouth once again. As he shoved his tongue into her unwilling mouth, her body tensed against him, and he forced her to repeatedly feel each wave as it struck. He pulled back once again to watch her aggravated expression that was often overshadowed with a softening of her eyes that could only mean she couldn't fight off the consuming pleasure anymore.

      He smiled at her spunk at still trying to resist him no matter what her body told her to do. Then he kissed her forehead affectionately and said, "Until the morning at the latest, my kitten." He left her leaning against the wall as he exited the room.

     Tears coursed down Gabriella's face as she thought to herself, What have I done?

45: Timing is Everything

     Nate awoke with a start and sat straight up in bed. What the hell? ... Bitch! he thought, thinking of Marge. She knocked me out again! He looked out at the window. Nightfall had occurred. Gabriella! he thought suddenly, then he screamed a torturous cry.

      "No!!! Oh God no!!!" he yelled, and he balled up his hands into fists as rage consumed him.

      Marge came dashing into the room when she heard Nate's cry. Nate looked up at her with a furious expression.

       "You bitch!" he cried as he flung himself at her. "You let this happen! You stopped me from saving her!"

        "I stopped you from suicide." Marge spoke as calmly as she could manage.

        "Fuck you! I couldn't sit here and do nothing! Then you knock me unconscious and allow her to be raped!" His voice broke as he said, "She's pregnant! And they've tortured her!" He flung her to the side, causing her body to slam into the adjoining wall before he ran out of the room. He dodged her attack as he almost flew out of the house.

       I'll kill them all. Each and every one will die a painfully slow death, he thought as the realization hit that Gabriella carried multiples and that her gestation period had been drastically and very painfully reduced. I will not share with Derek the knowledge that the 'meeting' will be a waste of time. Why should I tell him? He's done nothing but prevent me from leaving to save her. He continued to race through the woods in the direction he knew Hidden Springs to be.

       "Your plan will not work." he heard his maker say to him from where they both now stood on a mountaintop.

       "Why should you even care, August?" Nate asked.

       "Obviously this was supposed to happen, and your part to play in this hasn't arrived. You will see your love again, rest assured."

       "Yes, while she lays dying in my arms."

       Gus's voice sounded a little peeved as he said, "I do not believe she will die. You shouldn't either. Have a little faith in yourself and your abilities!"

      "My abilities." he said in a scoffing manner. "My abilities are worthless when up against my 'sister'! Your little pet made it so that her daughter could be raped, impregnated, and tortured!"

        Gus gasped. "So, Tanner has finally achieved it. I suppose Katharine allowed it with her as her surrogate."

        Nate looked at him in confusion. "Tanner? This was Julian's doing. The torture is Tanner's fault, but the pregnancy is Julian's idea."

        Gus laughed, making Nate incensed. "Oh my!" Gus said with a huge grin on his face. "Tanner has his beta going behind his back with his own scheme! Oh, I love it!"

        "Fuck off, August." Nate said with disgust that his maker could be so happy about Gabriella's condition.

         "My, my. Language, Nathaniel." he lightly scolded him like a parent would a disobedient child.

       "I cannot let her just remain with them. I must do something." Nate spoke his thoughts aloud while he stared at the granite beneath his feet, ignoring Gus and getting back to the more important matter at hand.

        "Ever impetuous." Gus said with a tsk noise following. "You cannot just go charging into battle this time. Yes, I understand your want to rescue her, but you have to be smart about this. Pick the time and place to your advantage."

          "So, you're going to stop me as well?"

          "Me? No." he chuckled to himself. "I am choosing merely to observe. I am most curious of this turn of events and how I may benefit from it. Two of my enemies going head-to-head in the not too distant future. This shall be quite a show."

        "If Derek is your enemy, why send your best weapon to aid him?" Nate asked, deciding he may as well get a little information from his irritating maker while he was around.

        "I'm not worried over my Marge, and I will not reveal all of my secrets, Nathaniel."

        "Stay away from Gabby." Nate growled, knowing she was part of the 'secrets' that Gus kept from him. That, and she couldn't stay out of his thoughts for more than two seconds.

         Gus smiled. "Now, you know that's not going to happen, so why threaten me?"

       Nate ignored him again. He had other things to worry about ... like how he would get into that compound. She thinks I've tuned her out! After everything, she actually believes that I'd close my mind to her! he thought incredulously. There must be a way to her.

       "I wouldn't recommend going any further, Nathaniel." Gus said because he could sense Nate's desire for flight. "This pack is more powerful, and they won't give a fig about your respect for human life. They've always got sentries on duty scouring these hills."

        "Then let them find my scent. I want them to know I'm stalking and looking for a way in." Nate responded with venom in his voice.

         "So that Tanner will increase his forces? Complete and total surprise is your best option. Derek knows this, and he's had him as an opponent for a long time."

        "I cannot allow that bastard to sit there and try to comfort her. I want to rip his head off ... right after I castrate him."

         August laughed probably a little louder than the situation warranted. "So, after all these years, I finally see the solider I wanted, and all it took was a woman." He walked up to Nate and clapped him on the back like an old friend. "Wait, my son, and you just might get your chance."

         "Derek wants to attack at the full moon." Nate said almost at random, his thoughts flying from one topic to the next as he desperately sought a way to rescue the woman he loved.

        "Yes, of course he does. That's why I sent Marge. She wanted to help, and I'd rather the .. forgive the pun ... underdog weaken his opponent." His teeth shown in the moonlight as he smiled a wicked smile at Nate.

       Nate turned to his maker to ask, "What do you have against Tanner? And for that matter, Derek?"

      "That is none of your concern." Gus answered quickly and stiffly, his smile fading immediately as his arm fell off of Nate's shoulder.

      "There has to be a way inside."

      "And if you get in, what then?"

      "I kill Julian, get her, and get out."

      "It cannot be done alone. You must wait for Derek's decision."

      "That, I can't do. You don't have to help me, August. I'm going to free her."

      "Suit yourself then. Don't say I didn't warn you. Just remember you're no good to anyone dead."

      "I'm already dead, remember?"

     Gus growled and rolled his eyes. "Don't start that again." Then he left Nate standing alone on the mountaintop.

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       Gabriella found herself curled up in Julian's arms as they both sat on the bed. She'd not been aware of the goings on around her after Katharine and Tanner left the room because she had mentally escaped somewhere deep inside herself to maintain her sanity.

       She wiggled in his arms and lifted her head. "No, let me go! Leave me alone! Stop it!" she ordered as she pushed against him.

        "Shh," Julian said as he held her firmly, "Kitten, calm down. It's okay now. They're gone."

       "Okay? You have a twisted sense of 'okay'. I said let me -- Ah!" she cried as she tried harder to move away from him when pain suddenly struck every joint she moved.

       Julian easily pulled her close again as she started crying. He held her to him and rocked her a little as he stroked her hair and face. Her tears wrenched at his heart. "Shh, I know it's not really okay, but they're not going to mess with you anymore."

        "No, just you are." she sniffed.

        "I promise I will never again harm you in any way." he said as he cradled her in his arms. "I can't go against Tanner's commands, but he's assured me he won't bother you."

        "And you believe him?"

        "No, not really, but I have to try to."

        Deciding to drop the topic of Tanner, she cried, "I hurt everywhere! Why? Why me? Make the pain stop."

         "Rest." he offered as a solution. "Stay right here and just rest." He lightly encouraged her to curl into him and rest her head on his shoulder like she'd had it earlier.

         Exhausted, Gabby didn't feel like fighting him. She already knew he wouldn't hurt her again from her visions, so she obeyed his wishes and let him hold her. He slowly and gently rocked her as he sang a quiet song in a language she didn't understand. The sound of his deep voice mixed in with his heartbeat relaxed her, and she soon fell asleep.

44: Cruel World

warning: contains scenes of a sensitive nature

       "Wake up, Gabriella." she heard Julian quietly order. She saw his yellow eyes pierce down as he lay crouched over her. Her eyes widened, and she immediately tried to get out from underneath him.

        Her quick movements of attempted escape caused him to suddenly pounce. In a flash, he had her hands pinned over her head as he easily brought both of them together to be held by one hand so that his other one could roam free.

        "What was that?" he asked her, referring to the force that had knocked him off of her some unknown hours before. "A spell?" he asked when she didn't answer him. She remained quiet so he continued, "I've seen spells worked that did pretty much the same thing; however, I've not seen anything shot out like that. That came from you... from your center. Most interestingly, it knocked you out. Why use a spell that would weaken you as well?" he asked when he noticed she had very little energy left to fight him.

          "Get off of me." she ordered.

          A small, short 'hm' of a laugh came out of him before he said, "Not a chance." He adjusted his position. "We've wasted more precious time, and I'm wasting more by asking you these questions." he stated. "But I simply must know what that was. How did you do it?"

        "Like I would tell you." she snapped and spit in his face.

        Julian closed his eyes and made the wave of fury wash over him and leave before he opened them back up as he wiped his face with his free hand. "Do not anger me, Gabriella. We're notorious for having very short tempers, and the last thing I want to do is hurt you."

         "Bullshit." she argued. "You're hurting me right now." She had to keep him talking while her mind whirled as it sought any desperate plan of escape.

         "No, I'm not hurting you. I'll allow that you're uncomfortable, sure, but it's not my desire to hurt you. Quite the opposite, if you'll let me."

         "What do you mean, 'if you'll let me'?" she asked.

         "It doesn't have to be that I'm forcing myself on you. I hate the thought of it, but I'd hate more missing this opportunity."

           "If you hate the thought of it, then why are you doing it?" Keep asking questions.

           He decided to go ahead and tell her. "Because I want a werewolf and witch child that can both work the stone and benefit from it." He paused and watched the information sink in.

       "It's all about that damn stone! What's the fucking deal? If I ever get the opportunity, I'm destroying it!"

          He gasped like she'd just uttered some blasphemy. "Doing so would mean your death, I'm sure! It's rumored to have been created by Merlin himself."

          "Hah! Merlin. Oh be serious." Shit! NO! Don't be serious! "Besides," she quickly added to keep his mind off of what he might do to her, "I'm going to die anyway. Soon."

          This did distract him for a moment as he asked, "What?! Why would you say that?" Is she going to commit suicide?

            Damn it. How do I explain this one? He still doesn't know I'm psychic, she thought quickly.

           "Have you had a vision?" he guessed.

           She gasped and snapped her head in his direction. She felt horrified when his eyes widened as she realized that her shocked gasp confirmed his suspicions.

           "Vision or not, I won't let you die." he promised just before her short, cynical laugh. His next movement brought him just hovering outside of her.

             "No. No no no." she gasped out as she got her hands free and tried to push against him. A scowl showed up on his face as he caught her hands again and pinned them on either side just before he pushed himself inside of her in one, quick thrust.

       Gabriella cried out from the sudden shock and pain. Solitary tears escaped her eyes as Julian moaned above her.

         Holy shit, she's so damn tight! he thought to himself as he fought for control over himself so that he wouldn't hurt her again like he'd obviously just done.

         He looked down and saw the tears from her eyes, and they broke his heart. "Don't cry." he whispered as he leaned down to kiss them away tenderly.

         Gabby turned her head away from him, fighting away more tears. Not that she cared about upsetting him, but she didn't want him to see her cry either.

           His hands abandoned hers so that he could wrap his arms around her as he leaned down to kiss her neck. He began to slowly rock his body with hers, gradually increasing the tempo and doing his best to ignore the way she obstinately pushed against him with her hands.

         No, he's too much! Too much, she thought as her arms shook with weariness when she struggled against him. No. "Too much!" she harshly whispered as loudly as she could manage in her nearly-breathless state.

          This caught his attention better than her pushing futilely against him did. "What was that?" he asked and stopped.  "Am I still hurting you?"

          "Yes." she breathed, and he stopped entirely.

          "Oh sweet Gabriella, I'm sorry." he breathed as he kissed her cheek lovingly.

          "Just ... stop!" she cried.

        "That I will not do. I will not stop. I can, however, try to slow down. I told you I don't want to hurt you. I guess I can understand why you don't believe me." he said and started moving again. True to his word, he slowed down... tortuously so.

          Gabriella fought hard to stifle the moan that kept trying to escape her. I'd almost rather he go fast now and just get it over with! 

         Julian wondered at Gabriella's sporadic clawing at his shoulders. It seemed to him that she liked what he was doing but refused to allow herself to admit it. He went ahead and smiled to himself, she wasn't looking at him anyway, as he watched the emotions play on her face. He leaned down and playfully whispered in her ear, "It's okay to like it, you know. I won't tell."

         This infuriated Gabby, and she found renewed energy as she started trying to claw him to shreds like a cat while letting out an enraged squeal. Julian only laughed.

         "Scratch away, kitten." he told her with laughter in his voice, enjoying the new nickname as he started picking up the tempo now that she seemed more used to him.

        Damn him! He's not going to let up, is he? she thought as that moan she'd fought so hard to keep inside slipped out. "Stop." she whispered desperately, angry at her own body for the second time that day.

        "No, because I'm not hurting you." he said as he refused. "Admit it," he whispered back to her as he continued to thoroughly enjoy her body, "this feels damn good."

         "No." she moaned, furious but unable to fight the fact that he spoke the truth. "Please."

         "Okay." he said quickly, mistaking her meaning on purpose as he really picked up the tempo.

         "No!" she gasped. "That's not..." she said, but she couldn't finish her sentence because her body had taken control of her mind. She nonetheless rocked her head from side to side as she continued to fight him even if only in her mind.

           Julian stopped this by leaning down to kiss her mouth. Just then he groaned to her whimper as they climaxed almost simultaneously.

      As the night dragged on, Gabby would go through phases where she'd fight him with everything she had to just giving in and hoping it would end soon. Every time she did the latter, Julian would get a little angry that she could be so distant. So, each time this happened, he forced her to mentally come back to him. He figured out quickly that she hated it slow, and he enjoyed the wonderful torture that they both would experience as Gabby would fight him again. He loved how he could make her body respond to his even though she worked hard to keep it from happening.
    

       When Julian had finally grown tired, he allowed Gabriella to roll over onto her side away from him. He insisted that she remain in the bed with him as he pulled himself right up behind her, draping an arm over her to hold her while they slept.

     When Julian awoke the next afternoon, he momentarily forgot where he was. All he knew for a few seconds was the smell and feel of Gabriella's hair in his face. That's right. Gabriella, he thought as his arm tightened around her. His heart went out to her and everything that she had to go through within the last few days, the things that he'd done to her included. All the same, she was truly lucky that Tanner had agreed to his request. She may not have survived that first night in the state she was in if she'd been given to the rest of the pack to play with. She'd been stupid to be out alone the way she was and get caught like she did. Still, he felt incredibly grateful for her stupidity. She was going to make his dreams a reality. I want to keep her here. She's better off with me than with that lousy vampire anyway, he mused as he promised himself he wouldn't ever do to her what he did to her last night again. Next time, the desire would be mutual. Now he would begin the awesome task of making it up to her while she carried his child.
       Gabriella was having a wonderful dream as she played in a field of daffodils with her father. She truly was Daddy's little girl as a child, and the dream allowed her to relive those loving memories. In her dream, her father scooped her up and held her tight, and she hugged him back around his neck with her child arms.
      Tears rolled down her face with the realization that it was only a dream and her father was dead and gone. She felt Julian's arms tighten their hold of her. Going from father to captor in a matter of seconds took its toll on her emotions, and she began to sob.
       Shit, Julian thought just before he said, "Gabriella! Don't cry, kitten, please. I'm sorry. I had to. I..." He felt like an ass as Gabby continued to cry.
       "You're sorry? Sorry!" she croaked as she turned around in his arms to slap him. "How dare you! Let go of me!" She nearly fell off the bed when he immediately did.
       He easily took the slap across his face as he watched Gabriella's hatred of him with chagrin. She stood up and started gathering whatever clothing she could find, and what she found had been ripped. She wordlessly showed him her ripped clothes with a 'what are you going to do about this' look on her face.
     "There is woman's clothing in the second drawer." Julian said sadly and rolled over onto his stomach. He didn't want to watch Gabby go through Charlotte's old clothing.
        "Who's were these?" she asked quietly.
        "My wife's." he answered her just as quietly. "Robert killed her."
        Gabby felt her mouth drop open in shock before she could get out, "Robert?"
        "Yes. She was protecting our stone." he answered her sadly..
        Understanding began to filter through her as she mumbled, "The one that Derek has. The one that Tanner wants back."
        "Yes."
        "Another reason to hate the damn thing. ... Another reason you say you need me. She was your pack's witch?"
        "We have another. Tanner isn't interested in you in that sense. His mate is one."
        "Then why can't they make this super/hybrid wolf that you're so desperate to have that you would rape me to accomplish it?" she asked in a snippy tone.
         "She is barren." he answered simply.
         Gabriella was quiet for a few minutes. She'd found an outfit that matched one of her own, so she chose that one to hopefully make herself feel normal. She didn't know exactly how she felt wearing clothes that smelled like someone else.
        "I'm going to take a shower." she told Julian as she walked towards the bathroom. Julian let her go, hoping that she understood that any escape attempt would be harshly dealt with by Tanner.
          I want her to stay, he thought as he heard the shower turn on. He got up to get dressed.
       A knock sounded on the bedroom door. I thought Tanner instructed everyone to leave me be. The full moon isn't until tomorrow's night, he thought as he angrily went to answer it.

      "Katharine. What the hell do you want?" he asked her as she strode into his bedroom like she owned the place.
        "And hello to you too, Julian. I'm here to see your bitch." she snapped.
        "I thought Tanner instructed everyone to leave me alone with her."
        "Tanner will be in here shortly as well. He's curious how things are 'progressing'." she said with a wicked gleam in her eyes.
        "Why would he be interested in anything about her until tomorrow? I get her to myself until then, and if I have my way after then as well."
         "We don't need her to work the stone."
         "She's mine anyway. Get out."

      "Whatever. I don't have time for this." she spat as she walked past him. "You're an idiot if you think she's 'yours'. All Tanner did was place her in your care ... for a reason."
       Gabriella walked out of the shower and wondered who the other person talking was, so she started to walk around the corner of the room when Katharine came into view.

        Katharine smiled in a friendly way and approached her. "You must be this Gabriella I've heard so much about. My name's Katharine. It's so nice not to be the only -"
      Gabriella suddenly gasped as a split-second vision took control of her sight. "No." she whispered to Katharine's confused expression. She backed away in fear, and her eyes darted around looking for some way to escape this witch in front of her. "Get away from me."
         Katharine looked at her in confusion. "What ... are you talking about?"
         "What you're going to do is sick! It's just sick!" Gabriella cried out, also full of anguish that her vision revealed to her her already pregnant state. And to think... everything will still happen in the 'near future', she thought sadly.

        Katharine dropped her friendly facade. "And just how the hell do you know what it is I'm going to do? I've closed my mind, so it couldn't be that. What are you?" she asked, and it reminded Gabby of when she first met Nate when he'd asked her the same thing.
       Julian's suspicions were confirmed. Gabby was psychic... somehow. Before he could ask the question to get the information he was dying to know -what the ladies were talking about-, Tanner walked in.

       Seeing that Tanner had walked in, Katherine threw up her hands as she walked over to him. She said to Gabriella, "I'll deal with you later."
         Julian immediately blocked Tanner's path. "You said she was mine, Tanner! You said I could have her to myself! What are you doing in here?!"
        "Calm down, Julian. Of course, she's yours. There's been a change of plans... your plans." Tanner said calmly.

          "What?!" Julian asked.
          A leer covered Tanner's face as he glanced at Gabriella before returning a wicked smile to Julian. "It worked. Congratulations, Katharine tells me you two are expecting."
          Gabriella wanted to throw up.
          "How could you possibly know that?" Julian asked Katharine.
          "Don't ask me to explain, Julian. We don't have all night. This spell has to be done the sooner the better, and well, you can't get much sooner than this." she snapped almost laughingly.
          "Spell?" he asked, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of his stomach.
         "My plans have changed since this new 'development' of yours, Julian. Brilliant idea. Of course, I'd thought of it years ago." Tanner reached a hand up to lightly stroke Katharine's cheek.

       "What are you going to do to her?" Julian asked, worried.
       Katharine waited quietly for Tanner to explain.
      The desire for flight had never been so powerful in Gabriella than at this moment. She didn't know why or how, but her psychic ability was happening to her in an almost-constant state. The 'trade' that Tanner had wanted to do would fail, and she'd be stuck with Julian until the ... babies ... were born... and those babies would arrive faster than normal, thanks to Katharine's evil.
        She hardly listened to Tanner as he explained what they planned on doing to her. She was too busy trying to keep herself from having a screaming fit. Nate, where the fuck are you in these visions?! How is it that I'm going to be here this long?! Do you hate me? Have you abandoned me?
         I never should've left you.
         He's probably not even listening. But, ... he told me he'd never turn it off, and if I needed him just to think it. What's happened?
          Gus.
          But no, why would Gus want all this to happen to me?
           Maybe he's not able to penetrate into this pack. Shit, is Tanner really that powerful to be able to keep out Gus? Oh sure, the simple banishing statement works, but since it hasn't been applied, maybe, he can still get on the grounds. How big is this pack?
         "Leave her alone!" Julian yelled, bringing Gabriella back to the present moment.

       "Shut up and do as you're told!" Tanner barked. "I want that pup born before Derek attacks like I know he will. I don't have time for nature to 'take its course'. Now, go and make her behave!" he said then pointed to Gabriella.
       Cold fear ran through her as Julian turned around. They planned on drastically speeding along her pregnancy, and to do so, Katherine would cast a spell that would be excruciatingly painful to her.

         "I'm sorry." Julian whispered to Gabriella. She merely nodded and stoically walked over to the bed, where she would lay as Katherine performed her twisted magic. She felt like a fly caught in a Venus fly trap. She knew no amount of struggling would stop what was about to happen.
          Tanner watched on curiously at his beta's tenderness with the witch. To everyone but Charlotte, Julian had been a cruel monster. It was one of the things he liked most about him. He decided to ponder this change in him more later. Right now, he had more pressing concerns. He didn't want Derek getting his hands on this child.
         "I await your orders." Katharine said to him, and he turned his head back to his mate and nodded his ascent.

       Gabriella let Julian help her to lie down on the bed since she was shaking like a leaf. Then she saw out of the corner of her eye the helplessness that he tried to hide from everyone else in the room.
        The world is a cruel and evil place. It's good that I'll leave it soon. Pity my children won't. At least ... I don't know ... I'm forbidden from seeing their lives.
        Tanner watched on in sadistic curiosity as Katharine began her spell. She'd never attempted this one before, but she'd read up on it plenty for the day she hoped to do it on herself, regardless of the pain involved.
         After a flourish, a beam of red light came out of Katharine's wand as her chanting grew louder. It was soon drowned out by the sound of Gabby's screaming.
         Gabby had never felt such pain. She felt as if every bone in her body was being broken and cruelly jerked back and forth. She felt like her abdomen was being ripped in two, and she felt herself screaming ... even if the ringing in her ears prevented her from hearing it.

       Katharine paused in her chanting. More than one, she thought as she redoubled the strength of the spell.
         Gabriella screamed again as another wave hit. Her body involuntarily curled inward as if to ward off whatever it was that was attacking her.
         Julian couldn't stand it anymore. Why isn't she done already?! he thought as he fought with himself to keep from attacking Katharine. He remembered from what Charlotte had told him once that it wasn't wise to interrupt the chanting -- unpredictable results would occur if that happened. He just wanted it to be over.
         Gabby felt and heard herself sobbing as the pain finally began to ebb. She could feel someone lightly stroking her forehead and hair. With a final flourish, Katharine completed the spell. Gabriella opened her eyes to see Julian's looking down at her with a sorrowful expression.
        Tanner turned to his mate and said, "Wonderful. I knew there was a reason I loved you." He grabbed her as soon as her wand was put away and passionately kissed her.

        Gabriella rolled over onto her side, instinctively away from the other witch. She quaked from the minor aftershocks of pain as Julian stroked her hair and tried to apologize repeatedly.

43: Blast

Warning! Contains scenes of a sensitive nature.

       A loud uproar was heard throughout the woods as Derek ordered Rocky to temporarily give up his bedroom to the visiting vampire guests. Nate also wasn't happy since that further proved that they weren't going after Gabriella immediately.

       "I can't stand it! How can he just sit around while that monster has her? How can he expect me to just accept his decision! I need their help! Now!" Nate complained to Marge.
        "He knows this."
      "Then why can't we just leave already!" he yelled. Then he actually stopped and looked at Marge's anxious expression, and he put his head in his hand. He knew Marge was just as worried, and he hated feeling helpless.
       "Nate, he's right. If we go in there now, it's suicide ... at least from everything August told me about them." Marge said. She'd confirmed his suspicions earlier when he asked her about their maker's whereabouts. Gus was hanging out in the woods surrounding the house, not wishing to join the temporary alliance, yet curious all the same.
         "I'm going to go stir crazy!" Nate exclaimed as he sped around the room while he 'paced'.

       He stopped for a few moments to say to her, "What am I going to do? I can hear everything, and no matter how much it tortures me, I can't tune it out. I told her I wouldn't, plus I miss her so damn much!" He paced around again, and a worn spot began to show on the carpet. "How can I just sit here? This is killing me!"
       "You'll do nobody any good if you show up, guns blazing, to that compound." she said, trying to calm him down just a little.
        "Guns.... that thing you do with your hand ... Marge! If we go in there together we can fight them all off. How often can you do that thing? We could kill or injure enough of them to get them to hand over Gabriella!"
     

        No matter how unhappy she was with him, she hated the look of desperation on his face. "I can do it over and over again. It's nothing but a spell."
        "Then we could..."
        "No."
        "What?!" he nearly yelled.
       "What would we do if they should find a way to stop me? And besides ... we can't get into the house."
      Nate reached up to try and pull his hair out by the roots, an impossible thing, but he tried nonetheless. "I can't just sit here!" he yelled. "I'll go crazy if I do!"
        "I have an idea." Marge offered.

         "What." Nate snapped his question.
        "You mentioning the blasting spell made me think of it. I can knock you out. Then, at least, you won't have to listen and time will seem faster." she explained.
         Nate looked at her, horrified. "That's the chicken shit way out." he said quickly. "No, I have to figure out a way to convince that alpha to go after her tonight!"
          "I'm sorry, Nate." Marge said, and before Nate could ask her what she meant exactly, she hit him with the spell again. Nate slammed onto the floor. "Sucks to have your choices taken from you, doesn't it?" he heard her say just before he passed out.

       Like a mother putting a child to bed, she pulled back the covers and lifted Nate onto the mattress. At least he'll be comfortable when he wakes up, which hopefully won't be for a while. He's going to be furious with me, but I'm not worried about him. I'm more worried about the mess he could make of everything.
        I hate that Gabriella's kidnapped, but Nate doesn't understand the force we're up against. Right now, they have the upper hand, and a huge one at that. He thinks he can just go in there and play Rambo until they hand-deliver him my daughter.
        Gabriella, please keep your head on your shoulders and do not do something stupid.

       Marge could smell her, hear her fluttering heartbeat, but she was more interested in the tome in her hands. Sure, the fairy smelled delicious, but she was here to make friends, not the other way around.
      However, Arabella had no idea of this. She'd let her guard down when she'd exited Derek's room a few minutes ago. She'd thought the vampires had gone home. She'd been asleep when they'd arrived, and she'd wakened when Derek hadn't returned to bed. Seeing the vampire witch lady sitting in the living room scared her out of her wits!
     "Hello." Marge said calmly as she placed the book on the coffee table for now. She'd found Derek's collection of books simply marvelous, and she wanted to glean as much new information as she could.
       "What are you doing here?!" Bella accused.
       "I'll be here a few days before we make an attempt at rescuing my daughter." Marge explained.
       "No! No no no! You can't be here!"
       "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm not going to get close to you, just in case, but I'm not going to hurt you."
       "Where is the other one?"
       "You mean Nathaniel?" Marge asked.
       "No! The other other one. The ancient one."
       "Not wishing to disturb our little party."
       "You mean he's afraid of Derek's pack! He should be."
       "I doubt that's the reason." Marge snapped.
       Sensing the vampiress's anger, Bella suddenly said, "I need to get out of here. Stay away from me!"
      "Fine." Marge said, her eyebrows raised as if to say that that's exactly what she'd planned on doing anyway.
         Arabella went outside to escape into her little house, listening out for Derek's return.

     Marge wandered the house some more. Jeanine snarled at her in the kitchen, so she went upstairs again to more closely study something she found earlier but didn't have a chance to peruse.
      This is fantastic! Who was this person that wrote this? She carefully turned to the back page to see if there was any inscription, signature, anything. She found a name: Claudius. No other description was available. Plus, the book appeared to stop in the middle of a recorded experiment. I guess it failed since he wasn't around to record his findings. Better not test that one.
      The book is so very old, I'm worried about turning the pages. Why has no one made a copy of it? She found a particularly interesting recipe and proceeded to try it out with the materials available to her.

      Robert returned home from his run, and on the way up to his room, his eye caught the sight of Marge's red hair in the candlelight near the window. He took a few steps in her direction and stopped to ponder the situation before him.
       He could kill her. Right now. Rip her head from her body. How is it that she was still around when his Caitlin wasn't? Just more proof of the old cliche "life's not fair". Well, neither is death.

       Marge spoke to his reflection in the glass, "What's it going to be, Robert?"
       He jumped a little at the sound of his name.
       "Are you going to attack me or not? I must warn you not to underestimate me." she continued.
      "I don't. I think I'm the only one around here that doesn't. You seem to have my brother fooled, but I'm not falling for it." he answered, irritated that she didn't even have the decency to turn around when he spoke to her.
      "I'm sure I have no idea what you mean." Marge quipped and rubbed the next ingredient on the list between her fingers to crush it as it fell into the cauldron.
       "Don't bullshit me." Rob snapped. "You're in league with the ancient one, sent to spy on us since he has a grudge against Derek."
        "His grudge isn't mine." she explained.
        "Doesn't matter since he controls you."
        She sighed, and her shoulders drooped a little. "And I hate that he does. He told me I could go and join in with Nate to rescue Gabby. I know that doesn't mean I'm eternally free. Of course, you could be right, and he could be sending me in as a spy, only to ask me questions afterwards. So, I'm learning as little as possible about all of you."
         "You already know too much."
         "I'm sure everything I know he already knows."

         "So, he just let you go. Does he know about your little plan to use and give the stone to us?" Robert asked.
          "Yes." she answered. "He's curious to watch it work. I don't know how he feels about my idea to give it to you afterwards. I came up with that part on the spot. The stone is of no use to me. It isn't even mine. My daughter died to protect it for you. Why would I go against her wishes?"
         "Because Gus will order you to." he answered her rhetorical question as he walked towards her.
        "You have no idea how I wish I could call him that." Marge said with a smile. Wary of him, she turned around. The cauldron had received all the ingredients it required. Now it needed to simmer for a few minutes.

        "Why are you here?" he asked point-blank.
      "To rescue my daughter. In the meantime, I'm thoroughly enjoying your brother's collection of books. There must have been someone to collect all this."
        "My step-mother. Most of it was handed down to her through her family." Robert told her, then he wished he hadn't. After all, she'd told him the less she knew, the better.
       "I was unaware of any other magical family in the vicinity other than my late husband's, and they've died out." she pointed out.
         "I'm not telling you any more." he said, clamming up.
         Marge nodded and took a step over to gather the vial of bliss she'd concocted.

        "Alright. Fair enough. I'd just wondered for a moment if I could've been related to her ... by marriage, of course." she said as she lightly smiled. She felt delighted at how uncomfortable she made him. I must say, Caitlin had good taste. I hate that she couldn't tell me she had a boyfriend.
          Robert's mind whirled around in circles. I should walk away. I'd told myself I'd avoid her. She's Caitlin's mom for Pete's sake. Ew. ... Even if I do have a good fifty or so years on her and she doesn't look the age she was when she was turned I'm guessing. Nope, in fact she looks damn good. ... I should walk away. ... Why can't I walk away? What the hell is wrong with me? This is so wrong on so many levels. My deceased girlfriend's mom.... well that's usually weird because of an age thing... but I'm actually the older one. So does that make that part not apply? ... Then there's the whole vampire verses werewolf thing. It ... is not ... in my nature ... to ...
         She interrupted his thoughts by saying, "You really should go to bed, Robert. Don't worry about me. I won't do something stupid to destroy our truce. I need you." Marge had chosen her words carefully, knowing instinctively just what to say to effect him just the way she intended to. I'm getting a little too good at this. It's almost unconsciously done. I suppose it couldn't hurt to have him support me should the need arise, and it might. I sense danger towards me from his brother. Not to mention he's cute. Like a little puppy.

           "Bed ... need you" Marge's words echoed in Robert's mind in a most cruel manner. He knew he had to break the momentary silence before he did something stupid. "I ... yes, need to go get some sleep. Even though someone should watch you. I don't trust you."

        Marge shrugged her delicate shoulders and said, "Fine. I'll go to bed too. I am a little tired after all. What harm can I cause while sleeping?" She watched him as he looked to be contemplating inviting her upstairs to his bed, and she wanted to see if he would. His eyes focused on her lips as a small smile formed on them.

         I should walk away, Robert thought quickly, but the notion lacked the strong conviction it had earlier.

         I don't need to overdo it, Marge thought before she said, "Goodnight, Robert."

       "Pleasant dreams." she continued as she walked towards the room she and Nate were allowed to borrow.

        She's a fucking vampire! Pull yourself together! Rob tried to snap himself out of it. "Marge." he said before he could stop himself. His head turned towards her as she spun around on one toe to see what he wanted. He quickly changed his mind on what to say. "Behave yourself."

       "Or what?" she asked coyly. Before he could choose whichever answer he stood there and debated giving her, she said, "Don't worry about me, Robert. I'm the one that needs you and your help. Remember that." She turned back towards the bedroom door and slowly walked towards it, wondering how far he'd allow himself to go.

       No, don't! Rob thought. What the hell is wrong with me? Damn it, woman! Walk faster! He turned his head away and walked over to the window to stare down at Arabella's little house, taking several deep breaths. This is not good. ... She closed the door, finally. He turned and made his way up to his room for a few hours of tortured sleep.

------------

        Arabella sensed Derek's return and dashed out of her house right towards him. Mildly surprised and a little confused at her exuberance, Derek opened his arms as she crashed into him. She was shaking.

        "Where did you go? Why didn't you tell me the vampires were staying? I have been so afraid." she accused him while laying her head on his shoulder.

        His arms curled around her shivering frame, and he held her to him, relishing the perfume of her hair. "If you missed me that much, why didn't you come and find me?" he asked. He'd not invited her to go with him on purpose. He wanted to go scout the area, and he didn't need a chatty fairy with glowing wings to follow him. He could smell Gus around the nearby hills and not near Gabriella's house. The vampire eluded him, however. He'd had no idea his absence would affect Bella like this, but then again he failed to think that he never told her of Nate and Marge.

       "I couldn't go with you! I can smell the ancient one that hates you. I'm terrified of him." she cried. "And what were you doing going out alone like that?!"

       "Robert had gone off to have a temper tantrum, and I had to leave Rocky and Jeanine here to keep an eye on Marge and Nate." he explained. He too had worried over his own safety, but he had to go searching for any trace he could find. It felt so nice to be back home with Arabella in his arms. He felt like it had been ages since he last held her.

         "How on earth would I be able to go on without you? Did you think of that?! Hm?" she snapped at him while clinging to him at the same time.

        He chuckled lightly and said, "Nothing's going to happen to me, my love."

        "Derek, you're not immortal. Almost. But you --"

       He shut her up the best way he knew how. She acted aggravated with him, but he refused to quit kissing her. I'm fine. You're fine. They won't hurt you, not if they want to stay on my good side. The sudden thought of Nathaniel using Bella as leverage to force him to leave for an attempt that would fail to rescue Gabriella ran through his mind, and he held onto her tighter.

        When she gently pulled away, she told him, "I won't go upstairs with you, but I'm so scared I can't stand it! They're all around me! I want to stay in my little house, but..."

         "Then do it to me." he said and watched her shocked yet happy expression. He knew she knew he hated it when she'd shrink him so that he could visit her in her little house. It made perfect sense to him why he hated it. His power came from physical strength, hers from her magic. Magic doesn't require a full-sized body. He hated feeling powerless.

         "You mean it?!" she asked happily. If he did, then he was definitely out of the doghouse for leaving her like he did.

        He gave her a true smile as he said, "Of course. You won't come up, and I don't want to be without you for what's left of the night."

     "You got new sheets." he said, pointing to her bed once they were inside.

     "Mhm. Silk. Do you like them?" she asked, a fist lightly resting on her cocked hip, one eyebrow raised suggestively.

     "They need breaking in." he said, grinning and picking her up before carrying her to the new sheets.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Warm. So warm, Gabriella dreamily thought as a very pleasant sensation made her moan in her almost-sleep. Warm... and rough... and... good. 

     She moaned again as she felt coarse hands sliding up and down her thighs, pulling them further apart as they did. As the rough warmth became more demanding of her attention, her whole body tensed in shock, causing her thighs to clamp together upon a large head between them. Those same hands reached up to pull her legs back apart with a little more strength as consciousness quickly returned to her.

     "No!" she gasped breathlessly as her eyes flew open and she found herself in Julian's bed. He said he wouldn't touch me tonight! she thought as she looked up and saw the first lights of the morning brighten the ceiling above her. Nighttime had ended.

     Realizing all of this only dimly went on in the back of her mind as she couldn't help but be more focused on what Julian did to her underneath the sheets. She tried to gather enough of herself to make an attempt to move away, but she was paralyzed with pleasure. Her body betrayed her, and it wanted the fantastic experience to continue. "No." she moaned, not sure if she told that to Julian or her own body. Julian ignored her.

     Gabriella realized her nakedness as she felt his very warm hands travel up her sides to her breasts, his merciless tongue never ceasing. How could it be that he got her this way without her waking up? "Oh!" she gasped as his thumbs and index fingers started to tweak and toy with her nipples. Her hands flew on top of the covers to where his were, hoping to stop this madness overtaking her.

     "Julian.... please." she whispered, and she herself couldn't tell if she asked him to stop or to give her more than what he gave her presently. His hands left her breasts for her hips, and, tilting them upwards, he switched his tongue's location further down. She gasped again as she felt him enter her occasionally as he stroked the front wall of her vagina with his coarse, dextrous tongue.

     Madness. It's all madness, she thought as she felt the never-ending tumult of sensations consume her. Her breathing sounded alarmingly shaky and ragged as she desperately tried to remember why it was that she wanted him to stop. A high-pitched whine escaped her as she could feel the pleasure mounting until she felt ready to scream.

     She wasn't given the chance to scream. Instead, her body convulsed as the world tilted on its axis. She felt Julian's fingers enter her and press upon her, making her experience her climax again and again until her body was spent. She lay limply on the bed, dimly aware of Julian's mouth slowly working its way up her stomach.

      When he'd traveled up to her neck, his body crouched over her and he said low into her ear, "I wanted to give you a feel," he chuckled lightly to himself, "of what it's like to have me for a lover." 

       He ran his tongue down her jaw and hovered over her mouth for a few seconds before lightly touching his lips to hers, causing Gabriella to become more aware of what happened around her again. Her hands shot up to push against his broad shoulders with all her strength. He rocked his body from side to side as first one of her hands was captured, then the other, before he laid his weight upon her. Both hands pinned now up at her ears, he pressed his jaw against hers and forced her mouth to open and accept his tongue.

     She could feel just how aroused he was as he lay on top of her.

     Nate. Nate Nate Nate.

     She angrily jerked her head to the side to separate their mouths. "No." she said sternly. "I don't want this."

       His deep voice echoed in her head as he responded, "You didn't seem to mind it a few minutes ago."

     She futilely struggled to get out from underneath him and get her hands free as he lazily kissed her neck. "I didn't have a choice!" she argued as she wiggled back and forth, hoping to find the right leverage. He seemed to instinctively know what she was up to because he was sure to intertwine his legs with hers.

     He sighed almost sadly and agreed, "No. You don't have a choice. Honestly, I wish I didn't have to do this this way, Gabriella, but I haven't time to do this the way it should be done."

      Gabriella didn't bother with asking him what he meant by 'should be'. He'd started working on parting her thighs with his legs, and she began to panic when she saw very little hope of her getting out of this.

     Her voice took on a desperate tone to it as she begged, "No. No no. Please don't. There has to be another way." She fought with all her strength to get free, but he held her down easily.

     "There isn't." he said plainly. "And try to relax. This will be easier for you if you do."

     "No!!!" she screamed as a familiar light shot out from her midsection and blasted Julian off of her. His dumbfounded expression as he slid down the wall into a crumpled heap was the last thing she saw before she passed out.