8. Date with a witch
“Ishould name it.” I looked down at the blue beast resting by my feet. Metice was right: I was stuck with it. It followed us out of the market and jumped into the carriage as soon as Metice opened the door. “Is it a boy or a girl?”
“Does it matter?” He looked down. “Why would you want to name it?”
“It saved my life,” I reasoned. “Come on, if it’s going to be with us, it should have a name.”
“It’s a boy,” Metice said, then looked out the window.
“Really? How can you tell?” There were no discernible markings, and the last thing I wanted to do was look between its legs, knowing it could fart mist in my face.
“You’re alive.” He huffed. “The females aren’t friendly. She wouldn’t have led you back to me. She would have killed you.”
“Oh, well, I’m glad this little guy found me instead. I think I’ll name him Piko.”
“Piko?” Metice’s nose twitched, like the name had a stench to it.
“Yeah, it’s cute, don’t you think?” I leaned down to look into those large blue eyes. “What do you think? Do you like that name?”
Piko made a yipping sound and then curled up to sit on top of my feet.
“Piko it is,” Metice muttered.
“How big will he get?” I reached down to scratch behind Piko’s floppy blue ear.
“Not much bigger than this. I mean, there could be instances where he might expand, but the females are typically larger than the males.”
“Expand?” I shrugged. I hoped he didn’t grow too much. He was cute the way he was. “Thinking of expanding, what was that back there?”
“What do you mean?” He lifted the curtain with his finger to look out the window.
“Don’t play coy. How did you do that in the market? You looked different and you were larger than normal.” Metice continued avoiding eye contact.
“I told you I can grow.” He turned and winked at me. “That doesn’t only apply to your favorite part of me.”
“So you can change any part of your body? Is that as big as you get? Can you do other things?” The thoughts spilled from my mouth as fast as my brain could produce them.
“You have too many questions, woman.” He shook his head. “Besides, none of that matters if we get this done. My body and it’s modifications won’t be a concern for you.”
“Fine, keep your secrets.” I rolled my eyes and settled into my seat.
With the heat from the newly-named Piko on my feet accompanied by his soft purring, my own exhaustion surfaced. I barely slept the night before and was wide awake for our first trip. Partner that with running from the fat demon zebra, and I could barely keep my eyes open.
I watched Metice, who was lost in his own thoughts, staring out of the window again. There were things I wanted to say, questions I wanted to ask, but my brain wouldn’t allow it. That was the thing about pushing yourself beyond your limits. Once you were there, it was nothing else you could do but rest.
My eyes fluttered against the sunlight, and I slowly drift away to a dreamworld filled with fat demon zebras trying to take a bite out of my ass. I would have given anything for it to be another unsettling sex dream.
I woke up to the smell of apricots. My head rested on Metice’s shoulder and the wild succession of heartbeats coming from his chest drummed in my ear. My first conscious thought was that I was happy to be with him, despite knowing it meant I was in hell. Thoughts of us together invaded my mind and produced butterflies in my stomach—butterflies that died the moment I looked up and saw the disgusted look on Metice’s face.
“Your Piko just shitted in my carriage.” He pointed to the floor across from us beneath the opposite bench seating.
“What?” I looked down and sure enough, there was a fresh pile of rainbow-colored poop on the floor. It swirled like the sweet dessert atop a perfectly formed ice cream cone. “Oh no.”
“You’re cleaning that up, not me,” Metice fussed. “Anyway, we’re here.”
“Oh.” I straightened and looked out the window to see we were sitting in the middle of nothing, just a vast expansion of valley.
“You were making a lot of noise in your sleep. Have an interesting dream?” Metice asked.
“Yeah, I dreamed that there was a monster chasing me through that market,” I answered him as I turned my attention to Piko, who nuzzled my leg.
“A monster?” Metice stiffened, like he could defend me from my unconscious mind. “What kind of monster?”
“Yeah. An ugly thing. Fat. Zebra-like with spikes all over its body. It was disgusting,” I explained. “Nearly got me, but I woke up.”
“You dreamt about a Cabaraga?”
“You know what that thing is?” I turned to face him.
“A Cabaraga—at least that’s what it sounds like you’re describing.” He thought about the creature for a moment before continuing. “They’re like guard dogs for shop owners.”
“Oh.” My face warmed as his eyes narrowed.
“You saw one, didn’t you?” He looked at me like a parent ready to scold a disobedient child.
“Yes.” I dropped my eyes. “Back at the market. It chased me.”
“What? And you’re just now telling me this?”
“It wasn’t a big deal. Piko saved me. Look, I got away and made it back to you.” I tried to justify my omission. “There was no need to worry you about it.”
“Do you know how dangerous that could have been? What if it was a tracker?” He chastised me, and it actually made me feel worse.
“A what?”
“A tracker. There are some demons here who can lay a mark on its prey, and wherever you go, it can find you.” He sighed. “Rayna, you’re in a world you don’t understand with beings who have abilities unlike anything you can fathom. You must be more careful.”
“A tracker.” The reality set in: he was right. I didn’t know what I was up against. It never crossed my mind that something like that could happen. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. Just don’t do that again.” He looked away from me and out of the window. “If something like that happens, please tell me. You said you were okay. Why would you lie?”
“Metice, I didn’t lie about that. I am okay.” I placed my hand on his knee. “Okay? I’m really sorry.”
“Right just, don’t do that again,” he repeated before he got out the carriage.
A moment later, he opened my door.
“Piko stays here.” Metice pointed to the little blue demon. “No unannounced guests.”
My new pet looked up with sad eyes and whimpered.
“I said stay,” Metice spoke to him and not me.
I climbed out of the carriage but turned to comfort Piko. “It’s okay, I’ll be right back. Don’t worry.”
Stepping outside the carriage revealed the hills on the side where Metice sat. As far as the eye could see, there was a mixture of small and large formations. Where we stopped, there was a quick path that led to the mouth of a large cave set in the side of one of the larger formations.
“That’s where we’re going.” He pointed to the opening.
“Somehow, I knew that.” My stomach groaned, and it wasn’t because I was hungry.
“Don’t be nervous. Just follow my lead.”
“The witch who’s supposed to help us is living in that cave, and you’re telling me not to be nervous?” I pointed to the opening. “Only creepy shit happens in caves.”
“Yes, you need to be calm, because if she realizes you’re nervous, she’ll use the energy against you. I’m not saying it will be easy to do, but I will be by your side, and we’ll make it out of this.”
“You know, you give me whiplash sometimes.” I huffed as I put one hand on my hip and shielded my eyes from the sun with the other, looking up at him.
“What do you mean?” His eyes squinted in confusion.
“Sometimes, you can be a real jerk, and then other times, you’re nice to me. You say things about being by my side and making it out together,” I explained.
“I say what works in the moment.” He shut the door to the carriage, and it felt like a dismissal of my vulnerability.
“Well, there’s the jerk side again. Thanks.” I sucked my teeth. That’s what I get for being open with him.
“Come on, let’s go. We need to get this over with before the sun goes down.”
“Something happens when the sun goes down?” I glanced up at the sky again.
“Yeah, the real demons come out.” He walked toward the cave. “We’ll want to be out of here by then.”
“Excuse me, real demons?” I jogged to catch up with his quick pace. “What does that mean? Real demons?”
“Did you think what you saw back there at the market was the real deal? Those are the day dwellers. They’re the nice demons, definitely not the ones you have to worry about in this place. It’s the ones who wait until the sun goes down so they can do their dirty deeds without being seen you have to worry about,” he explained. “I would prefer not to have to fight them off to keep you safe.”
“Shit,” I cursed.
“Yeah, so let’s get this done now.” He looked back at me. “Keep up, human.”
“Hilarious.”
The walk from the carriage to the cave wasn’t that far. I’d barely broken a sweat by the time we made it to the entrance. He looked at me once, and I nodded, confirming I was okay to continue. Then, we went inside.
And it was just a cave. Nothing magical happened when we walked through the entrance, though I hoped it would. I hoped the appearance was a fa?ade, and once we entered, we would be inside a lavish mountain side resort with top amenities. We were not.
The cave was massive, dark, and smelled like onions. Metice took the lead down the short tunnel that led to the larger cavern. In the center of the space was a large pool of water that glowed and moved with circular ripples, though nothing visibly disturbed its surface. To the left of the pool were makeshift racks that held different jars and containers. Behind it was what looked like a doorway to another part of the cave we would never be able to see.
On the right, sitting in a massive clawfoot chair, was a woman. I want to say she was hideous, but I’d be a lying ass hater if I did. The woman was drop dead gorgeous. Her deep brown skin glowed with the same magic as the water. Her head slowly turned to us beneath the gilded head piece she wore and revealed eyes that glowed a soft shade of pink.
Welcoming us, she stood and towered even above Metice. Her curvy form walked over to us, breasts bouncing with each step beneath the sheer black fabric that hung draped across her body. Intricate tattoos covered every inch of her skin, some converting their form as she walked. A kitten became a tiger, and then it shifted to a lion taking up more space on her torso as the other inked depictions moved out of its way.
“Likosa,” Metice said her name.
“You actually came. I didn’t think you would.” She stopped in front of us. “Your reputation has taken some deadly hits. Rumors have it, the once great Metice is now something of a coward.”
“Just because I choose to stay out of the shitshow doesn’t mean I’m afraid of it.” He cleared up her misconception. “I gave my word. I’m here.”
“I was shocked that you reached out. Must be something really important to make you take such a risk.”
“It is,” he said simply. I expected him to look at me, but he didn’t. He remained focused on Likosa.
“I see.” She held her hand out palm up, glowing the same shade of pink as her eyes. “The bargain.”
He pulled a small bag from his pocket and handed it to her.
She opened it and took out a spider shaped herb. Likosa held the herb in front of her face, sniffed it, then licked it.
“Perfect.” She grinned. “I accept.”
“What are you going to do with that?” Metice asked as she tucked the herb back in the bag.
“I don’t believe your bargain included me answering any questions for you.” She dropped her head and glared at him through her long lashes. “Would you like to modify our terms?
“Not at all.” Metice shook his head. “So, are we good?”
“Yes.” She looked around him, finally acknowledging my presence. “This her?”
“Yes.” He stepped aside and gestured for me to move forward.
“Hmm.” She looked me up and down. “Cute.”
“How long is this going to take?” Metice asked abruptly. I pulled my eyes from the woman and looked at him. He looked almost jealous.
Is he into her? Does it bother him that she’s giving me attention?
“You in a rush?” She reached out and drew her finger across his cheek. “It’s been so long since I saw you. I’d think you want to stay awhile.”
Watching her touch him did something to me. I clenched my fists at my sides to keep from telling her to keep her hands off him. He said I had to keep my cool, and I tried, but Likosa caught it.
“Ooh.” Those pink eyes snapped to me. “Looks like your human doesn’t like when I touch you.”
She locked eyes with me, leaned into him, and kissed his cheek as my insides boiled.
“Damn.” She took a step back. “Settle down, pretty one. I won’t bite him.”
“Likosa, get this over with,” Metice ordered.
“Yes, sir.” She winked then pointed at me. “You’re going to have to get naked.”
“Excuse me?” I took a step back from her.
“Don’t be afraid.” She held her hand out to me. “I need your tits out for this to work.”
I looked at Metice and he shrugged, but I had a feeling he knew exactly what was going on.
“You knew about this, didn’t you?” I asked him.
“I knew it was a possibility, yes.” He nodded.
“I can’t believe you.”
“Don’t tell me you’re shy about your body,” Likosa chimed in. “There’s no reason to be embarrassed. Besides, look at you, your curves, those tits and high ass. Most human women would kill for your body. Trust me, I know firsthand.”
“No, I just…” I took a deep breath to calm the building nerves. I also wondered what body Likosa was referring to. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my body, but I also had cellulite, love handles, and this weird petal-shaped mole on my hip that randomly appeared. The doctor said it was nothing to worry about, but the thing was ugly.
“It will be fine. A few minutes in the nude, then you’re safe to go home. I think it’s a good tradeoff.” She leaned down to look me in the eye. “Don’t you?”
“It’s not looking like I have any other choice, so yeah, okay.” I stripped and handed my clothes to Metice, shoving them into his chest.
“Bra and panties too,” Likosa ordered as she walked over to the pool of water.
“Seriously?” I couldn’t believe she needed that much access to my flesh to make her magic work.
“Do you want this to work or not?” She put a hand on one hip and straightened her headpiece with the other. “I’m waiting, cutie.”
I took my panties off and gave them to him.
“Let’s go.” She pointed to the pool. “Into the waters.”
With Metice watching my every step, I headed for the pool. The cool ground did nothing to help my nerves. When I passed Likosa by the water’s edge, she placed her hands on my shoulders to guide me.
“I promise to be gentle,” she whispered in my ear as she ushered me forward.
“What’s going to happen?” I asked as we entered the sloping edge of the pool. With each step, we went deeper into the water. The rippling surface moved against my skin, giving a comforting massage.
“Tell me, have you ever been with a woman?” She brushed my hair away from my face.
“A woman?” I shook my head and glanced back at Metice. “No.”
“Don’t worry, he isn’t going anywhere,” she reassured me. “So, the thing about what I do is I work with sexual magic. I feed off the subject’s energy and use that to fuel my spells.”
“The subject meaning,” I pointed at my chest. “Me?”
“Yes.” She smiled. “I assume your demon thought I would be using him, but for the nature of this spell, it has to be you.”
She ran her finger down my spine as we moved deeper into the pool, and it was like electric pulses going from the tip of her fingertip into my body.
“The thing about my magic: I need you to be aroused. So, you may want to do more than just float here. You may want more from me. I just might give you what you want.”
She led me to the deepest part of the pool, where my feet no longer touched the bottom. She wrapped her arm around my waist and urged me to lean back.
“Lie back. Don’t worry, I got you.” Like magic, her clothes dissolved in the water. She was completely naked, the tattoos that covered her flesh dancing frantically as the water moved faster. “Is this what you want?”
“I-” I didn’t know what she was asking me until I felt her hands caressing my skin. She no longer held me afloat. The water did the work and formed what felt like a raft of pressure beneath my back to hold me up. Instead, she drew circles with her fingertips across my flesh.
“I’m sorry, but I’m going to need you to give me a clear answer.” She looked into my eyes. “Pretty human, is this what you want?”
The word slipped from my lips in a deep moan. “Yes.” I was in hell, in a world far from my own. What would it matter if I let her do what she wanted?
Her hands moved over my body like feathers, touching every inch of me. My stomach, hips, breast, neck, even my pussy. She paused, fingers lightly feathering my clit.
“Are you sure?” Likosa lowered her face, and her full lips brushed against mine as she spoke.
“Yes,” I whispered my answer through shaky lips, and that was good enough.
Her fingers slipped into my pussy, and she kissed me. My back arched like I was on a bed and not in a pool of water. She moved from my lips, and I gasped as she separated my legs, then kissed my pussy. Full lips pressed against me, and then she whispered something in a language I couldn’t understand, and the water engulfed us.
We were below the surface, and though I should have drowned, I didn’t. Somehow, when I breathed, my lungs weren’t flooded with water. Air found a way through the liquid to me. Despite the odd mechanics of the moment, I couldn’t be too worried about the water with her hands still exploring my body and her words, foreign and too fast for comprehension, echoing in my mind.
She kissed me again and her tongue swirled inside my mouth with the unexpectantly sweet taste of the water. When our lips met, there was a whisper at the back of my mind. This time, it came in English: by the blood. I heard it twice before the echoes faded, and all I could think of was her touch.
Next thing I knew, my mouth was on her neck, shoulder, and breasts. My hands explored her body just as much as hers did mine. There was no resistance. I wanted this, and with each kiss, each stroke of my fingers, I consented for it to continue.
When I came to orgasm, her large nipple still in my mouth, the water crashed around us, and we lay entangled on the ground at Metice’s feet. My breaths were ragged attempts to re-acclimate to the air.
Likosa stood and helped me to my feet, kissed me once more, and fixed my hair.
“Good to go.” She smiled at Metice. “She’s all yours.”