The New Power

[Erlind]

People had this image that demons and creatures of the underworld were all powerful. They did have access to things that mortals simply didn’t, but that mean they were omnipotent. Quite the opposite in fact, they often grew complacent relying on their innate abilities instead of practicing their talents. This was where Mathias played in. He had traded with the lords of hell both to break the bonds his father had on him and make himself powerful in his own right. They needed his expertise. Besides opulent and often depraved distractions his father had provided him with teachers and training making him a formidable practitioner of the dark arts.

Lines were draw, inscribed and reinforced. Symbols and patterns were formed, and the forces of the universes were aligned. Mathias didn’t recognize the true name he’d been given to make the circles, but the ritual was a summoning. How much misery would this demon bring, how much blood would be on his hands because of this simple night? It didn’t matter. Debts had to be paid, that’s all there was.
His work took him all day, but in the end this debt was paid and Matt could go back home to his muse. When he was sent home he was shunted to the roof access. Something was wrong.

The seals were broken, no, they had been torn apart like paper walls. As he stepped inside the scene reminded him of someplace. It was just like the girl’s apartment had been. He could see the tattered remains of his own spells just like what he had seen of Crystal’s grandmother’s work. The girl was not only a muse, but of an unknown powerful line of mages?

As Matt ventured inside, he noticed nothing had physically been broken or even pushed aside. He reached out and felt no one there. Panic, then a glimmer of hope. He could feel Crystal in the bedroom. She was scared and hiding herself, not just physically, but it was hard for him to find her magically either.

“Crystal, come out. I’m here, you don’t have to be afraid anymore. I’m here.” His voice was just the littlest bit frantic. What had happened here?

 

[IceKityGirl]

Crystal heard the front door open and close but she froze, trying to have all thought out of her mind. She then heard Mathias voice call out to her. She was still scared but she ventured out of the closent. Grabing a very large book to be of the safe side Crystal tips tords the bedroom door.

Turning her head out she sees him standing there. Crystal throughs the book on the couch as she runs into him throughing her arms around him and braking down. Her tears soaked his shirt.

"Hes.. hes real... " She tried to tell him of how she saw him on the roof. If it wasnt for her cat going burzerk she would never had looked up. Garfield come strutting out and sitting next to Mathias giving him a look but purring of his return as well. Crystal felt like falling with how her knees wanted to give out from the fear in her. She was greatful he was back but those red eyes she saw still afected her. She takes a slow look around the place as she clung to him. Everything was how she had left it before hand and amazed that man hadnt come for her?..

Looking back up at Mathias she told him how she saw the man on the other buildings roof and when she saw his bloody eyes she took no chances and ran to the closent

 

[Erlind]

Matt held her and stroked her hair while she cried. Something just didn’t add up for him though. The kind of force that could rip through his spells should have done some damage to his penthouse. There would have been some sign, something. Hell, how did he even find this place.

“I know he is Crystal. I don’t know who he is, but we’re going to find out, ok?”
There was only one person Mathias trusted enough who could actually help them. Another warlock he’d known as a child. The man had set himself as an underworld information broker. If anyone could find their demon it was him.

“Crystal, I need you to be strong for me ok. I’m not letting you out of my sight until we can deal with this, but we need to go someplace that isn’t always very safe. If the people there see someone meek, scared, and unable to defend herself, we’ll attract too much of the wrong attention. That’s why I need you to be strong and confident for me. We’re going to the Hellfire Club tonight. Go get dressed.”

He patted her butt and gave her a playful smile to let her know that while she was him everything was alright. The problem was that it wasn’t. Whatever had been there had torn down barriers that he’d spent months erecting, the most notable of which was a nondetection spell. Whatever had been here should never have even been able to find the place.

While Crystal got dressed Mathias went to his dresser. Out of the top drawer he fished out a small simple silver cross on a thin chain. It had been his mother’s and while he’d always felt strange wearing it, potent protective magic lived in it, perhaps enough for both of them. Matt slipped it around his neck and hid it under his shirt.

 

[IceKityGirl]

Garfield fallowed Mathias every where he went while Crystal was getting ready. She was extremely unsure what to even wear and this Hellfire place sounded a little out of her league. She grabbed a black long sleeve long shirt top with a deep V, her black jeans with silver studs at the bottom rims and then a old pair of skecter black knee high boots.

And then more for comfert then looks she puts on the inch thick with a red pretend choker with matching earing with a small red ruby in each. Her grandmother had told her she must wear it at all times, she didnt know why but Crystal figured it was because it had taken her over 2 months to make the beautiful set. She had stopped wearing them the day after the funiral. But she supposed it was better late then never to start wearing them again.

Crystal walked over to find Mathias but insted she find her cat fallowing him like a tiny duckling. That was very interesting to her. She bent down to tug on his tail and before she retched, he sat down looked at her and began to purr very loud. "I swere you are so strange.... He fallows you as if protecting you.. Like a dog to its owner. What am i chop liver?"

She shakes her head at him then looks up at Mathias and blushs of her outfit."I.. Wasnt surr but this would be the "Baddest" thing i own.. i guess..." She brings her finger and toys with her earing while awating his opinion. Not knowing and unable to see her red pendant giving off a suddle glow.

 

[Erlind]

Matt squatted down and scratched behind Garfield’s ear. The little guardian purred and rubbed against his leg. He smiled up at Crystal and her new outfit, especially the choker. She had all kinds of surprises.

“Perfect. I think the look suits you more than you realize.” He stood up and guided her to the full length mirror. He stood behind her with one arm wrapped around her waist.

“Like what you see?” He wanted to know if she knew about the red glow. He could feel the subtle power there that was woven into the earrings and choker. Someone had put a lot of hard work into them.

 

[IceKityGirl]

She then saw the glow of the pendent and gave a sad smile while looking at them. She did how ever was unsure of the outfit on the other hand she did have the silver hair and red eyes for the scarry set up.

"I also have a long black trench but i wasnt sure... And thats the first time ive seen the stone do that. Grandmother made this set when i was 16 and told me never to take them off. But i still dont understand why. I just figured it was becouse she had took her time into making it from scratch and the hard work.."

She looked at Mathias in the eyes through the long mirror and felt extremely small and tiny now that she could see themselfs. A red blush over came her cheeks with that look on his face as she looked right back at him. His arm around her waist and his body warming her backside made her core churn and flip with heat and readiness.

Looking back at herself she relized."Mathias..."She gives a dry look to him as the lifts her tail to his chin. "What are we to do about the tail and ears...?"

 

[Erlind]

“I like the idea of the trench coat, but maybe for another night. As for this,” Matt continued as he stroked Crystal’s tail, “this won’t be strange for anyone at the club. Everyone is used to the strange and embrace it rather than push it away.”
Matt gave a little flick of his wrist and Crystal’s jeans began to unweave themselves in the back until her tail sat a little more comfortabley. Then, almost to his dismay they put themselves back together around it.
“There, much better. Now there is only one way to get to the club, but fortunately, it’s not hard.”

Producing a small pouch from his pocket, Matt sprinkled some dust over the bathroom door and murmured the simple incantation. Then he pushed the door open to the darkly lit red room. They could hear music pulsing somewhere beyond the big double doors that ended the room.

“Stay close and remember, confidence.” Matt led his muse by the hand through the door and they walked together down to the bouncer. He actually looked pretty normal for a club except for possibly the dark sunglasses in the dark room. He was six foot two and every inch of it was muscle. Magic could do some wonderful things, but sometimes the old ways were the best ways.

The warlock flicked his finger through the air and purple light followed it forming a simple little symbol in the air. The bouncer nodded, but when they tried to pass he stopped them.

“You’re good, but she isn’t. She hasn’t shown me anything.”

 

[IceKityGirl]

She wasnt sure what to think but she would give somthing a try. Crystal placed her fingers on her choker and the red glow warmed her from the inside out and the same symbol Matt had used apared a few inchs away from her nose and a blue flame. She felt her bold side come to the surfes and let it guid her.

She then licked the flame playfully as if a lolly pop and could see the bouncer melt and blush. She wanted to laugh but kept it to a smile and the bouncer let her pass with Mathias.

She had never been to a club in her life but the first thing she notist was there were alot of othes and others that didnt look qwite human ether but nother scarry. She was surprised in herself that she wasnt fainting but insted with Mathias arm around her, her ears perked up and was more in wonderment then anything els. The music wasnt too loud that she could still hear but the beat she could feel up her spine and it was nice feel.

One thing was for sure she hoped he nor anyone asked her to dance becouse that was one thing she could never be able to do. And she douwted with all the magic in the world could fix that.

She stade close to Mathias and fallowed his lead.

 

[Erlind]

Matt grinned devilishly as Crystal licked at the little fire she had created. It seemed the choker gave her some measure of control. Control was something her power had truly needed. He was surprised with how acceptant he was of letting her control her own power he was when he had taken her to get to it.

“Welcome to Hellfire, my little kitten.”

The club was a spectacle as always. One young man on the dance floor was wearing jeans, but no shirt and had his feathery wings spread wide. Two vaguely demonic looking red skinned girls were grinding against him. Full-fledged demons, if not powerful ones, laughed over strangely colored drinks and a forest nymph sat in a scaled man’s lap whispering sweet secrets in his ear. The music felt like it might have been laced with magic, but it was hard to be sure in here.

“We’re here to see an old friend of mine, but he won’t show himself unless he’s sure it’s safe.” Matt led Crystal towards the bar and they were about to sit down when he heard a distinct slap. He turned to see a grubby ugly little man with his hand on Crystal’s ass. It was a troll.

“Mind if I pet the pussy, big guy?” He laughed with a gravelly voice. The laughing stopped though as he was swept up off his feet and slammed against the bar. Mathias didn’t have a hand on him, but it was clear the troll was pinned by the throat.

“Don’t you dare touch her,” the warlock growled between clenched teeth. The red imprint of a hand burned itself into the troll’s throat and it matched perfectly with the outstretched hand of the seething sorcerer.

 

[IceKityGirl]

Crystal could see how pissed off he was and even though she felt a little peaved as well she didnt want any deaths on her hands or becouse of her.

She lifted up and kissed Mathias deeply then looks back at the troll with a slight hiss in her voice when she spoke. "This man is the only one aloud to put a hand on me little boy. I suggest you walk away before i tare somthing off whle he has you pinned."

She was shocked in herself but it felt right to say it. But to do it she didnt think she had it in her. She sees the troll run for his life like he had seen death in the eye and lived to tell the tale.

She smiled up at Mathias hoping he would approve of her so far.

She felt somthing close to them but couldnt see anything till a deep males voice spoke and a tall man apperd by Mathias side with a grin on his face and the mans hand on his shoulder.

Crystal hoped this was the man Matt has spoken of...

 

[Erlind]

A heavy hand with dark skin set itself on Mathias’s shoulder.

“Are you causing trouble in my club?” The question came as a low deep rumble. Matt didn’t even bother turning around.

“Of course I am Mordred. What else would I be doing?” Matt turned around and gave a hug to the large man and laughed. The heavy set black man was tall and would have been imposing except for the wide jovial grin on his face. He wore a fine suit that fit him well and a single heavy gold ring on his left hand. The old friend’s voice lost some of the theatrics, but maintained that deep quality.

“It’s been ages, Matt. You finally crawl out from your dad’s shadow and I never see you. When you finally do show up you rough up the patrons and bring this ferocious little cat with you.”

“Long story Mordred. Think we could tell it somewhere more private.”

“Of course.” Mordred led the couple past the crowds and through a door marked “No Entrance”. While the pulsing beats of the music could still be heard they were low and in the background past the door. The room was large and while there were still quite a few people occupying various couches and tables everyone spoke in low voices and generally seemed to leave each other alone.

Their host brought the couple to a curved booth in the back. Before they sat down though Mordred stopped them.

“You’re being rude, Matt. Who is your little friend?”

“Crystal, I’d like you to meet Mordred. He’s an old dear friend of mine from school. Mordred, this is Crystal. She’s the new girl in my life and I’m trying to help her.”

“And I’m sure that’s all you’re trying to do.”

Mordred took Crystal’s hand in his and leaned down and gently kissed it.

“Matt always did have the best taste. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

 

[IceKityGirl]

Crystal made sure not to blush from the kiss on her hand but she also wasnt used to things like this ether. She gave a smile as she made sure she was close to Mathias as possible.

"Its nice to meet you as well Mordred." Crystal sat down as Mathias fallowed and she sat side by side with him as the tall man sat on the opposite side of the booth. She was thinking on what he ment of Matt and his father but wrong place wrong time. But that they were old friends this would be qwite interesting to get to know about Mathias better but of corse that would have to wait as well.

As Crystal sat there she was thinking on how thursty she was when a small blue tea cup just formed out of the table before her and was filled with hot chocolate just the way she liked it. Her ears perked up and she looked at Matt right away on ether she did it or he did she wasnt sure but if it was nether she didnt want to drink it and get poisoned in anyway. Crystal also then saw a glance on how Mordreds look was on his face and she chouldnt help but blush and lean in on Mathias.

 

[Erlind]

Matt could feel the power roiling in his little kitten. The magic in her was thrumming as if her new confidence had bolstered it. It was almost like a purr. He knew exactly what had happened when her little cup of hot chocolate had appeared, but he saw her own confusion.

“Just for you, Crystal,” came the honeyed whisper. He hadn’t made it, but she needed to know she could drink it. If she drew the wrong conclusion then so be it. Matt scratched behind her ears for a moment and smiled. Such a wonderful muse.

“You can see why someone would want to take her from me. He tore through my wards like paper, but then simply watched her before fleeing. Crystal is still coming into her natural wild power. I think he may be waiting for something, but if he is I don’t know what. Muses are so rare I have almost no information about them.”

Mordred nodded sagely, but offered nothing else.

“I need her to be safe. She makes me strong, I think we make each other strong, but I can’t always be at her side. We need to find the one hunting her.”

“You are right. That is one thing you need.” Mordred patted the space in the booth next to him. “I need to see. Could you come here, Crystal?”

 

[IceKityGirl]

She smiled to Matt and drank the substence easy in one sip and when his fingers touched her ears Crystals core churnd but even though she tried to not show it her purring box on the other hand was soft and going. She would need to practice to controle that in case she ever goes back home. Though the more she thought about it the more she was confused on what her future would be.

Crystal heard the pat on the seat and got her out of her deep thoughts and when she looked at Matt he smiled and lifted his hand for the go ahead, Crystal wasnt sure what Mordred was going to do but if Mathias trusted him then she will have to learn to trust as well.

Crystal scooted next to Mordred and could see the look on his face, She wanted to know what he was really looking at or for for that matter but soon as she was only barly a foot away from Matt her chest felt alone and felt as if she needed to be by him.

 

[Erlind]

Mordred drew a small golden charm from his coat pocket.

"This will be short, I promise," the large man told her in a not so reassuring way. Then he placed his hands on the sides of Crystal's head. He uttered a short indecipherable phrase and suddenly the two of them were lost to the world.

Matt could see the trance begin immediately and at first it was normal, but it was going on longer than it was meant to go. He could see lines of fear on both of their faces. Something was wrong.

He rushed to his muse's side and wrenched Mordred's hands off of her. When he did she fell back into his arms. Mathias held her there, cradling her.

"I'm sorry," he whispered to her not knowing what his old friend's spell was going to do.

"Years of nightmares," came the deep voice, "a lifetime's worth. I didn't mean for that to happen, but I could not stop it. I don't know him, but I will find him for you. Protecting her will be very hard though. It may take more than either of you want to give."

 

[IceKityGirl]

Crystal's eyes closed soon as Mordred's hands laid on the sides of her head. Her eyes open once more and there she was in the first of the darkeness. No tail, no cat ears. She looked and saw she was alone and in her small five year old self form. She was reliving her dreams. She knew what would happen, that man with evil blood eyes saw her. He grins to her as she panics and begins to run. she runs down a town with no one els but them.

"This time you cant hide little one. Ive found you and at last you will be mine and i will take every last bit of your power and your life. Your mother and father were no match, nether was your grandmother. Able to hide you but she is no longer around and i have you in my grasp.."

Crystal tried to scream for help. Any kind of help would do but there was no sound from her throat. She makes a turn down an ally and she is back to her grown adult form.

He appares before her as she runs into the evil man at the exit of the ally.
"..~no...." She wispers to herself as she sits there frozen on the ground everything around them changes and shifts.

Every dream, every nightmare runs through her head as he places his sharp clawd hand onto her head. Her body shakes and trembles. He then whispers under his breath."Ive got you now..."

Crystal blacks out completly.

"It may take more than either of you want to give."

After those words were spoken a ferce wind blew into the club as a new person walked into the door. Looking around he is unable to find what he came for and dosnt look to the others in the staring crowd, the tall hiden figure makes his way to the bar. Lifting a hand a drink appares before him and as he drinks it and keeps to himself for a long moment every one in the club went back to how they were but kept there distence.

 

[Erlind]

Mordred started to apologize when he felt something in his club. It was the presence he had felt in the girl’s nightmares. It was in his club. Mathias moved out of the giant’s way with Crystal in his arms as the man got out of the booth and stood at his full height. He slammed a hand against the wall and the dark wooden rippled and fell away revealing a portal.

“He is here. Go. Through there is a safe haven. It is dark and dank, but I promise. It is utterly safe. If I survive I will find you and help place the Mark of Eros, if the two of you are willing.”

Matt lifted his sleeping kitten in his arms and started towards their escape, but stopped.

“Old friend, you don’t have to do this for us. We could stay. Help fight him.”

“You aren’t ready. Besides, he came uninvited into my home. I want him to feel the wrath of my Mages’ Guild.” Then the door to the back room opened and a man stepped through. A wide brimmed hat pulled low hid his face, but everyone in the room must have felt the power brought with him as he entered. He finished the drink in his hand and tossed it to the side. The glass shattered as it hit the ground. Instead of panicking at the powerful entity invading the club however, every scattered person in the back stood and turned to face the stranger. They began to chant.

“You should go Mathias. One way or another, this is going to get messy. I wouldn’t want your lovely muse to be here for this.”
Matt nodded, smiling, and stepped through the portal.

* * *

Mordred hadn’t lied about his safe haven. It was a cold stone room that sat in utter dark. Mathias lit a small blue flame in his hands and set it in the air just above their heads. It cast ominous shadows about the small room, but at least it chased away that bone chilling darkness. A heavy wooden door was the only exit, but somehow Matt felt it might be unwise to open it just yet. Otherwise, there was a small toilet, a bare shower head, and a little corroded metal grate in the floor on one side of the room. The other side had a straw mattress on the floor and an old rough wooden chest. As little as there was for them here, Mathias could feel it would be safe.

 

[IceKityGirl]

Crystal was dreaming once more. She was unsure of how much time had past but the presents of the man faded out as her mind shut down from seeing him last. She could almost sence she was safe, she didnt know who but somone els was with her in the waken world. In the dream she was walking through a land she never seen before. Though that wasnt new to her. She saw Mathias finally, she started to run to him and then he faded as she got closer. Crystal yelled for him to come back but he was gone. She was alone in the darkness once more then when she was mad enough of all the shit that has happened in her life she screemed.


Crystals body shook awake from that scream. She did not hear herself scream and once everything in the small room came to sight she was laying on a bed of straw. First thing that crosses her mind is she was finally found by the man and he must have trapt her here. She scrambles to stand but falls right back into the straw. Her body felt like led and had been hit by a train, her skin burned from reliving all the nightmares and there were new cuts and bruses and the hole in her right hand was not open but the red driping was enough that it was even if for the moment.

She feels somone then, with her in the cold room and she goes to swing her nails at the figure but as the warm body comes to focus she sees Mathias clearly. She stared at him, at the look on his face and she broke down there.

Crystal clunged to him as if he wasnt real, held on with all the straigth she had as if he could poof out and was her imagination but she needed to hold him to make sure he wasnt. It may have been only a short time but there was somthing about Matt that if anything were to happen to him she would not survive without him, his darkness to her light, what ever small light in his soul calling out to chase her darkness away.

Crystal wiped away the tears along with the fear as best as she could and kissed Matt. She didnt know what to say but she hoped that would say what was in her heart. Her hand started to get the feeling back and it burned from her salty tears and so did her skin from the fresh cuts.

"I must look pretty bad right now with all this blood...."She said as she looked up at him with a tiny smile.

 

[Erlind]

“Not at all, my dear. The most precious flowers are found in the jungle, the most beautiful diamonds are found in the rough. You are utterly breathtaking to me. You showed me how strong you could be in the club. Knowing what you’ve lived your life fighting against I know how brave you are. I could ask for no one more perfect than you.”

Matt held his muse close. He meant every word of what he said to her. He had begun their journey together wanting only to control in seduce her. He had never meant to love her, and yet he did. Mathias loved her more than he had ever loved any other. He softly stroked her silver hair letting his fingers sift through the strands.

“I think I know a way I can protect us, but its dangerous. Ancient, primal magic. I’m not sure if its worth the cost.”

 

[IceKityGirl]

Crystal ignored the little sharp pains that just seemed to be chased away from that small stoking touch of his hand in her hair. Her heart shutterd from his words and didnt know what to say. She could just cling to him to be close as possible.

When Matt said about a way for protection but would be dangerous she feard what the cost would be. What ever the danger she didnt want it but it did make her curiuse of what it would be and why it was. There had to be another way. She was tierd of being chased. Tierd of the pain and risk of the new and hoped would be the love for the rest of her life. How ever long she might have she would use every minute to stop this.

Crystal held her tongue of the thoughts going through her mind. Thoughts and plans were going through her mind of what she could do as her fingers stroked the pendent around her neck as she thought deeply.

"What would have to happen and what is the cost...?"

 

[Erlind]

“Myths and legends are usually pretty inaccurate, but Eros was the true god of love,” Matt explained to her, “Lovers that share his mark feed off each other’s strength and its said fate itself protects them. Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Paris and Helena. Those that share the mark always invite tragedy. Lovers become lost in each other so much they do things they don’t want and hate themselves for it. They become so linked that the loss of one becomes unbearable for the other and even short separations can be difficult. It is powerful magic that affects the heart, Crystal.”

Mathias held her close thinking of all that could wrong and all it could save them from. He kissed her forhead wanting her to feel safe with him.

“It’s a simple ritual. Mordred would use special paint to place the mark on your skin and then mine. I would say a short phrase and you would repeat it. Then the symbol would never leave our bodies, a sign of what we had promised.”

Matt didn’t want her to have to decide yet. It was a lot to ask of her after so short a time. Before she could say anything to what he had told her he kissed his muse, long and passionately. He cradled her close and kissed her.

 

[IceKityGirl]

She was afrade of what would happen after the words were to be spoken and she bet he would be mad of the plan that she was working in her mind. At that moment though she didnt want to think about what would be the fate for the rest of her life. Crystal was falling fast in love with Mathias and he did admit to her in the same.

But some where in her mind told her he needed to be far from her for his own protection and it would be alot to think of.

Crystal was happy that he was with her so far and what they have been through in the short time, but at the moment she just wanted him and needed him. She locked her lips with his as he kissed her. As he held her closer she moved closer willingly putting herself up on the table of all her cards, all her body and self up to him. Before more could be said or els done her hands were unzipping her boots as her other hand trapt between her and his chests was pulling at his shirt wishing the clothes were off.

Her jeans and top were feeling too tight for her and all she wanted was skin to skin. Needing to feel his hands on her and his heart close as could possibly get to hers.

 

[Erlind]

Matt pulled off his shirt and nearly ripped hers while tearing it off of her. Then he pulled her into a passionate kiss. Clinging to each other they both sank to their knees on the makeshift bed. Hand buried in silver hair, hot bodies pressed against each other. He knew she wanted more, but he wanted to tease her. As they kissed his other hand slid between her legs and began to rub against her crotch.

“How’s my little kitten feeling?”

The ears and tail had seemed so strange at first, but now Matt loved them. Crystal told him that her red eyes had scared off many men, but he’d always loved them. He needed her. Sometimes she felt like his pet and others his lover. That didn’t change anything though. He still needed for her to be his and his alone. The dark sorcerer would protect her, guard her jealously. He walk through the gates of hell just to keep her. He needed her.

 

[IceKityGirl]

She was in glee of the dasterdly clothes were away and she could be close to him.

"I would feel better if you didnt tease me.." She grined with lazy eyes at him.

She really looked at him, his skin, felt the heat from his body warming her in the dim lit small room. Even though the room wasnt so small it still felt as if he filled every nook and corner of the room with just being over her. Crystal teased him back by touching his nipples, ceresing down his chest and sides. Her finger tips down his waist taking in a light grip of his slim backside.

For payback she began teasing him back. Keeping her hips close enough for his heavenly touch but far enough that the top of the staff couldnt touch her skin. She lightly glided her finger tips over the head and down the sides to the base. Lightly massaging the extras and working her fingers slowly back up the pulsing vains.

 

[Erlind]

All of those traces of nervous innocence in her were gone. Crystal kept that innocent beauty, but it was a wonderful lie.

"My depraved little kitten," he whispered in her ear, "I bet you want out of those tight jeans too." He thought the spell would be difficult with how hard she was making it to concentrate, but it wasn't. It came naturally.

A heatless blue fire started at his finger tips and coursed across their remaining clothes, consuming them, but leaving the couple untouched. He watched as the last wisp of fire withered and kissed her again.

"Better?"